When Zhang Kuang woke up the next day, he found a message from his agent, Jonathan, telling him about The Sun's front-page story that day and asking whether he had time to visit the agency.
Zhang Kuang froze for a moment. He hadn't expected The Sun to be so bored that they would interview those four women. More importantly, those four women had actually agreed to be interviewed?
What?
Did those four women not care about their reputations anymore? They had openly revealed to the media that they had taken part in this kind of group activity?
Zhang Kuang's worldview was upended once again. They really were uninhibited.
So after going downstairs, he bought a copy of The Sun and started reading. By the time he finished the whole report, Zhang Kuang was a little speechless. What the hell was this?
Forget it. He would leave it alone and go to the agency to see what they had to say.
Meanwhile, The Sun's report had already been translated into languages around the world in the shortest possible time, then spread across the globe online.
Its contents also sparked a tsunami of discussion on social media in various countries.
In China, five of the top ten trending topics on Weibo were related to Zhang Kuang-"Zhang Kuang's four-goal haul," "Zhang Kuang and The Sun," "Zhang Kuang and four French women," and so on.
"Holy fucking shit. Honestly, this reporter from The Sun said exactly what I was thinking. I don't want to criticize Zhang Kuang at all. I'm actually really envious of him.
"He didn't just bring glory to our country on the pitch. He brought glory to Chinese men, to yellow men, in bed too. Tell me, is there any other yellow man who could get four white women to sleep with him together and still have them singing his praises afterward?"
"Damn, now that you put it that way, you're right. Zhang Kuang is the pride of Chinese men. Why should we criticize him? We should support him."
"Yes, yes, yes! Support Zhang Kuang! Set the record straight for Chinese men!"
"Support Zhang Kuang for showing Western women the virility of Chinese men!"
"Support..."
"Don't you people realize that, as a footballer, he's burying his own career with behavior like this?"
"Exactly. How can you support someone as morally bankrupt as Zhang Kuang?"
"That's right. It's not okay for Zhang Kuang to do this. It would be okay if I did it, though..."
"..."
In France, the headline of L'Équipe's commentary piece was more restrained: "The Zhang Kuang effect: when a Chinese player becomes the talk of Paris's artistic circles."
The article read:
"This interview in The Sun showed us a Zhang Kuang different from the one on the pitch. On the pitch, he is violent, direct, and unreasonable.
"His methods of scoring are simple and brutal-long-range shots, headers, and pouncing on chances inside the box. He crushes opponents with strength, tears open defensive lines with speed, and conquers the skies with his leap.
"But in those four women's descriptions, Zhang Kuang is handsome and charming, interesting, thoughtful, and possessed of extraordinary skills in bed. He can talk to you about Wong Kar-wai's films or Martha Graham's dance, give you specific artistic advice, and discuss the differences between Eastern and Western philosophy.
"These two completely different images come together in the same person.
"Perhaps this is what truly makes Zhang Kuang special-he is a multidimensional, fully rounded, complex person. He is not simply a 'goal machine.' He is an interesting person."
On Twitter, huge numbers of people were discussing it:
"Shit, is this true? Does such a perfect man really exist? I want him so badly."
"Hey, you above, watch it. With that big bushy beard, stay out of this. Chinese men are very conservative. He probably isn't all that interested in bearded men."
"Bullshit! That's discrimination. How do you know Chinese Zhang doesn't like big beards? Can you decide his sexual orientation for him?"
"Brother, wake up. If he really liked men, the news would have been about him and four handsome guys, not four girls."
"Can't he swing both ways? How can you decide so arbitrarily that he wouldn't like a bearded guy like me?"
"...Fine, you win. Why don't you go find Chinese Zhang and give it a try?"
"Hmph! I don't have his number. Otherwise, he would definitely fall for me."
"..."
"Really? Is this really true? Even someone as formidable as Jackie Chan probably isn't as amazing as Zhang Kuang, right? I hereby declare Zhang Kuang my second most admired idol after Bruce Lee. Any man who can show the West the virility of Chinese men is someone I worship."
"That's true. Bruce Lee conquered Western men, while Zhang Kuang conquered Western women!"
"Hell yeah! Show them the might of Chinese men!"
"Baka! Why was it a Chinese man who pulled off something that does so much for the virility of Eastern men?"
"Ssibal! We South Korean men are the strongest in the East."
"Really? I heard South Korean women took care of you South Korean men with just their thumbs and index fingers."
"Huh? Do you have a death wish?"
"..."
The internet was in an uproar, and many star players and idiot players secretly felt disgruntled after hearing about it, resolving to challenge Zhang Kuang.
Mario Balotelli had already made arrangements. He had secretly booked eight girls. He wanted to double the number. He wanted to prove that he, Mario, was the strongest man on earth.
Not only had he arranged the girls, but he had also arranged a camera and a reporter. He was determined to prove himself. But during that night's challenge, he collapsed after making it to the third girl. The challenge failed. No matter how hard he tried, he could not continue.
He then told the reporter that he sincerely admired Zhang Kuang. He really was impressive, a little better than Mario himself.
Of course, that was all beside the point, something that would only happen later. Right now, Zhang Kuang arrived at the agency, where everyone looked at him with an added layer of something strange in their eyes.
Some of the girls had an "eager to give it a try" look hidden in their eyes, while some of the men harbored the envy of "if only he could share a little of that ability with me."
"Hi, Zhang, you're here? Have a seat. We were just discussing you."
Jonathan invited Zhang Kuang to sit down, and everyone continued the discussion.
Jonathan said, "Zhang, do you know? There's been a lot of attention on you lately. The media all seem to be discussing you. So, what are your thoughts on this?"
"Thoughts? What thoughts? I don't really have any." Zhang Kuang was a little bewildered.
"Uh, here's the thing. Generally, when players face a situation like this, there are only three ways they respond:
"First, apologize. Tell the public that your private life has offended their moral sensibilities, and apologize for it.
"Second, pay off the media and the people involved so none of them speak out. As long as the media and the people involved stay quiet, the story will lose its heat.
"Third, let the attention grow, then do some planning to turn that attention into positive feedback. That will actually make major clubs and brands like you more, because your popularity lets them see your commercial value."
Only after Jonathan finished did Zhang Kuang understand. So this was how the game could be played. The main thing was that, even across his two lifetimes, he knew little about any of this and wasn't familiar with it.
He had thought that being a footballer just meant scoring goals constantly. As for media attention and public attention, they could discuss him all they wanted.
It turned out that behind all this lay media relations, commercial value, and even matters affecting his future transfers.
Zhang Kuang thought for a moment. "The third option, then. Personally, I think we could get some media outlets to write puff pieces and build a playboy image for me. That way, I get attention without my image becoming too awful, and my commercial value goes up."
Jonathan clapped his hands, looking very excited.
"Excellent. It seems you don't mind the trouble all this attention brings you. You really are suited to the traffic-star route. You need controversy and buzz. That will only help your future commercial prospects."
Zhang Kuang laughed. "Ha, you were worried my skin wasn't thick enough, weren't you? Relax. I don't care at all if the media knows about my relationships with lots of women.
"Also, Jonathan, there will be even more women around me in the future. You'll need to get used to it and handle the PR for me. Don't worry. Although I like fooling around with women, I have principles.
"First, I won't touch minors. Second, I won't hire prostitutes. Third, I won't mess around with men. Fourth, I won't go to Denmark to attempt bestiality. Fifth, I won't drink excessively and throw group sex parties."
Jonathan said, "Zhang, aren't you worried that women will drain you dry and affect your health?"
Zhang Kuang waved a hand. "Jonathan, that's exactly what I wanted to tell you. You don't need to worry about that at all. As for why, don't ask.
"Relax. I care more about my career than you do. I dream of becoming the king of football. I know where I stand. All you need to do is handle my business partnerships and media image."
Jonathan shrugged. This was the second time Zhang Kuang had stated that he understood how his behavior affected his career, so there was no need to say any more.
"Some media outlets want to interview you, do an exclusive. Will you accept?"
"Yes, but not now. Preferably once I'm first in the scoring charts. Of course, the end of the season would be even better."
"Why wait that long?"
"That way, I can speak more firmly and with more confidence in the interview."
"Some brands have approached us about having you endorse them. Will you accept?"
"Not for now. We'll talk at the end of the season."
"..."