aircannonsinc Chapter 27 54 Basketball Game
Chapter 27 54 Basketball Game
After shuttling between the securities brokerage and the construction site for several days in a row, Ling Yun finally had a moment of peace. Dressed in simple sportswear and somewhat worn-out basketball shoes, Ling Yun was dragged by his roommate Zhao Weiguo to the East Campus basketball court.
"Brother Donkey, if you don't come out and move around soon, you'll be covered in cobwebs!" Zhao Weiguo said loudly, holding a basketball that was worn white from use. "You're always elusive, people would think you're doing some kind of secret mission!"
Ling Yun smiled but didn't offer any further explanation. Since his rebirth, his life had indeed been like a wound-up toy—battling in the stock market, strategizing for the future—every minute was completely filled.
Walking along the familiar tree-lined path on campus, listening to Zhao Weiguo recounting interesting anecdotes from the department, my tense nerves finally relaxed a little.
There were quite a few people on the field, and the game was in full swing in several halves.
The two had just found an empty basketball hoop to warm up when they saw a simple wooden table set up near the intersection, surrounded by several students. At the table, a figure was slightly bent over, writing something on a large poster.
She was wearing a white collared shirt typical of that era, a well-fitting pair of blue straight-leg jeans, and clean white canvas shoes.
Her long, smooth, black hair was tied into a simple ponytail, revealing her smooth forehead and graceful neck. The afternoon sun shone down on her without reservation, as if coating her with a soft halo.
She was writing intently, her profile soft yet clear, her nose high and straight, her long eyelashes fluttering occasionally. Her posture was upright, exuding a scholarly tranquility, yet the lively surroundings added a touch of vibrant life.
"Hey? Isn't that An Shiyu from the student council?" Zhao Weiguo nudged Ling Yun with his elbow, lowering his voice with a teasing tone typical of boys. "A second-year Chinese literature major, a member of our student council's arts and culture department, she's a well-known talented and beautiful girl in our school!"
Just then, the girl seemed to have finished writing the last stroke. She straightened up, tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, and revealed her full face.
Her skin was fair, her features exquisitely detailed, like those depicted in a meticulous brush painting. Her eyes were clear and bright, like black glass reflecting in a stream. A gentle, warm smile played naturally at the corners of her lips, understated yet refreshing. Youthful and beautiful, she possessed no aggression whatsoever; her poised and graceful demeanor made her stand out in a crowd.
The poster next to her, written in elegant yet powerful calligraphy, read: "Shandong University 'May Fourth Youth Cup' Campus Basketball League - Registration Now Open!"
A thought flashed through Ling Yun's mind like lightning—a campus basketball tournament? Traffic! Promotion! Wasn't his "Starry Sky Internet Cafe" exactly what he needed—a vibrant promotional opportunity that was close to students?
Almost instinctively, Ling Yun walked towards the table. Zhao Weiguo hesitated for a moment, then quickly followed.
An Shiyu was smiling as she handed out registration forms to a boy who had asked for directions. Her voice was clear and gentle: "Yes, registration is done in teams organized by department. The deadline is next week..."
After finishing her work, she looked up and happened to see Ling Yun and Zhao Weiguo walking to the table. Her gaze lingered on Ling Yun's face for a moment, a hint of surprise flashing in his beautiful eyes, which then turned into a clear smile.
"Ling Yun?" She called out his name accurately, her voice carrying a hint of confirmation, but more so a familiar "It really is you" feeling.
This time, Ling Yun was a little surprised. He was certain that he had no connection with this talented woman from the Chinese Literature Department.
Seeing the doubt in Ling Yun's eyes, An Shiyu smiled slightly and explained, "Last year at the 'May Fourth Cup,' I was cheering on the sidelines during the semi-final match between the Computer Science Department and our Humanities Department. Your buzzer-beating corner three-pointer stopped our department in the semi-finals." There was no resentment in her words, but rather admiration. "As the core shooting guard for the Computer Science Department's eventual runner-up, your performance was outstanding."
Ling Yun suddenly realized and smiled, "So it's a defeated opponent. Nice to meet you." He made a harmless joke, his gaze sweeping over the registration forms and promotional posters on the table. "This year's competition seems to be quite large-scale?"
"Yes," An Shiyu picked up a flyer and handed it to Ling Yun with a natural and smooth movement. "The school is very supportive and hopes to enrich everyone's extracurricular life. Your Computer Science Department is the defending runner-up, so you must be a favorite to win the championship this year, right?" Her gaze fell on Ling Yun with a hint of anticipation.
Ling Yun took the flyer, glanced at it quickly, and the vague idea in his mind quickly became clear and specific.
"It was a great competition," he said, looking up to meet An Shiyu's clear gaze, his tone becoming serious and earnest. "However, An, don't you think that such a good event could have had even better publicity and logistical support?"
"Oh?" An Shiyu raised an eyebrow, showing interest. "Do you have any good suggestions?"
"I mean," Ling Yun said, organizing his thoughts, "wouldn't it be better to increase the competition's popularity and participation if we had some eye-catching prizes?"
He paused for a moment, then revealed his key offer: "For example, I can sponsor this basketball tournament. The champion team will receive a 100 RMB 'Starry Sky Internet Cafe' internet access fund for each member, and the MVP will receive an additional 200 RMB. Furthermore, during the tournament, 'Starry Sky Internet Cafe' can act as a sponsor, providing each team with 12 sets of basketball uniforms free of charge, along with bottled water and basic medical supplies."
One hundred yuan! In 1996, this was an extremely tempting reward for students! Not to mention the tangible prizes and service support included.
Zhao Weiguo, listening nearby, stared wide-eyed. He tugged at Ling Yun's sleeve and hissed, "Holy crap! Old Ling, are you crazy? How much is this?!"
An Shiyu was clearly taken aback. Her eyes widened slightly as she re-examined the clean-cut, handsome young man before her. She had initially assumed he was just a senior who was good at basketball, but she hadn't expected him to be so generous with his words…
She didn't answer immediately, but thought about it for a moment. She could see the huge benefits this proposal would bring to the competition; the generous prizes would greatly motivate participants. But "Starry Sky Internet Cafe"... she keenly sensed the hidden promotional purpose behind it.
"Lingyun," she said thoughtfully, her tone still gentle but with a hint of caution, "your suggestion is excellent and will definitely be a great help to the competition. However... what exactly is this 'Starry Sky Internet Cafe' you mentioned?"
"It's a computer center that my friends and I are currently setting up, right across from the north gate of the school. It will open next month," Ling Yun frankly admitted, her attitude sincere. "It's not just about providing internet access; we hope it will become a platform for students to access computers, exchange technical information, and even enjoy leisure and entertainment. Sponsoring the basketball game is a way of giving back to the school and letting more students know about this place. Of course, all promotion will be conducted within the framework approved by the student council and will absolutely not affect the game itself."
His candor actually made An Shiyu lower her guard. She had seen too many so-called "cooperations" that were secretive or had overtly obvious motives, and some that were just trying to sponsor her. It was rare to see someone as open and honest as Ling Yun, who could also provide real benefits.
Looking at Ling Yun, at the composure and confidence beyond his years in his eyes, and at his sincere support for the competition, she made her decision.
She smiled, a smile as gentle and captivating as ripples on spring water: "It sounds like a win-win idea. However, for such a significant collaboration, I need to report it to the student council president and advisor. Could you provide me with a more detailed sponsorship proposal? Including the specific amount, the services offered, and... some basic information about 'Starry Sky Internet Cafe'."
"No problem!" Ling Yun felt reassured, knowing that things were mostly settled. "I can give you the detailed plan tomorrow."
"Okay, I'll wait for your message." An Shiyu nodded, took out a blank registration form from the table, and smoothly wrote a string of numbers on the back. "This is the duty phone number for the student union office. I'm usually here after 4 PM. Or..." She paused, looked up at him, and a hint of barely perceptible wit flashed in her eyes, "You can also just come downstairs to the Chinese Literature Department girls' dormitory and call me."
Ling Yun took the note with its neat handwriting and smiled, "Don't worry, I won't make things difficult for you. The plan will definitely satisfy the presidium and the teachers."
Having achieved his initial goal, Ling Yun didn't linger any longer. After saying goodbye to An Shiyu, he pulled the still bewildered Zhao Weiguo towards the court.
After taking a few steps, he subconsciously turned back.
An Shiyu had already thrown herself back into the registration process. She turned slightly to the side, patiently explaining something to another student. The sunlight outlined her earnest profile, and her ponytail swayed gently with her movements.
Ling Yun turned his head, patted the basketball in his hand, and his movements became relaxed and energetic again.
"Old Zhao, stop daydreaming, come on, let's bullfight!"
"Huh? Oh... coming, coming!" Zhao Weiguo snapped out of his daze, quickly caught up, and couldn't help but glance back at the beautiful figure at the table. He whispered to Ling Yun, "You bastard, this... this luck with women is unstoppable!"
Ling Yun dribbled the ball, not answering, but a barely perceptible smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.