Dominate the Super Bowl

Chapter 184 183 Next-door Neighbor

The breeze was gentle, and the streets of Kansas City were just slightly touched by the coolness of spring, yet the restlessness of summer was already stirring in the street corners.

Li Wei was somewhat surprised. He didn't expect the other party to escort him away personally, nor did he anticipate such profound significance, and he couldn't help but laugh softly, "Don't worry, I'm also a fan myself. I understand the deep emotions fans have for their team, the deeper the love, the harsher the criticism."

David chewed over the words carefully, "The deeper the love, the harsher the criticism?" Then he laughed lightly, "Yes, that's exactly it, just like one big family."

After a brief pause, he continued.

"Chris, he just needs to find a job, he can't stand it, his head is about to explode just because he can't pay the bills."

"Charles..."

He lifted his chin to gesture towards the rock youth.

"Last week, his wife packed her bags and left him overnight because he had been unemployed for six months, and he's almost unable to pay next month's rent; ever since his brother died in Iraq three months ago, he hasn't quite recovered, besides working here, he's also doing odd jobs at a garage, just hoping to pull through."

"Just hold on for a little while, just a little longer."

"Maybe, for us, the Chieftains are the only hope. The hope that helps us get through tough times."

Li Wei looked up and saw a kind of resilience in this man he was meeting for the first time, a belief that never went out even amidst the lows and setbacks.

The spring wind dressed the city in a touch of green, but the depression and loneliness that pervaded the city still lingered in the bone-chilling cold of a long winter.

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Beneath the ordinary and calm daily life, sorrow and decay were still slowly eating away at the bones, and they stood, struggling and persevering in the mire.

He, with a smile, though bitter and sighing, still curled the corners of his mouth upwards.

"Just one playoff victory is enough. Just one."

Quietly, he looked at the city before him, which revealed glimpses of decay amid the tranquility, as the sadness and bitterness on his tongue slowly spread.

"Maybe, you might say, what's one playoff victory? Shouldn't we be looking forward to the Super Bowl Championship?"

"Yeah, what's a game's win or loss? When we were young, we always thought, matches were about life and death, a victory or a defeat could sway our lives; but as we grow up, we finally understand, life is much more complicated, much more so."

Charles Vester, the long-haired rocker, watched Li Wei get out of the car; he didn't turn off the engine and instead shouted from the driver's seat.

"Hey, buddy, even though I still can't pronounce your name correctly, we're learning. By the time the new season starts, we'll get it right," he declared with eyes full of sincerity.

Li Wei joked, "Do I have to wait for the new season? I thought preseason would be enough."

Vester blinked, then chuckled merrily, "Welcome to Kansas City."

As Vester was about to leave, Li Wei couldn't help but call out again, "Won't you stay a bit longer? My next-door neighbor is also a Chieftain."

Vester glanced in his rearview mirror and gently shook his head, "We'll meet on the training field. I'm already late today, and I owe David too much to let him handle the bar alone."

"Goodbye!"

Vester's farewell carried on the wind as he stepped on the gas and drove off.

"Li Wei!"

Mahomes looked out from the living room window, spotted Li Wei immediately, and came running out excitedly, just in time to see the back of Vester's departing vehicle, his head full of question marks.

"Did you hitch a ride all the way here?"

Knowing that he too had been chosen by the Kansas City Chiefs and was about to become teammates with Li Wei, Mahomes was both excited and nervous. As neighbors, the two could travel to training together and discuss games, and as rookies, they could help each other quickly adapt to the League's intensity.

Unlike Li Wei, who was solitary, Mahomes had been in a stable relationship with his girlfriend, Brittany Matthews, since high school. Although they weren't married yet, their parents were already friends and the couple was living together.

During the rookie season, to ensure Mahomes could focus, Brittany decided not to move to Kansas City. However, Mahomes' place was completely set up by Brittany, resulting in the grand setup in front of them; Mahomes had already informed Li Wei about it via text message in advance.

At that moment, Brittany had also come to the door, her long hair tied back with a headband, wearing a beige floral shirt paired with jeans, her petite frame exuding youthful vigor.

Without waiting for Mahomes to introduce her, she noticed Li Wei's gaze and confidently introduced herself, "Li Wei, I'm Brittany. Patrick has talked to me more than once about Rookie Training Camp."

Li Wei responded with a smile, "Oh, I hope he didn't mention that night's incident."

Mahomes: ???

Brittany: ???