Everyone Who's Been to College Knows This!

Besides making braised lion's head meatballs for Kobe, Zhou Ze had also prepared Kung Pao chicken, steamed hairy crab, and more—a full spread of six dishes and one soup.

"Zhou, you've worked hard. Come eat with us," Vanessa said, inviting Zhou Ze to join them after he finished cooking.

"Sure." Zhou Ze smiled and nodded.

Kobe, Vanessa, and Zhou Ze sat around the dining table.

Before the meal, Vanessa handed her eldest daughter, Natalia Bryant, who had been born in 2003, over to the household staff.

Seeing Zhou Ze carefully prepare such a mouthwatering feast for their family, Kobe and Vanessa could not help but grow even fonder of him.

Vanessa in particular jokingly said that she ought to introduce Zhou Ze to a girlfriend.

As for the aloof Kobe, although he said nothing, the look in his eyes when he looked at Zhou Ze had softened considerably.

"Wow, Zhou, I never expected you to be such a good cook." Vanessa exclaimed again.

Kobe nodded unconsciously as well.

"Haha. Thanks," Zhou Ze said with an easy laugh.

"But Zhou, now that you've officially entered the NBA, you need to keep a close eye on your weight," Vanessa reminded him kindly.

There were plenty of talented NBA players who had been eliminated because they ate and drank without restraint and let themselves get out of shape.

At the dinner table, it was mainly Vanessa and Zhou Ze chatting, with Kobe occasionally chiming in.

However, whenever the topic turned to basketball, Kobe naturally began talking more.

"What?"

"You think three-pointers will become the league's main offensive method in the future?"

Kobe frowned and turned to look at Zhou Ze.

"That's right."

"Ever since the NO-HC rule was introduced, perimeter offense has become increasingly important."

"Offensive players can get three-point opportunities much more easily."

Zhou Ze spoke confidently and with certainty.

"Idiot."

"Three-pointers are easier to defend than two-pointers."

After eating a lion's head meatball, Kobe cursed him without the slightest mercy.

Vanessa instantly grew nervous, wondering how she could smooth things over.

At that moment, Zhou Ze immediately fired back, "From a probability standpoint, threes are more efficient than twos. Even someone who never went to college should be able to understand that, right?"

Vanessa's eyes widened at once.

Was Zhou Ze taking a jab at Kobe for not going to college?

"Hmph, brat. After dinner, come to the training court with me. I'll personally test your theory," Kobe said, his face immediately darkening. But instead of arguing back, he directly challenged Zhou Ze to a one-on-one.

As for whether three-point shooting would become the league's offensive trend in the future, Kobe had no interest in that right now.

All he wanted was to utterly destroy this damn rookie in front of him on the basketball court.

"Sure." Zhou Ze showed no weakness and immediately agreed.

After dinner.

Following a brief rest, Zhou Ze and Kobe headed to Kobe's private basketball court.

Afraid that the two might actually start fighting, Vanessa went along with her eldest daughter in her arms.

Before the one-on-one began, the two naturally started trading trash talk.

"Brat, did you bring tissues?" Kobe said arrogantly.

"Haha, Kobe, I just had Vanessa prepare one of Natalia's diapers for you," Zhou Ze shot back.

"Brat, you'll pay for what you just said." Kobe fixed Zhou Ze with a sharp glare.

Their one-on-one was on the verge of starting.

They used ordinary streetball rules, allowing the offense to continue after grabbing an offensive rebound.

Zhou Ze was fairly confident in this format, even against Kobe.

After all, he stood 206 centimeters barefoot and weighed 113 kilograms—8 centimeters taller and 17 kilograms heavier than Kobe. He figured he could back Kobe down until he crushed him.

But very soon...

Zhou Ze paid a painful price for taking things for granted.

On offense, once Kobe received the ball, he used his masterful triple-threat stance, his entire body full of fakes. With a simple right-foot jab step, he got Zhou Ze into the air.

Kobe burst forward, his body moving like a cheetah.

One word: fast!

Once Zhou Ze reacted, he immediately turned and gave chase, but he was still a step too late, forced to watch Kobe complete a one-handed tomahawk right in front of him.

Kobe's triple-threat stance always managed to fool Zhou Ze. After scoring several times in a row, Zhou Ze forcibly suppressed the urge to jump. In the end, Kobe pulled up for a three-pointer and drilled it in Zhou Ze's face over his short arms.

"Kid, if your arms were another fifty centimeters longer, maybe you'd be able to bother me a little." After hitting four straight shots, Kobe did not forget to mock Zhou Ze's T-rex wingspan.

On the next possession, Kobe bricked it.

If you think this book is good, remember to add it to your bookshelf so you won't have trouble finding it next time.

Possession changed hands, and it was finally Zhou Ze's turn to attack.

Zhou Ze went to the post, preparing to bulldoze Kobe all the way under the basket.

Kobe naturally could not match Zhou Ze in a strength battle, but he knew how to deflect Zhou Ze's force. At the same time, he could accurately front him and poke the ball away.

Of course, there were also a few possessions where he failed to cut off Zhou Ze's dribble while fronting him, but Kobe could quickly recover from behind and strip the ball away.

There was nothing Zhou Ze could do...

Kobe was a regular on the All-Defensive Team.

A true two-way player.

Against Zhou Ze, who possessed nothing but physical gifts and had crude technique, Kobe was nearly beating the crap out of him.

However, Zhou Ze's resilience was remarkably strong.

Though he was being thoroughly dominated, there was not a trace of surrender in his eyes.

Kobe greatly admired that.

What Kobe admired even more was Zhou Ze's mouth.

At 18–0, Zhou Ze still had not scored a single point. When he took the ball Kobe passed over again, he assumed a triple-threat stance as well.

Unlike Kobe, Zhou Ze palmed the ball with one hand.

Facing the fully prepared Kobe, Zhou Ze said, "Kobe, jealous?"

Kobe froze slightly.

That damned rookie had insinuated over dinner that he had never gone to college, and now he was saying his hands were small!!!

And this bastard still had the nerve to claim he was his fan???

Suddenly, Zhou Ze leaped up. While Kobe was gritting his teeth in fury, he fired a three-pointer.

With a swish...

The three went in cleanly.

After confirming the basket, Zhou Ze turned around, raised both hands high, and celebrated early as if his confidence had exploded.

Kobe was speechless once again.

With Zhou Ze's current ball-handling protection, it was no easy task to get off a comfortable three-pointer in front of Kobe.

Before making that three, Zhou Ze had been stripped three times while bringing the ball up over his head.

Although Zhou Ze had advantages in size, build, and strength, he could not dribble the ball into the paint to initiate an attack.

The result of their one-on-one matchup was obvious.

Zhou Ze was crushed.

The final score was 21–3.

Zhou Ze was utterly dominated by Kobe.

Unwilling to accept it, Zhou Ze continued playing one-on-one with Kobe.

The result was just as dismal.

After losing three straight games!

Kobe did not go easy on him, beating Zhou Ze into the ground.

But after every successful offensive or defensive play, Kobe would offer Zhou Ze some advice.

For example, what to watch out for when posting up.

And what to do when defending perimeter players.

And so on.

This made Vanessa, who was watching from the side, smile knowingly.

Although the two still threw elbows at each other during their one-on-one games, her husband Kobe had already acknowledged Zhou Ze.

It was nearly midnight.

Zhou Ze left Kobe's mansion.

This time, Kobe walked Zhou Ze all the way to the front door.

"Rookie, even though your basketball skills are dogshit, your cooking is pretty damn good," Kobe said in a simple farewell.

"Heh." Zhou Ze's mouth twitched. "Kobe, your dirty elbows are just as impressive as your basketball skills."

With that, Zhou Ze floored the gas before Kobe could react and drove home.

On the road.

The system's voice rang out again.

[Ding, congratulations to the host for completing the daily mission: Become ordinary friends with Kobe.]

[Reward obtained: 200 Peak Points.]