Chapter 634: A Second Journey East
After returning to Portugal with the national team, a grand celebration was held in Lisbon. It wasn't until July 17th that the Portuguese team officially disbanded.
By then, nearly all club teams had begun their pre-season training for the new season.
Manchester United had once again chosen to prepare for the season in the United States. Their first friendly match was scheduled for July 19th against Club América of Mexico.
Unlike the previous summer, when Bruno joined Manchester United directly after the Confederations Cup, this time he decided to take a two-week vacation.
After all, last year, Bruno had skipped taking a proper break, meaning he hadn't had an extended holiday in two years.
During the 2017–2018 season, Bruno had an unprecedentedly heavy workload. From the Community Shield on August 6, 2017, to the World Cup final on July 15, 2018, he had played 73 matches for Manchester United and the Portuguese national team in just 11 months—an average of nearly seven matches per month.
Of those, 61 were for Manchester United and 12 for Portugal.
Though Bruno achieved historic success with both his club and national teams during that time, the workload had undeniably left him exhausted.
Without extraordinary mental fortitude, most players would have broken down under such strain.
Now, Bruno planned to truly unwind during his break—completely relaxing his mind and body, without thinking or worrying about anything.
...
As the morning sunlight poured into the room, Bruno opened his eyes to unfamiliar surroundings. His brain stalled for a moment. Where am I?
He felt movement beside him. Lifting the covers, he found Liu Yimei lying naked on his chest.
Memories of the previous night came flooding back.
After the Portuguese team disbanded, Bruno began his vacation. Instead of choosing a destination in Europe or the Americas, he secretly boarded a flight eastward.
At a bar in Beijing, he met Liu Yimei again. They shared heartfelt conversations, which led to them spending the night together—doing everything one might expect and more.
What a crazy night!
Looking at Liu Yimei peacefully asleep in his arms, Bruno still felt like he was dreaming.
I spent a passionate, unforgettable night with Liu Yimei—the most beautiful "Little Dragon Maiden" in Eastern history, a rising Hollywood star, and the dream girl of countless admirers.
I must be the luckiest guy in the world!
Bruno gently traced his hand along her body. Unlike many actresses who were thin and angular, Liu Yimei's figure was soft and voluptuous.
...
Feeling Bruno's touch, Liu Yimei stirred awake.
"When did you wake up, Bruno?" she asked.
"Just now," he replied.
"How did you sleep?"
"Like a baby," Bruno said with a grin.
"Me too," she smiled and leaned in to kiss him.
After the kiss, she looked at him and said, "That was your good morning kiss, Bruno."
When her hand wandered downwards, her expression changed.
"Wow… You're ready to go again?" she asked, astonished.
Bruno, embarrassed, nodded. Even the smallest action from her was enough to awaken his passion.
Resting her head on his chest, Liu Yimei laughed, "It seems that 73 matches over 11 months didn't drain your energy. Do you ever get tired, Bruno? But I'm sorry…"
The two stayed in bed a while longer, enjoying each other's company. Eventually, Liu Yimei got up to shower, while Bruno lay back, listening to the sound of running water and replaying last night's events in his mind.
At one point, she had clung to him and asked, "Are all European men this incredible?"
Bruno hadn't known how to answer.
Though his body was that of a European man, he still considered himself, deep down, an Eastern man. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been reflecting on his past life during the World Cup final or secretly flying back east twice.
...
The water stopped, and Bruno's thoughts were interrupted.
Wrapped in a towel, Liu Yimei stepped out of the bathroom to find Bruno still lying in bed.
"Are you here in China for vacation?" she asked.
Though she wasn't a die-hard soccer fan, Liu Yimei knew that the World Cup had been the most talked-about event recently. She also knew the man before her had led Portugal to the championship. His performance had made him a global superstar, with some even starting to call him a "football king."
Her curvaceous figure was evident even under the towel, and she had deliberately tied it low, revealing much of her chest—an enticing sight.
Bruno's eyes were glued to her, and he absentmindedly murmured, "Yeah…"
Noticing his gaze, Liu Yimei smirked. She glanced down and then untied her towel.
The white fabric fell to the floor, revealing her flawless, porcelain-like skin.
Bruno felt a surge of desire once more.
She climbed onto the bed, straddled him, and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Do you like what you see?"
Bruno nodded.
"Can't get enough?"
Another nod.
Liu Yimei giggled.
"Silly, it's time to get up. Look at the beautiful weather outside. I don't want to spend the whole day in bed." She pointed to the window before climbing off him to get dressed.
Seeing Bruno still watching her, Liu Yimei blushed and playfully pushed him. "Stop staring and go shower! You're spending the day showing me around Beijing!"
...
The pair strolled down Beijing's bustling streets, both wearing large sunglasses. Liu Yimei had even added a ladies' straw hat to her ensemble, nearly covering her entire face. Anyone who wasn't familiar with her wouldn't recognize her at a glance.
As for Bruno, despite being a global football superstar and widely hailed as a potential "football king" after leading Portugal to a World Cup victory, few people in the East could recognize him on sight. With his large sunglasses hiding most of his face, he blended in even more easily.
Liu Yimei linked her arm with Bruno's, and to passersby, they looked like an intimate couple—albeit an unusual one. She was an Eastern woman with dark hair and golden skin, while he was a Western man.
Still, not many paid attention to them. Their disguises were effective, and mixed-race couples, while uncommon, weren't unheard of in an increasingly cosmopolitan Beijing.
The two wandered through a narrow alley and eventually arrived at a small lake.
When Liu Yimei saw the lake, she suddenly laughed.
Pointing to the water, she asked Bruno, "Do you know where we are?"
Bruno shook his head. Though he had once been a native of the East in his past life, he had rarely visited Beijing as a tourist. How could he possibly know the significance of this seemingly ordinary lake?
"Houhai," Liu Yimei said, gazing at the water with a wistful smile. "I can't believe we ended up here by chance…"
...
Bruno looked around and noticed something peculiar. The lakeside seemed to be filled with couples kissing—an unusual number of them.
While Beijing was a romantic city where public displays of affection weren't uncommon, this place was different. The sheer number of couples here was extraordinary.
In just a single minute, Bruno spotted at least ten pairs of lovers embracing and kissing without a care for the world around them.
Some even emerged from nearby alleyways, rushing to meet their partners by the lake. Without a word, they exchanged kisses as their first greeting.
"Have you noticed how many people are kissing here?" Liu Yimei asked with a chuckle.
Bruno nodded.
"That's because this is one of Beijing's most famous dating spots," she explained with a smile before turning to look at Bruno. "I can't believe we just happened to come here…"
She gazed into his eyes, and Bruno found himself looking back at her.
Perhaps it was the romantic atmosphere, or maybe it was something in the air, but Bruno leaned down and kissed her.
...
Li Ming was an ordinary photographer who had spent the entire morning at Houhai. He was hoping to capture some of the lake's most iconic "landmarks"—specifically, its countless romantic kisses.
A couple caught his eye: a woman wearing a white lace sunhat and a Western man. To Li Ming, this pair stood out more than the others. An interracial couple had an intriguing story to tell.
Then he saw the man lean down and kiss his partner.
"East meets West," he thought as he pressed the shutter on his camera.
He snapped photo after photo as the couple continued to move and interact.
As they changed positions, the woman turned to face him, and Li Ming suddenly realized something.
She looked familiar.
It hit him like a bolt of lightning: This woman is Liu Yimei! The beloved national idol!
According to media reports, Liu Yimei had canceled several appointments earlier that morning. If he remembered correctly, her mother and manager had told reporters that she was "sick and needed to rest at home."
Resting at home? Here she was at Houhai, passionately kissing a man.
...
Li Ming's instincts as a photographer and journalist kicked in. He realized he had stumbled upon a bombshell story.
Adjusting his focus, he zoomed in and kept snapping away.
The woman's identity became undeniable. He even captured the mole on the right side of her neck—an unmistakable feature.
He also took plenty of close-ups of the man accompanying her. From his lens, their relationship was obvious. The man's hand remained firmly on Liu Yimei's waist, and the couple kissed not once but several times.
Their body language exuded intimacy. Perhaps the romantic setting amplified their emotions?
Liu Yimei, a star with a squeaky-clean image, had always been portrayed as single since her breakup with a South Korean celebrity two years prior. Her mother had told the media repeatedly that she was still unattached.
But today's scene told a very different story.
Li Ming could hardly contain his excitement. He knew he had uncovered a massive scoop.
...
Completely unaware they were being photographed, Liu Yimei and Bruno wandered through Houhai Park before heading to their next destination: the Forbidden City.
"If you're visiting Beijing, you can't skip the Forbidden City," Liu Yimei had said with a laugh.
Li Ming followed them discreetly, pretending to be a tourist. His camera, however, was focused solely on the pair—capturing them from every angle.
Inside the dimly lit halls of the Forbidden City, Liu Yimei removed her sunglasses, giving Li Ming an unobstructed view of her face. There was no longer any doubt: this was Liu Yimei.
He even switched to a professional video camera, recording a five-minute clip.
In that short time, Liu Yimei and Bruno kissed twice, held hands constantly, and shared tender moments. She adjusted his hair once and straightened his collar.
Their affection was undeniable.
Li Ming was thrilled. He already had enough material to sell to the highest bidder among the nation's media outlets.
A brief mental calculation told him he could make a small fortune. Maybe I should contact her manager first and see if they're willing to pay me more to keep this private, he thought with a sly grin.
...
Liu Yimei and Bruno left the Forbidden City and hailed a taxi.
Li Ming didn't follow them. He already had everything he needed.
Now, it was time to decide which media outlet would pay the most for an exclusive scoop on Liu Yimei—a celebrity with an unblemished public image—kissing a man in public.
And that five-minute video? He'd sell it separately for an even higher price.
Wait… Maybe I should call her mother first. See if she's willing to outbid everyone else.
With that, Li Ming packed up his equipment, already savoring his windfall.
(END CHAPTER)
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