Chapter 112 - Beast of Burden Liao.
As he happily hung up the phone, the night breeze blew past, evaporating the sweat on his body and allowing a chill to seep in. However, with his excitement rising by several degrees, he did not notice the cold.
“So happy?” The one who was speaking to him happened to the school senior who had successfully pulled Kang Shengzhe into the basketball team. Since it was his private affairs, he let it slip after he teased him with a single comment. “Are you alright? You can go back and rest if you’re tired, the rest of us are going to continue for another half of an hour.”
Kang Shengzhe shook his head as he caught a ball and threw it. The ball did a neat parabola in the air and it hit the basket but it did not go in. “I’ll practice for a while more.”
The school senior was very gratified, “Sure, practice more!” As he scrutinised Kang Shengzhe, the feeling that it was a good decision to recruit him kept rising. “With you around, our team can still have a go at it. This year’s goal is to play one more match than last year!”
Although the boys in the Liberal Arts College were not being discriminated against, it was true that their physiques was slightly lacking compared to the other faculties. For starters, they were small in numbers and consequently, the pool they could choose from was not ideal. People like Kang Shengzhe who were two-metres-tall was something that happened once every few years.
Evidently, Kang Shengzhe did not agree with his words. He tousled his hair and said deeply, “Just playing one more match is not enough.”
The school senior: “Then what do you want?”
Kang Shengzhe: “I want to take the championship.”
The school senior’s expression froze at the onset of those words before it changed and there was an unspeakable complexity on his visage. “Having ambition is a good thing but the championship… will be quite difficult, mainly because this year is a little different since I don’t know which beast of burden…”
The school senior abruptly cut off his own words and looked left and right before he pulled Kang Shengzhe to whisper, “You’re not clear about it because you’re a new student, but in the annual basketball compet.i.tion that A University hosts every year, only thirty-one faculties partic.i.p.ate. Thirty-one, do you get it? The Physical Education Inst.i.tute is not included. Their Inst.i.tute typically hosts their own basketball compet.i.tion, and they’re usually not allowed to partic.i.p.ate in such large-scale events.”
Feeling strange, Kang Shengzhe asked: “Why?”
The school senior gave him a look, “The basketball team in A University is famous, and they’re known to have no opponent in City A. If they were to attend, then we don’t have any prospects of winning even if we were to play. Hence, there’s a tacit understanding that they’re not allowed to partic.i.p.ate in annual basketball compet.i.tion, but there was a school senior from the Physical Education Inst.i.tute in the School Student Union this year who insisted and protested. In the end, after he kicked up a fuss for a few days, the school had no choice but to add the Physical Education Inst.i.tution into the mix.”
The two of them were talking in soft whispers and someone at the side called out to them loudly: “Hey, what are you guys talking about!”
The school senior choked and he turned his head back to shout: “What else can we talk about! We were talking the lot drawing, let’s see who we’re drawing for the first round this year and blow them up!”
A wave of war cries reverberated from the basketball court. Kang Shengzhe picked up a ball and returned back to his basketball team. Just as the school senior was about to continue elaborating on their topic of conversation, Kang Shengzhe opened his mouth to let out a big yawn.
The school senior: “…… EMMMM, let’s practice.”
He started practice his three-pointer b.a.l.l.s again, throwing the ball after another like he was bringing down a heavy rainstorm and strong gale.
When he returned to the dorm after the tiredness wore him down, Liao Su had already slept to an extremely deep degree. Whereas Kang Shengzhe dragged himself to shower and his drowsiness made him resemble a rigid corpse hopping around wherever he went. Once he was done, he fell onto the bed and dampened the pillow without care.
In the midst of lethargic drowsiness, his phone had a WeChat notification all of a sudden. Kang Shengzhe glanced at the screen with squinted eyes. It was a message from w.a.n.g Lu.
It was just one sentence, simple in construct: — K, something happened.
Middle of the night, two o’ clock. w.a.n.g Lu had sent him a message saying that something had happened. Kang Shengzhe’s brain immediately sobered up and he lifted his body off the bed to sit up.
* * *
After the conversation he had with Kang Shengzhe, You Liangxing felt like his time had being elongated by uncountable folds. His work consisted of receiving one task after another and completing them but time seemed to barely move.
Initially, You Liangxing thought that it was just his delusion but he came to realise later that it was called being too concentrated and absorbed. As a result of this, his work efficiency doubled by n number of times, and what should have taken three to four days to complete was unexpectedly finished by him in a shorter duration although he scarcely ate or slept during that time frame.
The people in the company watched on, terror-stricken. With their executive fighting at the frontlines, the staff did not dare to relax. Thus, within two to three days, the plan for popularising and propagating the application fell on You Liangxing’s table like snowflakes.
“If our ‘YouLiang TV” wants to raise our reputation, we definitely need a spokesperson. However, when it comes to promoting games, wanting to find a celebrity to open a short broadcast is unlikely to have much effect. Afterall, MengMao and Shark have done it before, and this is disregarding the fact that finding a person to endorse it is also a problem. If we need a celebrity with high popularity and an image of loving games, I recommend Zhang XX.”
“Zhong XX isn’t bad either.”
“Qi XX is even better.”
Struck with worries, the personnel argued nonstop, but You Liangxing already had a plan. “I’ve already chosen the person.”
The staff asked in succession: “Who?”
You Liangxing used one name to end the debate. “Bai Yao.”
When that name came out, all the staff made a noise of surprise. Bai Yao went by the surname of Bai, and the fact that her father was You Ming was a matter that very few were privy to. While everyone knew that You Liangxing was You Ming’s son, they did not know he had a biological older sister by the name of Bai Yao.
“While it is true that Bai Yao’s gaming image is compatible and she is popular enough, her popularity comes with an equivalent price. If we were to invite her to live broadcast, I’m afraid that initial budget is not substantial enough.”
“Furthermore, Bai Yao has gamed with MengMao before. If we were to do it again, the effect won’t be as far reaching.”
You Liangxing: “If the effect of one person is not sufficient, we merely have to invite her entire movie cast. Isn’t she in the process of filming as of late? Invite all six of the main cast, and in turn, it can serve as advertis.e.m.e.nt for them.”
His astonishing manner of handling business shocked the team to the extent where they could not utter a single word. Inviting the entire cast over— the results of that need not be said because it was bound to max out the network capacity by the second day. But there was the problem of capital…
Was CEO Xiao You planning to pluck more money from his family?
You Liangxing was very clear about what thoughts his team had. Thus, he simply said: “I’ll personally contact Bai Yao, and she will act as the go in-between for the other people in her movie cast. The capital is not something you need to worry about.”
While the team a.s.sumed that You Liangxing would say that he would handle the issue of money next, this was what You Liangxing said instead when he opened his mouth in a unhurried manner: “I won’t let her be too costly.”
Everyone: “……”
…… Sure enough, he is You Ming’s goose.
Businessmen were truly too terrifying!
Another meeting ended like this. Wanting to resolve the countless matters pressing on his head as soon as possible, You Liangxing opened Bai Yao’s WeChat – which was something he rarely did – and sent his own planning doc.u.ment and the contract over concurrently.
Her Majesty the Queen: — Finding me for endors.e.m.e.nt? Do you know how much I’m worth? Do you know how much my appearance fee costs? Do you know that I love playing big cards?
You Liangxing replied: — I’ll give you as much as you want.
— Just don’t ask me to accompany you to eat and window shop.
Bai Yao’s words changed right there and then.
Her Majesty the Queen: — …… No!!
Her Majesty the Queen: — Who wants your wealth, I only love your person! Give your body to me! I can give you an twenty percent discount!
You Liangxing revealed a slight smiling expression and he subsequently replied: — Leaving.
Her Majesty the Queen: — …… Fifty percent!!
You Liangxing: — Stop messing around, I’m sending the money to your account.
The more insistent he was in giving the money, the lesser Bai Yao wanted it.
Her Majesty the Queen: — I already said I don’t want the money!
You Liangxing: — I really have no time.
Her Majesty the Queen: — …… Seventy percent discount!
You Liangxing: — …… I can only accompany you to play a few games.
Her Majesty the Queen: — En!! Okay!! We’ll game!!
The deeper the love was, the lower their intelligence. Bai Yao, the eldest daughter of a rich family who was possessed by an acting goblin spirit in front of others, was wild with joy, completely unaware that she had been successfully taken down in a systematic manner. All in all, the person who employed the method and the person who was had fallen for the trap were both secretly pleased, and YouLiang TV’s preparatory work took another huge leap forward.
After resolving the confidential and huge trouble he had, You Liangxing’s first instinct was not resting, but securing a plane ticket flying towards City A.
He promised Kang Shengzhe he would go and watch the basketball match. Not only was he fulfilling his promise, he was even accomplishing it in advance. When he calculated the time, he realised that he would just be in time to catch Kang Shengzhe’s first basketball match.
It would be a good surprise to give him.
You Liangxing was in a good mood in spite of having very little rest. Thus, with high spirits, he informed the people in the company and under the surprised gazes of his team, he rushed out to catch the plane to City A.
When he said he was going to leave, he really left; even after he got off the plane, You Liangxing was still quite absentminded. He actually flew over right after he got off work.
… It was inconceivable. Nevertheless, his heart was fully packed with lingering expectation. You Liangxing hailed a taxi and headed straight back to school.
It had been two months since he left and the weather had changed a fair but the people were still the same. As he was walking, the female students who saw him all had faces of excitement and happiness.
“You-xuezhang, you’re back!”
“Did you just come back? Is your internship over?!”
You Liangxing was not one to talk to people he met along the road to begin with, but because he needed to ask something, he stopped momentarily. “En, has the basketball compet.i.tion started?”
The fact that they could speak to You Liangxing at such a close distance made the two female students so happy they were almost short of dancing. They tried their best to suppress their impulses as they replied: “It started, they’re currently playing on the basketball courts right now.”
You Liangxing nodded and followed up with another question: “Where is the Liberal Arts College’s match taking place?”
The female student pointed him in the correct direction swiftly and You Liangxing gave them a polite smile while saying, “Thank you.”
As he left, the female students behind him hugged each other and made happy noises. Since You Liangxing was in fairly decent mood, he jogged towards the basketball court. Sure enough, the compet.i.tion was ongoing and there were a lot of people who were sitting on the stands and spectating.
While there were a lot of people and they were concentrated on the basketball match for the most part, there were still quite a few who noticed You Liangxing. You Liangxing was very tall in stature and he did not need to squeeze to the front to spectate because he could watch the match from the peripheries of the court. You Liangxing’s gaze swept past the players who were sprinting about, and he saw Kang Shengzhe.
He was still outfitted in that dark blue basketball uniform and he was tall in height. He was sweating profusely as he ran and his ponytail was loose and scattered. While it was apparent that they were separated by a huge distance, You Liangxing felt like he could hear Kang Shengzhe panting and gasping.
This basketball match looked exceptionally tiring to play.
You Liangxing’s eyes focused on Kang Shengzhe’s person for a good while before he had the heads.p.a.ce to look at others. Once he saw them, he could not help but be taken aback by surprise. Three to four of his opponents, who were clad in black basketball uniforms, were all imposing in physique. When he carefully observed them while using Kang Shengzhe as a basis for comparison, they were only shorter than Kang Shengzhe by half a head, and they appeared to be around 1.9 metres in height.
… Which faculty had such tall opponents.
His brows furrowed as he scanned through his option. Suddenly, his back was nudged by someone, and it happened to be a smiling Liao Su who exclaimed: “Brother Liang! Why are you back now!?”
You Liangxing gave a slight pause. Subsequently after, he pointed at the basketball court, which led to Liao Su saying in understanding: “Oh, you came to see the basketball match, ze ze ze, sure enough, you’re really interested. You just came from the airport, right? Looking at your clothes, I think this is the first time I’ve seen wrinkles on it.”
You Liangxing did not wish to engage in chit-chat with Liao Su. Instead, his eyes surveyed the basketball court and he seemed to have thought of something as he said. “Why are you here, could the people in black basketball uniforms be…”
With a face full of pride, Liao Su uttered: “That’s right, it’s our Inst.i.tute.”
You Liangxing was astonished. “The school has never been in support of allowing the Physical Education Inst.i.tute to partic.i.p.ate in the campus basketball compet.i.tion.”
Liao Su nodded, agreeing, “They didn’t agree in the past, yes. However, a warrior decided to go against the heinous injustice that has dominated the lands and submitted a written statement, asking for a full account. And then! The school agreed! Say, isn’t that amazing!”
You Liangxing: “…… Is that warrior—”
Patting his chest, Liao Su a.s.serted, “That’s right, it was me!”
You Liangxing: “……” You really are something.
Since that has been said, the teams competing against each other were the Liberal Art College and the Physical Education Inst.i.tute. For the former to draw the Physical Education Inst.i.tute for their first match, the Liberal Arts College had truly taken one for A University with their luck.
Liao Su: “Don’t blame this me, I didn’t think it would be so coincidental either, to the extent where G.o.d K would have to go against my school juniors in my Inst.i.tute in the first match. But honestly speaking, our Physical Education Inst.i.tute is truly well-known for their mighty reputation, because the faces of the Liberal Art College team immediately went green the moment the lot drawing ended.”