Chapter Fifty-Seven: Kindness

Lin Lang watched the entire match between Qingshui No. 1 High School and Lingnan High School. To be honest, he was somewhat surprised by his son's talent. Not just his athleticism and ball-handling skills, but also his grasp of the game’s dynamics—Lin Nan had done everything he possibly could in that match. Yet, there was still a considerable gap between the overall strengths of the two teams.

Lin Lang noticed his son’s gloomy expression as he left the court, and thought Lin Nan might call him that night, but he didn’t. It seemed Lin Nan was already bearing the weight of defeat himself, which pleased Lin Lang; it meant his son was growing.

In Lin Lang’s memory, the branch campus of Qingshui No. 1 High had produced a famous grassroots player called Zhao—he couldn’t recall the full name—renowned for his hook shot. Supposedly, this player was in high school around this time. Checking the backend data of Mentor Web, Lin Lang found that the branch’s basketball team did indeed have a player named Zhao Zhongshi, ranked eighty-ninth in the national scoring list, which was quite impressive. However, their overall strength was weak, so Zhao would likely transfer to the main campus.

With the talented Class of '95 at Qingshui No. 1 High rising, plus Lin Nan and Zhao Zhongshi as scoring threats, there was hope for a championship. Given Lin Nan’s current strength and pace of improvement, Lin Lang was confident he could nurture his son into the first point guard to shine in the NBA.

Yet Lin Lang didn’t know that basketball was still Lin Nan’s dream, but it was no longer his only dream. If Lin Lang had read that article, perhaps he would have thought Lin Nan’s change was a good thing.

In his previous life, after achieving fame and fortune, Lin Lang often helped others and gave back to society. He hadn’t started his charity work yet because Mentor Web wasn’t fully operational, and his own power was limited. Charity is a long-term endeavor—the reason it’s called the Project of Hope, a “project,” is because it’s vast and cannot be solved overnight.

Lin Lang strongly disagreed with some of the later university students’ teaching support initiatives—not because their goodwill was wrong, but because many only did it for a month, a fortnight, or even a week. They didn’t treat teaching support as part of their life’s journey.

Lin Lang wished to tell them:

Perhaps teaching support is merely an experience before you enter society, but for the children in the mountains, without television, phones, or communication tools, a month’s companionship makes you their best friend. Then, a month later, that friend leaves. Though kind-hearted, you are saddened, yet you know you have your own life, your own career, your own plans. Because of financial or time constraints, you may not return to that mountain village for a year, or two.

You may not realize that this can be an invisible wound for the children. You brought them electronic gadgets, tasty snacks, and let them learn about things they “shouldn’t have” known. Then you left. Their innocent hearts, after watching cartoons and tasting chocolate, began longing for the world outside. But they themselves had no means to access those things, which might hinder their ability to focus on their studies.

So, if you can’t visit every year, it’s better not to go at all. You cannot let their eagerness turn from hope, to longing, to despair for your next arrival.

However, Lin Lang knew that some university students and social celebrities truly wished to help others. They would visit regularly or keep up correspondence.

Such people deserve respect. Yet some charitable organizations use others’ goodwill for their own profit. These are not few.

Therefore, Lin Lang had not started his charity plan yet, but was working to build Mentor Web, so more people would have the power to help others.

Unexpectedly, Lin Nan, in this life, would devise a great plan that would win global admiration, dedicating his whole life to carrying it out.

...

The next morning, 7:30, Qingshui No. 1 High, basketball court.

To make the most of every moment, the basketball team trained with Lin Nan on the track every morning and evening, focusing on stamina and explosiveness. During self-study periods, they practiced shooting, skills, and teamwork on the court.

With the sound of students reading aloud from the adjacent classroom building, they shot and passed the ball.

Wang Jinsong watched Lin Nan training as usual and couldn’t help but ask, “Lin Nan, the medicine you gave us last night was amazing!”

The rest of the team looked over, curious. Last night’s training was even tougher than the morning’s. Many on the team were athletic students and knew that sudden intense exercise would cause severe muscle soreness the next day.

Unexpectedly, after training, Lin Nan had given them several bottles of herbal ointment to rub on their muscles. This morning, although there was some soreness, it was nothing like they had expected. It must have been the medicine; otherwise, they would not have been able to withstand another intense training session.

Seeing their astonished faces, Lin Nan replied naturally, “Is it really that amazing?”

Lin Nan found it normal. At home, he had always used a different herbal bath after training, which made recovery comfortable. Now that he lived at school, Lin Lang had given him a few jars of this ointment for muscle soreness.

A year of training and herbal baths had given Lin Nan a solid foundation, and his training intensity was gradual, so he rarely felt sore anymore. He’d almost forgotten about the ointment, but seeing Wang Jinsong and the others exhausted during training, he remembered and gave it to them.

Wang Jinsong saw Lin Nan’s genuine indifference and thought perhaps he himself was just inexperienced, but still asked, “Did you buy the medicine at the pharmacy?”

Lin Nan replied, “No, my dad gave it to me. He’s the one who taught me basketball.”

Everyone suddenly understood—no wonder Lin Nan was so strong; he had a mysterious father who had coached him from childhood. They imagined his father as a professional player or coach, and the medicine must be a specialty product, not available to the public.

Otherwise, how could none of them, after years of playing, know about it?

Their self-esteem recovered a bit; to be honest, as seniors, it was embarrassing to be outdone by a freshman. They’d felt demoralized.

Now, knowing Lin Nan’s background, they accepted it calmly. Losing to the offspring of a professional was nothing to be ashamed of.

Only Luo Si, the one most affected, finally asked, “Does your dad play basketball too?”

Lin Nan thought for a moment and replied, “He played with me when he started coaching, but after I began training on my own, he stopped.”

Then he laughed, “I used to think he was really good, but now I’m sure he couldn’t beat me.”

“But he’s usually not home these days.”

Lin Nan suddenly realized he wasn’t exactly sure what his father was doing. Before, his dad often went to the hotel, but now his mother managed it.

After thinking for a while, Lin Nan gave up. He enjoyed his newfound independence; his father always said a man should stand on his own early.

Last night, Lin Nan called his mother, who asked if his living expenses were enough. Lin Nan said he still had plenty, since food at school was free and there was a water dispenser in the classroom, so he spent very little.

Ye Xinlan was surprised—the hotel manager’s son had been asking for money every day since school started, both were in high school, yet Lin Nan was so frugal?

But thrift is a good habit. Ye Xinlan reminded Lin Nan not to catch a cold, then ended the call.

Ye Xinlan wasn’t worried about Lin Nan being addicted to his phone, even though others complained their kids were obsessed with theirs. Lin Nan had always kept a strict schedule at home, rarely used the computer, and even less so the phone.

Whenever she saw him using the computer, it was usually to watch basketball videos or look up textbook material, almost never playing games.

Ye Xinlan had also seen her son’s handsome figure on the basketball court on TV, cheered by the crowd.

She was happy to see Lin Nan pursuing his passion and achieving such success. She was satisfied with his grades in the recent monthly exam, except for his poor English.

But now she didn’t mind; she already knew the famous Mentor Web was Lin Lang’s creation.

From now on, she let Lin Nan chase what he loved. Even if he failed, his father could always support him. She no longer worried, spending her days visiting the hotel, shopping with friends, playing mahjong—a leisurely life.

In the end, the basketball team asked Lin Nan to bring them more of the herbal ointment, offering to pay.

Lin Nan said it wasn’t necessary; the family had a whole box at home, left unused.

Everyone: ...

As the basketball team continued training, Coach Gorilla led a student in school uniform toward the court.