"I remember many years ago there was an episode at Top Gear where four groups of people raced from Hammersmith to the city airport......"

"Oh yes, I remember that episode, we watched a rerun, four groups of people, driving, taking the subway, biking, ......"

"And a pleasant boat ride on the Thames. ”

Jeremy [the former BBC presenter] was on board and said he had to be the most laid-back man in all of London, and he completely forgot that he was playing, and he didn't get the most out of it. ”

"I've always suspected that he did it on purpose. ”

"Perhaps, anyway, the first to get to the city airport is the biker, and the slowest is driving, and for God's sake, they're doing a car show. But, now, I'm thinking, Tina, if you're in the fifth group, they're not that embarrassed. ”

Lu Ling turned her gaze back from the window, and the man driving the car was peeking at her, with a little smile on his handsome face. When did his face completely fade from its youth and childishness? In fact, over the past few years, she has always felt at some point, "Oh, Pat is not that pretty boy anymore," and yes, he has been changing and growing. If you think about it, his appearance now is not much different from what he looked like when he was eighteen, but it looks completely different. He no longer had small pimples on his face, a dense stubble on the side of his face and chin, and the hair on both sides was still relatively short, and the hair in the middle was probably too long, so he tied it up with a small leather band. Didn't he say he wanted to be a zoologist, but he looked a lot like a wildlife photographer.

"Tina, I'm sorry, I didn't tell a bad joke, I just wanted you to ......" He realized that she had been looking at him, upset, and quickly explained.

Lu Ling spread his hands and interrupted him, "Please, I'm not even an amateur marathon runner, it's amazing that I can finish the run." It's not a bad joke, it's a mean joke. ”

After she finished speaking, the two looked at each other for a second and laughed.

Afterwards, Patrick put away his smile and asked her, "How are you feeling now?"

Lu Ling lowered his head and pondered for a while, then turned his face out of the window and said, "Tired." The main thing is tiredness. ”

Patrick didn't speak again. The silence lasted for a while. The sun gradually hid into the clouds, and a dark cloud drifted over, and it looked like it would rain for a while.

"By the way, you were in my father's old apartment just now?" Lu Ling asked suddenly.

"Cheng gave me the key. Patrick freed up a hand, pulled a letter out of his jeans pocket and handed it over, "Alex left you a letter, and I promised him he'd find it for you in the apartment." ”

Lu Ling didn't look too surprised,

She took the envelope and looked at it, it was a very ordinary white envelope, with no signature and no seal.

"Did you see it?"

Patrick shook his head, "No, it's for you, why should I watch it?"

Lu Ling followed the crease, folded it up again, and stuffed it into his pocket.

"Don't you watch?"

"Not now. ”

Patrick glanced at the woman beside him, "You haven't worn this hoodie in a long time, have you? ”

"Yes......" Lu Ling looked at the receding scenery outside the window, "At that time, I didn't have many choices of clothes, and then I became a rich man." ”

"It still looks good. ”

"Thanks, I think it will be happy to hear it. ”

"Did it hear me?"

"Hey, it's just a hoodie, and it doesn't have ears. ”

Patrick stopped the car, which was a bit congested and had to queue up to cross the river in the tunnel. Lu Ling looked forward, thinking that it might take a while. It seemed too quiet in the car.

"Do you mind if I turn on the radio?" Lu Ling asked.

Patrick shook his head.

Lu Ling stretched out his hand.

Fast-paced music, slow-paced music, news broadcasts, online gambling ads......

She changed several times, but she was not satisfied, and finally turned it off again.

The entrance to the tunnel is approaching.

Patrick said, "Lift your feet up, my dear, or you'll get water." ”

"What?" Lu Ling tilted his head.

He was laughing again, a little mischievous.

She snapped back to herself, "Oh, that's a terrible joke. I'm pretty sure if my feet get water, we're going to drown in this tunnel at the bottom of the river. Just like in the movie, the hero and heroine are banging on the window in a sealed car full of water, and there may be a glimmer of life in the end, the male protagonist sacrifices his life in order to keep the heroine alive, and the heroine goes ashore, wrapped in a blanket and cries bitterly. ”

"You know I'm going to do that, but in that case, I don't think I'm the actor. You will take your husband and children to visit me at my grave on the day of my death, and you will miss me and tell your children our story. Most importantly, you love your husband and children, you have a wonderful family, and you will have a happy life. The movie ends, and the music plays. How does that sound?"

"Sounds cheesy. Lu Ling covered his lips with the back of his hand and smiled for a long time.

The tunnel was not long, but the speed was limited, and it was finally passed.

"Alright, you can put your feet down, Tina. Coming out of the tunnel, it was raining, Patrick turned on the wipers, and continued, "Look, at least it's a complete bad joke. ”

Lu Ling touched the car window, "Don't worry, I've already put my feet down." ”

It's still a long way from west London.

"Go home, or go to Harrington?" asked Patrick, "Ian told me you had an in-club party tonight, but I remember there was also the coach's awards ceremony tonight. ”

Lu Ling stared at the moving wipers and said, "I think I should get the Coach of the Year and the Premier League Coach of the Year, I didn't want to go, but I think I should." After that, I'll join the party inside the club. Tomorrow is the championship parade/parade. I'm sorry I didn't have you on this championship tour. ”

The last time the FA Cup was won/□□, Patrick Amber announced on the bus that he would stay in the team, and this time, he is no longer available.

Patrick didn't speak, took a bottle of mineral water, and handed it over.

Lu Ling was stunned, "I'm not thirsty." ”

"It's for me, can you help me open it?" he asked.

Lu Ling took it, "Of course." She unscrewed it and took a sip, which was actually a little thirsty, before handing it over.

"You say you're not thirsty. ”

"I'm sorry, Pat, you get a new bottle and I'll unscrew it for you. ”

Patrick was already gripping the bottom of the bottle, his eyes staring ahead, but his face turned slightly with a hint of "Don't be so ridiculous".

Lu Ling then let go of the mineral water bottle, "Thank you for coming back from Barcelona, it means a lot to me." ”

Patrick drank it and handed it back, "You're welcome, I think I should be by your side at this time, and not just because I'm your best friend...... I'm your family, Tina. He said as he gripped her wrist, which was tightening the cap.

She stiffened for a moment, only for a moment. She put the mineral water away and grabbed his hand.

“…… I'm sorry about what you did with Amber. ”

Patrick squeezed her hand tightly, "I'm sorry too. ”

"I want you to be happy. ”

"I'm very happy. Patrick paused, "I don't mean this is the time, it's obviously not the time to be happy. It's just that at this moment, I feel as if I was eighteen years old and you were twenty-six, when we had nothing, but no one died, we didn't love each other, we didn't separate......"

"I don't like to have nothing, and I don't like to look backwards. ”

"I don't like it either. Patrick let go, "Tina, you should read the letter. ”

"I will, when I'm ready. Lu Ling said as she let go of Patrick's hand, and then she took several deep breaths, as if she had really drowned just now, "There's something I want to tell you." ”

****

Later in the evening, Lu Ling unsurprisingly won the Premier League Coach of the Year and England Coach of the Year. Another candidate, Nicolas Flores, did not attend the ceremony that night.

After getting into Limo, Lu Ling put the two trophies on his seat and quickly dialed the phone. These two trophies are just icing on the cake, the most important of which is the Premier League trophy.

"Hey, how are you?"

"Congratulations, babe. I'm in the office, I'm a bit busy, I've got a meeting in a while, I'm going to London after the meeting, but I probably won't be there until after midnight. You can sleep whenever you want, don't wait for me, I have the key. ”

"You said come tonight, I thought you'd come to this awards ceremony. “

"Oh, you know I've never had an interest in this, every year. Honestly, I wouldn't have come for the first year if it wasn't for seeing you. ”

"You're sincere. ”

"People don't know, you know best, the day the season ends is the first day of the new season for the manager. ”

"I've given a lot of things to Tim for the time ......being, anyway," Lu Ling paused for a moment, "such as informing some players that they need to start looking for a home and that they won't have a chance to play next season." Yes, I know, these things should have been done by me personally, I should have looked them in the eye and told them that the team doesn't need you anymore...... It's sad, I've always thought so, they fought for this club, the fans chanted their names and sang songs that belonged to them...... But

From a professional point of view, it makes sense that this is a job after all, and the contract expires and the employer does not want to renew it. It's just that I really can't bear more sadness, I don't want them to cry before they show a depressed look, I haven't been able to control my emotions lately. ”

'Of course, this is a special time and I think both Tim and your players will understand. ”

"Thank you for saying that. Lu Ling leaned back on his seat and tried to relax himself, "By the way, I ran a marathon in the morning. ”

"Oh?"

"It's almost twenty-five miles from West London to East London, but it's not as long as a marathon, it's a little bit close...... Later, Pat drove me back to ......"

"So the day after you won the Premier League, you went from west London to east London? ”

Lu Ling's whole body was shocked, his voice didn't sound like it was fluctuating, and he wasn't deliberately mocking or anything else. But it's also true that this man sometimes exudes a ruthlessness that doesn't care about himself. That's not his fault, he's just used to it. That's who he is.

"Maybe I shouldn't have said that......" he immediately realized something, ready to apologize, "babe..."

"No, no, you're right, not only the day after I won the Premier League, but also the day after my father died. It's ironic that I've spent thirty years walking from East London to West London, and on a day like this, spending more than four hours, in fact, maybe five hours, running back, isn't it? ”

"I didn't mean that, you know I didn't mean that!" his voice widened, almost yelling, "I don't want to you off, I said I shouldn't have said that!Like you said, this is a sad time, why should I make you sadder?" he gradually calmed down, "Babe, I've been busy all day, I have a very important meeting to go up in a moment...... I hate admitting this, but I haven't managed my emotions well lately, and maybe hearing Patrick's name has made me sensitive too. I'm not making excuses for myself, and I'm not saying that Patrick did anything wrong, you're very close, you grew up together, he's like family to you, I understand. I just hope ...... Forget what I just said, okay?"

“…… But you're right. ”

"Forget that sentence. ”

“…… Already forgot. ”

"This is my girl. He took a deep breath, "I guess you still have an in-team party to attend, and I can't say that you should enjoy the night, but try to take it easy, okay? In a few hours, I'll be by your side." ”

"Okay, I promise you. Nick, do you remember when I said I had something to tell you? It could be tonight. ”

"Remember, I have something to tell you too, and it's tonight. ”

"I'll see you in that moment. ”

"I'll see you later. ”

Lu Ling put down his phone, and outside the window, it was already dark. She asked Steve how much time he had left, and Steve looked back, "Ten minutes." …… Have you figured it out? Christine. ”

"Yes, let's go to Harrington first, Nate is waiting for me. ”

****

Lu Ling pushed open the door of the conference room. Nathan Neal was the only one standing by the window, and Tony wasn't there.

Nathan Neal clearly knew she had arrived, but he didn't look back, still looking out the window. Lu Ling slowed down and walked towards the window little by little. At night, the stadium is brightly lit in the distance. The season is over and the first team will not be training for a month. At this time, there are no players training on the training ground, and the lights are shining because the lawn keeper is doing routine maintenance.

"When I was in high school, the most popular sport in school was American football, like most American high schools. ”

"American football is also a lot of fun. ”

"Most Britons don't think so. Nathan Neal turned to the head coach and smiled, "Then did you know that quarterbacks always date the sexiest and beautiful girl in the school?"

"Are you a quarterback?"

"I can be. It's true. The Lawrence family is a traditional American family, and in a traditional American family, there must be a father who loves football or baseball. I've been raised as a quarterback. Until now, I've been a good quarterback. I'll tell you a secret, I ran into Manning (one of the best quarterbacks of all time) at a party a while ago, and I bragged about my skills in front of him, even though he looked at me like a fool, but it was enjoyable. Where we talked before, oh yes, quarterbacks can always date the sexiest chicks. I wasn't a quarterback at the time, I preferred to play football. I don't know why. I think it's just because when I play soccer my old man always grits his teeth and says it's a sport, oh I swear I love to see him look so angry. You know what I mean? I gave up the chance to date the sexiest chick in the whole school to see what he looked like. I don't blame me for sleeping with that little bitch later, even though she seduced me while dating a quarterback. ”

"Nate ......"

"My father was a bastard, and I was the son of a bastard. But when he died, it still felt terrible. I'm sorry, Christine. Nathan Neal said and took two steps to the manager's side, as if he wanted to give her a hug.

Lu Ling subconsciously took a step back and only said, "Thank you." ”

The atmosphere was a little awkward, just as the door to the conference room was pushed open again, this time with Steve and Tony.

Nathan Neal straightened his tie, "Let's get started." Try to be as fast as you can, I know the players are still waiting for Christine. ”

****

Phil was constantly looking at his watch. Along with him were Ian and Hans.

Phil was anxious, and directly found the assistant teacher and asked, "Is the boss here today?"

In fact, Tim also thought it was weird, the award ceremony was long over, and it stands to reason that Christine should have appeared here half an hour ago with two trophies. But she didn't, and the phone didn't work. Ian even called Patrick and asked if he knew anything about the situation. As a result, Patrick had already returned to Barcelona in the afternoon, and he said that he did not want to miss tomorrow's training session, and that he would return to London after tomorrow's training session, and the day after tomorrow was Lu Yungui's funeral.

It was close to eleven o'clock, and the head coach finally showed up.

Lu Ling felt like a moving ice vault, and wherever she went, the temperature automatically became lower.

After she appeared, everyone quieted down, and even the live DJ turned off the music. It was Tim who shouted DJ's name, and everything was embarrassingly back on track.

Everyone had sympathetic glances and kindness, but made her uncomfortable.

She thought, she wouldn't stay long. It's not fair to her, it's even more unfair to them.

She found a table and jumped on it.

"Everyone!"

Everyone was quiet again, but DJ didn't stop the music, and Tim shouted again. DJ turned off the music at this point. Probably, he also felt inexplicable.

"Thank you all for your efforts throughout the season! it was one of the most memorable seasons and I can remember so many moments, every goal you scored. I don't want to say it's like a myth, because of a season like this, I want to continue to create with you!" she choked up as Tim handed a piece of paper under the table.

Lu Ling looked at the heads surging below, they probably thought she was too sad, but they didn't know the real reason. She jumped off the table, she thought, let's tell them tomorrow, tomorrow.

She picked up the microphone again, "Forget it, I'll leave some words for tomorrow after the tour/tour is over." Don't forget, nine o'clock, new Queen's Park! I don't care how much you drank tonight, what time you went to bed, you still fucking remember to get your ass out of bed on time, and whoever is late, I'll forbid him on the bus!"

No one coaxed, including Yu Zixiang. They applauded and happily agreed.

Lu Ling handed the microphone to Tim and whispered, "No matter what I say, they'll all react this way, right?"

"They all know it's a tough time for you. ”

Lu Ling nodded, and took back the microphone he had just handed back, "Thank you!"

****

The news was on the radio. Nicholas turned up his voice a little.

The host's voice was nice, with an orthodox British accent and a moderate pace of speech, and she said that the British government and a number of companies are planning a super high-speed railway, and if this plan is successful, London will only take 18 minutes to get from Manchester.

Manchester is very close to Liverpool, and maybe Liverpool will also be included in the plan, in which case London to Liverpool could only be about 20 minutes.

Nicholas smiled, what does that have to do with him? Moreover, it will take many years for this plan to be implemented.

It's almost time to get to Surrey. It was already past midnight, in fact, it was almost three o'clock. He wasn't going to call her, he hoped she was asleep.

****

Nicholas opened the door and the living room light was on. He took off his shoes for fear of waking the people who were asleep. But when he walked softly to the living room, she opened her eyes.

She was half-lying on the couch, covered with her own trench coat, her hair was messy, and she looked tired. He felt for a moment how she was so small. It seems to be a wild cat curled up in a corner, but she should be a jaguar.

She sighed nonchalantly and asked, "I look terrible, don't I?" and she sat up, probably still feeling a little cold, and didn't take her trench coat off.

"No, it's not. Nicholas walked over and said, "Babe, you look like a poor cat." ”

She smiled far-fetchedly, "Oh my god, that's worse. She removed her trench coat and stood up.

They hugged each other.

"What a long night. Nicholas said.

"yes. ”

"There's something I want to tell you. ”

Lu Ling leaned on the man's shoulder, "I also have something I want to tell you." Let's talk about it?"

"Good. Are you ready?"

"Ready, I'll count to three, one, two, three...... I'm leaving the qpr. ”

'I'm leaving Everton. 166 Reading Network