As Nie Chuan was intently watching, Reese came up from behind him, hugged him, and kissed him on the cheek. Nie Chuan felt ticklish and shrugged his shoulders. His sports shirt neckline was already loose, and Reese casually tugged at it, exposing Nie Chuan’s shoulder and bit it lightly.
“Why didn’t you take a shower after the game?”
“It’s okay, the sweat has dried. I’ll go take one in a bit!” Nie Chuan’s eyes were still fixed on the computer screen.
“Actually, I don’t think Manning will be assigned to shadow Ewin,” Reese said casually.
“Huh?” Nie Chuan turned around.
At that moment, Reese kissed him, his tongue teasing inside Nie Chuan’s mouth and lingering between his lips. But Nie Chuan was eager to know the answer, so he kept trying to push Reese’s tongue out. The more he did, the tighter Reese clung to him, and Reese’s embrace took on other suggestive meanings.
Finally, Reese let go of Nie Chuan and bit his nose lightly.
“Quickly tell me, how do you think UJT’s coach will arrange that Manning?”
Nie Chuan always felt that Manning would cause more trouble for DK compared to small forward Jonathan and center Cook. After all, no matter how good small forward Jonathan was, he was still green compared to Reese. Even though center Cook was powerful, Nie Chuan believed Heimont was more than his match. But Manning… his capabilities were too varied.
“Do you really want to know my opinion?” Reese lowered his eyelids, his lips approached Nie Chuan, maintaining just enough distance to let Nie Chuan feel his breath.
This guy was teasing him again.
Nie Chuan really wanted to cover his fluttering heart.
“Yes! Stop beating around the bush, just tell me!” Nie Chuan nudged him with his shoulder.
But Reese released Nie Chuan, lazily walked to the bed, and lay down with his arms spread out. His calves dangled off the bed, and in a voice cool yet seemingly carrying endless nuances, he said, “Then come please me. If I feel good, I’ll tell you the answer.”
“Hey! You said we wouldn’t do that when there’s a match!” Nie Chuan stood up disapprovingly.
But his mind uncontrollably recalled how wild they had been in their apartment in New York over the Christmas holiday.
He swallowed.
“If you don’t want to come over, forget it. Anyway, in three days when our match with UJT starts, you’ll know the answer.”
Reese was about to turn over when Nie Chuan dashed over and pinned him down heavily.
“Wait! Come on!”
Reese laughed, wrapping his arms around Nie Chuan’s waist, “I thought you’d pretend to be coy, standing aside waiting for me to pull you over.”
“Hmph!” Nie Chuan suddenly remembered something, “Wait, I need to find that thing!”
“What?” Reese didn’t let go.
“The thing… you gave me before.”
“What?”
“The one that tastes like chocolate…” Nie Chuan’s voice trailed off quieter.
“I actually don’t need that thing,” Reese said calmly.
“Don’t we? I saw online that…”
“I don’t plan to touch anyone else, and I can’t stand others touching you. If that’s the case, there’s no need for prevention.”
Reese’s words were straightforward, but they warmed Nie Chuan’s heart.
“Then isn’t what you gave me a waste?”
“Let’s keep it as a keepsake.”
With that, Reese flipped Nie Chuan underneath him.
Nie Chuan thought Reese would be more reserved in the dorm room. Fearing that the people in the next room might hear, Nie Chuan tried hard to suppress any sound, but the harder he resisted, the stronger Reese’s force became, until Nie Chuan couldn’t help but make a sound.
This time, Reese took his time, but fortunately, he didn’t use any excessive positions. When Reese lay on top of Nie Chuan, both breathing heavily, Reese told Nie Chuan, “Actually, there’s no one in the next dorm room.”
“Ah… you… how did you know?”
“They’re all engineering students. Today their professor organized a visit to a big engineering company.”
“Why didn’t you tell me!” Nie Chuan was very dissatisfied.
“Because you were trying so hard to restrain yourself, which made it very intense for me,” Reese said, his eyes unblinking.
Nie Chuan really wanted to record his words and let all his fans know his true nature!
“Can you tell me now? What do you think UJT’s coach will do with Manning?” Nie Chuan sat up and asked.
Reese pulled Nie Chuan back into his arms, seemingly not yet satisfied, and kissed his cheek several times: “I think Manning will be assigned to guard you.”
After a couple of seconds of thought, Nie Chuan was still surprised: “What? Guard me? Why—I’m not the team’s top scorer!”
“But according to the statistics, at least half of the scores depend on your assists. And your steal rate is the highest in the team, next to me. Four-fifths of DK’s fast breaks start with you. Aren’t these stats enough? Watching you is like choking DK’s throat.”
Nie Chuan furrowed his brow: “So… am I that important?”
“Yes, you are very important. Without you, DK wouldn’t have the strength to contend for the championship. Your presence changes the structure of DK.”
Reese’s voice carried a convincing force.
Nie Chuan paused and sighed helplessly: “Ah, if Ewin knew this, he’d be upset. The opponent hasn’t assigned anyone to guard him, their outside shooting star.”
Reese propped his chin and let his eyelids droop, his fingers playing with Nie Chuan’s eyelashes: “Being shadowed by Manning, a flexible big guy like that, you seem not too nervous.”
Nie Chuan smiled: “Actually, since Coach Gordon analyzed Manning’s characteristics, I’ve been thinking, besides you, who else in our team can contain Manning’s speed. It seems only I can. Isn’t it good if Manning really is assigned to shadow me? If I tie up Manning, it’ll be easier for you to score. Plus, Carlo will cover for Ewin, ensuring Ewin’s outside scoring.”
“It’s rare for you to be so confident.”
“It’s not arrogance; it’s sacrificing one for the team!” Nie Chuan posed as if he were grandly noble.
And he had dared to face up to players like Larvin and Owen, why not Manning?
“Nie Chuan, I want to ask you something.”
“What is it?” Nie Chuan felt rare to hear Reese ask questions.
“If that fan who wrote your name on her chest tried to seduce you, would you be able to resist?”
Reese’s tone was as casual as “do you want to pour milk into your coffee,” but Nie Chuan immediately became alert.
“How could I! There are so many female fans who have written your name on their chests, surely you can’t sleep with all of them!”
Nie Chuan realized that Reese sometimes got jealous, and he often couldn’t grasp what exactly made him jealous.
“Technically and physically, I could. But considering none of them can give me the pleasure you do, I wouldn’t do that,” Reese answered.
Nie Chuan rolled his eyes.
The next morning, with no classes or training, Nie Chuan slept in for a long time.
After waking up, Nie Chuan continued to study the game footage. If Manning was indeed going to be assigned to guard him as Reese predicted, he needed to be well-prepared. He seriously analyzed Manning’s change of direction, defensive radius, and even his height from past games.
When a game ended, he would close his eyes, lean back in his chair, and simulate in his mind how he would break past Manning if he were standing right in front of him.
When he opened his eyes, he found Reese sitting by his computer desk, leaning against the chair back, watching him for who knows how long.
“Hey! You came over and didn’t say anything!” Nie Chuan nudged Reese’s shoulder with his fist.
“I kind of regret it,” Reese’s words made Nie Chuan feel like he had missed something.
“Regret what?”
“Regret telling you Manning might be assigned to guard you. Now all you think about is Manning.”
Nie Chuan shook his head helplessly. And the match against UTL was crucial for DK. Nie Chuan decided to conserve his energy, but lying in bed, he simply couldn’t fall asleep.
Meanwhile, Reese, as usual, leaned against the headboard reading a biography of a famous mathematician. Nie Chuan turned to his side and nudged Reese with his knee: “Hey, I can’t sleep!”
“It’s only eight o’clock. If you could fall asleep now, that would be divine,” Reese’s gaze never left the book.
Nie Chuan stretched his arm to grab his phone, filled with messages from friends. Zhou Bin and Mao Xian were still being ridiculous.
Zhou Bin: If you lose to UTL tomorrow, it’s okay, Mao Xian and I will treat you to a big meal, chocolate-flavored poop!
Mao Xian: If you lose to UTL tomorrow, it’s okay, Big Bin and I will treat you to poop-flavored chocolate! How novel, right? Seeing this, you don’t want to lose, right?
Nie Chuan’s face was full of black lines, just for these two clowns, he couldn’t afford to lose.
Lily also sent a message: “If you win tomorrow, the whole cheerleading squad will treat you to a chocolate milk bath.”
Nie Chuan couldn’t help but laugh. What on earth is a chocolate milk bath!
At that moment, Reese reached out and rubbed the top of Nie Chuan’s head. “Still can’t sleep?”
“Yeah, can’t sleep.” Nie Chuan tossed his phone aside, turned towards Reese, and intentionally rubbed his knee against Reese’s waist. “Why don’t you keep me company then?”
“Keep you company how?” Reese put aside the book he was holding.
Nie Chuan playfully lifted the blanket and pointed inside, saying, “Help me out!”
“Sure,” Reese’s lips curled up in a smirk. “I can help until you fall asleep. But if you can’t break through Manning’s defense tomorrow, don’t blame me if I bite it off tomorrow night.”
Nie Chuan shivered; that threat was truly frightening!
But Reese was really skilled. By ten o’clock, Nie Chuan was out cold, snoring softly.
Reese reached for the tissues on the bedside table, wiping his own face while cleaning Nie Chuan up.
The next day’s game was in the morning. As Nie Chuan, carrying his sports bag, and Reese stepped out of the dorm room, many students who had gotten up early opened their doors to see them off.
They boarded the bus, with Ewin and Carlo sitting together.
Ewin appeared very nervous, continuously adjusting his breathing. Carlo nudged him with his elbow and chuckled, “I mean… it’s not your first time in the finals, why so nervous?”
Ewin closed his eyes, ignoring Carlo.
“Our teamwork will definitely break through that Manning.”
“I know I’m reliable, but how do I know if you are?” Ewin turned to face him.
Carlo shrugged, “Worst case, if you don’t score fifteen points this game, I’ll lick your shoes!”
Heimont, sitting across the aisle, chimed in, “So either way, you’ll end up licking his shoes?”
“Heimont, sleep more, talk less.”
Listening to Carlo trying his best to comfort Ewin, Nie Chuan also inexplicably felt less nervous.
When they arrived at the gym, many fans who hadn’t managed to buy tickets were standing outside waiting for their arrival.
Nie Chuan exhaled, patted his chest, and told himself: “Nie Chuan, never lose your rhythm!”
With his previous experience, facing the noisy crowd and the various sounds echoing in the gym, Nie Chuan was much more composed than before.
He warmed up his joints and listened to Coach Gordon’s instructions.
“I’ve already said everything that needs to be said. UTL wants to compete in speed, let them see who is faster! They want to play man-to-man tight defense, let them witness our individual strength! Of course, according to UTL’s previous tactics, we will counter with the ‘Triangle Offense’. Nie Chuan, the outside and inside cuts of the point guard are on you! If the situation is off, I hope you can make judgments on the field, mix defense with offense, and cover for teammates who can score! In short, we don’t give up any scoring opportunity!”
Coach Gordon’s words underscored the gravity of the match.
When the DK basketball team entered the arena, the cheers were even more intense than before.
Unexpectedly, Nie Chuan saw about a dozen girls wearing white t-shirts with “Nie Chuan, you can go anywhere” written across their chests.
Carlo looked at the scene and couldn’t help but laugh: “Wow, I’ve realized that although we all have fan clubs, Nie Chuan’s fan club is the most interesting!”
