Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
By the time Tony Twain and his team rushed back to Nottingham overnight with the league title trophy, this ancient city was once again revitalized with all the Nottingham Forest fans partying all night on the streets, in bars and even in their own homes. The whole city was drunk.
Twain naturally drank till he was as drunk as a lord and did not keep track of how much alcohol. There was no need and intention to. Anyway, it was one glass after another, one bottle after another bottle. What was considered to fully enjoy drinking without restraint? It was to drink to one’s heart’s content!
Twain was finally carried home by Dunn. He had no idea what happened after he was drunk. When he got up the next day, he found that he had blanks in his memory. He could not remember what happened last night for the life of him.
The headache from the hangover made him lie in bed for a long time before he could sit up.
This was the day after the league tournament had ended and sixteen hours had passed since that thrilling game yesterday. At the thought of the game, Twain felt as if he was still dreaming and that this was not real. Although he talked tough and said, “Our goal this season is to win The Double”, he was not prepared for what to do after he really won the championship title.
The team was on holiday today and did not have to train. When he thought of it, Twain laid down again on the bed. A hangover was really unbearable … Clattering sounds came from outside. He jumped out of bed and pulled back the curtains. The sky was gray with the pitter patter of rain coming down. It turned out that it was raining. It was cloudy yesterday …
When he saw the rain, he felt his mouth go dry. Twain went downstairs to find water to drink.
He had just filled a large glass with water and drenched his parched throat and lips when the phone rang.
“Uncle Tony!!” Shania’s excited voice came from the phone and startled Twain.
“You’re too loud!” Twain moved the phone away and said to the receiver.
“I’m happy! Congratulations on another championship win!”
“Yo, the news travels pretty fast.” Twain filled up another glass of water and sat on the sofa to chat with Shania.
“There’s the internet, hee hee.” Shania was in a really good mood from her voice.
“Is there anything you’re so happy about, Shania?” Twain asked.
“Isn’t it a happy thing for you to win the title?”
“Well, I meant to say if there’s anything that made you so happy?”
“Isn’t Uncle Tony’s happy occasion my pleasure too?”
Twain also smiled and said, “Little girl, how are you doing in America?”
“It’s all right. I’ve met some new friends. That movie will begin shooting in July. I don’t have many scenes, so I’m not particularly busy. It’s just that I still have to go other places for runway shows …” Shania gushed to Twain about her life and work these days. Twain also did not interrupt. He held his water glass and leaned back on the couch to quietly listen.
When she spoke to the end, Shania was suddenly quiet and then said in a low voice, “Uncle Tony?”
“Ah, you can continue to speak, I’m listening.” Twain thought that because he had not answered for a long time, Shania misunderstood that he was not listening to her, so he hurriedly explained.
“I miss you so much …”
Twain froze for a moment and thought he misheard.
“Do you miss me, Uncle Tony?”
“Of course, I miss you. How can I not miss you?”
“You’re lying!” Shania suddenly raised her voice again, “Aren’t you concerned that I’m alone here in a teeming world like Hollywood? Aren’t you worried that I might have a sex scandal? Does it not bother you that I might be bullied by some playboy?”
Twain was dumbfounded by the series of questions asked. It was not that he had not thought about them. He actually thought it was normal for Shania to find a boyfriend. It was not normal for Shania to remain single in the entertainment world like this. He used to wonder if it was Shania’s agency that asked her to do it … But Twain found it embarrassing to ask questions that invaded the privacy of others.
So, he never knew why Shania did not develop a relationship or anything like that. By all accounts, she was not young. She was seventeen years old. In today’s China, it was no longer considered puppy love to be dating at this age, not to mention the more open-minded foreign countries.
But how would he talk to Shania about that? Could he say, “I want you to starting dating?” Twain wanted to open his mouth and say so, only to find that he could not voice it. Was he hoping that she would or not?
The thought of such a beautiful and lovely clever girl getting cozy in the arms of a strange man, who could even be a grey-haired old man, Twain’s heart felt uncomfortable. This feeling was just like … as if someone had taken away his beloved toy.
Twain shivered as he was taken aback by his own thought.
That’s terrible … Why would I have such a thought? How could Shania be my toy? I’m just her temporary guardian in England, that’s all …
“Uncle Tony?” Shania thought it was a little strange when she did not hear Twain speak for a long while.
“Ah, uh, um … In fact, Shania … Well, you’re already seventeen years old. There’s nothing wrong with dating and falling in love …”
It was Shania’s turn to be silent this time. She opened her mouth and asked after a long beat, “Is that what you think, Uncle Tony?”
“Ah, I’m worried about you being lonely in the United States. It’s nice to have a relationship, providing that the other person is sincere toward you …”
“Fine.” Shania interrupted Twain’s words and said, “I’ll listen to Uncle Tony.”
After a simple farewell, she hung up the phone.
Twain sat alone stunned on the couch, holding his mobile phone and water glass. From the sound of it, Shania seems to be angry. That’s odd. Why would she be angry? Does she not want to have a relationship at this time? Then she could have simply said it. We are such close friends and can directly say anything to each other. If she’s afraid that it will affect her career or objections from her fans, she can speak up directly. I’m a flexible person. When she said fine, it felt like she was peeved … Did I say the wrong thing? Ahem, trying to figure out a woman’s heart is like looking for a needle in the haystack.
Twain remain perplexed despite much thought. He shook his head and drained the water from the glass before he stood up to go upstairs and get dressed.
※※※
Shania hung up the phone and sat angrily on the couch. Uncle Tony had cotton in his head instead of brains. She punched the Totoro soft toy in front of her with force.
Her agent, Fasal, happened to see this scene when he pushed the door open. But he did not ask anything and just said, “Mr. Colin Farrell has invited you to a party tonight …”
“I’ll go.” Shania raised her eyebrows.
※※※
Hollywood was brightly lit at night and monstrous and multicolored world under the glittering neon lights. This was home to the vast majority of the world’s stars. A paradise dreamt of and yearned by countless young men and women. Many relishing “stories” had been played out here.
Today, Shania would be the leading character in this story.
Sunset Boulevard was busy with traffic. With many high-end hotels congregated on this street, it was a good place for many stars to party and have fun once the night came. But it was also the preferred tourist destination for foreign visitors, because many tourists would always specially come here to encounter the stars they could only see on the television and movies.
Fasal parked the car in front of the hotel and the surrounding reporters suddenly swarmed up. The car door had not opened yet and the flashes were already popping endlessly. The doorman opened the door for Shania, as the long-haired Colin Farrell strode up to welcome.
“Oh, darling, I thought you weren’t coming!” Seeing Shania step out of the car in an evening dress, this sexy Irishman smiled and gave his hand.
Shania also smiled as she took his hand. Then she turned around and waved to the reporters’ cameras. The flashes became a swathe of blinding light, imprinting her and Farrell’s intimate pose in the cameras.
The evening breeze caress the people’s leaping hearts. This was bound to be a pleasant night.
※※※
Twain sat in the café in the training base and had a coffee break. After a day off, the team resumed training. Carrying out the overlapping method of two practices a day and one practice a day, the players who had just experienced the fierce game and then quickly relaxed, to gradually become tense again. After all, there was an important game waiting for them. This was not the time to be completely relaxed.
This cafe was actually a restaurant within the club. Some of the players and staff would choose to dine here rather than go home for meals. If Shania was not staying in Nottingham and when there were two practices a day, Twain and Dunn would have lunch here before heading to the office for a nap.
Kerslake had the dining plate in one hand, and a gossip tabloid in the other hand.
Twain smirked to Dunn next to him, “His son is already ten and he still likes to keep up with the stars all day long.”
Dunn did not say anything. He just laughed.
Kerslake heard Twain’s words and stopped at the table where they sat.
“I only have this little hobby, so don’t laugh at me. Besides, Tony, I saw the news of Shania here. She and …”
When he heard “Shania”, Twain’s ears pricked up. He grabbed the newspaper in Kerslake’s hand and flipped.
Sure enough, he saw a photograph in page five.
In the photograph, Shania hugged a long-haired man and smiled sweetly as she faced the camera.
“Who’s this man?” He asked.
“Isn’t that written on it? ‘The Hollywood playboy, Colin Farrell.’” Kerslake pointed to the papers and said, “They stayed out till late and then Farrell drove Shania home.”
“That’s a detailed introduction. He’s quite good-looking … he does have the makings of a playboy.” Twain looked at the picture.
“He used to have a bad reputation but he’s better now. He used to drink, use drugs, chase after women and was foul-mouthed… Now that he has a son, he quit drinking and taking drugs. But as for picking up women…” He noticed that Twain did not look very good. “Are you worried about Shania?”
Almost everyone in the club knew that Shania and Twain had a good relationship. But as to what extent, not everyone knew …
“No, she’s not a three-year-old kid who doesn’t know anything. I have nothing to be worried about.” Twain gave the newspaper back to Kerslake and went on to drink his coffee.
Sitting across from him, Dunn did not say anything. He just briefly looked up at Twain.
※※※
The players suddenly found that the boss who was supervising the afternoon training to be much harsher than in the morning. A little distraction and they would be shouted at and criticized by him outside the field.
“It’s really strange. We have just won the league title, but the boss looks like someone in his family had just died …”
“Guess he doesn’t want us to be too smug. After all, there’s still the Champions League final.”
“It’s not the first time we’ve played a Champions League final. Surely he doesn’t have to treat us all like kids, does he?”
“Then he must have been in a sudden bad mood!”
“Is he having his period?”
“Ah hahaha–!!”
※※※
Shania was studying the acting materials at home with glasses on when she received a call. When she heard her cell phone rang, she was so excited that she jumped out of the couch and pounced on her cell phone. When she saw clearly who called, she was turned her mouth down in annoyance. But when she picked up the phone, no irritation could be detected in her voice.
“Ah, Mr. Farrell, hello. What’s the matter? Dinner? Hmm …” Shania thought for a moment and nodded. “Great, you can pick me up at my place at six o’clock in the evening!”
Fasal walked in when he heard Shania’s voice on the phone and asked, “Are you not having dinner at home?”
Shania nodded and said, “That guy, Farrell has invited me to dinner.”
“He’s trying to woo you, Shania.” Fasal said with a smile.
“I know. Isn’t that good? Uncle Tony wants me to start dating.” Shania pursed her lips.
“He’s not your father. You don’t have to listen to anything he says.” Fasal said tactfully.
Shania rolled her eyes and said, “He’s just being nice. Anyway, Mr. Fasal, don’t you think I’m a little lonely by myself?”
Seeing the strange look of her pulling faces, Fasal just smiled and did not answer this question. In fact, she was certainly lonely. If she did not have invitations from friends and celebrities, Shania would coop up in the house to watch DVDs, read or go online. Not to mention that she was a celebrity, even if she were to be an ordinary person, the entertainment activities were too few.
Besides, it was odd for a seventeen-year-old girl not to go on dates …
Fasal just asked her what time she would leave the house and then he left.
Following which, Shania was not in the mood to read. She kept staring at her cell phone from time to time, but until Farrell rang the doorbell of her house, her cell phone did not ring again.
As she scolded Uncle Tony in her mind, Shania dressed up to go out.
※※※
“Ah, Shania has been so active lately. She went out to dinner with Farrell again …” During a break in the training, the players gathered in twos and threes to chat. The coaches would also gather to talk about topics of mutual interest. Because there had been news of Shania in the newspapers lately, Kerslake would always mentioned everyone’s acquaintance, Shania, at such times.
But Twain was not in a good mood. He wanted to tell off this star-chaser, but as soon as his mouth opened, he swallowed the words back. He had no reason to chide Kerslake, and he had no reason to be in a bad mood. He did not even know why he was like this.
Gee, the big game is coming. How can you be distracted by something like this at this time?
Twain shook his head and tossed aside these messy thoughts for the time being.
