"What?" Zeng Ling's eyes widened immediately.
"Coach, please let me finish." Lu Yu clenched her fingers. "My physical condition makes it difficult for me to continue for another full Olympic cycle. Right now, in the women's basketball team—"
“I don’t listen to high-sounding nonsense.” Zeng Ling said seriously, “Right after the Paris Olympics, Luo Yan told me she wanted to retire. We all know her situation, and I was prepared for that. But you’re different. You don’t have any incurable injuries, so why—”
"Coach, you want to push for reforms in the Chinese women's basketball league, right?"
Zeng Ling was stunned by Lu Yu's abrupt question and couldn't speak for a moment.
"You want to bring the Jiao family into the game and make Tengyue Sports the first commercially operated women's basketball club in China, right?" Lu Yu revealed Zeng Ling's thoughts. "That's what you're thinking, so you need me to continue playing. I heard what you were thinking."
“Wh-what do you mean…” Zeng Ling swallowed twice.
That's right. This is the kind of reaction a normal person should have.
Doubt, skepticism, and then a mixture of fear and skepticism.
When Lu Yu thought about the strange and wonderful reactions of Sun Meng and Chu Feiyu, he wondered if mind reading was just a common thing.
“Coach, I can hear what you’re thinking,” Lu Yu emphasized again.
"Don't make this up just to get out of retirement. If you could really hear my true feelings, then all the cold-faced coach image I maintain would be for nothing."
Lu Yu's voice and Zeng Ling's thoughts emerged at the same time.
Zeng Ling felt as if an electric current flowed from the top of his head to the soles of his feet. Listening silently to Lu Yu finish speaking was the only thing he could do now.
After hearing Zeng Ling's confident thoughts, Lu Yu continued, "Coach, my mind-reading ability has a serious side effect: mental noise also interferes with my sleep, especially affecting my normal sleep. However, holding Jiao Yuyin's hand can block out mental noise."
"So...that's why he accompanied me throughout training and matches?"
"Hmm... Insomnia is also a reason why I had to retire," Lu Yu said softly. "If possible, I am also willing to contribute to the reform of the Chinese women's basketball team."
Zeng Ling's eyes flashed, and he said, "If Tengyue Sports can be the first to set up a club, that would be best. If not, I would like to borrow the fame of your star players."
"Trying to leverage the star effect?" Lu Yu pondered. "That's possible. However, the reform of the Chinese Women's Basketball League will definitely affect the interests of many people, and the resistance to reform will probably not be resolved by public opinion."
"I don't deny what you said. However, this women's basketball team's victory gives us more say, and now is the best time to do so."
Lu Yu nodded and said, "Coach, to be honest, I am indeed considering starting a basketball club. As long as the women's basketball league moves towards market-based competition, I will definitely do my best to compete. Of course, going down this path will require a lot of funding and sponsorship, and I am prepared for that."
Zeng Ling tapped the table twice with her fingertips and said, "Then tell me your opinion on the current problems of the women's basketball league. It may not all be realized, but after weighing the pros and cons, there will always be some progress."
Lu Yu said, "The current basic framework of provincial team competition actually restricts the development of players to some extent."
“Competition within provincial teams can bury promising talents and limit the development of individual outstanding players, making it difficult for them to stand out,” Zeng Ling put it more bluntly.
"If the provincial team competition could be changed to a market-based club competition, then given China's market prospects, the marketability and economic viability of women's basketball would be greatly improved. Of course, the major premise is that priority should be given to large-scale events that align with the national team's participation," Lu Yu said thoughtfully.
"Besides the fundamental issues, are there any other ideas?" Zeng Ling asked.
"While aligning with the national team's timeline, the league cycle needs to be shortened," Lu Yu said, expressing his thoughts.
“The league cycle is too long now, and the competition is weak.” Zeng Ling closed his eyelids in agreement.
"In addition, club funding should be tilted more towards the team's basic configuration and individual female basketball players. To achieve this, the league can only set rigid standards." Lu Yu spoke steadily, clearly having thought about it, and said, "It is a businessman's instinct to pursue profit, so to ensure the interests of female basketball players, we need the most comprehensive set of rules and regulations."
Zeng Ling quietly looked at the roadside taro across the street.
Sunlight shone on her face, her brows furrowed, as she earnestly and calmly narrated her concern for the world of basketball.
This is a girl who loves basketball to the core...
The crabapple blossoms in Pear Fragrance Villa once again filled the garden with fragrance, spreading the sweet scent of midsummer.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony banquet at the Yuyu Oceanarium was just like it was a year ago, with pear jam laid out on the table.
The ulterior motives from a year ago.
Today, however, it is a unique wedding anniversary for Jiao Yuyin and Lu Yu.
Lu Yu, who won the Olympic gold medal, was in the limelight for a time.
The suite on the top floor of the fish-themed hotel was filled with ornaments shaped like the cat San San, which Lu Yu found irresistible.
Jiao Yuyin leaned against the balcony railing, remaining silent for a long time.
Lu Yu skipped two steps, hooked her arm around Jiao Yuyin's, and turned her head to look at him.
"Is there anything tricky going on with Ruixin Technology?"
Jiao Yuyin was stunned for a moment.
Lu Yu leaned against the balcony railing, feeling the scorching wind, and said, "Why do you look so preoccupied?"
After a moment of silence, Lu Yu did not receive a reply.
Jiao Yuyin took a step to the side, placing his legs on either side of the road.
Behind him was an abyss, before him lay the eyes of his lover...
Lu Yu swallowed hard, her eyelids trembled, and then she raised her head slightly to stare into Jiao Yuyin's dark eyes.
The tight embrace gave Lu Yu a strange feeling of being caught between ice and fire.
“I don’t think I did anything I promised you a year ago… My little fish shouldn’t be in the Jiao family’s fishing net.”
Jiao Yuyin's low, muffled voice entered my ears.
Lu Yu then understood why Jiao Yuyin had been so unenthusiastic on their wedding anniversary.
"The life we want will come very soon." Lu Yu gently touched the back of his neck and said, "You assigned me a female bodyguard and a business manager for my sake, so it's only temporary if I'm not used to it yet. After this period, we won't have to be so nervous anymore."
"Hmm..." Jiao Yuyin rarely showed his vulnerable side. "Taking over Tengyue Sports is not an easy task. The affairs manager, Huang Qi, is a trustworthy person. We should discuss things with him more. Ruixin Technology has reached a critical juncture, and I will be focusing a lot of my energy on Ruixin Technology in the future."
"I know—Third Young Master, why are you being so nosy?"
"Have you decided when to announce your retirement?" Jiao Yuyin asked.
"Wait for news from Coach Zeng."
"Okay. The old man called today; we need to go back to the old house together tomorrow."
"Jiao Yuyin, don't be afraid."
"I'm not afraid."
...
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