Strong Offense And Defense Chapter 19

Translator: Re

Editor: Mims

“Nie Chuan! Hold him -” 

The shouts of his teammates transmitted into Nie Chuan's ears. 

Infected by such a tense atmosphere, Nie Chuan's mind became incomparably focused. 

He lowered his center of gravity and held his breath as Reece rushed towards him. His feint to the right was very realistic but Nie Chuan knew that even if he saw through it, Reece would *use other means to break through. If Nie Chuan is able to keep up, then he will definitely do another crossover! 

[T/N: idiom used here was actually his ng jì jiù jì (将计就计)which means to use the enemies strategy against them]

Reece's two consecutive crossovers were decisive and rapid, but Nie Chuan always blocked in front of him. 

The offensive and defensive battle on the court is extremely pressing, and the magnitude of the left and right fakes are astounding, but the two are always tense. It's as if there is an invisible attraction between them. No matter how one of them tries to shake the other off, they always maintain an axis. 

Reece smoothly pa.s.sed his opponents before abruptly stopping twice, pa.s.sing them by a large margin, but Nie Chuan was always able to keep up with his rhythm. He had yet to lift the hand that was protecting the ball when time seemed to slow down in front of Nie Chuan's eyes. Reece's hair that drifted up when he broke through, the sharpness in his eyes, his stretched muscles, and the tense lines of his legs all became still in that instant. 

When he heard a "p" sound, Nie Chuan's hand moved, time began to flow again, and the noise was incessant. But in that moment of exchange, the ball had already reached Nie Chuan's hand. 

Reece didn't hesitate to close in on Nie Chuan, his imposing pressure almost made Nie Chuan lose his balance and fall backwards.

But he quickly found his center of gravity again and, with his left foot as the axis, quickly pa.s.sed the ball out. 

Reece immediately turned and chased down Nie Chuan's teammate. His speed was extremely fast and Nie Chuan struggled to catch up. He never ran so fast before. There is only one conviction in his heart, it is to never let Reece take the next ball! 

Nie Chuan arrived by the side of his teammate who didn't hesitate to pa.s.s the ball. Nie Chuan pa.s.sed the other defenders and got to the basket. 

He can clearly feel a force approaching him from behind so he gave up the shot without hesitation. He turned sharply at the moment of landing to avoid Reece who was about to cover his hot pot (block him), then took off again. Reece arrived in front of Nie Chuan with astonishing speed and jumped. His body stretched out into a line containing great strength. His arms were outstretched and his fingertips seems to reach a height that Nie Chuan could not reach. But Nie Chuan still threw the ball out. It drew a beautiful parabola, one that seems to cross every sight and surpa.s.s all imagination, and fell steadily into the basket. 

Reece b.u.mped into Nie Chuan's body and the two fell backwards. 

Nie Chuan's eyes widened as he watched the ball fall to the ground from between (the strands of) Reece's fluttering hair.

He thought that he would fall very badly this time, but he never thought that Reece would catch the back of his head with his palm and wrap his arm around his lower back. When they collided with the ground, he only felt the shock but didn't feel any pain. 

At this time, Reece's voice rang in his ear. 

It was cold and calm with some kind of fatal temptation,”Are you cool?” 

[T/N: I may be wrong but after searching on Baidu, I found that "cool" (爽) can have s.e.xual implications. So I a.s.sume what Reece is actually asking here is "are you aroused" ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)]

Nie Chuan trembled violently and suddenly opened his eyes. 

Light streams through the curtains, softly lighting the room. In front of his eyes is the ceiling of his home and underneath him is a soft mattress. 

Nie Chuan then realized that everything just now was a dream. 

“d.a.m.n – why is it another dream!” 

Nie Chuan breathes heavily and raises a hand to wipe the sweat from his forehead. 

How could he intercept the ball from Reece? That aside, can he even break through Reece's defense? Can he face Reece's jump shot? 

This is not something that even “Arabian Nights” can explain. (Re: one thousand and one nights)

However, the feeling of overcoming many obstacles, including such a powerful opponent's defense, and scoring points is really so good that it couldn't be described in words. 

It's just… would he have such a day? 

Nie Chuan felt doubtful in his heart. 

He stretched out his hand, his fingers touching the ceiling as if to intersect with Reece's fingertips in his dream. 

But when his boiling blood cooled down, he realized one thing. 

He opened the quilt, sat up, and violently pounded the mattress. “Mom! How is it wet again!” 

Accepting fate, he got up in disappointment, took off his pants, and went into the bathroom to wash them.

At the moment, his heart is extremely bleak. 

Why is it like this? Why is it that every time it wasn't because he dreamed of Celine but because of Reece Reddington! 

Can things become any worse? 

At that moment, his mother's voice sounded from outside the door, "Xiao Chuan ah! Xiao Chuan! You have another friend who's here for you! He said you have plans to play basketball together! Don't stay in bed anymore, get up!" 

Nie Chuan's shoulder jerked. He couldn't think of a second person who will be playing basketball with him other than Reece! 

Isn't this just like a ghost? Whoever he least wants to see is whoever desperately tries to brush his sense of existence! 

“I know, I will…” the moment Nie Chuan turned around, he was completely dumbfounded! 

Because the bathroom door was broken two days ago, he hasn't had time to fix it. Although Nie Chuan had closed the door, it had opened halfway on its own.

And Reece, wearing sports clothes, stood behind him with his arms crossed, his lips curved into a smile. 

Nie Chuan's face instantly reddened and he fiercely slammed the door shut. "Don't you know to knock before entering someone else's room?" 

“I just stood at the door, I didn't come in,” Reece said lightly. 

Nie Chuan almost sprayed a mouthful of blood on the mirror opposite him. 

He never thought anyone other than his mother would come in. In his hands right now is the underwear that was soaked in water and has already been thoroughly lathered with soap… 

When Nie Chuan felt behind himself, he almost cried.

For Reece to laugh like that, he definitely saw it! 

Unless he's blind, it's impossible not to see it! 

Nie Chuan looked upwards, is his innocence gone just like that? 

At this time, Reece knocked on the door. Nie Chuan was unable to hear the undulations in his voice. “Where are your pants?” 

“… The second drawer of the wardrobe…” 

Although Nie Chuan truly wasn't willing to let Reece find his pants for him, he also didn't want to go out wearing wet pants because it would be even more comical than not wearing any.

Less than two minutes later, Reece's hand reached in through the gap of the door, a pair of Nie Chuan's underwear hooked on his fingertips, dangling gently.

That feeling… is really sour… 

Nie Chuan quickly s.n.a.t.c.hed the pants and put them on. Fortunately, while the hem of his pajama shirt was only long enough to expose half of his thighs, the most embarra.s.sing place was still covered. 

Avoiding Reece's eyes, he pushed open the door and looked at the clock. It was actually already eight o'clock! 

“I… I haven't eaten breakfast yet…” 

How could he practice without eating any breakfast, won't he collapse? 

“I know. Weren't you busy washing your pants?” 

Nie Chuan walked back to his room with Reece following leisurely behind him with his hands in his pockets. 

Nie Chuan kept his head down the entire way until they arrived before the door of his room. Just when his finger touched the door handle, one of Reece's hand reached over, almost brushing against Nie Chuan's ear, and pressed against the door. 

“It seems like you had a good rest last night, you're very energetic.” 

He didn't know if it was an illusion but Nie Chuan can feel a warm breath pa.s.sing over his ear. He didn't dare to look back, because Reece seems to be speaking by his ear. 

The entire s.p.a.ce seems to be cut off by Reece. Nie Chuan's nose is filled with the refreshing scent of Reece's shower gel. 

“I'll be waiting for you in the living room.” 

Reece took his hand back and that feeling of oppression finally disappeared. 

Nie Chuan entered the door and exhaled forcefully. 

When he arrived in the living room wearing a t-shirt and sweatpants, he saw Reece sitting at the table, eating Mother Nie's freshly squeezed soy milk and steaming Xiao Long Bao (dumpling). In order to entertain him, Mother Nie even made a cold dish and fried rice cakes. The scent of sweet osmanthus is mouth-watering. 

Nie Chuan's heart felt sour, how come he's never received such VIP treatment before ah? 

“Reece! Eat some more ah! That way you'll have enough energy later when you play basketball!” 

“Thank you, Auntie.” 

“It's Auntie that should be thanking you. Originally, when our family first came here, we were worried that Achuan won't be able to make any friends or can't a.s.similate into this country's lifestyle. What if he's lonely? But seeing you taking him to make friends and play basketball, I was relieved! Xiao Long Bao and osmanthus rice cakes are all things that Achuan likes to eat but Auntie doesn't know if you would be used to eating them.” 

Mother Nie was probably very happy as she talked more than usual. 

Nie Chuan was simply dying. 

“Auntie, were the Xiao Long Bao made by you?” 

Although Reece's p.r.o.nunciation of Chinese carried an American accent,  the special quality of his voice made his speech inexplicably pleasing to hear.

Nie Chuan really wanted to know, just where did Reece learn his Chinese from? It's estimated that he speaks better than many of the college students in the Chinese Department ba? 

“They were made by me. In the Chinese supermarkets here, I can only buy things that have been frozen for a long time. They aren't fresh, so Auntie makes these herself.” 

“No wonder it is different from the ones in Chinese restaurants. The filling is especially good and the soup inside is very rich.” 

Reece curled his lips into a smile. It was completely different from his usual slightly arrogant and cold smile. Even his eyes and eyebrows carried some warmth, as if he really enjoyed the breakfast that Mother Nie made. 

Nie Chuan has the feeling that he is superfluous. Isn't this the cla.s.sic scene of a mother and her filial child?

“Achuan! You're finally finished washing up? Quickly come and eat! The soy milk is going to be cold!” 

“En.” 

Nie Chuan sat down sullenly and quietly began to eat.

After finishing the meal, Nie Chuan followed Reece in leaving home and climbed into his Land Rover. 

Reece's originally warm expression sank. Without turning on the air conditioning, Nie Chuan felt that the car was already rather cold.

Re: Reece already establishing himself as a perfect son-in-law owo

MadMadamMims: oof Reece kabedoning NC ><>