Chapter One: The Number After Two Hundred Million

Eleven points in forty-two seconds—an unprecedented comeback. His face appeared ten meters tall on the screen, and spectators who had left poured back through the tunnels chanting his name. Lu Chen looked toward the owner's seats. Xu Boyan lit his lighter. There was no cigarette and no smoke. A blue flame existed for one instant. The crimson line withdrew across the floor and vanished. At 11:40 that night, freshly showered, Lu Chen was escorted to the arena's top-floor conference room. A contract waited on the table. “Five years, two hundred million yuan, fully guaranteed,” general manager Zhao Chi said, his voice trembling. “You're number one on seven trending charts. Chairman Xu is willing to bet that tonight wasn't a fluke.”