An Expert Is actually By My Side

Chapter 5: What About the Price?

Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Cloud Hao calmly walked for the first few seconds. By the second half of the minute, though, he was sprinting.
At long last, he slipped out of the court. Cloud Hao held onto the railing and panted. He then lifted his arm and wiped the sweat off his head.
The feeling of using the Karma Card was terrific. It was as if the result had already been decided.
The series of actions, including the jumping and shooting, was just to complete the closed cause and effect loop.
The ball had already gone in even before he shot it.
As for him, from the moment he activated the Karma Card, he lost control of himself until the ball went through the basketball net.
Even if he hadn’t so much as touched a basketball in this lifetime.
“This matter is finally over. Hopefully, he’ll keep his promise…”
Letting out a long-drawn breath, Cloud Hao glanced around. His expression suddenly became a little nervous.
According to the system description, a corresponding price would have to be paid after using the Karma Card.
This was precisely why he didn’t linger on the court for too long.
He was afraid that after acting so cool, he might take an even bigger fall and lose the face he had earned. At that time, it would be more than a little bit upsetting.
As for why he didn’t go straight back to the dorm room…
That was because there was a road between the dorm room and the basketball court.
Careful as he was, he wanted to pay the price before heading back…
“You-you-you-you stop right there!”
Just then, someone shouted from behind him.
Cloud Hao’s shoulders tensed, but his heart felt relief. He thought to himself, it’s here. Then, he turned around calmly, only to see… a girl in sportswear with a ponytail. She was pursing her lips and looking at him with teary eyes.
Meeting her murderous gaze, Cloud Hao’s initially calm expression instantly froze, and he guiltily said, “Classmate… Did you find the wrong person…”
“You! Pay me back!”
Gnashing her teeth, the girl stretched out her hand.
When he saw what she was holding in her hand, Cloud Hao’s face fell.
What the f*ck?
A phone?!
The screen had cracked into a cobweb.
He didn’t even have to think about it to know that it was probably smashed by the ball…
…
At the same time, on the basketball court…
Liang Ziyuan looked downcast as he stared at the basket.
Although several of his basketball friends went forth to comfort him, his heart still felt like there was a rock pressing on it.
Half of the onlookers had dispersed.
Liang Ziyuan turned his gaze away from the basket, and his Adam’s apple bobbed. After a long time, he said, “That ball… did you see it?”
The guy standing next to him was momentarily stunned. He then passed the basketball to him.
“Picked it up already.”
“No.” Liang Ziyuan shook his head. He took the basketball and glanced at it before sighing softly. “I meant that jump shot.”
“Ah, you were talking about that! To be honest, it really was unbelievably beautiful, completely different from that guy’s dribbling stance.” As if finding a problem with his statement, the guy followed closely behind and added, “Ah, what I meant was that he seemed like a different person.”
With mixed feelings, Liang Ziyuan nodded briefly.
“I know.”
There was only one explanation.
This guy was going easy on me right from the beginning.
Come to think of it, I was the one who refused to let him off. Even though he made it clear that he doesn’t know how to play, I still forced him to play with me. I wanted to embarrass him on the court.
Yet, he considered my feelings because we are roommates and let me score two goals.
It wasn’t until I put “withdrawing from the class president election” as a stake that he went all out, hence the beautiful jump shot.
“I can’t believe that in this world, there’s still someone who only thinks of others.”
Liang Ziyuan glanced at the basketball and lightly weighed it in his hand. Then, he returned it to his buddy.
“You’re not playing?”
“Not today. I’m not in the mood. I’m heading back to practice the guitar.”
Perhaps…
This is God’s will.
At the same time, next to the basketball court…
A middle-aged man in sportswear with a whistle around his neck couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration, “What a great shot!”
Standing next to him, a spectacled professor also remarked incredulously, “Yeah, he actually got it in by a fluke.”
One was a physical education teacher, while the other was a mathematics professor, both of whom were basketball enthusiasts. They had originally come to play, but they didn’t expect to stumble upon such an “exciting” duel.
Compared to Professor Li, who taught math, Teacher Wang of physical education understood basketball better.
He glanced at Professor Li and asked with a smile, “Do you really believe that that kid can’t play basketball?”
The professor wearing glasses was dumbfounded. “Can’t be that he’s an expert, can it? Wasn’t this shot a fluke?”
“Expert? Haha, he’s far more than an expert.” The physical education teacher narrowed his eyes, looked in the direction that Cloud Hao left in, and said profoundly, “Such a beautiful jump shot with a textbook parabola… I’ve only seen it once.”
“…When was that?”
“Last year’s International Basketball League, the winning point in the last second of the finals!”
It will be great if this guy is recruited into the school team. He’ll be a reliable point guard.
If he changes his courses to study sports, he might even be able to join the national team!
Thinking about this, Teacher Wang’s thoughts were on fire. The only regret he had was not going forward to catch hold of him.
Everyone’s gone now, and I don’t even know which class he’s in…
As for why Cloud Hao played so badly before, the teacher took it that he was considering his friend’s feelings and purposely throwing the game.
After all, those who understood would naturally understand.
With such a horrible layup, to say that he wasn’t throwing the game was something he definitely wouldn’t believe…
…
When the three-day period was up, the first class meeting of Software Engineering Class 1801 was held as scheduled. After a round of self-introduction from the students, the election of the class committee began.
Everyone believed that Liang Ziyuan would be elected as class president without a doubt.
Even Zhu Kening, who had been busy visiting every dorm room the entire week in order to canvass votes, felt a trace of despair at how formidable his opponent was.
After all…
The “opinion poll” in the group chat that night had crushed his confidence.
However, when Liang Ziyuan stepped onto the lectern, he surprised everyone.
“I want to run for the role of the sports committee member. I hope that everyone can support me. Thank You.”
After saying that, he stepped off the stage.
Looking at Liang Ziyuan, who had walked off the lectern and returned to his seat, Zhu Kening felt moved. He wrung his hands and wanted to thank him, but he had no idea what to say.
Liang Ziyuan read his mind at a glance and said irritably, “You don’t have to thank me. If you want to thank someone, thank the person sitting next to you.”
“…?”
Zhu Kening was stunned. Dumbfounded, he looked over at the sleeping Cloud Hao. He was utterly clueless as to what had happened.
The same was true for Zheng Xueqian. Initially, he intended to vote for Liang Ziyuan, but now, he had no choice but to vote for Zhu Kening.
Just like that, Zhu Kening, the head of dorm room 401, was eventually elected as the class president by a slight margin.
The runner-up, who only lost to him by one vote, was Xiao Tongtong from the female dorm room 201. She was eventually elected as the committee secretary.
“Alright. Since the class committee has been elected, let’s end it here for today. I still have to go back to catch up on thesis papers.” Advisor Zhang continued, “Next, I’ll hand the time over to the class president.”
Just like that, the first class meeting of Software Engineering Class 1801 came to a perfect end amidst the applause. The students in the classroom began to whisper excitedly, talking about the upcoming military training and fantasizing about their upcoming university life.
Except for one person, who was still sleeping with his face down.
To be precise, Cloud Hao wasn’t really sleeping. Rather, he was collecting his reward.
This was the latest trick he had discovered.
As long as he closed his eyes, he could operate the system using his mind without having to swipe with his fingers.
Just now, he had received a notification about his mission completion.
[Host, congratulations on gaining the Newbie Gift Pack!]