361: Starting lineup

Hearing the conversation between the three, Zhang Chinglei asked curiously, "Is this Miss Li you're talking about a stunning beauty who's about 1.7 meters tall, has a voluptuous figure, carries an air of nobility, and possesses a face that could topple kingdoms?"

"You've seen Li Yanran too?" Yang Zhongqiang and Wang Li said in unison.

"On our first weekend after school started, I saw a girl like that and a boy drop Zifeng off at the Party School.

It was from a distance, so I only got a general look."

Zhang Chinglei recounted the scene from back then.

Yang Zhongqiang also remembered that gathering during the first week of school, while Wang Li said with a smile, "To have Miss Li personally drop you off, Zifeng, you're the first man to receive such treatment!

For the sake of us classmates getting a glimpse of Miss Li's peerless beauty, you should invite her!

If you and Miss Li stood together, you'd definitely be the most eye-catching pair of handsome man and beautiful woman."

Hearing Wang Li's words becoming increasingly suggestive, Lin Zifeng quickly waved his hand and said, "Brother Wang, you're getting out of hand.

I'm already married with a child. Besides, Yanran and I are just friends. Talking like that will cause misunderstandings and start rumors."

"You! You're just too cautious. If anyone else received such favor from Miss Li, who knows how happy they'd be! They'd be dying to show off in front of their classmates!"

Wang Li said with an air of indifference.

"Alright, alright. Once I notify my wife, Sister Yanran and her brother will know. They'll definitely come together."

Yang Zhongqiang spoke up.

The group chatted all the way back to the dormitory building, parted ways in the hallway with a promise to grab dinner later, and returned to their respective rooms.

After dinner, the two basketball courts became crowded.

Lin Zifeng and the others also came to the court and started getting familiar with the ball.

They hadn't touched a basketball in years, so they were a bit rusty at first, but after ten minutes of warming up, they regained the feeling of being on a college basketball court.

Over an hour later, Yang Zhongqiang and the others were drenched in sweat, while Lin Zifeng still looked perfectly composed.

As they walked off the court, Wang Li said, "Zifeng, how is your stamina so good?

We're all panting like dogs, but your face isn't even red and your heart isn't racing. Anyone who didn't know better would think you're a professional athlete!"

"Wang Li is right. Zifeng, I didn't expect your stamina to be so freakish; it's completely changed my perception of you.

Do you secretly exercise every day?"

Yang Zhongqiang added.

"I don't know if Zifeng exercises or not, but one time I got up early and saw him practicing martial arts on the field. I don't know what style it was, but it looked powerful and very imposing."

Zhang Chinglei mentioned the scene he had witnessed a few days ago.

Hearing Zhang Chinglei's words, Wang Li said in surprise, "Zifeng, you know martial arts?"

"I've been practicing Eight Extremities Fist under my grandfather's supervision since I was a child. It's been over twenty years now.

So my physical fitness is a bit better than the average person's."

Lin Zifeng said nonchalantly.

"In that case, it's not surprising at all."

Yang Zhongqiang nodded and couldn't help but think back to that car accident two years ago. Although he had been unconscious, he later heard from Ru Ling and the others that Zifeng had smashed the car window with his bare hands to rescue them.

So Zifeng actually had martial arts skills; everything made sense now.

"Zifeng, you're really a man of hidden talents! To think you're a martial arts expert, it's truly impressive!"

As Wang Li spoke, he gave him a thumbs up.

"It's not as exaggerated as you say, it's just for keeping fit."

Lin Zifeng said with a smile.

The group chatted along the way, parted again in the hallway, and returned to their rooms.

After returning to his room, Lin Zifeng took a refreshing shower and lay down on the bed, ready to sleep.

Just then, his phone rang. Seeing it was a call from Li Yanran, he picked it up.

"Zifeng, did I disturb your rest?"

Li Yanran's sweet voice immediately came through the receiver.

"I just finished my shower and lay down when you called. It's almost ten o'clock; is there something important for you to call so late?"

Lin Zifeng said into the phone.

"I just heard from Sister Rulin that your Party School is holding a basketball game this Saturday? And that you can invite family and friends to watch?"

Li Yanran asked straightforwardly.

Lin Zifeng didn't expect Yang Zhongqiang to have such a big mouth, spreading the news to Li Yanran so quickly.

Since she had taken the initiative to call and ask, he might as well invite her.

She had always treated him as an honored guest and was beyond reproach; it would be somewhat unreasonable not to invite her.

Thinking of this, he smiled and said, "This was only announced this afternoon. I was planning to call you tomorrow to ask if you had time to come watch the game! But you called first.

Since you've called, I'll ask you now. Are you and Xiao Liang free this Saturday?

If you're free, you and Xiao Liang are welcome to come watch the game."

"We're free, of course we're free! We'll definitely be there on time."

Li Yanran said eagerly, without even a moment's hesitation.

Afterward, the two chatted for a few more minutes before hanging up.

Over the next few days, during the last class of every afternoon, Lin Zifeng and his classmates went to the basketball court to practice.

After a few days of practicing coordination and skills, Lin Zifeng's stamina was recognized by the whole class as number one, with no one even coming close.

Supported by his powerful physique, his basketball skills stood head and shoulders above the rest; he was the only one in the class who could dunk.

With his extraordinary jumping ability, he was like a flying man on the court, so he was elected as the basketball team captain and became the first starting player.

Following the collective recommendation of the class, Yang Zhongqiang, Wang Li, Li Yuliang, and Hao Jiahua were also recommended as starting players.

Regrettably, Zhang Chinglei was not elected as a starter; due to his age, his stamina was still a bit lacking.

So, although his skills were decent and he was quite hardworking, he still failed to compete for a starting spot and, like other students, became a substitute.

Seeing Zhang Chinglei looking a bit down, Lin Zifeng went to his side and comforted him in a low voice, "Brother Zhang, don't take it to heart. It's the taking part that counts, right? It's not like you won't have a chance to play."

Zhang Chinglei shook his head with a bitter smile and also said in a low voice, "Compared to you guys, I really am old. The classmates' recommendations were fair and just; I won't take it to heart."