Zhengbei Youth Song tells the story of a girl who enrolls at Zhengbei High School after failing her high school entrance exams.
There, she witnesses the school basketball team's fiery journey from the ground up and the music with which the boys compose their youth. She also sees each of them searching for a way forward through regret and confusion.
Little by little, the girl lets go of her lingering resentment, rediscovers what she loves, and sets off on a path to a youth of her own.
My name is Yang Yuhang! I'm a ninth-grade girl at No. 70 Middle School in Chachong City. I'm a top student who loves drawing, photography, and gossip, but basketball is what I love most of all.
Our city's middle school basketball tournament is underway, and we're in the fourth quarter of the final.
I stand in the bleachers, watching the tense game and clasping my hands as I pray for our school team.
With just ten seconds left on the clock, one of our players drives forward with the ball.
“Score this, and we've got the win!” the coach shouts to the team.
The moment he finishes speaking, a figure suddenly darts out from behind our player and steals the ball.
“It's that number 77 again!”
Our players and fans stare in shock.
“Stop him!”
Our defenders rush toward the opposing team's number 77 to block him.
But after stealing the ball, number 77 neither passes it nor sets up a counterattack. Instead, he dribbles to the center circle and takes aim for a shot.
“He's shooting from that far away? No way he'll make it!”
Our fans shout at number 77 as he gets ready to shoot: “You'll never make it!”
Three seconds, two seconds, one second!
Whoosh! The ball leaves number 77's hands and flies straight toward the hoop...
His silhouette, leaping into the air to shoot, is etched forever in my mind.
