Chapter 53 The Price of Growth
David drove Chen Xiaoliang to THE GARAGE.
Along the way, he talked incessantly, introducing how famous this largest nightclub in Glasgow was, and told Chen Xiaoliang to have a great time.
But Chen Xiaoliang's mind was full of the tactical diagrams in Mourinho's notes. He went to the nightclub tonight in response to the call of captain Tavernier. Otherwise, if he always left the organization and acted alone, it would be easy for people to think that he was deliberately not sociable.
As soon as he got off the train, a huge yellow locomotive really shocked Chen Xiaoliang's vision.
There was a long queue at the gate, filled with young men and women dressed fashionably and wearing heavy makeup.
There were many police officers stationed on both sides of the street, just like they were on high alert during a match at Ibrox Stadium.
Before he could react, four security guards wearing cool sunglasses late at night surrounded him.
Chen Xiaoliang quickly called David over: "Come with me..."
"Okay, Chen! Leave it to me!" David was very happy and immediately handed the car keys to one of the security guards skillfully.
These security guards have been waiting for a long time! They are waiting for this great hero from Glasgow! The hottest football star!
They led the two to the VIP entrance and took the elevator directly to the box upstairs.
In the elevator, the rhythmic sound of "bang, bang, bang, bang" came over like a trembling heart.
David said softly, "According to the rules, you have to be 18 to enter here, but you are a celebrity now, and the security guards won't bother you at all."
Under the interweaving of dim lights and dazzling laser lights, Chen Xiaoliang was brought into a huge box.
More than 20 players from the Rangers first team have basically arrived, and there are countless girls drinking and dancing together.
Everyone cheered when they saw Chen Xiaoliang coming!
Barisic and Nathan Patterson rushed up and hugged him.
"Hey! Chen! I heard! Those big clubs want to buy you! Have you made up your mind?" Barisic asked loudly.
Patterson looked .
The noisy environment here made it impossible to explain in detail, so Chen Xiaoliang could only answer that everything would be left to Reese and that he still had to recover from his injuries.
Barisic laughed and immediately got to the point: "Let's forget about those things today. This is your first time here, so you must have fun." After he waved his hand, his two dance partners came over with wine glasses in their hands.
David urged from the side: "This one is good, this one is round."
Chen Xiaoliang didn't want to pay any attention to him at all.
"Chen, are you still thinking about that big star?" Barisic teased.
"Fuck you...next time if you lose the ball, go get it back yourself."
"Hahaha, just kidding." Barisic quickly pulled Patterson away.
Teammates came over in twos and threes to say hello, but knowing that Chen Xiaoliang was still injured, they didn't bother to play with him, and just drank a glass of wine together and had fun on their own.
After three rounds of drinks, the atmosphere became more lively and the amplitude of people's dancing gradually increased.
Chen Xiaoliang looked around for several times but still didn't see old Davis, so he asked David.
Although David is not a player, he has worked in the club for more than ten years and knows all the gossip.
"Old Davis' wife is well-known for being henpecked. If she knew that Old Davis was here, she would probably retire next week."
"A place like this? Isn't it just... a little noisy?"
David grinned and pointed at Barisic.
The light in the room was dim, and Chen Xiaoliang had to look carefully to see clearly.
This guy Barisic must have been a handball player in the past, right?
Look at poor Kent next to him, he is alone against two people, but unfortunately there is no referee to help him to call the whistle for dribbling the ball.
No, no, the tacit understanding system is working. I can actually feel the dancing moves of this guy Barisic. If I stay any longer, the thermometer will explode!
Chen Xiaoliang pulled David up and prepared to leave.
David was also very sensible. Although as a driver he never drank, it was worth it for him to feast his eyes tonight.
Seeing Chen Xiaoliang leave, the other teammates did not stop him. After all, everyone knew that he lived with the head coach.
Just as the security guard led him away from the VIP entrance with a surprised look, a few familiar faces passed by.
Callum, Bain, Staffelt, Mbombo, Ayeti, and Furuhashi? !
Why are the Celtics guys here too?
It's just that those people were so eager to make a move that they didn't pay any attention to Chen Xiaoliang at all.
After quietly returning to his residence, Chen Xiaoliang fell asleep immediately.
Early the next morning.
"Have a meal!"
Chen Xiaoliang checked his phone and saw that it was just past 6 o'clock. Why was he so early today?
He went downstairs sleepily, but he didn't expect Gerard to be already dressed and sitting at the dining table with an angry expression on his face, which immediately perked up Chen Xiaoliang!
"Boss... Good morning..."
Chen Xiaoliang sat down and looked down. What the hell!
Today's breakfast, Gerald's bowl was still rich and delicious, but mine was just two bare slices of bread...
He turned his head and glanced at Helena, who was sitting on the sofa in the living room, watching TV with an even gloomier expression than usual...
Gerard turned his phone over and handed it to Chen Xiaoliang. At the same time, a voice came from the TV:
“The following is our exclusive report!
Our reporter filmed a group fight between players from Rangers and Celtics clubs at an entertainment venue in the city early this morning. Some players were arrested by police officers on duty.
Later, the police revealed that the players from both teams did not know that the other team would be in the same place in advance. After meeting, they had a verbal argument and eventually fought due to past grudges between the clubs and suspected excessive drinking.
The arrested players have been released on bail by the two clubs. Please pay attention to our follow-up reports on the follow-up developments of the incident. "
On the mobile phone, there are reports from gossip media with even more explosive content.
"The two sides fought over the same dance partner, who was actually the secret lover of a Japanese Celtics star."
"Rangers continued to implement the defensive counterattack tactics in this derby"
"Patterson and Balogun were beaten by Celtic players in the second half, apparently because they were too exhausted in the first half, and they were unable to fight back."
"A dance partner revealed that the thermometer that Holland, who is 191cm tall, carries with him is only 13cm long."
Seeing Chen Xiaoliang's face gradually stiffen, Jerad took back his phone, stood up and said:
"You should stay at home for the next two days to recover from your injuries. Don't go out. I will ask David to bring a few more people over. If there are any paparazzi around, they will be responsible for driving them away.
Alas, Chen, if only those troublesome guys were as self-disciplined as you."
With that, Gerrard went out and drove to the club to put out the fire.
Chen Xiaoliang sat there in a daze, feeling extremely grateful.
"Are you done eating?" Helena turned off the TV and said with disgust.
Chen Xiaoliang nodded silently, not daring to say a word.
"Lie down, physical therapy!"
After a while, Reese, who came rushing over anxiously, heard screams coming from the room.
"ah!"
"ah!!"
"Slow down, it hurts!"
"ah!!!"
"Sister, I really didn't do anything! Normal physical therapy isn't like this!"
After hearing these words, Reese knew that Chen Xiaoliang was not implicated, so he sat down with peace of mind.
He smiled bitterly and shook his head, his thoughts returning to the past.
To the 40-year-old retired player, these things are naturally immature absurd.
But twelve years ago, his close friend Gerrard had a fight with DJ when they were celebrating in a bar after the game because the DJ was a Manchester United fan.
This strong and versatile midfielder not only knocked out the opponent's front tooth, but also had four stitches on his head.
If you ask him now whether he regrets it or not, the answer is self-evident.
Alas, this is the price of growing up.
