Basketball System: Rebound of the Underdog

Chapter 331 Lovebug

Kai stirred awake in the infirmary.His head felt heavy, and for a moment, he couldn't remember where he was. Then it all rushed back—the game, the last play, the crowd's roars, and the overwhelming exhaustion that took him out.

To make matters worse, his system popped up before him as his headache intensified.

[Mission failed. Skill wasn't discovered within the given timeframe.]

"Right," he muttered.

He had been so focused on the game all day long that he even forgot about his mission! Well, to be fair, he didn't really have the time to think about it.

[-10 XP for failed mission]

[- 5 XP for match loss]

[Current level: Master (152/300)]

'Geez, so unforgiving,' he thought.

[The host still has the chance to unlock the undiscovered skill.]

[No XP incentives will be given.]

[New mission will be given once the skill has been unlocked.]

Kai sighed in relief. At least he could still acquire the skill after discovering what it was. It felt very important, considering his system even created a separate mission for it.

Then, Kai finally opened his eyes and saw a figure sitting before him.

He blinked his eyes awake and was met with Lina, her face showing relief and frustration.

She looked like she hadn't slept in days, her eyes red and puffy. Kai tried to sit up, but a sharp pain shot through his head, and he groaned, sinking back onto the pillow.

"So, the hero finally wakes up," Lina said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

Kai managed a weak smile, looking at her with half-lidded eyes. "Miss me?"

Lina scoffed, folding her arms over her chest. "Miss you? I was about to kill you for scaring me like that!"

Kai chuckled, though it hurt to laugh. "You wouldn't kill me. Who else would you have to yell at?"

She rolled her eyes, but there was a softness in her expression. "Don't push it, Guo. You're still in the danger zone."

Kai tried to push himself up again, this time with more success. He leaned back against the headboard, looking at Lina. "Seriously, though, I'm fine. See?"

He wiggled his fingers in front of her and even tried to jump up from the bed, only for her to push him back down.

"You're not fine, Kai! You passed out on the court! Do you know how scared everyone was? How scared I was?"

Her voice cracked at the end, betraying the tough front she was trying to put up.

Kai's playful demeanor softened. He reached out and gently took her hand.

"I'm sorry, Lina," he sincerely said.

"I didn't mean to worry you. But look, I'm okay now. Just a little tired, that's all."

Lina looked at him, her eyes

They both fell silent, the air becoming even more thick with unspoken words.

Kai's heart raced, but this time, it wasn't from exhaustion.

It was from something else entirely.

He could feel the warmth of Lina's hand in his and the way her fingers fit perfectly against his.

Kai's breath hitched as he leaned in, his gaze flickering down to Lina's lips before meeting her eyes again. He hesitated, the moment stretching out like the final seconds of a game.

Lina didn't pull away. If anything, she seemed to lean in, too, her own heart racing to match his. The world outside the infirmary faded into nothing, leaving only the sound of their breaths mingling in the small space between them.

Kai's hand moved to her cheek, his thumb brushing lightly against her skin. Lina closed her eyes, leaning into his touch as if this was the moment they had both been waiting for.

And then, just as their lips were about to meet—