"Sir, do you need me to translate for you?" A pleasant female voice suddenly rang in Tang En's ear.
Tang En was startled. When he saw clearly who the woman who was whispering in his ear was, he was even more surprised.
"Clarice!"
The person bent over and lying in front of him, with a somewhat ambiguous posture, was Clarice Gloria, whom he had not seen for some time.
"Hello, Tony. We meet again." Gloria saw Tang En turn his face, so she stood up and extended her hand to him.
This time, Tang En finally could not see the scenery under her low-cut shirt.
"Why are you dressed so professionally today?" Tang En's first sentence was not a greeting, but a question about Gloria's attire.
Gloria laughed. "So, Mr. Tang En has set his sights on this." She even deliberately puffed out her chest.
Tang En stood up, a little embarrassed. He could not sit and talk to a lady who was standing, could he? "You can't blame me, Clarice. People's eyes will always unknowingly focus on a prominent point … "
Clarice smiled and sat down. "Please sit down, Tony."
Tang En also sat down with her. "Why are you here?"
"The AC Milan Football Club invited me …" Gloria pointed to the stadium below. "To discuss the matter of shooting a commemorative album for Demetrio Albertini. And it's because of you, Tony. "
"Because of me?" Tang En did not understand.
"Remember the character feature I did for you? The people from AC Milan were very interested in me because they saw it. They wanted to give Albertini a retirement gift, so they came up with this idea. But it's much simpler than the one I shot for you. My job is actually to reassemble and edit the video data provided by the AC Milan Football Club. "
Tang En snorted. "What a cheap gift." There was one more thing he did not say: compared to the gift I prepared.
"You're still the same, Tony." Gloria smiled. "You always have a very arrogant and amazing expression. Sometimes you're really annoying … "
Although she said that, Gloria did not really hate him.
"Do you hate me?"
Gloria looked at Twain. She could not bring herself to hate his face. She smiled and shook her head. "No, after seeing so many hypocritical faces, I suddenly feel that egomaniacs like you are more adorable."
Tang En chuckled and then discovered another problem. "Since you're a guest invited by AC Milan, why are you here? Shouldn't you be … "Twain pointed to the main grandstand. "… Over there? Why are you here? It feels like you've been banished. "
"So, Tony, are you exiled?"
Twain shrugged. "I wasn't welcomed by the other party from the beginning, right? I had a war of words with AC Milan last summer. The only reason I can sit here is because Demi and I have a good personal relationship. What about you? You don't have a feud with AC Milan, do you? "
"No, I told them that I needed a quiet place to observe the match in peace and prepare for work. So … I didn't expect you to be here. "
"Looks like we're really fated." Twain smiled.
Now that there were only him and Gloria in the small box, they could talk without any scruples, regardless of how the people around them would look at them. The atmosphere was subtle, a little awkward, but also a little exciting.
After realizing that they were the only two in the room, Twain and Gloria were silent for a moment. The silence seemed to be a kind of torture, and Twain was the first to break it.
"Uh, Chris … How are you doing in America?"
"It's fine. My career is going well. I have connections here in Europe. Hollywood also needs the European market. "
"Haha, then I really have to congratulate you. Are you going to develop in America in the future? "
"Not really. I'm running both ways, thanks to the developed transportation." Gloria shrugged. Then she glanced at Twain, and the corners of her mouth suddenly curved. "Did you miss me, Tony?"
This "frivolous" woman! Twain laughed and scolded in his heart. "Of course I missed you. I haven't seen my friend for a long time. I'll definitely miss you."
"Just … friends?"
"If we're not friends, what else can we be?" Twain shrugged. Of course, he could hear Gloria's implied meaning, but it was very dangerous. He could not figure out whether this woman was serious about him or just a harmless joke between friends. Besides, although Gloria was beautiful, she was also a smart woman. Unfortunately, she was too smart. Twain did not like a woman smarter than him being by his pillow for a long time. He had a bit of a chauvinist tendency and did not like strong women, such as Gloria and Tang Jing.
The difference between the two women was that Gloria was smarter than Tang Jing. She knew how to disguise her intelligence so that she did not look so domineering. Instead, she was able to win the favor of men. Tang Jing, on the other hand, was too sharp, perhaps because she was younger. While making herself stand out from the crowd, her brilliance also stung many people who wanted to get close to her, resulting in no one daring to get close to her.
Gloria was indeed smart. Seeing that Twain was intentionally avoiding the topic, she did not continue. She just pointed below and said, "It's time."
Twain's attention turned to the field in an instant. Sure enough, the middle of the field was fully prepared. The tunnel in the corner of the field had also extended out a retractable shed. A lot of people gathered at the exit. The live broadcast had begun to mobilize the fans' emotions. Then, he began to announce the names that had shocked the world more than a decade ago, each of which was met with thunderous cheers.
The two people in the box no longer spoke. They quietly watched the heroes of the past return to the green field.
Albertini was the last to come out. Holding his son, he wore a red and black striped shirt and stepped onto the turf of San Siro once again with a smile on his face.
At this moment, Albertini was AC Milan's number 4 again.
※ ※ ※
There was nothing much to say about bidding farewell to Saiben. If one wanted to see a fierce confrontation here, they had come to the wrong place. As AC Milan said in the club's publicity, this was a gathering of old friends.
So, everyone was here to have fun. Happiness was the most important. The outcome of the match was secondary. Albertini took the lead with his best free kick to break through the goal of Barcelona's senior team. Later, Marco Basten also scored a goal, setting off huge cheers at San Siro.
In the second half, it was a contest between the current AC Milan and the current Barcelona. Albertini still appeared on the field wearing a red and black striped shirt.
Seeing this scene, Tang En snorted.
It turned out that Galliani and Ancelotti still regarded Demetrio as a member of the current AC Milan. It was ironic. Demetrio had begged the club to let him stay here, even as a substitute. But no one fulfilled his "humble" request. He was ruthlessly expelled from Milanello. If it were not for Tang En, he might have gone to Atalanta to end his career and spend the rest of his life in a lower-tier team in Serie A.
Now doing this in the farewell game made Tang En feel more like a kind of charity. He had once begged and hoped to fight for the rest of his life, but it was easily shoved into his hands in the irrelevant farewell game. Was this a kind of respect? What was the weight of the AC Milan jersey that Albertini was wearing now? How did Albertini feel in his heart? Should he thank the club for making his dream come true at the last moment? But what was the use of this? He was going to retire! After today, he would never have the chance to wear his favorite jersey again! Did he want to wear it in an exhibition game where he did not care about the outcome of the match?
"… For a professional player, this is a 'battle robe,' not a f * cking 'fashion'!"
Tang En was a little agitated. As he thought about this, his mouth kept squirming silently and muttering. In the end, he could not help but say what was on his mind, causing Gloria, who was next to him, to fall into a trance.
Gloria looked at the angry Tang En from the side and felt that the man was really charming when he was angry. No wonder his players could be stirred up by a few words of his and fight to the death.
He never hid his emotions. Whether he was happy or angry, he would express them so openly. This was very different from the hypocritical men that Gloria had come into contact with. They always acted like polite gentlemen in front of you, but who knew if their eyes were staring at your thighs or breasts? They might even be thinking about how wonderful it would be to roll around in bed with you.
Tang En would not be like that. He would admit the dirty thoughts in his heart. He was a real villain. So, most people did not like him. However, Gloria was one of the few.
The second half was not over yet. There were still more than 20 minutes before Albertini's farewell in front of the fans in Tang En's memory, but Tang En did not want to watch anymore. He suddenly felt unhappy.
So, he got up from his seat.
Gloria asked, "Where are you going? Tony. "
"I'm sorry I can't accompany you, Chris. I think I should go back to Nottingham. "
"The game is not over yet …" Gloria pointed below.
Tang En squeezed out a smile. "It's not the final of an important game. We don't know the outcome until the last second. The important thing in this kind of game is not the result, but the process … "He glanced below." And, I'm … very sentimental. I'm afraid that when I see Demetrio say goodbye later, I'll cry in front of you. That won't do. I'm very prideful. "
Gloria knew Tang En was lying and looking for an excuse, but she did not point it out.
"Then I'll walk you down …" She wanted to get up, but Tang En pressed down on her shoulder.
"No need. You get on with your work."
Under Gloria's gaze, Tang En turned and walked out the door.
※ ※ ※
Tang En did not have the slightest reluctance to leave the door. He put on his sunglasses and hurriedly left the brightly lit San Siro stadium in the night. He wanted to take the last flight back to England. Albertini had originally hoped that they would return to Nottingham together the next morning. But now, Tang En had changed his mind at the last minute.
While waiting at the airport, Tang En estimated that the game should be over by now. He sent Albertini a text message, then turned off his phone and prepared to board the plane.
Albertini only saw this message when he returned home very late. Before that, he had been with his friends, and then he had been socializing with others.
It was already very late when he returned home, and his child had already gone to sleep with his wife. When he was about to take a shower, he took out his phone and found that there was an unchecked text message on it.
"I'm going back first, Demetrio. But I'll give you a truly wonderful farewell game. It's not time to say goodbye to this stadium yet! Tony Twain. "
Looking at the text message in his hand, Albertini tilted his head and chuckled.
He agreed with Tang En's last sentence — it's not time to say goodbye to this stadium yet. He still had half a season left. Tonight, he was only saying goodbye to AC Milan, not to the football field.
No matter what, he was now a Nottingham Forest player and had a contract with the Forest team. He had to fulfill this contract before saying goodbye.
But in truth, he did not think that he would have a farewell game. Today was enough. He was easily satisfied.
He had wanted to reply to the message to thank the boss for his concern, but looking at the time, Tang En had already returned to Nottingham and was ready to rest, so he decided against it. Anyway, he had to participate in the team's training tomorrow afternoon. He would thank him in person.
Albertini placed his phone on the table and walked into the bathroom.
He did not exit the text message interface. The phone screen flashed a faint blue light in the dimly lit room. It took a while for it to gradually fade.
※ ※ ※
Albertini guessed wrong. Although Tang En had arrived in Nottingham at the moment, he did not go to rest. He went to Kenny Burns' Forest Bar. Ever since he and Tang En had separated, he had been going to this bar more often.
"Sorry, we're closed … Tony?" Burns was a little surprised to see Tang En push open the door and enter. "Aren't you supposed to be in Milan?"
"I came back early." Tang En patted his thighs.
"What? So many superstars gathered here and it still doesn't attract you? "Kenny Burns joked with Tang En as he wiped a glass cup.
"Nothing, I just suddenly feel unfair for Demetrio. Give me a strong one. "Tang En sat on the high stool in front of the bar and tapped his fingers on the bar.
"You're still the same … We're closed. We're not open now." Burns pointed to the empty bar.
"If you don't take my money, isn't it not open?" Tang En chuckled.
Hearing him say that, Burns filled Tang En's glass and pushed the blanket over. "Sure, we'll pay together next time."
Tang En took the glass and poured half a glass of whiskey mixed with water down his throat.
Kenny Burns took the empty wine glass from Twain and filled it up again without a word.
It was so late, yet Tang En did not go home directly but instead came over to drink. Burns knew that Tang En must have something to confide in someone. At this time, what he needed was a listener who did not talk nonsense.
As expected, after drinking the second glass, Tang En told Burns about what he saw at San Siro that night and what he was thinking at the time.
"Tony … Maybe Demetrio doesn't think that way? Everyone has a different view of the same thing. What you hate might be liked by others. You think it's charity, and Demetrio might really be grateful? Boss … When Clough was still around, many people were indignant that he did not receive the Queen's knighthood, but the Boss did not care. There were people who valued glory more than anything else. He felt that it could not compare to the joy of winning a match. During the time he passed away, there were even media hype in hopes that the Queen would confer a knighthood on him. But if you ask me … "Burns laughed." The Boss would definitely jump out of his grave to reject it. "
"You can't change everyone's view on something, but you don't have to change your view because of others either. That's it. "
He took the glass from Tang En for the seventh time but did not fill it. Instead, he set it aside and looked at Tang En. "We're really closing up this time, Tony."
Tang En jumped down from the stool, his footsteps a little light.
"Thank you for the wine, Kenny. In order to thank you … Burp! " Tang En burped and pointed at Burns behind the bar. "I've decided to give you a present!"
"I don't need your present." Burns shrugged. "Just don't forget to pay me for the wine. It's not easy to earn a little money with a small business."
Tang En acted as if he did not hear Burns' words. He continued, "I'll definitely give you a present, a big one!" Standing in the middle of the bar, he opened his arms but could not stand steadily. He spun in a circle before he could maintain his balance.
"Hey, you're drunk. Hurry and go home. Do you want me to call a taxi for you? "Burns smiled as he looked at Tang En.
"Kenny … Burp! Do you think … think … that the UEFA Champions League trophy is worth the few glasses of wine you just bought me? "Tang En asked as he stared at Burns.
Hearing Tang En's words, the smile on Burns' face froze.
"You're drunk, Tony."
"No, I'm very clear-headed. Goodbye, Kenny. "Tang En spun in a circle and walked towards the door. As he walked, he muttered, "One plus one equals two, one plus two equals three, two equals six, three equals nine … Nine equals one …"
After Burns watched Tang En leave, he shrugged and continued wiping the glasses.
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
