Just before the game started, a TNT sideline reporter finally got her chance to interview Su Xi. She quickly asked him three simple questions.

"Jack, when you challenged Chris Webber, did you ever imagine a scene like this?"

The background noise was a unified chant from the crowd in Akco Arena: "Fuck! ’Su-Xi’!"

Su Xi appeared on the TNT screen with a calm expression. Viewers all across America saw his reply: "I didn’t think about any of that. I just do what I’m supposed to do."

"So, do you regret that statement? The entire basketball world is watching tonight’s game. Do you feel an immense amount of pressure?" Miller continued. She had taken a liking to the handsome, calm young man, so she deliberately avoided asking any difficult questions, even hoping to help Su Xi repair his public image.

But Su Xi shook his head, a hint of a smile even touching his handsome face. "There’s nothing to regret. The one who should have regrets is Chris Webber. He shouldn’t have made such a high-stakes bet. This game is going to leave his already declining reputation in tatters. I’m just the honest kid who pointed out that the King has no clothes."

Uh...

Cheryl Miller was stunned for a few seconds. She hadn’t expected the handsome kid to be this confident. She finally understood why so many people said he was like her brother, Reggie Miller. This guy was even more arrogant than Reggie. With disaster looming, he was still talking tough.

’There’s no saving him.’

She asked her final question. "Won’t the roaring of more than twenty thousand people in here affect your game?" 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

Su Xi smiled, flashing a smile worthy of a superstar idol. Even male fans watching on TV couldn’t help but admit, ’This guy’s good looks are almost threatening.’

And that was to say nothing of the female fans. When had the NBA ever seen a player this handsome? He looked like he could win a global beauty pageant—handsome yet rugged, profound yet elegant. He radiated a captivating masculine charm from head to toe.

’Who could possibly resist?’

Jessica Alba was still at home, recuperating in bed.

But Su Xi’s words made everyone feel that this handsome guy was also quite brazen.

"It won’t. My teammates told me this is a bit like an election for governor. The opposing camp will be at their rallies, waving their banners, chanting and roaring in unison, screaming themselves hoarse with insults."

"But when the results are in, they’ll find out who the real Governor of California is. Who’s the one in charge of them."

Su Xi’s interview aired 10 minutes before the game began.

After watching the interview, Kenny Smith yelled in the broadcast booth, "Whoa, whoa, whoa! Who does this kid think he is? Is he trying to channel Michael Jordan? Even Michael Jordan wasn’t this cocky! He’s more like Larry Bird! Only Larry Bird was ever that arrogant, but what right does this kid have to act like Larry Bird?"

Kenny Smith was clearly channeling the Kings’ fans as he passionately complained.

This delighted Bird, who was watching on TV. He raised an eyebrow. ’That’s right, the kid is just like me. Handsome, cool, domineering, and acts like he’s above everyone else.’

"Rick, Reggie, I’m liking this kid more and more," he said, turning to the other two men in the office: Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle and Pacers Team Spirit, Reggie Miller.

Carlisle frowned slightly. Reggie Miller, however, nodded excitedly. "Yeah, Larry, I like this kid too. He’s my kind of guy! To hell with Chris Webber and the whole arena cursing him out. ’I’m the Governor of California.’ When you’re playing ball, how can you do it without the swagger to flip the script and dominate the whole damn court?"

At that moment, Charles Barkley was also on TV, cheering Su Xi on. He said, "I like him! I hope he gets elected Governor of California. Even more, I hope he uses his actions to tell Chris Webber: You’re going to regret you ever made this bet!"

"That’ll only happen in his dreams."

Kenny Smith sniped from beside him.

After a commercial break on TNT, the game officially began.

The broadcast cut to the court, where players from both teams stood on either side of the center line, preparing for the tip-off.

At this point, the entire crowd was still roaring in a frenzy: "Fuck! ’Su-Xi’! Fuck! ’Su-Xi’!"

They were clearly treating it as a fun way to blow off steam.

They didn’t care at all if this would offend Su Xi.

The other Cavaliers players couldn’t help but frown as they glanced at Su Xi. But Su Xi remained as calm as ever, his face showing no emotion. It made them marvel at his mental fortitude.

’In his heart, Su Xi already saw himself as the next God of Basketball. Since he was going to dominate the entire league, what was a little heckling? Kenny Smith said Su Xi was only this arrogant because he saw himself as Michael Jordan. That wasn’t right. Su Xi saw himself as someone even greater than Jordan. Otherwise, wouldn’t getting struck by lightning have been a complete waste?’

"I’m gonna kick your fucking ass, rookie."

Before the tip-off, Chris Webber even walked up to Su Xi, snarling as he talked trash.

Su Xi paid him no mind.

Actions speak louder than words.

The Cavaliers’ starting lineup was: Su Xi, LeBron James, Ricky Davis, Carlos Boozer, and Ilgauskas.

The Kings’ starting lineup was: Mike Bibby, Doug Christie, Stojakovic, Chris Webber, and Brad Miller.

Brad Miller had been traded to the Kings from the Pacers over the summer in a three-team deal. He quickly became the team’s new pillar at the 5-spot, since Divac was, after all, getting too old.

SLAP!

Leveraging his height advantage, Ilgauskas easily won the tip-off against Brad Miller.