69novels Chapter 153 The "Short-Stature" Mythical Beast and the Exciting Pre-Match Atmosphere
Chapter 153 The "Short-Stature" Mythical Beast and the Exciting Pre-Match Atmosphere
Chapter 156: The "Short-Stature" Mythical Beast and the Exciting Pre-Match Atmosphere
After enjoying a sumptuous dinner, the group stepped out of Murray's Steakhouse to find the city lights already twinkling. In November, Minneapolis nights are chilly, but the clear skies and brightly lit downtown offer a unique charm.
Driven by Ethan, the convoy slowly made its way through downtown Minneapolis in 1959. Lin Yan rolled down the window, letting the cool air flow into the car, his gaze sweeping over the scenery outside.
The convoy drove along the banks of the Mississippi River. On the opposite bank lay the modern flour mill district concentrated in the western part of the city, its lights still twinkling at night, the faint roar of machinery a testament to the robust industrial pulse of this "Flour Capital." Across the river, the Stone Arch Bridge, an ancient stone bridge built in the late 19th century, silently narrated the city's history, its sturdy arch structure highlighted by landscape lighting. In the distance, the sound of St. Anthony Falls could be faintly heard in the darkness.
The convoy turned into downtown Minneapolis, which was already taking shape. Although it didn't yet have the dense cluster of skyscrapers that would later appear, some iconic buildings, such as the 57-story IDC building and the Nicolet Shopping Center, had already been erected. The lights shining from the windows of these buildings, intertwined with the streetlights and car headlights, outlined the city's skyline.
While driving, Ethan whispered a report to Lin Yan: "Young Master, the 'Central District Committee' in downtown just released a draft plan this year, which mentions a concept called 'Sky Bridges.' It plans to connect all the downtown buildings with enclosed glass walkways, supposedly mainly to cope with Minnesota's harsh winters." Lin Yan nodded slightly; it was indeed a good solution to the cold climate. Although he knew about this system before his transmigration, hearing its initial concept firsthand still intrigued him.
As night deepened, Ethan drove everyone back to the Hyatt Hotel, where they all went to their rooms to rest and recharge for tomorrow's basketball game.
The next morning, Lin Yan brought Xiao Qi out of the space. Around 11 o'clock, Li Wenbin and Zheng Jiaming came and knocked on the door, which Lin Gang opened.
As soon as the two entered, they saw Xiao Qi nestled in Lin Yan's arms, dozing off, and immediately surrounded her with joy.
"Xiao Qi, come here, let Brother Wenbin give you a hug!" Li Wenbin stretched out his hand with a grin.
Xiao Qi turned her head away haughtily, burying her head in Lin Yan's arms, leaving only her furry bottom facing him.
Undeterred, Li Wenbin immediately put on a pitiful expression, squatted down, and "cried" to Xiaoqi's bottom, "Xiaoqi, your brother Wenbin is so sad! When you were in Hong Kong, I even took you to play ball. Don't you remember me? I was even planning to take you to see a super exciting basketball game this afternoon! Looks like you don't remember me at all. Well, I guess I'll go see it myself then..."
Xiaoqi's ears twitched almost imperceptibly.
Seeing this, Li Wenbin chuckled inwardly and pressed on, "Oh well, so Brother Wenbin will have to go eat something delicious by himself then? Top-quality steak, fragrant barbecue... I was even thinking of taking you with me! Never mind, I'm off!"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Qi could no longer stay in Lin Yan's arms. It twisted its bottom, struggled to jump off the ground, and quickly ran to Li Wenbin's feet, hugging his leg tightly. It even gently bit his trouser leg with its tiny teeth, its little tail wagging like a propeller, and making urgent "woof woof" sounds.
Lin Yan couldn't help but cover his face with his hands when he saw his divine beast's shameless behavior in its pursuit of food; he simply couldn't bear to look.
Lin Gang and Zheng Jiaming, who were standing to the side, were already laughing so hard they couldn't stand up straight.
Li Wenbin laughed triumphantly, bent down and picked up Xiao Qi, weighed it in his arms, then suddenly remembered something and turned to Lin Yan with some doubt, asking, "By the way, Yan, speaking of which, why does Xiao Qi seem to haven't grown at all in the past six months? If it were any other puppy, it would almost be an adult by now, right?"
Lin Yan's heart skipped a beat, and a hint of embarrassment flashed across his face. He couldn't very well say that this little guy was a divine beast, with a growth cycle completely different from ordinary dogs, could he? He really didn't know how to respond to that.
Lin Gang reacted quickly, stepping forward and explaining naturally, "Young Master Wenbin, you may not know this, but when we took Xiao Qi to the vet, the doctor said it's a breed that's naturally small and won't grow very big. Plus… Xiao Qi had a serious illness when it was born, which damaged its foundation, so its growth and development are slower than other puppies." He added with a touch of heartache, "Our young master doesn't ask for anything now, he just wants Xiao Qi to be healthy and happy."
Lin Yan secretly gave Lin Gang a big thumbs up in his heart.
Upon hearing this, Li Wenbin and Zheng Jiaming's curiosity from the past day instantly turned into heartache. "So that's how it is. Poor Xiaoqi." Li Wenbin hugged Xiaoqi, his tone softening considerably. "Come on, Xiaoqi, your brother Wenbin will take you to eat something delicious! All you can eat today!"
Although Xiaoqi didn't fully understand the discussion about its "tragic past," it clearly grasped the key phrases "delicious food" and "full stomach." It immediately let out an excited "woof," looking at Lin Yan and then Li Wenbin with a bewildered expression. However, its little brain was too lazy to think about it too much; who cares, as long as there's good food!
Seeing this, Lin Yan could only shake his head with a wry smile, then got up and went out for lunch with them.
The closer the convoy got to the Minneapolis Auditorium, the denser the crowd became. It was Sunday, and with the Lakers and Celtics playing against each other, the number of spectators was predictably huge. Seeing the car moving slowly, Lin Yan signaled to Ethan to find a suitable place to get out, and the group walked to the auditorium.
The air was thick with excitement. Fans, dressed in colorful team jerseys or thick winter clothes, flowed like streams converging on a nest, chatting and shouting as they rushed toward the same destination. This pure and passionate sporting atmosphere deeply infected Li Wenbin and Zheng Jiaming, who looked around curiously.
A long queue formed at the ticket gate. When it was Lin Yan's turn, the staff member saw Xiao Qi in his arms and instinctively tried to stop him. Ethan immediately stepped forward and whispered a few words in fluent English to the staff member, vaguely mentioning "personal emotional support animal" and "already reported to management," before subtly handing over a few banknotes. The staff member's expression instantly changed from troubled to respectful, and he immediately stepped aside to let him through, even forcing a fawning smile. This little incident was naturally nothing to a Golden Core cultivator.
Stepping into the auditorium, a wave of sound and heat immediately hits you, as if it were a completely different world from the cold outside.
The Minneapolis Auditorium, a place steeped in history and glory, is even more magnificent inside than it appears from the outside. The stadium, with its classic oval shape, can accommodate over ten thousand spectators. At this moment, the stands are packed, every seat filled. The immense roar comes primarily from three sources: the shouts and screams of young fans in the upstairs budget seating area, the enthusiastic discussions among fans in the middle section, and the restrained conversations of well-dressed spectators in the front rows closest to the court. These sounds blend with the muffled thud of footsteps on the stairs, creating a background noise that makes your heart race.
The air was filled with the buttery aroma of popcorn, the enticing scent of hot dogs, the malty fragrance of beer, and the distinctive smell of a stadium—a mixture of polish and sweat. Under the towering dome, the lights weren't fully on; the main light source focused on the polished wooden floor below, making the court resemble a stage, while the tiered seating around the perimeter was shrouded in relative darkness, further emphasizing the upcoming match.
Ethan's ticket was indeed a fantastic one, right in the front row, next to the players' bench and scorer's table. From here, the grain of the reddish-brown court floor was clearly visible, and you could even feel the vibrations from the players running. Looking up, the entire court was unobstructed, the basket seemed almost within reach, and you could imagine the intense scenes of muscles colliding and sweat flying during the game, all within your view.
"Wow! Ah Yan! This is such a perfect spot!" Li Wenbin plopped down, excitedly looking around. "I can even see the expressions on the opposing players' faces! This match is going to be amazing!"
Although Zheng Jiaming wasn't as outwardly expressive as Li Wenbin, his eyes still gleamed with curiosity and anticipation as he carefully observed the field layout and the two teams of players warming up.
Xiao Qi was a little uneasy from the noise at the scene and shrank into Lin Yan's arms, but she couldn't help but curiously peek out, her dark eyes staring at the tall figures on the field and the orange ball flying back and forth.
Although there was still some time before the competition, the warm-up activities on site were already building the atmosphere to a climax.
A military band in traditional uniforms, their brass instruments gleaming under the lights, played a rousing march in the stands. At the same time, Lakers cheerleaders in bright uniforms, full of energy, rushed onto the court, dancing enthusiastically to upbeat pop music. Their synchronized movements and radiant smiles drew applause and whistles from the audience.
A furry cartoon mascot dressed in a rough Lakers jersey clumsily and comically weaved between the stands, high-fiving children and making all sorts of funny gestures, eliciting continuous laughter from the entire stadium.
Both teams' players had already begun warming up on the court. The Minneapolis Lakers, wearing white home jerseys, and the Boston Celtics, wearing dark away jerseys, each occupied half of the court, practicing layups and shooting. The sounds of dribbling, swishing through the net, and occasional shouts between players mingled together. Li Wenbin pointed to a figure effortlessly executing a hook shot and exclaimed in a low voice, "Look! Isn't that George Mikan? My God, it really is him! The legendary center!"
As the match drew near, the main lights in the stadium gradually dimmed, leaving only the bright spotlight focused on the field, making the stadium resemble a radiant central stage. The announcer's deep, powerful voice, with its drawn-out tone, introduced the home team's starting lineup over the loudspeaker. Each name announced was accompanied by a deafening roar of cheers from the fans, the sound almost lifting the roof off the auditorium.
Lin Yan found himself immersed in this sea of excitement, feeling the most primal and passionate energy of this pure era of basketball. He glanced at the excited Li Wenbin and the equally focused Zheng Jiaming beside him, and a slight smile appeared on his lips.