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typesof cycling races throughout the rest of the year, depending upon your interest level and skills. The four of you already have a fair amount of media exposure in China because of your victory the other night in San Francisco, combined with your brush with gangsters in Chinatown, which was all over the Chinese newspapers. We can use that. You will be stars. You’ll be asked to sign more autographs after the race than the rest of the participants combined. I guarantee it.”
    “I don’t care about being famous,” I said, “especially if it has anything to do with those Chinese gangsters. I don’t even care about winning races. I just want to have fun with my friends.”
    “It sounds like it
would
be fun, Jake,” Phoenix said.
    “Yeah,” Ryan said. “It would be a riot.”
    I sighed and looked at Hú Dié. “What do you think?”
    She smiled. “It would be my dream come true, but this is not about me. What do
you
want?”
    “I just want to ride my bike, bros,” I said. “I don’t care about racing. I want to go home and chill with you guys for the next two weeks. That’s all the summer vacation we have left.”
    “Think of it this way,” Ling said. “If you accept our offer, your summer vacation will
never
end. You’ll be enrolled in an American-style school, but you won’t be there much. You’ll be too busy racing and making public appearances. Your schedule will be like that of college athletes.”
    “Hang on,” I said. “How long do you expect me to stay in China?”
    “At least one year. More than likely, two or three.”
    “That’s insane! No way.”
    “It’s not that insane,” Ryan said. “I spent six months training in Belgium. The time flew by, and even though my uncle was a jerk, I still had a lot of fun. Living in a foreign country is cool.”
    “It
is
cool,” Phoenix said, “especially China. I was only there for a few days, but I could tell that it would be neat to live in a big city like Shanghai if I had some friends to hang out with.”
    “And I would be there to translate for everyone,” Hú Dié said. “Oh, Jake! We would have the best time ever!”
    I shook my head. “I’m still not feeling it.”
    Ling removed a business card from the pocket of his suit jacket and held it out to me. “Why don’t you take a day and think about it? We can’t wait any longer than that. The Shanghai race is coming up fast.”
    “What if I say no?” I asked. “Would my friends still be able to join your team?”
    “No. We need a winner, Jake. You won the race. Our plan won’t work without you.”
    “Hey,” Phoenix said. “I have an idea. How about Jake only commits to a week in China? It would be like a trial run. We all go and do the race, and Jake gets a chance to see how he likes it.”
    “Hmmm,” Ling said. “Just a moment.” He turned to Mr. Chang, and they spoke in Chinese for a minute. Ling turned back to us and said, “We could do one week.”
    I took the business card from Ling. “I’ll think it over. Don’t get your hopes up, though.”
    Ling nodded. “Remember, I’ll need your answer by tomorrow night, at the very latest.”
    “Okay.”
    Raffi pulled a cell phone from his pocket and tapped the screen. “Yo,” he said. “I hate to be a party pooper, but don’t you all have a plane to catch?”
    Ryan glanced at his training watch. “We don’t actually fly out until really late, but it does look like our hour is up. Bummer. I guess I’ll have to find a BMX trail somewhere in Indiana to see if I can fly like you guys.”
    “You’re welcome to come back here anytime,” Raffi said. “All of you.”
    “Thanks, bro,” I said. “I’d like to do that, especially if I take a pass on China. Any chance we could all come and crash at your place over fall break or something?”
    “Are you kidding me?” Raffi said. “My mom still asks after you, even though she knows we lost touch. Your friends seem solid, too. You’re in.”
    “Awesome,” I said.