Chapter 44: Post-Game Party – Overall Rating Upgraded to A+!
Back in the locker room, the Texas Longhorns kicked off round two of their championship celebration.
There were too many cameras around the court earlier, so the guys had to keep it somewhat chill. But once they got behind closed doors? It was total chaos. Guys were hollering, chasing each other, and acting like wild monkeys let loose.
Because U.S. law says no alcohol for anyone under 21, they had to swap the champagne for soda, juice, energy drinks—whatever they could get their hands on.
Didn't matter. The goal was the same: pop the bottle and drench your teammates. Mission accomplished.
After about thirty minutes of throwing drinks and play-fighting, the team finally cooled off, hit the showers, and changed into fresh clothes.
Why? Because this was only the second round. The main event—the official celebration—was still coming later that evening.
The school had booked an indoor venue for the team. Players could bring girlfriends or close friends to share the moment. It was a proper party, one that screamed: "We're the champs!"
While waiting to head out, Chen Yan pulled out his phone.
99+ unread messages. Yikes.
His inbox was flooded. Nash had messaged him. Yao Ming. Classmates. Friends. The whole basketball world, it seemed, wanted a piece of him. Chen Yan quickly skimmed through the names and picked a few to reply to before setting the phone down.
That's when Coach Rick Barnes walked over and clapped him on the shoulder.
"Chen," he said, "I want to talk to you for a second."
Chen Yan nodded, following him to a quiet corner.
"I think you should consider staying another year," Coach Barnes said, looking serious. "There's no rush to jump to the NBA."
Barnes wasn't doubting Chen Yan's talent. Quite the opposite. He just didn't want Chen to make a big decision in the heat of the moment. After all, the adrenaline of a championship win could cloud judgment.
Technically, since Chen hadn't signed with an agent yet, he still had NCAA eligibility.
"If you play one more year," Barnes continued, "you could gain more experience. Honestly, I think you've got a real shot at going number one overall next year."
Of course, Barnes had his reasons. Losing Chen would be a massive blow to the team. And truthfully, Chen had only gotten serious minutes during the March Madness run. From a coaching perspective, he still needed reps.
Chen Yan appreciated it.
"Thanks, Coach," he said sincerely. "But I don't think staying in college will help me grow. I'm ready for new challenges."
He didn't say it out loud, but he knew the real growth—the real honor points—were waiting in the NBA.
Barnes sighed and gave him another pat on the shoulder.
"I get it. I respect your decision. If there's anything you need during the process—advice, contacts—you let me know."
"I will. Thanks again, Coach."
Tonight was probably the happiest day in Rick Barnes' coaching career—Texas had won its first-ever national title, and he was officially an NCAA champion coach.
But it was also bittersweet. Because this was goodbye.
With Durant already declaring for the draft, and now Chen Yan leaving too, Texas was losing its twin stars in one go. Next season would be a rebuild from scratch.
---
Later That Night – Championship Party
The party was already in full swing. Music was bumping, the lights were low, and the vibe was electric.
Durant, though? He wasn't feeling it.
"Man," KD muttered, standing alone, "why didn't I bring a plus-one?"
Everyone else had dates. Couples were dancing, laughing, feeding each other cake. It felt like a rom-com set—and Durant was the extra standing by the punch bowl.
At least Chen Yan had his back, though. Misery loves company, right?
Wrong.
KD turned to say something—only to see Chen Yan walk in with Taylor Swift on his arm.
"What the hell…" KD blinked. "Bro, what?!"
Yeah, that's right. The Taylor Swift. Blonde hair, megastar smile, walking in like she owned the place.
Turns out, after the game, she'd texted Chen Yan saying she wanted to return the jersey she borrowed. He mentioned he was heading to the team party and told her to just drop it off later.
Instead, she showed up.
Chen Yan walked over, grinning ear to ear.
"Yo KD, where's your girl at?"
Durant rolled his eyes. "I'm going to the bathroom," he grumbled and walked off before he screamed.
Tough night for single guys.
---
Meanwhile, Chen Yan and Taylor were vibing.
Their last encounter in the locker room had been super brief—just enough time to exchange numbers and a quick laugh. But tonight? They finally had time to talk.
Movies, music, basketball, even Chinese culture—everything was on the table.
"I've actually listened to some of your music at home," Chen Yan admitted.
Taylor smiled. "And I've watched a few of your games. You've got this quiet confidence when you play. It's fun to watch."
There was a bit of light flirting, sure. A touch of that PR sparkle. But both of them knew how this game worked—celeb meets rising star, feel each other out, and see where it goes.
For now, they were just enjoying the conversation.
After the party ended, Chen Yan escorted Taylor back to her hotel before heading to his own room.
They were still in the early stages—getting to know each other—so there was no way things would escalate that quickly. Besides, Chen Yan wasn't the type to jump into something without real feelings involved. With his current fame, it would be all too easy to hook up with a gorgeous girl for a casual night, but that felt empty and pointless to him.
It wasn't like he feared being slandered after a breakup with the usual nonsense—"He's a toothpick," "Three-minute man," "Couldn't handle it"—because honestly, his gear and performance spoke for themselves. Anyone who tried to talk trash would be flat-out lying.
No, Chen Yan just didn't believe in treating feelings casually. He had a clear career path and didn't want any unnecessary distractions or drama. His reputation mattered, and he was damn careful with it.
Back in his room, Chen Yan sat on the edge of his bed and finally turned his attention to the system.
"Time to see what this new feature is about."
His eyes locked on a tab that hadn't existed before: [System Mall].
This was one of the perks he unlocked after completing a main mission. Curious and excited, he clicked into it immediately.
The System Mall was divided into three main modules:
---
[Star Skills]
This section was packed with legendary signature moves from NBA greats:
[Dream Shake (Jordan – Perimeter Version)]
[Dream Shake (Olajuwon – Post Version)]
[Jordan Fadeaway]
[Stone Buddha Jumper]
[Golden Rooster One-Legged Fade]
[Shark Power Slam]
[McGrady Pull-Up Jumper]
[Sky Hook]
[Malone Elbow Fade]
Chen Yan's eyes lit up. He wanted all of them.
But a harsh truth hit quickly—these skills weren't cheap.
Even the most basic signature move cost over 300 honor points. That was crazy!
Then again, these weren't just moves—they were legacies. Skills refined over decades by the best of the best. Of course, they were expensive. They were priceless in real life.
---
[Potions and Enhancers]
This section featured status boosters and training multipliers. But what got Chen Yan most hyped was the Injury Recovery Potion.
"Damn… this could save a career."
Too many prodigies had been ruined by injuries. That's what separated legends like Jordan and LeBron—not just talent and work ethic, but durability.
Chen Yan knew: a healthy body was the biggest asset in a professional career.
---
[Performance Gear]
This module had accessories—wristbands, elbow sleeves, headbands—all with small stat boosts. Like an RPG game, but with less impact.
Still, it was dope in its own way.
Chen Yan didn't have spare honor points to waste on gear right now, though. He'd focus on essentials first.
---
After thoroughly exploring the Mall, he turned his attention to the newly unlocked skill:
[Perfect Hand Shape] (Passive)
+10% Shooting Stability
+10% Interference Resistance
+5% Overall Shooting Accuracy
This passive worked across the board: threes, mid-range, layups—everything.
Which meant that even though his mid-range shot was rated at 81, and his three-pointer at 80, his actual shooting performance was even better.
And best of all? It was passive. No extra energy drain.
"Hell yeah. That's clutch."
Time to cash in the goods.
From the last game, Chen Yan had earned 20 honor points, and another 7 points for winning Player of the Game. That gave him a total of 27 honor points—his highest stash yet.
"Feels like hitting a mini-jackpot," he grinned.
But the high faded fast. Upgrading anything from the 80–90 range cost a ton—he could only afford five attribute points total.
After some thought, he dumped all the points into [Strength] and [Defense].
To survive in the league, you needed muscle and stops. His current ratings for those were low enough that the added points would make a real impact.
---
He opened his updated player profile:
---
[Name]: Chen Yan
[Height]: 198 cm (6'6")
[Weight]: 88 kg (194 lbs)
[Wingspan]: 218 cm (7'2")
Athleticism:
Standing Vert: 98 cm
Running Vert: 105 cm
Speed: 92
Stamina: 90
Offense:
Ball Control: 90
Breakthrough: 90
Layup: 85
Mid-Range: 81
Three-Point: 80
Free Throw: 80
Passing: 85
Positioning: 90
Defense:
Steal: 88
Defense: 75
Block: 68
Rebounding: 58
Strength: 74
Mental:
Vision: 84
Spirit: 95
Skills:
[God-Level Steal]
[Answer Crossover]
[Phantom Step]
[Hot Start] (Passive)
[Perfect Hand Shape] (Passive)
Honor Points: 0
Overall Rating: A+
---
The boosts to Strength and Defense stood out immediately—now at 74 and 75, respectively.
But what excited Chen Yan the most was the bold A+ sitting under his name.
"Yo, is that an upgrade?"
A jump from A to A+ was big—but from A+ to S? That was different. That wasn't just another level.
That was a leap from All-Star to Superstar.
Then it hit him.
The system had once mentioned: Every time your overall rating improves, you get a skill upgrade opportunity.
Chen Yan's eyes lit up.
"So... does this mean I get to upgrade one of my skills now?"
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