Basketball System: Rebound of the Underdog

Of course, though, that wasn't what Yuze meant. He merely said it because it seemed like Kai hadn't seen his friends just yet!

At that moment, though, Yuze could feel nothing but frustration.

Kai merely stood there with the ball, unmoving and unable to pass it to his teammates.

"Oh, what is going on with this kid?" Gina asked.

"It looks like he's having a meltdown," David chimed.

Then, Jimmy stole the ball from his hands with just a few seconds left. The other Dogs, who were also frustrated with Kai for just standing there with a stupid look on his face, ran to stop him.

Fortunately, Jinping was able to stop him, and the whistle blew, signaling the end of the first quarter.

30-14.

A 16-point gap.

The first quarter had been a nightmare, leaving the Shizi Dogs trailing behind.

The boys went back to their bench for a few seconds. Coach Muchen scanned his players, eyes narrowing on Kai. "Can you play?" he asked.

Kai's face was set. His heart thundered, but he nodded once.

"What happened back there?" Jinping asked with a frustrated look.

A small smirk made its way to Kai's face. Somehow, that should have made Jinping feel annoyed. However, instead, he was relieved.

Was Kai finally back on his feet?

On the Champions' bench, the mood was oddly tense. Jian sat calmly, wiping the sweat from his brow. His eyes flicked to Jimmy, who was shifting nervously.

"What's wrong with you?" Jian asked. Jimmy looked up, caught like a deer in headlights, before shrugging with forced nonchalance. His fingers twitched at his side.

"I don't know. Just… nerves," Jimmy admitted, eyes darting to the Shizi Dogs' bench where Kai sat, still and contemplative. Across the court, Kimmy watched the scene unfold with her own unease.

Despite everything, she found herself watching her brother and Jian more than Kai, which was contrary to what she had expected. The way Jian moved, commanding without effort, kept pulling her gaze back. Alongside that was her worry for her brother. She knew he played better than that.

Jimmy's eyes met hers for a brief moment before closing them to calm himself down.

Kai hadn't been delivering. There was nothing to be worried about.

Jian exhaled, almost bored, before stretching his arms out. "Time to get this over with," he muttered, glancing at the scoreboard that read 30-14. The lead was comfortable.

Games like this usually had one ending—victory.

Meanwhile, the whistle blew again, and the players made their way back to the court. Kai was still at the front, making the crowd murmur.

"Are they seriously keeping Kai on the court?" Gina's skepticism echoed, met with David's thoughtful pause.

"They don't have much of a choice. It's early. They also don't have another player to replace him. What else can they do?" he said, sounding uncertain.

As they walked, Kai could feel the stares of his teammates. Renren's jaw was tight, and there was an unspoken question in his eyes. Andy clicked his tongue before stepping closer.

"What do we change?" Andy asked. "It looks like you have the answer now."

Kai took a deep breath while they waited.

"Nothing," he finally said.

Jet, replacing Kun, frowned. "Nothing?" he asked.

Kai firmly nodded. "Play like you always have. They're the same as the teams we played before."

He was lying, of course.

A lie, a thin one, meant to hold them together.

They needed to believe, and right now, that was all he could give them.

Deep down, Kai knew the stakes were higher than ever.

Every hour he had spent leveling up, pushing his body to the limit, perfecting skills that left him breathless—was it all for the show? Was he just another player to be outclassed by Jian?

No. It wasn't just for the show.

The buzzer sounded, and the second quarter began. Every pair of eyes were fixed on the players as they took their positions. Kai's fingers curled around the ball as it was passed to him. Enjoy exclusive content from My Virtual Library Empire

The heat of the court, the glaring lights, the noise—it all melted away as he narrowed his focus.

Jian's eyes were on him. The ball felt warm in Kai's hands, and for a split second, he felt the push and pull of the crowd's energy. This was it.

He made the first move, a quick pivot that sent him to the right. Jian matched him stride for stride, eyes unwavering. But this time, Kai wasn't just reacting. He had a plan built from every ounce of training, every skill learned through blood and sweat.

Kai's gaze flickered left, his body shifting just enough to make it seem like he would pass. It was an illusion. Jian's eyes narrowed, tracking the feint, but Kai's movements were fluid with no hint of hesitation.

He pulled back, the ball still in his control, and lunged forward with a burst of speed. Jian shadowed him, but there was a split second—a heartbeat—when Kai saw the opening. He didn't think, just acted, twisting his body to leave Jian half a step behind.

Gasps rippled through the crowd as Kai accelerated, the court stretching out before him. Johnny Wang's laughter halted, eyes wide with disbelief. Ashley leaned forward, her frown deepening.

"Is he...?" one of the spectators muttered, the question unfinished but echoed in the stunned silence.

With Jian closing in, Kai knew he needed more.

He faked a quick pass to Andy, drawing the briefest glance from Chaoxing before driving to the right again.

"He's got control now," David's voice trembled with barely contained excitement. "This is what we've been waiting for!"

Gina didn't respond, too fixated on the court where Kai's every move seemed like a blur.

Jian's eyes flickered with something unfamiliar as he tried to close the gap. Was it surprise? The thought barely registered before Kai stepped back just beyond the three-point line, muscles coiled and his breathing sharp. The world shrank to the orange ball in his hands and the arc it would need to find the basket.

He jumped, every ounce of energy propelling him upward. Jian lunged, fingers brushing the air just short of the ball.

Time seemed to slow as the ball left Kai's hands, spinning toward the hoop. The arena collectively held its breath, eyes wide as they followed its path.