Chapter 1369: Chapter 1368: Striding Forward with Head Held High
“Turn around.”
“Turn around!”
Thalia couldn’t help but clasp her hands together in silent prayer. Amidst the surging and tumultuous crowd, her heart pounded uncontrollably, on the verge of exploding.
“If he turns around, we are fated.”
And then.
“…Ah!”
Thalia gasped in astonishment, completely stunned, frozen like a wooden statue, eyes wide open, blankly staring towards the field, towards those eyes.
He turned around.
This was real, not only did he turn around, but their eyes met.
Their gazes collided just like that.
In an instant, the bustling crowd and the mighty surge faded into nothingness, leaving just the two of them, captured in an eternal moment.
Gasp.
Suddenly, Thalia held her breath, staring blankly at Li Wei. Joy and happiness erupted like a volcano, flooding every cell in her body. That feeling of soaring in the clouds and reckless abandon made her heart blossom like fireworks, splendid and colorful, slowly descending from the sky.
Falling in love.
Her smile bloomed.
Thalia raised her hands high, continuously jumping, waving, using all her strength to sway. Without a word, happiness could be felt.
This scene crashed into Li Wei’s pupils, like a comet hitting the Earth, shaking his entire world.
Despite the distance, in the crowd, she seemed as small as a palm, yet inexplicably, Li Wei could see every expression on her face.
Joy. Happiness. Passion. Delight. Jubilation.
Pure and intense, simple yet bright.
Like a little sun.
Why was Thalia here? Wasn’t she supposed to be filming a movie in New Jersey? Did she sneak back to Kansas City again? What if her family saw this on the live broadcast? When did she arrive, and where is she staying this time?
Questions popped up one after another.
But magically, none of these mattered. The only thing that mattered was that she was here.
Thud, thud—the thundering thump of his heart almost broke free from its confines.
At this moment, the whole world was false, only the continuous booming heartbeat was real.
One glance, and it’s a lifetime.
“…Rookie!”
Kelsey was the first to notice Li Wei’s anomaly, suddenly pouncing over and following Li Wei’s gaze, but saw nothing in the vast sea of people.
“What’s wrong?”
Kelsey thought he discovered a new continent, but after searching twice, he found nothing, which left him slightly disappointed.
Li Wei’s smile gently lifted at the corners, as if this was their secret in broad daylight, known only to them.
Li Wei said, “It seems Arrowhead Stadium is ready. They’re reminding us not to underestimate the enemy, not to make the same mistake twice.”
Kelsey felt a bit guilty. His performance was off in the last game and hadn’t fully recovered until the end; he still needed to stay alert today.
Kelsey coughed twice, turned to the innocent-looking Hardman and several other young players, shouting, “Did you all hear that? The captain has spoken. We need to start strong, not make the same mistakes, and not underestimate any opponent. They’re waiting for us to slip up again.”
Hardman: ???
Kelsey didn’t wait for a response, patted Hardman on the shoulder, and quickly entered the field.
Li Wei also withdrew his gaze, took a deep breath, and straightened his back. Now, he had one more reason to strive for victory with all his might.
Turning to Hardman and the others, he flashed a smile, “Well, are you ready? Our opponents are waiting for us to make mistakes.”
The same words, but an entirely different tone.
The unintentional jest seemed to say: Look, the Houston Texans lack confidence; they need the Kansas City Chiefs to make mistakes to secure a win. The initiative is entirely with the Kansas City Chiefs.
The calm and confidence exuded effortlessly allowed the young players to stand firm in an instant—
The New England Patriots attempted revenge, but exited early; the Baltimore Ravens tried to rise, but also exited early.
In the entire American League, in the end, it was the Kansas City Chiefs who held on to the conference finals stage. The only ones who could beat them were themselves.
The entire momentum instantly shifted.
Kelsey noticed first and proudly raised his chin, nudging Mahomes, “See, these guys, still adore me.”
Mahomes watched Kelsey’s demeanor and couldn’t stop laughing, radiating happiness.
At the pre-game coin toss, Li Wei and Watt met at midfield, the two friends knocking fists together.
Li Wei said, “Looking forward to a great game.”
Watt replied, “Giving my all for victory.”
The clash of looks sparked fireworks, and both of them burst into laughter.
The referee’s gaze moved back and forth between the two top stars of the league, tilting his head: Two madmen.
The coin toss was in Li Wei’s favor, and he chose…offense.
A smirk appeared in Watt’s eyes, “Hehe, be careful.”
Li Wei spread his hands, “Catch me if you can.”
In 2002, the biographical film “Catch Me If You Can,” starring Tom Hanks and Leonardo DiCaprio, based on real-life events, had this title. It told the story of the youngest FBI fugitive on record—a seventeen-year-old boy who outsmarted an entire team of professional FBI agents.
Clearly, Li Wei was joking, and Watt took the hint, laughing heartily together.
In the live broadcast, CBS television’s old friends Nantz and Romo continued to accompany the audience in witnessing history.
“Oh, a slightly unexpected choice.”
“The Kansas City Chiefs opted to take the offense first, which means the Houston Texans will start the second half on offense.”
“This afternoon, Kansas City is clear with no rain, no wind interference, but the temperature is frigid, currently only seventeen degrees Fahrenheit (minus eight degrees Celsius). According to the weather forecast, it will remain clear for the next four hours, but it’s still challenging for passing offense under such weather.”
“Despite this, the Kansas City Chiefs still chose to take offense first and face Watt’s Houston Texans defensive group, trying to overturn the complete collapse in the first quarter in the last game. The defending champions are not ready to keep playing catch-up; they intend to firmly grasp the initiative.”
“This clearly signifies something. Tony, what do you think?”
Nantz passed the microphone to Romo.
Romo picked up, “In week six of the regular season, the Kansas City Chiefs and the Houston Texans clashed once. At that time, the Houston Texans played two good quarters but ultimately couldn’t keep up with the Kansas City Chiefs’ pace, losing by two possessions.”
“However, we must note that it was three months ago. Since that encounter, both teams have changed a lot. In this rematch, the tactical game between coaches Reed and O’Brien is a focus, and the Houston Texans’ defensive coordinator Crennel will play a key role.”
“In the divisional game, relying on Crennel’s targeted defense, the Houston Texans completely limited Lamar Jackson, who performed outstandingly this season. The regular-season top-ranked Baltimore Ravens scored only twelve points, and Jackson had only one touchdown, which was a perfect performance.”
“Now, the Kansas City Chiefs opted for a proactive offense. In my view, it’s a psychological battle. Reed is ready to confront Crennel’s strengths head-on.”