Huayu: From charlatan to great entertainer

Chapter 592 Washing Machine: What was I doing at 19?! What was my wife doing at 15?!
This trip to Europe was a pre-planned business trip, accompanied by Liu Yifei, who had taken three days off from filming. However, it wasn't a leisurely getaway; she also had work commitments in Europe.

The main purpose was to shoot Gucci commercials at several landmark buildings in France, and secondly, to promote the film "The Book of Peace" in Europe via Netflix.

Compared to filming, this was also a very important part of the job that I did for the production team.

Lu Kuan himself, as the chairman of Crystal Palace FC, was involved in the team's management for the first time.

Although for the richest man this is a "football manager" game with an initial investment of only £1550 million, it is also a business project that can help Wenjie Group gain fame and a foothold in Europe in the future, and even promote the "Book of Peace" which will soon be released in Europe through Netflix.

Arts and sports are inseparable; this is a universally accepted industry and business logic.

If it's just a retelling and adaptation of the history of the University of Tokyo, it's obviously not a subject of much interest to British and European audiences. Just like the Taiga dramas that the Japanese meticulously produce every year, which are top-notch in terms of research and costumes among East Asian historical dramas, even with Japan's global cultural promotion, Europeans pay very little attention to them.

But what if the female lead in this Chinese historical drama is played by the beautiful actress who shares the same name as the "Crystal Palace Football Club," which was recently acquired by the Chinese?

What if this actress had just officially announced a collaboration with Kering, a group owned by the Pinault family, becoming one of Gucci's global brand ambassadors?
What if Ms. Liu Yifei's husband was the owner of the Crystal Palace Club, who was also the director of the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics, which was once very popular with the British?

The British are paying attention because the London Olympics are just two years away, and they also performed at the closing ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

As Neil of the British Museum previously stated, the London Organizing Committee is still considering inviting Mr. Lu to be an art consultant, just like when Spielberg was invited to the Beijing Olympics.

With all these elements connected to the British added together, does the Chinese drama "The Book of Peace," which was originally quite unfamiliar to viewers, suddenly become "refined and attractive"?

Is that enough to grab the audience's attention?

Besides Britain, if we extend the scope to major European countries to assess the influence of lead actress Liu Yifei:

She won the Berlin Film Festival Best Actress award, and her portrayal of Iris Chang, along with the popularity of the film "History of the Sky" which involved the German actor John Rabe, gave her a certain degree of fame in Germany, at least earning her the reputation of a good actress.
Her father served as a diplomat in France for many years, but she didn't have much local fame. Only her role in "A Home Away From Home" six years ago opened up the local market for her. But as a Chinese actress, it's difficult for her to have a lasting influence.

Therefore, this collaboration with Gucci, a subsidiary of Kering Group, is a great opportunity.

Gucci appointed Liu Yifei as its global brand ambassador, which coincided with the timing of her and the overseas launch of "The Book of Peace".

But for the Pinault family and Kering, what they really value is the opportunity to deeply expand the market in Dongda, the world's fastest-growing region with the most rapid rise of the middle class, through Liu Yifei.

Aside from the three major voting blocs of the UK, France, and Germany, Liu is practically just an ordinary Chinese female celebrity in other countries, receiving very little attention.

Before Lu Kuan and Liu Yifei arrived in London by private jet at the end of July, there was already a constant stream of news for football-loving Britons and London fans before the new season.

Two months had passed since Chinese capital officially completed its acquisition of Crystal Palace Football Club, but frankly, fans hadn't felt much of a change brought about by "wealthy Chinese" during those two months.

Before the World Cup, Spain's star striker David Villa was signed by Barcelona for 4000 million euros, Mexico's Javier Hernandez was brought into the team by Sir Alex Ferguson for 800 million euros, and there were also various transfer rumors involving players who shone at the World Cup.

Sami Khedira, who provided a stunning assist for the German national team at the World Cup, has joined the Bernabéu from Stuttgart for €1400 million.

Arjen Robben, the Dutch winger, has been officially bought out by Bayern Munich from Real Madrid for €2500 million, ending his loan spell.
Diego Forlán, the striker who led Uruguay to the semi-finals, won the Golden Ball at the World Cup, but due to his age, his transfer fee from Atlético Madrid to Inter Milan was only 1500 million euros.

These are all high-quality, low-priced goods! What about the £2 million total investment your Chinese boss promised over five years?

Okay! Even if we're just in the Championship right now and can't attract top players, as is standard for Championship teams, you can always find some underdogs from big clubs to train and develop, right?

However, the messages Crystal Palace has been posting on its official Weibo and Twitter accounts both in China and abroad have become increasingly disheartening. At first, we thought it was just an appetizer, but as the World Cup reaches its climax and concludes, the real feast is yet to come.

The Championship season is supposed to start in early August, but why is it still just a bunch of teams waiting for it? It's driving us crazy!

The Guardian's sports section published an article titled "The Eastern Mystery of Selhurst Park: Crystal Palace's Summer Transfer Listings Highlight New Owners' 'Scratch-Off' Strategy," which provided a relatively objective and neutral overview of the team's transfer activity over the past two months.
Just as the new Championship season is about to kick off, Crystal Palace, who narrowly avoided relegation last season, is gradually unveiling the mystery of its transfer operations two months after its new Chinese owner, Mr. Lu Kuan, took over.

However, this roster, mainly composed of young and relatively unknown players, has left many fans who were hoping for a "money injection" confused and even disappointed, and has also sparked speculation within the industry about the true intentions of this Eastern tycoon.

According to sources within the club, all the signings this summer were not deals led by the football director in the traditional sense, but were personally approved by the owner, Mr. Lu Kuan. This list reads more like a "reconnaissance report" of young players worldwide.
Mohamed Salah, 18, is an Egyptian winger who joined from Arab Contractors in the Egyptian domestic league for a fee believed to be around £100 million. He is a speedy player who is making his mark in the Egyptian league.

Sadio Mane, 18, is a Senegalese striker who was acquired from French second division club Metz for an estimated fee of only a few hundred thousand pounds. He is known for his speed and potential.

N'Golo Kanté, 19, is a French defensive midfielder who joined on a free transfer from Boulogne, a club still struggling in the French amateur leagues, in what was almost a zero-cost gamble.

Kevin De Bruyne, 18, is a Belgian attacking midfielder signed from Genk in the Belgian First Division A for a transfer fee between £500 million and £800 million. He is the most expensive player on the list and is already considered a promising young star in Belgium.

Virgil van Dijk, 19, is a Dutch center-back who was signed from Groningen in the Dutch Eredivisie for a transfer fee of approximately £200-400 million. He has excellent physical attributes and is considered a long-term investment.

Riyad Mahrez, 19, a French/Algerian winger, was poached from the reserve team of Ligue 2 club Caen for a fee likely under £400,000, a typical "blind signing" based on scouting reports.

Even more surprisingly, the club appointed Mauricio Pochettino, an Argentinian who is only 38 years old and whose coaching experience is limited to Espanyol B team and a brief first-team career, as the new head coach.

Clearly, the club values ​​its modern football philosophy and the potential to work with young players.

It is understood that all of these players have signed long-term contracts with the club (mostly 5-6 years), and an important clause in the contract is closely linked to the team's goal of promotion to the Chinese Super League. This is also an important condition for the club to persuade players such as De Bruyne and Van Dijk, who have already played for the domestic first team, to sign with them.

Even though they are not yet unknown newcomers, they are definitely not content to just play in the second tier of British competitions.

This seems to indicate that the new Chinese owners' strategy is not to spend money on short-term promotion to the Super League, but to carry out a systematic rebuilding of the youth team with a focus on the future. For English fans who are used to the immediate results of the transfer market, this patient and seemingly risky "lottery scramble" model is undoubtedly a huge question mark.

Whether these energetic young men, under Pochettino's leadership, can carry Crystal Palace's promotion campaign remains to be seen; only time will tell.

……

From the perspective of Crystal Palace fans who are quite disappointed, it is also very difficult for these professional media reporters to search for information on these unknown players, and even players from non-professional teams, from every nook and cranny.

On Crystal Palace's official Twitter account, fans vented their disappointment, offered objective opinions, and relentlessly mocked the team.

Crystal Palace fans are filled with disappointment and bewildered anger:
Good heavens! We waited all summer, and this is the list of "future stars" we get? Look at our city rivals! Even West Ham just signed Piqué! And what about us? Finding kids from Egyptian and French amateur leagues? Mr. Lu, are you planning to deposit your £2 million in the bank and live off the interest?
"Calm down, friends. Maybe...maybe the boss really does have a unique eye? That Belgian kid De Bruyne sounds good, and we spent millions. Pochettino is supposedly a coach with ideas, but this is really a gamble, and the stakes are our entire season."

"I suspect this isn't about football at all! It's more like an asset transfer and brand marketing. The Chinese owner's wife just became a Gucci spokesperson, and acquiring our club might just be their ticket into European high society. We're just a tool!"

"I knew it! Besides making cheap goods and running Chinese restaurants, what do the Chinese know about football? They have no idea about our traditions and passion! Handing over a club to them is like handing a Rolls-Royce to a bicycle mechanic!"

“I’ve supported the team for 50 years and seen it all. But this time I have a bad feeling. The owner’s ideas are too advanced, the players are too young, and the league is too brutal. I’m afraid we’re not witnessing the foundation of a dynasty, but a slow sinking. I hope I’m wrong.”

Chelsea fans who had their names changed by paying money couldn't help but mock condescendingly: "They say this director is called the next Abramovich? Don't be ridiculous, there's only ever one great Abramovich!"

"As for our friends at Crystal Palace, I wish you all the best in the Championship with the Egyptian Messi and the Senegalese Ronaldo. I hope to see you at the bottom of the table next season; that would be the best wish of all!"

Among the other London teams, Arsenal fans, who haven't officially linked themselves to the number four, joked: "Professor Wenger might smile knowingly when he sees this list, but he's doing this in the Premier League, and he's succeeded before."

"Isn't it a bit too advanced for this Chinese owner to start scratching lottery tickets in the Championship? I wish them good luck, but I think they need more than just luck."

Amidst the commotion and noise, many mainland netizens couldn't resist interacting on Twitter, bringing a "washing machine craze" to Britain.

As far as Lukashenko is concerned, they are much more confident than Western fans, after all, they have won so many victories over the years.

"Hello Crystal Palace fans, I'm a Chinese student from King's College. I just became a Crystal Palace fan because of Lu and Crystal. To be honest, I don't understand football, but I do understand washing machines. Do you know what a washing machine is? Just wait for the Championship to get a good wash!"

Many local fans responded with questions like "What is a washing machine?" and "Why is Lu's nickname 'washing machine'?", prompting more Chinese fans to provide explanations.

"Soak it first, then wash it, and then spin it dry after you're done playing with it, got it? You British folks!"

"I have to say you Premier League players are very lucky. Every single one of your girlfriends or wives is an actress or a supermodel, right? If my washing machine had come a few years ago, I guarantee it would have caused them all to have menstrual irregularities, and made your Premier League players 'wear hats' every game."

Premier League players are often surrounded by young, attractive models, and the athletes' unbridled instincts and desires have led to numerous scandals in the football world.

Terry cheated on his teammate's wife; a few untold stories about Manchester United's Wang Laoji and his sister-in-law; De Bruyne was cheated on by his national team teammate Courtois...

These are just a few examples.

"Don't listen to that nonsense. The washing machine means that Lu has the Midas touch, able to turn seemingly ordinary items into sparkling gold! He's now ready to wash your Crystal Palace. Spin-drying is the upgrade, and drying is the championship. Get ready to celebrate!"

"To be honest, you long-haired Englishmen are just ungrateful. I looked at the list and positions of some young talents: Van Dijk as center-back, Kanté as defensive midfielder, De Bruyne as attacking midfielder, and the attacking trident is incredibly fast. Washing Machine has already bought you a central axis and a striker, what more could you want?"

"I declare I've seen this episode. In 2015, Salah and Mahrez soared on the wings, Mane emulated Messi's current style at Barcelona by playing a false nine and was fully functional, De Bruyne performed all sorts of surgical interventions, Kante was tireless, and Van Dijk was the defensive anchor. Crystal Palace easily defeated Real Madrid 3-0 and won their first Champions League title in club history!"

"Don't worry, there's plenty of money for washing machines, he won't refuse to spend it on you. Just because of the name Crystal Palace, he wouldn't mess around! Isn't he afraid of getting beaten up by his wife, Liu Yifei?"

"The washing machine can turn an actor into an international superstar, just like his wife Liu Yifei. By sending more of your English beauties as tribute, there will be many more future champions! The hope is huge!"

……

The richest man, who had been busy promoting and marketing "Ball Flash" and earning money for his children's milk powder for the past month, was naturally unaware of the jokes circulating online. However, he was recognized by local fans as soon as he left the airport on the morning of August 1st.

Several Crystal Palace fans, seeing the beautiful women around him, the menacing security team, and the single-eyelid Asian man with eyes that seemed to look at dead people, dared not act too recklessly.

They were only a few steps apart, holding up their phones and scarves, their voices a mixture of anticipation, anxiety, and a barely perceptible hint of complaint as they called out:
"Lou! Welcome to London! But... our new season is about to begin, are those kids you bought really up to the task?"

"Boss! There's less than a month left in the transfer window, and we still need an experienced midfield playmaker. Kevin De Bruyne is too young; his acne hasn't even cleared up yet!"

"Mr. Lu, for God's sake, tell us that you really have plans to promote to the Super League, and that you're not just thinking of setting up a youth talent camp!"

Liu Yifei was wearing a loose denim white T-shirt, with her husband's suit jacket over her, and she looked quite presentable.

More and more fans came after hearing the news. She looked down at this common Western fan culture with curiosity, unable to understand this almost primitive fanaticism for the time being.

"Why are there so many Crystal Palace fans at the airport? Are they here specifically to ambush us?"

Lu Kuan pointed to the airport sign above his head: "London has four airports in total. Gatwick Airport is located in South London, and its geographical area highly overlaps with that of Crystal Palace's fan base."

"If you come out of Heroes Airport in the west or City Airport in the east, you're likely to run into fans of other teams."

Gatwick is located more than 50 kilometers south of central London and is also London's largest airport. Whether you enter London by train or car from Gatwick Airport, the route will pass through the heart of South London.

It's perfectly normal to run into fans here; who knows, maybe some of the ground staff or other personnel were Crystal Palace "family members."

As more and more fans gathered, Crystal Palace's Chinese owner gestured for Afei to step aside slightly. "Thank you for your welcome and for your concern. I know that the signings this summer may not be what many people expected."

He paused, his tone carrying an undeniable composure: "But please believe me, my team and I have a very clear and firm plan for Crystal Palace's future. Every player who comes to Selhurst Park is part of that plan. We are not looking for a fleeting moment of brilliance, but for lasting glory."

One fan seized the opportunity to shout, "Lou, tonight is the season opener against Sheffield Wednesday, will you be coming to watch?"

Boss Lu's smile widened, and he gestured to his wife beside him, "Of course, Crystal and I will come to Crystal Palace, and we will fight alongside everyone in the stands!"

The fans were somewhat relieved to hear his increasingly fluent South London accent. Surely, a club owner who was willing to learn the language to integrate into the team deserves some trust and patience.

Or rather, the Chinese did spend over ten million pounds on player acquisitions this summer, which wasn't too stingy.

For example, they paid nearly £800 million in transfer fees for that Belgian youngster De Bruyne and gave him a generous signing bonus.

It's said that the signing of the tall center-back Virgil van Dijk from Groningen in the Dutch Eredivisie cost £300 million, a significant investment for a Championship club.

Fans know that without an ambitious long-term plan and attractive personal benefits, these young talents who have already established themselves in their home country's top league will never easily condescend to come to the English second tier.

Even though the Championship is only slightly weaker than the Eredivisie.

But this at least proves that the new boss wasn't just looking to get something for nothing.

Xiao Liu looked back curiously from inside the car, where the fans had already started singing the team song. "They love football so much! It's amazing!"

"Yeah, it's pretty much like being a fan." Boss Lu shook out the copy of The Sun in his hand, which surprisingly already included an introduction to himself and the origin of the nickname "Washing Machine" that fans were discussing...

However, many of them were forcibly attached to him. For example, there was the pure and innocent Jing Tian who appeared on the Cannes red carpet with him in May, and the glamorous and shameless Miranda Kerr. There are more than twenty of them in total. What kind of professional level is this?
They really should get Chauvin to teach The Sun a lesson.

Of course, there are a few that are genuine...

The glint of swords and the clash of spears have faded, the sounds of drums and horns have receded into the distance, and before my eyes flutter one by one, vibrant faces...

"Hey! I'm talking to you!" Xiao Liu glared at the scoundrel with displeasure. "What are you looking at so intently?"

"Huh? Some... reports about the team, you wouldn't understand." The Berlin Film Emperor casually folded the newspaper and placed it on his left side.

Liu Yifei chuckled, "You're such a coward! I saw it a long time ago! There are tons of gossip about you on Twitter." "You're something else!" the washing machine villain struck first, seizing the moral high ground, "Did you use the same trick again, creating a fake account to be my hater? Apologize immediately!"

"Get lost." Xiao Liu gave her husband a coquettish glare. "I don't have time for that. I spend my spare time telling stories and singing nursery rhymes to the baby. Unlike you, an irresponsible father, you haven't been home for almost three months!"

Making money is not easy. The richest man sighed, "Isn't it all to support you three, prepare a dowry for Youyou, save up a bride price for Tiedan, and support a beautiful wife? It's not easy!"

"Easy, right?" Xiao Liu looked at him teasingly. "I can easily make tens of millions a year if I work at full speed. Or you can stay home and take care of the kids. You'll always have food and drink; I'll support you!"

"Hey! What can tens of millions do?" Boss Lu crossed his legs with a look of disdain, then flipped the newspaper over and pointed to the news about Villa's first training session with Barcelona. "See? A striker costs 4000 million euros. This 'game' is still very expensive to play."

Xiao Liu gathered her long, dark hair and leaned lightly against the man's shoulder, hugging his arm and looking closely at the transfer market figures: "You're robbing people! Then why are the people you buy only worth a few million pounds?"

"It's like scratching lottery tickets; they all look pretty good. Whether they can make it out of the competition is up to them."

It has to be said that there are risks involved in a time traveler playing "Football Manager" and buying lottery tickets, even if the players he buys are all famous players from his previous life.

The risk lies precisely in the irreproducibility of "experience." For a player to grow into a top superstar, talent and potential are only the foundation; what's more important are the specific environments they experience, key matches, setbacks and trials, and even the coaches and teammates they encounter.

These complex factors collectively forge a player's technical and tactical abilities, competitive mentality, and leadership qualities.

If Salah hadn't gone through disappointment at Chelsea, then moved to Serie A's Fiorentina and Roma, where he regained his confidence and evolved in leagues more suited to his technical style, would he have been able to dominate at Liverpool later in his career?

If Mane hadn't had a period of adjustment in the Premier League at Southampton and had jumped directly into higher-intensity competition, could his potential have been fully realized?
If Kante, the "iron lung" who will one day cover the earth, is pushed into the core defensive midfield position too early, will his slightly thin body and initial defensive skills be able to withstand the intense physical confrontation and long ball attacks of the Championship?

Does his growth require him to first accumulate experience in a relatively relaxed environment?
The time travelers altered their destinies, placing these top-tier players' paths to success, which were originally fraught with chance, into a completely new and unknown testing ground. They might realize their potential more quickly, but they could also lose their way due to maladaptation to the new environment, tactical system, or premature pressure.

Even with all the risks, he is still the best "football manager" in the world. Even the few lottery tickets he chose were all from players who were relatively disciplined and well-behaved in their careers, without too many scandals. He did not choose to pick up many talented and outstanding South American players, or "world-class below the neck" players like Balotelli.

……

At 7 p.m. London time, the underground passages of Selhurst Park were filled with the strong smell of gunpowder and grass. The first round of the 2010-2011 Championship season, Crystal Palace hosted Sheffield Wednesday, and the match was about to kick off.

Unfortunately, this match was not broadcast in China. The rights to the English Championship are mainly monopolized by Sky Sports in the UK, and its overseas rights distribution is complex and expensive, primarily targeting professional sports channels.

Whether it's Travel Channel or Zhijie Video, both owned by Mr. Lu, the latter, as a domestic Chinese streaming platform, would never invest a huge sum of money to purchase the broadcasting rights for such a low-level league match.

Similarly, the same applies to other domestic broadcasters.

But if Crystal Palace successfully gains promotion to the Super League and demonstrates its huge commercial value, the owner of the company is determined to acquire the broadcasting rights next year. He is already prepared to have his Travel Channel get there first.

This is yet another classic example of a commercial loop where literature and art are inextricably linked.

Sky Sports is also Murdoch's business, so we'll deal with him and do business with him then.

Boss Lu and Lao Bai had cheated each other in the past, but business is business, and for now they are maintaining normal cooperation based on common interests, such as the distribution of "Afada" and "Ball Flash".

But none of this could stop the resourceful Chinese netizens. Even though it was 2 a.m. in China, Sky Sports' live stream was already being streamed everywhere on Baidu Tieba, Hupu, Tianya, and other online forums.

More fans gathered on various forums, relying on the "love-fueled" efforts of some Chinese students studying in the UK or local Chinese to provide almost real-time text updates in the live broadcast room, supplemented by real-time match data from BBC Sport or Sky Sports official websites to fill in the gaps in the match's progress.

About ten minutes into the game, photos finally appeared on Weibo from local students studying abroad. Lu Kuan and Liu Yifei, a married couple, were watching the game in the stands in front of the VIP box, both wearing Crystal Palace jerseys with the number "510" printed on the back.

Fans certainly knew it was Youyou and Tiedan's birthday, and those who didn't know had already been informed.

What annoyed the ever-growing army of roadkillers was that Washing Machine's arm was casually resting on the back of his wife's chair, and he was turning his head to say something to the elegant Chinese actress.

The latter looked up at him slightly, a curious yet slightly admiring smile on her face, just like a fangirl listening to her idol explain something, spreading the love across the ocean.

However, as the game progressed, fans both at home and abroad who were simultaneously following and caring about this newly-addicted team found their smiles fading.

In the photos of Mr. Lu and Mrs. Liu that were sent back from the front, Mr. Lu still seemed calm, while Liu Yifei, who was concerned about the score, had her eyebrows slightly furrowed, indicating that the situation on the field was not good.

With 8 minutes remaining in the first half including stoppage time, Crystal Palace trailed Sheffield Wednesday 0-2. Having watched the entire match, Lu Kuan had the clearest understanding of the situation:
As expected by the pessimistic British media and other fans, even though these young talents and potential superstars are capable of handling the intensity of the Championship, they seem to need more time to adapt to the field.

For example, under the fierce pressing of Sheffield Wednesday players, the young De Bruyne's usually accurate passes were repeatedly misplaced;
When faced with the Championship's traditional long balls and crosses, Van Dijk seemed to struggle with judging the landing point and winning aerial duels.
Salah and Mane's breakthroughs and penetrations on the flanks and in the middle were repeatedly thwarted by the experienced opposing defenders' strong physical confrontations.

But Sheffield Wednesday capitalized on a corner kick opportunity in the 28th minute, with their tall striker Gary Maddion outjumping Virgil van Dijk to head the ball into the net.

Then, in the 41st minute, Crystal Palace lost possession in their own half, and Sheffield Wednesday striker Neil Melen seized the opportunity, firing a low shot from outside the penalty area that found the back of the net.

We still need to bring in reinforcements for the goalkeeper position.

"Where did you find these child soldiers? Were they freebies from Chinese supermarkets?"

"Mr. Lu, your checkbook can't buy victory!"

"Go back to your movie theaters, this is a man's game!"

The shrill singing echoed through Selhurst Park, while the home team's section fell silent and dejected.

When the whistle blew to end the first half, the camera captured De Bruyne walking briskly toward the players' tunnel with his head down, while Van Dijk stood with his hands on his hips, staring at the scoreboard for a long time without saying a word, his face full of disappointment and self-blame.

"What should we do?" Liu Yifei noticed the disappointed expressions on the players' faces. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Infected by the atmosphere of the stadium, she also began to feel anxious, just like countless ordinary fans.

Boss Lu patted his wife on the shoulder and stood up: "Let's go check out the changing room."

"Are you going to explain tactics to them?" Naïve Xiao Liu thought her husband, who had just been bragging in the stands, was a tactical genius.

The washing machine knows absolutely nothing about tactics. Compared to the group of fans on football forums who give advice to world-class coaches, he's just a little bit clueless.

He was just putting on an act in front of his wife for ages, it was all just a flirting trick, taking advantage of her being a 23-year-old innocent girl who had never been in a relationship in college.

These kinds of scenes are everywhere on campus: male college students bragging to female college students on the sidelines of a basketball court, or commenting on the World Cup matches as if they could win the championship if they were in charge.

"Let's forget about tactics; now's not the time to talk about that." Washing Machine said without batting an eye. "The main task now is to help them relax and perform to their full potential. If they lose, so be it; it's not a big deal."

“We’re better at this, helping actors relieve stress.” He put his arm around his wife’s shoulder and walked down the elevator toward the dressing room.

……

The lights in the home team's locker room were stark white, and the air was thick with sweat and a sense of oppression. The 0-2 deficit at halftime weighed heavily on everyone's minds like a boulder.

The young new signings kept their heads down; De Bruyne covered his face with a towel, Van Dijk stared at the floor without saying a word, and Salah and Mane changed their jerseys in silence.

These promising young guards are now experiencing the harsh realities of the professional arena.

A slight commotion arose at the entrance of the passage.

The young players looked up to see the young Chinese owner, whom they had been discussing all summer, enter the room accompanied by the club's CEO and a staff member.

And there was his pretty girlfriend next to him, wearing a Crystal Palace jersey.

Kevin De Bruyne, who is not yet 20 years old, stood up involuntarily. He is probably the player who has communicated the most with this Chinese owner. In June, the owner called him and appealed to his emotions and reason with him, showing great sincerity.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have chosen to come to England so early, and to play in the Championship.

His youth academy teammates were absolutely laughing at his decision, including Eden Hazard, who played for the Belgian youth national team and is now a player in Ligue 1, one of the top five European leagues.

Hazard teased him because he himself had also been invited, but declined without a second thought.

Are you kidding me? I play for Lille in Ligue 1, after all!

Looking back now, perhaps Hazard happily ate two more hamburgers after halftime.

"Boss." Pochettino, whose expression remained relatively calm, stood up and clapped his hands to signal the tense atmosphere in the locker room, "Guys, perk up! Welcome the Boss to say a few words!"

After a sparse round of applause, Boss Lu was met with a mix of complex, curious, and of course, indifferent gazes—

This comes from the substitutes who have been replaced in the starting lineup by the young new signings, and they will soon be released from their contracts.

Wearing a football jersey, Lu Kuan didn't use his thick South London accent this time, nor did he start by giving everyone a pep talk. Instead, he chatted with everyone in clear English:

"To be honest, today is one of the few times I haven't worn my expensive suits in public. You've probably seen the Sun's report about this habit of mine."

Mr. Lu glanced at his wife, who was standing prettily to one side, and helplessly spread his hands: "Of course, they've arranged too many mistresses for me. I'm grateful they didn't make up a story about 'China's richest man falling in love with the company's 60-year-old cleaning lady'..."

"Hahaha!" A soft laugh rang out in the dressing room, and the tense expressions on the faces of the young guards of the Crystal Palace relaxed a little.

The young tycoon gestured to his wife, "Crystal and I are wearing two jerseys with the number 510 on them. That's the birth date of my son and daughter. Today we're here as an ordinary family of four, not some high and mighty lousy boss..."

Judging from the players' body language, everyone's emotions had generally eased. Pochettino looked at the director and secretly admired him.

To some extent, the head coach is also a director, and the players are his actors. A top head coach must be a performer and a psychologist, and must know how to manage the locker room and give players a mental massage.

Clearly, this Asian tycoon is quite adept at this.

Seeing that the players' emotions were gradually calming down, Boss Lu's expression became slightly more solemn.

He gestured to the mocking chants from the away fans outside: "Listen to the chants of our own fans! They are fighting back against the criticism that you are too young."

“Look at yourselves! Kevin De Bruyne is 19, Virgil van Dijk is 19, N'Golo Kanté is 19, Mohamed Salah is 18, Sadio Mane is 18, and Riyad Mahrez is 19. You are at least 10 years younger than your teammates!”

Liu Yifei looked at the spirited man in front of her with a smile, as if she could see him directing actors on set again.

"Is being young a mistake? Isn't it a compliment when the enemy says you're young? At least that's how I see it."

He paced back and forth in the locker room, looking at the European players, apart from Van Dijk, who were about the same height as him—these future superstars of different skin colors and countries:

"Let me tell you what I was doing when I was 19—"

“Everyone knows I’m a director, but before I was 19, I was just an orphan from a poor mountain area. In the year after I came down from the mountain, I scraped together less than 90 euros to make my first film.”

"Our work has been copied by competitors who want to undermine us in the market."

"Film critics say, what does a first-year film school student know about directing?"

“When we were exhibiting at Venice, no one thought we were a good fit. Our posters were covered by other film crews, but in the end we won the Golden Lion with Whiplash. If you like movies, you should know that it has some weight.”

Lu Kuan looked at the players who were silently wiping their sweat and said, "I don't know if you've seen this movie, but I want to share a line from it with you—In this world, nothing is more harmful than being good."

He paused deliberately, looking at the fists of several young players that they unconsciously clenched.

"Although your performance in the first half wasn't even 'good'!" He suddenly raised his voice, making the paper cups next to the water dispenser shake slightly, "you should understand the true meaning of this sentence: I want you to throw yourselves out like javelins, plunging them deep into the opponent's heart! Don't think about holding back!"

“Yes, this is what I was like at 19 almost ten years ago, if that’s not enough—” He gestured to his wife, Liu Yifei, who was standing gracefully to the side:
"Do you know how old she was when she first started working? She was only 14 and a half."

"At less than 15 years old, you have to work hard with professionally trained actors, learn from them, and endure pressure from all sides, including slander and abuse from competitors. Does this sound familiar? Isn't this the scenario you are facing right now?"

Boss Lu slammed his hand on the tactical board in the locker room, causing a marker to roll to the ground.

"If a little girl can do it, why can't you professional players? Aren't you all at this age also struggling to get your chance in the youth training team?"

"And now, the opportunity is yours."

His piercing gaze swept across every face, and suddenly he roared in heavily accented English:

"Remember where you started, lads!"

"Now! go out there and win this fucking game!"

Remember where you came from, and win this damn game!

(End of this chapter)