boyutpedia Chapter 27 A 4 AM Date in Los Angeles
Chapter 27 A 4 AM Date in Los Angeles
Los Angeles, Beverly Hilton Hotel.
As a famously glamorous city in the United States, Los Angeles is both a paradise and a graveyard for NBA players.
Countless visiting players get lost in the Hollywood night, only to find their legs trembling like a newborn giraffe at the Staples Center the next day.
"Knock knock knock!"
Li Xiangbei had just put down his suitcase when there was a deafening knocking on the door.
As soon as he opened the door, a strong scent of cologne hit him, almost making Li Xiangbei sneeze.
Zach Randolph, wearing an extremely flashy sequined shirt and two large gold chains around his neck, stood excitedly at the door.
"Hey! Lee! Stop packing!" Randolph waved a VIP card in his hand. "Tonight we're going to 'The Highlands'! It's the hottest nightclub in Hollywood! I heard Megan Fox, who just finished filming 'Transformers,' is there tonight too! Hurry up and change, I'll show you what a Los Angeles night is like!"
Li Xiangbei shook his head helplessly, turned around and went back to the bedside to continue organizing the backpack full of training equipment.
"I'm not going."
Li Xiangbei's voice was as calm as that of an ascetic.
"Zach, do you know why Kobe won three championships while you can only get a big contract and throw money around in nightclubs?"
Randolph paused for a moment, then asked, "Why? Because he has Shaq?"
"No." Li Xiangbei stuffed the brand-new "Bad Guy Generation" shoes into his bag and zipped it up. "Because Kobe is already tying his shoelaces and getting ready to train. And you're still spraying cologne into your armpits."
Randolph's face stiffened for a moment, then he waved his hand in a fit of embarrassment and anger.
"Get lost! You training maniac who doesn't know how to enjoy life! We're going to lose to the Lakers tomorrow anyway, and Kobe is notoriously vengeful; he'll definitely tear you to pieces! Don't blame me for not taking you out for some fun then!"
After saying that, Randolph walked away grumbling, muttering, "Serves you right for being famous. You don't even chase girls. You might as well play basketball your whole life."
Li Xiangbei looked at the closed door and smiled.
"Lose? Who said we were bound to lose?"
……
7:00 PM. Santa Monica Beach Boulevard.
A black Aston Martin sped along the coastal highway.
The driver was none other than Scarlett Janssen, who is currently in Los Angeles preparing for the filming of "Iron Man 2".
She wore sunglasses, and the sea breeze tousled her blonde hair—a sight that could make any man's heart race.
"You know what? Right now, all the radio stations in Los Angeles are criticizing you."
Scarlett held the steering wheel with one hand and turned to look at Li Xiangbei sitting in the passenger seat.
"They said your All-Star votes were an insult to Kobe. They said you got them by overwhelming the Lakers with sheer numbers. Some radical Lakers fans even started an online petition demanding that Kobe shut you down completely tomorrow."
Scarlett took off her sunglasses, revealing a hint of playfulness and inquiry in her deep blue eyes.
"Are you scared, you little rascal? This is Kobe's territory."
Li Xiangbei looked out the window. On the giant "GG" sign by the roadside, Kobe Bryant was biting his jersey collar, his eyes fiercely fixed on the city. He was the king of Los Angeles, the Black Mamba.
"Afraid?"
Li Xiangbei chuckled and adjusted his chair to make himself more comfortable.
"I'm a villain, Scarlett. What villains love to do most is go to someone else's turf and cause trouble."
"It would be so boring if everyone liked me. I'd much rather hear the sound of 20,000 people at Staples Center wanting to kill me but failing."
Scarlett looked at the man in front of her, whose confidence bordered on arrogance, and her admiration deepened.
"Alright. Since you're so confident..."
Scarlett suddenly slammed on the brakes, bringing the car to a smooth stop in front of a seaside restaurant. She turned around, leaning slightly forward, her alluring aura instantly enveloping Li Xiangbei.
"If you really do beat Kobe tomorrow, beat that fanatic..."
Scarlett stretched out her finger and gently stroked Li Xiangbei's chin.
"Then you can do whatever you want."
Li Xiangbei's Adam's apple bobbed as he looked at the red lips so close to his face.
This is not just a reward, it's the ultimate stimulant.
"Remember what you said." Li Xiangbei unbuckled his seatbelt. "Don't beg for mercy later."
……
3:55 AM.
Los Angeles, a private high-end training facility.
This training facility, located near Hollywood, has better facilities than many other teams. It was specifically rented by Bill Duffy for Li Xiangbei to avoid harassment from the media and fans.
At this time, the whole of Los Angeles was still asleep.
But the training hall was already brightly lit.
"Swish! Swish! Swish!"
The sound of a basketball swishing through the net echoed in the empty arena.
Li Xiangbei has been practicing for half an hour. He's trying to find his rhythm and get into the right mindset.
[System notification: Today's guaranteed winning amount has been refreshed.]
Just then, the training hall door was pushed open.
A series of steady and powerful footsteps approached.
Li Xiangbei stopped what he was doing and turned around.
A man wearing a purple Lakers training uniform, headphones, and with a sinister expression that looked like he had just killed someone walked in.
He was holding a basketball, his eyes as cold as ice.
Kobe Bryant.
Their gazes met in mid-air, as if sparks were flying.
Kobe clearly hadn't expected anyone else to be there. He took off his headphones, frowned, and looked at Li Xiangbei, his tone unfriendly:
"This is the time period I've been renting for a long time."
This is the Black Mamba's territorial instinct. In Los Angeles, 4 a.m. is his sacred time.
Li Xiangbei did not back down at all. He raised his wrist and pointed to his watch.
"It's 3:55 now, Kobe."
Li Xiangbei's voice was calm yet powerful.
"Your session starts at 4 o'clock. I have 5 minutes left."
Kobe paused for a moment.
Anyone else would have run away in terror at the sight of his murderous expression. But this kid... he's actually timing him?
Kobe didn't say anything, nor did he shoo anyone away.
He simply tucked the ball between his waistband, walked to the sidelines, crossed his arms, and looked at Li Xiangbei. His eyes seemed to say, "Fine, I'll give you five minutes. Let's see what tricks you can pull off."
This kind of silent pressure is more terrifying than any trash talk.
Li Xiangbei took a deep breath.
Being watched by Kobe while shooting? That's a treatment only Finals opponents get.
Li Xiangbei took the ball and walked to the center circle logo.
He wasn't looking at the basket; he was just looking at Kobe on the sidelines.
Then, jump and shoot.
The movements were precise, and the arc was perfect.
"brush!"
Hollow-core netting.
Li Xiangbei ran over to retrieve the ball and then returned to the Logo.
Cast again.
"brush!"
Five in a row. All three are Super Far logos. All are hollow.
Throughout the entire process, Li Xiangbei didn't pause or hesitate for a moment. He was demonstrating his shooting range to Kobe, and also demonstrating his determination.
After throwing the fifth ball, Li Xiangbei picked it up and glanced at his watch.
4: 00.
Not a single point off.
He walked up to Kobe and threw the ball he was holding to him.
It's 4 o'clock.
Li Xiangbei looked at Kobe's still cold eyes.
"Your Los Angeles morning is yours now."
Li Xiangbei picked up a towel, wiped his sweat, slung his training bag over his shoulder, and walked towards the door.
Just as they were passing each other, he stopped and turned his head.
"However, Kobe, after tonight, Staples Center might temporarily belong to the Lee family."
Kobe caught the basketball, which was still warm, and his lips twitched violently.
That wasn't anger; it was the excitement of encountering a true opponent. It was a bloodthirsty smile.
"That's interesting."
Kobe's deep, hoarse voice echoed through the empty arena.
"I hope you can shoot just as accurately against my defense."
"Don't let me down, you scoundrel."
Li Xiangbei didn't turn around, but simply raised his right hand and waved before walking into the pre-dawn darkness of Los Angeles.
War is imminent.