Chapter Thirteen: Flickering Dawn Light

  "That year..."

  Time began to flow backwards, as Chen Haonan's narrative recollection floated back to a distant era.

  As if really back to the green years of the past, Situ Lan held a tape recorder and listened with his ear sideways.

  ……

  "That's about it, hey, you'd better not let this recorder fall into someone else's hands, if it really gets out, I'm done for!" Chen Haonan muttered to himself after finishing speaking, staring at the recorder in Situ Lan's hand and reminding him.

  Why did saying it out loud make him feel a bit more at ease? Chen Haonan's heart was rippling with waves, yet also carried a hint of serenity.

  "Don't worry, even if I were to write about you, it wouldn't be that bad..." Xiāng Lán smiled faintly, her cunning eyes gleaming with amusement. "Actually, your illness isn't necessarily incurable; in our China, the mysterious traditional Chinese medicine might just be able to put you back on track."

  Traditional Chinese medicine? Chen Haonan's eyes suddenly lit up, then dimmed again.

  "Even a divine doctor can't help me now. If it were earlier, there might have been some hope, but now? I'm completely done for..."

  Yes, half a month ago, his feet were still good. Now these two feet have been cut twice by Oscar and are completely useless. What's the point of playing football?

  "Alas... this guy was in a fight recently and got his Achilles tendon cut, he can barely walk. What's the point of talking about treating illness? Just write your script and forget about him." The bartender also came to his senses and helped explain.

  "Good grief... are you a jinx or something, so unlucky." Siu To-lan followed Chan Ho-nam's feet and indeed saw two thick layers of plaster wrapped around his ankles.

  Never seen anyone as miserable as this in all her years, and now she's encountered one for the first time.

  "But... everything has a turning point, you never know. My second uncle has been collecting medicinal herbs in the Amazon rainforest recently, and when I have time, I'll take you to see him, maybe there's a glimmer of hope, heh, you don't know, my second uncle is known as a living god doctor in China..."

  "Is it that easy? If you can cure Haonan's illness, I'll let him serve you for a year for free..." The bartender heard this and couldn't help but joke, his face full of disdain and disbelief.

  He certainly didn't believe that in this day and age, there were still such mysterious things, even the developed Western medicine couldn't restore hope, let alone a China as poor as his own country, far away in the East? It's better to go to the Mayan civilization and grab a few handfuls of mud to apply.

  "You wine shop owner, apart from selling wine and being a pimp, what else do you know? Hmph, Chan Ho-nam, wait for me, I'll contact you, don't think you can hide then."

  Situ Lan still insisted on her own ideas, filled with infinite expectations for her second uncle. "Think about it, a generation of divine doctors taking the Chinese waste who wandered in Brazil and re-forging them into an invincible general... Hehe, this story is really too unbelievable."

  Chan Ho-nam remained silent, and Szeto Lan's words were not uninteresting to him, but he didn't dare believe them.

  It's better not to believe, the results are all the same. What's scary is believing and holding onto hope, only to find out it's actually the opposite. The feeling of disappointment and loss, no one understands it more than him.

  He didn't not go for treatment, he just secretly hid it from everyone. Every time he went to see a doctor, he felt that the money he had earned through hard work was being cheated by the doctor and couldn't be cured at all...

  After a long time, he felt that it would be better to save the money for his parents and children instead, which is the most realistic thing to do.

  Niulang can only do this job for at most two or three years, after two or three years, he will have to retire. You know that the career of a Niulang is much shorter than that of a football player.

  All are eating youth rice, how can this mouthful of food mix so sadly?

  Above all, in that contract for the next year, Chen Haonan was overjoyed, it was a career with great freedom and prospects.

  "Chen Haonan, don't underestimate our traditional Chinese medicine, it's profound and complex, not as superficial as you think. Anyway, this opportunity won't cost you a dime, what are you afraid of? At worst, you'll just end up disabled." Si Tu Lan patted Chen Haonan's shoulder boldly, trying to encourage him.

  It's also like that, anyway it doesn't matter, just go and have fun. Chen Haonan was shaken quite a bit, anyway he went with the thought of being doomed to death, the result is the same, what's there to be afraid of...

  "Alright... you contact me when the time comes."

  "Ah, that's right, this is what a man should look like," Situ Lan nodded in satisfaction, then dug into his bag and pulled out some money. "Here, this is your interview fee, and if my series becomes popular, you'll also get a share of the copyright..."

  "Huh? Chen Haonan was paid for the interview, his eyes widened in surprise. He didn't expect to receive an interview fee, let alone a copyright fee! Looks like this reporter's income is pretty good!"

  "That's a good attitude, I'll interview you more often in the future, and I don't mind continuing to cooperate..."

  ……

  A few more days passed and Chen Haonan finally went to the hospital to remove the plaster cast. Although his heel still hurt a bit, he endured it and removed it anyway.

  It's been almost twenty days since he returned home, and he really missed his family. Except for the time he went to play in the national championships, he had never left home for so long. Moreover, that year's national championship was held in Rio de Janeiro, and if it weren't for saving on transportation costs, he could have gone back home every day. As a result, he chose to stay in the dormitory of the competition venue, where meals were provided, and he couldn't help but feel at ease.

  The pheasants took good care of their home, and there was no movement on Oscar's side, it seems that this matter has passed peacefully.

  Chen Haonan endured the pain and hugged his son tightly, kissing him again and again, playing the role of a mature father.

  "Nan Ge, it's time for you to find a wife to take care of the child. How can one child be without a mother?" Suddenly, Shan Ji blurted out this sentence.

  Hahaha... The whole room burst into laughter.

  At just sixteen years old, it's too early to have children, let alone a wife. Mountain Chicken's words naturally brought on everyone's laughter and teasing.

  Chen Haonan didn't bother with them either, instead speaking very sincerely.

  "In a few days, I'll be going to S?o Paulo State. You guys still have to take care of each other. Whether there's something or not, I'll give you all a call from time to time. Once I've made it out, I'll definitely come back to pick everyone up."

  This remark by Ekin Cheng is actually quite baseless and at that time, it was just a temporary comfort.

  What's the future, how dare he guarantee it.

  If it weren't for still having hopes for Santos' job, he wouldn't have a glimmer of hope for Sutherland.

  Being able to get a stable job in Santos is what he wants most now, and then he can still secretly work as a gigolo on the side. He thinks about it and feels that there's still some potential in it, at least more than other ways. Can't spend his whole life serving dishes in hotels...

  "Brother, don't worry, we all support you to explode Neymar's butt... Of course, you have to follow his footsteps to Barcelona, but first, you still need to break his goal record at Santos FC now, and by the way, help me get a signed poster of Robinho..."

  As for Ah-hai, Chen Haonan just joked about it. Follow Neymar? Join Barcelona? That's a fantasy, he just wants to have food to eat, a house to live in, and money to cure his illness...

  As for Robinho's signed poster? If there is a chance to meet him, it will be naturally possible.

  According to Taylor, he is now just an assistant coach of Santos youth team, far from the first team, who would care about an assistant coach of a youth team...

  Time was running out day by day, just as Chen Haonan was about to set off alone, Situ Lan's phone call came.

  Her second uncle is now in Rio de Janeiro!

  Chen Haonan's heart was not excited is false, just short of immediately rushing over to meet, only the other party lives where still do not know.

  Situ Lan picked him up at the entrance of the bar and when they got out of the car, they were already standing in front of a luxurious hotel.

  Chen Haonan initially thought that Situ Lan's second uncle was just a renowned Chinese doctor, but when he arrived at the hotel, he found himself mistaken.

  Being able to stay in a hotel of Cambrian Palace level, the other party's identity must be very noble...

  "My second uncle is a very kind person, but you'd better not be too playful and smiley, be more serious. Of course, also don't talk about your shady past, I've been praising you in front of him, saying you're a top student, got it?"

  Chen Haonan looked at each other in dismay, can you say your own embarrassing things? What is a three-good student? And when did I ever have a cheerful face? "I'm not a mountain chicken, am I that kind of person?"

  "Wow? Mountain chicken? You really have such a little follower? Why don't you just go to Hong Kong to shoot a movie, forget it, I think that mountain chicken is probably the same color as in the movies?"

  "This is actually true... By the way, what's your uncle's name?"

  "Hmm, that's a good question. Si Tu Hao Nan, we have the same name... what a coincidence! We can even work together on film remakes."

  This is just like filming... even the names are the same. Chan Ho-nam couldn't help but smile wryly. Following behind Szeto Lan, he sulkily entered the elevator.

  The elevator kept going up until it finally stopped on the thirteenth floor.

  Just as he stepped out of the elevator, he saw a row of people in all-black suits standing guard at the door, and Chen Haonan couldn't help but jump in fright.

  Is this a visit to the underworld or a visit to the divine doctor... couldn't help but stop in his tracks.

  "What's wrong, let's go, it's not like we're really filming." Si Tu Lan turned her head and shouted, almost laughing out loud.

  This row of people is too scary, all wearing Western suits and ties, and they are all pure yellow-skinned Chinese... This is really no different from the movies.

  Isn't it Chen Ho-nam who encountered this golden fist, Szeto Ho-nam? Chen Ho-nam had no choice but to continue following behind Szeto Lan.

  "Second Miss!"

  When Dai Si-tu Lan was about to pass through this group of people, they all stood up and saluted.

  Who is he paying respects to? It can't be the two hotel service staff in front, it must be Szeto Lan. Chen Haonan only then discovered that Szeto Lan's identity was quite impressive.

  Being able to be called "Second Miss" by this group of people is naturally a noble person, right! Thinking of this, he couldn't help but feel nervous.