Larry Bird gave a victory speech on television overnight.

"...This is a huge success in my professional career. To be honest, I’ve been working on this since April. I couldn’t wait to bring Jack to Indiana. Indiana needs player number 33, which is why we prohibited anyone from wearing the number 33 jersey before the new season even started."

"I am very grateful to Kenny, El, Justin... for their outstanding contributions to the team. I am proud of the work they have done in Indiana."

"Now, I want to introduce our new leader to all the Pacers fans. Jack Su! You can call him Little Sheep Su Xi, you can call him ’The Law,’ or you can call him ’Su,’ like I do. He is the only player in NCAA history to get a ’super’ quadruple-double in the finals, and the first-ever Finals MOP to come off the bench."

"He broke NBA historical records. He’s the fastest player to get a quadruple-double, the youngest player to get a quadruple-double, and the player with the most triple-doubles this season. He is also the most efficient player this season. And he’s... the only rookie in NBA history to be named Player of the Week in his very first week!"

"Our future is bright!!"

Larry Bird’s pride filled the entire television screen as he smugly announced his brilliant move to the whole world.

Isaiah Thomas and James Dolan sat dumbstruck in front of the television.

They had met up after the trade happened.

They never dreamed the Cavaliers would trade with the Pacers. They had even sent them an email saying: Name your price!

’Didn’t they understand?’

Isaiah Thomas and James Dolan couldn’t figure out what the Cavaliers were thinking. ’Are they taking pity on us? Do they not want to screw us over anymore?’

’Do they think we have enough bad contracts already, so they didn’t want to send us another one?’

"Wait a minute. Bird said he wanted to bring Jack to Indiana back in April. I was the Pacers’ general manager back then."

Thomas suddenly came to his senses. He felt like he’d been cuckolded.

He remembered watching the Finals. Back then, Bird had pretended to agree with Jordan, saying Su Xi was worthless.

’What a cunning old bastard.’

Isaiah Thomas ground his teeth in hatred.

"I’m so angry I could hire mercenaries to snatch Jack back from Indiana!" James Dolan trembled with rage. He had never in his life wanted to acquire a player this badly.

Isaiah Thomas took two deep breaths, suppressing the feeling of being betrayed. He turned to placate his boss. "Don’t worry. I heard Jack’s new contract with the Pacers was changed to two years, a second-round rookie deal. Sooner or later, we’ll rescue Jack from that cunning old bastard Bird. He’s not a good guy. Now that he has Jack, he’ll exploit him to death. Not like us."

’Two years!’

James Dolan sighed.

He was miserable. "Cleveland is just a bunch of ignorant pigs."

...

Su Xi’s plane arrived in Los Angeles. This was the meeting place he had arranged with the Pacers, as the team’s road trip had just brought them to the City of Angels.

In the day following the trade, the entire United States was discussing the three-team deal.

The buzz was off the charts.

And the opinions were all over the place.

When Su Xi arrived in Los Angeles, Huang Xiaoman came to pick him up from the airport. Huang Xiaoman had been in California handling Su Xi’s investments and negotiating sponsorship contracts for him back in China.

Previously, Su Xi had told Huang Xiaoman to stall on the domestic sponsorships, feeling that the contracts from back home could be worth even more.

But now, with Su Xi’s investment company planning a major investment in a Chinese shopping website, the amount was substantial.

Recently, Su Xi’s investment company had invested in some internet startups and purchased over 2 million USD worth of Apple Inc. stock. Now, their cash on hand was not particularly abundant.

Therefore, Su Xi needed more money.

Huang Xiaoman told Su Xi, "Right now in China, there are two internet companies with the potential to become true global giants. We’ve missed some opportunities, but it’s still not too late. I estimate that if we can inject twenty to thirty million USD between now and next September, the future returns will be substantial."

But right now, Su Xi didn’t have that much money on hand.

That’s why Su Xi needed to win the championship. Winning the championship meant he would have the money to acquire a large number of shares from that company in South Africa. Huang Xiaoman had been in negotiations, and she was also monitoring the financing situation of another shopping platform. SoftBank was currently initiating a 100 million USD financing round, and Huang Xiaoman hoped to get in on it.

When it came to investments in China, Su Xi had always trusted Huang Xiaoman. He not only trusted her abilities but also the connections she had beyond her skills.

It was a wild afternoon.

Su Xi and Huang Xiaoman were tangled together in passion.

Then, as evening fell.

Su Xi headed to a luxurious conference room at the Hilton Hotel, where the Pacers were holding a grand press conference for him.

Larry Bird and the team owner both flew in from Indiana, a clear sign of how much the Pacers valued Su Xi.

In the car on the way to the Hilton Hotel, Huang Xiaoman showed Su Xi some of the public opinion from back in China.

The official and mainstream media outlets had a positive view of the trade, believing that Su Xi would be better off with the Pacers.

But on some forums, there were always some "clear-headed independent thinkers" posting comments that made one frown.

Huang Xiaoman read a few of them to Su Xi.

"This is what happens when you go against the Little Emperor. Su Xi just thinks too highly of himself. He thought he could be compared to James, but he’s not even close. And now look, he’s been sold off with his tail between his legs."

"When you’re out in the world, you have to keep a low profile, be cautious. What’s so bad about being number two? If it were me, I’d definitely just follow James and live the good life."

"Su Xi learned his lesson about being arrogant. But a leopard can’t change its spots. I don’t think his career with the Pacers will be very long, nor will it be successful. I heard Artest even broke Jordan’s ribs. He’s not as ’civilized’ as James..."

"..."

After hearing this, Su Xi found it absurd. He said, "Why do these people always think of themselves as inferior? Why are they unwilling to believe in their own countrymen? In all of history, isn’t it only in the last few decades that we haven’t been number one in the world?"

Huang Xiaoman shrugged, she also felt indignant. "Some of them always imagine foreign countries as wonderful places, but they’ve never actually been abroad. They’ve been mentally subservient for so long that they can’t stand up straight in front of foreigners. But when it comes to their own countrymen, they’re full of criticism and demand perfection."

Su Xi waved his hand. He felt uncomfortable and didn’t want to discuss the topic anymore.

When he entered the hotel conference room, a hundred media outlets aimed their cameras at him. The sound of shutters was incessant, and the camera flashes never stopped.

At the press conference, Larry Bird personally handed Su Xi the number 33 jersey, the same number he wore in Boston. His greatest regret was not leading his home state of Indiana to a championship, and now he was passing that hope on to Su Xi.

Su Xi had specifically chosen to come here for a championship. Because he now faced three major dilemmas, all of which could be solved by winning a title.

He needed money. His Nike contract stipulated an extra 20 million USD if he won the Finals MVP.

He needed to improve. According to Bird’s obsession, as long as he won the championship, Su Xi would be able to obtain his "super distance talent."

The Little Elf needed energy, and he had to win a championship within five years.

Therefore, Su Xi had no other choice.

Reggie Miller, representing the players, welcomed Su Xi’s arrival. He got straight to the point at the press conference, saying, "I believe Jack will take on the responsibility of being the team’s core. Here, he won’t have to worry about a jealous small forward. Because I’m not some eighteen or nineteen-year-old kid who gets jealous and competitive."

In Chinese physiognomy, Reggie Miller’s face would be described as having sharp jaws, monkey-like cheeks, and the beak of a thunder god. When a person like that gets sarcastic, their words can be lethal.

Right off the bat, he put the "core player" hat on Su Xi’s head. Then, he smoothly raised his gun and fired a shot at the Chosen One, James.

He was pointing out that Su Xi was traded because of James’s jealousy.

Afterward, Head Coach Carlisle also stated, "I’m not worried about Jack’s tactical integration. I know his playstyle inside and out. I believe he can help the team improve the moment he joins. He and Ron will become our two most important perimeter stoppers. I can’t imagine any team’s backcourt escaping their lockdown."

Finally, Larry Bird also declared, "Our goal is to contend for the championship. Two titles in three years!"

Bird shouted the slogan.

As soon as this slogan was uttered, the room erupted with excitement.

After all, that was a concrete number. Concrete numbers are the easiest way to get embarrassed, but also the easiest way to flex.

In his playing days, Larry Bird was the king of trash talk. Now that he’s in management, can he bring back that legendary swagger?

Bird was very satisfied with the reporters’ reactions.

He enjoyed this feeling of ’uproar’ and ’shock’.

Next, a reporter asked Su Xi, "Jack, now that you’ve come to Indiana, your teammates, coach, and president all have high hopes for you. So, what is your goal? Do you think you can help the Pacers achieve their championship dream?"

"First, let me correct one thing," Su Xi said seriously. "I’m not here to *help* the Pacers. I *am* a Pacer. We are one team."

The moment Su Xi said this, Carlisle, Bird, and Miller all applauded at the same time.

The room erupted in thunderous applause.

"Second, regarding the championship. I don’t think you should be asking us. You should be asking the other teams that intend to compete for the title. Ask them if they’re confident they can take the trophy from us."

Su Xi said calmly.

The room was in an uproar!

If you want to see arrogance, this was it.

First, the president called for two titles in three years.

Then, the new ’core’ player declares: You should go ask the other teams if they’re confident.

He was acting as if the championship was already in the bag.

Bird nodded. He liked Su Xi’s powerful confidence and his aura of ever-present swagger.

He looked at Su Xi with admiration. He had found the right person.

Miller was also filled with joy, thinking, ’After all these years, I finally have a chance to wear the ultimate prize: a championship ring.’