A fan was killing time, mindlessly scrolling through the news.
It was summer vacation, a stretch where everyone had too much free time and no games to watch. Under those circumstances, even the slightest movement in the trade market was enough to grab fans' attention.
"Hm? Something new?"
As he scrolled, a headline suddenly popped up at the very top of the page.
He focused his eyes.
"Kevin Durant Confirmed to Join the Brooklyn Nets on a Four-Year, $164 Million Contract!"
"Durant to the Nets?!"
The instant the words sank in, his head started buzzing.
Why?
Sure, there had been rumors linking Durant and the Nets ever since the offseason began, but from a fan's perspective, the Nets were only just climbing out of the hole left by their former owner's disastrous decisions. They were nowhere near being a true championship contender.
And Durant—fresh off three straight titles, firmly established as the undisputed best player in the league—was actually leaving the Kings, the team he had spent four years with, to go to Brooklyn?
For a moment, the entire internet exploded. Every possible take and theory flooded timelines and forums.
As for the Kings, the team directly involved, they released a tribute video to Durant on their official account the moment the deal was finalized, wishing him well with his new team. Other than that, there was no further response.
"See? I told you I wasn't lying. Hurry up and get to Brooklyn to sign the contract. Don't make me wait too long."
Inside a Brooklyn apartment, Durant said with a grin.
"Got it. I'll book a flight and head over in the next couple of days."
On the other end of the phone, Kyrie Irving sounded just as cheerful.
After several years of a miserable experience as a team's supposed leader, Irving had finally realized—far too late—that the Celtics' attention had already shifted entirely to their two young cornerstones.
Staying in Boston as a leader in name only no longer made any sense.
So once last season ended, Irving had a complete falling-out with the Celtics' front office and opted out of his contract, becoming a full-fledged free agent.
Back when he played alongside LeBron, Irving constantly dreamed about striking out on his own and becoming the man. But after truly becoming the leader, he discovered in despair that he simply didn't have the head for carrying a team by himself.
In the end, he could only settle for being a second option again.
Going back to LeBron was out of the question. That left the league's most dominant figure at the moment—Kevin Durant—as Irving's best possible partner.
Durant, newly departed from the Kings, was also eager to find someone who could help shoulder the pressure. And just like that, the two close friends ran straight toward each other.
Before long, more news came out of Brooklyn.
Kyrie Irving had signed a four-year, $142 million deal with the Nets, teaming up with Durant to form a superstar duo.
In an instant, the entire league was thrown into turmoil.
The Nets, who had spent years as the league's perennial punchline, suddenly transformed into the biggest winners of the offseason. Their roster strength soared, and they became serious contenders for next season's championship.
Ajiali was holding a document, heading over to get Chen Yilun's signature, when she reached the doorway and saw McNair standing outside Yilun's office, absentmindedly playing with his phone.
"Monty, why are you just standing here?"
Ajiali asked curiously. "Isn't Yilun in his office?"
"He is. He's inside talking to someone."
Seeing Ajiali, McNair gave an awkward smile. "You're here to see Yilun too? You'll have to wait your turn. He hasn't been in a great mood these past couple of days."
Before Ajiali could ask anything else, a furious shout suddenly burst out from inside the office.
"Get lost! Stop pestering me!"
"What's going on?"
Ajiali jumped at the sudden noise, her curiosity immediately ignited.
"Who else could it be? Other than those few people, who could piss Yilun off this badly?"
McNair chuckled as he explained.
"Peja's back. He said he wants to make a trade with us. They've been talking in there this whole time. Probably here to squeeze Yilun for favors again."
...
...
"How do you even have the nerve to say that?"
Inside the office, Chen Yilun's face was flushed red as he glared at Peja.
Sitting across from him, Peja wore a completely unconcerned smile.
"What's there to be embarrassed about? I'm your own guy. If you don't take care of me, who are you going to take care of?"
Peja lounged on the sofa, a cigarette hanging from his lips, grinning happily.
"Boss, you've got so many good young players on your hands. You can't possibly use them all yourself. Share a few with me. After signing Kevin and Kyrie, my team's cap space is ridiculously tight. Just help me out a little."
"I'd rather let them rot on my hands than give them to you!"
Watching Peja shamelessly push his luck, Chen Yilun felt his temper flare instantly.
"You think a single first-round pick is enough to get my Anunoby? Keep dreaming!"
"You're exaggerating."
Seeing that Chen Yilun really was getting angry, Peja quickly stood up to smooth things over.
"Come on, it's not that serious. Anunoby was just a throw-in when you traded with the Raptors anyway. You already made a profit back then. Now I throw in a little more—doesn't that make it even better? You've earned plenty off Anunoby already."
"Get out, get out, get out!"
Chen Yilun waved his hand impatiently. "Is that how you do business? Get lost. If you're not showing any sincerity, hurry back to Brooklyn yourself."
"Don't be like that, boss."
At this point, Peja was practically a mirror image of Chen Yilun himself, fully channeling the shameless, relentless persistence Chen had shown back when he first entered the league.
"Back then, when I said I didn't want to go to Brooklyn, you knew exactly what I was capable of. I'm not cut out to be a general manager. You were the one who said it was fine, that you'd support me. Now's when I actually need your help, and you're giving me the official routine again?"
"Just say it. Are you helping me or not?"
Looking at Peja sprawled across the sofa, playing the rogue to the end, Chen Yilun froze for a moment before bursting out laughing.
"It really does run in the family. That shamelessness is exactly the same."
"Alright, sit up."
Chen Yilun sat back down on the sofa, smiling.
"Anunoby is absolutely off the table. You must have other demands. While I'm still willing to talk things through properly, hurry up and say them."