"Sink your shoulders and hold the ball with both hands. Take a probing step, yes, a probing step. Okay, now speed up, and drive!"
Following his father's instructions, Kai Yi executed a sharp crossover after a convincing hesitation move. From a young age, he had trained relentlessly on the court. Almost instantly, he slipped past his father and finished with an easy layup.
Yi Guoli, his father, smiled with satisfaction as he watched his son score. This kid just might have a real future with basketball in America, he thought.
He was determined to support Kai's journey to college in every way he could. Even if his son didn't make it as a professional player, he could still thrive in basketball—maybe as a coach or a trainer.
"How was that, Dad? Pretty good, right!?" Kai called out, running over with the ball, beaming with pride.
"Not bad," Yi Guoli said with a chuckle, tousling Kai's hair. "Next time, make that probing step a little more realistic. Now come on—it's getting dark. Let's jog a few laps around the beach, then head home for dinner."
His dream of going pro had ended abruptly due to injury, but perhaps… Kai could pick up where he left off.
Kai darted ahead, shouting, "You're not catching me today, old man!"
As the two jogged along the shoreline, Kai's father gradually fell behind. It should have been sunset, but suddenly, a blinding white light flashed—and swallowed his father whole.
"Dad!" Kai shouted, bolting upright in a cold sweat.
He looked around. The court, the beach, the white light—gone. Only scattered papers, a dim computer screen, and the quietness of Coach Brad Stevens' office.
It had only been a dream… and yet, it was so vivid.
Kai pulled the blanket off, gulped down some water, and sat quietly. It had been years since he'd dreamed of his father.
Without his father's professional training system, he would never have gotten this far.
It had been a week since Kai arrived in Indianapolis. Ever since his physical evaluations, he had surprised Coach Stevens again and again.
Tomorrow morning, he would return to Long Beach to finish high school. Stevens had already assured him: that as long as his college entrance exam scores were sufficient, he would get a full-ride scholarship.
Kai shook his head in disbelief. Just two weeks ago, he had been involved in his first robbery. Back then, college felt like a far-off fantasy.
But now? Everything had changed.
After being scouted for Butler University's basketball program, a new path opened up. A real path. One that could take his mother out of the run-down Wood District.
That scholarship wasn't just a ticket to an education—it was hope.
Kai lay back down on the sofa. Slowly, he closed his eyes.
Basketball… it had once again become the most important thing in his life.
----
Early the next morning, Kai boarded a plane back to Long Beach. This time, Harpy didn't go with him—since there were still more prospects to scout this summer.
Before leaving, Kai couldn't stop asking, "If I pass the entrance exam, you'll definitely recruit me, right?"
"Of course!" Harpy reassured him. "You've blown everyone away this week. Coach Stevens might already be designing plays for you and Hayward!"
Harpy understood the world Kai came from. In a place like the Wood District, suspicion came naturally. Lies and betrayal were as common as the weeds growing through cracked sidewalks.
"Hmm… this Hayward guy. Is he really that good? You mention him every day," Kai asked, squinting.
"Good? Kid, you really don't watch NCAA basketball, do you?" Harpy laughed. "Don't worry, he'll be a great teammate. Last season, Hayward averaged 13 points and 6 rebounds and made the All-Big Ten team, and was named Freshman of the Year. He's Butler's rising star. But you—you might be the missing piece."
Kai still looked unsure. "Is there not a contract signing or something?"
"I wish there was," Harpy replied sincerely. "But you're not a pro. NCAA rules say we can't offer contracts to student-athletes. If we did, and got caught, it'd ruin everything—for you and for us."
Kai hesitated, then finally nodded and boarded the plane.
Harpy stood on the tarmac and watched until the aircraft disappeared into the sky.
I hope everything works out for this kid, he thought quietly.
----
While Harpy sent Kai to the airport, Coach Brad Stevens was already at his desk.
It was the offseason. Normally, coaches took vacations while scouts handled recruiting. Butler wasn't exactly Duke or Kentucky—there was no pressure to overwork.
But this year felt different.
Kai Yang had changed everything.
On Stevens' screen, a video from Kai's trial was playing. He watched as Kai weaved through cones with blazing speed before finishing with a layup.
The ball looked alive in his hands—an extension of himself. His instincts, his control, his flair... Stevens was impressed.
Sure, his technique was a bit raw—no surprise, given his background in streetball. That was something Stevens would clean up in camp.
Kai's speed was electric. He could get past anyone. Scoring was another story. His shooting? Inconsistent.
His form was stiff. The farther from the hoop, the more his accuracy dipped. It reminded Stevens of Rajon Rondo, the Celtics' point guard—great at everything but shooting.
But unlike Rondo, Kai had time to grow and Stevens had faith he could help Kai develop into a complete guard.
With Hayward maturing and Kai's raw talent entering the picture, Stevens suddenly dared to dream bigger.
"Come on, kid. You're going to be a star," he muttered, watching Kai on screen. "We're going to do something special…"
The month after Kai returned to Long Beach might've been the happiest his mother had seen since her husband passed.
The troublemaker Kai used to be? Gone.
He ignored fights, avoided sketchy friends, and focused on school. Even his teachers were stunned.
Kai was never stupid—he just never had the luxury to care about grades. Survival always came first.
But now, he studied hard. His grades climbed. His attitude changed. After school, every day, he trained alone at the worn-down court below their apartment.
Study. Basketball. Study. Basketball. For an entire month.
Even his mother's face seemed brighter. Life was still hard, but for the first time, they had real hope.
When the college entrance exam ended, she wanted to take him out to celebrate. Kai refused.
He didn't want to waste money. Even so, that night, they shared a simple, quiet dinner—and a rare moment of peace.
For once, she knew her son had truly grown up.
----
"Beep, beep, beep…"
Kai sat up and silenced the alarm. He swallowed hard.
He wasn't even this nervous during the robbery.
He powered on the old computer and logged in to check his grades.
When the results popped up, Kai couldn't help but smile.
Not perfect, but more than enough for Butler.
He grabbed the phone and called Stevens. It rang once.
"You're in," Stevens said before Kai could speak. "Preseason camp starts in two months. Butler's number one jersey—it's yours."
"Thank you… thank you, sir," Kai said.
He hadn't said those words in years. No one besides his mother had ever earned them.
Now? He meant it. Even if his voice sounded cold, the gratitude was real.
"Welcome to the Butler Bulldogs, Kai. Let's go win something together."
Outside, the morning sun bathed the earth in light. For the first time, Butler University would rise with it.
And the duo of Kai Yang and Gordon Hayward would no longer be just a dream.