Chapter 45

"Li Hao, you look so much like that fat guy from Qingdao Zhongneng. Even your surname is the same, Liu Xiaopang, Li Hao!" While working in the office, a colleague from the neighboring department came over to chat, scrutinizing Li Hao's face intently.

"I've heard this dozens of times today, and I've received over ten calls. My teammates called me after watching last night's news, even they are starting to doubt it. Do you think I can't become a celebrity?"

However, why did Hu Zhiye just chuckle when he called? His reaction was different from the others, and he even said something about not forgetting his brothers when he gets rich... Li Hao suddenly remembered Hu Zhiye's unusual behavior.

"I think you can totally pass as him. If he becomes famous, you could consider being his body double." Yu Baojin is a passionate football fan. After watching the goal video last night, he had an idea about Li Hao. "Think about it, in the future, you won't have to pay for drinks or meals. You just need to do a few ads for them."

"Damn! So this guy is the main character in the serial in Sports Weekly, the crazy career of the uncle!" Yu Baojin's right hand trembled as he pressed the newspaper in front of Li Hao. "Look, this guy is about to become famous! You'll get rich too. You might as well change your name to Liu Xiaopang..."

Do I need to pretend? Li Hao laughed inwardly. I'm the real deal, but he didn't say it out loud. "People fear fame, and pigs fear getting fat. Am I just asking for trouble? Besides, can I even pretend? I'll be exposed after a couple of kicks on the field. It's no fun. I want to ask, has Zhang Yuanyun spread any new news?"

In the office, he and Yu Baojin have the best relationship, so he tends to share things with him.

"Nobody believes what she says. But I have some insider information for you. Last night, while having dinner with Director Pan, it seems you have a chance for a promotion."

"What? Did I hear that right? You're even less reliable than Zhang Yuanyun. Is that possible? I've been in this position for ten years, just waiting for my pension. I'll pretend I didn't hear about the promotion..." Li Hao was genuinely surprised. "If I tell you I'm that Liu Xiaopang, would you believe me?"

"No way." Yu Baojin shook his head. "Your footwork is terrible, but your shooting stance is pretty similar..."

"Isn't that enough? So a promotion is impossible." Li Hao said pessimistically. He graduated at 20 and joined the Transportation Management Bureau, which was quite impressive. But who would have thought that after ten years, he was still just a clerk? His colleagues who joined at the same time were already deputy directors. This was a truly speechless nightmare.

"I'm not lying. Director Pan mentioned it after watching Liu Xiaopang's goal video. I don't know why he was so moved." Yu Baojin recalled seriously. "During dinner, the TV was showing Liu Xiaopang's goal, and Director Pan seemed to remember something. He put down his chopsticks and started talking about you..."

Spring has come? Li Hao's low mood improved a bit.

I thought they were all blind!

"Director Pan also said that if you had that guy's level, he would be willing to help you get promoted faster. But you always mess things up at the wrong time, like when you beat the Municipal Committee's secretary's office..."

"…Every time I think about it, I get depressed. I can't even play for the unit's team now. Does Director Pan mean that next time when we play against the Transportation Management Bureau, we shouldn't win?" Li Hao interpreted it this way.

"Exactly. Look at the Transportation Management Bureau's current ranking, they're third from the bottom. This is not what Director Pan imagined. You understand... face is important." Yu Baojin lowered his voice. "I heard from a friend at the Yinzhou Football Association that you've been playing a significant role in Chabala recently, leading the team in assists. If you were on our team, we wouldn't be in this situation."

This definitely can't be heard by Pan Zhi, because he was the one who decided not to include Li Hao in the team. With Li Hao performing so well in Chabala, Pan Zhi felt even more uncomfortable.

Last week, Li Hao didn't play for Chabala, and they lost. It's clear how important Li Hao has become to the team.

"I heard you're going to be transferred back to the Transportation Management Bureau. Even though you're not Liu Xiaopang, your role is significant..."

Damn... When did I become so sought after? What's going on? Even the amateur league is playing the transfer game? My mood is gradually improving, it looks like a bright future.

"Isn't it against the rules for players to switch teams mid-season?"

"Who runs the Football Association? Do you really think it's a civilian organization? Damn, you're a civil servant... Don't you know who's in the Football Association? The Municipal Committee, the Urban Planning Commission, and the Sports Commission..."

"Really corrupt!" Li Hao muttered softly.

"Think about it carefully. Coming back is a good thing. It will definitely help your career. And for the match this weekend, you know what to do..." Yu Baojin patted Li Hao's shoulder, speaking earnestly.

His words made sense, and Li Hao understood. Letting Chabala lose to the Transportation Management Bureau to make the leadership happy, with the team currently third from the bottom, it's a matter of saving face.

Flattering the leadership, doing things for them, and strategizing, there's nothing wrong with that. For the public and for himself, Li Hao should do it this way. Yu Baojin was genuinely concerned for Li Hao, afraid that his "pig brain" would mess things up again.

"Next weekend... I have to go on a long trip... A college buddy is getting married, I definitely can't participate in the match." Next week, he has to report to Qingdao, how can he play amateur football in Yinzhou! Li Hao shrugged helplessly. "I'll talk to the guys later and see if we can let the game go..."

Next weekend is Qingdao Zhongneng vs. Shenyang. Li Xiaopeng specifically asked Li Hao to report on time, and Li Hao definitely has to go.

Right now, he and Li Xiaopeng are in the honeymoon phase.

"Another long trip... You've been on a lot of long trips lately. When you mention this, I remember something. Zhang Yuanyun said you're not lying about the trip, but it seems you're going with another woman. Is that true? I think this news has already reached your wife. It's not a big deal, but if it reaches her family, I don't know how you'll handle it."

"Ha! Her words are just hot air. Nonsense. But maybe it's because she hasn't had a good time in a while..." Li Hao shook his head.

"No, really, a beautiful woman came looking for you at noon today, very sexy! And she was seen by Zhang Yuanyun!" Yu Baojin lowered his voice, more like a gossipy woman chatting.

"Who?" Li Hao suddenly felt a chill. A sexy woman, it couldn't be...