Chapter 1 I'm Afraid of Being In Love

Chen Tao sat in front of the TV watching the game. It was 11:44 PM Beijing time, with one minute left in the first half. His son had already scored three goals and was still pushing Manchester City to set up in the center circle, urging them to kick off as soon as possible.

It had been many years since Sichuan Satellite Sports Channel broadcasted a Premier League game, and many Chengdu residents didn't even know if the channel still existed. But because Chen Hero transferred to Liverpool, Sichuan Satellite Sports Channel spent a lot of money to buy the broadcasting rights from Cspn.

As a player from Sichuan, China, Chen Hero had supreme popularity in Sichuan. Many people paid attention to every game. Thanks to Chen Hero, a long-lost football craze had reappeared in Chengdu…

Therefore, Sichuan Satellite Sports Channel broadcasted Liverpool's games every weekend, and the ratings for the games during this time slot were definitely the highest.

Countless fans, even non-fans from Sichuan, would wait in front of the TV to cheer for this Sichuan native.

The commentator of Sichuan Satellite Sports Channel was excitedly spewing saliva into the microphone.

"Hero! Fantastic! So domineering! A hat-trick! He completed a hat-trick in the first half! I can even announce now that the game has lost its suspense! Manchester City has been beaten into submission by Hero alone in their own home stadium! Before the game, everyone thought it would be a fierce battle, but who would have thought that Chen Hero would suddenly explode and complete a hat-trick in forty-three minutes, turning the second half into garbage time! It's simply amazing, why is Hero in such good form in this game!"

Chen Tao knew why his son was in such good form today, because he wanted to come back to celebrate his birthday.

In fact, even if it didn't work out in the end, and his son couldn't come back because the club wouldn't let him, Chen Tao would still be satisfied seeing such a performance. He wasn't satisfied with Chen Hero's hat-trick, but satisfied with his son's feelings for him—in order to be able to return home to celebrate his birthday, he was desperately scoring goals like crazy!

What do parents need? Not how much money their children give them, or how many luxury goods they buy, but a token of their love. This token can be a phone call, a greeting, or… the effort made to return home at all costs…

When Chen Hero scored, Chen Tao was a little excited and shouted a couple of times after the first goal. But when the third goal went in, Chen Tao just sat quietly on the sofa, without any reaction. Even his wife next to him felt strange.

When her son scored the third goal, the mother shouted excitedly and clapped her hands hard, until her palms were red.

Why was the father so quiet?

She turned her head and glanced at him. Illuminated by the glow of the TV screen, she saw light flickering in her husband's eyes, moist and glistening.

She understood immediately.

Her son had grown up…

The son who had caused them so much worry since he was a child had finally grown up!

To be able to come back, he couldn't afford to score less than five goals!

※※※

If his wife hadn't been there, Chen Tao might have reached out to wipe away his tears. But he couldn't do that in front of his wife. Where would his dignity as a man be? Wouldn't he be laughed at by the women in the family for crying at fifty years old!

But Chen Tao's heart was filled with a myriad of emotions, and he remembered many fragments of memories that he hadn't recalled for a long time.

From the time Chen Hero was born, and then when he grew taller and taller, far exceeding his peers, he began to act recklessly, causing trouble, relying on his height and strength to pick fights everywhere. During that time, his father had to discipline him often, and he had broken countless bamboo sticks… It didn't change him. Later, seeing that he was too lively and active, they sent him to play football. His son really showed some talent, and in order to let him play football well and strive for a good future, he and his wife worked hard day and night, pouring all their money into their son.

Chen Hero was the hope and pride of their family.

But a month before he was about to become a professional player, Chen Hero was kicked out for beating his teammates.

At that time, he was so angry that he couldn't say a word, and he didn't give his son a good look. But when he saw his son locking himself in his bedroom all day playing computer games, looking lost and hopeless, with the light of hope gone from his eyes, his heart softened.

To this end, he secretly borrowed money from a former business partner, ten000 yuan, and resolutely embarked on a self-promotion trip to Europe with his son, without telling his wife.

A middle-aged man in his forties, who had never been abroad and couldn't speak foreign languages, relied on an electronic dictionary, an atlas, and a loving heart for his son. He dared to pack his bags and take his son on a completely unknown journey.

What supported him? It was the simple feeling of "I hope my son can have a good future, I hope my son can be more successful than me, I am willing to sell everything for him."

Chen Hero never understood or cherished this feeling when he was a child. When his father disciplined him, he would go against him, gloating over his ability to make his father so angry that he couldn't eat.

But even the most mischievous child will eventually grow up…

People always said that Chen Hero was a child who never grew up, his IQ was still stuck in childhood, his personality was flawed, he didn't understand etiquette, he was rude… In short, there were a lot of negative news. But Chen Tao knew that no matter what others said, his son had really grown up!

The father was suddenly very proud, and he straightened his back involuntarily on the sofa.

※※※

Chen Hero slammed the football into the center circle, then hooked his finger to signal the Manchester City players to come and kick off. Cabrera in the box had seen this action three times. Every time she saw it, the corners of her mouth would curl into a slight arc, not obvious, but definitely a smile.

This arrogant guy…

Cabrera thought of what Chen Hero had done in Naples. He hadn't changed at all!

Why am I attracted to a guy like this? Maybe it's because of his arrogance and domineering, and a little bit of childishness…

※※※

The Manchester City players came up and kicked off, obviously absent-minded. They only hoped that the nightmare-like first half would end quickly, so that they could catch their breath during the halftime break.

They played the game absentmindedly for a minute, until the forty-fifth minute. There was actually time for stoppage time, but the referee was too lazy to add it. He could see that the Manchester City players had no intention of fighting, and Liverpool seemed to be satisfied with the result, so he simply blew the whistle to end the first half without giving a second of extra time.

When leaving the field, Chen Hero was immediately hugged by Suarez: "Good job, Hero! You've already scored three. Just two more in the second half and you'll complete the mission! Isn't that easy?"

Chen Hero looked serious: "We can't be careless!"

Suarez spat: "Tui! Stop pretending!"

"We must take the most serious attitude, maximize our ability, and defeat our opponents. This is respect for them!" Chen Hero said righteously.

But Suarez just rolled his eyes: "I think Manchester City would rather you despise them from the bottom of your heart, and treat them like a fart."

Chen Hero then laughed.

The two walked off the field, talking and laughing, towards the player tunnel.

Richards, who had been watching all this, was furious. His heart was burning, and the fire in his eyes was just a reaction to the anger in his heart.

In the first half, Chen Hero scored three goals in front of him. Except for the second goal, which Barry shared the blame with him, the other two goals were all his responsibility. Especially the third goal, it was his dodge that let the football in. If he hadn't chickened out, the football would have hit him in the face and definitely wouldn't have flown into the goal…

But in that case, maybe he would have "a face full of peach blossoms." A big black face covered in blood would be terrifying to think about. He wouldn't need makeup to make a ghost film, and he would definitely scare a ghost to death if he came out in the middle of the night.

In short, whether he dodged or not, it was Richards who was unlucky.

That's why Richards was so angry.

He really wanted to tackle Chen Hero directly to the ground, like he tackled Suarez, injuring Chen Hero for a few months…

That's right!

Richards' eyes lit up.

I'm a genius!

He didn't think there could be a better idea.

You made me look bad, I'll cripple you!!

Like Keane crippled Haaland!

You bastard, just wait and see!

Even if he committed a malicious foul, he would only be suspended for a few games, and as long as he was sincere and told the referee and the media that he was being careless and not intentional, he might even be banned for fewer games…

In any case, the price he paid would definitely not be higher than Chen Hero's.

And Chen Hero would have to prepare to lie in the hospital and in bed for a few months, and it was even possible that his career would be ruined. Like Haaland.

Since Keane crippled Haaland and still did well, what did he have to worry about? After a long time, as long as he achieved enough success, who would remember those old things?

Thinking of this, Richards made up his mind completely. In order to defeat that bastard who had humiliated him again and again, he had become unscrupulous and possessed. But he didn't realize this.

Richards clenched his fists tightly, then stopped looking at the backs of Chen Hero and Suarez, and walked back to the locker room quickly with his head down.