She Came Back?

In high spirits, Sun Hao went to the arena early to train.

Real Madrid Team would host Atletico Madrid that night.

From the name alone, Atletico Madrid was clearly another team from Madrid.

But unlike Real Madrid, their focus had always been, and would continue to be, football. Basketball simply was not as highly valued.

This Atletico team had only been formed a little over a year ago.

Still, no matter what, a matchup between the two teams was a City Derby in Madrid.

For Madrid fans, aside from games against Barcelona, this was the matchup they cared about most.

Especially since Real Madrid Team held an overwhelming advantage in popularity.

Just like the Lakers compared to the Clippers in the NBA.

For a game like this, as Real Madrid Team fans, they naturally hoped to see their team claim a decisive victory.

Real Madrid Team felt the same way. No matter what level of league they played in, they needed victories to satisfy their fans.

That included the head coach.

He arrived at the arena early to prepare for the daytime practice, only to find that Sun Hao had arrived even earlier.

The discovery surprised him, but it also made him deeply gratified.

Back when he had promoted Sun Hao from the Youth Team, he had done so by deliberately cutting someone.

Sun Hao had scored in double digits in just his third game. And this was no Youth Team league—the value of those points was on a completely different level.

Now he saw Sun Hao coming in early the next morning for extra practice.

With one thing after another, it would have been strange if his impression of Sun Hao had not improved.

He did not interrupt Sun Hao's training. Instead, he made a decision in his heart.

A player like Sun Hao deserved a better opportunity.

Sun Hao had no idea what was happening around him. Most of the time, he trained inside the system; his workouts outside it were simply to work up a sweat.

He was drenched in sweat and felt refreshed.

After taking a shower in the locker room, he came out to find his teammates gradually arriving.

Sun Hao had recently stepped up his Spanish studies. When he saw his teammates arrive, he began talking with them in clumsy Spanish.

Part of it was practice, and part of it was a form of off-court entertainment, a way to increase interaction.

Before long, Sun Hao had the locker room filled with laughter.

A little while later, the head coach entered the locker room. The players gradually quieted down when they saw him.

"Sun, you're starting tonight."

As soon as he entered, the head coach announced a decision.

The decision was somewhat sudden, but the teammates did not react too strongly.

Sun Hao had entered the Plata League before even turning sixteen, and he had scored in double digits in his third game.

There were only two words to describe that phenomenon: overflowing talent.

In other words, it was only a matter of time before he became a starter. It had merely happened a little earlier than expected.

Sun Hao was actually the most surprised. He had not expected the coach in front of him to trust him even more than Raul had.

"Play well. Don't put too much pressure on yourself."

After announcing the starting lineup, the head coach patted Sun Hao on the shoulder and spoke to him alone.

His earnest tone carried both his expectations and his pressure.

Making Sun Hao a starter tonight had been an impulsive decision.

If Sun Hao failed to perform well, his authority within the team would be affected.

Sun Hao looked at the head coach and nodded, his eyes gleaming.

His goal was to follow the path Gasol had once taken and enter La Liga within a year.

Personal ability was important, but in La Liga, where seniority mattered, opportunities were important too.

Now that the head coach trusted him and had given him an opportunity, he had to seize it.

Seeing Sun Hao's reaction, the head coach nodded in satisfaction. After signaling for the players to continue, he left the locker room.

The moment he left, the locker room became lively again.

But unlike their earlier horseplay, this time the teammates were congratulating Sun Hao.

Sun Hao had gotten along well with them since joining the team, and he clearly had a boundless future ahead of him. Building a good relationship with him could only benefit them.

Sun Hao did not enter the system to train at all that day. That night's game was crucial to him.

Just like when he had played the Student Team before, if he could put on a dazzling enough performance, he might directly catch the attention of Oro Real Madrid.

That evening, the arena was packed to the brim.

It was a City Derby, and the fans were incredibly fired up.

An hour before the game, both teams gradually entered the arena and began warming up.

Sun Hao's touch was not especially good at the start of warmups. After the sudden drop in training intensity, his muscles were a little slow to respond.

But once his body loosened up, he quickly found his rhythm and returned to his normal level. From outside, he made eight or nine shots out of every ten.

Ever since obtaining the "Long-Range Sharpshooter" Badge, he could clearly feel that his long-range shooting had become much more consistent.

As warmups were about to end, Sun Hao headed toward the bench.

Right then, he casually looked up—and froze.

High up in the stands, he saw an extremely familiar figure.

Not just the silhouette, but the style of clothing, even the color of the clothes.

That was... Jocelyn?

She had really returned to Spain?

The wild thing he had talked about with Fernandez had actually happened?!

This was too unbelievable!

Sun Hao rubbed his eyes, making sure he was not dreaming.

But the scene before him did not change. Although she was too far away for him to see her face clearly, that figure and those clothes were unmistakable.

He was certain it was Jocelyn!

In an instant, Sun Hao felt as though he had been injected with Chicken Blood. His pores seemed to burst open uncontrollably.

This surprise was even greater than when the system told him there was a reward!

Though it was hard to believe, it really explained why Jocelyn had not replied to his email.

Maybe this was what had happened: Jocelyn had gone back to America, had a huge fight with her parents, been confined at home for a few days, then secretly run away and come to Spain!

That was a perfectly reasonable explanation!

If the game had not been about to start, Sun Hao would have rushed straight into the stands.

He restrained that urge, but his body was still uncontrollably excited.

"What's wrong?"

Seeing his state, the head coach could not help coming over to ask.

Sun Hao did not react when he asked the first time. It was only after the coach patted his shoulder that he turned around, looking utterly confused.

After the head coach repeated himself, Sun Hao finally snapped back to his senses and immediately waved his hand to show that he was fine.

He was a little too excited.

He would see her after the game anyway, so there was no need to rush right now.

With that thought, Sun Hao temporarily pulled his gaze away from the stands.

No matter what, he had to play well first.

He clearly remembered that when Jocelyn had come before, he had put up a crazy eighty-one-point performance in a single game.

Jocelyn had been very happy that night.

Now that she had come back, he had to perform well.

Because he knew that was something that could make Jocelyn happy.

The pregame warmups ended, and players from both teams began taking the court.

Before stepping onto the court, Sun Hao could not help looking toward the stands once more. From far away, he saw Jocelyn waving at him.

He forcibly held back the urge to wave back. After turning around, he rubbed his hands together, his eyes shining.

Bring it on!

The referee's whistle sounded, and amid the cheers of the home crowd, the City Derby between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid officially began.

Real Madrid Team got the first possession.

Sun Hao handled the ball on the perimeter, used a screen from the center, and fired directly from beyond the three-point line.

It was exactly the same style he had used in the EBA League.

Compared to the EBA League, the Plata League was more physical and executed tactics better, but stylistically, it still followed the overall trend of European basketball.

Facing Sun Hao's style of play, the opposing center stayed deep in the paint and did not come out at all.

Sun Hao's shot was almost completely uncontested.

The ball spun through the air, tracing a high arc.

Swish!

A crisp sound rang out.

The three-pointer dropped cleanly through the net.

Sun Hao calmly knocked down his first three-pointer!

The arena erupted in cheers.

The head coach on the sideline also showed a delighted expression.

One point meant little over the course of a game, but the first basket of the game could reveal a player's competitive condition.

Sun Hao's form tonight showed that his judgment and decision had been correct!

Atletico Madrid failed to score on its next possession. Judging from their offensive performance, their overall strength really was weaker than Real Madrid's.

But although their offense was weak, their defensive effort was good.

When Sun Hao brought the ball into the frontcourt and tried to repeat the same play, the opposing guard fought over the screen successfully again and again. This time, the same tactic failed to develop.

Real Madrid Team's possession ended without a score, and Atletico Madrid pushed the ball in transition and finished the fast break.

Atletico Madrid's bench erupted.

In a City Derby, the players were invested, and so were the fans.

In the stands, the fans of the two teams seated right next to each other remained composed, but those separated by a few rows had already begun furiously trading insults.

In a derby, the atmosphere reached a fever pitch right from the opening.

Real Madrid Team failed to convert on its next possession as well.

Sun Hao's shooting consistency after screens was high, but that depended on the center being able to hold the defender off.

The player guarding Sun Hao that night was another short guard, slippery as an eel, and the center could not keep him contained.

Atletico Madrid launched another defensive counterattack. Their guard drew a shooting foul in transition, went to the free throw line, and made both free throws.

4–3.

Atletico Madrid had turned the tables on the road and taken the lead over Real Madrid Team early!

At once, the small number of Atletico fans in the stands went wild, pounding their chests and roaring, spittle flying everywhere.

After all, those who came to watch an away game were basically the team's most die-hard supporters.

The scene became a striking sight along the court.

While retreating on defense, Sun Hao casually turned his gaze toward the distant stands and saw that Jocelyn, like the fans around her, remained seated without moving.

With the home team struggling early, the atmosphere in the arena had become a little subdued.

On Real Madrid Team's possession, Sun Hao had the ball. After the screen plays failed repeatedly, he directly raised a hand to signal everyone to clear out.

The choice caught everyone off guard. Not only his teammates, but even the head coach by the bench was stunned for a moment.

European basketball emphasized tactical execution. No one had expected Sun Hao to want to play one-on-one at a time like this!

P.S. I've seen quite a few people complain about the romance, but just consider the setup: a rebellious girl who looks fifteen or sixteen but may actually be even younger, and a man who had been single for twenty-eight years—many people may not have truly experienced that. Well, dry wood and raging fire.

P.S. 2: Why does this chapter clearly have 3,000 words, yet even I feel like it's short? (/ω＼)

But I'm still asking for recommendation votes and tips. A thin-skinned eggplant can only be eaten.

Thanks to Ling Tian Feichen, Ji Feiyu, Xianglai Yuanqian Naihe Qingshen, and reader 20180826140912463 for the tips. Thank you, bosses, for the support. Muah~