Humiliating Endorsement Fee

Seeing Bill Duffy pick up the phone, Li Chen gestured with his hand and bid him farewell.

Bill Duffy also nodded politely.

So Li Chen left first. However, it wasn't long after he walked out of the restaurant.

Bill Duffy ran out and shouted, "Chen, wait a moment."

Li Chen stopped, turned around to look at Bill Duffy, but the Bill Duffy who had been smiling modernly just moments ago now had a very gloomy expression, tinged with anger.

Seeing this, Li Chen asked in surprise, "Bill, what's wrong?"

The gloomy expression on Bill Duffy's face eased slightly. He let out a long sigh and said, "As your agent, I have to tell you this unpleasant matter."

Li Chen was stunned again, then nodded and listened to Bill Duffy's explanation.

"That call just now was from a Nike Company executive. They want to sign you for 1 million over five years."

Li Chen's brow furrowed slightly.

This price was a bit insulting.

However, Li Chen didn't have much fame himself, so this price was understandable. But…

"Chen, from a friend's perspective, I don't think you should accept this endorsement. It's too insulting," Bill Duffy said again, sounding indignant.

Li Chen smiled and said indifferently, "It's their business how much they offer. Besides, aren't we the ones in control?"

Bill Duffy was slightly taken aback. He felt Li Chen was too easygoing. If it were him, he would have slapped the other party in the face.

Just then, Li Chen's tone suddenly shifted: "However, I will make them regret it, regret it so much they'll wish they'd never been born."

Hearing this, Bill Duffy was slightly stunned, then silently swallowed his previous thoughts.

Li Chen then added, "You handle these matters! Notify me of any brands you think are suitable for endorsement."

Clearly, Li Chen didn't want to hear any more insulting offers.

Bill Duffy was deeply touched by Li Chen's trust.

After bidding farewell to Bill Duffy, Li Chen returned to the training facility and began today's training with his teammates.

Elton Brand was shocked to see that Li Chen had increased his bench press from eighty kilograms to eighty-five kilograms in such a short time.

"Chen, how did you do that?" Elton Brand asked in shock.

Li Chen said calmly, "You train with me every day, and you can do it too. Want to give it a try?"

"Hmph." Elton Brand turned and walked away, too lazy to bother with Li Chen.

He muttered to himself, What's the fun in life if you only know how to train every day like you?

In the afternoon, all the players had left, and only Wang Zhizhi and Li Chen remained in the training facility.

Wang Zhizhi couldn't match Li Chen's physique, so he only did extra training in the afternoon.

At this moment, the two were engaged in a 1-on-1 physical confrontation.

Wang Zhizhi was surprised to find that Li Chen had improved significantly compared to a few days ago.

"Damn, Li Chen, your progress is too great. In another month, your skills might surpass mine."

Li Chen chuckled, "It's all thanks to Big Brother Zhi's sparring!"

Wang Zhizhi gave a helpless wry smile.

After two hours of extra training, Wang Zhizhi also left. Li Chen continued to practice for a while longer before stopping.

He let out a long breath. It was too slow.

The speed of shooting was too slow without anyone to cooperate with him.

However, his current financial situation simply couldn't support hiring a professional training team.

At this moment, he regretted rejecting that endorsement.

But this feeling was quickly replaced by determination. Damn it, I'd rather starve than endorse them.

At the same time, Li Chen thought of Nike's insulting endorsement fee, which made him even angrier.

So, he uncharacteristically stopped training and decided to go out for a walk.

He walked out of the training facility and aimlessly wandered the bustling streets of Los Angeles.

He didn't know how long he had been walking when he saw a chubby boy, about twelve or thirteen years old, practicing shots alone at an outdoor basketball court.

Seeing this, Li Chen stopped and walked over after a moment's thought.

"Hey, little fatty, you play basketball even though you're so fat! Want to lose some weight?" Li Chen said, just to make conversation.

Hearing this, the little fatty was a bit unhappy. He hated it the most when people talked about his weight. He turned and glared at Li Chen.

But when he saw Li Chen, he was slightly stunned and asked in surprise, "Is that you?"

Li Chen touched his nose. He was also surprised. How does this little fatty know me?

"You know me?"

The chubby kid nodded seriously and said, "Yes sir, I saw you during the game yesterday. You're the Eastern guy who was matched up against Kobe."

Li Chen nodded, suddenly understanding.

At this moment, the chubby kid spoke again, "Even though you got Player of the Game yesterday, I'm not convinced. That Player of the Game belongs to Kobe."

Li Chen blinked and couldn't help but start sizing up the chubby kid.

He had short, slightly curly hair, big eyes that gave him a cute look, and he was wearing a somewhat faded Lakers jersey.

Li Chen felt a bit suspicious, finding the chubby kid somewhat familiar.

Pulling his thoughts back, Li Chen couldn't deny what the chubby kid said.

After all, Kobe had earned it through skill, while he had only relied on luck.

However, he wasn't discouraged. He believed that through hard training, he could reach Kobe's level, or even surpass it.

Even with this thought, Li Chen still curiously asked, "Oh? Why?"

The chubby kid pouted, "You got lucky, not real skill."

Li Chen found the chubby kid's innocent look rather endearing.

Suddenly, he had an idea and asked, "Do you want to make money?"

The chubby kid was slightly taken aback. They were talking about basketball, and he was bringing up money?

Wait, money?

After a moment of hesitation, the chubby kid asked, "What do you mean? Even if you give me money, I still think that Player of the Game belongs to Kobe."

Li Chen: "..."

"I need a passing assistant. I'll give you $100 a day, how about it?"

"Huh?" The chubby kid was stunned for a moment, then his big eyes lit up with a dazzling light.

$100! That was more than his mother's daily wage.

If he had this extra income of $100, his mother wouldn't have to work so hard.

However, he hesitated again. After thinking, the chubby kid honestly said, "Sir, I'm still in school. Can I come after school?"

"Sir, $50 is also fine," the chubby kid added immediately, then looked at Li Chen expectantly.

Fifty dollars wasn't a small amount either; that was his mother's daily wage! the chubby kid thought to himself.

Li Chen smiled and nodded, "Okay."

Seeing Li Chen nod, the chubby kid tightly clenched his right fist and excitedly muttered to himself, "Great."

"Sir, I can start working today, is that okay?"

"Of course," Li Chen nodded with a smile.