Chapter One: The Number After Two Hundred Million

Lu Chen lunged left, tipped the pass, and gathered the ball as if it had been pulled into his hands by a string. He raced forward, then stopped behind the arc instead of taking the layup. The shot fell. Seven points. The arena's jeering faltered. The next twenty seconds felt folded together. Lu Chen drew an offensive foul, came off a screen after the inbound, and hit another three. The Crown made one of two free throws. Lu Chen grabbed the rebound, pushed upcourt, then threw the ball off a defender's shin to preserve possession. Six seconds. Down four. Zhou Yan did not call timeout. Everyone assumed the game was over. Lu Chen caught the sideline inbound. The defender closed too hard; Lu Chen faked, took the contact, and flew almost sideways.