Watching Kobe and his bodyguards depart, Su Muqing mused, "Baby, people say Kobe is very arrogant, and some media portray him as unkind, but why do I feel he's very patient?"
"You're just an NBDL player. Normally, he wouldn't bother with someone at your level, yet he's being so nice to you." His future girlfriend found a surprising tenderness in Kobe's actions.
And in truth, there was a depth to Kobe Bryant that transcended his fierce on-court persona.
While he appeared ruthless and even made seemingly incomprehensible decisions in his relentless pursuit of victory, it all stemmed from one fundamental principle: the unwavering desire to win.
To achieve greatness, he believed one had to be willing to go to any lengths. Even if it meant being labeled a "bastard" behind his back, Kobe remained unfazed.
Because on the court, he was a true competitor, a force of nature.
"Bao, that's just how the Boss is. I understand his character better. Beneath that aloof and cold-blooded exterior lies a passionate heart."
"Eh?" Su Muqing tilted her head, feigning confusion. "Baby, how do you know Kobe's personality so well? Have you ever met him before?"
"Well, not in person," Lin Feng admitted, feeling a bit awkward.
While he had never met Kobe directly, in his previous life, he had attended every one of Kobe's visits to China.
Over time, coupled with the rise of social media platforms like TikTok, fans had gained a deeper understanding of Kobe's intensely driven personality.
He was a true warrior, and everything he did was ultimately for the championship.
"Okay, baby. I'm in a good mood today. I'll take you out for a nice meal. We just signed a $750,000 contract," Lin Feng said with a playful grin.
Su Muqing rolled her eyes coquettishly and chuckled. "What kind of 'big contract' is that? Those players who earn tens of millions a year barely consider that a decent deal. Your $750,000 isn't even enough for pocket change for some of them."
"Hey... Bao, what are you talking about? Isn't $750,000 still money? We can buy some big burgers and eat our fill. Wouldn't that be delicious?"
"Delicious and satisfying, okay?" Su Muqing shook her head playfully at Lin Feng. She often found the current Lin Feng to be quite different from the quiet and reserved person he had been in the past.
He took Su Muqing to a well-known restaurant in Los Angeles. After a satisfying meal, they strolled around the city together.
With his newly signed minimum salary contract, Lin Feng was now considered middle class in Los Angeles.
He was aware that many impoverished communities existed in the United States, where some struggled to even afford basic necessities like black bread.
Lin Feng and Su Muqing enjoyed their time together until dusk before returning to his residence.
Su Muqing received a call from her mother regarding some matter, so she bid Lin Feng farewell and went back to her own home.
Shortly after returning to his residence, Lin Feng received another call from Kobe.
He quickly answered, "Boss, what's up?"
"Lin, come to the training hall tomorrow morning for group training. Don't be idle during the off-season." Kobe's demanding nature towards his teammates was well-known to Lin Feng.
However, he hadn't anticipated Kobe asking him to train together so soon after signing the minimum salary contract.
Los Angeles at 4 a.m.? The famous saying flashed through Lin Feng's mind.
Everyone knew about Kobe's legendary early morning training sessions during his No. 8 era.
Later in his career, as his body aged, he would occasionally deviate from that rigorous routine.
And according to Vanessa, Kobe suffered from narcolepsy.
The sheer willpower required for someone with narcolepsy to consistently wake up at four in the morning to train was truly remarkable.
While recalling these interesting anecdotes about Kobe from his previous life, Lin Feng asked, "Boss, what time would be suitable for me to be there? Four in the morning?"
Hmm? Hearing Lin Feng's suggestion, Kobe was amused. He paused for a moment before replying, "Okay, if you can get up at four in the morning, I don't mind training with you."
"Okay, Boss, it's settled. I'll meet you there at four o'clock. Where will we be training?"
"Staples." Kobe answered briefly and then hung up.
"It's 4 a.m. in Los Angeles, here I come!" Lin Feng put away his phone, a surge of excitement coursing through him.
He truly hadn't expected this!
One day, he and Kobe would be among those dedicated few rising before dawn in Los Angeles, heading to Staples Center for training.
...
At 3:40 a.m. the following day, Lin Feng woke up. Without even washing his face or brushing his teeth, he sped towards Staples Center in his Ford Raptor.
The early morning streets were deserted, allowing Lin Feng to reach Staples from the suburbs in just twenty minutes.
He thought he had arrived early, but as he walked into the gym, he was surprised to see Kobe already practicing his shooting.
Glancing at Lin Feng entering the arena, Kobe said expressionlessly, "You've been late for five minutes since you walked in. It's now 4:05."
Huh? Lin Feng subconsciously checked the time on his phone. Sure enough, the minute hand pointed to 4:05.
"this…" Lin Feng felt immediately embarrassed, secretly admiring Kobe's incredible punctuality. No wonder he was a global superstar.
Based on this discipline alone, he had already surpassed countless mediocre individuals.
"Start practicing your shooting. You're actually quite good," Kobe said with a slight smile. "My teammates used to arrive around 7 a.m., but you made it to the stadium at 4:05 on your first day with the Lakers. I truly admire your dedication."
"Thank you for your praise, Boss," Lin Feng replied, returning the smile.
"First, you'll take the ball and make 100 three-pointers. If you miss, you'll do 100 free throws." Kobe tossed the ball to Lin Feng, instructing him on his shooting drill. He had to sink 100 three-pointers; any miss would be penalized with 100 free throws.
Lin Feng caught the ball, a chuckle escaping his lips. Kobe's training methods were certainly unique. Was this specifically tailored for him?
"Okay, Boss, just watch. I guarantee all 100 of these three-pointers will go in."
"I hope you're not exaggerating," Kobe said, observing from nearby. Though his expression was serious, a hint of admiration flickered in his eyes.
Ever since he had started watching Lin Feng play, Kobe had sensed that this Chinese kid had the potential to become a great player.
Their playing styles shared a similar intensity. Lin Feng fought hard on the court, never missing an opportunity, relentlessly pursuing rebounds, and maintaining unwavering focus on defense.
Attitude! Kobe valued attitude above all else. He recognized Lin Feng's positive approach. As for Lin Feng's basketball skills, they were already superior to many NBA players.
"Swish!"
"Swish!"
"Swish!"
Just as Kobe was lost in thought, Lin Feng began shooting.
His aim was remarkably accurate. His first three shots all went cleanly through the net.
After sinking thirty consecutive three-pointers, the smile on Kobe's face became more pronounced.
This kid is good. Thirty consecutive three-pointers. His consistency is impressive.
"Keep shooting. You still have seventy more. If you make all seventy, I'll treat you to breakfast after sunrise," Kobe encouraged Lin Feng.