The next morning, Su Xi headed to the Toyota Center Arena for practice as usual. At the hotel entrance, he was met by three separate waves of interviews from the Chinese media. This game was a momentous occasion for Chinese basketball fans.

It was the first time in history that a "China Derby" featured two players who were both core members of their respective teams.

The NBA had also launched a massive promotional campaign. From the moment the Cavaliers arrived in San Antonio, all the major networks that broadcast NBA games had been running promos.

Not only was the game being broadcast live with comprehensive coverage in China, but it would also be televised nationally in the United States on ABC and TNT.

This was a massive game.

Judging by the sheer scale of the NBA’s marketing, in terms of regular-season matchups, this was bigger than a season opener, second only to the Christmas Day games.

Everyone was looking forward to seeing how Su Xi and Yao Ming would perform.

At the hotel entrance, many excited fans held up banners to welcome Su Xi. A lot of them... Chinese fans and Chinese-American fans had traveled from all over Texas and North America. Some had even flown in all the way from China.

All just to watch this game.

Su Xi was deeply moved.

He rarely interacted with fans before a game, but this time, he walked over to the group of forty or fifty fans by the hotel, took photos with each of them, and signed autographs.

He also gave an interview.

Su Xi said he was looking forward to facing off against Yao Ming, whom he considered the best center in the league...

Su Xi was being sincere.

’The Cavaliers wouldn’t trade me right before such an important game,’ he thought. ’Even if they were going to announce a trade, they’d wait until after this game. After all, they’ve already dragged it out this long. One more day won’t make a difference.’

But he still gave the reporters a preemptive warning. "Please temper your expectations for this game," he said.

When the reporters pressed for more, Su Xi refused to elaborate.

Then, the reporters asked if he had an irreconcilable conflict with LeBron James.

The Chinese reporters had also covered this story, but not with the same frenzy as the foreign media. After all, Chinese culture values harmony and tries not to reopen old wounds. Moreover, they adhere to the philosophy that "brothers may quarrel at home, but they unite against outside insults." Before a complete and public falling out, the media wouldn’t deliberately sensationalize the conflict. Of course... that was just the official media’s stance. The internet was a whole different story, buzzing with heated discussions.

On the Hupupu forums.

Threads about the "leadership battle" between Su Xi and James had flooded the homepage.

And what was truly unbelievable was that the majority of users actually supported James.

That was pretty messed up. You can just imagine what the online environment was like in 2003.

"Why does Su Xi have to compete with James right now? James is the Chosen One, the Little Emperor. His talent was known back in high school. Su Xi is nowhere near his level. Besides, when you’re playing in a foreign country, can’t you just keep a low profile?"

"What’s so bad about being number two? If anything goes wrong, the top guy takes the heat. It just means doing a little more of the dirty work. Su Xi is still young, and young people are supposed to endure some hardship, right?"

"’Build high walls, store abundant provisions, and take your time claiming the throne.’ Su Xi hasn’t learned a single bit of our ancestors’ wisdom. Look at Yao Ming. Have you ever seen him challenge Boss Fred? Su Xi is just asking for trouble."

"Su Xi is just clueless. It would be so good for him to stay by the Little Emperor’s side. Wouldn’t being the Prime Minister be sweet enough? He just has to compete with the Little Emperor. Getting him traded would just take a single word. Look at Ricky Davis. He made a big fuss, and didn’t he still get shipped off to Boston..."

"..."

Amid this wave of ’objective, independent, and calm’ analysis, a few sensible comments were occasionally drowned out. ’Why can’t Su Xi be the number one? He performs better than James, he’s more efficient, and when the ball is in his hands, the team wins. What does James have besides talent? He can’t win games.’ ’Su Xi isn’t a eunuch, so why should he have to serve the Little Emperor and do all the dirty work?’ ’They’re both human, so why should Su Xi have to be treated as inferior?’ ’In the two games James missed, Su Xi led comeback victories and created miracles. What has James done? His only triple-double was basically handed to him by Su Xi.’ ’...’

Of course, Su Xi knew nothing about these discussions on the Chinese internet.

He walked into the Rockets’ home arena, warmed up and stretched as usual, and then went to the court to get a feel for it.

They had arrived quite early, so the arena was mostly empty.

Su Xi practiced his shooting for a while, then ran some plays with Carlos Boozer and Tony Battie. Their chemistry was growing, and they were getting more and more accustomed to Su Xi’s rhythm.

Just as they were enjoying this harmonious practice session.

James walked over. He looked down at them and said condescendingly, "Jack, it’s time we settled this once and for all."

"I don’t like hearing people say you’re better than me at this and better than me at that. I’m going to beat you, and then I’m going to drive you out."

LeBron James passed the basketball to Su Xi. "Here. We’ll play. Five possessions. We’ll do it your favorite way: you just have to stop me three times, and you win."

Huh?

Su Xi was taken aback for a moment. ’Five possessions, and I only win if I stop you on three of them?’

’And so condescending, too.’

Su Xi sneered inwardly. ’If a top-tier scorer like Kobe or Tracy McGrady were here, they’d say: Five possessions. If you can stop me just once, you win.’

"Fine. We’ll do it your way."

Su Xi agreed.

He passed the ball to LeBron James. James caught it, slammed it to the floor, and then suddenly exploded with speed... He was playing with unprecedented force.

He had to prove one thing in front of the entire team: ’I am stronger than Su Xi! You should all submit to me, not stand there thinking how great *he* is.’