Chapter 268 Decision (Part 1)

After returning to Milan, Zhang Jun didn't go directly to Yang Pan's house. Instead, he parked his car in the parking lot of the Milanello training ground.

This time he came back empty-handed, with only a few changes of clothes in a small bag, driving his Mercedes-McLaren. Everything he had moved out was still in Florence. In fact, if the negotiations went well this time, he would have to move things from Milan to Florence again. He came back with the determination to leave, and if Milan didn't agree, he would take a hard line. Of course, no one wanted that to happen; tearing up the agreement wouldn't be pleasant.

He was very familiar with the area. He hadn't spent half a year here for nothing. After parking the car, he checked his watch. It was 5:50 PM, and the Milan players should all be in the city participating in the grand celebration. He hadn't told anyone the exact time of his return, including Yang Pan and Kaka. He wanted to talk to Ancelotti and Galliani first; he didn't want to be too flashy before things were clear.

After learning Zhang Jun's identity, the receptionist didn't let him through directly but followed procedure and asked, "Do you have an appointment with either of the gentlemen?"

Zhang Jun shook his head. "No, I forgot their phone numbers."

The receptionist smiled apologetically and said to Zhang Jun, "I'm very sorry, but both the head coach and the chairman have gone to Milan to attend the celebration banquet. They are not at the base right now and cannot meet with you."

Zhang Jun was disappointed. He didn't want to attend any celebration banquet because it was for the players who had played for Milan, and he was just a loaned-out player. Oh well, he would find another time. "Then can I make an appointment now?"

The receptionist nodded first. "Yes, you can." Then she looked down and checked their schedules on the computer. "The head coach will be available tomorrow at ten in the morning; I can arrange that for you. The chairman won't be available until three in the afternoon the day after tomorrow for half an hour; I can book that for you if you wish."

Zhang Jun nodded, naturally willing. "No problem, arrange it for those times."

"Okay, it's booked. We will notify both gentlemen."

Zhang Jun nodded. "Thank you very much, goodbye."

"You're welcome, take care." The receptionist returned the courtesy politely. As expected of an AC Milan receptionist, her temperament was different in every move she made.

Zhang Jun walked out, deciding to drive directly back to Yang Pan's house, which was also their shared home. He had a key, so he didn't have to worry about not getting in.

Walking to the parking lot, Zhang Jun took out his key and was about to open the car door when he heard someone calling him. He reflexively turned around and saw Pirlo smiling and waving at him.

"I didn't expect to see you here. I just came back to get something I forgot." Pirlo took the initiative to walk up and smiled.

Zhang Jun felt a little awkward about this meeting. He didn't want to meet any Milan players at this time. He greeted Pirlo somewhat unnaturally, "I… uh, I just came back to find the head coach and the chairman." His hands didn't know where to go, waving randomly in the air, making meaningless gestures.

"They've all gone to the banquet; they're not here."

"Yeah, I only found out when I got here."

"Didn't you make an appointment?"

"I forgot; I didn't expect Milan to have a celebration banquet today. What a wasted trip. I was just about to go home."

"Go home? Aren't you going to the celebration banquet?"

"Me?" Zhang Jun smiled self-deprecatingly. "I think I'll pass. This championship has nothing to do with me..."

Unexpectedly, Pirlo interrupted him, "What do you mean 'nothing to do with you'? Didn't you help the team win the mid-season championship in winter? That was very important for our eventual championship. Go, I think everyone wants to see you."

"See me?" Zhang Jun smiled wryly. "I'm afraid it'll be like 'old enemies meeting, especially jealous,' right?"

Pirlo naturally knew what Zhang Jun was talking about. "That was just a misunderstanding. Pipo isn't a narrow-minded person either. Don't mention the past. Besides, you can also find the head coach and the chairman there."

Zhang Jun really couldn't bear to refuse Pirlo's invitation, after all, their relationship was second only to his relationships with Yang Pan and Kaka. In addition, he also wanted to know the opinions of the Milan executives as soon as possible, so he nodded and agreed. "Alright, I'll go. So, where is it being held?"

"Sforza Castle." Pirlo seemed very happy that Zhang Jun was going.

"That's a museum!" Zhang Jun was taken aback. Sforza Castle is a symbolic building of Milan, built in 1450, and is now a museum, housing many precious cultural relics. Holding a celebration banquet there was truly the greatest luxury in Milan.

"Yes, it's worthy of Milan's status!" Pirlo looked proud. Zhang Jun had also seen this expression on TV yesterday, on Yang Pan's face. Pirlo debuted at Inter Milan, and he was still considered an Inter Milan player when he became famous in the Italian U21 national team, but now he was a pure AC Milan player.

It must be said that AC Milan was indeed a very humane team, and most people could find a sense of belonging there. However, Zhang Jun was the exception to that "most people"; he could never find a sense of belonging in Milan.

"Okay, you lead the way."

※※※

As the car passed the Piazza del Duomo in the center of Milan, Zhang Jun saw many, many Milan fans gathered in the square. Some of them climbed onto the statues, tying Milan scarves around them and hoisting Milan flags. Even the iron railings around the fountains in the square were occupied by Milan fans. People waved team flags and Italian flags in their hands, cheering excitedly. The main roads outside were even more congested with cars, Milan scarves and team flags sticking out of the windows. They expressed their joy more directly: by honking their horns loudly. The backseats of motorcycles were filled with flags, fluttering as the vehicles drove. Not only were there fans in the square, but Italian flags printed with the Milan team emblem were also hung from nearby buildings.

Cars, motorcycles, and people were all jammed together. Patrolmen and traffic police were responsible for maintaining order and directing traffic. However, they were all on the periphery and did not interfere with the Milan fans' celebrations.

Pirlo signaled to Zhang Jun with the turn signal: We're taking a detour.

Zhang Jun responded with his lights, indicating his agreement.

He looked again at the lively Piazza del Duomo. The square celebration he had participated in a week ago in Florence was crazy enough, but it still couldn't compare to Milan's. As expected of a wealthy team, the number of fans was much larger than in Florence.

But he neither envied nor was jealous. Because he firmly believed that one day he would participate in this kind of celebration as the protagonist, not as an observer like today.

Whether it was a celebration in the square or a celebration banquet in a museum or five-star hotel.

When turning, Pirlo didn't forget to honk the horn like other Milan fans. But Zhang Jun did nothing.

※※※

The car stopped near the castle. According to the traffic police's instructions, they had to park the car here and then walk to the castle. There was a red carpet not far away, and red and black Milan team flags lined both sides of the road, so there was no worry about not finding the way.

They weren't the first to arrive, nor the last. The temporary large parking lot was already full of cars, and Zhang Jun couldn't count exactly how many. As they parked, more cars were directed into the parking lot by the traffic police. Zhang Jun roughly looked around and didn't find Yang Pan's conspicuous red Hummer. As for Kaka's Audi A4, there were too many Audis, and he couldn't tell at a glance which one was Kaka's. But he knew that Kaka was always with Yang Pan, so if Yang Pan hadn't arrived yet, then Kaka hadn't arrived either.

Walking on the red carpet with Pirlo, Zhang Jun could feel that many people were looking at him. This wasn't surprising; in an environment where all the male guests were wearing black suits, he was wearing a beige casual short-sleeved t-shirt and dark blue jeans, which was indeed very eye-catching.

Who told him to be dragged here temporarily by Pirlo, without any preparation?

Walking to the gate of the castle, they stopped because they were called out.

Shevchenko saw Pirlo walking on the left side, close to him, first. When he waved and greeted Pirlo, he saw Zhang Jun beside Pirlo.

The moment he saw Zhang Jun, he was a little surprised because he didn't expect Zhang Jun to come to the celebration banquet. In fact, not only him, but many people didn't expect it, and even Zhang Jun himself didn't expect it.

But he quickly returned to normal and also greeted Zhang Jun. He introduced his wife, Shevchenkova Pazik, to the two of them. Actually, Pirlo didn't need an introduction, it was mainly for Zhang Jun.

Pazik's original name was Kristen Pazik. She secretly married Shevchenko the year before last summer, and only then changed her name to Shevchenkova Pazik. She was a well-known American model, the cover girl for famous market magazines such as *GQ* and *Maxim*. She was tall, with outstanding looks, and a sexy stunner.

However, Pazik was dressed much more purely and simply today. Her blonde hair was casually draped over her shoulders, wearing a white low-cut t-shirt on top, with a blue denim jacket on the outside, and a black knee-length skirt and black high heels on the bottom. Compared to the naked-chested Pazik on the magazine covers, she was very different.

Pirlo stepped forward and exchanged cheek kisses with Pazik, symbolically kissing the side of Pazik's face with his lips.

Zhang Jun was more awkward. It wasn't that he was shy, but according to what he knew, this etiquette, which originated in France, was only done by very close friends, but he was obviously not familiar with the other party.

Pazik, on the other hand, took the initiative to step forward and exchange cheek kisses with Zhang Jun, making Zhang Jun a little nervous, his neck very stiff.

As expected of a supermodel, a person who has seen the world. Zhang Jun sighed in his heart as he looked at Pazik's smiling face, but he didn't know that at wine parties, whether it was the first time meeting or if they were very familiar, everyone would perform this ritual. He was nervous for nothing.

"You did a great job in Florence. You became the third-highest scorer in the league in half a season, and you also helped the team get promoted. So what are your plans for returning to Milan next?" Shevchenko asked a question that made Zhang Jun very embarrassed. He didn't know how to answer.

Finally, Zhang Jun decided that if he didn't know how to answer, he wouldn't answer the question and would divert the topic to other things. "I don't have any plans yet. Right now, I'm only thinking about the World Cup."

Sure enough, as soon as he heard the World Cup, Shevchenko became interested. "Yes! This is your first World Cup, and it's mine too. What a coincidence, we were actually drawn into the same group, and Brazil is also in it. It seems that we have to fight for the other spot."

Zhang Jun breathed a sigh of relief when he didn't mention Milan. "This is a bit cruel. Only one of the two can stay..."

"Oh no." Shevchenko interrupted Zhang Jun, "Maybe we can join forces to take down Brazil." He made a joke. It could be seen that he was very excited and happy about appearing in the World Cup for the first time.

Zhang Jun smiled. "It's best not to let Kaka, Dida, and Cafu hear that."

Shevchenko laughed heartily. He took Pazik's hand and said to Zhang Jun and Pirlo, "Let's go, let's go in."

※※※

The gray-brown walls of Sforza Castle were covered with traces of hundreds of years of wind and rain, which could easily be found on many old buildings in Milan with hundreds of years of history. The setting sun coated the castle with a warm layer of yellow, while the areas not touched by the sunlight were a huge black shadow. The whole castle looked like black bread smeared with butter.

More people had gathered in the square inside the castle, most of whom Zhang Jun didn't recognize because they didn't look like they played soccer at all. Pirlo introduced him and said that most of these people were club members invited to attend, sponsor representatives, and some political officials. With Berlusconi's influence, nearly a thousand guests from all walks of life were invited to the banquet this time.

Zhang Jun clicked his tongue. After Florence's successful promotion, only less than four hundred guests were invited to participate in the city government's banquet, and the venue was only in the garden behind the city hall. Whether it was the scale or the grandeur, it was worlds apart compared to Milan's celebration banquet.

Following the red carpet, Zhang Jun entered a wing building next to the main building of the castle. This wing building was in the shadow of the main building and looked inconspicuous, but when Zhang Jun walked in, he found that it was a different world.

This was a hall that was all decorated in white. The walls, ceiling, floor, podium, tables, chairs... were all white, showing Milan's noble elegance. Behind the podium were two large-screen plasma televisions, and on the wall facing the entrance was the Milan team emblem, with the words "A.C. Milan" written in artistic font next to it.

Many people were already seated inside the hall, and waiters in white clothes and white pants, wearing white gloves, were moving through the crowd, busy with activity.

Pirlo and Shevchenko were busy greeting other people. Zhang Jun wasn't used to this kind of scene, so he shrank into a corner by himself, standing against the wall, watching the crowds coming and going. Kaka and Yang Pan still hadn't arrived.

He raised his hand and looked at his watch. It was almost seven o'clock, and Pirlo said the banquet wouldn't officially start until eight o'clock. Maybe those two guys were planning to arrive right on time, or maybe... they were still waiting for him at home?

Just as Zhang Jun was thinking wildly, he suddenly saw the head coach, Ancelotti. He hesitated for a moment, wondering if he should go up and explain his intentions. In the end, he decided to go, because that was the reason he came to this banquet in the first place.

Ancelotti obviously didn't expect Zhang Jun to come to this banquet uninvited, so when he saw clearly that the person standing in front of him was Zhang Jun, he was really surprised.

"Uh, I want to talk to you, sir. Do you have time now?" Zhang Jun went straight to the point. He didn't want to waste time, and it wouldn't be good if more people saw him.

Ancelotti looked at Zhang Jun, then nodded. "Okay, let's talk outside."