Chapter 83: How About a Gamble?

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With the referee entering the court, the warm-up concluded, and the match was about to officially begin.

The players from both teams gathered around their respective captains, discussing strategies and listening to pre-game pep talks.

At that moment, the homeroom teachers of both classes arrived at the court to cheer on their students. After all, this match was about class honor—something not only the students valued, but the teachers as well.

Gao Zixi called the players from Class 3, Year 1 over and said, “Don’t feel pressured. Just play your best and show your abilities. Winning or losing doesn’t matter…”

It wasn’t that she didn’t want to win; she just didn’t want her students to feel burdened.

However, she had underestimated the resilience and desire to win of these students.

Tan Xiaoxiao interrupted her, speaking in a low, firm voice: “Miss Gao, you’re wrong. Winning this match is very important! We have only one goal—to win!”

All the players from Class 3, whether starters or substitutes, nodded in agreement and echoed in unison: “Xiaoxiao is right! We must win this match! We’ll show those who talk big just how tough we are!”

Gao Zixi was taken aback.

She truly hadn’t expected her students’ fighting spirit to be so intense!

In such a situation, of course she couldn’t say anything discouraging. In fact, she herself was stirred, her blood surging with excitement. She nodded hard, her tone blazing with passion: “Alright! Then let’s win!”

“Let’s win!” the players of Class 3 shouted together, their spirits soaring.

But at that very moment, a cold, mocking laugh rang out, cutting through the air at the worst possible time.

Everyone turned their heads.

The source of the laughter was none other than He Juan.

Seeing the angry stares from Class 3, He Juan showed no sign of panic. She raised her hand and made a throat-slitting gesture, sneering, “A bunch of rookies bragging and boasting—you really don’t know your place! Win the match? Ha, as if you could!”

“Oh, just listen to her—I can’t take this anymore!” Tan Xiaoxiao, always hot-tempered, could not endure such ridicule. In an instant, she was furious and ready to rush forward to teach He Juan a lesson.

“Don’t lose your head!”

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“Xiaoxiao, don’t do anything rash!”

The players from Class 3 hurriedly blocked her way.

“Move! All of you, move!” Tan Xiaoxiao pushed forcefully against the teammates in front of her.

The referee noticed the commotion and strode over.

At the crucial moment, Lin Siyu hugged Tan Xiaoxiao tightly, whispering in her ear, “Xiaoxiao, calm down! You’re our team’s star player. You can’t lose control! Do you see the referee? If you act out, you’ll definitely get ejected! Without you, how can we win? I know you’re angry—I’m furious too! But that’s all the more reason we can’t lose our cool. If she’s arrogant, we’ll teach her a lesson on the court. If we win, that’s the best slap in her face!”

Indeed, as her best friend, Lin Siyu knew Tan Xiaoxiao well. After those words, though the fire in Tan Xiaoxiao’s eyes didn’t fade, she stopped struggling and nodded, gritting her teeth: “Fine! I’ll teach her a lesson on the court!”

Seeing her calm down, the players of Class 3 all breathed a sigh of relief.

“Coward,” He Juan scoffed.

She had genuinely hoped to provoke Tan Xiaoxiao into doing something inappropriate. That way, Class 3 would lose not just the game, but their dignity as well.

“Lucky for you you dodged a bullet! But it doesn’t matter—you’re still on the court, so I can humiliate you even more!” He Juan sneered to herself, then turned to rally her own teammates. Placing their hands together, they shouted their slogan: “Crush Class 3!”

As their chant rang out, the students of Class 6 in the stands erupted in frenzied cheers. For a moment, their cries of “Crush them!” reverberated through the entire gymnasium.

The students of Class 3 were all visibly furious.

If ever there was bullying, this was it.

Even a rabbit will bite when cornered, let alone a person.

Though Lin Siyu, Tan Xiaoxiao, and the others said nothing, the fire and determination in their eyes only burned brighter.

This match—they had to win!

With last words of encouragement finished, Lin Siyu and Tan Xiaoxiao led the starting players onto the court.

Gao Zixi stood beside the substitutes’ bench. As homeroom teacher, she had the right to remain there.

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Pang Jiahui, the homeroom teacher of Class 6, walked over, smiling cheerfully. “Miss Gao, your students are certainly full of fighting spirit—just like the saying goes, ‘Newborn calves aren’t afraid of tigers.’ But unfortunately, matches are won by skill. No matter how much spirit you have, it’s useless if the skill isn’t there.”

Gao Zixi raised an eyebrow.

Students competed for victory, but so did their teachers.

Moreover, Gao Zixi was fiercely protective of her students; nothing angered her more than seeing them mocked or bullied.

Her tone icy, she replied, “I hope you’ll still be able to say those words after the match, Mr. Pang.”

Pang Jiahui was a little surprised. “I didn’t expect you to have such confidence in your students, Miss Gao.”

“They are my students,” Gao Zixi replied, looking at Lin Siyu, Tan Xiaoxiao, and the others on the court.

The players looked back at her.

“If I can’t have faith in them, then what right do I have to be their teacher?”

Hearing her words, whether on the court or on the bench, all the players of Class 3 clenched their fists. Their fighting spirit grew even stronger.

Sometimes, trust itself is a source of strength.

Pang Jiahui clearly hadn’t expected Gao Zixi to say such a thing. He paused, then smiled: “Since you’re so confident in your students, why don’t we bet on the outcome of this match?”

Gao Zixi wanted to say that it wasn’t appropriate for teachers to bet in front of students. But before she could speak, she caught sight of Lin Siyu, Tan Xiaoxiao, and the other players out of the corner of her eye. A sudden thought struck her: No, if I refuse, the students will think I’m backing down, and their high morale will take a blow!

So instead, she said, “What’s the wager?”

“One month’s salary!” Pang Jiahui raised a finger.

“Alright, I’ll take your bet!” Gao Zixi agreed without the slightest hesitation.