Chapter 1

"That's him, Zhao Gang, a Dragon Country native. Last season, he led the English Championship team Norwich to promotion to the Premier League, and also won the Europa League title. He personally won the Europa League Golden Boot and the English Championship Player of the Year. We've been in talks with Perlan about a collaboration recently."

At the headquarters of GD, a very famous Italian luxury brand, a young and beautiful woman with wavy hair was pointing at the screen in the conference room, which displayed Zhao Gang's photo.

Around the conference table sat several department heads, as well as Gramana, the big boss of the GD brand.

"Dragon Country people generally have one characteristic: they care a lot about face, and they like to compete with each other. They like to outdo others in what they wear, where they live, what they use, and what they eat."

"Our brand takes the high-end luxury route, which can just satisfy their vanity. Our brand value has also been climbing in recent years."

"But our popularity is still not enough. We need to let more people know about us. They don't need to understand us; they just need to know our name and our positioning is enough."

"And this young man, Zhao Gang."

"He has this extraordinary potential."

"Right now, he has become a hot topic of discussion in Dragon Country."

"The sales of Ta An Sports, which he endorses, have increased several times over in the less than a month since he entered the Premier League."

"The spending power of Dragon Country people is terrifying. Zhao Gang's fan base is even the main force in pursuing fashion. As long as we tie Zhao Gang to our brand, I believe we will break through the existing bottleneck."

Gramana yawned, looking somewhat uninterested.

"Dragon Country people... I understand. Just give him enough money. Anyway, we will earn back more money."

"Those guys from Dragon Country..." Gramana suddenly looked up and laughed. Those people were too easy to fool.

A group of self-righteous people with cultural inferiority complexes.

He narrowed his eyes and tugged at the corners of his eyes with both hands. "It's easier than picking up money. Let's just settle it." Other countries required careful planning.

But this unique country didn't need that.

A group of senior executives looked at Gramana's actions and smiled.

This action was resisted by most Dragon Country people, but it didn't prevent some of the pro-foreigners from regarding it as ridiculous cultural self-confidence!

This was clearly discrimination, but those so-called artists whose brains were clearly filled with nothing actually thought it was their cultural symbol.

Even these foreigners couldn't understand what these people were thinking.

...

After the game against West Ham United, the Manchester City players began a short vacation.

Those players who didn't need to participate in national team matches had almost a week of rest.

And Zhao Gang had promised Oulie that they would go out to play together.

After Zhao Gang was ready to go, he specifically called Perlan.

To see if there was anything important that needed to be dealt with recently.

"Yes, there is!" Perlan was very interested in cooperating with the GD brand.

Because GD was indeed a luxury brand with considerable influence, and its international influence exceeded that of Ultimoh.

High-end, grand.

A representation of the upper class.

Endorsements from this kind of brand would bring a considerable halo of prestige to players.

This was definitely a win-win collaboration.

"You must have heard of an Italian luxury brand, GD, which has a pretty good influence in Dragon Country. They want to invite you to be their spokesperson in Dragon Country. The price isn't too high, two million euros for three years. But...cooperating with GD would be quite beneficial for you."

Zhao Gang frowned slightly. "GD? Don't I already have an endorsement with Ta An?"

"Haha...that's just business. Ta An Sports, as your exclusive global partner, is naturally a collaboration in the field of sports."

"If fifteen million pounds bought out all of your commercial value, then you'd be too worthless."

"Wow, GD?" Oulie, who was next to him, heard the brand and, combined with Zhao Gang's other words, knew what Zhao Gang and Perlan were talking about.

GD wasn't going for the commoner style, and it wasn't even related to sports. The fact that they found Zhao Gang showed that they were fully optimistic about Zhao Gang's influence in Dragon Country.

"You know about it?" Zhao Gang looked at Oulie.

Oulie nodded. Of course, she knew about it; she had even bought it before!

Zhao Gang nodded. He forgot which year in the future, but it should be two or three years later.

The GD brand shot a very disgusting advertisement for Dragon Country people.

That squinting female model was even particularly proud and arrogant.

Afterward, she even had the nerve to complain that someone was cyberbullying her. She actually thought that squinting eyes were the unique beauty and charm of Eastern and Dragon Country women!

What was even more terrible was that some public intellectuals even shamelessly supported this kind of argument.

They thought it was a kind of cultural self-confidence!

"Please tell their负责人 (fù zé rén - person in charge) that their brand is too low-end. I'm worried that cooperating with them will affect my development in the sports world. Tell them to get lost."

Garbage brand. Zhao Gang only regretted that he didn't have the ability to burn down the brand's building.

"Uh..." Oulie opened her small mouth wide, not only because she was shocked that Zhao Gang said GD was a garbage brand, but also because these words didn't sound like something Zhao Gang would say at all.

Not to mention that the GD brand was quite powerful, even if it really was a garbage brand, Zhao Gang wouldn't have said such a thing.

Perlan was even more surprised. He knew that there must be something more hidden that made Zhao Gang say such a thing.

Of course, Perlan wouldn't ask directly. He was going to investigate it himself to see what kind of grievances Zhao Gang had with GD.

"Okay, I will tell them your attitude. But...I still want to make one point clear: the Golden Boy Award is initiated by *Tuttosport*, an Italian sports newspaper, and GD has a very strong influence in Italy... You understand the reason why I said it would be very beneficial if you cooperate with them, right?"

If GD hadn't found Zhao Gang for cooperation, Zhao Gang would have had a very good chance of winning the Golden Boy Award, but there was also an opponent who had won the European Cup.

Now that GD had come, as long as Zhao Gang agreed, the Golden Boy Award would definitely be his. Winning the Golden Boy Award would be a huge step for Zhao Gang and for Dragon Country. It would greatly increase Zhao Gang's value and even the influence and confidence of Dragon Country football.

This was also the reason why GD lowered the endorsement price. If they cooperated, they would definitely use their influence to help Zhao Gang win the Golden Boy Award.

For them, this was a great benefit. It could be considered a win-win-win situation. No matter how you looked at it, Zhao Gang wouldn't refuse.

Now that Zhao Gang didn't agree, it meant that he wasn't giving them face.

They would definitely think of some ways to let Zhao Gang know their influence and power!

"Of course, I know that. The Ballon d'Or isn't initiated by Italian media, is it?" Zhao Gang asked back.

Perlan laughed loudly. "I hope you don't have any feud with Chanel."

Perlan hung up the phone. Being unpretentious didn't mean being unconfident.

A clear bottom line and strong self-confidence.

Perlan didn't take this too seriously. An Italian brand could only influence the Golden Boy Award.

Moreover, it was only influence.

If there really was any behind-the-scenes manipulation and I caught any evidence, even if it was just hearsay, it would be enough to make *Tuttosport* suffer!

Did they really think that I, Perlan, had no influence at all?

What he wanted to know more was why Zhao Gang had such a big resentment towards GD.

Zhao Gang put away his phone.

Victory, honor, championship.

It depended on strength, hard work, not being selected.

If European football also relied on voting to choose the champion, then there would be no need to study abroad. Staying in Dragon Country, he could win championships until his hands were soft.

"So handsome!" Oulie's big eyes were shining. She couldn't help but reach out and rub Zhao Gang's biceps. So strong.

"Uh..." Zhao Gang was a little puzzled by this sudden intimate gesture.

Hugging and even kissing could be said to be a kind of etiquette, but you're touching my muscles and even licking your tongue, isn't that a bit inappropriate?

"Let's go, let's go have fun!"

Oulie retracted her small hand, her heart beating a little fast.

"Oh right, I have something else to tell you. I've been in the football circle long enough, and I've heard a lot of terrible things!"

"Hmm?"

"Some opponents will use many methods to attack and even destroy an excellent player, such as alcohol, such as women. You must be careful!"

"Some women will appear outside your stadium, outside your training base, and even outside where you live!"

"Usually, they don't act alone. They always come in pairs, with passable looks and great figures!"

"They will ask you for your phone number and be especially proactive towards you!"

"They will even lift up the jerseys they're wearing and ask you to sign on their chests!"

"Many young and excellent players have been ruined by these tricks!"

"They may be carrying terrible and disgusting viruses. You must be careful, be careful!" Oulie said with certainty, sounding like it was true.

Zhao Gang almost couldn't hold back his laughter.

"You don't believe me?" Oulie pouted her small mouth, rarely showing a cute side.

"You wouldn't be sent by the enemy, would you?" Zhao Gang was in a particularly relaxed mood and suddenly blurted out a joke.

After saying it, he regretted it a little, feeling like he was being a bit frivolous.

Just as he was about to explain, Oulie suddenly blinked her big eyes and leaned over.

She stuck close to Zhao Gang. Zhao Gang raised his hands, wanting to back away but reluctant to do so.

Oulie had a seductive smile in her eyes. She reached out and pulled open the clothes on her chest.

"Then you have to help me sign an autograph, big star." Oulie got even closer, pushing Zhao Gang directly against the wall.

Zhao Gang couldn't help but lower his head and glance. "Oh... oh... I, I have to find a pen... Wait a minute..."

Zhao Gang felt his head buzzing, and his blood rushed up.

Not only was there a visual impact, but there was also a soft body leaning against him.

He wanted to find an excuse to leave quickly and calm himself down.

"I don't think you need to find a pen. You already have one." Oulie raised her leg, and Zhao Gang said "Oh," uncontrollably shuddering.

This isn't a pen, little girl. You need to be careful.

"I... Eh?" Zhao Gang's eyes widened. Oulie had completely stuck to him.

A particularly refreshing perfume scent made Zhao Gang directly dumbfounded.

"You play football so well, your other ball skills must also be very good. Show me, hmm? You won't lose to me, will you?"

Oh, you really don't know anything about me.

Zhao Gang grabbed Oulie, who was still provoking him.

"Wow..."

"Hmm!"