Chapter 165 The Season is Over

Dean opened his eyes and saw the morning light leaking in through the gaps in the curtains, forming spots of light on the ceiling.

It turns out it’s daybreak.

He picked up the phone on the bedside table and checked the time, and found that it was 8:02 in the morning.

“FUCK!”

He cursed out loud.

Because he clearly remembered that after returning to the locker room after the game yesterday, the first thing he did was to pick up his mobile phone and turn off the alarm at 8 o’clock every day.

The alarm on his cell phone did not ring today, but the alarm in his head did ring – even though their entire team held a celebratory party in Wang Lie’s big villa yesterday after returning, and after all the crazy noise, his own biological clock still woke him up today!
He turned over and tried to continue sleeping.

The season is over and he no longer has to go to training, so he can finally enjoy the benefit of sleeping in.

But he turned over twice and his mind was still clear.

It didn’t feel like I had just been forcibly woken up from sleep at all.

The body wakes up naturally, which means he has had enough rest.

Dean sighed – his body had been disciplined to be like that of an old rogue…

But he still didn’t want to get up, even though he was awake and tossing and turning in bed, he didn’t want to get up.

Then he heard a familiar voice coming from outside the window.

That was the dull sound of a football being kicked.

Dean widened his eyes, rolled out of bed, opened the curtains, and sure enough, he saw Wang Lie playing football in the yard next door!

Damn it, is this necessary? The season is over! What are you doing here?!

Dean complained in his mind.

Perhaps he felt that just complaining in his heart was not enough, so he simply ran to the second-floor terrace and shouted at Wang Lie in the backyard next door:
“What are you doing? The season is over! The team has no more games coming up!”

Wang Lie stepped on the football, pointed at his ears, and hooked his finger at him.

That means “There’s something to say, but I can’t hear it clearly.”

Dean sighed, went back to the bedroom, changed his clothes simply, and went out to the house next door.

When he reached the front door of Wang Lie’s house, he found that the small door specially for people to walk through had been opened, as if welcoming him…

After he walked in, the door closed automatically again.

He knew that Wang Lie must have seen him through the surveillance.

He walked around the yard in front of him in a familiar way. It was a mess after the party last night, with overturned tables, chairs, and garbage…

Finally, Dean came to the backyard, and Wang Lie asked him, “What did you just say?”

Dean looked at the scene that was no different from his usual morning exercises and shook his head. “Is it necessary to do this? There will be no more games next time, and we didn’t make it to the FA Cup final. The end of the league means the end of the season. Why are you still practicing?”

Wang Lie said, “Oh, you mean this. This has nothing to do with whether there is a game next. We just played an intense game yesterday. It is my habit to do recovery training the day after the game. Timely recovery training can effectively reduce the chance of injury.”

Then he looked at Dean and said, “Since you’re here, how about we practice together?”

Dean sneered, “Do you think I’m as crazy as you? I’m not! It’s vacation time! I want to enjoy my vacation!”

After saying that, he turned around and left.

Wang Lie said from behind him: “Oh? You still want to be the boss of London?”

Dean paused.

Wang Lie continued, “If you can’t work harder than others, then why can you become a core member just because you go to Kensington? Why can you ride on the necks of others?”

“Shit…” Dean cursed and said to Wang Lie, “Resuming training, right? I’ll practice! I’ll go back and change my shoes…”

Looking at Dean’s departing back, Wang Lie smiled slightly and started practicing alone again.

※※※

Dad was wearing pajamas, leaning against the door frame, holding a glass of milk in his hand, looking at his son Vitini who was doing dribbling practice in the yard.

His upper body was naked, his dark skin was covered with a “water film” of condensed sweat, and his muscles were outlined by distinct lines.

Although he doesn’t look strong, my son’s core strength is not bad.

After completing a set of training, Vitini noticed his father at the door.

“Why are you still practicing?” Dad asked.

“Wang said that we should pay special attention to recovery training after the game, so that the body will not be so easily injured…” Vitini explained.

“That’s a recovery exercise. Does dribbling the ball around the pole count?”

Vitini grinned, revealing a row of big white teeth that stood out against his dark face. “Recovering your ball sense training is also considered recovery training.”

The father didn’t care about his sophistry, he knew his son just wanted to play ball.

He has always been like this, he loves football and always brings it with him wherever he goes.

This is also why he likes to play with the ball and dribble past opponents on the court.

He just loves being around football.

He wanted to tell his son something else today:

“I’m glad to see your growth in this half season, Vitini. You’ve become more and more mature, so I think maybe most of the time, you can handle it by yourself…”

When Dad said this, Vitini stopped completely and just looked at him.

“I plan to return to Brazil next season and spend more time with your mother.”

Vitini did not show any surprise, nor did he make a scene or refuse to accept it. He said calmly, “I guessed it.”

The father was a little surprised, or rather a little disappointed by his son’s reaction: “You are a little too mature, Vitini. Shouldn’t you be crying and not wanting me to leave at this time?”

Vitini smiled: “I’m twenty-two, Dad. I’m not twelve. Of course I don’t want to leave you, but I won’t cry and pull your sleeves.”

Dad also laughed: “Well, although I left England. But I will always follow your game in Brazil. If you don’t play well, I will call you immediately.”

“If I don’t play well, Wang will find me before you do, and he will grab my neck and teach me a lesson.” Vitini grinned. “Playing next to him is very stressful.”

“Backed off?”

Vitini shook his head: “Of course not. I can bear any pressure as long as I can play beside him… I have benefited a lot from him. I want to… become the one who can lead the Brazilian team forward in the future, just like Wang led the Chinese team.”

As he spoke these words, the morning sun shone on his sweat-drenched body, casting a golden glow, as if he were radiating light.

※※※

The entire stand was packed with Tyne fans, most of them wearing white away jerseys.

The bottom level of the stands was connected by a banner.

Written in dark blue on the white cloth was:

“We will definitely go to the Champions League, just like the River Tyne will flow into the sea!” In front of the stands and slogans are the gathered Tyne players.

In the middle of these players is a silhouette with his left arm raised.

That’s Wang Lie.

“The 2036-2037 Premier League season has ended. With the unanimous consent of our editorial board, this photo was selected as the cover photo of this season’s Premier League special issue. I think no scene can better represent this season’s Premier League than this photo… The protagonist in the picture has experienced a completely different season – I’m not just talking about Wang, but also the Tyne team. In the first half of the season, Wang was abandoned by the whole world, and Tyne was mired in relegation. When the season ended, Wang returned to the top, and Tyne historically qualified for the Champions League.”

After reading the opening words in the special issue of World Football magazine commemorating this season’s Premier League, Matthews-Holme excitedly put down his phone and said to his friend and partner, Mark Medley, co-founder of 2M Media:

“I have an idea, Mark.”

“What’s the idea?” Mark Medley asked as he was retouching the film on his computer.

“I have a crazy idea!”

Matthews Helm did not answer immediately, but repeated it with more emphasis.

Hearing him say this, Medley stopped the mouse in his hand and finally shifted his gaze from the computer screen to his friend’s face: “How crazy is it?”

“I want to make a documentary about Wang that spans a year! It will show his experience this season after he led Tyne to the historic Champions League!” Helm said excitedly.

But what he said really frightened Medley: “Are you crazy? This kind of project that takes a year will drag down our company! We are just a small company, we can’t advance multiple projects at the same time…”

Unexpectedly, Helm spread his hands and said confidently: “Otherwise why did I say it was a ‘crazy idea’?”

“……” Medley was speechless.

Then he carefully observed his friend’s facial expression and asked, “Are you serious?”

“Of course. I’ve done the math. We still have some balance payments from previous projects, so it won’t be a problem for us to use that money to complete this project. And I believe that many people will be interested in such a good subject… For example, think about it, Mark. Don’t Chinese people care about the legendary experiences of their national heroes? Wang almost created a miracle this season!”

Helm spoke passionately, but Medley was calm: “Matthews, you also said that many people are interested in this, which means we will have many competitors. How can we get the right to shoot and produce? Secondly, from the perspective of storytelling, I think the season that just passed is more legendary. Wang’s painful torture and failure in the first half of the season and his high spirits and comeback in the second half of the season are more attractive. If you shoot the story of this season, there will be more buyers. But next season… who can guarantee that the 39-year-old Wang will still perform so well next season?”

“Let me answer your questions one by one, Mark. First of all, there are many people who are interested, but not many people will actually contact them, because everyone knows that Wang doesn’t like cameras to interfere with his life, but we have to follow and film… Of course, we can not film his family, but only his football… Secondly, we have had business cooperation with the Chinese Football Association, and I think this experience may become our advantage. This is the first, and the second…”

Helm raised one finger and said, then raised a second finger:

“Second, I believe Wang will also perform well next season.”

Medley pretended to listen patiently, waiting for Helm to continue his long speech, but Helm only said this sentence and stopped talking.

So he looked at Helm, and Helm looked at him.

Medley finally responded: “Is that all?”

Helm nodded as a matter of course: “It’s over.”

Medley collapsed, holding his head in his hands. “Why don’t you find some reasons to convince me why he will definitely perform well next season?! Is it just because you, as a ‘King fan’, have blind faith in your idol?!”

Helm chuckled and said, “This is not blind trust, Mark. If you watch all of Wang’s games in the second half of this season, you should believe what I say. Believe me, Wang will continue his performance this season next season.”

Medley almost roared: “I admit that his performance this season is very good, but next season he will be 39 years old! How can a 39-year-old veteran maintain the level of this season?”

Facing his friend’s roar, Helm still smiled slightly and seemed very calm: “Then let me ask you, how is it possible for a 38-year-old veteran to play the best half season of his career?”

Medley was stunned, and for a moment he couldn’t think of how to answer this question.

Seeing that his friend was speechless, Helm took advantage of the situation and continued, “Then let me ask you another question. A 38-year-old veteran created nine goals in a single game, scored six goals and assisted three goals… Is this performance normal? I also want to ask you, have you watched Wang’s games? Apart from his age of 38, what part of his body is positively related to his age?”

Medley was completely speechless.

Seeing that he had completely refuted his friend, Helm smiled triumphantly: “So don’t use common sense to predict and analyze the king. He is the king! Is there anything he can’t do?!”

Medley was convinced, but not completely convinced. He frowned and said, “Well, even if Wang can still perform as he did this season. What results do you hope he can get in Tyne? What will be the final outcome of this one-year tracking filming?”

Helm shrugged. “I don’t know, and I don’t care. I just want to use one year as a scale to faithfully record the joys and sorrows of this superstar. As for what results he will get from fighting for every game and every ball, that is determined by heaven. We cannot interfere, and we don’t have any expectations. In the end, God will naturally write a story for us. I believe that with Wang’s character, this story will definitely not be ordinary.”

Medley curled his lips: “You sound very high-sounding, but I think you just want to chase stars, you brainless fan!”

Helm chuckled and did not deny it.

He is indeed a die-hard fan of Wang Lie.

Medley thought about Wang Lie’s performance in the past half season, and finally convinced himself: “Okay, I’ll accompany you in being willful for a while. After all, you are the boss of this company.”

Helm waved his hand quickly: “You are also the boss, we are co-founders!”

Medley waved his hand without complimenting him: “You are the producer anyway, you have the final say, I will follow your instructions…”

Helm was relieved to see that Medley finally agreed – he was right, the two of them were the co-founders of this small company, and because of limited resources and a small number of employees, everything had to be agreed upon by both of them.

This kind of small company can’t afford internal friction…

He said happily: “I will send the project we cooperated with the Chinese Football Association to Wang’s agent. When he sees that we have dealt with the Chinese Football Association before, he will definitely be willing to meet with us to talk. As long as we can meet, I think with my understanding and love for him, I will definitely be able to convince…”

Helm was speaking excitedly, but Medley’s expression became strange.

He raised his hand to stop his partner from continuing, “Wait a minute, Matthews. If I remember correctly, the project we cooperated with the Chinese Football Association was to film a documentary for Chi about his joining the Scouse team, right?”

“Yeah. What’s wrong?”

“What’s wrong? Chi is on the Chinese team, and seems to be Wang’s direct competitor, right? You took this project to Wang… You are afraid that he won’t beat us out, right?”

Because of Wang Lie’s fame and influence, his competitive relationship with Chi Zhen is no secret.

Even the British know this.

That’s why Medley was surprised that his partner would use Chi Zhen’s project to convince Wang Lie. Would Wang Lie think of this as “facing off” or “provoking”?
After all, with the king’s temper and personality…

“Heh.” Helm chuckled, “You really don’t understand Wang, Mark.”

“what happened?”

“Do you think Wang cares about this? No, Wang doesn’t care! As long as Wang does his job well, keeps scoring goals and winning games, just like he is doing now, no one can take away what belongs to him. Besides, with Wang’s current performance, who do you think is the real boss of the Chinese team?”

Medley was speechless. Helm was right.

Looking at Wang Lie’s performance in the past half season, as long as the head coach of the Chinese team is not an idiot, he should know what to choose.

He was worried that Wang still had some grievances against Chi in private.

Now after hearing what Helm said, he seemed confident that the king would not take it seriously.

So he shrugged and spread his hands: “Okay, I’ll listen to you.”

Helm excitedly pumped his fist: “YES!”

※※※

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(End of this chapter)