Although Xiao Hua felt bitter, he knew Wang Yi's personality.
Once Wang Yi made up his mind, no one could change it.
So, after pondering for a moment, Xiao Hua finally nodded.
"All right, then. We'll go with what you said: a 40-game suspension. But I believe you probably won't need all 40 games before you can return, because the NBA can't do without you."
Wang Yi waved a hand. "The Earth can keep turning without anyone. It can turn without you, Xiao Hua, and it can turn without me, Wang Yi."
Xiao Hua ended the call with a bitter smile. Looking miserable, he called his staff.
"Put out a notice. Suspend him for 40 games and fine him $5 million."
Half an hour later, the latest notice about Wang Yi's incident with the fans was released.
"After being fined by the NBA for insulting fans, Raptors player Wang Yi showed no remorse and instead escalated his behavior, insulting fans again. The league will therefore impose its harshest punishment: a 40-game suspension and a $5 million fine."
As soon as the notice came out, it set off an uproar across the internet in the United States and around the world.
Wang Yi's fans were up in arms.
"Oh my God, a 40-game suspension? That's insane! All he did was insult fans twice, while those fans spent the whole game hurling abuse at him."
"Damn, the league is being way too harsh on Rain God. Xiao Hua, don't you know you need Wang Yi to make money?"
"Fuck, a 40-game suspension? Xiao Hua, do you want to suspend him for the whole season, you son of a bitch?"
Major Chinese media outlets and independent commentators all spoke up in Wang Yi's defense.
Crazy Talk Jun published an article:
"This is too