"What!?"

"What?!"

The moment Lu Ling let go of Nicholas, Nicholas also let go of her. She stared at him, and he stared at her. She didn't know if he was more surprised or if she was more surprised. Again, she thought it was absurd. Suddenly, she smiled. He was the same.

But no one spoke.

Lu Ling felt that he had heard a bird's call. It's fucking up, she thought, it's almost dawn, she's telling those kids not to be late, and now it looks like she's most likely to be late if she chooses to go to sleep.

"Lots of information, I think...... We need to have a drink. Lu Ling said.

Nicholas nodded, looking a little worried, "Aren't you going to rush to the new Queen's Park in a few hours to join the Premier League winning tour?"

"Yes. She was already walking to the kitchen, "Wine or whiskey, or?"

"Whiskey. He followed, "You haven't answered my question yet, babe." ”

Lu Ling opened the wine cabinet, and her fingers slid over one wine bottle after another, with a gray touch.

"Unless you say you're too tired and just want some sleep, I've got to have a drink. She picked out the wine, grabbed the bottle and turned around, "Then I might take a shower and go straight to New Queen's Park, the tour won't last long, I'll be back when it's over, and maybe I'll sleep until tomorrow morning." I'm fine. ”

Nicholas raised his arm, and she subconsciously ducked back, but immediately remained still.

The fingers of his right hand touched her forehead, and he asked softly, "Have you ever slept ......with it?"

"Slept. She interrupted him, "I didn't sleep well...... Old Tom said that eventually it will all pass, and all the sorrows ......" she lowered her head, avoiding his gaze, "all the sorrows are ...... I don't remember what he said. She looked up again, "Nick, let's talk about that." Are you leaving Everton? Are you thinking about it? Or is this already an immutable fact?"

"The second. He removed his hand from her face and took the whiskey from her hand.

For half a second, Lu Ling felt that regret flashed in the eyes of this Spanish man. But why? Is it because of unfinished glory and dreams, or is it because you want to leave that damn port city that is always full of demons and rain?

Maybe it's just an illusion. He never liked Liverpool and he always complained about the damn weather in England.

****

Nicholas felt tired. He poured two fingers of whiskey for her and for himself, an amount that he would normally drink in three parts, but just now, he drank it all in one gulp. And so did she.

If it weren't for the fact that her father had just died, he would have told her the news in a completely different tone. It's like when he told her he was leaving QPR. It's going to be a fresh start, and he loves it. Of course, every new beginning is an adventure, but that's exactly what he's after.

Will he be at Everton for five, or even ten years? The answer is no.

Was she really surprised?, he thought. She's leaving QPR? He's the one who is even more surprised.

Then, he lowered the cup and unbuttoned two shirts. It's a bit stuffy in the house.

"In my first year, I led Everton to Champions League qualification, which was pretty good. "The next year, I won the Premier League, which was good. As for the Champions League, we won't mention it. He tilted his head, "The third year, the league runner-up, the Champions League semi-finals...... Objectively speaking, I don't think it's bad, but you know me, I'm not personally satisfied. ”

"So you want to leave? No, it's not you. She was pouring her wine, she was thinking, she frowned, her eyes drooped.

Nicholas breathed a sigh of relief, looked away, and soon, turned back again.

She continued, "Your conflict with Ross Barkley is definitely one of the reasons. Rose's place in the dressing room, in Everton's history, is largely established – and the club will not let go of the player anyway...... Of course, you can't handle him, but the price you pay is not what you like, and please we all know that Rose is not your type. ”

"My type?" he asked amusedly.

"Every coach has a fixed type of player they like. ”

"I agree. He said thank you again, took his glass, and took a sip, "Sweetheart, why don't you tell me what type of players I like?"

"Don't call it a sweetheart. She said seriously, but didn't dwell on it, "There is an overlap in the types of players we like, it's obvious, we've been competing for people for a few years, and that's enough to prove it. But from the very beginning, you told me that you don't like the English players, probably except for Pat and Zixiang. You don't like their style, their way of thinking, it's not in line with your philosophy, and even, you're not entirely happy with Pat and Zixiang, because they're English after all, and they still have the usual way of playing English players...... In fact, it has nothing to do with nationality or ethnicity, essentially, you don't like players who don't play according to your requirements and aesthetics. ”

After she said this, she paused and took a sip of whiskey before continuing, "Ross is just one of the reasons, you just mentioned your three-year results...... You know what? I hate to say that, but you really have something in common with Jose, you're telling me that your three years at Everton were successful, of course you were successful, even unprecedentedly successful, and no one would deny that, and there was no way to deny it. It's just that if it's true, you don't have to stress it. You emphasize that it's because you don't feel successful enough, you're not satisfied with yourself, you want a lot more than that, you need a new challenge......"

"You've been in QPR for three years as well. ”

"That's right. Three years is a hurdle that is difficult to overcome. It seems that all the pep talk is meaningless, and it is difficult to get every player to fight for you with all their might. She smiled a little sarcastically, "The most important thing is that you got a better invitation, right? I guess your next stop is Madrid." Real Madrid? It's interesting, considering you've played for Atletico Madrid. ”

"I don't see anything wrong with that. We are all professionals. ”

"I agree. Are you telling me that you are indeed going to Real Madrid?" Lu Ling took another sip of whiskey, "Oh, I suddenly remembered, there was a newspaper about this a few months ago. Did you get the invitation at that time?"

Nicholas smiled slightly, "Yes." He finished the whiskey in his glass, "I'm glad you've seriously considered my proposal." Does this mean you're finally out of your fort zone?"

She was stunned,

Then, it was shocking.

****

Lu Ling felt incredulous. However, is it really unbelievable?

She had trouble controlling her volume, "Nick, do you realize what you're talking about?"

He didn't move. His white shirt is meticulous, and his gaze becomes sharp, as if trying to penetrate everything.

"Not everything revolves around you! I did promise you to consider leaving the QPR, I lost the bet, I won't break my word, you know, but I can't make such a big decision just because of what you said, you know?"

"Why are you so excited?"

"Because of your way of thinking! Don't you understand? You act as if the world is just revolving around you? If you think we're mirrors, then you should understand that in my consciousness, the world doesn't just revolve around you, it's fucking revolves around me!"

"Okay. He quickly agreed, staring down at the glass. After a few seconds, he added, "It's good that you got out of your fort zone anyway, I'm glad you said you're leaving QPR, so what'......s your next stop?

"Nick. She interrupted him, "I'm not sure if that's my fort zone, but life is a process of constantly getting out of fort zones and constantly creating new fort zones, it's not that simple. Also, I don't have a next stop, not yet, I want to take a break. ”

This time, Nicholas's face was filled with shock.

"You were fired?" he asked.

Lu Ling looked at the bottle of whiskey, they seemed to be drinking too fast. She needs to control it, she doesn't want to go to the championship parade with a strong hangover, it would be a disaster.

"Nope. I think a more precise and official statement would be the result of a joint negotiation that weighs the interests of multiple parties. Isn't that what you were trying to achieve at that very important meeting?"

He leaned back on the couch, "You're right. He flattened his mouth and shook his head, "It's still hard for me to believe that QPR would let a manager who just led them to their first top-flight title in their history leave. ”

Lu Ling wanted to stand up, but he grabbed her arm. She struggled for a while, but he still didn't let go, and she struggled again, and he still didn't let go.

"Nick!"

"Where are you going?"

"I'm hungry, I need to eat something. ”

"I'll do it for you. What do you want to eat?" he said, letting go of her, ready to stand up.

"Whatever. Lu Ling hesitated, "Hey, you don't have to get up." You're coming by car, and it's been another busy day, so you should be tired. I'm going to take a doughnut, do you want it? Or a muffin with no chocolate chips for lemon flavor? I don't have it. ”

Nicholas stretched, "Oh, you remember. Donuts will do, whatever you want. ”

She glared at him with a smile, "That was one of your most critical moments, don't think I don't know you're trying to break me off." After saying that, she thought of something, and her expression darkened again.

****

Nicholas took the doughnut she handed over and took a bite, which was hard.

"I don't think Nate wants to kick me away, but he said very vaguely that if I stay, there is very little room for me to make mistakes, and you know that after that celebration of Pat came to light, the talk about that incident has not stopped until now, plus the relationship between you and me...... All eyes were on me. I've been thinking that if I don't win the league this season, it might not be a negotiated termination, but more like a fire. ”

Nicholas was holding half a donut in his hand, which was probably one of the worst doughnuts he had ever tasted. He put it on the table and asked, "So you said you wanted to take a break and you were running away from these?"

"No, Nick. She had finished her doughnut, she licked the powdered sugar off her finger, then she took her finger away and said, "I remember telling you earlier that I was losing my hair, it's true, I've been losing my hair, my period has been abnormal for seven months, and my doctor told me that if I continue, I'm in danger of infertility...... You know I can't want to be a mother at this stage, but I hope that one day I will have that option when I'm ready. In the past three years, the pressure has been too much. You saw my dad...... I think what happened to him prompted me to make this choice. I want to live a little longer, and I want to be in a better physical and mental state to continue what I love. I need to rest. ”

Nicholas picked up the doughnut he had just put down again and took a careful bite.

"I've got your back, babe. He said as he ate the whole doughnut.

"Thank you. Lu Ling smiled bitterly, "What kind of coincidence is this, we actually chose to leave at the same time." ”

Nicholas lowered his eyelids, smiled silently, and said quietly, "In the last round, we played Crystal Palace, and when we arrived at Selhurst Park, I suddenly remembered that Crystal Palace is your first opponent after becoming the manager of the Premier League, and interestingly, it has also become my last opponent in the Premier League, at least at this stage, after all, fate is like a bitch, who knows when I will return to England." ”

"Would you want to come back?"

He looked at her, his eyes seemed to have lifted layer after layer of fog, and he said, "You know the answer, my girl." ”

Lu Ling got into his arms.

He asked, "Did your dad tell you what I told him?"

The girl in his arms suddenly became very careful even to breathe.

After a while.

"It's dawn, I have to go take a shower. She looked up and kissed him.

"Well, I'm pretty sure you're running away. ”

She walked upstairs and looked back, "After the funeral, we'll go on vacation to Spain together, and we'll talk about this then, okay?"

"Good. I think I'm just asleep on the couch and you come back and wake me up. ”

Lu Ling went up two steps and turned back, "I love you, Nick." You know that, right?"

"Yes, I always knew that. I love you too. He looked at her, "It's just you, no one else, and not in the future." 166 Reading Network