Outside the car window, the city's nightscape remained dazzling.
Wang Yi leaned against the window, still clutching the heavy MVP trophy.
Its icy touch filled his heart with warmth.
He thought back to when he had first set foot on the path to basketball, to the days spent sweating buckets in the Training Hall, and to all the voices of doubt and ridicule.
And now, he stood atop the All-Star Game's highest podium, holding the MVP trophy.
All the hardship along the way had turned sweet in that moment.
The taxi pulled to a stop outside the hotel. Wang Yi paid the fare and carried the trophy inside.
Back in his room, he carefully set the trophy on the bedside table, then went to the window and drew the curtains open.
The moonlight outside was bright and clear, spilling across the floor like a thin layer of silver frost.
Wang Yi gazed into the night and smiled.
The end of the All-Star Game marked a new beginning.
Next came the second-half sprint.
The rest of the regular season and the Playoffs were sure to be even more exciting.
In the days that followed, the Lakers continued their charge.
Under Phil Jackson's guidance, Little Rivers made tremendous progress.
He had improved considerably since the start of the season, both as a scorer and as a playmaker.
The Triangle Offense also brought out the best in the Lakers' trio.
Especially in the Triangle Offense, Wang Yi was always stationed in the corner. He barely had to move, occasionally cutting to the basket or taking a three.
He didn't seem all that present on the court, but no matter how little he seemed to be involved, the postgame stats always showed him with 30 points.
And he was as steady as they came.