Chapter 48: GM’s Nightmare — Tang Lei Signs with Rich Paul

Rich Paul couldn't help but be surprised by Tang Lei's unshakable stance. Initially, he thought negotiating with this 19-year-old from China would be straightforward, but Tang Lei's poise, confidence, and presence were beyond his expectations. It was almost as if he was speaking to a young LeBron, only with an even sharper edge.

In that fleeting moment, Rich Paul realized exactly why Tang Lei had the courage and composure to drain so many game-winners and clutch shots. He wasn't just a talent; he had the spirit of a true champion.

After deliberating for a mere 3.14159 seconds, Paul chose to concede. True, the reduced fee was less than he'd hoped for, but as Tang Lei had pointed out, his vast appeal in the Chinese market was undeniably lucrative. Tang Lei's commercial potential alone could place him among the league's top five earners, and for a player of this caliber, Paul wasn't about to pass up the opportunity.

"Alright, Mr. Tang, let's go with the terms you outlined," Paul agreed, smiling. He handed over a draft of the contract he'd prepared in advance and slid it across the table to Tang Lei after jotting down the updated rates.

Tang Lei accepted it with a nod, smiling in return. 

The two spent the rest of their lunch chatting comfortably, exchanging thoughts on basketball, business, and their shared ambitions. After an hour, they parted ways. Tang Lei returned to his apartment, contract in hand, looking forward to an evening of well-deserved relaxation.

Sprawled on the couch, Tang Lei reviewed the agreement meticulously. In a foreign country, where contracts hold immense weight, he wasn't about to let anything slip through the cracks. After reading it over several times, he felt reassured; everything appeared in order. Given Rich Paul's reputation, it wasn't surprising that the agreement held no pitfalls — a firm like his had no need to risk its credibility.

With that settled, Tang Lei switched to his phone, where he saw a message from Caroline, thanking him again for the game tickets. It seemed that the connection between them was steadily warming, and Tang Lei found himself excited by this new opportunity.

He decided to take things a step further, asking Caroline for her direct contact info. To his surprise, she was not only online but responded quickly, sharing her details as if she'd been waiting for him to ask all along.

Over the next couple of days, they began chatting regularly via WeChat, the conversations flowing easily. Occasionally, they'd even chat on the phone, talking about their pasts, dreams, and plans for the future. With memories from his past life still intact, Tang Lei seemed to have an uncanny understanding of Caroline's tastes, personality, and style, often casually offering suggestions that left her genuinely impressed.

With each text and call, time flew by. Before long, the two-day break had come to an end.

Today, the Warriors had a game scheduled against the Charlotte Hornets — not exactly a powerhouse, given that they were clinging to playoff hopes by a thread. Led solely by Kemba Walker, the Hornets struggled in a league increasingly dominated by star-studded teams. It was an era where even a duo of stars barely cut it; three-headed superteams were now the standard.

Before the game, Tang Lei signed his official contract with Rich Paul, solidifying their partnership. The news spread like wildfire, sending shockwaves through the league, especially in the front offices.

For the Warriors' GM, Bob Myers, the news was a personal nightmare. He regretted not signing Tang Lei to a longer contract at the start. With his explosive performance and now the backing of a top-tier agent like Rich Paul, re-signing him in the future was going to be anything but easy — or cheap.