The Stepmother's Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era-Chapter 802 - 801: Mindset Is Very Important

Players’ resting area.

Harris had just returned from the VIP stands and, with hands on his hips, called out his orders, "Payton, Ma Long, you two are up for the second half."

This time Ma Long didn’t refuse the coach’s arrangement.

He stood up, stretching his muscles, while watching Zhao Yun in the opposing team’s resting area with the gaze of a cheetah:

"I’ll show him what NBA strength is all about."

Compared to the arrogant Ma Long, Payton was much more low-key and humble. When his name was called, he immediately stood up and went to change into his uniform.

Oni stood up as well, "I’m going in for the second half too."

Harris frowned slightly, seemingly thinking it unnecessary for three main players to enter the game, but he didn’t want to offend Oni.

"Then you take turns with Ma Long, and go easy, don’t scare the rookie."

Hearing Harris refer to Zhao Yun as "the rookie," all the players showed an expression of surprise and understanding.

Clearly, the club’s management was very satisfied with Zhao Yun’s performance.

On the other side, seeing that the Seal Team was sending in three main players for the subsequent half, Zhao Yun’s team members, who were partnered with him, felt the pressure and anxiety.

If they were rookies, then the NBA main players were like seasoned veterans of many battles—the gap was enormous.

But Zhao Yun thought differently from the others.

He thought that even if he couldn’t make it into the NBA, having the chance to play against NBA main players was something to brag about for years.

Therefore, seeing the new lineup of the Seal Team, he was not scared but instead cracking his knuckles and looking thrilled.

The second half started quickly.

Led by Payton and Ma Long, the Seal Team broke through like a torrent, scoring two goals in less than three minutes.

They not only caught up with the lagging score but also overtook the Zhao Yun Team by one point.

This matchup vividly illustrated the saying, "In the face of absolute power, all tricks are mere fluff."

Ten minutes passed.

The Seal Team was leading by eleven points, and Zhao Yun’s side hadn’t scored a single goal since the game started.

Compared to the other players’ despondency, the rebellious Zhao Yun became even more determined.

"In the last quarter, let’s go all out against them. Even if we lose, we can’t let ourselves be looked down upon! Unless you guys want to go back and continue to be ridiculed and discriminated against by that bastard William."

As soon as the last quarter started, everyone clearly felt the momentum shift in Zhao Yun’s team; they played as if their lives depended on it. ƒrēenovelkiss.com

Mindset is very important.

The players who were called by Zhao Yun to play in this matchup had endured plenty of hardships and discrimination from William, and one could only imagine the repression and sorrow in their hearts.

Rather than saying they were playing a game, it was more accurate to say they were resisting injustice.

—Whistle—

With the whistle, the matchup ended.

Zhao Yun’s team lost to the Seal Team by a seventeen-point margin.

Although they lost, Zhao Yun’s performance on the court was commendable, especially his one-handed three-pointers, which greatly impressed Jerry.

Immediately after the tryout ended, Jerry gave Zhao Yun an invitation to join the team.

The signing ceremony for club membership and sponsorship deals was scheduled for the same day.

The night before the signing.

Shen Mingzhu had booked a 360-degree panoramic restaurant to celebrate for Zhao Yun, and with several black students from the Basketball Academy, there were ten people in total, seated around a six-meter-long table.

Pei Tang loved to have fun, and halfway through the meal, he pulled Shen Mingzhu away to take photos as a memento.

The black students were also in such a high-end restaurant for the first time, and after eating, they went to the viewing terrace with their glasses of wine to enjoy the bustling night view of Los Angeles.

Soon, only Pei Ziheng, Zhuang Xu, and Zhao Yun were left at the table.

Although Zhao Yun was set to officially join the Seal Team tomorrow, he wasn’t as happy as one might expect.

Jerry was willing to sign him, it was true that he saw his potential, but more importantly, it was because of the sponsorship by Pei Ziheng.

Ten million US dollars, equivalent to over seventy million RMB.

Director Zhao had struggled his whole life and had never earned that much money. Even though Zhao Yun didn’t know how Pei Ziheng had earned this money, he was certain it hadn’t been easy.

While he was heartbroken about the money, he also felt shameful that his dream was being paid for by a good brother.

"Actually, I feel like joining the NBA could wait a bit longer. If I hone my skills some more, it wouldn’t feel like I got in through the back door, only to end up warming the bench."

As childhood friends and brothers, Pei Ziheng could clearly see Zhao Yun’s burdens and concerns.

"I’m the kind of person who doesn’t make a losing deal. I dare to invest so much money because I’m convinced you’ll eventually earn it all back for me."

This affirmation surprised Zhao Yun, "Heh, while I also think I’m pretty bad-ass, I can’t guarantee making money."

Pei Ziheng said calmly, "Just focus on playing your best, don’t worry about anything else... Otherwise..."

A glint of cold light flickered in his dark eyes, "I’ll twist your head off and kick it around like a ball."

Zhao Yun: "..."

Zhuang Xu: "I’ve never kicked a ball made from someone’s head before."

Zhao Yun: Jokes aside, why do you look so eager?

...

After dinner, back at the hotel, two unfamiliar white men approached Zhao Yun.

"We’ve watched your tryout performance with the Seal Team, and it’s quite impressive. Would you be interested in trying out for our club?"

It turned out that the two white men were officials from the Taurus Team and selection coaches, who had just happened to be at the arena for business that day.

"Thank you for recognizing my talent, but I’ve decided to join the Seal Team, I’m sorry."

Upon hearing this, the men showed a look of regret, but then they turned and extended tryout invitations to several black students who were with Zhao Yun.

During today’s scrimmage, their performance was quite impressive as well.

For these black students, the invitations were an unexpected delight, and without any surprise, all of them accepted the offer.

Back in the room.

Even though he’d turned down the Taurus Team’s invitation, Zhao Yun was still excited inside, feeling a sense of "Years of obscurity, now known to all after a moment’s fame."

"I’ve finally made it!"

Thinking back to the past two years and those lonely nights practicing on the basketball court, he couldn’t help but tear up.

Pei Ziheng looked at him, "This is just the beginning for you. Your future holds unlimited possibilities."

Coming from someone else, Zhao Yun might have thought it was just to comfort him.

But the words from Pei Ziheng’s mouth, he took as gospel truth.

If Pei Ziheng said he could do it, then he most certainly could.

With Zhao Yun officially joining the Seal Club and becoming an NBA player, the summer trip for Shen Mingzhu and her family came to an end.

...

After returning home, Pei Tang started cramming on her homework like mad.

"Mom, I don’t want to go to school."

"Why don’t you want to go to school?"

Facing her serious inquiry, Pei Tang hung her head, "I can’t finish the homework."

For someone as well-behaved as Pei Tang, not being able to complete her summer homework felt as cataclysmic as the sky falling, which made her anxious and ashamed, hence not wanting to go to school.

Seeing the dark circles under her daughter’s eyes, Shen Mingzhu also felt heartbroken, but she had to make her daughter understand the meaning of "bite off only as much as one can chew."

"Do you forget what you promised in Los Angeles?"

Pei Tang’s eyes welled up with tears, "I haven’t been slacking off, I write every day, it’s just too much homework! Why don’t Elsa and the others have to do summer homework, yet we have to do so much?"