HuaYu: Superstars Starting from Super Star Avenue

"what?"

Xiao Jingteng was stunned, looking completely bewildered.

"What does your blacksmithing have to do with Taipei at 4 a.m.?"

"It's alright."

Lin Mo flexed his wrists, walked over to pick up the ball, and looked at Xiao Jingteng.

"It just suddenly occurred to me, let's play one-on-one, I'm a professional basketball player."

Upon hearing this, Hsiao Ching-teng was filled with respect: "Really?"

"I played basketball in high school," Lin Mo said seriously.

"High school basketball team?" Jam Hsiao couldn't hold back any longer.

"right."

"That's what you call professional?"

Jam Hsiao has the same expression as an old man on the subway looking at his phone. You're really not modest.

"Enough talk, let's settle this with three balls," Lin Mo said.

"Come on then!"

When it comes to playing basketball, Jam Hsiao is not afraid.

He immediately got into the zone:

"They used to call me Taipei Iverson on the court."

"Then why are you wearing McGrady's clothes? You're so sexy."

Lin Mo spouted trash talk and immediately pulled up for a McGrady-style pull-up jumper.

"Whoosh!"

The red ball swished through the net, producing a delightful sound.

Jam Hsiao was dumbfounded.

Dude, are you really that professional?

He was indeed a little distracted just now, but Lin Mo's vertical jump...

Hsiao Ching-teng's eyes then turned serious, and he focused on defense.

The two continued their back-and-forth competition on the empty court.

Hsiao Ching-teng's breakthrough was indeed tricky, but Lin Mo's height and ball control gave him an advantage.

The two fought back and forth, their sports uniforms quickly soaked with sweat.

Just as the two were locked in a fierce battle, the gym door creaked open.

Two figures walked in one after the other.

Walking in front was a man wearing a headscarf and with his head down, dressed in a loose-fitting hip-hop style tracksuit, walking very casually.

The man following behind was dressed in a tight-fitting sportswear outfit, revealing his well-defined biceps and pectoral muscles; his physique was as muscular as a professional bodybuilder.

"See, I told you there were people playing ball here."

The muscular man said to the man in the headscarf,

"Many sports venues are closed during the Lunar New Year, but this one is open."

Then the man glanced at Lin Mo and Xiao Jingteng a few more times before speaking:

"Hey you guys, you're playing well! Want to team up? Two against two?"

Lin Mo stopped what he was doing, holding the ball and looking up at the person who had come.

The man wearing a headscarf was adjusting his wrist with his head down. The shadow of the brim of his hat covered most of his face, making it impossible to see his features for a moment.

But that guy with all those muscles...

Lin Mo blinked and looked at it carefully.

Huh? Those muscles...that face shape...

Why does it look so familiar?

Isn't this Liu Genghong, who later led the entire internet in doing aerobics?

That...the one next to me wearing a headscarf, could it be...?

As if to confirm Lin Mo's guess, the man wearing the headscarf raised his head at that moment, revealing his entire face.

A face that is almost universally recognized in the Chinese entertainment industry.

"Jay! It really is you, Jay!"

Before Lin Mo could speak, Xiao Jingteng, who was standing next to him, had already grabbed the ball and was shouting excitedly.

"I...I'm a huge fan of yours! I absolutely love 'Seven Mile Fragrance' and 'Sunny Day'!"

Jay Chou was taken aback by the sudden enthusiasm, then flashed his signature cool smile, nodded slightly, and said in a low voice:

"Oh, thank you."

He spoke with a slightly ambiguity, but his attitude was fairly friendly.

Liu Genghong, who was standing next to him, patted Zhou Jielun on the shoulder with a smile and said to Lin Mo and Xiao Jingteng:

"Looks like we've been recognized. How about a spar? We're both looking for a worthy opponent."

"Great! Great!" Jam Hsiao nodded vigorously. Where else could he find such an opportunity to play basketball with his idol?

Lin Mo nodded: "Okay."

The teams were naturally divided into two groups: Lin Mo and Xiao Jingteng on one team, and Zhou Jielun and Coach Liu on the other.

However, the atmosphere became somewhat delicate during the subsequent basketball game.

Jam Hsiao is clearly a huge fan of Jay Chou, and he seemed a bit timid at the beginning.

They dared not stick too close when defending, and hesitated when attacking, making them play somewhat timidly.

Lin Mo was completely different.

He plays basketball purely based on "human relationships and social skills".

The goal is to neither let the opponent make a bad impression nor to deliberately throw the game too obviously.

Zhou Jielun and Coach Liu were clearly having a great time.

Jerlens likes to dribble and drive to the basket and use hook shots. Although his shooting percentage isn't high, his moves are quite skillful.

In summary, this was a thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining basketball game.

The score doesn't matter; what matters is sweating and having fun.

During halftime, the four sat down to drink water, wipe their sweat, and chatted casually.

Coach Liu is very talkative and took the initiative to ask:

"Are you two students? Or...?"

"We're kind of... getting ready to become singers," Lin Mo said calmly, taking a sip of water.

"I'm participating in 'Super Star Avenue,' and he's a resident singer at a folk song restaurant. He also plans to participate in the later competitions."

Upon hearing the words "singer" and "talent show," Jay Chou's previously somewhat reserved and guarded demeanor visibly relaxed.

If someone is an insider, or aspiring to be one, then things will be much easier.

What he fears most is being harassed by unidentified fans, or even worse, paparazzi.

In recent years, he has been extremely annoyed by the ubiquitous paparazzi and has been very careful in his private activities.

If they are in the same industry, even if they are just newcomers, they at least have basic industry rules and consensus, and know how to maintain appropriate boundaries.

"Super Star Avenue? The one Wang Weizhong is in?" Coach Liu had obviously heard of it.

"You seem to have become quite popular lately, what's your name?"

"Lin Mo".

"Lin Mo..." Coach Liu repeated softly, seemingly finding the name somewhat familiar, but unable to recall where he had heard it before.

Jay Chou didn't pay much attention; there were just too many new faces.

When the break was almost over, the second half began.

Perhaps because he knew the other person was in the entertainment industry, Jay Chou played more freely.

In one offensive play, he executed a beautiful behind-the-back dribble followed by a spin move, getting past Hsiao Ching-teng and scoring a layup.

Lin Mo then backed down Coach Liu and scored with a turnaround fadeaway layup.

After landing, Jay Chou, who was standing next to Lin Mo, unusually looked at him, raised an eyebrow, and mumbled something:

"Hey, not bad."

It's unclear whether this was a compliment to Lin Mo's action or the goal he just scored.

Lin Mo smiled and replied:

"Jay Chou, being handsome is a lifelong thing."

Jay Chou was taken aback by these words, but then he grinned and revealed a smile that showed deep agreement.

He clearly agreed with Lin Mo's words.

"Jay Chou, that's a good nickname."

Liu Genghong, who was standing next to him, laughed and said:

"Now that you run your own company, you really should change how you address me, Lin Mo. You know your stuff."

After playing for a while longer, Jay Chou checked the time and indicated that it was about time.

"I'm leaving, I'll call again next time." He waved his hand and picked up his bag.

However, before leaving, he was very generous. He took out a pen from his bag and signed Xiao Jingteng's jersey, who was looking at him expectantly.

Of course, Lin Mo wasn't left out either.

Coach Liu was even more direct, taking out his phone:

"Lin Mo, can I have your phone number? It'll be easier to arrange a game sometime."