Red Lipstick Marks

"Ahhh, we won!"

"YES, we beat the Eastern Conference's top team, the Pacers!"

"Hahahaha, we won, we won!"

The Boston Celtics players hugged one another, celebrating excitedly.

This victory meant a great deal to them.

Their record had been poor, leaving them eleventh in the Eastern Conference. Then Coach John had been fired, dealing the Boston Celtics a heavy blow. The players didn't say it, but that blow had definitely affected them.

Beating the Eastern Conference's top team, the Indiana Pacers, in this game had given them a much-needed boost.

"Goodwin!" After the game, Paul Pierce ran over and threw his arms around Goodwin, cheering excitedly.

Paul Pierce knew full well that without Goodwin, they wouldn't have been able to beat the Indiana Pacers. It wouldn't have mattered that he'd scored the most points on the team; without Goodwin, that would have meant nothing.

Goodwin was gradually calming down. He patted Paul Pierce on the back and said, "Paul, we still have to win many, many more games. We're going to make the playoffs together."

Hearing that, Paul Pierce let go of Goodwin and clapped him firmly on the shoulders. "Goodwin, remember what you said. Don't let us down."

"Paul, I'm giving those words right back to you. Don't let us down, either. You're the leader of the Boston Celtics," Goodwin replied.

"Hahahahaha."

"Miller, let's go." Artest called to Reggie Miller, who was standing motionless.

Reggie Miller finally came to his senses. "Coming." Before leaving, he glanced toward Goodwin, then turned and headed for the players' tunnel.

Goodwin, next time, I definitely won't lose to you.

Reggie Miller didn't know why, but he simply didn't want to lose to Goodwin. Maybe it was because birds of a feather flocked together.

Goodwin probably hadn't expected to gain another "enemy" out of nowhere.

After the celebrations, the reporters swarmed over and surrounded Paul Pierce and Goodwin for interviews.

Seeing this, Goodwin couldn't help thinking back to the scene after the NCAA finals the year before.

It felt like that had been ages ago.

Half a month after the NCAA finals, he'd gone from being the media's darling to being completely ignored. That hadn't changed even when he entered the draft.

Those were the days!

Goodwin took a deep breath and smiled at the crowd of reporters in front of him.

"Goodwin, you hit the go-ahead shot in this game. How does it feel?"

"Goodwin, this was your first NBA game. You went four for six from three-point range, scored twelve points, and hit the go-ahead shot to help your team win. How are you feeling right now?"

"Goodwin..."

The reporters peppered him with questions.

Once they'd finished, Goodwin picked one of the questions he'd heard and answered, "First of all, thank you for coming to interview me. It's been almost a year since I last experienced a scene like this. I remember clearly that the last time was on the stage of the NCAA finals. So I've decided to work even harder from now on, and keep you all around."

As soon as he finished speaking, the reporters burst out laughing.

"I'm very grateful to Coach Rivers for giving me playing time in this game. I didn't let him down, and did what little I could to help the team win."

"Of course, this victory wouldn't have been possible without all my teammates working together. I believe the Boston Celtics will keep getting better under Doc Rivers."

Goodwin laid it on thick, praising Doc Rivers to the skies.

Later, during his own postgame interview, Doc Rivers was asked, "Coach Rivers, when Goodwin was interviewed just now, he said he was very grateful to you for giving him playing time. Coach John didn't give Goodwin a single minute on the court before this. How did you discover Goodwin's potential?"

Doc Rivers waved a hand. "No, that's not right. I didn't discover his potential. Goodwin's ability earned him the playing time he deserved. As for your claim that Coach John never let Goodwin play, you'll have to ask Coach John about that."

After Doc Rivers's interview appeared in the papers, Coach John was immediately subjected to a wave of abuse from fans.

"What a garbage coach. Goodwin's clearly so good, and he still wouldn't put him in."

"He should've been fired ages ago. He's completely incompetent."

"Are you blind? My Goodwin's not just handsome, he's talented too."

When the sports pages came out the next day, Goodwin's popularity and fan base soared. His female fans especially had grown into the largest group of any Boston Celtics player.

After all, he had a handsome face, just like all you readers here.

Quite a few female fans even showed up outside the Boston Celtics' practice facility wearing Goodwin's number 20 jersey and holding handmade signs to cheer him on.

Completely unaware of any of this, Goodwin headed toward the practice facility, dribbling the ball and sporting his handsome face.

"It's Goodwin!"

"Ah, Goodwin!"

"Wow, he's so handsome! He's wasted if he doesn't go to Hollywood."

Goodwin arrived outside the practice facility and stared in bewilderment. What was going on? How had he gotten so many fans, and all of them girls?

By the time he came to his senses, the fans had already surrounded him. Goodwin asked uncertainly, "You're really my fans? Are you sure you haven't got the wrong person?" Going from being ignored to this in a single night had left him completely dumbfounded.

"We really are your fans!"

"Ahhh, Goodwin, you're so handsome!"

"Goodwin, could you sign this for me?"

Holy crap! They really were his fans.

Hard work pays off. Mom, I did it!

"Of course," Goodwin said, taking a pen from one of the fans.

"Ahhh, I want one too!" "Me too!" ... The female fans crowded around Goodwin, making sure he got his fill.

"Easy, easy. One at a time." All right, watch it, or I'll call a foul for charging.

Goodwin finally fulfilled all the female fans' wishes. Along the way, he'd even been ambushed several times, leaving a few red lipstick marks on his face.

A bunch of female hooligans!

Goodwin couldn't help quickening his pace to get away.

When he reached the practice facility, his teammates all turned to look at him.

"Morning!" Goodwin greeted them.

But the next second, Paul Pierce shouted, "Everyone, get him! Take down this guy who's hogging all the girls!" His teammates had already been envious and jealous. They were all NBA players, so why did Goodwin get so many female fans? And when they saw the lipstick marks on his face, they couldn't take it anymore.

"Ahhhhhh..." Goodwin's screams echoed throughout the practice facility.