[Football] Crown of Thorns

Since the relationship between Gama and his father Ernesto has thawed, the two can often communicate on the phone.

Before Christmas, Ernesto asked Gama on the phone with some embarrassment if he would return to Porto during Christmas—since Gama took Ernesto to him at Joona’s request that year. Since Porto, where the Boavista club he played for, Ernesto has been living in the apartment rented by the father and son at the time. Later, after Gama transferred, he bought the apartment and gave it to him. Jona (after all, the relationship between Gama and Ernesto was very cold at the time), but since Jona ran away with her singer boyfriend, Ernesto was the only one who lived in Porto.

After the father-son relationship thawed, Gama asked Ernesto if he wanted to come to Germany, but Ernesto refused.

Ernesto made a girlfriend, and it is said that he is very serious about this relationship. For Gama, he just hopes that the other party is a good woman.

When he heard that his father hesitated to say that he wanted some Dortmund souvenirs to give away, Gama hadn’t reacted yet. After he understood it, he realized that Ernesto’s question meant that he wanted to settle down, that is to say, he wanted to Gama meets his girlfriend over Christmas.

"What does Joanna mean?"

On the plane back home, Agostinho asked Gama.

"She is very happy."

Gama sighed.

For Ernesto, his feelings are very complicated - the other party is Gama's father, but he also feels contradictory. The price of getting the memory and Joanna's wish make Gama have to recognize the relationship between father and son.

"But you still agreed."

Agostinho stretched out his fat paw and patted Gama's shoulder, "Boy, don't be such a mother-in-law."

"I know."

Jia Ma leaned back in his chair, his voice was a little erratic.

"Can't figure it out?"

"No."

Jia Ma shook his head, he just felt a little complicated, as if he had just accepted the existence of his stepfather and then his stepfather found him a new mother... It was really hard to express his feelings clearly.

Agostinho picked up the newspaper on the table and shook it, "Hey, I didn't have the chance to watch this year's Santa Claus Parade in Porto, what a pity."

Jia Ma glanced at him sideways, "Are you interested in that kind of celebration?"

Scratching his head, Agostinho sighed, "I used to take my son to see it at this time!"

"? What? You have kids???"

Jia Ma's eyes widened, and he looked up and down the fat man in disbelief—after a few years of acquaintance, he didn't even know that Old Tiha had a child?

Agostinho gave Gama a white look, "Is it strange?"

"Hehe~"

Jia Ma picked up the newspaper to cover his face, the morals of foreigners~~

"My son made the Panthers (Boavista) junior team last year."

Agostinho said proudly.

When it comes to his son, his cunning and treacherous face also showed a fatherly and kind expression.

"Oh, congratulations."

"Actually," Agostinho sighed, "his talent is not very good, but he likes football and that's all I can do for him."

Gama put down the newspaper, looked at the old Tiha's face, and was a little moved, "You are a good father."

"Of course, haha~~"

Seeing his smug look, Jia Ma wanted to hit someone very much.

There are thousands of things in the world, but the relationship between family and relatives is a sincere and ordinary existence. Even people like Old Tiha have deep care and worries for their children, parents and children!

In Porto in December, the average temperature is between 6°C and 14°C, which is much higher than the coldness in Germany.

Gama was wearing a set of casual clothes and a windbreaker. He was tall and capable, while the old Tiha was still shivering in a down jacket.

Speechlessly looking at the unscrupulous manager who was shivering from the cold, Gama sighed, "You are from Porto."

What he meant was how could you behave like this?

As a result, Agostinho rolled his eyes and took out a woolen hat from his pocket and put it on his head, "I'm actually a Lisbon native."

Gamamo was silent, and it took two seconds for him to look over, "But the average temperature in December in Lisbon is about the same as that in Porto!"

"Hey, I'm old, my body is useless~~"

"........."

The two got into the car while arguing, looked at Chris driving, and Gama asked him to take the old Tiha back first, lest his black-hearted manager start to think that he didn't respect the old again.

"Feliz Natal!"

Waving to the old Tiha who got out of the car, Gama asked Chris to send him to Ernesto's place and then let him go home.

Easterners don't care about Christmas, young people just use this day to have fun, but in the eyes of Westerners, Christmas is also a day for family reunion.

The apartment where Jiama and his son once lived was not too big, but it looked so warm and homely under the arrangement of Joanna.

Pushing open the door and smelling the smell of food wafting from the room, a smile appeared on Jia Ma's face.

"Merry Christmas!"

"Merry Christmas! FelizNatal!"

The crisp sound of clinking glasses sounded, and three blessings sounded. Tonight is a time for family reunion.

…………

The Portuguese government has Christmas holidays from the 24th to January 5th, but most enterprises and service industries basically only have holidays on the 25th, 26th, and January [-]st. Joanna’s current external job is his singer A nutritionist in her boyfriend's work team (it doesn't sound like a full-time job - Gama), and Ernesto has been working in the seafood shop not far from his apartment, although the current In fact, he can live comfortably without working just because of the money Gama gave him.

In the past, when the family had no income, Ernesto would rather drink on credit than to drink, but now when he can enjoy without credit, he works very seriously, and his whole spirit has changed.

But that's why he only had those three days off.

Jona wants to go to Lisbon, Gama thinks he needs to accompany Jona, and Ernesto is less than happy.

"Qiona is going to meet her boyfriend, what are you doing?"

"……go shopping!"

What Gama said was a little guilty.

Ernesto sighed, "Shiko..."

Seeing that her younger brother was a little annoyed by her father's tone of lecturing, she hurriedly made a siege, "Xiko, didn't you say that you still want to shoot a European Cup promotional video?"

"Yes, yes, the national team is going to shoot a promotional video for the European Cup!"

Who will let the players go to work during the two days of Christmas!

Ernesto complained silently in his heart.

But looking at the expression on his son's face and the nervous look on his daughter's face, Ernesto sighed, "Can the 25th be all right?"

"What are you doing on the 26th?"

"Well, I want you to meet..."

…………

…………

Sitting in a coffee shop near the commercial square in the center of Lisbon, Gama rested his chin and looked out at the busy street through the glass wall.

Old Tiha panted and squeezed into the sofa seat, wiping his sweat.

"What's the hurry for?"

Gama picked up the glass and took a sip of the soda water in the glass. Even though it was a festival, he would not indulge himself, and he basically would not touch stimulating drinks.

Raising his hand to ask for a cup of hot coffee, Agostinho took out a contract from the document bag he was carrying and handed it over, "Although there is no money in this contract, I suggest you sign it."

"Just for this?"

Gama smiled when he accepted the contract.

Christmas is over two days away. Although Lisbon is still lively, many people have returned to work, and his manager is no exception.

Sitting here, you can see a very tall Christmas tree erected in the commercial square outside, as well as the colorful lights decorated on both sides of the street, and the main commercial district in the city center is still bustling with people, still a festive scene .

"PSAs?"

After quickly scanning the contract in his hand, Jia Ma thought for a while, "I have never accepted this type of advertisement before."

"That's right, this opportunity is very rare," Old Tiha laughed, "I invite you to become a promotional ambassador for Portugal tourism. This is a good opportunity to further build your reputation."

"But when it comes to international reputation, it should be Cristiano who is bigger!"

Gama blinked, a little puzzled.

"Who said, you are not a little famous now."

The old Tiha was very excited, "Do you know that since the Portuguese national team successfully qualified for the group stage, coupled with the topic of who is the hero at home and abroad, your reputation has been fired to a very high level. I don't know how many people are looking for your advertising endorsement. How much..."

Seeing his excited look, Jia Ma snorted twice, "Is this a quarrel that put me on the fire?"

"Don't be dissatisfied, kid, what are you afraid of hype, you are afraid that no one will hype you!"

The old Tiha quickly put Gama's signed contract away and put it in his bag, "The players who play football now are different from ours. If there is no hype, there will be no topic. If there is no topic, there will be no fame. No fame. There is no advertising, no advertising endorsement, how can there be income..."

Hearing the manager's babble, Jia Ma lay lazily on the table, really wanting to cover his ears.

"By the way, the European Cup promotional video will be shot the day after tomorrow. Remember to tidy up your image and cut your hair. No, I'll find a designer..."

What kind of makeup does a man need to wear... God, please forgive me! ! !

Gama: ⊙﹏⊙‖

"Did you hear what I said?"

"Yes, yes, I know, I know!"

"Ah, also, this travel advertisement is also going to be filmed. I will ask Fausto (his assistant) to contact you, and about your sponsor, didn't you sign a contract with Nike for two years before, and now they say To re-sign the contract, I am going to discuss the sponsorship fee with them..."

…………

"Xiko, are you listening?"

"Listen, I'm listening!"

Sitting up straight, Gama opened his eyes wide, trying to show that he was listening carefully, and at the same time silently put away the mobile phone in his hand. He and Mario were chatting by text message just now.

"Old Tiha, you are really getting more and more wordy."

"Who am I working for, do you know..."

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PS: Transition chapter~