Tang En was watching the DVD that Dunn had brought back from China.
It was different from the box that Dunn had brought back last time. This time, it was an edited version, more like a reality TV movie. There were protagonists and supporting characters, narration, and dialogue lines. After careful editing, it was more like a movie.
So, he watched it with relish and did not feel impatient, even though he had been watching for an hour and a half.
If the previous three-month finals training camp was said to be more professional and suitable for the majority of football fans to watch, then this finals program was more entertaining, which could be seen from the number of female audience members present.
After all, football was a sport full of masculine charm, so there was no reason why it would not be favored by women. At a time when the entertainment industry was filled with androgyny, "The Football Guy" showed a different kind of beauty to the audience — the beauty of masculinity, the beauty of fitness, the beauty of speed, the beauty of strength, the beauty of passion, the beauty of victory, the beauty of failure …
So, this last episode of the television program would be focused on entertainment.
At the scene, some singers were invited to sing very passionate songs to liven up the atmosphere. Then, all 14 players who participated in the training camp brought their own rehearsals of war dances and acrobatics to the audience.
Tang En was not interested in these cultural programs, so he fast-forwarded to the end.
※ ※ ※
The cultural program was finally over. Fortunately, the program producer did not forget what the real purpose of today's program was.
The big screen at the scene began to play the relevant video clips of the players, from some of their childhood videos to highlights of their participation in the auditions, as well as bits and pieces of the general training camp. Coupled with the comments of the Chinese and British coaches, it re-introduced the two lucky winners to everyone.
Why two?
Tang En turned his head to look at Dunn, who had been sitting quietly beside him.
"Why are there only two people? What about Chen Jian's introduction? "
Dunn shrugged. "No."
"No? What does that mean? Only two of the three finalists were introduced in a video clip. The other one was not introduced except for a simple appearance. "Tang En glared, looking a little angry. "What are those idiots doing?"
"I don't know, either." Dunn answered honestly. He really did not know.
※ ※ ※
Yes, the video clips of Wang Yang and Song Hui's introductions appeared on the big screen. Only Chen Jian's was not. When the players appeared from backstage, Wang Yang and Song Hui were grandly introduced by the host.
"This is China's future Cesc Fabregas — Wang Yang!!"
"Song Hui! He could become China's future Rio Ferdinand!! "
Then it was Chen Jian's turn.
"Welcome, Chen Jian from the Chengdu region of Sichuan!"
That's it. That's it. The introduction ends here.
In the joyous atmosphere of the scene, no one noticed this interlude. Everyone followed the host's instructions. No one had the time to turn back and think about whether there was any deeper meaning behind the introduction just now. Of course, before the finals, the result must have been out long ago. It was just that no one knew about it yet.
Chen Jian did not take it to heart. In fact, he was waiting backstage when it was time to go on stage. He watched as his two companions ran out one after another. He heard the former famous commentator introduce the show to the audience in his usual passionate tone. He was a little expectant — when it was his turn, what would the host shout?
Who is the future of China?
No one, no one.
Just like that, he was pushed onto the stage.
Wang Yang was the most handsome of the three and the most popular player on the Internet. Song Hui had always been the captain of the general training camp. They might be better than Chen Jian in any way, so it should be a matter of course even if they finally got the plane tickets to the Premier League.
But Chen Jian was still looking forward to it in his heart. People outside said that he was lucky to get to the final, but only he knew that it was not because of luck.
Earlier that day, the three of them who made it to the finals were asked to film a self-declaration to be placed before they went on stage to introduce themselves.
As a playmaking midfielder, Wang Yang's declaration was very in line with his position. "I believe that football is played with the brain. I will be like Fàbregas and play with wisdom!"
Song Hui also introduced what he was best at. "Speed, coordination, and stability are my strengths. I'm suitable for the Premier League. "
It was Chen Jian's turn. The first thing he said when he came up to the stage was a sense of discouragement. It made people feel that he was afraid before the match even started. "I might not be the best player …" He paused for a moment. "But I'm definitely the most persistent. My name is Chen Jian, Chen from the east, Jian from the strong. My father gave me this name because he wanted me to be persistent and strong. I firmly believe that attitude decides everything. "This was why he was able to make it to the final three — it was definitely not luck.
However, even though he said that, many people still felt that it was just a pretty excuse …
Chen Jian stood in the middle after he came on stage, with Wang Yang on his left and Song Hui on his right. The two hosts also stood on the left and right, and they conducted brief interviews with Wang Yang and Song Hui respectively. One person asked Song Hui how he was feeling at the moment, and the other praised Wang Yang for being handsome and so popular that he stole many of the fans of the other handsome host, which caused a burst of laughter from the audience.
No one interviewed Chen Jian. The two hosts turned to introduce the two coaches who came to the scene. One was a former China national footballer, and the other was Arsenal's former captain, Kenny Sansom.
Chen Jian stood in the middle. His dark skin and dark sports coat almost merged with the black stage background. He still had a smile on his face and did not say a word.
After introducing the coaches, it was time to introduce the units that participated in the talent show and strongly supported the event — the youth department of the China Football Association, Everton Football Club, and Bolton Wanderers Football Club. There was no Nottingham Forest. Until now, this was still a secret for the vast majority of people.
Allan Adams sat in an inconspicuous corner of the audience and watched the scene with interest. The audience had been completely brought into the pre-set situation by the hosts. When they came out at the last minute, it would definitely be very sensational and leave a deep impression on everyone.
Everything was going according to plan …
※ ※ ※
Dunn waited backstage. He needed to appear at the last minute and had nothing to do until then. There was also a television in the lounge. He had nothing to do, so he sat in a chair and watched the live broadcast on the television.
Perhaps the other audience focused on Wang Yang and Song Hui, who were grandly introduced by the host, but Dunn would not do so. His eyes were fixed on Chen Jian — of course, when the man appeared on the television screen.
He was not interested in such entertainment programs. He only cared about things related to his mission. He already knew the result, but would Twain like the gift he brought back this time?
There were four breaks in the fifty-minute live broadcast, during which the host would say, "After the commercials, let's go back to the scene." Then the lights would dim, and everyone would have a five-minute break. They could go to the toilet or do whatever they wanted, but most people stayed on the scene for convenience.
Dunn finally had a chance to take his eyes off the television and go to the toilet. The show was already in its final segment. When the commercials came back, the final mystery would be revealed.
※ ※ ※
Chen Jian looked at the noisy crowd around him and decided to go to the toilet. In fact, he did not have the urge to pee.
He was just nervous.
The show had been going on for forty minutes. Everything that needed to be said had been said and the performances that needed to be seen had been seen. What was left? Of course, it was to announce which two would be the lucky ones to go to the Premier League. That was the theme of this episode.
No matter how happy and harmonious it was before, there would inevitably be hidden murderous intent …
So, Chen Jian was nervous. No matter how calm and tenacious he had been in the previous tests, he could not help but be nervous in the face of an unpredictable fate.
He went to the toilet, and then he bumped into a man at the toilet door.
The man apologized to him and left in a hurry. Chen Jian felt a little strange because the man he bumped into was a little familiar, but he could not remember where he had seen him or his name.
Just as he was trying to figure out who the familiar face was, his train of thought was interrupted.
"Hey, 9527!" Wang Yang's voice rang out behind him. "You're also coming to the toilet … I didn't expect you to be nervous."
Chen Jian turned around and smiled at his competitor. "Of course, this is the final."
"It's like shooting a penalty, haha!" Wang Yang laughed and was in a good mood. Everyone who could enter the top three was confident in their strength. Wang Yang felt that he would definitely be one of the two lucky ones. His skills and awareness were the best among the fourteen people. Coupled with his high popularity, he did not think he could be eliminated in the end.
Not seeing Song Hui, Chen Jian asked, "Where's Song Hui?"
"Him …" Wang Yang pursed his lips. "He's chatting with his parents. He doesn't look nervous at all."
"He's the captain." Chen Jian continued to laugh.
Wang Yang looked at Chen Jian's face a little strangely. "I say, 9 … Chen Jian, when can you not laugh?"
Chen Jian found it strange. "Why should I not laugh?"
"Let me be honest … Among the three of us, you're the one with the least confidence, right?" Wang Yang was really "honest."
Chen Jian was stunned for a moment and then nodded. At least he knew his own limits.
"So, why can you still laugh now? It's like you have a card up your sleeve … "Wang Yang was a little depressed. Even if he was stunned for a moment, the smile quickly returned to Chen Jian's face.
"If I don't laugh because I'm not confident, isn't that even less confident?" Chen Jian said. "At least when I laugh, I feel more confident …"
"You're lying to yourself!"
"It's a psychological suggestion …"
"Fine, whatever." Wang Yang shrugged. "Spirit isn't omnipotent anyway. This is." He pointed to his temple.
Chen Jian did not refute him. He continued to smile so that Wang Yang could not guess what he was thinking. Wang Yang muttered gloomily and turned into the toilet.
In fact, Chen Jian thought that court wisdom needed time and continuous competition to accumulate. To put it bluntly, it was experience. Before that, the only weapon he could rely on was the "spirit."
After being disturbed by Wang Yang, he had no intention of going to the toilet. Anyway, he did not have the urge to pee, so he simply turned around and quietly waited for the judgment of fate.
※ ※ ※
After five minutes of advertising, the scene cut back to the studio.
The three players sat in the chairs on the left. Opposite them was the technical area. Now one of the two seats was empty. In addition to the two presenters, there was also Kenny Sansom standing in the middle. When everyone saw this, they all knew that without further ado, the final result was about to be announced.
Even those players who had been eliminated and could only sit in the audience seats at the back felt an inexplicable nervousness and … excitement.
Not to mention the three people sitting in the chairs at this moment.
Song Hui, who had just been evaluated by Wang Yang as "not nervous at all," also looked serious at this moment, while Wang Yang himself was so nervous that he did not know where to look. Chen Jian still had a smile on his face, but in the eyes of outsiders, the smile was a little stiff.
"The most exciting moment has come!" The former commentator shouted loudly. In fact, he already knew the result, but on the surface, he had to pretend to be more excited in order to bring the audience into the play.
"Yes, it's finally here!" His partner, the handsome young presenter whom he used to tease Wang Yang, echoed.
The live music that represented "nervous" sounded, and the dull drumbeat seemed to be the heartbeat of the three players. The television broadcast gave each of the three players a close-up of about ten seconds. It seemed to say:
Who will be the two lucky ones to go to the Premier League in the end? Will it be him? Will it be him? Or him?
"I believe everyone already knows that among the three players, only two will be able to go to the Premier League club to receive the world's highest level of professional football training." The presenter repeated the cruel rule again, adding fuel to the already tense atmosphere. "Who will be able to go to Everton and Bolton Wanderers?"
He smiled. For someone who knew the result, it was a wonderful feeling to see the nervous expressions of the three players in front of him.
"Next, our British head coach, Kenny, will announce …" He handed over the command to Kenny Sansom, who was standing next to him.
Kenny Sansom did not beat around the bush and pointed directly to Wang Yang. "Wang Yang, you go to the box on the left."
There were three boxes on the scene, one on the left, one in the middle and one on the right. The three boxes were now covered, and no one knew what was inside — Everton, Bolton Wanderers jerseys, or nothing at all.
Therefore, being called and standing up did not count as a victory. Wang Yang stood up and walked to the box on the left. He stood in front of it.
The presenter's voice rang out. "Open it! See what's inside? "
Wang Yang obediently opened the lid, and a smile flashed across his face, but it quickly disappeared. Then he took out a white jersey from inside!
He wanted to go to Everton, who was stronger than him …
There were cheers at the scene, perhaps mostly from Wang Yang's fan club.
"Bolton Wanderers! Congratulations, Wang Yang! " The presenter also shouted excitedly. His tone really made people think that he had just found out about the result. "Come, show everyone what's in your hand!"
Wang Yang raised the Bolton Wanderers jersey in his hand. The great happiness made his movements a little sluggish. Then he went around to the technical area and hugged the Chinese coach to thank him. Then he returned to the stage to hug Kenny.
At the same time, the presenter invited Wang Yang's parents to stand up and give a speech.
Next, there was only one chance.
"Now there are two players. They still have a 50% chance of going to England. Who will it be?" The presenter paused.
Kenny said first, "Song Hui." He wanted Song Hui to go in front of the box.
But the presenter thought of a better idea, an idea that would keep the suspense until the end. He interjected, "Chen Jian, you go too. Both of you go at the same time. Song Hui, you go to the box in the middle. Chen Jian, you go to the one on the right. "
So Chen Jian also stood up from his seat. He tidied up the corners of his shirt and sorted out his emotions at the same time. He was trying to calm them down so that he would not make a fool of himself.
"Walk slowly, and then stop in front of the box for a while. Stop …" The presenter was still stirring up emotions. "You can close your eyes and think carefully about the road you've taken in the past three months. Think about everything you've sacrificed … Now that dream is in the box in front of you, covered by a lid. As long as you lift it … the dream will break out of the shell!"
Song Hui closed his eyes, but Chen Jian did not.
"All right … Open them! See what's inside … "
The presenter was still speaking when the two teenagers had lifted the lids in front of them at the same time. Under the same lens, Song Hui on the left was stunned, while Chen Jian on the right only lifted the lids halfway before covering them again.
"… What's this!"
Chen Jian closed his eyes this time. He raised his head, not wanting others to see his expression at the moment.
Next to him, Song Hui reached out and grabbed a blue jersey from the box. That was the second ticket to the Premier League!
The audience was jubilant.
※ ※ ※
"I have to say, this bastard's design of the scene is great," Tang En said to Dunn as he turned around.
Dunn just smiled and motioned for him to continue watching.
※ ※ ※
"Everton! Congratulations, Song Hui! He's got the last ticket to his dream! "The presenter continued to stir up emotions.
Amid the cheers, Chen Jian looked a little lonely. He turned around and walked back.
The camera swept across the players' seats. Zhao Rui looked disappointed and kept shaking his head.
Next to him, Song Hui came up and hugged him. Everyone's eyes were focused on him. Not many people were optimistic that he would win the final victory … Didn't he say it himself? "My skills aren't the best."
The presenter had wanted to say, "The Smiler has finally cried …" Such stirring words. But he looked carefully and did not see a trace of tears on Chen Jian's face.
The kid did not cry. Even though the curve of his mouth was replaced by a tight purse, even though his brows were furrowed, he did not cry.
The discovery disappointed the presenter. The stirring lines he had thought of were useless …
The organizers had created this gimmick in hopes that the person involved would shed silent tears at the last moment, moving countless people and pushing the atmosphere of the show to a peak. That way, when the surprise came later, it would leave a deep impression and sigh, "Life is really full of ups and downs …"
Without the contrast in front, what dramatic effect would there be in the later twist?
He wanted to make Chen Jian cry, so he said, "Chen Jian has fallen at the threshold of his dream. It's such a pity! But sports is so cruel. There will always be winners and losers … "
Chen Jian and Song Hui had already walked back to the stage. Wang Yang also went over to hug Chen Jian. Closer, the presenter still did not see tears on Chen Jian's face, not even a trace of him crying …
He sighed in his heart. He had failed. The kid was more tenacious than he thought.
The program had to continue, so he had to turn his attention to the victorious Song Hui and praise him. At the same time, Song Hui's father was also invited to stand up and send a message to his son.
What a heartwarming scene …
No one would notice that Chen Jian was not in the television camera. His parents were also there, but they did not have the chance to stand up and say some big words to show the warm scene of their family.
Allan Adams looked at Chen Jian on the stage with great interest. He was obviously very disappointed, very depressed, very painful … At this time, the best way to vent was to cry. Crying would make his heart feel better. But this Chinese teenager chose the most uncomfortable way — he forced himself to hold back his tears in front of everyone, not letting others see his weak side.
Surrounded by a happy atmosphere, Chen Jian suddenly thought of Zhao Rui, the northeasterner who stood up and toasted him last night. He thought of how he hid in the toilet and cried bitterly after he was eliminated in the penalty shootout because he was not in good condition due to a cold and fever in the last test.
How could he not vent? Now he felt like there was a huge rock in his chest, and he felt so uncomfortable that he was about to suffocate. Now he only hoped that the program would end soon so that he could find a place with no one to cry, then wipe his tears and go back to school to report again. Then, he would write a deep self-reflection for his truancy and promise his parents that he would study hard and complete his studies … as if the past six months had never happened.
He had an incomparably wonderful dream, and now he had woken up.
When Song Hui's father sent the message to his son, the host kept glancing at Chen Jian standing next to him, wanting to see how he would behave when no one was paying attention to him … He was disappointed. The teenager still had a tense face and did not shed a single tear. But the sadness on his face could not be concealed no matter what.
Silly child, you don't know how lucky you are. If those two players knew about your result, I guarantee they would go crazy with jealousy …
Song Hui's father finally finished speaking. The host took over the command again. He congratulated Song Hui and Wang Yang again, then looked at Chen Jian.
"For the first time, the smile disappeared from the face of our 'smiler'," he said. Everyone followed him to look at Chen Jian, who had a tense face.
"At this time, maybe I should comfort Chen Jian and tell him not to be sad. But it's useless, because the result has been revealed and cannot be changed … All of us saw Chen Jian's efforts in this selection. He is the most hardworking among all the 14 players! " The treatment that he had not received before was given back to him at this moment. Only then did the host solemnly introduce him to the audience. "What everyone sees on TV is only a small part of his efforts. There are still many places that we can't see, places where the camera doesn't exist, and outside of the program … Just like what he said when he introduced himself, attitude determines everything. His attitude … made the most picky Kenny Sansom speechless!"
Sansom's image appeared on the big TV screen. He said to the camera, "This child is the most hardworking player I have ever seen." There was no need to explain who "this child" was referring to on the subtitles, because everyone knew who he was talking about.
The Chinese coach said, "He knows his shortcomings, so he has been strengthening his training in those areas. He is very smart. Hard work makes up for it. It's true. He did not rely on luck to get to the end. "
Chen Jian turned his head to look at the two coaches' evaluation of him on the big screen. He was also a little surprised. He had never heard this from the two coaches. He had always thought that it was because of his poor skills that the coaches did not like him …
The reaction of the audience at the scene also changed. A buzz of discussion rang out in the audience seats below the stage.
The host smiled. In any case, this last trump card was played, and the atmosphere of the scene finally developed in the direction he wanted.
He coughed and attracted everyone's attention again. "Then, let me announce the last result."
The scene quieted down.
The last result?
Chen Jian looked confused.
"But before I announce it, I want to show everyone a little film!"
The big screen was dark. After a whistle, an excited voice rang out. It was the host's own voice —
"The game is over! Congratulations to Nottingham Forest from England. They have won the 2006-2007 UEFA Champions League!! "
The screen lit up again. It was the Nottingham Forest players in red jerseys who were cheering and celebrating their victory. The noise coming from the Olympic Stadium in Greece passed through the big screen and sound equipment, striking the eardrums and souls of everyone present …
Albertini ran at the front with the Champions League trophy in his hands. Behind him were faces that all the players present could not be more familiar with — George Wood, Franck Ribéry, Rafael van der Vaart, van Nistelrooy, Edwin van der Sar, Pepe … and so on.
Of course, there was also the manager Tony Twain, who was popular among the fans because of his character.
He was lifted up by the players and thrown into the sky.
There were enthusiastic cheers and exclamations at the scene. This was the condition for Allan Adams to accept that his club could only pick third place — in the end, the organizers had to give Nottingham Forest a grand promotion. Neither Everton nor Bolton Wanderers Football Club had ever enjoyed such treatment.
Allan Adams, who was sitting in the audience, was very satisfied.
Some people had already reacted. At least Song Hui and Wang Yang looked at Chen Jian differently.
What was Bolton Wanderers? What was Everton to him? Could they compare with the new European champion, Nottingham Forest?
Just as the crowd was in awe, Dunn had appeared on the stage. He stood next to Chen Jian. Chen Jian turned his head to look at him. It was only then that he realized that the person he had bumped into in the toilet was Nottingham Forest's assistant manager, the Chinese Dunn!
Dunn gave Chen Jian a friendly smile in surprise, but did not say anything.
Chen Jian noticed what Dunn was holding in his hand — a ball of red … a jersey.
The host, who used to be a commentator, announced in an excited tone, "Now, let us congratulate Chen Jian as well! His reward is — a year of training at Nottingham Forest!! "
"Great!" Zhao Rui was the first to stand up on the players' bench and cheered for Chen Jian with his arms raised high. "Chen Jian, great!!"
Chen Jian froze for a moment and a smile returned to his face.
It was indeed … great.
Although he was in third place, the reward for third place was better than the first and second place combined. Much better!
"Now, let Nottingham Forest's assistant manager, Dunn, present the jersey to Chen Jian!"
Amid the cheers, Dunn personally handed the Nottingham Forest jersey to Chen Jian. "Nottingham Forest welcomes you, Chen Jian," he said in Mandarin.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you …" That was all Chen Jian could say.
The ups and downs between joy and sorrow left him speechless for a moment. His mind was completely blank and he temporarily lost the ability to think. Life was really full of ups and downs …
The host handed the microphone to Dunn and asked him to say a few words to Chen Jian. In reality, he was also speaking to the television audience.
"We've been paying attention to this program. Manager Tony Twain has high hopes for this program …"
※ ※ ※
Tang En turned to look at Dunn. "Did they tell you to say that?"
Dunn smiled and shook his head. "No, it wasn't in the original script. I added it at the last minute."
"Hey!" Tang En rolled his eyes and turned back to press the play button to continue watching.
※ ※ ※
"… We're very happy to see the children's performance." Dunn turned to Chen Jian and said, "And your performance was outstanding. You have a very outstanding quality that we've observed from the initial auditions all the way to the finals. That is your wholehearted devotion. So, we've decided to join this program and give you a chance to train in England for a year. We hope you can become one of us in the future. Welcome to Nottingham Forest, Chen Jian. "He repeated again.
Loud cheers and applause once again rang out in the audience. Everyone liked to see a happy ending with a happy ending, didn't they?
※ ※ ※
Turning off the video, Tang En turned back to look at Dunn.
"If Chen Jian is the main character, this is indeed a great story. At the very least, it's inspirational and full of twists and turns."
Dunn smiled.
Tang En was unwilling to verbally admit that the football talent show was better than he had imagined, so he used such a roundabout method.
Indeed, he had been dragged by Dunn to cram on the process of the talent show after the event. He realized that the standard was higher than he had imagined. At the very least, there were no good-for-nothings selected. The 14 people who could enter the general training camp were indeed capable. The three people who were selected in the end all had their own areas that stood out. For example, Wang Yang did indeed have the ability to command the game on the field. Song Hui's speed and composure were also not bad among the players. As for Chen Jian, his physical qualities were enviable. His perseverance and hard work had also brought him sweet fruits.
It was a very fair result.
Dunn's smile made Tang En feel a little awkward.
"All right, all right. I admit that my previous judgment of this event was a little off. But let's not continue to harp on such a small matter. Let me ask you a very professional question now. "His expression turned serious. "What do you think of that guy's ability?"
"He's worth a year of training," Dunn also answered very seriously.
"His skills are indeed the worst out of the three …"
"But I think his foundation is better than Wood's."
"Now that you mention it, I remember when I first saw his performance in the auditions. I thought of someone."
"George Wood, isn't it?"
Tang En nodded.
"Their personalities and characteristics are indeed similar in some ways. That's why I'm suddenly interested in him. "
"But we already have a George Wood. And I don't think he can reach Wood's current level. "Tang En interrupted Dunn's words.
"I also agree that his talent may not be as high as George Wood. But no one knows what the future holds. So, I'm only saying he's worth a year of training." Dunn's tone was cold and flat. It did not seem like he was discussing the future of his compatriot.
Tang En was silent for a moment. "What you said makes sense. Anyway, even if it's just to fulfill the original agreement, we still have to train him for a year. Might as well make use of him. The other two clubs may treat it as a commercial event. We'll give this kid who likes to find trouble for himself the most formal training method. Isn't he the best at persevering? I want to see how long he can last in Wilford this time. "
Tang En smiled as he spoke. It was the smile of the devil.
"'The Smiler'? Don't think you're perfect after a thrilling finals. To realize your dream, it's far from enough to go through such difficulties. "
"You're going to be the final boss again?" Dunn suddenly asked from the side.
"Who else but me?"
※ ※ ※
Routine statement:
This story is purely fictional. If there are any similarities, it is definitely a coincidence. Please do not take it personally.
All the groups, individuals and events mentioned in this article have nothing to do with the groups, individuals and events in reality.
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