Chapter 113: Sold Out in Seconds! LK1 Release Shocks Fans
After wrapping up the press conference with ease, Tang Lei drove back to his apartment. The weight of breaking the NBA's longest win streak finally lifted from his shoulders, and a wave of exhaustion washed over him. He drifted into a deep sleep almost immediately.
Meanwhile, back in China, it was midday. As the media continued covering his accomplishments and fans shared the news far and wide, Tang Lei's fame hit another peak. He now topped numerous popularity rankings and led the list in projected commercial value by a significant margin. With the advantage of online media and a massive fanbase, Tang Lei's reach was now said to surpass even that of Liu Xiang and Yao Ming.
Seeing this as a golden opportunity, several brands that had anticipated his success and secured sponsorships early took the chance to congratulate Tang Lei publicly. The most notable of these was Anta. Anta seized the moment to drop a bombshell announcement: the release of Tang Lei's first signature shoe, the LK1 — the "Lei King One." The news immediately set the Chinese market ablaze, even causing a noticeable rise in Anta's stock.
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The next day, Tang Lei woke up to a missed call and three unread messages on his phone — all from Caroline.
The messages read:
"Wow, 34 wins in a row, Tang! You did it! I always believed you could. Congratulations! You were amazing!"
"Wait, does this mean your Anta signature shoe is already out? So fast! I'd love a pair!"
"Were you asleep? I didn't want to disturb you. I just finished my paper and hope it passes!"
Seeing her messages, Tang Lei couldn't help but smile. Since there was a time difference of two or three hours between his city and Caroline's, he was often asleep when she finished her night study sessions. During Warriors home games, Caroline typically had to watch replays since she couldn't catch the live broadcasts.
Tang Lei quickly replied with three messages:
"Knocked out right after the game last night, so I missed 'sleeping together' with you this time."
"You'll reap the rewards of your hard work. I believe you'll pass your paper on the first try."
"Oh, and by the way, there's a surprise coming your way today!"
That "surprise" was, of course, his custom Anta sneakers. He'd had a pair sent to Caroline in her size after securing the deal with Anta. When discussing the design and naming of the shoes with Anta's manager, he'd requested both a men's and women's version — one in his size and the other in hers. The shoes had arrived just three days ago, hand-delivered by Anta's brand manager. Tang Lei had been amazed by the design; it was authentically Chinese-inspired and executed with genuine craftsmanship. Anta's dedication showed, likely driven by their success with Klay Thompson's KT series. But since the shoes hadn't been released, even Tang Lei, as the face of the brand, couldn't reveal them yet. Timing was everything in product launches.
His plan to surprise Caroline was perfectly set.
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Stretching with a yawn, Tang Lei got up, brushed his teeth, and prepared a simple lunch of tomahawk steak. Eating, he scrolled through news on his phone, smiling as he read about the widespread reactions to his latest win streak. However, he also felt the weight of increased scrutiny. Wins were praised, but he knew too well that any slip-up could bring out the critics.
After lunch, he received a new message from Caroline:
"Oh my gosh! It's your new signature sneakers! Did you send these to me?"
"You like them?" Tang Lei smiled, knowing the answer but asked anyway.
"Like? I love them! Wearing these out would make everyone so envious!"
"You'd make people envious, Caroline, not the shoes."
"Do you talk this way to every girl?"
"Where are the other girls? There's only you."
"Oh, you're such a smooth talker!"
The two of them kept chatting, and before they knew it, more than two hours had flown by.
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Elsewhere in China, news of the LK1 launch spread like wildfire:
[LK1 Sells Out Instantly Upon Release!]
[Anta Livestream Gains Over a Million Followers in Three Hours — CEO Pedals to Studio After Traffic Jam!]
[LK1 Fever! Some Buyers in Tears Over First Pair!]
[Anta's New Year's Release Creates Frenzy!]
[Xiaomi Phone Sales Also Spike!]
[Parents Shocked as Women's LK1 Sneakers Outsell Men's!]
Within hours of Anta's release announcement, Tang Lei's fans flooded both online stores and physical shops, crashing servers and emptying shelves. His influence was indisputable.
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The following morning, Tang Lei arrived at the Warriors' training center, where the team had scheduled a training session. In two days, they'd be flying to Boston to face the Celtics. Though the Celtics' odds for the championship weren't as high as the Raptors, Bucks, or 76ers, their impressive development had secured them a strong position in the Eastern Conference.
Notably, the Warriors would be resting Curry and Green, who wouldn't travel with the team for this game. The official reason? Curry cited wrist soreness, and Green had reportedly suffered "food poisoning" from a "mysterious sandwich." In reality, they simply needed a break. With the pressure of maintaining the league's longest win streak finally lifted, the Warriors could afford to take it easy.
For Tang Lei, however, this was an unexpected and fantastic opportunity.
...