Chapter 168

The Kardashian family is the "gossip hub" of the North American entertainment circle; no family is better at hyping and marketing themselves than they are.

Marketing and hype are matters with mixed reviews; Fan Xi, however, had no "mockery" or "belittlement" for them in the worldly sense.

To some extent, Fan Xi's overnight fame was inseparable from the promotion of the show "Keeping Up with the Kardashians."

Plus, Fan Xi and Kendall Jenner had a childhood-sweetheart-like romance.

Therefore, Fan Xi couldn't find a reason to refuse to attend their party.

On the morning of the second day after arriving in Los Angeles, Fan Xi woke up from his sleep. While eating breakfast, he turned on the television, and Time Warner Entertainment Channel was reporting: Kim Kardashian and Humphries have officially divorced, and famous rapper and producer Kanye West, who was photographed dating Kim Kardashian three months ago, officially announced he is in a relationship with Kim Kardashian.

This news caused some waves in the entertainment circle. For Chinese people, there is no reason for a phenomenal rapper and billionaire to hype himself up with a divorced socialite, especially since this woman had also been exposed in a famous sex tape incident.

But in American society, this kind of chaotic private life is accepted. Many people are even blessing Kanye West and Kim Kardashian.

Of course, this includes Fan Xi.

As early as before Thanksgiving last year, Fan Xi knew about this. Kanye West and Kim Kardashian fell in love at first sight, and Kim Kardashian clearly didn't want to overdraw her future on a blue-collar forward who couldn't even secure a starting spot in the NBA.

Poor Humphries, although he spent five million to buy a diamond ring to propose, still didn't win Kim Kardashian's heart. Most importantly, after Kim Kardashian returned the ring to him, the value of this diamond ring plummeted, and the jeweler wasn't even willing to buy it back at 20% of its value.

This taught NBA players a vivid lesson.

Diamonds don't hold their value; they hold their value even less than love.

If you want to show off wealth, you still have to get some hard currency; isn't gold fragrant?

However, for these wealthy black players, wanting them not to spend money recklessly and have some financial management concepts is harder than ascending to heaven. They are like the evil dragons in fairy tales; they just like shiny things. Even if you tell them a shiny glass ball is worth 1 million US dollars, they will still take out their checkbooks to pay for it.

The Lakers have quite a few such players.

NBA players with business minds like Kobe, Magic Johnson, and LeBron James are truly too few. So much so that every year after the draft, the league holds a rookie training camp in New York—not to train basketball skills, but to teach them how to handle the etiquette of frequent high-society parties, how to deal with the media, and most importantly... to teach them how to manage their finances and not be spendthrift.

As an undrafted player, Fan Xi didn't take this course.

However, his business empire was already taking shape.

As long as he can maintain his current energy on the court and keep his tabloid heat off the court, he can earn money for many, many years; even after retirement, he can maintain a high income.

Therefore, this is also the reason why Ma Chen supported Fan Xi going to the Kardashian house to attend the party.

"The Lakers' situation is indeed very bad lately, but Boss, none of this can be blamed on you. You play well, it's a plus; if you don't play well, it doesn't matter, no one will blame a rookie player for the failure, not to mention you are already the only highlight of the game."

Ma Chen always comforted Fan Xi like this.

What he said was the truth.

Lakers fans now only feel that they are unlucky; if Kobe hadn't been injured, how good it would have been. All of Los Angeles is permeated with this regret.

Fan Xi, however, was very annoyed. He hated that famous basketball media like ESPN looked down on Los Angeles with a gloating attitude, and he was even more disgusted that they clearly hyped up the Lakers before, but now turned around to praise how great James was. ESPN was even whitewashing LeBron's behavior from last year, claiming James made a wise, strategic decision.

ESPN and other media have always been keen on hyping LeBron James and belittling Kobe Bryant.

In the United States, James's popularity also exceeds Kobe Bryant's.

After all, he was born a basketball golden boy.

"The more they are like this, the more I want to take them down."

Fan Xi sat on a rattan chair in the back garden of the Kardashian estate, and lying next to him was Kim Kardashian's current fiancé, Kanye West.

This was the second time Fan Xi had met Kanye West; their first meeting was quite rushed, and they didn't stop to chat seriously at all.

Today, after Fan Xi finished training, he came in the evening.

Kanye West has a pivotal position in the rap circle, and he possesses a keen sense of fashion.

He and Fan Xi had discussed the collaboration with Fanx-one, and Fan Xi naturally agreed happily. He accepted the idea of artists collaborating on his sneakers; this wouldn't make his business harder to do, but would instead broaden his horizons.

Kanye West is a man of action; he quickly came up with his own plan, and he had some successful cases.

This really moved Fan Xi.

Of course, what made Fan Xi and Kanye West become friends quickly was that Kanye West had once lived in China. His parents had gone to China to teach as university professors, and Kanye had attended fifth grade there.

Kanye West tried hard to recall and could still remember a sentence or two of Chinese, but he emphasized that he used to speak it very well. It's just that he hadn't used it for so many years: language isn't like a bicycle; you learn to ride a bicycle when you're a kid, and even if you don't ride it for a long time, when one day your feet leave the ground, you can still quickly master it.

Fan Xi tried to speak some Chinese with him, and he said he felt both strange and familiar.

Then, he talked about some of his childhood experiences; he was so honest, talking about happy things and also unhappy things.

However, Fan Xi told him: "At that time, the reason people were curious about you and everyone stared at you was because we hadn't seen foreigners. We wouldn't have any skin-color discrimination against anyone, because our culture doesn't have these, and all our books teach us to love everyone."

Kanye West and Fan Xi chatted from around seven o'clock until nine-thirty.

The two chatted about some messy things.

Until Kim Kardashian walked over and urged Kanye West to entertain the guests.

Kanye West was one of the initiators of the party, and he was the rightful male host tonight.

Kim Kardashian hoped to use his connections to promote herself more efficiently.

"Jack, Kendall is really a nice girl. If I were you, I would choose Kendall, not some Scarlett, or Taylor, even Selena can't compare to Kendall."

Kanye West said very seriously to Fan Xi when he was leaving: "I look forward to our relationship going a step further; in your China, we could be considered relatives if you and Kendall are together."

Fan Xi smiled.

A long time had passed, at least Kanye West still remembered this.

…

Fan Xi stood up; the garden in front was already decorated with lanterns and streamers, bustling with noise and excitement.

Fan Xi didn't like the lively atmosphere; he sat quietly drinking milk.

Interestingly, the people outside didn't actually come in here; Fan Xi maintained enough quiet amidst the bustling excitement.

Suddenly... *Splash! *

A figure emerged from the bottom of the swimming pool in front of him.

Fan Xi was startled, and when he looked closely, it was actually Kendall.

Jenner emerged from the water with a rose in her mouth; she waved at Fan Xi, signaling him to come in.

Fan Xi almost didn't hesitate; he jumped down.

Swimming to Jenner's side, Jenner hugged Fan Xi gently; she wanted to pass the rose in her mouth to Fan Xi.

But Fan Xi caught it with his hand, and to Jenner's surprise, he kissed her directly.

*Click! *

*Click! *

*Click! *

Fan Xi had just gotten into the rhythm when he discovered the flashbulbs around them were flashing non-stop; it turned out they had arranged for photographers.

Originally, they only wanted to capture the image of the two biting the rose, but they didn't expect Fan Xi to be so generous, offering a "buy one get one free."

Fan Xi opened his eyes and saw the women of the Kardashian family standing by the pool clapping.

Fan Xi was very shy; he was completely embarrassed.

And at this moment, Kendall wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him.

Now, even though Fan Xi was in the swimming pool, his whole body was heating up; he had never been in front of so many cameras... his blood was boiling.

His whole mood was elevated.

This was a long, lingering kiss. When Fan Xi opened his eyes, there was no one around anymore.

The women of the Kardashian family had scattered in a flurry.

They were too good at this.

"Jack, your clothes are wet, let me take you to my room to change."

Kendall held Fan Xi's hand and walked upstairs.

Fan Xi was a bit worried: "There wouldn't be someone in your room who would suddenly jump out and start snapping pictures with a camera, would there?"

Jenner smiled, and she said shyly: "Do you still want to do bad things to me in the room?"

Fan Xi looked serious: "What bad things? Have I ever done bad things?"

Jenner hit him on the chest with her little fists.

The two walked into the room.

Jenner said she wanted to take a hot shower first, while Fan Xi searched around in this room with a faint, lingering fragrance; he was looking for cameras, hidden lenses, or if any woman from the Kardashian family was hiding there.

He didn't find any.

At this time, Jenner said she wanted Fan Xi to pass her something.

Fan Xi's blood rushed to his head again for no reason; damn it, he had seen similar plots when he was in middle school.

It was his deskmate who secretly showed it to him on an MP4.

Fan Xi walked into the bathroom... his brain waves instantly shot out, *buzz*, he was stimulated.

……

"Are you sure Jack won't be angry if we sit here and listen?"

Lamar Odom pressed his ear against the wall of the next room, and standing next to him was Kanye West.

Although Kanye West was a rap artist, his *hehe* laughter was quite abstract. "When I was in China, I heard that newlyweds have many people listening outside. To keep an eye on the young couple."

"Oh." Odom suddenly realized. "So it's traditional culture, then it should be inherited and carried forward."

The two pressed against the wall.

At first they were still laughing, but half an hour later, they were a bit restless, and an hour later, they both expressed that they might as well go drink; it was too boring.

The two brothers-in-law reached a tacit understanding.

…

Fan Xi went from the Kardashian estate to the Los Angeles training gym the next evening; Lamar Odom drove the car.

Odom's eyes were a bit puffy; he clearly hadn't rested well, whereas Fan Xi was full of vigor and endurance.

Odom asked Fan Xi in surprise: "You weren't tired last night? What about Jenner?"

Fan Xi said: "She can't get up, she's still sleeping in. Don't you usually wake up at noon every time? Why did you wake up at eight o'clock today?"

"I... I... I prioritize training. I told Khloe, I must win the championship this year."

After Lamar Odom stammered, he said righteously: "A man must build his career outside, must do the impossible. Now the whole world says James can win the championship, but I just don't believe it. Jack, can't we beat James if we join forces?"

Odom patted his chest until it thundered.

Fan Xi laughed *hehe*, not exposing Odom.

After stretching, he said to Odom: "But you're right, we are getting closer and closer to winning the championship."

Hmm?

Lamar Odom was stunned for a moment, then raised his eyebrows; he seemed a bit excited. Fan Xi had always been a very steady person in his heart; when he revealed some information, it must be trustworthy.

"So, you discovered another flaw in the Miami Heat? Tell me, how do you plan to take them down in the next game." Lamar Odom pressed: "I want to be the first to know."

Fan Xi shook his head and said with a smile: "The whole world knows the Heat's weakness is the interior, but so what? That's not important."

"Then what is important?" Lamar Odom asked.

Fan Xi said: "What's important is that I will stay on the court, stay on the court the whole time. I feel I can play for 35 minutes in the next game."

Fan Xi actually said this very conservatively.

You can play for 35 minutes?

Odom was shocked and couldn't believe it: "Jack, don't take stimulants; that stuff has huge side effects on the body. And wouldn't 35 minutes kill you?"

Fan Xi knew Odom was concerned about him, but it was hard to explain. He said he would absolutely not take stimulants, but he would use his tenacious willpower to stay on the court longer.

As long as he played long enough and the teammates cooperated tacitly, why worry about not taking down Miami?

"That's true." Odom nodded.

The car continued to drive forward. When exiting the highway, Fan Xi and Lamar Odom both saw a rather infuriating scene.

Originally, there should have been a giant billboard of Kobe Bryant at this highway exit, but for some reason, it had been replaced by a Nike advertisement for LeBron James.

This was an intrusion.

This was unscrupulous.

This was being certain of the Heat's championship.

Fan Xi took a deep breath; he buried all this resentment in his heart.

The car drove forward in silence.

When they were almost at the training gym, Fan Xi couldn't hold back and asked Lamar Odom: "Have you heard of Wilt Chamberlain?"

…