Chapter 900: I changed my mind

DING!

Hearing this sound wasn’t the first to be heard in the court. However, something about this ring stunned everyone, as if no one in the court could have fathomed they would hear Hugo’s team scoring a point. But when it sank in, the cheers erupted in the court.

"Wooo! Finally!"

"We made it! Keep it up, Team!"

"Team Hugo — kyahhh!! I love you all!"

Those who weren’t concerned with the technicalities simply cheered and screamed in joy. Their team had only gained two points, but they were already thrilled. After all, this meant progress. Others, on the other hand, were more confused.

"What just happened?" someone among the crowd couldn’t help but wonder. "Just now, I thought Max was going to score a point. But then, the ball..."

"It was confusing. Is that even allowed?"

"I’m not too sure what happened either."

Although it was clear as day what had just happened, it still left some people confused. Meanwhile, those who were familiar with the game, especially the basketball team, couldn’t help but smile in excitement.

"I didn’t think the top 1 from the star section knew anything about the game," someone from the original basketball team commented. "I didn’t expect that at all."

"I thought he was only brains, but I guess he knows about sports as well."

"What a gifted person, indeed. He’s a genius and also athletic."

"That game style... is more like something from the street basketball, isn’t it?"

The original members of the basketball team couldn’t help but speak their minds, amused by the sudden turn of events.

"That Plus One is also good," another one added. "What he did just now already reduced the other team’s chances of scoring three... and reckless two-pointers. With how high he jumped, I guess his height has its uses."

"And that was without training. Wow! If they could do this, why hadn’t they done it in the first place?"

"That’s what I also want to know. It seemed the top 1 and that Plus One knew a few things about this game, but they chose to stand there like displays."

"I guess Penny’s bet motivated them to move."

"Or Uncle Charles threatened them with their lives."

Speculations and theories began circulating among the audience, each person sharing their thoughts on why Hugo’s team hadn’t shown these skills from the start. Some assumed it was Penny’s bet that motivated the team, while others theorized it was Charles’s doing. A few thought it was a tactic, but others dismissed that as nonsense.

After all, even though Hugo’s team had finally made their first point, the gap was still wide. There was no point in making a huge gap like that, which seemed almost impossible to close unless it was a professional match.

Little did they all know, what motivated the team was a little bit of everything. Penny’s bet and Charles’s threat were a huge part of it, but for the Piersons (Jonathan and Dean), pride was the biggest motivator they had.

---

Minutes before the second quarter of the game started, Charles gathered his team to strategize for the next round. In the first quarter, he admitted that he had been reckless, simply sending them all off to play and have fun. Of course, he encouraged them to win because he had placed his bets on them, but that was about it.

It wasn’t as if Charles would starve if his team lost. But now, things have changed.

"I’m going to let this little guy here replace one of you," Charles announced sternly, looking at the men before him. "It is with a heavy heart, but we have to win."

"I agree..." Mark trailed off when Zoren suddenly told him to stay out. "..."

As obedient as he was, Mark didn’t even make a sound as he scooted far away from the team. Charles, on the other hand, frowned deeply at Zoren’s orders.

"I’m not letting you kick me out of this game," Zoren spoke before his father-in-law could question his orders. "My wife’s company is on the line, and considering she placed everything on this team, I can’t let her down."

Zoren had always known his wife believed in him. Take his vision problems, for example. Penny had believed he would get better, even though Zoren was initially reluctant and doubtful. She believed in him, and that was why it encouraged him to try and recover.

He knew his wife believed in him, but he didn’t expect her to believe in him so much that she would risk her entire life’s work.

"I want to assure her that she won’t regret putting her all on me... on us," he added sternly, locking eyes with his father-in-law.

Dean studied his uncle’s side profile, his lips pressed into a thin line. However, Dean quietly huffed and looked away, telling himself it was better not to see him like this.

Charles opened his mouth, but seeing his son-in-law looking at him with such determined eyes, how could he turn a blind eye to it? A shallow breath slipped past his nostrils as his gaze shifted to the rest of the team.

"I wasn’t talking about you," he murmured, staring at Jonathan, who had been wanting to leave the game.

As soon as Charles’s and Jonathan’s eyes met, Jonathan nodded and smiled in relief.

"I don’t mind," said Jonathan. "If it’s for the team, then I’ll gladly stay on the bench and take charge of the water station."

Dean smirked and suddenly commented, "I don’t object this time. Kicking out someone who doesn’t know a thing about a game as simple as this is really for the team."

"What did you say?"

"I said what I said." Dean shrugged nonchalantly. "Is it not true? You knew nothing about this game, so you’re right. It’s in the team’s best interest if you just stay on the sidelines... where you belong. Sit there as quietly as a dead rat."

The vein on Jonathan’s forehead protruded as he tried to smile at Dean but failed. "If the game is so simple, then how come you don’t know?"

"Oh, I know how to play it. I wasn’t just interested until now."

"Ha... ha... is that so?"

"That’s enough, you two." Charles clicked his tongue, reminded of how his children sometimes argued. "You two are still a team, even if Plus One is going to stay on the bench."

Jonathan flashed Dean a smile before turning to face Charles. "I changed my mind. I don’t want to leave this team yet."