Chapter Four: The Price of Losing

When the team landed in Yunzhou, the Harbor Storm's Game One winner still topped every trending list. Tang Li replayed her corner three all the way from the airport. Zhou Yan stared out the window. Shen Xinglan knew one victory had embarrassed Luo Qingchuan, not stripped him of power. Coach Du received the Game Two rotation only after warmups. Zhou moved into the starting lineup. Xinglan's projected minutes fell to twenty-four under a note reading ROAD-GAME LOAD MANAGEMENT. “Who signed this?” Qiao Man asked. No clinician had. The page bore only Basketball Operations' seal. Du folded it. “I choose the starters. Xinglan stays.” “She can,” Luo said, approaching through the tunnel. “But the club has triggered an insurance clause.