Chapter Eighteen: This Perfectly Ordinary, Damn Day

Page 1/3

Vitini lay on his bed, holding his phone as he video chatted with his family far away in Brazil. He grinned widely, flashing a set of bright white teeth, his face animated with excitement. “Mom! Let me tell you, today was absolutely perfect! I finally trained with Wang! He’s just like the legends say—strict and relentless during training! Besides the regular sessions, he even does extra drills for himself. I asked to join him, and guess what? He agreed! Haha! He agreed!”

Vitini was so excited that he started rolling around on the bed.

On the other end of the video call, his mother gasped at the shaking image. “I’m going to get dizzy, Clayton! Stop it, please!”

Clayton Vitini stopped and shifted from lying on his back to lying on his stomach on the bed.

He grinned at the screen, baring his teeth. “Hehe! Mom, you know, training with Wang is really tough, but I think I can handle it! And Wang even taught me some ways to relax my muscles and recover after training…”

His mother smiled broadly through the screen. “That’s wonderful, dear. I’m so happy for you.”

Though thousands of miles apart, the warmth and affection in her eyes seemed boundless, impossible to conceal.

This big boy before her was the hope and pride of their family. Despite the many mocking remarks about Vitini’s appearance from outsiders, in his mother’s eyes, he would always be the most handsome and adorable treasure.

“Big brother, big brother!” A childish voice burst into the video. A little boy seized the phone from his mother, eyes wide as he stared at Vitini on the screen. “Is it true that Wang is as fierce as everyone says?”

Seeing his little brother’s face nearly filling the screen, Vitini first laughed, then answered seriously, “Of course not! That’s all nonsense! They haven’t even met Wang, just guessing! Actually, Wang isn’t fierce at all; he’s super nice! He even taught me how to control my temper! He told me to turn my anger into power and then release it—BOOM! Like a bomb!”

“That’s great, big brother! You must have gotten Wang’s autograph for me, right?”

“Uh…” Vitini felt awkward looking at his brother’s expectant eyes.

He had been so caught up in the joy of training with his idol that he had completely forgotten his brother’s request.

Seeing his brother’s expression, the little boy guessed the truth and shook the screen, shouting, “Ah! You forgot! You definitely forgot, didn’t you?!”

Vitini felt dizzy from the shaking and had to close his eyes, shouting loudly to overpower his brother’s nagging voice: “What are you worried about? I train with Wang every day—we’re teammates! Getting an autograph won’t be hard. Besides, even if I get one today, can you have it?”

His brother threw a tantrum, rolling on the floor in defiance. “I don’t care! You don’t keep your promises! One autograph isn’t enough anymore! I want more!”

Despite the headache, Vitini asked, “What do you want now?”

The noisy little boy suddenly quieted down, the screen stabilized, and he thought seriously before his eyes lit up: “I want to video chat with Wang!”

Vitini almost threw the phone. “Cut it out, Lucas!”

The screen on Lucas’s side started shaking again. “I don’t care! I don’t care! I’m almost ten years old, and I want Wang to video chat with me! I want him to say happy birthday to me! I don’t care…”

Vitini felt nauseous and quickly turned his face away from the screen, calling for help from his mother, who had been watching the show from behind. “Mom—”

Hearing his call, she came over and took the phone from the little one’s hands, stabilizing the image.

“Don’t bother your brother; he’ll help you get the autograph. Go play now!”

Lucas made a funny face at his brother on the video and then ran off, shouting and screaming.

Watching him leave, their mother turned her gaze back to her eldest son. “But Lucas really wants a unique birthday gift. He’s invited lots of friends to his party and can’t wait to show off. So, if it’s possible, you should ask Wang…”

Vitini thought for a moment and nodded. “Okay, I’ll ask him tomorrow. But I don’t think it’s realistic for Wang to video chat with Lucas directly. I’ll ask Wang to record a video message instead…”

His mother understood. “That’s fine. Do what you think best, but don’t push too hard. I know Wang is a superstar; they usually charge for that kind of thing…”

Vitini shook his head. “No, Mom, we’re teammates.”

“Anyway, it’s up to you,” she said, then asked, “What about your dad?”

Vitini glanced toward the door behind him. “He’s in the kitchen making dinner.”

“Oh… I thought he was still in Spain…”

“He came back last night.”

His mother asked with concern, “How did the talks go?”

“He said, um… Madrid FC is interested, but they don’t want to pay extra transfer fees. They want to wait until my contract expires…” Vitini’s voice lowered.

“Wait until your contract expires? Good heavens, that means waiting another year?” his mother exclaimed.

Vitini’s current contract with Tyne runs through the 2037-2038 season. It’s his first professional contract with the club, signed as a five-year deal.

But Vitini regretted it.

He realized Tyne wasn’t as good as he had imagined. He admitted that a large part of his decision at eighteen to join Tyne was motivated by money—after all, his family needed it.

Yet he still had competitive ambitions.

After arriving, he found Tyne wasn’t as promising as his agent had boasted, especially the team’s level. In the Premier League, Tyne was almost always fighting relegation.

But when they signed him, the club’s promise was different:

“Our Middle Eastern owner is incredibly rich! Besides you, we’ll sign many top, famous stars to quickly boost the team’s strength… Next season, we will compete in the Champions League!”

But instead of the Champions League, after four seasons with the club, Vitini hadn’t even seen a glimpse of it.

Feeling regretful, Vitini fired his original agent and stopped negotiating contract extensions with the club.

He had hoped to transfer away at the end of this season.

Waiting another year, who knew what might happen? Could anyone guarantee his performance wouldn’t fluctuate? What if Madrid FC changed their mind?

From Madrid FC’s perspective, their stance was reasonable. With only a year left on the player’s contract, they could wait to sign him for free. Why pay more now? They weren’t overflowing with cash.

Madrid FC was one of the top clubs, yet money didn’t grow on trees.

Their usual tactic with young players wanting to join was to hold back investment. After all, as a top club, players wanting to join were countless.

They only spent heavily on established superstars.

Madrid FC supporters praised the club’s smart management and healthy finances, ensuring the team’s sustained high-level performance.

Page 2/3

Fans of the clubs losing players to Madrid FC called it a “bloodsucking giant.”

Different perspectives made it impossible to judge right or wrong.

“They also said that if I want to move this summer, I’ll have to pressure Tyne…”

“Pressure? How?” Mom asked.

Vitini felt uneasy. “Of course, by threatening to strike…”

“Ugh…” Mom knew how damaging that would be—basically burning bridges with Tyne. Even if he joined Madrid FC, his image among Tyne fans would be ruined.

Some with lower morals might do it, but she knew her son wasn’t that kind of person.

Although he wanted to leave Tyne, he always gave his all when playing. After all, Tyne brought him from Brazil to Europe. He hoped that if the day came to leave, it would be on good terms.

Seeing his mother troubled, Vitini reassured her, “But it’s okay. I’ll just wait until my contract expires next year. Besides, now that Wang is at Tyne, I want to play with him more. And most importantly… I believe training with Wang will make me stronger!”

His mother smiled encouragingly. “Our little ‘Vitinho’ can definitely do it!”

After ending the call with his mother, Vitini checked the photo he had just posted on Instagram—a picture of himself with Wang Lie.

Within the short video call period, thousands of likes and comments had already appeared.

Vitini even saw a like from Wang Lie himself.

Reading all the envious comments, Vitini happily rolled around on the bed.

For him, this truly was an incredibly wonderful day!

※※※

“How’s your first day with the new team?” Tang Xingmei asked with a smile over video. Her husband had just relaxed and recovered in the hotel pool and returned to the room.

Wang Lie propped his phone on the table, drying his hair with a towel. “Not bad, just an ordinary day, nothing special.”

“Are the new teammates easy to get along with?”

“They’re great, very enthusiastic. They even started fighting in the locker room to welcome me.”

“Ah?” Tang Xingmei was unsure if he was joking or serious.

Seeing her surprised expression, Wang Lie laughed heartily.

Tang Xingmei figured he was joking. “You’re so ridiculous! I knew it couldn’t be true…”

But Wang Lie said, “It’s true, honey, really. If I hadn’t pushed the door open and waited a little longer outside, they might have fought even more fiercely.”

Tang Xingmei widened her eyes at her husband.

“There’s a superfan of mine on the team and another player who really dislikes me. They started arguing, got angrier and angrier, and finally fought…”

Wang Lie recounted the entire episode in detail.

Tang Xingmei put her hand to her forehead. “Sounds like you jumped from one pit into another.”

Wang Lie said, “I actually think Tyne is much better than Soful United. I can really achieve something with this team.”

“That player who dislikes you… Dean, why does he hate you? Did you offend him before?” Tang Xingmei was curious.

Wang Lie shrugged. “How would I know? I’ve offended lots of people; I can’t remember them all.”

His wife glared at him. “You’re quite proud!”

Wang Lie spread his hands, undaunted. “What can I do? I offended them all.”

Tang Xingmei dropped the subject. “That Dean… I remember he used to be quite famous?”

“Yeah, once a prodigy of English football, worth over 100 million euros at his peak. Now he’s on the top salary at Tyne, same as me.”

“Then how did he end up like this?”

“He has personality flaws—tends to give up on himself easily, can’t handle pressure,” Wang Lie explained, having played ten seasons in the Premier League and knowing the once-famous talent’s background.

Tang Xingmei smiled at the keyword. “You told me Vitini has personality flaws, and now Dean too? Does everyone have flaws?”

“That’s how it is. As humans, who doesn’t have flaws? I do too.”

Tang Xingmei’s face turned serious. “True enough.”

As a mother of two, she empathized deeply.

Then she worried aloud, “Sounds like the Tyne locker room is complicated. Will that affect you?”

Wang Lie shook his head. “Just small problems. Nothing your husband can’t handle. Off the pitch issues are a bit more troublesome.”

“How so?”

“I don’t want to keep living in hotels, but Fernando hasn’t found a suitable place yet, so I might have to stay in a hotel longer.”

Tang Xingmei understood why her husband disliked hotels and why finding the right house was difficult. She comforted him, “Don’t worry. Good houses are rare. Just let it happen naturally. Maybe you’ll get good news soon.”

Wang Lie sighed, “Hopefully… If this house isn’t settled soon, I can’t move my equipment from Manchester…”

※※※

Winter nights in Newcastle fell early. The residential streets were nearly deserted. Under the dim flickering streetlights, a car approached and parked by the roadside.

A figure got out, glanced left and right, then hunched his shoulders and hurried to the door of a small building, knocking urgently.

After repeated knocks, footsteps and a lazy voice came from inside, “Who is it?”

“Mom, it’s me, Sonny,” the knocker replied quietly, glancing around nervously.

The door unlocked and opened. A plump middle-aged woman looked surprised at Sonny Dean standing outside. “Why are you here? Aren’t you supposed to be back in Northumberland?”

Page 3/3

Dean pushed inside and closed the door behind him. “I don’t want to live there. Too many paparazzi.”

“What about Offina?” his mother asked.

Dean frowned. “Mom, didn’t I tell you? We broke up a long time ago…”

“Oh? Sorry, I forgot…”

Dean sniffed hard. “Have you been drinking again?”

His mother smiled sheepishly, twiddling her fingers. “Just a little, just a little all day today…”

Dean didn’t doubt that. If she had been drinking heavily, he wouldn’t have had to sniff hard; he would have smelled it as soon as he entered.

Still, he scolded, “The doctor said you shouldn’t drink even a little.”

His mother changed the subject. “Have you eaten dinner? I’ll make you something…”

She rushed to the kitchen and opened the fridge.

Dean followed her, hearing the clinking of bottles and jars as she rummaged, muttering, “Strange, I remember buying it… where is it? This one… no… that one… I’ll make you a salad?”

Dean sighed and grabbed her hand. “No, Mom, I’ve eaten.”

“Ha… really?” she chuckled awkwardly. “Then have a drink…”

She picked up a bottle of beer from the fridge.

Dean shook his head. “I’m going to my room.”

He climbed the stairs to the second floor.

His mother watched him and asked, “How was your day, Sonny?”

“Same as usual,” Dean replied without turning around.

“Same as usual? The news said Wang trained today. I remember you used to like him…”

Dean stopped on the stairs, turned around, and glared at her. “I’ve told you many times—I don’t like him anymore!”

“Oh, sorry…” his mother was taken aback.

Seeing her flustered, Dean pursed his lips and remained silent for a moment, then tossed out, “I’m resting,” before going upstairs.

The sound of the door closing soon came from above.

His mother stared at the staircase, then turned away with a gloomy expression and shuffled back to the kitchen. After hesitating, she opened the fridge again and pulled out a beer bottle.

※※※

Back in his room, Sonny Dean’s excitement finally settled.

Before him was a modest little bedroom, with just enough space for a bed, a desk, and a wardrobe.

This was where he had lived since childhood.

He had lived here until age twenty-two before moving out after buying a mansion in Northumberland, northeast of Newcastle.

The room looked much the same as when he left, without any signs of neglect, as he often returned to stay. His six-million-pound mansion was luxurious, boasting five spacious suites and five parking spots. Yet only here in this small room did he feel some comfort.

Dean kicked off his shoes and lay on the bed, naturally gazing at the ceiling.

It was plastered with countless posters of football stars: the former England international and Tyne legend “Longbow” Bert Taylor; the Brazilian superstar Filho from the early 2000s; last year’s retired Spanish midfield maestro Gonzalo Brando; and current German national team’s top scorer Wayne Tafetschov…

Countless nights, Sonny Dean had fallen asleep under the watchful eyes of these top players.

However, the central part of the overlapping posters was conspicuously bare, revealing the original ceiling.

Dean lay there and fixed his gaze on that white patch.

Those had once been posters he had torn down. As he stared at the ceiling, he seemed to hear the voice of the person in those posters echoing in his ears:

“Run forward, Dean!”

“Pass the ball, Dean!”

“Pass it immediately! Pass it immediately!”

“You’re distracted, Dean!”

“Nice shot, Dean!”

“Dean!”

“Dean!”

“Dean…”

…

Dean flipped onto his stomach, finally not facing the ceiling directly, but the voices in his ears didn’t fade.

He covered his ears with his hands, but it didn’t help.

Only when he pressed his pillow over his head did the noise soften—Wang Lie’s voice muffled, distant, gentle, no longer harsh.

Dean exhaled deeply.

This had been one hell of a fucking day!