Chapter 066: The National Basketball Team Training Roster

“I just happened to be inspired, so I finished the piece,” Lin Feng replied. After a moment’s thought, he added, “Mr. Liang, the group competition hasn’t started yet, so please keep my new song a secret for now.”

“Don’t worry about that. I was just curious about who uploaded the song. Now that I know, that’s all. Focus on preparing for the contest—I’m off to listen to your new work…” With that, Liang Renbo hung up.

But just as Lin Feng put down his phone, it rang again—this time it was his sister, Lin Wen.

“Brother, are you up?” she asked when he answered.

“I’ve been up for a while,” he replied.

“Mom and I are heading out shopping—just wanted to let you know,” Lin Wen said.

“Do you need me to go with you?” Lin Feng offered.

“That would be great, but aren’t you busy with the songwriting assignment?”

“I’ve already finished.”

“What? So fast?” Lin Wen was astonished.

“Of course—I’m a genius, remember?” Lin Feng replied, smugly.

“Well, that’s perfect—someone to help us carry things! Mom and I will wait for you at the hotel’s main entrance, hurry up!”

“Alright,” Lin Feng agreed.

He hung up, changed into something casual, and hurried downstairs.

“Lin Feng? Where are you off to?” As he stepped out of the elevator, he ran into Chen Qiao, who was just about to go in.

“Taking my mom and sister shopping,” Lin Feng replied with a smile.

“Shopping?” Chen Qiao frowned. “You’ve finished your song already?”

“Yeah, it’s done,” Lin Feng answered honestly.

“You’re kidding…” Chen Qiao pouted. “That’s a real blow—I’ve only just started brainstorming mine.”

“Take your time. I have to get going.” Lin Feng patted her on the shoulder.

“Wait, I bought you breakfast…” Chen Qiao shook the bag she was holding, revealing fried dough sticks and soy milk.

“For me?” Lin Feng was briefly stunned.

A faint blush crept up Chen Qiao’s face as she handed him two sticks of fried dough and a cup of soy milk. “You walked me back to my room last night. I didn’t get a chance to thank you. You probably haven’t had breakfast—eat on your way. Yonghe’s is really good.”

“Thanks,” Lin Feng said, accepting the food without protest.

“I’m heading up—see you later,” Chen Qiao said, stepping into the elevator.

Lin Feng waved after her, took a bite of the fried dough, and found it truly delicious.

“Brother, why are you so slow!” Lin Wen complained the moment Lin Feng appeared in the hotel lobby.

“I was as fast as I could be,” Lin Feng said, chewing on the fried dough.

“Hey, where did you get that? Mom and I are starving!” Lin Wen pouted.

“Isn’t it you who’s hungry?” Lin Feng handed her one of the sticks and asked, “Where are we headed first?”

“Don’t think you can bribe me with fried dough—you haven’t answered my question! That came from a girl, didn’t it?” Lin Wen asked, all seriousness.

“Oh? How did you know?” Lin Feng was genuinely surprised.

“Hmph, nothing escapes the eyes of Detective Lin! I’m taking psychology as an elective,” she declared proudly. “Two minutes ago, a girl with a ponytail walked into the hotel carrying two sets of Yonghe fried dough and soy milk. You’re eating one of them now. If I’m not wrong, she meant to bring breakfast to your room, but you ran into each other at the elevator. Am I right?”

“You really are something!” Lin Feng laughed, patting her on the shoulder.

“Naturally!” Lin Wen held her head high. “So, who is she?”

“She’s a teammate in my group,” he answered.

“That’s all?”

“What else could it be?”

“I don’t think it’s that simple between you two.”

“Oh, come on, Detective Lin! What are you learning in America? We only met yesterday!” Lin Feng shot her a look, then turned to their mother, Guo Shuzhen. “Mom, let’s go.”

“I think you’d better answer Wenwen’s question before we leave,” Guo Shuzhen said earnestly. “Feng, I may not approve of you and Qin Ruolin being together, but since you’ve chosen each other, you must treat her well. Loyalty is the foundation. Don’t even think of two-timing—your mother wouldn’t approve, let alone Qin Ruolin!”

“Alright!” Lin Feng shrugged helplessly. “You’re making this more serious than it is! I only met Chen Qiao yesterday. Last night, the group went out, Chen Qiao drank too much, I walked her back to her room. She bought me breakfast to say thank you. That’s all there is to it—why make it so complicated?”

“Really?” Guo Shuzhen asked, half convinced.

“Don’t you trust your own son?” Lin Feng put on a wounded expression.

“Fine, I believe you. Let’s go. Just remember, you’re a public figure now. Be careful how you act—even the smallest thing can become big news if the reporters catch it,” Guo Shuzhen reminded him.

Lin Feng nodded and sipped his soy milk in silence.

World Trade Department Store was one of the most famous malls in Beijing. Lin Feng, now wearing sunglasses, trailed behind Guo Shuzhen and Lin Wen, carrying three or four shopping bags in each hand. He was starting to regret his decision—shopping with women was more exhausting than playing a CBA finals game.

Just then, a conversation between two men behind him caught his attention.

“The new national basketball training squad list is out—did you see it?”

“When was that? I haven’t.”

“Just now. Can you believe it? Lin Feng isn’t on the list.”

“What? Not Lin Feng? Are the national team coaches blind?”

“They must be completely blind!”

“Do you think it has something to do with his suspension?”

“Can’t be. Last time Zhu Dayu was suspended but still made the training squad. There are over thirty names on that list—it’s not a big deal to add one more. It’s more a recognition of a player’s ability.”

“True, even some injured players get included. It’s a nod to their skills. And this is just the first round—one more or less doesn’t matter. But still, leaving Lin Feng off? Makes no sense.”

“Wasn’t there a rumor that the basketball association wanted Lin Feng to apologize to Beicheng fans, but he refused? That’s why the punishment was so harsh. Maybe he offended someone high up in the association.”

“The basketball association is useless, always playing politics and internal games instead of doing their job! Let’s see what happens if the men’s team loses the Olympic qualifiers!”

“They should be fine—the opponents are all weak. Still, I’d love to see Lin Feng in the national jersey!”

“Yeah, and best of all, I hope we get to play Team America at the Olympics, show them the strength of our Chinese players. Maybe then they’ll stop acting so superior…”

“Especially that Smith guy—imagine, calling us Asians trash and saying he’d crush any Asian team by a hundred points at the Olympics. Son of a…”

“If you ask me, Smith deserves a real beating. I’d love to see Lin Feng humiliate him on the court!”

At that, Lin Feng suddenly stopped, turned around, and asked, “Did Smith really say he'd crush us by a hundred points?”

…