After signing with AC Milan, I will be the king of football!

”Cough cough... Coach, I’m leaving first.”

Huang Kaiwen got up from the sofa and made a beeline for the door, breaking into a run as soon as he exited the office.

He had thought Ancelotti had finally gotten back to normal.

But it seemed to be getting worse.

Ancelotti’s earlier remarks had obviously been tinged with philosophical thought.

Could it be that the end of theology is philosophy?

Huang Kaiwen simply didn’t know what to say anymore.

Forget it.

After all, he couldn’t manage Fat Ancelotti.

Better to just take care of himself.

Play a match tomorrow, then get injured, and not return to the team until after the winter break.

Making money through soccer was just that simple.

...

December 6th.

While changing clothes in the locker room.

His teammates were all congratulating Huang Kaiwen.

Mainly because Inzaghi, that lemon, wasn’t there.

Otherwise, the atmosphere in the locker room definitely wouldn’t be this harmonious.

After changing, Huang Kaiwen went out first to give interviews.

After the interviews, the staff handed him a special jersey.

It had been hastily prepared by the sponsor.

A white T-shirt with his silhouette and the Ballon d’Or trophy printed on it.

It would later go on sale; the sponsor would make a tidy sum, and Huang Kaiwen would get a cut, a big one at that.

All thanks to the young lady.

Now, she was in charge of Huang Kaiwen’s business development.

So besides being the AC Milan COO, a shareholder of Fininvest Group, and the chairman and CEO of Raven E-Commerce, she was also half of Huang Kaiwen’s agent.

She had over a dozen assistants; she could almost put together a soccer team.

Otherwise, she couldn’t possibly manage it all on her own.

Huang Kaiwen put on the T-shirt over his jersey, waiting for his cue to enter the field.

”San Siro has made quite a few preparations today to celebrate Huang Kaiwen winning the Ballon d’Or.”

”Yes, there’s a huge banner raised up in the stands. This is interesting, it’s the silhouette of a Huang Kaiwen jersey from the back. And the jersey, being black and white, looks like a Juventus one. Then there’s red smoke being pumped in from below, turning the jersey into the red and black stripes. AC Milan fans really put their hearts into this.”

”Hehe, that’s not all. Today’s opening guest at San Siro is the famous Italian tenor Pavarotti. There are also so many children performing; it must be hundreds of them.”

”It feels like AC Milan is placing a lot of importance on Huang Kaiwen’s Ballon d’Or, even more so than when Shevchenko won it last year.”

”Wow, the performance has changed again. This is classic music in a typical classical style. The performers entering now... Man, AC Milan is showcasing the recent findings of Ancient Rome and that stone tablet incident; I must say, such a presentation is truly eye-opening.”

Internet-addicted youngsters watching the live stream were stunned.

”Holy shit, Huang Kaiwen’s treatment is way beyond Sheva’s last year, right?”

”I fucking thought AC Milan was preparing for the Olympics opening ceremony!”

”Huang Kaiwen’s life is really good. The camera angles from the stands, holy shit, I actually saw the Dutch trio and Baresi, and Old Maldini too, did AC Milan call all their legends or what?”

”AC Milan really values Huang Kaiwen.”

”You should say Barbara really values Huang Kaiwen; Huang Kaiwen’s mooching is damn impressive.”

”Don’t just spout nonsense; the Italian media reported it. Huang Kaiwen has a stomach condition, and if he has a stomach condition, shouldn’t he be allowed to eat something soft?”

”Holy shit, look at that!”

Two figures in red robes appeared on the screen.

The Ballon d’Or Trophy was placed on a tray.

Two red-robed bishops walked slowly toward a temporary platform while supporting the tray together.

If it were the Pope himself coming,

and the trophy were a crown,

this would be no different than a medieval emperor’s coronation.

Even the UEFA Champions League anthem is an adaptation of the music played at a king’s coronation.

...

”It’s time for your entrance, Kevin.”

”Okay.”

Huang Kaiwen jogged out of the tunnel, high-fiving the ball kids all the way, and completely set off an explosion of cheers at San Siro Stadium.

”Kevin!!!”

”Kevin!!!”

”Kevin!!!”

Barbara and another award presenter, Laura Pausini, stood on the stage.

Laura Pausini had just received a Grammy.

She was the most famous singer in Italy at the moment.

Referred to as Italy’s leading lady in music.

Huang Kaiwen knew Laura Pausini; she was one of Inzaghi’s ex-girlfriends!

Born into a distinguished family, she fell in love with AC Milan because of Inzaghi and had openly declared in the newspapers, ”Whenever I’m not holding a concert, I will go to San Siro to see you play. I love the crazy passion you show when you celebrate a goal. Because of you, I will always support AC Milan.”

Then, she got dumped.

Inzaghi moved on to the television host Stefania Orlando.

This was a story of a lady from a reputable family meeting an old playboy.

After that, Laura Pausini vowed to never date a sports star again.

But she was still an AC Milan fan.

That’s why she was here today as a presenter at San Siro Stadium.

Huang Kaiwen silently despised Inzaghi in his heart.

Then, he hugged both the young lady and Laura Pausini.

”Congratulations, Kevin,” Laura Pausini said, holding the microphone.

”Thank you,” he replied.

Laura Pausini asked, ”Is there anything you’d like to say now?”

Huang Kaiwen had a burst of inspiration.

He copied Ancelotti’s actions from before.

”As I was receiving my award, there was one song spinning in my head. I want to sing this song with all of you now,” he said.

Huang Kaiwen lowered his head towards the microphone, and almost at the same time, Pausini began to speak.

An eight-thousand-strong telepathic harmony unfolded in San Siro.

The grandest performance of the day began:

”Milan, Milan, we pledge our loyalty to you, Milan, Milan, for you forever...”

...

”This is stunning, absolutely stunning,” Zhang, the coach, said with much emotion.

”Why do we love football so much? Not just because of the wins and losses in the games, but also the fighting spirit of the players on both sides, and all these things outside the pitch.”

”Yes, only football can bring everyone together like this, regardless of nationality, ethnicity, language, and class. Everyone in the same stadium cheers for the team they support. That’s the magic of football.”

”The game hasn’t even started today, and we’ve already seen a brilliant performance. Staying up late is really worth it, heh heh.”

”The presentation of the Ballon d’Or is over, and there’s still a match to play. Although it’s a happy moment today, Ancelotti may not be able to feel it,” the commentator added.

”Yes, today there is a startling lineup that you would never have guessed without seeing it for yourself,” agreed another.

”Okay, no more suspense. Let’s take a look at the starting lineups for both teams,” announced the broadcaster.

AC Milan’s 442 diamond midfield:

Goalkeeper: Dida,

Defenders: Serginho, Maldini, Nesta, Cafu,

Midfielders: Jankulovski, Pirlo, Johann Vogel, Kaka,

Forwards: Stam, Huang Kaiwen.

Rapid Vienna’s 442 with double defensive midfield:

Goalkeeper: Helge Payer,

Defenders: Markus Katzer, Vlajovic, Martin Hiden, Andreas Dobel,

Midfielders: Andreas Ivancic, Herlinka, Stefan Hofmann, Georgi Kinkladze,

Forwards: Marek Kienkl, Mohammed Goundas.

”The fans must have been shocked to see AC Milan’s starting eleven; honestly, we were too. It is said that the AC Milan team is facing an outbreak of flu, and several players are temporarily resting at home.”

”Yes, the players who went to Paris for the Ballon d’Or are fortunate, but Shevchenko returned to the team and his old injuries flared up, so today Ancelotti has no forwards left to use. It’s still quite surprising to see him put Stam in the forward position.”

”Previously Manchester United’s O’Shea has made a cameo as a forward, and Stam has played for Manchester United as well. I wonder if he’s learned a thing or two from O’Shea,” they speculated.