American Football: King of the Bay Area

”Agent, Lech Steineberg.”

Understated and classic, it was simple and elegant. There were no superfluous decorations or patterns—not even the name of his agency. The front held a title and a name; the back, a phone number and an email address. That was all.

It was simplicity and confidence, both taken to their logical extremes.

No exaggerated prefixes or titles, no dazzling designs or colors—just simple and dignified. It wasn’t unrefined; it was because one name was enough. Only those at the very top, the true power players, possessed such confidence. And, of course, only those with a discerning eye could perceive the substance behind it—

Otherwise, anyone else might mistake it for the card of some down-on-his-luck pauper who couldn’t even afford a proper title.

Lu Ke gave the business card in his hand a little flick and asked quizzically, ”So? Is there something I can help you with?” His tone was understated, nonchalant, and completely unruffled, as if he hadn’t noticed the card’s hidden significance at all.

But Lech caught the mischievous glint that flashed in Lu Ke’s eyes. That feigned composure still subtly betrayed a hint of surprise. No matter how seasoned or mature he was, Lu Ke was, in the end, just a young man fresh out of college. Lech, on the other hand, was an old fox who had been navigating the professional world for nearly half a century; his expertise ran far deeper.

Things were starting to get interesting. Lu Ke clearly knew what the card meant, yet he remained unflustered, neither deferential nor arrogant. Such composure was genuinely impressive. Back when Aaron Rodgers first entered the Alliance, he had been nowhere near this poised.

Perhaps it was the astuteness implied by his perfect score on the Fonderick test. Perhaps it was the composure he learned as a journalism major. Perhaps it was the hardships he had endured on his journey as a player of Chinese Descent. The reasons were many, but the result was the same: Lu Ke was truly a rookie unlike any other.

Lech’s expression softened into an amiable smile, his benevolent features making him look like any ordinary old man. ”I could use a cup of coffee. I was wondering, would you be free to take a short walk with me to a nearby café? I don’t have any special requirements; Starbucks is fine.”

Both Lech and Lu Ke knew perfectly well that an agent showing up at his door at this hour obviously wasn’t just for a cup of coffee. But that was how Lech had put it.

Lu Ke stared intently into Lech’s eyes, but Lech didn’t flinch or look away, meeting his gaze as steady as a mountain.

After a moment’s thought, Lu Ke spoke. ”I’m sorry, I have to head to the training camp. I’ve got a lot to do today, a packed schedule.” He refused. Lu Ke actually refused him. But in the next second, he changed tack. ”However, if you don’t mind, I should have some coffee at my place. My mother made it.”

Far from being angry, Lech chuckled and nodded. ”Of course I don’t mind.”

It was Wednesday, a day for recovery training and game preparation—the main rhythm of a professional player’s life. Lu Ke hadn’t altered his schedule just because an agent appeared, which was a rare and valuable trait: he was disciplined and resolute, yet also willing to adapt within reason to find a better solution.

Combined with this impression, a look back at his performance in the last two games told any true professional that while luck might have played a part in the two-game winning streak, it was by no means *just* luck.

Following Lu Ke, Lech entered the house.

By this time, Lu Zhengze and Jiang Youning had already left for work, leaving the house empty. Lu Ke moved deftly into the kitchen, poured a cup of coffee, and served it to Lech. He then set out sugar cubes and milk, offering with a smile, ”Anything else you need?”

”No, no, this is more than enough.” Lech waved his hand dismissively. ”Thank you. For an old man like me, I don’t have any grand aspirations for the day. A cup of coffee is all the excitement I need.” Lech added with a light chuckle, ”You need to get to the practice field soon. Don’t worry about me. Go on and get showered and change into your uniform.”

Lech clearly knew the daily routine of a professional athlete like the back of his hand.

”If you don’t mind, may I have a look around the house?” Lech asked politely. Though they were strangers, it was perfectly normal in the United States for a guest to ask for a tour after being invited inside.

”Of course. Be my guest.” Lu Ke had already made up his mind when he invited Lech in. ”In that case, please excuse me.”

And with that, Lu Ke left the kitchen and went up to his room on the second floor. He followed his daily routine, getting ready to head to the practice field.

The scene was rather absurd, almost surreal: a top agent had personally come to his door, but the player wasn’t flattered or overwhelmed, nor did they sit down for an earnest talk. Instead, the player methodically went about his daily routine, leaving the agent to wander around the house alone.

But it was, in fact, happening.

In any competitive sport, agents are an indispensable component. To be more precise, in today’s commercialized world, agents have become a crucial link in the industry chain. Beyond competitive sports, actors, directors, models, writers, artists, and so on—everyone needs an agent to serve as the bridge connecting them to the market.

Typically, football agents begin working with players during their college years.

Much like scouts, agents investigate and vet college players they are interested in. Based on a player’s on-field performance, they make their decision, then visit the player to make their pitch, using their skills, experience, credentials, charisma, and future plans to win them over and sign them early.

The agent is also an indispensable part of the draft process. After the Rookie Training Camp, agents must be in constant contact with each team’s general manager, trying to gain as much attention for their players as possible, increase their competitiveness, and secure a strong start to their professional careers.

But Lu Ke still didn’t have an agent.

Before his senior year, as a practice player, he hadn’t drawn any attention from agents. During his senior year, as a backup, Lu Ke only had two brief appearances on the field—not nearly enough to attract notice.

After the draft, his ”dual status” as an undrafted free agent and a player of Chinese Descent was a double-edged sword. It generated buzz but also sparked concerns, so agents were watching from the sidelines, holding off on making a move.

At the end of the day, agents were in it for the profit, not for charity.

After he entered the Alliance and the first week of the regular season concluded, football agents finally started to take notice of Lu Ke. The calls came one after another in an endless stream. But once the regular season started, time seemed to speed up. Before any further communication could take place, the second week of the regular season was already upon them.

By the time they could react, a two-game winning streak was under his belt, and then an agent named Lech Steineberg appeared at his doorstep.

’Now I finally feel a bit like a pro.’ But more important than any agent was the impending third week of the regular season.

This week, Lu Ke had to face competition from Alex Smith. Today was the official media day, and Jim Hubble would inevitably be asked about his choice for starting quarterback. Maybe Jim would give a definitive answer, maybe not. But regardless, the competition was on, and Lu Ke had to give it his all.

Relatively speaking, finding an agent was not his top priority right now.

Once he was ready, Lu Ke came downstairs and found Lech standing by the back screen door. He was surveying the backyard, slowly sipping his coffee, seemingly enjoying a quiet morning moment.

”Sir,” Lu Ke said, breaking Lech’s reverie.

Lech turned and smiled. ”Ah, you’re ready. Would it be alright if I accompanied you to Candlestick Park?”

Lu Ke didn’t say a word, just gave Lech a questioning look. The meaning, however, was perfectly clear.

Lech chuckled and snapped his fingers. ”Right. The memory starts to go when you get older,” he said with a self-deprecating smile. ”I’m Lech Steineberg, a sports agent. As far as I know, you don’t currently have representation. I was thinking, perhaps I’m a suitable choice for you, perhaps not. By the same token, perhaps you’re a player worth signing, perhaps not. So, why don’t we get to know one another?”

Relaxed and witty, playful yet dignified—he exuded the mature wisdom and sophisticated charm that defined a top-tier agent.

Lu Ke couldn’t help but crack a smile. He nodded and said agreeably, ”No problem. It would be my honor. So, if you’re ready, we can head out. Or do you need a little more time to finish your coffee?”

”No, I’m ready to go now.” Lech walked briskly into the kitchen, placed the coffee cup in the sink, and tidied up the sugar and milk on the counter before coming back out. He motioned for Lu Ke, and they left the house. ”By the way, thank you for the coffee. Please extend my thanks to your mother. She makes an excellent cup.”

”I’ll pass that along,” Lu Ke said with a smile.

The two of them made small talk as they walked to Lu Ke’s car. ”Do you train every day? Even on your days off? That’s not always the best approach. You need to balance work and rest to get the best results. Pushing too hard can be worse than not pushing hard enough. Isn’t that an important part of Chinese culture?”

Surprise flickered in Lu Ke’s eyes at Lech’s words. ”You’re interested in Chinese culture?”

”I’ve dabbled, but I’ve only scratched the surface,” Lech said humbly. ”I did a little last-minute cramming for our meeting today, hoping it might help build some rapport.”

That frank and direct admission made Lu Ke laugh out loud. ”Well, at least your point was correct. Yes, I understand that too much of a good thing can be bad. I train every day, but I adjust the plan and intensity. To earn the starting spot, I have a lot of ground to make up. Now’s not the time to slack off.”

”It sounds like you’re determined to win the starting job this week,” Lech said with a smile.

Lu Ke nodded without hesitation, his answer crisp and clean. ”Yes.” The single word rang with conviction.