10: The Los Angeles spotlight, a new target

On the other end of the phone, Yoona's voice was full of uncertainty and anticipation.

"Um... Mr. Lin Feng..."

"When... when are you free?"

"I want to... thank you in person."

Lin Feng could imagine the national goddess's cautious appearance on the other end of the line at this moment.

He chuckled, his voice coming through the receiver with a reassuring magnetic quality.

"Just call me Lin Feng."

"The team will be arranging a lot of activities lately, so I might be quite busy."

On the other end, Yoona seemed to let out a soft "Ah," sounding a bit disappointed.

"However," Lin Feng changed the subject.

"Once I'm free, I'll contact you."

"O-Okay!"

Yoona's voice was instantly filled with joy again.

"I'll wait for you!"

"I won't disturb your rest anymore. Goodnight."

"Goodnight."

Hanging up the phone, Lin Feng tossed his cell phone aside.

He lay on the soft large bed, staring at the ceiling.

Yoona's call was just the beginning.

He knew that once the video of that full-court game-winner went viral on the internet, his life had already entered the fast lane.

The next day, sunlight filtered through the gaps in the blinds, spilling into the Los Angeles apartment.

Lin Feng was woken up by a persistent ringing of the phone.

It was the team's PR manager.

"Lin, are you awake? Get ready quickly, the car will pick you up in half an hour."

"What is it?" Lin Feng's voice was still a bit raspy.

"A press conference!"

The voice on the other end was exceptionally excited.

"Mitch (Kupchak) and Mike D'Antoni will both be there."

"Major sports media outlets from across the country will be present; ESPN will even be live-streaming it online!"

"This conference is being held just for you!"

Half an hour later, a black business van parked punctually downstairs at the apartment building.

Lin Feng changed into the casual sportswear issued by the Los Angeles Lakers, looking sharp and clean-cut.

In the car, the PR manager handed him a bottle of water, chattering away with instructions.

"Lin, remember, speak less and listen more later."

"The questions might be sharp; don't let the reporters trip you up."

"I've already communicated with Kupchak and the others; they'll block most of the questions."

"You just need to keep smiling and show humility and confidence."

Lin Feng unscrewed the cap, took a sip of water, and simply nodded calmly.

He didn't need anyone to teach him how to deal with the media.

Since acquiring the system, his heart had long become as firm as a rock.

When he walked into the press conference hall at the Los Angeles Lakers' training facility, he was still startled by the scale of the scene.

The several-hundred-square-meter hall was packed to capacity.

A forest of camera lenses was aimed at the press podium.

The blinding flashes almost merged into a continuous sheet of white light.

A tense yet excited atmosphere filled the air.

"He's here! He's here!"

"That's Lin Feng!"

Lin Feng's appearance caused a stir in the room.

He followed Kupchak and Mike D'Antoni onto the podium.

He sat down in front of a backdrop featuring the massive Los Angeles Lakers logo.

Kupchak cleared his throat and, with a flushed face, began the opening remarks.

"Welcome, friends from the media."

"Today, we are very pleased to officially introduce the newest member of the Los Angeles Lakers—Lin Feng!"

He pointed to Lin Feng beside him, and the flashes went wild again.

"We believe Lin's addition will bring new vitality and infinite possibilities to this team."

"We have signed him to a fully guaranteed official contract; he will be a very important part of our future plans!"

Kupchak's speech was filled with a businessman's shrewdness and provocation.

Next was the Q&A session for the reporters.

The first reporter stood up.

"Hello, Mr. Lin Feng, I'm a reporter from the Los Angeles Times. Regarding yesterday's full-court buzzer-beater that shocked the nation, what do you have to say? Was it luck, or is it a replicable skill?"

This question was relatively mild.

Lin Feng picked up the microphone, his expression composed.

"That was a shot that had to be made."

"I took the shot, and it went in."

The answer was simple yet powerful.

The second reporter was from ESPN.

"Lin, welcome to the NBA. Many fans are curious about you. What do you think are your technical characteristics? What do you feel you can bring to this team that already has Kobe Bryant?"

"My specialty is shooting."

Lin Feng answered without hesitation.

"What I can bring to the team is victory."

Mike D'Antoni nodded in satisfaction from the side.

This answer was confident and goal-oriented.

After a few questions, the atmosphere remained harmonious.

Until a white reporter wearing gold-rimmed glasses, who looked very shrewd, stood up.

He had a Fox Sports badge hanging on his chest.

"Mr. Lin Feng, if I may be blunt."

His voice was sharp, with a clear tone of provocation.

"Your performance in the Summer League was a disaster; your shooting percentage was abysmal, and you were almost given up on by the team."

"But just a few days later, in an intra-team scrimmage, you shot a miraculous 12-for-12."

"Don't you find that absurd?"

"Many people are questioning the authenticity of that video, or rather, that it was just a one-time, final burst of luck in your career."

"How do you prove to us that you're not just a 'lucky kid' who can only live in highlight reels, but a real NBA player?"

This question was like a knife, piercing the harmonious atmosphere of the scene.

All cameras were pointed at Lin Feng.

Kupchak's smile froze on his face.

Mike D'Antoni's brow also furrowed.

The PR manager below the stage was wringing his hands in anxiety.

The entire press hall was so quiet that breathing could be heard.

Everyone wanted to see how this boy from the East, who became famous overnight, would respond to this malicious question.

Would he refute it angrily? Or would he brush it off with some official rhetoric?

Lin Feng leaned back in his chair, quietly looking at the reporter.

He wasn't angry; he didn't even have a ripple of emotion.

He just waited for the reporter to finish, then brought the microphone a bit closer.

In the press hall, everyone held their breath.

Lin Feng spoke.

His voice wasn't loud, but it clearly spread throughout the entire hall.

"See you on the court."

Four words.

Powerful and resonant.

The sharp reporter was stunned; the series of follow-up questions he had prepared were all stuck in his throat.

The scene was quiet for two seconds.

Then, a burst of shutter clicks erupted, more intense than ever before!

"Well said!"

"So cool!"

Some friendly reporters couldn't even help but cheer.

This was the best response!

Solving basketball problems the basketball way.

A brilliant smile bloomed on Kupchak's face once again.

He took the lead in applauding.

"Alright, today's press conference concludes here! Thank you, everyone!"

He decisively ended the conference, leaving all the media with a vast space for imagination.

Stepping down from the podium, Mike D'Antoni walked beside Lin Feng and whispered a sentence.

"Good job, kid."

The center named Sacre also came over, excitedly punching Lin Feng's shoulder.

"Brother, you're so cool! I almost wanted to cheer for you myself!"

Lin Feng just smiled.

Just as he was about to leave, a figure blocked his path.

The surrounding noise seemed to have been muted.

Kobe Bryant.

He had appeared at the exit of the press hall at some unknown time.

He was wearing black training gear, his eyes sharp like an eagle's as he scrutinized Lin Feng.

Sacre and the other players who wanted to come over to say hello instinctively stopped in their tracks.

In the entire Los Angeles Lakers team, no one dared to act out in front of him.

Kobe just stood there, looking at Lin Feng without saying a word.

Lin Feng also calmly met his gaze.

A few seconds later, Kobe moved.

He took a step forward, raised his hand, and patted Lin Feng's shoulder.

The force wasn't heavy, but it was steady.

"Nice job, kid."

His voice was deep and raspy, with a unique texture.

"But the NBA isn't a scrimmage."

"Don't let me down."

Having said that, he turned and walked toward the players' tunnel without looking back, leaving behind a solitary and proud silhouette.

He watched the direction where Kobe disappeared, the corners of his mouth curving slightly upward.

This is only the beginning.

That night, Lin Feng came to the Staples Center alone.

The team's preseason schedule had been announced; in a few days, he would have his true NBA debut here.

He stood in the center of the empty court, looking up at the surrounding spectator stands.

Tens of thousands of seats were empty right now, yet he could almost hear the thunderous cheers of a game.

His gaze finally landed on the first row of the court, those expensive VIP seats.

He knew that would be his next "hunting ground."

Shintaro Midorima's All-Range Three-Pointer was certainly powerful, but to truly establish himself in this league or even reach a dominant status, one skill was far from enough.

He needed to unlock the next kurokos basketball "Generation of Miracles" skill pack.

And the keys to unlocking them were in those VIP seats.

In his mind, several names flashed by like a movie list.

Scarlett Johansson, the Hollywood box office queen known as "Black Widow," whose sexiness and influence were unmatched.

Taylor Swift, the music superstar currently at the peak of her "Red" tour, whose every relationship could spark global attention.

And Emma Watson, the global icon who emerged from Hogwarts, possessing both beauty and wisdom...