After halftime, Martin returned to his seat. Frank couldn't help but ask curiously, "Martin, when did you learn to play basketball? And how are you so good at it?"
"That's Kobe, the star of hope for the Lakers. You were able to score two goals in a bullfight with him! It's unbelievable!" Martin shrugged his shoulders and said casually, "When you didn't see it."
"Maybe it's because I'm relatively talented. I can learn those basketball moves instantly." Frank was still confused. "But how come your physical fitness is so good? The height you jumped just now was simply terrifying!"
Martin replied, "Well, maybe it's because I started to grow!"
The subsequent game ended calmly, with the Lakers defeating the Timberwolves 103-89. It is worth mentioning that after the game, Kobe Bryant specifically asked for the game ball, signed it, and presented it to Martin.
Frank was even more excited than Martin. He took his nephew to take a photo with Kobe and shamelessly asked for Kobe's game shoes, requesting him to sign "380" on them. On the way back, Martin felt disgusted and kicked his shoes under the seat. "No, Uncle Frank, are you serious? Are you really going to collect these stinky shoes?"
"Stupid Martin, do you know how much a pair of signed sneakers worn by Kobe can be sold for? Of course, I will definitely not sell them. I will keep them. When Kobe becomes a superstar, they will definitely have collection value."
"Don't you mind the smell? Why don't you go back and wash them off?" Martin pinched his nose and said.
Frank was shocked. "Don't! It won't be worth anything after washing them. That's what you want. After I get back, I will have a glass display cabinet custom-made and put it in the cabinet so that I won't be afraid of the smell!"
Then his eyes fell on the basketball in Martin's hand, and he said with a sheepish expression, "Martin, why don't you put this basketball with your uncle for collection? You don't know how to keep it, so don't break it."
He originally just said this tentatively, but he didn't expect that Martin actually agreed.
"OK, here you go!" Martin threw the basketball into the back seat and clapped his hands. He was so happy that he wondered if this kid was a Kobe fan. After a moment of silence, Frank laughed. No matter what, he had taken advantage. This competition was not in vain.
At this time, Martin spoke up. "Uncle Frank, just tell me, what do you want me to do? There's a saying in China: showing courtesy for nothing is either cheating or stealing. You have gone too far in the past few days!"
Frank blushed, held the steering wheel with both hands, and was silent for a moment, as if he was organizing his words.
After a while, he said, "Martin, I want to ask you to be the best man at my wedding. Can you?"
"I?" Martin was a little surprised. "I'm still a child; is it appropriate?"
In the United States, or in the West, the choice of the best man and bridesmaid at a wedding is an important decision that cannot be made unless it is a very close friend. Moreover, the best man and bridesmaid must give a speech, and if it is true and touching, it will also add a lot of color to the wedding, so candidates are generally not chosen casually.
"Frank doesn't have so many friends, so why are you looking for me?" Martin asked directly.
Frank said hurriedly, "Why aren't you suitable? It's so suitable!"
"You know who my friends are. They are all rotten people and playboys, just like I was before."
"These guys won't bless me for my wedding. I'm even afraid that they will ruin it. Besides, Chris doesn't like them either."
"So, my dear nephew, be my best man. If you are too lazy to write your speech, I can do it for you."
"By the way, Chris's bridesmaid is Miranda. How about this arrangement?"
Martin glanced at Frank lazily, then was startled. Frank was staring at him with a pitiful look.
"No, uncle, look at the road! Look at the road, don't look at me!"
"Okay, okay, I agree; it's not enough even if I promised. Just drive well!"
"Hehe, I knew little Martin would feel sorry for his uncle!" Frank showed a smile of success. "By the way, I have written the speech a long time ago and will give it to you tomorrow."
Martin rolled his eyes speechlessly. "No need; I'm used to free play."
"Well, Martin, don't mess around at the wedding."
"Haha, how about you change the best man?"
"No, uncle believes in you." Frank immediately changed his mind and then carefully reminded him, "You really can't mess around."
"I know, I know."
---
**November 16, 1998.**
Frank's wedding was held on his family's farm. Frank, who was wearing a suit, looked particularly energetic today, gazing with piercing eyes at the beautiful bride standing opposite him in a white wedding dress.
The pastor faced Frank and said, "Frank, will you marry this woman? Are you willing to love her and be loyal to her, no matter if she is poor, sick, or disabled, until death?"
Frank looked seriously into Chris's eyes. "I do!" The pastor then looked at the bride again and said, "Chris, will you marry this man? Love him, be loyal…"
Chris replied, "I do!"
"Both parties exchanged rings."
Martin, who was standing aside, quickly handed the ring to Frank, and Miranda on the opposite side did the same. The two looked at each other and smiled.
When the ceremony of the bride and groom was completed, the pastor left directly, joyful music played, and sumptuous food and wine were brought out…
But it was not the time to enjoy the food yet. It was the turn of the best man and bridesmaid to give their speeches.
Miranda took the manuscript and went on stage first, reading it affectionately. The little girl's manuscript was quite touching, and Chris's eyes were red.
After Miranda stepped down, it was Martin's turn to speak. This guy walked onto the stage in a leisurely manner, without holding any manuscripts, and nodded and smiled at the guests in the audience.
Linda covered her chest with her hands and said excitedly, "Oh, our little Martin is so handsome! When he stands on the stage, he looks much more handsome than the groom."
Grant reminded her with some embarrassment, "Dear, your voice is too loud."
Linda was surprised. "Yes?"
Frank, who was sitting in the first row, nodded silently, complaining in his heart, "Yes, I heard it, sister; you are going too far!"
Gram on the side, Reese, covered her mouth and laughed, not forgetting to rub salt into the wound. "Martin is indeed handsome!"
"Um, yes!" Miranda immediately nodded in agreement.
Frank covered his heart, feeling like he had been hit ten thousand times! He regretted it now. He would rather ask those rotten friends to speak than have Martin steal his limelight.
His eyes looked at the stands, and even he couldn't help but secretly think, "Martin is indeed too handsome!"
As his body developed, Martin's adjustments to his body and facial features began to gradually show results. As long as he stood there, the eyes of the surrounding people would be involuntarily attracted to him. No matter how deep he was hidden in the crowd, people would see him at a glance. He stood out.
In fact, the so-called "handsome" and "good-looking" are subjective perceptions. To a certain extent, there is no distinction between superior and inferior. As the saying goes, Qiuju and Chunlan each have their own differences.
Just like Martin is definitely handsome now, but saying he is more handsome than Leonardo DiCaprio is not accurate. When handsome reaches a certain level, there is no distinction between superior and inferior.
However, Martin's facial features and body proportions are adjusted according to the golden ratio of 1.0, giving people a very coordinated and comfortable feeling. It is the kind of beauty that you want to watch again after seeing it, and it is not offensive.
In fact, this kind of temperament is not good for acting, but it can be harmful, making all performances look the same.
Let's take Leonardo DiCaprio as an example. This guy plays everything like Leonardo DiCaprio. This is the disadvantage of being too handsome.
In order to gain Oscar recognition in the future, DiCaprio will have to gain weight and grow a beard. After destroying his beautiful appearance, he finally succeeded in turning himself into a fat man. He finally got his wish in 2016 and won an Oscar for his role as Hugh Glass in "The Revenant."
But Martin doesn't have to worry about this; he is a Succubus, an ever-changing being. His true form is just a normalized image of himself. And he can become any image he wants to be—handsome Martin, evil Martin, calm Martin, innocent Martin, upright Martin, insidious Martin...
-[•———•——•———•]
𝙥𝗮𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙤𝙣(.)𝙘𝙤𝙢/𝙂𝙤𝙙𝙊𝙛𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧
✨ • 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀: 𝙂𝙚𝙩 𝟲𝟬+ 𝙖𝙙𝙫𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙖𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙚𝙡𝙨𝙚.