While the league was still buzzing about Lin Yi's new single-game three-point record, the Knicks returned to New York on the 26th and handled the Detroit Pistons at Madison Square Garden.
The win pushed their season record to a clean 12 and 0.
Detroit was one of the few teams playing at a slow tempo on both ends. After days of nonstop travel, the Knicks looked a little flat. The rhythm was not sharp, and the game dragged.
At a key stretch, though, the Pistons' rookie center Andre Drummond unintentionally gave the Knicks a big assist.
He kept getting fouled.
Again and again, Drummond walked to the free-throw line. Each trip looked heavier than the last. By the end of the night, the big man wore the same confused, slightly helpless expression.
You would think it was a bad thing for the Knicks, but the man finished an unbelievable 0 for 16 from the line.
On ESPN, Chris Webber could not help himself.
"Andre's got to spend some time there," Webber said. "Right now, his free-throw percentage isn't even higher than the Knicks' team three-point percentage."
The numbers made it worse. Drummond was shooting 36.4 percent on free throws that season. The Knicks were hitting 43.5 percent from deep.
Watching from the floor, Lin Yi felt a strange sense of sympathy. As someone who had once battled his own free-throw demons, he knew that kind of frustration sticks with you.
Drummond's career would later become a long fight against fouls and percentages. Even so, the talent was obvious.
In the 2016 to 2017 season, he averaged 13.6 points and 13.8 rebounds in under 30 minutes. In 2017 to 2018, when he pushed his free-throw rate up to 60 percent, his numbers jumped to 15 points and 16 boards a night.
The athleticism was real. He would even show up in a dunk contest later on.
In this game, Lin Yi survived several physical battles with him by relying on positioning and timing rather than strength.
Later in his career, after Blake Griffin arrived in Detroit, Drummond stepped back from being the centerpiece and let the team shift. That chapter would not end well due to his inconsistency.
Still, Lin Yi wondered if things might turn out differently this time around.
After the Pistons game, Knicks owner James Dolan and the front office organized an early birthday celebration for Lin Yi, who was turning 23.
What started as a warm team gathering quickly turned into chaos.
Lin Yi came prepared. While making his wish, he already knew what was coming.
The moment he blew out the candles, he took a quick Harden-style step back and avoided the ambush.
With one smooth move, he shoved Paul and Chandler face-first into the cake.
Paul popped back up, furious. He grabbed a chunk of cake and fired it back, but Lin Yi's footwork was too clean.
The shot missed and nailed Yao Ming, who had been watching with a grin.
From there, all order collapsed.
One by one, players joined in. Coaches did not escape. Even Dolan caught a hit.
Covered in cream, Paul looked up at Lin Yi.
"So," he said, "what did you wish for?"
"A wish doesn't work if you say it out loud," Lin Yi replied.
He paused, then added, "I hope I can take Chris to the Finals this season."
Paul's smile vanished. He lunged with a knee, and Lin Yi countered with an elbow.
Laughter filled the room.
The team gathered afterward for a group photo, faces still streaked with frosting.
When the pictures hit Twitter, the reaction was immediate.
"Way too childish," Curry commented under Lin Yi's post. "What are you guys, still in elementary school?"
Lin Yi laughed and replied with an old photo from Davidson. Curry stood in the center, covered in cream and clearly having the time of his life.
He tagged Curry.
"Say that again."
At home, Curry glanced at his phone while changing his daughter's diaper.
"Just wait," he muttered. "Next time we meet, I'm lighting you up."
Ayesha looked over just in time to see Curry nearly lift their daughter like a basketball.
She frowned. "She is not a basketball."
Curry froze, then quietly handed the baby over.
That night, the Chef received a serious lecture in the corner.
. . .
On the 27th, the Knicks had a full day off.
Lin Yi sat on the couch with Elizabeth sitting on him, a blanket around them. She flipped through channels with breakfast warmed on the table.
She stopped on TNT and laughed.
Lin Yi glanced over from his phone. "What now?"
The replay was already rolling. Shaquille O'Neal stood on screen, face twisted in regret, keeping his promise. The donkey stood there calmly. Shaq leaned in.
Elizabeth burst out laughing. "I still can't believe he actually did it."
Lin Yi shook his head. "That man has no dignity left. His five rings can't defend him, now."
"He lost it the moment he made the bet," she said, still laughing.
They watched the clip again. Shaq complained. Charles Barkley laughed himself out of his chair. Kenny and Ernie stood to the side, shaking their heads.
Lin Yi leaned back, relaxed, enjoying a rare, slow morning.
The doorbell rang.
Lin Yi gently placed a pouting Liz to his side while standing up. "I'll get it."
He smothered his boner before opening the door. Chris Paul stood there in a hoodie and a cap, hands in his pockets.
"Morning," Paul looked him up and down before saying teasingly. "You look well rested."
Lin Yi raised an eyebrow. "That's suspicious. Come in."
Paul stepped inside and immediately noticed the TV. "No way. Is this still on?"
Elizabeth smiled. "Replay. Again."
Paul dropped onto the couch just in time to see Shaq lean in. He groaned, then laughed. "Man really did it."
Lin Yi handed him a plate. "Eat first. Judge later."
Paul did not refuse. He took a bite of a waffle, watched the screen, and shook his head. "I came to rescue you from boredom, but this might be worth staying for."
After breakfast, Paul stood up and clapped his hands once. "Alright. Birthday boy. Get dressed."
Lin Yi frowned. "What are you planning?"
"Fun," Paul said. "That's all you need to know."
They headed out and made their way to Rucker Park. Word spread fast. Once Lin Yi stepped onto the court, people gathered around the fence.
The games were loose and loud.
Just New York basketball.
Between plays, someone shouted, "Bring that trophy back here."
Another voice followed. "Showtime and CP3 for the chip."
Lin Yi smiled and waved. "We'll try."
After a few runs, they had to leave due to paparazzi disturbances. They grabbed lunch nearby. Nothing fancy. Just food and conversation.
In the afternoon, Lin dragged Paul into the Diamond District.
Lin Yi stopped in front of a display window and studied a few bracelets.
"Think she will like it?" he asked.
Paul leaned closer. " Simple and clean. She'll like it."
Lin Yi nodded and made the purchase.
He and Paul also took pictures with fans who asked.
By late afternoon, Lin Yi checked the time. "I'm heading back."
Paul shook his head. "Not yet."
"I'm tired."
"What are you, my Grandpa?" Paul said. "Sit."
They stayed out longer than planned. Paul kept talking. Stories, jokes, nonsense. Paul finally got a message from Elizabeth at exactly six.
One word.
Now.
Paul stood up. "Alright. Let's go."
When Lin Yi returned home, the hallway lights were off.
He slowed down.
A chair lay tipped over. Something felt off.
"Elizabeth?" Lin Yi called out.
No answer.
He took one more step.
The lights snapped on.
"Surprise!"
The room exploded with sound. His teammates. Coaches. His parents. Elizabeth stood near the center, smiling. James Dolan stood off to the side, clapping.
Lin Yi froze.
Elizabeth ran to him. He pulled her into a tight hug and kissed her, once on the lips, then again on her cheek.
"Thank you," he said quietly.
Laughter and applause filled the room as Lin Yi finally let himself relax.
"How did you pull this off?" Lin pointed to his parents.
Elizabeth in Lin's Embrace pointed to Dolan.
Dolan said. "Elizabeth and I talked about this months ago. She had brought this idea to me, plus I wanted to know what you might want."
Lin Yi looked at Elizabeth, surprised.
"So, the birthday party yesterday was a cover-up?"
Dolan nodded, "Yes. She told me you never really needed anything. But she said there was one thing you missed more than anything else." He pointed to his parents
Elizabeth nodded. "You talk about them sometimes," she said softly. "After games. On the way home. About them not celebrating your birthday in a while."
Lin Yi lowered his head for a moment.
"She told me it was your parents," Dolan said. "So we made some calls."
Lin Yi stepped forward without another word and pulled Dolan into a firm hug.
"Thank you," he said. "Really."
Dolan patted his back. "Happy birthday, kid.
Lin Yi then turned to his teammates and friends, hugging them one by one. There were jokes, back slaps, and quiet congratulations mixed.
As the night went on, his parents brought out old photos.
Childhood pictures of Lin in oversized jerseys. Awkward haircuts. The man sat there, visibly embarrassed.
His teammates were having a field day. Paul was basically one with the floor, laughing his ass off.
"Why do you still have to bring the picture book?" Lin asked.
"HEEYYY, you now want question your Pa and Ma?" His father exaggerated.
"Show him whose boss, Pops."
"Man is getting too big on the New York juice."
Lin's teammates chimed in shamelessly, adding wood to the fire.
..
The party slowly wound down. One by one, people said their goodbyes. The villa emptied until only Lin Yi, his parents, and Elizabeth remained.
Elizabeth showed Lin's parents to their room and made sure everything was ready. When she returned to the master bedroom, Lin Yi was waiting for her.
She looked tired but happy.
"You really are the best girlfriend in the world," Lin Yi said sincerely. "Thank you for doing all this."
Elizabeth smiled. "I have something for you."
"I have something for you, too," he said.
She blinked. "You didn't have to."
"Go first," Lin said.
She handed him a neatly wrapped package.
Lin Yi raised an eyebrow but took it, carefully peeling the paper away and opening the box. Inside was a delicate necklace with two strings.
He lifted it out and examined it. The pendant was shaped like a heart, but a jagged line ran down the middle. Their names were etched into the metal, one on each half.
He looked up, puzzled.
Elizabeth grinned. "It's broken… so everyone can have a piece."
Lin Yi's eyes widened as he understood. When all the pieces were joined, the heart would be complete, a symbol of their connection.
"This… this is incredible," he said softly. "So will take your piece and you take mine?"
Elizabeth nodded. "Exactly. That way, we're all connected."
Lin Yi's fingers brushed hers as he held the necklace. "I'll treasure this. Will wear it in my games."
They placed their pieces on each other. They soon found themselves kissing passionately on the bed, before separately catching their breath.
"Here mine."
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box, wrapped neatly in white paper with a red ribbon.
Elizabeth untied it carefully and opened the lid.
Inside was a diamond bracelet, simple and elegant.
She covered her mouth for a moment, then looked up at him. "It's beautiful."
He leaned in and kissed her, slow and gentle.
She rested her forehead against his chest and smiled. "I love it."
. . .
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