“…… Nick, what do you want me to do?" Lu Ling licked his dry lips, as if a fire was burning in his throat.

When she asked, he took her into his arms. She could smell the shower gel on him, which was actually hers, but it didn't smell exactly the same on him as it did on hers. The smell lingered in her nose for a long time. She closed her eyes, thinking that it would be nice if she kept talking like this.

He moved suddenly, pressed his chin against the top of her head, and said in a deep voice, "I'm a man, not a boy." He laughed coldly, "Do you know what that means?"

"What do you mean?"

"It means that I am willing to understand what has happened. You ask me what I want you to do, I didn't want you to do it, that's not your fault, everyone has a past. Nicholas closed his eyes and kissed her hair, "It's just ...... that it's just that this part of your past may not have happened, and it is possible that the ink will not get into your skin." But he didn't say it.

Nicholas chuckled, "Babe, it's time for you to wash your hair." ”

Lu Ling looked at him with his head high, "I just took a shower a few hours ago." ”

He continued to laugh, "I know. You smell good, I'm just teasing you. ”

Lu Ling licked his lips again, "Nick, among the many ways to play poker, the person who gets the joker will always be the winner in the end......"

He interrupted her, "Why don't you say that joker doesn't exist in a lot of games?

"No, it's not. …… I'm trying to comfort you. ”

"Then your comforting skills need to be improved. He let go of her, "I will also be a good king, my royal land, and no one will dare to invade me." And if you really want to comfort me with Joker, you might as well compare me to the one in the comics (the clown in DC). I don't hate him. ”

The corners of Lu Ling's mouth curled, and Nick and the clown did have similarities.

He stood in front of her. She looked up at him, only the staircase was lit with the light on, and it was backlit, and she could only see his carved chin. He had hidden all his sadness and anger. She knows. But what she didn't know was how long he could hide.

Lu Ling stood on the sofa and wrapped his arms around his neck. He paused, then picked her up.

"We should have a few more hours left and I need some sleep. Wish I could fall asleep. Otherwise, I'm afraid I'll be dozing off on the sidelines today. He said as he walked away with her.

"No, you won't, and the weather forecast says it's still going to rain in London today...... Moreover, I want to drink water. ”

Nicholas turned back and went to the kitchen. He put her on the table, turned on the light, took a bucket of Evian and stuffed it into her arms, and picked her up again.

"Can I stay in London after today's game?"

He carried her upstairs.

"Of course you can. But when are you going to go back?"

"The morning after tomorrow, I don't want to miss a training session. ”

"There's a problem...... You didn't come to London with the players and you didn't go back to Liverpool with the players......"

"Oh, fuck it, they'll find out sooner or later. We lied and told them that we never broke up......" he put her on the bed.

Later, when he lay down and took her into his arms, he thought again, if only it were true.

****

Patrick got up early.

As he descended the stairs, a strong scent came. He remembered that Mom and Dad and Anna hadn't left last night.

On the table there are pancakes, eggs, pig blankets, bread, beans, cereal......

"Good morning, Pat, it's been a long time since I've made you breakfast, I don't know what you want to eat, I want to ...... There should be something you like among these. Lucy said.

Patrick said thank you, picked up a pancake, and shoved it into his mouth.

Jack was reading the newspaper with reading glasses on when he looked up at his son. Pat was already sitting across from him, looking at his kindle.

"Is that Tina's Christmas present to you? I remember you had a kindle. Jack said. He saw it yesterday when Anna gave this to Pat. According to Anna, Christine gave her the gift early on, asking her to pass it on to Pat.

Patrick didn't look up, but answered.

After a while, he said, "She bought me a lot of books on Amazon. ”

Jack laughed, "Does she think you're stupid?"

"No, it's not. It's all on the referee and coach side. What about Anna?"

"She has an appointment today. ”

"So early?"

Lucy sat down too, having already eaten breakfast with a cup of hot tea at hand. She asked Patrick, "What's your plan for today?"

"In the afternoon, we went to the New Queen's Park to watch the game. ”

After Patrick finished speaking, Jack and Lucy looked at each other and didn't speak.

Patrick took another pancake and casually asked, "Interested in coming along?"

Lucy looked at her husband again, and Jack muttered, "No, I mean, we're not going." But if you go......"

Patrick plucked some eggs onto his plate and took another sip of coffee, "What are you worried about?"

"You should know that after you left QPR, there were some QPR fans who resented you. They don't necessarily want to see you on the pitch. And also...... Looks like Tina reconciled with the Spaniard......"

Patrick looked up and smiled, "Can't I go see my former teammates?" I think Zixiang, Ian, and Hans should all be happy to see me. Ian called just now and made sure I was going today. Besides, today QPR plays Manchester City, I want to see Gabriel's performance. I miss that Brazilian kid. ”

"You say so much, you just want to see Tina. "Jack chewed on the bacon and felt a little hard, a little longer.

Patrick still smiled, but didn't say anything more, and kept his head down as he ate the egg as he continued to read.

The book he is looking at now is a football tactics book written by an Italian coach, translated from Italian into English. In the process of reading, he frowned several times, and the translation was very bad!

Jack poked at the newspaper, "Pat, do you know the news?"

Patrick looked at the Kindle screen and asked, "What?"

Jack has never liked to watch gossip versions, but since his son became a big star, he has found that watching only the tail version is obviously not enough.

"It says Amber showed up at the beach last week with an actor named Ed. ”

Patrick still kept his head down, "I know. ”

"Isn't she dating you?" asked Lucy quickly.

"I'm not looking for a serious and stable relationship, and neither is she, we've talked, and we're in an open relationship. ”

"Is this possible?" asked Jack as he took off his reading glasses.

"Of course. Patrick took another sip of his coffee and wiped his mouth with a tissue, "I'm full." Thank you mom, it was delicious. As he spoke, he got up and kissed his mother's face.

Lucy was about to say that you ate two dry pancakes, and Patrick was already taking the Kindle upstairs.

****

Nicholas and Lu Ling left home around eight o'clock. He sent her to Harrington first. It was still dark, and it was raining lightly. It's quiet around the Harrington training base. At the door, Lu Ling asked him to stop. Nicholas stopped the car, and she was about to get out of the car.

"Don't you need me to send you in?" he asked, taking her arm.

Lu Ling shook his head with a smile, "In that case, our other security guard will also know that we have reconciled." ”

"Who cares?

Lu Ling said: "I don't care. It's just that you now need about an hour to get past Canary Wharf. Hurry up. ”

Today, the Everton squad will stay at a hotel in Canary Wharf (one of London's financial centres, relatively close to the London Bowl) and will not be there until more than an hour before the game.

"They arrived at noon and I wasn't worried. Nicholas said and leaned over and kissed her. Her lips were soft, and he always felt that no amount of hot kisses was enough, and he felt that he had missed a lot, and he wanted to make up for it.

"That's why you need to hurry up and get a nap when you get to the hotel. Lu Ling left his lips and said to him, and couldn't help but kiss him again.

A few minutes passed.

"I've got to let you go......" Nicholas let go of her, "I can't guarantee that nothing else will happen if I don't......"

"Maybe tonight. Lu Ling blinked, and she remembered again, "Wait, I don't know either." ”

Nicholas ruffled her hair, "You're thinking about whether we're in the mood to ...... if the result of today's game isn't as good as it could be"

"That's right. I know I should be a little more professional and separate work and life, but it's really hard, after all, you're my direct competitor. ”

"Don't think about it, we'll see the situation when the time comes. See you in the evening?"

She said yes and got out of the car.

Nicholas looked at her back, and only then did he restart the car until it was no longer looking back and disappearing.

What she considered, he could perfectly understand, but there was something else besides those. Lingering.

****

Alice caught a glimpse of what's inside as she passed by the car. Surprise was no longer enough to describe her reaction, she felt she was shocked.

So, as soon as Lu Ling sat down in his office, Alice walked in with a cup of coffee in one hand.

"Good morning, dear. Lu Ling stretched out his hand to Alice, "Thank you for your coffee, you are so sweet." How's your Christmas Eve?"

"Good morning, Christine. I mean, somebody just made out with the Everton manager in the car......"

Lu Ling raised his eyebrows.

"Yes, I saw it. Don't pretend nothing happened. Tell me everything. ”

Lu Ling swallowed a small sip of coffee, "Okay. Nick came to me last night, and my mom and dad also came to me, I think my dad or my mom might have cancer." Also, Pat is back in London. ”

“…… To be specific?" Alice didn't know which one to ask.

'We played Man City today. Really? You want me to tell you the details now?"

Alice nodded and said, "I'm sorry...... I'm talking about cancer. ”

"Oh please don't, at least not for now. Lu Ling turned on the computer, "That's what I guessed." ”

"Okay. Alice turned around and prepared to go back to her office, and after taking two steps, she turned back again, "If I ask you now if you have a ...... with Nick Isn't it inappropriate?"

Lu Ling had already entered the working state, she didn't see the chief team doctor, but answered her question, "No, we don't." 166 Reading Network