Four Hundred Million Spent Recklessly

Qingdao, Wanda Youth Training Base.

Chen Anno was squatting on the training field, surrounded by a circle of seven- and eight-year-old children.

He held a football in his hand, demonstrating how to juggle with the instep.

The children included not only young players from the training base itself, but also students from the summer camp's interest classes.

Their eyes were wide, and a few had already begun secretly copying his movements, juggling the ball all over the place.

"Relax your ankles. Don't reach for the ball with your toes." Chen Anno flicked the ball up to knee height, then gently tapped it with his instep.

"See? Like this, the ball feels like it's growing out of your foot."

A little girl with a ponytail gathered her courage and raised her hand. "Brother Anno, can you show us a bicycle kick?"

The children around her immediately erupted. "Yeah! Yeah! A bicycle kick!"

Chen Anno did not know whether to laugh or cry. "I can't demonstrate that here. I might hit you guys."

"We're not scared!"

"I am." Chen Anno smiled and kicked the ball to the coach beside him.

"Master juggling first. Once you can juggle a hundred times, I'll teach you the bicycle kick."

The children let out disappointed wails, but the coach soon led them back to training.

Chen Anno stood up and brushed the grass clippings from his hands. Just as he was about to wash them, the phone in his pocket rang.

It was an unfamiliar number. He hesitated briefly before answering.

"Hello, is this Mr. Chen Anno? I'm a staff member from CCTV Sports Channel."

"Hello."

"It's like this: we'd like to invite you for an exclusive interview. We've worked together twice before, so you should remember us. Since you happen to be in the country,