novelhk Chapter 52 The Great Search
Chapter 52 The Great Search
Domestically, Beijing (BJ).
At the conference table in a studio.
Yang Mi was wearing a loose knitted sweater and was slumped in the boss's chair.
The knitted sweater reveals the sexy hem of the breasts, making them look full and gentle.
Yang Mi is currently in the prime of her career.
She raised her right hand, and with her slender fingers, she tossed a business cooperation agreement stamped with a red seal directly onto the large solid wood table.
The paper slid a short distance and came to rest in the center of the table.
"I'm not going."
Yang Mi crossed her arms and tilted her chin slightly, exuding an air of self-righteous arrogance.
"You want me, someone who works in the film and television industry, to go to Europe to cross over and, moreover, to create a CP (couple pairing) in the sports world?"
Who's piggybacking on whose popularity right now?
"Has my market value plummeted to the point where I have to pay people to play football just to maintain my popularity?"
Yang Mi proudly puffed out her red lips.
"Besides, he's still a child."
The agent opposite him bent down to pick up the document from the table and sighed helplessly.
"Grandma, you need to get the facts straight."
The agent tapped the documents in mid-air a few times.
"This isn't some nobody club sponsorship. This is an official commercial partnership with Atlético Madrid!"
"Yang Fengying, the operations director of the club in China, specifically requested this top-tier resource, offering very generous terms."
The agent pulled out a chair, sat down, and tapped the table to emphasize:
"The company's senior management's intentions are very clear: accept this script."
That's Atlético Madrid, second only to Real Madrid and Barcelona in terms of brand recognition in Spain. It can only benefit you in expanding into the international market.
Da Mimi pouted, leaned back in her chair, and rolled her eyes.
"Don't try to pressure me with the company's higher-ups."
……
She tapped her long fingers twice on the table, her tone full of disdain.
The agent wasn't annoyed and patiently explained:
"Actually, it's not just Li Jing, there are two others. Let me tell you about them."
"you say."
"And then there's the club owner, Miguel Ángel Hill Marin, and the other is that Argentine coach who's always wearing a black suit and yelling on the sidelines?"
"One is a 60-year-old father, the other a 40-year-old uncle."
Da Mimi leaned back irritably and pouted in dissatisfaction.
"You're my manager, and you're making me accompany an old man?"
"I'm never talking to you again!"
The agent completely ignored her response.
He slowly opened the drawer on his right, took out a high-resolution printed photo, and pushed it directly onto the table to Yang Mi's side.
"This is a photo."
Yang Mi glanced at it casually.
The photo was taken on a whim.
The background is the pitch of the Anoeta Stadium.
In the very center of the image, the man is shirtless, his muscles extremely defined and violent.
His black hair, freshly wet with mineral water, clung messily to his forehead, water droplets sliding down his sculpted jawline and rolling over his bulging abs.
Yet that face carried an extremely arrogant, wild, and aggressive air.
Yang Mi immediately lowered her hands, which were originally clasped in front of her chest.
blinked.
"cough."
Da Mimi cleared her throat, leaned back in her chair, and couldn't help but let her lips curl into a wide smile.
"You're so boring. Why didn't you just show me the photos earlier?"
Yang Mi casually stuffed the photo into her bag and kicked her manager's shin.
"Go book your plane tickets. I've been filming non-stop lately and I'm exhausted, but I'll still finish what I'm assigned to the company!"
"I'm a very dedicated artist!"
……
On the day of the competition.
Pamplona.
Outside the El Sadar Stadium.
Atletico Madrid's black full-size bus was moving extremely slowly down the street.
Outside the car window, there was a dense crowd of Osasuna fans wearing red jerseys.
There were too many people, completely blocking the road.
The frenzy outside is terrifying.
People kept slamming their palms against the thickened, explosion-proof glass of the bus.
The dull "thump-thump" sound echoed continuously in the carriage.
Several shirtless, extreme fans stood by the roadside, each holding up an enormous piece of corrugated cardboard.
A highly arrogant slogan was spray-painted on it in glaring red paint:
"We can even bury Messi!"
The cardboard slid directly against the bus window, making a screeching sound as it rubbed against the glass.
……
Half an hour later.
The away team's locker room.
The deodorant in the air smelled extremely pungent.
Simone stood in front of the movable tactical whiteboard.
The old man wasn't wearing his signature black suit jacket today; he was only wearing a black shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows.
He held a blackboard eraser in his hand and turned to look at the players sitting neatly in front of him.
Swish!
Simeone swiftly and decisively wiped away the number "9" badge representing the main striker Falcao from the heart of the attacking third.
He picked up a blue spare magnet from the table and slapped it onto the edge of the substitute area.
"The tactics have changed," Simone said in a rough voice.
Falcao isn't starting today either!
Falco, sitting in the corner of the bench, paused for a moment.
The Colombian striker had just put on his shin guards when he heard this, and he suddenly looked up and opened his mouth.
But he didn't say anything and silently lowered his head again.
A series of extremely suppressed whispers suddenly filled the locker room.
Several substitute players who initially thought they were just going through the motions suddenly straightened their backs and even started breathing heavily.
Simone turned around abruptly.
The old man slammed the blackboard eraser down on the tactical table with a loud thud that instantly silenced the entire room.
"A very important Europa League knockout match is scheduled for midweek."
"I talked with the assistant coach about yesterday's training."
"Let Falcao get some rest too."
Simeone placed his hands on the table, his gaze sweeping over the panicked substitutes with an imposing air.
"Therefore, I need to preserve my core physical abilities."
"But damn it, that doesn't mean we're going to just hand over all three points in this league match!" Simeone slammed his hand on the whiteboard.
"You guys are always yelling from below for a chance to play."
The old man pointed to several substitutes, including Pulido.
"I'm giving you guys a chance today! Hold off these so-called giant killers' crazy attacks at the start! If you bunch of cowards can't hold on, I'll send Falcao and the others up to clean up the mess in the last thirty minutes."
"Did you understand?"
A few scattered "I understand"s echoed in the locker room.
They had no confidence whatsoever.
……
There are three minutes left before he can go on stage.
The referee has already blown the whistle to urge them on.
The players gradually stood up and began walking towards the gate.
Li Jing tightened the lid of his tactical water bottle and slung his backpack over his shoulder, ready to head out.
Simone suddenly walked over from the side.
Without saying a word, the old man reached out and grabbed Li Jing's shoulder, forcefully pulling him into a blind spot behind the locker room door.
The corridor outside was full of cameras and staff, making this blind spot very well hidden.
Simone pulled something out of the breast pocket of his black shirt.
Without even asking Li Jing's consent, he grabbed Li Jing's arm with his left hand and suddenly pulled his right hand up.
Li Jing looked down.
A very brightly colored Atlético Madrid captain's armband.
Simone had pulled it forcefully and stuck it tightly to his upper arm.
Gabi didn't start today.
This armband, representing absolute control on the field, was directly placed on the body of this young Chinese player who was only eighteen years old.
Simone looked at Li Jing.
Li Jing touched the rough fabric on his left arm with his right hand, feeling the tightness of the Velcro straps.
Li Jing smiled confidently.
"Then I'll bring them onto the field!"
……
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