Chapter 551

Chapter 551: No need to cooperate.

Watnard was the generic Germanic looking guy.

He had a rigid and solemn face but still smiled when he saw Chen Huan.

“Hello, Mr. Chen! A pleasure to meet you.” He greeted warmly.

“Hello, Mr. Watnard.”

Chen Huan opened the door and led him in.

No matter what Watnard intention was, it was rude to let the guest talk outside.

After pouring a cup of water for him, Chen Huan apologized, “Sorry, I don’t have any coffee her.”

“It’s alright, I know Chinese people prefer tea!” Watnard smiled and took the water, “I actually like to drink black tea, without any sugar.”

He knew that the Chinese didn’t like to put sugar in their tea while Westerners liked to put milk and sugar in their black tea.

The strange thing was at the same time, many westerners didn’t put any sugar or milk in their more bitter coffee.

Chen Huan nodded and sat at his opposite.

“Kobe and Iverson both told me that Nike and Reebok also want to see me.” Chen Huan said and saw Watnard’s expression change slightly, “Mr. Watnard must be here for the same reasons, right?”

“Right!” Noticing that Chen Huan was a forward person, Watnard didn’t beat around the bush and directly said, “We at Addidas want to sign you to endorse our products!”

“Sadly, you will be disappointed.” Chen Huan shook his head.

“You can always listen to our offer, we’re really sincere about this.” Watnard quickly said, “There’s nothing to lose even if you don’t end up signing with us, right?”

“It’s not about money. I won’t listen to Nike or Reebok offers either.” Chen Huan explained and laughed, “I’ll tell you something but you’ll have to promise me to not tell anyone else.”

“Please speak your mind.” Warnat sat up straighter, “We Germans have the greatest business ethics and won’t disclose friends’ secrets.”

“I don’t plan to play basketball anymore after playing this playoff.” Chen Huan said calmly.

Watnard: “…”

After a moment, he stammered, “Pardon me but maybe I didn’t hear it right, what did you say?”

“This is the first time I’ve played in the NBA and it may also be the last time.” Chen Huan said, “I will enter university in September this year and you may not now but I also love music and still need to create more music. In addition, I also have a passion for mathematics… everything put together, I’ve no time for the NBA.”

Watnard: “!?”

Your Excellency, you must be teasing me!

He asked in absolute confusion, “You’re saying that you wouldn’t have time to play in the NBA for the reasons you mentioned and you will forgo the possibility of hundreds of million dollars in earnings and tens of millions in endorsement contract?”

The salary in the NBA was getting higher every year.

For the three years when MJ returned, the salary cap increased to 30 million with the approval of Stern. His salary wasn’t on the salary cap otherwise the Bulls would have been capped.

But now, which superstars didn’t earn 20 or 30 million now?

It was conceivable they would soon be able to earn 40 million a year or even 50 million.

Chen Huan was only 17 years old and he would be 27 after ten years, wouldn’t he be able to earn hundreds of million of dollars?

Chen Huan felt a bit strange. Germans were generally methodic but why did it seem that this man didn’t do his research on him?

So he asked, “Mr. Watnard, may I ask what your education is?”

“PHD in Economics from the University of Hamburg.” Watnard answered right away.

“Have you studied mathematics seriously then?” Chen Huan asked again.

“Of course! I did great in math!” Watnard felt a bit insulted to be questioned by a 17 years old as a PHD holder.

Chen Huan nodded and continued, “Do you know Fermat’s Theorem then?”

“That’s the jewel in the crown of mathematics!” Watnard said, “This basic common sense, what’s your point?”

“You know about Fermat’s Theorem but you don’t know about me?” Chen Huan asked with a stunned expression, “Don’t you know that the person sitting in front of you is the most likely person to prove Fermat’s Theorem in the last three hundred years? You haven’t heard of my theory published in the Journal of the American Mathematical Society, the New Development of Mathematics, and the Acta Mathematica?”

Watnard was shocked.

He obviously heard of those three magazines before since he had a doctorate and studied mathematics.

Chen Huan dared to say this obviously because he indeed had his papers published on it otherwise he would be just humiliating himself.

A 17 years old who was able to publish his papers in those three journals could be described as a real mathematician.

If what Chen Huan said was true about his thesis on Fermat’s Theorem, he should be called a great mathematician.

Even Watnard’s professor couldn’t be described as a great mathematician, let alone Watnard.

An honor like that wasn’t given casually.

“Please give me a few minutes, sorry.”

Watnard quickly said.

Then, he turned on his phone to search the news around Fermat’s Theorem with Chen Huan’s permission.

After a simple check, he saw Chen Huan’s Roman name and saw his various contributions to Fermat’s Theorem when he was 16/17 years old as well as the respect he gained from all the mathematicians over the world.

FK!

Watnard decided he would fire the person who was responsible for collecting information.

Such an important information was missing and he embarrassed himself due to it, it was shameful!

A talented basketball superstar and a talented young mathematician without anyone alike were on two completely different levels.

The former may be loved by many people and sought after by sponsors.

But the latter was an existence that everyone admired and respected.

Because science was the future of mankind!

“I’m sorry Mr. Chen!” Watnard stood up and apologized with a bow, “I’m deeply sorry for my rudeness! My admiration for academics never went away, it’s just that our information was lacking, sorry!”

He knew that for Chen Huan, it was a normal decision to focus on mathematics instead of playing in the NBA.

He could get wealth from the NBA but not contribute to the future of mankind.

Chen Huan had the same thought so he obviously wouldn’t pursue monetary gain.

It seemed that his strategy wasn’t going to work.

It was a shame that it was doomed to fail before he could make his offer.

“It’s alright.” Chen Huan smiled and shook his head, “Since you know, you can understand why I can’t accept this sneaker endorsement… your Adidas will make a loss if I take it.”

Wouldn’t Adidas jump off the building when Chen Huan announced he would retire after they signed him a few years of endorsement with tens of millions in pay?

Money was of course important but Chen Huan thought that living life as he wished was more important.

Why would he work and play tirelessly just to compete with the best and prove he was the best and strongest?

All he needed was a little bit of money, a woman who loved and couple kids, it would be a perfect life!

“No way, with your identity, how can it hurt Adidas?” Watnard said politely, “Even if you didn’t play basketball, you…Hum!”

A flash of inspiration flashed in his mind.

Right!

Why couldn’t Adidas sign Chen Huan?

Even if he didn’t play basketball, he had a great reputation as a mathematical genius!

Wouldn’t he become the idol of thousands of youngsters when he solves Fermat’s Theorem?

Couldn’t he endorse Adidas as long as he was an idol?

It didn’t have to be basketball sneakers!

There were many types of sneakers in Adidas!

“Mr. Watnard?” Chen Huan called him when he saw him in a daze.

“Oh!” Watnard woke up from his trance and almost jumped up, “Mr. Chen, please give me some time… I believe we still have the chance to work together and you’ll certainly hear from me soon!”

With that said, Watnard quickly left.

He needed to go back and phone the headquarters to tell the CEO and director boards of his ideas.

If this was done well, maybe Adidas would have another breakthrough in the market!

Chen Huan was confused by this.

What’s wrong with this guy?

Suddenly saying random things and taking off?

Is this still the professional German?

So confusing!