Chapter 71

They were all playing football, but the ball the Football Association (FA) kicked was clearly more beautiful than those of Zhongneng and Chao Da.

After a round of discussions, Liu Hao was once again handed back to the club by the FA, and it was done with great consideration.

Although the FA said they would let the two clubs and Liu Hao resolve the issue, their words already implied the FA's command and will; it was up to them to handle it.

The FA's intention was very clear: Liu Hao was definitely going to play football, and they had to figure out a way to coordinate it themselves!

Both sides had to return to the negotiating table...

So, which club would Liu Hao ultimately choose?

The weekend match was fast approaching, and without a resolution, Liu Hao could only temporarily stop playing.

The general managers of Chao Da and Zhongneng appeared in Yinzhou City without prior arrangement.

And they both called Liu Hao.

They wanted to meet with Liu Hao; otherwise, who would know which side he was leaning towards?

Cai Jin, who was far away in Europe, also flew back to China. He had initiated this matter, so how could he not come back? If Liu Hao's issue caused the parents of both sides to fall into even more complex enmity, his happy life would be over.

Liu Hao was also very troubled...

Who should he choose? Chao Da was the club that gave him his first platform, and he had a good friend, Cai Jin. Choosing Chao Da was only natural.

But at the time, it was just for fun, like a one-night stand in a bar, or a lover met on a lonely night.

On the other hand, Qingdao Zhongneng signed him with sincerity and offered him generous treatment. Qingdao Zhongneng was like a wife, someone to spend a lifetime with, sincerely and without jest.

Should he choose a lover or a wife? The principle was simple, but to really make a choice...

Men were just like that.

Although Liu Hao didn't want to have his cake and eat it too, he was in a dilemma.

After the two general managers separately met with Liu Hao, they were quite frustrated. Liu Hao was being fair and didn't want to choose.

Not wanting to choose meant what? Liu Hao was just passing the ball back to them.

"Alright, let's sit down and talk this out properly!" Each represented their own club, and the conflict between the clubs didn't mean they had a real conflict.

"Why don't we each use him for a season?" The Zhongneng manager proposed first.

"He might not even play next season, a whole season is too long. Half a season is acceptable." The Chao Da manager's tone softened for the first time, indicating he also wanted to resolve the matter quickly. His previous tough stance was because the FA hadn't intervened. Now that the FA had spoken, they couldn't just follow their own ideas. Although the FA wasn't a formal government agency, what was the difference?

In the current situation, they had to make concessions to secure the maximum benefit for their clubs.

"Half a season is a bit short. I think a whole season is better. Our club can compensate you in other ways, like... we still have two league matches, right?" The Zhongneng manager gently tapped the table, as if giving a warning.

Although he didn't say it outright, the Chao Da manager wasn't stupid. The implication was huge—six points?

Chao Da was currently third in the league, just one point behind second place, with a real chance of promotion to the Chinese Super League. If they got six points for free, wouldn't that be very advantageous for promotion? The sugar-coated bullet thrown by the Zhongneng manager was extremely tempting...

But, was it really worth using six points for this guy? Tempting as it was, he remained quite clear-headed.

In the end, he rejected the suggestion. This was blatant collusion, and besides, if Zhongneng's points were also high at the end of the season, would they be willing to give up those six points?

The Zhongneng manager saw the other's doubt and continued, "How about this: the away match for Zhongneng is no problem. If we have any issues at the end of the season, we'll act accordingly. Someone has to go up, right?"

"I understand your thinking, and it's right to consider the club's position, but we should also consider the boss's position, which is slightly different from the club's, right?" The Chao Da manager kindly reminded.

"Damn... what should we do? You give a suggestion!" The Zhongneng manager was completely deflated, unable to think of a compromise and even swore.

"We know what they're thinking. I think we should follow my suggestion: he plays for you for half a season, then for us for the second half. But that's not the main point. The main point is that Liu Hao might become a hot star. Do you think he'll stay in these two small clubs if he performs miraculously for half a season? He'll go to the Chinese Super League, right? As for overseas leagues, let's just dream about it. If there's a transfer, both clubs will get 50% of the transfer fee. What do you think? If someone really wants him, his value will be this much!" The Chao Da manager, as before, held up five fingers.

Although prices were sky-high recently, was Liu Hao really worth that much? The Zhongneng manager was skeptical.

"Don't you believe it? If Liu Hao's name wasn't registered with you this season, Chao Da could have used him for half a season."

"It sounds like we're making a profit, but Liu Hao is our player. Why should we share the benefits with you for free?" The Zhongneng manager was frustrated but had to reluctantly agree.

A draw was already a good result, at least on the surface.

"But what about after you use him for the second half of the season? How will we handle it?"

"That's too far ahead. We'll talk about it then. Maybe Liu Hao will retire or transfer. For now, let's just handle this season." The Chao Da manager shrugged, helplessly.

Although Cai Jin came to Yinzhou City, he couldn't intervene and could only be anxious.

But the final result made him breathe a sigh of relief. At least it was resolved peacefully.

There was one thing that left Liu Hao speechless.

It was only then that he truly believed that Qiao Xianglan had a sister.

If he hadn't seen the two sisters at the Baihetun Hotel with his own eyes, he would have thought Qiao Xianglan was Cai Jin's woman.

"Hey, Cai Jin, what if you get confused one day and mistake your sister for your sister-in-law?" Liu Hao kindly reminded, as the two sisters looked so alike.

"Don't be so dirty, okay? Take care of yourself first. You're like a public bus, can't you just choose one club? Why make it so complicated?" Cai Jin scolded, thinking the two clubs would have a lot to argue about in the future.

"I'm doing this for you two. Think about it, if I mediate, won't your parents and her parents communicate more? More communication means more solutions, right? Besides, who should I choose? If your dad asks you, would you choose your dad or your wife? Choose! According to common sense, you'd choose your dad, but you didn't, did you? You want both, right? This matter needs to be handled fairly, relatively speaking..."

"Fine, big star, I can't argue with you, but you started your professional football career with my help. Shouldn't you thank me?" Cai Jin changed the subject.

Definitely not something good, Liu Hao realized, "Didn't I take you to Wenfeng Road last time? What more do you want?"

"Same logic, I didn't know you'd become a big star last time. What doesn't appreciate in value these days? So you have to help me again." Cai Jin said seriously, patting Liu Hao's shoulder, "If you don't help me, no one will. Only you can..."

"What is it?" The more he said, the more Liu Hao felt uneasy.

What could be so important? It couldn't be to persuade Cai Jin's father, right? That's impossible.

"It's not a big deal. I've decided to get married next month, on May 1st. You have to be my best man, ha ha." Cai Jin suddenly burst out laughing.

Ah? How much courage does it take? Liu Hao was stunned at first, then laughed heartily.

"Damn, although I know you might suffer a lot, I still congratulate you. But why do you have to drag me into it? Am I even suitable to be a best man?"

"Whether I live or die, it doesn't matter who does it. Since you're my favorite, you're the best man, no choice."

"What if your parents and her parents don't attend the wedding?"

"I don't know..." Cai Jin rarely fell into deep thought, "But I think a man who can't give happiness to the woman he loves is useless. I just want to be with the woman I love. I don't think I should follow my father's wishes."

"Hey, I like that. According to your logic, should I learn from you? I won't be your best man!"

"Of course not, because I'm not your father, so your logic doesn't hold..."

...

The clubs were fighting over Liu Hao, and it took a lot of effort to resolve the issue.

Meanwhile, Liu Hao had to be the witness at the wedding of the children of the two club owners, what a mess...

Liu Hao didn't travel with the team to Hunan for the weekend match. Zhongneng still won 2-1, moving up to fourth place, closely following Xiguang Chao Da.

It seemed these two teams were really at odds...

At the same time, the Nike ad was finally about to be shot. Whether intentionally or not, the shooting location was chosen in Qingdao, and it was the same place where Liu Hao had shot before.

What would be shot this time?

Nike hadn't signed any football stars in China, only Liu Hao.

Clearly, Liu Hao was the only one. Just look at the "Just Do It" slogan and logo in the QQ Sports section.

Liu Hao was Nike's No. 1 and the only one in Chinese football.