"Stop standing there in a daze. Since Vice Minister Chu is kind enough to come and guide you in basketball skills, you should be modest and learn well from him. Pan Changqing, you come down, and I'll go up to have a match with Vice Minister Chu."

As everyone was involuntarily recalling that super block, Chen Lei stood up, twisted his neck, and a series of "crack-crack" sounds echoed in the air.

"Vice Minister Chu, this time I'll let my staff step down. Why don't you avoid getting involved?"

Chu Ge smiled, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

Since he had already stepped over Pan Changqing for Lu Gang and blocked Pan Changqing for Ji Songtao and Feifei, he was not bothered to continue dealing with someone like Pan Changqing.

When Chen Lei walked onto the court, the Marketing Department players were initially stunned, but then the anxiety on their faces gradually relaxed, and their eyes regained a confident sparkle, filling their hearts with newfound confidence.

Everyone present had practically played basketball with Chen Lei before and were thoroughly impressed by his basketball skills and physical abilities. Given that he was stepping onto the court, there was no doubt left about the outcome of this game.

After all, unlike these amateur players, Chen Lei had been a sports student in college, the main forward, and the captain of the school's basketball team. He had led his team to quite impressive achievements in school-level tournaments.

Moreover, after graduation, Chen Lei never gave up basketball despite his work commitments. He used almost all his spare time for basketball, and his skills had only improved since his college days!

Of course, these are just one aspect. More importantly, it's the aura Chen Lei brings. They believe that the upcoming game would return to being a genuine basketball match. No matter how arrogant Chu Ge might be, once his confrontation with Pan Changqing was settled, he would not go overboard again.

Originally, Chen Lei had no plans to play. In his view, with his level of basketball skills, he should only appear in the final match, where he could amaze the crowd and lead the Marketing Department to a splendid victory.

However, at this moment, because of Chu Ge's presence, he had no choice but to play.

When Chu Ge gave Pan Changqing a big block, others noticed Chu Ge's dominance and ruthlessness, but to Chen Lei, it revealed a completely different scene.

The speed, prediction ability, jumping ability, and even strength that Chu Ge demonstrated during his previous dunk seemed to match Chen Lei's own!

And that three-point shot Chu Ge made without a doubt proved his accuracy. Although there wasn't any defense at that moment, just seeing Chu Ge's calm and confident expression made Chen Lei take notice.

As the saying goes, "An incompetent soldier affects a whole battalion." With Chu Ge on the Operation Management Department team, without a doubt, it's a completely different team!

Therefore, to secure the Marketing Department's championship in the film company's meet, even if it did seem like overkill, Chen Lei had no choice but to step in.

Glancing at the referee who had been waiting a long time and looked quite conflicted, Chen Lei nodded, "Let's continue the game."

The whistle blew again, and the Marketing Department started the play.

To boost the Marketing Department's morale and to intimidate the Operation Management Department, especially Chu Ge,

Chen Lei stood right next to Chu Ge, using his strong physique to firmly block Chu Ge's position.

He wanted to prove that he was the true king of this court, and even if Chu Ge was playing, he was nothing in front of him and could definitely not change the fate of the Operation Management Department's defeat!

Without needing Chen Lei to say anything, the Marketing Department player immediately passed the ball to him.

As the player raised his hand to throw the ball, Chu Ge suddenly moved, stepping diagonally forward to the left.

Chen Lei smirked and shifted his steps accordingly, preparing to continue blocking Chu Ge's position. He thought to himself, "Trying to intercept the ball from me? Dream on!"

However, just as this thought crossed Chen Lei's mind, and the player was passing the basketball to him, Chu Ge, who had been standing still, suddenly spun his right foot on the floor.

Immediately, his body moved like a willow leaf dancing in the wind, with a unique rhythm of strength and softness, spinning 270 degrees in the opposite direction of Chen Lei's defense. Before Chen Lei could react, Chu Ge caught the passing ball with one hand and ran toward the Marketing Department's half of the court.

The entire set of movements was completed in mere fractions of a second, without the slightest delay, like flowing water, as if that Marketing Department player intended to pass the ball to Chu Ge.

Watching Chu Ge's back swiftly distance himself, Chen Lei's pupils suddenly contracted, feeling a mixture of shock and frustration from the bottom of his heart.

However, now was obviously not the time to dwell on these thoughts. He quickly snapped back to his senses, stretched his long legs, and immediately chased after Chu Ge.

No matter what, Chu Ge must not be allowed to score at this moment! He had to get the ball back!

He was here to give Chu Ge a hard time. If Chu Ge managed to intercept the ball from him and even score under his nose, it would be as if Chu Ge were giving him a hard time!

One has to admit, besides being tall with long legs, Chen Lei's explosiveness was quite remarkable. In just a few strides, he caught up with Chu Ge, who was dribbling, and positioned himself for defense, ready to reclaim the ball.

Whether on the court or off it, all the fervent gazes converged on Chu Ge and Chen Lei, with everyone eagerly awaiting to witness who among them was truly superior!

Finally blocking Chu Ge's path, Chen Lei seemed like a fierce tiger in the way, clenched his large outstretched hands, and grinned, "Come on? Let me see what you've got!"

Chu Ge smiled slightly, "Alright, Minister Chen, make sure you watch closely."

Chen Lei's attention was intensely focused, his eyes tightly fixed on the basketball rising and falling in Chu Ge's hands.

However, just as Chen Lei was about to steal the ball, Chu Ge suddenly waved his hand and unexpectedly passed the ball to the undefended Lu Gang.

With a swish, Lu Gang made a three-step layup, adding two more points for the Operation Management Department!

Watching Chu Ge cast a look of approval at Lu Gang, the corners of Chen Lei's mouth and eyes twitched. He couldn't believe it even in his dreams; Chu Ge voluntarily gave up the chance to compete with him? He chose to pass?

"Are you scared?"

Chu Ge responded with a noncommittal smile to Chen Lei, then raised his hand to give a high-five to Lu Gang, who ran up to him, offering encouragement he hadn't given before.

In fact, not only Chen Lei, but most people on and off the court never expected Chu Ge to pass the ball at that moment, which was practically a sign of weakness towards Chen Lei!

The entire marketing department felt awkward, and the cheers they had prepared for Chen Lei got stuck in their throats, leaving the stands in silence.

In the following match, no one played any more dirty tricks; it was all genuine skill, and the game entered a fiercely competitive phase.

Both the Operation Management Department and the Marketing Department scored points, going back and forth, with the score remaining tightly contested.

No one felt more frustrated than Chen Lei. He always wanted to have a fair competition in skills with Chu Ge, but Chu Ge never had that intention, which made him increasingly anxious and angry as the game progressed!

This feeling was like having strength all over but nowhere to apply it!

As time passed by the second, when the final whistle blew, everyone in the Marketing Department fell silent, utterly silent due to the final score.

Seventy-one to seventy, the Operation Management Department won.

Even though the result was plainly there, everyone in the Marketing Department felt like they were dreaming.

Did they lose?

Lost to the Operation Management Department with only three men?

And lost even with Chen Lei on the court, with everyone giving it their all?

Not only was it unbelievable for everyone in the Marketing Department, but even the referee and everyone else in the Operation Management Department except for Chu Ge found it hard to believe.

When Chu Ge called out to the seemingly dazed Operation Management Department team, who had forgotten to celebrate, and led them out of the stadium, Chen Lei finally accepted the reality. He turned his head, looking at the doorway the Operation Management team left through, clenched his fists tightly, and then let out a deep sigh.

Only then, looking back on the match, did Chen Lei finally realize where he lost. Unfortunately, it was a bit late to think of it now.

He had positioned himself as a savior, only wanting to prove he was the strongest on the field, wanting to score alone, outshining Chu Ge, constantly demanding his teammates pass the ball to him.

Meanwhile, Chu Ge constantly engaged in seamless team play, delivering one beautiful assist after another, passing the ball to teammates when the opportunity wasn't particularly good, instead of trying to steal the show himself.

That's the difference, maybe not in skill, but in a more fatal sense, a gap in mindset.

Back in the Operation Management Department office, Ji Songtao and the others finally snapped out of their almost dreamlike state. Despite the exhaustion from the match, everyone's spirits were incredibly high, continuously recounting the game just played.

Only Chu Ge, wearing his signature smile, quietly sat back in his seat, not making a big deal of the victory.

In the office, as everyone chatted lively, all eyes gradually turned to Chu Ge.

Because everyone knew very well that if it weren't for Chu Ge's participation, defeating the Marketing Department would have been impossible.

Although Chu Ge didn't score as much as Lu Gang and Ji Songtao, he delivered beautiful assists that left the Marketing Department defenseless. He was like a daring and wise general, enabling them to create miracles and remain invincible!

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.