Manchester United's heir apparent, but can't play football.

Chapter 100: The Joys and Sorrows of Life (National Football Team Story, Daily Transition)

"It's a huge sensation."

"When those foreign football stars and clubs came to China back then, was it just as sensational? Crowds everywhere, people everywhere, Ronaldo, Zidane, Beckham, Figo. I heard that the scene was out of control at one point, traffic was paralyzed for several hours, and many people camped outside the hotel 24 hours in advance in order to witness the brilliance of the European giants. It was an unprecedented frenzy."

"Their status is different. Li Luo is our country's own star, a son of Chinese fans. How can foreign stars compare to him?"

"The feelings are different, and the treatment is even more different. And look at what kind of cars are in front of him, how many cars are there, clearing the way for Li Luo."

The bus drove slowly, and the cheers around it never stopped.

The originally planned dedicated lane was lined with people who had come to greet him spontaneously: there were parents holding their children, lifting them up to their shoulders so that they could see the Chinese hero in the car window; there were elderly people with gray hair, wearing old national football team jerseys from more than ten years ago, waving with the crowd; there were even small shop owners from the nearby business district who temporarily closed their shops and rushed over, holding up their phones to record videos, with the camera locked on the window seat where Li Luo was sitting the whole time.

Along the way, red banners were hung on the lampposts, and the words "Congratulations to Li Luo for leading the national football team to victory," "The King of Football of the Motherland: Li Luo," and "Welcome home the heroes of the Asian Cup" were particularly eye-catching in the sunlight.

Even the roadside trees were wrapped with red ribbons, which looked like surging waves when the wind blew.

The journey from the airport to the hotel was only 20 kilometers, but the bus took nearly an hour and a half. Every stretch of road and every intersection along the way was filled with red-clad crowds and cheers.

Li Luo kept the car window open the entire time, waving to the fans continuously.

Tom, the assistant sitting next to me, was extremely excited throughout the entire event, gaining a profound understanding of the meaning of "returning home with victory and glory" in Chinese culture.

"Lee, the luckiest experience of my life was when the Jazz gave me the opportunity to work for you!"

"You little brat, do you often betray me?"

"No, if it had been Jack instead, he would definitely have betrayed you."

CTV5 will broadcast the entire event live.
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Returning home in glory.
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[This is what a man should do. 】
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[Li Luo brought the championship trophy back to his motherland, and it just so happened to be close to the Spring Festival. The scene of people welcoming him along the street was truly touching.]
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[A beautiful fairy tale, but I, Luo, did not give up on the road to pursuing my dreams!]
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[Is Li Luo now a national treasure-level athlete? Will he stay and spend the Lunar New Year with us? Otherwise, there won't be many more opportunities. Next season, we'll return to the Premier League, where the schedule will be even more congested, and there will be no winter break. We'll be competing on multiple fronts.]
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[Remove the words "national-level athlete," and Li Luo is our national treasure.]
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Take us to Russia, Li Luo.
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[With the Asian Cup qualifiers at round of 40, and the opponents all being so weak, the Chinese national team could advance even without Li Luo's return, right? Perrin would easily dominate those weaker teams, while Li Luo would be busy playing in the Europa League and returning to Manchester United in a few months to embark on the road to rebuilding the team.]
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He probably won't have time to stay for the New Year. The Bundesliga season started on the day of the Asian Cup final, and he'll likely have to return to Lower Saxony after the awards ceremony in a couple of days.
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[I wonder which paparazzi from that toilet paper newspaper would dare to follow Li Luo here? Haha.]

Arrived at the hotel.

There was no grand celebration banquet. The coaching staff urged everyone to rest well. After summarizing the game in the evening, the whole team got together for a happy meal and then had free time. No one bothered them during the whole process.

Li Luo can finally relax.

He invited several assistant coaches and assistants from Wolfsburg and Manchester United to the living room of his suite to play games with him.

Actually, everyone was sitting around the sofa watching him play a horror single-player game.

"Haha, Li, you're afraid to play when you're alone?"

"Don't talk nonsense, I just didn't want you to be bored."

"I really want to go out for a walk."

Tom looked at the night view outside the floor-to-ceiling window. He really wanted to go out and experience the atmosphere of China's upcoming Spring Festival, but unfortunately, it would cause a huge sensation if Li Luo went out now, so it was inconvenient for him to travel.

Without hesitation, Li Luo said, "Starting tonight, you don't need to follow me anymore. Take a few days off!"

"But."

"I'll call back to Manchester United and Wolfsburg and tell them I want to be alone, and then I'll talk to translator Zhao and ask him to take you guys out."

The crowd cheered, "Praise God! Praise Lee! It's such a blessing to work with Lee!"

"Hmph, who says I'm afraid to play horror games?"

"Tom said! Don't give him a holiday!"

After a long while, everyone left.

Li Luo immediately turned off the horror game and went back to her room to play on her phone.

He replied to Lauren's message carefully, then copied and pasted it to other girls.

It's important to have realistic expectations.

As the saying goes, practice makes perfect, and by the third time, given the personalities of some of the girls, they might be completely captivated.

Li Luo didn't know which one she liked the most.

All I know is that Lauren cares about me the most.

If you like everything, does that mean you don't like anything?
I pulled my thoughts back and stopped dwelling on this philosophical question.

Put down the phone.

He suddenly longed to go out alone, just like last time, to feel free and enjoy the atmosphere of the approaching Spring Festival in his motherland.

Wearing a mask and a hat, and hiding in the crowd, I shouldn't be recognized, right?
then.

The Chinese hero couldn't wait to change into his gear, sneak out the door, and prepare to indulge himself.

Now, absolutely no one will recognize me!

Walk to the elevator.

"Li, where are you going?"

"."

Li Luo looked helplessly at the national team coach he had just run into: "Mr. Perrin, how did you recognize me?"

Perrin, however, was quite open-minded, laughing and saying, "Haha, do you think I wouldn't recognize you? Of course not!"

"But I understand that you must have been feeling repressed for too long and want to go out and breathe some fresh air on your own. How about this, I'll ask a tour leader to accompany you out."

Li Luo shook his head: "No need, thank you Mr. Perrin, I prefer to go out alone."

"Okay, then relax and enjoy this peaceful moment."

The French coach does not interfere in the players' private lives during their free time.

Moreover.

A national treasure-level athlete is absolutely safe to return to his motherland.

I left the hotel and hailed a taxi.

Let's begin tonight's journey.

Li Luo looked out the car window at the night view.

I have many thoughts.

The taxi driver was about fifty years old.

A strange commentator's voice drifted over the radio: "The final showdown of the 2015 Asian Cup was full of twists and turns. The South Korean team launched a furious counterattack in the final moments, but our Chinese athlete Li Luo, with unwavering eyes, stood atop the Asian summit and delivered a stunning 'Little Li Flying Dagger' that sent the South Koreans reeling."

"The Little Flying Dagger, derived from the martial arts understanding of the Red Devils stars, was further improved by the German football grandmaster, Hecking, breaking through the many constraints of traditional free kicks, and finally being refined into Li Luo's unique killing move that makes him unparalleled in the football world!"

"It's simply divine, beyond comprehension!"

"."

"Let's review another exciting moment."

"South Korean prodigy Son Heung-min cuts inside, outmaneuvering three top Chinese Super League players – Hao Junmin, Zhang Chengdong, and Ren Hang! So arrogant? Does he not take my Thunder Kick Li Luo seriously?"

"In the blink of an eye, Li Luo used his feet to form a shield, his movements elegant, and executed the Red Devil's Great Shift, defusing the danger for the Chinese national team! The players of the Chinese national team breathed a sigh of relief! Wang Dalei shouted, 'Good brother!'"

"Although Son Heung-min came from Hamburg's youth academy, how could his family's heritage compare to that of Manchester United's crown prince? He was powerless to resist and was killed in one move."

"The Korean starlet let out a soft gasp and collapsed onto the grass, her eyes half-closed and her moist lips slightly parted. Li Luo, without looking to the side, dribbled forward and immediately found himself surrounded by the three Korean midfield stars forming a white tiger circle!"

"The White Tiger Ring was shattered, and Li Luo's robes fluttered in the wind as he raised a finger, as light as a feather yet as heavy as a thousand pounds—it was the long-lost technique."

"."

"The King of Football, Pelé, uttered the words: This child is like me!"

"."

"The match had just ended, and Perrin let it go; nobody cares about other people's business! Meanwhile, on the beach, the stunningly beautiful princess from the Western Regions blushed. The moonlight was bright, and the waves washed over their shadows. Suddenly, the young girl felt enveloped in warmth, panting softly, her breath sweet as orchids. She momentarily forgot to struggle free. She had intended to slap Li Luo's handsome face, but upon hearing his frivolous words, she was both annoyed and delighted, and feelings secretly blossomed within her: From childhood to adulthood, when had she ever been so close to a man? And when had she ever been so belittled?"

"Before long, the Western Region princess, who was still a virgin, was so charmed by Li Luo's sweet words that she became weak all over. It was as if a single encounter with spring breeze and dew was better than countless encounters in the mortal world."

"."

The taxi driver listened with great interest while simultaneously cursing the commentator as an idiot.

Li Luo smiled. He finally understood why those football stars from the 80s and 90s had so many nicknames: Recoba with his "flower-plucking finger," Rivaldo with his "light-footed glider," Ronaldinho with his "dragon-slaying sword," and Chilavert with his "overlord's spear."
It didn't take long.

Li Luo arrived at the Ice and Snow Lantern Festival.

As soon as you arrive at the entrance, you see a row of pine branches covered with red ribbons, which rustle loudly in the cold wind.

A small wooden sign stood up next to it, which read: Wishing Forest.

"Young man, what do you wish for? Marriage, career, or family?"

"Hmm." He hesitated for a moment, then took a blank strip of cloth, borrowed a marker from the stall owner, lowered his head, and prepared to write something but didn't know what to write. Finally, he wrote down the four words: "World Peace".

The stall owner looked bewildered: "That's a bit of a wish! I saw two middle-aged women arguing here yesterday!"

Li Luo smiled, paid the money, and tied the strip of cloth to the least conspicuous branch.

As he continued walking, an ancient painting, three hundred meters wide, slowly emerged on the ice. He slowed his pace and noticed that the shadows of the boats in the painting moved with the light, gradually becoming engrossed in watching it.

"Li Luo!"

"It's Li Luo!!!"

Several clear shouts rang out. Li Luo was stunned for a moment, then looked up and saw a group of children gathered at another ice wall not far away.

The ice wall is printed with images of Chinese heroes shooting goals in the Asian Cup. The children point at the heroes' faces, then turn to look at them with curiosity in their eyes.

Li Luo couldn't help but laugh, raised his hand and waved at them, and the mischievous children responded with funny faces.

so close.

I was almost recognized even though I was wearing a hat and a mask.

"An impromptu performance of the Snow Queen's parade will begin in five minutes at the central square!"

Continue walking towards the square.

From afar, one could see the queen, dressed in an ice crystal skirt, raising her hand as she was surrounded by cheering crowds.

He didn't squeeze through, but stood under the streetlights watching: the sequins on the Queen's skirt reflected the sea of ​​lights, the skirt looked like it was woven from stars, and the crowd around her was bustling with people, each with a happy smile on their face.

A passerby turned his head, his gaze lingering on his face. After a careful examination, he exclaimed, "Young man, you're very handsome! With the mask and hat on, you look a bit like Li Luo!"

Li Luo replied matter-of-factly, "Really? Many people say that."

The passerby's expression grew increasingly surprised, and he raised his hand with trembling hands: "You wouldn't happen to be..."

The older woman accompanying him joked, "Oh dear, don't be so rude! Don't bother that young man. How could he? Why would Li Luo come out alone? He usually has a huge group of foreign followers when he goes out, he's quite the big shot!"

"."

A cold wind blew by, seemingly carrying a fragrance.

barbecue?

Grilled beef skewers?

Grilled chives?
As he smelled the food, he realized he was hungry, and so he began his indulgence for the day.

We quickly left the ice and snow lantern festival and arrived at a street that was bustling with people and a vibrant atmosphere, just before the Spring Festival.

Red lanterns hung from the branches, and stalls selling couplets and New Year's goods were everywhere. The aroma of roasted sweet potatoes mingled with the noise of people, creating a lively and bustling atmosphere.

We ate and ate all the way.

Enjoying tranquility amidst the hustle and bustle.

The next morning.

Great Hall.

Asian Cup Athletes' Commendation Ceremony.

The red carpet stretched from the white marble steps all the way to the entrance.

There were no noisy toilet paper media on either side, only official reporters and photographers from various countries waiting quietly, their lenses pointed at a group of people walking toward the entrance.

Li Luo and Perrin wore red suits customized by the organizing committee, with a flag printed on the chest of the suits.

The technical teams from Manchester United and Wolfsburg were also invited.

Tom, dressed in a black suit, said excitedly, "Li, the commendation report above says we've also made a great contribution and are international friends."

Perrin smiled and said, "Chinese football will not forget your contributions. It's a pity that Mr. Black Gold couldn't come."

Looking back on this Asian Cup journey, the national team coach often had hallucinations: during the game, the shadow of Mr. Black Gold would vaguely appear in his vision. Whenever the team encountered difficulties and he wanted to make adjustments, he would always be stopped by the shadow of Mr. Black Gold, and then he would witness Li Luo breaking the deadlock.

After a while.

A hostess dressed in a cheongsam with blue and white porcelain patterns led the way, and the group walked up the steps into the Great Hall.

At that moment, the melody of "Singing for the Motherland" suddenly filled the incredibly spacious corridor.

Li Luo subconsciously noticed that Perrin beside him was a little nervous, Tom also suppressed his smile, and even the technical staff of the two clubs slowed down.

With unwavering gazes and solemn expressions, everyone walked step by step toward the slowly opening door.

A voice sounded:
"Xiao Li, what a fine young man, bringing glory to our country."

Two days later.

The day of farewell has finally arrived.

Perrin, translator Zhao, and a group of other staff members of the national football team were reluctant to part ways.

"Li, take good care of yourself. The Chinese national team will definitely get better and better. You have already given Chinese football a brand new look, not only the national team, but also the youth training teams of various clubs in the country. You have illuminated the future of Chinese football."

"Go Luo Ge! Winning more championships for the club will bring glory to the country."

"You don't need to come back for the Asian Cup qualifiers (top 40). We know you're exhausted from playing on multiple fronts at your club. The Chinese team will advance!"

Li Luo hugged each of them one by one.

Teaching Assistant Li blew on his bangs, wanting to say something, but couldn't get the words out, and just sighed softly.

Gao Lin hesitated for a moment, then said, "Li Luo, we will keep reviewing the Asian Cup match videos. Next time, we will definitely know how to cooperate with you better."

The many moments from the Asian Cup resurfaced in everyone's minds.

Under the five-star red flag, a surging red ocean, echoing red melodies, and a genius young man who turned the tide.
"it is good."

The setting sun was slowly sinking, casting long shadows on everyone.

The cold wind blew through the bare branches.

Li Luo smiled and waved goodbye to everyone.

Everyone stood still, their eyes fixed on his retreating figure.

A fleeting glimpse of beauty, a sword's cry piercing the air—the Republic's sharpest sword has finally been slowly sheathed.

Lower Saxony Airport.

Volkswagen executive Hans, leading a group of well-dressed staff, welcomed back Wolfsburg's midfield maestro.

What a wonderful moment!

"The Asian Cup heroes have returned in glory! Let's give them a round of applause!"

"Hey, you better watch out! Quick, help with the luggage! You should clap too!"

clap clap clap!
Thunderous applause!

Hans was thrilled.

With the Asian Cup over, Li Luo's commercial value has soared to an incredibly high level!

Like glittering mountains of gold.

Majestic mountains stretch for thousands of miles.

Signing an endorsement contract with Li Luo was one of the wisest decisions of his life.

It's simply a gift from God.

"Don't speak so loudly. I'm jet-lagged and I hate it when people bother me."

"Fine! Fine! Anyone who dares to bother you, I'll kick their ass hard with my leather shoes!"

Get in the car.

Li Luo closed his eyes to rest.

Tom pulled out a series of small trinkets and handed them out to Volkswagen executives and Wolfsburg uniform staff: "These are gifts that Lee brought back for you from Australia."

A blonde, wavy-haired female colleague exclaimed with delight, "What is this? It feels so nice to squeeze! Can I use it as a keychain or phone charm?"

"Kangaroo's testicles."

(End of this chapter)