At Capital International Airport, Su Luo sat in the VIP lounge, waiting to board his flight. A WeChat message suddenly popped up; it was Ma Fanshu.
"Su Luo, are you still in the capital today? Why don't we have a farewell dinner at noon?" she asked.
Su Luo smirked, sensing an ulterior motive from Ma Fanshu. When she woke up that morning and found him gone, she hadn't asked why he left, which put no pressure on him and showed a sense of dependency.
If it were any other guy, he might feel guilty and easily be manipulated by her. But Su Luo was different.
"I'm at the airport, just got on the plane. See you in Berlin next time," Su Luo replied, dismissively.
In the adult world, "next time" often means "never." Su Luo was sure Ma Fanshu would understand.
The previous night had been unusual. Su Luo had to catch a long-distance flight the next day, so he didn't drink. However, Ma Fanshu poured herself a glass of red wine. After their candlelit dinner, she drank a bottle worth more than 100,000 RMB.
Su Luo had to drive her back in his BMW 3 Series. As he helped her into the passenger seat and leaned in to fasten her seatbelt, their faces got close, and her lips brushed against his. Whether it was intentional or not, Su Luo reacted.
Their encounter continued at the Peninsula Hotel in Wangfu. Now, thinking back, Su Luo wondered if she had been drunk or deliberate in her actions. As a new host at CCTV, Ma Fanshu had ambitions and was using her means to achieve them.
However, Su Luo wasn't going to be easily entangled. Playing along for a while was one thing, but anything more would come at a price.
In the presidential suite, Ma Fanshu stared at the empty room. The memories of the previous night were clear, and Su Luo's messages were cold. She felt a pang of discomfort but had been prepared for this outcome.
"Sure enough, it's not that simple..." she muttered.
The plane made a stop in Dubai before landing in Berlin. As Su Luo disembarked, he felt a sense of relief. Long-distance flights were exhausting, even for athletes. No wonder the FIFA virus affected footballers who traveled constantly.
Su Luo spent the day resting in his Berlin mansion. The next day, he drove his newly purchased Aston Martin Vulcan to the training base. He had developed a habit of collecting supercars, much like people collect limited-edition items.
This 2015 Aston Martin Vulcan, limited to 24 units worldwide, was acquired through his connections. It boasted a 7.0-liter naturally aspirated engine with 800 horsepower, accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in 2.8 seconds. However, driving it for the first time, Su Luo nearly crashed into the garage wall.
At the training base, Su Luo met Quinin, Laxalt, and Naketa in the parking lot. When they saw his car, they were thrilled.
"Wow! Su, this is amazing!" Quinin exclaimed.
"Holy-Shit! My dream car!" Laxalt added.
"Can I drive it around? I'm starving!" Naketa joked.
Though these players had decent salaries, a limited-edition supercar was beyond their budget. Su Luo, not one to be stingy, let them take turns driving it in the parking lot.
"When will Jack come? He would love this," Quinin said excitedly.
However, Su Luo's expression changed. "Didn't you read the news? Jack... he's back in England."
"Eh?" Quinin was confused.
Su Luo's teammates, having been on holiday, hadn't kept up with the latest transfer news. They quickly checked their phones and were shocked.
"Manchester City officially announced the first signing of the summer! £45 million to secure the England star!"
"Manchester City's official website and Union Berlin's official website announced that they have reached an agreement on the transfer of 20-year-old England star Jack Grealish. He will be the first player to join Manchester City this summer."
"Grealish helped Union Berlin win the Bundesliga double last season. As Su Luo's teammate, he had a perfect season."
"Manchester City coach Manuel Pellegrini said that with Grealish joining, they will aim for the treble in the new season and regain the Premier League title from Chelsea!"
"Grealish has now arrived in Manchester for a medical examination..."
Quinin, Laxalt, and Naketa were stunned. Not long ago, they were celebrating together, planning to compete in the European arena. Now, their friend was gone.
"Let's go, it's time," Su Luo said, pushing them towards the door.
"Professional players must be prepared for teammates' sudden departures. Jack made his choice," Su Luo added.
Quinin was about to cry. Borussia Dortmund had offered him €10 million with a weekly salary of €57,000, but he had chosen to stay with Union Berlin, hoping to contribute to the team.
Christopher Quinin, a product of Union Berlin's youth training, felt deeply connected to the club. If the club didn't abandon him, he would stay forever. However, not everyone felt the same.
Naby Keita, who was also approached by Liverpool, had declined their offer because they hadn't qualified for the Champions League. But if they did next season, he would join them.
"And Marcel, Kieran, they're all leaving," Su Luo said heavily.
Marcel Sabitzer and Kieran Trippier had also confirmed their departures.
"Marcel too? Where is he going?" Quinin asked, feeling a sense of dread.
"Bayern Munich," Su Luo replied solemnly.
On the first day of the new season's training camp, only half the team reported in. Some had left, and others were still on vacation. The team was facing a period of significant change.
The training base of Union Berlin felt emptier than usual. The players had already learned that three of their key members had left the team, and the atmosphere was tense.
"Long time no see, everyone. How was your holiday?" Assistant coach Hofstadter tried to brighten the mood with a forced smile.
"Alright, let's not stand around. Go run 20 laps to warm up," he continued. "After that, we'll have the routine physical test. If anyone's body fat percentage exceeds the standard...Congratulations, you'll receive a special training package from the fitness coach."
Many players exchanged uneasy glances. Over the holidays, they'd indulged a bit too much. Sure enough, after the physical test, at least half of the players failed to meet the standards.
Even the usually good-natured Hofstadter was visibly annoyed. "You guys! As professional players, you should know how to maintain your physical condition. Learn from Su Luo. His body fat percentage is within the standard range, and all his data is excellent. He goes to nightclubs every day but still maintains his fitness!"
Facing the assistant coach's lecture and the admiring glances of his teammates, Su Luo wanted to protest. "I really don't go to nightclubs every day! Since returning to China, I haven't been to one!"
But Su Luo knew his protests would fall on deaf ears. Recognized as the "little prince of nightclubs," no one would believe he didn't go out.
And truth be told, he was planning to go out tonight.
On the first day of the season training camp, the focus was on physical recovery. Every player was exhausted, collapsing on the benches in the locker room. Su Luo was tired too, but he took a quick shower and changed into a stylish outfit.
"Su...are you planning to go out dancing?" Quinin asked, shocked at Su Luo's energy.
"Yes, want to join?"
"No, no, you go ahead," Quinin and the others waved their hands, envious of Su Luo's youthful energy.
Su Luo couldn't explain it either, so he drove his Aston Martin Vulcan to the familiar Berghain club. There were 365 days in a year, and every evening, there was a long queue outside the club.
As a super VIP, Su Luo didn't need to queue. The hefty black security guard at the gate was happy to see him.
"Su, long time no see! Is the club preparing for the competition? Any hope of qualifying for the Champions League this season?"
"Of course, we're aiming for at least the top eight," Su Luo replied confidently.
The security guard and the passers-by queuing up were dumbfounded. For a team like Union Berlin, just being in the Champions League was an achievement. Top eight seemed overly ambitious. But then again, Su Luo had been the European Golden Boot last season. Maybe he knew something they didn't.
Ignoring everyone's attention, Su Luo walked straight through the door and onto the dance floor. It wasn't peak season yet, so the dance floor wasn't crowded. The DJ played music, looking a bit bored.
Su Luo stood quietly on the dance floor, closed his eyes, and tried to connect with his illusion. It had been a while, and he almost couldn't enter the illusion after several attempts. Just when he thought his ability might have failed, he felt the familiar sensation of traveling through time and space.
"Link_Start!" he whispered.
In the next moment, Su Luo opened his eyes and found himself on the familiar green field. Ronaldo was driving the lawnmower, while Inzaghi lay lazily on the grass with a piece of it in his mouth. De Bruyne and Haaland practiced passing, with Haaland's long hair flowing as he moved. Modric and Giroud stood nearby, hands on their hips, watching the practice.
"Modric! Giroud! Did I draw another double yolk egg in the fifth round?" Su Luo froze on the spot, taking in the scene.
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