A whole team was secretly rehearsing, preparing for something.
And all of this was orchestrated by Gan Guoyang, appearing like a belief and a totem, showing up at various places of work to encourage these "reserves" from time to time.
Of course, these secret operations did not have department heads yet; all departments had only deputies but no chiefs, clearly waiting for the right moment.
If the time came, key personnel would arrive, and the department would officially begin operations.
If the time was not right, the team could not form, and at that time, the department would disband, leaving seeds for the next opportunity.
Gan Guoyang stood up from his chair, put the bronze dice in his pocket, while the TV was still airing news about the 9/11 incident.
The newly elected American President Bush gave a nationwide televised speech to soothe people's hearts.
Gan Guoyang picked up the remote control and changed the channel; it was still 9/11 news, but this time the news focused on him.
"Sunny Gan's vow has come true, he is innocent, he is innocent! This is divine retribution, it's divine retribution!"
Near New York City Hall, where Gan Guoyang had attended hearings for a year, a large number of civilians gathered, holding signs proclaiming "Ah Gan is innocent", for a protest rally.
"FBI must apologize to Ah Gan, and let Ah Gan communicate with God to resolve this misunderstanding..."
The TV footage was quickly cut, and the interview with the civilian was interrupted, the camera switched to the ruins of the Twin Towers.
But the interruption of the interview did not mean the end of public opinion; in fact, people's minds had already turned to "Ah Gan's vow" as soon as the disaster struck.
The inner shock, confusion, and perplexity hit everyone like a tide, and whether the news interviews mentioned it or not, this feeling could not be dispelled.
Moreover, as time went by, this emotional confusion and questioning would accumulate more and more, until eventually, everyone would need an explanation.
Of course, Gan Guoyang could not give them any explanation. After the incident, he had unplugged his office phone lines, turned off his mobile phone, and did not allow anyone to disturb him in his office.
He walked to a wall in his office adorned with many photographs.
The ones closest to his desk were from the past two years and were Gan Guoyang's favorites.
Winning the championship in 2000, embracing his wife, just like winning the NCAA championship in 1984.
Standing on the podium after winning the gold medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, watching the national flag rise.
In July 2001, representing China with Wang Zhizhi and others for the Olympic bid, cheering when Samaranch announced the results.
In August 2001, becoming an honorary member of China's negotiating delegation, participating in WTO negotiations, making significant progress, securing China's accession to the WTO, taking group photos to commemorate.
In September 2001, visiting New York, negotiating with David Stern about establishing a new team in Las Vegas without results, and then visiting the Twin Towers for a commemorative photo.
For such significant moments, Gan Guoyang's room simply couldn't hold all the photographs.
The ones too distant were stored in the warehouse or database, for him to reminisce in his old age.
At present, one major event after another made Gan Guoyang feel he was standing at the intersection of destiny.
He felt the bronze dice in his pocket, realizing that after deciding to establish a new team, many things often went beyond his control.
On the court, he could control everything; after all, the basketball court was small. But society, this world, was large; the bigger the endeavor, the easier to lose control, the more it relied on luck and timing.
Many times it's like rolling dice; you never know which face will turn up, and the numbers you want may never appear, while those you don't want keep showing up.
"Knock knock knock!" Someone knocked on the door.
Gan Guoyang instructed that no one should come these days; he wanted to stay alone.
But since someone dared to knock, Gan Guoyang already guessed who it was.
"Come in, the door's not locked."
Wang Fuxi pushed the door open, first checking the phone line on the desk upon entering.
"You've really unplugged the phone line and turned off your phone. Do you know people are going crazy trying to reach you?"
"Why are they looking for me? It's not like I hit the building."
"You didn't hit it, but you predicted an incident a year ago. And now, it really happened!"
"I just casually mentioned it, I said the Twin Towers would cry for me, I didn't say they would collapse, how could I know... anyway, it's not me."
Wang Fuxi laughed with exasperation and said, "Don't explain to me, explain to the reporters, to Stern, Jordan, Barkley, Clinton, and your friends from all fields, to All-America, to the world. Do you know, even your son's classmates called trying to get in touch with you. Everyone connected to you is being sought."
Of course, Gan Guoyang knew about this, which is why he unplugged the phone line and turned off his phone.
"Mayor Goodman is also looking for you. In such an enormous situation, you still have the mood to sit in your office and admire your old photographs."
"I am admiring the Twin Towers photo I took last week~ which is already gone. Let them search, I'll be here anyway; it really wasn't me who hit it."
Wang Fuxi was so angry she almost tugged Gan Guoyang's ear, "It's not about hitting or not hitting; everyone thinks you predicted all of this. You are now a prophet, predicting America's biggest 21st-century disaster. And this disaster might have been caused by you."
"How could it be because of me? I just made a vow with the tallest building to show I was innocent."
"Some say the attackers were your fans, hoping to see your comeback."
"..."
"In any case, you must make a statement, give the public an explanation. You can't hide, and this isn't like you, you... are you waiting for something?"
Wang Fuxi understood her husband very well; Gan Guoyang was never someone timid or afraid; he dared to face anything head on.
9/11, as big as it was, wasn't the end of the world; for some countries, it might even have been a good thing.
"Did David Stern call me?"
"Yes, he called the most. Phone calls, emails, texts, one after another. To be honest, his tone seemed off, like he was really shaken. Did something happen?"
"No, it's just that he learned a lesson. Alright, I got it; arrange a press conference for me this afternoon. I'll make a formal response. Then prepare some money, donate it to New York for disaster relief and reconstruction. As for Stern, I'll give him a call."
Wang Fuxi got the answer, nodded to show she understood.
Then she came over and hugged Gan Guoyang.
At this moment, she wasn't a work partner, but a wife.
Gan Guoyang hugged her tightly, gently stroking her hair.
"It's okay, all souls will find peace and will find a better life in another world."
Wang Fuxi looked up at her husband, wiped the corners of her eyes, and said, "A religious sect has already arisen with you as its belief. I think you really resemble a religious leader."
Gan Guoyang smiled and said, "No worries, my religion certainly doesn't abstain from meat or sex."
After Wang Fuxi left, Gan Guoyang went back to his desk, plugged in the phone line, and dialed David Stern's number.
"Hey David, it's me, Sunny, how are you?"
On the other end of the line came Stern's trembling voice, "Oh God, oh God~Sunny, tell me, this isn't my fault. We just casually joked, right? This... what's going on? I couldn't reach your phone, I'm just... this disaster, I just... I never thought of using the Twin Towers as a wager, I didn't, Sunny, what should I do?"
It was the first time Gan Guoyang heard David Stern so lost, babbling, mixed with fear, regret, and mental chaos.
Gan Guoyang said nothing, merely listened quietly, and after Stern finished his babbling, he suddenly calmed down and said, "Sunny, about our conversation that day, you didn't record it, did you?"
"No, I didn't, I already forgot what you said, David, don't be scared, it's alright, everything will get better."
Gan Guoyang's words were like a sedative, calming David Stern quickly, and after some adjustments, Stern said, "Sunny, in a few days, I'll be going to Las Vegas; we'll talk about the new team's business franchise."
"Oh~ that's wonderful, a new team will certainly bring solace to the NBA, to All-America, allowing everyone to find courage to emerge from the disaster's pain, to invigorate the country and its people. Right, David?"
"You're right, Sunny, you're always right."