When he drove to the scene, it was already cordoned off with police tape.
However, everyone at the scene, from the officers on the perimeter to the detective in charge, recognized Chen Yu.
In Phoenix, as the team doctor who had been a key contributor in helping the Suns win their first championship in franchise history, Chen Yu was something of a local celebrity.
Not to mention, Chen Yu was a top-tier doctor who had appeared on television more than once and held numerous free clinics.
You could say that while many people might not know who the mayor was, they definitely knew Chen Yu and his clinic.
"Chen, what brings you here?" Detective Mills asked curiously.
A few meters away, several paramedics were placing Anjel into a body bag. A shocking pool of blood stained the ground.
Not far off, Grace was collapsed on the ground, sobbing uncontrollably.
Chen Yu looked up.
The hotel was over twenty stories tall. Bathed in the brilliant sunlight, it made him feel a little dizzy.
"He was my patient," Chen Yu sighed.
Mills was taken aback. He hesitated for a moment before saying, "Chen, I know this isn’t a good time, but I still have to ask. Do you know anything about his suicide? Was he having mental health issues?"
Chen Yu stared intently at the pool of blood on the ground, then said seriously, "No. He was just sick."
’Sick and having mental issues, aren’t those the same thing?’ Mills wondered.
Chen Yu didn’t explain. He asked Mills if he could go see the room Anjel had stayed in.
"They should be done with their inspection. I’ll take you," Mills said politely.
In the elevator, Mills casually asked about O’Neal’s condition and whether Chen Yu thought the Suns could defend their title next season.
Chen Yu felt irritated, a nameless rage simmering inside him.
But Chen Yu also knew that to Mills, this was just another routine case.
Taking a deep breath, Chen Yu smiled. "I can’t say, you know that. But I think if you’re a fan, all you need to do is support us."
Mills nodded quickly and then tentatively asked if Chen Yu could get an autograph from O’Neal for his son.
Chen Yu asked him for a business card, got his son’s name, and said he would mail it to him later.
The room was unexpectedly clean when they entered.
Even though it was a hotel, all his personal belongings were arranged in perfect order.
’Perhaps Anjel packed them up himself, wanting to leave this world with dignity.’
"Did he leave anything behind?" Chen Yu’s gaze fell on the desk, where a baseball sat neatly in the center.
It wasn’t new; it had some scuff marks from being hit.
Mills turned his head to ask someone, then nodded and brought over an evidence bag. Inside was a sticky note with a single word written on it.
Sorry.
Chen Yu was silent, the complex emotions in his heart turning into a sigh.
Chen Yu didn’t stay long.
As the car was leaving the hotel parking lot, Chen Yu had Nelson stop at a turn. He looked up one last time at the hotel roof.
"Let’s go."
Chen Yu glanced at the baseball in his hand, shook his head slightly, and closed the car window.
「October 1st.」
New season media day.
The underground parking garage of the US Airways Center.
"Morning," Nelson said, leaning against a car and greeting Chen Yu with a smile.
Chen Yu, holding a coffee, dug his shoulder bag out from a pile of documents on the passenger seat. He returned the greeting and started walking toward the office area with Nelson.
"Why are there so many fans here today?" Nelson asked casually.
Chen Yu had noticed them too. A large crowd of fans had gathered outside the entrance to the US Airways Center’s parking garage. "Brian arranged it," he said. "To welcome Shaq."
After coming to Phoenix, O’Neal had made one appearance at his contract signing and had been recovering from an injury ever since. Today was the first time he would appear before the fans again.
Brian hadn’t forgotten Chen Yu’s earlier suggestion and had taken the initiative to organize the fans, wanting O’Neal to see how much the Phoenix fans valued and supported him.
Nelson sensed that Chen Yu wasn’t in high spirits and asked in a low voice, "By the way, what was the outcome of your trip to New York?"
A couple of days ago, Chen Yu had made a trip to New York to see Stern.
Not far away, Oakley arrived in a Hummer and rolled down his window to greet them.
Chen Yu waved back, then said to Nelson, "David didn’t agree."
Nelson had an "I knew it" expression on his face. He thought for a moment and said, "The other things, maybe. But that one idea of yours is just too crazy. There’s no way he would agree."
Because of what happened to Anjel, Chen Yu had done some serious reflection and decided to use his influence to push for some changes as much as he possibly could.
Putting aside his push for every team to hire a full-time sports psychologist, Chen Yu also came up with another idea: abolishing the high school draft.
Chen Yu believed high school students were too young. Rushing into the league and suddenly becoming stars under the scrutiny of the media and fans would subject them to immense psychological pressure. They should wait two years, go to college, play in the NCAA for a couple of years to temper their character, and enter the NBA when they were more mature.
"I feel like the players preparing for the draft wouldn’t agree themselves. A one-year delay in the draft means a one-year delay in earning money," Nelson analyzed.
Chen Yu retorted, "Aaron, you have to understand that not everyone can become a star. The vast majority of players who enter the league might only play for three to four years on average. And then what? They’re cut, they retire in their early twenties without having gone to college, holding a few million US dollars they earned over a few years. How many of them do you think can control themselves and not squander it all?"
"And their lives are still long. Going to college for two years might help them mature a bit and plan for the rest of their lives."
Nelson nodded thoughtfully, then said with a wry smile, "You’re right. I actually agree that entering the NBA straight from high school is really damaging to the NCAA. But there’s nothing to be done. No one can change it."
A large number of basketball prodigies skipping the NCAA was like draining blood from it, and the NCAA was the foundation of basketball in the United States.
"It’s not impossible to change," Chen Yu said with a smile. The trip to New York hadn’t been fruitless. "David and I talked for a long time. I could sense that he probably has similar thoughts, but it’s just not something that can be changed in the short term."
Since becoming commissioner, Stern had been constantly working to shape a positive image for the league.
And if players were too young and immature, they could easily get lost in the glitz and glamour of the NBA. More mature players would be beneficial for improving the league’s culture.
"Besides, it wasn’t a total loss. You know, the league is about to announce a new rule," Chen Yu added mysteriously.
At the mention of a new rule, Nelson couldn’t help but exclaim in surprise.
For the past two years, Nelson felt like the league hadn’t done anything but focus on changing the rules.
"What rule? Did they get rid of the three-second zone again?" Nelson asked. If they got rid of the three-second zone again, the Suns’ trade for O’Neal would have been a massive steal.
Chen Yu shook his head. "How could they? It’s not the kind of rule you’re thinking of, but a regulation. After our meeting and discussion, we decided to strictly implement my previous suggestion. That is, starting this season, every team will not only have to hire a full-time sports psychologist, but also implement a ’Five-Minute Rule.’"
"Just like what we’ve been doing. Meaning, before every practice or on every game day, all players must have a five-minute chat with the psychologist, whether they want to or not."
Anjel’s suicide had made Chen Yu fully understand the importance of paying attention to players’ mental health issues.
Knowing how the teams in the league operated, Chen Yu had decided to propose making this change a formal, mandatory regulation for all teams to strictly follow.
Just five minutes.
At first, some players would definitely complain and be unwilling to talk—the Suns had been the same way—but over time, they would get used to it, and it would eventually have an effect.
If it wasn’t made into a strict regulation, it would likely become a mere formality as soon as difficulties arose during implementation.
So it’s called the Five-Minute Rule, and it will be officially announced to the public soon.
At the mention of mental health, Nelson, who had witnessed Anjel’s tragic end firsthand, sighed. He patted Chen Yu’s shoulder and said seriously, "Chen, you did the right thing."
Thinking about Ray Allen’s obsessive-compulsive disorder, Russell having to vomit before every game, and even Jordan’s love for gambling... Jordan himself had said more than once that he knew it was bad but just couldn’t control himself. Weren’t these also forms of psychological issues?
Therefore, with so many players in the league, you could only imagine the number of hidden psychological problems that had simply never been addressed before.
"By the way, since you proposed this rule, shouldn’t it be called the ’Chen Yu Rule,’ like the Bird Rights? You’d be leaving your mark on NBA history."
Chen Yu rolled his eyes at Nelson. ’Give me a break,’ he thought. ’How can this be compared to the Bird Rights?’
Fame wasn’t important. It would be nice to have, but Chen Yu didn’t care if he didn’t. He only hoped that the change he was pushing for could prevent tragedies like Anjel’s from happening again. That would be enough.
Chatting, the two arrived at the office area.
Seeing his medical team, Chen Yu slapped his forehead as he remembered something. He tossed his keys to Greg Davis and said, "Greg, go to my car. There are some gifts in the trunk for you guys. Help me bring them over."
With the new season came a fresh start. As the team leader, Chen Yu had prepared "welcome back" gifts as was his custom.
Greg quickly returned carrying several gift boxes of various sizes. Chen Yu had asked Lexi to prepare them, so he wasn’t sure what was inside.
Each gift box had a sticky note on it indicating who it was for.
Nelson grabbed one of the cylindrical gift boxes and said without hesitation, "Chen, I don’t even have to guess. Lexi definitely prepared these for you, because you have no idea I like to fish."
Sure enough, when he opened the box, there was a set of fishing lures.
"You like to fish?" Chen Yu was surprised. "Why didn’t you say so sooner? I like it too."
Chen Yu grew up in Chicago, right next to Lake Michigan, and later went to the coastal city of Miami. He was also interested in fishing.
"We should go together sometime when we’re free," Chen Yu said immediately.
Nelson nodded, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
Lexi had clearly put a lot of thought into the gifts. Byron Howard got a small camping wood stove, as he enjoyed hiking.
"Alright, let’s go get our pictures taken."
After unwrapping the gifts, Chen Yu called for everyone to head out.
Today was media day. Chen Yu was just meeting with everyone briefly to chat for a bit; the main task was to take photos.
The group headed to the photo area.
As the defending champions, the Suns were receiving just as much attention as popular teams like the Nicks and the Lakers.
First, the Suns had traded for O’Neal.
Second, although they were jokingly called the "old, weak, sick, and disabled" team, players like Charles Oakley, Sabonis, and Mookie Blaylock were all once-famous stars. So, if you ignored their age, half the players on the Suns could be called stars.
Many teams in the league talked about having a "Big Two" or a star duo, but the Suns were practically the Big Dipper.

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