Chapter 364: I Want to Go Home!
“I’m serious! I really want to go back to Sacramento!”
The moment DeMarcus Cousins finished speaking, Chen Yilun—who was washing his hands—paused briefly, then quickly composed himself.
“Don’t say that.”
He casually pulled out a couple of paper towels, dried his hands, and walked back to Cousins’ bedside.
“You…”
Chen Yilun glanced at the now-empty small plate.
“I spent all that time peeling an apple, and you finished it in two bites?”
“I’ve got a big mouth. What can I do?”
Cousins laughed sheepishly, then looked at Chen Yilun with an earnest expression.
“Boss, I’m not joking. I really want to come back.”
As he spoke, Cousins shifted slightly on the bed.
“It’s no fun out there. Sacramento’s still the most comfortable place to be. Boss, why don’t you just let me come back?”
“It’s not that I don’t want you back.”
Chen Yilun glanced at the apples by the bedside, thought for a moment, then stopped himself.
With a big, rough guy like this, there was no point peeling another one—he wouldn’t appreciate it anyway.
“The problem is that your decision doesn’t make sense.”
Chen Yilun leaned forward, speaking patiently.
“If you were already past your prime and couldn’t get a big contract anymore, I’d support your return without hesitation. But how old are you now? Twenty-eight, right? This is exactly when you should be chasing a big payday. Coming back now to take a minimum deal—what does that accomplish?”
As he spoke, Chen Yilun deliberately shot a look toward the middle-aged man standing by the window in a crewneck T-shirt.
That man was none other than Cousins’ current agent, Dan Fegan.
“Exactly, exactly.”
Catching the hint, Fegan quickly stepped forward to help persuade Cousins.
Dan Fegan was no nobody. He was best known for his ability to sell a story, often helping clients sign contracts far beyond their actual value.
Chandler Parsons’ $94 million deal with the Grizzlies had been his handiwork.
“What does this have to do with you?”
To Fegan’s surprise, Cousins cut him off abruptly before he could say much.
“I’m talking to my own people here. Who asked you? I haven’t even settled accounts with you yet. If you hadn’t told me everything was worked out with Washington, would I be lying here right now?”
After being snapped at, Fegan gave Chen Yilun an awkward smile and fell silent.
That temper of his really hadn’t changed.
Chen Yilun shook his head with a bitter smile.
“DeMarcus, it’s not that I don’t want you back. If you came, I’d welcome you. But you have to think about yourself.”
As he spoke, Chen Yilun picked up an orange and started peeling it.
“Sure, you feel like everyone out there treats you badly, underestimates you. Wanting to come back somewhere comfortable is one thing. I’d even say there’s some desire to get back at the league mixed in there. But business doesn’t work that way.”
He popped an orange segment into his mouth and continued.
“Even if you came back, where would I put you? You know how well Nikola has played these past two years. If you want back, the only option is pushing Oden down to be the second center. Are you willing to sit on the bench?”
Chen Yilun continued to apply pressure.
“And your real value is on offense. But we already have Durant, Butler, Jokić, and Booker. How many shots would even be left for you? The team is on the verge of building a dynasty—every role is basically locked in. Where am I supposed to find a spot for you?”
As he listened, Cousins’ mood visibly sank.
“Think it over carefully.”
Seeing that he had said enough, Chen Yilun clapped his hands and stood up.
“There aren’t many people in the league willing to say these things to you. Take your time and think it through.”
With that, Chen Yilun left the room with Prince.
“Boss, why did you say all that?”
The moment they stepped outside, Prince couldn’t help asking.
DeMarcus Cousins—just two years ago, he’d been the league’s best center. Even with injuries and a drop in form, he was still among the very top tier.
A player of that level willing to take a pay cut for just a few million—Prince felt like he’d be laughing in his sleep if that were real. Yet Chen Yilun was practically pushing Cousins away.
“Don’t focus too much on short-term gains and losses,”
Chen Yilun said as they walked.
“Cousins joining us would obviously be a huge boost. But he’s one of our own. When you’re doing business, you think about returns—but you still have to keep some humanity.”
Chen Yilun turned to look at Prince.
“We’re trying to build a complete team culture. That means there have to be moments like this, or else we’ll end up like people such as Riley or Ainge—so cold-blooded that no player would ever give their heart to you.”
“If we sign this contract, we’d really be ruining Cousins.”
Chen Yilun let out a long sigh.
“Once he accepts a pay cut, no team will ever be willing to spend big on him again.”
“And coming to us, he wouldn’t be the franchise star putting up numbers. For his career, that kind of damage would be huge.”
“So that’s what you meant!”
Prince nodded repeatedly.
“Learned something new, boss!”
While Chen Yilun and Prince were talking, a heated argument was unfolding inside Cousins’ room.
“See? I told you—Mr. Chen really treats you like his own, that’s why he’s willing to say all this. You should seriously think about your future.”
Fegan tried to reason with him earnestly.
“You’re still young. You’ve got many years left in the league. Don’t act on impulse.”
“So what?”
Cousins snapped from the bed, fuming.
“Mr. Chen just feels sorry for me. The more he says that, the more I want to go back!”
“You… ah!”
Fegan opened his mouth, hesitated for a long time, then let out a heavy sigh and said nothing.
With Cousins’ way of thinking, there was no way he could keep up.
Chen Yilun had made it perfectly clear he didn’t want him in Sacramento, yet this big guy still couldn’t understand.
“These past two years out there really opened my eyes,”
Cousins kept ranting from the bed.
“Everyone out there is bad news. Only Sacramento truly treats me right. So what if I make less money? You can’t put a price on happiness!”
“I’m going home!”
...
...
“He really said that?”
Chen Yilun was still eating at a restaurant when Fegan’s call came in.
“Didn’t you try to talk him out of it?”
“I did, but what else could I do?”
Fegan laughed bitterly on the other end.
“He’s made up his mind. Let him do what he wants.”
“Alright then. I’ll get the contract ready.”
After discussing the details over the phone, Chen Yilun hung up.
“Damn… I really have become the final boss now.”
He muttered to himself as he wiped his mouth with a napkin.
Durant + Butler + Jokić + Booker + Cousins?
When he first started building this team, Chen Yilun had only been aiming to take down that five-star Warriors squad.
But somehow, along the way…
I’ve turned into a five-star boss myself?
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