584: For The Win

For The Win

Raelle didn't know what Shui Xian talked about with her siblings and neither did she ask him. They just went home after the morning run and had their breakfast with Bà as they usually did. Although the breakfast table was like a feast at the Xiang family, in the Shui family the breakfast was as usual.  2

"Bà, come to watch us play?" suggested Raelle.

Shui Koshing was about to enter his library but made a detour, "Yes! How can I forget that? I'm definitely coming. I have to see my daughter-in-law crushing that foolish son of mine."

Shui Xian poked his head from behind Raelle and looked at his father, "Can't you cheer for me even once?"

"What difference would that make?" retorted Shui Koshing. "You aren't winning anyway. I don't cheer for the losing team."

"And what if I won?" asked Shui Xian challengingly.

"You dare?" gritted out Shui Koshing threateningly.

Shui Xian mentally rolled his eyes at his father who was blatantly warning him to lose the game. But then again, it wasn't like Shui Xian had any plans to win. He was still not able to understand how he won in the horseback riding yesterday. And the more he thought about it, the more he felt something was wrong.

Whether it was the technique or posture, his wife was better at horseback riding than him who only did it casually once in blue moon. So, it was a wonder that he won. It was like the blind cat caught the mouse. But this cat was not happy with his spoils. Not at all!

Okay, maybe a teeny-tiny part of his was indeed happy but only because of the bet. He'd be seeing his wife at his office. How could he not feel giddy about that? It was definitely something worth celebrating.

"Oh, but we are not betting today," stated Raelle. "We are just playing for fun."

Shui Xian heaved a sigh of relief. That really put him at ease and he was even more excited for the game, "Then let's go already."

Shui Koshing looked at his foolish son and shook his head helplessly. How come he never knew his son was like this? He was pretty decent once upon a time. But something definitely went wrong once he married Raelle. Oh, well, whatever! He was more than happy with this foolish son anyway.

All of them arrived at the basketball court in the residential area where usually the teenagers played but today, it was completely empty. 

"Baby, should I tell you the rules?" asked Shui Xian.

Raelle threw the ball at him which he caught with ease and told him, "I watched a video to learn how to play basketball and I also read all the game rules. I even watched a whole basketball match to get a better understanding. So, I think I can do it."

If someone else had said it, Shui Xian might have some doubts but he had no doubts when it came to his wife. Even if she didn't know how to play, she was definitely an ace by now in the theory of basketball. Because she'd never do things half-heartedly.

Shui Xian started dribbling the ball as he said, "Then I should get familiar with this all over again. It's been way too long for me to enter the court. Let's see if I have gone rusty." He shot the basketball and with a beautiful arc, it went through the hoop. "Oh, it seems I'm not all that bad."

"What's there to be proud about?" came Shui Koshing's voice from the bleachers. "Daughter-in-law, show him how to shoot a three-pointer."

"Okay," agreed Raelle and took the basketball. With ease, she managed to score a three-pointer.

Of course, Shui Xian would never doubt her aiming ability. That brain of hers processed everything from distance, force, velocity, and whatnot before shooting that basketball. As for him, it had always been about the right feeling and the technique.

*Clap Clap Clap!*

All three of them turned their heads and looked at Mu Chenyan in surprise who came to not sit at the bleachers but stand and clap. And then she even whistled like a hooligan and cheered, "Go, Elle! My Elle is the best! Go for it again!"

Raelle's eyes didn't linger on Mu Chenyan's familiar antics, she looked at Xiang Wai and Xiang Weimin who followed her here. And even Grandfather Xiang and Yue also came with them.

"What are you all doing here?"

Mu Chenyan gave her a peace sign as she said, "We came to cheer for you."

"I'm not playing in the Olympics," was Raelle's response. 

Yue pulled at Mu Chenyan's sleeve, 'Didn't I tell you that this is embarrassing?'

Mu Chenyan pulled out her sleeve from her grasp and added, "But I've done more embarrassing things. This is definitely nothing." She looked back at the court and said, "You go, my Elle! Go for the win!"

"But I just came to learn to play though," said Raelle. "Why does everyone want me to win?" She looked at Shui Xian and added, "Or should I say, why do you all want my husband to lose?"

"Because if one person has to lose, it has to be him," said Shui Koshing.

"But who said someone has to lose?" was Raelle's question. "Is it necessary for everything to be about winning and losing?"

Shui Xian smiled at her and rubbed her head, "Nope. Life might be a race but it doesn't mean you have to be a winner or a loser."

"Especially when you're in the same team," said Raelle. 

Mu Chenyan's shoulders slumped down, "I shouldn't have even started this. Why do I keep forgetting what she is like?" She shook her head and looked up again, "Whatever! I'm still gonna cheer for you. Do your best and learn well!" She took a pause and added, "But you can only play for half an hour. Your hands won't be able to take more than that."

"Just how soft am I in your eyes?" asked Raelle.

"Very," was Mu Chenyan's response.

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