Meanwhile, in distant China, this wave had turned into a nationwide carnival.
The moment the final buzzer sounded and Li Fei was tossed high into the air, earth-shaking cheers erupted from countless college dormitories, completely drowning out the dorm supervisors' knocks on the doors. In countless family living rooms, fathers and sons embraced in excitement while mothers smiled and wiped tears from the corners of their eyes. In breakfast shops along streets and alleyways, everyone set down their soy milk and fried dough sticks, gathering around tiny televisions to applaud their compatriot in that distant land.
China Central Television's Sports Channel launched an unprecedented special report that ran for several hours.
Sun Zhengping and Xu Jicheng's voices had already gone hoarse, yet they still used their most impassioned words to relive this great victory.
"Back-to-back champions! Li Fei did it! In the NBA, the highest temple of world basketball, our player has once again stood atop the world!"
"This is Li Fei's victory, and the pride of every Chinese person! He proved to the world that we Asians can be the best in a sport believed to belong to Black players—and can even surpass everyone else!"
Online, the servers of the major sports forums that had only recently emerged were instantly overwhelmed.
The four words "Li Fei is awesome" flooded every basketball-related page.
Fans spontaneously organized themselves, discussing how they could welcome the return of the hero in their hearts.
This fervor had long since transcended sports, becoming a tangible expression of national pride.
That night, the entire Knicks team flew from San Antonio back to New York on a private plane.
On the plane, the joy of victory continued to ferment.
And after returning to New York came New York's dazzling nightlife.
Li Fei, Latrell, Penny, New