บท 1: If We were to Start Over
California's February is like a child's face, changing at the drop of a hat.
In the afternoon, it's still a clear sky over the blue sea. But as evening approaches, it suddenly darkens, and a mass of dark clouds gathers in the half-empty sky, imposing a daunting pressure on the hurried passersby.
Li Zhen lay on the sofa in a small apartment in the southwest district of Palo Alto. His handsome and fair face was etched with exhaustion and dread.
He had just awakened from a long nightmare.
He dreamt about the latter half of his life.
The trajectory of the dream was this: After transferring back to Harvard from Stanford, he was met with mockery from many. Under immense pressure, he gave up his studies and set out to build a social networking site like his friend Zuckerberg. However, the result was that the company burned through his one million dollars in savings.
Frustrated with his failed venture, he reluctantly returned to the Bay Area and joined an internet company. But due to internal conflicts in the company and his parents' business failure in their home country, he ended up returning to China. He wasted away his years in a mediocre internet company, day after day, year after year; this was not the life he wanted, as he didn't even have a girlfriend.
It was utterly disastrous!
Li Zhen rubbed his already very messy hair vigorously.
He knew it was because he had been under immense pressure lately.
Could it be that transferring back to Stanford from Harvard half a year ago was truly a mistake? Was my basketball dream, as my mother put it, just a joke??
Li Zhen sighed helplessly.
As the only four-star Chinese point guard in the history of American high school basketball, he was very confident before transferring to the Pacific Division. During his time at Harvard, he was once the assist and steal leader in the Ivy League: but later on, he discovered that the Ivy League was incomparable to other NCAA divisions. The Ivy League represented the highest academic level in the world, not athletic prowess.
He pushed himself up slightly, reaching out to turn on the TV. The Chinese channel on the television happened to be broadcasting Basketball Park.
"...The basketball legend Michael Jordan entered the halls of marriage with his wife Juanita Vanoy in 1989 and later raised 2 sons and a daughter. However, in 2002, Juanita filed for divorce, citing 'an inability to tolerate Michael's repeated infidelity, and irreconcilable differences between the two parties.' She even wrote a six-page divorce petition for this."
"But due to property and compensation issues, the case took four years of litigation. Yesterday, the two parties finally reached an out-of-court settlement agreement. It is rumored that Michael will pay his ex-wife up to 168 million in separation fees! It must be said, this is one of the most expensive divorce settlements in sports history..." (T/N: IDK about this. As was stated that they were trying to fix things but were still divorced 4 years later. But yes, Juanita did get 168 million.)
Holy!
Li Zhen muttered instinctively.
Hmm?
This sudden phrase that popped out made him feel both unfamiliar and familiar... this word seemed to be brought out from the nightmare.
He shook his head slightly.
The news on the television continued.
"...This morning, we interviewed Stanford's head coach, Coach McHaney. Due to two key players being injured this season, the likelihood of the Cardinals team advancing out of the Pacific Division in the remaining three division matches is almost zero. Therefore, he regretfully announced that the team's focus for this season will shift from vying for a spot in the Sweet 16 to recruiting for the new season. In addition, we interviewed him on the topic of the Chinese guard, Li Zhen." (T/N: I don't know who the fuck McHaney is. Just treat this part as an AU. Or I might have missed something. But I'm sure this dude is just an OC.)
The scene shifted, and Coach McHaney appeared on the screen.
McHaney had long served as an assistant coach for the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers, contributing significantly to the Lakers' dynasty. Three years ago, he took over coaching duties for the Cardinals team, and in the 2004 season, he helped the team make it to the NCAA Sweet 16. (T/N: LMAO, no Lakers Asst. Coach of that name I can find. But yeah, I think Stanford did reach the Sweet 16, or I might be wrong. I dunno how NCAA works.)
At that time, the team's ace, Josh Childress, also entered the NBA as a lottery pick thanks to his outstanding performance in the Sweet 16: he was one of the few NBA players from Stanford. (T/N: NBA player from Stanford. 6th pick)
"Bruce is a smart, passionate, cautious, and very diligent player. His ball-handling skills are the strongest and most astounding I've seen, and he has amazing creativity and talent, much like his GPA scores. On the training ground, he often makes brilliant assists that make all the players jump up in applause." (T/N: MC has an American name. It's supposed to be Bruce Lee, but I find it weird so I'll translate it as Bruce Li.)
"However, we must admit. His body can't match his mind. Compared to other players, he's too thin. Despite being 1.86 meters tall, he only weighs 68 kilograms. That's why I can't keep him on the court for long."
"In the last three games, I'll give him some chances. But next season... Well, you know, not even sixteen yet and he's aced his way into Harvard with a super brain. He should focus on academics. He's bound to achieve something that will astound the world..." (T/N: Roll credits.)
Smack!
Li Zhen turned off the TV.
This was no less than a heavy blow to him.
He had already staked everything on basketball. He defied his parents' objections and transferred from Harvard to Stanford, angering his strong-willed mother. Dr. Wang Junzhu, a biology professor at New York University, was furious. She declared that if Li Zhen didn't return to Harvard and chose a major in life sciences, she would refuse to pay for any of his tuition or living expenses.
At that time, Li Zhen, who was invincible in the Ivy League, was ambitious. He believed that he could carve out a bright future on his own without relying on his parents.
However, now... sigh!
With the Cardinals team no longer registering him as a player next season, he couldn't continue to enjoy the hefty stipend from the school.
Over the years, although he managed to save some red envelopes, and earned nearly $150,000 through scholarships, competition awards, and developing websites for others, all of it had been invested into the website founded by Zuckerberg. Now, there was barely $1,500 left in his bank account, and he still had to pay rent the next month.
So...
Did he really have to admit his mistake, obediently go home, and become a second-generation rich kid?
Ding dong!
At this moment, a sound came from the laptop beside the sofa, an email from Zuckerberg. (T/N: Damn.)
He opened it and read: "Dear Li Zhen, are you sure you want to transfer the 150,000 USD in angel investment we received from you, which is equivalent to 12% of preferred stock? Mr. Peter Thiel from PayPal and several other investors are willing to invest in us as individuals, and their investment amount will reach tens of millions of dollars. If you agree, we can now transfer your shares, valued at approximately 1.9 million USD based on the current valuation. But I don't recommend you to do this, you own preferred shares after all."
Zuckerberg's tone was very casual, and he got along very well with Li Zhen.
Li Zhen liked this introverted guy a lot. He also had a not-so-pretty Chinese girlfriend, which provided them with more shared topics. (T/N: Dude, wtf. Don't diss someone's girl like that.)
But now, he was indeed in a bind, he had to liquidate these shares.
Just as he was about to type "yes" in the email reply, he suddenly remembered in the dream he just had, he did exactly this: converted all the shares into cash, paid the full amount of taxes, and went back to Harvard to start a business. Unfortunately, his venture didn't succeed, and that money was quickly spent.
Boom!!
Outside, there was a sudden flash of lightning and a loud clap of thunder. His pair of Air Jordan sneakers hanging on the balcony were blown over by the strong wind.
This scene made him even more familiar.
Because this was the beginning of that long nightmare.
In that nightmare, he paid no attention to the basketball shoes swaying in the storm. He believed that his basketball dream was completely shattered. So, he lowered his head and replied to the email on his laptop: YES! Sell them all.
But now, he inexplicably raised his head, looked at the sky outside, and in the dim light, layers of dark clouds were piled up, each cloud seemed to be adorned with golden edges, very beautiful.
So, behind the dark clouds, there's sunshine, right?
Li Zhen lowered his head in contemplation for a moment, then took an inexplicable step forward.
These were his first pair of Air Jordans, the Air Jordan 10s, the shoes Michael wore when he announced "I'm back."
As he reached out to grab the falling basketball shoes on the balcony, suddenly, everything went white. The most intense white lightning instantly enveloped his entire body.
Boom!
He felt a violent impact, and then pain filled every cell in his body.
He fell to the ground.
In the fleeting moment of residual consciousness.
He heard an echo in his mind: "Hehe, finally escaped from that demon's body."
"I didn't disappear? Did time crack? Am I speaking? English?"
"Twenty percent of energy residue, unable to fully reconstruct the body. Strength, speed, jump, agility, physique, only one can be improved..."
"..."
...
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