Wang Yi smiled and recited a poem:
"Quietly, I came, just as quietly as I left."
James nodded:
"Mm, very poetic."
Wang Yi continued:
"I quietly wave my hand and take your Mane away with me."
"What a thief!"
James burst out laughing.
James then informed the coaching staff. Chris Paul, Rondo, and Redick were all shocked when they heard the news.
Chris Paul personally sought out Wang Yi to confirm it. Once he was sure Wang Yi would be playing, he was greatly surprised at first, then said:
"Wang, I know you're doing this for the team, but if you return to the court, things may turn out very differently from what you imagined."
Wang Yi nodded with a smile.
"I know. Don't worry, I won't think of myself as the Wang Yi I once was. I'm just a 45-year-old veteran filling out the roster."
Paul nodded.
"It's best if you can put yourself in the right frame of mind. Otherwise, I'm afraid you won't be able to accept it when the time comes."
"Don't worry. My mentality isn't that fragile."
The next morning, during practice—
Seeing that the players' morale was low, Wang Yi clapped his hands and called for everyone to stop.
Then he said:
"I have something to say."
All the players stopped what they were doing.
They looked at Wang Yi in unison as he said calmly:
"The team is short on Shooting Guards, so tonight I'll fill in temporarily."
"Ah, Brother Yi is playing?!"
"Holy crap, really, Brother Yi? That's awesome!"
"I told you Brother Yi trained with us every day because he was preparing to play. None of you believed me!"
Amid the players' excited cheers, Wang Yi raised a hand and pressed it down through the air.
"Don't expect too much from