Chapter 126: Chapter 45: Can’t We Discuss the Triangle Offense in a Hotel Room?

This was Su Xi’s crowning achievement of the game.

But to the reporters, it obviously couldn’t compare to Alba giving him a French kiss with her arms around his neck.

"There’s nothing to say," Su Xi replied when asked about the gossip again. "Just write what you saw."

"Here at the arena, I only answer questions about basketball."

Su Xi made his stance perfectly clear.

That night, reporters photographed him and Jessica Alba getting a room at the Hilton Hotel. A paparazzo even caught him in the lobby and asked, "Hey, Jack, what are you two up to?"

"We’re going to study the Lakers’ triangle offense."

Su Xi said, brushing him off.

He led Jessica Alba into the elevator.

...

"Since being chosen by James Cameron from over 1,000 candidates to star in the Fox sci-fi series *Dark Angel*, Jessica Alba has become one of Hollywood’s most sought-after actresses. Her career is on a meteoric rise."

"However, this star—recently voted the fifth-sexiest woman in the world—has been captured by a rising star from the NBA..."

"Little Sheep Su Xi: an NCAA superstar and Final Four MOP. He just scored a super quadruple-double in his NBA debut. Signed by Nike, he’s considered a rising star of the new NBA generation and the league’s most handsome man. His photo on the cover of *Playboy* has women drooling..."

"And now, the world’s fifth-sexiest woman and the *Playboy* cover stud have come together..."

The television in the presidential suite was playing Hollywood news while Su Xi and Jessica battled it out in the bedroom. Su Xi’s hands gripped Jessica’s shoulders as she shook... It was a powerful triangle.

The triangle offense.

Su Xi was a man of his word.

After the MTV anchorwoman finished the report, the shot cut back to the studio, where several sexy female commentators were discussing the news.

"Oh, my God! At first, I was wondering what lucky bastard landed a woman like Jessica Alba. I mean, she’s the super-sexy Max Guevara from *Dark Angel*! But then I saw Little Sheep Su Xi’s profile and his pictures in *Playboy*... dear God, I couldn’t keep my legs together."

"I guarantee you, that man is absolutely huge and strong. And on top of that, he’s so handsome, a real treat for the eyes. Jessica’s taste in men is even better than her taste in scripts! I’m so jealous."

"Hey, Little Sheep Su Xi! Dump Jessica and date me! I can promise you I know more tricks than she does, and I swallow deeper!"

"How can I get my hands on some Cavaliers tickets...?"

"..."

These women drooling over Su Xi on the late-night show ignited Jessica’s vanity and competitive spirit.

She pulled out all the stops.

And so, at three in the morning in Los Angeles, Su Xi finally maxed out his Super Flexibility Talent!

At 192.5 cm tall, he was now as flexible as Jessica Alba, who had been training her body with dance since she was a child.

This was an incredible achievement. No one in the history of the NBA was more flexible than him; even the God of Basketball, Michael Jordan, wasn’t even close.

Maxing out his Flexibility also boosted his Agility Talent from 76 to 79. While still not at the level of an average NBA guard, when combined with his max-level Flexibility, what Su Xi could now accomplish on the defensive end increased dramatically.

In addition, his Coordination Talent also rose from 73 to 75, moving from ’Elite’ to ’Excellent’. ’It’s still not at the level of an average NBA guard,’ Su Xi thought, ’but progress is progress.’

Su Xi wasn’t worried.

Su Xi’s current Talent stats were as follows:

Explosiveness Talent: 95

Strength Talent: 93

Speed Talent: 89

Vertical Leap Talent: 76

Flexibility Talent: 100

Agility Talent: 79

Coordination Talent: 75

Stamina Talent: 75 (Excellent Tier, incredibly fast recovery)

...

When Su Xi got back to the team hotel around noon the next day, Boozer ran over with a wicked grin. "Hey, Jack," he said. "How’d that triangle offense practice go last night? Did you get to try out that ’riding the bicycle from behind’ move I told you about?"

Su Xi was confused for a moment.

Then he saw the banter from the TNT studio.

"Hey, Charles, have you ever seen a rookie this hardworking? Pulling an all-nighter at a hotel to study the triangle offense," Kenny Smith said on TV, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "I guarantee he’s going to be unstoppable in the next game. Trust me, this kid came prepared."

The host, Earl Johnson, added, "It looks like Jack is adapting to the world of fame and fortune faster than other rookies. While his peers are blowing money in nightclubs, he’s already making a name for himself in Hollywood. I heard his search volume on Google exploded last night. The photos from his *Playboy* shoot are all over the internet, and that issue is being resold for ten times its original price."

"So many women have their eyes on this handsome young man with a perfect physique."

"I hear Hollywood studios are even inviting him to be in movies... When you’re that handsome, you can do whatever you want."

Earl Johnson sighed wistfully. He then glanced at the two ugly mugs beside him, his eyes clearly saying, *’And this is why you two can only sit here and make a living by running your mouths.’*

"Earl, I’d like to correct you on one thing," Barkley added. "The reason Jack isn’t out blowing money at nightclubs isn’t for lack of trying—it’s because he’s only 19. A lot of places won’t even let him drink." Then he turned to his colleague. "Kenny, I know you’re upset about your terrible prediction for the first game. You feel like Jack made you eat your words and that your professionalism is being questioned. But there’s no need to be so bitter."