Elliot was upset and didn't understand why. He was certain that he was good at basketball, but he was destroyed at the match., forcing him to see the gap between him and Sean.

Elliot wasn't as good-looking as Sean, nor had his formidable presence. Sean looked like a man of both reserve and extraverted, and the controversy was displayed harmoniously. The only strength Elliot had over Sean was the youth. But youth also meant immaturity and innocence, unlike Sean, a well-informed and sophisticated man who has seen much of the world, drawing the attention of most girls on campus.

​​

"I lose, and I have to own it," Elliot said. Although he could be concerned about saving face, he wouldn't lie.

Sean didn't respond. He threw the ball in an elegant way. It made the hoop followed a graceful curve and fell.

"Professor, I'm impressed," Elliot said.

Sean was better in every angle Elliot could think of. He has been such a pompous man to ignore his weakness.

Sean couldn't stop sneering at him, "Young men have to experience as much as they can to learn the weakness about them."

Sean picked up the ball and tossed it to Elliot, who looked at him confused.

"There are so many who are waiting for opportunities. But you already have so much."

Elliot froze and didn't pick up the ball, and made the goal moments later.

Sean looked at him coldly, "But what doesn't belong to you does not."

"Professor..."

Sean warned him, "Drop any ideas you have on Catherine, or I'll make you regret forever being born."

Sean left the court, and his back looked so tall and handsome.

Elliot was chewing on what Sean said. Why did he mention Catherine? What was their connection? Elliot asked himself. The image Catherine got in a limo the other day occurred in his mind. Then he was reminded of Sean's clothes. They might look simple, but Elliot could tell they were from a hand-made Italian brand.

Elliot pieced the clues together and drew the conclusion which shocked him.

The audience left and enthusiastically discussed Sean's perfect goal-making.

Pearl was outside the court and stared at the man as the sunset glow surrounded him. This was a man blessed by God. He was so perfect yet indifferent. Instead of fading away, Pearl's obsession got stronger and stronger. She couldn't pull herself out of the fantasy.

Even if Sean made Taylor Inwood a target and caused her father to go to the hospital, Pearl never hated him for it, since she blamed Catherine.

If it weren't for Catherine, they wouldn't end up like this. Pearl thought. Would everything turn the way she expected without Catherine?

Ethel grabbed Catherine's arms, "Elliot loses again. I'm afraid he couldn't take it."

"Why don't you lend him your shoulders for him to cry on?" Catherine teased.

"It's not as much my shoulders as your shoulders he looks forward to," Ethel said.

"Stop it," Catherine said.

"Sorry," Ethel said.

Catherine's friends could tell that Elliot liked Catherine. But he didn't know Catherine was dating Sean.

"Another heart-broken man," Ethel said.

Anna said gently, "Elliot looks really upset. He lost the game in public. That must be hard."

Ethel nodded approvingly, "It's humiliating. But losing to Professor Sean softens the blow. It's quite expected that he loses. Don't you remember he fought four men?"

"But I'm worried he couldn't take the blow."

Catherine sighed, "Go back without me. Don't wait up."Then she came to Elliot.

Elliot didn't leave the court. He kept his head down and looked depressed.

"Elliot."

Elliot looked up at Catherine. The proud little kid inside him seemed gone.

"Elliot, don't get upset. It's hard to win Professor Sean, not even Ken could."Catherine said. She tried to cheer him up.

"Do you know Professor Sean well?" asked Elliot.

"Yes."

No wonder Sean warned him off, and their relationship must be special. They didn't look like a family, so they must be lovers, which was the conclusion Elliot drew.

Elliot said bitterly, "Do you find me useless?"

Elliot always took pride in considering him an excellent man. And he said he would take Catherine out to dinner if he won Ken. But he lost. Then he challenged Sean because he assumed he was weak in athletics. Then he found out the truth the hard way.

"No," Catherine answered.

Elliot looked at her with a genuine face.

"We all have strength and weakness. I heard you're good at coding. But Professor Sean can't."Catherine said.

Elliot knew that. But the blow was too great that made him suspicious about himself.

"Losing is nothing. If you have to be better than everyone, you'll exhaust yourself. You can't win every one."

"I know."

"Why not develop your own games since you're good at computers. You can do what you're good at."

"Do you mean computer games?"

"Yeah. We can't live without our phones and computers, and more and more are using them. Games are entertaining and relaxing. You should try it."

As a girl with last life, Catherine knew what it was like in the future. Computer or phone games would be so popular among young people. It was promising. Catherine offered the idea. But it was Elliot's business to make up a decision.

The sparkles were lit again in Elliot's eyes. He was back.

"You make sense. I have to think about it."

"I have to go."

"How about I take you out to dinner? As a thank-you for the encouragement."

"I'll wait until after you succeed."

Elliot said, "You can't give me one dinner? How much do you hate me? I don't make annoying noises."

Catherine said, "Sorry. Professor Sean asked me to stay away from you."

"Tell me. What's your relationship?"

"It's a secret."

"Elliot, stop challenging others to a basketball game. You're not as good as you think.'

"What are you talking about? You haven't seen me kill on the court."

Catherine shook her head and left. Elliot could be arrogant, but he wasn't bad in nature. Catherine saw him as a friend and wished her suggestions would help him.

Elliot looked annoyed seeing Catherine's back, considering how good she was at making him feel bad.