Chapter 94 Bet
“Luke!”

After the show was over, when Luke Milne was about to leave, he was stopped by Marvin Block in the corridor outside the studio.

He stopped and looked back at his former teammate. He didn’t say anything, but just watched him walk towards him quickly.

“I just want to explain to you that I didn’t mean to target the king…”

Brock said as he walked up to Milne.

He may have also noticed that Milne was very dissatisfied with him during today’s live broadcast.

Although they had previously quarreled on social media over Wang Lie, Block believed that he had always maintained an objective and neutral position and had a clear conscience. He and Milne were just “arguing” rather than “quarreling.”

The situation today was different. Today Milne simply told him to shut up and didn’t want to “argue” with him at all.

“I have no opinion on Wang himself. I admit that he is one of the greatest players in the history of our club. I also do not deny Wang’s ability… I still hold the same view that a player should not put himself above the team or the club. You used to be our captain. Shouldn’t you know the importance of the collective better than us?”

Facing his former teammate, Milne still gave him enough face and did not interrupt him midway. Instead, he patiently listened to his words and then said:
“Do you know why I seldom argued with you in the first half of the season? You said that Sofo United had reached the point where they had to make changes, so they took away last season’s top scorer… I think it’s okay, no problem. Just like Wang himself said, if the team wants to change, it can start with him. He has no problem, and so do I.”

Milne spread his hands.

“I told myself that this is the price I have to pay for renewal. Helden let Wang sit on the bench and reduce his playing time. Give more opportunities to young people and newcomers, and rebuild the team’s personnel configuration and tactics according to his ideas… OK, that’s no problem. I’m not Wang’s friend, and I don’t have to criticize the club and the head coach for him. What if I become the ‘sinner’ who destroys the team’s innovation? The team’s performance was indeed good at the time, and everything looked good. Do you remember why I quarreled with you on social media?”

Of course Brock remembered. He and Milne had a good relationship. But because of this incident, he felt awkward when they met each other now…

“Because Helden only replaced Wang in the last few seconds of the game against East London United,” he said.

Milne nodded: “That’s right. I criticized Helden on social media for disrespecting Wang, disrespecting a club legend, and disrespecting the club. Then you came and said that my criticism was unreasonable and that Helden, as the head coach, had every reason to do so?”

“Luke, I…” Brock wanted to defend himself again, but was stopped by Milne:

“What qualifications does he have to treat a legend in the club’s history like this? If Wang had simply refused to play, I would have thought he was acting within reason! A club legend was being humiliated so wantonly, and you still want him to swallow his anger? Do you think Helden is using Wang to gain authority?! This isn’t the beginning of the season, Helden has already gained the trust of the club’s top brass, and has won the support of the players with his performance, so what else does he want to gain authority over?!”

Milne became very emotional when he talked about this, but his emotion was not because he was defending Wang Lie:
“Helden is trampling on the glorious tradition and legend of Sofia! How do you think Sofia became the greatest team in English football? Wasn’t that glorious history innate? Wasn’t it shaped by great players like Wang and management like Sir Perkins? Just like the Red Stone Stadium, it was built up brick by brick! But the latecomers easily put these legends into the garbage bag and threw them into the trash can with other garbage… What qualifications does he have to do this? What right does he have to do this? Who gave him the power?! Let me tell you, Marvin, disrespecting the club’s legends is disrespecting the club’s legendary history!”

Looking at Milne, whose face turned red with emotion, Brock couldn’t say a word.

He couldn’t debate with Milne on social media like he did online.

Because the emotions and feelings that those words can carry are really limited…

Not like it is now.

As he watched Milne’s face turn red, he waved his arms and spit at himself, and he couldn’t help but think of his playing days.

Whenever he had a conflict with an opposing player on the field, this captain would rush to the opponent, shield himself behind him, and then poke his hand almost in the opponent’s eyes, roaring with a red face, and spitting all over the opponent’s face…

He once couldn’t understand why Captain Milne, who always put the interests of the team first, would speak for Wang Lie and even stand against the club for this.

Now he understood a little bit. Maybe Milne was just shielding Wang Lie behind him when he was criticized and attacked, just like he did in the past…

He is the captain and he has to protect his brothers.

While Brock was distracted, Milne continued to output:
“…You all said that Wang is old and can’t provide help to the team, so he should leave. I agree. But how did he leave the club? He was first sent to the youth team, and then everything about him in the club was quickly wiped out after the contract was terminated… It only took half a day for his huge poster outside the Red Stone Stadium to disappear. When have we ever been so efficient? What is Helden afraid of? What is Hall afraid of?
“What message do they want to send to the world in this way? Is Sofia a club that does not respect the past, history, or its own legend? So who is disrespecting the club? Who is damaging the club’s reputation? And who is unworthy of the name on his chest?!”

Looking at the silent Brock, Milne finally softened his tone after venting his emotions:
“I know you are a media person now, Marvin. You need to be objective and impartial like a critic, and you need to speak your so-called ‘truth’. But before you say those words, I hope you think about your origins – where did you come from? What makes you still able to show up on TV in a suit and talk freely after retiring? You used to be a player, just like me, and like the king now.”

After saying this, he turned and left without waiting for Brock to answer him, leaving in a quick and decisive manner.

※※※

“… I want to tell you all… we will definitely go to the Champions League next season, just like the River Tyne will flow into the sea!”

In the picture with mosaic corner marks, a host and three guests are sitting behind a table.

When they heard this, everyone’s expression was completely different.

Host Aaron Thompson’s eyes widened in a slightly exaggerated expression of shock.

Marvin Block’s surprised expression seemed much more normal. He just raised his eyebrows slightly and glanced upwards.

Lawrence Dadomo had been smiling while Wang Lie was talking, as if to show his relaxation and tell everyone that he was not nervous about Wang Lie’s sudden call. However, when he heard the last sentence, his expression froze obviously, and the relaxation on his face suddenly looked deliberate and ridiculous.

Luke Milne had a stern face from beginning to end. Judging from his expression, he obviously did not take Wang Lie’s words as a joke and just laughed them off.

The footage of “Focus News” continued, but this time the anchor’s voiceover sounded:

“In a popular program that just ended, Wang suddenly called into the live broadcast room and said this. Every team has its own goals, but it is rare for someone like Wang to announce the team’s goals directly to the world in a live broadcast…

“In the past two days, the news that Tyne wants to qualify for the Champions League next season has become the hottest news in English football… and with Wang’s use of the hotline to categorically state their goal during the live broadcast, this sensation has come to an end.

“Whether Tyne can do it or not, the king has already made a harsh statement. So there is no need to argue, just wait and see. Anyway, there are still nine rounds of the league until the end, and the result will be known in less than two months…”

The woman on the sofa turned and asked the man next to her: “Arthur, do you think he can succeed?”

Arthur Eloun chuckled, as if he thought his wife’s question was too naive: “How should I know this?”

So the wife asked in a different way: “Do you want him to succeed?”

Arthur still had that smile on his face, but he was slow to answer his wife’s question.

Under his wife’s gaze, he finally murmured: “I don’t know…”

※※※

“Very good, I hope he can keep his word! I haven’t settled the score with him yet!”

After watching the video on his phone, Ronil Nascimento nodded to his agent Yago Luisson, who showed him the video.

“Even if Tyne can enter the Champions League, he may not be able to meet Athletic Barcelona,” his agent reminded him.

“It’s better than the possibility that they can’t even participate in the Champions League, right? To be honest, Yago, the biggest failure of my life was losing to Wang in the Champions League final. Not only did that cost me a championship, but what’s more damning is that in that contest with Wang, I behaved like a drowning dog that could drown at any time…”

Having said that, he clenched his fists tightly.

If his words were to spread outside, I’m afraid many people would be shocked.

Because in the mind of Roniard, a top star who has won four Ballon d’Ors and five Footballer of the Year awards, the biggest failure is actually the loss to Sofia United led by Wang Lie in the 2029-2030 Champions League final, rather than the loss to France in the 2034 Saudi World Cup final, which caused him to miss the World Cup championship…

However, his agent, Yago Luisson, was not surprised by this. He just advised: “Look at it more positively, Ronil. You defeated Wang in the World Cup three years ago and made him bid farewell to the World Cup completely…”

“He hasn’t said goodbye to the World Cup, Yago,” said Roniel. “Look at his recent state, does it look like he’s going to say goodbye to the World Cup?”

Yago Luisson still finds it incredible: “He is in great form recently, but do you think he can keep up this form until the World Cup? He will be 39 years old in February next year!”

In fact, Ronil also thought this was incredible, so he shook his head and said, “Let’s not talk about the World Cup next year. If Tyne can really enter the Champions League next season, I hope to meet him again. It is said that the Champions League draw is artificially arranged… This time I really hope it can be artificially arranged to put us and Tyne together! Wouldn’t it bring more traffic?”

Manager Louison smiled and shook his head: “Oh, it’s a good thing we didn’t go out to eat in a restaurant today, otherwise you would also be on the front page of the news tomorrow…”

Ronil grinned, “Isn’t that great? It just snatched the headlines from Wang! Yago, do you believe it? Wang will definitely be on the front page of the Spanish media tomorrow.”

Luison nodded: “I believe it. Since January this year, he has appeared on the front page of the Spanish media many times. This man seems to have a natural ability to attract everyone’s attention…”

“If I can score 11 goals in eight league games when I’m 38, I can attract the attention of the whole world.” Ronil said with emotion. “Yago, how did he do it? He looked like he was going to retire in the second half of last year…”

Louison did not answer the question because he did not know the answer.

Ronil did not ask further questions, and he did not particularly care about the answer. He was more concerned about whether he could play another game with Wang Lie, who was in excellent form, and settle the account he had with this person for so many years.

So when he saw Wang Lie in such great form and even shouting out the slogan of participating in the Champions League, Ronil not only did not mock and attack Wang Lie like his extreme fans, but was quite happy instead.

Come on, Wang, welcome back!
※※※

“We will go to the Champions League next season, just like the River Tyne will flow into the sea!”

Hearing this from the TV, Wang Ziqi couldn’t help but said excitedly: “Dad is so handsome!”

Tang Xingmei was speechless: “Wang Ziqi! Did you listen to what I just said to you?”

“I heard you. You said I should take good care of grandma, be more considerate to my sister, study hard, go to bed on time, don’t eat snacks randomly, and don’t stay in bed too late.” Wang Ziqi summarized what his mother had just said.

Tang Xingmei couldn’t find any fault with it, because her son had indeed not fallen into any trouble at all, and he had made it very clear.

It seems that he really listened to me just now, and was not just perfunctorily answering me.

So her expression and tone softened a lot: “Mom and grandma and grandpa will be away for about a month this time, do you miss mom?”

“I do want to! I really do want to! Mom, can you please not leave?” Wang Ziqi spoke very skillfully, but his eyes kept glancing towards the TV in the living room…

“Just look at me!” Tang Xingmei’s tone became serious.

Wang Ziqi then shifted his gaze and looked at Tang Xingmei and repeated what he had just said: “I do want to! I really do want to! Mom, can you please not leave?”

Hearing such a perfunctory answer, Tang Xingmei sighed: “Forget it, a grown-up son is no longer under the control of his mother…”

If I had sent my son back to China, he would have been so free and easy, and Lao Wang and I wouldn’t have had so many headaches.

The daughter was more heartwarming, running over to hug Tang Xingmei and saying, “Mom, have a safe journey. Please video chat with me when you arrive!”

Tang Xingmei happily touched her daughter’s hair gently: “Linlin is so obedient!”

She and her parents are going to fly to the UK tonight. She will have already set off by the time the children come home from school and kindergarten.

That’s why she took the opportunity to give the two children detailed instructions while having breakfast and said goodbye to them properly.

As a result, the stinky son’s attention was completely attracted by the live broadcast of the phone call his father made yesterday.

I’m afraid the only thing on my mind right now is every game that Tyne will play next…

※※※

As soon as Wang Ziqi reached the classroom door, he heard a very heated discussion coming from inside:
“We will go to the Champions League next season, just like the River Tyne will flow into the sea!”

“too handsome!”

“I declare! This is the coolest sentence of the year!”

“Hey, do you think Tyne can really go to the Champions League in the end?”

“Why not? I, Master Lie, can do anything!”

“Master Lie is awesome!”

“Lord Lie, the eternal God!”

“What are you talking about? How can it be so easy to qualify for the Champions League? Otherwise, how could Sofia not qualify for the Champions League for so long?”

“No… Wang Lie is just pretending to be cool. Just listen to it, but do you really believe it?”

When Wang Ziqi stepped into the classroom, the last sentence he heard was Shi Bo’s somewhat unhappy voice.

So he laughed, pointed at Shi Bo and said loudly: “Shi Bo, how about we make a bet? If Tai En can really get into the top four of the league, you will be my fan in the future… Lord Lie! If Tai En doesn’t get into the top four of the league, I will be like you and be a die-hard fan of Chi Zhen in the future!”

He almost slipped up and said “I’m a fan of my dad”…

His classmates don’t know yet that he is actually Wang Lie’s son, so he can’t expose himself.

Shi Bo turned around and saw the arrogant Wang Ziqi, and shouted angrily: “Who is the brainless fan!”

“Don’t change the subject. Do you dare to bet with me?” Wang Ziqi is now full of confidence in his father, looking like he is sure to win.

Shi Bo was really shocked by the aura displayed by Wang Ziqi and did not respond for a while.

So Wang Ziqi shook his head and sighed: “Alas, you coward…”

When Shi Bo heard this, his eyes widened like bells: “Who are you calling a coward?”

Wang Ziqi also went forward without showing any weakness: “Then do you dare to make a bet with me? Just do as I say, if Tai En can make it into the top four, you will be a fan of Lie Ye. If he can’t make it into the top four, I will be a fan of Chi Zhen. Do you dare?”

When the students nearby saw that the two men were competing, they started to make a noise: “Let’s bet with him! Shi Bo! Let’s bet with him!”

“Right, right, right! Bet! What’s there to bet on?”

“Shi Bo, be tough! Otherwise I will look down on you!”

“Oh, Shi Bo, are you scared?”

“Shi Bo, don’t bet with him. Do you really want to be a fan of Wang Lie?”

Amid the jeers from everyone, Wang Ziqi did not urge Shi Bo, but just looked at him with a crooked smile.

But his contemptuous smile was the biggest stimulation to Shi Bo.

When he saw Wang Ziqi’s expression, blood rushed to his head, and he gritted his teeth:

“What’s there to bet about? I’m going to make a bet with you! If Taien can get into the top four of the league, I’ll be a fan of Wang Lie! If not, you’ll be a fan of Chi Zhen!”

After he finished speaking, he saw Wang Ziqi holding out his right little finger to him, and he was stunned and asked, “What for?”

“Hand in hand! I’m afraid you’ll go back on your word!” said Wang Ziqi.

Shi Bo shook his head: “What’s the point of making a pinky promise? Write a letter of guarantee! I’ll write one, and you write one too! What do you think? Do you dare to write it?”

He became the host.

But Wang Ziqi was not frightened by him, and agreed very straightforwardly: “Write it!”

The students who were watching and making a fuss cheered: “Okay! Write a letter of guarantee! We will be witnesses, and no one is allowed to deny it!”

Amid their shouts, Wang Ziqi and Shi Bo each wrote a letter of guarantee in crooked handwriting, with the words they couldn’t write replaced with pinyin.

Then sign your own name, and then hand the letter of guarantee with your name on it to the other party, exchange them and keep them in case the other party refuses to acknowledge it.

Holding the letter of guarantee with Shi Bo’s name on it, Wang Ziqi chuckled.

Before I went to school, my grandma specifically pulled me aside and reminded me to get along well with my classmates.

If Shi Bo becomes a fan of his father in the future, would that be considered as establishing a good relationship in one step?
Oh, I’m so smart!

(End of this chapter)