Where the noise did not reach

Chapter 109 Under the Mask
Although the All-Star Weekend games don't officially start until tomorrow, most of the players who arrive in the host city a day early will participate in the Care Day activities.

Although most players are not very public-minded, such as Xu Ling, even if they are just going through the motions, they will still follow the brand's requirements and actively participate in related activities.

New Orleans, in particular, a city still recovering from Hurricane Katrina, needs the support of NBA millionaires.

Xu Ling was no exception.

Although he is notorious for not being close to fans, does that mean he can't even represent the league in charity events during his time off? Of course not.

He lives in reality, and he's not one of those characters in anime who are fixed in their own way. People are complex; he might dislike something today but change his mind tomorrow. His reputation for being indifferent to fans mainly stems from two things: not responding to cheers on the field and rarely representing the team in community activities in Memphis.

But he could explain both of these things. The former was his focus on the game, and the latter was that there weren't many Asians in Memphis, and he had no interest in wasting a lot of time trying to please the local fans in the smallest market in the league. He believed that as long as he played well, the fans would flock to him, and that's exactly what happened.

So when he learned that he was to do some good deeds as an active NBA star player, he didn't refuse.

In a community basketball court in New Orleans, the noise was so loud it almost lifted the roof off.

The NBA Cares event was packed with excited children and their parents.

Colorful balloons, souvenirs printed with the NBA logo, and the towering figures of the players create a typical scene of charity.

Xu Ling, dressed in a simple gray training uniform, stood among a group of seven- or eight-year-old children. While other star players tried to project approachability or interact with the host in front of the camera, Xu Ling seemed somewhat distracted. His gaze lingered on the worn-out basketball hoops and slightly tattered basketballs, as if he were reminiscing about something.

The activity involved instructing the children on basic dribbling. When it was Xu Ling's turn, he didn't use any fancy words, but simply said, "Look at the ball, feel it, let it become a part of your body."

After saying that, Xu Ling demonstrated a few basic dribbling moves in place.

When the children started imitating Xu Ling, he noticed a small, thin African American boy who kept slipping out of his hands while dribbling, and seemed somewhat frustrated.

Xu Ling walked over, but instead of saying comforting words like "It's okay, take your time," he squatted down and picked up the ball.

"Do you like watching sports?" Xu Ling asked the boy. The boy nodded timidly. "And which move do you like the most?"

The boy's eyes lit up: "Cross-step! Like AI!"

Xu Ling smiled and said, "That's difficult. But I have an even cooler move, do you want to learn it?"

After speaking, Xu Ling suddenly flicked his wrist, and the basketball seemed to be glued to his hand, quickly weaving between his legs, switching hands behind his back, the rhythm unpredictable, presenting the children with an extremely smooth juggling performance.

The children exclaimed "Wow!" in surprise, their eyes widening, and even the adults nearby were drawn over.

The dejected boy stared in disbelief, his face filled with adoration.

After completing the set of movements, Xu Ling handed the ball back to the boy and patted him on the head: "If you've mastered the basics, this won't be difficult. Most importantly, it's a lot of fun."

At that moment, Xu Ling's face showed a pure smile, without any acting involved, as if he was truly immersed in the joy of basketball.

This moment was captured by many reporters present.

The next day, they would use this firsthand account to publicize Xu Ling's unknown side to the outside world.

He was the team's bully, the scoundrel who disrespected his opponents, and the jerk who liked to reject fans, but he was also a big boy with plenty of patience for kids.

Adidas needs Xu Ling to have this kind of image, and the public is also willing to accept that an annoying jerk is actually a warm-hearted man, just like a story about Dennis Rodman when he played for the Bulls. At that time, the Bulls' general manager and players were at odds, and Rodman was one of the few people who could talk to him. When Rodman learned that Krause was depressed because of the death of his pet dog, Rodman went to Krause, and it is said that the two hugged each other and cried.

As soon as the afternoon community care event ended, Xu Ling began preparing for the party hosted by Adidas that evening.

In the meantime, a piece of news quietly emerged: the Dallas Mavericks hoped that Kobe Bryant could obtain league approval to miss Sunday's All-Star Game in New Orleans after the official announcement of his torn ligament in his right pinky finger.

However, Kobe's application has not yet been approved, and it is very likely that it will ultimately not be approved.

With only two days until the All-Star Game, the league office has not yet made any moves to select a player who might replace Bryant as a Western Conference All-Star. This is widely seen as reflecting the league's continued expectation that Kobe will start, even if only for a brief, symbolic appearance.

But the reality is far more complex than it appears. Kobe himself craves rest; his sights are already set on the playoffs, and he doesn't want to expend his energy on the All-Star Game.

Logically, as long as Kobe wasn't completely unable to play, the league should have made sure he was there, even if it meant going to great lengths to get him on the court—after all, he was the face of the league and its number one superstar. For the league, which desperately needed to revive confidence in the New Orleans market, Kobe's presence was a symbolic guarantee. As long as he was on the court, the fans were willing to pay.

However, to everyone's surprise, Xu Ling has become the most talked-about player in the league in just half a season. His controversial remarks, his natural villainous aura, his icy composure in crucial moments, and especially the recent finger-wagging incident that shocked the world, have all made him a highly attractive alternative to Kobe Bryant.

In fact, if we only look at the fan vote, Xu Ling was almost like Yao Ming in his rookie year, overwhelming Kobe with the massive support of Chinese fans and becoming the top vote-getter, squeezing out his starting position without any suspense.

However, the league has learned from past lessons and reached a consensus internally: while the Chinese market is important, Chinese votes cannot completely dictate the outcome. Xu Ling may deserve a starting spot, but if left unchecked, Yi Jianlian, who averages only 11 points and 5 rebounds with a 45% field goal percentage for the Timberwolves, will also make the All-Star starting lineup.

Therefore, Xu Ling was ultimately selected as a substitute for the Western Conference All-Star team.

Kobe's injury prompted the league to consider starting him as a substitute in the All-Star Game, but Nike, which had the least say in the matter, strongly opposed it.

They wanted Kobe to play normally, even if he just strolled around the court and didn't shoot a single ball, it didn't matter, the point was to prevent Xu Ling from becoming an All-Star starter in his rookie season.

That's why things get complicated.

Adidas chose to wait and see, because whether Kobe plays or not, it won't be a loss for Xu Ling. It would be best if he didn't play, but what if he did? Xu Ling's momentum no longer needs the title of All-Star starter to boost him; that's just icing on the cake.

That evening, Adidas booked a historic private courtyard in New Orleans' French Quarter for a party. Security was tight, and only guests with special invitations were allowed inside.

Outside the tall courtyard gate, paparazzi flashes blared like daylight, but inside was another world—soft jazz music, meticulously crafted cocktails, and an atmosphere of power and hormones permeating the air.

Xu Ling's entrance was quite grand. He wore a navy blue suit tailored for him by Adidas' chief designer. The tailoring was extremely close-fitting, highlighting the athlete's tall and straight figure while maintaining a sense of style.

Moreover, Xu Ling was not alone. He was flanked by Adidas' North American Director Mark Hoffman and his agent Leon Ross, who escorted him to the scene like bodyguards.

"Eli, how are you feeling? Are you satisfied with this place?"

Hoffman, the slightly overweight but sharp-eyed director, put his arm around Xu Ling's shoulder in a friendly manner, speaking in an extremely gentle tone.

"Not bad, it's quieter than I expected."

Xu Ling looked around, his gaze sweeping over the faces he had only ever seen on television before.

“Of course, this is a place where those outsiders can’t get in.” Hoffman lowered his voice. “See that over there? Hollywood producer Jerry Bruckheimer, he’s very interested in your story. And the vice president of ESPN, they want to create a feature on you. But we can talk about all that when it’s convenient for you.”

As they walked, people kept coming up to greet them. Hoffman patiently introduced Xu Ling to everyone, saying this was the editor-in-chief of a fashion magazine, that was a record company mogul. Everyone gave Xu Ling the warmest smiles, praising his performance in Cleveland as "amazing." Xu Ling simply nodded in response, keeping it brief and to the point; he neither enjoyed nor was good at such insincere small talk.

There was an aura here that made Xu Ling very uncomfortable.

Besides the superficial flattery, there was also the players' jealousy.

How could they not be jealous?
Before Xu Ling had even scored a single point in the NBA, Adidas, recognizing his All-Star potential, made a massive investment in him—a four-year, $60 million contract. This deal not only surpassed Nike's endorsement contract with LeBron James but also exceeded all of Adidas's star players.

Kevin Garnett, often referred to as a "ticket ticket" for endorsements, only earns $4 million annually. Tim Duncan, lacking in hype, earns even less. Gilbert Arenas barely reaches the $10 million mark for endorsements each year, and even Tracy McGrady, who earns the most, is surpassed.

Adidas did this because they believed Xu Ling would have a far greater effect than Yao Ming, helping them dominate China's still largely untapped sports brand market.

Today, Xu Ling has proven that in addition to having a broad market background, he also has the potential to become the face of the NBA. What he has done in Los Angeles and Cleveland shows that he will become the most noteworthy player of this generation.

So, Xu Ling proved that his 6000 units of work over four years were well worth the price. But so what?

Does that mean other people won't be jealous?
No, those who harbor resentment will only intensify their jealousy.

Xu Ling could sense that aura. Then, McGrady, who was Adidas's star player before Xu Ling's rise to prominence, took the initiative to come over and greet him: "Hey, Eli, you're finally here. I was just talking to KG about you wagging your finger at LeBron."

Because he had been hearing people say "shaking his finger" everywhere he went these past few days, Xu Ling may have received the same treatment as Kato Taka in a situation that was not what he wanted.

When you mention Kato Taka, you think of Golden Finger, and now, Xu Ling hears people talking about his finger in every corner he goes through.

Oh, the password, they're not even women.

"I kind of regret doing that."

Xu said this earnestly, but in reality, he would do it again even if it happened a hundred times more.

"Don't regret it," McGrady grinned mischievously. "The league needs young men like you!"

Hoffman, standing nearby, chuckled, "Tracy, stop encouraging him."

“How is this encouragement? The league needs tough guys like this,” McGrady said to Xu Ling. “I support you. Be yourself and don’t care what the media says!”

Be yourself. This might be the most correct piece of rubbish advice in the world. Everyone is being themselves, and everyone must be themselves. No matter how much you look like someone else, you are ultimately yourself.

Xu Ling nodded, indicating his agreement with McGrady's words.

Chatting with McGrady made Xu Ling relax a lot. His gaze inadvertently swept over the noisy crowd, but then it lingered on a woman in a burgundy velvet dress who was talking to a friend. Her tanned skin glowed healthily under the lights, and the deep V-neck and side slit of the skirt perfectly showcased her hot curves.

Hoffman, standing nearby, keenly noticed Xu Ling's gaze. He followed the direction, then smiled knowingly and whispered, "Eli. That's Ariane Celeste, the hottest ring girl in the UFC, and also a partner of our brand."

"Really?" Xu Ling thought to himself, a placard girl?

He didn't know much about boxing, but due to his wide range of interests, he had seen some short films produced in Europe and America where men and women wrestled in a ring, and the loser had to satisfy all the other's demands.

However, the sordid image only flashed briefly in Xu Ling's mind before he put it aside.

Now, he has no shortage of women around him if he wants to. However, the situation in Memphis over the past half season has made him more focused on the team and the game. Moreover, Memphis lacks opportunities for such high-society gatherings. Unless he lowers himself and goes clubbing with Milicic, he will have to wait until the offseason to find a home for his brother.

Xu Ling and McGrady went to the area where star players gathered, which allowed them to temporarily escape the social obligations of various bigwigs.

As soon as Xu Ling approached, Garnett looked him up and down with a scrutinizing gaze: "You're the kid who wagged his finger at LeBron?"

Xu Ling said helplessly, "That's right, I am that person."

"Good lad!" Garnett said with admiration. "The league is too soft right now, and it needs someone like you to change the atmosphere."

Since the Grizzlies last played the Celtics during the period when Xu Ling was injured, they didn't really compete. Therefore, Xu Ling is the "good lad" that Garnett mentioned. But after the two teams play against each other, Garnett may not think so anymore.

However, this did not prevent Xu Ling from accepting his encouragement.

Garnett is probably one of the few people here who doesn't feel jealous of Xu Ling, because he sees Xu Ling as a reflection of his past self—equally high-profile, yet on a seemingly hopeless team. Although the management is effective, managing to acquire a valuable asset through trades, the most brutal problem facing a small-market team like the Grizzlies is that they can't really rely on acquiring big-name players during the offseason. Therefore, it's difficult for Xu Ling's rookie contract bonus to be fully realized.

Once Kidd and Howard decline or suffer injuries, the team is doomed.

Because Xu Ling is as precocious as Garnett was back then, and Xu Ling's precocity is far greater than Garnett's. Garnett was able to get his team to draft a helper like Marbury, while Xu Ling is going to lead his team to the playoffs in his rookie season.

The Grizzlies simply don't have enough time to build up their talent pool.

Therefore, Garnett's advice to Xu Ling was purely based on his own experience: "Eli, I heard you guys are doing well, that's a good thing, you have to cherish those old guys on your team."

However, Xu Ling's attention was drawn to a relatively quiet corner. Ariane Celeste, who had just slightly stirred his heartstrings, seemed to be in some trouble. She was being harassed by someone, and Xu Ling recognized the person as Chauncey Billups, the starting point guard for the Pistons and a regular starter for the Eastern Conference All-Star team.

Billups is also an Adidas player, but his fame and status are obviously not as high as established superstars like McGrady and Garnett, even with championships and Finals MVP awards.

In terms of commercial value, Billups is far inferior to Gilbert Arenas. For Adidas, he is a mediocre star player; although he doesn't sell well, having him is worse than having him.

Billups' endorsement contract with Adidas is about to expire, and he is seeking a long-term contract.

However, the contract could be discussed later, and he decided to choose his female companion for the evening at this time.

It just so happens that it's Ariane, and she doesn't seem to appreciate Billups much, and Billups is a bit clueless, and it just so happens that Xu, with his extremely upright values, sees it all.

Billups' body language was somewhat intimidating. He was very close, with a seemingly friendly but actually extremely lewd smile on his face, speaking to Ariane.

Although Ariane maintained a polite smile, she leaned back slightly, her fingers unconsciously tightening around her handbag, and her eyes revealed obvious annoyance and a desire to get rid of it.

"Chauncey's old problem. He thinks he's incredibly charming and doesn't know when to stop." Garnett chuckled. "You know what? He was accused of rape in his early years because of this kind of thing, just like Kobe's case."

Are they really the same?

Just then, Billups seemed to want to go a step further and reached out to touch Ariane's arm. Ariane deftly dodged to the side, but her smile was already fading.

Without thinking further, Xu Ling said "Excuse me for a moment" to everyone and walked straight towards that corner.

Garnett and the others wore expressions of anticipation, as if they were watching a good show.

Xu Ling walked slowly, but he carried an aura that could not be ignored, and the passing waiters subconsciously slowed down.

“Annie,” Xu Ling approached without raising his voice, but his words broke the awkward atmosphere between Billups and Ariane, “The person we were supposed to meet has arrived and is over there.”

Arianne was stunned; she never imagined that Eli Xu would come to help her get rid of the harassment from this strong criminal.

After saying that, Xu Ling turned to Billups with a somewhat "surprised" look, as if she had just seen him, and asked, "Chansi, what are you doing here?"

Billups was completely taken aback by this turn of events, and the smile on his face froze.

Xu Ling's appearance and his demeanor directly disrupted his rhythm.

Arianne reacted quickly, immediately following up with, "Oh right, I'm so sorry, I almost forgot. I'm so sorry, Mr. Billups, I had an appointment with Eli, so I may have to excuse myself."

Billups looked at the two standing side by side, his expression changing several times.

He dared to harass a lone woman, but he would never want to clash with the rising star Xu Ling in public.

Xu Ling said no more, only made a "please" gesture to Ariane, and then turned and left with her, without even glancing at Billups again throughout the entire process.

When Billups saw that Xu Ling was simply taking Ariane to another corner instead of meeting the so-called VIP, he knew he had been tricked.

But what could he do? Not far away, Garnett and McGrady were watching him with smiles, as if mocking him from afar.

Billups had no choice but to accept this outcome, which reflects Xu Ling's status at the party.

He can go see whoever he wants, he can say whatever he wants, he can disregard everything, and of course, he can also snatch the woman you've chosen right away from you.

That's how Billups sees it.

PS: A large section was cut at the end, and there was no time to revise or supplement it, so this chapter will seem to end very abruptly.

(End of this chapter)