T/N: Sorry for the lack of updates yesterday. Mondays have classes from 6 am-8 pm. I normally get in the chapters in between breaks, but I was busy and really tired when I returned home. Thank you.
. . .
Shenzhen, China
At Tencent Sports' headquarters, Wu Xiaolei—dressed in a neat OL suit—was quietly sorting through prep notes for the upcoming Lakers vs. Cavaliers broadcast.
That summer, following Qi Jun's recommendation, she had officially joined Tencent Sports.
With her polished looks and professional presence, Wu Xiaolei quickly became one of the network's standout female anchors. But it wasn't just appearance doing the work—her solid basketball knowledge and easy chemistry with commentators had won her a loyal audience.
Xiao Qi, who had just wrapped up commentary for the Heat–Warriors game with Su Junyang, glanced over and smiled.
"Still taking notes, Sister Xiaolei?"
Wu Xiaolei nodded. Even though she wasn't running around as a frontline reporter anymore, she'd never stopped treating preparation seriously. Friends had teased her more than once: You could make a living just on your looks—why work this hard?
She never agreed with that logic. Looks fade. Knowledge doesn't.
"Yeah," Wu Xiaolei said with a light smile.
Xiao Qi leaned over and noticed a date circled in red. She dropped into the chair beside her, rubbing her legs after standing too long.
"Hey, November 27th—what's special about that? Anniversary? But I've never heard you mention a boyfriend."
"That's Lin Yi's birthday," Wu Xiaolei replied calmly.
Xiao Qi froze, eyes widening as she'd just stumbled onto some major gossip.
"Wait—Sister Xiaolei, don't tell me you've been single all this time because you like Lin? You do know he has a girlfriend."
Wu Xiaolei smacked the side of Xiao Qi's head.
"Don't talk nonsense. I admire him, sure—but not like that."
"Maybe a chance after a breakup," Xiao Qi muttered under her breath.
Wu Xiaolei shook her head, half amused. The younger generation really did think differently.
Still, her mind drifted back to that first interview years ago—Lin Yi bending down to pick up Qi Jun's phone, smiling casually as he said:
"I'm more comfortable putting the ball on the floor and driving."
Back then, seeing a seven-footer say that so naturally, she'd thought he was joking.
Who could've guessed that the Chinese big man from the NCAA would become a two-time NBA MVP just four years later?
Wu Xiaolei refocused and explained,
"There's kind of a pattern with Lin Yi. He almost always breaks records right before his birthday. Rookie year—61 points in three quarters. Second year—a 60-point triple-double, again in three quarters."
Xiao Qi blinked. "Seriously?"
"Last season was a lockout," Wu Xiaolei continued. "The league started after his birthday, but people later did the math—his 86-point game would've landed just before it in a normal season."
Xiao Qi looked genuinely impressed.
"So that's how it is."
Wu Xiaolei nodded. "Pretty much."
Over the years, Lin Yi had developed a few almost-mythical tags: breaking records before his birthday, and pulling off at least one quadruple-double every season. Wu Xiaolei couldn't help wondering if he'd keep it going.
Even off the frontline, she still marked key dates carefully. Being ready meant being early.
. . .
On the 13th, after the Knicks beat the Magic on the road for their fifth straight win, Charles Barkley brought it up during the broadcast.
"Hey, fellas," Barkley said with a grin. "Lin's birthday's coming up again. Think he's got another record in him this year?"
Barkley wasn't just talking as an analyst. Back in Lin Yi's rookie season, he'd bet Kenny Smith that if Lin scored 50 before his birthday, Kenny would have to kiss a donkey's ass—just like Barkley himself had once done.
Shaquille O'Neal spread his hands.
"Come on, Charles. That kind of stuff isn't scientific. It's nonsense."
Barkley and Kenny exchanged a look.
"Alright then," Barkley said, turning to Shaq. "How about a bet?"
O'Neal paused.
"…Did I just walk into something?"
Still, Shaq never backed down, and he knew the ratings loved this stuff.
"Fine. What's the bet?"
"If Lin breaks an NBA record before his birthday," Barkley said cheerfully, "you're kissing a donkey's ass on live TV."
O'Neal shot Kenny a look.
"Donkey," Kenny hurriedly clarified. "An actual donkey. Not me. Same one I kissed."
Shaq burst out laughing.
"Kenny, even if you stripped naked, I wouldn't kiss you. Alright, Charles—but let's be clear. No meaningless stat-padding records."
"Deal," Barkley said, smiling.
Shaq leaned back, glancing at the schedule. Just over ten days left. No way Lin Yi was breaking something major again.
Just wait and lose, Chuck. This is certified meme material.
Barkley, on the other hand, was absolutely convinced Lin Yi would do it again.
After all—
sharing is caring.
. . .
After starting the new season with five consecutive wins, Lin Yi was successfully named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week for the first week.
This was Lin Yi's 16th time winning the Eastern Conference Player of the Week award in his career so far. Lin Yi remembered that Kobe had won Player of the Week 33 times when he retired, and before his rebirth, LeBron James had won it 57 times.
However, in this life, the King certainly wouldn't win as many Player of the Week awards, because every time Lin Yi won one, it meant James had one less chance to win it.
James: Damn it, what happened to the West being stronger than the East?
Additionally, in the highly competitive 90s, Jordan won Player of the Week 25 times.
Many Lin fans believed that if Lin Yi could play for more than a dozen seasons in good health, the record for this award would definitely be his.
On the 15th and 16th, the Knicks defeated the Spurs and Grizzlies, respectively, in two consecutive road games in the West. With his excellent performance in the second week, Lin Yi also retained the Eastern Conference Player of the Week award.
The Knicks started the new season with another 7-0 record.
Lin Yi averaged 35.1 minutes per game, scoring 35.9 points, 12.1 rebounds, 6.2 assists, and 2.1 blocks, with a field goal percentage of 64.5%, a three-point percentage of 52.5%, and a free throw percentage of 96.4%.
Lin, for now, was in the 200 Club.
Of course, with fewer games played in the new season, the shooting percentages didn't carry much weight.
It's worth mentioning that during the Knicks' victory over the Spurs, Popovich specifically joked during the post-game interview, "Lin, keep it up, I really want to see Shaq kiss a donkey's ass."
In the new season, Duncan was selected by O'Neal for TNT's Shaqtin' a Fool. That was in the opening game against the Warriors.
Subsequently, the Warriors used a pick-and-roll to create a mismatch between Curry and Duncan. At that time, Curry made an incredible long-range three-pointer over the Stone Buddha, and Duncan's surprised expression was the reason he was selected for Shaqtin' a Fool.
In Popovich's view, O'Neal definitely put Duncan in Shaqtin' a Fool because he was jealous that Duncan was still playing so vigorously on the court. So Popovich also really wanted to see Lin Yi make that damn fat guy suffer once.
Lin Yi smiled when he was told about the interview, but did not comment. He wouldn't take such a bet to heart.
And Lin Yi always felt that Popovich was encouraging him to go crazy trying to break records, so the Spurs could continue to play it safe.
Popovich was the league's number one con artist. If you believe him, you're pretty much doomed.
However, after the Knicks returned home and defeated the Pacers on the 19th, Lin Yi really wanted O'Neal to kiss a donkey's ass.
Because that damn man actually put him on Shaqtin' a Fool.
Lin Yi, who had originally suggested that Shaq create Shaqtin' a Fool, now regretted it.
Damn it, Shaq really turned his back on me for ratings! Bros before views. Brotherhood is dead.
. . .
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