Chapter 87: Return of the King, Absolute Protagonist

When Fan Xi heard the deafening cheers, he finally made up his mind to leave.

He helped Scarlett, whose face was flushed with peach-blossom color, to sit up and put her clothes back on for her.

Then, he said goodbye.

As he was saying goodbye, Scarlett reached out with her soft, boneless hand to pull him back, and she kissed Fan Xi once more.

Fan Xi walked out of the room.

He still felt a sense of dreamlike incredulity; he had never dreamed that such a thing would happen. Up until now in his life, this was the most adventurous and thrilling thing he had ever done.

If Mom and Dad found out, I would definitely be scolded until my head was bloody.

Fan Xi thought this to himself as he walked outside.

Therefore, he made up his mind that he would never let anyone know about this.

However, it seemed he hadn't lost anything either.

He had even gained an unprecedented technique: Scottie Pippen's layup skills.

When people mentioned Scottie Pippen, they always thought of Michael Jordan; he was the second-in-command of the Bulls dynasty, known as Jordan's Robin. Although many criticized Pippen for never having been a leader from start to finish, even during the two years Jordan retired midway, the Bulls' key shots were still handled by Kukoc.

However, no one could deny Pippen's formidable technical prowess. He was the undisputed number one small forward of the 90s, and even a superstar ranked in the top ten of the 90s.

If he hadn't been on the Bulls, he might have had even greater fame. But if the Bulls hadn't had him, it would have been very difficult to win six championships.

Pippen possessed a slender physique, comprehensive skills, and extremely formidable physical fitness; he could dunk from the free-throw line, and he had a pair of giant hands that were not even inferior to Jordan's.

Therefore, he possessed very, very powerful layup ability; his underhand layup was considered the most powerful existence since the "Iceman" George Gervin, both elegant and impossible to defend.

When Fan Xi was at his most stimulated, at the moment his bioelectricity was released most intensely, the Energy Halo lit up. He saw the figure of Scottie Pippen, and then Pippen's entire set of layup techniques surged into Fan Xi's body like a tide. Fan Xi immediately felt the endless benefits.

He was incredibly surprised.

Fan Xi had never thought that layups could be played like this. It turned out that although his previous layup movements seemed to have no problems, they were still a hundred thousand miles away from truly top-tier technique.

Fan Xi began to believe that he still had a long way to go before becoming a true superstar.

Because anyone who could become a superstar possessed, without exception, a set of skills that surpassed the league, or incomparable physical fitness, or even both.

However, Fan Xi was full of confidence. He believed that as long as he integrated all these talents and techniques into his own, then the position of a superstar would inevitably be within his grasp.

Fan Xi ran toward the court, full of ambition.

The cheers at Staples Center were growing stronger and stronger.

Just as Fan Xi was about to spread his arms and rush out of the player tunnel to meet the fans calling for him, a Lakers staff member stopped him: "Jack, wait a moment."

Fan Xi stopped his steps; he recognized this person. It was Tony Starks, the deputy manager of the Lakers' public relations department.

As the deputy manager of the PR department, Tony was a sharp person. He quickly pulled Fan Xi to the side and then took out a tissue to wipe hard on Fan Xi's face: "Jack, I don't know where the lipstick mark on your face came from, but if you walk onto the court like this, you will definitely become the focus of the whole world."

At this moment, Fan Xi had no idea that his face was already the same as Stephen Chow's in *All for the Winner*.

It was only to be blamed that he was too invested.

Tony carefully wiped the lipstick marks off Fan Xi's face, but the hickey on his neck could not be wiped away no matter what.

There was no other way. Just go up like this.

Tony patted Fan Xi on the shoulder: "Go for it, Jack!"

Fan Xi ran toward the court.

When Fan Xi appeared in the sight of Staples Center, more than 20,000 fans boiled over. Everyone was shouting Fan Xi's name with extreme excitement: Fan! Fan! Fan!

The momentum was like a rainbow!

Everyone was invigorated!

It was as if a savior had returned to his loyal home court, and everyone was looking forward to Fan Xi's upcoming performance.

"Tch."

LeBron James made a sound of disapproval on the bench. He looked dismissive, but deep down he was incredibly envious: Why can that damn rookie always stir up such a commotion? Why is he like the protagonist? Damn it!

LeBron clenched his fists; he could not tolerate another protagonist appearing in his world.

Especially when this damn protagonist was someone "low-born" who looked like nothing at all.

"Jack is back. The fourth quarter is about to start. The Western team is trailing by 12 points, everything is possible. Charles, are you feeling scared now? The whole arena treats Jack as a savior."

Kenny Smith teased the nervous Charles Barkley on TV.

Barkley was indeed startled when he saw Fan Xi run out of the player tunnel.

He had originally thought it was impossible for Fan Xi to return, but now... he was like the protagonist appearing at the last moment in a movie, about to kill the damn villain.

He could not suppress the thought that this was "destiny," because Fan Xi had always been the embodiment of miracles, and people naturally associated him with being a savior.

Therefore, he tried very hard to convince himself. He told Kenny, and also told the fans in front of the TV: "I don't know what kind of tricks Jack Fan is playing. But don't think that just by pulling some stunts you can take away the victory. The Eastern All-Stars won't let themselves become part of this guy's legendary story."

"Never forget, this is LeBron James's era."

Charles Barkley firmed up his confidence.

But the more he said this, the more the audience in front of the TV hoped that Fan Xi would overturn the East, especially overturn LeBron James, this Chosen One.

Deep in everyone's bones, there was a rebellion against authority.

Although the strength of LeBron James and the Eastern All-Stars was visible to the naked eye, and Fan Xi was still far from being a true superstar.

But, what if?

What if?

American fans were betting on this "what if."

The Chinese fans on the other side of the ocean were not like that; they were so excited they couldn't control themselves.

The host shouted on TV: "That's right! Audience friends, the King has returned. Fan Xi is about to take away the victory in one wave. Believe in my judgment, Fan Xi has always been the Miracle Child, nothing is impossible. Did you hear the cheers from the home court? This is what the people want!!"

The host's invigorated voice made the audience in front of the TV excited.

For them, this was a stimulant.

Chinese media and Chinese fans had always strongly supported Chinese players venturing into the NBA. For example, whenever Yi Jianlian played, the host would shout for him, and web portals would use all kinds of flowery language to describe him, such as "Angrily slashed 5 points and 3 rebounds, the person who is invincible in attacking cities and seizing territories is already in the lineup," "Lightly collected 2 points and 2 rebounds, with a slight smile, he has already won the head coach's trust"...

Although these praises would make some fans feel disgusted to a certain extent, the original intention of support was sincere.

Fan Xi was different from Yi Jianlian; Fan Xi was truly awesome, so the praise seemed particularly convincing.

Just like when Fan Xi returned to the bench, he smiled slightly, and Popovich really had absolute trust in him.

Popovich quickly subbed in Fan Xi, and he didn't ask where Fan Xi had gone.

However... the pungent fragrance, the lipstick marks on his face that hadn't been completely wiped off, and the hickey on his neck, plus the scratch marks exposed on his shoulder... these clues pointed clearly.

However, because they weren't familiar with Fan Xi, no one asked this question.

Instead, Nowitzki said there: "Jack, we must unite; we must win this game."

Nowitzki was a peaceful person; he was always full of smiles in the locker room, never fighting or grabbing.

However... that sentence from Pierce hurt him too much. Nowitzki was a German; once a German gets stubborn, neither freezing cold nor iron torrents can scare them.

And Zach Randolph, Randolph was also very depressed; he was also waiting for Fan Xi's return.

In the quarter when Fan Xi was absent, he played very stifled.

Fan Xi didn't even expect that in the hour he was gone, the team had actually twisted into a rope, and was eagerly waiting for him to return to organize.

He didn't know what had happened, but he felt a surge of heroic spirit: Damn it, then let's overturn them.

Popovich subbed in a brand-new lineup; he used Fan Xi, Ginobili, Kevin Durant, Nowitzki, and Zach Randolph.

He originally didn't intend to use Ginobili.

But Ginobili was also a white man, and the "Pampas Eagle" had once led Argentina to defeat the American Dream Team in the Olympics. How could he endure such humiliation from Pierce?

If the Eastern team's unity was to stop Fan Xi's shine, then now, the Western side was fighting for their own skin color.

Beep!

The whistle blew, and the fourth quarter began.

The Eastern team subbed in their strongest lineup: Derek Rose, Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Kevin Garnett, Dwight Howard.

This lineup had impact where impact was needed, defense where defense was needed, and intensity where intensity was needed.

It could be said to be the model of American basketball.

In terms of status, except for Kevin Durant who could fight them a bit, the other four on the Western side seemed a bit dim.

However, the Western side's desire to fight was extremely strong.

Fan Xi received a pass from Durant.

He steadily advanced to the front court, and Derek Rose put in defense; he was no longer loose.

However, Zach Randolph quickly came up to set a screen, Fan Xi quickly penetrated inside the three-point line through the screen, and Dwyane Wade hurriedly came to help defend.

As soon as Fan Xi met him, he quickly passed the ball.

Fan Xi's passing ability wasn't considered strong, but it was very timely.

Ginobili grabbed the basketball and stepped out with a weird Euro Step... although he had lost the elegant long hair of his youth, he was bald, but he had also become stronger.

He killed into the paint area, a graceful twist of the waist deceived both Garnett and Howard, and then he passed the ball to the corner. Nowitzki had already exited the three-point line; he received the basketball, his signature one-legged fadeaway... Swish!

An open three-pointer.

After Nowitzki scored, he waved his fist hard.

The world said that Nowitzki was a softie, only knowing how to shoot.

But his heart of blood had never cooled down.

Turning back, the entire Western team put in defense.

Derek Rose used his super explosive power and speed to forcibly break through Fan Xi. Fan Xi's explosive power and speed were not inferior to Rose's, but the defense itself was a bit passive, and there was a large gap in strength.

After Rose rushed into the paint area, a jump step pushed Fan Xi away, and then he sprang up, attempting to make a spectacular layup... but Zach Randolph fiercely swatted over.

Rose's layup was off by a little bit.

It bounced off the rim.

Garnett immediately went to grab the offensive rebound, but he didn't expect that someone had judged the landing point before him. A pair of slender hands snatched the basketball from before his eyes. He looked closely... it was actually Fan Xi.

How could it be him? He was clearly a guard; were guards also good at grabbing rebounds?

Garnett was extremely surprised.

Guards were indeed not good at grabbing rebounds, or rather, the Fan Xi before halftime was not good at grabbing rebounds.

However, although the current Fan Xi's technique for grabbing rebounds was not solid, his judgment of the basketball's landing point had improved.

Scottie Pippen's layup technique made him form a conditioned reflex for many layup movements. When Rose forcibly threw the basketball out, he had already guessed that the basketball would not go in, and guessed that it would slide off the rim.

Therefore, he was the first to dive in and protect the rebound.

Protecting the rebound, Fan Xi continued to move forward.

This time, "Flash" Wade defended him personally.

He wanted to lock Fan Xi down.

Moreover, he was fully prepared.

He had studied Fan Xi's breakthroughs, and he believed that Fan Xi had more flash than decisiveness.

However.

Bang!

When Fan Xi crouched down, his change of direction was as sharp as flying close to the ground... Whoosh, Fan Xi tore through his first line of defense.

Decisive, sharp, and murderous.

Wade hurriedly chased after him.

But at this moment, Fan Xi had already quickly passed the basketball into the paint. Zach Randolph received the basketball, turned around, and completed a violent dunk... Boom!

Fan Xi's appearance activated the Western team's offense.

Was Fan Xi's passing ability as good as Chris Paul's? No!

Was Fan Xi's overall view as strong as Chris Paul's? No!

Was Fan Xi's ability to kill into the paint area stronger than Chris Paul's? Also no.

However, Fan Xi released the ball quickly; he was decisive.

Decisiveness is victory.

Zach Randolph let out an excited roar.

The point difference was only 7 points left.

"Jack Fan has an immediate effect as soon as he steps on the court. Who says he isn't a savior?"

Kenny Smith shouted for Fan Xi amidst the cheers of the whole arena.

The game was still continuing.

James killed into the paint area and completed a layup.

Turning back, Fan Xi and Zach Randolph set a high screen, he passed the ball out, and Durant completed a mid-range jump shot.

The Western team's impact was not as strong as the East's, but every teammate beside Fan Xi possessed the ability to punish the opponent outside the three-point line.

Fan Xi himself had it too.

This forced the Eastern defense to spread out.

Once the defense spread out, Fan Xi's role of inserting needles into cracks was produced.

Popovich watched from the sidelines, dumbfounded; he hadn't set up such tactics for Fan Xi.

But Fan Xi had actually found the simplest response strategy.

He combined his own abilities with the abilities of other players on the team, allowing the Western team to produce the strength to compete with and even defeat the Eastern super battleship.

The point difference was shrinking.

The Eastern team was becoming more and more anxious.

... ===== CHAPTER 88 =====