Seeing as Ye Lingchen had outrightly refused him, Zhang He shook his head bitterly and did not continue to persuade.

He hung up the phone and sighed with a forlorn expression.

"He refused?" Pan Heng sighed when he saw Zhang He's expression. "I blame myself for this matter. I'll personally go to him and apologize later."

"I'm also to blame for this. I'll go with you later," Qin Yuan said immediately. "It's actually a good thing if young people have a temper."

They did not blame Ye Lingchen for it. The way they despised Ye Lingchen in the past would be unbearable for anyone. Moreover, Ye Lingchen was really skilled, and he was a young man too. Having a sense of pride was only natural, and he must have been deeply upset.

Seeing the three of them dancing to the same tune, Bureau Chief Fang could not help but feel a little stunned. He could not resist asking, "Can the three of you honestly tell me whether you're speaking the truth? Are you sure you're not just putting up a front?"

"Bureau Chief Fang, how can we possibly put up a front when it comes to this? It's unfortunate that Ye Lingchen isn't playing, otherwise he'll open your eyes!" Zhang He said with a smile.

Bureau Chief Fang nodded and had a look of anticipation.

"Hehe, so what if he's really skilled? When it's time to fight for our country's glory, he acts like a cowering tortoise and has no sense of responsibility at all. How can a person like him become a secret weapon!?" The young man beside Bureau Chief Fang could not help but point out.

His words made Pan Heng frown, but the young man had an air of haughtiness whenever he spoke, coupled with a cynical tone. He was like an angry youngster, who was spiteful in his words and terribly unfriendly.

However, that young man came with Bureau Chief Fang, and although the others felt uncomfortable, they merely stopped talking instead of showing their displeasure.

People like him only spoke assertively and made things sound easy with their words, but when it boiled down to actually doing it, they were no more than utter fools.

At that moment, Ye Lingchen was sitting in the class. He held a mobile phone in his hand and pondered for some time.

It became apparent that the basketball game had reached a very bleak point for Zhang He to come and beg him.

If he had not joined the basketball association, he would certainly laugh at that kind of thing. He had nothing to do with basketball.

Even so, it was clear that Zhang He entered his information into the system after he left last time. He was already a member of the Capital City Basketball Association and could participate in those basketball games on behalf of China.

Should he participate?

Ye Lingchen was really upset last time in the stadium, and he was still rather unhappy deep down. At the thought of the Stick Nation's arrogance however, he became even more displeased.

Looking at his country being abused by others, Ye Lingchen asked himself whether he could just stand idly by, especially when he was very capable.

Forget it. First things first, he would go to the stadium.

Ye Lingchen took a deep breath, got up, and walked out of the classroom.

Ye Lingchen heard cheers from the stadium when he was still some distance away, but there were also jeers among those cheers.

Once he entered the stadium, Ye Lingchen spotted Little Gen and the other two. They could only watch the match at the outermost edge of the stadium, close to the exit.

However, their expression was not very good and their faces were red. They all look like they were gritting their teeth.

Ye Lingchen walked over and asked, "How's the situation?"

"Ye'zi, you're here." Potato looked at Ye Lingchen in surprise, but then said distressingly, "What other outcomes would it have? It will surely end in a loss!"

"We haven't won a game against the Stick Nation," Little Gen lamented frustratingly.

"The score is 58:136. It's too far behind." Xiang pointed to the score screen, then continued, "The Stick Nation's people have already started partying."

Ye Lingchen looked up and saw that the court no longer resembled a game. Most of the time, the basketball was in the hands of the Stick Nation's players. They had no intention of scoring goals but merely held the basketball in their hands. Teasing voices came out from their mouths, and when the Chinese team's players came to take the ball, they passed.

Everyone watched as the Chinese team chased the ball, but the players were so helpless that they could only let themselves be toyed around with.

Most of the Chinese in the stadium were silent, while the Stick Nation supporters all stood up and screamed excitedly. They watched as the Chinese players were led in circles and even laughed mockingly at them.

"Damn, they're all bullies!" Zhao Ritian was thoroughly irked and he could not help but clench his hands into a fist.

"It's so unfortunate that I'm too young. Just give me two years and they won't be able to recognize their mothers by the end of a match!" Zhao Ritian's anger flared up and he looked at Ye Lingchen. "I hope you can continue to walk on the path of basketball as my rival. I want to make the world acknowledge China's basketball again!"

Ye Lingchen frowned too. He looked at the game on the court and remained silent.

Victory was one thing, but it was another to be toyed in such a manner. It could be considered as utter humiliation.

It was impossible to regard that scene as an insignificant blow to the Chinese—the ruthlessness far surpassed any verbal insult. As for Zhang He, he felt gazes coming from all sides and his expression had already ashen. He just wished he could dig a hole and bury himself there.

The undermining of China's basketball team by all those people was more humiliating than being insulted by others.

At that moment, there were already reporters surrounding the Stick Nation's coach. Numerous microphones were handed over to him for interviews.

"We're honored to be invited by China to participate in this friendly game. Through this game, it's not difficult to see some progress in China's basketball team. Although there's still a big gap compared to our Stick Nation, I've seen the enthusiasm of the Chinese! It's a zealous enthusiasm for basketball and they're chasing after it!"

"Pftttt, HAHAHAHA! You're so mean, Coach!"

"They're really chasing after the basketball, but unfortunately they can't even touch it."

"Look at those Chinese players. They are as tired as dogs. Just looking at them makes me want to laugh."

The coach's words immediately elicited laughter from the Stick Nation's people. Each one of them made a mockery of the Chinese without regard for the Chinese's ugly expressions.

"Please don't misunderstand. My intentions are pure." The coach waved his hand at the Stick Nation and smiled at his explanation before saying. "China's basketball is really quite subpar in the international arena, but they still insist on inviting us to play friendly games every year, even when they know they're terrible. I believe this isn't because they are ignorant or because they like to be tortured, but because they have a heart that dares to challenge the strong! I applaud them!"

Clap, clap, clap!

The people in Stick Nation clapped and laughed. Anyone could hear that the coach made those remarks ironically and full of sarcasm.

"As for this game's victory, I would first like to thank the group of fans who came from Stick Nation to watch and cheer for us. Secondly, I want to thank my players, and..."

The game was not over yet, but with the cameras all pointing at the coach, he had begun to make his congratulatory speech...