Lu Ling withdrew from the ward. She gently closed the door and turned around, except for Steve and Anna, there were a few more people, all of whom were familiar, but only one she remembered the name, and it was one of Gareth Southgate's assistants. She greeted them, didn't mean to continue the greetings, and prepared to leave.

Anna stopped Lu Ling behind her. She handed her a cup of iced coffee and said, "Soy milk latte, no sugar, I remember correctly." ”

Lu Ling smiled lightly, said thank you, and swept his gaze casually behind Anna. Steve met her gaze and turned his head casually, continuing to talk to Southgate's assistant. Anna also turned her head, and then she turned back and shrugged her shoulders towards Lu Ling, "Okay, I can't hide it from you, it was Steve who told me, and he also knows that I like vanilla-flavored donuts. ”

Lu Ling took a sip of coffee, the cold and slightly bitter taste, with the mellow aroma of soy milk and coffee, was the calmness she needed now. She told Anna, "Steve always remembers this, I don't know how he did it." Are you ready to go back too?"

Anna hesitated, and Lu Ling said again, "I don't think Pat will see anyone again tonight, unless necessary. ”

Anna thought for a moment and nodded, "I think so." Can you give me a ride? I came in my father's car, and they had already gone back first. ”

"No problem. Lu Ling took another sip of coffee. She knew that Anna was probably trying to talk to her.

****

It was already dark, and the temperature on the ground plummeted as the sun set. There was some wind again, and the heat was disappearing little by little. The air conditioner was still on in the car, but the temperature was suitable.

"It's often said that siblings are the most complex in their feelings. Christine, you're the only child in the family, and you won't have such troubles. I'm always glad I'm a girl and Pat is a boy, and if I'm a boy or Pat is a girl, things must be bad. There is such a world-renowned younger brother, in the eyes of many people, it seems that I am lucky, but who knows that under his aura, my sister seems mediocre no matter what. So sometimes I think viciously, if only Pat wasn't that successful...... God knows that's not my true thoughts at all, how could I want my brother to ......"

Lu Ling held on to the steering wheel and remained silent. After a day of scorching, she now felt sore, weak and weak, and had no strength to speak. But she needed to say something now. She cleared her throat, freed her hand, and squeezed Anna's arm soothingly, "Hey Anna, don't blame yourself, it's not your fault. ”

Anna gently grabbed the hand on her arm, then let go. "Yes, I know it can't be caused by me. Maybe it's easy for people to become stupid at times like this. I wish I could do something. She looked into the driver's seat, "Pat hasn't needed me that much, including Mom and Dad. If something happens to us, he will always take the initiative to stand up, but what happens to him, it seems that we don't add up to your words. ”

"You know that's not true, Anna. ”

"I'm exaggerating, but you know what I mean, Christine. ”

Lu Ling stared ahead, and the lights in front of him seemed to flicker. She shook her head and said to Anna in as calm a voice as she could, "Anna, I have a feeling that this time, he is really lost. I'm not sure when he's going to really get better, I don't mean physical. There are some things that are missed as missed. Moreover, the impact of continuous injuries over the course of a year on his mental state and career is something that you and I can hardly predict. I feel as powerless as you do, and I wish I could do something. ”

"But he's Pat. Anna was in a hurry, and Lu Ling felt that she was even about to cry.

He's Pat Amber, twenty-two, he's already written a legend, there's nothing he cares about, he's supposed to be invincible, isn't he?

No matter how much aura he wears, now he's just a heartbroken player lying in bed who is about to miss the semi-finals of the European Championship.

Lu Ling swallowed dryly, there was still the bitter taste of Fangcai coffee in her throat, she didn't tell the truth, but said something that she herself would rather believe.

"yes, he's Pat, he's like his own favorite superhero, he's going to be fine. ”

Lu Ling's words seemed to be the truth to Anna. Anna listened, and echoed, "He'll be fine, he'll be fine." ”

After a few moments, Anna whispered, "What did you just sing him a lullaby?"

Lu Ling was a little embarrassed, but still explained, "No, it's not a lullaby, it's not the original, it's ......."

"I know, it's Amy Eminem. When Pat was a child, he always hummed, and when his father heard him, his father would yell at him. Many of the rappers' songs he likes have f-ord in their lyrics. ”

"yes. Lu Ling smiled silently. I also thought that several players in the team would rap during the warm-up, and the opening and closing of their mouths were full of words that children should not hear.

Boys are always alike, and maybe girls are always alike in the eyes of boys.

"My mom actually sang the original version to put me to sleep when I was a kid. Anna said.

“…… My mom did that, too. "For a long time, Lu Lingdao.

The driver's voice was soft, but Anna heard it, and she looked out the window and asked casually, "I heard that your father left you a letter." ”

"Yes. Lu Ling replied quickly, and after two seconds, she added to herself, "He's very old-fashioned." "Old-school and cowardly, cowardly and gentle. But he was also like Phil, who wanted to promise his daughter a utopian world, and he was also like a superhero who could do anything.

It's almost Knightsbridge. Lu Ling shook off his chaotic thoughts.

Anna lives here now. In fact, the subtle psychology that Anna said before, Lu Ling could probably guess. Although Anna had never admitted it in person before. After returning to London from Edinburgh, Anna worked as a real estate agent for a while, and it didn't take long for her to open her own property company. Whether there is any investment and help from Pat is unknown, and Lu Ling is not interested in snooping a thing or two. But from some of the conversations she had with Anna later, she could hear the self-deprecation and helplessness in Anna's jokes. Many clients came for the fact that she was Patrick Amber's sister.

"Would you like to go to my apartment for a coffee?" Anna asked before getting out of the car.

Lu Ling glanced at the unfinished cup of coffee just now with his eyes, "Thank you, Anna, next time, I'm a little tired tonight." ”

Anna no longer insisted. She opened the car door, suddenly thought of something, and half-turned, "Did you ask him if he was happy in Barcelona?"

Lu Ling frowned, his gaze suddenly sharpened, "Why?"

Anna frowned as well, and she replied as she pondered, "I don't know, I always feel ...... I'm not saying that Pat isn't happy there, and I don't mean to blame you, or to bring it up again, I just think he's there, as if it's ...... He had always been an outsider. ”

"He told you that?" Lu Ling's brows never relaxed.

"Nope. Anna shook her head, "Maybe I'm thinking too much." She had a picture of Pat and his team-mates lifting the Champions League trophy last year, and she was obviously happy. It's really cranky under my own pressure. She emphasized again, "Christine, don't take it personally, I'm confused." She said goodnight to her and closed the door.

Lu Ling said goodnight absentmindedly and reversed the car. She reversed the car and looked up, a place she hadn't passed in a long time, the apartment she had lived in four years ago, just one floor away from the apartment where Anna was now living.

****

8 July, Wembley Stadium, London.

Phil Warren arrived early. It's not very phil. Mom and sisters always said that if he could be late, he would never be on time. This habit improved after he went to QPR, but in life, he is still a lazy person.

The reason for his early arrival was simple, the "maybe not easy to find a parking space" muttered by Benjamin Hamilton at the end of the afternoon training session. In this semi-final between England and France, Phil definitely did not want to miss it, and he forgot to book a parking space in advance. He didn't want to delay a big battle between England and France because of such a stupid question as a parking space, even if it might be just a five-minute start.

So now, Phil is here.

Phil glanced at the rather empty parking lot and slapped his head, regretting that he had taken Hamilton's words for believing it. What the fuck looks like there's no parking space. He raised his head slightly again and looked at the Hongqiao over Wembley, under which the huge St. George flag was so majestic in the sunlight on the left side of the front of the pitch. His heart beat half a beat.

In fact, along the way, he saw countless St. George's flags, which was also a grand scene on the streets of London for many years. Once at Wembley, everything became even more exaggerated. There is only the St. George's flag.

Wembley could have accommodated 90,000 fans, but Phil's eyes suggest that there are far more fans gathered around the stadium at the moment. Of course, it's easy for the French to come to London – there are a lot of them. Phil lowered his head, wiped his nose, and inhaled.

Someday, I, Phil Warren, will be a national hero too. He thought.

Damn, I didn't even get a fucking chance to play for England, it seems like I'm thinking too far.

No, someday, I'm Phil Warren......

"Warren. ”

Hearing this, Phil's eyes glanced at the rainbow bridge over Wembley, and then he slowly turned around.

The short man in front of him - to be fair, Benjamin Hamilton should be more than six feet long, he is not short in any way, this is the Premier League, not the NBA, and Phil himself is only an inch taller than him - Phil thought about this and decided not to call him short, which is a bit insulting to himself after all.

The young man in front of him with dark brown hair was wearing dark jeans, a goose yellow polo shirt and white sneakers. His voice is deep, his accent is pure, his gray-green eyes are full of kindness, and the smile on his lips is even more polite. The hair was meticulously combed and waxed. If it was someone else, Phil would directly laugh at him for being rustic and hypocritical, but because the other party was Benjamin, Phil had to wonder if there was something wrong with his taste.

"Hamilton. ”

It's been a week since the pair first met in Harrington (in fact, the first time they met was in Crystal Palace's FA Cup game against Fulham last season), and they still don't know each other well and still call each other by their last names.

"You're so early. Benjamin said as he put away the car keys, always with a little smile on his face, "I didn't expect you to come to see this game." Shall we go in together?"

"Let's go. Phil pouted and glanced behind him. They took a few steps forward, and Phil couldn't help but look back.

Two identical white Lamborghini are not far apart.

It's stupid. Phil was indignant. I had to change the car.

Benjamin also turned his head, he casually glanced at Phil again, and asked casually, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing. Phil turned his head and strode forward.

Benjamin looked at his car and lowered his eyes, it was his own negligence.

Earlier, Phil teased and asked, "Hamilton, are you sorry not to be able to participate in this game?"

Benjamin strode after him and replied honestly, "A little." ”

Phil glanced at the tall figure beside him, somehow, feeling irritated.

The rich boy was not as condescending as Hans Bachmeier, nor had he ever shown even the slightest disdain in front of him—Leon Ferreira always squinted at him; for a week, Hamilton occasionally joked with Phil, but not sarcastically, as if he had made a living mocking him, and Hamilton was not a boring man, but Ian and Glenn were very boring.

Even, the songs that Hamilton sang when he first joined the club were Phil's favorites.

Can't fault it, can't fucking find fault at all.

Phil looked at the St. George's flags flying around every corner again, and felt a sense of loss for no apparent reason.

****

When England's No.7, who was supported with a brace on his right foot, appeared in one of the box stands at Wembley, there was a huge applause from the fans and almost all eyes were on Patrick Amber. The applause and cheers grew louder and louder, eventually shaking the whole of Wembley.

Dressed semi-formally, Patrick raised his hands above his head and applauded the fans, thankful and slightly apologetic.

It was not long before the players of both teams warmed up and returned to the dressing room. Wembley's lawn keeper is doing the final maintenance and inspection.

Lu Ling was sitting in the stands a few floors below Patrick's box, and she turned her head to meet Patrick's gaze when she had just sat down. His eyes were still clear, but he didn't know when they had become a little sharper.

As she told another person, many things are always changing, but the real realization of those changes is always at some inadvertent moment.

She smiled at him, and he smiled.

She had only met him the previous night, and they had spoken on the phone at noon, and they already knew that the other party would come. The reason why I didn't agree to be together is because Lu Ling has a lot of work today, and she is not sure about the time.

What actually happened was that as soon as her ass was next to the stool, he hit the field.

Two minutes later, Lu Ling received a message.

Lu Ling still lowered his head after reading the information, hesitating whether to turn back.

Immediately, she received another message.

Again:

Again:

Again:

Again:

Lu Ling turned his head and gave him an expression of disbelief. He shrugged teasingly. She turned back and replied:

She looked at the table below, and there were less than ten minutes left before the start of the game, and the players of both teams were about to enter.

She typed quickly:

She didn't hesitate and sent it out.

Soon, she received a reply again.

Again:

Again:

Lu Ling saw the last one and laughed. She turned back again, and the beautiful man in the high place had broad shoulders and strong arms, and his chest was as solid as a rock, and he lowered his gaze, smiled at her, and winked his left eye, full of innocence. She suddenly remembered Anna's words......

Was he really just an outsider in Barcelona all along?

Players enter.

He'll be fine. She knows. This is the voice in Lu Ling's heart before the "Marseillaise" sounds.

****

The TV screen in the box replayed Patrick Amber's face and his clear eyes filled with tears. Throughout the singing of the national anthem, England's number one star who was suffering from injury appeared very emotional. After that, he slowly sat down. The camera gradually zooms out and falls on his injured right foot, and it seems that even the camera can't bear it.

Benjamin looked away from the TV screen.

Patrick's emotional surge did not surprise Benjamin, but Benjamin did not expect Phil to burst into tears when he sang "God Save the Queen". Although Benjamin himself was a little emotional at some point just now, the tears were always exaggerated.

At the end of the song, Phil wiped his eyes and forcibly excused, "I just thought of my poor motherless daughter......"

Benjamin nodded solemnly when he heard this, and said that I regret it, and it is not good to ask why his daughter has no mother. It's just that Benjamin's two eyebrows then twisted again, what kind of damn logic is Warren?!

Phil was unaware of this, and suddenly asked Benjamin, "Do you think we can go to the grandstand down there?" I want to go to the boss." I'm sure that's her. It seemed to be Alice next to her. ”

They were now in a VIP box, and Benjamin invited Fill, who was disrespectful, even though his original seat was quite good.

"I don't know, it's already started, Warren, let's talk about it at halftime. Benjamin said, turning his attention to the field. He really hopes that one day he can wear the England shirt and start in such an important game.

"Well, it looks like I can't get over it for a while, and the security guard stopped it. It's a pity, but when I think about Patrick, I can't play this game......"

Benjamin didn't answer. This time, there was a clear look of disgust on his face. He can tolerate barbarism, rudeness, lack of taste, etc., etc., but to be able to say such things as if nothing happened, it is not for him to be willing to treat each other with kindness.

Phil didn't see the disgust, and he didn't know Benjamin's psychology. In fact, Phil is very sympathetic to Patrick and knows very well that England needs Patrick.

This Anglo-French war, because of the lack of Patrick, was generally not favored. Only the English media, the English fans, the famous names of England are still deceiving themselves.

It's as if you have faith to win a game that is difficult to win.

That happens, very rarely, no, extremely rarely.

Phil wanted to say that he really wished Patrick was not in the stands at the moment, but on the field. When the words came to his mouth, he swallowed them back inexplicably. Benjamin Hamilton sat on the other side of the box at some point. 166 Reading Network