One Year Left to Play

Their 14-game winning streak wasn’t achieved with the same fiery form as last year, but rather, many games were played with thrill and occasionally relied on individual player outbursts to secure victories.

Now, having played nearly 30 games, the physical and psychological fatigue of the teammates has reached a whole new level.

This is unavoidable, Zhang Hao knows, not everyone can, like him, rely on Jabbar’s health therapy to reduce body wear, rely on Recovery Ability through study mode, rely on long pre-game warm-ups... and other methods to consistently maintain a very stable performance.

Fatigue among teammates is inevitable, as are minor injuries here and there. For instance, Jerome Kersey, who had a great opening on defense and a keen sense of teamwork in offense, has been sidelined for more than half a month due to injury.

Zhang Hao looked over the whole team and found that aside from himself, the one in the best health is the 34-year-old Er Pang!

...

...

The 14-game winning streak was ended, but the Lakers weren’t criticized for the loss this time.

After all, they had been winning for almost a month, their performance was evident.

But everyone can see that the Lakers’ form has dipped as they entered mid-season.

Now, the media focusing on the Lakers have all turned their attention to two players – Zhang Hao and O’Neal.

Can they stabilize the Lakers’ performance mid-season?

Since O’Neal’s return, Kenny Anderson’s stats started to decline and have now stabilized, averaging 17.3 points and 8.5 assists per game.

The Magician averages 6.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game, performing quite well as the second or third playmaker. At 37, you can’t expect him to play like last season, or else, why bring in Brian Shaw?

Barkley... up to now, many people think he’s collapsed, but since his salary isn’t high, no one really says much.

Up to now, Zhang Hao has played all 29 games, averaging 30.3 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 0.9 steals, and 2.1 blocks.

O’Neal has played 22 games so far, averaging 24.5 points, 14.4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2.4 blocks.

Aside from Kenny Anderson, the only Lakers players averaging double figures are Zhang Hao and O’Neal.

Given that Kenny Anderson is visibly putting all his effort into organizing the offense in every game, the Lakers’ proud "BIG-5" at the start of the season can now only rely on Zhang Hao and O’Neal.

Regardlessly, when Zhang Hao saw O’Neal unmoved by such comments, he felt a tinge of sadness...

On the afternoon of the 23rd, in a Chicago hotel, Zhang Hao saw the adorable little girl Le Lin, the increasingly sweet Britney, the well-known Aprile Clark, and the vacationing Pierce and his mother... which eased his sorrow over O’Neal’s thick-skinned demeanor somewhat.

Pelinka also came along.

Unlike the other teammates, since it’s almost Christmas, Zhang Hao invited everyone he should to Chicago to spend Christmas Eve together and watch the Christmas game.

Unfortunately, the Bulls generously provided tickets...

...

Zhang Hao had originally invited Henry Thomas as well, but Henry Thomas was very busy.

The agency has been running for more than a year, all departments are fully staffed, mainly because they’ve signed many players, and the salary commissions have increased. With his rich experience, Henry Thomas smoothly got the company running.

Unlike Pelinka, Henry Thomas focuses on the agency business.

Originally, based on the idea that if someone acts honest for a lifetime whether it’s true or not, Zhang Hao intended to bring Henry Thomas into his sales company, but since he had his own pursuits, Zhang Hao didn’t insist... and just let Pelinka work extra hours.

In the evening, after the family finished dinner, Zhang Hao, Pelinka, and a little girl went to a private club.

Seeing Pelinka chatting happily with Howard Schultz, Zhang Hao couldn’t help but pinch the little girl’s cheek again.

"Is this what happens when Paul Allen slaps you with 400 million US Dollars, and you let yourself go?"

Seeing Pelinka, now integrated into his businessman role, Zhang Hao inexplicably thought of a certain famous hostess in the future.

The little girl dared not speak after being pinched this time and could only look at Zhang Hao pitifully.

She had accidentally sold out Zhang Hao.

Zhang Hao didn’t really mind, he just wanted to tease the little girl a bit because this landlady loves teasing him!

After exchanging pleasantries with Pelinka, Howard Schultz sat down opposite Zhang Hao, while Pelinka took his secretary to discuss contract details with Howard Schultz’s secretary.

Originally, this task could be handled by Pelinka’s secretary and lawyer alone, but Pelinka, being one of the best lawyers himself, has skills that surpass even his legal abilities. Mainly, he’s not at ease without overseeing it personally.

After all, what needed discussion was already settled, and since Zhang Hao and Howard Schultz were acquaintances, it wasn’t appropriate for Pelinka to join in the fun.

Howard Schultz said with emotion, "Aix, I didn’t expect you to be the owner of this company. Only 19 years old, and I wasn’t as wealthy even at 39!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Hao pinched the little girl’s face again right in front of her father, just as Howard Schultz was about to explode, Zhang Hao said, "I don’t like money; I’m not interested in money."

You don’t like money? Then swap shares with me!

But there’s no choice; Howard Schultz doesn’t want to miss the opportunity to enter the internet industry. He used to have no chance, but now that there is one, he definitely wants to seize it.

As for how Howard Schultz found out Zhang Hao was the boss of 58 Technology... it was revealed in a casual chat between the little girl and her father.

However, Zhang Hao didn’t refuse Howard Schultz joining in; 400 million dollars may seem like a lot, but in this already crazy market, it’s hardly enough to make a splash. His real advantage lies in "innovation."

And to pave more roads and make big profits during these times requires a lot of money; spending your own money... is not as enjoyable as spending someone else’s!

Furthermore, having Howard Schultz on board certainly allows access to more capital. As a businessman, Howard Schultz would definitely want to earn as much as possible.

To avoid risks, and knowing the future value of Starbucks, when Howard Schultz wanted to join by purchasing shares, Zhang Hao didn’t ask for cash but for shares in Starbucks.

Looking at Zhang Hao’s indifferent face, Howard Schultz had no choice and decided to focus on a lighter topic.

However, Howard Schultz evidently miscalculated one thing when he asked eagerly, "Aix, your ICQ is approaching 2 million users, when will it start making a profit?"

"It’s not my ICQ, it’s ours. Profit? Our software is free, doesn’t make money, and we still have to find ways to make users happy using it for free.

Next, you’ll still have to invest money. I won’t; it’s written in the contract; you’ll be responsible for future funding for the operations."

"No profit?" Howard Schultz’s eyes widened.

"Mr. Schultz, can you think of any way to make money with this social software?

Also, you need to prepare more money. You’re the second-largest shareholder of 58 Technology, so you’re the investor. We’re now preparing to develop the 58 Technology local software; our game software users are increasing, and yes, it’s free too, so we need to add more interesting mini-games...

Listening to Zhang Hao’s words, this situation was completely different from what Howard Schultz had expected! He felt like he had fallen into a big pit!

It’s not that Howard Schultz lacked business acumen, or that he lost his mind, nor because Zhang Hao was excessively domineering... It’s simply because he never anticipated such a situation; he thought Zhang Hao would create a company like Apple or Microsoft.

Howard Schultz asked, "Then how do we make money?"

"Wait for others to buy our software!"

Can it be done this way? How much can be earned like this? Or...

Suddenly, Howard Schultz’s eyes widened!

His partner had planned all along to draw blood from those capitalist giants!

Moreover, Howard Schultz thought that if he had long been able to enter this kind of market, he would also willingly join and offer himself to be exploited!

No, just wanting a part in the Internet industry line had already cost him a slice... Luckily, after being exploited, he now becomes one to exploit others together.

"What kind of partner did I find!"

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