Chapter 418: A New Situation Is Unfolding

Fan Xi returned to Los Angeles on September 20.

He has far too many business matters to handle in Zhongguo; when you become the basketball hero of all of Asia, it's hard not to attend some official and commercial events.

Fan Xi traveled to many places; besides shooting numerous commercials, he also announced the launch of a campaign to donate ten thousand basketball courts, partnering with a foundation to build professional standardized courts in remote mountainous areas nationwide—a truly grassroots basketball promotion effort.

Fan Xi likes it very much.

It makes him happier than attending certain corporate cuttings, even though the latter would bring him huge wealth.

Fan Xi hasn't lacked money for a long time; he could even say he has achieved financial freedom.

In fact, every national team member who followed Fan Xi after the London Olympics no longer lacks money and has, to some extent, achieved financial freedom. Their ads already appear frequently on TV; the smallest rewards—money, houses, or other benefits—from governments, clubs, and companies all exceed ten million, and the top earners like Fan Xi and Yao Ming are incalculable; Ding Yuyuhang and Guo Ailun are the other two biggest beneficiaries.

The national team's gold medal was valued by a famous U. S. investment bank at $300 million. That's the direct value; the indirect value is incalculable.

One could say this gold medal stole the spotlight from all the London Olympics gold medals. It's that dominant.

Those players who missed this Olympics all lamented, never having imagined the team could defeat the Dream Team, after all, it was something previously unthinkable.

They are regretful, yet they understand; after all, had they been included, the outcome might have been different.

A person's fate is hard to predict.

At least for Guo Ailun and Ding Yuyuhang, they have entered the fast lane of life, both becoming domestic ambassadors for the Fan-X brand.

After the Olympics, both international and domestic big names coveted the two, offering contracts far exceeding Fan-X brand's, but they aren't fools. If they chose another brand, their parents would give them a severe beating.

Abandoning the Zhongnan shortcut to partner with other brands—what are they thinking?

After leaving Zhongguo, Fan Xi was photographed wearing a platinum ring on his left ring finger.

During that period, Liu Yifei, who was by Fan Xi's side almost the whole time, was also photographed wearing a ring; she and Fan Xi shot many commercials together.

Because Fan Xi always mandates that his partner must be Liu Yifei.

It's a subtle dog‑food placement, though you could also call it bundled sales.

Girls can't resist this temptation; even if many are indifferent to a flood of money, few can resist such blatant favoritism.

This move was devised by Fan Xi himself.

Just like the endorsements he took in Japan and Hanguo, which are stipulated to be only with Yun Er.

Moreover, Fan Xi helped Yun Er in Hanguo revise her exclusive agency contract, making her more free and richer.

…

"They're deliberately targeting us."

Fan Xi, after signing a new extension contract in Ku Pu Qie Ke's office, secured a five‑year, $90 million deal—the super‑max salary; currently only he and Kevin Durant have such contracts.

Since the league's 1998 suspension, this is the first time. Previously, a super rookie's first max contract could start at only 25% of the salary cap; due to the Fan Xi Clause, players meeting it can start at 30%.

Ku Pu Qie Ke is now very angry.

Because the league altered the clause from Fan Xi's previous acquisition of Kuaisuan. The old clause limited Fan Xi, after signing a new contract, to at most two seasons with Kuaisuan. That meant last season didn't count, as Fan Xi was still under the original Los Angeles Lakers contract framework.

But now the NBA has officially revised that clause, erasing the gray area.

In other words, after finishing next season, Fan Xi must leave Kuaisuan the season after.

That's not good news for Kuaisuan; if Fan Xi departs, their chance of a three‑peat drops dramatically.

"Since it's happened and can't be changed, let's just focus on this season," Fan Xi said calmly. He's a go‑with‑the‑flow type, neither crying over spilled milk nor giving up because of future difficulties.

The road is made by people walking it.

"We signed Rashad Lewis. The Miami Heat were after him before, but he chose to join us on the same base salary. Clearly, there are still more smart people than fools now," Ku Pu Qie Ke said.

The new season approaches; after trading for Ricky Rubio, Kuaisuan hasn't made any further major acquisitions. Media generally deem Kuaisuan's title defense chances slim; preseason power rankings place Kuaisuan tied for third in the league.

First place is the Los Angeles Lakers, second is the Miami Heat. The three tied for third are: Oklahoma Thunder, Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Clippers.

Such a ranking is still quite interesting.

"At least we're much better than last season," Fan Xi said calmly to Ku Pu Qie Ke.

Last season, Kuaisuan was even thought unlikely to make the playoffs. Indeed, after Fan Xi's maneuvers, they entered as the seventh seed, a move the U. S. sports media called one of this century's most shameless, low‑blow conspiracies. Another conspiracy is the Chinese team advancing to the knockout stage as group leaders in the Olympics.

Sometimes Fan Xi can't fathom these guys' thought processes.

Anyway, Fan Xi's standing in sports media isn't optimistic; they go all out to paint him as a scheming conspirator, an evil Satan, an ambitious plotter aiming to dismantle American basketball's foundation. Of course, also a playboy.

On his first night back in Los Angeles, Fan Xi was photographed entering Tai Lei Si Wu Fu Te's mansion.

Then they described Fan Xi as someone who loves women more than basketball.

While criticizing Fan Xi, they also praised James's off‑season grind; after returning from London, James locked himself in a training camp, with his trainer calling it self‑torture and claiming James spent the whole summer honing his mid‑range game.

He also achieved effective fat loss.

Fan Xi greatly admires James's hard work, though he hasn't stopped his own training. Yet his schedule is so packed that his summer training volume certainly can't match James's.

After signing the contract, Fan Xi went to Kobe Bryant's home, where Kobe Bryant invited him over as a guest.

Although Los Angeles media backing the Lakers are pushing for a perfect revenge, Kobe and Fan Xi remain close; at least Kobe wished Fan Xi success in winning Olympic gold.

"To hell with you, you ambushed the Dream Team. If I were in London, you'd never have a chance at the championship. I wouldn't let you have it easy at the final moment, nor let your teammates grow so recklessly. I certainly won't let Anthony Davis and Tyson Chandler, those two idiots, be taken off the court."

Kobe still harbors resentment over the August game.

So when he sees Fan Xi, he goes on and on.

Apparently, Kobe's condition is quite good. He's had ample rest and has also managed his physique effectively, looking a bit stronger than last season.

This brings his physique closer to a later‑career Jordan.

"Looks like you'll need to add more strong‑side back‑to‑the‑basket moves next season," Fan Xi said bluntly.

Kobe raised an eyebrow, not denying it. He simply told Fan Xi, "This season, you won't take the Lakers that easily; I guarantee you can't."

"Last season, we didn't fully adapt. This off‑season, I got plenty of rest. I've also been in touch with Dwight Howard, overseeing his conditioning. With Kuameibulang gone, no one on Kuaisuan can hold him back."

"Next season's Lakers will be the real Lakers."

Kobe declared firmly to Fan Xi.

Fan Xi never doubts what Kobe says. He also honestly tells Kobe, "We will only be stronger than last season; you'd better not get complacent too early."

The two's verbal sparring did not carry over to the dinner table.

Wa Ni Sha enthusiastically chatted with Fan Xi; she is finally pregnant with a son, and an authoritative doctor has already confirmed it for them.

This is probably why Kobe Bryant looks so refreshed.

At the dinner table, Kobe firmly believed he would raise his son to become a better player than Fan Xi, because he has already set the template; the final height of his and Wa Ni Sha's son will be almost the same as Fan Xi's. He told Fan Xi, "I will make him the world's best point guard. Because he will certainly never surpass me in scoring."

Fan Xi thought it was still too early to discuss this, and that his child should be free to choose his own preferences—what if he doesn't like basketball but prefers soccer?

"There's absolutely no such possibility. If he chooses soccer, I'll break his legs," Kobe said, sounding extremely hard‑line.

Fan Xi thought he was just talking.

Even if he dared to do that, Wa Ni Sha would fight him tooth and nail.

They smoothly got to talking about Fan Xi's personal issues.

"Hey, Jie Ke, so who exactly is the woman you decided to walk down the aisle with? You might want to think about marriage now. Many NBA players at your age are already fathers," Wa Ni Sha said, sitting at the table, constantly gossiping about Fan Xi's romantic status.

Honestly, this was Fan Xi's first time facing that question.

When Liu Yifei knelt on one knee to place the ring on him, he was stunned for a moment; it seemed he truly had never considered marriage.

"Our country is different; we advocate late marriage and late childbearing," Fan Xi said.

"Then do you have someone you fancy?" Wa Ni Sha asked.

"I think Tai Le is good. Her height matches yours best, and you could even produce a center. However, she's currently in her upward phase; having a child would stall her career, which is far from ideal for her," Kobe and his wife echoed each other.

Fan Xi wore a wry smile.

Then Wa Ni Sha said, "By the way, didn't you work with Jennifer before? She mentioned a while ago that she really wants a child now…"

Um….

Fan Xi thought Wa Ni Sha might be treating him like a stud.

"Hey, Kobe, do you think Le Bu Lang Zhang Si will actually lose weight?" Fan Xi had to bring up basketball.

"If they don't have a strong center, I think his losing weight is unrealistic. He has to play the power forward spot many times," Kobe said. "However, I think Le Bu Lang Zhang Si has become stronger after this Olympic setback; he rarely discussed basketball technique with me before, always preferring to talk about investment or basketball philosophy. Now he's starting to discuss concrete technical details, which is frightening. Jie Ke, although our relationship is good, I still believe he is closer to the NBA's ultimate scepter than you are."

Fan Xi raised an eyebrow.

On ESPN's new‑season Top 100 Stars list, Le Bu Lang Zhang Si remains number one in stats, number two is Kevin Durant, and number three are Fan Xi and Derek Rose.

Kobe Bryant was placed at 17 for the new season, and he even posted on Twitter: "I saw it, 17!"

Obviously, Kobe Bryant is someone who absolutely cannot tolerate being ignored.

Fan Xi thought the list was fair, except for ranking Kobe at 17.

Kobe Bryant's tank still has fuel; his strength should be at the level of the league's '14‑'15 season.

You can't put him behind La Garondo and Deron Williams; that's simply humiliating.

…