American Football: King of the Bay Area

Chapter 375: Chapter 372: Brand New Mansion

With all his luggage loaded, he leaned over and looked out the passenger-side window at his father and mother standing by the front door. Lu Ke waved. “Alright, I’m heading out then. I’ll call you after I’m all moved in. Are you sure you don’t need me to pick you up for the housewarming party on Thursday?”

“No, no, we’ll go with Tiffany and Austin.” Jiang Youning waved her hands dismissively and called back, then couldn’t resist adding a reminder, “Drive carefully on the road, and be safe.”

As she spoke, her eyes welled up with warmth. Jiang Youning awkwardly lowered her head, a sob catching in her throat.

Lu Zhengze waved at Lu Ke, signaling not to worry, then made a gesture for him to get going.

Releasing the handbrake, Lu Ke pulled the car out of the parking spot. He ducked his head again to wave goodbye to his parents one last time, then slowly drove forward, focusing his attention on the road ahead.

Suddenly, a strange feeling washed over him. He subconsciously glanced up at the rearview mirror and saw his father and mother still standing by the front door, lingering reluctantly, their eyes fixed on his car.

Jiang Youning was leaning gently against Lu Zhengze, her right hand raised to cover her mouth, unable to suppress her sadness and reluctance to let him go. Lu Zhengze had one arm around his wife. His expression was placid, but his gaze remained fixed on the receding car, standing there, stunned and motionless.

In the rearview mirror, their two figures gradually shrank, but like sunflowers, they kept facing the direction he was leaving.

For some reason, Lu Ke also began to feel a pang of reluctance.

He pulled his gaze away and turned on the car radio. The melodious sound of a guitar drifted through the lazy golden sunlight, and John Denver’s moving voice soared, “…Country roads, take me home, to the place I belong. West Virginia, mountain mama, take me home, country roads…”

The San Francisco mornings were always tranquil, wreathed in mist and drenched in sunlight. In the gentle sea breeze, the steep coastline, the majestic Golden Gate Bridge, the winding coastal highway, and the lush green mountains overflowed with vibrant life, awakening a deep-seated fondness that made one want to simply wander and linger.

‘I’ve only just left, but I’m already starting to miss it.’

…

Towering redwood trees stood on both sides of the road, their straight, tall trunks stretching endlessly, as if forcefully propping open the vast distance between the ground and the sky. The crystal-clear azure sky seemed to recede into the distance, magnifying the world’s immensity and grandeur to an extreme, which in turn highlighted the smallness of humankind—

You had to crane your neck back so far it felt like it would break just to catch a glimpse of the heavens.

Slowly, Lu Ke pulled into a parking spot on the side of the road. After turning off the engine, he looked around, curious and confused, his eyes filled with uncertain hesitation. He strongly suspected Google Maps had led him in the wrong direction, that he had left the city of San Francisco and arrived in another, mysterious world, just like… Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

In his line of sight, a finger-wide stream trickled along a channel by the roadside. Its clear, translucent water seemed to carry the crisp, green essence of the forest as it flowed through moss, rotting wood, fallen leaves, bushes, and soil.

Shafts of sunlight pierced through the dense canopy, scattering down in patches. Motes of dust danced freely in the light. A prominent spider was busily preparing for its next hunt between two trees.

A RUSTLING sound drifted on the gentle breeze. He looked toward the source but saw no movement. In a daze, he could almost imagine a wild rabbit suddenly appearing, transforming into the Mad Hatter, and inviting him into a fantastical wonderland.

After leaving home, Lu Ke had only been driving for less than twenty-five minutes. He had slowed down a bit along the way to follow the navigation, which had cost him some time. Once he was familiar with the route, he could probably make the trip in under twenty minutes at a normal speed.

He was certain that this was still within San Francisco city limits, right next to the Haight-Ashbury District, but the scenery before him felt like a paradise, completely isolated from the hustle and bustle of the city—tranquil and serene.

After getting out of the car, Lu Ke finally noticed that to the right of the road was a vast, continuous forest, seemingly situated on the mountain range next to the Haight-Ashbury District.

To the left of the road was a row of residential houses—detached, two-story villas spaced about forty or fifty meters apart, with lawns and garages in between. The houses continued down the road, and he could see at least ten homes, possibly more, dotted along the entire hillside.

“Hey, you’re here. A lot earlier than I expected. What, not much luggage to move?” A familiar voice broke the silence. Turning his head to the left, he saw Lech standing at the front door of a house. He had opened the ground-floor door and was greeting him with a smile. “I heard the engine. Need a hand with the luggage?”

Although his words offered help, Lech’s feet showed no sign of moving. For the elderly Lech, physical labor was now beyond him.

Lu Ke quickly waved his hand. “No need. It’s just one suitcase.” He opened the car door, pulled out his suitcase and duffel bag, and, with one in each hand, strode toward the villa before him.

The main gate faced the street, with a red mailbox standing beside it. To the right was the garage, and to the left, a small garden. The natural wood color of the house’s exterior complemented the surrounding environment perfectly.

Stepping inside the villa, he was greeted by the sight of an enormous living room with wide, bright floor-to-ceiling windows that let all the sunlight pour in unobstructed. The interior, decorated primarily in dark gray and sea blue, was simple and elegant. The living room alone was larger than the entire footprint of Lu Ke’s family home; a space like this could comfortably host a party for two hundred people.

But what truly captured his attention was the view beyond the windows.

He walked straight ahead, crossed the great room, and pushed open the glass doors. A turquoise swimming pool came into view, stretching out along the right-hand side for about twenty-five meters. At the far end of the pool was a spacious little veranda with four beach chairs. Directly in front of the pool, the entire San Francisco cityscape spread out as far as the eye could see.

The villa was perched high on a mountain, looking down upon the entire city. The lush greenery on either side framed vast swathes of green, further accentuating the azure sky, the colorful city, and the magnificent, powerful coastline in the distance. In that instant, his heart soared. He felt an urge to spread his arms and embrace the whole world, as if by simply standing on his tiptoes, he could spread his wings and soar freely.

“Candlestick Park is to the right, about a fifteen to twenty-minute drive. It’s a bit farther from downtown, but you can still reach the heart of the city’s hustle and bustle within thirty minutes. San Francisco isn’t a huge city, after all.” Lech’s voice came from behind him. He had also come out onto the veranda to admire the view. “Most importantly, this is a high-end residential area, so it’s quiet enough and private enough. Even if the paparazzi find your address, they won’t be able to photograph much.”

The villa was situated on the mountain, with a steep cliff directly in front of it, effectively cutting off all prying eyes. The main living areas were all concentrated on the side away from the main street. Even if someone were to snoop around the driveway or garage, they likely wouldn’t get much.

“I remember you have a training schedule every morning. This neighborhood is perfect for that, since it’s not a busy residential area,” Lech explained further. He had put a lot of thought into renting this place, with the core idea being to ensure Lu Ke had a quiet environment to prepare and could fully dedicate himself to his professional career. “So, what do you think?”

Lu Ke’s attention was still captivated by the magnificent scenery, and his reaction was a beat slow. Then he let out a soft chuckle. “It’s great. Really great.” He pulled his gaze away and looked at Lech. “In fact, it’s a little too great. Are you sure I can afford this place? As far as I know, my salary isn’t exactly high.”

The income for Undrafted Players was naturally not high. His annual salary was 465,000 US dollars, but that was before taxes. On the San Francisco 49ers, Lu Ke’s salary was only slightly higher than some of the special teams players; he was by no means in a high-income bracket.

During college, Lu Ke had lived in a shared house, splitting the rent with Logan Newman and Jay Fox. And until today, he had still been living with his parents. To suddenly upgrade to a luxury home was indeed a rapid advancement.

“Relying on just the base salary, the life of one of the Undrafted Players naturally can’t be too extravagant, but you’ve already landed a sponsorship, and you also have bonuses,” Lech reminded him kindly. “So, you can absolutely afford this house. The rent is sixteen hundred US dollars a week.”

When he first signed, Lu Ke’s contract included a bonus clause: twenty thousand US dollars for every game won. Clearly, the San Francisco 49ers hadn’t anticipated that Lu Ke would actually become the starting quarterback and really go on to win game after game.

“I know, this level of spending is still a bit of a rapid increase.” After all, once Lu Ke started losing games, an expense like this could gradually become a burden. Lech had naturally considered this carefully. “However, not only is this place quiet, private, and well-located, but it also has a professional gym.”

Before he could even finish his sentence, Lech saw Lu Ke’s eyes light up. He couldn’t help but chuckle. “That’s right. The owner of the house built a gym here, on the ground floor near the garage. The equipment inside is all professional-grade, which is undoubtedly perfect for you.”

“Alright, no problem. This is the place, then,” Lu Ke agreed with a crisp nod. He then gestured to his luggage by the entrance and added with a light chuckle, “Besides, it would be a huge hassle to have to lug all this stuff back now.”