Hill’s triumphant return made him the center of attention.
And when Chen Yu approached that conspicuous spot in front of the scorer’s table, he drew the gaze of the entire crowd.
The fact that the two were conversing, compounded by the arrival of Houston and Pleasance, seemed to announce to everyone that something was wrong!
The arena was a cacophony of noise, but after Chen Yu spoke, the few people behind the scorer’s table all turned to look, their ears pricked.
Even the players on the court couldn’t help but glance in their direction.
Tracy McGrady, distracted for a moment, failed to catch the ball, resulting in a turnover.
More importantly, this game was being broadcast live nationwide.
Inside the NBC broadcast studio.
Kevin Johnson was filled with regret seeing Hill sprain his ankle again, especially since it was his previously injured left foot.
"He really is short on luck."
Kevin Johnson said in a sorrowful tone.
When a player suffers from frequent injuries, it’s never a good sign.
Many players are tormented by injuries into a rapid decline, fading into obscurity.
And this was Grant Hill!
He was once the face of the league in the post-Jordan era, a nationally renowned sports star, the ideal son-in-law for countless American families.
"He’s been back for less than two months. I really thought he had found his form again."
Since his return, Hill had been averaging 20.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 7.7 assists, looking like he was back in his prime.
"But now, injury has come knocking again. Oh, God, can’t you just give him a break?"
Kevin Johnson grew more and more agitated as he spoke.
As a former player himself, he knew just how devastating injuries could be.
He didn’t need to look at others; he could just take himself as an example.
He was once a guy who could dominate Iverson, throw down a monster dunk on Olajuwon, and run circles around Duncan in the playoffs.
If it weren’t for his own major injuries and subsequent decline, it’s questionable whether Olajuwon would have even won the championship in the ’93-’94 season.
Just then, the camera showed Hill walking out of the locker room.
"He’s back."
Kevin Johnson quickly wiped the corner of his eye and stared intently at the screen, watching Hill walk to the bench, talk with Pleasance, and finally stand before the scorer’s table, ready to check in.
"Oh my god, thank God, he looks fine."
Kevin Johnson slammed his hand on the table in excitement.
But just then, Chen Yu appeared in the shot.
"Why is Chen over there? It looks like he said something to Hill." Kevin Johnson’s brow furrowed instantly.
Before he could get a better look, the camera panned away.
The game was still going on, after all.
"Dammit, can’t someone just commit a foul?" he cursed.
A quick sweep of the camera vaguely showed Chen Yu talking to Pleasance and the others.
Kevin Johnson was certain now. Something was definitely wrong.
Finally, the whistle blew.
The camera immediately focused on the scorer’s table.
Back at the arena.
The head referee, Scott Foster, looked over and said in a stern voice, "Chen, don’t interfere with the game."
Chen Yu ignored him, his eyes fixed on Pleasance.
Pleasance felt the pressure. In that moment, he was even reminded of Rivers.
Foster was pressing them, Hill was looking back and forth indecisively, and who knew how many people in the arena were staring right at him.
Pleasance quickly weighed his options and relented. He shook his head at Foster, canceling the substitution, then quickly waved for Houston to help Hill back to the locker room.
"Should we use a wheelchair?" Houston was on the verge of tears.
’It looks like I’ve caused a huge disaster again.’
If Hill hadn’t stopped him, he really would have sent him back into the game.
When he saw Chen Yu shake his head, Houston quickly supported Hill and started walking toward the locker room.
"Thanks."
Chen Yu said as he passed by Pleasance.
Pleasance gave a bitter smile. He didn’t want thanks; he wanted to cry.
’The team was just starting to turn things around!’
「Back in the locker room.」
Hill’s expression had also become extremely grave. He knew Chen Yu wouldn’t have stopped him under these circumstances unless something was seriously wrong.
He looked down at his left foot, a hint of panic in his eyes.
He wasn’t an idiot; he knew what it meant to re-injure an old wound.
"Chen, what’s wrong with me?" Hill’s voice trembled.
"It’s okay."
Chen Yu patted Hill’s shoulder to keep him from getting too anxious, then motioned for Houston to pack their things and prepare to go to the hospital.
This made Hill even more frantic.
’No examination, just straight to the hospital?’
「Saint Luke Hospital.」
Hill had already been sent into the CT room.
Chen Yu went to the adjacent control room and ran into Murphy, who was on duty. Seeing Chen Yu’s serious expression, Murphy didn’t ask any questions and followed him inside.
Soon, the scan results appeared on the computer screen.
Murphy instinctively leaned in for a closer look and said uncertainly, "This top fixation screw... is it a bit displaced?"
He pointed to the fixation plate on Hill’s talus bone.
The radiologist pushed up his glasses and nodded. "It is indeed somewhat displaced. The stress from the sprain must have been too great and pulled it loose. But in this situation, during the acute phase, there shouldn’t be any symptoms like pain. How did you all find out..."
He turned his head, saw Chen Yu, and immediately fell silent.
A situation like this would certainly be painful, but the pain would be masked by that of the sprain, and a physical exam wouldn’t reveal it. Only someone like Chen Yu could immediately sense something was wrong and send him to the hospital for an examination.
"Let’s go."
Chen Yu clapped Murphy on the shoulder and turned to leave the control room.
It was just a formality. Chen Yu had already figured out the specific situation long ago.
It was the same issue with his old steel plate: the bone tunnel hadn’t been drilled properly.
In the consultation room.
Pleasance, who had rushed over in a panic after the game, felt a wave of dizziness wash over him when he heard the results.
’Anything involving bones never ends well.’
In the spacious consultation room, everyone was silent.
Especially Hill, who had his face in his hands, his expression pained.
"Two options."
Chen Yu spoke, drawing everyone’s attention.
Especially Hill. Chen Yu had seen that look—the one filled with hope for good news—in the eyes of many patients before.
Sighing inwardly, Chen Yu held up two fingers. "Two options. First, we ignore it. Rest for one to two weeks, let the bone regrow, and lock the screw in place."
Chen Yu made a gesture, shaping one hand like a claw and wrapping it around his other, which was balled into a fist.
"This will leave an underlying risk. After you come back, when you exert too much force, for example, it could pop out again, leading to unpredictable consequences."
Before anyone could react, Chen Yu continued, "So the best choice is the second one: have surgery now to remove the plate."
Chen Yu had discovered the problem with this plate long ago.
But the situation back then made it difficult to address, and there was no reason to. If it wasn’t causing problems, why would you operate just to take it out?
If it were to be done, it would have to wait until the offseason.
But now that there’s a problem, it presents an opportunity to deal with it.
"The bone tunnel will need one to two months to heal. That means your regular season is basically over."
Today was the last day of February, and the regular season ended in mid-April. No matter how you looked at it, his regular season was shot.
Hill was stunned.
Pleasance was about to lose his mind. ’This is the best option?’ he wanted to ask Chen Yu.
He immediately looked at Hill, wanting to say something—to try and persuade him, perhaps—but he forced the words back down.
’The last person who tried to persuade Hill like this is still at home worrying about finding his next job.’
Pleasance chose to remain silent.
All eyes fell on Hill.
Hill felt like he was about to break down. He had just returned after a difficult recovery, he and Tracy McGrady were finally developing chemistry, and the team’s record was improving. Although they had dug themselves into a deep hole during the first half of the season, they at least had a chance to make it back to the playoffs.
And then, by working hard, he could finally shatter the media narrative that he lacked leadership and could only manage a first-round playoff exit.
But now, another injury, and his season was over.
"Chen, I trust you. Tell me, what should I choose?" Hill looked up at Chen Yu.
It had all happened so suddenly that Hill, his mind in chaos, had no idea what to choose. But he trusted Chen Yu, and he believed Chen Yu would help him make the best choice for his own interests.
In truth, Chen Yu had been thinking about this very problem, weighing the pros and cons, all the way from the arena.
"Like I said, the best option is to have the surgery now." Chen Yu looked at Hill. "Grant, I know what you’re worried about."
Back in Orlando, Chen Yu had talked with Hill plenty. He knew that Hill had left the Pistons with a desire to prove himself, to make the playoffs, and to lead his team to success.
"If you don’t have the surgery, you’ll be in and out with injuries, which might hurt the team’s record anyway. If you end up missing the playoffs, all your sacrifices will have been for nothing."
"So, if you choose the surgery... the first round of the playoffs starts on April 20th. That’s 50 days from now. I can promise you I’ll have you back on the court, healthy, by then."
Chen Yu wouldn’t have dared to make such a promise before, especially after taking on Hardaway, Ronaldo, and Redondo as patients. Where was he supposed to get enough healing effects to accelerate the healing of Hill’s bone tunnel?
But now that he had found a way to farm these healing effects, Chen Yu dared to make that promise.
Remove the plate, recover fully, and return to the court completely healthy with no more lingering worries, free to work hard and prove himself.
Hill stared at Chen Yu in a daze.
Pleasance’s heart also began to race.
If Chen Yu could really guarantee Hill’s return for the first round of the playoffs, then that outcome was actually acceptable.
But that was all contingent on the Magic being able to make the playoffs without Hill.
Otherwise, it would all be for nothing.
As the men stood in silence, Tracy McGrady, who had been standing quietly in the corner the whole time, suddenly spoke up.
After the game, the other players had all gone back to the hotel. Only Tracy McGrady had asked to come along to check on Hill’s condition.
"Grant, get the surgery. As for the team, I promise you, I’ll carry us into the playoffs."
He didn’t say much, and his tone was completely steady.
He hadn’t even changed out of his uniform, simply throwing a jacket over it. His eyes were still half-lidded, as if he’d just woken up.
But the confidence in his words moved Hill deeply.
"The playoffs, huh?"
Seeing Hill looking at him, Tracy McGrady just shrugged, as if getting into the playoffs was no big deal at all.

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