wavenovel Chapter 42 Basketball Finals
Chapter 42 Basketball Finals
The basketball court in the East Campus of Shandong University was bustling with activity, the atmosphere so intense it seemed to ignite the last rays of the setting sun. Students surrounded the court in layers, their shouts, cheers, the referee's whistle, and the thuds of basketballs hitting the ground creating a vibrant, youthful sea of noise.
The final of the "May Fourth Youth Cup" Campus Basketball League: School of Electrical Engineering vs. School of Computer Science.
Ling Yun stood on the periphery of the crowd, not pushing his way to the front. He wore a simple casual jacket, making him stand out somewhat from the students around him who were wearing brand-new team uniforms printed with the words "Starry Sky Internet Cafe - Supporting Youthful Dreams." He had been dragged there by Zhao Weiguo and Sun Peng, who said this was the Computer Science Department's title defense battle, and he, as the "veteran captain," couldn't be absent.
The match was incredibly intense, with the score fluctuating back and forth. The Electrical Engineering team displayed fierce physicality, while the Computer Science team relied on more agile passing and movement to keep the game close. Young players ran, jumped, and fought tirelessly on the field, their sweat glistening in the setting sun, and every brilliant goal ignited cheers from the entire stadium.
The air was filled with the smell of rubber surging from friction, the surging hormones of the teenagers, and a pure passion for fighting for collective honor.
All of this felt both familiar and strange.
Once upon a time, he was the absolute core of this court, the "Captain Ling" relied upon by his juniors, and a shooting guard who could deliver the decisive blow in crucial moments. His game-winning corner three-pointer against the School of Humanities last year remains a legendary moment in the history of Computer Science basketball.
But now, looking at those familiar faces fighting hard on the field, and at the younger students cheering them on from the sidelines, Ling Yun felt like a bystander who had wandered into a lotus pond. That easily ignited passion, that heart-wrenching involvement in the outcome of a match, seemed to be quietly being drawn away from him.
"Senior Brother Ling! Oh, I've finally found you!" A slightly hurried voice rang out beside me.
Ling Yun turned around and saw the sports minister of the student union, a third-year male student with a face full of sweat, accompanied by Teacher Xu from the Youth League Committee.
"Teacher Xu," Ling Yun nodded in greeting.
"Lingyun, we were just looking for you!" Teacher Xu said with a warm smile, pointing towards the stage. "The finals are almost over. There's an awards ceremony later, and school leaders and sponsor representatives will all have to say a few words. You're the biggest contributor to this competition, so this closing speech is perfect for you! You can also share your entrepreneurial experience with our classmates and boost morale!"
To give a speech on stage? Or as a representative of a sponsor?
Ling Yun declined with a smile almost without hesitation: "Teacher Xu, you flatter me. The success of the competition is the result of the hard work of the student council and all the team members. I only contributed a little money, which is really nothing. I won't give a speech; I won't steal the spotlight. It's better to let the team members enjoy their moment of honor."
Mr. Xu was taken aback, clearly not expecting Ling Yun to refuse so decisively. In his mind, this was a great honor and a chance to shine for a student. He wanted to persuade him further, but seeing the calm and resolute look in Ling Yun's eyes, he swallowed his words and could only awkwardly laugh and say, "Well... alright then, Ling is too modest."
Just then, the final whistle blew!
The School of Computer Science narrowly defeated the School of Electrical Engineering to successfully defend their title!
The entire Computer Science camp erupted in cheers. Team members hugged each other wildly, and supporters rushed onto the field, their shouts deafening.
"Brother Yun! We won!" Zhao Weiguo rushed over, covered in sweat, his face beaming with pure joy. He hugged Ling Yun tightly. "Did you see that? That last defensive play! It was so inspiring!"
"I saw it, you played well." Ling Yun patted him on the back, a genuine smile on his face, happy for them.
"Captain Ling!" The newly appointed captain of the Computer Science Department basketball team, a sophomore, ran over excitedly, his face a mixture of victory excitement and admiration for the legendary senior. "When the opponent was closing the gap in the second half, I really wished you could come on and stabilize the situation!"
Looking at his junior's expectant eyes, Ling Yun felt a slight stirring in his heart. He suddenly realized that whether it was Teacher Xu inviting him to give a speech as a "sponsor" or his junior expecting him to continue playing as a "senior," his pure "student" identity was fading away in an irreversible way.
His battlefield is no longer on this basketball court soaked in sweat, nor in the brightly lit school building. His battlefield is in the bustling securities brokerage, in the dilapidated factory in dire need of revitalization, at the scheming negotiation table, and in the decisions that concern the livelihoods of hundreds of families.
Basketball was once one of the most passionate imprints of his youth. But now, as he stands here, listening to the deafening cheers and looking at familiar faces, he clearly feels that an invisible membrane called "social identity" has separated him from this pure passion.
He could no longer let his classmates dictate all his joys and sorrows based on the outcome of a game. The burden on his shoulders was too heavy.
He smiled and shook his head at the junior captain, his tone gentle yet firm: "I'm afraid I don't have time. You guys played very well; the future of the Computer Science Department's basketball team rests on your shoulders."
A hint of disappointment flashed across the junior's face, but it was quickly overshadowed by the joy of victory.
The awards ceremony began with speeches from school leaders, followed by the presentation of trophies and medals. When the host announced, "Special thanks to 'Starry Sky Internet Cafe' for their generous support of this competition," many eyes turned to Ling Yun, who was standing on the periphery of the crowd, filled with curiosity, admiration, and even a hint of looking up to him.
He watched quietly as his teammates raised the championship trophy, looked at the brand-new team uniforms he sponsored on their chests, and watched An Shiyu, as a staff member, smile as she presented the MVP with a 200-yuan "Starry Sky Internet Cafe" internet card.
Everything was related to him, but he deliberately stayed out of the spotlight.
After the ceremony, the crowd gradually dispersed. The team members agreed to go out for a celebratory meal. Zhao Weiguo and Sun Peng were also pulled away, and before leaving, they warmly invited Ling Yun, who also declined with a smile.
The noise subsided, and the basketball court returned to a brief moment of tranquility, with only a few staff members packing up the equipment. The afterglow of the setting sun cast a long shadow on him.
An Shiyu finished her work and walked over, fine beads of sweat still clinging to her forehead. She looked at Ling Yun, her eyes clear yet knowing, and asked softly, "You seem... a little different."
Ling Yun turned to look at her and smiled, "How is it different?"
"I can't quite put my finger on it," An Shiyu tilted her head slightly, thought for a moment, "but it's just that I feel like even though you're standing here, your mind seems to have wandered far away. I had that feeling when Teacher Xu asked you to give a speech and you refused."
Ling Yun remained silent. An Shiyu's observation skills were always so sharp.
"Maybe." He looked at the empty stadium, a hint of emotion barely perceptible in his voice. "In another month or two, after I finish my thesis defense and receive my graduation certificate and degree certificate, I'll probably... say goodbye to my student identity for good."
His voice was calm, as if stating a given fact, but the complex emotions contained within it made An Shiyu pause slightly.
She looked at the boy beside her. His profile was particularly clear in the sunset, and his composure far beyond his years and the occasional sense of alienation that seemed out of place with his surroundings became especially evident at this moment.
He is no longer Ling Yun, the student who simply runs on the basketball court and listens to lectures in the classroom. He is the owner of Xingkong Internet Cafe, the helmsman of Xinghuo Technology, and "General Manager Ling," who has taken over the city's electronics factory and carries the expectations of hundreds of people.
The shift in his identity had already happened without him even realizing it. Today's basketball game, like a belated farewell ceremony, made that fact crystal clear to him.
"Let's go," Ling Yun said, withdrawing his gaze and smiling at An Shiyu. His smile held a sense of relief and a firm resolve to embark on a new journey. "This place belongs to them now. We should return to our battlefield."
He turned around and walked off the field first, his steps steady, without looking back.
An Shiyu watched his retreating figure, then glanced back at the basketball court that held countless youthful memories, and seemed to understand something. She quickly followed, standing shoulder to shoulder with him, and together they blended into the bustling night outside the school, where the lights were just coming on and the traffic was heavy.
The student's ambition is about to become a thing of the past.