[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-golden-age-of-basketball":3,"chapter-the-golden-age-of-basketball-the-golden-age-of-basketball-chapter-1555":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","The Golden Age of Basketball",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1445381,1896,"Chapter 1555 - 25: A Difficult Decision (Part 2)","the-golden-age-of-basketball-chapter-1555",1555,"\u003Cp>Gan Guoyang looked much calmer as he ate an apple and said, \"It’s not a big deal; the most important thing for a president is honesty. Problems in personal life are minor issues.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gan Youwei took off his glasses and asked, \"You’re friends with President Clinton, right? Do you think he’s an honest person?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gan Guoyang shook his head and said, \"Not honest. How could an honest person become president?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gan Youwei chuckled and said, \"You just said that the most important thing for a president is honesty. Now you’re saying that an honest person can’t become president. Isn’t that self-contradictory?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gan Guoyang finished his apple, threw the apple core accurately into the trash bin, and said, \"The president just needs to make people feel he’s honest. That’s why Clinton confessed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gan Youwei scratched his head, feeling confused, indicating he didn’t quite understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let me put it in basketball terms. To get a big contract, first, you have to really be good, and second, you have to make others think you’re really good.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Isn’t being good at basketball the same as making others think you’re good?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You don’t get it, Dad. There’s nuance to it. You should think it over yourself. It’ll be a good mental exercise.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What kind of mental exercise? I might as well watch TV.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clinton’s confession caused a huge stir, yet from a political standpoint, it was a strategic move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because if Clinton didn’t confess and admit, he would face blow after blow from Starr.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These blows included recordings of phone calls between Levinsky and her friend, Linda Tripp, and a blue dress with Clinton’s genetic sample.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Gan Guoyang said, for a president, the issue isn’t his affair with an intern but rather lying to the American people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though everyone knows politicians are full of lies, you can’t breach the lie of \"honesty.\" That’s the rule, the unspoken agreement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Gan Guoyang reminded Clinton, he was completely unaware, thinking he had covered his tracks perfectly, not realizing that as a nation’s president, how could others not leave any traces?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially under the spotlight and magnifying glass, who can be flawless?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one can, so it’s better to admit it outright early on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though it means facing a barrage of public criticism, mockery, and even being pelted with rotten eggs and tomatoes, and having this scandal brought up for the rest of his life,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The benefit is that Clinton can avoid the brunt of the attack wave. All these other scandals are just minor; the issue of \"lying\" is the most fatal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clinton spent a day confessing to his wife, discussing, and analyzing the pros and cons of the situation, making a tough decision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gan Guoyang’s information played a crucial role, making Clinton realize that as president, he wasn’t safe. He couldn’t just tough it out and had to sacrifice lesser things to protect greater ones by confessing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, the Clintons were very puzzled as to how Gan Guoyang knew so much about these matters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The key pieces of information he provided, including the blue dress, made Clinton instantly realize that everything he said was true.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The couple knew that Ah Gan had vast connections and was quite resourceful, but had he gotten to this level of resourcefulness?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s said he had a close collaboration with the FBI, securing major contracts for young players and agents with their help.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for his entanglement with West Coast politicians, minority groups, and business tycoons, that was even more complex.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oh, and he’s still a Chinese national, a Chinese person; there might be intelligence support from across the Pacific.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clinton wondered if Ah Gan’s reminder was a demonstration of their intelligence capabilities from the other side or some political blackmail?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Uncertain, the two discussed it all night but couldn’t figure out how Ah Gan knew such information and what it truly meant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether it was good or bad intent, they immediately united and held a press conference to admit the issue, bracing for the storm together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Ah Gan? Let him win; he can win however he wants. For now, observe him and maintain a good relationship with him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, the next day after Clinton’s confession, Clinton called the Trail Blazers’ training office, saying he wanted to speak to Ah Gan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is Larry, who are you, and why are you looking for Ah Gan? He’s in therapy.\" Bird answered the phone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m President Bill Clinton. I have something personal I want to discuss with Ah Gan.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re Bill Clinton? Haha, I’m Ms. Lewinsky’s boyfriend. I think you owe me an explanation.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was a brief silence from the other end before the voice continued, \"Coach Larry Bird, it’s really President Bill Clinton. Can’t you recognize my voice? I have something urgent for Ah Gan.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bird’s mind clicked; he thought, oh no, that really does sound like the President.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bird went out and found Gan Guoyang in the therapy room, saying, \"Sonny, you have a call.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gan Guoyang asked, \"Who?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Lewinsky’s boyfriend.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gan Guoyang was startled for a second, then realized what was going on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Shit, why is this guy calling here? Is he afraid of eavesdropping?\" Gan Guoyang muttered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gan Guoyang went to the office, closed the door, and answered the phone, finding Clinton’s voice sounding very friendly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He expressed his gratitude to Gan Guoyang in very warm terms, much warmer than when they were just friends.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, Clinton began subtly probing, trying to get Gan Guoyang to reveal why he knew so much confidential information.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, Gan Guoyang couldn’t answer. How could he?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Would he say he knew this all along, having bought a magazine that detailed the event’s history, and it stuck with him for years?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That certainly couldn’t be said, so Gan Guoyang just hedged, continually deflecting Clinton’s queries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clinton was stumped in the end and asked, \"Sonny, I’ve been wondering, how should I thank you, and is there anything I can do to help you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gan Guoyang said, \"Oh, nothing, just make sure the NBA survives. You helped me before, speaking up when I was in trouble, and I’m very grateful, so I just reminded you. It’s reasonable, right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Very reasonable, very reasonable. I still hope I can help you in the future.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I appreciate your kindness, and I’ll come to you when I need it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No problem, preferably while I’m still president.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a few more pleasantries, Clinton hung up the phone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gan Guoyang let out a deep breath and looked up at the ceiling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fluorescent tube above was a bit old, flickering on and off, straining the eyes a little.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gan Guoyang wasn’t sure if he did the right thing. It was a spur-of-the-moment decision with its own motives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, he could feel that having a powerful person owe you a favor is a very dangerous thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially when you make them feel you hold something over them, it’s like bargaining with a tiger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This couple seemed glamorous but were ruthless at heart. In politics, nothing is clean.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The light continued to flicker, and after Gan Guoyang came out, he asked logistics to replace the office’s light tube.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bird came over and said, \"Sonny, I’m thinking maybe we should give up this season and not win the championship.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gan Guoyang touched Bird’s forehead and said, \"Since you don’t have a fever, you must be crazy. I’ll take you to the mental hospital immediately.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sonny, when I answered the call just now, I didn’t believe the person on the line was the president. I said... I said I was Lewinsky’s boyfriend... If we win the championship, we’ll have to go to the White House to be greeted. It would be very awkward.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gan Guoyang thought, you son of a bitch, you’re considering giving up the championship because of that?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, he knew Bird was joking. This bastard was too comfortable as a coach now and always needed to find something to occupy himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That’s perfect, go to the White House and meet your in-law, exchange tips as kindred spirits.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two joked and returned to the gym to continue training.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Logistics was replacing the lights; the flickering tube was replaced, and the lighting stabilized, emitting a buzzing electrical noise.\u003C\u002Fp>",1373,"2026-06-06T01:42:05.224Z",1,"novelbin.me","ecd0ecc814a78ce322abbfbfd0ec3a1a559c96cf99f5c1e522f69263c7a8ada6","the-golden-age-of-basketball-chapter-1710","the-golden-age-of-basketball-chapter-1554",2033,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-golden-age-of-basketball-cover.jpg"]