The Lin family still lived in Brynmill, the coastal district southwest of Swansea, though their residence had now been changed to a much grander five-story villa.
Facing the sea, the view here was even better.
From the house, one could look down more clearly over Oystermouth Road along the coastline and gaze across the vast, boundless sea.
On the morning of June 1, Lynn walked out of the gym at ho.
After taking a shower, he lay back on a recliner on the balcony of his bedroom, his right foot propped up on the edge of the railing.
As he basked in the sun, the fingers of his right hand moved nimbly, playing with fourteen cards.
If his family saw him, they would definitely scold him.
Because in the eyes of outsiders, Lynn's fingers were moving irregularly, with nothing at all between them.
His mother, Tang Yue, considered this a very bad habit.
But Lynn himself knew that there really were cards in his hand.
He had confird it before.
Other people could not see his cards.
When he returned to 1996, he had obtained this set of cards.
This system, known as the Pro Evolution Soccer Skill Card System, was the source of his confidence and motivation to beco a coach and accomplish sothing great.
The card system was divided into two categories.
At least, that was all he could understand for now.
The first category was P Cards.
In other words, Playing Style Cards.
These cards shaped a player's overall style of play, including combination play, team awareness, off-the-ball movent, and other comprehensive match traits.
Right now, he had six of them.
They were:
Mazing Run.
Early Cross.
Box-to-Box.
Dummy Runner.
Target Man.
Track Back.
The playing styles shaped by these six cards basically corresponded to different positions and roles on the pitch.
The other category was S Cards.
These were Player Skill Training Cards, mainly used to improve the quality of a player's technical training.
Right now, Lynn had eight of them.
They were:
One-touch Play.
Outside Curve.
Long Throw.
Super Sub.
Quick Touch.
Double Touch.
Tackle Specialist.
GK Long Throw.
These eight cards were each aid at improving a player's technical ability through training.
Whether S Cards or P Cards, Lynn currently only had one of each.
The rules for using the cards were that a card could only be used on one player.
After being used, it could be removed from that player, but it could not be reclaid.
If it was removed from the player, fifty percent of the training gains brought by the skill card would disappear.
One player could use multiple cards at the sa ti, but using cards required basic conditions.
Lynn could understand these rules. Especially the final point.
For example, GK Long Throw would obviously only be useful on a goalkeeper.
And a playing style like Target Man definitely could not be placed on a defender.
As Lynn played with the cards, his thoughts drifted across the sea to the other side.
England had not only rejected him from taking part in its football world, but had also mocked and humiliated him with cold cruelty.
Now, he had turned his gaze toward places outside England.
France, Germany, Spain, Italy.
During the past four years of study, aside from professional football knowledge, he had also learned the languages of various countries.
Fortunately, he had patience.
Given a second chance at life, he valued ti more than anyone and knew what he ought to do, instead of wasting it on aningless things.
Just as he was deep in thought, soone entered his bedroom and walked onto the balcony.
A soft hand gently pressed down on his head.
Lynn ca back to his senses and looked up.
A warm smile appeared on his face.
He imdiately pulled his foot down from the railing and said, "Mom, you're not angry anymore?"
Tang Yue was wearing a won's blouse and a professional pencil skirt.
She tapped Lynn lightly on the forehead in irritation, but her dignified, beautiful face instantly filled with motherly affection.
"Mom wasn't angry with you. Why haven't you been talking to either?"
Lynn imdiately stood up, hooked his arm around his mother's, and led her back into the bedroom.
They sat down on the sofa against the wall.
He apologized, "I know I was wrong. I also know Mom wasn't angry at . But your anger started because of , so I felt awful too. All I could do was secretly buy you so flowers and put them in the rooftop flower room. Did you like them?"
Tang Yue held Lynn's hand and smiled gently.
"Of course I liked them. All right, all right, let's not talk about unhappy things. Today is a holiday! Your dad wants to give you a gift. Co on, go downstairs with Mom and watch TV."
Lynn was pulled out of the bedroom by his mother and taken downstairs.
He imdiately asked in confusion, "Mom, what holiday is it?"
Tang Yue turned her head and gave him an amused smile.
"Today is June 1. What holiday do you think it is?"
Lynn slapped his forehead and said in shock, "My God! Children's Day!"
"That's right. Your dad prepared a big gift for you."
"Please don't tell it's so newly released sports car. Wait, no. Why do we need to watch TV?"
"Son, stop asking so many questions. You'll know soon."
Lynn and Tang Yue went downstairs together into the spacious living room.
Tang Yue told him to sit on the sofa and wait patiently.
She turned on the television, then switched the channel to ITV Wales's sports channel.
When Lynn saw the scene on screen, his eyes filled with astonishnt.
He saw a press conference taking place on television.
The backdrop of the venue belonged to a local Swansea club.
Swansea City Football Club.
And sitting in the center of the stage at the press conference, dressed in a suit, refined and composed, wearing gold-rimd glasses and neat short hair—wasn't that his father?
"Mom? Why is Dad at Swansea City?"
Lynn stared fixedly at the television image and could not help asking.
Tang Yue lifted her chin, looking rather proud.
"Just keep watching and you'll know. This is the gift your dad is giving you! He hasn't spoken to you these past three days, it wasn't because he was angry with you. It was because he felt guilty. His son was bullied outside, yet he, as your father, couldn't stand up for you. So he said he absolutely had to do sothing for you."
Lynn did not ask anything else.
He only felt warmth in his heart.
A warmth that could lt everything.
...
At Swansea City, the local Welsh dia had all arrived.
BBC Wales, Swansea Sound, Gold Radio, the Western Mail, the South Wales Evening Post, the South Wales Argus, and others had gathered together.
Today, Swansea City, currently drifting around in the English Third Division—the fourth tier of English football before the restructuring that created the Championship—had major news to announce.
Welsh football had never attracted much attention, but clubs like Cardiff City and Swansea City were sowhat unusual.
When the clubs were founded, Wales still did not have a systematic league structure, so both clubs applied to join the English league system.
That made them an oddity in English football: Welsh clubs competing in the English leagues.
Lin Jiajie had always been known in Wales's financial and economic circles for his competence and sharpness in business.
But today, as he stood at the center of the press conference stage in Swansea City's dia room, he carried an authority that needed no anger to command respect.
Even so, the rage he wanted to let loose could not be hidden from his expression.
He spoke into the microphone in a deep voice.
"Yesterday, Lin Investnts completed the full acquisition of Swansea City Football Club.
"I am the owner of Lin Investnts."
"But Swansea City Football Club has only one owner."
"That person is my son."
"His na is Lynn."
"He is the Lynn whom many dia outlets on London's Fleet Street have slandered as ntally ill!"
"He is my son, the son I am proudest of."
"The Sun counted that fifty-six English clubs rejected my son's job applications. I do not understand football. I do not understand why my son, who is so outstanding that words cannot describe him, would suffer such treatnt."
"So I consulted an old friend. With great regret, he told : because my son is Asian."
"The English football circle might accept an excellent Chinese footballer, but it will not accept a Chinese coach with no professional experience."
"This is discrimination!"
"This is unfair!"
"So I refuse to accept my old friend's apology and his advice that I should understand it."
"Instead, I want to offer a real apology to British football."
"Your arrogance disgusts !"
"Starting today, my son—the man rejected by fifty-six English clubs—has entered English football, whether you agree or not, whether you are happy about it or not.
I like the city of Swansea. I have lived and worked here for many years. Swansea City Football Club now has a new owner!
I spent only three million pounds to acquire the club, but I will inject another ten million pounds into the club.
Swansea City will achieve great things. I firmly believe that, because I believe in my son!"
"To the dia outlets that slandered my son: shut your damn mouths!"
"Oh, right. And The FA."
"I do not know what gave you the right to decide that my son should receive a lifeti ban and be forbidden from entering English football grounds to watch matches.
Sorry, but starting next season, Lynn will be able to openly and properly watch football at Swansea's ground.
He will watch the bloody matches in the English Football League.
He can also go and watch Swansea City's away matches all across England.
If The FA objects to that, my legal team is already prepared.
British courts, European courts, international courts—we can take this lawsuit all the way to the universe if necessary!
English football, put away your stupid arrogance.
Starting today, Lynn is here.
And no one can stop him!
He is here!"
After Lin Jiajie finished his speech, both furious and unrestrainedly heroic, he paid no attention to the reporters raising their hands below the stage.
He turned and left.
...
In the Lin family's living room, Tang Yue jumped up like a young girl, showing none of the dignity of a teacher.
Joyfully and excitedly, she asked Lynn, "Is your dad handso? he's really handso isn't he? My husband is the handsost man in the whole world!"
Lynn felt as if a flood were caught in his throat.
With a smile on his face, all the gloom in his heart swept away, he nodded again and again almost subconsciously.
"Dad is the handsost man in the world!"
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