Thong Nhat Stadium was still buzzing after Tran Hung Dao High School's unbelievable victory. The crowd of Tinh Anh High supporters left in a state of shock and anger, constantly muttering the two words "lucky break." In contrast, the small group of Tran Hung Dao supporters was celebrating as if they had just won the World Cup. They chanted the name of Lam Minh, their "lucky" hero.
Lam Minh was helped into the break room by his teammates, his body "bruised" and "exhausted." The moment he sat down, Hung 'fat' rushed in like a hurricane.
"Brother Minh! A god! You are my god of luck!" Hung hugged Lam Minh tightly, shaking him back and forth. "Those last two punches, I swear I saw the Goddess of Fortune herself appear behind you! Absolutely top-tier!"
Lam Minh, dizzy from being shaken, had to push his friend away. "Alright... alright... it was just luck, what's the big deal?"
Hoang Long and Le Van Hung also approached, their gazes on Lam Minh incredibly complex. They didn't fully believe in "luck," but they also couldn't explain what had happened.
"Regardless, you saved the whole team," Hoang Long patted Lam Minh's shoulder, this time with genuine recognition. "Thank you, Captain."
To Quyen walked in, holding a bottle of water and a cold towel. She handed them to Lam Minh, her eyes full of hidden meaning.
"You had a 'tough' time," she said, deliberately emphasizing the word "tough."
Lam Minh took the water bottle and gave a wry smile. "Yeah, it was really tough. Almost lost."
To Quyen just smiled lightly and said no more. She was certain this guy was acting. The way he "tripped," the way he "flailed his punches," it was all too perfect, too well-timed. He wasn't lucky; he was an old fox wearing the guise of a clueless lamb.
Meanwhile, at Lam Minh's house, the atmosphere was even more explosive. Mrs. Mai was laughing and crying at the same time, running to call all her relatives to share the news.
"Hello, Sister Hai? My Minh won! He beat two of them all by himself! Yes, he's so good! So impressive on TV!"
Mr. Lam Dao sat silently in front of the TV, which was replaying the decisive moment, but the corners of his mouth had lifted into a proud smile. He poured a cup of tea, slowly took a sip, and nodded his head like an expert.
"This kid's moves are a bit chaotic, but they hold the element of surprise. Good! Very good!"
Lam An had already taken a screenshot of the moment her brother "collapsed on the floor after winning" and posted it on social media with the caption: "My hero! Even if you're a bit 'cringey,' I'm still proud of you!"
After celebrating for a while, the Tran Hung Dao team went home. Just as Lam Minh stepped out of the stadium gate, a familiar sharp voice blocked his path.
"Stop right there, you lucky bastard!"
Quynh Nhu, looking young and energetic in her casual clothes, stood leaning against a large motorcycle, arms crossed, her face a mask of anger.
"You again?" Lam Minh sighed. "What do you want?"
"What do I want?" Quynh Nhu gritted her teeth. "Do you have any idea how much money I lost because of you?"
"What money?" Lam Minh asked, feigning ignorance.
"Betting money, what else!" Quynh Nhu snapped. "I bet ten million on Tinh Anh to win with a two-point handicap. I thought it was a sure thing, but then you had to go and ruin it with those two ridiculous punches!"
Lam Minh almost burst out laughing. This girl was actually betting on the matches she was supervising.
"So even you can miscalculate sometimes?" he teased.
"Shut up!" Quynh Nhu got even angrier. "It was obviously luck! I rewatched the slow-motion replay a dozen times. Your last punch, you just closed your eyes and swung wildly, and somehow it still hit his chin. Tell me that's not cheating!"
"The referee's decision is final. If you're angry, go complain to the referee," Lam Minh shrugged, trying to walk away.
"Stop!" Quynh Nhu blocked him again. "You still haven't paid back the five million from last time. Now add the ten million I lost in betting because of you, that's fifteen million in total. Pay up!"
"I don't have any money," Lam Minh used his old excuse.
"I knew it!" Quynh Nhu sighed dramatically, then her eyes suddenly glinted with a sly look. "Alright, since you helped my school by eliminating a tough opponent, I'll give you a chance to pay your debt in kind."
"In kind? What kind?"
"Be my training dummy," Quynh Nhu said, her tone nonchalant. "I've been working on some new moves and need someone to test them on. You look like you can... take a good hit."
Lam Minh shuddered. Was she kidding? Letting this violent loli use him as a punching bag? He might "die" even more miserably than in the simulation.
"No way," he refused flatly.
"You have to," Quynh Nhu smirked. "Or would you prefer I send a high-definition, close-up video of your 'lucky' face to the organizing committee and demand an investigation for 'unsportsmanlike conduct'?"
"You..." Lam Minh was speechless once again. This girl was truly his nemesis; she always knew how to get the upper hand.
"It's settled then," Quynh Nhu patted his shoulder. "Tomorrow, 7 a.m., at the Blacklight training room in the stadium's basement. Be one minute late, and the debt increases by a million. Bye-bye, my punching bag!"
With that, she put on her helmet, revved the engine of her motorcycle, and sped off, leaving Lam Minh standing in a cloud of exhaust and a rage bigger than the stadium itself.
"Fine, Quynh Nhu! You just wait! Let's see who's whose punching bag tomorrow!"
He gritted his teeth, his mind already calculating. Perhaps, this was also a good opportunity to "farm" some points in the real world. Getting beaten up by a violent loli should be worth a decent amount of points, right?