June 26, 2001 – NBA Draft Day
At 8:30 a.m. Beijing time on June 27, Zhao Dong sat back comfortably at home as CCTV began its live coverage of the NBA Draft. He wasn't particularly busy, and curiosity had gotten the better of him.
With Michael Jordan out of the picture this time around, he wondered if the Wizards would still make the same infamous mistake.
"Will they still draft Kwame Brown?" Zhao Dong muttered, chuckling softly. "History has a funny way of repeating itself."
But deep down, he knew how the league worked. Talent—especially the kind that was flashy and raw—always drew attention. Kwame had all the physical tools. Unless Washington's management had suddenly gained divine wisdom, the pick would likely remain unchanged.
Sure enough, David Stern stepped onto the stage, opened the envelope, and made it official.
"With the first pick in the 2001 NBA Draft, the Washington Wizards select... Kwame Brown."
The first high school player to go No. 1 in NBA history had just been born—again.
Soon, the Clippers took Tyson Chandler. The Hawks followed with Pau Gasol. The Spurs, chasing upside, picked Eddy Curry.
Then came the Blazers.
In the war room, GM Whitsitt had his pick ready and scribbled a name onto the card: Jason Richardson.
A powerful 6'6" swingman with explosive athleticism, Richardson was a human highlight reel with a deep scoring bag and an NCAA championship pedigree from Michigan State. His defense? Questionable. Lateral movement? Needs work. But his offensive arsenal was too tempting to ignore.
Watching from home, Zhao Dong nodded in approval.
"Nice pick. That frees me up to slide back to the paint if needed. Eddie Jones, Richardson, and Marion on the perimeter? Not bad at all."
But fate had a way of shaking things up.
Just when he thought their frontcourt would be the first to lose someone in free agency, a surprise hit the locker room.
---
June 28 – The Call
Around 9 p.m., Zhao Dong's phone buzzed. It was Marion.
"Boss… I'm sorry."
Zhao Dong leaned back, already expecting the worst.
"Which team?"
"…The Suns," Marion replied hesitantly. "They offered a six-year deal. Eighty-six million. I… couldn't say no."
Zhao Dong let out a short laugh. "Don't be sorry. Get your bag, man. This is the NBA—we play for rings, but we live off the money. You earned it."
"Thanks, boss." Marion sighed, the guilt melting off his voice.
After hanging up, Zhao Dong looked out at the Beijing skyline.
"Well, so much for moving back inside."
Still, the situation was manageable. Eddie Jones could shift to point, and the addition of Richardson would keep their perimeter dangerous. As long as no more pieces left, they were still contenders.
He turned his focus back to family.
Lindsay's workload had exploded again, so Zhao Dong took on full-time dad duties—juggling four rowdy boys and a small army of nannies. Even so, the kids were tireless. He was barely keeping up.
---
July 9 – Moscow, IOC General Assembly
Duty called again.
Zhao Dong flew to Moscow with the Beijing Olympic bid delegation to attend the 112th IOC General Assembly. The 2008 Olympic hosting rights were on the line.
China had lost before—they couldn't afford to lose again.
Zhao Dong's presence wasn't symbolic; it was strategic. The top basketball figure in China was a walking endorsement. Every meeting, every speech, every handshake with foreign delegates mattered.
Then came July 13.
As IOC President Samaranch stepped up to the podium, Zhao Dong's heart pounded despite knowing the result.
"…And the host city of the 2008 Olympic Games is—Beijing."
The room erupted. History had changed.
---
August 13 – A Storm in New York
Back home, life was blissfully normal—until Zhao Dong received a call from Oakley.
The Knicks were back in the headlines. The infamous "Golden Club" scandal had finally exploded, and several Knicks players were caught in the mess.
Zhao Dong burst into laughter. "I knew it. And you're telling me Jordan didn't have a hand in this?"
Oakley cursed and hung up. Zhao Dong quickly redialed.
"What now?" Oakley barked.
"Just checking in on your wife," Zhao Dong teased. "She's not filing for divorce, right?"
"Get lost!" Oakley slammed the phone again, this time for good.
---
Zhao Dong and Lindsay kept the celebration private.
Their four sons had turned one, and the family gathered for a quiet dinner.
The boys were already walking confidently and could even swim without assistance—well ahead of developmental milestones. Super genes and constant training were paying off.
Zhao Dong felt it in his gut: China was entering a golden era. The next 20 years would be crucial, and the wave was just starting.
On the night of September 11 (morning in the U.S.), history kept its course.
The attacks sent shockwaves worldwide. Panic selling gripped Wall Street. U.S. stock indexes plummeted by 11% to 17%, wiping out $1.5 trillion in market value in mere days.
Amid the chaos, Tianlong Investment Bank held a press conference in Beijing, announcing the launch of its asset management and securities investment operations. Lindsay, sharp and poised, delivered the keynote.
By the end of the month, Tianlong had attracted more than $2 trillion in investments. With $4 trillion under management, it was now on par with Goldman Sachs, Merrill Lynch, and the rest of the world's elite.
But with power came risk.
---
September 30 – High-Level Talks
That evening, just before National Day, Mr. Zhu visited the Zhao household.
He came under the guise of meeting the children, but there was business on the agenda.
Zhao Dong had raised red flags through Lindsay earlier. And now, they needed to be addressed in person.
"Senior management is acquiring equity and pushing for privatization," Zhao Dong said sternly. "We need to keep it in check."
Mr. Zhu frowned. "Privatization?"
Lindsay elaborated. "They're applying for leverage—using financial loopholes to edge out state capital and complete private takeovers. And they're raising hundreds of times their capital base through recycled financial tools."
"These tactics pose national risks," Zhao Dong added. "We've already donated nearly $20 billion of our U.S. holdings. We didn't start Tianlong to watch state assets get eaten alive."
The discussion ran late into the night. But in the end, Mr. Zhu gave his word.
"We'll look into this seriously."
Zhao Dong and Lindsay knew all too well the weight Tianlong Investment Bank now carried in the country. Its influence had grown exponentially—far beyond the significance of those so-called "entrepreneurs" or "reformers." And the government's attitude toward them? Crucial.
Together, they made a formal pledge to the higher-ups: as the nation continued its development, they would gradually transfer majority ownership of Tianlong Investment Bank to the state.
Currently, the country held 30% of Tianlong's shares. In time, that figure would exceed 50%, turning the institution into a state-controlled financial powerhouse.
Zhao Dong was honest with himself. Tianlong held stakes in far too many critical domestic companies. Those companies were still in their infancy, but one by one, they'd grow into industry giants. When that happened, the pressure of managing such vast capital might become too much. Better to pass it off and step back gracefully.
He and Lindsay's personal assets had reached astronomical levels. Massive foreign capital flowed into Tianlong nonstop. Management fees alone were enough to keep them wealthy beyond imagination, not to mention dividends. Once the country reached a new level of development, they could exit the stage with pride—legacies intact.
---
October 6
The Chinese Academy of Sciences made a bold move. It formally rejected Lenovo management's application to acquire company shares. With the support of Tianlong Investment Bank, it decided to inject major capital into Academician Ni's chip project. Leadership was reshuffled, and Mr. Lao Niu was transferred out of Lenovo.
The company, originally a wholly owned subsidiary of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, had seen Tianlong invest heavily the previous year and acquire 40% of its shares. But the Academy retained control.
This had been part of the original agreement with Mr. Zhu—control over all key state-related companies would remain in state hands.
When Zhao Dong heard the news, he felt relieved.
Unlike in the future, the domestic chip sector wasn't that far behind the international curve yet. With steady development over the next ten years, the gap could be completely closed.
---
As the calendar rolled into the 2001-2002 NBA season, Zhao Dong returned to the U.S. with his family.
The Trail Blazers front office had done a commendable job holding the team together. Aside from Marion's departure, the core roster remained intact. Rookie Jason Richardson stepped in to fill the gap, and the team chemistry wasn't broken.
Zhao Dong had hoped the system would trigger a new task at the season's start, but it remained silent. Still, he focused on the grind—one game at a time, one win at a time.
If he could lead the Blazers to another championship, he'd earn his fourth system reset fragment. That would allow him to change his career path. His time in the NBA might be coming to a close.
Or maybe… just maybe… he'd stay one more season. Cement a dynasty in Portland. Leave the perfect ending.
---
By early 2002, the U.S. stock market had plunged below 1,800 points and was still freefalling.
The Trail Blazers? Absolutely dominant. Just like last season, they topped the league standings.
The title race shaped up as a three-horse contest: Portland, the Lakers, and the Nets.
Portland remained the most complete squad. Despite the Lakers shoring up some weaknesses, they lacked the Blazers' bench depth. David Robinson, now clearly aging, had declined. The once-feared super-center duo with O'Neal had lost some bite.
Shaq, tipping the scales at 330 pounds, still ruled the paint like a one-man demolition crew—but he was already on the back end of his prime. Meeting Zhao Dong in this era? Bad luck. The Diesel was still ringless. His fingers? Empty.
Kobe Bryant, on the other hand, was entering his peak years. But the Lakers' offense still leaned too heavily on low-post play due to Zhao Dong's presence in the league. Kobe's touches were fewer than in his past life, which only fueled the tension between him, the coaching staff, and Shaq. He craved a larger tactical role.
As for the Nets, their ownership had poured in money like water, but New Jersey's small market limited the team's growth. Bench depth and perimeter help were lacking. Their strength was at best a half-step below Portland and L.A.
---
Late February – Dongguan, China
At the Hongyuan Basketball Club, a surprising notice arrived from the Basketball Management Center.
Yi Jianlian, a standout from the youth squad, was instructed to head to the U.S. to attend the Nike International Training Camp.
He had previously received an invitation from Adidas for a similar event in New Jersey. Now Nike was calling. The club management quickly connected the dots—Zhao Dong had to be behind this.
Nike had a close relationship with Zhao Dong, and it wasn't just coincidence that the invitation came via official channels.
They suspected Zhao Dong wanted Yi to follow the same path as Yao Ming—straight into the NCAA.
Originally, Hongyuan had planned to promote Yi to their first team for the 2002–03 season. Yao Ming had once been slated for the same path before Zhao Dong intervened and sent him to college ball.
Now, it seemed history was repeating itself.
---
This left the club management in a serious bind. They had invested two full years into developing Yi Jianlian. Letting him walk, especially when he had no professional contract, meant he might never return.
But if Zhao Dong had made up his mind… there was little they could do.
Legally, Yi was still an amateur. He had every right to leave. The only thing the club could ask for was a training fee—and even that was more symbolic than substantial.
The responsibility of handling the situation fell to Chen Haitao, Hongyuan's general manager and the son of the group's chairman.
Recent seasons had been frustrating. The team finished sixth and seventh, far from title contention. Yi Jianlian, with his massive upside, was supposed to be part of the turnaround.
Now he was slipping through their fingers.
Chen picked up the phone and called Liu Yumin from the Basketball Management Center.
"Director Liu," he said with a weary sigh, "Tell me honestly. Is there any chance Xiao Yi will come back?"
Liu Yumin burst out laughing.
"Haha! That's wishful thinking. Zhao Dong's serious. He wants Yi to play in the NCAA."
Chen Haitao didn't respond immediately. The silence on the line was telling.
"Mr. Chen," Liu continued earnestly, "Please support this move. We need new blood. Liu Yudong's generation is nearing retirement, and the next wave is crucial. We'll make sure Hongyuan is compensated in other ways. The CBA draft will launch next year, and new talent will flood in."
"CBA draft?" Chen blinked. "That's news to me."
In the end, he had no choice but to relent. He gave the green light without attaching conditions, offering full support. He didn't demand compensation or throw up obstacles. It was a sign of respect—to the Center, and to Zhao Dong.
---
When Yi Jianlian got the news, he almost exploded with joy.
He had always dreamed of playing NCAA basketball like Yao Ming. He had been studying English for over a year in quiet preparation—but the opportunity had never materialized.
Now it had. And it was Zhao Dong who opened the door.
He would never forget that.
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
Check my Pâtreon for (40) advanced chapters
Pâtreon .com/Fanficlord03
Change (â) to (a)
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
https://discord.gg/MntqcdpRZ9