Chapter 85

After Su Feng and Iverson left the office building, Ben Wallace stood quietly in the same spot, as if time had frozen around him. Su Feng couldn't help but wonder if this was the moment when Big Ben earned his nickname. If someone had just handed him a headgear, a wig, and taught him a proper British Cockney accent, Ben Wallace could have easily passed for a bodyguard. A thought amused Su Feng—he might have even found the courage to say, "What are you looking at?" if someone walked by.

"Thank you, Sue," Ben Wallace said, finally breaking the silence. His voice held a tone of genuine gratitude.

"For what?" Su Feng asked, slightly confused.

"Well... although we don't know each other well yet, I'll repay you if I can," Ben said after a moment's thought.

Su Feng smiled, clapping him on the shoulder. "I didn't really help you. But I've always liked you."

Ben Wallace seemed taken aback. For a moment, it almost felt as if the walls had been broken down between them. Su Feng, however, turned to a more pressing question.

"What about your agent?" he asked. "What's the plan for you?"

Ben scratched his head. "He helped me find a hotel and suggested I stay in Philadelphia until the summer league starts. Said I shouldn't run around."

Su Feng nodded thoughtfully. "What about training? Are you working on that?"

"Well... I've found a wild court to practice on for now," Ben replied. "It's not ideal, but it'll have to do for the time being."

Su Feng frowned. "You're on your own out there with no real competition? The summer league starts in a week, and you need to be in shape." 

Ben shifted uncomfortably, unsure how to respond. But Su Feng, noticing his unease, smiled with an idea. 

"I'll give you an address," Su Feng said. "Meet me tomorrow morning, 4 AM, at my rented training hall. I'll help you out. I'll cover all the food and drink. Just be there."

"Four AM?" Ben was clearly surprised. "That early?"

Su Feng nodded. "The summer league's just around the corner. We have to prepare." 

Ben hesitated, but the offer of food was too tempting to pass up. "Alright, I'll be there."

After Ben agreed, the two shook hands, and Su Feng could tell that Ben was both thankful and somewhat bewildered. 

As they walked away, Iverson, ever the skeptic, stole a glance at Su Feng. "You're really something, you know that?"

Su Feng grinned. "We'll see if you feel the same way after tomorrow."

The following morning, Ben Wallace arrived at Su Feng's rented training hall, still rubbing his eyes as the early morning chill bit at his skin. He was expecting to be pranked or at least be made the subject of some joke. But when he walked into the gym, he was surprised to find Su Feng already drenched in sweat, practicing hard.

"You really get up this early?" Ben asked, unable to hide his disbelief.

Su Feng, with a wry smile, shook his head. "I've just started this routine. Lately, I've been getting up at 3 AM to train."

Ben blinked in shock. "Three in the morning?"

"Yeah," Su Feng confirmed. "If you want to get better, you need to push yourself."

The young rookie's jaw dropped. He had always prided himself on his work ethic, but compared to this? Su Feng's dedication was on another level. 

"Well... I'm not used to waking up at this hour," Ben admitted.

Su Feng, ever the determined leader, handed him a sandwich from a backpack. "You've got to eat before we start," he said. "Once you're ready, we'll go one-on-one."

Ben eagerly bit into the sandwich, his hunger overpowering any lingering doubts. "This is really good," he said between mouthfuls. "You made this?"

Su Feng smiled, enjoying the simplicity of the moment. "Yeah. You need fuel if you're going to train like this."

Ben finished the sandwich quickly and stood up, stretching. "Alright, let's do this."

Without warning, Su Feng tied a scarf around his head and stood just beyond the three-point line. Ben raised an eyebrow, curious. What was Su Feng doing? 

Su Feng, with his eyes covered, threw the ball into the air. The basketball sailed through the air, its arc perfect. It swished cleanly through the net. Ben's jaw dropped. 

"You're kidding me," Ben muttered. "You just made a three-pointer... blindfolded?"

Su Feng shrugged nonchalantly. "I've been practicing like this for a while now."

Big Ben was speechless. How could anyone have the audacity to train in such a ridiculous manner and still make shots like that? He felt like he was in the presence of a force beyond comprehension.

But Su Feng was far from done. "That's just part of my routine. You've got to work on your mental strength, too."

Ben, still in shock, was now beginning to understand the kind of player Su Feng was. The kind who would go to any lengths to improve, even when it seemed utterly absurd.

They spent the next two hours training, with Su Feng pushing Ben harder than he had ever been pushed before. When it came time for one-on-one practice, Ben found himself hesitant to get too physical. After all, Su Feng seemed to take everything in stride—he wasn't backing down, no matter how rough things got. Ben tried to hold back, but Su Feng challenged him to be more aggressive, more assertive.

"Ben, if you don't start defending me harder, we're going nowhere. You've got to step it up," Su Feng said, his voice serious.

Big Ben paused, his eyes narrowing. There was no backing down now. With a deep breath, he threw a fistful of effort into his defense.

As the morning wore on, both players became drenched in sweat, their movements sharp and focused. Ben Wallace had come to a realization: Su Feng wasn't just another rookie. He was a player with a vision, someone willing to push his limits—and everyone around him had no choice but to follow suit.

Later, as Ben caught his breath and sat down, he looked up at Su Feng, a newfound respect in his eyes.

"You really don't take it easy, do you?" Ben said, still trying to process the intensity of the training.

Su Feng grinned, wiping the sweat from his forehead. "If you want to make it in the NBA, you can't afford to take it easy."

Ben nodded, understanding the truth in Su Feng's words. The summer league was just around the corner, and he knew that if he wanted to make an impact, he'd have to match Su Feng's level of dedication.

As the sun rose higher over Philadelphia, the two of them walked off the court together—two players, each on their own path, but united in their shared determination to get better, no matter the cost.