Rekindling the dream of becoming a star

Chapter 63 See you in America

"Wu Zhen, how did you know?"

"Someone asked me what my level is." Wu Zhen did not give a direct answer. He walked towards a row of shops next to the school gate. One of the shops had a few chairs placed in the open space outside the store.

Seeing Wu Zhen sitting down, Chen Fang had no choice but to sit down as well.

"Do you think you can play professionally?" Wu Zhen asked.

"Of course, that's my goal."

"Be a rotation player, a substitute? Or a main player?" Wu Zhen asked.

Chen Fang didn't understand what Wu Zhen wanted to express, so he chose his words carefully: "I don't make any assumptions about this, just work hard."

Wu Zhen shook his head, looking disappointed.

"If you think so, then there is no need for us to continue chatting." After saying that, Wu Zhen stood up.

"Wait." Chen Fang quickly stood up and tried to keep him.

"I am indeed confused and I hope to get more advice, Wu Zhen. Although we have not met, I recognize your strength and believe in your insights."

Wu Zhen sat down again, he still had that cold expression and rarely showed any emotional changes.

"You first think about how the club can help you."

"What are you currently lacking?"

"What do you need most?"

"Think carefully about these three questions."

Chen Fang fell into deep thought, while Wu Zhen was waiting calmly.

"What the club can give me is high-level competitions and complete training."

"What I lack now is physical improvement, mainly in terms of confrontation."

"What I need most is a team to support my improvement."

Wu Zhen nodded: "It seems that you know it very well. Now think about it, will the club give you these?"

"You won't give it to me?" Chen Fang asked back.

"Yes, but not much. You can try to ask them and see if their plans for you are consistent with what you think."

"I feel like you understand a lot, can you help me clear this up?"

Wu Zhen said: "I understand it very well. I came from a club, and I know very well what youth training in China is like."

"Are you free now?"

"No, half of my ownership is in the hands of the club."

My heart was shocked: "Half?"

Chen Fang was not surprised that Wu Zhen was a youth training student, because with his level, it would be even more strange if he wasn't.

"Were you sent here too?"

"You're mistaken. I'm here because Wu Zi is here. Didn't she tell you?"

When Wu Zhen was mentioned, Chen Fang was a little surprised: "No."

"As for why I'm in Yuehu, it's because Yuehu is willing to pay the ransom money to buy me out from the club. We agreed that if I lead Yuehu to the national tournament, they will pay the remaining half of the ownership."

So that's it! Yuehu is like spending money to find foreign aid.

"Domestic clubs are the best choice for most people, but not for me, including you."

"There are things the club will not say or admit."

"Besides the low level of individual training, they also have to consider the balance. It is impossible for them to treat you specially and destroy the team atmosphere."

"Like you said, we all need a team to serve us. Yuehu is certainly not as good as a club, but when it can serve me alone, no one dares to complain."

"Your position in Dongsheng was good enough, but Dongsheng's resources cannot do this."

"I've said enough today. Whether you understand or not is up to you."

"I'm leaving." Wu Zhen said and stood up, but was stopped by Chen Fang again.

"That's all you came here to tell me? Why? Reasons!"

"Reason?" Wu Zhen asked expressionlessly, "Why do you need a reason?"

Seeing Chen Fang's determined expression, Wu Zhen nodded: "I am too vulgar."

"I don't want to see someone who has the hope of going further being delayed." Wu Zhen said, "I'm sorry that I couldn't help Lu Yun."

"I am leaving the club and going my own way. If Yuehu can't keep up with me one day, I will go to Meigao. I know your bone structure and you have better talent than me. I hope you won't be held back."

"You think too highly of me."

"No, it's you who don't know your own abilities."

"Your basketball IQ, your skills, and your dynamic talent, combined together, are T0 level in China. If you were in the United States now, you would also be a three-star high school student."

"So, apart from your height and strength, you have everything you need to compete in the best leagues. You should strive for it like me."

"The best league?" Chen Fang was shocked. He didn't expect Wu Zhen's goal to be so lofty.

"The upper limit of domestic youth training cannot reach the NBA, don't you know?" Wu Zhen shook his head. He felt sorry for Chen Fang, who was obviously talented but had no ambition.

"NBA?" Chen Fang was stunned.

"Don't you even dare to think about it?" Wu Zhen's eyes were full of mockery.

Chen Fang shook his head: "I really haven't thought about it. My goal is to become a professional in China. The NBA is far away from me."

Wu Zhen: "You have one year left. After that, you will never have a chance to enter the NBA. Before you turn 18, you must either become a four-star high school student in the US and enter the D1 league to make a breakthrough. Or you must spend two years in the CBA to become a foreign player, averaging 25+ points per game. Otherwise, you will sink. There will be talented people surpassing you, and when you look at their backs, all you can see is your former self."

"Your NBA draft color is fading every second, please cherish it."

After saying that, Wu Zhen turned around and left. Looking at his receding figure, Chen Fang really wanted to say "see you in America", but reason stopped him.

Is it heroes appreciating heroes?
Wu Zhen still overestimated himself.

The two talked so much when they met, but Wu Zhen didn't mention the upcoming semi-finals at all, as if it was an extremely unimportant game.

For a moment, Chen Fang was stunned.

Recalling that in order to join the school team, he denounced the entire Dongsheng team. After his rebirth, he despised all the street basketball players in Nanyang. In the game, he looked down on every opponent.

When he stood on the mountain and felt that he was taking it for granted, Chen Fang was satisfied. He looked back at the CBA mountain behind him, thinking that if he climbed up to the top, he would have no regrets in his life and would be full of joy.

But I only regarded the towering mountain above the clouds on the horizon as scenery, and this thought had never crossed my mind.

Am I a climber?

They are all mountains, why not climb them?

Thinking of Wu Zhen's eyes, Chen Fang felt ashamed.

He is a real mountaineer. Every mountain he climbs now is a preparation for the mountain above the clouds in the sky.

Am I?
Chen Fang asked himself.

With such thoughts in mind, Chen Fang returned to Dongsheng Stadium. Everyone was training, and when they saw Chen Fang appear, they all stopped.

The competition will be held tomorrow, and Captain Chen should call everyone to a meeting.

But unusually, Chen Fang didn't do that. He just sat there and didn't say anything.

Yue Gang came over and whispered, "Are you still angry?"

"Captain, you misunderstood. I was thinking about something else. You guys go train first. I'm thinking about something."

Yue Gang thought that Chen Fang was under pressure because he had to face Lake Tai, so he didn't say much.

Sun Lexian watched for a long time, and seeing that Chen Fang didn't move, he had no choice but to come over and say, "Hey, I did let the cat out of the bag, so go ahead and scold me if you want."

"You're overthinking. This is nothing."

Sun Lexian had no choice but to walk away, but was stopped by Chen Fang.

"I have a few words to say."

Seeing Sun Lexian sitting down again, Chen Fang asked, "Do you like basketball?" "Of course." Sun Lexian thought without hesitation, and then wondered, "Why would you ask such a vulgar question?"

"Don't ask me yet, just keep answering me. Do you like being a match analyst?"

"Of course. I think it's funny."

"Has anyone ever praised you for your talent in this area?"

Sun Lexian recalled carefully: "It seems not."

"Now I think you have talent, do you believe it?"

"It's not about belief or not. I just think I have talent in this area and I don't need anyone else's recognition."

Chen Fang didn't expect Sun Lexian to answer like this. He didn't have time to think about it and continued, "So what do you think about this?"

"Ideas? What do you mean?"

"Like, for example, going to a professional club to do this? If someone invites you now."

"Go, why not? You can make money and do what you like. Only a fool would not go."

"Now, if I think you have the talent to be an analyst in the NBA, what would you think?"

"What do you think?" Sun Lexian smiled: "Brother, this is my dream. Although I have never told anyone, I have fantasized about it."

"Have you thought about it?"

"Of course, why not? Thinking about analyzing NBA stars, finding out their weaknesses and instincts, and then helping the team win the game is the most satisfying thing."

As if thinking Chen Fang didn't believe him, Sun Lexian continued, "Isn't there a saying that a soldier who doesn't want to be a general is not a good soldier? Do what you like, why not pursue the highest mountain?"

"If you like singing, do you only want to sing in the county? Many people who sing in bars dream of becoming big stars all the time. If you have talent, just go for it, with your eyes closed."

"Aren't you afraid of being laughed at?" Chen Fang asked.

Sun Lexian sneered and said, "Is there anything more painful than laughing at yourself in this world?"

"When someone else makes fun of you, just cover your ears and hide away from them. But if someone is making fun of you and you look down on yourself, how can you hide from them?"

"Thank you." Chen Fang stood up and walked out of the court alone.

Yue Gang came over and asked, "Old Sun, what did Chen Fang talk to you about?"

"It's incomprehensible. Talking about dreams is speechless." Sun Lexian waved his hand: "You guys continue to practice. Even if Taihu plays rogue, we are not bad. Just play at your own pace."

Yue Gang sighed: "You know everything?"

"Nonsense, you wanted to buy information from me in the first place. Do you think I didn't know?" Sun Lexian said disdainfully.

"That's right, what do you think?"

"Fight, do it, Yue Gang, do you have the same enthusiasm as before?" Sun Lexian asked.

Yue Gang was choked and his face turned slightly red.

"Don't be scared by the youth team, they are just a little taller and a little stronger, it's nothing special."

"If I refute again, I'll seem like a coward." Yue Gang said bitterly.

"That's right. I think the problem now is Chen Fang, not Tai Hu. He has something on his mind these past two days. If we don't sort it out before the fight, we won't stand a chance at all."

"I know, but how do we explain this? I think it's hard for us to say."

"Think of a way and see who can say it."

Yue Gang thought about it and patted his thigh: "Got it."

※※※※

Chen Kao was in the guard room and called Wang Yuan on the phone.

"Uncle, it's me, where are you?"

"Okay, I'll wait for you."

After hanging up the phone, Chen Fang sat in the guard room waiting. The old man rolled the cigarette slowly and finally put it in his mouth and swiped it with his tongue. The hand-rolled big-butt cigarette was done.

"I've been like a star lately, always going in and out, very busy."

"Sir, please stop making fun of me."

"Huh, I didn't know that people of your age would be so proud of their achievements. Kid, let me tell you, these are all empty words. Only academic achievements are your own."

"I know, uncle." Chen Fang was helpless and could only hope that Uncle Wang could come earlier.

"I know you won't listen, but I have to say what I have to say. Just be down-to-earth."

Perhaps touched by this sentence, Chen Fang wanted to get some insights from the old man, so he said: "Uncle, do you have a dream you want to pursue?"

“That depends on how far your dream goes.”

“What if it’s far away?”

"Do you think you can catch up?"

"I don't know now."

"Haha." The old man laughed: "You haven't even tried to catch up, so how do you know if you can catch up?"

These words were like a sharp sword, piercing Chen Fang's head straight into his heart.

Old Man Liu's words echoed in my ears: "Being a down-to-earth person requires a clear understanding of yourself after trying, knowing where your own limits are, and then giving up unrealistic fantasies."

“Sometimes, the dreams and fantasies you talk about need to be put into practice to be distinguished.”

"I didn't have much education. I once thought about becoming a criminal policeman, hoping to eliminate thieves from the world. But later I found that I wasn't that smart. I needed to think for several days before I could understand a simple thing."

"So, I gave up the idea of becoming a policeman and just did my security work conscientiously. I didn't let any strangers in, and I didn't let any familiar people out. I can do this job strictly."

Chen Fang suddenly stood up, held Uncle Liu's hand, and said with joy: "Uncle, I understand."

"Just understand?"

"Yeah, I really understand!" Chen Fang laughed.

Old Man Liu also smiled. The familiar Chen Fang was back again.

Just then, Wang Yuan's car arrived at the school gate and honked.

"Uncle, I'm leaving now. I'll bring you a pack of cigarettes when I come back. Buddha's light."

Seeing Chen Fang getting into Wang Yuan's car, Old Man Liu laughed and scolded, "This brat!"

In the car, Chen Fang said to Wang Yuan in a firm tone: "Uncle, I just want to tell you a few things."

"Hmm? Then go ahead." Wang Yuan thought Chen Fang was going to look for Jin Yuan.

"Except for those from Shandong, reject all others."

"Huh? Are you sure? You don't want it from Jinyuan either?" Wang Yuan was shocked.

"I will not leave Shandong for now. I still have things to do."

"Shandong Expressway, Qingdao Doublestar, Sports Bureau, please make appointments with them all. All will be scheduled for tomorrow afternoon."

"Why tomorrow afternoon?"

"After I finish fighting Taihu, I will come and talk to them one by one." Chen Fang's heart was filled with endless fighting spirit.

Having had such a miserable life in his previous life, Chen Fang always wanted to be stable and safe in this life, for fear of repeating the same mistakes. He had several nightmares that showed him waking up from his previous life.

But the words of Wu Zhen, Sun Lexian and Old Man Liu made him understand everything completely.

We have been reborn, so why should we be afraid?
If you want to make your dream come true, then you should make your biggest dream come true!
You will know whether you are cut out for this by trying it.

No, I will just play CUBA steadily, save money and not spend it recklessly, and take care of my parents quietly. It is worth living my life like this.

All members of the youth training team, that's great, this touchstone is provided for everyone to see whether I, Chen Fang, am capable enough to make the decision, and then we can negotiate terms.

Use the most amazing performance on the court to get the best contract.

Wu Zhen, see you in America!

　Some things need to be explained properly to pave the way for the subsequent plot. There are about seven chapters left in the Nanyang chapter, and it will basically be after the National Day holiday, and the daily update will resume twice.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)