Chapter 83: Tales of Training

On the 12th, Xinghui He arrived at the arena to participate in the team's tactical drills.

Tactics are a crucial aspect of a team's strength. But knowing the tactics isn’t enough—they must be mastered. During a game, opportunities flash by in an instant. Only when teammates have thoroughly practiced the plays can they create more and better scoring chances.

Tactical training is extremely tedious—though truth be told, all training is dull. But there’s no help for it; for those generous salaries, the players all train with great dedication. Don’t be fooled by their sometimes slow-witted appearance; when it comes to training, these players know exactly what’s at stake.

During a break, everyone was drenched in sweat, but that didn’t stop them from planning what to do after practice.

“Who wants to hit up Rose Night after training? Sign up now,” Mobley said with a mischievous grin. Rose Night was a newly opened nightclub rumored to have some novel entertainment.

“There’s one guy who’d love to go, but too bad he’s too young,” Cassell joked, prompting everyone to join in, teasing Xinghui He.

This was one of the few moments they could show off in front of him. If they didn’t take the opportunity to poke fun now, in another couple of years, they might never get the chance.

“Sam, do you really think I need a nightclub to pick up girls? All I have to do is lie down in the street and there’d be a line of beauties waiting to jump me until I’m completely exhausted,” Xinghui He retorted with disdain.

Booing and jeering broke out among the group.

At that moment, Brand patted Xinghui He on the shoulder, pointing towards a beautiful woman in the distance. “If you’re so skilled, give us a demonstration. There, Pardis is right over there.”

“Yeah, show us your moves if you’ve got what it takes,” several others chimed in.

The Pardis Brand referred to worked in the Clippers’ operations department, handling various team affairs—a stunning young woman.

Such a prize naturally attracted plenty of attention. In fact, nearly every Clippers player had tried to chat her up, but every single one had failed.

There were plenty of women in America who threw themselves at athletes, but there were also some who held themselves apart. Pardis was one of these; she wasn’t much interested in celebrities.

Brand’s goading was nothing more than an attempt to embarrass Xinghui He in front of everyone. Being rejected by a woman is a blow to anyone’s pride.

“Don’t push me, or I might do something crazy,” Xinghui He joked.

“Backtracking? Then stop talking big,” Brand replied, flipping him off.

“If that’s how you want it, then I can’t back down. Let’s make a bet—I’ll go and kiss her on the cheek right now, and I won’t get slapped,” Xinghui He said.

“Okay, if you lose, you carry my bag for a week. If you win, I’ll carry yours for a week. How’s that?” Brand proposed.

Carrying bags was usually a rookie’s job. Xinghui He had done his share, but ever since his game against the Spurs, no one had asked him to do it anymore. Brand’s demand was a way of staking his claim as top dog and putting Xinghui He in his place. The team could sense the underlying tension between the two.

“Deal,” Xinghui He replied.

He wasn’t sure if Brand would even stay with the team, but it didn’t matter much to him. If Brand left, they’d just bring in another good player.

With that, Xinghui He stood up and walked over to Pardis.

He greeted her, “Hi, Pardis.”

“Can I help you, Xinghui?” Pardis asked with a smile. Compared to Cassell and Mobley, she found Xinghui He much more pleasant—he was simply more attractive.

“Nothing much, just thought I’d play a little game with you during the break.”

“What kind of game?” Pardis asked.

“I bet I can kiss you on the cheek without touching any part of your body,” Xinghui He said.

“That’s impossible,” Pardis replied, unconvinced. Kissing her cheek would obviously mean touching her, so how could that be?

“If you don’t believe me, let’s make a bet.”

“Sure, I’d like to see how you manage that,” Pardis said with a skeptical laugh.

From the moment Xinghui He came over, she suspected he was trying to hit on her. Now, his every move confirmed her guess. Still, his approach was more clever and entertaining than Cassell’s or the others'.

But that didn’t mean Pardis had any intention of accepting him. She’d been around basketball players long enough to know their type—dating them was no guarantee of marriage, and even if you married one, fidelity was never assured.

As soon as she agreed, Xinghui He suddenly leaned in and kissed her on the cheek.

“You touched my face,” Pardis said.

“That’s right, so you win and I lose,” Xinghui He replied.

Pardis was caught between laughter and exasperation, realizing she’d been tricked. Xinghui He had never intended to win. And, in her curiosity, she’d forgotten to set any stakes—so winning or losing made no difference.

Still, she wasn’t really angry. Xinghui He’s playful approach had at least added a little interest to her otherwise ordinary day.

“Clever, but next time I won’t fall for it,” Pardis said.

Oh? Xinghui He wanted to tell her, “Don’t be so sure, little one. I have a thousand tricks up my sleeve. Whether you fall for them or not is entirely up to me.”

He returned to Brand and the others, who were all stunned.

They hadn’t heard what was said, but they’d seen Xinghui He kiss Pardis—and she didn’t seem angry at all.

It was absurd.

How could two basketball players be treated so differently?

“I won,” Xinghui He declared.

“That doesn’t count—you must have promised her a pile of cash,” Brand protested.

“No way, Elton,” Quinton Ross interjected. “Last time I offered her money, she slapped me.”

That almost made the group burst out laughing.

“A bet’s a bet, Elton. And even if I had paid her, you never said I couldn’t,” Xinghui He said.

Damn it. Brand cursed inwardly, but with so many people watching, he had no choice but to accept the outcome.

The thought of carrying Xinghui He’s bag left him utterly dejected. He’d tried to assert his dominance, but ended up making himself the rookie’s bag boy instead.