Reborn in Football to Build Top Clubs from English League Two

125: ”Checkmates” on and off the chessboardKeira turned around and looked directly into Lin Feng’s eyes: ”Lin, this trophy is beautiful.

But I think it still lacks a bit of ’soul’ compared to that antique Go board from the East in your office. Don’t you agree?”

Sophie’s palm, holding the pen, broke into a fine sweat. The weight of Keira’s words was far more than their literal meaning.

Lin Feng’s expression became cautious. His gaze lingered on Keira’s face for a few seconds, trying to decipher the meaning behind her words.

Sophie’s pen tip paused on the paper. Keira’s casually uttered sentence, however, was like a key, opening up a whole new understanding of this ”visit” for her.

”Everyone has a different understanding of ’soul’, Miss Knightley.” Lin Feng’s voice remained calm, without the slightest fluctuation.

Sophie’s eyes narrowed slightly. She immediately realized that Keira’s ”investigation” was far more in-depth than she had imagined. This was no longer a simple visit.

She discreetly took out her voice recorder and, smiling, said to Keira: ”Miss Knightley, are you also very knowledgeable about Chinese culture? It sounds like you know Mr. Lin very well.”

This question subtly brought Keira’s ”private hint” into the open.

Keira’s lips curved slightly, her gaze shifting between Sophie and Lin Feng. She clearly hadn’t expected the reporter to counter so directly.

”I have some understanding of various cultures; it’s a basic skill for an actress.” Keira replied elegantly, with a hint of undetectable defensiveness in her tone.

Lin Feng picked up the EFL Trophy, his fingertips gently tracing the patterns on the cup. Sunlight streamed through the window onto the trophy, reflecting a dazzling glow.

”Miss Knightley, a Go board is dead, but a trophy is alive,” his voice was deep and powerful,

”It carries the dreams and sweat of thousands of people. Its soul is in the fans’ songs, in the players’ sweat. This is something no antique can compare to.”

As he spoke, his gaze was firm and profound, as if he was expounding a truth that only he could fully comprehend.

Then, he turned to Sophie, his eyes softening a little: ”Sophie, I think this is the answer to that question I didn’t fully answer in your previous report.”

Sophie was slightly startled, then immediately understood Lin Feng’s intention. She nodded, a knowing smile appearing on her lips.

The atmosphere, which had just been fraught with tension, became subtle due to Lin Feng’s words.

Sophie felt herself protected by an invisible force, while Keira’s gaze became deeper, filled with scrutiny.

Keira Knightley looked deeply at Lin Feng, her eyes, which had sparkled on countless big screens, now showed a hint of admiration.

She knew that in this verbal exchange, she hadn’t gained any advantage.

She suddenly let out a hearty laugh, breaking the tense atmosphere: ”Mr. Lin, you always give the perfect answers. I’m starting to understand why your team always wins.”

Lin Feng smiled slightly, not taking the bait. He placed the trophy back in the display case, his movements gentle and respectful, as if handling a precious treasure.

”Is the visit over?” Keira asked, with a hint of imperceptible disappointment in her tone.

”If you’re still interested, we can go watch the players train.” Lin Feng suggested, ”They should have started their afternoon tactical drills by now.”

Keira nodded: ”Then I’ll impose a little longer. I’m very curious what kind of training allows a League Two team to be promoted to League One in just one year.”

The three walked out of the trophy room and headed towards the training ground. Sophie walked at the back, her gaze moving back and forth between Lin Feng and Keira’s backs, her mind full of thoughts.

On the training ground, the players were engaged in group drills. Old John stood on the sidelines, occasionally blowing his whistle and shouting instructions.

When he saw Lin Feng approaching with Keira and Sophie, he was visibly startled, then quickly regained his professional demeanor.

”Keep training!” he shouted to the players, then hurried towards Lin Feng.

”Boss, we’re practicing tactical coordination against Brighton.” Old John reported in a low voice, while curiously glancing at Keira.

Lin Feng nodded: ”Continue, don’t mind us.”

He turned to Keira and simply introduced: ”This is our head coach, John McDonald, the team’s tactical mastermind.”

Old John shook hands with Keira somewhat stiffly, then quickly returned to the sidelines of the training ground.

”Your training looks very targeted.” Keira observed the players on the field and commented.

”Every match is a different challenge, and we need to develop different tactics for different opponents.” Lin Feng explained,

”Brighton is a team that excels at wing attacks, so today we’re focusing on practicing how to defend against wing breakthroughs.”

Keira nodded, her gaze falling on Vardy on the field: ”Is he the forward who went from a factory worker to a professional player?”

”Yes, Jamie Vardy.” Lin Feng replied, ”His story proves that the world of football never lacks miracles.”

”Just like the story of Hartlepool United.” Keira said meaningfully.

Just then, a commotion suddenly broke out on the sidelines of the training ground.

Several reporters and photographers had gathered outside the training center’s main gate at some point, holding their cameras with long lenses, trying to capture precious images of Keira Knightley on the football training ground.

”It seems your visit has attracted media attention.” Lin Feng said calmly.

Keira smiled slightly: ”This is unavoidable. However, I think it’s also good for the visibility of Hartlepool United, isn’t it?”

Lin Feng did not directly answer the question. He looked at his watch,

then said: ”Miss Knightley, if you don’t mind, I think we can end today’s visit before the media gets even crazier.”

Keira nodded, gracefully accepting the suggestion: ”Of course, I’ve seen what I wanted to see. Thank you for your time, Mr. Lin.”

She turned to Sophie, extending her hand: ”Miss Green, it was a pleasure to meet you. I hope to have the opportunity to read your report about today.”

Sophie shook her hand, maintaining a professional smile: ”I will do my best to present the most authentic story.”

A hint of appreciation flashed in Keira’s eyes: ”Authenticity is the rarest quality.”

Under Lin Feng’s arrangement, Keira left through the back door of the training center, avoiding the media at the front door.

Her black Bentley quietly drove away, leaving behind only speculation and discussion.

Lin Feng returned to the training ground, the players’ gazes occasionally falling on him, clearly full of curiosity about everything that had just happened.

”Focus on training!” Lin Feng said, raising his voice, ”The Brighton match is more important than any gossip!”

The players immediately withdrew their gazes and re-immersed themselves in intense training.

Old John walked up to Lin Feng and asked in a low voice: ”Boss, was that... Keira Knightley?”

Lin Feng nodded: ”Yes, she’s very interested in our club.”

”Is that a good thing?” Old John asked somewhat uncertainly, ”With such a celebrity’s attention, it will definitely help the club’s visibility.”

Lin Feng’s gaze remained on the training ground: ”Everything has two sides, John.

The important thing is that we cannot let outside attention affect the normal operation of the team.”