"So I just want to know what that means exactly?"

Lu Ling drank all of Martini in one gulp, she looked at Nathan Neal, then at Patrick, and Steve was staring at her. It was clear that none of them knew what she was going to face except herself. She shrugged her shoulders and made a strange gesture to shove the empty cup into Nathan Neal's hand. However, Nathan Neal didn't react in any special way, and he turned his hand to the assistant behind him.

"I think the FA will be involved in the investigation soon. If he – if he bets on QPR and the investigation shows that I gave him the inside scoop, I will face a hefty fine and a ban of at least six months. And that's just the lightest punishment. It is also possible to ...... a year I do not know. Lu Ling finished saying this sentence with an expressionless face. It was very noisy outside, and she didn't expect so many people.

"There's no way you're going to give him news. Patrick said, "I know you don't, Tina. ”

"Yes. But it doesn't matter. What matters is the results of the FA survey, what matters is ...... I really don't fucking understand if he even bets on my club—" Lu Ling's voice grew louder and higher, and she couldn't control it. She didn't feel embarrassed, she just couldn't breathe. She couldn't continue. She cupped her forehead, "I'm sorry. I need some fresh air. Where's the balcony?"

Nathan Neal gave directions, and she walked out of the room and through the crowd to the balcony. Patrick was right behind her.

When Cindy told her the news, she was still smiling, her whole smile frozen, and she finally poked her finger in the face before she came to her senses.

The first to expose Lu Yungui's gambling was the Chinese media, in fact, the reporter who interviewed her more than a year ago. She thought about it for a long time and remembered her name. Yan Jia. This girl also went to find Lu Yungui. She felt something was wrong at the time and quickly forgot about it. She didn't expect that after more than a year, this matter was dug up by this girl.

She doesn't blame her. She didn't do anything wrong. There is only one person who should be responsible for the whole thing, and that is Lu Yungui himself. She wondered if she was mistaken, she should call to make sure, but Steve's call shattered her dreams. Steve had already contacted Lu Yungui as soon as the news came out, and Lu Yungui had already admitted it to him. Steve hired his assistant in London to take care of the matter.

After the news appeared on Chinese social media, it was quickly picked up by the Post and the London Evening Banner, and by the time Lu Ling arrived at Nathan Neil's home, almost all the British media, no, not only the British media, but sports media all over the world covered it.

If nothing else, the FA will step in early tomorrow morning, of course, in a few hours after London time.

Standing on the balcony of Nathaniel's luxury apartment, Lu Ling looked out over the city, oh no, I should say the most prosperous island in the world—so magnificent and strange. But the only thing she could feel at the moment was her stomach. Her whole stomach was churning.

She is innocent, even if Lu Yungui gambled on QPR, it is not her fault. But this is not the case to the outside world, and the father of a club's head coach bets on this club's game, which is a huge suspicion. She couldn't imagine the disastrous outcome of a six-month ban on her career if the FA's findings showed that she was involved.

In addition to this, she once again felt the despair of sixteen or seventeen years old. Witnessing the same mistakes made over and over again by someone you love, powerless. At this moment, she suddenly understood her mother.

Sometimes, it's not that you want to give up on the person you love, it's that he forces you to give up on him.

Patrick had been standing beside her, not speaking, not making any physical movements, he was just standing there, very close to her.

There was a person smoking on the other side of the balcony, Lu Ling glanced at it, walked over without hesitation.

"Hey, would you mind lending me a cigarette?" she said.

"Oh God, you have such a sexy accent – hey, you're the female coach of that English team, aren't you?"

The man was very young, maybe a little older than Patrick, Lu Ling didn't pay attention to his face at first, but when he looked up, he felt a little familiar.

"Yes, I am. Do you mind? I mean cigarettes. Lu Ling smiled hypocritically.

"Oh, sorry, of course not. He handed it over. Then he saw the man beside her. Still with a look of surprise on his face, "Patrick-Amber, I wanted to say hello to you just inside as soon as I was inside." Wow, you do have a pretty face. ”

After Lu Ling lit the cigarette, he returned the lighter. She had never thought a man could be so noisy. She stepped to the other side, and Pat exchanged a few words with the man and stood beside her again.

"If my player smokes, I'll put him on the bench. She said suddenly.

Patrick then knew that she had just heard their conversation. That guy is an NFL player. Smoking is a very bad habit for a professional athlete.

"Tina, do you want to get out of here? We can go back to the hotel. Patrick said, looking at her sideways.

"Wait until I'm done with this cigarette. Perhaps, I need another martini. Oh no, I need a whiskey without the rocks. She flicked the ash of her cigarette, and her irritability didn't improve because she smoked. Alcohol, she thought, wouldn't help her. But she felt that she had to do something.

"I'm a little worried about you. ”

"I'm fine. I'm an adult, Pat. Lu Ling wanted to smile at him, but in the end he only pulled the corners of his mouth. She puffed out her cigarette, wondering how many puffs she had.

As soon as she turned around, Steve and Nathan Neal also came out.

Nathan Neal had two glasses of wine in his hand, and Lu Ling knew that one was for her. Instead of a martini, she took whiskey, albeit on the rocks.

Nathan Neal shrugged his shoulders and asked Patrick, "Do you want this?"

"Why not?" Patrick took it, almost in one gulp.

"I just spoke to Steve and I don't think this should affect your contract negotiations. Nathan Neal said.

Lu Ling glanced at Steve, he nodded, and she looked at the American again, with a rare seriousness and sincerity in his green eyes.

She asked: "So you wouldn't mind signing a long-term contract with a manager who could be banned for a long time?"

"I don't think the FA is that stupid. Nathan Neal shrugged his shoulders.

"I'm not as optimistic as you. Lu Ling pouted, she was indeed not as optimistic as him.

"I'm showing my sincerity. And, a message to the media and fans: I support you and believe in you. Tony just called, and he wants you to call him back tomorrow. I think he has the same attitude as me. ”

Lu Ling felt that she should be happy, but she still had a strong sense of frustration.

"Thank you, Nate. I think how about having brunch together tomorrow, and if the main thing can be settled, maybe I'll be back in London in the evening. Lu Ling said and looked at Patrick, "Pat, you don't have to come with me. You come on your schedule. She knew that Steve had already set up an interview and a talk show for him, and it seemed like there were two commercials. There was no way he could go back with her.

"If you go back tomorrow night, I'll definitely be on the plane with you. ”

Steve's expression became complicated for a moment.

"Oh, damn it, no one was happy tonight because of me. Lu Ling drank the whiskey in the glass, and the ice that had not completely melted followed the liquid directly into her throat. She felt that her whole body was starting to heat up from the inside out.

No one spoke. The atmosphere was a bit oppressive.

Patrick took Lu Ling's hand, she struggled for a moment, he wouldn't let her move, she let him hold it. His palms were hot, and so were hers.

Nathan Neal broke the silence, "This was supposed to be your welcome reception, but I didn't expect this to happen, I think it's better to keep a low profile." I'm sorry that your night was not pleasant. Tomorrow brunch will be at your hotel. Tastes good, I promise. ”

Lu Ling finally smiled, albeit a little reluctantly. Patrick took her hand and tightened it again.

Steve glanced at the hands they were holding, and quickly looked away, he was worried about Christine, and he had to think about what he would do if Patrick did follow him on the plane tomorrow.

"Maybe I don't have to go back tomorrow. Lu Ling said to Steve.

Steve seemed relieved to hear this.

She laughed at herself again, "I'm waiting for the FA to call me." ”

What if she goes back? She has to face the media, the fans, the FA and, most importantly, Lu Yungui.

She didn't want to face that. And, just now, she made a decision, she had to meet someone.

A person I haven't seen in years.

****

Lu Ling had a hard time remembering how he got back to the hotel. She didn't know if it was because she had drunk too much and her brain was on strike. Anyway, she's back. It's finally back. She can vent her emotions unscrupulously, or fall asleep. But she didn't do either.

She asked Patrick if she wanted tea, it was so late and she didn't want coffee.

Patrick said I'm coming.

Nate prepares her favorite black tea for her, she doesn't know how he knows, she doesn't even remember if she drank tea in front of him.

Lu Ling sat on the sofa by the window with his legs crossed. She opened the window, and the wind that came in immediately ruffled her hair.

Patrick handed her the tea, and Lu Ling took a sip and another sip. After that, she leaned back on the couch, hoping that her body and mind would relax. But it didn't work very well. She realized that it might have something to do with her dress.

She then took off her skirt. Now, she wears only her underwear.

Patrick only glanced at her, then looked away.

Lu Ling felt that his body was very hot. That whiskey was working in her body.

She called him, "Pat." ”

"I'll get you a dress. Patrick avoided her gaze and prepared to get her clothes.

She stood up, grabbed him, and put her arms around his neck, "I don't need to. ”

"Tina......" Patrick took her arm and touched her face.

"I want you. She put her arms around his neck again, and whispered to him, "Aren't you interested?" She touched him, no, he was interested.

Patrick staggered a bit, "Tina, you're depressed right now. It's not a good idea. We can talk, you know, you can tell me anything. Or if you want to sleep......"

"I want you, Pat......" Lu Ling began to kiss him, pulling the buckle of his belt.

He grabbed her hand, "Don't do that, Tina......"

She turned and left, "I'll go find Nate." ”

Then she was picked up by him.

Patrick put her on the bed, "You stay in this bed, we're not going to do anything tonight." If you say anything more about going to Nate...... Oh God, Tina, I'm mad at you. ”

Lu Ling grabbed his hand and looked at him, "I'm not telling you really. ”

"I know. ”

After a while.

"Can you please get me some clothes?"

He kissed her forehead, "Of course." ”

"Ian is getting married. ”

"I know, I'm the best man. ”

"Zixiang may leave. ”

"Not necessarily, he told me he was still thinking about it. ”

"There are a couple of players who I haven't had time to talk to yet...... I'm worried about waiting for me to get back...... They all went on vacation......"

"Don't think about it, you need to rest. ”

Patrick took a T-shirt of his own. When he got to the bed, he found that she seemed to be asleep.

He bent down and kissed her on the lips. There seemed to be tears in the corners of her eyes. He kissed her in the eye again.

Finally, he helped her put on a little quilt, "I love you, Tina." Good night. Everything will be fine. 166 Reading Network