Chapter 417: A Day of Leisure, the Invincible Body Disappears
The Suns wrapped up their Eastern Conference road trip at 6 and 0, then boarded a private plane and flew back to Phoenix that night.
D'Antoni handed out a full day off the moment they landed. After nonstop travel, back to backs, and late nights, his players were running on fumes. The season was a marathon, not a sprint, and if you wanted to squeeze more out of the schedule, you had to respect recovery. "Little Beard" understood that better than anyone.
Chen Yan used the off day to be a normal person for once.
Taylor Swift had just finished her tour and finally had a stretch of free time. It had been a while since they had actually spent a full day together without airports, arenas, or cameras dictating the clock.
Chen Yan promised her a "mysterious surprise," then woke up early and came back from the supermarket with bags and bags of groceries.
Taylor stared at the mountain of ingredients like it was a magic trick.
"OMG. Why did you buy so much?" she asked, eyes wide. "Do not tell me you're about to cook."
Chen Yan laughed. "Bingo. You got it."
Taylor narrowed her eyes. "Really? Since I've known you, I've never heard of you cooking. And no, instant noodles and sandwiches do not count."
Chen Yan shrugged like he had been insulted. "You're underestimating me. Cooking is easy. Every Asian kid grows up around food. Today you sit on the couch, you watch TV, and you wait for my masterpiece."
For him, it was a different kind of training. He spent every day either playing basketball or preparing to play basketball. Standing in a kitchen was almost relaxing.
Taylor was excited anyway, because it was the first time she was going to eat something he actually made.
She walked away, then stopped, remembered something, and turned back toward the kitchen.
Chen Yan was already holding a knife with the confidence of someone who had never fought a vegetable in his life.
Taylor's voice lowered, careful.
"Baby… have you cooked before?"
Chen Yan turned and smiled. "I've watched my parents cook."
Taylor froze.
"…Oh."
Seeing her expression, Chen Yan burst out laughing.
"I've helped before," he said quickly. "I remember the steps. Relax."
Taylor lifted a small card in her hand, grinning. "If it's not good, I'm not eating it. I already picked the takeout menu."
In that era, people still called in their orders. Online delivery was not the normal routine yet.
Chen Yan smiled back. "Remember what you just said. In 1 hour, you'll be licking the plates."
America was a food desert by Chen Yan's standards. As long as his cooking was decent, it would feel like a festival.
He made a few home style dishes: braised pork, scrambled eggs with tomatoes, hot and sour shredded potatoes. The plating was not fancy, but the smell did the talking.
Taylor took the first bite like she was testing a new medicine.
Her eyes lit up immediately.
Chen Yan did not even need words. He knew the meal landed.
Taylor nodded while chewing, then kept nodding, like her head had decided the answer before her mouth finished.
"This is the best," she said. "And it tastes real. Like actual food."
The praise made Chen Yan a little embarrassed. He knew his cooking was average at best, nowhere close to his parents. Still, watching her eat with that kind of joy felt better than any compliment.
They opened a bottle of red wine and shared a few glasses. It was a gift from Yao Ming. Yao had businesses everywhere, including a wine estate in California, and he had a habit of "sending gifts" that also happened to be excellent marketing.
After dinner, Chen Yan took Taylor for a walk through the neighborhood.
November in Phoenix was perfect for it. Cool air, clean sky, soft streetlights. They walked hand in hand near the villa district. People recognized them, but the residents were respectful, offering greetings without crowding in.
They looped the park, then followed a forest trail. After about 30 minutes, Taylor suggested they find something fun.
The community had everything, a golf course, a bowling alley, and an equestrian club. Chen Yan had lived there for a long time and somehow tried none of it.
He discovered the truth quickly.
He had no talent for any sport that was not basketball.
In golf, he managed to launch a ball straight into the lake on his first real swing.
In bowling, he threw the ball with a high arc like he was taking a deep 3. The impact made the lane clatter so loudly it drew the manager and security.
The manager, who clearly recognized him, tried to keep a straight face.
"Sir… this is a bowling alley," he said. "The ball rolls. It's not thrown like a 3 point shot."
Taylor laughed so hard she had to hold onto the counter.
They headed home after that. Chen Yan was curious about horseback riding too, but he could not risk it. His contract had the usual clause banning activities that could threaten his health or safety.
When they got back, night had settled in.
Taylor was clearly prepared for her own "game plan." After a shower, she changed into Victoria's Secret lingerie, plus a pair of "attack speed" shoes and "attack speed" socks that made Chen Yan stare like he was scouting a new sneaker deal.
The rest of the night moved fast.
After 2 intense rounds, they fell asleep in each other's arms.
For all the jokes, Chen Yan was careful with his body. He did not live the way a lot of NBA stereotypes claimed. He did not overdraft himself.
Being able to go 7 times but choosing 2 was discipline.
Being able to go 2 times but forcing 7 with drugs was self destruction.
…
The next day, the Suns hosted the Memphis Grizzlies.
Phoenix was riding a 6 game winning streak and feeling good. Memphis was 2 and 4 through 6 games, still rebuilding, and they had drafted Kevin Love that year. Their front office was already dreaming out loud about pairing Pau Gasol and Love in the paint, trying to copy the Robinson and Duncan blueprint, calling it the "white Twin Towers."
Even Grizzlies fans laughed at that one. It sounded like something said after 2 pounds of fake wine.
Since the departure of Jerry West, the organization had been unstable, and the Grizzlies were far from the earlier years when they made the playoffs 3 straight seasons from 2003 to 2006.
Phoenix won without suspense, 97 to 77.
Chen Yan's line was calm by his standards, 22 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds.
Memphis sold out on him early, throwing doubles at him from the start of the 1st quarter. That was the tax of scoring big in back to back games. Opponents stopped treating you like a star and started treating you like a fire hazard.
Chen Yan did not force anything. He leaned into the gravity of his reputation, drew attention, and kept turning it into good looks for teammates. It was a relaxed way to play, and it kept everyone happy.
Stoudemire benefitted the most. With Chen Yan pulling defenders and Nash stitching the offense together, Stoudemire detonated for a season high 46 points.
Love and Pau Gasol combined for 27.
Just over half of Stoudemire by himself.
Stoudemire owned the paint all night, and Memphis probably did not feel brave enough to talk about "Twin Towers" afterward.
Rudy Gay led the Grizzlies with 22 points on 18 shots, living up to the nickname "Little McGrady." The style was smooth and appealing, but the efficiency was not there. Plenty of flash, not enough substance.
Phoenix moved to 7 straight wins.
And they got another piece of good news that night.
The Lakers finally lost.
Los Angeles fell 95 to 101 against the Detroit Pistons. Every Detroit starter scored in double figures, and their new acquisition Allen Iverson led the way with 25 points.
Whenever Iverson saw Kobe, the competitive switch flipped. This time was no different. He went 7 for 12 from the field and 11 for 12 at the line, brutally efficient.
Kobe tried to answer with volume, taking 30 shots, but hit only 12. After the game, he took responsibility and admitted his shot selection hurt the team and contributed directly to their first loss.
…
Phoenix's unbeaten run did not last much longer.
2 days later, the Suns lost 101 to 105 at home against the Houston Rockets.
Nash missed the game with a back injury. After the championship run, the wear on his body was real, and the back problem that had followed him for years flared up again.
Without Nash, Chen Yan could not just hunt points. He had to split his focus into playmaking. The backup point guard, "White Chocolate" Jason Williams, was still adjusting, and the other backup, Barea, was more of an attacker than a steady organizer.
Houston took advantage.
Tracy McGrady exploded, going 13 for 19 and scoring 35 points. In this world, he was not trapped in the same locked up injury decline, so his falloff was slower. He still had about 70 percent of his peak, still a star, and on the right night, still a superstar.
But the scary part was not just McGrady.
It was everybody.
Alston, Scola, even the bench guard Brooks all played well. Yao Ming delivered a solid night too, 15 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists in 29 minutes.
Yao was in a transition phase, fewer low post bruises, more high post touches, more shooting, more passing. It fit Adelman's Princeton style perfectly, and Adelman praised him after the game.
This version of Yao was like an upgraded Mehmet Okur. He could stretch high, even hit 3s, but he could also do what Okur could not, real playmaking and real low post presence when needed. It did not make him easier to guard. It made everyone around him better.
After the game, Chen Yan joked with Yao.
"Brother Yao, this is your fault. You keep dragging me into games. It messed up my performance."
Yao laughed and fired back.
"That's my ultimate goal. You thought I really liked playing Warcraft?"
.....
[Check Out My Patreon For Advance Chapters On All My Fanfics!]
[[email protected]/FanficLord03]
[Join Our Discord Community For Updates & Events]
[https://discord.gg/MntqcdpRZ9]