"Why?" Zhang Zhenpeng asked, confused. "If I'm in the second year of high school, I can't play in the national competition?"
He Ximeng repeated the rule that players participating in the national competition in their second or third year of high school must have been enrolled for over six months.
After hearing this, Zhang Zhenpeng sneered, "Hah... So that's what it is. You scared me! So, as long as I'm a freshman, I can bypass this restriction?"
"You're willing to repeat your freshman year just to play ball?"
"What's the big deal? The curriculum abroad is different from here anyway. It doesn't matter to me whether I'm in the first or second year! I'm not going to rely on academics for a living. My future goal is to become a professional player, so playing ball is the most important thing for me..."
"Holy cow! What a twist!"
One minute, He Ximeng was lamenting the loss of Zhang Zhenpeng, a valuable potential recruit, and the next, Zhang Zhenpeng was giving him a pleasant surprise!
"Welcome to the Zhuzhong basketball team!"
"Deal, are we still having a one-on-one showdown here tomorrow?"
"You bet! We train here every day after school to prepare for the preliminary rounds of the national competition in the Zhejiang region, which is a month away..."
Having successfully recruited a strong player, He Ximeng enthusiastically introduced Zhang Zhenpeng to the head coach and all the teammates, treating him as a new member of Zhuzhong.
"With classmate Zhang Zhenpeng joining us, we'll kick off our recruitment drive tomorrow to fill the remaining spots..." Sanye finally thought about completing the team's roster.
"Coach Zhang, excuse me, does your team still need a team manager?" Zhang Tian'ai seized the opportunity, putting on a pitiable act, wanting to recommend herself for a position in the basketball team.
Zhang Yide, a prominent figure in his high school days due to his excellent basketball skills, could tell what this little girl, Zhang Tian'ai, was after.
To avoid unnecessary trouble, Zhang Yide flatly refused, "I'm sorry, our team doesn't have such a position..."
Zhang Tian'ai was met with a rebuff, her lips puckered up, looking as if she had been wronged.
Zhang Zhenpeng then grabbed his sister and left the gymnasium. They walked out of the school gate and got into a red Rolls-Royce.
"Old Wang, help us with the admission procedures for Zhuzhong tomorrow!"
"Ah? Young Master, aren't we going back to Huipu Middle School?"
"No, we're not! Tell Mom I'm staying at Zhuji Middle School and not going anywhere else..."
Old Wang was the driver and butler specifically assigned by Zhang's mother to take care of Zhang Zhenpeng and Zhang Tian'ai. Hearing Zhang Zhenpeng's somewhat childish command, Old Wang didn't blindly obey but politely offered his opinion.
"Young Master, aren't you going to Zhejiang's best basketball school? To be frank, although Zhuji Middle School has some strength, it's nowhere near Huipu."
"Hmm, you might be right, Huipu is stronger than Zhuzhong! But I've found an interesting opponent here, and it would be a shame to miss it! Huipu can wait! Anyway, wherever I play, that's where the national championship will be..."
"Hey, can you have a little dignity?" Zhang Tian'ai chimed in, pouring cold water on her brother, "You're underestimating high school basketball in China, aren't you? Who was it that lost to He Ximeng just now?"
"Tch! That was before I got serious! Just you wait, I'll crush him tomorrow..."
"You mean you'll be crushed?"
"How is that possible!"
"Even in a small city like Zhuji, you found an opponent. Think about how big China is! Zhuzhong is only considered a basketball powerhouse within Zhejiang Province, not even ranking nationally..."
"Stop! I don't believe there are that many basketball geniuses in China... Someone like me is one in ten thousand..."
Zhang Tian'ai put her hand to her forehead, completely giving up on her brother's overconfidence.
"Young Master, we've already paid the sponsorship fee to Huipu Middle School..." the driver, Old Wang, interjected during Zhang Tian'ai's speechlessness.
"Sponsorship fee? How much?"
"Ten thousand..."
"Only ten thousand... We don't need it then. Old Wang, quickly arrange for my admission to Zhuzhong... Oh, and I want to be in the first year, not the second."
Seeing that he couldn't dissuade Zhang Zhenpeng, Old Wang could only call Zhang's mother to get instructions.
After all, ten thousand yuan in the 1990s was not a small sum, nor was it insignificant. In 20 years, it would be at least 100,000 yuan.
If the Zhang family paid the fee and didn't attend, Huipu Middle School would certainly not refund the money.
As a result, Zhang's mother was quite pleased to hear that Zhang Zhenpeng was willing to stay at Zhuzhong.
"Zhuzhong is great! Mother and son will be alumni from now on... Old Wang, quickly arrange his admission."
Fine, rich people were indeed willful.
"Mom, I'm not going to Hangzhou either, I want to stay at Zhuzhong too..." Seeing her brother's request to stay at Zhuzhong granted, Zhang Tian'ai quickly expressed her desire to do the same.
"Great, another ten thousand down the drain..."
Old Wang appeared unfazed, but deep down, he couldn't help but mutter that rich people really didn't treat money as money.