Chapter 163: A Formidable Enemy Approaches

Although Xinghui He had boasted wildly in front of Sterling, the team's current situation remained completely unchanged.

The media were still tearing into him, and formidable opponents were waiting for him down the road.

On the 22nd, 24th, and 25th, the Clippers were scheduled to face the Rockets, the Lakers, and the Timberwolves respectively.

With both Yao and McGrady healthy, the Rockets were far from easy to handle. The Lakers, now featuring Kobe and Brand, were equally troublesome. The Timberwolves were slightly more manageable, yet that matchup happened to fall on the second night of a back-to-back.

Playing three games in four days was practically a death sentence.

Worse still, these were all games Xinghui He refused to lose; there was no way to strategically throw any of them.

The match against the Rockets was a Chinese Derby. Tens of millions of folks back in China were watching with eager eyes, so he couldn't just phone it in.

The game against the Lakers was a cross-town derby, a personal duel between him and Kobe, and their first encounter since the blockbuster trade between the two teams. To top it all off, it was brimming with narrative storylines.

The public attention this game garnered in North America far surpassed that of the Clippers-Rockets matchup, and the media had already started rolling out promotional hype.

As for the Timberwolves, it was a sectarian derby—a battle for the supreme leadership of the "Fight-and-Retreat Sect."

He couldn't afford to lose his very first clash against the "Wolf King," otherwise that guy's fans would find enough material to brag about for ages.

On the 22nd, along the street outside Xinghui He's luxurious mansion, Lucy and her cameraman were sitting in a small streetside cafe.

"Lucy, are you certain we can catch Yao here?"

The cameraman complained, having waited in vain for over an hour.

"Of course. I specifically researched their country's traditions. Whenever players from their country visit each other's home territories, they always invite one another out for a meal."

Conducting standard interviews at the arena only yielded routine, cookie-cutter news that barely sufficed to fulfill an assignment, making it impossible to stand out.

Therefore, Lucy had deliberately staked out Yao Ming and Xinghui He's gathering to secure firsthand exclusive scoops.

"Speaking of food, I know a newly opened restaurant that serves incredible chicken wraps. We could go check it out after we clock off."

The cameraman smoothly slipped in a date invitation.

Chicken wraps?

Lucy quite liked the sound of that, so she hesitated for a moment and didn't outright refuse.

Yes!

Wild elation surged through the cameraman's heart as he immediately pressed on: "That's fantastic! We'll grab a bite to eat first, and then go catch a movie..."

"Yao! Yao! Go, go, go!"

Just as the cameraman was painting a rosy picture in his mind, before he could even finish his sentence, Lucy dashed off in a trot. She had spotted Yao Ming, as well as Xinghui He stepping outside to welcome him.

F***!

Why did they have to show up now of all times—neither too early nor too late?

Cursing inwardly, the cameraman hoisted his heavy equipment and trotted eagerly after her.

***

"Brother Yao, what took you so long? The group of beauties I arranged for you were getting impatient."

Xinghui He joked.

"What beauties? Cut it out, Ah-Xing, don't mess around. That's not my scene."

Yao Ming hurriedly waved his hands in refusal; he certainly didn't dare to be as carefree as Xinghui He, kissing a different girl at every turn.

"Hahaha, I'm just pulling your leg. Look how nervous you got."

Xinghui He flashed a mischievous grin, merely testing whether Yao Ming was still an honest fellow.

Judging by the reaction, thoroughly honest.

"You rascal. It's a good thing I didn't bring your sister-in-law along, otherwise I wouldn't even be able to wash myself clean if I jumped into the Yellow River."

Yao Ming bantered back.

His girlfriend was currently undergoing rehabilitation therapy in the United States, and she could have theoretically been brought along to visit Xinghui He's place.

However, considering Xinghui He's erratic and unfettered personality, Yao Ming ultimately dropped the idea.

As it turned out, his judgment had been spot on.

"Yao, He, could you spare a moment of your time?"

Lucy hurried over, speaking between pants.

"Hi, Lucy. Yo... Car... Sti... Never mind..."

Xinghui He still couldn't recall the cameraman's name, trailing off halfway through his greeting.

"..."

Feeling profoundly exhausted, the cameraman piped up, "My name is..."

"Shut it. I need to ask Yao and He a few questions right now, and we can't afford to waste too much of their time."

Lucy cut off the cameraman right as he attempted to introduce himself.

"We're heading out for dinner. Why don't you tag along? That way, it won't interrupt our time, and you'll get plenty of material for your news."

Xinghui He offered cordially.

After all, Lucy could be considered a collaborative partner who frequently spoke up for him in the media, so it wouldn't hurt to throw her a bone.

"That would be wonderful! It's my absolute honor."

Lucy accepted without the slightest hesitation, then promptly handed her microphone and other unnecessary gear over to the cameraman.

"I'm not coming along?"

The cameraman stood there wearing a look of utter bewilderment.

"Did they invite you?"

Lucy retorted with a rhetorical question.

Such private dining occasions were deeply exclusive affairs; having a single reporter accompany them was already a stretch, let alone bringing along a cameraman to film everything—that was entirely out of the question.

"Fine. When will you be finished? I'll give you a call then. We can catch a ride..."

The cameraman was still clinging to the hope of their evening date.

"Don't call me. I'm afraid it might disturb He."

With that, Lucy paid the cameraman no further mind, climbed into Xinghui He's car, and sped off into the distance.

Watching the receding taillights of the vehicle, the cameraman sank halfway to his knees right there on the pavement.

"Oh, it's snowing! How magical."

A passerby exclaimed in delight. Although it was the dead of winter in February, snowfall was an extreme rarity in Los Angeles.

Several young kids even bolted out of their homes and onto the street, cheering and jumping with joy.

Flakes of snow drifted down from the sky, dusting the cameraman's leather jacket and freezing deep into the marrow of his heart.

At that moment, a friend called him, and his mobile phone began to ring.

In his dazed and shattered state, he completely forgot to answer.

*Wuwuwu, wuwuwuwu...*

*True love is vast like the prairie, surviving layer upon layer of wind and rain...*

***

Inside the Chinese restaurant, bursts of laughter echoed periodically from Xinghui He, Yao Ming, and Lucy.

Inside the Blue Berry Bar, the cameraman continuously downed glass after glass of beer.

In a dark corner, a heavily fleshed, burly man kept his eyes locked onto him, the corners of his mouth twitching upward into a smile.

As an experienced hunter, he knew precisely how to identify potential prey.

Eventually, the cameraman stumbled into the restroom to throw up.

After vomiting, he completely forgot Lucy's warning, pulled out his phone, and dialed Lucy's number, only to be met with the automated prompt that the subscriber was powered off.

The phone slipped from his fingers and clattered onto the floor as he dazedly lifted his head.

Scrawled across the wall directly above the toilet bowl were various graffiti tags and small advertisements.

[Unregistered Firearms, call xxxxx.]

[Nancy's Novelties and Adult Toys, call xxxxxx.]

[Ultra-Slippery Lubricant, contact xxxxxxx.]

[Looking for a Boyfriend, personal number xxxxxxx.]

[F*** women, men belong with men.]

Just like men's restrooms in China, the men's rooms on the American side were equally magical places.

The only difference was that while Chinese restrooms featured more commercial ads, the American ones were packed with listings for finding male companions.

This, too, constituted part of the local unique culture.

The restroom door swung open, and the burly man stood there, smiling down at the cameraman.

"No, no, I'm sorry. This is all just a misunderstanding."

Half-sober from the alcohol, the cameraman stammered out an explanation.

The big man raised a hand and said, "No need to explain. I understand. I totally understand."

"No, no, no..."

"Don't worry. You're going to love the feeling."