Chapter 24: Which Disney Princess Is Your Favorite?

After this, although the Magic launched wave after wave of counterattacks, they were never able to narrow the gap to within 10 points. The momentum of the game remained firmly under the control of the Bulls.

The point spread not only failed to shrink but actually widened further. With only three minutes left in the game, the score had reached 99–83.

Seeing that the game was beyond salvation, Magic head coach Brian finally waved his hand, pulling his starters and signaling surrender.

In this game, Jordan went 17-of-29 from the field, hit 1-of-2 from three-point range, and sank all 9 of his free throws, finishing with 44 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists. He also managed to foul out Anderson, who had taunted him last year.

As for Lin Tian, he only received two minutes of playing time throughout the entire fourth quarter. He finished the game with a total of 15 points and 6 assists. Despite recording 3 turnovers, Lin Tian had shown his immense talent and capability on this night. His speed, his court vision, and his sense of the game during fast breaks drew constant praise from both CBS commentators throughout the evening.

With Jordan’s explosive performance and Lin Tian’s concentrated burst of scoring in the third quarter, O’Neal—who dropped 29 points and 15 rebounds—and Hardaway—who tallied 30 points, 9 rebounds, and 12 assists—could only swallow the bitter pill of defeat, ending the team’s undefeated streak since the start of the season.

The Bulls, meanwhile, remained firmly in first place in the Eastern Conference with a perfect 4-0 record.

Following the game, the Bulls were set to stay in Orlando for the night before flying to Miami, also in Florida, the next morning to continue their road trip. Because Orlando and Miami were close and the team had two days of rest, Jackson waved his hand after the blowout victory and declared that the players were free to roam tonight.

"Go ahead and enjoy the magic of Disney!"

Rodman let out a chuckle, threw an arm around Lin Tian—who had been praising him all night—and said, "Let's go, Lin. I'll take you to experience the unique charm of Orlando! I guarantee you won't find the kind of entertainment we're having tonight in most places across the country!"

Pippen walked over, looking expectant, and said with a smile, "Dennis, you should first ask Lin who he likes best!"

"Who I like? How about Sophie Marceau and Audrey Hepburn?" Lin Tian rubbed his hands together with a mischievous grin.

"Screw that! You’d only find them in a place like Los Angeles!" Rodman gave him the middle finger. "We mean, among Snow White, Cinderella, and the Little Mermaid, who do you like best?"

Pippen continued with a smile, "If you like it a bit wild and are willing to play the Beast, I suggest you choose Belle! But don't you dare fight me for the Evil Queen from Snow White!"

Lin Tian couldn't help but give a thumbs-up to Pippen’s taste. Just as the group was excitedly discussing how to split up for the night, Jackson and Jordan suddenly walked into the locker room, having clearly just finished the press conference.

Jackson clapped his hands, signaling everyone to quiet down, and said, "Gentlemen, you have five minutes to tidy yourselves up. In five minutes, the reporters will be coming into the locker room!"

"Why let them in?"
"We don't want to do interviews!"
"I only come to Orlando twice a year; I don't want to waste my precious time on boring interviews!"

Rodman and the others immediately hissed, expressing their reluctance to cooperate.

"Is that so? Alright then, I'll go tell the league that we'll skip the interviews this time," Jackson said, shrugging with a squint. "I suppose I'll have to send those girls from the San Pablo University journalism department back. I was hoping to give them a valuable internship opportunity, too."

"Journalism students?"
"Spanish girls?"
"College students?"
"I love doing interviews!"
"Fans who have traveled so far shouldn't be disappointed!"
"We have an obligation and a responsibility to help young people start their careers on the right foot!"

Jordan, Rodman, and Pippen displayed perfect synergy, proving they were indeed seamless partners. After each dropped a keyword and expressed their sudden enthusiasm for interviews, they sat up straight, transforming into righteous national idols.

The entire Bulls team instantly became a top-tier grooming squad. Everyone scrambled to clean up, and in less than three minutes, they were all looking as sharp and handsome as possible, waiting for the Spanish journalism students to enter. Even Lin Tian found himself feeling a bit of anticipation for the upcoming interview.

Soon, a flurry of chatter drifted in from outside the door. Jackson threw the door open and said with a smile, "They are all sophomores from San Pablo University. They are here in Orlando for an exchange program, and tonight, at the invitation of the Magic, they are here to watch the game live!"

"Their professor is a long-time friend of mine, so I thought I should give them a chance—a chance to interview the best players in the world today. It’s like helping them with their internship!"

Jackson wasn't sure how many people were listening, as the eyes of everyone on the Bulls were fixed on the door, watching the thirty-something girls flooding in like a tide.

"Phil, thank you so much! This is definitely the best page in their internship journals!" A graceful woman in her forties, still possessing plenty of charm, walked in last and greeted Jackson immediately.

*There’s something going on! Definitely something going on!*

Lin Tian took one look at the woman and, judging by the way her eyes seemed to linger on Jackson, knew their relationship was far from ordinary. He just wondered if Jackson was already seeing Jeanie Buss.

"Um... hello, may I interview you?" A shy, timid voice interrupted Lin Tian’s gossip-fueled thoughts. He looked down and saw a girl standing in front of him.

She was the only one.

At least half of the other girls were swarming around Jordan, and among the rest, at least half were surrounding the European superstar Kukoc. With Pippen and Rodman also having their own crowds, many of the Bulls players were left without anyone to interview.

*Reality! That’s just how reality is!*

"Do you know who I am?" Lin Tian scratched his head, curious as to why this girl chose specifically to interview him.

"No, but... but I just want to interview you." The girl suddenly looked up, her bright eyes sparkling with endless enthusiasm.