It's already dark.

Nick said it was snowing in Liverpool at Christmas, but there was no sign of snow in sight now. The temperature is very low today, maybe it will snow in a while. Lu Ling thought.

Anfield is just a mile away from Goodison Park. She sat on the bus and glanced at Goodison Park from afar, and she could hardly see anything. And Anfield is getting closer. She tried to focus on the game that was going to be played in a moment.

Lu Ling takes the FA Cup very seriously. It's an old and traditional event. Local fans are crazy about it, too many good football memories. If the League Cup is a bit of a chicken cup competition, then the FA Cup is definitely not.

The top-flight title may not be accessible to any team, but the FA Cup is a competition that ordinary teams can compete for every year. Queens Park Rangers have not won the tournament in their history. In fact, they haven't won any major tournaments.

Lu Ling turned his head, and Pat sat behind her with headphones on, he looked excited. Met her gaze, and he winked at her left eye. She turned her head in disbelief.

In fact, she knows that Pat, like many, many English boys, has a unique affection and attachment to the FA Cup. Actually, she is the same. They all grew up watching this event.

She will have an almost full squad tonight, with only Vargas up front and Mensah at centre-back resting, although she will still be on the bench.

And if nothing else, she thinks Liverpool will have a lot of young players. A team like Liverpool should have some rotation in the early stages of the cup competition. She certainly hopes so, and it's better to win the game before the German changes to the main team.

George chatted with her. As he spoke, he arrived at Anfield.

Just like a month ago, Lu Ling got off the bus and the home fans heckled her. They called Nick's name and hurled insults at Everton. Of course, there were also QPR fans who had already arrived from London to boo the Reds fans and applaud her and the players who got off the bus after her.

Lu Ling waved at the QPR fans with a slight smile and quickly walked into the building. Then, she took out her phone and dialed Nick's.

Everton's FA Cup tie is the night after tomorrow. Their opponents are a League One team. Signing is much better than QPR.

"I just arrived at Anfield. ”

"I know. He said with a smile on the other end.

"Did you put a radar on me?"

"Perhaps. ”

Lu Ling laughed, "I don't believe it." Still at Finch Farm?"

"Yes. I'll pick you up at Anfield when you're done. ”

"If you're not afraid that the Liverpool fans won't let you go, I have no problem. She said and looked back to see that the players and the coaching staff and the team doctor had already gone to the dressing room and she had to go too.

"I think I hear someone calling my name?"

"Don't mention it, I think Liverpool fans love you more than Everton fans. I have to hang up, I want to ......" Lu Ling looked at his watch, "I think, I'll see you in four hours." ”

"Four hours, that sounds like a long time. ”

"Please......"

"Just kidding. He smiled and said, "See you in a moment, love you, babe." Oh yes, good luck. ”

"Thank you. I love you too. See you later. ”

Lu Ling hung up the phone and walked to the away team's dressing room at Anfield. She's in a good mood, and she hopes that this good mood will continue forever.

Three and a half hours later, when the BBC camera caught the pretty face of the QPR manager, she smiled brightly. Just a minute earlier, her team had eliminated Liverpool with a stoppage-time goal.

When shaking hands with the Germans, Lu Ling wanted to put away her smile, but she couldn't hide it.

'I don't like to score in stoppage time, I'd rather settle the fight in 90 minutes, but, yes, it's a great feeling. She said.

Klopp shrugged, "Yes, you're going to love the feeling of beating your opponent in the last moments." Kristine, see you in the league. When the time comes, maybe you'll give me three points. He patted her on the shoulder and walked into the tunnel.

Lu Ling glanced at the tall back of the German, and said in his heart, I can't say, maybe you gave me three points.

She quickly turned around and walked towards her player. She encouraged them, hugged them and had a brief conversation about the details of the game.

Eventually, Patrick walked up to her, and they hugged and whispered a few words before walking into the tunnel together.

The BBC conducted interviews with players from both teams. Patrick still doesn't have much to say, even though he's the man of the match again. But at the end of the interview, the BBC reporter said, "I hope you can win the FIFA Puskas award in a few days," and he laughed a little happily, like a 19-year-old boy.

Lu Ling's good mood at the post-match press conference was fully revealed. It's just that this press conference lasted for a short time, and it ended in three or four minutes. As she walked out, several reporters continued to follow, wanting to ask more questions. One of them is Chloe.

Lu Ling then answered a few more questions as he walked. She looked at her watch, a little anxious.

Chloe noticed her move and joked, "Oh, I guess Nick is waiting for you." ”

Lu Ling sank his face and looked at Chloe, his gaze a little sharp. She was far from being friends with her, and even if she had no ill will, she shouldn't have made such a joke on such an occasion.

Chloe was a little embarrassed, but her gaze quickly turned to fearlessness after the embarrassment.

"It's none of your business. Lu Ling glanced at her coldly and walked out.

A few of Chloe's colleagues teased him a few more words. The pretty Sky Sports reporter took a few words and walked past them. She's always liked Christine, maybe not all the time, but she hasn't liked it so much in the past two months.

****

Liverpool's players have been driving home on and off. QPR players also came out of the locker room one after another and walked onto the bus parked at the door.

After Lu Ling came out of the press conference, he went back to the locker room and hurriedly packed his bag. As she walked out, she took out her phone and looked at two missed calls, both from Nick. She was about to call when the team doctor came over and said a few words about the wounded. She nodded, a little absent-minded. It's not a particularly important thing anyway. As soon as the team doctor left, George, who was about to walk out of the building, called out to her again and asked her a few questions about recruitment. She replied simply, thinking that it would be the same for the coaching staff meeting on Monday.

Finally able to call.

"I'm done, where are you?" she asked, with some eagerness.

"Just outside, babe, you can see me when you come out. ”

When Lu Ling heard this, he was a little nervous.

She walked outside, and the driver of the team bus saw her and thought she was coming up, so he smiled and urged. She waved her hand, meaning to leave her alone. The bus driver, of course, knew that the head coach's boyfriend was Nick Flores, so he smiled and shook his head, wishing her a pleasant night.

She shrugged her shoulders, and the players on the bus, as well as a bunch of fans, were probably watching her. She couldn't care so much, and her eyes began to look for Nick.

Oh, she's seen him already. He saw her, too. He drove up to her.

Lu Ling opened the co-pilot's door and said, "My God, they are all howling, you came to pick me up, maybe it was a mistake." ”

The Reds fans and QPR fans who were stopped outside by the security guards all screamed and whistled everywhere, but they couldn't hear a complete sentence.

"Fuckthem, they're crazy just by seeing me. Nick leaned over as he spoke, and by the time he had finished, he had already kissed her.

Lu Ling completely forgot that there were fans outside for a moment, and she put her arms around his neck.

But soon, they ended the kiss and reluctantly parted.

Nicholas started the car and was ahead of the QPR bus, which he quickly overtook after exiting Anfield.

It's really starting to snow outside.

Lu Ling opened the window a little bit, and the cold wind quickly poured in, followed by small snowflakes. She quickly closed the window, and Nick turned her head to look at her.

"Look ahead, Nick!" she reminded him.

He took her hand in his free hand and smiled without speaking. But his speed was getting faster and faster.

Ten minutes later, Nicholas opened the door. But he quickly slammed the door again.

They kissed eagerly as they scrambled to undress each other. Maybe it's because I'm in a hurry, but I always make mistakes. They briefly stopped kissing, looked into each other's eyes and smiled. In this way, it suddenly slowed down.

It's icy outside, but every nook and cranny of this house is burning.

He squeezed her ass slightly hard as he gnawed her neck, "You ruthless girl, do you know it's been almost a fucking month? I haven't touched you in a fucking month." ”

Lu Ling felt a little painful, but the strange thing was that she seemed to like it again. She heard him say this and felt the dissatisfaction in his heart. But she didn't speak, she didn't know what to say. Touch and nerves are connected, and at this moment, she wants nothing more than more pleasure and love.

It wasn't until after midnight that they really started talking.

It was warm in the house.

Lu Ling got up and went to the window to take a look, the snow hadn't stopped, but it hadn't fallen too much, but it had already accumulated. It's white, it's a little reflective, and it makes people feel lonely. She was thinking about it, when Nick hugged her tightly from behind.

"What are you thinking?"

She laughed and snorted, "Thinking maybe I'll go back on Monday." ”

"Monday, of course. If you leave tomorrow, I swear ......"

"What?"

"I swear I'll keep you out of bed tomorrow. He whispered in her ear, teasingly.

Lu Ling's heart skipped a beat, as if he should be angry, but he had a lot of expectations and desires.

"Do you want me to do this to you?" he glanced at her thoughts.

She looked at him with a smile, noncommittal. But she immediately slipped out of his arms again, "I'll go take a shower." ”

"Okay, I'm with you. ”

"I didn't say that. ”

"So what. ”

"Nick!"

"It's not going to work. ”

Obviously, this bath takes a bit long.

"I need a piece of clothing. She said, standing in the bathroom.

"I don't think you need to. He lay on the bed and looked at her with a smile.

"I swear ......"

"What?"

"If you talk to me like that again, you must be sleeping alone tonight. ”

Ten seconds later, Nicholas threw an Everton shirt over.

"Please, I'm the head coach of QPR, you're letting me wear an Everton shirt, Nick, whatthe**areyouthinking?"

"I want to see you dress. ”

"Noway. I'm a principled woman. She threw it back.

He picked up his jersey and walked up to her.

"Don't try to trick me into wearing it. She tilted her head, a smile on her lips.

"Do I really want to see it, for me?" he put his arm around her waist and handed her the jersey.

Lu Ling hesitated for two seconds and took it. Then, she put it on. This dress is still too big for her to wear. She raised her eyes and asked Nick's opinion.

'You're the best looking guy I've ever seen in an Everton shirt. Oh no, all jerseys. ”

"Thank you, I think so. She said rightfully.

"My first winter pick, Kristen Lu, what number do you want?"

"Number 7?" she blurted out. Then she saw the smile on Nick's face disappear for a moment. She quickly explained, "Please, number 7 is the number that most players will love!"

"Shouldn't it be number 10?" he pouted.

"Of course the 10th, and the 7th. Nick, you're too sensitive!"

Nicholas pursed his lips and smiled, and suddenly asked, "Do you know what size I wore when I was at Atletico Madrid?"

"Number 4. Lu Ling replied. How could she not know that when she was still his assistant, she didn't know how many videos she had watched from his time as a player.

He smiled and narrowed his eyes, "You secretly studied me?"

"Yes. She confessed.

"When did you like me?"

"When did you like me?"

"First look. ”

After he finished speaking, Lu Ling's eyes widened and he said in surprise, "How is it possible? That night, you obviously ......"

"If I say I'm in love with you the first time I see you, I'm lying. But I did like you at first sight, it's true, and I won't lie to you. It's your turn, babe, when are you?"

Lu Ling closed his eyes and remembered his first encounter in the tavern.

"Actually, so am I. She recalled.

When she opened her eyes again, his face was very close, very close.

"Christine. He suddenly called her name.

"Nick. ”

"I've never loved anyone. ”

"Neither did I. ”

"Not in the future. He kissed her.

……

Before going to bed, Lu Ling pillowed on Nicholas's chest and chatted with him in a daze.

"Are you still angry?"

"What do you mean?"

"You know. ”

Nicholas touched her hair and kissed her forehead, "I'm not sure. ”

"You're so stingy. ”

"I'm really stingy. He laughed and said, "You know, the guy who buried my career, I'm ...... to this day."

"That's not your fault!" Lu Ling suddenly sobered up a little and his voice became louder.

It wasn't an accident, it wasn't a reasonable collision, it was a malicious incident.

"Nick. ”

“Babe？”

'You're a good player. ”

"I used to be. ”

"I'm sorry. She looked up and said very seriously.

"Please don't have pity on me. His face changed.

"No, don't get me wrong. …… If you were my player......"

"What? will fall in love with me? I'm not your player, and you're already in love with me. ”

After a while, he thought she was asleep, and she asked again, "Do you regret it?"

"Nope. "I'll win a lot of trophies as a manager," he said. ”

"I know you will. She kissed him on the chin.

"Babe, I have a villa in Banus and a beautiful boat, and I was thinking, when we go there in the summer, I've never taken anyone else there, it's my paradise, and I think you'll love it. When he finished speaking, he found that she was already asleep in his arms. He kissed her again and turned off the light.

****

When Lu Ling woke up the next day, Nick was gone again. He must have gone to Finch Farm, she thought. Although a little disappointed, she can understand the busyness of being a manager. So did herself.

She slowly got out of bed and prepared to go downstairs to make a cup of coffee. But when she walked out of the bedroom, she smelled a little fragrance. She hurriedly went downstairs in three steps and two steps, and Nick was in the kitchen.

He glanced at her with a slight smile and said softly, "Good morning, babe."

She ran over and hugged him. He took her hand on his waist with one hand and flipped Bacon with the other.

"It smells great. ”

"It will be fine soon. He turned back and kissed her, thinking that he would give her a Christmas present after breakfast.

Halfway through their breakfast, Lu Ling's mobile phone on the table last night rang.

She glanced at it, and he looked at it.

Nicholas took it directly after reading it and pressed it.

Lu Ling didn't speak. The call didn't come again.

After a while.

"You don't look happy. He said.

"Nope. She wiped her mouth and smiled at him.

"There's something I've always wanted to tell you. He lifted his eyes.

"What?"

"I want you to move. Nicholas looked at her and said.

Lu Ling looked over in surprise.

"Are you serious? Why?"

"You know why. He said, glancing at his phone.

Lu Ling stood up, went to the other side, and poured some coffee. She lowered her head, "Nick, I did that wrong. But...... You don't have the right to do that, just press my phone and ask me to move......"

"If you want to take it so much, you can call it. ”

She looked up to see his face, which had been shaded.

"It's not about whether I want to take it, in fact, I'm not going to do it, but you don't have the right to do that. I'm not moving. She decisively rejected him. She took a sip of coffee, which was so bitter that she forgot to add milk.

Little by little, Nicholas's face became grim.

"Do you know what a nineteen-year-old player thinks? You don't know what? I used to be a nineteen-year-old player, and I tell you that when he's not playing, he thinks about sex and sex. You don't move, you live so close, sooner or later that kind of thing will happen a second time. His voice was powerful in an empty room. Although not loud.

Lu Ling put down the coffee cup.

"If so...... I also want to say something. ”

"What?"

"Sofia will move to Liverpool in the future, should I be worried?"

"You've never mentioned it before, and if you bring it up at this time, you're diverting attention!" he looked coldly.

"Nope. Lu Ling looked at him helplessly, "This has always been a problem. You'll be a father next month. I'm not sure...... It's a bit complicated...... I feel like I'm ......"

"That's why the I didn't want to sue you in the first place! You're a single parent, so it's easy to think too much. Do you think you're involved in a family? Sophia and I have never been a family, please look at this issue for yourself!"

Lu Ling listened to his words word by word, and only felt that he had crossed the line. She gritted her teeth and stared at the floor.

Seeing her like this, Nicholas made a gesture to go over and hug her, but she opened it.

It's been a long time.

"Nick, we need to calm down. (Weshouldtakeabreak.)" Her lips moved.

As soon as she finished speaking, she heard a thud.

The coffee cup fell to the floor and the coffee spilled all over the floor.

She looked up at him.

Nick's left hand was bright red.

He looked at her.

The summer he had been looking forward to seemed to be far away.

"Nick......" she walked over, wanting to see his hand.

"That's such a thing for you, isn't it?" he yelled at her, "yes?

His face became so hideous and gray. His eyes were so lonely and hollow.

He misunderstood.

She wants to say let's calm down first, but Nick thinks she's going to break up (takeabreak also means break up).

However, he agreed.

He actually agreed.

How could he say yes?

How could he promise......

Lu Ling's whole person seemed to be nailed to the spot. She muttered an explanation, "Nick......

He walked past her, his voice already cold, "Leave the key, take all your things with you, I don't want to see you when I come back." ”

"Nick!"

Lu Ling called his name loudly.

He stopped in the doorway, paused, and then turned back.

She looked at him, and her mind was full of only him saying yes.

He actually agreed. He actually agreed.

"The keys to my house. ”

Nicholas fumbled in his pants pocket, pulled it out, and threw it away.

Clanging on the floor.

"Throw all my stuff away at your house. He left the words and opened the door.

****

Lu Ling felt that all the emotions were surging. In her head, in her nose, in her mouth, in her throat.

It was as if she had been evacuated. She didn't know what was going on.

What the hell is going on!

She moved, feeling out of breath.

She sat for a while. Then she jerked up from her chair.

She had to get out of here. She had to get out of here.

She searched the kitchen for a long time before she found the garbage bag.

Then she threw everything she had into the garbage bag. She took off her jersey again. Change your own clothes.

And then what?

Oh yes.

She gave Steve a call.

"I need a car. I'm in Liverpool. No, I'll drive back to London myself. ”

Half an hour later, she walked out of his house.

She shoved the garbage bag into the trash can and took one last look at his house. Fingertips began to hurt.

She got into the car and drove all the way down the M6.

Suddenly she turned the car around, and she had to tell him.

She had to sue him, she didn't want to break up, she loved him, and if they broke up now, her heart would break.

She returned to Nick's house and waited for him to return.

Finally, he opened the door, and she threw herself into his arms.

He kissed her and stroked her.

……

Lu Ling woke up suddenly. She felt a huge stone pressing against her chest.

It's so dark around, how can it be so dark.

Was it the middle of the night? she picked up her phone next to her bed and glanced at it.

Nothing.

It was only seven o'clock in the evening. It was so dark, she thought it was the middle of the night.

It was a dream.

She didn't go back, she drove along the M6 and then onto the M40 all the way back to her home in Surrey.

When she returned, she drank a whole bottle of red wine, fell asleep, and had that dream.

She, with Nick, still broke up.