The high-intensity training had dragged on for four weeks. Camp was halfway done.
Physical exhaustion and mental strain had reached a breaking point.
Leaving the gym, Link had just finished another session of his hellish training. It had been nearly a month, but his progress bar for [Athleticism (Advanced)] was barely a third full. It was much slower than he had anticipated.
Just as he was getting ready to unwind, there was a knock at the door.
He opened it to find Kobe, sharply dressed in a suit.
"Get ready. I'm taking you somewhere," Kobe said, short and sweet.
Link was a bit confused but didn't press for details.
Moments later, Kobe was driving his silver Aston Martin, whisking Link away from the hotel.
Hip-hop blasted through the speakers as the scenery outside grew flashier. The sports car pulled up to the entrance of a magnificent building.
Dazzling lights cut through the night. Luxury cars of every make and model wove through the driveway. The guests arriving were dripping in gold and silver—clearly the rich and famous.
The MGM Grand!
One of the most famous casino hotels in Las Vegas, renowned worldwide.
This was Link's first time in a place like this.
As they walked into the hotel, the scent of opulence hit him instantly. The ceilings soared high above, making him feel like he was in a palace. Crystal chandeliers refracted blinding light, turning night into day. The air was thick with the smell of expensive perfume and cigars.
"Clear your head!" Kobe said with a grin, grabbing a glass of champagne from a passing server.
This place was never short on celebrities.
Link immediately spotted a few familiar faces.
Scarlett Johansson was chatting and laughing with friends nearby. She wore a white dress. This was Scarlett before she became the world-famous Black Widow of the Marvel universe. She had just received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress and was on the rise. Her blonde hair draped casually over her shoulders. Her curves, natural allure, and that classic, noble vibe made her impossible to ignore.
She seemed to notice Link looking and raised her glass slightly in acknowledgment.
Kobe walked straight to a card table and greeted a white man sitting there.
"Hey, Kobe! Long time no see!" The man looked pleasantly surprised.
Leonardo DiCaprio!
The famous Hollywood actor. Back in Link's old world, Chinese netizens lovingly called him "Xiao Lizi." Before he let himself go a bit, he was once considered one of the most handsome men on the planet.
"Link, nice to meet you!" Seeing Link beside Kobe, Leo extended a hand familiarly.
He was a native Angeleno and a die-hard Lakers fan. You rarely saw him miss a big Lakers game.
"Hello, Leon!" Link smiled politely.
This guy was a huge A-lister. Him saying hello first was purely out of respect for Kobe.
Leonardo was clearly on a hot streak, a pile of chips stacked in front of him. There were also a few singers and models at the table whose faces Link recognized but couldn't name.
Kobe seemed right at home and joined the game.
Link watched for a while, then exchanged some chips for himself.
He tried his luck at the roulette wheel, betting randomly on a few numbers. Then he played a couple of hands of Blackjack. He lost more than he won.
In the end, his five thousand dollars in chips had mostly vanished.
Link downed a glass of whiskey, feeling a bit bummed. He forced down the urge to keep playing. Gambling luck was a mysterious thing. Sometimes, the losing streak just never ended. It was crucial not to lose your head.
"Looks like Lady Luck isn't on your side tonight, Mr. Link."
A white man in a suit and gold-rimmed glasses, looking about forty, had appeared beside Link without him noticing.
"You're right about that," Link said, taking a deep breath and forcing a polite smile.
"Good evening. I'm Mike Statham," the man said, extending a hand. His voice was warm and magnetic.
"Uh... Mr. Statham..." Link was puzzled. "Do we know each other?"
The man seemed to know who he was, but Link racked his brain and came up with nothing.
"No..." The man smiled and shook his head. "It's just that the editor-in-chief of Rainbow Island happens to be an old friend of mine."
He handed Link a business card. It read: Mike Statham, Producer & Executive Director, BVHE Film Company.
"Oh... you're..." Link suddenly realized.
During the season, when he was filming a commercial in New Jersey, Andrew had mentioned a director was shooting a basketball movie and was interested in casting him for a supporting role.
He hadn't expected to meet the man himself here.
Seeing Link's surprise, Mike Statham smiled and explained, "I heard from Mr. Andrew that you were in Vegas. I just didn't expect such a coincidence—running into you like this!"
Statham raised his glass to Link.
"Well then, Mr. Statham, why don't you tell me about your movie?" After exchanging pleasantries, Link cut to the chase.
At the mention of the film, Statham's expression turned serious.
"Yes, we're still filming," he nodded. "We expect to release it in the first half of this year!"
"Oh? What's it about?" Link asked with interest.
"The movie is called Glory Road. It's an inspirational basketball film touching on race and struggle. There's a significant supporting role for an Asian basketball player."
(Author's Note: This is a real movie, but details regarding timeline, content, and characters have been modified for the sake of the plot.)
He paused there, gauging Link's reaction to ensure he hadn't offended him.
"We've been looking for the right person. Not just someone who looks the part, but someone with solid basketball skills who can understand the character's struggle and brilliance on the court."
"I know your background. You would be perfect for this role!"
Link was surprised.
He knew Glory Road. It was a very famous inspirational basketball movie that perfectly depicted the state of American basketball in the 1960s. More importantly, it used basketball to critique racial discrimination and promoted the idea that sports transcend skin color.
However, in his past life, there was absolutely no Asian character in that movie.
Link's sudden appearance in this timeline seemed to have introduced some variables...
"Mr. Statham, thank you very much for the recognition," Link responded cautiously.
"This is a completely new field for me. I'm a total layman when it comes to acting. I need to evaluate if I can actually pull this off."
Mike Statham smiled understandingly. "Of course, that's expected."
"My number is on the card. Feel free to contact me anytime."
"We'll discuss the script and compensation with Mr. Andrew John."
After a few more polite words, he excused himself.
"A movie?" Kobe appeared beside Link seemingly out of nowhere.
"Yeah." As Statham walked away, Link joked, "Sounds a bit more interesting than losing money."
"It's your call. Just don't let it affect your game," Kobe shrugged, unbothered.