One Year Left to Play-Chapter 43 - 13: Want Tickets?
From the post-match interview, Zhang Hao realized that mainstream media wasn’t interested in him. Those reporters were obviously invited by McDonald’s, claiming to report news but actually more like promoting McDonald’s. He had thanked McDonald’s for providing this platform countless times.
The final special interview by Xinhuanet was also just for publicity by McDonald’s.
However, after tonight’s dunk contest, Zhang Hao could live for another 30 days. He was very pleased and also received a medal!
He didn’t have time to look before; back at the hotel, his mind was chaotic, affected by a blend of excitement and calmness. Now that he’s calmed down, Zhang Hao immediately wanted to know the function of this medal.
With a thought, subtitles appeared, and this time, he entered an interface of the "Medal Pavilion."
Silver Medal, Golden Medal, both marked "0," Bronze Medal marked "1."
Opening the Bronze Medal page, Zhang Hao saw the "Dunk Master" medal he obtained tonight.
"Dunk Master (Bronze) (Not Worn): When signed players wear it, every time they complete a dunk in a game, the team’s enthusiasm will be greatly enhanced for the next three rounds."
This medal is quite useful! Zhang Hao thought for a moment; if this medal is placed with the team’s best dunker, it can significantly boost the players’ enthusiasm on both offense and defense for the following sequences after a dunk is completed! For future inside games, it would definitely be very effective.
"Wait, am I not an excellent dunker myself?"
With a thought, the "Not Worn" text behind the "Dunk Master" medal immediately became "Worn Player: Zhang Hao."
Done!
He could still live for 422 days. It’s not a long time, but there’s a chance to extend his life. Perhaps this dunk contest could attract some universities to show interest in him. While such a competition may seem just entertaining to the public, it should have a certain influence on the student community and schools.
Back then, he was noticed and invited to the United States for high school because of his top athletic ability. Now, he has shown this talent to those universities, as for the outcome... leave it to fate!
Actually, what he desires most now is no longer a scholarship, though it’s important. He wants attention from the university’s school team, so he can have playing opportunities, performance chances, and most directly, be awarded a full basketball scholarship.
With a thought, the subtitles closed. Zhang Hao really didn’t want to see the harsh fact that he only had 422 days left to live.
Even the idea of "living another year would be great" from future memories is gradually fading away. Though intelligence phones weren’t invented yet, technology wasn’t advanced; there was no beauty filter for girls! It’s tough to be in the United States, but there’s a chance for him to blend in well and to become a professional athlete!
Zhang Hao’s goal of "live till old age" becomes increasingly determined. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞
He opened the envelope with the dunk contest rewards; there was a small stack of US dollars and four pieces of paper. Zhang Hao counted—1,995 US dollars, it’s a fortune! No need to ask money from his family for the next two months.
The saying goes, "literary talents are poor, while martial talents are rich." Unlike those American citizen black folks living in slums who have governmental food supplies, he consumes a significant amount. Meanwhile, at Pierce’s side, his life is nice thanks to having a professional athlete brother, a brother working as an assistant coach, and a mother managing an apartment.
Zhang Hao spends frugally, pinching pennies, and spends seven to eight hundred US dollars a month.
His family can afford this aspect, but Zhang Hao still feels reducing his family’s burden as much as possible is a good thing.
However, these 1,995 US dollars are secondary; the true reward is those four pieces of paper!
Two tickets for tomorrow night’s Lakers’ home game, 3rd-row seats! And two tickets for the Lakers’ first-round Game 4 or second-round Game 2, likewise 3rd-row seats!
If the Lakers seize home advantage in the first-round Game 1, they can sell Game 4 tickets, or if they achieve an upset advance directly, they would switch to the second-round’s first home game, which is the second-round Game 2 ticket.
Seeing these tickets, Zhang Hao’s first thought was whom to invite to watch the game, but in the next room, there’s a chattering fat guy...
...
...
The next morning, Zhang Hao returned the room card to the hotel at the front desk; McDonald’s paid the room charge only up to last night. It’s still very early, just after 7 in the morning. Since Pierce received the promise of a full basketball scholarship from the University of Kansas, he has been sleeping late every day. Zhang Hao first brought his belongings back to the apartment, washed the clothes he changed during the past few days, dried them, and then once again headed to the Great Western Forum.
Since Zhang Hao had just won the dunk contest championship hosted at this arena last night, the staff recognized him. After hearing his purpose, they made an internal call inquiry and escorted Zhang Hao to a president’s office.
The staff knocked on the door; a voice responded inside; the staff hadn’t opened the door yet, but the person inside had already opened it.
What met Zhang Hao’s eyes was a rather boldly dressed woman who looked around 30... just a mature woman; Zhang Hao felt she couldn’t be more developed.
And she looked somewhat familiar...
"Isn’t this the future big boss of the Lakers, Jeanie Buss? So bold in her younger years?"
