Fame with a ball

Of the two dinners that Lin Zhigao attended, the Pepsi Superstar Night was a little more interesting than the other.

Celebrities, reporters, models, hosts, sponsors, and all kinds of social celebrities and ladies who claim to be his own will gather together to play charity auctions, communicate and exchange things, and pass their energy and money that start to flourish at night.

Jiang Shupeng did not accompany Lin Zhigao. He flew to Shanghai to negotiate a contract with Nike's lawyers.Lin Zhigao originally thought that he could handle this kind of occasion by himself, isn't it just a dinner party?Anyway, he didn't have a social circle here, so he just came here to have a meal and feast his eyes by the way.

But the real miscalculation is that there is no one Lin Zhigao knows here, but everyone else knows him—from the moment he entered the venue, there were no less than five people who came to strike up a conversation with him, from a young and beautiful girl to a middle-aged bald man Uncle, there are all kinds of people, and they also have a common characteristic, that is: they think that Lin Zhigao knows them all, and they don’t introduce themselves first when they come up, just say "Oh, I didn’t expect to see you here, I'm really happy, one day we will go out to a party together, and I will introduce you to Barabara."

Lin Zhigao couldn't help but want to complain: I don't know if people who have been away from the country for too long are easy to leave the society!Who are you guys, should I know you guys when I play football?

This situation reached its acme when a woman in a tight-fitting evening dress, with a particularly slim figure and a very charming appearance, not to mention a scheming in her eyes, approached him with a glass of champagne.

Judging by her attire, Lin Zhigao felt that she was a female star, and she was obviously a good one.

But the bad thing is, he also doesn't know who she is.Lin Zhigao didn't pay much attention to entertainment news. He loved watching Hong Kong movies in the 80s and 90s since he was a child. But knowing a bunch of Hong Kong movie stars obviously doesn't help the current situation. He can't face this woman Dakan, do you like Brother Ma, or Huang Feihong?

The female celebrity leaned over delicately and handed Lin Zhigao a glass of wine: "Why did you come here alone? Didn't you bring a female companion?"

"I'm alone." Lin Zhigao smiled slightly, speaking concisely.

"I heard you recently signed a contract with Head & Shoulders? That's a coincidence. I'm the endorser of Pantene. We're signing with the same company."

"Hehe, is that so?" Lin Zhigao could only laugh dryly.

Even Lin Zhigao himself felt that he was bored + bored, but the female star didn't show it at all, she was still talking about something, looking for something, looking from a distance, it seemed that the two of them were having a good time chatting .

"Uh..." Lin Zhigao rubbed his nose and asked back, "You don't have a male companion?"

The female celebrity threw him an ambiguous look, "I'm also a loner."

Lin Zhigao felt goosebumps all over his body, and he couldn't tell whether it was the electric anesthesia or the diaphragm.

Seeing the female celebrity getting closer and closer, Lin Zhigao couldn't figure out what to do with the sweat on his forehead. He glanced around, and there were not many people watching his corner. Even if there were, those people had meaningful expressions on their faces. Smiling, it's annoying to watch.

Perhaps other men would be very happy to have this affair, but this is definitely not Lin Zhigao—well, this female star is indeed rare and beautiful, but Lin Zhigao hates the utilitarianism in her eyes, as if He has become like a meal on her plate.

Just because of this point, Lin Zhigao absolutely didn't like her.

"It's so boring here, do you want to take a walk outside with me?" The female star exhaled at Lin Zhigao. "On the way here, it was rare to see stars in the sky outside."

"Uh... isn't it cold outside?" Lin Zhigao looked at the dress worn by the female star and thought: It's almost January, you're dressed so cool and you want to go outside for a walk, isn't your brain burned out?

The female star's expression froze, but she immediately smiled and said, "Aren't you willing to lend me a coat?"

Lin Zhigao really didn't want to borrow it, but how could he refuse?He has never resented Jiang Shupeng so much as now. If Jiang Shupeng was here, how could he be in trouble?This woman must have been dismissed by him.

At this moment, a clear female voice suddenly came from the side: "Isn't this Yao Jingjing? I like you very much, and I'm your fan! Can you take a photo with me?"

Lin Zhigao was almost surprised to see that someone finally came to disrupt the situation. He couldn't wait to turn around and saw a very fashionable and beautiful girl in her 20s wearing trousers standing beside them, holding a mobile phone and smiling. She looked at him and Yao Jingjing.

Yao Jingjing's complexion was a bit stinky, but since Lin Zhigao was beside her, she chuckled and said, "Are you my fan?"

"Yeah, can I take a picture with you?"

Yao Jingjing took a look at Lin Zhigao and said, "Okay, let's take a photo together." Then, she stood beside Lin Zhigao first, and wanted to stretch her arm to hold Lin Zhigao's arm.

The girl who appeared in the sky had sharp eyes and quick hands, grabbed Yao Jingjing's hand, forced her to stand beside him, and then pointed at them with the camera of her mobile phone: "Come on, have a smile. Eggplant~"

After taking a photo with Yao Jingjing, who had an unnatural expression, the girl said to Lin Zhigao, "I like you too, shall we take a photo too?"

Lin Zhigao nodded: "Of course."

"But the view here is not very good, let's go over there to take pictures?" The girl pointed to the place at the entrance of the venue, and then walked there first.

Lin Zhigao immediately said to Yao Jingjing: "Excuse me." Then he quickly moved away with his long legs.

Yao Jingjing, who was left in place, immediately turned dark.

……

Walking near the entrance of the venue, Lin Zhigao let out a sigh of relief.

"How about it, my role in saving the hero is not bad, right?"

As soon as he relaxed, he raised his eyes and saw the girl standing in front of him, looking at him with a smile, Lin Zhigao was startled.

"What are you talking about?" Lin Zhigao looked innocent: "I don't quite understand."

"Come on, I knew you wanted to get rid of that Yao Jingjing who came to save your place, and you still acted with me!"

Lin Zhigao frowned slightly: "But I don't know you."

"I just know you!" Seeing that Lin Zhigao's expression became more and more inexplicable, the girl smiled and said, "Okay, okay, I won't play with you anymore. Let me introduce myself, my name is Qian Qing, and I'm your press release Man, I just graduated from graduate school this year. Jiang Shupeng asked me to take care of you today, and he knows that you will not be able to handle this kind of occasion. But meeting me in this situation is very dramatic, isn't it?"

Hearing the words Jiang Shupeng, Lin Zhigao obviously relaxed.He re-observed Qian Qing, and said with a smile: "I thought the press spokesman Jiang Shupeng would find for me would be a man at least 30 years old. I was a little surprised to see you."

"Men?" Qian Qing sneered and crossed her arms: "Then you are either sexist, or you just can't keep up with the times."

"How to say?"

"A place like the Ministry of Foreign Affairs only needs an old-fashioned and rigid man in his 40s to be the spokesperson! But who are you? You are Lin Zhigao. You are Lin Zhigao who will face countless reporters in the future. What you need The spokesperson is not the kind of person who is serious, looks particularly cultured and classy, ​​but can only speak to the speech, what you need is the kind of eloquent, eloquent, more gossip than a reporter, who can beat a cherry stem with his tongue Butterfly, no matter what problems they encounter, someone who can choke them back in an instant—such as mere next.”

Lin Zhigao put his arm on his chin: "It's interesting."

Qian Qing's expression was obviously full of pride: "Of course, if this spokesperson is still pretty and can trick reporters, it will be even more perfect."

"So you're saying you're 100% sure you're [-]% qualified?"

"Could it be that I didn't handle the public relations crisis well just now?" Qian Qing sniffed, "If it wasn't for me, as long as Yao Jingjing clings to you, you don't need to be caught by her, as long as you two are close together, Tomorrow's front page headline will definitely be the news that you two are in a relationship. She has used this trick countless times, and male celebrities have been fooled every time. I suspect that she herself has a deal with reporters. There may be many photos They all asked their agents to secretly take pictures."

Speaking of this, Lin Zhigao scratched his head: "Her name is Yao Jingjing?"

Qian Qing's expression became embarrassing: "...you don't know who she is?"

"No, I don't know."

"I don't know you have been chatting with her for so long?!"

Lin Zhigao looked up at the sky: "I know now, her name is Yao Jingjing."

Qian Qing: "..."

"But who is she? An actress? A singer?"

Qian Qing waved her hand disdainfully: "The well-known courtesan in the entertainment industry, often plays soy sauce in major movies, as a female supporting role, and often has very few roles, but the amazing thing is that no matter which movie she plays, she can be as good as the leading actor." It's weird to copy the scandal."

Lin Zhigao took out his mobile phone to check the time, and said, "It's getting late, I still have a flight to Shanghai tomorrow. I'm going first, you should go too."

"Hey, no! You can't go yet!"

Lin Zhigao withdrew the leg he had just stepped out: "Why?"

"You haven't signed a contract with me yet! Jiang Shupeng said he can't make the decision himself, and you can only give me a formal labor contract if you agree."

Lin Zhigao thought for a while and asked earnestly: "I think you are a nice person, but there is one thing, how many languages ​​can you speak? My living area is mainly in Europe. If you can only speak Chinese, I want you to do it. Well."

"...You are really straightforward. But it doesn't bother me. I graduated from the University of Rome. I also studied French and English in school. Although I am not as good at Italian as I am in these two subjects, my oral English is still so-so. How, am I qualified?"

"Passed." Lin Zhigao turned to leave, but was held back by Qian Qing, he turned his head helplessly: "What's wrong?"

Qian Qing pointed at his feet: "I'm wearing high heels, why don't you take me back to the hotel?"

Lin Zhigao frowned: "I also came here by taxi... Besides, I don't live in the same hotel as you, so you can take a taxi back by yourself." After a pause, he said: "You can ask Jiang Shupeng for reimbursement of your expenses. .”

With a strange expression on Qian Qing's face, she stared at Lin Zhigao and saw that Lin Zhigao really left her alone and walked away, she couldn't help but muttered, "It's really a piece of wood that doesn't understand style."

Lin Zhigao didn't hear this. If he heard it, he would definitely retort immediately: I am not a stallion who only sees women and gets into heat. Why do you all want me to serve you with care?

……

If meeting Qian Qing at the Pepsi Superstar Night was a surprise, then meeting Cao Jingwei at the football association's dinner was definitely a shock.

Everyone knows that the current Chinese national team Camacho doesn't mean anything. At most, he is in charge of playing games or something. Many other things in the team have to be managed by the team leader, and Cao Jingwei is the team leader of the national team. Of course, he also worked in a certain department within the Football Association.

When he came to talk to him, Lin Zhigao felt a "click" in his heart, and had some bad premonitions instantly.

Sure enough, Cao Jingwei went to the Three Treasures Hall for nothing. He exchanged some pleasantries with Lin Zhigao, and then got straight to the point: "Xiao Lin, how long do you plan to stay in China when you return to China?"

Lin Zhigao made a smile: "I won't stay long, I will go home to accompany my parents, busy with business matters, and I will go back soon."

"Then New Year's Day is always celebrated in China, right?"

"Yes, I want to spend time with my parents on New Year's Day."

Cao Jingwei smiled, with an amiable face: "Actually, I want to make a small request to you."

"What's the request? If the team leader has something to say, just say it."

"Kobayashi, you also know that our country is in Group A and Japan is in Group B in the Asian top ten competition. It will start in March and the last few games will be played. The Japanese national team proposed to us two days ago A request, I want to play a friendly match with us after New Year’s Day, and they named you to play the game. As a respect, the opponent will also send players such as Shinji Kagawa who is studying abroad. I think this is a good opportunity Ah! The Japanese team is a strong team in Asia, playing against them can exercise our technical level very well.”

"When will the game be?"

"The Japanese team is supposed to be on January 1 and host the team in Tokyo."

"January 1?" Lin Zhigao thought it would be impossible after counting the days: "But the winter break is over by then, and I'm going back to Turin."

Cao Jingwei sternly said: "Can't your club be accommodating? It's not a big deal to arrive at the evening paper for a day or two."

Lin Zhigao laughed: "If the national team really needs me, you should talk to the club yourself. Isn't it more justifiable to ask the club in the name of the national team than the players themselves?"

Cao Jingwei looked embarrassed, he hesitated for a while, and said: "Actually, we have already contacted the Juventus club about this matter. But your club does not agree to release him, and they said that they will not do it for a friendly match. You're cleared, so we're hoping, uh, you'll ask the club to play in this game as an individual."

"In my personal capacity? Doesn't that mean that I will skip training?!" Lin Zhigao frowned and shook his head. "Before the holiday, the head coach told us not to be late. One month of internal ban. Moreover, the Serie A league has already started on January 1, and the team will also participate in the Coppa Italia on January 10. In addition, the Champions League game is a third-line battle-I really can’t delay the time to return to the team .”

"Open your mouth and shut your mouth about the club, Comrade Lin Zhigao, you can't always think about things in the Juventus team! Isn't the match between the Chinese team and the Japanese team not important? This is a match that concerns national honor! As a Chinese, you have to put the overall situation first and sacrifice a little bit of personal interests at the right time, why not?"

Cao Jingwei's words were particularly high-sounding, as if Lin Zhigao didn't delay his return to the team to play this friendly match, which was inhumane and unrighteous and unpatriotic.Lin Zhigao felt very uncomfortable when he heard this, and he couldn't help but retort: ​​"But isn't this just a friendly match? If it's a formal match, I'll definitely be there for you. In the second half of the year, when will I have the top ten competition in Asia?" Absent?"

Cao Jingwei choked for a moment, his face immediately darkened three points, and he said in a deep voice: "This is what the country asks of you! You have the responsibility and the obligation to win glory for the country!"

"Is it the request of the country or the request of the Football Association? This request also includes sacrificing my personal future?" Lin Zhigao looked at Cao Jingwei coldly: "I will be suspended for one month if I return to the team late, do you know? Head coach Capello Always walk the talk.”

Cao Jingwei replied nonchalantly: "What about a one-month ban, it's not half a season, one month will pass soon. And when the time comes, we will help you put pressure on Juventus."

Lin Zhigao couldn't help being laughed at: "If I don't agree to play this friendly match, will I be irresponsible and unpatriotic?"

Cao Jingwei said with a straight face: "Anyway, this game is very important. The Football Association has agreed to the Japanese Football Association. This matter is settled like this."

"It's settled? Well, if you decide on your own, you can call yourself." Lin Zhigao frowned. "I signed a contract with Juventus. After signing the contract, I will fulfill my legal obligations. In the second half of this year I kept flying back and forth between Turin and China, and hardly played a few league games for the club except for the Champions League, but the head coach, teammates, and even the fans didn’t criticize me. Now if I play again Skimping on training and being late, will Juventus continue to pay me for nothing? Or is the national team going to compensate me for the losses I have suffered over the past six months?"

Lin Zhigao never felt that he was so great, but he thought he had nothing to be sorry for others.In the past six months since he moved to Juventus, Juventus fans are quite satisfied with his performance, and domestic fans even cheered for him in the game against the South Korean team. Both sides feel that this is what Lin Zhigao should do. Some people even think that what he did is not perfect-for example, Juventus fans, they always feel that the club spent 2000 million euros to bring Lin Zhigao from the Rangers, is it just to let him play in the Champions League?The league is currently the highlight of Juventus, okay!

However, no one thought about how hard Lin Zhigao had been here for more than half a year.

In the club's training, he has never skipped any game except returning home to play, and even in private he always insists on giving himself extra meals.I have made long-distance flights many times in the past six months, flying half of the world each time, reversing the pain of jet lag, physical exhaustion, and playing games in Turin in China like this, who knows this firm belief?

Not to mention the loss of money.

No one may have noticed, but Lin Zhigao and Jiang Shupeng definitely knew about it, but they didn’t say it—the contract signed between Lin Zhigao and Juventus clearly stated that Lin Zhigao’s performance in the league, Champions League, and cup matches How much money will he be rewarded with an assist for every goal scored.Do the math, if Lin Zhigao didn't go back to China to play games all the time, but concentrated on fighting in Serie A, Capello would have sent him to the main team of the league. And how many goals and assists he can score in the past six months, he How much money can you earn?

What's more, goals in Serie A are always accompanied by honors, which is one of the focuses of attention in Europe.But which European media paid attention to the few group games in the Asian qualifiers?

Yes, he is a Chinese, and his duty is to be patriotic. Lin Zhigao never felt that there was anything wrong with this, and he never thought that one day he would really change his nationality and not be a Chinese. However, no matter how loyal and patriotic he is, This heart can't be abused!

Is a friendly match really that important?More important than Lin Zhigao's future?Well, even if this game is really important, can't Cao Jingwei discuss with Lin Zhigao in a more relaxed tone?So with the hat of being unpatriotic, it is no wonder that Lin Zhigao is not the kind of steamed stuffed bun person who is born to be kneaded by others.

As long as the fans are not blind, they can see that Juventus is Lin Zhigao's real backing and barrier, the national team?Can they offer Lin Zhigao a salary of several million euros per year?Can they provide Lin Zhigao with countless top-level competitions every year to make him grow?Can media reporters all over Europe and fans all over the world know Zhigao Lin?

They can't.

What the Football Association can do is to watch Lin Zhigao grow up in Serie A, and when he grows up enough, he can take away the fruits of Lin Zhigao's hard work.Perhaps there is a bit of sweat from Juventus in the development of this fruit, but there is absolutely no Football Association.

If Lin Zhigao agreed to Cao Jingwei's request, he would negotiate terms with the club for this friendly match and postpone his return to the team.So first of all, Capello, who pays special attention to team discipline, will immediately be dissatisfied with Lin Zhigao, and then his teammates, or even the fans—and if some reporters hype "Lin Zhigao skipped training without discipline", he Part of his reputation was ruined first.

Then, when the Football Association has tasted the sweetness, it will use the banner of patriotism to suppress Lin Zhigao every time it encounters a friendly match, and use Lin Zhigao to support the scene. If Lin Zhigao gives in again and again and becomes "the firefighter of the Chinese national team", Then his career in Europe is half over.

No big club wants a main player who "carries a huge oil bottle behind him and can only return to the team to play a few games occasionally". At most, they will only buy Lin Zhigao as a substitute, or rotate the main player (This is still a good situation), then Lin Zhigao's future will be the same as that of Yao Ming - Yao Ming used to have a lot to do in the NBA, but the national team always likes to call him back to China, and he is required to participate in big and small games. Abruptly, at the most brilliant moment of Yao Ming's career, he was severely exhausted.

Cao Jingwei's face turned red and white, and finally he said forcefully: "Your name is already on the list submitted by the Football Association to the Japan Football Association!"

"Then delete it." Lin Zhigao said coldly: "Anyway, I won't play in the competition!"

"Then what if the Chinese team loses the game if you don't play? Can you afford this responsibility!"

"Could it be that the Chinese team must have won the Japanese team if I went to the game? This idea is too naive." Lin Zhigao looked up at Cao Jingwei and sneered: "What's more, I think the Chinese team needs a big defeat, so some people Only then can you see your true strength!"

Cao Jingwei gave Lin Zhigao a hard look, turned around angrily and left.

The two broke up unhappy.

……

Lin Zhigao withdrew from the banquet venue early and took a taxi back to the hotel.

Lying on the bed, the more he thought about it, the more angry he became, he couldn't help calling Jiang Shupeng, and told him everything that happened tonight.

Jiang Shupeng was busy with Lin Zhigao's contract in Shanghai at this time. Originally, he planned to sign the contract with Lin Zhigao after waiting for Lin Zhigao's plane tomorrow. Judging from his experience, what happened tonight must not be treated kindly.

Ordinary Chinese officials have a kind of arrogance, let alone those who hold real power.Cao Jingwei has a lot of power in his hands, and he has always been used to bossing people around. Now he suddenly met a stunned young man like Lin Zhigao, who asked him to do nothing, and in the end the two almost quarreled. Cao Jingwei could bear it in his heart. This tone?

Jiang Shupeng absolutely did not believe that Cao Jingwei would be so "tolerant" when this incident did not happen.

In just a few seconds, he had already thought of N kinds of consequences: The first bad result is that Cao Jingwei temporarily suppressed his breath, because Lin Zhigao will still be required to play in the top ten games after the Chinese New Year, and Cao Jingwei will not be at this time Lin Zhigao has an attack, but it is estimated that he will be stumbled at any time, making Lin Zhigao uncomfortable in China.

And the second bad result is that Cao Jingwei now reveals Lin Zhigao's refusal to play for the friendly match. No one knows what the significance of the Sino-Japanese war is. The media will automatically pour sewage on Lin Zhigao, saying that he is not patriotic, saying that he is selfish, etc., and using national pressure to force Lin Zhigao to submit to the Football Association.

Even if Jiang Shupeng explained to Lin Zhigao that it was just a friendly match and not a regular match, who would care?Fans will only remember that Lin Zhigao did not come when the Chinese team played against the Japanese team.

Of course, there is a worse situation...that is, the combination of these two kinds, within a few months, Lin Zhigao's reputation will definitely be artificially stained. It is possible to be seriously affected and have mental illness.

Although I think there will be a group of rational fans in China who will not listen to wind and rain, but once a national discussion is triggered, Lin Zhigao stands at the center of chaos, and anything may happen.

The prolonged silence on the other end of the phone made Lin Zhigao realize that something was wrong, and he couldn't help asking: "Could this matter cause serious consequences? Is it wrong for me to refuse so directly?"

"No, you did nothing wrong." Jiang Shupeng shook his head and said, "The only thing wrong is this environment, they may not treat you so tolerantly... This matter can be big or small, as long as the Football Association doesn't make a fuss about it , so naturally it becomes a trivial matter. But if the Football Association deliberately hypes up this matter, I am worried that it will have a great impact on your reputation, just like Liu Xiang’s strike in the 08 Olympics. His crisis public relations did not do well, and his image is in the It was severely damaged within a year."

"I don't believe that no one with discerning eyes can see this clearly." Lin Zhigao was a little annoyed: "Can I just sit and wait for death?"

"No, of course we have to act first. The difference between passive and active is heaven and earth."

Lin Zhigao took a deep breath: "Okay, then what should I do?"

"Don't do anything first. You come to Shanghai tomorrow. After we tentatively sign a contract with Nike, you can go home to accompany your parents. And I will discuss a plan with Qian Qing. It is best to hold a press conference before the Football Association moves." At the press conference, tell the story that you will not play in the Sino-Japanese War, and make up a reason to convince the fans and the media. In this way, even if the Football Association makes any moves, the domestic people will think that it is because the Football Association is dissatisfied with you. It’s pouring sewage—the only bargaining chip we have now is that compared to the darkness of the Football Association, your image in the hearts of fans is so radiant, they can easily listen to your words, not the Football Association’s.”

Lin Zhigao thought about it, and felt that this was the only way to go, but: "Discuss with Qian Qing? Is the spokesperson still in charge of my crisis public relations?"

Jiang Shupeng smiled and said, "I consulted with her because Qian Qing's background is unusual."

"What kind of unusual law?"

"Qian Qing's uncle works for the State Sports General Administration. Her father is not only very successful in business, but also has a wide network of contacts, especially in Beijing and Tianjin. Otherwise, why do you think I hired her for you instead of other more A professional press spokesperson?"

Lin Zhigao smacked his lips and couldn't help exclaiming: "You are really, madam!"

"I didn't take the initiative to trap her, it's just that she happened to come to the door by herself." Jiang Shupeng smiled slightly: "But don't tell her these things, otherwise, with this little girl's temper, she will immediately explode."

Lin Zhigao patted his chest: "My mouth is very strict!"

……

After hanging up the phone with Jiang Shupeng, Lin Zhigao thought about it, and couldn't help but send him a message: If this matter is difficult, at worst, I'll pretend to be sick.They can't ask an injured player to play, can they?

After sending the text message, Lin Zhigao was about to lock the screen, but when he lowered his head, he suddenly realized that he didn't send the text message to Jiang Shupeng just now, but he clicked the wrong recipient and sent it to John!

So he hurriedly edited a text message again, explaining to the other party that he had sent the wrong message.

But at this time, the phone rang.