Chapter 200: This is just the beginning of today

Lu Yuan found a quiet vacation spot for Fan Xi. With the power of money, Fan Xi was able to secure a secluded and scenic vacation villa at Howard Creek Ranch, located next to the Mendocino coast.

This place is adjacent to miles of beaches and wilderness, situated at the northernmost end of Highway 1. The historic ranch sits in magnificent isolation, with direct access to California's sandy beaches and the tide pools at Westport-Union Landing State Beach. This California beach is wide and sandy near the creek mouth, but features rocky outcrops extending in both directions.

Fan Xi was very satisfied with Lu Yuan's arrangements; he just wanted to get away from the crowds right now.

However, there is still a huge difference between a rich person's escape from the crowd and a homeless person's. Lu Yuan personally led a team from a professional security company to guard the only intersection two kilometers away, and hired a large group of chefs and workers to wait there, providing Fan Xi with exquisite food.

Such a fuss is appropriate for a world-renowned super basketball hero today, and compared to the spending of other NBA superstars during the off-season, everything Fan Xi mobilized doesn't even cost as much as two takeoffs and landings of their private jets.

Fan Xi will stay here for a week. On Sunday, Laisi will come to check the injury on his ankle. Once it is confirmed that the swelling has completely subsided, he will enter the second step to decide whether to adopt surgical treatment or conservative treatment. But basically, whether it is the Lakers' executives, the hospital, or Lu Yuan, they all hope for surgical intervention.

Fan Xi's injury affects the livelihoods of many people.

Lu Yuan is particularly worried about Fan Xi now; he even made overseas calls to China, asking people about those Traditional Chinese Medicine treatment plans.

If Fan Xi's level drops significantly next season, it will affect long-term interests.

As an agent, he desperately hopes that Fan Xi will continue to create miracles and that his golden career period will be continuously extended.

It would be a great pity if something like "the boy who lost his talent" happened to Fan Xi.

In contrast, Fan Xi is not that worried.

He lay on a rattan chair under the sunset, his right foot raised high, holding a camera pointed at the coastline not far away... This house was built on a cliff by the sea, where one could see the golden beach nearby and hear the sound of waves fiercely crashing against the cliff below.

Fan Xi likes this feeling—the ferocity and tranquility of the ocean, beauty and violence coexisting.

Click! Click!

He pressed the shutter, capturing many eternal moments of beauty.

The television in the room was playing basketball news. Whenever the off-season arrives, the media loves to create sensational trade rumors: because there are no games, fans are looking forward to other excitement.

Fan Xi felt that many things were absolutely absurd, such as Pat Riley discussing with the Boston Celtics, hoping to get Kevin Garnett... Isn't this nonsense? How could Garnett go to Miami? Boston's brains aren't fried.

In addition, there were rumors that the Los Angeles Lakers and the Orlando Magic were in secret contact, planning to use Bynum plus Dunleavy and Odom to trade for Howard... This is even more baseless.

Not to mention whether the Magic would part with their ace core, the Lakers themselves couldn't possibly break up their championship-winning lineup.

The news Fan Xi received was that Kupchak had already formally discussed a contract extension with Dunleavy.

Lamar Odom also decided to sign an early extension with the Lakers.

It's just that currently, they are stuck on the contract amount. Dunleavy's performance in the playoffs was commendable, and the Finals were even exemplary; he made outstanding contributions to Los Angeles' three-peat.

Fan Xi also likes this tall shooter. In their call yesterday, Dunleavy hoped that Fan Xi would use his influence to put in a good word for him with Kupchak.

Usually, Fan Xi is unwilling to interfere in these things.

But Dunleavy is different; Dunleavy regards Fan Xi as a leader and is completely submissive to him. Fan Xi said if he ran into Kupchak again, he would express his views.

Currently, Los Angeles is only willing to offer Dunleavy a contract of about 24 million over 3 years, with an annual salary of about 8 million, but there are some hard clauses, and it is not fully guaranteed. Dunleavy's side hopes to get about 36 million over 4 years, or take a step back and get about 26 million over 3 years, but with a higher fully guaranteed amount.

At the same time, Dunleavy also revealed that other teams have offered similar contracts.

Fan Xi certainly hopes that Dunleavy will remain with the Lakers.

Lamar Odom's situation is more awkward. Odom is a pillar of the Lakers, having walked all the way from the Lakers' darkest times to today's three-peat. From any angle, the Lakers should give him a decent retirement contract.

However, his competitive state is indeed declining rapidly, and it will continue to decline; the trajectory of the decline is very clear. Therefore, it is simply impossible for him to get a contract similar to Dunleavy's.

But complex interpersonal relationships make it impossible for the Lakers to cleanly dump him.

Fan Xi did not get involved in Odom's contract extension, although he and Odom can now be considered brothers-in-law; Kim Kardashian had called him, but did not make it explicit. Odom is now actively contacting Kobe; he and Kobe have years of revolutionary friendship, and Kobe will speak up for him.

But Fan Xi felt that Kobe wouldn't say too much, because Kobe is someone who values victory more than anything else.

Fan Xi's mind went blank for a while, and the TV started discussing the upcoming draft.

The Cavaliers got the number one pick this year; they got the number one pick again after losing LeBron James. Duke's point guard Kyrie Irving has already received a guarantee card, and Cleveland has confirmed repeatedly that they will not miss out on Irving at the first spot.

Kyrie Irving is a very interesting person. When he was interviewed two days ago, he said: "Jack Fan's success gives me great courage and inspiration. When he hit that buzzer-beater, I felt all the energy in my body ignite. He made me realize that I can do anything as long as I firmly believe in my own path. I can even be more powerful than him."

Most young Americans are confident; their dictionaries seem to lack the concept of humility, and daring to express themselves is their style of doing things.

Fan Xi has watched videos of Irving playing, sent to him by Stephen Curry. Curry asked Fan Xi: "Do you think this guy's dribbling moves are a lot like yours?"

Fan Xi didn't think so. Although this kid's ball-handling rhythm is excellent and flashy, they are actually two different types. This point guard named Irving tends toward offense; his ball-handling is for the purpose of obtaining a better shooting rhythm.

The business director of the Fan-x brand asked Fan Xi if they should sign this potential new star to open up more of the US market for the brand and sink into a wider range of communities. After all, Fan-x currently relies on Fan Xi as a single superstar and one signature shoe to conquer the world, which is still not very favorable.

Growing bigger and stronger, and walking on multiple legs, is the path every large enterprise must take.

Fan Xi rejected this proposal, saying: "If you want to sign a new star, then sign my good brother, Stephen Curry."

Fan Xi has shares in the brand and is a major shareholder. The other major shareholder, his parents, are obedient to him, so his words don't even need to go through a board resolution.

Soon, the Fan-x brand decided to approach Stephen Curry. The brand needs a shooter, and Curry's three-point shooting is very suitable for promoting some low-top shoes.

The brand is negotiating with Curry and discussing releasing Curry from his Nike contract. Curry is currently a player under Nike, but he is not valued; he is just a very ordinary endorser.

Nike did not value this little guy who only knows how to shoot three-pointers. They thought Fan Xi wanted to sign Curry just because Curry was his college teammate and good brother.

Nike almost didn't hesitate, only symbolically asking for a breach of contract fee and the launch rights for Fan Xi's signature shoe peripheral models. After all, Nike also holds a portion of Fan-x's shares, and Curry was not in their long-term plans. They are now mainly focusing on James, Kobe, Durant, and... they really want to sign Kyrie Irving; they have strong confidence in this Duke super guard.

Therefore, very easily, Curry's endorsement contract was transferred from Nike to Fan-x. Now the brand and Curry are discussing adding contract years.

If everything goes smoothly, Stephen Curry will arrive in Los Angeles in July, then join the Fan-x training camp, and go to Asia with Fan Xi for a promotional tour.

Before this season started, Stephen Curry had been working hard for Fan Xi to join the Warriors. He tried hard to become someone with weight in the team, but by the time he secured his position with the Warriors, Fan Xi had already started his miracle career in Los Angeles.

Fan Xi's fame surpassed Curry's almost overnight. Now, Fan Xi, who defeated Wade twice in the Finals and ended LeBron's MVP run, is the top superstar in the league today. Combining commercial value, legendary status, and on-court performance, Fan Xi can even be said to be the most phenomenal rookie in NBA history, bar none.

However, there are still some commentators out there touting that Fan Xi has not yet truly proven himself, that Fan Xi's strength does not belong to the ranks of true superstars, and that he only possesses the status of a superstar....

This is somewhat ridiculous.

But it does have some market.

Fan Xi is too lazy to pay attention to these voices.

He is enjoying the tranquility of the holiday.

Laisi arrived here with professional medical equipment. This is the charm of money; the insurance company and the Lakers offered them a price they couldn't refuse, and they came personally to perform the check-up for Fan Xi.

Fan Xi's ankle has already subsided in swelling; an athlete's physique is incomparable to that of an ordinary person.

This time it was clearly confirmed that Fan Xi's right anterior talofibular ligament was torn, but the calcaneofibular ligament was not torn; it was a grade two tear.

Now the problem has become when to perform the surgery.

After much deliberation, it was initially decided to perform the surgery on June 24th, which is also the day the draft will be held this year.

Before leaving, Laisi comforted Fan Xi, saying: "Don't resist the surgery. Many stars become faster after surgical repair. This is not minimally invasive surgery inside the knee; it will not seriously affect your athletic ability. As long as you undergo reasonable and scientific training during the off-season, you can fully return before the new season arrives."

Laisi tried her best to describe it as a minor surgery, as if it were not worth mentioning, just like humans clipping their fingernails two or three times a month.

However, the subsequent phone calls from Kupchak and Jimbas, who spoke with great solemnity, proved what kind of damage this injury would bring to Fan Xi's athletic ability.

They made many promises to Fan Xi on the phone.

Fan Xi's mood became somewhat depressed because of this.

It's like a wounded hero returning from a victorious battle, who will have to lie flat on his military medals from now on.

Fan Xi didn't want to hear these comforting calls; he told Lu Yuan that he wouldn't turn on his phone before June 24th.

Chen Ye was previously a martial arts actor who came to Hollywood to make a name for himself. Relying on the solid martial arts skills he honed at the Shaolin Temple, he served as an extra and stunt double in many Hollywood movies. Although he didn't earn as much money as those martial arts stars, he was considered well-off.

Moreover, when he was a stunt double for a certain Hollywood male star, he gained his appreciation because of his excellent martial arts. From then on, he entered the Hollywood bodyguard circle, specializing in security work for some Hollywood stars or Los Angeles celebrities.

This time, he and his team accepted a new mission.

When he learned that the person in charge of security was Jack Fan, he was extremely excited. People who struggle abroad always have extra respect for compatriots who have achieved success, because his success not only brings excitement but also gives them a real sense of honor. When people talk about Jack Fan, they always look at him with higher regard.

Just like many people when bragging will say "how my friend is" or "how my brother is," Fan Xi is "my friend," "my brother," and "the pride of our yellow skin" in these Chinese circles in the United States.

This time, Chen Ye connected with Lu Yuan because they were the only two yellow-skinned people among the twenty-five people here.

"Brother Lu, do you think Jack will be lonely staying there alone? Are these big stars who are so glorious on TV all so silent in private?" Chen Ye couldn't help but ask Lu Yuan.

Lu Yuan spread his palms; how would he know? But he said in a very firm tone: "Don't ask about things from above."

As he spoke, he also made a "shh" gesture.

How could Chen Ye hold back? He only stayed silent for less than two minutes before asking again: "Brother Lu, you said Jack has so many Hollywood female stars, why hasn't a single one come? Our team leader Williams was just saying over there that it's all hype, that there's no such thing as female stars pursuing him at all, it's all something we blew out of proportion..."

Chen Ye hadn't finished speaking.

Beep beep beep beep!

A burst of urgent honking came from the front. A yellow Rolls-Royce was driving over quickly and soon arrived at the checkpoint they had set up.

"Quick, quick, quick, move aside, I only have 2 hours."

A crisp and pleasant voice came from inside the car.

The two white bodyguards were stunned there; they didn't have the power to decide, so they looked over with pleading eyes.

Lu Yuan walked over and immediately recognized the person inside as Taylor Swift.

"Hey, Lu, is Jack here? This place is really hard to find. I have to catch a flight to Nevada later; I have a concert tonight. I came here specially. Jack is injured, right? My God, why didn't you tell me sooner..."

Taylor's nightingale-like voice sounded like she was rapping.

Lu Yuan smiled, reached out his hand, and the barrier lifted quickly.

Taylor's car drove in quickly.

The roar of the engine represented the impatience of this young pop diva.

Lu Yuan turned around and said to everyone: "Everyone is a professional, don't take photos, no news can be leaked, understand?"

The bodyguards nodded one after another.

Lu Yuan then turned around and said to Chen Ye: "For the next two hours, don't arrange any meals for Jack. And don't let anyone get close to there."

"Understood!"

Chen Ye stood tall and straight.

He was proud again.

Although this had nothing to do with him, at least it could let that team leader know that Jack's charm is real, not some bragging, and that yellow people can also be "C" (carry).

At this moment, Chen Ye, whose shadow had grown by three points, didn't know that this was just the beginning of today.

... ===== CHAPTER 201 =====