Football Card System

It was still pouring rain outside the window. Adam sat in the living room, watching the rain hit the balcony railing.

Just below the railing, Gao Bo's boots were still covered in mud.

Alan Adam sat on the other side of the sofa. He glanced at his brother and then looked at the boots on the balcony.

Adam, who had returned home today, wasn't yelling about playing football games as usual. Instead, he sat on the sofa in a daze—a rare sight.

Alan scratched his head, unsure of what to say.

The phone rang. Adam, still lost in thought, glanced at the caller ID.

Neil Jenkins!

It was his agent. Adam hesitated but eventually answered the call.

"Adam!" Neil Jenkins sounded quite excited on the other end. "Manchester City! Do you know what this means? Manchester City—the Premier League team! They're insanely rich! Guess what? Mark Hughes personally called me!"

Mark Hughes was the head coach of Manchester City, a club recently acquired by a Middle Eastern consortium with seemingly unlimited funds. Known as the richest club of the time, Manchester City could afford to buy any star they wanted. In this pre-Financial Fair Play era, there were no restrictions on their spending.

Hearing this, Adam was taken aback and overjoyed. "Mark Hughes personally called you?"

"Of course!" Neil Jenkins sounded even more thrilled. "We've already arranged for him to mention you in the media tomorrow. The spotlight will be on you, Adam! We can pressure Luton to let you transfer during the winter window!"

"I never said I wanted to go to Manchester City!" Adam blurted out anxiously.

"This is Manchester City, Adam!" Neil countered.

---

On the other side of town, Gao Bo was watching the news.

"We are optimistic about acquiring Kaka. Money is not an issue. However, we also value cultivating young English talent. We want to bring in Adam White; his performance in the FA Cup against Chelsea was impressive..."

Hearing Mark Hughes speak on the TV, Gao Bo's expression darkened. It was clear this was the handiwork of Adam's agent, paired with Manchester City's influence.

He turned off the TV abruptly and sighed. If Adam left, Gao Bo would need to reassess his team's strategy and possibly look for a replacement. Although Adam's absence wouldn't drastically impact the team due to his current limitations, Gao Bo couldn't help feeling disappointed.

---

Back in Adam's home, the rain continued to pour heavily.

"Adam…" Alan pointed to the boots on the balcony.

The rain had washed away the mud on the boots, revealing their original dark leather.

"These are the coach's boots," Adam explained.

"Why did he ask you to take them back and clean them?"

"I don't know... but there must be some deeper meaning."

"You're really not going to Manchester City?"

"I don't know... but I think I need to regain my form first," Adam said, his tone more determined.

Alan noticed the change in his brother. Half a year ago, the two of them had been living in the slums of London, dreaming of owning the very boots that now sat on their balcony. Gao Bo had changed their lives.

---

The next morning, Adam arrived at Gao Bo's office early, respectfully presenting the clean boots.

Gao Bo's stern expression softened slightly. He motioned for Adam to sit down.

"You're only seventeen, Adam," Gao Bo began. "Do you know what's most important for a player your age?"

Adam shook his head.

"Game time," Gao Bo said, turning to the window. "You need to play games, gain experience, receive proper coaching, and learn how to play the game. Transferring to a big club isn't the solution right now."

He turned back to Adam. "At a big club, the competition is far more intense than you can imagine. If you don't perform well, just like in your last league match, you'll lose everything. You're not ready yet, Adam. There's still so much you need to improve on."

Adam nodded slowly, taking in every word.

"You're talented, Adam, but talent alone isn't enough. If you don't ground yourself and work hard, that talent will go to waste. Do you remember when you first came here for a trial? You were humble, hardworking, and hungry to prove yourself. That's the attitude you need now."

Gao Bo sat back in his chair. "You need to come back down to earth and focus on your growth. Just like these boots—touch the ground with your feet, and make your progress solid."

For Adam, who had grown up in a slum with Alan, this was the first time someone had spoken to him with such a mix of sternness and care. It felt like a father's advice.

"I'll do my best, coach!" Adam said earnestly before leaving the office.

---

As Adam walked out, Gao Bo leaned back and let out a sigh of relief.

He wasn't particularly worried about losing Adam. The team could adapt, and replacements could always be found. But Adam was different. He was one of the players Gao Bo had personally discovered. Watching him grow and succeed would bring a unique sense of accomplishment.

The rain had finally stopped, and sunlight streamed through the office window.