Ted Jean lay quietly on the hospital bed, his arms and thighs wrapped in bandages, but not the bulky plaster cast he imagined, nor the dazzling braces, but the lightest and simplest bandage, the light and breezy appearance, which seemed to be just a little bit of skin.

"Hey, guy, you're here to visit? Or did you come here for an autograph session? Jean's frowning expression was also a little funny, and even a joke, and all the details showed that he was far from being in as bad a state as he had imagined.

But Lu Ke knew that this was an illusion. A concussion is definitely not as simple as it seems.

"Autograph session? I think you're underestimating my popularity and influence, and if it's an autograph session, you need to change at least a 100-fold venue, otherwise the fans won't be able to crowd in. Lu Ke raised his eyebrows slightly, looking triumphant, as if he was arrogantly showing off.

Jean rolled his eyes speechlessly, "I know, I know, being selected for the Pro Bowl is naturally different." ”

Lu Ke pursed the corners of his mouth, squinted his eyes exaggeratedly, and made a dramatic exaggerated performance, "So, are we now in mutual praise mode?" Next, is it my turn to praise you because you were also selected for the Pro Bowl? ”

Gene didn't speak, but spread his hands, as if he was taking all the praise calmly.

Lu Ke smiled dumbly, and said solemnly, "Congratulations, congratulations on being selected for the professional bowl!" Next, how about the All-America First Team or the All-America Second Team? Have faith? ”

"Of course!" Jean nodded without hesitation, "Accept the challenge!" After a pause, Jean continued, "When are you flying over to Honolulu?" Are you going to compete in a trick competition? This is your stage to really show off your skills. His curiosity could be clearly felt in his cheerful words.

"Tonight's plane." Lu Ke sat down on the other side of the bed, "I'll go to my parents' house for lunch in a while, and then I'll go to the airport." I'm supposed to be in the trick game, Lech said, it's an occasion to make friends, quarterbacks can talk to each other a lot, on the court, we're opponents, but off the court, we're not necessarily enemies. ”

"Then I'll look forward to it." Jean exuded a sense of anticipation, "Unfortunately, I was absent from the Pro Bowl for the first time in my career. Jean gestured to the area of his injury with his eyes, and gradually fell lonely between his eyebrows, "Those top players, use injuries as an excuse to avoid travel and potential injuries; I wanted to be in the Pro Bowl, but I couldn't. ”

Jean sighed softly, raised his gaze again, his expression became brisk again, and looked at Lu Ke, "So, show yourself well on that stage, maybe, after the skills competition is over, you can get a few advertising sponsorship endorsements." When the time comes, you'll be another spokesperson for the Alliance. ”

Although Jean's tone was extremely brisk, Lu Ke could still feel deep regret, this time, he didn't show a smile, but took a deep breath, changed the topic, and the words that swirled on the tip of his tongue were extremely obscure, but finally confided, "Sorry, Ted, we didn't be able to win this game." ”

Jean smiled bitterly and shrugged slightly, "Of course, no one likes to fail. You don't like it, I don't like it. I don't think Eli Manning will like it either. But, we all did our best and left no regrets, and that was enough. So, no need to apologize, you owe me nothing. ”

Lu Ke didn't speak, but his obscure eyes already said everything.

Jean looked down at himself, in a hospital gown, lying on a hospital bed/, unable to participate in the practice for a long time; Even after recovering, he wasn't sure if he would be able to maintain his form for the season, and after five years of ups and downs, he suddenly suffered a head-on blow, and his career became uncertain again.

If he says not to be disappointed or angry, Jean must be deceiving himself; However, after venting emotions, you still need to face reality after all.

"Bambi, you should know that injuries are part of our careers. If you want to escape, choosing retirement is the best way; Otherwise, we're going to have to face it with our heads held high, you say? Jean's gaze rose again and fell on Lu Ke, but his calm eyes revealed a sense of simplicity, "This is really bad, I admit, if you can, I hope none of this has happened." ”

"This" refers to injuries.

"But now, I'm ready, ready to look forward." Jean smiled widely, "I hope that this time next year, we can stand on the stage of the Nations League final again and give our best in the game, you pass the ball to me, I take the ball and finish the touchdown. How about teaming up to hit the Super Bowl? That's a good idea, right? ”

Jean adjusted his sitting posture, his movements were slightly clumsy, and his exaggerated expression of baring teeth was still a little funny, and after finally completing the adjustment of his movements, he showed a satisfied smile, as if he was pleased with his efforts, and that positive spiritual temperament, like the afternoon sun, was refreshing and dry, and came to his face.

"I'm going to give it my all for the rest of the offseason and the training camp, starting with rehab and then starting with the basics, which is difficult and I don't know how difficult it is, because I haven't had that before." Jean tugged at the corners of his mouth self-deprecatingly, then raised his head and smiled widely, "But this time, I'm going to give it a try." ”

There were no grandiose words, but there was a sense of decisiveness, and those calm eyes suddenly became vivid, and Jean asked seriously, "What do you think, Bambi?" ”

Lu Ke was slightly stunned, savoring Jean's words; Then, little by little, a smile flowed from the bottom of his eyes, and those sadness, those regrets, and those sorrows, under Jean's gaze, gradually disappeared, "Yes, I think it's a good idea." ”

Lu Ke bowed his head slightly, thought carefully, and took the initiative to meet Jean's gaze, "I want to win the Super Bowl." ”

This is his goal, the most important goal at this stage, the goal that every player in the league aspires to achieve, but Lu Ke confided in this way, that strong self-confidence and firm belief, collided with dazzling sparks, and then repeated again, "I want to win the Super Bowl!" ”

"And in order to get there, I need my offensive forward, I need my running back, I need my close end, I need my wide receiver." Lu Ke looked at Jean intently, and the smile on the corner of his mouth bloomed brightly, "Ted, I need you to stand on the court and complete those difficult catches, Michael can't, Vernon can't, Kyle can't, Logan can't do it, Ted, those catches, only you can do it." ”

Plain words, but full of passion/emotion.

Suddenly, Jean's heart began to surge, and he couldn't help himself.

"Take your time, Ted, take your time, one step at a time. Recover from injuries first, then start the basics, then team camp, preseason, regular season, then playoffs, Super Bowl...... A season may sound very short, but it's actually a long time, we need to focus on the present, game by week, game by week, Ted, I need you to walk with me, fight side by side! What do you think? What do you think of this proposal? ”

The light in Lu Ke's eyes brightened little by little, like a lighthouse on the sea at night, guiding the ships cruising at night, finding a clear target, and riding the wind and waves!

On the road of chasing dreams, on the road of chasing the Super Bowl, full of thorns and dangers, even if you try your best, you may not be able to achieve the ultimate goal, but what is certain is that they are destined to not reach the end line by going their own way and moving forward alone, they must be firmly united, support each other, support each other, walk side by side, move forward hand in hand, and run towards the finish line together.

Involuntarily, Jean's eyes flushed slightly.

After the Nations League finals, the Candlestick Stadium and San Francisco's sea of red became one of the most unique sights of the 2011 season, but unfortunately Jean was not able to participate in it; But now, Jean felt that surging and fanatical belief, which made people's blood boil.

Jean laughed exaggeratedly, hiding his embarrassment, and half-jokingly said, "Am I the only one?" If so, the boat doesn't look very solid. ”

"As far as I know, Logan and Marcus are on board, Michael and Vernon are ready, and even Kyle has nodded yes, and now you're left alone, what do you think?" Lu Ke followed Jean's joke and began to count the "crew" seriously.

Jean nodded earnestly, smashed his mouth, and then groaned for a moment, "Okay, it sounds pretty reliable now, so I'll reluctantly get on the boat." However, if I'm not satisfied, I can always keep the right to disembark, you have to know that. ”

Shouldn't it be me who said that? If you can't keep up and fall behind, I'm going to drive you off the ship. Before Lu Ke's words could speak, Jean complained loudly, "Hey! I'm a wounded! How can you say such a thing? Not kind! ”

"Now that you're aware of this, take a good rest and don't be in too much of a hurry. There is an old saying in China/China, "If you want to hurry, you can't reach it." Lu Ke explained in plain English as much as possible, and then saw Jean's funny expression of "I don't understand", and the atmosphere instantly became relaxed again.

……

Before lunch, Lu Ke left the hospital and ended his visit. After returning home, he had lunch with Lu Zhengze and Jiang Youning, and then Lu Ke went back to pack his luggage and drove to San Francisco International Airport, ready to take an evening plane to Hawaii, and participated in the hustle and bustle of the professional bowl for the first time in his career.

Lu Ke did not go alone, he was accompanied by Logan, Marcus and Willis, and in addition, there was a supernumerary: JJ Watt.