Basketball miracles

Chapter 42 [I can flirt with you? Are you handsome?]

David Stern's star-making plan began to show results shortly after he took office. His approach to promoting stars was correct, and the NBA's viewership has increased significantly compared to the previous season.

Xiao Tu was the biggest beneficiary of the star-making program, replacing the position that should have belonged to Jordan. His exposure during his rookie season consistently ranked among the top three in the NBA, making many established stars jealous and resentful of him.

However, no star player at the power forward position is confident enough to "teach" Xiao Tu a lesson, so no one is provoking him for the time being.

Xiao Tu's rise to fame is unprecedented and unlikely to be repeated. He has gained a large number of white fans, and his popularity has surpassed that of Larry Bird, a white basketball star who plays on the floor.

Black fans, on the other hand, prefer stars from slums, fantasizing that one day they or their friends can get rich by playing basketball, and then they can eat, drink, gamble, and be prostitute together.

When white people play basketball together, they're just friends; they don't call each other brothers. When black people play together, it's a "family." If the leader becomes successful, he has to support a large group of brothers.

What? You've got money now and you're not going to support me? You're being disloyal, you're violating the gang rules.

This cultural difference means that Xiao Tu will not have many black fans, and of course, he doesn't care.

Xiao Tu flew back to Los Angeles amidst countless accolades, arriving home in the early hours of the morning. Without saying goodbye to his roommate, he immediately went to bed.

Pat Riley did not schedule training the next day, allowing the players to rest and relax. With a tight schedule, players being physically fit makes it easier for the team to win.

Riley also specifically instructed Xiao Tu not to do any more extra training and to learn to allocate his energy reasonably to avoid hitting the rookie wall.

To outsiders, Xiao Tu's training intensity was too high, making it impossible for his stamina not to be affected. Yet, he remained the fastest runner in the competition, which can only be attributed to his exceptional talent.

The Lakers have no shortage of rotation players; their core players have averaged less than 35 minutes per game this season, creating a positive cycle. Xiao Tu only feels that his playing time isn't enough, which affects his stats.

Xiao Tu slept in late and got up at ten o'clock. After washing up, he started thinking about what to do today.

He feels empty when the team is on holiday and he doesn't practice basketball, and he gets incredibly bored watching the old-fashioned TV with its low resolution at home.

He defeated the Pistons and obtained another brass treasure chest, which he opened last night. The reward is premium lychees, whose main benefits are replenishing energy, beautifying the skin, improving brain function, and nourishing the lungs.

Or should I go out to train again this afternoon? As long as I don't go to the gym and Riley doesn't know, that's fine.

Another premium fruit is here! Lychees are great for replenishing energy, and they're definitely not just providing a little bit; they're probably as potent as grapes.

But all I do every day is eat, sleep, and play basketball; that kind of life is really boring.

Maybe they're right, I should get a girlfriend. Going on dates during the holidays wouldn't be so boring; I'm not living like a young person at all.

Who can I turn to? I've never met anyone particularly charming.

Going to nightclubs to pick up girls is out of the question, and women who offer their phone numbers are unreliable. Ugliness is secondary; what's worse is falling into a honey trap.

I'd be better off dating a celebrity. Since we're both famous, we can part amicably even if we break up, and I don't have to worry about being clung to or catching any diseases from her.

Xiao Tu was lost in thought. Finding a woman was easy, but finding a high-quality one was difficult.

Lakers players laughed at Xiao Tu for being a virgin, while Xiao Tu looked down on their girlfriends. Especially Magic Johnson – what kind of ugly ducklings did he date? Last week, a woman he dated made the news looking like a gorilla, and he was quite pleased with himself.

Even worse, there's a group of young women in the US who are trying every means to sleep with celebrities, get pregnant, and then make a fortune by receiving huge alimony payments.

NBA stars only need a few illegitimate children; no matter how much money they earn, it won't be enough to live on, and they could go bankrupt at any time.

At that moment, someone used a key to open the door.

Xiao Tu recognized the voice: "Hey buddy, what brings you back at this hour? Don't you have work today?"

Chris Ford entered the house and said with a smile, "I'm back about work; someone wants to see you."

A beautiful woman emerged from behind him, dressed in denim, with two pearl necklaces around her neck and a thick black bracelet on her wrist. She had tousled blonde hair, delicate features, thin black eyebrows, and large brown eyes.

"Hello, I'm Madonna Ciccone, nice to meet you." Madonna introduced herself sweetly as she sized up Xiao Tu. "Wow, you're so tall." "Huh?" Xiao Tu was stunned, staring at her in disbelief: "Beautiful lady, who are you?"

"Madonna Ciccone, haven't you seen my picture?" Madonna repeated, looking a little annoyed.

How could an 18-year-old not recognize her? Does this person never watch TV or read magazines?

Xiao Tu swallowed hard, utterly shocked.

Is this what "Mai Nai" actually looks like? No... she's so young, how old is she now?
Xiao Tu realized he had fallen into a trap, ignoring the passage of time due to arrogance and prejudice. Jennifer Connelly was still a minor, and Madonna was certainly a young person in the 80s.

He feels disgusted whenever he hears the name Madonna, and unconsciously conjures up an image of a plastic-faced old woman who refuses to grow old, similar to that girl Wenli or that girl Xiaoqing.

Xiao Tu dislikes Madonna's songs and never searches for information about her online. He only sees Madonna when she's trending on social media or when his phone pushes her news, and those are usually negative stories about her appearance from decades later.

The Madonna of the future would look like a ghost; Xiao Tu doesn't know what Madonna looked like before. Now, thinking about it, it seems normal. Madonna was almost 70 years old back then, how could she possibly be beautiful?

It's obvious that Madonna isn't the "Madonna Milk" of the future; she's a sexy woman in her twenties!

Xiao Tu suddenly realized that this woman's appearance was exactly his type. He liked women with big eyes, believing that only women with big eyes were beautiful, regardless of nationality.

Many men in the future say they hate square dancing, but actually they hate the older women. If teenage girls were dancing in the square with their legs exposed, would they hate it?

This group probably wanted to surround them and dance along, making "chirp chirp chirp" and "beep beep beep beep" sounds...

Xiao Tu gestured for Madonna to sit on the sofa and asked with a smile, "Did you come here because of the music video shoot?"

He had refused so readily before, thinking the matter was over, but he hadn't expected Madonna to be so persistent. Given her unwavering spirit, he had no reason to refuse again.

"Yes, I saw your Snickers commercial. I think you'd be perfect as the male lead in my music video." Madonna's eyes never left Xiao Tu's face after she entered the room.

Xiao Tu's appearance perfectly matched her aesthetic sense; draped in a white sheet, he looked like a god from ancient Greek mythology.

Even at home, Xiao Tu looks handsome in loose casual pants and a T-shirt, his short hair giving him a neat appearance. His features are sharp and angular, yet not cold; there's a hint of nonchalant humor in his expression.

The height difference between the two is not a problem; Madonna likes tall men because they feel safer with them.

Xiao Tu nodded and smiled, "Alright then, I agree. I'll film it whenever I'm on vacation."

Madonna smiled smugly, almost wanting to stand up, stand tall, and put her hands on her hips: "Didn't you refuse so decisively before? Why are you willing to film now?"

“A beauty like you has come to invite me, it would be a crime for me to refuse. Even if I don’t have time, I have to make time to film.” Xiao Tu’s change of heart was just as decisive, even more so than Xiao Wan Neng’s instant noodles.

How could I let such a beautiful woman down?
Even if you're a wicked woman with a dark heart, endless desires, and insatiable demands, I'll grit my teeth and accept it. I don't care about suffering a little loss; there's a Chinese saying, "Suffering a loss is a blessing!"

Madonna burst out laughing, fiddling with her necklace with her left hand.

She was smug about her charm; things her agent couldn't handle, she could easily solve with a single step.

Xiao Tu didn't even ask about the payment; he'd probably be willing to film the music video for free, all because of my irresistible charm.

Chris Ford, seeing the two exchanging glances, felt superfluous. To make himself seem less superfluous, he poured Madonna a glass of iced water, earning a "thank you" in return.

Madonna and Xiao Tu discussed the concept for the music video, with Madonna saying she wanted to find a strong, sunny, and charismatic man. This is because there will be a scene in the music video where she'll be carried in a princess carry, and if the man isn't strong enough, he definitely won't be able to lift her.

"Wait a minute, sister..." Xiao Tu interrupted Madonna, looking into her eyes and asking, "I'm a little slow on the uptake, are you flirting with me?"

Madonna paused for a moment, then deliberately stared at him expressionlessly and said, "Me, flirting with you? Are you handsome?"

Xiao Tu nodded seriously. "Very handsome."

(End of this chapter)