N-A-A Chapter 29 The Black Widow's Kiss
Chapter 29 The Black Widow's Kiss
2008年12月17日，凌晨2:30。
Los Angeles, Hollywood Hills.
The city's hustle and bustle has subsided, but the sea of lights beneath our feet is still dazzlingly bright.
This is the highest point in Los Angeles, and the backdrop for countless romantic and criminal events in movies.
A red Ferrari F430 Spider convertible was parked quietly by the observation deck.
Scarlett Janssen casually rested her hands, which should have been holding the Oscar trophy, on the steering wheel. The night breeze tousled her blonde hair, and her eyes, which had captivated countless viewers on the big screen, were now gazing dreamily at the man in the passenger seat.
"You really did it."
Scarlett broke the silence.
"Even Jack Nicholson got driven away by you. You know what? That old man hasn't lost his temper like this in a long time since he got fined for giving the middle finger to the referee."
Li Xiangbei leaned back in his leather seat, casually loosening his tie, which felt a little tight around his neck. He still carried the smell of gunpowder from the "Dragon-Slaying Battle" and the hormonal aura of a conqueror.
"I told you, I'm here to cause trouble."
Li turned his head to the north.
"Now, the arena is smashed, and the dragon has been slain. Where are my spoils?"
Scarlett raised an eyebrow, a gesture characteristic of top Hollywood actresses.
"Spoils of war?"
She didn't speak, but suddenly unbuckled her seatbelt and leaned forward. The scent, a blend of expensive perfume and her unique body fragrance, instantly enveloped Li Xiangbei.
Bathed in the glow of Los Angeles lights, Scarlett reached out her long, slender hands, grabbed Li Xiangbei's collar, and pulled him toward her.
Then, without hesitation, those sexy red lips pressed against it.
This was a passionate kiss that lasted for a full minute.
It is full of wildness, the tension of conquest and being conquered.
There were no cameras, no paparazzi, only the wind on the mountaintop and the sound of each other's rapid breathing.
For a long time, the lips are divided.
Scarlett didn't shy away like a little girl; instead, she stretched out her index finger and gently traced the lipstick mark still on Li Xiangbei's lips.
That's all for tonight.
Scarlett blinked, perfectly capturing that push-and-pull dynamic.
"After all, all men are the same. What they can't have is always the best. Right, my scoundrel?"
Looking at the stunning woman before him, Li Xiangbei had to admit that this tactic was truly effective. His adrenaline was still surging, but reason told him that the distance was just right.
"A smart woman." Li Xiangbei smiled and opened the car door. "However, next time we meet, a kiss might not be enough to appease me."
Scarlett started the engine, and the roar of the Ferrari broke the silence of the night.
"Let's talk about it next time. I'll be waiting for you to come back in New York."
The red taillights left a trail of light on the mountain road before disappearing into the darkness.
Li Xiangbei touched his lips, and a crisp notification sound rang in his mind.
[System notification: Scarlett Janssen's favorability rating has exceeded the threshold.]
[Gain passive buff: Blessed by Lady Luck.]
[Effect: Slightly improves clutch shot accuracy. When the game enters the final 2 minutes and the score difference is within 3 points, your luck rating will reach MAX.]
"Luck?" Li Xiangbei laughed. "Looks like that kiss was actually quite valuable."
……
The next day at 3:00 PM.
Denver International Airport, Colorado.
As the Knicks' chartered plane slowly landed on the runway, the change in cabin pressure made everyone's ears ring.
The hatch opened, and a rush of dry, cold, and thin air hit us.
"Cough cough cough... Oh my God..."
Zach Randolph had barely stepped out of the cabin when he began to complain.
"Why is the air so thin in this godforsaken place? I feel like my lungs are going to explode! Who hid the oxygen tank?"
Denver, Pepsi Center. A notoriously intimidating home court in the NBA.
At an altitude of 1606 meters, this place is a full mile above sea level. For visiting players accustomed to low-altitude living, altitude sickness is the biggest enemy. Countless strong teams have fallen here, often collapsing in the fourth quarter due to lack of oxygen, allowing the home team to sweep them away.
Li Xiangbei walked at the back, taking a deep breath of the so-called "thin air".
[System monitoring: Ambient oxygen levels have decreased.]
[Unlimited Stamina (Passive): Constantly running.]
[Steel Lungs (S-Class): Operating at full power.]
Your cardiovascular system is strong enough to support you for a full 48 minutes on the summit of Mount Everest.
For Li Xiangbei, this place was no different from New York at sea level.
He looked at his dejected teammates in front of him and couldn't help but chuckle mischievously:
"Zack, looks like you used up too much oxygen at the nightclubs in Los Angeles last night. That's God's punishment for you."
Randolph rolled his eyes, too exhausted to even curse: "Shut up... Lee... I need an oxygen mask..."
……
Denver Nuggets training facility.
At this time, the Nuggets were in one of their strongest periods.
Carmelo Anthony, the third overall pick in the 03 draft class, was an offensive kaleidoscope, nicknamed "Melo." At his peak, he was one of the few superstar scorers in the league capable of going toe-to-toe with Kobe Bryant on offense.
Moreover, they recently acquired Chauncey Billups, which gave this team, which previously only knew how to play chaotically, a brain.
After practice, the media surrounded Anthony, who was icing his knee.
"Carmelo, you're facing the Knicks tomorrow night. Li Xiangbei just hit a game-winning shot against the Lakers in Los Angeles, and the media is calling him the 'New King of New York.' There are even rumors that the Knicks originally wanted to trade these assets for you. What do you think?"
This is a very sensitive issue. Back then, the entire league knew that Anthony wanted to go to a big city, and New York had always been rumored to be his next destination. Now, suddenly Li Xiangbei has stolen the spotlight, which makes the proud and arrogant Melo very unhappy.
Anthony removed his headband, a hint of disdain flashing in his eyes.
"The new king of New York?"
He gave a cold laugh.
"He's only had a few good games? A few game-winning shots and he's already a king? I can score 30 points every night in Denver, and nobody calls me king."
Anthony stood up, his bulky frame exuding an aura of intimidation.
"The media always loves to create idols. But tomorrow I'll show them what a real scorer is. What a true offensive kaleidoscope is."
"On my territory, a mile above the ground."
Anthony pointed to the ceiling.
"He'd better bring an oxygen mask. Otherwise, I'm afraid he won't even be able to hold the ball properly in the fourth quarter."
The heated interview quickly reached the Knicks' hotel.
Li Xiangbei, who was doing push-ups in his room, just smiled faintly when he heard David Lee read the news.
"melon?"
After finishing the last set, Li Xiangbei sprang up from the ground and wiped his sweat.
"The melon is indeed very sweet, and it has a variety of attacking methods."
"but."
Li Xiangbei walked to the window.
"I hope his stamina can withstand my full-court press. After all, at high altitudes, not only will I experience oxygen deprivation, but the fat guy will too."