Cui Pangzi's yin-yang remark made He Xi Meng suddenly notice the team's head coach on the sidelines, who was swept by the camera...
"Huh? Isn't this Zhang Zhen Peng?" He Xi Meng pointed at the video, at Zhang Zhen Peng, dressed in a suit and looking solemn.
"When did this kid become a basketball coach?"
Cui Pangzi shook his head, "Before the 1998 World Championships, not long after our class reunion, Zhang Zhen Peng's family moved abroad. Some said they went to Australia, some said to Europe. I tried to contact them as you instructed, but received no reply..."
"Where is this?" He Xi Meng asked, pointing at the video.
"Dodd Middle School in Oakland, California!"
"Huh? Isn't that where the Warriors play? Has Zhang Zhen Peng been in California all along?"
"Well, to be precise, it's not just Zhang Zhen Peng..."
He Xi Meng followed the direction of Cui Pangzi's finger to the parents' seating area behind Zhang Zhen Peng. Zhang Tian Ai, in a red trench coat, was enthusiastically cheering from the sidelines!
The former basketball girl, now as passionate about basketball as ever.
Time had left no trace on her face, only that her figure was a bit fuller, finally no longer flat-chested as she used to be...
"Since the Zhang siblings have been in America, why didn't they contact us? Didn't Zhang Zhen Peng always say he wanted to challenge me? Why is there no follow-up?"
Cui Pangzi took a deep breath and remained silent, instead fast-forwarding the videotape to the end.
Scout videos usually included a brief profile of the player being watched at the end.
This included their name, parents, playing experience, honors received, etc.
And when He Xi Meng saw the picture of the young player on the profile, he was stunned! He incredulously turned to look at Cui Pangzi.
Cui Pangzi nodded and asked He Xi Meng, "Does he look very similar?"
He Xi Meng nodded, "It's not just similar, it's exactly like me when I was a child..."
"I was also shocked when I saw this photo! Isn't this you in middle school?" Cui Pangzi pointed to the parents section, "Take a look here?"
He Xi Meng saw that the young player's mother was none other than Zhang Tian Ai, and the father's information was blank.
And the young player's name was Zhang Si Meng!
"This name, this appearance, combined with this basketball talent..."
Cui Pangzi hesitated, and He Xi Meng interrupted him.
He Xi Meng knew what Cui Pangzi wanted to ask, "Let me think! When was that 1998 get-together?"
"If I remember correctly, the 1998 Men's World Championships were held in September, and our reunion was a month before the competition, which was in August!"
"This little guy's birthday is June 5, 1999... Approximately 10 months from the August 1998 reunion..."
Damn it! He Xi Meng took a deep breath. Synthesizing all the information, it seemed that this little guy really had something to do with him.
"But I was clearly drunk at that party? Although in my blackout memories, I vaguely remember having a dream..."
Thinking of this, He Xi Meng suddenly realized he shouldn't be thinking! He should book a flight to California immediately!
"Pangzi, book me a flight. I need to go to Oakland!"
"It's already booked! The car is outside, I'll take you to the airport now..."
"By the way, Pangzi, is Tian Ai married?"
"I did a little investigation, and no, she hasn't been married all these years; she's been raising the child alone. As for Zhang Zhen Peng, he is married with children, a daughter, and living a happy life..."
On the way to the airport, Cui Pangzi chattered away, telling He Xi Meng all the information he had gathered.
He Xi Meng, on the flight to California, was still replaying the scant information Cui Pangzi had told him. To be honest, this matter had come too suddenly and completely disrupted He Xi Meng's life plans, making him more nervous than playing in the finals.
Distracted, He Xi Meng casually picked up a magazine from a pile in front of him, titled "Basketball Family."
This was last month's basketball magazine. At that time, the finals had not yet concluded, but the news of He Xi Meng's retirement had already been released.
Major league magazines were all speculating about the truth of this news, analyzing the various honors He Xi Meng had accumulated over the years to find clues as to whether He Xi Meng truly intended to retire.
"Basketball Family" was no exception.
Therefore, the cover story of this magazine featured an article titled "Has He Xi Meng Become the League's De Facto All-Time Greatest Player?" In it, the editor detailed the top honors He Xi Meng had received over the years!
"1996-1997 season, started his career with the Los Angeles Lakers, elected Sixth Man of the Year, and selected to the All-Rookie First Team.
1997-1998 season, selected to the All-Star starting lineup for the first time, won the Three-Point Contest for the first time, selected to the All-NBA Third Team.
1998, Men's Basketball World Championship winner.
1998-1999 season, selected to the All-Star starting lineup for the second time, selected to the All-NBA Third Team, won his first championship ring, and his first Finals MVP.
2005-2006 season, selected to the All-Star starting lineup for the ninth time, won his sixth assists title, selected to the All-NBA First Team for the seventh time, and won his seventh championship ring.
2006-2007 season, became the second player in league history to win Finals MVP on the losing team, winning his fourth Finals MVP trophy.
2007-2008 season, joined the SuperSonics, selected to the All-Star starting lineup for the tenth time, won his seventh assists title, selected to the All-NBA First Team for the eighth time, won his eighth championship ring, and his fifth Finals MVP trophy.
2008, Olympic Men's Basketball Silver Medal.
2008-2009 season, selected to the All-Star starting lineup for the eleventh time, won his eighth assists title, selected to the All-NBA First Team for the ninth time, won his ninth championship ring.
..."
Of course, when this magazine was printed, the 2009-2010 season finals had not yet concluded, so it did not include this:
He Xi Meng was selected to the All-Star starting lineup for the twelfth time, selected to the All-NBA First Team for the tenth time, won his ninth assists title, won his third Regular Season MVP trophy, his tenth championship ring, and his sixth Finals MVP trophy!
In other words, in He Xi Meng's brief 14-season professional playing career, he accumulated:
10 championship rings!
6 Finals MVP trophies!
3 Regular Season MVP trophies!
2 All-Star MVP trophies!
12 All-Star selections!
10 All-NBA First Team selections!
9 assists titles!
3 Three-Point Contest championships!
The first ever Skills Challenge champion!
...
In addition, there were two World Championship titles, one Olympic gold medal, and two Olympic silver medals!
Could such a career surpass that of numerous legendary players and merit the honor of being the league's all-time greatest?
The article did not provide a definitive answer at the end.
Just as there are a thousand Hamlets in a thousand readers' minds.
"As for whether he is the league's all-time greatest player, that's for the fans to debate..."
He Xi Meng closed the magazine and unconsciously glanced out the airplane window into the dark night.
Suddenly, a familiar white light flashed in the pitch-black sky!
"No way? It's happening again..."
(The End)