Basketball System: Rebound of the Underdog

"Champions! Champions! "

The crowd chanted the Champions' name, and Chaoxing basked in the glory of it all.

He glanced at his teammates, wanting to celebrate with them. However, much to his dismay, Jian was already on his way out of the gym while Jimmy, who still appeared to be in a bad mood, was already arranging his bag by the bench.

"Party-poopers," he muttered as he watched the two.

Just then, a wave of reporters tried to get an interview with Jian. However, the star player was nowhere to be seen.

Chaoxing smiled and went in front of them.

"I'll be answering all the questions today! "He said. "Reserve your questions for Jian during the finals! "

Meanwhile, on the other side of the court, there were also a number of reporters who wanted to get an interview with Zheng.

Unlike Jian, they knew he was going to agree. He was always like that—a player with a good work ethic and sportsmanship.

However, at that moment, he shook his head.

"I'm sorry," he said. He didn't know how many times he had said those words. However, he was already sick of saying it.

"I can't do this right now," he muttered.

With that, he ran out of the court, surprising many.

The Elites turned to each other in surprise.

"Where is he going? "

Meanwhile, Kai frowned, not liking how Zheng looked as he ran out of the court. With that, he also stood from his seat.

Lina noticed this and frowned. She then watched how he went out of the VIP area. She also stood and called for his name.

However, Kai continued running—trying to catch up to Zheng.

Kai couldn't see Zheng at all as he went out of the court. However, he could guess exactly where Zheng was headed—there was only one place he would go, a place that embodied his dreams and all his countless hours of hard work.

The empty basketball court near Huolan High.

This was where they'd first crossed paths, though Zheng probably wouldn't remember. Back then, Kai had looked up to him, the promising player from the Eagles who had told him to keep pushing forward. Now, it was time for Kai to return that favor.

As he arrived at the open court, Kai spotted Zheng sitting on the concrete, his back against the metal fence, with his gaze distant and lost.

The emptiness in his eyes wasn't something Kai had ever seen before. For a moment, he hesitated, unsure of how to approach him. But he took a breath, walking over to sit beside Zheng.

Neither of them spoke at first. The silence between them was heavy but comforting. Kai didn't look at Zheng directly; he just fixed his eyes on the hoop at the other end of the court.

"You played great," Kai finally said, breaking the silence. His voice was gentle, sounding genuine. "Really, I've never seen you like that. You pushed yourself to your limit in that game."

Zheng closed his eyes, letting out a shaky breath. "But it wasn't enough, was it? No matter what I do, I'll never be the best."

Kai shook his head slowly. "Maybe not," he replied honestly. "But that's the thing, isn't it? You don't have to be the best at everything. You just have to be the best version of yourself. And you were today, Zheng. You really were."

Zheng looked over at him, his expression showing disappointment and frustration. "It just feels... meaningless sometimes. All this work, all this effort—only to come up short. Again and again."

Kai put a hand on his shoulder, giving it a comforting squeeze. "Maybe you didn't win tonight, but you're still someone people look up to. Someone who inspires others to try harder, to push themselves beyond what they thought was possible. That's worth something, isn't it? "

Zheng's gaze softened, though his expression remained uncertain. "I don't know if that's enough," he murmured. "I wanted to prove that hard work could win."

Kai smiled, leaning back against the wall. "You know, when I first saw you play, I thought you were incredible. And I still think that. Not because you're perfect or unbeatable—but because you never give up. You keep going, even when things are tough. That's rare, Zheng."

Zheng looked at Kai. "You really think that? "

Kai nodded. "Absolutely. Being great isn't about never losing. It's about how you handle those losses. How you come back stronger. And you… you're one of the strongest players I've ever met, not because you win all the time, but because you have the guts to keep fighting, even when you don't."

Zheng let out a sigh, a hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. For the first time since the game, he seemed a little lighter, as if the weight he'd been carrying had eased, even if just a bit.

"I think I needed to hear that," he quietly said.

Kai laughed softly. "Hey, we all do sometimes. I'm just glad I could be here to remind you."

"You might not be the best in the way you want to be, but you're the best at pushing yourself. And in the end, that's what matters. Not the trophies, not the records, but the way you make people feel when they watch you play."

Zheng leaned back, his gaze drifting to the empty court. "It's funny. I always thought if I could just reach the top, I'd finally feel satisfied. But maybe I've been missing the point all along."
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Kai chuckled. "Maybe. Or maybe you're just starting to realize that there's more to it than just winning."

"Come on, stand up," he said, extending a hand to Zheng. "Don't look so down now."

Zheng looked at Kai's outstretched hand for a moment, then took it, letting Kai pull him to his feet. They stood there, side by side, two players who had spent their lives chasing the same dream yet with such different journeys.

"Hey," Zheng suddenly said, tilting his head to the side. "How'd you know I was here? Only the people I'm close with will probably figure out that I run to this place when I'm upset."

Kai smiled. "It's special to you," he said.

"Just like it is to me."

Because in that very court, it was when Zheng told him that he was special, too.