Chapter 417: The Eastern Basketball King

After the awards ceremony ended, the Dream Team players all refused interviews, silently returned to the locker room, and will soon leave their luxury cruise ship, boarding a private jet back to the United States.

They came to defend the honor, but now they hand the honor over to Fan Xi.

In this match, there were many objective factors in the Dream Team's loss.

But a loss is a loss; the gold medal belongs to the Zhongguo team.

James walked back to the locker room with his head down, and the locker room was silent, everyone feeling very dejected. Officials from the United States Olympic delegation came in to comfort them, but it had little effect. A staff member described the Dream Team's locker room as an ice cellar, with all the low pressure gathering there.

In the end, James still gathered everyone together. Kobe did not attend; he is already the absolute leader of the team. Although he rarely reflected on failures before, now he is tougher than imagined.

Wade was somewhat surprised; James never did this before.

"You all played very well; it was my misjudgment at the final moment, my defense was flawed. You are all commendable; you should walk out with your heads held high, and I will take all the responsibility."

Le Bu Lang Zhang Si said this, then walked over and embraced each person, encouraging everyone to step out of the shadows.

This Olympic final was a tempering for James, and he suddenly was no longer so afraid of failure.

"We will reclaim our honor next season," Wade said into James's ear while hugging him.

"Of course," James nodded.

He had already canceled all commercial activities before getting up, and his training program is about to resume.

He will not be content to become merely a footnote in someone else's legend.

…

"This is not just my victory; I merely stand on the shoulders of giants. Without Yao Ming I wouldn't have gotten the final shot opportunity, and without my teammates we could never have pushed the Dream Team into the fourth quarter."

Fan Xi was fielding media interviews, countless flashbulbs flickering on this Olympic hero.

In the reporters' titles, Fan Xi effectively became the world's number one basketball player.

Although in the past some teams have defeated the Dream Team in international competitions, no player has ever, while beating the Dream Team, also won the NBA Finals MVP. Ji Nuo Bi Li came close, but the Spurs can never be called his team.

Fan Xi is the absolute leader and tactical core both on the Zhongguo team and on Kuaisuan.

Therefore, this title has logical support, not baseless.

This gold medal will bring Fan Xi genuine honor and forge a consensus, at least outside the United States: the world's best player is no longer an American.

This has never occurred in basketball history before.

"How does it feel to make a game‑winning shot? You did it with your left hand, which is very rare," a local British reporter asked Fan Xi.

Frankly, basketball is not a popular sport in Europe; people here are more crazy about football. But Fan Xi is their passion because he is already a trendsetter in Europe, and people know the details of his several rumored girlfriends.

"It's just a coincidence; if Wade had defended me from my left side, I would have used my right hand to make the game‑winner. It doesn't really matter whether it's left or right. The feeling of the clutch shot is great; when I was very young, in my language homework I wrote that I wanted to become someone who contributes to society and the motherland. Now I've finally accomplished a tiny bit of that."

Fan Xi is a funny person, and his words made everyone burst into laughter.

Actually Fan Xi didn't intend to make everyone laugh.

It might be a cultural difference; foreigners probably don't understand why a child would write such words in his own essay.

After fielding a group of reporters, Fan Xi then gave a separate interview to CCTV.

Here, he finally doesn't have to discuss where he'll vacation with the gold medal, whether he'll accept Megan Fox's advances, whether he'll have more musical collaborations with Selena, or which rumored girlfriend he'll give the gold medal to… My god, this is like asking the unopenable jar of Fan Xi.

The CCTV reporters were much friendlier; they only talked about basketball, the significance of this match for Zhongguo basketball, and Fan Xi and his teammates' performance.

That's fine.

Fan Xi can handle it with complete composure.

…

On the way back to the hotel, the Zhongguo team members kept singing, each face showing unabashed joy and excitement; their phones kept ringing nonstop, but they could no longer pay attention. Moreover, everyone knew the messages were congratulations sent from home.

The team leaders kept telling everyone how the sports bureau would reward them, and that a certain developer had decided to give each national team member a house.

The Zhongguo men's basketball championship has ignited public opinion on the Chinese internet, becoming the hottest domestic news of this year's Olympics.

Many companies have already expressed online that they will reward national team players, and the clubs of each team are accelerating actions; the cities and hometowns where the players reside are arranging rewards for these Olympic athletes.

It can be said that even players sitting at the very end of the bench can easily receive comprehensive rewards exceeding ten million, and with endorsements included, possibly even more.

After all, each of them has already become a household‑name superstar.

According to domestic media reports, the match between the Zhongguo team and the United States team was watched by at least 350 million viewers through various means.

The viewership rating was the highest of the Olympics.

Its influence was also the greatest of this Olympic Games.

This gold medal is priceless to everyone.

Fan Xi also received many messages—from his parents, Fan girlfriends, sponsors, teammates… and Lu Yuan.

Fan Xi feels like a dream materializing into reality; frankly, when he chose to join the national team, he had imagined it would take ten years to secure a gold medal for the team. Yet, the first time, he won it.

He sat together with Wang Zhizhi; Yao Ming had already gone to the hospital, and there is still no news.

"I might receive a second‑class merit," Lao Wang said to Fan Xi.

"Congratulations," Fan Xi said to Lao Wang.

"I have to thank you. I never even dreamed I could win a gold medal, let alone beat the United States for it. I still can't believe this is real; could this gold medal be fake…?" Wang Zhizhi said.

"Fake? Give it to me." Fan Xi happened to be missing a gold medal.

"No way." Wang Zhizhi treasured it, kissing it repeatedly: "This is my heirloom. My basketball career is perfect. In the future, when I'm old, lying in a rocking chair, my grandson will run up and ask, 'Grandpa, what's the thing you're most proud of?' I will tell him, in 2012 I defeated the world's strongest team and brought a gold medal to the country!"

As Wang Zhizhi spoke, his gaze became far‑seeing.

Fan Xi looked at the London night outside the window.

The first Olympic journey ended just like that.

A perfect finale.

An unexpected ending.

…

On the morning of the second day in London, national team players boarded planes back to Zhongguo, where they will be welcomed as if the streets were empty of people. Fan Xi did not go with them, because he still has some work to finish in Europe.

Lu Yuan said on the phone, "If we had known we could win gold, we would have simply canceled those European trips. Now a domestic brand is offering twenty million, asking you to come over for a stage appearance and a ribbon‑cutting! You have no idea how wealthy our country is now."

This became a trouble for Lu Yuan.

Fan Xi, however, was completing his work, of course, along with some "master tasks" that had to be carried out.

Si Jia Li has stayed in Europe.

Although Europe sounds like it has many countries, the distance between them is actually not far; Si Jia Li, on Fan Xi's big bed, said: In fact, the time I've been here since coming from France is shorter than the time it takes us to play a game.

By "game" she means… she is playing a magician tonight, and Fan Xi is playing the magician principal.

Si Jia Li is a great screenwriter, of course her talent is limited to the bedroom. Occasionally it spreads to the living‑room sofa, or the balcony.

Fan Xi always manages to have unique experiences.

Fan Xi likes that feeling.

Si Jia Li also chats with Fan Xi about other things, for example she says: "Since you beat the Dream Team, the American media have gone crazy, especially the sports media; they actually called you a thief, saying you stole the Dream Team's tactics, you stole America's victory."

"That's absurd."

"I feel that after you return to the United States you'll encounter some trouble; I always feel that our people aren't as tolerant and magnanimous as they appear… it may well be a façade."

Si Jia Li is elaborating on their national character.

Fan Xi has known this for a long time; next… those American sports media will definitely become even crazier in targeting themselves.

But so what?

Fan Xi's basketball career has only just begun.

"But Le Bu Lang Zhang Si actually had a major mood swing; yesterday he posted an important statement on social media, and many people supported him."

"He admitted it was his responsibility, that he failed to fulfill his duties as a leader. He let down the American fans…"

Si Jia Li continued.

As she spoke, she smoothly shifted to: "By the way, Jie Ke, where is your gold medal? Could you show it to me? I mean, I've never even touched an Olympic gold medal; it's like our Oscar little golden statue, right?"

Um…

Fan Xi hesitated.

Finally, he said helplessly: "My gold medal was taken back to the country together; my teammates want to use it for some work."

"Got it!" Si Jia Li, without any hesitation, said: "That's the rule of your national team, right? I understand; each country's customs are different."

Um…

Fan Xi had many complaints, but in the end said nothing at all.

…

The work schedule in Europe is boring.

Although Chen Ye enjoys it immensely.

He follows Fan Xi every day, dressed in a pure‑handcrafted, high‑end bespoke suit from a certain tailor family, appearing in various banquets or high‑end brand fashion shows, looking the part.

Europeans always have a mysterious confidence; they think their taste reigns supreme worldwide, even calling the United States a fashion desert in this regard.

And although they appear noble and elegant.

Fan Xi thinks they have no essential difference from Americans.

When the lights are dim, there are still seemingly demure, elegant ladies who breathe softly into his collar, give a teasing glance, or even use their high heels to subtly lift Fan Xi's pant leg.

This is seduction.

But Fan Xi didn't fall for it.

He has the dignity of an Olympic champion.

A king of the basketball world cannot be easily conquered.

Even though he was photographed in France with a bright red lipstick mark on his left cheek, he actually has no idea when that mark was left. Yet many French socialites have claimed they are willing to take responsibility for it.

After touring Britain, Italy and France, Fan Xi hurried back to Zhongguo.

Back home.

Fan Xi felt what true popularity is like.

Fan Xi's parents told him that the local government awarded him a plaque that shines over the family gate, and this plaque made the entire Fan family ecstatic beyond measure, happier than any cash reward.

They also placed it in the ancestral hall.

The sense of ceremony was like that of an ancient top scholar passing the imperial exams.

Meanwhile, Fan Xi's branded sneakers sold out explosively during this period… the production lines ran full tilt but couldn't keep up, and specialty stores nationwide were emptied.

The nation's enthusiasm for basketball reached an incredible height.

Fan Xi's first domestic event was receiving a super‑large flat in the capital from a famous real‑estate developer, worth tens of millions.

Because of Fan Xi's arrival, the high‑end property conveniently saw its price rise, and the advertising effect was unbeatable.

In addition, Fan Xi attended an awards ceremony.

When he reunited with his teammates, he discovered they were genuinely happy.

This gold win multiplied everyone's value, so their respect for Fan Xi was simply… soaring upward.

For Fan Xi, there was also good news: Yao Ming hadn't aggravated his old injury, so no surgery was needed; conservative treatment would suffice. He, seated in a wheelchair, shook Fan Xi's hand.

He said his basketball career had no regrets left. Next, he will devote himself to a new job; he will become the owner of a domestic club, and will spare no effort to improve the national league and cultivate talent.

To supply strong players for Fan Xi's next Olympic Games.

Fan Xi was delighted to hear this; he even said that if overseas training is needed, he can offer whatever help he can.

Fan Xi really hopes domestic basketball will flourish.

Only then can he be the true Eastern basketball king.

Fan Xi stayed in Zhongguo for half a month, constantly attending events, gaining both fame and fortune.

But he didn't forget to split the gold medal in half; he is a person who values commitments.

If you could make two women happy like a child, why wouldn't you do that?

Moreover, Fan Xi believed he could at least still win a gold medal.

He said that to the national team members, and the national team members told it to the whole country.

…