Chapter 108: Here We Come

Since Geng Haoshi became the brand ambassador for the sports brand under the Li Corporation, his popularity at school soared, and the number of his "close admirers" reached over 60,000.

June 25, 2017, marked the first day of the National College Basketball League qualifiers.

At 7:30 in the morning, the basketball team of Tiancheng Polytechnic University boarded a luxurious bus adorned with the "Feizhi Group" logo, departing from Chenzhi Gymnasium, headed for the National Sports Arena in the Eastern District.

In the nation, the East, West, South, and North regions each boast a national sports arena, where most large-scale competitions are held.

With the country’s vigorous promotion of "sports for all," these national sports arenas are mostly open to the public, igniting widespread enthusiasm for physical activity.

Thanks to this nationwide campaign, sports have become a common leisure activity in daily life, and public interest in sporting events has correspondingly increased.

Though the National College Basketball League is only at the collegiate level and significantly differs from professional leagues, this does not diminish the public’s keen interest in watching the games.

Some elderly grandparents, hoping to find suitable husbands for their granddaughters or grandsons’ daughters, even set up matchmaking banners outside the national sports arenas during the league, seeking healthy and robust college students as potential matches.

Don’t think this is fanciful; some bored elderly folks will go to any lengths!

Indeed, at 8:16, just as Geng Haoshi and his teammates stepped off the bus outside the Eastern District National Sports Arena, a few grandmothers approached them eagerly.

“Young man, do you have a girlfriend?”
“Come, take a look at my granddaughter; she’s quite beautiful!”
“Don’t rush off, add me on WeChat.”

The bachelors on the Tiancheng Polytechnic University basketball team were surprisingly tempted by these enthusiastic grandmothers promoting their granddaughters or granddaughters-in-law. Many paused to examine the photos they presented.

“This one is truly gorgeous!” Zhu Di held a photo of a beautiful woman, his eyes nearly bulging out.
“Be careful, that’s just a photo—it can be Photoshopped,” Lin Ling, arm-in-arm with Zhou Xiaoshan, offered these lovesick bachelors some well-meaning advice.

Even Meng Lang, usually a big, goofy fellow, found himself earnestly admiring the girls in the photos amidst the grandparents’ circle.

Behind them, Yu Manman shook her head with a smile, thinking, These guys are way too easily swayed… But that’s fine; since the game doesn’t start until 10, it’s good to let them divert their attention and relax a bit so they won’t be too nervous later.

A kindly-looking grandmother stepped before Geng Haoshi, extending a photo toward him. “Young man, would you like to meet my granddaughter?”

Judging by her gaze, she seemed quite pleased with Geng Haoshi’s appearance and physique, eager to secure a fine husband for her granddaughter.

Seeing this, Li Shishi quickly tightened her grip on Geng Haoshi’s arm and gently said to the grandmother, “Grandma, he’s my fiancé. Perhaps you should look elsewhere.”

Geng Haoshi was utterly bewildered, sneaking glances at Yang Mimi… If it weren’t for his prior affection for Yang Mimi, he might have secretly enjoyed the current situation.

Apart from Geng Haoshi, who was closely accompanied by Li Shishi, and Zhou Xiaoshan, who already had Lin Ling, the rest of the Tiancheng Polytechnic University basketball team delightfully mingled with the eager grandparents, basking in the star treatment.

By 8:50, Yu Manman signaled the team to prepare to enter the arena so the players could familiarize themselves with the court.

The single players on the team had either already obtained contact information from the grandparents or were still deliberating. Upon Yu Manman’s call, those without contacts reluctantly bid farewell, promising to reconnect after the game.

Geng Haoshi noticed Zhu Di staring dreamily at a photo of a lovely woman. “Brother Zhu Di, looks like you’ve made some headway!”

“Younger brother, I’m finally about to find someone!” Zhu Di exclaimed excitedly, as if the woman in the photo were already his girlfriend.

Yu Manman looked at the players clutching photos and said, “Alright, focus up. If you lose the game, your girlfriends might not be available after all.”

If they lost, they probably wouldn’t be in the mood for matchmaking or dating… With that thought, Zhu Di and the others carefully tucked the photos into their pockets.

Through a long athlete entrance corridor, the vast interior of the national sports arena unfolded before the entire Tiancheng Polytechnic University basketball team.

“We’re here!” the players shouted almost simultaneously.

This was their first time arriving here as one of the nation’s top 100 college basketball teams.

This place marked a new beginning and held the key to their future.

As the National College Basketball League qualifiers commenced, scouts from the national basketball team and major domestic basketball clubs would be quietly watching from the four regional national sports arenas, observing collegiate players’ performances to identify promising basketball stars.

Once a player caught the eye of national team or club scouts, his professional basketball career was likely to begin.

College basketball players harboring dreams of basketball glory all trained with fierce determination, eager to showcase their skills perfectly on the league’s stage, hoping to attract scouts and step onto their coveted professional courts.

The qualifiers featured 100 college teams competing for 10 spots in the finals. These 100 teams were selected equally from 25 colleges in each of the East, West, South, and North regions.

The qualifiers were divided into ten groups, each with ten teams engaging in knockout matches; only the group winner would advance to the finals.

Just yesterday, the coaches of these 100 teams drew lots to determine their groupings.