Midtown Manhattan, New York—one of the most vibrant and bustling areas in the world. In this city where every inch of land is precious, Madison Square Garden stands as what many call the Mecca of basketball.
"What should we eat tonight?"
Mike Brown asked casually. "I know a great Mexican spot nearby. Want to check it out?"
Sitting beside him, Chen Yilun replied absentmindedly,
"Anything's fine, anything's fine."
This year's Christmas Day game had the Kings visiting their old friends, the Knicks. Compared to spending Christmas Eve working overtime alone in Sacramento, Chen Yilun had jumped on the team plane to New York without hesitation.
Come on—no way a Chinese guy who loved a lively scene would miss out on the holiday buzz.
Seeing Chen Yilun lost in thought, Brown couldn't help reminding him,
"Man, I know things haven't been smooth for you lately. But it's the holidays—ah no, it's Christmas! You should set work aside for a bit and just enjoy it."
Hearing that, Chen Yilun forced a smile.
"Got it, sir. Don't worry, I'll handle it."
In truth, Chen Yilun had been harboring doubts about the situation. He couldn't tell whether CJ's stance came from his own thinking or from being influenced by his management team. But this wasn't the right time to ask. It was the most important holiday of the year—any serious conversation would have to wait until Christmas was over.
The game itself held no suspense.
Though the Knicks had offloaded Amar'e Stoudemire and Andrea Bargnani's massive contracts, Phil Jackson had blundered again in the summer, signing a toxic deal with Joakim Noah—who, coming off serious injuries, was clearly past his prime.
What Jackson didn't realize was that his repeated missteps had already pushed New York fans to their breaking point, and his own career was entering its final countdown.
After the one-sided game, New Yorkers left Madison Square Garden content. The team was already a mess, so fans were just there to watch the chaos unfold.
"Who came up with this thing anyway?"
Chen Yilun asked while chomping down on a taco.
"It looks weird, but it's surprisingly good."
Inside the Mexican restaurant, Chen Yilun and several members of the management team were seated around a small round table, eating heartily.
"What's your plan with the CJ situation?"
Malone, who had been silent the whole time, finally spoke up while picking at a plate of traditional Mexican mixed dishes.
As head coach, Malone had some say in roster matters, but after two years of close cooperation, he had chosen to stay out of it this time—showing silent support for his partner.
"What can I do? When you hit a dead end, you find another road."
After finishing his taco, Chen Yilun took a long sip of soda.
"My stance is simple—both players are like family to me, but Booker's renewal comes before CJ's."
"Of course."
Malone nodded. It was obvious to anyone watching. Booker's offensive talent and perimeter gravity made him the more valuable player.
"Still, try not to let things get too stiff. After all, he's one of our own."
Malone said softly.
"Like you need to tell me that?! You think I don't treat him like family too?"
Chen Yilun shot him an annoyed look.
Just then, his phone buzzed with a message.
"Who's texting me now?"
He glanced at the screen—and his expression instantly turned serious.
"You guys keep eating."
Wiping his mouth casually, Chen Yilun stood up. "I need to head back to the hotel for a bit."
Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked straight out of the restaurant.
Malone and Brown exchanged puzzled looks. Malone wanted to ask something, but Brown lowered his head and focused on his food instead.
...
...
Taking a deep breath, Chen Yilun knocked on the door in front of him.
It opened almost immediately.
"Welcome, welcome!"
CJ grinned as he ushered him inside.
"How long's it been since we last had a proper talk?"
Chen Yilun sat down on the sofa as soon as he entered.
"Almost a year, I think," CJ replied after a moment. "The last time we talked like this was when I got injured last year."
"That's been a long time then."
Chen Yilun sighed. "Before you know it, you've become the third-longest tenured player on the team."
The original Kings roster had long since been overhauled by Chen Yilun—only Gay and Ben remained.
"I've been wanting to talk to you for a while," CJ admitted after a pause, "but my team told me not to. They said if I talked to you, I'd end up giving in."
"My reputation really is terrible, huh."
Chen Yilun laughed, not bothering to deny it. "But CJ, I didn't come here to talk you into anything this time."
"Huh?"
CJ looked up, surprised.
"I admit, I was too idealistic before."
Chen Yilun spoke slowly. "I wanted you to stay part of the team, even asking you to make sacrifices and come off the bench for the sake of our record—like Manu did for Popovich."
Hearing that, CJ's eyes softened with nostalgia.
"That really would've been a great story."
"But I've realized something over the past few days," Chen Yilun cut in firmly. "It's not fair to you. Instead of keeping you here, I'd rather see you go somewhere that truly values you. Your talent and ability—they're being wasted here."
"But I'm willing to sacrifice for the team! This is my home!"
CJ's voice grew anxious, realizing that Chen Yilun really meant to let him go.
"No."
Chen Yilun's tone was firm.
"What you need now is a big contract, a leading role on a team—and I can't give you those. The league is ruthless. Staying here as someone else's support will only hurt your career."
"This time, you have to listen to me."
Chen Yilun stood up, his expression solemn as he looked straight at CJ.
"Let's be honest here. When I traded LaVine and Cousins, it already tore me apart. You see this place as your home, and I see you as family."
"I won't treat you like merchandise on a shelf. When the season ends, we won't match your offer sheet. Let's give it everything for this final run—win that damn championship—and then you go out there and get that big contract, fast!"