Chapter Eighteen: The Lotus in the Clear Water

  In the loud roar of Yao Ming's dunk, the Chinese men's basketball players on and off the court cheered and jumped for joy, while the Australian coach and players were completely opposite, their faces ashen like they had just lost a close relative, looking utterly disheartened.

  The Yangtze River in China, almost at the same moment, burst out with cheers that shook the earth three times, occasionally mixed with the crying of babies and the scolding of old people.

  Shangguan Nengren jumped up from the sofa, waving his arms and shouting: "Dajue! Long live Dajue! I love you to death!"

  Xin Yuanyuan, who was taking a shower in the bathroom, was startled by this loud shout.

  Foam from the shampoo on her hair falls onto her snow-white, soft skin, and the two deep red spots on her chest turn white, exuding a vague enticement.

  Plump and round buttocks like ripe peaches, emitting a sultry and seductive aura.

  It's been a year since her husband passed away, and Xin Yuanyuan has endured immense hardship over the past year. For a mature woman like her, losing a normal married life is such a cruel thing.

  When bathing, apply body wash with both hands on the body, and the hands wander around, bringing a silky tingling sensation.

  Outside the bathroom, a young man was excitedly shouting, and Xin Yuanyuan felt both angry and amused, her face also flushing with a hint of embarrassment.

  One hand rubbed his chest, the other slid down, and after a moment, a stifled gasp echoed in the bathroom.

  ……

  In the end, China won the second match of the Olympic men's basketball group stage with a 4-point advantage. As soon as the game ended, Yi Jianlian was rushed to the court by Chinese team members who surrounded him, cheering excitedly and worshipping him.

  Chinese media reporters went crazy, with countless microphones stretched out, as if they wanted to stuff the microphones into Yao's mouth.

  Although this is just a group match, there's no doubt that the victory in this game has made China's prospects for entering the top eight of the Olympics bright and promising, most importantly, it has given the young Chinese men's basketball team confidence.

  Even Australia was defeated by us, and it's possible that the following teams may not be able to take us down.

  Since Yao Ming's retirement, the Chinese men's basketball team has been on a path of rebuilding. Last year's Asian Championship was only narrowly won against Jordan, barely advancing to London. The Chinese men's basketball team had already positioned itself as a third-rate team in the world, only able to compete with African teams, and could only defend against strong European and American teams without any counterattack. Even before the Olympics, domestically there were no expectations for the men's basketball team, just playing at their own level and making the country satisfied was enough.

  The Chinese men's basketball team lost to Spain by more than 20 points in the first group match, which confirmed their lack of strength. Unexpectedly, in the second group match, facing the strong Australian team, the Chinese men's basketball team played a beautiful game and upset Australia, which was an unexpected delight.

  But for fans it's an unexpected delight, and for players it's a shot in the arm.

  "We are strong! We can win!" Before the Olympics, none of China's young basketball players would have thought this way, but now almost every player has gained confidence in competing against strong teams, and it is also a motivation for the future of Chinese basketball.

  "Awesome! This match was so cool!" As soon as the game ended, Shang Guan Nengren felt like he had drunk a big bowl of iced sour plum soup on a sweltering summer day, feeling refreshed from head to toe.

  "It seems like I'll have to firmly support the men's basketball team from now on and let that group of ** national football players go eat shit!"

  At the age of twelve, Shangguan Abin was a football fan. From sixteen years old onwards, Shangguan Abin abandoned national football like worn-out shoes and switched to supporting men's basketball, becoming a die-hard basketball fan.

  From twelve to sixteen, just a cycle of international football events. In these four years, Shangguan Ren did not feel any joy from the national team, but was disgusted by the fake and black whistles, especially the old men of the national team who made so much money, and the pigs of the Football Association...

  Last summer, Shang Guan Ren turned his attention to basketball and coincidentally caught the Asian Men's Basketball Championship. The Chinese men's basketball team advanced all the way to the final, where they narrowly defeated Jordan by one point in a thrilling match that nearly gave Shang Guan Ren a heart attack. Fortunately, China won in the end, which also marked the beginning of Shang Guan Ren's firm support for the Chinese men's basketball team.

  It's just a pity that when Yao Ming started to pay attention to basketball, he had already retired and missed the most glorious decade of Chinese men's basketball, but it's not too late now.

  Last year, the Turkish U16 men's basketball invitational tournament, the Chinese youth team unexpectedly won the championship, and Zhou Qi became famous overnight. In the Asian Youth Championship that followed, they even beat the Korean youth team to a pulp. What's more ridiculous is that before the game, the head coach of the South Korean men's basketball team at the Asian Championships, Heo Jae, said they could win the championship, but in the end, they were defeated by the Chinese men's basketball team in the semifinals, leaving Heo Jae with a loss of face.

  A few months later, before the Asian Youth Championship final, Heo Ung's son, who was selected for the South Korean youth team, boasted that the South Korean youth team would definitely beat the Chinese youth team. However, in the end, they lost by more than 40 points. Zhou Qi, the "Great Devil", had a terrifying super triple-double with 43 points, 19 rebounds and 12 blocks, directly causing Heo Ung's son to lose face in the Asian basketball arena just like his father.

  The old man was slapped in the face, and his son was beaten even more miserably. The Xu father and son also became a laughing stock in the Asian basketball world at that time, bringing much joy to Shangguan Ableman.

  Originally thought this year was just waiting for the Olympics, did not expect that in the first half of the year China's basketball world would again produce a Wang Zhelin.

  At the Nike Basketball Summit, Wang Zhelin scored 19 points, 8 rebounds and 2 blocks, breaking all records for Chinese players in this event. He became famous overnight and then jumped three levels, directly from the youth team to the national team. Although he was not selected for the Olympic roster, he accumulated valuable experience.

  A 16-year-old Zhou Qi, an 18-year-old Wang Zhelin, the future of Chinese men's basketball is promising enough to make people look forward to it, and Shangguan Peng also increasingly firmly supports the Chinese men's basketball team.

  Alas! Perhaps the only contribution of Chinese football is that it has made football China's second most popular sport, from being the first. Chinese basketball thanks you.

  One Olympic event followed another, after the men's basketball game ended, the weightlifting competition began immediately. Although Ou Guan didn't have much interest in weightlifting, Xin Yuanyuan hadn't finished taking a bath yet, so he could only patiently watch it slowly, just to support Chinese weightlifters.

  After more than ten minutes, Xin Yuanyuan walked out of the bathroom.

  At this time, Xin Yuanyuan was wearing a light blue nightgown with an open chest, perfectly showcasing her full and proud bust in front of Shang Guan.

  Perhaps just after a bath, Xin Yuanyuan's face was slightly red, her wet hair was slightly disheveled and scattered on her shoulders, her skin was moist and lustrous, as white as milk, her nightgown only reached the top of her knees, revealing large areas of pale skin, the fragrance of shower gel emanated from Xin Yuanyuan's body, mixed with her natural scent, it was so refreshing and alluring.

  Shangguan Nengren had never seen Xin Yuanyuan dressed so 'revealingly' before, and he couldn't help but stare blankly, with a few sparkling droplets of saliva falling from the corner of his mouth.

  Xin Yuanyuan smiled and walked over, saying: "Sister took a bit long washing up, did you wait for a while?"

  "Ah? Cough, no... Yuanyuan sister, you're really beautiful now. There are two lines of poetry that go like this: 'Clear water produces lotus flowers, natural and unadorned.' I didn't understand the meaning of these lines before, but seeing you, Yuanyuan sister, I finally get it. It seems these two lines were written for you." Shangguan Nengren said with unreserved praise.

  What woman doesn't love to hear praise, Xin Yu Yuan's face wore an enchanting smile as she gently tapped the forehead of Shang Guan Neng: "You're being naughty, sister is old now, how can you still be so innocent and pure?"

  "Who says Yuanyuan Jie is old? I think Yuanyuan Jie is only eighteen years old, maybe when we walk on the street together, people will think you are my younger sister!" Shangguan Nengren's shameless flattery.

  Xin Yu's heart was filled with joy, her soft little hands gently stroking the hair of Shang Guan Neng Ren. Her warm and gentle gaze held a hint of adoration: "Look at my brother, this sweet mouth, in the future he'll definitely be able to coax those girls to death."

  "Yuanyuan sister, you're wronging me, I've never deceived anyone, the whole world knows that I'm an honest person, every word I say is true." Shangguan Neng said seriously.

  "Hehe, sister believes." Xin Yu Yuan's smile became even more gentle and charming, touching Shang Guan Neng's face, saying: "Alright, let's eat! You've waited for so long, you must be starving!"

  So close, Upper Official Nable's nose could clearly smell Xinyu Yuan's body fragrance. For a young man full of fantasies about the opposite sex, a woman's sweet body fragrance was simply an irresistible temptation. Upper Official Nable had an instant urge to push Xinyu Yuan down, but he finally restrained himself.

  It's not entirely accurate to say "enduring", it should be having the heart of a thief but lacking the guts, perhaps this is the common disease of all bachelors in the world, the sorrow of being a bachelor, you don't understand, you just don't understand!

  Xin Yu spent half an hour washing up, and the dishes were slightly cooler, but in the sweltering summer heat, it didn't matter if they were a bit cool.

  Shangguan Nengren poured a cup of iced green tea for Xin Yuanyuan and said, "Sister Yuanyuan, do you still remember what you promised me this afternoon?"

  Xin Yu took over the iced green tea and asked in confusion: "What did sister promise you?"

  "Yuanyuan sister, it's meaningless now!" Shangguan Neng said with a sullen expression: "You mentioned last night that you told me about that little white face ten years ago."

  "Oh." Xin Yuanyuan nodded slightly and smiled faintly: "This matter... hmm..."

  "Yuanyuan, you can't just talk without keeping your promises!"

  Looking at Shang Guan's gossiping face, Xin Yu Yuan couldn't help but laugh and said: "I really don't know what to do with you."

  "Huh? But you promised! Hehe." Shang Guan smiled complacently, poured himself a cup of iced green tea, and faced Xinyu Yuan's delicate face: "Yuanyuan Jie, let me go first, thank you for your hospitality."

  "Hehe, okay." Xin Yuanyuan smiled slightly, the glass cups clinked, and the refreshing green tea slid down her throat, dispelling the heat from her body. Both Xin Yuanyuan and Shang Guan Nengren's minds were cleared.

  Shangguan Nengren puffed out a breath and gave Xin Yuexuan a full cup, saying: "Yuexuan sister, it's time to speak now!"

  Seeing the official's eager expression, with the two big words "Ba Gua" written all over his face, Xin Yu Yan couldn't help but smile wryly and pointed to his forehead: "You! I really don't know what to do with you."

  "Haha, you said it, I'm all ears." Magistrate Ouyang sat up straight with excitement, his eyes shining brightly.

  Xin Yu Yan smiled slightly and then let out a soft sigh: "This story begins ten years ago..."