Chapter 112: An Invitation from Across the Ocean

Just as the public was abuzz over the People’s Daily’s coverage of Lin Feng, the official Weibo account of the People’s Daily dropped another bombshell.

At 1:30 in the afternoon, the official Weibo updated with the following statement: “Lin Feng has responded to the Basketball Association’s sanctions with two points: first, he refuses to pay the fine imposed by the association; second, he will appeal the punishment to the national sports arbitration body!”

“Holy crap, Lin Feng is suing the Basketball Association?!”
“No way, Lin Feng is really about to take off!”
“That’s badass! Fully support Lin Feng!”
“Is this for real? Lin Feng is actually suing the association? My God, I’m afraid we’ll never see him play again.”
“A player suing the Basketball Association? Has anyone ever done that here before?”
“This is classic Lin Feng! No wonder he stayed silent all this time, turns out he was holding back a whole arsenal!”

As soon as the People’s Daily Weibo post went live, netizens exploded with reactions. Two minutes later, Lin Feng reposted the statement with eight words: “Better to shatter like jade than to survive like tile.”

Those simple words revealed Lin Feng’s determination. They also ignited a fire deep within the hearts of many fans. To shatter like jade rather than survive like tile—easy to say, but how many truly have the courage to live by that?

When wronged,
when oppressed,
when treated unjustly,
and when the opposing side is overwhelmingly powerful, how many possess the bravery to embody “better to shatter like jade than to survive like tile”? Most would choose silence, prudence, self-preservation.

Yet Lin Feng’s choice was to resist. His stance was clear: better to shatter like jade than to survive like tile.

One must realize that he was facing an association—a formidable institution with official backing, a colossal force that has always dominated the basketball world.

Calling Lin Feng’s battle against the association “like an egg hitting a rock” would be an understatement; “like an egg striking a diamond” would be more apt.

“Support Lin Feng!”
“Stand with Lin Feng!”
“What a perfect phrase—better to shatter like jade than to survive like tile! Real men should have such spirit!”

Netizens expressed overwhelming support for Lin Feng.

At the Basketball Management Center, Zhu Deli nearly flipped his desk upon seeing the People’s Daily and Lin Feng’s Weibo posts.

“Suing us? Lin Feng actually dares to sue us? Does he think a little fame means he can be reckless? Hmph, fine! This time, I don’t care who’s backing you—we’re going all the way!”

Pounding the desk, Zhu Deli raged.

At the General Administration of Sports, Qin Weiguo was busy preparing for the Olympic delegation. This was an Olympic year, so all priorities centered on the Games, which were just over four months away. Every day was packed with urgent tasks.

“Director Qin, there’s something I’m not sure if I should tell you,” said his secretary, Yu Bo, during a tea break.

“If you bring it up, then I want to know. Go ahead,” Qin Weiguo waved him on.

“It’s about Lin Feng,” Yu Bo said cautiously, knowing this involved Qin’s personal affairs.

“What now? Isn’t the spat with the Basketball Association enough?” Qin frowned, displeased with the ongoing troubles between Lin Feng and the association.

Yu Bo cleared his throat softly. “About half an hour ago, People’s Daily updated their Weibo saying Lin Feng is suing the Basketball Association. Lin Feng himself confirmed it.”

“What?” Qin Weiguo was shocked. “He’s suing? Why?”

“It’s over the punishment. Last time, Lin Feng was fined five hundred thousand yuan for fighting with a fan. That matter was supposed to be settled, but Lin Feng hasn’t paid the fine. Today, he issued a statement through People’s Daily saying he won’t pay and that he intends to bring the case to the nation’s highest sports arbitration body.”

“The fight with the fan wasn’t really Lin Feng’s fault. A five hundred thousand yuan fine is way too harsh—it’s already the highest fine allowed in the industry!” Qin Weiguo’s face darkened. Since learning of Qin Ruolin’s connection to Lin Feng, he hadn’t looked kindly on Lin Feng. The incident with the Beicheng fan fight was the turning point.

At that time, Lin Feng had fought to protect Qin Ruolin, engaging in a brawl with the Beicheng fans. As head of the Sports Bureau, Qin Weiguo naturally disapproved of players fighting with fans. But as a father and a man, he admired Lin Feng’s action. When the association punished Lin Feng, Qin Weiguo presented a neutral stance, constrained by his own ties to Lin Feng.

So even though the punishment was severe, he didn’t intervene much. But he hadn’t expected things to escalate to this point. Now he had to get involved. As director of the Sports Bureau, he also serves as head of the National Sports Arbitration Board.

If Lin Feng truly takes the Basketball Association to the arbitration board, Qin Weiguo cannot stand aside.

...

At the Mingdu Hotel, Lin Feng had already prepared the necessary documents to sue the Basketball Association. His words on Weibo were not empty talk. “Better to shatter like jade than to survive like tile” was not just for show—he genuinely intended to follow through. After all, with an otherworldly system that could kidnap a superstar backing him, what was a little basketball dispute?

As the saying goes, it’s not about the bread, but the spirit. Lin Feng was truly at odds with the Basketball Association.

“Brother, I support you in fighting the Basketball Association till the end. At worst, we just quit basketball. With your musical talent, you can still make waves in the entertainment industry,” Lin Wen said, her small feet propped on the coffee table as she munched an apple.

Since participating in the “Music PK Arena,” Lin Wen had risen in popularity. Invitations to perform flooded her inbox like a snowstorm. Although she hadn’t replied to most, the taste of initial fame lifted her spirits.

“Brother-in-law, Wen Wen’s right. I support you too. It’s just basketball—if you don’t play, you don’t play. Like Wen Wen said, you can make it in showbiz just fine. I’ve also decided not to return to America. I’m going to stick with you from now on. Wherever you go, I go. Whatever you do, I do...”

Since “Music PK Arena,” Qin Han had become Lin Feng’s shadow, renting the suite next door to Lin Feng and Lin Wen’s room. Except for sleeping, he was always with the siblings.

Lin Feng shot Qin Han a glance, frowning. He knew the guy’s little schemes too well. Qin Han wasn’t really trying to stick with him; he had his eyes on Lin Wen.

“Qin Han, if I’m not mistaken, your sister is back in the country. Why don’t you move to her villa? Staying in a hotel is such a waste,” Lin Feng said.

“Brother-in-law, I’ve told you a thousand times, if I go, we go together. After all, you and my sister are planning to get married. Living together isn’t a big deal. Also...”

“Stop, stop, stop! Don’t ever mention the marriage thing again. Do you know how much trouble you caused me and your sister with that comment on the show?” Lin Feng shot Qin Han a sharp glare.

Qin Han shrugged innocently and was about to launch into a long explanation when Lin Feng’s phone rang—it was an unknown number.

“Hello, is this Mr. Lin Feng?” The voice on the other end spoke broken Chinese, clearly a foreigner.

“Yes, speaking. Who’s this?” Lin Feng asked.

“Oh, thank God, finally found you!” The caller switched to English. “I’m Walker, the agent of your teammate Harris in America. Harris showed me your video from the CBA finals. I think you’re very talented. I recommended you to several NBA teams, and now, one team is very interested. Are you considering playing in the NBA?”

...