Chapter 916: A Dilemma

"In this game against the Chicago Bears, did the team expect such a blowout victory?"

"40-6. This result is truly surprising, Bambi. Do you think it’s due to the team’s strength or a stroke of luck? What was the effect of Jay Cutler’s concussion on the game’s outcome?"

"Bambi, what do you think of the Bears’ defensive performance? Was it better or worse than expected?"

"Bambi, who do you think is a worthy opponent to the San Francisco 49ers’ championship aspirations?"

"After defeating the Bears, is the 49ers’ offense unstoppable now?"

"With six games remaining, Bambi, who do you think is the most dangerous opponent?"

"Bambi, did Logan Newman’s injury have an effect on the offense? In the second half, Justin Smith and NaVorro Bowman also had suspected injuries. Even though they returned to the field, will their injuries have an impact?"

"The team is in peak form right now. When do you think the team might lose? Is the team unbeatable? If you lose, who would you lose to?"

"This season, is the team aiming to win the championship? From the look of things, it seems no team can stop the 49ers. If an unexpected factor arises, what do you think could stop you from winning the championship?"

"Most analysts and commentators in the league now believe that the 49ers are capable of winning the championship and their overall strength is far ahead of the competition. Do you agree?" 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

"If the 49ers faced the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl, do you think you could defeat them?"

"In the official power rankings, the 49ers are now the top contender for the championship. Do you agree with that as well?"

No matter what the question was, the final conclusion was always the same:

This was an undefeated team. After defeating the Bears by a wide margin, it seemed as if there were no other opponents in the league. The team had entered a "seeking a challenge" mode. Even though it was only Week 11 of the regular season, the 49ers already seemed to be the top seed for the Super Bowl.

Such a fervent praise, or "praising to kill," was too much even for Lu Ke.

A year ago, there were too many questions, which was annoying. A year later, there was too much praise, which was still just as annoying.

If it were a young man who grew up here, they might have said something bombastic and accepted the praise without hesitation. "I’m the champion! Who else? There’s no one in the league who can beat us! The undefeated season is mine, and the Super Bowl is mine too!" With such a simple and domineering response, these problems would no longer be problems. They would all become fuel for confidence, helping it to grow stronger.

But at his core, Lu Ke was still Chinese. He was raised with a Confucian culture where humility and a low-key attitude were virtues. Jokes and lighthearted banter were fine, but now that they were hyping him up so much, he felt uneasy.

"Whew, my shirt is soaked. I’d rather go back on the field right now and play another game." Lu Ke finally managed to deflect all the questions from the media, using his metaphorical Tai Chi to gracefully sidestep the attacks. He ended the interview with a self-deprecating joke.

The reporters were also amused to see Lu Ke so flustered. They all started joking around, and the interview ended on a happy note.

Lu Ke left the press conference room with mixed feelings.

How should he handle this?

If he just let it go on, the team would only get more and more agitated. Confidence would turn into arrogance, pride into hubris, and assertiveness into stubbornness. It was like a ticking time bomb. No one knew when it would explode. Maybe in the final weeks of the regular season, leading to a loss. Or maybe on the Super Bowl stage, putting a sudden end to all the hard work of the season.

But if he were to immediately crush the hype and pour a bucket of cold water on the team, their motivation would take a hit. He couldn’t even guarantee harmony in the locker room, let alone a win or a loss. They were on a winning streak, so why would they need to consider the possibility of losing?

His mind was a tangled mess, like a ball of yarn that a cat had been playing with. Once it was completely tangled, he couldn’t straighten it out. He was caught between a rock and a hard place, worried about all the possibilities.

He even considered having a heart-to-heart with Randy Moss.

After all, Moss was the most experienced veteran on the team. This was exactly why Harbaugh had been so persistent in getting Moss to join the team. What’s more, Moss was a key part of the Patriots’ offense in their undefeated 2007 season. He had more experience and could offer some inspiration.

But when Lu Ke thought of Moss’s notorious temper, he got another headache.

As he was lost in thought, his feet led him back to the locker room door. The sounds of commotion coming from inside echoed down the long, empty hallway, making him curious. Lu Ke came back to his senses, putting his complex thoughts in the back of his mind. He pushed the locker room door open and saw and heard a familiar scene.

"Sixteen wins!"

"Sixteen wins!"

"Sixteen wins!"

The loud, uniform shouts rose and fell, echoing through the locker room and hitting Lu Ke like a sudden downpour. It hit him with a jolt, and he froze, dumbfounded. Even though he was seeing it with his own eyes, he couldn’t believe it.

The players were in a long line, with their hands on each other’s shoulders, happily circling the locker room. It was like a train at the foot of the Alps. Some were waving towels with one hand, some were dancing with strange rhythms, and some were wiggling their butts playfully. This little train was a bit mischievous, like something out of a Disney movie.

Their faces were all beaming with joy. It was a sight that would make the carnival in Rio de Janeiro pale in comparison.

It wasn’t just the playful guys in the locker room like Aldon Smith and Ahmad Brooks. The hot-headed ones like Michael Crabtree and Vernon Davis had joined in. Even the shy ones like David Akers, Mike Lupati, and Isaac Sopoga were taking part.

The most surprising person was Randy Moss.

The future Hall of Fame wide receiver, who had always been a loner, was now following Frank Gore, a wide smile on his face, cursing and complaining about Joe Staley, who had almost fallen. It was as if they were doing "ice dancing" in the locker room, which made everyone around them burst into laughter.

Staley, with his big, heavy body, was clumsy and uncoordinated. He was like a big, fat penguin dancing on ice, both clumsy and lovable at the same time.

Suddenly, Lu Ke’s tense mind relaxed.

He knew that this was what Harry Waynes wanted to see. With the media’s encouragement, the team’s confidence would explode, to the point of arrogance. They would carry their winning streak and dominance to the point where they’d forget their place. If a game didn’t go well or they faced a setback, they would immediately deflate like a punctured balloon, and their morale would crumble.

But he also realized that instead of worrying, it was better to enjoy the moment.

All the so-called arrogance, recklessness, hubris, and pressure were all ticking time bombs. They could explode at any time, but they could also never explode. It was like the "half-empty glass" theory. Pessimists see "only half a glass of water left," but optimists see "half a glass of water remaining." The world looks completely different to them.

If they were to start thinking about "winning and being afraid of losing" right now, they might not even make it to the playoffs. They could face a loss against the Saints next week.

If they were to worry about the consequences of the "praising to kill" strategy and sow seeds of self-doubt when the team wasn’t even fighting, things might just go the way Harry Waynes wanted them to.

Instead of looking over his shoulder, it was better to just go for it.

That’s how smart people are. They win because they think more, but sometimes they lose because they think too much. It was like Lu Ke’s game with Charles Tillman in this very game.

Since Harry chose an open conspiracy, then let him bring it on. Lu Ke was an expert at adapting to any situation. He had worked his way up from a practice player, and his success wasn’t just because of the system.

With this realization, Lu Ke felt relieved. Perhaps his wild thoughts were one of Harry’s goals. Why else would Harry have been so aggressive today? He was still lacking experience. There were many things he could only understand after going through them, and he still had to keep growing!

He’d leave those things for the future. For now, Lu Ke decided to let go of his worries and fully enjoy this victory.

After all, this victory wasn’t an easy one, was it?

"Bambi!" Patrick Willis called out, gesturing to his left, making room for Lu Ke.

Lu Ke didn’t hesitate. He quickly walked over, stepped in front of Willis, and put his hands on Justin Smith’s shoulders. Then Willis put his hands on Lu Ke’s shoulders, and the whole train got a little longer.

As he jumped, Lu Ke couldn’t help but sing loudly, "Ole ole ole, ole ole ole, we are the champions!"

Even though it was a soccer chant, its catchy tune and passionate melody were the best choice for celebrating a victory. It let out all the passion deep inside him. Willis and Justin both looked at Lu Ke and couldn’t help but laugh, but this time, they didn’t object. They started singing with him:

"Ole ole ole, we are the champions!"

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