127: The Empress's gaze!

This block seemed to be the last straw that broke Lin Feng's pride.

He fell to the ground, looking at Duncan's unchanging stone buddha expression, and for the first time, the light in his eyes dimmed.

The entire AT&T Center erupted in a cheer louder than any before.

That sound was no longer pure mockery.

It was the conqueror's declaration.

They used the most San Antonio Spurs way to drag the man who had performed a miracle shot in Game 4 from the altar and trampled him into the mud.

Lin Feng lay on the floor, not getting up immediately.

He listened to the overwhelming cheers and looked at the dazzling lights above the arena.

The physical pain was far less than the immense emptiness brought by the collapse of the skyscraper of pride within him.

He lost.

He lost completely.

The fourth quarter quickly entered garbage time.

The score difference was mercilessly stretched to over thirty points.

The game had completely lost its suspense.

D'Antoni stood on the sidelines, his face filled with helplessness and dejection.

He called his last timeout.

Then, he made a decision that everyone had anticipated.

Substitute all the starters.

Lin Feng was also among those substituted.

When his name was called, he stood up from the ground expressionlessly.

He didn't look at the scoreboard, nor did he look at the coach.

He just walked towards the bench, head down, step by step.

That path was short.

Yet it seemed incredibly long.

Every step felt like treading on the shattered fragments of his own pride.

As he walked off the court, he didn't make eye contact with anyone.

He walked straight to his seat, picked up a clean towel, and covered his head with it.

Completely isolating himself from this noisy world, filled with the taste of failure... Meanwhile, ten thousand meters above.

A luxurious private jet was steadily traversing the clouds.

Inside the cabin.

Taylor Swift was curled up in a soft sofa, holding a guitar.

On the huge screen in front of her, the brutal slaughter taking place in San Antonio was being broadcast live via satellite signal.

She saw the whole process.

She saw how Lin Feng was gradually worn down and angered by the "cage tactic".

She saw his face twisted with rage when he received a technical foul.

She saw him repeatedly, like a moth to a flame, launching futile charges against that wall.

And she saw him finally being slammed down from the air by the expressionless number 21.

As well as the light in his eyes instantly extinguishing after he fell to the ground.

Finally, there was that lonely figure, covering his head with a towel, hiding himself.

The TV commentators were pronouncing Lin Feng's death sentence with a sympathetic tone.

"A magical night cannot be replicated a second time."

"Popovich taught this young man a lesson in the most classic way."

"His talent is unquestionable, but he is clearly not ready to face this level of strangulation."

Taylor didn't listen to those comments.

Her gaze was simply focused on the figure covered by the towel.

There was no disappointment or sympathy on her face.

Quite the opposite.

In her beautiful blue eyes, a nearly fanatical, excited glow was shining!

A glow that only a creator would have upon finding the perfect material!

The strong restrained.

Pride shattered.

That 'broken beauty' of struggling, raging, yet powerless in desperation, struck her most sensitive creative nerve like a bolt of lightning!

Failed?

No.

In Taylor's eyes, this beast, currently caged, covered in blood, yet still baring its fangs.

Was even more fatally attractive than the all-powerful sharpshooter from G4, who seemed like a god descended!

Countless melodies and lyrics began to uncontrollably flood her mind.

About cages.

About struggles.

About anger.

About the flames awaiting rebirth on the ruins.

"Ding..."

Her slender fingers unconsciously plucked a string on the guitar in her arms.

A discordant note gently echoed in the quiet cabin.

But for Taylor, that was the first note of a new movement.

She abruptly sat up straight.

She didn't think Lin Feng had failed.

She only felt that this beast needed a new battlefield.

Needed a more complete release.

Needed... a conquest.

She put down her guitar, picked up the satellite phone next to her, and directly dialed her Agent's number.

The call was quickly connected.

"Taylor? Is the tour rehearsal going smoothly?"

"Scott."

Taylor's voice carried an undeniable calm and determination.

"Cancel all arrangements for the next forty-eight hours."

Scott, the Agent on the other end of the phone, was visibly stunned.

"What? Taylor, are you kidding? Tomorrow night is the Chicago concert, all our publicity has already..."

"I said, cancel it."

Taylor interrupted him.

"Book me a flight to San Antonio."

"Now, immediately, at once."

Scott's voice rose eight octaves.

"San Antonio?! What are you going there for?! Do you know what a public outcry it will cause if you go now? Your rumored relationship with that basketball player..."

"I need inspiration."

Taylor's voice remained calm, yet held a power that Scott couldn't refute.

"And my inspiration is now in that city."

With that, she hung up the phone... The final buzzer of the game finally sounded.

115:80.

The Lakers suffered a crushing 35-point defeat.

They trailed 2:3 in the series.

They were pushed to the brink by the San Antonio Spurs.

Lin Feng did not attend the post-game press conference.

He didn't even take the team bus with his teammates.

Instead, arranged by Jeff Austin, he returned to the hotel alone in advance.

In the stands, Yoona watched that lonely figure leaving early, her heart aching.

She wanted to catch up but was blocked by the surging crowd.

When she and the main group of the Los Angeles Lakers finally returned to the hotel, they were told that Lin Feng had locked himself in his room.

Seeing no one.

Yoona walked to Lin Feng's room door.

She raised her hand, wanting to knock.

But then hesitated and lowered it.

She didn't know what she should say if she went in now.

Any words of comfort would seem so pale and ridiculous at this moment.

She could only wait outside the door with Jeff, who also looked worried.

Inside the room, it was very quiet.

So quiet it was unsettling.

Suddenly.

"Bang!"

A huge thud, like a fist slamming hard against a wall, came from the room!

Immediately after.

"Crash—!"

It was the crisp, harsh sound of glass shattering!