Chapter 99: Beach! Sunshine! And...
The day after the game, not only the British media, but also France's L'Equipe, Germany's Kicker, Italy's Gazzetta dello Sport and Spain's AS reported Rangers' performance this season.
Even the famous Ballon d'Or (France Football) and Golden Boy (Torino Sport) awards were reported on with half a page.
The focus is naturally on head coach Gerrard and rising star Chen Xiaoliang.
Firstly, Rangers’ record of 32 wins, 6 draws and 0 losses with 102 points is the first time the club has won the championship unbeaten in 122 years.
Secondly, conceding 13 goals in 38 league rounds also created the record for the fewest goals conceded in a single season in the team's history. It was this point that made many media outlets emphasize on praising Chen Xiaoliang's defensive ability.
The last point is that since the beginning of the 21st century, Rangers have become the fourth team to win the championship unbeaten in the 38-game league system.
The previous three were Arsenal in the 2003-04 season, Juventus in the 2011-12 season, and Celtic in the 2016-17 season.
Of course, some media believe that in the Scottish Premier League, such results cannot be compared with the top five leagues.
But no matter what, Chen Xiaoliang has become a hot topic in the European media.
After the season ended, he stayed at home for two days and didn't go anywhere. He spent almost the entire day with sisters Helena and Erica, chatting, playing games, cooking together, and going out for a run.
Three days later, the club held a season summary meeting.
Although they are both called summary meetings, they are completely different from the Red Country's meeting-style reading and listening to reports.
A group of people sat in the club's large conference room, and the entire room was decorated in a celebratory style.
There were four or five people at a small round table, and everyone was dressed up.
First there is a video clip, which includes highlights of the various echelons of the Rangers Club, including the club's women's football team, in games this year.
Of course, the men's first-team football team gets the most shots.
Then Dave gave a brief speech, and the club's board members and veteran players presented awards to the winners.
Chen Xiaoliang won three major awards: Player of the Season, Rookie of the Season and Most Popular Player of the Season voted by fans.
At this point, Chen Xiaoliang's loan relationship with the Rangers Club has come to an end.
Although the transfer window will not open until July 1, European football has already entered the busy summer transfer period.
After saying a brief goodbye to Chen Xiaoliang, Gerrard returned to his home in Merseyside to reunite with his wife and daughter.
Chen Xiaoliang was naturally not idle either. He had made plans long ago. He brought the Helena sisters and also invited Shen Mengyu and Wu Lei's family, who were also in the off-season, to fly to the Mediterranean city of Ajaccio to start their summer vacation.
The group booked three hotel-style villas on the beach, one for Wu Lei's family, one for Chen Xiaoliang alone, and one for Helena's sisters and Shen Mengyu.
The Mediterranean island in May is much warmer than Glasgow. We slept in, had lunch together, and agreed to play on the beach in the afternoon.
Chen Xiaoliang, who likes to be one step ahead in everything he does, arrived at the beach early, lying on a beach chair, enjoying the breeze, drinking a drink, and listening to the sound of waves hitting the white sand beach.
At this moment, let’s put aside all the systems and football.
"Brother Xiaoliang!"
Not long after, he heard someone calling him from behind. Hearing the voice, Chen Xiaoliang knew it was Wu Lei.
"Brother Lei! Sister-in-law!"
He stood up and greeted.
Unlike Wu Lei who was wearing beach pants and shirtless, Mrs. Wu was wearing casual clothes and playing with her two children.
"Brother Lei, my sister-in-law has been working hard too."
"That's right. She was raising two children by herself in China. Although her parents helped, I was still worried. Although I can take care of her here, it's hard for her to raise the children by herself.
You are still the best. You are alone and free now. "
"Brother Lei, what are your plans for next season?"
Wu Lei chuckled: "Shouldn't I be the one asking you this question? What can I plan for? Espanyol has been promoted to La Liga. Let's see if I can seize the opportunity to play more next season. Unlike you, you are already a hot commodity. I am optimistic about you!"
Chen Xiaoliang took a sip of his drink and thought to himself: I get along so well with Brother Lei, if I could play football with him, it would definitely be no worse than playing with Barisic.
"Hey! Chen!"
It's Erica's voice!
Chen Xiaoliang and Wu Lei turned their heads naturally, but Wu Lei turned back immediately, picked up the drink, and said to Chen Xiaoliang: "You guys chat first, I'll go accompany my wife and take care of the kids."
Chen Xiaoliang hummed a few times in a daze before he realized that Wu Lei was afraid would see him, so he ran away first!
But how could he move his eyes away!
In the sunshine, the sisters wore bikinis, and the pink breeze caressed Chen Xiaoliang's face.
As we all know, the cobra is a slender and soft animal. It usually lurks in the shadows of the grass and will never reveal itself.
Once encountering external stimulation, the cobra will instinctively raise its head high and be ready to attack at any time.
Chen Xiaoliang shivered and quickly covered his body with a beach towel!
"Chen, why are you still covering yourself with a towel when it's so hot outside?" Erica asked confusedly.
"Well... I'm afraid of the sun..." Chen Xiaoliang said, turning his body sideways and curling up his thighs.
"Then I'll go in the water first! Helena, are you coming?"
"I'm not going. I'll sit here for a while."
After Erica left, Chen Xiaoliang breathed a sigh of relief.
As Helena applied sunscreen to him, she complained quietly, "Just look, look, and you haven't seen enough? I've seen it all! You say one thing, but you do another!"
Chen Xiaoliang chuckled: "If there is no reaction even after this, you will have to urge me to see a doctor, okay!" After saying that, he kissed Helena on the face.
Helena blushed and left him to go play in the water with Erica.
"Little Brother Chen, come and give me a hand!"
"okay!"
It’s terrible, one thing after another!
Chen Xiaoliang quickly and secretly forced the cobra back into the grass with his hands, then stood up and walked towards Shen Mengyu.
Wow! If Helena is the pink breeze, then Shen Mengyu, wearing a floral dress and a straw hat, is the golden warm wind.
Shen Mengyu was seen carrying a bag in each hand, and behind him were several hotel staff members carrying a barbecue grill and various ingredients, walking over together.
Chen Xiaoliang quickly went over and snatched the bag from Shen Mengyu's hand.
The staff had arranged various items, put up the parasols, and were preparing to barbecue when Mrs. Wu came over.
"Xiaoliang, let them go, I'll do it."
"Sister-in-law, this is so embarrassing."
"Their food is not as delicious as mine."
Wu Lei blinked and nodded, and Chen Xiaoliang immediately understood.
When the wife is happy, life is comfortable.
"Then listen to my sister-in-law!"
So, six young people and two little kids drank drinks, ate barbecue skewers and played with sand on the beach, having a great time.
It’s as if time has stopped here, and there’s no need to think about where you came from or where you’re going.