readease Chapter 264 Reconstruction Completed
Chapter 264 Reconstruction Completed
Chapter 264 Reconstruction Completed
With the last warmth of dinner still lingering in the dining room, Liu Huiying hurriedly slipped back to her room.
On the leather sofa in the living room, Ernst held Jessica firmly in his arms, his posture resembling that of an old fox embracing a plump chick about to be caught.
Not far away, Catherine Zeta-Jones walked gracefully and confidently toward the stairs, preparing to wash up. Her unhurried demeanor made it seem as if everything that was about to happen was under her control.
Jessica, who was being held, wasn't so calm. The little girl was as thin-skinned as a sheet of paper and had never experienced anything like this before.
Her large, watery eyes were filled with pleading, like a little white rabbit being targeted by a big bad wolf. Her face was as red as if she had just drunk a whole bottle of red wine, and even her voice trembled noticeably as she pleaded in a whisper, "Please, no more, okay? Please—"
That pitiful look would have made anyone else soften their heart.
Ernst, however, seemed oblivious to her pitiful state. A meaningful smile played on his lips as he slowly said, "It's something you have to go through eventually. Trust me, once you've experienced it, I guarantee you'll love this thrilling feeling."
His expression at that moment was exactly like the Big Bad Wolf in the fairy tale who tempted Little Red Riding Hood to open the door, except that this Big Bad Wolf also had a touch of feigned gentleness, making him impossible to guard against.
You probably can't find many people who can talk about this kind of story about Ehuang and Nüying so confidently and without blushing.
Upon hearing this, Jessica's cheeks flushed even more. The 18-year-old girl was already young and shy, and at this moment she buried her head in Ernst's arms like an ostrich, thinking that this would allow her to escape her current predicament.
Ernst continued to coax him, "It's okay, aren't you an actor? What good actor doesn't unleash their true nature? Just think of it as making a movie. The director hasn't yelled 'cut,' so you have to grit your teeth and keep acting."
Jessica secretly pouted in his arms, thinking to herself, "Is this movie even serious?"
She secretly looked up and met Ernst's slightly expectant eyes. In the end, she couldn't resist the attack of his gaze and nodded gently.
However, she was still not completely at ease and hurriedly added, "If I can't accept it, you can't stop me from leaving; you have to let me go."
Ernst's lips curled up slightly, a hint of smugness in his smile. He extended his right hand and solemnly promised, "I guarantee that you can leave anytime you can't accept it, and I will not stop you."
His sincerity was so genuine that one could almost believe it, but only he knew that it was merely a delaying tactic to appease the young girl.
With Jessica's sullen acquiescence, Ernst picked her up and strode towards the spacious master bedroom.
As soon as the two entered, they saw Catherine Zeta-Jones had already finished showering and was walking out of the bathroom wearing a silky towel, with glistening water droplets still clinging to her hair, adding to her allure.
Ernst's face immediately lit up with a smile, a smile that seemed to overflow with the satisfaction of his successful scheme, and anyone could tell how happy he was at that moment.
Catherine Zeta-Jones remained poised and confident. As she turned to walk towards the bedside, she even turned back to give Ernst a captivating and alluring look, a look so alluring that it made Jessica's heart race.
The moment he saw Catherine Zeta-Jones turn her gaze to him, he seemed to be frozen in place, immediately closing his eyes and burying his head even deeper, almost burrowing into Ernst's arms. His shy appearance made him look like a frightened little animal, wishing he could find a crack in the ground to disappear into.
Catherine Zeta-Jones walked to the bedside, sat down gracefully, and said, "The bathwater is ready for you, the temperature is just right. Enjoy your bath."
Ernst looked at Catherine Zeta-Jones, who was quite sensible on the bed, and couldn't help but secretly praise her for being "sensible".
Clearly, Catherine Zeta-Jones intentionally wanted him and Jessica to be alone together first, so that once the girl's restless side was aroused, the rest would naturally follow.
Ernst couldn't help but wonder if Catherine Zeta-Jones had experienced this before, otherwise how could her technique be so skillful, she seemed to be very experienced.
Time passed by and it was already eleven o'clock at night. The night was getting deeper, but the master bedroom still had a lazy atmosphere.
She was leaning wearily in Ernst's arms, her hair disheveled and her face flushed.
Catherine Zeta-Jones's soft hand gently glided over the grooves in Ernst's abs, causing Jessica's skin on the other side to glow with a faint red.
Catherine Zeta-Jones glanced at the content being broadcast on TV, then suddenly burst out laughing, looking at Ernst with amusement. "Those New York fans are probably itching to tear you to pieces right now, but who would have thought that the culprit behind this whole mess is currently hiding in Los Angeles enjoying the bliss of having multiple wives?"
Ernst was taken aback by her words, and following her gaze to the television, his previously languid spirits instantly lifted.
The television was showing ESPN's evening news, and the anchor was excitedly reporting on a trade that had just occurred, a trade that was considered an earthquake in the NBA.
"According to the latest news just obtained by this station, it has now been confirmed that New York Knicks star Patrick Ewing and Minnesota Timberwolves star Kevin Garnett have officially swapped teams. This trade will undoubtedly completely change the landscape of the league."
ESPN clearly took this trade, which was enough to shake up the entire NBA, very seriously. Even though it was already 11 p.m., they still urgently invited guests to discuss the pros and cons of the trade.
As soon as the guest sat down, he got straight to the point and expressed his opinion: "How should I put it? In my opinion, this is a decision that both sides can accept, but only the fans will not be satisfied with."
"Both sides can accept this?" The host was clearly surprised by this answer and immediately followed up, "On the surface, the Knicks obviously benefited more from this trade. They not only got the newly minted All-Star Kevin Garnett, but also the Timberwolves' first-round draft picks for next year, the year after, and 2001. It seems like the Timberwolves were robbed, right?"
But the guest gently shook his head and calmly explained, "If you only look at the numbers on paper, it is indeed as you said, the Knicks got a great deal. But if you analyze it in conjunction with various other factors, I don't think it's that simple."
"First, let's talk about the contracts. Both of these star players from their respective teams signed new contracts this summer. Ewing's contract is quite a bargain, four years for $6500 million. For one of the league's top four centers, that price is incredibly reasonable."
"Of course, the only question is how many more years Ewing can maintain his current level of performance. But in my opinion, as long as he can maintain his peak performance for three years, even if his performance declines significantly in the fourth year, this contract is still very cost-effective."
"Look at Garnett, his contract is a league record of 6 years and $1.27 million. While it is undeniable that he has a lot of room for growth and unlimited potential in the future, based on his current data and performance, this contract is clearly not worth the price. It is an overpriced and sky-high contract."
"Minnesota is a small market with limited economic resources. The Timberwolves' re-signing of Garnett has essentially locked up the team's salary cap, making it difficult to make any major moves. Moreover, the Timberwolves' owner would never allow the team to cross the luxury tax threshold, as this would be detrimental to the team's future development."
"Through this trade, the Timberwolves acquired Ewing, whose immediate impact is even greater than Garnett's, and also gained John Starks, the best sixth man. The team also has young players like Stephon Marbury who have already shown their talent. The team's overall strength has been greatly improved, and the effects will be seen in the short term."
"Moreover, Garnett's departure has given the Timberwolves more room to maneuver in terms of salary cap space. Even if they sign another near-All-Star starter with a salary of around $1200 per year, they won't trigger the luxury tax, greatly increasing the team's flexibility."
"Also, Dean Garrett's bad contract of over four million dollars was also dumped to the Knicks in this trade, which is equivalent to helping the Timberwolves get rid of their salary burden."
"So, all things considered, the Timberwolves chose to win in the present, wanting to quickly improve the team's strength and strive for better results through this trade. The Knicks, on the other hand, chose to bet on the future, paving the way for the team's long-term development. Therefore, I say this is an acceptable and satisfactory result for both sides. The only ones who will be truly dissatisfied are the fans of both teams, after all, their beloved stars have been traded away."
After listening to the guest's analysis, the host nodded thoughtfully, then posed a new question: "So, do you think that the Knicks' drastic rebuilding will really achieve their desired results? Can they use this to achieve their goal of winning the championship?"
"Who knows?" The guest shrugged helplessly, his tone uncertain. "In the NBA, winning a championship sometimes depends not only on the team's strength, but also on a bit of luck. If you're unlucky, even the strongest team can fail."
The Knicks were originally one of the championship contenders, but everyone knew that with their past roster and form, it was impossible for them to actually win the championship.
Even without a formidable opponent like the Bulls in the East, and with strong teams like the Pacers blocking their way, not to mention top teams like the Lakers and Rockets in the West, the Knicks' chances of winning the championship are virtually nil.
Choosing to rebuild clearly indicates a recognition that the current team's chances of winning the championship are slim, hence the determination to cultivate and rebuild a team with a greater championship potential.
The host then asked, "What's your opinion on Bulls coach Phil Jackson's statement that the Knicks can't win a championship with these young players?"
The guest gave the same ambiguous answer, but his tone revealed that he did not particularly agree with the Zen master's viewpoint.
"The Knicks have traded away almost their entire starting lineup, and the players they got in return, McGrady, Nash, Ben Wallace, and Garnett, are all very promising, especially Garnett, who has already reached All-Star level and has a bright future."
"Furthermore, they have a large number of draft picks, which means they have enough resources to bring in fresh blood and develop young players. I personally believe they can build a more competitive team than in the past, but whether they can ultimately contend for the championship is anyone's guess, after all, basketball is full of uncertainties."
Afterwards, the guests and the host talked about the Knicks' recent frequent trades, but most of it was just trivial talk, repeating the same few points over and over again, with nothing new.
Catherine Zeta-Jones looked at Ernst with increasing amusement, her tone tinged with mockery, "Aren't you worried at all? Those extreme Knicks fans might come all the way to Los Angeles to ambush you tomorrow once they find out Ewing has been traded."
The past week has been a rollercoaster ride for Knicks fans, with their emotions going up and down.
They were as welcoming of Ernst as they were of him at the beginning, and now they hate him just as much.
Throughout the streets of New York, fans were seen burning Ernst's portraits, and some were holding banners demanding that Ernst leave the Knicks. Some radical fans even said they would unite to boycott Google and Leap Games in order to force Ernst to change his mind.
Ernst retreated to Los Angeles during this period because there were simply too many rich kids in New York. These people had nothing better to do than do crazy things if they were pushed to the limit, and he didn't want to risk his safety.
Now that the team's iconic figure, Ewing, has also been traded, it's obvious that New York fans will go even crazier tomorrow, and might even cause a bigger mess.
Ernst waved his hand dismissively and said in a relaxed tone, "Don't worry, these people will only cause trouble for a while. Once the novelty wears off, they'll naturally quiet down. In my opinion, they're just bored and looking for trouble. We don't need to pay them any attention."
He raised an eyebrow and turned to look at me. "From what you're saying, it sounds like you're laughing at me."
Catherine Zeta-Jones glanced down at Ernst, a mocking look in her eyes, and said with a hint of sarcasm, "So what? Did I say something wrong?"
"Damn it!" Ernst couldn't help but curse, "You're forcing me to use my weapon!"
Ernst suddenly sat up in bed and walked out of the room, looking quite aggressive.
Catherine Zeta-Jones was bewildered by his sudden action, having no idea what he was going to do, and was filled with confusion.
Just then, she inadvertently caught Jessica's expression and instantly sensed that something was wrong.
Jessica's eyes were full of schadenfreude, which made her heart skip a beat, and an ominous premonition arose spontaneously.