NBA's Chinese King: The more girlfriends I have, the stronger I become.

Chapter 144 Yao Ming and Wang Xiucheng's Late-Night Conversation

With players coming and going around, many people naturally spotted Emma Watson.

Her face was already red. Although she was no longer a girl, she still felt a little embarrassed to ask to get to know a boy in front of so many people.

But she did it anyway.

She knew that once she missed today, she didn't know when she would have the chance to meet Wang Xiucheng again.

Moreover, she saw it clearly from the players' tunnel: Swift was openly talking to Wang Xiucheng on the field and even handed him a card.

Emma knew what the card would be without even looking at it.

This is America, so if you see someone you like, you should definitely take the initiative to pursue them.

Otherwise, you might regret it for the rest of your life if you miss out.

So this was the first time Emma Watson had ever taken the initiative to strike up a conversation with a boy.

Wang Xiucheng glanced at Yao Ming, who was standing in the distance, and clearly noticed a hint of mockery in Yao Ming's eyes.

“Miss Emma, ​​I’m a fan of yours. I’ve liked you since the first Harry Potter book.” Wang Xiucheng extended his hand: “It’s an honor to know you.”

In fact, Wang Xiucheng wasn't even born when the first Harry Potter movie was released.

But neither of them was interested in the question; it didn't matter at all.

Emma Watson immediately reached out and shook hands with Wang Xiucheng, somewhat flustered.

The moment their hands touched, Emma Watson felt an indescribable sensation coursing through her body.

This almost made her scream out of her mind.

She quickly let go of his hand, her face flushed, and took out her phone. "Can I write down your number?"

"of course."

After exchanging phone numbers, Wang Xiucheng said, "I have something to do, I'll be going now."

Putting away his phone, Wang Xiucheng jogged to catch up with Yao Ming.

Emma Watson, clutching her phone, had a glint in her eyes, as if she had made a decision.

An hour later, in Wang Xiucheng's room.

On the table were Chinese dishes that Wang Xiucheng had specially ordered from the hotel, costing nearly a thousand dollars.

Wang Xiucheng and Yao Ming chatted while eating.

In fact, from the moment they met, Wang Xiucheng knew that Yao Ming's appearance at the dunk contest was not just to support him.

Have you ever thought about joining the national team?

After eating for a few minutes and chatting about some trivial topics, Yao Ming finally got to the point.

Wang Xiucheng showed no surprise, as if he had been waiting for this topic to come.

“It would be a lie to say I hadn’t thought about it,” Wang Xiucheng poured a little red wine into Yao Ming’s glass. “But not now.”

Neither of them were heavy drinkers, but they felt something was missing if they didn't have a drink on such an occasion.

"Any concerns?" Yao Ming put down his chopsticks and leaned back on the sofa.

Sitting in a chair is a painful experience for someone of Yao Ming's height, but fortunately the sofa in this hotel is big enough.

This is also why teams playing away games in Cleveland like to stay here.

"Didn't you resign?"

Wang Xiucheng did not answer his question, but instead asked a question in return.

"You can be reinstated at any time," Yao Ming said with a smile. "And this time, you have some say, so do you have any concerns?"

"You can't do it." Wang Xiucheng chuckled, his face full of sincerity.

Yao Ming frowned slightly. What kind of request was it that even he couldn't fulfill?

Money?

surely not.

If it's a matter of money, then it's too easy.

While the Chinese Basketball Association may not excel in other areas, it receives the second-highest amount of sponsorship and funding after the Chinese Football Association.

What would it be?

right?

When Yao Ming thought of this possibility, he was startled.

A man's greatest interests are money, power, and women.

This was something he read in an online novel when he was bored.

He thought it was right.

The Basketball Association can't help Wang Xiucheng with this aspect of women's issues.

And judging from how Reese Swift and Emma Watson wanted to get to know Wang Xiucheng at the stadium just now, it's unlikely that this kid is short of women.

Yao Ming was afraid that Wang Xiucheng would not be able to control himself.

Then all that's left is power.

But would a 19-year-old boy be obsessed with officialdom?

"What do you want? A position?" Yao Ming asked, puzzled.

Wang Xiucheng laughed even more heartily.

It's so much easier to talk to smart people.

Of course, what he wanted was not power.

“I’m not asking for power, you’ve misunderstood,” Wang Xiucheng said. “I was wondering if, if possible, could I offer some advice on player selection for the national team?”

"Choose someone?"

Yao Ming was startled.

Isn't this power?

If someone else had said that, Yao Ming would probably have just laughed it off and thought the other person was crazy.

But the boy opposite him is the only Chinese player in the NBA, and he has just won the All-Star Rookie of the Year and the Slam Dunk Contest.

And in Houston, everyone knows that Wang Xiucheng is the cornerstone of the Rockets.

What if I refuse?

Would they even care?

Wang Xiucheng is not an athlete trained or registered by China and is not under the jurisdiction of any department in China.

Therefore, it is simply impossible to ask Yao Ming to do this or that as he used to.

“I can’t do that,” Yao Ming sighed. “Although I am the chairman, there are some things that are not up to me.”

"What if we add one more person?" Wang Xiucheng asked, putting a piece of fish into his mouth.

"What do you mean by adding one more person?" Yao Ming asked, puzzled.

Wang Xiucheng put down his chopsticks, took out his phone, and dialed a number.

This is a video call.

The call was answered quickly, and a deep voice came through.

"Wang, congratulations on winning the dunk contest. I told you you would definitely succeed. I just didn't expect Chairman Yao Ming to be here. The last time I met him was last summer."

As soon as the call connected, the person on the other end rattled off a long string of words in English at a rapid pace. If you hadn't lived in the US for several years, you probably wouldn't have been able to process it all at once.

“Chairman Yao Ming is right here with me.” Wang Xiucheng turned the phone screen to Yao Ming’s side.

Yao Ming was stunned because he recognized the person inside as Li Kaier, whom the Basketball Association had been trying to recruit for a long time.

"Hello, Chairman Yao Ming."

Li Kai'er immediately greeted him.

"Knowing you like to go to bed early, I'll get straight to the point," Wang Xiucheng said, without turning the screen around, keeping it facing Yao Ming.

"Please tell Chairman Yao about what I told you last time."

Upon hearing this, Li Kai'er on the phone immediately replied, "Oh, is that so? Chairman Yao Ming, I've already discussed it with Wang Xiucheng. If he joins the national team, I'll join the national team too. My mother has already agreed to this suggestion, so you don't need to ask her anymore."

Yao Ming stared in shock at the seemingly harmless, even smiling boy opposite him.

Wang Xiucheng actually managed to persuade Li Kaier without anyone noticing while he was in the United States?

Yao Ming didn't know what Wang Xiucheng had promised, but this process was bound to be difficult.

He always thought that Wang Xiucheng was alone in the United States to pursue his basketball dream.

To put it selfishly, it's all about money.

But now it seems that Wang Xiucheng had been making plans all along.

Is this a good thing?

Perhaps.

But Yao Ming suddenly felt that Wang Xiucheng was somewhat frightening.

Because he felt as if the other man had known in advance that he would come to see him.

Isn't Li Kaier the "gift" he prepared for himself?

"Alright, get some rest. I'll treat you to dinner next time we meet," Wang Xiucheng said into the phone.

"Come to my house for dinner next time we meet. My mom has been nagging you about this for a while now. It's a pity you got injured last time."

"Okay, tell her to take care of herself, bye."

Wang Xiucheng immediately hung up the phone.

Yao Ming gradually recovered from his shock.

"I know it's difficult for you, Brother Yao, but what place do you think we can get in the Asian Cup with the current players?"

"And what about this year's World Cup qualifiers? What place do you think this national team can get in the World Cup?"

Wang Xiucheng had changed how he addressed Yao Ming, but Yao Ming hadn't noticed at all.

Upon hearing this, he subconsciously shook his head; he indeed did not have a high opinion of the current national team.

This is why the Basketball Association finally decided to recruit foreign players.

However, Wang Xiucheng's sudden emergence caught the entire Chinese basketball community off guard.

Therefore, Wang Xiucheng's priority naturally came before Li Kaier's.

Yao Ming originally planned to meet with Li Kaier in his future travels.

But now it's clearly no longer necessary.

Wang Xiucheng continued, "Perhaps they can qualify for next year's World Cup, which is not difficult, but next year, only the top Asian team will get a direct ticket to the Paris Olympics."

"We already missed the last Olympics. If we miss it again this time, how will the Basketball Association explain it to fans across the country?"

Yao Ming's brows were almost furrowed together.

Wang Xiucheng's words were all reasonable and struck a chord with him.

But he felt that Wang Xiucheng was threatening him.

What Wang Xiucheng is doing now is trying to become the leader of the men's basketball team!

This is common in the NBA; almost every team has a leader.

But in China, such a thing is impossible.

Yao Ming even thought Wang Xiucheng was talking nonsense!

The two countries have completely different systems.

Even if Wang Xiucheng becomes the leader of the Rockets in the future, he can never become the leader of the Chinese men's basketball team!

The Chinese men's basketball team will always be led by the Chinese Basketball Association, and can only be led by the Chinese Basketball Association.

Moreover, Wang Xiucheng is not necessarily the leader of the Rockets right now.

Although Wood and Porter Jr., who have always considered themselves the leaders, can no longer even make the starting lineup.

Green and Shenjing have both unknowingly withdrawn from the competition.

As for Gordon and others, there's not much to say.

But perhaps next offseason, the Rockets might go all in to acquire an All-Star, or even a superstar.

How will Wang Xiucheng, who didn't make the final cut, compete with others?

Of course, if it's the current group of players, Yao Ming believes that Wang Xiucheng could indeed become the leader of the Rockets.

Especially when Wang Xiucheng returns with both the Rookie of the Year MVP and the Slam Dunk Contest trophies, no one will have any doubts.

But this won't work for the Chinese men's basketball team.

Wang Xiucheng is going to revolutionize men's basketball!

Perhaps someone like James Curry could do it, but Wang Xiucheng can't.

"With your current abilities, I'm afraid you can't do it yet." Yao Ming shook his head.

"I know, but the fans can do it."

"Fans? What do you mean?"

"Chairman Yao, you're about to get busy."

"I need to be busy? What do you mean?"

Yao Ming did not understand Wang Xiucheng's seemingly random statement.

Wang Xiucheng swirled his wine glass but didn't drink. "Do you think our country's young players are better than the rookies developed in the United States?"

"Of course not. Maybe there will be one or two occasionally, but overall, it will be far worse." Yao Ming said with a wry smile.

This gap stems from the entire national system and its inherent structure, and there's nothing he can do about it.

It's like comparing table tennis; any random city champion from China could be better than the entire United States.

Wang Xiucheng thought for a moment, seemingly choosing his words: "Use your connections and status to talk to the league. This summer, China will organize a young team to participate in the Summer League, and I will join them."

"As for other things, we'll talk about them in the summer."

After Wang Xiucheng finished speaking, he picked up his chopsticks and continued eating the Chinese food prepared by this hotel, which wasn't particularly delicious, but was at least better than those steaks.

Yao Ming was stunned again.

What does Wang Xiucheng mean?

He wants China to send a young team to participate in the Summer League, and he wants to join as well. What is he trying to do?

In any competition, there are winners and losers.

It's actually quite normal for a young Chinese team to lose to a team composed of NBA rookies.

He even believed that even if the national team's main players came, they might not be able to win.

But what if we win?

Yao Ming was suddenly startled.

If we win, things will get complicated!

Yes, winning would actually cause more trouble.

"If Wang Xiucheng can lead the team to victory, why isn't he called up to the national team?"

I'm sure some fans will ask this question.

What should the Basketball Association do?

Does this mean we're telling the fans that Wang Xiucheng wants to be the team's leader?

Guess what the fans will say at this point?

"Then let him be the leader! You guys can't win anyway. Let Wang Xiucheng be the boss; he can win!"

Will the Basketball Association agree?

How could those old men possibly have more say than a boy who is not even 20 years old?

Just as he was getting annoyed, Wang Xiucheng's phone, which was on the table, vibrated.

During this period, Wang Xiucheng's phone kept ringing.

He didn't answer most of them.

But he has to accept this.

Wang Xiucheng did not avoid Yao Ming; he directly connected to the video call.

"Jenna, why aren't you asleep yet?" Wang Xiucheng asked directly.

Things were fine in Houston, but during Wang Xiucheng's time in Cleveland, Jenna called him every night.

Yao Ming, who was about to take a sip of red wine, almost choked.

"Jenna?"

Which Jenner?

"Wang Xiucheng must have met a girlfriend named Jenna."

"This kid actually has a girlfriend."

"But that's normal. I think I've known my wife since I was 16, but she didn't pay any attention to me back then."

Yao Ming suddenly remembered a lot.

"Are you at the hotel? Didn't you go out?" Jenna's voice came through the phone.

"We had originally arranged to meet with Green and his team, but Yao Ming is here, so we have serious business to discuss."

As Wang Xiucheng spoke, he turned his phone screen again to face Yao Ming, who was wiping the wine stains off his clothes.

Yao Ming was startled. Why is it me again?

Yao Ming quickly looked over, and the next moment, he was stunned again.

It was Jenner!