1: A layoff notice and an encounter at a bar

"This is your flight back home. Nine tomorrow morning."

A thin piece of paper was tossed onto the desk.

No buffer.

No comfort.

The speaker was the Lakers' assistant coach.

That fat white guy who was always smiling.

Right now.

Only business-like indifference remained on his face.

Lin Feng stared at the ticket.

From Los Angeles to Shanghai.

Economy class.

"Lin, your ten-day contract is up."

The assistant coach didn't even sit down.

He stood at the door, glancing at the watch on his wrist.

"Management doesn't plan to renew."

"You know, we need immediate contributors with more experience."

"Not a rookie who's still adjusting to the physicality."

Lin Feng's fingers pressed against the ticket.

His knuckles turned white from the force.

He took a deep breath, trying to suppress the anger surging in his chest.

"I shot eighty percent from three in the last scrimmage."

Lin Feng spoke.

His voice was raspy.

The assistant coach waved his hand impatiently.

"That was a scrimmage."

"And it was while you were unguarded."

"Lin, face reality."

"Your physical play is too weak."

"The NBA isn't a kindergarten."

"This is a gladiator arena."

With that.

The assistant coach turned and left.

"Pack your things. Don't make it hard for the cleaners."

The door slammed shut.

Lin Feng was left alone in the office.

The air was terrifyingly quiet.

Lin Feng let out a self-deprecating laugh.

He was a transmigrator.

He had come to this parallel world's 2013 a year ago.

He originally thought that with his memories from his past life and this handsome face comparable to Daniel Wu, he could make a name for himself in this world.

He chose basketball.

Because this body was 1.98 meters tall.

The standard build of a shooting guard.

Plus, he had been a basketball fan in his previous life.

Day after day of hard practice.

Combined with the soft touch of an Easterner.

He finally reached the threshold of the NBA.

He even landed a ten-day contract with the Lakers at the end of this season.

He thought this was the beginning of his dream.

He didn't expect.

That this would be the end of the nightmare.

Lin Feng stood up.

He grabbed his worn-out training bag.

And walked out of the office.

The hallway was long.

Both sides were lined with the Lakers' historical honors.

Magic Johnson's smile.

Abdul-Jabbar's skyhook.

O'Neal's dominant dunks.

Every photo seemed to be mocking the current Lin Feng.

You don't deserve to be here.

As he passed the training court.

Lin Feng stopped in his tracks.

Through the glass window.

He saw that familiar figure.

Kobe Bryant.

Wearing training gear, sitting on the sidelines.

His right foot was wrapped in thick bandages.

A ruptured Achilles tendon.

This was the darkest moment of Kobe's career.

And the beginning of the collapse of the Los Angeles Lakers dynasty.

That obsessive man was staring intently at his teammates on the court.

Clenching a tactical board in his hand.

Looking as if he wanted to crush it.

Lin Feng could feel the sense of unwilling frustration coming from Kobe.

Just like himself right now.

Clearly wanting to win.

Yet powerless to do so.

"If only I had enough strength..."

Lin Feng clenched his fists.

If only he could help that man.

If only he could stay at the Staples Center.

Unfortunately.

There were no "ifs."

Lin Feng withdrew his gaze.

He turned and walked toward the arena's main entrance.

He pushed open the door.

The night wind of Los Angeles rushed in.

It was very cold.

April in Los Angeles; the nights were not gentle.

The streetlights stretched out his shadow.

Making him look exceptionally lonely.

Lin Feng didn't want to go back to that cramped rental room.

There was only instant noodles and unwashed jerseys there.

Since he was getting kicked out anyway.

He might as well indulge one last time.

He felt his pocket.

There were still a few hundred dollars inside.

That was all that remained of his salary.

Lin Feng hailed a taxi.

"To the nearest bar."

Twenty minutes later.

In front of a bar named "Nightfall."

Heavy metal music was deafening.

Neon lights flickered with an ambiguous glow.

Lin Feng walked inside.

The air here was a mix of alcohol, perfume, and sweat.

On the dance floor.

Men and women twisted their bodies wildly.

Venting their excess hormones.

Lin Feng found a seat in the corner and sat down.

"Give me a bottle of your strongest whisky."

He shouted to the bartender.

The bartender was a burly Black man who let out a whistle.

"Hey, handsome, heartbreak?"

Lin Feng ignored him.

He took the bottle and chugged a large gulp.

The pungent liquid burned its way down his throat.

His stomach churned.

But this burning sensation.

Made him feel slightly better.

At least it was better than the coldness in his heart.

Glass after glass.

Lin Feng's vision began to blur.

The surrounding clamor seemed to drift further and further away.

Just then.

A burst of piercing jeers caught his attention.

At a booth not far from him.

Several men dressed in hip-hop style were surrounding a girl.

Those men had fleshy faces.

Their eyes filled with undisguised lewdness.

And the girl surrounded in the middle.

Was Asian.

Long hair draped over her shoulders.

Wearing a simple white slim-fit T-shirt.

Denim shorts.

Revealing a pair of long legs that practically glowed white.

Even in the dim light.

That face was still breathtakingly beautiful.

Exquisite as a porcelain doll.

But right now.

Her state was clearly not right.

Her cheeks were flushed with an unnatural red.

Her eyes were dazed.

Her body swayed.

She seemed unable to even sit steadily.

"Hey beauty, all alone?"

A bald Black man placed his hand on the girl's shoulder.

"How about coming to play with us?"

The girl shook off his hand in disgust.

She tried to stand up.

But her legs went weak.

She slumped back onto the sofa.

"Get... get away..."

She cursed in Korean.

Her voice was soft and weak.

Without any deterrent power.

Instead, it aroused the men's desire.

"Oh, she's a Korean girl."

The bald man laughed even more arrogantly.

"I can't understand what you're saying, but your body is quite honest."

With that.

He reached out directly to grab the girl's wrist.

The people around were watching coldly.

This kind of thing was too common in bars.

No one was willing to look for trouble for a stranger.

Except for Lin Feng.

He narrowed his eyes.

The alcohol made his brain a bit sluggish.

But he still recognized the girl at a glance.

Yoona.

Yuna Kim.

The center of a Korean girl group famous worldwide.

Known as the "National Goddess."

Lin Feng had seen her countless times on TV in his past life.

He didn't expect.

That he would encounter her in a mixed-up bar like this in Los Angeles.

And in this state.

It was obvious.

She had been drugged.

The bald man's hand was almost touching Yoona's chest.

Yoona closed her eyes in despair.

A tear slid from the corner of her eye.

Bang!

A loud noise.

A long, powerful hand.

Firmly gripped the bald man's wrist.

"Take your filthy hands off."

Lin Feng's voice wasn't loud.

But it was as cold as a stone in an ice cellar.

The bald man was stunned.

He turned his head.

And saw the upright Lin Feng.

Lin Feng's 1.98-meter height.

Gave him a natural sense of oppression in this setting.

The bald man only reached Lin Feng's chest.

He had to look up to see Lin Feng's face clearly.

"Who are you?"

The bald man felt like his wrist was caught in a pair of iron pliers.

The pain made him grimace.

"I'm someone you can't afford to provoke."

Lin Feng suddenly applied force with his hand.

A soft "crack" sounded.

It was the sound of a bone dislocating.

"Ah!"

The bald man screamed.

His body involuntarily fell to his knees.

"Let go of the boss!"

Seeing this, the thugs nearby immediately surrounded him.

They grabbed bottles.

The atmosphere instantly became tense.

Lin Feng didn't back down.

He let go of the bald man.

And casually grabbed the half-bottle of whisky on the table.

"Who wants to be the first to die?"

Lin Feng stared at the thugs.

His gaze was fierce.

It was a ferocity honed from being knocked down again and again on the court.

Combined with his height advantage.

It actually managed to intimidate those people.

Taking advantage of the moment they were stunned.

Lin Feng pulled Yoona up from the sofa.

"Follow me."

Yoona opened her eyes groggily.

She only saw a tall back.

Like a mountain.

Standing in front of her.

She instinctively gripped the corner of Lin Feng's clothes.

Like grabbing onto a final lifeline.

"Trying to run?"

The bald man stood up, clutching his wrist.

His face was contorted.

"Kill him!"

Lin Feng didn't waste words.

He directly smashed the bottle in his hand onto the ground.

Smash!

Glass shards flew.

The massive sound made the entire bar go quiet for a moment.

"Let's see who dares to move!"

Using this opening.

Lin Feng scooped up the semi-conscious Yoona.

Pushed through the crowd blocking the way.

And sprinted toward the bar's back door.