Chapter 105: Abstinence.
"I have one condition," Grover continued after his explanation.
"Money's not an issue," Han Sen replied. While his contract salary wasn't huge, his endorsements more than made up for it. He could easily afford not just a personal trainer, but an entire training team.
"It's not about the money. You'll need to listen to me about all things training," Grover said, dead serious. The last time in Miami, Han Sen had dismissed his advice with a half-hearted effort.
"No problem," Han Sen agreed readily.
Previously, he'd had some biases against Grover, but now that he had hired him, it was time to let go of his past as a trainer himself.
NBA trainers didn't make as much as people often thought. Even the top trainers at the time earned around $100,000 annually. But Grover had been with Jordan for years, and as a business partner of Jordan's, he earned far more than just his training salary.
Grover had told the truth—he was interested in Han Sen because of his qualities, not because of the money. Still, Han Sen offered him $150,000 a year, much higher than the market rate, as a sign of respect.
Once the contract was signed, he immediately started his physical training with Grover's guidance.
From the very beginning, Grover demonstrated his professionalism and experience. He had Han Sen undergo a series of high-intensity exercises to assess his current physical state.
The first conclusion Grover reached was that Han Sen needed to lose some weight—around 98 kg. This would help him be more agile on the court and reduce the physical strain caused by excessive weight.
It took Han about a week to shed the extra weight.
Grover was patient, not rushing into any specific training beyond the weight loss program. He also adjusted Han Sen's training schedule, breaking it into two to three sessions a day.
The first session would be early in the morning, from around 5:00 to 7:00 AM, focused on physical conditioning and injury prevention, before breakfast.
The second session was with the team's regular practice, which focused on shooting and tactical drills, starting at 10:00 or 11:00 AM.
The third session was optional, depending on whether the team had a game that evening. If no game was scheduled, the session, from 4:00 to 6:00 PM, would focus on skill development.
On game days, the third session was canceled, as Grover believed training should not interfere with the actual performance.
Since it was the off-season, Han Sen had to endure three intense daily workouts. Although he had recently dealt with injuries, Grover chose to take an unconventional approach.
He believed injuries weren't caused by overtraining, but by a lack of proper training intensity and poor methods, which left the body unprepared for extreme physical confrontations.
Grover's high-intensity testing on Han Sen's body had a purpose: he was physically capable of handling the workload. And it just so happened that Han Sen had recently gained the talent [Steel Bones]. (TL/n: Steel bones or Iron bones, which one sounds better?)
Grover then began Han Sen's specialized training, focusing on refining his muscle groups down to a granular level.
He wasn't just working on major muscle groups like abs; he targeted specific areas like the rectus abdominis, obliques, lower back muscles, and more. This approach differed from that of most trainers, aiming to improve Han Sen's core strength and flexibility—key factors in injury prevention during intense competition.
Although some of these methods conflicted with Han Sen's own training beliefs, he stuck to his agreement with Grover and followed every instruction. It wasn't long before he started to feel the benefits in his body.
Despite his own modern training experience, Han Sen couldn't compare with Grover's expertise, which had been honed over years of working with NBA legends like Michael Jordan, Grant Hill, Kobe Bryant, and Dwyane Wade.
As they trained together, Grover became more convinced that Han was the right choice.
Han Sen, in turn, impressed Grover with his work ethic. Regardless of the intensity of the training, he never complained and always pushed through. Even when physically and mentally exhausted, he somehow managed to muster up energy for the next workout.
Grover didn't know exactly how Han Sen managed it, but he could see that Han valued each day and took his training seriously. These qualities reassured Grover that his decision to train him was the right one.
Their training became increasingly effective, with Han feeling his body approach its limits.
By the end of July, the NBA free agency period had mostly come to a close. The Miami Heat's new Big Three—LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh—had formed.
The Heat cleared nearly their entire roster to create cap space, even trading Michael Beasley to the Timberwolves. LeBron and Bosh joined via sign-and-trade deals, allowing Miami to retain their Bird rights.
All three stars took slight pay cuts to leave room for Udonis Haslem, ultimately signing six-year, 110 million dollar contracts with player options starting in the fourth year.
Miami also used their mid-level exception to sign Mike Miller and added veteran players like Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Juwan Howard, Jerry Stackhouse, and Erick Dampier.
With this roster, the Heat looked even stronger on paper than LeBron's former Cavaliers team. Han Sen wasn't sure how anyone would beat this "Version 2.0" of the Heat.
The Memphis Grizzlies, his new team, also made some moves in free agency. Surprisingly, they used their mid-level exception to sign Tony Allen to a three-year, 9.7 million dollar contract, even after acquiring Han Sen.
It was similar to how the Dallas Mavericks signed Shaquille O'Neal and then traded for Tyson Chandler—double insurance, since both players had injury histories.
With the addition of Tony Allen, the Grizzlies' perimeter defense was set to improve drastically.
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Around this time, Taylor Swift arrived in Memphis.
She had returned to the U.S. in mid-July, resting in New York for a while afterward.
Han Sen was mid-practice when she showed up at the gym unexpectedly. He had planned for her to head straight to the hotel after her flight, but here she was, sitting courtside, watching him train—shirtless, no less.
"Rondo, wasn't she supposed to go to the hotel first?" Han Sen asked, grabbing a towel.
"I wanted to see you practice," Taylor said with a smile. "I've been to plenty of NBA games, but I've never watched a player train before."
Han Sen blinked, a little caught off guard. "Didn't think it'd be that interesting," he replied with a chuckle, tossing on his shirt.
"Don't worry, you can keep doing your thing," she said, noticing his move. "You don't need to put that on for me."
He shook his head but kept it on. "I think I'm good."
As he got back to practice, he couldn't help but sneak a glance at her.
Now Taylor was sitting, snacking on popcorn she must've convinced Rondo to get her, casually chatting away with him. The scene was oddly normal, almost like they were just a couple of friends hanging out at the gym.
When his session finally wrapped up an hour later, he walked over, catching his breath. "Sorry for the wait."
Taylor waved it off, smiling. "Don't worry, the popcorn kept me busy. Besides, that was impressive."
Han Sen smiled, relaxing a bit more now. "So, what's the plan? Need me to drop you off at the hotel now?"
"Nope," Taylor said, eyes lighting up. "Let's go bake a cake!"
He laughed, completely taken aback. "Wait, what? Like, bake it ourselves?"
"Obviously!" she said, grinning. "Cakes taste better when they're fresh, trust me."
"Alright, alright," Han Sen said, shaking his head in disbelief. "But first, I'm gonna need a quick shower."
Just as he was about to head off, she stopped him. "Actually, before you do that... can you help me with something?"
Han Sen raised an eyebrow, waiting for her to explain.
"I've always wanted to dunk," she said, pointing toward the basketball hoop.
Han Sen laughed. "You serious?"
"Dead serious!" Taylor replied, standing up. "Come on, I'll need a boost."
He sighed, but there was no way he could say no. "Alright, fine."
Walking over, Han Sen placed his hands on her waist and lifted her up like he was helping a kid dunk. Taylor was tall, but dunking wasn't something she could pull off without a little assistance.
With a laugh, she made the basket, and he set her back down as they high-fived.
"I'm basically a pro now," she joked, still grinning ear to ear.
"Well, you've got the celebration down at least," he teased back.
After a quick shower, they headed to a small local bakery that Han Sen frequented. When they arrived, the "Closed" sign was up, thanks to a favor Rondo had arranged ahead of time.
Inside, Taylor wasted no time getting to work on the cake. Han Sen, following her lead, became her makeshift assistant, mixing and measuring as she directed.
As they worked, he realized something—Taylor wasn't just going through the motions. She was totally immersed, laser-focused on making this cake just right. It reminded him of the dedication he saw in her music, something he could really respect.
"You do this often?" he asked, as flour dusted both of their faces.
Taylor smiled. "Every chance I get. I'm a bit of a control freak when it comes to desserts."
Han Sen laughed, wiping the flour off his hands. "That explains a lot."
"What about you?" she asked, pausing to look at him. "What do you do when you're not killing it on the court?"
Han Sen thought for a moment. "Used to have hobbies—games, hanging with friends, traveling. But now, it's pretty much just basketball."
After crossing over into this second life, he had been so focused on basketball that his life had been filled with nothing but the sport. He wanted to live this life without regrets.
"Sounds intense," Taylor said, stepping closer with a damp towel to wipe some flour off his cheek. "Ever take a break?"
He shrugged, the closeness catching him off guard. "Not really. But baking with you? I think that counts."
Taylor smiled as she continued wiping off the flour. "Maybe you should make more time for things like this."
For a moment, they just stood there, the mood suddenly feeling a little more serious.
Han Sen's body was tense, and his breathing quickened.
Since starting his training with Grover, he had restrained himself to ensure the quality of his workouts.
While it gave him more energy each day, his improved physical condition made it harder to control his urges.
This was a common issue for athletes who abstained to boost performance, only to struggle with self-control on the field.
Fortunately, Han had strong self-discipline after living two lives. Plus, Swift saw him as a friend, and it would be shameless for him to react otherwise.
He distracted himself with thoughts to calm his breathing.
But just then, he felt something move closer.
When he looked up, he saw Swift's soft pink lips descending toward him.
A sweet taste followed.
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TL/n: Bird rights allow a team to exceed the salary cap to re-sign a player who has finished their contract. The team that holds a player's Bird rights can offer:
1. Contract length: Up to 5 years, while other teams can only offer a maximum of 4 years.
2. Annual raise percentage: The current team can offer raises of up to 10% per year, whereas other teams are limited to 8%.
3. Salary cap exception: The team with Bird rights can exceed the salary cap to retain the player, but other teams must stay within the cap.
This rule helps teams keep their key players, even if they don't have cap space.
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