Chapter Twenty-Four: Perverse

"Fatty, wasn’t your nickname 'Square Root of Four'? From now on, I’m just going to call you Number Two..."

"Alright! Sir, would you like the deluxe health service or a romantic couple’s bath?" Suddenly reminded of certain video plots, Geng Haoshi couldn’t help himself.

...

Without a word, Manman Yu swung her whip at Geng Haoshi’s side, startling him so much that he quickly covered his mouth.

Even though the other team members didn’t think much of Geng Haoshi’s character, and despite the fact that he hadn’t made a single basket, they were still stunned by his earlier jaw-dropping, audacious slam dunk.

"Have you seen enough? Hurry and get back to practice!" Manman Yu sent the team off, then turned to Geng Haoshi. "Number Two, you’ll stay here and practice stationary low dribbling."

"Stationary low dribbling? Isn’t that just dribbling in place?" Previously, 9527 had only taught Geng Haoshi basic stationary dribbling; he hadn’t heard of stationary low dribbling.

"Clearly, you really don’t know how to play basketball," Manman Yu said coldly, giving him a chilly glance.

Geng Haoshi broke into a cold sweat, thinking, I’m done for—she’s noticed! Will she not even let me warm the bench now?

Noticing his anxious face, Manman Yu spoke nonchalantly, "Number Two, relax. For now, I won’t kick you out."

"But… from now on, you’re mine…"

At those words, Geng Haoshi’s blood surged. "Coach, it’s my first time… please be gentle," he teased, lifting his shirt.

Crack! Manman Yu’s whip snapped against the floor. "You idiot! What I mean is, from now on you must follow my every training instruction to the letter! Otherwise, prepare to suffer!" She cracked the whip against the floor again for emphasis.

Each lash made Geng Haoshi nod frantically in terror.

"Get to it! Stationary low dribbling!"

"If you can’t even dribble, do you plan on running around hugging the ball every time like before?"

Geng Haoshi thought, Well, I’m your slave now. However you want to train me, just go ahead.

He picked up the ball and stood in place, beginning to pat the basketball with his hand.

...

"I said stationary low dribbling! Not just patting the ball!" Manman Yu glared at him again. "Do you really know nothing at all?"

"Listen carefully: In stationary low dribbling, the ball should never rise above your waist, and you mustn’t look at the ball. Use your hand to press the ball down, not slap it."

"The key points: Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, one foot in front, one behind, knees bent, and press the ball downward with your hand."

"With ongoing stationary low dribbling, you’ll use your hands to feel the ball, gradually improving your ball control."

Manman Yu gave him another glance. "Number Two, begin."

Obediently, Geng Haoshi followed her instructions and began the practice… At first, not looking at the ball, he kept losing control and sending it flying. But gradually, he got the hang of it, and most of the time, he could keep the ball within his palm’s range.

Seeing that he had more or less mastered the basics, Manman Yu said, "Number Two, keep practicing until dinner." With that, she walked off to supervise the other players.

"It’s only four o’clock now. If I have to practice until dinner, that’s nearly two more hours… Why does she have to be so ruthless? She’s a beauty—can’t she show some mercy to the nation’s delicate flowers? Or at least spare a little pity for a fresh young thing like me?" Geng Haoshi muttered under his breath.

...

"Master, how are you feeling now?" Only after Manman Yu had walked away did 9527 speak up.

"What do you mean, how am I feeling?" Even though she was now instructing others and some distance away, Geng Haoshi didn’t dare slack off in his drills—his fate was in her hands.

"Master, have you forgotten? You just used 'Powerful Energy Surge' again."

"Oh." Geng Haoshi clearly wasn’t paying close attention to 9527.

"…Master, have you forgotten about the incontinence incident?"

"Oh, right!" The memory of last night’s disaster returned. "But today I don’t feel even a hint of collapse. In fact, I still feel full of energy, ready to take on a harem of beauties!"

"Yes, Master, it is indeed odd… By rights, you should be sprawled flat on the ground like a dead pig, losing control of your bodily functions."

"You can’t hope for something good for me, can you?!"

...

"Also, Master, your weight just dropped from two hundred and three to one hundred ninety-six pounds after that 'Powerful Energy Surge.'"

"Lost seven pounds in one go?! Does that mean this 'Powerful Energy Surge' can help me lose weight too?"

"Master, during your wild dunk, I monitored a dramatic breakdown of fat tissue in your body… Normally, the human body first burns carbohydrates. Only when those are depleted does it begin consuming fat. If all the fat is used up, then…"

"I know—my high school biology teacher covered that. If you run out of fat, your body starts breaking down protein, and at that point, your life could be in danger."

"So, Master, you’re not as clueless as I thought."

Geng Haoshi rolled his eyes.

"Master, based on your performance while using 'Powerful Energy Surge,' I think it’s because you overexerted yourself this morning and didn’t eat much at lunch, so your body was low on carbohydrates. Then, during your intense dunk, you quickly burned through the available sugars, forcing your body to use up fat."

"So what you’re saying is, if I eat less and then use 'Powerful Energy Surge' during strenuous exercise, I can burn fat quickly and lose weight fast?!"

Geng Haoshi suddenly felt elated. "9527, if I use 'Powerful Energy Surge' a few more times, I’ll soon have eight-pack abs, those attractive V-lines, and the kind of physique that makes girls swoon!"

"So this is what 'Powerful Energy Surge' is really for! I’m a genius!"

"...Master, I’ve heard of V-lines and six-packs, but what’s a dolphin line?"

"Dolphin line, it’s the irresistible, high-powered motor that makes everyone want to pounce on you," Geng Haoshi said, shaking his hips exaggeratedly.

...

"Fine, suit yourself. Ahem, Master, while you might achieve the results you want, there could also be some unforeseen consequences."

"What consequences?"

"Master, during rapid fat breakdown, your mental state becomes unstable… You could develop a split personality… or, to put it bluntly, become a bit of a maniac…"