The morning Brian Clark left, Director Harris came to the training center to see him off. Brian Clark could no longer see any trace of drunkenness on Old Harris's face from that night, and he wondered if Old Harris still remembered the things he had said when he was drunk.

  “Brian, do your best over there! I’ll be waiting to see you on TV!”

  “Alright, if I don’t make it, I just won’t come back!” Brian Clark struck a macho pose. “I’ll have to wander the streets of Italy, making a living by performing!”

  “Get out of here!” David Young waved his hand from the side. “What nonsense are you talking about!”

  Then he turned to the slightly chubby middle-aged man standing next to him and said, “Old Grant, did you see that? That’s what this kid is like. Once he’s in Italy, you’ll have to put up with him. If he does anything wrong, please be patient with him.”

  The middle-aged man, William Grant, smiled and waved his hand. “Not at all, you’re too polite, Old Young.”

  Then he carefully sized up Brian Clark, who was saying goodbye to his friends. This was actually his first time meeting the legendary genius player. To be honest, he wasn’t quite what he had imagined.

  In his imagination, a genius would first have a personality different from ordinary people—probably a bit arrogant and hard to get along with. After going through such setbacks and blows, he might also be pessimistic and gloomy. In short, he should have an aura that says “strangers keep away.”

  But the person in front of him now was a big boy joking and laughing with his friends, not acting serious at all.

  “Old Young, your prized disciple really is something else.”

  David Young chuckled. Brian Clark was always someone he was proud of.

  Seeing that Brian Clark and Director Harris were almost done talking, he beckoned Brian Clark over—he had something to say to him privately.

  “You’ve been training hard lately. Is your left foot alright?” he asked.

  Brian Clark shook his head. “If you hadn’t mentioned it, I’d have almost forgotten I was ever injured there.”

  “Mm. But no matter what, your left foot is still a hidden risk. So when you get to Italy, be smart—avoid trouble when you can, don’t act like a madman. Learn to use your head when you play.” David Young pointed at Brian Clark’s head. “You’re a striker. Your job isn’t to brawl with opponents. As long as you can get the ball into the net, that’s enough.”

  Brian Clark nodded. He knew the old man was giving him his final advice, so he listened carefully, his face losing its previous playful look.

  “And if you sign a contract, do more basic training—build up your stamina and strength. After all, you missed a year of training. Professional matches are nothing like those casual games you play every week.”

  “I know, don’t worry, old man.”

  David Young seemed to want to say more, but it looked like he’d already said everything, so he opened his mouth, but in the end just sighed.

  Seeing the old man like this, Brian Clark said in surprise, “Come on, old man, I’m just going to Italy for a trial, not on a suicide mission. Don’t make it sound like we’re parting forever… Don’t worry, even if I can’t make it, I definitely won’t be performing on the streets of Italy. I’ll come back and work for you, and this time you’ll have to pay me a salary, ha!”

  Hearing this, Daniel Young got angry and kicked at Brian Clark. “Get lost! Who wants you to come back?”

  Brian Clark could have dodged, but he deliberately moved a bit slow and got kicked squarely on the butt. “Ouch, old man, you really kicked me!”

  “When have I ever faked it when I beat you?” David Young rolled up his sleeves.

  This time, Brian Clark quickly ran away, hiding behind William Grant, using Coach Young’s friend as a human shield, which startled William Grant.

  But this trick really worked. David Young didn’t dare come over when he saw it, just pointed at him and scolded, “Come out! What do you look like in front of others!”

  “You think I’m stupid, old man? Come out just to get hit?” Brian Clark hid behind William Grant, trying to shrink himself so he wouldn’t look much taller than William Grant. The scene was quite comical…

  “Uh, uh… this…” William Grant wasn’t used to the master-apprentice relationship between Brian Clark and David Young, and didn’t know what to say.

  Hiding behind him, Brian Clark said, “Uncle Guo, let’s go, or we’ll miss the flight…”

  William Grant really hadn’t expected the master and apprentice to part like this, and he was still asking, “So… we’re just leaving like this?”

  David Young waved his hand angrily. “Go, go, go! The more I look at you, the more annoyed I get!”

  “See, Uncle Guo? Let’s hurry up and go!” With that, Brian Clark pulled William Grant out. “Otherwise the old man will be so mad he won’t even be able to eat lunch!”

  Unable to resist Brian Clark, William Grant could only follow. He waved to David Young, “Goodbye then, Old Young. Don’t worry, I will…”

  “Alright, just go!”

  Coach Young didn’t wait for him to finish, turned around and walked into the office, slamming the door behind him.

  Brian Clark didn’t seem to mind at all, waving goodbye to Director Harris who was standing to the side. “Goodbye, Old Harris. When I make it big, I’ll come back to see you and take you flying!”

  “Goodbye, Brian, don’t worry!” Director Harris replied with a comment that sounded completely out of context to William Grant.

  …