195: Chapter 195 The Final Opponent! The Final Silence!

This dinner would be more dangerous than a Game 7.

But he understood even better that a true emperor never fears any challenge, whether on the court or in life.

...

The next evening, at seven o'clock.

Beverly Hills, Spago Restaurant.

This is one of the top Michelin three-star restaurants in Los Angeles, and even more so, a private parlor for Hollywood celebrities.

Having money alone is far from enough to book a table here.

And Rich Paul had booked for Lin Feng a private booth in the deepest part of the restaurant, with the strictest security measures and the least likelihood of being disturbed by anyone.

Lin Feng arrived at the restaurant fifteen minutes early.

He wasn't wearing an expensive suit, just a well-tailored casual outfit.

He looked clean and sharp.

He sat alone at the massive round dining table, which was large enough to accommodate over a dozen people.

He didn't look at his phone, nor did he look around.

He just quietly watched the glass of plain water in front of him, which gave off a faint lemon scent.

Like a young sculpture resting with its eyes closed.

Exactly seven o'clock.

The door to the booth was respectfully pushed open from the outside by a waiter.

The first person to walk in was Yoona.

Today, she wore a pure white, off-the-shoulder long dress.

On that face, hailed as an "angelic face," she wore delicate but understated light makeup.

She didn't look like the K-POP queen with hundreds of millions of fans worldwide.

She looked more like the girl next door about to attend her graduation prom.

Pure, beautiful, and carrying a hint of irrepressible nervousness and unease.

When she saw Lin Feng, a glimmer of light flashed in her beautiful large eyes.

She walked to Lin Feng's side, gently pulled out a chair, and sat down.

Throughout the entire process, not a single word was spoken.

The atmosphere began to turn somewhat subtle.

A few minutes later.

The booth door was pushed open again.

This time, Taylor Swift walked in.

Her dazzling blonde hair was draped casually over her shoulders.

Fiery red lips paired with a tight black mini-dress that perfectly accentuated her flawless figure.

She exuded a queenly aura that was as scorching and dazzling as the midsummer sun.

Her presence made the temperature in the entire booth seem to rise by several degrees.

She glanced at Yoona, who was already seated.

In those sapphire-like eyes, a faint, almost imperceptible look of scrutiny flashed.

Then, she walked straight to the other side of Lin Feng and sat down.

"It seems I'm not the first one."

Taylor's voice carried a hint of that lazy yet charming tone unique to her.

Lin Feng just smiled at her.

He didn't answer.

An invisible string in the air was quietly tightened.

Finally, the grand finale appearance.

It was Scarlett Johansson.

She didn't even let the waiter open the door.

Instead, she casually pushed the door open and walked in herself.

Today, she was dressed even more casually.

A simple white T-shirt paired with a pair of faded jeans.

She wasn't even wearing any makeup.

But.

The moment she appeared.

Whether it was the angelically pure Yoona or the powerfully charismatic Taylor.

Both of their brilliance was instantly suppressed by her calm yet seemingly all-controlling powerful aura.

She was like a true chess player.

Walking into a chess game she had personally set up.

Scarlett's gaze swept over Yoona and Taylor.

Finally, it landed on Lin Feng's face.

A playful smile curled at the corners of her mouth.

"It seems the players for tonight's game are all here."

She pulled out a chair and sat directly opposite Lin Feng.

At this point.

Three true queens, standing at the pinnacle of their respective fields.

With Lin Feng at the center, they formed a stable triangle filled with silent confrontation.

The booth fell into an eerie silence.

The waiter tremblingly poured water for the three ladies.

Then, he retreated as if escaping.

No one spoke.

No one looked at the menu.

Yoona nervously picked at the hem of her dress with her fingers.

Taylor picked up the cutlery on the table and seemingly casually scraped them against her plate, producing a series of faint, piercing sounds.

Only Scarlett remained as composed as ever.

She picked up her water glass and took a gentle sip.

Her eyes, however, were always locked onto her prey like a top-tier hunter.

Locked onto the man who hadn't said a word from beginning to end.

Finally.

Lin Feng moved.

He set down the water glass in his hand.

His gaze slowly swept across the faces of the three queens one by one.

In his eyes, there was no panic, no guilt, and no desire to make excuses.

There was only the purest sincerity.

"I know this invitation tonight is very presumptuous and even absurd."

Lin Feng's voice broke the silence in the booth.

His voice wasn't loud, but it was exceptionally clear and firm.

"But I had to do it."

"Because before the NBA Finals begin, I must express my deepest gratitude to you all."

His gaze first landed on Yoona.

The girl whose body had become somewhat stiff because of his gaze.

"Yoona."

Lin Feng's tone became incredibly gentle.

"Thank you."

"Thank you for appearing in my life when I was still a penniless, down-and-out loser."

"It was you who let me feel a glimmer of the warmest light during those darkest days when hope seemed out of reach."

"That warmth was the most important strength that allowed me to crawl out of the mire later on."

Yoona's eyes instantly turned red.

She bit her lip, desperately trying to keep her tears from falling.

Lin Feng's gaze turned to Taylor Swift.

"Taylor."

"Thank you."

"Thank you for giving me your firmest support when I had just stepped onto this stage and was facing the doubts and ridicule of the entire world."

"It was you who, through your music, your talent, and your pride, showed me what a true superstar should be like."

"It was you who made me understand that to win respect, one must use the greatest strength to shatter all disdain and prejudice."

The lazy smile on Taylor's habitually cynical face also slowly faded away.

Her gaze became somewhat complicated.

Finally.

Lin Feng's gaze met Scarlett Johansson's, who had been watching him with a scrutinizing look.

"Scarlett."

"Thank you."

"Thank you for pointing out a path to true kingship for me when I was lightheaded with victory and starting to feel lost."

"It was you who made me realize that power is not just for victory, but for protecting everything one wants to protect."

"It was you who made me truly begin to learn how to be a man, from being just a boy."

The entire booth was so quiet that a pin drop could be heard.

Lin Feng slowly stood up from his seat.

He gave the three queens a deep bow.

"Every one of you is an indispensable part of my life."

"Without you, there would be no Lin Feng today."

"Together, you have shaped me."

Having said that, he straightened up.

His eyes became incredibly firm.

"I know you are all waiting for an answer."

"But please forgive me, for right now, I cannot give that answer."

"Because my battle is not yet over."

He looked at them and spoke his promise, word by word.

"Wait for me to get that championship ring."

"I will use it to provide a final answer."

His sincerity, his openness, and his sense of responsibility.

Caused the three queens, who had seen the hypocrisy and cowardice of countless men, to fall into a long silence.

They knew.

This man had not chosen to escape.

In the most clumsy yet respectful way, he had given the best answer he could provide at this stage.

This dinner, which should have been like a battlefield.

Ultimately ended in a peaceful way that no one had expected.

...

Having resolved all his worries, Lin Feng threw his entire heart and soul into preparing for the match against the Miami Heat.

He stood in the center of the Lakers' empty training hall.

Looking at the giant poster of LeBron James on the wall, arms wide open as if ruling the world.

His gaze was calm, yet filled with infinite power.

The whole world was looking forward to the arrival of this ultimate showdown.