Chapter 329: Anger
The score was ominously in Xiao Luo’s favor—it was eight to zero, to be exact—and it had already been agreed from the onset that Xiao Luo would always start off the game. Yang Hongzhi was under immense pressure with that scoreline, and he was absolutely frustrated. Increasingly, Yang Hongzhi was getting enraged—on his forehead, blue-colored veins bulged like they were about to burst, and every strand of hair on his brows was on ends. Thoroughly outcla.s.sed in the game, he was being humiliated right in front of the woman he was trying so hard to impress. It made him want to skin Xiao Luo alive!
Xiao Luo ignored his vicious expression, and again, the moment he received the ball, he jumped immediately to take the shot.
But this time, instead of going for the block, Yang Hongzhi roared and charged into Xiao Luo like a wounded beast. He did not even get a hand on the last eight b.a.l.l.s, and unable to accept the shame, he decided to directly hurl himself at Xiao Luo.
CRAs.h.!.+
The impact reverberated across the court as Yang Hongzhi barged his shoulder into Xiao Luo’s chest while still making the shot in the air. Xiao Luo lost his balance, and he had to take two steps back to regain himself, and he felt a dull pain in his chest.
Before Yang Hongzhi could even turn to look, he heard the familiar thud as the ball landed through the hoop.
“Sh*t!!!”
Yang Hongzhi was overcome by anguish, and as his eyes glowered in frustration, he threw a tantrum, stamping his feet on the ground repeatedly. He ripped off his jacket and flung it on the court.
“Are you playing basketball or ‘Street Fighter?!"”
Xiao Luo was piqued, and he grabbed Yang Hongzhi’s shoulder as he walked off.
Yang Hongzhi was outraged and immediately slapped Xiao Luo’s hand away, then grabbed Xiao Luo’s by his collar. He roared, “I am going to whoop your *ss, so what! Are you unhappy about that?”
His body check was totally intentional, but yet he couldn’t accept it when Xiao Luo laid a hand on his shoulder. He still had some semblance of self-control despite his fury, or he’d have ordered his bodyguards to deal with Xiao Luo.
Xiao Luo stared coldly into his eyes and, in no uncertain terms, said, “You better let go!”
The glint in Xiao Luo’s eyes made Yang Hongzhi s.h.i.+ver, he quickly let go of Xiao Luo’s collar—for some inexplicable reason, he suddenly felt like a frog that was being hunted by a venomous snake and on the verge of being struck; and had Yang Hongzhi not let go, he would have been killed that instant.
Seeing the confrontation, Yang Hongzhi’s bodyguards, Su Li and Shen Qingyan, rushed into the court.
“Young Master Yang, it’s just a friendly match, don’t take it too seriously.” Shen Qingyan said, attempting to calm him down.
Suddenly noticing Su Li’s presence, Yang Hongzhi quelled his anger, unwilling to tarnish his image in front of her, and forced a smile. “Huh, what are you saying, Qingyan? Since when was I angry? I noticed Mr. Xiao Luo’s collar was unb.u.t.toned, and I’m helping him with it.”
“Oh, Really? Then I have misunderstood you.”
Shen Qingyan smiled wryly, and she knew Yang Hongzhi well enough. She decided to de-escalate the situation and said, “Young Master Yang, you must have worked out enough by now; come, let’s get freshened up as I’ve prepared some delicious dishes for you.”
“Oh, we’re not in a hurry, there’s one last ball.” Yang Hongzhi responded.
The two bodyguards looked at each other awkwardly, wondering to themselves why their young master would not accept the offer when Ms. Shen had just given him a way out. Why did he not go along with it? Did he actually think that he could turn this defeat into a victory? The score was now nine to zero!
But when they saw the viciousness in Yang Hongzhi’s eyes, they knew he would teach Xiao Luo a hard lesson. They got themselves ready.
“Are you sure that you still want to continue?” Su Li asked.
“Haha… there should be an end to every beginning, it’s only one more ball, and it’ll be done in no time.”
“Then let’s finish it!” Xiao Luo spoke up suddenly.
There was a fierce glint in Yang Hongzhi’s eyes for a fleeting moment, and then he laughed and said, “Li, you guys can leave first. It seems like Mr. Xiao wants to make me go home with a big zero, hahaha. I’d also like to know if it ends up that way.”
Su Li did not respond to him but walked to Xiao Luo and whispered, “Be careful!”
Xiao Luo was taken aback as he did not expect Su Li to show any concern. Su Li was well aware of what Yang Hongzhi had planned, and he certainly was going to play by the book.
He nodded and walked towards the basketball that had already rolled to the far side of the court.
“Win, Daddy!”
Su Xiaobei stood by the courtside, clenching her tiny fist and excitedly cheering Xiao Luo on.
Xiao Luo winked at her and smiled, then gave her an “OK” sign.
“Mr. Xiao, if you’re going to score the last ball with another jump shot, then it’ll be an anti-climax, just like a sissy. Come, play ball like a man, show me your dribbling skill,” Yang Hongzhi sneered, trying to provoke Xiao Luo.
“As you wis.h.!.+”
Xiao Luo smirked and started dribbling toward Yang Hongzhi’s end of the court.
“This stupid catfish is finally taking the bait, I’ll change my surname if I don’t destroy you today!”
Yang Hongzhi said to himself and laughed before he got into a defensive stance. There was a vicious glint in his eyes, and he wanted nothing less than causing him serious injury. The coaches Yang Hongzhi had hired taught him many basketball skills, including several dirty tactics and how to dish out different levels of damage to his opponents in a game. He could sprain their ankles for starters, break their bones or cause an internal injury if he wanted to.
“Li, things aren’t looking good, it seems like young master Yang is going for his killer moves.”
Shen Qingyan expressed her concern to Su Li as they watched the game unfold from the courtside. If Yang Hongzhi really decided to play dirty, she would certainly not forgive him for it, as he would’ve not only lost the match but also his dignity as a sportsman.
Su Li listened but remained impa.s.sive, but after a brief thought, she said, “Call an ambulance, just in case!”
The one reason that made her despise Yang Hongzhi was that he was simply a spoiled kid from a wealthy background. He refused to accept any rejection or failure in life, what he wanted, he got. He was the one who initiated the match, but he couldn’t take the fact that he was totally outplayed. Had he not been the son of the company’s biggest shareholder, she would not even respond to him.
Shen Qingyan concurred and decided to make the call, as she too was now aware that Yang Hongzhi was not a dignified person.
Back on the court, Xiao Luo advanced speedily toward Yang Hongzhi, dribbling with flair and control. He made a feint to his right, then swung to the left, suddenly broke the ball back to the right again, and charged forward to get underneath the basket. He moved like a gust of wind and reached the basket in the blink of an eye.
“Wow, what a move! Is Xiao Luo going to dunk?”
Shen Qingyan, still on the phone, but her eyes were fixed on the court action as she was a basketball fan and regularly watched basketball matches. From Xiao Luo’s body position, it was evident that he was about to execute the Tomahawk dunk.
Su Li simply stared in a stupor, absolutely bewildered at how high Xiao Luo had jumped, and how easily he had dribbled pa.s.s Yang Hongzhi.
“Got you!”
“AARGH~”
Yang Hongzhi was beaten, but he would not give in—his intentions were clear, and in a desperate attempt to take his opponent down, he launched himself, cras.h.i.+ng hard into Xiao Luo. A determination showed in his blood-shot eyes, and he expected to see Xiao Luo tumble out of the backline a complete wreck.
The horrifying sound of a brutal, bone-crunching thump filled the air, and everyone cringed in horror. Would Xiao Luo be alright? But, the expression on Yang Hongzhi’s face drastically at the moment of impact. An explosion of irresistible power surged from Xiao Luo’s body, and Yang Hongzhi felt he had just crashed into an immovable mountain.
…