One Year Left to Play-Chapter 158 - 50: A Grade-Schooler’s Childhood Trauma
Early in the morning, Zhang Hao was woken up.
In a groggy state, Zhang Hao heard someone calling him "father."
He thought he was dreaming, but as he gradually woke up, he realized it wasn’t a dream. Opening his eyes, he saw a white little cherub... no wait, a very fair-skinned black curly-haired little cherub was pushing him, while seemingly calling him "Daddy."
Zhang Hao’s mind went blank, did he time travel again? This time without any memories?
At this moment, Zhang Hao saw his own hand, it wasn’t black-skinned...
Looking around, it was his apartment’s living room, he was lying on the sofa, and the one calling "Daddy" was Little Curry, whom he had just met yesterday.
This made Zhang Hao even more confused...
"What’s going on? Didn’t Old Curry just lose one scoring competition to me during the preseason? Why did his son become my son? Are people these days playing this wild? They lose one game and give away their son... Wait!
What was he calling me? Godfather?
Godfather?"
Waking up as a Godfather! What happened?
"Wait, it seems like after last night’s game, this kid’s dad found me and took me to secretly drink, seemed like I drank too much..."
Zhang Hao’s mind gradually started to recall what happened after last night’s game.
Last night, he played well, and the team took their first preseason win easily with a score of 117 to 96.
Even though it was just a preseason game, the local media was happy, and the domestic media that came was even happier. After the game, he was surrounded by a group of reporters like a big star, making teammates and opponents quite envious.
The "punch card" task was completed smoothly, his 31 points far surpassed Dale Curry’s 18 points. Although he had advantages in many aspects like different conditions, different team player thoughts... but he completed it.
He’s a high school rookie, playing like this, what’s there to criticize?
Dale Curry was surprised at his mid-range shot ability, wanting to make friends with him. Once this thought came up, it got infinitely enlarged.
How mature is a 31-year-old man?
Actually, no matter how old a man gets, if he’s meant to be immature, he’ll stay immature. Maturity might be innate, like a certain future number 23 player who doesn’t want to disclose his hairline.
How to make friends well?
For men, of course it’s easiest to get familiar at the drinking table.
Once thought, just do it!
Then, Zhang Hao was taken by Dale Curry to a family restaurant to drink, run by an early teammate of Dale Curry, who never got another NBA contract after playing one and a half seasons, and ended up in Rutherford Town, opening a family restaurant.
Originally Zhang Hao thought it was just supper, but didn’t expect to drink, but the enthusiasm was hard to refuse, having a chance to secretly drink wasn’t easy either, he was only 18, wanting to secretly drink at home couldn’t even buy alcohol, so he didn’t decline.
Then he drank too much.
After drinking too much, he doesn’t remember exactly what happened, just remembers that after three rounds of drinks with Dale Curry, they started calling each other brothers, he recalled one scene.
He and Dale Curry were standing on the rooftop of that two-story family restaurant, each holding one of Little Curry’s legs. He remembered Dale Curry yelling at Little Curry: "Quick, call him Godfather, from today on, Aix is my brother, which makes him your Godfather too, hurry and call him, or I’m disowning you!"
And he, Zhang Hao, was saying "No no no, how can this be, I’m not much older than Stephen..." while shaking Little Curry’s little leg.
Little Curry was scared to tears, just saying "NO," right? And yet his dad wanted to "make a noble sacrifice," the reason being that he didn’t listen to dad.
In the end, Little Curry succumbed to Zhang Hao and Dale Curry’s intense pressure, with infinite shame shouted "Godfather"... 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮
The memory fragment ended with Dale Curry telling him to bond more with Little Curry, having his former teammate drive him home, and letting Little Curry take care of him...
Thinking about his embarrassing state after blackout drinking last night, Zhang Hao felt so ashamed! Really wanted to find a hole... to hide and laugh like a pig!
The future’s strongest three-point shooter in history! Double MVP superstar! Almost wrecked by Zhang Hao and Dale Curry, this dad!
Will it leave a childhood shadow for Little Curry?
Zhang Hao thinks it probably won’t... This is a strong child! Able to persist through 4 days of training a week, a real little student!
Definitely not!
This time Zhang Hao truly felt the power of "learning mode," the effect of "deep sleep," truly a great tool for recovering mental depletion, he blacked out last night, although there was still fatigue from playing a formal game + hangover, but his head didn’t hurt, felt amazing now, just the initial discomfort when woke was a bit, but after waking, his spirit already felt full.
Also entering "deep sleep" state is good for physical recovery, truly a great thing.
Just when Zhang Hao regained his senses, he heard Little Curry’s voice again, this time Little Curry’s voice had a crying tone: "Godfather, will you send me back to my dad?"
Little Curry was truly scared! He was only a 7-year-old kid, unexpectedly "given away" by his own dad!
Originally he very much didn’t want to call Zhang Hao Godfather, didn’t even want to call him uncle yesterday, but now had no choice feeling that if he didn’t call nicely, he might not go home.
"Alright alright, Stephen, you can just call me Aix," Zhang Hao didn’t tease Little Curry anymore, continued: "Let me take a shower, then after breakfast I’ll send you to the hotel, your dad should still be sleeping, no need to rush."
Those cries of "Godfather," Zhang Hao felt amazing, but fooling around like this was enough, you can’t just take advantage of people constantly? Even a 7-year-old little cherub has dignity okay... Once Zhang Hao retires successfully as an NBA head coach in 20 years, then go find Curry with MVP prowess, use the "Godfather" identity to get Curry to help push him to head coach position...
How delightful would that be?
This identity, I can’t give it up, it’s not like I desperately wanted this identity, it was his own father who insisted that I take it, I have no choice!
Little Curry had no idea about Zhang Hao’s little thoughts. Upon hearing these words, he pondered for three seconds before having a light bulb moment and said, "Mom says Dad is very proud, whatever he says he’ll do it. When Dad is around I’ll call you Godfather, when he’s not, I’ll call you brother Aix, okay?"
This little kid is really on the right track!
Of course Zhang Hao wouldn’t refuse, he nodded in agreement.
After taking a shower, Zhang Hao took Little Curry to have breakfast, and it was painful for him.
This little brat, only 7 years old, actually ate more than an adult!
"Had I known, I wouldn’t have brought the future Three-Point King to such an expensive restaurant..."
Despite his grumbling, after breakfast, Zhang Hao even let Little Curry pick some food to pack and take to the hotel for his dad.
Zhang Hao hadn’t asked which hotel Dale Curry was staying at, there was no need to. In Rutherford Town, there was only one hotel, the rest were B&Bs, and a B&B obviously can’t accommodate an entire team. Official players + training camp contract players total 20 people, plus coaches and staff. Guests coming to play here usually stay at that hotel; Jersey City is too far, making training at the Continental Airlines Arena inconvenient.
It wasn’t far, a 10-minute walking distance. Zhang Hao didn’t take a taxi; it’s not convenient to hail one here. He walked with Little Curry; anyway, Little Curry is really strong.
After causing a fuss yesterday, Little Curry took Zhang Hao as one of his own; they chatted while walking, primarily Little Curry asking questions.
This time, Little Curry asked about the game: "Aix, last night you were amazing, your shooting was so accurate, others’ mid-range shots aren’t as good as yours. Can you teach me?"
"If I have time in the summer, but I think you are more suited for practicing three-pointers. See, your dad is so good at three-pointers."
"I will learn three-pointers from my dad, and I want to learn mid-range shots from you. I want to master the best skills from both of you and become better than you guys!"
Seeing Little Curry’s confident look, Zhang Hao thought for a moment...it’s not impossible, no, it’s highly possible!
Thinking about the future, Zhang Hao felt that in the future, his coaching career might really rely on this little kid.
Encourage!
Must encourage!
Zhang Hao said, "It’s possible, you might become the greatest shooter in basketball history."
Little Curry was overjoyed upon hearing this from Zhang Hao, he was bouncing as he walked.
A dozen minutes later, they arrived at a 5-story building that claimed to be a quasi-4-star business hotel.
Zhang Hao understood this place; what distinguished it from other business hotels was definitely the price. Even the five-star hotels an hour’s drive away in Jersey City aren’t as expensive as this hotel.
Upon arriving, Little Curry knew the way; he led Zhang Hao to a room on the second floor, carrying a keycard, he opened the door and entered, there was still the smell of alcohol inside.
Apparently, last night Dale Curry’s friend, after first sending Zhang Hao home and then Dale Curry to the hotel, drank too. Because Zhang Hao stepped into the room and saw the family restaurant owner lying on the floor, he hadn’t drunk while at the restaurant before.
Little Curry skillfully went to the bathroom to get two warm towels out, poured water, helped Dale Curry wipe his face, and woke him up... that’s real skill.
Zhang Hao remembered Dale Curry complaining last night, after getting drunk, that his wife had sent his son to watch over him; now seeing this, without Little Curry, getting drunk Dale Curry can only suffer himself...
"Wait, if the future Three-Point King isn’t there, couldn’t Old Curry bring club girls back to the hotel? He might be taken care of even better..."
Zhang Hao went to the hotel to get an antialcoholic pill, Little Curry gratefully said, "Thank you, Godfather."
Dale Curry was already awake, Zhang Hao noticed that when Little Curry called "Godfather," Dale Curry’s mouth twitched, but he didn’t stop him.
He acknowledged it!
This proud character, Zhang Hao expressed he liked it.
Once Dale Curry washed his face and sobered up, Little Curry proudly said, "Dad, here’s the breakfast Godfather brought, it’s delicious, I picked it, all your favorites."
"..."
These repeated calls of ’godfather’ made Dale Curry’s heart feel uncomfortable, not even a bit of refusal?
His own son, unexpectedly became the godson of an 18-year-old brat! His own son simply got an additional dad!
Moreover, the skin color looks...
He, being black-skinned as the real dad, the godfather yellow-skinned, the son looks so white!
If Little Curry shaved his head, eliminating the black ethnic curly hair, if they walked down the street chatting, the setup would be as bizarre as possible.
But things had come to this, what could Dale Curry do?
Things said are like water spilled, moreover he remembered it was he who got drunk and voluntarily suggested it. Although the specific process was unclear, what he remembered was the other party seemed to refuse, and somehow finally agreed.
"If I drink again, I...I...I definitely won’t take another son with me!"
Feelings at the drinking table, although not solid, after Zhang Hao and Dale Curry got drunk together, relations also became familiar.
Putting aside the little bit of awkwardness regarding Little Curry, the relationship between the two was still good. After chatting for a while, Zhang Hao left, leaving Dale Curry whose son suddenly had an extra dad to cool down.
Moreover, the Hornets will leave at noon; Zhang Hao will also follow the team to Charlotte tomorrow, and the day after that still plays the Hornets. Having agreed to dine at the Curry family tomorrow evening, Dale Curry then saw Zhang Hao off.
Heart so tired!
