Chapter 470: Grammy Invitation, Rejecting a Multi Million Dollar Endorsement
After the game, Chen Yan and Yao Ming still took time to trade a few polished, sponsor friendly compliments.
Yao spoke first, calm as always.
"I'm never surprised by Chen Yan's numbers," he said. "I've played against him, and I've been on the same side with him too. I know what he can do."
There was no bitterness on Yao's face. Losing to Phoenix was the expected result. Winning would have been a bonus.
Chen Yan returned the respect immediately.
"I used to think of Yao as a classic center," he said. "But now he's expanded his range and his playmaking without losing his post game. He's the most complete center in the league right now, no question."
As the first Spring Festival showdown, the game delivered. It did not turn into the blowout many people had predicted. Fans back home were satisfied, the pace swung, the lead changed hands, and both stars played at a high level.
That night, Chen Yan still made time to call home.
He video called his parents to wish them a Happy New Year. Back then, most phones could not handle video calls. If you wanted to see someone's face, you needed a computer, a webcam, and video, which meant it was never smooth, never convenient, and always at the mercy of your connection.
But his family did it anyway.
It was the first day of the new year, and the house was full. Relatives had come over to watch the game together, and now Chen Yan was the family's pride. Not just his parents, even distant relatives liked to show him off. They would tell anyone who listened that their family had an NBA star, a national team player, the kind who made real money.
It was the typical way some families measured value, not by personality or character, but by achievement and income.
Chen Yan greeted everyone politely, one by one, offering New Year wishes across the ocean. The screen froze every few seconds, stuttering like a slideshow. He could not even tell if everyone heard him clearly. After a few minutes, he ended the call, smiling anyway. The intent mattered more than the resolution.
…
The next day, Chen Yan made headlines again.
Not because of what he did in Houston, but because of what arrived in his inbox.
An official invitation to the Grammys.
He had been invited to attend the 51st Grammy Awards at the Staples Center.
The Grammys were the top stage in the music industry, a trophy that represented mainstream recognition at the highest level. Every year, the ceremony drew the biggest names in entertainment, and it always carried its own kind of tension, with young artists fighting for the major awards and the headlines that came with them.
Even Chen Yan was surprised.
He had never imagined he would end up in that room.
Then he thought about it more carefully, and it started to make sense. In his previous life, the song "I Get Feeling" had gone on to win Best Pop Duo or Group Performance at the 52nd Grammy Awards. In other words, the track had real weight, not just online hype.
This time, his single had earned him 2 nominations: Song of the Year and Best New Artist.
The competition was brutal.
British breakout Adele. British rising star Duffy. The Jonas Brothers, America's teenage phenomenon. And Jazmine, a young R and B singer songwriter with serious buzz.
In terms of momentum, Duffy was the runaway leader. Her debut album had sold more than 4 million copies worldwide in 6 months and climbed to the top of the UK charts. Even EA had used "Mercy" from Rockferry as the theme song for FIFA 2009.
Adele and the Jonas Brothers were also extremely popular.
Chen Yan knew the reality. Beating that lineup would be difficult. For him, going to the Grammys felt more like a once in a lifetime experience than a realistic title run.
Still, just being there was a kind of success.
His nomination also made Taylor Swift openly jealous, in the playful way only someone close to you could be.
Taylor had only received 1 nomination so far. Back in 2008 she had been up for Best New Artist, and she lost to Amy Winehouse, who dominated the 50th Grammys with 5 awards, including Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best New Artist, and Best Pop Female Vocal Performance.
Taylor teased him over the phone.
"I already wrote your acceptance speech," she said. "If you win, just go up there and read it."
Chen Yan laughed. "If I actually win, I might retire and become a full time singer."
"Then the basketball world loses a superstar," Taylor said.
"But the music world gains a new one," Chen Yan replied.
"Oh please," Taylor said, laughing again. "You should focus on basketball. If you really retire for music, your fans would probably blame me."
"Why would they blame you?"
"Because I'm your singer girlfriend," she said. "They'll assume I talked you into it."
Chen Yan paused, then nodded seriously. "That actually makes sense."
Taylor kept going.
"And I've only ever heard of basketball players treating music as a side hobby. I've never heard of a singer treating the NBA as a side hobby."
Chen Yan laughed. "Taylor, you're acting like I'm actually going to win."
"I'm rooting for you," she said. "People love novelty. An NBA player winning a Grammy would be crazy news."
Chen Yan stayed grounded.
"The organizers won't let that happen. To them, I'm an amateur. If an amateur takes an award from professionals, what do you think those professionals will do?"
Taylor answered without hesitation.
"Tell the professionals to go play basketball."
She was in a great mood. Even without a nomination, she had been invited by the organizers, and she was scheduled to perform live at the ceremony.
After he hung up, Chen Yan's phone rang again.
Bill Duffy.
His agent's tone was cautious, like someone carrying a heavy suitcase into a room.
"There's a new endorsement offer," Bill said. "But it's for a pharmaceutical product. I know you hate that category."
Chen Yan did not hesitate.
"No."
Bill exhaled. "Chen, the money is huge. We're talking multiple millions."
That was why Bill had called. It was too big to ignore without asking.
The company had launched a new bone strengthening product. They wanted Chen Yan as the spokesperson because of what the public had just seen, the violent fall, the scare, then 1 game of rest, then a blazing return with monster numbers. To them, the story sold itself.
Chen Yan still refused.
He had always been skeptical of pharmaceutical endorsements. If anything went wrong, the brand would survive, but his name would take the hit. Reputation was not something you could buy back at the same price.
A multi million deal was a lot of money.
But compared to credibility, it was nothing.
And Chen Yan was not short on cash anymore.
Between dividends from his business holdings, the real estate he had been buying both at home and abroad, and the investment company he had registered in New York to focus on high potential tech firms, stocks, and funds, his financial base was already strong.
He had the one advantage no one else had.
He could see the future, and that made it very hard for him to invest badly.