Chapter 1 Zhong Dajun's Joy

Overjoyed at obtaining permission to interview Chen Hero, Zhong Dajun rushed home and busied himself organizing the questions he wanted to ask Chen Hero the next day. Things like, "How did you go to Russia?" "How did you get into Zenit?" "Scoring ten goals in eleven rounds is truly an amazing achievement, how did you do it?" "Are you used to life in Russia?" "What are the differences between Chinese football and Russian football?" ... things like that.

But in his excitement, he didn't realize that today's events had attracted so much attention. Could it really be possible that no word of it had leaked out?

In the bar, Chen Hero had already encountered a reporter claiming to be from the Jinguan Express, who also wanted to interview him.

"Our Jinguan Express is much more powerful than the Shuxi City Daily! In the entire city of Chengdu, our Jinguan Express has the highest circulation. The Shuxi Daily can't even compare!" This reporter, who called himself "Xie Liang," spoke eloquently.

Although he had already agreed to an interview with the Shuxi City Daily, there was no rule that said he could only accept interviews from one media outlet.

Chen Hero felt that if he wanted to become famous, it was always a good thing to have more media coverage. As for the feud between the Shuxi City Daily and the Jinguan Express, he didn't care about that.

He and Dekula exchanged a glance, then nodded and accepted the Jinguan Express's request for an interview. However, like the Shuxi City Daily, they would have to wait for a phone call the next day to confirm the specific interview time.

The next day, Dekula received a call from Xie Liang.

The two sides agreed to a time of 10:00 AM, and the location was a teahouse near Chen Hero's apartment complex.

When Xie Liang arrived, he didn't immediately start the interview, but instead made small talk. Things like, the teahouse has a nice atmosphere, the weather is pretty good today, prices are soaring, and even pork is getting too expensive to eat...

At first, Chen Hero thought that high-level reporters always chatted with their interviewees first, to get to know each other and build rapport, so that the interviewee wouldn't feel nervous. He even praised the reporter for his skill.

Who knew that they would chat for almost twenty minutes without the reporter getting to the point.

Chen Hero began to feel strange.

Dekula, listening from the side, also felt baffled.

Chen Hero simply cut to the chase: "Mr. Xie, are you here today for an interview or just to drink tea and chat?"

"Oh, interviewing is chatting, and chatting is interviewing... You know, it's easier to not feel nervous that way..." Xie Liang said with a smile.

"I'm not nervous at all, you can start directly," Chen Hero said, shaking his head.

Xie Liang was stunned for a moment. He realized that this person in front of him didn't seem to understand how things worked...

Chen Hero didn't know what he was up to, so he just looked at him.

Xie Liang cleared his throat. "It's like this, Mr. Chen... We can do a big story on you, a major feature..."

Chen Hero nodded. "That's great!"

This was exactly what he wanted. The more attention the media paid to him, the more famous he would become, and with fame, his parents back home in China would be able to see news about him.

"But that requires... everyone knows how it is," Xie Liang said with a smile.

Chen Hero chuckled along with him, and after laughing, he asked, "Know how what is?"

Xie Liang cursed inwardly at how dense this guy was!

He immediately frowned and started complaining to Chen Hero: "Space in the newspaper is tight these days, and competition is fierce... There's so much news to cover. Tomorrow is Monday, which is when all the stories that have been piling up for two days get published, so I'm afraid there won't be any space for your story..."

Chen Hero didn't care about one day earlier or later, he had plenty of time: "Oh? Then just wait until Tuesday. It's okay, I'm not in a hurry."

The muscles in Xie Liang's face twitched—Damn it, I've never seen anyone so clueless! Are you pretending to be stupid or what?

"Tuesday... Tuesday... Oh, I remember, there's a big special feature on Tuesday, so that might..."

"It's okay, Wednesday is fine too. I'm really not in a hurry, don't force it." Chen Hero was very understanding, he felt that his performance in front of the reporter was incredibly considerate! This reporter would definitely be moved by his understanding and write a glowing report about him.

Xie Liang lowered his head, hiding the ferocious expression of gritted teeth—he simply didn't believe that there could be such an obtuse person in this world, was this guy deliberately messing with me?

When he raised his head again, the ferocious expression was gone, but his complexion was clearly not good.

Chen Hero found it strange: "Are you feeling unwell?"

Xie Liang almost spat out a mouthful of blood.

"Let me put it this way... If you want me to do a big story on you, you have to... show some appreciation!" Xie Liang made a gesture of counting money.

Chen Hero's eyebrows immediately furrowed.

"I'm sorry, I didn't hear clearly, what did you just say?" He tilted his ear closer.

"I'm saying, give a red envelope! Give a red envelope! These days, if you want to get in the news, you can't compete with those who give red envelopes if you don't give one yourself. If you give a small red envelope, you'll only be in the corner, but if you give a thick red envelope, you'll get a prominent position! Do you understand?" Xie Liang simply went all out and started lecturing these two guys.

Chen Hero grinned. He had always thought that being in the newspaper was a big deal, but he never imagined that it was related to how much money you paid...

"So, I interview you, write a story about you, you give me a red envelope, and I can get you a big story! In a prominent position, in an important news section, instead of in some education section or parenting section. Do you understand?" He almost added "You idiot" at the end.

If the other guy wasn't so much taller and stronger than him...

Chen Hero's brow furrowed again, and he shook his head. "If that's the case... then I don't think I need to accept your interview, Mr. Reporter."

Xie Liang was stunned for a moment. "Are you sure?"

"Of course I'm sure!" Chen Hero pointed at himself with his thumb. "Who do you think I am, Mr. Reporter? I get in the newspaper based on my own ability, I never pay! I've been in the Russian newspapers so many times, and I haven't given a single ruble! And you have the nerve to ask me for money?!"

He suddenly stood up, his height of 1.92 meters putting immense pressure on Xie Liang.

Xie Liang was afraid that this kid would start throwing punches, so he quickly begged for mercy: "If you don't want an interview, then you don't want an interview..." Saying that, he got up and slipped away.

He didn't expect this person to have such a fiery temper, changing his face at the slightest disagreement.

But he forgot that he was the same, changing his face as quickly as flipping a book. As soon as he heard there was no money to be made, he acted like his own mother had died.

Xie Liang fled from the teahouse, then turned around and glared fiercely at it, as if the teahouse was the one who had embarrassed him.

"Damn it! What are you acting crazy for! I can tell you're a con man! Trying to scam some money, I'll expose you, you bastard!"

After saying those harsh words, he turned and walked away.

Chen Hero, on the second floor of the teahouse, watched the reporter leave, then snorted. "Still trying to ask me for money? People have always given me money, when have I ever given money to other people for no reason?"

Just then, Dekula's phone rang.

"Zhong Dajun is calling," Dekula said to Chen Hero, glancing at the caller ID.

Chen Hero said to Dekula, "First ask him if he wants a red envelope."

After Dekula answered the phone, he said, "Hello, Mr. Zhong Dajun. If we accept your interview and get in the newspaper, do we need to pay?"

Zhong Dajun was stunned for a moment—what was that all about? Why was he suddenly asking that question?

Fortunately, he reacted quickly, his eyes darting around. He seemed to understand something, and quickly said firmly, "No! I am a reporter, a qualified reporter, how could I do something like accepting red envelopes to write stories? We pursue the truth of the news, not money tainted with the smell of copper!"

These words were spoken with righteous indignation, even he himself felt that his image had suddenly become glorious and upright.

Who knew that Dekula on the other end would just say "Oh" and then say to Hero next to him, "He says he doesn't take money."

"Then let him come," Chen Hero waved his hand.

Dekula told him the address of the teahouse, and Zhong Dajun said he would arrive in about half an hour.

After Zhong Dajun hung up the phone, he knew that someone had definitely beaten him to the punch, but it seemed that the other person hadn't succeeded, just because he asked for a red envelope?

He was glad that he was so lucky.

What kind of idiot would ask for money when faced with such a great news story? Was he so used to being treated like a king that he thought he was really an uncrowned monarch? That everyone should give him face?

It's true that I usually take money from people, for example, those clubs that want to praise themselves in the newspaper have to give red envelopes, and if they don't, I won't treat them well. But what kind of news is this? Chinese football already has such a terrible image, I wouldn't even sing their praises even if they gave me money! This person is working hard in a foreign country, what does he mean to the countless Chinese fans who have already given up hope? Didn't the colleague who was one step ahead of me understand that? Why is everyone on the internet so concerned about who "hero_Chen" is? Why are so many people paying attention? Isn't it just because this person has given some psychological comfort to many Chinese fans? In the Russian league, in the freezing cold, he scored ten goals in eleven league games! Which Chinese player who has studied abroad has ever achieved such efficiency?

For this kind of news, I would even pay to do it!

Zhong Dajun was now placing all his hopes on Chen Hero. As long as this interview feature was successful, he would definitely have a major comeback! Defeating the Jinguan Express was just around the corner! His position in the newspaper would naturally become even more important.

With this in mind, Zhong Dajun drove like a whirlwind to the teahouse that Dekula had mentioned, afraid that someone would beat him to it again—this was my exclusive! No one else can get their hands on it!

Zhong Dajun successfully interviewed Chen Hero.

The two men ordered two cups of tea in the teahouse and chatted for a full two hours—a number that greatly exceeded Zhong Dajun's previous estimate of half an hour.

With Xie Liang as a foil, Chen Hero also felt that this Zhong Dajun seemed a little more reliable.

They even ate lunch in the teahouse—Zhong Dajun had originally invited Chen Hero and his foreign agent to eat authentic Sichuan cuisine, but Chen Hero said that as soon as he got home, he had already taken Dekula to try it all. They simply ordered a few boxed lunches in the teahouse and continued chatting while they ate.

Zhong Dajun was naturally happy that the interviewee was so easygoing. It was better this way, at least he didn't have to worry about the atmosphere being disrupted and making it difficult to talk later.

Why did they chat for so long in one go?

It was all because Chen Hero's story was so fascinating!

Yes, throughout the entire interview, except for a few standard questions that Zhong Dajun asked at the beginning, it was all Chen Hero's one-man show. He talked non-stop, and Zhong Dajun only occasionally interjected with a word or two to ask about his doubts.

Through Chen Hero's narration, Zhong Dajun learned why Chen Hero had left his hometown to seek his fortune in Russia. It was because he had been targeted by Meng Ran in the club, who had tried to cripple him with a dirty tackle. In a fit of rage, he had retaliated fiercely against Meng Ran, which led to him being kicked out of the team and losing his opportunity to become a professional player and play for his hometown team.

After that, his father secretly borrowed money and took him on an epic journey to Europe, shamelessly promoting himself to European clubs.

Then he finally arrived at CSKA Moscow, where they were not treated with kindness and respect, but with ridicule, mockery, and teasing. Chen Hero finally erupted, releasing nearly a month's worth of unwillingness, pressure, and anger in one go! He severely taught the CSKA Moscow youth team a lesson and then resolutely rejected their invitation.

Zhong Dajun was completely engrossed in the story, he could even picture in his mind what Chen Hero and his father had experienced in Europe.

They were tenacious, they didn't give up or abandon each other, and they walked all the way to the end of their journey. Finally, they tasted the sweet wine of victory at Zenit Saint Petersburg and became a member of the Zenit youth team.

He could somewhat understand why Chen Hero had succeeded in that strange country...

Someone so stubborn and strong-willed, his success couldn't be accidental, right?

"It's just like a novel..." After listening to this story, he exclaimed. "But life itself is even more bizarre than a novel. Haha!"

Chen Hero didn't tell him about his relationship with his agent. His ability to score ten goals in eleven league games in the Russian Premier League was also easy to explain—the ability that was not discovered in the domestic club was discovered in the Russian league after higher-level training, and so his hidden talent was unleashed and he became awesome... This was simple, there were no plot holes.

After the interview, Zhong Dajun also solved the problem of the car.

He brought Wang Yongjun's account, but he kindly reminded Chen Hero: "That car is only 380,000 yuan... it doesn't need 400,000."

Chen Hero waved his hand nonchalantly. "Give me the account, I'll transfer the money directly to that person. Even if it's to compensate him for a new car. It's okay, consider the excess as an apology, after all, I did smash his car..." He now also felt that he had been a bit too ruthless last night, directly smashing someone's new car... But who told him to look down on me first?

Seeing Chen Hero like this, Zhong Dajun was even more convinced that he had bet right, and not only this time, but also in the future. Someone like this... can't fail!

After getting the most detailed first-hand information, Zhong Dajun happily said goodbye to Chen Hero and his cool agent, and couldn't wait to return home, call the editor-in-chief to report the good news, and then start working hard at his desk, organizing these materials and writing them into a news article that could be published.

He dared to bet that this information was unknown to anyone else in China, he had the only copy!

Exclusive!

What does exclusive mean? A news reporter couldn't possibly not know.

He even felt that one issue of the newspaper wouldn't be enough, he might have to do a series, or a special issue...

This was too explosive! Too awesome!

Just thinking about the grand occasion at that time... Zhong Dajun, who was writing the article, couldn't help but shudder, he was too excited, he got goosebumps all over his body.