After Paris Saint-Germain was removed from the list, I led England to victory!

In December, London is getting chilly, but the festive atmosphere makes the whole city feel warm and cozy.

The lights on Oxford Street were already lit.

The giant angel lights on Regent Street attract countless tourists, and the warm glow of Christmas trees shines from the windows of every house.

For Premier League players who have been playing for half a season, this short four-day break after the Christmas schedule is undoubtedly the most precious gift in winter.

Arsenal capped off 2019 with two tough matches before heading into the Christmas break.

First, they defeated the mighty Liverpool 3-2 at home, with Yan Yuan contributing a goal and an assist, dominating the victory; then, in the final group stage match of the Champions League, they swept aside Scottish champions Celtic 6-1 away, with Yan Yuan scoring twice.

With the joy of victory and exhaustion.

The Arsenal players can finally put down football for a while, return to their families, and enjoy this rare time together.

……

Yan Yuan is at his home in London.

The air is filled with a warm festive atmosphere.

In the living room, a tall Christmas tree was piled high with beautifully wrapped gifts, the fireplace crackled, and the air was filled with the enticing aroma of roast turkey and cinnamon rolls.

Yan Yuan, Lin Jianwei, and Yan's parents were sitting around the dining table, preparing to enjoy a sumptuous Christmas dinner.

This was their first time spending Christmas together in London, making it a truly special occasion.

"Come on, let's toast to another glorious six months, and to our family being able to reunite in London!" Mr. Yan, beaming, raised his glass of red wine.

"Cheers!" The four of them laughed and clinked glasses, creating a harmonious and warm atmosphere.

Lin Jianwei sat next to Yan Yuan, her face beaming with happiness, carefully serving everyone their meals.

Just then, Yan's father's phone rang; it was a video call.

Aunt Yan asked,

Who is it?

"They're our in-laws!"

Upon hearing the mention of their in-laws, both Yan Yuan and Lin Jianwei, the two young people, sat up straight.

"Oh! It's our in-laws! Quick, answer them!"

Yan Ma's voice suddenly became enthusiastic, and she asked her husband to press the speakerphone so that everyone could hear.

The video call connected, and the familiar and warm voices of Lin Jianwei's parents came from the other end of the line.

"Merry Christmas, my dear in-laws! I hope you're having a great holiday in London. Are Xiao Yan and Weiwei there too?"

"Yes, yes! We're eating right now!" Yan's father replied with a smile, taking a picture of the two of them with his phone camera.

"Merry Christmas, Uncle and Aunt!" Yan Yuan greeted Lin's parents on the other end of the phone with a smile.

"Happy, happy! Oh my, Xiao Yan is getting more and more handsome! Weiwei, you need to lose some weight recently, Mom thinks you've gained a little weight." Lin's mother's voice was full of laughter.

"Oh dear... Mom..." Lin Jianwei groaned.

Then, Lin's father said in the video.

"Xiao Yan, Weiwei, how have you been lately? I'm calling you today to remind you that we saw on the news in China that there seems to be a new type of flu, we don't know what it's called... but we just want to remind everyone to take precautions."

"You're in the UK, where there are lots of people and all sorts of eyes, so you have to be careful. Wear a mask whenever you go out, and try to avoid crowded places as much as possible."

Upon hearing this, Yan Yuan put down his knife and fork, and his expression became serious.

He took the phone from his father and answered calmly.

"Uncle, don't worry, everything is fine here. We've been following the news. Thank you for reminding us, Uncle and Aunt. I will take good care of Weiwei and will definitely take precautions when I go out."

Lin Jianwei quickly chimed in.

"Mom and Dad, please don't worry about us. You two need to be even more careful back home! It's cold now, and it's easy to catch a cold. You need to take good care of yourselves, and if anything happens, please tell us immediately. Don't hide anything from us!"

"We know, we know, we'll be careful," came Mr. Lin's voice, tinged with a hint of teasing, but also revealing his concern for his daughter.

"You young people are busy with work and under a lot of pressure, which makes your immunity more likely to drop. Xiao Yan is an athlete, and health is the foundation of everything, so you must not be careless. Weiwei, you should also pay attention to safety when commuting to and from get off work."

"Yes, we understand, Dad," Lin Jianwei replied obediently.

After exchanging a few more pleasantries and reminding each other to take care of themselves, the call ended with mutual well wishes.

There was a brief moment of silence at the dining table.

Yan's father took a sip of wine and said thoughtfully.

"It's strange... A few days ago... I was on the phone with an old client in the United States, and he mentioned that a new flu virus seems to have appeared in the United States, and the situation seems a bit unusual."

He joked that with the global economy in such a slump, let's hope there aren't any more global health problems.

Upon hearing this, Mother Yan frowned slightly, turned to Yan Yuan and Lin Jianwei, and spoke with a mother's concern.

"Look, that's what everyone's saying, both domestically and internationally."

Son, Weiwei, did you listen to me? It's the middle of winter, which is usually peak flu season, and now there's some new virus.

"Both of you, one of you travels all over the world for training and competitions, and the other has to go to get off work on time. You come into contact with a lot of people, so you must be extra careful. Dress warmly, pay attention to hygiene, and don't catch a cold."

"Mom, don't worry, we will." Yan Yuan held Lin Jianwei's hand and solemnly assured his parents.

Lin Jianwei nodded obediently.

Although this topic added a slightly somber touch to the warm Christmas dinner, the care and mutual reminders from family members made this reunion all the more precious.

Everyone quickly started chatting about happy topics again. Yan Yuan shared funny stories from the locker room, and Lin Jianwei talked about what she saw and heard during the interview. The atmosphere at the table became lively again.

……

The second day of the holiday was a chilly morning in London.

Most people are still enjoying the holiday laziness.

Yan Yuan got up early and dressed neatly.

Lin Jianwei rubbed her sleepy eyes as she came out of the bedroom and was somewhat surprised to see Yan Yuan all dressed and ready to go.

"Hmm? Where are you going so early? Aren't you off today?"

Yan Yuan answered while tying his scarf.

"I'm going to the pharmacy and supermarket to buy some things, I'll be right back."

"What are you buying? We have everything we need at home." Lin Jianwei was even more puzzled.

"Go buy some masks, disinfectant, and some commonly used medicines."

Lin Jianwei was taken aback for a moment, then burst into laughter.

"Oh dear, were you scared by what my parents and aunt and uncle said yesterday? It's not that serious, is it? It was just a normal flu season reminder. Goodness, you're being way too cautious."

Yan Yuan walked up to her, put his hands on her shoulders, and looked very serious.

"Weiwei, health is no small matter, especially since the information is still unclear, but there are similar reports both domestically and internationally. It won't hurt for us to make some preparations in advance."

This isn't just about ourselves; it's also about being responsible to those around us. Think about it: if I or you accidentally get sick and infect our teammates, colleagues, or family members who come to visit us, how terrible would that be?

He added.

"Moreover, I am an athlete, and staying healthy is my responsibility. It's always better to be cautious than to be caught off guard at the last minute."

Seeing Yan Yuan's serious demeanor, Lin Jianwei abandoned her joking thoughts, feeling a surge of warmth and security within her. She nodded.

"Hmm... I'll do as you say, then I'll go with you."

"No need, it's very cold outside today. Just wait at home, I'll be back soon."

After saying that, Yan Yuan gently kissed Lin Jianwei's forehead, patted the top of her head, and then turned and left.

More than an hour later, he returned carrying several large bags.

The bag contained not only boxes of disposable medical masks and N95 masks, but also several large bottles of hand sanitizer, alcohol wipes, and commonly used cold medicine, fever reducers, cough syrup, and even vitamin supplements.

Lin Jianwei looked at the huge pile of "spoils of war" and didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

"My God... Did you bring the whole pharmacy home? This is enough for us to use for a year."

Yan Yuan said with a smile as he tidied up his things.

"It's better to be prepared. Having it there gives me peace of mind."

Not only that, Yan Yuan also took out his phone and sent a message in their Arsenal first team players' group chat:

"Merry Christmas, guys! Just a friendly reminder that there's a flu outbreak going on lately, and I've heard there's a new virus emerging. Please take precautions when you go out during the holidays, and keep some masks and disinfectants at home. Protect yourselves; we still have a strong second half of the season to fight for."

The moment the message was sent, the group chat became lively.

Ashraf: "Captain, you're too health-conscious! Isn't the Christmas holiday for having fun?"

Bukayo Saka: "Roger that, Captain! My mom told me the same thing yesterday! I'll go buy it in a bit!"

Peipei: "Yan is right, health is important at all times."

Upamecano: "Received, on my way out."

Cancelo: "I'm on my way too."

……

Although the teammates joked around, almost everyone immediately sprang into action.

Some had their family members buy the items, while others placed orders online themselves.

Nagelsmann also replied with a "thumbs up" emoji in the group and added to the group members.

"Strict advice is very important. While enjoying your holiday, please make sure to take good care of your personal protection and be in the best condition for the upcoming competition."

Yan Yuan looked at the replies popping up on his phone screen, smiled, and said to Lin Jianwei.

"See? The guys still listen to advice."

Looking at the meticulous and responsible man in front of her, Lin Jianwei felt a surge of love and admiration.

She quietly circled around to Yan Yuan's side and whispered in his ear.

"I'm obedient, especially to you."

On the court, Yan Yuan is an all-powerful leader and killer.

In life, Xiao Yan is also a reliable and considerate partner.

Outside the window, the dark clouds on the distant horizon had not yet dispersed.

But in this loving and prepared home, warmth and a sense of security are enough to ward off any uncertainty from the outside world.