Chapter 439: Jennifer's Pregnancy

Howard forced a smile.

He silently vowed that next time they meet he'll crush Arenas completely.

Of course, he's made such vows many times before, with little effect.

Fan Xi and Howard discussed some matters about his custody; Los Angeles is still quite far from Houston. In this regard, Howard has very excellent and extensive experience.

In the overall environment of the Black community's "Where's Dad?" situation, Howard unusually fought for custody of all illegitimate children, being responsible in this regard. Of course, Arenas would stand nearby sarcastically, saying Howard does this to reduce losses and avoid paying sky‑high child support.

Howard doesn't argue with Arenas, but tells Fan Xi about his cleverness. He says: Although I don't like using birth‑control devices, I often sign an agreement with women before we go into the bedroom; they can take some money, hundreds of thousands of dollars, but the children they keep must be given to us.

At this point, Howard introduced many new tricks to Fan Xi.

"First, having a good lawyer is most important. I usually have my agent find many girls, have them sign confidentiality agreements, and forbid them from bringing any communication or recording devices into my garden, and then… hehe."

Howard spoke animatedly.

No wonder he's a beast who, before graduating high school, went to nightclubs to 'baptize' women.

Fan Xi wasn't interested in what Howard was talking about; he just said: I didn't expect you to be much smarter off the court than on it.

Fan Xi's compliment made Howard grin widely.

After a moment, he stared at Fan Xi, and Fan Xi burst out laughing at him.

Howard, carefree, laughed along.

The atmosphere was fairly harmonious, if Chris Paul hadn't kept his head tucked into his pillow.

While Fan Xi and the others were chatting merrily, Chris displayed a "I'm pretending to sleep; nobody's waking me up" attitude.

After arriving in Houston, the two groups split up.

Yao Ming also came to Houston; he recently started a club back home, became an owner of a team, and hopes to cooperate with the Rockets, including youth training and obtaining coaching resources from them.

After retiring, Boss Yao visibly gained weight; having earned a championship ring and an Olympic gold medal, his entire career has no regrets.

He invited Fan Xi to his house in Houston for dinner, but Fan Xi's teammates had already started their revelry.

Seeing the Kuaisuan's crazy record this season, Boss Yao even joked: "If I'd postponed retirement another year, I'd have two championship rings now."

Fan Xi said that now there's no spot for you on the team; Mili Xiqi and Huaiti Seda perform far better than you.

Fan Xi was obviously joking. With Yao Ming's height and skill, if he wants, he could still get a contract with any super‑strong team.

This summer, after the Olympics, Pat Riley called Yao Ming. The offered price wasn't low.

After all, Yao Ming only needs to play three to five minutes at crucial moments; a giant with height, skill, post moves, and shooting, paired with James, can almost guarantee a ferocious output in those minutes.

Last season, Kuaisuan won the championship, and Yao Ming's contribution was huge, even though his playing time was limited. Moreover, his role in the finals was irreplaceable.

Although Yao Ming didn't win a championship in Houston, when he appeared in the arena with Fan Xi, the cheers for Yao Ming were still louder.

Houston fans gave Fan Xi a lot of boos.

This shows how they differentiate Fan Xi from Yao Ming. Yao Ming is strong but not a top‑contender, and he lacks aggressiveness; he's humorous.

Fan Xi, however, is different; he's very strong and constantly slashes at their pride. Fan Xi has won two miraculous championships and even eliminated the invincible Dream Team at the Olympics. So the antagonism is stronger; they can't tolerate an impeccably dominant Eastern player ruling basketball… which makes their arrogance look especially pitiful.

Moreover, another reason Fan Xi is unpopular lately is… Fan Xi has attracted too many Hollywood goddesses; he's linked with almost every sexy goddess.

Fan Xi calmly faces these boos; he's become accustomed to such incompetent shouting.

He sat in the front row, watching the First-Year Team and Second-Year Team games with Derek Rose.

The league originally wanted him to be an assistant coach for the First-Year Team, but Fan Xi declined the flashy proposal.

Butler played a crucial role in this game; although this season his average is under 15 points per game, when he gets the ball and goes on a rampage, he scored 41 points amid Mailey Selas's screams. He broke the Rookie Game scoring record.

Of course, he also helped the Second-Year Team secure an easy victory.

After the game, he lifted the MVP trophy and shouted, "I should be an All-Star too!"

Butler feels he has been ignored.

This neglect makes him feel bad.

Fan Xi also cheered him on, saying: "Jimmy can become the cornerstone of any team; he'll soon be a superstar. Wait and see, the whole world will know how great he is."

Fan Xi was not stingy with his praise.

At this point, a reporter asked Fan Xi: "Then why can't he become a superstar on Kuaisuan?"

That's picking at him.

Before Fan Xi could speak, Butler said: "Because I'm still learning from Jie Ke how to better control the game."

Butler scolded the meddling reporter: "I know what you're trying to do, but that doesn't work on Kuaisuan. We're like a university; each of us is tightly united beside Captain Jie Ke."

Butler used his words to prove his loyalty to Fan Xi and the team.

But in reality, Fan Xi has his own plans for Jimmy Butler.

Fan Xi would never let a player who grew up with him be shortchanged; he's not that kind of person.

On the second day of All-Star Weekend, Fan Xi met Ya Dang Xiao Hua, who will soon become the league's helmsman; in fact, he has already begun the succession work, hosting and arranging many events.

He had an earnest talk with Fan Xi, asking if Fan Xi could accept leaving Kuaisuan next season via a lottery to join another team.

Fan Xi said he could accept, but he'll only sign one‑year contracts, return to Kuaisuan after each season, and after two seasons consider other options.

Ya Dang Xiao Hua expressed understanding. Fan Xi is both player and owner, and also the most influential basketball athlete in the world; he cannot help but show extreme respect.

Then Xiao Hua told Fan Xi: "There's a preliminary discussion. If this season a Western team wins the championship, then Eastern teams will draw lots based on standings. Any team that draws you cannot refuse. Of course, that team will only have rights to you for one season."

"I agree." Fan Xi doesn't fuss over such minutiae.

He's a rule‑abiding person; since it was stipulated that he obtain Kuaisuan's share, he must bear that responsibility, so he follows the game rules.

Xiao Hua thanked Fan Xi for his support on this matter; essentially this is the first major issue he's handled since taking over the NBA. If mishandled, or if Fan Xi simply stopped playing and became a full‑time owner, he would struggle to satisfy the public. After all, during David Stern's era, the NBA enjoyed a brilliant golden age.

People fear being compared to their predecessors the most.

On the second day of All-Star Weekend, Zhan Ni Fu An Ni Si Dun's ex revealed a big story; the globally handsome man admitted in an in‑depth interview that he's been suffering insomnia lately. The reason is his ex is pregnant.

It's just a simple interview, but naturally makes people wonder about his ex. Is it Zhan Ni Fu An Ni Si Dun, or Angelina Jolie?

Whoever it is, it's a shocking news.

But the clues provided by the media point, without doubt, to Zhan Ni Fu An Ni Si Dun; she has recently stopped working, and she no longer appears in front of the media.

When Gilbert Arenas was eliminated in the first round of the Three-Point Shot competition, Jimmy Butler was eliminated in the first round of the dunk competition.

Reporter asked Fan Xi: "Do you know about Jennifer's pregnancy?"

Fan Xi's eyes widened at that moment; he instinctively asked, "When did it happen? It has nothing to do with me."

Fan Xi's panicked appearance was like a mischievous child in kindergarten whose name was suddenly called.

Even the ESPN reporter laughed.

He asked Fan Xi: "So, you really don't know?"

"Hey, I don't have time to answer your boring question. You should ask me how I view Jimmy's first dunk that only earned 38 points; those judges are really speechless, they have no sense of aesthetics."

Fan Xi completely avoided the matter.

This interview of his was also turned into a video and posted online.

Through this almost intuitive interview, everyone thought it should have nothing to do with Jieke Fan.

After all, Jie Ke hasn't been to New York for a long time.

Jennifer probably used a scientific method to fulfill her becoming a mother.

Otherwise, why would Brad Pitt collapse and suffer insomnia?

That night, after Fan Xi returned to the hotel, he tossed and turned; he seemed to have insomnia as well. He couldn't recall what exactly happened that night in New York.

He kept turning over, thought for a long time, and still sent a text message to Jennifer.

He asked Jennifer if she was pregnant.

Jennifer replied to him the next morning at 8:30 a. m.: "No."

Fan Xi's lingering worry eased.

He began actively preparing for tonight's All‑Star main event.

This is Fan Xi's third All‑Star game; in the previous two All‑Star games, he won, and his battles with James were genuine, no‑holds‑barred.

This time, roughly the same.

…