last second

Before the summer league, the team played a friendly with another club.Although it is not an official game, but they are also popular teams participating in the summer league. This confrontation is undoubtedly a kind of weather vane.

Because there will be journalists and spectators present, it can be said that this is an opportunity to prove our strength.At the same time, for the players of the two teams, this is also a very important game.If you win, you can boost morale for the official game; if you lose, it will inevitably affect the confidence of the whole team.

Before the game, the coach announced the roster. As always, there were five players, but Jiang Shize's name was not included.All the team members gathered near the coach, but Jiang Shize could not be found.

"come on!"

The coach yelled first, and the other players echoed one after another. Everyone stretched out a hand and clapped together as an oath.

Everyone has arrived, except that Jiang Shize is missing...

As if it was a conditioned reflex, Xu Xi looked around subconsciously, and finally found Jiang Shize in the corner next to him.The man was holding bread and mineral water, eating breakfast leisurely.

"Didn't you have breakfast?"

I don't know what I'm worried about, Xu Xi just can't worry about this person.

"Well, I seem to be very hungry today."

While speaking, Jiang Shize was looking at the other side, and the other team was also preparing for the game.

Xu Xi looked at Jiang Shize unconsciously. The man was eating breakfast intently, not paying attention to his gaze.After a while, he looked back uncomfortably, pondered for a moment, and finally spoke.

"The coach said that you haven't gotten used to the team enough, so..."

Before he finished speaking, Jiang Shi suddenly raised his head and asked with a smile, "The captain is comforting me?"

Xu Xi was at a loss for words for a moment, he stood there in embarrassment, and nodded unconsciously.The smile on Jiang Shize's face grew stronger when he saw Jiang Shize, and he suddenly regretted it again.

"No, that, I..."

"It's okay, it's just that you can't play, it's not a big deal."

Xu Xi looked at Jiang Shize in surprise, but there was no forced smile on the man's face.

"Besides, the salary is the same anyway, so it doesn't matter if you play or not."

Seeing Xu Xi's face change, Jiang Shi said with a playful smile, "If I say so, will the captain be angry?"

Xu Xi stared blankly at the other party, not knowing which sentence was a joke and which one was sincere.

Jiang Shize finally finished his breakfast, and the game over there was about to start.

"Anyway, Captain, don't worry."

After finishing speaking, before Xu Xi could react, Jiang Shi suddenly stretched out his hand and looked at him with a smile.Xu Xi was stunned for a moment, then stretched out his hand to him with satisfaction.

The two clapped their hands in mid-air, and a "pong" sounded in their hearts.

Both sides are strong teams, and the atmosphere on the court was very tense at the beginning of the game.As a point guard, Xu Xi's performance is indeed outstanding. His personality is calm, he doesn't like to show off, and he knows every player well enough to take on this position.

At the same time, as the main scorer, Chen Jiaqing's performance is also remarkable.Xu Xi said that Chen Jiaqing's strength can be regarded as the top three in the team, and this sentence is by no means an exaggeration.On the contrary, Chen Jiaqing's defense may have flaws, but his offensive momentum is indeed staggering.With a strong body, the whole person is full of strength, and the momentum of attack is even more amazing.

Of course, the opponent's team is not weak, and the candidates who can squeeze into the hot spots are by no means ordinary people.From the second quarter onwards, they focused their defense on Chen Jiaqing, and at the same time, sent people to adopt a close-to-man strategy against Xu Xi.It seems that as long as they are pegged, the entire team is not threatening.

However, just as the score was drawn, the coach called a timeout for the first time.

Knowing that the opponent focused on Chen Jiaqing's defense, the coach had to adjust his strategy, and reassured Chen Jiaqing that he should not be anxious, and that he must not break through forcefully. What the opponent was waiting for was his panic.

At the same time, he told Xu Xi not to be too cautious, and to be bolder when necessary. Although the opponent is defending tightly, it is not without flaws. At critical moments, he can let go and fight.

In the end, the coach replaced another striker and adjusted the lineup. However, he never mentioned Jiang Shize from the beginning to the end. Jiang Shize didn't seem to care about anything. Contest.

The situation of being even with each other continued until the second half. The strength of the two sides was almost the same, and the gap between the scores remained within ten.

This is a safe boundary that may change at any time!

◇

From the second half onwards, the players started to attack fiercely, and the opponent gradually couldn't defend against Chen Jiaqing.Whether it's due to physical fitness or other reasons, seeing Chen Jiaqing gradually get away, Xu Xi also has the opportunity to give him the chance to score.

Dedicated to the game, Chen Jiaqing seemed to have inexhaustible energy. Whether it was returning to defense or grabbing rebounds, he was always the first.At the same time, Xu Xi's control over the team is also remarkable. Under his leadership, the score has been evened out.

Everyone's momentum was getting higher and higher. Suddenly, there was a "plop" in the field, and Xu Xi fell to the ground in pain.

"what happened?"

After the referee's whistle, the coach and the players rushed up one after another, eagerly checking on his condition.

"Bastard, did you do it on purpose?"

It turned out that when Xu Xi was defending, he was knocked down abruptly because of the opponent's forceful breakthrough.When he fell to the ground, his ankle just twisted, and it swelled up after a while.

"What nonsense, it's just a normal rubbing, and our team members didn't do it on purpose."

Chen Jiaqing and the opponent's players had such a quarrel that they almost got into a fight.

"Xiao Chen." Xu Xi shouted, enduring the pain.

When Chen Jiaqing heard the words, she had to shut up, not daring to say anything more.

"Captain, I'll help you go back."

The team member next to him just extended his hand, but Xu Xi refused.

"It's okay, I can continue the game."

"Captain, your feet are swollen." Chen Jiaqing said eagerly, already profusely sweating.

"It's okay, it's just a little injury." Xu Xi was about to get up, but he couldn't stand firmly for a while, and almost fell to the ground again.

Everyone looked at each other, not knowing what to say.The whole team knows how much Xu Xi attaches importance to every game, but the current injury...

The unusual silence made the atmosphere of the whole team very gloomy. Instead, Xu Xi was the first to speak, and even comforted everyone by saying, "Don't worry, my injury is nothing. It took a long time to tie the score. There is not much time left in the game. We must want……"

"Is it okay to be so injured?" From the beginning to the end, this was the first time Jiang Shize spoke, and no one noticed when he was standing in the crowd.

Xu Xi was at a loss for words for a while, and looked at Jiang Shize squatting beside him in surprise, carefully inspecting the injury to his ankle.

"It's all swollen like this. If you barely play, are you afraid of affecting the next month's game?"

Jiang Shi frowned and looked at Xu Xi with a half-smile.

Xu Xi bowed his head guiltyly, but still insisted: "But, this game..."

"Coach." Jiang Shi suddenly turned his head and asked the coach, "Can I play? Replace the captain."

The coach froze for a moment, then said hesitantly: "But, you have been playing forward during group practice..."

Jiang Shi smiled and said in a relaxed tone, "It's okay, I've always played point guard in the United States."

After finishing speaking, when he and Xu Xi looked at each other, there was rare seriousness in his eyes.

"But your tacit understanding with the whole team is not enough."

At this time, the coach suddenly spoke up, and seemed to think that this was an unsafe decision.

It was the first time that a cynical person insisted so much. He said, "Give me 10 minutes. If it doesn't work, the coach can replace me." Then, Jiang Shi asked Xu Xi again, "Captain, you don't believe me?" ?"

Should I trust him...

As if by accident, Xu Xi couldn't say "no". He nodded in a daze, and then saw Jiang Shize smiling happily, his mind becoming more and more in a trance.

The team members didn't have much objection. Perhaps, everyone hoped that Xu Xi would not force himself to play.

Before going on stage, Jiang Shi walked past Xu Xi and paused for a moment.

"Captain, seeing you working so hard, I seem to be refreshed."

Xu Xi raised his head in surprise, and Jiang Shize had already entered the stage.Following the figure of that person, his mind suddenly went blank, repeating Jiang Shize's words over and over again.

Does he really have that kind of influence over him?Because he goes to the open field every day to practice, because he insists on playing despite the injury, or because of other things?

Xu Xi couldn't figure it out, and couldn't figure it out, but when he saw Jiang Shize's expression on the field, he gradually felt a strange feeling in his heart, a little happy, a little relieved, and a little bit satisfied.It's not an insignificant feeling, but a little bit of penetration in the heart, gradually merging into the flesh and blood.

"Today's Jiang Shi is a bit different." The coach said.

Jiang Shi played for only 3 minutes, and the players have already seen a different attitude.It's not that Jiang Shize treats basketball as a child's play in normal times. Whether it's group practice or the match with Chen Jiaqing, he has completed the task seriously.

However, completing tasks is not the same feeling as actively striving for them.The current Jiang Shi really puts himself into the game and cares about the game. He concentrates on observing the opponent's formation, and keeps an eye on every movement of the audience. Whether it is defense or attack, he can control the team's pace very well.

As Xu Xi felt from the very beginning, Jiang Shize's basketball is rhythmic. He led the whole team to keep up with his own rhythm, and even affected the opponent's pace.His actions were more stable than expected, without the slightest impatience or panic. He neither wanted to show off, nor put his chips on anyone.

Xu Xi discovered for the first time that Jiang Shi was not careless, and he had a certain degree of understanding of the team's situation without knowing it.Just like the game just now, he sat quietly in the corner, observing everyone's strengths and weaknesses.Therefore, when he serves as a defender, he can properly arrange everyone's tasks.

"Usually he only thinks about not losing, but this time, he wants to win."

The coach's words exploded in Xu Xi's heart, why do you want to win?Because you promised yourself, or did you suddenly become energetic?

The original tension gradually disappeared, and Jiang Shize's performance was enough to reassure Xu Xi.However, it was replaced by another mood, a little excited, a little excited, and a little flustered.

Looking at Jiang Shize's focused expression, Xu Xi found that he couldn't even look away.His eyes passed through the crowd, and he followed that man to run in the field, his heartstrings were tied to his every movement, as if he was also in the stadium, side by side with Jiang Shize.

The whole game ended abruptly when Jiang Shize made his last pitch.The basketball passed through the net with a "wow", and the next second, the referee's whistle sounded.

The last two points became the key to their victory. However, when everyone was cheering, Xu Xi was in a daze.

He stared blankly at Jiang Shize walking towards him, and said with a smile, "Captain, we won."

Won?You should be happy, you are indeed very happy, but this feeling seems to be more than just happy.

"Captain, I did not disappoint you."

How could he be disappointed? It was the first time for Jiang Shi to be so serious, and it was also the first time for Xu Xi to see his strength clearly.

"Come on, captain, I'll help you up." Jiang Shize's voice was very soft, with a deep smile in his tone, he carefully put his arms around Xu Xi's shoulders, helped him stand up, and walked to the cheering crowd among.

The second time he leaned against Jiang Shize's chest, this time, Xu Xi was very awake, he could feel the ups and downs of the other's breathing, and he could also feel his own violent heartbeat.

"Captain, we won." Chen Jiaqing ran over with the team members and said excitedly.

Only then did Xu Xi slowly come back to his senses. He raised his head and glanced at Jiang Shize. With a deep smile on his face, he looked at himself, and then at Chen Jiaqing and the others.

Xu Xier's roots were reddish, and he couldn't help feeling a burst of heat.He smiled awkwardly, deliberately suppressing the waves in his heart, and forced himself to forget the previous absence.

"Captain, let's celebrate at night, you must come."

"okay."

Activities that I usually avoid, but this time I readily agreed.When the words came out, Xu Xi realized what he had said.

"Hey, you can come too." Jiang Shize was busy drinking water, and Chen Jiaqing said suddenly.

Xu Xi also looked over, but when he saw Jiang Shize, he didn't say a word, and couldn't help saying, "Jiang Shize, come together."

Just when Jiang Shi put down the empty bottle, he replied with a smile, "Yes, yes."

◇

After every win, everyone celebrates in a bar, and this time was no exception.The team members have long been regular visitors here, and they were taken to the reserved seats as soon as they entered the door.

"Captain, would you like a bartender or a beer?"

The team members gather here almost every week, and Chen Jiaqing has long memorized what to order for wine and food.

"That's right, it's rare to see the captain drinking."

"The captain doesn't come out to play with us, and doesn't participate in social activities."

The team members complained in one go, and Xu Xi felt more embarrassed, begging for mercy, "Well, I'm not used to nightlife."

"The captain is talking nonsense, the fellowship activities will not be too late."

"That's right, we left after dinner..."

When Xu Xi opened his mouth, he couldn't say enough about a group of them. He smiled helplessly, and had to let them make jokes.

In the end, the waiter was still in a hurry, and hurriedly asked Xu Xi what he ordered.

"It's still beer."

Just as the waiter was about to leave, Chen Jiaqing stopped him suddenly: "Wait a minute." She raised her chin towards Jiang Shize and asked impolitely, "Have you ordered yet?"

Hearing this, everyone present was startled, even Xu Xi was no exception.Although Chen Jiaqing's tone was not very friendly, the fact that he was able to take the initiative to talk to Jiang Shize meant that he had no objections to this person.

"Beer, too." Jiang Shi couldn't help laughing.

Chen Jiaqing said unhappily, "What are you laughing at?"

"It's nothing." Jiang Shi shook his hand, but laughed even harder.

Xu Xi observed other people's reactions, and it seemed that he was not very repulsed by Jiang Shize. Taking advantage of today's opportunity, he smoothed things over.

"Xiao Chen, since everyone has cooperated in the same field today, shouldn't we cultivate a little more tacit understanding in the future?"

After Xu Xi said that, Chen Jiaqing was too embarrassed to keep his mouth shut.

After the waiter brought the beer, he rudely handed Jiang Shize a glass, and said boldly: "The captain is right, we have played against each other and cooperated before, whether your level is good enough to join the team, we all have doubts about it." I understand. No matter what, today’s performance is qualified, and we also admire you for standing up for the captain.”

Indeed, according to Jiang Shize's original statement, he will get the same salary whether he plays or not. He can sit in the rest area with peace of mind, regardless of whether Xu Xi is injured or not, and he doesn't care about the result of the game.However, he didn't do that...

Everyone understood what Chen Jiaqing meant, but why were the words so awkward?

Jiang Shize was the first one who couldn't help it anymore, laughing non-stop with a beer mug in his hand.Xu Xi couldn't listen anymore, his expression was awkward, and he felt that something was wrong.

"Hey, what do you mean by not saying a word? If we didn't see that you are very kind to the captain, we wouldn't..."

"Xiao Chen." Xu Xi felt weird no matter what he heard, so he quickly interrupted his words and didn't let him continue talking.

Turning his head, he happened to meet Jiang Shize's smiling gaze, and his heart thumped, and he couldn't help but feel a strange feeling.

A little nervous, a little flustered, mixed with other emotions, as if even breathing became heavy...

His cheeks were covered with heat. When Xu Xi came back to his senses, he found that Jiang Shize was still looking at him. He coughed covertly, and said to Chen Jiaqing and the others: "Since you don't have any prejudice against him, you should treat him well." Let’s talk about it. We will be on the same team from now on, and we have to get along with each other every day, so don’t mention the past after having a drink.”

Chen Jiaqing was also a refreshing person, and he was the first to toast him.

"We all listen to the captain. The captain said that if we get along well with you, we won't have any conflicts with you. So, you have to remember the captain."

Xu Xi smiled helplessly, and deliberately asked back: "What nonsense, I told you from the beginning, don't have any objections to the newcomers, why didn't you listen to me then?"

Chen Jiaqing scratched her head and said embarrassingly, "Captain, please give me a step down."

After saying that, everyone immediately burst into laughter, Chen Jiaqing told them to shut up embarrassingly, and urged Jiang Shize to say: "Hey, after drinking this cup, let's forget about the past."

After speaking, he took the lead in drinking a large glass of beer in one gulp, and the teammates next to him applauded.

"It's your turn."

With a smile on the corner of Jiang Shize's mouth, he picked up the beer glass, but he was not vague, and slowly raised his glass to drink.His speed was not fast, but he had great stamina, and he drank the whole glass without knowing it.

Putting down the wine glass without changing face and heartbeat, Jiang Shize's good drinking capacity surprised everyone.

Chen Jiaqing has always been aggressive, so he couldn't help but handed him another glass, and said excitedly, "You drink well, how about another glass?"

Jiang Shi smiled, remained silent, and did not refuse. The other team members followed suit in turn and drank a lot at once.

Seeing this, Xu Xi couldn't help persuading him, "Don't stare at him alone."

As soon as Xu Xi helped Jiang Shize speak, Chen Jiaqing took the lead in teasing and said: "The captain is biased again. Look, he doesn't even blush, and he can still drink clearly. How can you say that we poured him? If so, the captain will help him too. He had a few drinks."

As soon as this remark came out, the other team members applauded, everyone hadn't had a drink with Xu Xi for a long time, how could they miss such an opportunity.The team members were united and booed and respected Xu Xi one after another. No matter how Xu Xi could beat them, he could only drink one cup after another.Under the influence of alcohol, Xu Xi lost his usual restraint and gradually recovered the appearance he should have at this age.

Seeing Jiang Shi sitting beside him leisurely, drinking on his own, and not playing around with them, Xu Xi deliberately put on a straight face, pretending to be angry and said: "It's not interesting, and I won't help."

Jiang Shi raised his lips and smiled, then turned to look at Xu Xi.That person's cheeks were flushed, his eyes were less reserved than usual, he seemed to be a little drunk, but somehow he felt cute.

"It's rare that the captain is willing to come out to drink. If you help, everyone will not have enough fun."

Xu Xi frowned, shaking the glass in his hand, and said hesitantly: "I don't drink very well, if I drink any more, I'll get drunk."

Xu Xi's capacity for alcohol is indeed not good, the last time he and Jiang Shi could both get drunk, not to mention being bombed by turns like this now.At this moment, he couldn't bear it any longer, propped his head on one hand, and his mind was in a mess.

"It's okay, if you're drunk, I'll help you back."

Xu Xi was stunned for a moment, because of his drunkenness, his vision was slightly blurred, and he couldn't see Jiang Shize's expression clearly.However, he felt an inexplicable sense of relief, and his original concerns became unimportant.

Is it because of Jiang Shize's words?Xu Xi couldn't help laughing, but didn't think about it deliberately.

Chen Jiaqing and the others began to toast for the second round. He reluctantly picked up the beer glass and had no choice but to continue drinking with them.

When it was over, Xu Xi was really drunk, and Chen Jiaqing and the others didn't take advantage of it. They walked crookedly and looked like drunks.

"I sent the captain back."

No one thought that Jiang Shi was the most sober one, not only settled the bill, but also sent everyone to the car.Finally, he supported Xu Xi and got into the taxi.

Xu Xi's wine is very good, no matter how drunk he is, he just sleeps peacefully.However, when I'm drunk, it's not the same as usual. I'm less restrained, and less stable. I'm not gentle enough to be careful, and I don't care too much about what others think.

Xu Xi relaxed a lot, and obediently leaned on Jiang Shize's shoulder, licking his lips from time to time, as if he was a little thirsty.

Sitting in the car, Jiang Shi looked down at Xu Xi with a gentle smile on his face, seeming very happy.

"I'll pour you some water when I get back." Before getting out of the car, Jiang Shi put his arm around Xu Xi's shoulder and whispered in his ear.

I don't know if Xu Xi understood, he nodded and stopped licking his dry lips.

Back home, Jiang Shi was busy looking for slippers and pouring hot water, while Xu Xi lay on the sofa with peace of mind, without thinking or caring about anything.

"Come on, drink water."

Jiang Shi was just about to hand the cup to Xu Xi, but found that the man had already fallen asleep, so there was no way he could take it.He put the cup aside with a smile, and wanted to send Xu Xi back to his room to sleep, but when he saw the man's sleeping face, he couldn't help but smile.

There was a faint blush on his cheeks, his thick eyelashes were slightly raised, and his chapped lips opened unconsciously, as if he was very thirsty.

With a mischievous mind in mind and a bit of involuntary emotion, Jiang Shi took a mouthful of water, and suddenly pressed Xu Xi's lips.The warm liquid flowed down the tongue into the other person's mouth, Xu Xi opened his mouth subconsciously, and quickly swallowed the water.

After the lips parted, Jiang Shi couldn't help but licked his lips, as if he still had more to say.With an unstoppable smile on his face, he looked at Xu Xi with gentle and intimate eyes, pretending to joke and said: "Last time it was the eyebrows, this time it was the lips, and next time it will be where?"

Staring firmly at the other person's face, Jiang Shi couldn't help but smile, and leaned over to kiss Xu Xi's lips again.

Suddenly, the surroundings are quiet, as if everything is still.

"Because of the captain, I seem to like basketball more."

With a deep smile on his face, Jiang Shize suddenly stretched out his hand, hugged Xu Xi's back tightly, and sent him into the room.