The boy didn’t notice the anomaly in Class Three, he kept chattering away with a companion beside him, as if talking nonstop would bring him more pleasure than Gao Yanfei’s current triumph on the basketball court. He was pointing at Hao Jian, speaking with increasing fervor.

"Those who love the spotlight, just wait until they embarrass themselves even more..." However, before he could finish, his voice abruptly stopped and he didn’t continue.

Because he suddenly saw Liang Xiaohan, the goddess, striding towards him with a fierce momentum. When he was criticizing Hao Jian, he seemed to be a person with great presence, as if the whole world belonged to him. But at this moment, as he saw Xiaohan approaching, he suddenly deflated like a punctured balloon.

"Liang, Liang... Liang Xiaohan..." he stammered.

Many people’s eyes were fixated on Liang Xiaohan; to them, she was far more captivating than the basketball game. As she walked up to the boy, their gazes shifted to him.

"Is what you’re saying interesting?" Liang Xiaohan asked without hesitation, her eyes filled with an authoritative aura that brooked no questioning.

The boy, who had been so loquacious earlier, now froze, unable to speak as Liang Xiaohan approached. Now, with her sudden question, he was even more terrified into silence.

Moments ago, he had appeared fearless, capable of talking through five thousand years of Chinese history, yet now he was speechless, overwhelmed by Liang Xiaohan’s commanding presence. Others witnessing the scene were also stunned by the aura emanating from Xiaohan.

This is what a goddess is — effortlessly exuding an aura that intimidates someone taller into silence. She needn’t even speak; just approaching the boy rendered him speechless.

This is the true goddess. The crowd gained a clearer understanding of Liang Xiaohan; some girls are beautiful but lack exceptional charisma, and some with charisma lack a unique aura. But Liang Xiaohan stands apart, full of allure, her beauty already outshining many other pretty girls, and her charisma and aura unparalleled.

Those looking at Liang Xiaohan were struck by her presence. A true goddess; her commanding aura alone could subdue people. It’s not something just anyone can achieve. One should not toy with someone so beyond reach; that’s what’s said about Liang Xiaohan.

The boy started to tremble, not knowing why. Liang Xiaohan’s direct gaze alone made his body involuntarily shake.

Liang Xiaohan gave him a fierce glare, almost frightening him to his knees. But she merely glanced at him, then returned to the Class Three crowd, at which point he finally regained himself. Though he had been talking eagerly before, he now dared not utter a single word.

All around, others glanced at him with disdain, thinking that his reckless words had led to his fright. Those who had been badmouthing Hao Jian were now silent, watching the game without a word.

Returning to the Class Three group, many looked at Liang Xiaohan with odd expressions. Never before had they seen her demonstrate such power, especially for Hao Jian; it had already left many in awe. The seemingly aloof Liang Xiaohan could be this intimidating when angry.

No one dared to speak, especially the group next to Class Three, who now focused entirely on the basketball game.

At this moment, Zhang Danlin glanced over at Liang Xiaohan, wearing a peculiar expression, her thoughts unknown.

On the court, during this episode, Class Five scored three more baskets, though all were two-pointers, not three-pointers. After Gao Yanfei scored, it was Class Three’s turn. The ball was in Zheng Jun’s hands, ready to dribble towards Class Five’s basket. Suddenly, the referee blew the whistle; it was halftime.

Just when Zheng Jun finally got the ball, it was time for a break. He showed a slight displeasure but had no choice but to pass the ball to the referee as both teams headed to the sidelines to rest.

Returning to the Class Five crowd, Gao Yanfei was met with cheers. Class Five had scored over twenty points, and Yanfei alone accounted for over eighty percent of them. Everyone praised his prowess, and the fan girls nearby couldn’t contain their excitement, cheering loudly and even boldly offering him water and towels.

Gao Yanfei reveled in this honor, his face full of joy. At that moment, Zhang Jin approached him with a grin, saying, "Brother Fei, see those losers in Class Three? Truly disgraceful. You’re impressive, Brother Fei!"

Clearly accustomed to such flattery, Gao Yanfei enjoyed it, smiling as he returned the water to a nearby short-haired girl with admiring eyes, and said with a laugh, "It’s wise to know oneself. Since Hao Jian doesn’t understand his limits and dares to show off before me, he can’t be allowed too much glory. It’s good to cut him down a bit, let him know to be more restrained; too much flamboyance can hurt him."

His words seemed considerate of Hao Jian, but were filled with arrogance. Despite them both being freshmen, he felt entitled to condescend to Hao Jian, placing himself far above him.

The girls around listened, regarding his words as pearls of wisdom, nodding in agreement.

Hearing this, Zhang Jin sneered, "Brother Fei is right, Brother Fei is right. One who lacks self-awareness is inviting humiliation."

Gao Yanfei smiled silently, while No. 2 and No. 3 players standing by also smiled correspondingly. They all glanced towards Hao Jian and his team with looks of disdain.

Hao Jian and Zheng Jun had returned to the Class Three rest area. So far, they had only scored three points, while Class Five had over twenty, a disparity too great to ignore. When Hao Jian’s group returned to rest, some in Class Three instinctively stepped back, feeling they’d embarrassed themselves and the class, wanting nothing to do with Hao Jian and his teammates.

Hao Jian just smiled silently and sat down. At that moment, Zhang Danlin and Liang Xiaohan approached, handing them water. Liang Xiaohan came to Hao Jian’s side, wiping his sweat with a tissue, to his astonishment; he hadn’t expected Liang Xiaohan to be so kind suddenly.

Meanwhile, other boys watching felt a pang of heartache, thinking, damn, what a killer move.

Zhang Danlin had a tissue ready to wipe Hao Jian’s sweat but paused when she saw Liang Xiaohan had already stepped in. She quickly concealed her awkwardness, offering the tissue to other boys instead.

Li Weiwei approached, giving Hao Jian a meaningful look before addressing everyone, "Adjust your mindset. We have three quarters left; play well."

Everyone nodded. Hao Jian smiled at Li Weiwei and said, "Just wait, the real show is yet to come."

The score gap had widened significantly; Class Five’s score far exceeded their own. Initially, Li Weiwei had faith in Hao Jian, thinking he might turn the tide, but after the first quarter ended with such a large deficit, winning seemed impossible.

So, Li Weiwei no longer held much hope for Hao Jian. Upon hearing his words, she didn’t roll her eyes but remained silent. Winning or losing no longer mattered as much; the result was evident. She just comforted herself, thinking spirit comes first, competition second.

Hao Jian just smiled and said nothing.

The break was short, only a few minutes, during which they needed not only to rest but also to adjust their strategies for the following rounds.

Hao Jian instructed everyone to sit and relax, suggesting they massage their muscles and thighs, or risk being too unfit when returning to the game.

Hao Jian glanced towards Gao Yanfei and his team.

Currently, their stamina was good due to frequent playing, but with the first quarter over, their playing style meant their endurance would falter in the second quarter.

That’s when it would be their chance to shine.

Hao Jian looked at Zheng Jun.