Basketball System: Rebound of the Underdog

Kai was sitting at their small dining room table, a pen in his hand and a notebook resting on the surface.

"Let's see," he muttered, tapping the pen on the table as he tried to calculate how much he needed to save if he was to buy the SCALDING ball for the basketball team and his weekly mission.

"So, my daily allowance is 30 yuan," he started off. "I can save all of these since I walk to and from school. Grandma also prepares me lunch so I can withhold eating snacks for the rest of the week."

However, even then, he could only save 150 yuan since he didn't get any allowance on Saturdays and Sundays. So, he needed 300 yuan more to be able to buy the freaking expensive SCALDING ball.

Grandma Bingbing arrived at the house and was greeted by the sight of Kai seemingly studying at their dining table. She stopped for a moment and wondered if she entered the wrong house. However, sensing that she was in an onion-smelling house, she couldn't be mistaken.

Her grandson was actually studying?

"Grandma," Kai exclaimed as soon as he saw her at the door with an empty sack perched on top of her shoulders.

"Were you able to sell all your onions today?" he asked.

Grandma Bingbing nodded. "Yeah. It's hard since my official delivery guy went to his province for his mom's wake. Now, I have to deliver these onions by myself when you're not around."

Kai pursed his lips. "If I may ask—how many do you earn in a day?"

"Hmm," Grandma Bingbing muttered. "Around 300 yuan?"

"Dang," Kai muttered. "How much do you pay your delivery guy?"

"5-10 yuan per delivery depending on the weight of the onions and the distance from the house," she said.

"5 yuan," Kai muttered. He knew that his grandma had a lot of clients in Jilin, especially those with small restaurant businesses around the city. Therefore, she probably delivered onions to at least 10 establishments a day. If that was the case, then Kai could have an additional 50 yuan!

"What time does he deliver the onions?" Kai enthusiastically asked.

"Early in the morning and late at night. However, during weekends, it's flexible."

"Got it," Kai said, standing from his seat and closing his notebook.

"Are you done studying now?" Grandma asked.

Kai awkwardly chuckled. "Right, studying," he muttered. "Yeah, I'm done," he bluffed.

"Anyway, you don't have a delivery guy, right?"

"Yes," she responded. "But it's only for one week."

"Perfect," Kai muttered.

"I'll be your delivery man for the week!" he exclaimed.

Grandma Bingbing frowned in confusion. "Well, you already work for free during the weekends. Will you be able to do it when you have school? You even have basketball training in the afternoon."

"I can," Kai said. "The body works better when it is pushed to the limit!"

Grandma clicked her tongue. "You're so strange these days. I can't believe you're doing this for free."

Kai cheekily smiled.

"Who said I was doing this for free?"

Grandma chuckled as she shook her head.

"You're still my grandson, after all."

***

"Thank you," Kai said, pocketing the 3 yuan tip he got from one of the restaurant owners.

"Are you going to school later?" the old man asked as he looked at Kai's get-up.

It was already Wednesday, and Kai had been delivering onions for the past few days. He suppressed the yawn that threatened to escape his lips before nodding.

"Yes, sir," he said.

Since Kai wanted to maximize his time, he left home at dawn, already dressed in his school uniform, so he could go straight to Shizi High once everything was done.

So, with one last sack of onions perched on his shoulder, he whistled a happy tune while he walked to the last restaurant of the day—one he hadn't been to since he started delivering onions for Grandma Bingbing.

He finally arrived at the restaurant and was surprised to see it was bigger than most of the restaurants he had been in. Kai wasn't too familiar with it since he was currently in the northern part of Jilin.

He entered the restaurant, his eyes widening when he saw the basketball merchandise inside.

In fact, it was filled with photos, trophies, and even medals that seemed to have been from basketball.

There was one notable item in the very middle of the room—a framed Yin Yang high basketball jersey.

Zhou, 04.

Just then, a kind-looking middle-aged woman came from the kitchen. She welcomed Kai with a warm smile, which was a great contrast to how other clients treated him when they first saw him.

Kai couldn't really blame them. No matter how plain he tried to look, he still appeared like a troublemaker. However, the woman appeared like he didn't have any prejudice.

"Are you Grandma Bingbing's grandson?" she asked.

Kai wordlessly nodded.

"It's nice to meet you," she said. "Your grandma has been delivering freshly peeled onions to this restaurant every week since it opened. I'm glad you're helping her out. I didn't expect her grandson to be so tall, though. You would make a good basketball player."

She then glanced at her uniform and smiled. "Oh, Shizi High! Are you going straight to school after these deliveries?"

"Yes, ma'am," Kai responded.

"Ma'am? No need to call me so formally," she said. "Just call me Meixiu. As Grandma Bingbing's grandson, you're no stranger."

"Thank you, Meixiu," he said.

She chuckled and patted his back. "Well, you can place the onions in the kitchen. You can also drink some water if you want."

Kai nodded and went to the kitchen to place the bag of onions next to the sink.

As he went out, he saw Meixue looking out of the window.

"They should be here by now," she muttered. However, when she felt Kai's presence behind her, she quickly turned around.

"Oh, you're done? Do you want to eat something before you go?"

Typically, Kai would undoubtedly agree. Who even passes up on the chance for free food?

However, seeing that he only had 30 minutes left before school started, he shook his head.

Still, he wanted to ask one last question before he left.

"Umm, by any chance, are these all from Yin Yang High's basketball team?" he asked, gesturing to the merchandise that adorned the room.

Meixue's eyes brightened up with the mention of the team.

"How did you—"

Before she could finish her statement, the door suddenly opened, revealing three tall boys wearing Yin Yang High's prestigious-looking uniform.

Along with that, Kai heard footsteps coming from the stairs, so he turned around and saw an even taller boy trudging down the stairs.

"Max!" Meixue lovingly exclaimed.

Kai froze as he looked into a set of familiar eyes.

"Max Zhou," he muttered.

It was none other than Max Zhou, one of the legendary players of the Elite Five.

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