The lineup for the Western Conference Rookie Challenge, besides Rasheed, He Ximeng, Kobe, Knight, and Marbury.
Also present were Lorenzen Wright of the Clippers, Nash of the Suns, Samaki Walker of the Mavericks, Rafer Alston of the Rockets, and Matt Maloney of the Rockets.
The Eastern Conference starting lineup consisted of center Dampier, power forward Camby, small forward Antoine Walker, shooting guard Kittles, and point guard Iverson.
The Western Conference starting lineup featured center Knight, power forward Rasheed, small forward Rafer Alston, shooting guard Kobe, and point guard He Ximeng.
All three rookies from the Lakers received starting opportunities.
Before the game officially began, He Ximeng, holding a basketball, jogged to the VIP section by the sideline, once again engaging in his little ritual of borrowing luck.
Keira, having some free time recently, had accompanied He Ximeng to Cleveland for this year's All-Star Weekend.
Accompanying Keira was Scarlett.
Scarlett had been in Europe filming her new movie, "The Horse Whisperer," and was unaware of the developments between He Ximeng and Keira. Upon finishing her filming and returning to Los Angeles, she was surprised to learn that Keira and He Ximeng had already progressed to a level of intimacy she privately cursed the pair for their shamelessness...
But despite her curses, the superficial sisterhood remained. Hearing that Keira would accompany He Ximeng to this year's All-Star Weekend, Scarlett volunteered, insisting she must come along to watch...
Keira, unable to refuse Scarlett's stubborn insistence, agreed to Scarlett's request to join them.
What was supposed to be a trip for two to Cleveland turned into a trip for three.
He Ximeng didn't dislike Scarlett; after all, any woman capable of making the future KD ask for bathwater couldn't be unpleasant to look at... The only issue was Scarlett's overly bold fashion sense, often appearing scantily clad before He Ximeng, leaving him with no escape and quite troubled.
Keira wasn't entirely unprepared. She had been diligently collecting her "tribute" in the past few days, effectively cutting off any possibility of He Ximeng straying, leaving him feeling a bit shaky before today's rookie game... This was why he had run to the sideline again, seeking luck to boost his morale...
Keira was dressed in a white, form-fitting tracksuit, exuding energy and youthful charm.
Scarlett, in contrast, opted for a black, tight, low-cut, mini-dress that showcased her long legs and sexiness.
Seeing He Ximeng practicing his old trick, Scarlett teased, "Little pervert, can't you try something new?"
He Ximeng retorted, "No! This is all I do! As long as my Keira likes it..."
"Tch..." Scarlett couldn't help but roll her eyes at the "dog and bitch" couple.
Keira, covering her mouth with a smile, blew a kiss to the basketball, wishing He Ximeng, "Good luck tonight..."
"Kiss her! Kiss her! Kiss her!..." The crowd suddenly erupted in synchronized cheers.
It turned out that the sharp-eyed stadium photographer had noticed the beautiful and sexy sister duo at the edge of the VIP box!
He Ximeng's act of jogging to the side with the basketball, taking a brief detour, was all captured by the photographer and displayed on the Jumbotron.
Scarlett's eye-roll, Keira's shy blush, and He Ximeng's impudence... all were treated as pre-game entertainment by the fans, who watched with great amusement.
Seeing that He Ximeng had received Keira's flying kiss and was preparing to return to the court, the spectators who were enjoying the show weren't satisfied!
A flying kiss wasn't a real kiss, was it? He should kiss her!
Scarlett was the first to react, flashing a charming smile at the camera and waving to the crowd.
Keira and He Ximeng also responded quickly. Honestly, such a scene might have made Keira a little nervous at this point, but for He Ximeng... it was a minor situation!
Thus, amidst the cheers of the entire stadium, He Ximeng, with lightning speed, turned and lightly pecked Keira's luscious lips!
Keira was both surprised and delighted! He Ximeng's action, in a way, publicly declared their intimate relationship...
The audience was still enthralled, but He Ximeng had already returned to the court, basketball in hand.
Kobe stared at He Ximeng with disdain, "Not bad! I didn't expect you to be so good at putting on a show..."
"Of course! I have many more talents," He Ximeng shamelessly replied, "Just wait and I'll show you them all..."
This year's All-Star Game was also broadcast live in China.
He Ximeng was a focus of the broadcast, and this kiss with a Hollywood actress immediately sparked heated discussions among Chinese fans.
The supportive fans believed He Ximeng could balance basketball and romance, showing his true nature and bringing glory to the country!
The opposing fans, however, thought He Ximeng's actions were inadvisable. Lust was a double-edged sword, and dating too early might affect his performance. Moreover, foreign women were notoriously demanding. If He Ximeng couldn't handle it, his career could be ruined!
Fans debated heatedly, each side convinced of their own reasoning, but ultimately, they were just spectators enjoying the drama, with everyone having their say.
However, for Zhang Tian'ai, who had been yearning for him and was filled with passion, this incident was like a bolt from the blue!
"The pig I had my eye on has been seduced by foreign cabbage!"
What was worse, this "cabbage" named Keira, who was clearly shameless, somehow sounded familiar to Zhang Tian'ai...
Seeing his sister's face turn ashen and ready to explode, Zhang Zhenpeng quickly vacated the living room television and retreated to his room to watch.
As expected, a few minutes later, the crisp sound of a shattered vase echoed from the living room downstairs, followed by the clatter of bowls and plates, and then, seemingly, the large-screen floor-standing television in the living room...
"Well, forty-eight thousand yuan... written off," muttered Zhang Zhenpeng from his room.
He Ximeng, far away in Cleveland, of course, had no idea that his little kiss had cost Zhang Zhenpeng's family a large-screen TV.
He Ximeng's attention was now entirely focused on the rookie challenge.
The game began, Dampier won the tip-off, and Iverson brought the ball across half-court, isolating He Ximeng.
He Ximeng attempted to use his anticipation to stop Iverson's drive, but his prediction failed. Iverson successfully used his dazzling crossover, feinting and faking, every move a fake, and every move capable of becoming a real move in the next instant...
After getting past He Ximeng, Iverson drove into the paint. Facing the help defense of Knight, he didn't force the shot but passed to Camby under the basket. Camby slammed it home, giving the East the first points.
Iverson's opening display of his driving ability and "unselfish" play piqued the interest of the crowd.
It was the West's turn to respond. As He Ximeng brought the ball across half-court, he was met with chants from the crowd: "Drive! Drive! Drive!..."