What does it feel like to be pinned beneath a ton and a half of muscle? Probably not many people in this world could say they've experienced it...
Though it lasted only a short while, Jason Luo swore he never wanted to go through that again. Those women were absolute demons!
When a few of the players finally stood up, one casually grabbed Jason's phone. "Hey, get up, kid. Stop pretending to be dead... Earlier this year, we took down both men's basketball teams combined. You really think you could get away from us alone? Hmph…"
It took Jason quite some time to sit up from the floor. His chest felt tight, his breathing short, and his whole body was completely drained. Damn this Unyielding Body—never works when it counts...
"So, what now, girls? Are we just letting him go?"
"No way. Sure, we didn't find anything on him, but who knows where he might've hidden something? Here's my idea—make him leave his name and phone number. That way, if something comes up later, we can track him down right away."
As one of the curvy players spoke, she reached for Jason's phone, ready to dial her number.
But before she could, the group suddenly broke into an argument.
"Hold on, Jennifer! Why should it be your number? He should be leaving mine!"
"No, mine!"
"Big Boobs, don't you already have a boyfriend? Let him take mine instead!"
Jason stood there, completely baffled. What on earth was happening now?
Seven or eight girls argued at once until one finally shouted, "Alright, enough! Let's be fair—let him choose. Whoever he picks, that's final!"
"Fine by me!" Jennifer said, striking a few graceful poses. "He's definitely picking me—look at this body, right, handsome?"
The others immediately joined in, arching their backs and puffing out their chests to flaunt their curves.
Jason was completely stunned. What on earth was going on here?
To be fair, though these female football players were strong and muscular, their athletic build didn't take away from their looks. Their strength and confidence gave them a distinct kind of beauty—bold and full of energy.
But in this situation, who would dare to choose? Picking one meant offending the rest, and Jason wasn't stupid.
"Ladies, you're all stunning, really! So please, go easy on me. I've got things I need to take care of."
"Nope! You're picking one, or we'll make you our training dummy for the day…"
"Yeah! Who knows if you were peeping? If you end up dating one of our teammates, at least it stays in the family! Hahaha…"
Jason was at a loss. He couldn't run, couldn't fight, and reasoning wouldn't help either. Today really was his unluckiest day.
Might as well pick one. They were probably just joking anyway. He lived in Chicago—no way this would amount to anything.
Still, he pointed at the white girl who most suited his taste. She leapt up in delight while the others glared in frustration, giving him a collective thumbs-down in mock disdain.
Snatching Jason's phone from Jennifer, the brown-haired girl happily dialed her own number and ran up to him, beaming. "I'm Catherine! Now tell me your name and age. From now on, I've got your back at Princeton! Haha, I finally have a boyfriend!"
Jason silently took his phone back, put on his clothes, and started toward the door.
Catherine frowned and blocked his path. "What's this? You don't want to? Am I not good enough for you?"
The air in the room shifted instantly. The other women clenched their fists, ready for round two...
Jason immediately backed down. He felt like a lion trapped in a cage—powerless to do anything but play along. He never thought he'd end up being forcibly matched like this. Fine, it's just a joke. Go along with it.
Forcing a smile, he said, "Of course not! Just call me Jason. I'm 19. It's really great to meet all of you."
Even as he said it, he couldn't help admiring his own acting skills.
"Jason? That's not your full name, is it? You Thai or something?"
"No, I'm not. My full name's Jason Luo."
"Luo... Jason, huh? Fine, listen up. I'll let today slide, but I'll be in touch soon. When the weekend comes, you'd better be available. You'll be taking me to concerts, amusement parks, movies... If you dare stand me up and embarrass me in front of my sisters, I'll hunt you down—even if you run all the way to Colombia. Got it?"
Jason felt his head spinning. Thankfully, he was far away in Chicago—no way she'd actually find him. He'd just have to ride this out for now.
"Alright, beautiful Catherine. Don't worry, I'll be waiting for your call."
Catherine's eyes lit up. "Wow, such a sweet-talking hunk! Fine, go home and get ready for my love attack!"
Jason let out a long breath of relief and hurried out.
Behind him, Jennifer called out, "Aren't you even gonna ask what subject he's studying?"
Catherine smirked confidently. "Please! Who'd dare lie to 'Candy Tank' Catherine at Princeton? Jennifer, stop scheming. This guy's mine now—keep your hands off my boyfriend, got it?"
Jennifer watched Jason's back disappear down the hall and muttered bitterly, "That blind fool picked Catherine. He's in for it now…"
The other players looked disappointed as well. Truth be told, most of them were top-tier in both looks and figure, but their fiery tempers and fierce playing style made most guys steer clear. That's why several of them were still single.
In American universities, that was quite an embarrassing thing...
Escaping the gym, Jason let out a long breath. What he'd just gone through defied description. Looking back at the lights on the second floor, he slowly shook his head. Catherine might be pretty, but as a man, he couldn't stand being forced into anything. Maybe it was just a joke—she'd probably forget him soon enough.
Back at the hotel, Jason took a quick shower. His body was covered in the girls' perfume—no way he could explain that to his dad.
After dinner, he and his father visited the old coach again. This time, Jason showed a bit of progress in his boxing technique. Pedro was pleased, giving him a few more tips. It was clear that since Jason's arrival, the old man's spirits had improved. That only strengthened Jason's resolve—he'd make sure to visit more often.
The next morning, Jason reluctantly said goodbye to the coach. Once aboard the plane, he finally felt at ease. It really did seem like Catherine had just been joking...
Yet, for some reason, deep down, Jason couldn't help feeling a faint, inexplicable anticipation.