Arrived at Harrington Training Base at just the right time.

Lu Ling was not late, which was good news. But when she entered the conference room, she still felt the solemnity of the atmosphere. Steve had already sued her, and Tony knew about it in advance. That might make it a little easier for her.

The whole meeting basically revolved around the work of the winter transfer window, but due to Christine's off-field incident, everyone seemed a little distracted, and he was talked about left and right.

Finally, Les Ferdinand couldn't help himself. QPR's director of football knocked on the table and pretended to be relaxed, "I know that Christine's results are very satisfying to everyone, and I personally have nothing to blame for that. But I don't think we can avoid Christine's relationship with Nick, everybody talks about that. Personally, I'm very worried that it's not good for our team. He said and glanced at the young acting head coach, her face changing and not reacting much.

Oh, what is due will come. Lu Ling didn't want to escape this matter. She didn't expect the matter to settle down before it was dealt with. And the most important thing is not the attitude of the group of people in front of you towards this matter.

Lu Ling looked at Rice and said slowly, "I think it's my freedom to choose who to be my boyfriend." ”

Les shook his head and exclaimed, "You're right, Christine, you're right. But you're a football coach and it's so unusual that people wouldn't expect it......"

"Wouldn't expect anything? wouldn't expect me to get a boyfriend because I should like women? or wouldn't expect ......"

Rice interrupted her: "That's not the case. Now rumours are rife that Nick used to be your boss and is now the manager of another Premier League team, and you are in such a high-profile public presence...... Christine, I'm not trying to attack you, I know you're smart enough to figure out what that means. ”

Lu Ling pursed his lips. She certainly knew that she had seen today's newspapers and tweets on the train back to London from Manchester, and she didn't know what it would be like in the dressing room.

Today's newspapers are desperately trying to play up the matter, and the Daily Mirror headline goes like this:

For the first time: the love of two Premier League managers

FirstTimeEver:LOVEBetweenTwoPremierLeagueGaffers

And The Sun is even more excessive:

Oh Nick, your taste is really top-notch! True love or pure carnal desire?

OhNick,YouDoHavetheBestTaste! TrueLoveorPureLUst

(The word Lust deliberately uses Lu Ling's surname)

Later, at the end of the article, signed by David King, The Sun pretended to be a mysterious suspense: "When did the couple start? We will launch a special feature for you from tomorrow to reveal a little bit." You definitely don't want to miss it. ”

And there are countless criticisms and ridicules on Twitter.

[Haha, I knew that the first female coach was a joke. I'm okay with Christine's bending, I'm just being honest. 】

[To be honest, the reason why many women can't win the respect they want is because people like Lu can't get rid of the routine of sleeping with a boss after all. 】

[I just want to know what little Patrick thinks now?]

[I wouldn't say that Lu slept with the QPR board or the players, maybe she only slept with Pep Guardiola and Pochettino, but didn't QPR only play Everton in March next year? 】

And so on, malicious speculation and ridicule are endless.

QPR owner Tony Fernandes' Twitter has also been bombarded, with some of his own fans accusing him of being too hasty in his selection, and other team fans accusing him of sleeping with the acting manager.

In addition, a number of football figures have also expressed their opinions, including the influential QPR legend Rodney Marsh said in a radio interview:

"I have to say, I've never seen anything like it, and I don't feel good about it. A team should be about football, not a bunch of gossip like an entertainment star. Christine said on MatchofTheDay that day that she wouldn't be dating her players, but now she's dating her former boss. It's going to make our team a laughing stock. ”

In all fairness, she didn't blame Rice for having such doubts. But she also felt that this was her freedom, and no matter what everyone's attitude was to it, she just didn't do anything wrong.

She took a breath and said, "I'm not going to let this affect the team's results, that's all." ”

Rice stood up and he looked at Tony Fernandes for the team president to make a point.

Tony propped his elbows on the table, his chin in his hands, and after a while, he looked at Lu Ling and said, "Christine, I'm still a little surprised by this whole thing. I really didn't expect you to swagger with Nick to Manchester's most famous restaurant. After eating, we went back to the hotel together...... I know it's your freedom. But you are the head coach of the team, and your public image can greatly affect the image of the team. That's what worries us the most. What's more, we don't know what the players will think about it. I can say I don't care about your private life, but what do the players think?"

Lu Ling was about to speak.

Tony continued, "You're a very attractive woman, and I'm sure there would have been someone else even without Nick. And whoever it is, the media focus will be on you. I should have thought of that when I hired you, so I have to say that if this qiē is really detrimental to the interests of the team, I am also responsible. ”

There was a hint of surprise in Lu Ling's eyes, she didn't expect Tony to be so reasonable.

And it was clear that his words had shaken many people in the room.

"Although I am your boss, I also know that I have no right to interfere in this matter. I just hope that, like you said, the results won't be affected. In addition, I advise you not to answer any questions from the media about aspects of your private life. Of course, if you want to continue to appear in public with Nick, that's your freedom. But just don't talk about it. ”

Tony's last few words were exactly the same as Steve's, and Lu Ling himself thought so.

She breathed a sigh of relief, she had thought that she was going to fight again, but she didn't expect Tony to be so supportive.

At the end of the meeting, Tony added, of course, that it was with her personally.

"Presumably Nick is suffering from the same questioning," he said. Although they are in second place in the table, they have just lost. The Iranians may not be as reasonable as me. ”

Lu Ling smiled, she wasn't worried about Nick, he had always been a good quarrel.

However, of course, she didn't want this incident to affect her boyfriend's career. He found himself a girlfriend who "will get into trouble". It's far more troublesome than finding a model or actor.

In the same way, she herself is not.

****

In the morning training session, Tina did not show up. But they had spoken on the phone before, and he knew she had returned to London. I think I'm still in a meeting with the top management and a few members of the coaching staff.

George didn't attend, so he took it with him during the morning training session.

In the afternoon, the players dine in the restaurant.

Yu Zixiang and Ian sat on either side of Patrick. This morning, two friends sensed something was wrong with him.

He's definitely not listless or out of form, he's working very the training pitch, it's a bit too much.

During a kickfight, Patrick nearly injured John O'Connor with a kick in the calf. The Northern Irish boy immediately complained, and Patrick only said "sorry" and ran away silently.

It's anomalous, and that's not how Pat usually is. Others may not have seen it, but the two friends immediately noticed that he was different. And Zixiang thought about it at once, it was probably related to the boss. He squinted at Pat, and the English boy was poking the chicken on the plate with his fork, very hard. The expression didn't change.

At this moment, the door of the restaurant opened and the acting head coach of QPR walked in.

Everyone stopped moving for a moment and looked at the door.

Lu Ling was still smiling, looking at his players.

"What are you doing watching me? I don't have anything to eat for you. ”

The somewhat awkward joke still caused a few sparse dry laughs, and Ian laughed stupidly out loud.

Patrick glanced at Ian, who quickly stopped laughing.

Lu Ling hadn't figured out how to explain it to the players, or didn't talk about it at all, just like she had when she was ready to face the media.

The players didn't mean to say anything more when they saw the coach, and continued to do their own thing, and left the restaurant after eating.

Lu Ling found a table and sat down. In the past, when she was a teaching assistant, she often shared a table with Pat and Zixiang, but now she rarely does so.

She didn't have a very appetite, and stared at the chicken pie on the plate for a long time without using a knife and fork.

Suddenly, a hand and a cup of coffee appeared next to her plate.

"No sugar. "It's Pat's voice.

Lu Ling raised his head, "Thank you." ”

Then the boy sat down. Naturally, he slipped a piece of chicken from her plate. After chewing, he said, "Today's chicken pie is a bit dry. ”

Lu Ling also took a bite, his expression slightly dissatisfied. It's a bit dry, indeed. Then she heard Pat ask:

"So, Tina, what are you going to do next? Marry him?"