Chapter 27: The Final of the Friendly Games

The game began, and tension hung in the air. The spirit of competition was palpable, felt even by the spectators on the bench. Hong Ren stood at the throw-in line, focusing intently on the ball.

On the other side of the court stood five opponents, ready to attack. The leader among them, Jen Ryu, stood out from the rest. He glared fiercely at Hong Ren, as if his fury could unbalance him.

"Come on, Hong, do it!" shouted Jung Ho, cheering on his friend.

"Yeah, jump like a ball, not like an autistic!" teased Lu Shen, unable to contain his laughter, but quickly froze when he received disapproving looks.

Hong Ren glanced at the other players. Jen Ryu and Mei Yu took defensive positions, preparing for the press. A moment later, a whistle blew from Sung Wo, and the game began.

The first dribble. Hong Ren grabbed the ball with both hands and began to move slowly, his feet gently touching the asphalt. He dribbled with a low squint, carefully watching the movements of the defenders. Ahead of him stood two: Jen Ryu and Mei Yu—like predators eager to catch their prey. Hong Ren, gathering himself, suddenly changed direction, sending the ball between Jen Ryu's legs.

"Wow," Lu Shen marveled.

"Asshole!" Jen Ryu shouted, clearly offended that he had been tricked.

Hong Ren surged forward, navigating the press with quick right and left steps. Jen Ryu was not about to give up, as if his leg was glued to Hong Ren's. Eventually, he managed to run up behind him and knock the ball away, sending it rolling toward the edge of the court. But Hong Ren did not give up, and at the last moment, when the ball seemed lost, he tossed it up and caught it, deceiving the defenders.

"Bravo, take it!" Lu Shen shouted sarcastically.

Without wasting time, Hong Ren took a few steps toward the three-point line. He crouched, his knees bent, his body consuming the space around him as if it was pressing him down. However, he changed pace again, added a feint, and somehow the ball was behind his back before it was back in front.

"Don't think I'll let you go!" Jen Ryu yelled, trying to block him again.

The ball was back at Hong Ren's chest level. All his thoughts focused on the moment of the shot. He raised the ball high above his head, and it sparkled in the stars like the sun. However, the forces of the triple defense caused the shot to fail. Returning to his body, he noticed Jen Ryu talking about how easily he had been bypassed.

"Watch and learn, you'll never get past me!" Jen Ryu said aggressively, fueling the fire.

In a game where five players faced Hong Ren, he continued to find space. Hong Ren began dribbling again, deceived Jen Ryu, moving toward the three-point line, lightly swaying back as if about to shoot when there was a flurry of arms!

At that moment, two defenders, Mei Yu and Xiao Li, aggressively rushed at him, trying to confuse him, not giving him time to relax. Their bodies pressed tightly together created a wall, clearly intending to trap him. But Hong Ren, with his agility, executed a through-the-legs feint, the ball suddenly leaping over his hip, and, like a comet, he found himself two meters away from the hoop, unguarded.

"Good job, now forget about agility — just shoot!" Lu Shen shouted.

At that moment, Hong Ren took the shot. The ball flew toward the hoop and with a gentle sound, it swished through the net. Suddenly, there was a loud sound as the ball bounced off the rim, and to everyone's surprise, it went straight into the basket. The score became 0:4.

"What the fuck?!" Jen Ryu shouted, his voice ringing with hatred. "You're just a lucky bastard!"

On the bench, Lu Shen tilted his head, waiting for Jung Ho's reaction, but he just smiled, unsure how to respond.

"Fantastic, Hoon! Now I expect you to hit a three-pointer to match their attempts," Lu Shen shouted with a grin.

Now Jen Ryu became more aggressive. He tightened up as he received the ball from Mei Yu and, with some madness, threw it at the basket, trying to show his strength. He stretched like a bow, tense as a string, and the ball flew with agility.

"Suck it!" he shouted, right in front of the hoop.

And just like that, the ball went into the basket, bringing half a point to their team. Emotions were running high again.

"You got lucky," Haru Lin assured from the bench, but Hong Ren just raised an eyebrow, continuing to focus.

The five-player team tried to extend their success through precise passes. Mei Yu paved the way through Hong Ren, and his pass to the center allowed Xiao Li to set up his shot. The ball flew like a bullet, and when it landed in the basket, the opponents closed the gap, increasing their score by half a point.

Everyone on the bench groaned, but Hong Ren felt his confidence growing. Now he understood he needed to act more aggressively. Even though he had far more points, he still positioned himself, determined to finally get past the defense, but Jen Ryu and Mei Yu did not leave him alone.

Hong Ren, remembering in his thoughts not to give up, tried to create a situation again. He dribbled at varying speeds, deceiving the defenders with light feints here and there, stepping on their feet and floating around them. All this time, the ball seemed to fit perfectly into every movement. Changing directions, semicircles — all of this created a kind of fireworks in self-deception, allowing him to remember every move.

But at the moment of the shot, his hands did not work properly, and the ball flew past again. Those three attempts had already cost him the chance to lead the game, and seeing his panic, Jen Ryu darted for the ball, passing it to the other players.

"Get your dreams out of here!" Jen Ryu said, expressing his hatred and ambitions as the ball hit Mei Yu's sneaker. But Mei Yu, receiving it on the go, passed the ball to Xiao Li, who shot from under the basket.

Hong Ren knew it was time to act. In his last shot, he three times positioned himself under the defender, deceived Jen Ryu, and ran to where there was space. Again he focused, confidently relying on self-assurance; a feint, a crouch...

"Fuck!" Hong Ren shouted.

Mei Yu knocked the ball away from behind and passed it to Jen Ryu.

Jen Ryu passed the ball to Xiao Li, and he, standing behind the three-point line, took the shot. The ball soared through the air, and he managed to sink a three-pointer.

"I didn't think I'd fall for such a trick, hehe," Hong Ren said, determination sparkling in his eyes as he prepared for the next move to score even more points.

The situation heated up again, and Jen Ryu was inspired. He rushed for a shot, but Hong Ren, without wasting time, pressed him and dribbled around again, this time approaching the hoop.

But he was surrounded on all sides, and the ball was knocked from his hands again. Hong Ren tried to catch up with the players, but he couldn't keep up with the sharp passes, and Mei Yu made a shot from under the hoop.

Hong Ren felt slightly dissatisfied, but as soon as the ball was in his hands, he surged forward.

"Hold onto the ball like it's your dick!" Lu Shen shouted at him.

"Lu Shen... what a moron," Haru Lin said, holding his face.

Hong Ren paid no attention, focused on the game. His opponents were about to surround him on both sides, but Hong Ren ran as fast as he could, getting further into the three-second zone and jumped.

Jen Ryu jumped after him and tried to block the shot, but failed. Hong Ren dunked.

Just at that moment, referee Sung Wo blew the whistle, signaling the end of the first half of the game:

"The first half of the game is over, the score is 2.5:8 in favor of player number twelve!"

Jen Ryu lowered his head, trying to catch his breath. He knew he had not handled Hong Ren in the first half, and now his team was trailing by almost ten points. On the bench, Ming You gathered his players.

"Hong Ren," he began, "despite your advantage, I want you to play at full throttle. Score eight times more points than the rookies. This is your chance to prove your worth."

"Eight times? Are you serious?" Hong Ren asked in surprise.

"Yes, seriously," Ming You replied coolly, pointing at the scoreboard.

"Easy for you to say," Hong Ren muttered, rubbing his neck. "I can't just score eight times more, but I'll try."

Jung Ho, overhearing the conversation, couldn't help but interject:

"If you keep thinking that way, you'll definitely fail. Just play your game!"

"Yeah, keep your eyes on the ball like it's porn!" Lu Shen teased, crossing his arms with a smirk. "Don't let it get away!"

Everyone laughed, and Ming You shook his head, watching his team.

"Alright, enough talking," he interrupted. "Hong Ren, get back on the court and destroy those losers."

Hong Ren nodded, and, encouraging himself, he began to rise from the bench.

Sung Wo made a second whistle, and the game began. The five-player team immediately decided to strengthen their defense. Jen Ryu charged at Hong Ren, his movements quick and aggressive. He began to press, leaving his opponent no chance for an open shot. Hong Ren, feeling the pressure, sidestepped, then sharply moved the ball through his leg, trying to get past Jen Ryu. But he stood firm like a wall and knocked the ball from Hong Ren's hands.

"You just can't handle us, can you? Bastard doll belonging to a bastard!" Jen Ryu mocked, flipping him off as the ball bounced to his teammates.

Hong Ren, ignoring the provocations, watched as Xiao Li took a shot from the three-point line. But he missed, and Hong Ren skillfully caught the rebound and, without wasting time, took another shot from the three-point line. The ball flew swiftly toward the basket and, to his delight, went in.

Mei Yu, realizing the situation was worsening, took the initiative. He quickly passed the ball to Jen Ryu, who, without hesitation, made a penetrating pass to Xiao Li. Xiao Li, positioned at the corner of the free-throw line, skillfully deceived Hong Ren with a behind-the-back feint and threw the ball into the basket.

"Not bad!" Jen Ryu shouted, winking at Xiao Li. He understood they needed to act together, or they wouldn't be able to catch up with Hong Ren on points.

Meanwhile, Hong Ren, watching the game, realized that the opposing team was starting to lose stamina from such sharp passes. He maneuvered to the free-throw line, deceiving a defender with a light through-the-legs feint, and shot the ball. To his joy, Hong Ren hit the basket.

"What the fuck!?" Jen Ryu exclaimed, his voice trembling with anger. He realized their chances of winning were dwindling as he looked at the scoreboard.

The five-player team gathered, and they began discussing how to act better.

"We need more coordination," Mei Yu said. "We have to work together to stop him."

"Easy to say, but how do we do it?" Xiao Li replied, his voice indifferent, but his eyes showed a desire to win.

"I'll make a great pass to you, and you shoot from the three-point corner," Jen Ryu suggested, confident in his abilities.

He took the ball again and, after a few dribbles, passed it to Xiao Li as Hong Ren approached. Xiao Li, not wasting time, successfully shot the ball into the basket from the three-point corner.

Hong Ren, watching as his opponents began to pick up the pace, understood that time was running out, and he needed to focus. He knew that every mistake could cost him the victory. Again taking the ball, he began to slowly move toward the center line, contemplating his next steps.

"You're fuck done for, Hong Ren!" Jen Ryu shouted, trying to throw him off balance. But Hong Ren just smirked and continued moving forward, confidently controlling the ball.

As he approached the three-point line, he noticed his opponents closing in, trying to create pressure. At that moment, he made a sharp step to the side, deceiving Jen Ryu, and took a shot from a distance. The ball arced beautifully and miraculously went into the basket, despite its strange trajectory.

"Fuck my ass, yes! He scored!" Lu Shen commented.

The opposing team was also in shock. They exchanged glances, and disappointment and confusion were evident in their eyes.

"What do we do next?" Mei Yu asked, realizing their strategy had failed.

"We need to act quickly! We have to shoot the ball while we have a chance! He can't keep up with all of us!" Jen Ryu shouted, raising his hands.

He took the ball again and, after a few dribbles, tried to deceive Hong Ren. But he was ready. Hong Ren tried to anticipate his move and, stepping sideways, thought he would intercept the ball.

But Jen Ryu smirked and passed the ball to Mei Yu.

"Don't underestimate us, jerk!" Jen Ryu growled.

Mei Yu, stopping near the three-point line, threw the ball in hope, but it flew past the basket, bouncing off the rim.

"Fuck! We can't miss any opportunities!" Jen Ryu shouted, raising his hands in despair.

Hong Ren, sensing that his opponents were starting to panic, continued to remain calm. He knew that this balance and confidence had become his greatest strengths. He grabbed the ball again on the rebound and, alone with the ball, understood that his indifference and confidence had become his strongest weapons.

He knew, so he mentally said:

"Victory doesn't always belong to those who are more emotional or aggressive. Sometimes it belongs to those who stay calm, even when everything around is burning."

Hong Ren barreled forward and almost took the ball in both hands, but he didn't and no double dribble occurred. Hong Ren decided to retreat to the center, as his opponents surrounded him on all sides.

He stood at the center line and made a decisive shot.

"Come on, don't mess this up!" Lu Shen supported him.

"Interesting," Haru Lin commented.

Ming You, who had been sitting with his head down, just saw the arc the ball was describing. His eyes seemed to follow the movement, but then he rolled his eyes.

The ball bounced off the backboard, and Hong Ren missed.

"Yes! Suck my..." Jen Ryu was already celebrating, but the referee interrupted his triumph.

"Dear viewers, the game has concluded with a score of 4:32 in favor of player number twelve!" Sung Wo announced to everyone.

Cheers and exclamations of joy erupted from the crowd. People who had bet on Hong Ren raised their hands in the air, embracing each other.

"I knew he would win!" shouted one of the spectators, patting his friend's back. "Now we have money for beer!"

"Yeah, and for a couple of whores!" replied another, laughing. "Hong Ren, you're awesome!"

Meanwhile, on the rookie bench, an atmosphere of despair reigned. Jen Ryu, hot-headed and irritated, pounded his fist on the bench.

"Fuck! How could we have lost this fucking game?" He shouted, looking at Mei Yu and Xiao Li. "It's all Ming You's fault! Let's go beat him fuck up!"

"Calm down, Jen," Mei Yu said, trying to keep his composure. "We all did our best. The rules just weren't in our favor."

"Not in our favor?" Jen asked, his voice resembling a roar. "Then let's fucking beat Ming You!"

Xiao Li, usually quiet, added: "As far as I'm concerned, that's exactly what he wants; you're not going to dance to his tune, are you?"

Jen Ryu clenched his teeth in anger, realizing he could do nothing about it.

But while the rookies were talking, thugs led by Taek Jung approached them, their faces grim and threatening. Sung Wo, the referee, stood nearby with his arms crossed over his chest.

"Well, well, fucking little shits," Taek Jung said, his voice low and menacing. "Looks like you have debts. And we can't just let you walk away."

"We'll pay it all back," Mei Yu tried to assure him, but Taek Jung just smirked.

"You have a chance to redeem yourselves," he said. "We'll organize another game. For stakes. And if you lose, your debts will only increase."

Jen Ryu, unable to contain his anger, shouted: "We won't play under pressure!"

"Oh, but you have no choice," Taek Jung replied coldly. "Play until you pay off your debts. Otherwise, the consequences will be unpleasant."

Meanwhile, Ming You's team gathered together, preparing to celebrate their victory.

"Well, guys," Ming You began, "how about we celebrate? I heard there are some great whores in the back alley. And you, Lu Shen, it's about time you got fucking."

The team laughed in unison.

"Yeah, I'm ready!" Lu Shen exclaimed, his eyes lighting up. "But only if you don't order anything too expensive."

"And don't forget, I'm not paying for you," Haru Lin added with an indifferent expression. "Just don't tell me about your escapades."

"I'm in! And you, Hong Ren, coming with us?" Jung Ho asked, turning to his teammate.

Hong Ren, though indifferent, smiled. "Why not? It'll be fun, especially after the game."

Ming You, watching his players' joy, raised his hand, stopping them.

"By the way, guys," he said. "If anything, I'll come by a little later..."

He glanced at the thugs, who were his underlings. "Please escort my friends."

The thugs nodded, and Ming You, enjoying the feeling of victory, stayed behind, anticipating an even greater win than any streetball or friendly game could offer.

***

The three-second zone is a small area from the hoop to the free-throw line. It is visually marked in a different color. In streetball, this rule generally does not apply, but in any professional game, it does, and such a rule will be encountered in subsequent chapters.