Chapter 1 The Fierce Cold Wind

The cold wind was sharp.

Snowflakes fluttered and danced.

A business car drove along the winding mountain road.

The white snow covered the vegetation, canyons, and lakes, as if dressing North Rhine in a wedding gown.

The young assistant looked out the window and couldn't help but sigh, "It's even colder in the mountains. Winter came early this year. It usually doesn't snow heavily until January or February."

Li Kang nodded.

He held a tablet, watching Chelsea's game footage.

"Li, do you still need to watch Chelsea's games? It's either one-nil or two-nil."

Since Conte led Italy to lose to Spain in the European Cup, he seemed to be possessed. After being eliminated, he also dragged the old boys of the Italian team to train hard for a week, claiming it was for the future of Italian football.

After taking over Chelsea, he seemed to have found a new experimental field.

In the early stages of his coaching career, he still played an open and aggressive style.

A series of 4-2, 5-3, 3-2...

After half a season of running-in, Chelsea seemed to have returned to its invincible season, with an indestructible steel defense...making the attacking players of other Premier League clubs feel despair.

Why, no matter which coach is in charge... does the blue beast of Stamford Bridge always put all its skill points on defense?

"Li, why don't you watch Manchester City's footage? Although they were beaten 4-0 by Everton, that's because Guardiola is experimenting..."

"Arsenal's New Year opponent is them!"

Li Kang shook his head.

It's not that he doesn't watch, it's that he can't understand.

After half a season of running-in, Guardiola still hasn't fixed a tactical framework for Manchester City.

Back then, Van Gaal was able to field eighteen different center-back combinations at Manchester United.

Now Guardiola's lineup arrangement at Manchester City is even more excessive.

The process of rebuilding the Blue Moon is difficult.

Many Manchester City veterans, knowing that they will be cleaned up next season, are still showing impressive combat effectiveness at the Etihad Stadium, such as Yaya Toure.

In fact, Li Kang downloaded dozens of gigabytes of Bayer Leverkusen footage.

But now he is riding in Bayer Leverkusen's car, and the driver and his family have been loyal fans of the pharmaceutical factory for three generations...

If the little assistant interrupts and says something wrong.

The two of them might be abandoned among the high mountains and glaciers to feel the magnificent scenery of the North Rhine snowscape.

...

The business car slowly drove into the fairytale-like town of Veltins.

Ms. Sandra, who had been waiting for a long time, trotted forward.

"Li, did you watch the Bundesliga awards ceremony last night? Did you notice the beer that Beckenbauer and Mr. Voller were holding up?"

"That's Veltins beer."

"It's cold outside, come in quickly."

The main purpose of this meeting was not to discuss cooperation.

Nor was it to shoot commercials.

The agency team originally believed that Li didn't need to endorse fast-moving consumer goods, but data showed that fans hoped he could endorse products they could afford.

Veltins beer, which has strongly occupied the entire German territory over the past year with Bayer Leverkusen's championship, is undoubtedly the most suitable partner.

The key is that the other party inexplicably increased the offer after the Champions League draw.

...

Without too much small talk.

Ms. Sandra led the little assistant to taste the new beer.

Li Kang followed the staff to the usual place.

Colorful marble pillars.

Under the gray sculptures, the scattered water columns from the melting ice.

Gold-bronze cast iron railings.

Splendid plaster decorations.

Snap.

A newspaper crumpled into a ball flew lightly into his hand.

Li Kang unfolded it and looked at it.

The headline on the front page of the newspaper was a photo of himself and Esli by the lake.

The wheelchair slowly rolled on the bluestone bricks.

Accompanied by the sound of a bullet being loaded...

"I'm just scaring you."

Claudia smiled, a blush appearing on her pale cheeks.

Li Kang was relieved.

He slowly walked forward and held the handles of the wheelchair with both hands.

"You don't like girls like Jordan Carver?"

Jordan Carver?

Li Kang's first advertising partner at Veltins.

A female model, a boxer.

With a hot body and an all-embracing mind.

"Your aesthetic is a bit childish. The girls you've dated are all..."

Li Kang shook his head with a smile.

Coincidence.

Childish? It's just a coincidence that the girls he's met are all of the same type, and it's not even like they've dated.

"Go that way."

Claudia raised her hand and pointed in a direction.

The wheelchair slowly rolled on the bluestone bricks.

The setting sun suddenly pierced through the thick clouds, shining warmly on the two of them.

The ancient town of Veltins under the dusk became even more intoxicating.

"It's okay."

"I know you only like..."

A harsh scraping sound interrupted the girl's words.

The wheelchair broke again...

...

Compared to the first physical contact.

The two of them weren't that nervous this time...because the cold and wet ground was a bit slippery.

"Am I heavier than last year?"

"You're lying to me again."

"Have you ever carried anyone else on your back?"

Li Kang nodded.

He has carried many people on his back, such as teammates after scoring a goal: Havertz, Brandt, Morata, Welbeck, Isco...

Suddenly, something hard poked his back.

He had no choice but to shake his head.

"Guys don't count."

...

Two and a half hours later.

Li Kang is still alive and well. Not only was he fully charged, but Claudia also had him take a lot of gifts back to Leverkusen. Of course, the gifts didn't include Veltins beer.

He thinks she is good, but he can't hang out with girls often.

He hasn't won the Champions League title yet.

The World Cup title is even more distant.

The road ahead is still difficult, he must be disciplined.

...

On the training ground.

Li Kang changed into his training clothes, picked up a tool shovel, cleared a space, and began to train.

He can no longer improve his attribute values through training.

But if he slacks off for a few days, the various attributes on the system panel will decrease by 0.000001.

He still needs to maintain his competitive state through training.

Bayer Leverkusen's advantage of spending Christmas here is reflected. The hotels in Cologne and Dusseldorf are not equipped with such professional training grounds.

A moment later.

His whole body exuded steaming white mist.

Loud bursts of noise.

The security guards clapped non-stop on the sidelines, giving thumbs up one after another. They couldn't help but miss Li's time at Leverkusen. Back then, as long as they advanced in the Champions League, Voller would also give bonuses to them, the support staff...

In contrast, Balotelli, who set fire to the security booth by setting off fireworks, was really annoying.

...

There's no Santa Claus.

Li Kang and the little assistant, Dino, and the grandpa group members gathered in the cafeteria.

The firewood in the fireplace crackled.

The sound of fireworks and firecrackers came from outside the window from time to time.

The mulled wine made everyone's faces red.

"Time really flies."

"Li is almost 19 years old. When I saw him in Dusseldorf, he wasn't as tall as he is now. It feels like it all happened yesterday."

"I prepared a poem. We must recite poetry on Christmas Eve!"

"Wilde, shut up first."

"Let's skip this part first and open the gifts quickly."

"Gifts? I miss last year's gifts more, the envelopes filled with cash..."

"Teacher Berenta, what is this gift? Homework for Li's winter vacation?"

After dinner.

Li Kang and the others shook bells around the club to dispel the monsters in North Rhine's legends.

Immediately afterwards.

They took the club's business car to the Leverkusen Christmas market.

Happy times are always short.

Two days later, Li Kang would have to return to North London to prepare for the Blue Moon.