Giant Slayer

(TL/n: Double length chapters incoming.)

A week later, at the beginning of February, the league announced the final results of the All-Star voting.

LeBron James topped the votes with 2.7 million, making him the All-Star vote leader.

Han Sen ultimately received 1.42 million votes— still far below Wade's 2.32 million but higher than Iverson's 1.32 million.

This meant he would join Wade as the Eastern Conference's starting backcourt for the 2010 All-Star Game!

Han Sen no longer had time to think about why the league really let him into the starting lineup.

The vote count just seemed absurd to him.

After all, Yi Jianlian had 1.8 million votes last year, and this year only 300,000!

Even if you take a 6-to-1 ratio, even if you discount the American fans who voted for him, it still meant that about three to four million people from China were voting for him! 

Forget about getting around the great firewall or voting systems being a hassle—how many people would truly follow such a cumbersome process just to cast a vote?

It was terrifying!

When it came to sheer numbers, China had made the NBA question their reality more times than they could count.

Perhaps that was also the reason why the league didn't forcefully remove him from the starting lineup— so many people voting meant that many would watch the live broadcast.

Pulling him out would have dealt a massive blow to the overseas ratings for the All-Star Game.

Han Sen, of course, knew that this wasn't a reflection of his actual popularity. Even Yao Ming didn't have this kind of pull.

Maybe the haters had grabbed their grandmas' and great-uncles' IDs to register accounts and vote.

He had come to fully accept the saying: 'Haters are still fans— one hater equals ten regular fans!'

So, now he was faced with one piece of good news and two bad ones.

The good news was that his [hater points] was about to spike dramatically.

The last rookie to average only around ten points per game and still make the starting lineup was, yes, Yao Ming.

Yao Ming averaged 12.9 points and 8.1 rebounds before the All-Star Game, comparable to Han Sen's scoring.

But Yao was a center, so his competition was relatively less fierce. Even so, he got roasted by the haters.

So, it was foreseeable that while Han Sen was lying in bed, his hater value would be skyrocketing.

As for the bad news, the first was that entering the All-Star Game in this manner would not only alienate his opponents but also make his own teammates from the Eastern Conference uncomfortable with him.

It would be extremely difficult for him to perform well on the All-Star court.

The second piece of bad news was, naturally, the situation with Swift.

Although Han Sen had confidence in his looks and other qualities, the problem was that he and Swift lived in two completely different worlds.

This completely unexpected result left Han Sen feeling a bit unsure of what to do.

Maybe he could photoshop a picture to deal with it?

No, no, that would be too much like Embiid!

Sure, it would gain him more haters, but he was afraid he'd become a nationwide joke— imagine going onto the court and having the defenders laugh at you before the game even started.

He needed haters, but he also had his pride.

After thinking it through and coming up with no good solution, Han Sen decided to leave it alone for now.

The priority now was to improve his skills.

As long as he could make a name for himself on the court like Yao Ming, these things might eventually turn into interesting anecdotes.

The next day, Han Sen woke up to a surprise.

His hater value had surpassed 100,000 and now stood at 110,000.

That meant overnight, he gained over 20,000 hater points!

This was even crazier than the time he praised LeBron to the heavens.

And this was just the beginning!

By the time the All-Star Game rolled around, he'd surely have enough to exchange for the Floater Talent.

With that thought, he strutted into the gym feeling lighter on his feet.

As long as his skills were strong enough, who cared about a little controversy?

Once he reached the locker room, LeBron was the first to congratulate him.

It seemed that his "praise to heavens" card hadn't expired yet.

With LeBron leading the way, the other Cavaliers veterans followed suit and offered their congratulations.

Of course, most of the congratulations were just formalities; only a few close friends genuinely cared.

"I'll be your bodyguard in Dallas," Cunningham volunteered as soon as he sat down.

"If you need it, I can take care of that for you," West chimed in, holding up seven fingers in a gesture.

It was clear they were worried about Han Sen's safety.

After all, Dallas was in Texas, a place known for its rugged, wild culture.

Han Sen laughed and shook his head. "Come on, I haven't heard of any NBA player getting gunned down while playing for the league."

At worst, he just wouldn't act like a lone wolf when he was there.

"I can help you get Taylor Swift's contact info," Shaq butted in, clearly enjoying the drama.

"Now that would be useful," Han Sen nodded.

"Are you really planning to date her?" Shaq's question quickly drew the attention of the rest of the locker room.

No one cared about food, but they weren't missing out on the gossip.

Han Sen coughed lightly, "Might as well give it a shot."

With that, the entire locker room erupted in cheers.

Even though they were all millionaires or multi-millionaires, it was still tough for them to catch the attention of a Hollywood star.

Even Michael Jordan, as great as he was, never had any rumored relationships with famous female stars.

One reason was that NBA players' schedules were too packed— if they weren't playing, they were training. Dating someone felt more like being a widower.

Another reason was that athletes didn't hold as high a status in America as they did elsewhere.

Then, of course, there was the possibility that the widespread use of performance-enhancing drugs had left some side effects. Not many NBA players looked as good as Han Sen did.

So if Han Sen had the guts to try dating someone like Swift, they were all for it, regardless of whether he succeeded or failed.

"How do you plan on trying?" Cunningham asked curiously on their way to the training facility.

"You'll find out when the time comes," Han Sen teased.

This left Cunningham feeling genuinely curious.

---

A few days before the All-Star game, the Cavaliers were in New York for their last game before the break.

The night before the game, Han Sen found himself sitting across from Taylor Swift at a cozy café in the heart of the city.

Taylor, dressed casually in a beige coat with an orange baseball cap, let her wavy golden hair fall naturally around her face. Her ice-blue eyes stood out, but what struck Han Sen most was how approachable she seemed— less of a distant celebrity and more like the friendly girl next door.

After living in the U.S. for years, Han Sen had picked up on the nuances of American culture. A "date" could mean something casual, not necessarily romantic like back home.

That's why he'd been open to the idea. His controversial comment had generated buzz, and for a star like Taylor, media attention was never a bad thing.

Plus, he figured it was worth a shot— though he didn't expect her to actually agree.

Yet, here she was, sitting across from him, sipping her coffee.

"So," Taylor said, her voice soft but with a bit of edge, "have you heard any of my songs?"

Han Sen grinned. "Most of them, actually."

Her eyebrows lifted in surprise. "Really? Like which ones?"

"Uh, 'Love Story,' 'Fearless,' 'You Belong With Me'…" He paused, pretending to think, though he knew plenty more. "You've got quite a few hits."

Taylor's eyes lit up as he listed them off, but Han Sen could tell she wasn't just flattered; she seemed genuinely happy.

It was almost as if no one had ever told her that before. She leaned forward with a playful smile. "Not bad. You might be a real fan."

Han Sen chuckled, relaxing into the conversation. "Yeah, I'm not going to lie. Your music's good. I even bought a membership just to stream your songs back in the day."

Taylor's laugh was bright, breaking whatever ice was left. "Wow, dedication! Okay, I believe you now."

Han Sen couldn't help but smile at how easygoing she was. She didn't act like the global superstar everyone else saw. As they kept talking, the conversation flowed effortlessly.

They chatted about everything from her upcoming tour to how hectic life in the NBA could get. At some point, Taylor even high-fived him when he cracked a joke, something about how neither of them could seem to escape the paparazzi.

By the time they finished their meal, Han Sen felt like he was hanging out with an old friend rather than someone he'd met just hours earlier.

As they got up to leave, and the photographers outside clicked away furiously, he walked her to her car.

Just before she got in, Han Sen couldn't resist asking, "Taylor, I gotta know— why'd you say yes to this? I mean, you didn't have to."

She smiled, looking at him thoughtfully. "Because you were brave enough to ask. Simple as that."

Han Sen blinked, caught off guard by the honesty. "Brave? I wouldn't call it that."

She shrugged, a grin playing on her lips. "Well, I do. It takes guts to put yourself out there." With that, she climbed into the car.

As the engine started, she rolled down the window, waving at him. "See you around, Han."

Han waved back, watching as the car pulled away. "Brave, huh?" he muttered to himself, shaking his head.

He hadn't been trying to be brave— he was just trying to stir up some media attention. But thinking back to their conversation, he realized what she meant.

Maybe there was something bold about asking for what you wanted, even if it was just a dinner.

But then again, he thought, with a smile tugging at his lips, they probably wouldn't meet again.

---

"Han Sen's Private Meeting with Swift in New York."

No need for a flashy title— when TMZ broke the news the next day, both the entertainment and basketball worlds were shaken.

Turns out, the "toad" really did snag the "swan", and people couldn't help but be annoyed!

As expected, Han Sen's [hater points] skyrocketed again. The growth was so rapid that he actually witnessed the number break past the 200,000 mark.

Once it hit 200,000, he immediately redeemed the skill he'd long been eyeing:

[Giant Slayer]: Enhances floater touch, body balance, and stop-and-go control while driving.

Han Sen hadn't given much thought to the system's skill names before, but now, looking closely, he noticed how clever they were.

Some were straightforward, like [Star Catcher] and [Phantom Steps], but others, like [Eagle Eye] (where an eagle's eyes serve as a precision lens for long-range shots) or [Giant Slayer] (since floaters are commonly used when small players face bigger defenders), had deeper meaning.

I mean, if you're going up against someone like Redick, you'd dunk on them, not throw up a floater!

Redeeming this skill before the All-Star Game brought Han Sen a sense of relief, and he felt more relaxed. With the detailed advice he got from Dwyane Wade and his newly acquired talent, his next goal was to train his floater until he hit a plateau.

It wouldn't come as quickly as [Phantom Steps]— after all, he hadn't been practicing floaters as long. But as long as he could master it by the end of the season, that would be enough. After all, the playoffs were the real stage where strategy was dialed up to the max.

Curious, Han Sen also checked out Taylor Swift's Facebook page to see how her fans were reacting to the news.

What he found stunned him.

He expected lighthearted teasing, but instead, the comments were filled with harsh criticism:

"Didn't she just break up with John Mayer? And now she's already moving on? What, another guy to write about?"

"Taylor jumps from one guy to the next like it's nothing. First Lautner, now Mayer— at least this time she's not cheating."

"She's acting like she's all classy, but she's just like everyone else in Hollywood. Now she's dating an Asian guy? Seriously?"

"Why is she even still famous? She'll never be Beyoncé. She's not even in the same league."

"This is what's wrong with the entertainment industry— white privilege at its finest."

Han Sen was taken aback. He'd assumed that with Taylor's massive popularity, her fans would be defending her. But it seemed like she had just as many haters, maybe even more.

Feeling responsible for the wave of negativity Taylor was getting, Han Sen couldn't just sit there. Even though he knew the comments wouldn't stop, he felt compelled to do something. He opened up his burner accounts— several of them, in fact— and started to wade into the comment sections.

It didn't take long for him to dive in headfirst, responding to every hateful post he saw.

"Maybe she's just living her life. Since when did that become a crime?"

"John Mayer? That was ages ago in celebrity time. Stop acting like you know these people personally."

"An Asian guy? Seriously, we're still doing this? How about judging someone based on who they are, not where they're from."

"Comparing her to Beyoncé is like comparing apples and oranges. Let each artist be great in their own way."

He spent the next hour furiously typing, his fingers flying across the keyboard. But no matter how many accounts he used or how well he tried to defend her, the flood of hate seemed endless. He was up against a sea of online trolls, and it became clear that one person, even armed with a handful of burner accounts, couldn't change the tide.

Eventually, exhausted, Han Sen logged back into his main account and posted something real, something that came from him directly:

"Had a great time with Taylor Swift. She's got a pure heart, but I'm not the right person to fill in the lines of that story. Wishing her the best in finding her happily ever after."

And after a moment of reflection, he added:

"For those who live for the game, let's focus on what really matters— making history on the court. Let's create something memorable at the All-Star game. #77."

Satisfied, he set his phone down, knowing he couldn't fight every battle but hoping that, at least for now, his words would do some good.

---

As the All-Star weekend approached, Han Sen set off for Dallas. Thomas accompanied him, as Han Sen had to attend several sponsor events that weekend, and Thomas was there to help coordinate everything.

Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade were also involved, so it wasn't just Han Sen representing the league.

Cunningham, Han Sen's teammate, also traveled with them.

Originally, Han Sen had planned to participate in the Rookie Challenge, Three-Point Contest, and the All-Star Game. But to avoid pushing his body too hard, he opted out of the Rookie Challenge.

After some discussion, the league decided to let Cunningham take his spot as a replacement. Though his stats weren't eye-popping, Cunningham was at least a starter for the Cavaliers.

Once in Dallas, Han Sen attended promotional events with Wade and Bosh while Cunningham trained with the rookie team.

Security wasn't something Han Sen had to worry about— the sponsors had arranged everything, and with top stars like Wade and Bosh involved, the security detail was top-notch.

After the events, they all gathered in a private room arranged by the sponsors to rest and eat.

They chatted about the promotional events, the upcoming All-Star Game, and the season itself.

Each of them represented different stages of the league: Han Sen on a championship-contending team, Wade on a playoff-bound team, and Bosh leading his team in a playoff push.

This created a sort of admiration circle: Bosh envied Wade for making the playoffs consistently, as he had only made it twice in seven years. Wade, in turn, envied Han Sen's position on a championship contender. Though Wade won a championship in 2006, he'd always wanted another to solidify his legacy. And Han Sen? He envied Bosh, as he had originally hoped to join a playoff fringe team when he entered the draft.

"If none of you achieve your goals this season, maybe we should explore playing together next summer," Thomas suddenly suggested, catching them all off guard.

His words left the room in stunned silence as the three players turned to look at him.

All three, including Han Sen, respected Thomas immensely. After all, not many agents worked 24/7 and handled so much with such a broad network of connections.

Wade and Bosh exchanged glances. Both held player options for the upcoming summer.

Han Sen, meanwhile, rubbed his chin, deep in thought.

And honestly, the more he thought about it, the more interesting the idea became.

Han Sen wasn't anti-LeBron, but what if he replaced LeBron on that legendary Heat team with Wade and Bosh? Would the results be different? He could space the floor better than LeBron, allowing Bosh to stay in the paint instead of working on his three-pointer. Offensively, the team would be a three-headed monster, combining outside shooting, driving, and interior play.

Defensively, Wade wouldn't have to cover for LeBron, and Han Sen could help reduce Wade's workload.

If they not only won a championship but built a dynasty, that wouldn't just be interesting— it'd be exhilarating.

But Han Sen wasn't a free agent like them.

"If you guys want to come to Cleveland, I think we could make something work," Han Sen joked, breaking the silence.

Wade and Bosh both laughed.

Let's be real: who would choose to go to Cleveland if they had a choice?

Besides, LeBron was still there. If they joined, where would LeBron go?

You couldn't exactly kick the king out of his own castle.

The conversation fizzled out after that, but they all wondered what might happen if they ever teamed up.

---

TL/n: From now on [Floating Steps] will be changed to [Phantom Steps]. I'll gradually change the terms in the previous chapters. Sorry for the confusion.