Li Luo is introducing you to another young model again?

Munich.

Legendary star Matthäus appeared on a talk show on German television.

Holding data from recent matches, he began criticizing current issues. "There's still some sand in Bayern Munich's gears. Why was our match against a Manchester City still in their adjustment period so nerve-racking in the UEFA Champions League? We only won by one goal, and it was scored by a defender. I've always praised Guardiola, but now I think his personality is a little strange..."

"The Matador's acrobatic style blowing into Bavaria isn't necessarily a bad thing."

"Why does that bald guy always come up with such bizarre tactical arrangements during matches?"

He continued to slam Bayern Munich's management.

Then he took shots at Schalke 04, followed by Dortmund.

"Wolfsburg?"

"Mm, Hecking is currently Germany's best coach. I think he could replace Guardiola as Bayern Munich's manager."

"He could replace Löw too. That guy got inflated after winning the World Cup. Judging by the call-up slots, our national team manager has deep prejudices against several clubs. This could become very dangerous."

"Hecking transformed Li Luo and unleashed De Bruyne's potential. There's a lot involved in that—player development, tactical compatibility, squad fit..."

"Li Luo—watching the footage of his UEFA Youth League final, he was a more technically refined Matthäus. After coming to the Bundesliga, he abandoned the flashy but impractical stuff and has been developing in the direction I was headed during my prime. No gaudy acrobatic moves. He's a lot like me."

"I once thought the football world would never produce a player similar to me."

The host could not get a word in edgewise.

Matthäus had gotten carried away and kept talking without pause.

The audience enjoyed it. It had been a long time since they had heard this big mouth praise a coach and a player so desperately.

Wolfsburg's training base.

At two in the afternoon, the club blew the whistle to end training.

Li Luo wanted to do some extra training alone, but the assistant coach and fitness trainer stopped him.

"The day after tomorrow, we'll be facing Leverkusen."

"What you need to do now is rest, relax, and sleep."

Hecking was no fraud. His staff placed great importance on player injuries and rest, and a few years ago, they had come within a hair of creating the footballing miracle of "an entire season without a single injury."

This season, Wolfsburg's coaching staff was still working toward that "miracle."

As long as they could keep the key players healthy, fighting on multiple fronts would not seem so frightening.

"Okay."

Li Luo did not argue. He followed his teammates to the entertainment room at the training base to watch a movie.

A highly popular comedy was playing on the big screen.

With so many young men gathered together, none of them could settle down and properly watch anything. They chatted from time to time, played on their phones, and complained about how badly the movie had been made.

Only when the film showed something improper did everyone briefly fall silent.

Half an hour later.

Tom stepped into the entertainment room. "Li, we need to go. We're attending a charity event in Lower Saxony."

"What charity event?"

Li Luo froze for a moment before remembering. "Going to the banks of the Aller River to tend the trees and film a public service ad."

"That's right!"

In late September, the Aller River looked like a silver ribbon caressed by the setting sun.

The branches and leaves along the riverbanks had begun to wither.

Golden light shimmered constantly across the water.

Occasionally, white egrets skimmed past, their wingtips breaking the surface and tearing apart the trees' reflections.

"Li!"

"Your Europa League performance was incredible. An outstanding commander, an outstanding aerial artilleryman."

Hans, a Volkswagen executive, warmly came forward to greet him.

He then pulled Tom aside, claiming that he wanted to discuss the tax exemptions available to football stars for participating in charity events.

Quite a few reporters had gathered along both banks of the river.

The bearded director pulled out a Wolfsburg number 10 shirt. "Li, after the Europa League match, my son became your fan. Could you sign this for him?"

Li Luo smiled and did not refuse.

Suddenly.

The breeze by the river carried a faint fragrance.

A gentle voice sounded beside his ear.

"Li."

"Could you sign one for me too?"

Li Luo looked up.

He saw a young girl with blonde hair, blue eyes, and delicate features.

Her long, straight legs were like a work of art sculpted by God; her pert, rounded hips radiated a sexy, alluring charm.

Her perfect proportions were breathtaking.

"Of course, long-legged girl."

"Long-legged girl? Haha! You... you can call me Lei."

Nineteen-year-old Lorena Lei smiled like a flower that had just blossomed, like grapes gradually ripening.

The bearded director chimed in, "Li is really kind. Maybe when he truly becomes a superstar someday, if Lei grows old and falls into poverty, she can sell Li's signed jersey for some money."

"..."

"Hm? Why do you two look so strange? I'm not wrong, am I? Li's Wolfsburg jersey will become a limited edition once his loan ends next year!"

A public service commercial didn't need a script.

He and Lei worked together to maintain the trees along both banks of the Aller River.

There was no helping it—they were both doing it for the first time.

Their first time tending to and maintaining trees, so their movements were rather awkward.

The community staff occasionally offered reminders.

Gradually, between the young man and woman... it was as though Li Luo were up against Everton's bruisers in a Europa League match, with the occasional "accidental physical clash."

An accidental brush of the arms.

An accidental touch of the hand while passing tools.

An accidental bump against some part of the body while moving small buckets.

Back and forth.

Li Luo was a proper man. He truly did not want this; he resisted it and was not used to it.

He had long since forgotten what Lauren and Larissa looked like.

Of course, to outsiders, the way he and Lei behaved looked perfectly normal, healthy, and civilized.

Forty minutes later.

The filming for the public service commercial ended.

Lei could not help covering her flushed cheeks with her hands. Breathing rapidly, she whispered, "Li, you..."

What young girl did not dream of love?

The nineteen-year-old German supermodel had never had a boyfriend. Sheltered carefully by her family's agency, she had never been this intimate with a man.

"What about me?"

Li Luo kept a straight face as he pulled out his phone. "You're the first German girl I've met since coming to Wolfsburg. Let's exchange contact information. If there's a chance, I'll invite you to watch a Wolfsburg match."

"Alright. It's nice to meet you, Li."

Lei's expression relaxed. She had never read any gossip about Li Luo in the papers; she only knew that his private life was healthy, that he did not casually flirt with girls, let alone visit nightclubs or red-light districts. Besides, his style on the pitch was exceptionally dashing—he was a handsome midfield commander and was also skilled at violent... headers.

Thus, the two happily exchanged contact information.

Tom, who had come over with water and towels, was stunned when he heard Li Luo's words. The first girl he had met since coming to Wolfsburg? No, the first German girl! That didn't seem wrong either. Lauren was Dutch, Larissa was Brazilian... Should he report this to the Sir? No, he couldn't betray Li. Li had gotten Manchester United to raise his salary. If anything really happened in the future, The Sun could tell the Sir!

A long while later.

The Aller River returned to tranquility.

The branches and leaves of the trees on both banks trembled gently in the breeze, as if cheerfully bidding everyone farewell.

North Rhine.

Leverkusen's coaching office.

Assistant coach Dino's hair was disheveled.

"If we want to contain Li, we can't simply raise the intensity and rely on physical confrontations."

"First, we need to cut off the passing connections between him and the other Wolfsburg players, then..."