Chapter 525: I Want One of Your Children

Kobe is watching the fire from the other shore; his mindset has now relaxed. Although he criticized ESPN for placing him lower on the league star rankings, he knows he has already withdrawn from the league's core battlefield.

Now the league's main storyline is the rivalry between Fan Xi and Le Bu Lang Zhang Si. The overall trend is that the new‑generation superstars are scrambling to wrest power from the middle‑generation players like James. He can only be regarded as the last guardian of the glory of the 1996 golden generation.

Look at Paul Pierce; Fan Xi beat him into that state.

Kobe's line makes some people think it's unrealistic; many believe that although Fan Xi's individual ability has risen to an unsurpassable level, he still cannot lead the Knicks into the Eastern Conference Finals, as too many Eastern teams stand in their way.

Moreover, the Wilt Chamberlain who once scored 100 points did not perform much in the playoffs; he only won a championship after joining the Lakers late in his career.

Individual greatness and a team's strength often cannot be equated.

In the eyes of basketball experts, the Knicks' exposed problems cannot be offset by Fan Xi's unprecedented great performance this time.

At the same time, another remark by Kobe is being discussed over and over.

Because it mentioned the greatest guard moment, some interpret it as a sarcastic jab at Michael Jordan. After all, Jordan is widely regarded as the best guard. Yet the greatest guard moment not being Jordan is awkward to explain.

But that discussion vanished by noon the next day, because Michael Jordan, in an interview, said in his own words: "This truly is the greatest regular‑season single‑game performance in history, without doubt. I'm a bit jealous, but I can't do anything; I can never return to my 23‑year‑old self."

Jordan spread his trademark arms in a helpless gesture and said, "I lost to time."

This is probably the only time the old rogue admits defeat.

Although he only said he lost to time, since his retirement he has said that just once; regardless of how many Jordan successors the league has produced over the years, he has never spoken so formally, except joking that Kobe might defeat him one‑on‑one because Kobe stole all his techniques.

No one will truly verify whether Jordan could score 101 points at age 23; some say he couldn't, but certainly more say he could.

Jordan's image is so towering, and he has so many classic battles that he has long been deified.

Fan Xi has only just attained divinity.

Jordan was right when he said time defeated him.

As long as Fan Xi keeps improving and solidifying his divinity, time will help Fan Xi defeat Jordan.

Time is invincible.

The difference is that Fan Xi also possesses time.

Jordan can only spread his palms.

Before he spread his palms to mock opponents; now he spreads his palms in genuine helplessness, with a faint fear.

This game is especially significant for Fan Xi.

Asian and European media have already called Fan Xi the greatest active player and have crowned him the Basketball God.

They rarely discuss the comparison between James and Fan Xi in the media, because everyone knows James cannot achieve this. Moreover, James is still empty‑handed, while Fan Xi already has three championships and three Finals MVPs.

Only U. S. media still think the Heaven's Chosen Son could pull off a comeback, so James still maintains the NBA's dual‑hero landscape. Moreover, they stress that Fan Xi will achieve nothing in team honors with the Knicks.

But these are all predictions; James's image is built on assumptions.

Fan Xi, however, delivered a real 101 points.

The volume between the two, even in the United States, has long formed a watershed.

In this, New York media have been indispensable. Fan Xi's joining the Knicks undoubtedly boosts his media clout; his influence in the Eastern Conference is growing daily. In New York State, no one discusses the Heaven's Chosen Son any longer; they already have the world's best New York King.

…

Fan Xi's 101 points blew up all media and every social network.

In a sense, Fan Xi has become synonymous with basketball.

Before this, some uninformed onlookers thought Fan Xi was more a tabloid story than a basketball achiever. Yet after the 101‑point night, even the most clueless can clearly see, amid the massive storm, that Fan Xi is the number one in basketball.

This greatly affects Le Bu Lang Zhang Si's commercial value, because he has always been cultivated as the "League's Number One". Since high school he has been called the Heaven's Chosen Son; the media gave him huge support, including a Nike contract of historic top tier, and with media packaging and his own effort, he has practically reached the throne of the league's number one.

He only lacks a championship.

So he chose a difficult path and joined the Heat.

This was the era of east rising, west falling, when Kobe and his generation of old superstars were gradually fading. Unexpectedly, Fan Xi surged in the 10‑11 season, playing a pivotal role in the Lakers' championship run and even staging a godlike scene of a one‑legged, stationary buzzer‑beater on James.

Fan Xi became the Miracle Child that season and was crowned champion.

Subsequently, Fan Xi was traded by the Lakers.

James and his team think that season was an accident and won't long‑term affect his ascent. After all, Fan Xi's true strength isn't that great.

Then they began a second season of underestimating him.

For a time they treated the reinforced Lakers as a hypothetical enemy.

However, Fan Xi went even crazier in the 11‑12 season; with Nowitzki's help he built a dominant Kuaisuan ecosystem, even though their regular season looked shaky. Yet in the playoffs they unleashed a big move. Fan Xi kept unveiling new weapons, eliminating the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals and then crushing the Heat in the Finals.

Fan Xi earned his second Finals MVP. Since that night, more and more people say Fan Xi is more suited to be the league's number one.

Especially that summer, after Fan Xi led the Zhongguo team to a miraculous victory over the Dream Team, this voice grew louder.

Later, in the 2012‑1013 season, Fan Xi led Kuaisuan to unprecedented regular‑season results, sweeping every honor that season—from All‑Star MVP to regular‑season MVP to Finals MVP.

In the final game of the Finals, James and Wei De forced out the strongest Fan Xi, and Fan Xi single‑handedly extinguished the Heat's hopes.

Since then, Fan Xi has become the de facto league's number one.

Then, according to league rules, Fan Xi was passively transferred.

Everyone believes James's chance has arrived; James's championship window has opened.

Moreover, many basketball experts think James can wrest back the league's number‑one title.

But who could have imagined Fan Xi would eliminate the Nets in a crucial city derby and score 101 points.

When that game aired, James's hope of reclaiming the league's number one was almost shattered; even winning a championship and Finals MVP would have little effect.

James knows this, and his team is well aware.

His off‑court earnings this year will form a terrifying gap with Fan Xi's; although he may lead other superstars by a margin, Fan Xi will still pin him at a very low spot on the PPT report.

The Miami Heat vs. New York Knicks game arrived on the third day after Fan Xi's 101‑point performance.

Fan Xi missed that game.

Fan Xi's tongue injury is more troublesome and harder to treat than imagined—not only a kissing issue, but from early the next morning his speech was slurred, requiring rest… Although the injury won't affect his athletic ability, doctors still ordered him to cease high‑intensity training and contact for two weeks.

When this news broke, many even thought it was an onion story meant to mock Fan Xi.

And when it was revealed that the fact was exactly so, the comedic effect was very noticeable.

It turned out that the motivation to resist fatigue came from biting one's own tongue tip.

It quickly became a popular element and was applied to every aspect of life.

When you're tired, your friend will say to you: 'Hey, hang in there!' If it really doesn't work, just bite your tongue, and you'll create a record.

"Imagine being as successful as Jieke Fan? Give up kissing."

"The NBA should award a trophy this year called the Best Tongue Award."

"Unlike the previous Thus we include: English who liked to show off his tongue during games, the current Thus we include: English prefers to bite his tongue with his mouth shut. This is the China-U. S. cultural value difference."

"……"

Fan Xi's tongue and the 'rush into the bedside cabinet' are the biggest internet culture he has created in his years of work.

It is worth mentioning that Tai Lei Si Wu Fu Te appeared at the Heat vs. Knicks game in Madison Square Garden, dressed up and sitting behind the Knicks bench.

Fan Xi, meanwhile, sat there in a suit; his face looked a bit swollen, but it did not affect his handsomeness.

When he appeared, the whole arena erupted in cheers, and the shouts of 'MVP' continued without cease.

This had a real impact on the game: the Miami Heat used concrete actions to vent their dissatisfaction with Fan Xi, while also confirming the basketball experts' assertion: without Jieke Fan, the Knicks are merely a lottery team.

Although this team has many famous figures, these guys are long past their prime.

Garnett, Steve Nash, and Hamilton still belong in rotation, Prince can serve well as a substitute, and Stoudemire and Joe Johnson retain only All-Star‑level ability, but they all need Fan Xi's activation.

When Fan Xi is not on the court, those who once dominated their own realms descend into chaos, each fighting for themselves—a trend that is very clear.

The game lost its suspense as soon as the first timeout arrived.

Larry Brown lacked the imagined control over this team, and his defensive influence was also limited.

The game's pace was always under Miami's control.

Fan Xi sat on the sidelines, watching the details of Miami's play; his gaze was sharp, his observation meticulous. He clearly knew that Miami had strengthened its internal chemistry, becoming more resilient and composed.

Most importantly, their desire for victory surpassed that of Game Six of last season's finals.

Miami built an 11‑point lead in the first quarter and at one point hoped to establish a slaughter‑style victory in this game.

But in the end they gave up.

Perhaps because Fan Xi was sitting there calmly, they did not want to offend him by doing so.

After three years of facing Fan Xi in the finals, no one in Miami is unaware of his propensity for revenge.

So even Miami's local fans hope the Heat won't let Jieke Fan, who just scored 101 points and is now resting on the bench, look too bad.

Spoelstra began frequently substituting the rotation lineup at the start of the second quarter, and they started drilling.

After halftime, Fan Xi disappeared from Madison Square Garden.

Tai Lei Si Wu Fu Te also disappeared.

Their simultaneous disappearance led the on‑site fans to start guessing where they had gone and what they were doing.

Even Kenny Smith, the TNT commentator for the nationally broadcast game, said: 'Does Madison Square Garden have a nightstand? The Knicks staff should go look for them in the nightstand.'

"This bad guy" besides worshipping Jie Ke in the basketball realm, off the court he is the one who most viciously mocks Fan Xi.

He even said in the media that Jieke Fan could completely form a new country with his Fan‑girls, and they could establish a nation with the highest basketball, entertainment, and wealth levels in the world.

Kenny Smith said that, although it was teasing, it actually represents an internet mindset: why can't Jieke Fan be with all his Fan‑girls?

Of course, this is by no means the mainstream view.

In fact, the whole world is still unclear as to who truly is Fan Xi's girlfriend.

It has become a puzzle that troubles humanity.

It seems everyone is, yet everyone also seems not to be.

…

Fan Xi and Taylor went to the Manhattan mansion that Taylor had purchased.

Tai Lei Si Wu Fu Te often lives here; she always feels more at ease in New York than in Los Angeles.

Fan Xi's tongue injury prevents him from doing many things, such as drinking red wine, eating steak, and… everyone knows what.

However, Taylor is a clever woman.

Fan Xi firmly believes this.

They had a wonderful evening, and on that night Tai Lei Si Wu Fu Te also began talking about family life.

She is a woman passionately pursuing her career, wanting to become the world's most influential queen. She is only one step away from that, yet she suddenly began discussing family life with Fan Xi.

Fan Xi listened quietly; his tongue injury could serve as a perfect excuse, and he remained silent on many sensitive issues.

However, in action he remains strong, always able to dispel Taylor's complaints.

But he did not expect that, in the end, Taylor would lock him down.

He failed to escape like a cicada shedding its shell.

"I want to have your child. He will become the best basketball player and the best singer. You have perfect basketball genes, and I am the most talented musician."

"Taylor said: 'Moreover, I am tall. My family has outstanding athletic talent.'"

…