Inside the Boeing 767 cabin, the smells of leather seats and airline food mingled. Lin Qi stood at the front, looking at the group of players and coaching staff he had lured onto the plane under the pretense of "preseason perks for the team," and smiled with satisfaction.
The plane had reached cruising altitude. Until now, most players still thought the flight's destination was simply a trip to Europe.
"Alright everyone, you can unfasten your seatbelts now." Lin Qi picked up the microphone, his voice echoing throughout the cabin, "Before you all enjoy your meal, I'll briefly explain the upcoming itinerary."
"Lin, where are you taking us?" Young Kevin Garnett stretched his long legs out into the aisle, chewing gum as he shouted nonchalantly, "If we're going to train for trail running in some deep forest, I'm not doing it!"
This remark drew a burst of laughter from everyone, and even the veterans joined in. Although they complained, they all knew Lin Qi's style; these jokes were more of a way to lighten the mood.
"Don't worry, Kevin, we're not going into the mountains." Lin Qi clapped his hands to signal everyone to be quiet. "Our actual destination for this flight is Milan, then Greece... and some other Europe cities."
There was a moment of silence in the cabin, then it erupted into chaos.
"Go to Europe?"
"Wait, Lin, does the Alliance allow it?"
"The league has officially approved it." Lin Qi waved the document in his hand. "We've reached an agreement with several top Europe clubs to play exhibition matches for a few weeks and hold a joint training camp. As for the money... the Europe sponsors and clubs have been very generous this time, providing a total of $5 million in appearance fees and subsidies."
Upon hearing "5 million," the players, who had been leaning back in their chairs, instantly sat up straight.
"I've done a rough calculation," Lin Qi said, holding up three fingers, "And each of you here will likely receive around $350,000 in net income, all of it legal. Don't think it's too little; just consider it a bonus."
350,000?!
The atmosphere in the cabin instantly ignited. In 1999, this was an absolute fortune. For a rookie on a minimum contract and a role player, it was almost equivalent to half a year's salary, and this was just a few weeks' worth of extra income.
"It's not over yet," Lin Qi continued, his tone relaxed, "The food and accommodation during our stay in Europe will be top-of-the-line. Also, anyone who wants to bring family... wife, girlfriend, or kids, bring them! Let them book their own plane tickets, and they can get L'Équipe once they arrive at the hotel—the company will cover everything."
Even the usually composed Eddie Jones couldn't help but cheer, whistling and clapping, almost lifting the cabin roof off. Everyone exchanged knowing glances; no one cared whether they'd been "tricked" onto the plane.
"Don't get too excited yet. Money doesn't come easily. You'll still have to train when you get to Europe." Lin Qi smiled and gestured with his hand, looking at a middle-aged man in the front corner. "To ensure your skills don't rust during this time, I've specially hired a top-notch instructor."
Everyone followed his gaze.
The man was wearing clean sportswear and was smiling and waving to everyone; he was in very good shape.
" Mark Price?!" Garnett recognized him immediately and exclaimed in surprise.
A buzz of discussion immediately broke out in the cabin. Mark Price, a four-time All-Star, had been teammates with Garnett on the Celtics and quietly retired last year due to the league lockout. As one of the most intelligent and skillful point guards in the league, his retirement was a pity for many.
Lin Qi walked over to Price, patted him on the shoulder, and joked, "Old acquaintance. To be honest, last year I personally invited Mark to be a 'player development coach,' but he flatly refused. His reason was that his wife was pregnant and he had to stay home and be a good husband."
Price touched his nose sheepishly, and everyone laughed good-naturedly.
"But now..." Lin Qi raised an eyebrow, "The baby's been born, and my sister-in-law's recovery is going well. After helping out at home for a few months, Mark realized they weren't enough to cover the baby formula costs, so he's decided to officially come out of retirement and join us in Europe to earn money for baby formula!"
Price chimed in, nodding with a smile, "Lin's right, taking care of a child is much more tiring than playing a game. To catch my breath and to earn money for my son's milk powder, I had no choice but to return to competition."
As soon as he finished speaking, the cabin erupted in laughter and applause once again.
The atmosphere was perfect. Lin Qi patted Price on the shoulder, grabbed his drink, and headed back. As he passed the middle section of the seating area, a burly veteran waved to him.
It's " The Human Highlight Film," by Dominique Wilkins.
Last season in Boston, this veteran gave it his all. And this offseason, he made the decision to retire.
"Lin, why don't you sit here and chat?" Dominique Wilkins gestured to the empty seat next to him, his tone gentle.
Lin Qi sat down and handed him a bottle of water. " Dominique, how are you feeling? Are you physically managing all that running around in Europe with these young people?"
"Come on, my old bones can't take any more strain." Dominique Wilkins shook his head with a smile, but his tone was a little hesitant. "Actually... I've been thinking about that invitation you gave me to be a 'player development coach' lately."
Lin Qi nodded and listened attentively.
"To be honest, I really like Boston, and I like the team you're leading," Dominique Wilkins said honestly. "But the Hawks contacted me a couple of days ago. I plan to go back to Atlanta after the new season starts to sign a one-day contract and retire as a Hawks player. Also, they want me to go directly into management."
Dominique Wilkins said somewhat apologetically, " Atlanta means a lot to me, but I really want to stay in Boston and help everyone. Now I'm caught in the middle, which is quite difficult."
After listening, Lin Qi was not angry at all; on the contrary, he understood. He knew what Atlanta meant to Dominique Wilkins. They were both smart people, and it was best to be frank with each other. Forcing him to stay would only hurt their relationship.
" Dominique, I completely understand." Lin Qi thought for a moment and offered a very practical suggestion, "In that case, let's try a different way of working together. I won't give you a fixed position; the team will appoint you as a 'special advisor.'"
Dominique Wilkins paused for a moment. "Special Advisor?"
"Yes, the very free kind," Lin Qi said with a smile. "Whenever you have time, come to the training facility in Boston and give the youngsters some pointers on offensive techniques. If you have personal matters to attend to, or need to go back to Atlanta to handle matters with the Hawks, you can leave anytime without asking for leave."
Lin Qi lowered his voice and added, "Even if you want to do something else, like become a commentator on TV, I'll absolutely support you. The only requirement is: abide by the basic confidentiality agreement and don't let slip the team's internal tactics or core secrets."
Dominique Wilkins' eyes lit up when he heard this arrangement.
He was indeed quite interested in commentary, and this plan neither locked him into Boston nor put him in a difficult position.
"Special advisor..." Dominique Wilkins pondered for a moment, then smiled with relief. He extended his large hand to shake Lin Qi's, "Lin, your arrangement is simply impossible to refuse. This way, I can also work with the Hawks as an advisor, without neglecting either side, and I can even go to the commentary booth."
"Then it's settled, Advisor Dominique Wilkins." Lin Qi smiled and clinked bottles with him.
Outside the window, the sea of clouds churned as the plane flew towards the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. What was originally a tedious training trip had been transformed into a Europe carnival that everyone looked forward to, thanks to the substantial benefits and the participation of renowned guesthouse owners.