Suddenly, the lights dimmed. There was a whispered discussion at the bottom.

Lu Ling pulled Patrick beside him, "Pat, do you know what's going on?" She couldn't see his face clearly, but she thought he was smiling.

Patrick leaned closer and said, "Keep looking, Tina." ”

It seemed that Pat really knew something, Lu Ling pushed him, and just as he was about to speak, the lights on the stage turned on, and Bruce Brown walked up. Bruce has been with QPR for many years, he was the announcer at Loftus Road and is the emcee today.

"I hope you're not hungry and haven't drunk much. Bruce, who is in his fifties, said with a deliberate pout.

There was laughter from below.

"I think you're all thinking, oh, fuck I don't want to listen to this guy, get the boss on stage. Bruce said as he looked at the team's acting manager and raised an eyebrow at her.

Lu Ling smiled at him, he was a humorous guy.

"Please don't rely on me, you have to rely on Mr. Fernandez. Bruce said and glanced at the Malaysian, who was at the same table as the acting head coach.

In fact, the owners of the club usually don't participate in the club's Christmas party, but I don't know why Tony is here today. And because of his presence, everyone was somewhat restrained.

Tony smiled and gestured to Bruce, motioning for him to get started.

Lu Ling looked at Tony, and Tony looked mysterious.

Will it be the same as she thinks?

As she turned her head, Patrick grabbed her left hand under the table. She flinched, and he clutched tightly. She glared, and he ignored it.

"Alright, please watch a video. Bruce said with a smile on stage, and he walked down.

The lights dimmed again.

"Pat!" Lu Ling shouted in a very low voice.

He didn't speak.

The big screen on the stage lit up, and his head turned to the big screen, and his hand still didn't let go.

Lu Ling also looked at the big screen, she broke free a few more times under the table, but she never broke free.

On the screen, to the cheers of the familiar home fans, the Loftus Road Stadium appeared. After that, as soon as the camera hits, a figure walks out of the player's tunnel.

When this figure appeared, applause rang out from below, and many players and club employees looked at Lu Ling.

Lu Ling stared at himself on the big screen, and gradually forgot about the hand that was tightly held by the boy under the table.

It was the first time she had stepped out of the player tunnel as the team's acting head coach. The game against Crystal Palace. Then, one picture after another, looking back on her coaching journey. The dazed defeat to Chelsea, the excitement after the win at Tottenham, and the ecstasy after Pep Guardiola's first defeat of the season......

And in the just-concluded game against Manchester United, after Pat's goal, she hugged Patt and other players......

In more than two months, nine games, they have gone from last in the Premier League to 11th now. Time flies so fast, but it seems long enough.

The scene darkens as she raises her hands above her head to thank the fans, and the background sounds are the crowd shouts at Loftus Stadium:

Christine-sBlueandWhiteArmy!

Christine's Blue and White Army!

She shook Patrick's hand under the table, and he shook hers, and then, he finally let go of her.

The lights came on.

Bruce said in a voice and rhythm as powerful as he did at Loftus Road:

"Together, we welcome the team's official head coach: Kristen Lu!"

It's no longer Caretaker, it's Manager.

Lu Ling stood up, and then the whole audience stood up with thunderous applause.

She looked at Tony, and for the first time she thought Malaysians were so happy with their smiles.

He said, "Christine, I hope you enjoyed the surprise. We have decided to appoint you as the official head coach until the end of the season. Thank you for the one you've done for the team so far! Merry Christmas!"

Lu Ling hugged Tony and thanked him.

Then, she turned to look at Patrick.

The two looked at each other, as if the interlacing of more than ten years was only in this glance.

Then she hugged him.

The applause continued.

She whispered in his ear with a little reproach, "You should sue me." ”

"That's not a surprise. Tina, congratulations!" he hugged her tightly.

"Thank you, Pat. Lu Ling let go of the boy and hugged several players and coaches at the same table.

After that, she walked to the stage.

****

Toni Fernandes left after the manager had spoken, and after he left, everyone finally let go. In addition to the fact that the players will be careful about drinking because there is a game later, the atmosphere of the party is excellent.

The dance floor was full of people, music, laughter, conversation – it felt like Christmas was really coming.

Lu Ling took a sip of champagne, and the taste in her mouth made her feel that it was unusually sweet.

She pulled out her phone and glanced at it. It was just after eight o'clock in the evening. She wanted to call Nick, but, maybe he was still angry, she didn't know. She didn't know if she was still angry with him. After all, less than 24 hours have passed since that altercation.

She thought for a moment and sent him a message.

[It seems to be snowing again outside, oh, I guess I just wanted to tell you that I got the official head coach position.] 】

This message has been sent for two or three minutes, and there has been no response. Lu Ling then put the phone aside. She decided to go get something to eat.

Maybe he just didn't see it, maybe he didn't want to reply when he saw it, and the reply note "congratulations" is fine.

He's still angry? It's not fair.

……

Lu Ling didn't want to think about this, but she found that she was thinking about it throughout the whole process of taking the food.

"Hey Christine, congratulations!"

Someone finally came to talk to me, and Lu Ling breathed a sigh of relief. She turned her head and smiled in thanks, the other party was Nedham's wife.

When she returned to her desk and looked at her phone again, there was still nothing.

As she ate her food, she began to feel bored with Paiduì.

Patrick made his way through the crowd and walked behind Lu Ling.

"Tina, do you want to dance?" he sat down beside her.

"Not interested. After Lu Ling finished speaking, he ate a scallop.

"You look hungry. Patrick couldn't help but laugh as she watched her stuff something into her mouth.

"Yes, but the pie duì food is boring. Lu Ling took another bite of chicken pie.

"Tina, let's go. ”

Lu Ling looked up at him at this time, "Let's go, are you kidding? Pai duì has just begun, I am the head coach, and you are the number one star in the team......"

"Whatever the hell, we slipped out the back door. I'll take you to something interesting. Like what...... Pizza. ”

"Pizza?" Lu Ling put down his fork and wiped his mouth, "There's also over there." Come on, the pizza is boring too. ”

Patrick frowned, a little childish, "It's just that the pizza is terrible." As he spoke, he tugged at her arm, "Anyway, I don't want to stay here, Tina, come out with me." ”

Lu Ling hesitated.

He had already pulled her up and said, "Those guys won't notice." ”

"Wait a minute, I've got to get my coat. It seems to be snowing outside, and I'm sure I'm going to freeze to death. ”

She agreed. Patrick's eyes were already full of smiles, and he looked around, as much as he could, otherwise Zixiang or John would have jumped out of which corner.

****

Lu Ling got into the car and kept muttering "It's cold".

Patrick got into the car from the other side, and he turned on the heater.

"Is it still cold? Tina. He said as he shook her hand. Her hands were already warm.

"Much better. Lu Ling withdrew his hand. Then, it occurred to her that she had left her phone on Paiduì.

"Pat, we need to go back. My phone is still on the table. She said anxiously.

Patrick didn't turn around.

"I can't get out when I go back. I'll call Zixiang and ask them to get it for you. ”

"But ......"

"You can use mine. He handed his phone, but she didn't answer.

"Not ......"

"Do you have to go back and get it?" asked Patrick, turning his head. He actually knows why. What else could it be?

Lu Ling looked out the window, and the snow was getting heavier and heavier. London hasn't snowed this heavily in December for several years. What if she went back and got her phone, if Nick hadn't heard from her all night, it would only make her more depressed.

There are expectations and disappointments, that feeling, it sucks.

She lowered her head and said, "Forget it, you let Zixiang or Ian, whoever helps me take it." ”

Patrick made a phone call, but no one answered, so he left a message.

"What will you eat that will make you feel bored?" he asked, putting away his phone and laughing.

Lu Ling looked out the window and didn't speak, and after a while, she said, "I want to go see Alex, do you want to be together?" She hadn't seen her father for a few days, and she wanted to tell him the good news.

"Of course. Patrick tilted his head, "Anywhere." ”

****

It was cold, the house was too old, the heating had been on all day and the boiler was humming. After the meal, Cheng Si went back, and Lu Yungui lay on the sofa and squinted for a while after washing the dishes. Waking up to the sound made him feel very grounded.

He made a cup of tea, was only in his fifties, and already lived like an old man. Speaking of which, he is still an athlete. After a while, he remembered something, went to his room, got some medicine, took a sip of tea and swallowed it.

During these months, he was sometimes recognized when he went out.

"Excuse me, sir, are you Christine's father?"

Like this. There were also many media interviews with him, Chinese, English, and even Spanish, but he refused.

Life seems to have changed, but it seems to have never changed.

When the knock on the door sounded, Lu Yungui couldn't imagine that anyone would visit on such a snowy night.

When he opened the door, he smiled.

"Is it cold or not?"

"Didn't you start a double game a week recently? Why did you come here today?"

"Yes, your mother asked for the address from me. She also knows that you are a coach at QPR. She said she also watches the game now. ”

"Not much contact, let's call once a few months. ”

"Patrick, what's wrong with your face?"

"Okay, okay, I don't ask. ”

"Are you hungry? I'll make you something to eat. ”

……

Lu Yungui felt that he had a lot to say today. The boy and Xiao Ling sat on the sofa, and the words of the two of them combined were not as much as themselves. He hesitated for a moment and asked, "Xiaoling, how are you and your boyfriend? ”

Lu Ling was stunned for a moment.

How?

She pursed her lower lip and took another sip of her coffee.

"We had a fight. She said as she put her glass down.

Lu Yungui's expression changed, and he saw that the expression of the boy opposite also changed.

"Divided?" Lu Yungui asked tentatively, glancing at Patrick again for no apparent reason. Patrick looked more nervous than he was.

Lu Ling shook his head and said a little sluggishly: "It's just a quarrel." He didn't call me, and I didn't ......" Did Nick text him back? Maybe he called?" she smiled, "Don't talk about that." By the way, Dad, our boss told me today that I will be the coach of the team until the end of the season. ”

A smile bloomed on Lu Yungui's face for a moment. He stood up, as if trying to hug his daughter.

Lu Ling jumped into his father's arms.

Oh, a lot has changed this year. For example, his relationship with his daughter.

"Is there a bet?" she asked, leaning on her father's shoulder.

"Of course not. Lu Yungui patted his daughter on the shoulder, but when he met Patrick's gaze, he dodged.

****

Patrick followed Tina to her room. Almost exactly what he remembered. That was his first thought.

The bookcase is a bit messy, lots of books, football tactics, sports science......

There are also novels, adventure stories, crime stories......

She walked over to the bookcase and touched the books, some dust.

"Pat, have you ever thought I'm a weirdo?" she asked.

He also walked over and looked at her side face, "Never." How can you ask that?"

"The first time I brought a guy into my room, he saw my bookcase and said 'Christine, you're such a weirdo,' and I got angry and chased him away," she laughs. He should have been disappointed, because we were going to ......" She didn't continue, and everyone knew what it meant anyway.

Patrick laughed too, "Hmmm, if it weren't for you, maybe I'd think this girl is a little weird." You know, most men don't like women who read a lot of books. ”

Suddenly, she lay backwards and threw herself on the bed.

She looked up at him and said, "Of course I do. Because you think this kind of woman is smart but boring. Actually, I don't think smart people are boring. It's just that people who aren't smart don't understand their fun. ”

He looked at her. Her eyes were so bright, but there seemed to be a little sadness in them. Obviously smiling, but his brows were a little wrinkled. Her breasts rose and fell slightly from breathing, and her skirt wrapped her thighs tightly. She was lying on her own bed, very comfortable, and should feel safe.

Patrick resisted the urge to lean over and lay down next to her.

"Tina, you're funny. After he finished speaking, he closed his eyes and felt her bed, his heart surging. Before she could speak, he opened his eyes and said, "It's kind of magical to me, lying on this bed." ”

"Why?" she asked, turning her face. Seeing the still red and swollen left side of his face, her smile faded.

He seemed to be caught up in some kind of memory, and after a few seconds, he also turned his head to look at her, his face flushing slightly, "I don't want to say. ”

She laughed again when she saw him like this, and laughed out loud.

"Oh my God, you're being shy, Pat. ”

"Don't laugh at me, Tina. ”

"But you're so cute. Lu Ling held his head with one hand, squinted his eyes, and looked at him teasingly, "What did you do in my bed......

"It's not what you think!" Patrick also got up, his face still red, "I'll sue you later." ”

She smiled even more.

"Tina, I'm going to kiss you if you laugh again. He suddenly became stern, and he was already near.

She pursed her lips and smiled little by little. His gaze became evasive and sorrowful. Then, she lay back down.

Patrick lay back down. He looked at the ceiling and reached out, and as soon as he touched her fingers, she took it away.

Neither of them spoke again.

After a while.

She asked, "Does your face still hurt?"

"Nope. ”

He said no, and the silence continued.

After another moment.

He asked, "What are you thinking?"

"I don't know, it's messy, maybe I shouldn't think about it. What about you?"

"You, I'm thinking about you. He turned to look at her.

She sat up, "We should go back." The snow may have stopped. ”