A sense of urgency came through the phone from Xia Xiaodie's voice, and Xu Fan couldn't help but be startled.

That girl seemed all right yesterday, so why did she suddenly end up in the hospital?

"What happened? Are you sick?"

"Oh my! It's not me! It's Shi Lei! Shi Lei is in the hospital now!"

"What?"

Xu Fan exclaimed in shock.

It had not been easy for Shi Lei's family issues to be resolved, and Xu Fan had been looking forward to him and Zhou Xiaoshuai leading Zijing Middle School to win the championship in this Jinling basketball high school league. Now, he had actually been admitted to the hospital?

Over the phone, it seemed like quite a few people were there. Furrowing his brows in thought for a moment, Xu Fan then said, "Don't panic. Send me your location now, I'll be right there."

After comforting Xia Xiaodie for a few moments, Xu Fan hung up the phone.

Yao Long, who was beside him, couldn't help asking, "Xu Fan, what happened? Do you need my help?"

Yao Long was indeed eager to help. Xu Fan smiled and shook his head, explaining, "Uncle Yao, it's just a matter between students, no need to bother you with it."

"I need to head over there now, so I'll take my leave first."

After parting with Uncle Yao, Xu Fan hailed a taxi and headed straight for the hospital.

Upon alighting from the car and entering the hospital, he went directly to the ward Xia Xiaodie had informed him of.

"Xu Fan, you're here."

Upon entering the ward, Xia Xiaodie came to greet him. Apart from her, Zhou Xiaoshuai and the school teachers including Yan Ruyu and Teacher Gong were all present.

Shi Lei was key to winning this basketball game; now injured, he could not possibly join in the finals that were about to start, and their faces were not looking too good.

Xu Fan greeted them and then looked over at Shi Lei, who was lying in the hospital bed with his leg encased in a heavy plaster cast, clearly indicating that it was broken.

"Shi Lei, what did the doctor say?"

Shi Lei lay on the bed, managing to smile weakly and said, "Boss, don't worry. The doctor said it's just a fracture. It should be almost healed in a few months, but..."

As he spoke, Shi Lei looked guiltily toward Yan Ruyu and the others.

He was aware of his role in this basketball game, and if they lost this time, it would definitely be because he couldn't play.

"Principal, Teacher Gong, I'm so sorry..."

Yan Ruyu shook her head with a bitter smile and said, "It's okay, this isn't your fault..."

Yan Ruyu was a reasonable person. Now that the incident had occurred, she wouldn't self-destructively blame Shi Lei.

Zhou Xiaoshuai sighed and said, "Principal, don't worry. Even though Shi Lei can't play this time, we still have me. I'll make sure to try my hardest in the finals..."

Towards the end, even Zhou Xiaoshuai himself seemed to lack confidence.

Although his skills were the best on the team, the players from Yi Zhong were all formidable; with just him, it was impossible to win this game.

"Ah! I've got it!"

At that moment, Teacher Gong's eyes lit up in excitement as he looked eagerly at Xu Fan.

"Xu Fan! You play! Take Shi Lei's place!"

Teacher Gong suddenly remembered Xu Fan's status as a substitute player. From the very beginning to now, he had never changed his mind about it.

Xu Fan was Zijing Middle School's biggest trump card!

It didn't matter that Shi Lei was injured; as long as Xu Fan could play, he guaranteed that the basketball championship would still belong to Zijing Middle School!

"Right! Xu Fan, we might really have to rely on you this time."

Zhou Xiaoshuai also looked at Xu Fan with a face full of expectation.

Even though there had been conflicts between him and Xu Fan at the beginning, all that was in the past now. Xu Fan's abilities were undeniable, and he had to acknowledge them.

A pair of expectant eyes turned towards Xu Fan, even Xia Xiaodie was hopeful, that Xu Fan could take on the responsibility at this moment.

But Xu Fan just shook his head lightly.

"Boss! You can't refuse!"

Shi Lei shouted excitedly from his hospital bed! He had hoped to win a championship on his own before graduation! But now that he couldn't take the field himself, he was putting all his hopes on Xu Fan to win the final match in his stead!

"..."

Xu Fan, with a mixture of laughter and tears, shook his head and said, "Everyone, rest assured, the championship has never belonged to anyone else from beginning to end."

"The main issue now is that someone has messed with Xu Fan's brother."

Using his Perspective Eye to see through the plaster on Shi Lei's foot, Xu Fan could clearly see that the bone fracture was the result of being beaten.

The final match was about to start, and Shi Lei's leg had been broken—Xu Fan felt that there must be foul play involved.

"Shi Lei, tell me now, who broke your leg?"

"Boss, I..."

Shi Lei choked up, not expecting that Xu Fan valued him so highly.

Brother, this word, Shi Lei believed, would be his pride for life.

"Xu Fan, it was Shi Lei's ex-girlfriend..."

"Ma Rong?"

At that moment, Zhou Xiaoshuai interjected an explanation, and Xu Fan frowned, looking at Shi Lei.

"Shi Lei, are you still involved with this woman?"

Shi Lei shook his head and said with a bitter smile, "Boss, I'm not that cheap, I've already cut off contact with her."

"She sought me out on her own, saying there was something important to tell me, asking me to meet her outside the school gates."

"I went because I was afraid she would keep bothering me, intending to tell her not to look for me anymore, but who knew, as soon as I stepped out, Song Zhe and a bunch of guys charged at me..."

At this point, Shi Lei was filled with regret; if he hadn't let his guard down, he wouldn't have gotten hurt.

Xu Fan patted his shoulder, saying, "This incident, it's probably not as simple as it seems."

He had taught that guy named Song Zhe a lesson last time; it was improbable that he would dare to provoke Shi Lei again, unless, of course, he was acting under someone else's orders.

"Hmph, in my opinion, it's definitely Jinling High School that's behind this dirty trick!"

Then, Teacher Gong cursed indignantly.

"In the high school league, Jinling has won the championship many times, but every time, it's through underhanded methods! Bribing referees, hiring thugs to injure opposing players, they've done all sorts of such things!"

Xu Fan nodded, feeling that Jinling High School was the most likely suspect.

As for whether it was their doing, he would only need to ask Ma Rong and Song Zhe to find out.

"Alright, leave this matter to me, I'll handle it."

After making a plan, Xu Fan told everyone not to worry. Yan Ruyu looked at Xu Fan with concern and said, "Xu Fan, don't do anything rash."

"Don't worry, Principal, I know what I'm doing."

Xu Fan grinned and didn't dwell on the issue further.

Glancing at Shi Lei's plastered leg, he then told Xia Xiaodie, "Xiaodie, call the doctor over and have this plaster removed from his leg."

"Ah? This!"

Upon hearing Xu Fan's words, everyone was shocked!

They knew that Shi Lei had just been plastered up for a fracture, and removing it now could potentially ruin his leg!

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