r18novel Chapter 78: The Contract and Airport Pickup in Auckland
Chapter 78: The Contract and Airport Pickup in Auckland
On a clear morning in Oakland, before the sea fog had completely dissipated, the conference room at the Warriors' headquarters was already filled with smoke.
General Manager Chris Mullin held the diamond-encrusted Montblanc pen, its nib hovering over the contract paper, hesitant to bring it down.
That thin piece of paper felt as heavy as a thousand pounds.
The contract is for one year, with an annual salary of $10. For a recently retired role player with no coaching experience, this is the limit the Warriors can offer. But for an NBA team, it's more like a gamble, with the team's future and Mullin's professional reputation at stake.
"Lin," Mu Lin looked up, his brows furrowed in a deep frown, "tell me again, is this really the result of your careful consideration? Or just an impulsive decision?"
Lin Hao sat opposite Mu Lin, twirling the thermos filled with goji berries from Northeast China, the lid clicking loudly. He didn't speak, but simply showed Mu Lin his phone screen.
On the screen was the final design of the "Peach Generation" that Harris had just sent. On the tongue of the shoe, a three-dimensional image of a can of yellow peach, so sweet it seemed you could almost smell it, was particularly eye-catching.
"Chris," Lin Hao put down his phone, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable authority, "Last season we lost to the Spurs because we didn't make the shots we should have made. This $10 is for someone who can help us make those shots. It's a worthwhile deal."
Mullin took a deep breath, as if he had made a decision.
"brush--"
The pen stroked across the paper, the ink spreading out.
"I hope you're serious, Lin." Mullin pushed the signed contract over, a hint of doubt still lingering in his eyes. "If I'm wrong this time, we'll both be cursed to death by the fans, and I'll be out of a job."
"Don't worry." Lin Hao took the contract, didn't even look at it, folded it in half and stuffed it into his bag. "A week from now, you'll thank me for giving you this opportunity to sign."
After signing the papers, Lin Hao didn't stay at headquarters for a minute longer and went straight back to his apartment.
Pushing open the door, Zhang Qingying was already busy in the living room. She was squatting in front of her suitcase, stuffing things inside. It wasn't a designer suit or any luxury goods, but rather a few simply packaged cans of yellow peaches and two large vacuum-packed bags of Northeastern sauerkraut.
"Why did you bring all this?" Lin Hao asked, changing his shoes with amusement. "They sell these in supermarkets in America too."
"How can that be the same?" Zhang Qingying looked up, carefully folding the clothes and putting them into the suitcase. "These are from home, they taste authentic. It's the first time the Dale Curry family is going to Golden State, they're unfamiliar with the place, so it's only polite for you to bring some local specialties. Besides, if they don't like the Western food there, some sauerkraut can soothe their stomachs."
Lin Hao felt a warmth in his heart and walked over to ruffle her hair: "You're so thoughtful."
"Oh, right," Zhang Qingying zipped up the jacket and handed over a small medicine box, "This contains cold medicine and fever reducer. The temperature difference over there is big, so don't let the child get cold. Also, be polite when you meet them; after all, they are elders."
"Okay, okay," Lin Hao said with a smile as he accepted the gift, but in his heart he was thinking: There's no need to be polite when we meet, they're all brothers.
After packing his luggage, Lin Hao dialed Zhao Dabao's number.
The phone rang several times before being answered, and Zhao Dabao's panting, cursing voice came from the other end:
"Feed? Haozi? What's up? I'm leading these brats on a run, I'm exhausted!"
"Da Bao," Lin Hao said, tucking his phone over his shoulder and adjusting his cuffs, "I have something to tell you. I'm flying to Charlotte in a couple of days to personally pick up the Dale Curry family. The youth academy is entirely in your hands for now."
"What?!" Zhao Dabao wailed on the other end of the line. "No way, Haozi? You want me to babysit again? So, I, the top agent, am just a part-time babysitter? I can't do this job anymore!"
"Thanks for your hard work, bro." Lin Hao's tone was a bit teasing. "When I get back, I'll bring you authentic American apples, lots and lots. But before that, you'd better keep a close eye on that kid Guo Ailun."
Hearing Guo Ailun's name, Zhao Dabao's anger subsided somewhat, but his tone was still indignant: "Don't even mention that little brat! I caught him slacking off earlier and made him run 10 laps as punishment. And what happened? After he finished, he still wouldn't behave, dragging a bunch of younger students around to compete in dribbling between his legs. He won and then gloated, saying that if I were there, I definitely wouldn't have punished him. Pah! I was doing it for his own good!"
"If he dares to slack off again," Lin Hao's eyes turned cold, and his tone became serious, "you'll punish him to the point of death. Run 20 laps, and confiscate his week's worth of canned peaches. Remember, don't be soft-hearted. This kid has talent, but if we don't discipline him now, he'll be ruined later."
"Alright!" Zhao Dabao perked up immediately upon hearing that he had the imperial approval. "Don't worry, with me keeping an eye on him, I guarantee he'll be trained to a pulp. By the way, he just spent three hours shooting hoops, his hands are all swollen. He's just as stubborn as you, he won't eat if he doesn't make a shot."
After hanging up the phone, Lin Hao looked at the sea view outside the window, his thoughts drifting back to China.
At this time, the Fengtian Xinghuo Youth Training Camp.
Guo Ailun had just finished 20 shuttle runs as punishment by Zhao Dabao and collapsed on the sidelines, clutching an empty peach can tightly in his hand, but his eyes were unusually bright.
"Uncle Zhao, is Uncle Lin really going to pick up that uncle who's really good at shooting hoops?" Guo Ailun asked, panting heavily.
"Yes, what's wrong?"
"I want to go too!" Guo Ailun suddenly sat up. "I want to go to America! I want to learn to shoot from that uncle! I want to play in the NBA like Uncle Lin!"
Zhao Dabao slapped him on the back of the head: "Forget it! Get your three-point shooting percentage down to 50% first! What are the Golden State Warriors like now? They're in the NBA! What can you do? Hand them towels?"
"You wait!" Guo Ailun gritted his teeth, grabbed the basketball from the ground, and said, "I'm going to practice right now! I'll practice until my shooting percentage is 50%!"
Watching Guo Ailun stubbornly run back to the court, Zhao Dabao shook his head, took out his phone and sent Lin Hao a voice message: "Haozi, your little fanboy is almost obsessed. Do you think I went too far?"
Auckland International Airport.
Lin Hao dragged his suitcase through the security checkpoint.
The flight status display at the boarding gate shows "Boarding".
He sat in the waiting area, took out his phone, and opened the encrypted photo album. Inside was a photo of him and Dell Curry in the player tunnel during a Charlotte away game last season. At that time, Dell, though retired, still had a burning desire for basketball in his eyes.
"Dell, my friend," Lin Hao muttered to himself, "The wind is strong in Golden State, but they need a bow that can shoot through the net. Your arrival is just in time."
Meanwhile, in Charlotte, three thousand kilometers away.
Dell Curry is playing basketball with his two sons on a makeshift basketball court in his backyard.
Eight-year-old Stephen Curry just sank a super long-range three-pointer, the basketball swishing through the net with a crisp swish.
Little Stephen turned around excitedly and shouted at his father, "Dad! Was that shot just as accurate as Uncle Lin Hao's?"
Dell Curry looked at his son, then at the distant blue sky. In a few days, they would be flying to that unfamiliar city.
He didn't know what the future held, but he trusted Lin Hao's judgment and his own shooting philosophy.
"Yes, Steph," Dell Curry smiled gently, picking up the basketball from the ground. "We're going to meet that young man who's shocked the entire league. Get ready, we're going to change something."
"Ding!"
The boarding announcement came on.
Lin Hao put away his phone, stood up, and dragged his suitcase toward the covered bridge.
The plane's engines roared loudly as it carried him toward the city that was about to be submerged by the three-part rain.
Meanwhile, across the ocean, a new era is quietly dawning, following the flight path of this aircraft.