Any Closer and I'll Lose Control - Chapter 37

On the day of the finals, G University was the home team, and Wei Chuan and his teammates needed the support of their fellow students to boost morale.

Many hadn’t attended the first two games, saving their enthusiasm for the finals.

Since her tasks were done and Wei Chuan had already invited her, Meng Tang had no reason to refuse when her roommates decided to go cheer in person. She told Xie Lingyin that her work was finished.

“That’s good. The game doesn’t start until 7:30 p.m. I was thinking we could squeeze in some time during the day if you were still busy.”

“…It starts at night?”

Meng Tang genuinely hadn’t known. When Wei Chuan invited her to watch the finals, she had assumed it would be an afternoon game.

Xie Lingyin explained, “That time slot is prime for viewership. Broadcasting it live then attracts more audiences and increases exposure.”

So that was the reason.

The next afternoon, Meng Tang and her roommates had dinner at school before heading to G University.

Xu Heqing and the others had arrived much earlier, having reportedly made a banner for Wei Chuan.

To be honest, Meng Tang was curious.

But she had assumed it would just be some motivational slogans.

When she stepped into G University’s gymnasium and saw the words “Wei Chuan, you are electricity, you are light, you are the one and only myth,” she couldn’t hold back her laughter, leaning on Xie Lingyin’s shoulder for a good while.

Xie Lingyin shrugged. “It’s just a song lyric. Is it that funny?”

Meng Tang finally managed to stop laughing and said, “I feel like the three of them are about to jump up and sing this to Wei Chuan any second now.”

Xie Lingyin was also amused. “When Wei Chuan comes out later, he’ll probably wish he could crawl into a hole.”

Meng Tang thought that, given Wei Chuan’s personality, he wouldn’t be embarrassed at all. He’d probably wave back with a grin, if he didn’t look smug, it would count as him being humble.

The “humble” man was in the locker room, adjusting his gear. The coach tapped the whiteboard, which was covered in tactical points and the opponent’s defensive weaknesses.

“Wei Chuan,” the coach said. “You’re playing shooting guard today. Make sure not to steal the spotlight, G University is no pushover.”

Wei Chuan: “Got it.”

The pre-game procedures were the same as before. When Wei Chuan and his team took the court, the cheers from the crowd lasted for a long time.

During the player introductions, Wei Chuan spotted the banner and responded with a fist pump upward.

His confident, radiant smile showed his unwavering belief in victory.

Combined with his striking looks, it sent the girls in the crowd into a frenzy, earning him some teasing from his teammates.

Both teams took their positions. Tian Yu from Z University secured the first possession. Meng Tang overheard the guys behind her discussing Wei Chuan’s role as shooting guard.

“Is Brother Chuan going all-out as the scoring machine tonight?”

“He’s played like this before. It depends on the opponent. G University’s zone defense collapses fast.”

“He might not stick to this all game. If the score gap is too big in the first quarter, G University will definitely adjust.”

“No matter how they adjust, they can’t handle Wei Chuan. The overall strength of both teams is close, but his individual skill is too strong. The odds of winning are still high.”

As soon as the words were spoken, Wei Chuan stole the ball and sprinted for a fast break, his signature move, draining a three-pointer right off the bat.

The sidelines erupted in cheers as Wei Chuan quickly retreated on defense.

But G University wasn’t to be underestimated either. Their defense forced Wei Chuan toward the sideline, leaving him no choice but to pass to a teammate.

Unfortunately, the layup missed.

G University quickly caught up in score, but Wei Chuan remained unfazed. With a screen from his teammate, he sank his second three-pointer.

Meng Tang realized today’s game was far from as smooth as the previous two. By the end of the first quarter, the score stood at 24-21.

With just a three-point lead, the game could be overturned in an instant. As the main player, Wei Chuan had no choice but to take the court again in the second quarter.

Compared to the intensity of the first quarter, the second quarter was much more subdued, though the score remained tightly contested.

Under such circumstances, the third quarter would be crucial.

During halftime, neither team dared to slack off for even a moment.

In sports, there is only ever one winner.

When the teams were evenly matched, naturally, neither side would yield, giving their all just to secure victory.

When they returned to the court, G University had changed their tactics. Their 198cm small forward loomed like a mountain, sticking to Wei Chuan like glue.

“Damn, Box-1,” Li Zhuo suddenly remarked. “They’re giving our Chuan the star treatment, huh.”

Meng Tang, puzzled, leaned over slightly and asked what that meant.

Li Zhuo explained, “Chuan’s being marked by their small forward. His sole purpose is to prevent Chuan from getting the ball no matter what. The remaining four players form a zone defense. It’s called ‘one-man marking, four-man zone.’ Simply put, G University is sacrificing one small forward to lock down our most threatening player, turning the game into a four-on-four situation.”

Meng Tang’s gaze returned to Wei Chuan. Every tactic had a counter.

Though she didn’t understand, she believed in Wei Chuan.

On the court, Wei Chuan was constantly looking for opportunities. When Shao Yiming dribbled past half-court, Wei Chuan suddenly sprinted toward the corner.

At the moment he was closely followed, he stopped abruptly and reversed direction, using Tian Yu’s screen to cut toward the top of the key.

The basketball “whooshed” into Wei Chuan’s hands. G University’s No. 16 from the left side of the zone defense lunged desperately, but Wei Chuan had already released the ball.

A three-pointer swished through the net, 54:49.

From then on, Wei Chuan was like an unstoppable hurricane, showcasing a variety of scoring methods across the court.

Even so, the third quarter wasn’t an easy win. Z University only led G University by eight points.

The Z University supporters in the arena were triumphant, while the home team, G University, including their players, seemed demoralized.

After a brief rest, the final quarter began.

Everyone’s stamina had been drained alarmingly today. Even Wei Chuan felt like his feet were weighed down with lead.

But if he didn’t push through, G University could easily overtake them.

With their last chance to win, G University would undoubtedly fight back with everything they had.

Wei Chuan’s chest heaved as he ran across the court. In the last five minutes, he had to hold steady.

G University’s captain was no pushover. In those final five minutes, he scored six points in a row.

Both sides were now in a white-hot battle.

As the game neared its end, Wei Chuan, battling exhaustion and the clock, drove in for two layups, adding four points.

He faked out the No. 16 guarding him and sank a buzzer-beating three-pointer.

Cheers exploded around him. Wei Chuan collapsed to the floor in exhaustion, only to be lifted and tossed into the air by his teammates.

Final score: 86-80. Z University had won.

Meng Tang and the others stood up, erupting into thunderous applause that lingered in the air.

Wei Chuan waved at Meng Tang, who gestured that she was heading back to campus.

Wei Chuan and his team couldn’t leave immediately after the game. They had to follow the coach’s arrangements, take a short break, and then attend interviews.

By the time Meng Tang returned to her dorm, it was past nine. She plugged in her phone to charge and went to freshen up.

After dawdling for an hour, she climbed into bed at half past ten. Scrolling through her phone, her eyelids grew heavy. Giving in to fatigue, she closed her eyes.

Her phone buzzed twice in a last-ditch effort for attention.

Meng Tang opened her eyes and was startled to see a voice message from Wei Chuan. Why was he messaging her so late?

She turned down the volume and played the message.

“Are you going to the museum tomorrow?”

Wei Chuan’s voice carried a noticeable weariness, low and hoarse, with the coach’s voice in the background urging them to rest early.

Meng Tang typed her reply: “You must have remembered wrong. We’re going the day after tomorrow. Tomorrow’s Monday, and the place is closed. Are you guys back already?”

Wei Chuan couldn’t be bothered to type anymore and replied directly, “We’re almost at the school gate.”

Meng Tang: “Then get some rest early.”

Wei Chuan: “Good night.”

Meng Tang also wished him good night. She found it strange, what exactly did Wei Chuan want from her? Just a couple of polite exchanges?

Or did he want to ask about Xie Lingyin but felt too awkward to bring it up?

Lost in thought, Meng Tang closed her eyes and drifted into sleep.