Chapter 408: Binding, Fan Xi

Another boot hit the ground.

Three hours after the Zhongguo team defeated the France team, the Dream Team beat Spain 108–101 in another arena, and they rightfully advanced to the men's basketball final.

Although from start to finish they kept Spain on the defensive, and Tyson Chandler performed quite well after returning in this game, he seemed to have no issues.

But the final score still shook some people's confidence.

Even when Chris Paul, in a post‑game interview, said emphatically, "This is what we were hoping for; we made the final, and we'll meet Jieke Fan again," (read the book).

Ibaka is not optimistic about the Dream Team.

After being beaten by the Zhongguo team in the group stage, he sincerely apologized to Fan Xi, saying, "Sorry, I was too loud just now." His frustration boiled over after losing to the Dream Team. "Some hair‑whistle affected the fairness of the game; if we hadn't been mired in foul trouble, their beating us would not have been easy."

"The Dream Team's interior is extremely weak; if Yao Ming could play 20 minutes, the Zhongguo team would have a chance to beat the Dream Team. They only look powerful."

"Their superstars never gave me the feeling of being able to end the game at any moment; Jieke Fan gave me that."

Ibaka turned into the Olympics' top Fan‑blow. The media asked him to predict this year's gold, silver and bronze. He said, "The United States might take gold, but I think Jieke Fan will put on a show for them. The Zhongguo team will get silver, and Spain will get bronze."

Ibaka felt nauseated by the Dream Team after the game.

It was as nauseating as being ejected before the third quarter ended.

The Dream Team's problems are now obvious: the interior is not strong enough. Spain's advantage in the paint is huge; the two Gasols and Ibaka dominated Tyson Chandler, Anthony Davis, and Kevin Love.

However, the Zhongguo team's interior still lags behind Spain's.

Zhongguo's win over Spain involved a fair amount of luck.

Therefore, anyone who knows a bit of basketball would not think the Zhongguo team can beat the Dream Team. Yet no one can deny that the Zhongguo team has a chance to take down the Dream Team, because basketball is round.

Moreover, the Zhongguo team's path to beating Spain looked easier and the margin larger than the Dream Team's path.

Using Spain as a reference, the Zhongguo team's odds of winning are even higher.

"Besides the gold, we have no other options. With so many superstars gathered together, if we can't bring the gold back to the United States, we'll be ridiculed."

Carmelo Anthony, nicknamed the Melon, is the Dream Team's starting power forward. He's been in the Eastern for years, lacks experience facing Fan Xi, and has had some good connections with Fan Xi, so he talks more cheerfully.

Other marquee players like James, Wade, and Paul, who have been beaten by Fan Xi many times, wouldn't make such solemn statements; at most they'd tap the side drum.

More optimistic than Carmelo Anthony is this year's top draft pick, Anthony Davis.

Anthony Davis is considered the strongest top draft pick of the past five years; his prototype is a blend of Garnett and Nowitzki, strong on defense and offense, and capable both inside and out. Everyone believes he can become a super‑star and reshape the league, which is probably why he made the Dream Team.

Anthony Davis recorded 11 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals in the game against Spain, showcasing his talent to the fullest.

When the youngster gets cocky he becomes flamboyant… even though his two eyebrows are fused and can't lift.

"I think you reporters have hyped Jieke Fan too much. I've watched two years of the finals; his ability to seize opportunities is indeed strong, and he's very dominant in clutch moments. But do you think we'll give the Zhongguo team a chance to push the game into a clutch situation?"

"His greatness is built on the foundation of Kuaisuan players and Lakers players. You can't ignore that foundation when discussing his personal greatness. I think it's unfair to the many hard‑working players. I'm not blaming him; he's still the finals MVP and still a super‑star. But don't compare his national team to our Dream Team."

"If there's a chance, I'd try to take a gamble on him in the game."

Anthony Davis added an Easter egg at the end.

From the young man's fiery gaze, it's clear he wants to use the Olympic final to boost his fame and soar sky‑high.

A youngster should be ambitious.

But Kevin Durant hopes Fan Xi won't see this interview.

Kevin Durant really likes this eager young top pick. The Zhongguo team can't beat the Dream Team, but it's easy for Fan Xi to cast a career shadow over Anthony Davis.

…

Meanwhile, Fan Xi is sitting in a family villa hotel in London, fielding questions from the London police.

"It's absurd. After the game I got a call from my girlfriend; she said her sisters were in danger, so I rushed over… Actually, she was also on her way and arrived later than I did."

Fan Xi calmly explained the situation to the officers.

When he entered the villa, he heard a cry for help from the second floor, ran in, pushed open the master bedroom door, and found Kolo Kardashian being tied upside‑down on the bed, a sound‑emitting ring in her mouth.

Fan Xi didn't bother admiring how professional the binding was; he then entered another room and found Jin Kardashian also bound, placed in the bathtub, her clothes disheveled, the meticulous tying accentuating her curvy, highly sensual figure.

Honestly, Fan Xi was a bit "surprised" at the time.

But when he saw the same kind of plug in Jin Kardashian's mouth, he quickly backed out.

He's a cautious man; he promptly took out his phone to call the police and gave the address number to the London police.

Police response speed in the affluent district is astonishing.

They arrived within ten minutes.

When they saw the scene and recognized all three as celebrities, they were especially surprised. One officer politely said, "Mr. Jie Ke, are you role‑playing? Is it so realistic it needs real police?"

Fan Xi quickly explained.

He claimed he was rushing from the arena after receiving a call from Kendal.

But the officers didn't sound very trusting.

After all, Fan Xi's nickname is known abroad. Londoners also surf the net and know the Night God of the nightstand's reputation.

"Does the American high society really play this flamboyantly?"

The police even asked that.

Fan Xi was speechless.

He could only wait for Kendal Jenna's arrival; Jenna showed up forty minutes later, her workplace being far away, while Fan Xi's arena was only a twenty‑minute drive from here.

At this point, the 'terrified' Kardashian sisters began to regain composure, telling the London police about their 'experience': they had planned to go out to watch the Dream Team's game, but before leaving, three strong black men hijacked them, tied them up, threw them into a bedroom, and then rummaged away some valuable jewelry and cash.

She said they called their younger sister before being fully subdued, hoping for help, but didn't identify the assailants as kidnappers for fear of greater harm.

Then Jenna informed Fan Xi.

To prove his innocence, Fan Xi even produced his phone, showing call logs and a taxi receipt.

It sounds absurd—a playboy defending his innocence so thoroughly.

The officers frowned, feeling the case was riddled with doubts.

For example, how were the kidnappers' binding techniques so… professional, and why did they stuff that quirky thing into the mouths?

And when did London's kidnappers become so refined that they only steal money and not women?

When they said they were going to proceed with the next investigation, Kim Kardashian refused: "We consider ourselves unlucky; we don't want to add fuel to the fire, because such a scandal would affect our image."

Fine, London's police also have a "better not to get involved" attitude.

But they were still odd; a police officer, as he left, asked Fan Xi: "Jie Ke, why did you, when you first saw them, immediately choose to call the police instead of doing something else?"

Fan Xi was stunned; the officer, who whispered the question to himself and claimed to be his fan, asked: "Do I look like that kind of person?"

"Like."

The officer grinned and nodded, then said: "Jie Ke. I think those two women clearly came after you; it could very well be a self‑staged act. London's public safety may be poor, but this area's security is absolutely the best in the world."

"You mean, there were no kidnappers?" Fan Xi asked him.

The officer shrugged: "Who knows?"

The officer's doubt was confirmed two minutes later; just as the police were about to leave, seven or eight reporters with cameras swarmed in, asking what had happened.

Soon, Fan Xi, Kendall Jenna, Cole, and Kim were exposed in front of them.

Then, under the reporters' pressing, the officer disclosed some information: a burglary had occurred here.

…

When Fan Xi returned to the hotel he was still depressed, even though he came back with Kendall and they had a presidential suite on the top floor. (reading a book…)

After the long cloud‑rain deployment.

Fan Xi hugged Kendall in his arms and said, "It's obvious your sisters are scheming against me; we both fell for it, and they want to get me through this method."

Fan Xi said without hesitation.

This speculation lingered in Jenna's mind, because earlier she had heard them praise Jie Ke, especially after the bedside‑cabinet recording door appeared.

It made her sad as well.

They chatted for a while, then turned on the TV.

Fan Xi saw the news.

The news blew his mindset up.

British media reported the burglary robbery, and it was unclear where they got the photos the police had taken at the time—pictures of Cole and Kim bound.

When these "strange pictures" were linked to Fan Xi, the bedside‑cabinet war god, even though the report was about a burglary robbery.

But it always makes people overthink.

The media also claimed Fan Xi was the first person to arrive at the scene and file a report.

That's just too damn crazy!

Not to mention the audience, even Fan Xi himself would speculate: didn't I resist the so‑called temptation at the time?

Fan Xi later received a call from Kanye West, who was furious and asked Fan Xi whether he had touched his wife.

Fan Xi had to explain to West over the phone.

And he used the clearest, most definitive data to allay West's doubts: "I finished the match and entered the locker room at 3:15 pm; I got Kendall's call at 3:21; I arrived at the villa by taxi at 4:01, as shown on my taxi receipt. I made the call at 4:03, the police arrived at 4:13, and Kendall arrived at 4:38."

"Do you think I had time?"

Fan Xi said helplessly.

Data doesn't lie.

Kanye was easily persuaded; he apologized to Fan Xi, then emphasized that he was influenced by online public opinion and said he would explain the matter to the public.

After hanging up, he posted the data on his personal page, stressing that those who linked his wife's misfortune with the righteous Jie Ke were foolish.

However, when public opinion turns into a frenzy, only those willing to listen will notice your explanation.

Those unwilling to listen will continue to spread it wildly according to their emotions.

For a moment, the news of Fan Xi playing bondage with the Kardashian sisters in London flooded the entire internet.

Even basketball media in the United States went crazy, eagerly seizing this to pressure Fan Xi.

They hoped Fan Xi would underperform in the final the day after tomorrow.

Fan Xi was sad.

However, when he went downstairs, he still received praise from the basketball team captain: "Fan Xi, you did a good deed; you are the embodiment of justice. We saw the news report and will publicize that you stopped a burglary robbery during the game. How are the two victims holding up emotionally?"

Um…

Fan Xi looked at the captain, whose gaze was bright and pure.

At that moment, he finally believed that kindness and justice still existed in the world.

Sure enough, Monk Fo Yin's saying was right: who you are is reflected in the shadows you see.

He embraced the captain: "Thank you. But don't publicize this. Let's focus our energy on the game."

…

The next day, Fan Xi and the teammates found a basketball court to train; the Zhongguo team focused solely on the game itself.

But the Dream Team side paid attention to the scandal, because the Western internet spread it so widely.

After all, the Kardashians aren't respectable, and Fan Xi isn't a respectable bedside‑cabinet war god; put them together and those pictures emerged, and even without a crime timeline, people fabricate all sorts of false stories. Westerners are best at making up stories from pictures, and they do it so vividly.

"I'm not surprised at all; Jieke Fan has always been like this. He spends far more time with women than with basketball," Dream Team member Igodala said about the matter.

"Jieke Fan's tangled relationship with the three sisters is fascinating, but I just want to play the game. Maybe he's trying to distract us this way, but they can't succeed," Kevin Love said, looking very sincere.

James Harden, however, refused to answer the question.

Why?

Because one of the female leads is his girlfriend, Cole.

Although he saw Kanye West's explanation, he believed Kanye and also believed that Fan Xi indeed did nothing.

But inside, he felt uneasy.

In fact, he went to see Cole last night, vented fiercely, and demanded that Cole be bound with the same rope.

But somehow, his performance wasn't very good.

Moreover, he seemed to hear the pronunciation of "Jie Ke" in a hazy daze.

That made him quite upset.

So he did extra training, but the results were terrible; even his shots were light and airy.

However, Coach Lao K encouraged him, saying he should add more courage in the final.

Coach Lao K realized the Dream Team's mistake in selection; it's a pity they only brought Chris Paul and Deron Williams to London.

Paul is a traditional point guard, and Deron Williams' condition makes him very worried.

So he thought of James Harden; Harden can play point guard, and in college he was a two‑way guard.

Harden heard he could get more ball control and could directly match up against Fan Xi; his eyes lit up instantly. He said he would definitely fulfill the coaching staff's mission and would utterly crush the China team.

Harden's resolve was very firm.

But at this moment, Le Bu Lang Zhang Si, Wei De, and Chris Paul all seemed a bit nervous; they even held an internal meeting at night.

"The current situation is extremely severe; history seems to be repeating. Countless past experiences have reminded us that whenever Jieke Fan messes around with romantic affairs before a game, it's a dangerous trigger—his habitual tactic to deliberately lull opponents."

Wei De said gravely.

James nodded solemnly; they are bringing out experience.

Although Paul doesn't have that much experience, he also perceives the danger.

This final is too important for the three of them; they have not only a battle for the gold medal against Fan Xi, but also a personal grudges battle.

The three of them are the ones worldwide who least want Fan Xi to bask in glory.

Especially James and Paul.

James originally held the Heaven's Chosen Son spot tightly, the script for the future league ruler was already written, but an undrafted player Fan Xi emerged midway, tearing a corner of his script outright; now it's unclear whether the script will be completely rewritten, but it's certainly risky.

Paul may not have a Heaven's Chosen Son script, but after being the league's top point guard, the younger players he beat now all disrespect him. From New Orleans to Los Angeles, he originally came with the ambition to win the championship and make a name, but the whole team was lifted by Fan Xi; he no longer dares to claim the title of top point guard and still bears Los Angeles's humiliation.

Alas!

The three hard‑luck brothers sighed together.

…