Chapter 118: Even Watching a Ball Game Sparks Intense Buzz

After throwing three shots, Li Lekang stopped—there was no need to continue, for the cheers from the crowd said it all! He was treated like an MVP, receiving applause from every player on the court, all as a mere spectator.

Generously, he even walked over to give a high-five to Devon, who was still standing dumbfounded, showing off his gentlemanly charm—at least in Kendall’s eyes, such a man was utterly handsome.

She had never imagined, or perhaps dared not consider, that besides being an astonishing magician, Li Lekang was also a formidable basketball player.

Fortunately, there were no martial arts heroes in America; otherwise, Li Lekang would clearly be a Shaolin monk disguised in a suit and leather shoes, casually stepping onto the court. People would have thought him a rookie, yet he effortlessly outplayed Devon with three shots!

Women need not understand all the technicalities—that in a real contest, Li Lekang was no match, falling far short in skill. She only knew that when he shot, he looked incredibly cool.

The American girl’s fiery passion burst forth; she stood up shouting “I love you!” and blew kisses wildly—her heart surely already fluttering inside.

After his impressive display, Li Lekang jogged back, high-fiving the Lakers players as he passed before smiling and returning to his seat.

As soon as he sat down, Kendall turned and straddled him, showering him with passionate kisses.

Her unabashed warmth and initiative revealed just how deeply she was smitten at that moment.

The players all turned around, hooting and cheering nonstop.

Devon’s heart sank deeper. He had hoped to reclaim his dignity but instead lost face utterly in front of thousands.

This was a live TV broadcast! Not only the 20,000 in the arena but audiences across the Pacific in China were watching... it was a disaster!

Devon’s worries proved well-founded.

The halftime show at the Lakers’ home game delivered an unexpected delight: the Great Magician Li Lekang took the stage, shooting hoops with a mastery as unfathomable as his magic.

He jumped and shot from beyond the three-point line—perhaps even peak Jordan would be stumped.

Such an extraordinary feat led many to believe it was magic.

Surely the NBA had invited him to perform for entertainment!

After the game, fans’ hottest topic—aside from the match itself—was the halftime show. Opinions on Li Lekang’s skill were wildly divided.

Some insisted he was invited to perform; otherwise, given Devon’s ability, it made no sense for him to miss three shots in a row.

As a professional magician, Li Lekang could easily pull a few tricks on the court—after all, he had performed illusions far more astonishing than this.

Many Suns fans agreed with this theory, since Li Lekang remained silent on the matter, which to them was tacit confirmation.

Devon gratefully glanced at those online defending him, thinking he must bite his tongue and stay silent, hoping the truth would spread quietly and salvage some dignity.

Losing his girl and his proud reputation overnight was hard to accept, so he had no choice but to deceive himself for comfort.

However, another faction of fans showed no mercy.

They analyzed factors off the court and coupled them with the next day’s entertainment headlines: supermodel Kendall was dating the Great Magician Li Lekang!

Images of them embracing on the street and kissing passionately at the game shattered the previous rumors of Devon pursuing Kendall. Combined with Devon’s frustrated and bitter expressions on the court, the fans pieced together the story.

Their verdict: Devon tried to humiliate Li Lekang but was outmatched by the magician’s prowess, utterly dominating the younger star.

Once this theory surfaced, it spread like wildfire. Spectators found it utterly convincing.

“There’s no magic show here! Why would your rival cooperate with you for some trick?” they scoffed.

Devon had played well throughout but choked embarrassingly at halftime—no defense for that.

These competing viewpoints gave fans with free time over the Christmas holidays plenty to argue about.

Both sides had supporters, leaving Devon trapped in a storm of public opinion. Yet the true winner of this game was clear.

It was Li Lekang.

Whether for winning the coveted NBA player’s dream girl or dazzling everyone with his skills on the court, the internet’s attention was lavishly showered on him.

There was nothing to criticize about Li Lekang’s performance.

If you said he was playing magic at halftime, well, he was a great magician after all!

If you said it wasn’t magic—that was even more impressive!

Either way, Li Lekang was the undisputed champion.

Now every fan was buzzing about him, debating endlessly whether it was magic or skill.

The buzz spread from Twitter to TikTok, with people clipping the halftime highlight, igniting a viral sensation. Others jumped on the bandwagon, vying for views, which only increased Li Lekang’s exposure.

Even across the ocean in China, though the halftime show wasn’t aired, videos circulated afterward, drawing netizens’ attention once again. They eagerly devoured the drama.

Though the fervor wasn’t as intense as in America, for those who followed basketball and American pop culture, this was definitely a spectacular year-end surprise.

Even Li Lekang himself hadn’t expected that simply dating his girl and watching a game would garner such heat.

Now a Google search for “Li Lekang” brought up the usual questions about whether he was a wizard, but the newest trending query was:

“When is Li Lekang going to play in the NBA?”

“Ha!”

Li Lekang felt certain these netizens would tease him endlessly.

…

That night, the game ended amid the crowd’s roaring cheers.

Li Lekang’s halftime performance had completely enchanted Kendall. Even after the match ended, she eagerly recounted the scene, endlessly curious how he had pulled it off.

“I told you, you probably have more questions about my skills, so the answer is: it’s magic!” Li Lekang shrugged and gave her the truth.

She pouted: “I don’t like that answer!”

“Then do you like this?” he replied, pulling her close and kissing her.

Happiness blossomed across her face.

Hand in hand, fingers entwined, she asked, “Where are we going tonight?”

Li Lekang smiled romantically: “I want to take you somewhere just for the two of us, to count the stars.”

Her heart stirred with sweet longing: “Take me! Anywhere!”

Late at night, Li Lekang decided to drive her to Griffith Observatory.

He personally drove the massive GMC van.

Once there, they barely paid attention to the stars; the thrill of the outdoor adventure had already stoked the flames of passion inside the vehicle.

The GMC Savana was spacious enough for someone six feet tall to stand and move around comfortably. Its luxurious first-class seats adjusted in every angle, with heating, ventilation, and massage functions—all the comforts imaginable.

Nothing could better capture their mood than the ancient verse:

“Stopping the carriage, we love the maple grove at dusk,
The frosted leaves redder than February’s flowers.”

The ancients never lied.