Translator:
Nyoi-Bo Studio
Editor:
Nyoi-Bo Studio
After an entire week of intermittent rains, the sky was finally clear on Monday morning. For England, which was almost entering winter, this kind of weather was extremely worthy of being cherished. This was even more so for Nottingham City, where the weather was always erratic. One never knew when the sky above his head would become overcast out of nowhere, followed by the sudden splattering of raindrops falling from the sky.
Beads of water hung onto the tree leaves by the side of the road, reflecting the morning sunlight. They were like diamonds that had been left behind in the bushes, and that was all the proof needed that it had rained all through the night.
Tang En stood outside the Chairman’s office within the compound of the club’s training grounds, which was next to the first team’s training field. Des Walker’s shouting could be heard continuously, and the sounds of the whistles did not stop at all. It was very likely that Collymore did not come down to the field yet again, and the fact that he was hit the day before, gave him all the more reason to openly give himself a break.
Edward had found such a useless person to be manager. One could hardly fathom what he was thinking when he did that.
Tang En saw his own messy hair in the window. When he woke up in the morning, he only casually dressed himself up and left the house. Half of his shirt and his collar hung out, while the other half was tucked in. The only good thing was that his collar and his buttons were not done wrongly. He flipped over his collar, and used his hands to tidy his hair while facing the window. Tang En discovered that there were a few strands of hair that continued to stand upright obstinately.
He saw beads of water glistening on a plant and wiped his hands across it to wet them. Then, he continued to tidy his hair. Finally, he was ready.
Looking at his reflection in the window, Tang En smiled contentedly. Almost one year had passed, and he had become completely accustomed to this body and its looks. After looking at his reflection in the mirror every day, he finally found his looks more pleasing.
After all that, Tang En turned and entered the building. As soon as he entered, he saw a young lady who swung her hips when she walked, and even though she wore a normal green business suit, she was extremely sexy. The lady quickly walked past Tang En, and Tang En’s line of sight followed her. That curly red hair of hers appeared to be like a ball of flames, and it bounced slightly as she walked, varying according to the magnitude of her footsteps.
Since when did the club have al female employee like her? It was at that moment that Tang En realized that he had been away from the core of this club for far too long, and it was gradually becoming more and more unfamiliar to him.
The lady who swung her hips when she walked, suddenly stopped in her tracks before turning around and looking at Tang En. This action gave Tang En a scare, causing him to forget to stop staring.
The lady did not become angry and revealed a professional smile to Tang En.
Are you Mr. Tony Twain?
Tang En nodded his head blankly.
Are you here to find Mr. Doughty?
Tang En nodded his head again, and his field of vision stopped at her chest, once again forgetting to not stare. The depths of those mountains that towered high into the clouds, was the final vanishing point of his line of sight.
Really sorry. Mr. Doughty is currently not in his office.
Oh… Huh?
Tang En finally returned back to his normal self and shifted his line of sight back to the woman’s face. Her looks were above average, and her figure was not bad. He then replied,
Where did he go?
The woman lightly shook her head, and that ball of flames jumped up again.
Mr. Doughty did not tell me. May I ask if you have arranged an appointment with him prior to this?
Tang En shook his head and said,
No, I merely… suddenly remembered that I have to find him. He didn’t say when he would be back?
No, Sir. Would you like to wait in Mr. Doughty’s office for him?
Alright, I’ll wait awhile then.
Tang En thought that since Kerslake was with the youth team to oversee things, there was nothing much for him to worry about regarding training.
This way please, Mr. Twain.
The lady returned to lead the way, and, therefore, Tang En could once again admire the lady’s walking style.
The lady brought Tang En inside Doughty’s office, and placed a cup of water next to him before taking her leave. However, Tang En stopped her.
This… Erm, Miss. I haven’t seen you in the past. Are you new here?
The lady smiled and nodded her head.
Yes, Mr. Twain. I am Mr. Doughty’s personal secretary, Barbara Lucy. You may call me Barbara.
Ms. Barbara, you are not British, are you?
Tang En asked, as Lucy spoke with a fluent America accent.
Yes, Sir. I am from Liverpool, but I lived in America when I went there to study.
Oh.
Mr. Twain, do you have anything else you want to ask?
Erm, I guess not. Uh, no more.
Then I’ll take my leave. Goodbye, Mr. Twain.
Barbara Lucy politely bade farewell to Tang En, before turning around and leaving the room.
Tang En looked at her as she closed the door, and then shrugged his shoulders. He curled his lips in an attempt to imitate the way Ms. Lucy spoke, and mumbled to himself,
Good morning, Sir. No, Sir. Alright, Sir. Thank you, Sir. Goodbye, Sir… Are you producing English robots for domestic sales?
When Tang En was the only person left inside this spacious room, he could finally take a good look at the inside of the office. There was a new computer on top of the boss’s desk, causing the old room to be momentarily filled with a modern feel. There were many other changes like this in the room, and the room appeared to be vastly different from the last time he had seen it.
He still remembered the last time he was there. He had just time travelled to Nottingham Forest a few days before and was about to head to London for a hearing for badmouthing the Football Association. It was at that point, when old Doughty said to him with all smiles on his face,
Don’t worry, Tony. The club will give you its wholehearted support.
Half a year later due to health reasons, this old man who supported him passed the baton on to his son Edward Doughty, the man who drove him to London in the past.
Support me?
Thinking back, these words were currently extremely ironic. If you supported me, did you offer me a conversion contract after I led the team on a five-win streak? If you supported me, did you call me after the team lost during the playoffs, to comfort me and to repeat those words which you had said to me previously?
There was absolutely nothing.
Old man, right from the start, you never once considered my future seriously. Anyone can pay lip service. Thinking back on the first half of the year, I’ve been extremely foolish. To have been striving and chasing after a carrot on a stick, chasing it non-stop… I should have left this place with style right from the start.
But….
Tang En remembered the tombstone that was quietly erected in the graveyard behind the small church.
…Nottingham Forest’s most loyal fan, George Wood’s supporter forever…
Old man and Edward… Do you really think that I chose to stay behind for my unparalleled love and loyalty for the club?
If I was alone, I could leave anytime I wanted. It’s no big deal! But there’s still two children here who I’m worried about—one is extremely smart and sharp, while the other one is quiet and honest. It’s just that I can’t stop worrying about them. Although one is already in a deep slumber underground, the other one is still alive!
Tang En took in a deep breath, causing him to regain his composure once again.
Suddenly, Des Walker’s angry voice flew into the room via the open window.
Get your damned spirits up! Take a good look at yourselves! You are worse than those casual players!
Tang En walked to the windows and opened the curtains, wanting to take a look at what was going on during the first team’s usual training. In the end, the situation which he saw made him shake his head and sigh.
Almost everyone on the training field was listless and distracted. Even the team captain, Michael Dawson, had also lost his exuberant fighting spirit. His brows were knitted into a frown, and his footsteps were slow.
This was the Nottingham Forest which he had known?!
What the heck is this idiot Collymore doing! Tang En thought as he smashed his fists into the wall.
I painstakingly made the team recover their fighting spirit and confidence, and your blind meddling has caused the team to revert back to their old ways overnight!
Seeing the scene on the training field, Tang En really wanted to rush forward and kick the butts of those professional players one by one. They were nowhere as likeable as those young lads from the youth team.
Des Walker shouted a few more times before he stopped, realizing that it was futile. The team was currently ranked sixth from the bottom and had an eight-match losing streak. The morale of the team could not get any worse, and even Nottingham Forest’s listed stocks had been affected, plunging downward dramatically. What more could he do as the assistant manager?
Bowyer was extremely lucky to have kept the most beautiful memories of Nottingham Forest, and not have to deal with this infuriating Nottingham Forest!
Tang En no longer wished to continue looking. He discovered that he had waited for Edward for too long, but there was still no sign of him returning. Who knew where he had gone to? Perhaps he was hiding somewhere and did not wish to meet Tony Twain!
Pushing open the door, Tang En almost knocked into Ms. Barbara Lucy. Fortunately, he managed to dodge in the nick of the time, or else he would have definitely been scalded by scorching-hot coffee.
Cling! The ceramic cup dropped onto the floor, shattering into pieces upon making a clear cracking sound. The fragrant and rich coffee was spilled all over the floor.
Ah! Sorry, so sorry, Mr. Twain! Did you get burned? Did I dirty your clothes?
Ms. Lucy panicked and shouted. She was at such a loss of what to do, even her pitch changed.
Instead, Tang En started laughing.
Of course I’m alright. I only pity that cup of coffee. Were you going to give it to me?
Yes, Sir. I was afraid that you had been waiting for too long.
Lucy squatted down to pick up the pieces, and Tang En bent over as well to help her out.
It’s alright, I was about to leave.
Tang En placed the shards of the cup onto the tray, before dusting off his hands and standing up.
Lucy, who was still squatting down, was somewhat shocked.
Are you not going to continue waiting, Mr. Twain? Perhaps Mr. Doughty will be coming back soon?
