Chapter 59

Since someone has already subscribed on my Patreon, which I doubt is a reader of this novel (but a reader on my other works), here are an additional three chapters.

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The on-site cameraman zoomed in on Martin's raised checkbook.

"Let Frank's checkbook appear on the big screen."

Barkley, who was commentating on the game, looked at the big screen and said, "Hey, is this a musical score? There seem to be lyrics! Did our genius kid just finish composing a song on the spot?" O'Neal was a little confused. Looking at the checkbook jealously, he said to Martin, "Are you saying that Kobe's dunk just now inspired you, and you wrote a song on the spot?"

"That's right."

"Why not me?" This was the reason Shaq felt jealous.

He posed like a strongman and said proudly, "Martin, look, I'm much stronger, much more handsome, much more charming, and much better than this kid Kobe. The fight is much better; you should write a song inspired by me!"

Kobe: "..."

Martin: "..."

Ignoring the eccentric Shaquille O'Neal, Martin looked at Kobe and said, "Kobe, you will definitely become a superstar; I believe in you."

O'Neal inserted his large head between the two of them, winked, and said, "Hey, there's a superstar here!"

Kobe ignored the fat-headed distraction and smiled kindly at Martin. "Thank you!" With his arrogant personality, he was very proud of the fact that Martin regarded him as his idol.

Seeing that these two guys ignored him, O'Neal felt unhappy. He rolled his eyes and suddenly snatched the checkbook from Martin's hand. He rushed to the DJ's area, grabbed the microphone, and waved it.

"Gentlemen and ladies, do you know what our genius little Martin just did?"

As the big screen displayed a close-up of the checkbook, the audience scratched their heads in curiosity.

Now that Shaq was so excited, their curiosity suddenly burst forth.

"Say it!"

"What did Martin do?"

"We want to know!"

"Shaq, you idiot, stop showing off."

"Shut up! How dare you call Shaq an idiot?"

"None of your business?"

"Do you want to fight?!"

"Come on!"

In the end, the two of them couldn't fight.

Because O'Neal spoke just in time.

"Hey, our little genius Martin just now, right there, composed a song inspired by my little brother Kobe's dunk...."

O'Neal's words surprised and excited the audience, both at the scene and in front of the TV.

Inspiration struck while watching a game, and he wrote a song on the spot?

It sounded legendary!

Former NBA star and current TNT commentator Barkley and his partner Smith heard a reminder from the director in their headsets: "Quick, ask that little genius if he can sing it live."

Barkley knew that if Martin created a classic—no, as long as it was a song that was slightly above average—today's competition would definitely become a classic, and the ratings would explode!

In fact, according to TNT's "Real-time Ratings Detector," the ratings that should have dropped during the intermission were now constantly rising, with no intention of stopping.

Old Buss, the owner of the Lakers, who was watching the game at home, jumped up, and his heart raced.

He picked up the phone and called Jerry West, the Lakers' general manager who was at the scene. "Jerry, you should contact Martin's agent immediately and tell him that we want this song; he can ask for any price."

"Got it, I'll contact him right away!"

Jerry West was a smart man. He knew how much publicity and traffic this incident and song would bring to the Lakers. If it became a classic, Kobe Bryant would also benefit from it.

And Old Buss wasn't the only one coveting this song.

NBA President David Stern was also watching the live broadcast of the game. This shrewd man quickly recognized the business opportunity.

He picked up the phone and called his subordinate, saying, "Contact Martin's agent immediately. I want that song. Yes, you're also watching it; it's the song that Martin composed at the Lakers and Timberwolves game. I want it to become an NBA promotional song."

At CAA headquarters in Los Angeles, Jeff, who was working overtime, received a call that confused him.

Lakers general manager Jerry West? Wanted to discuss purchasing the song Martin composed live at the Lakers game?

Wait, Martin went to watch the Lakers game today? He also composed a song live?

No, I have to ask him.

Jeff picked up the phone but didn't rush to dial. Instead, he turned on the TV in the office and jumped to the TNT sports channel, where a fat black man appeared on the screen.

"Guys, do you want to hear the great Shaq sing this song for you?"

"Shh!"

The scene was filled with overwhelming boos.

To be honest, O'Neal was very good at playing basketball, but his singing skills… anyone who had heard him sing live knew he was an amateur among amateurs, especially with high notes; it sounded like a duck that had its neck pinched.

But this damn fat guy still liked to sing.

Even his die-hard fans couldn't stand his live performances.

(PS: The author is exaggerating a bit. Although the fat-headed fish doesn't sing well, it's not unbearable either; don't complain if you don't like it.)

O'Neal made an angry expression, "You guys have successfully angered Shaq; I want to make you pay for this…"

On the screen, O'Neal was doing something weird, and Jeff was already ready to call Martin.

At this moment, another call came in.

"Hello, this is the office of the NBA Commissioner. Is this Mr. Jeff Raymond?"

"Yes, I am. What can I do?" Jeff asked thoughtfully.

"We, the NBA Sports League, hope to purchase the song Mr. Martin composed today during the Lakers and Timberwolves game as a promotional song for our NBA...."

It was really for this.

Jeff understood.

After hanging up, he wasn't in a hurry to call Martin. With two companies competing, it seemed he could negotiate a good price for the song.

He sat on the sofa leisurely and watched TV.

On the screen, a uniform shout suddenly rang out:

"Kobe, Kobe!"

"Martin, Martin!"

It turned out that to thank Martin for his importance to him, Kobe decided to invite him to play a five-goal bullfight at the scene.

Martin was a little surprised. This way of thanking him was really strange. He had already planned to sing.

But playing basketball…

Martin wore a mysterious smile on his face. It wasn't impossible.

In the first half of the game, he had memorized all of Kobe's playing moves. As for whether he could control his body to express the moves in his mind, Martin thought that this was not a problem for him.

[•———•——•———•]

𝙥𝗮𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙤𝙣(.)𝙘𝙤𝙢/𝙂𝙤𝙙𝙊𝙛𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧

✨ • 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀: 𝙂𝙚𝙩 𝟲𝟬+ 𝙖𝙙𝙫𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙖𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙚𝙡𝙨𝙚.