In life, people are always searching for a guidebook or an answer.
It seems that if you just follow the guide, you can solve the puzzle of life and find an answer; but reality is not like that. You can read all the books, learn all the principles, and study all the methods, yet still not find happiness.
Watt fell silent for a brief moment, lost in thought. When he snapped back to reality, he felt a bit embarrassed. He hadn't expected to spill so much all at once.
"Phew, sorry," Watt said, regaining his composure and finding his usual footing—
He was the eldest in the Watt family; he needed to be the pillar for his parents and the role model for his two younger brothers. He was the highest-paid player on the Houston Texans; he needed to be the leader who would carry the team forward and shoulder the hopes of a championship.
"Haha." Lance chuckled over the phone, completely unconcerned, and even made a playful jab. "Now I have your weakness, JJ. Be careful—you really don't want to get on my bad side."
Watt laughed as well. "Even if you didn't have anything on me, I wouldn't dare provoke you. Otherwise, what if I get myself into the same situation next season?"
A clever counter.
"Haha," Lance laughed heartily but didn't keep joking around. His smile faded as he got serious. "JJ, it's okay to not be okay."
Watt paused. "What?"
Lance continued, "I mean, it's okay to be hurt, it's okay to be vulnerable, it's okay to be confused, it's okay to be angry. Everyone thinks Captain America is a machine, without feelings or personality. But actually, he's a real person—a flesh-and-blood human being. Sure, maybe just a little stronger than most."
Watt chuckled softly. "Yeah, just a little bit."
Lance replied, "You can be frustrated; you can be confused. You don't need to be perfect. What matters is that you're still fighting, still holding on."
"JJ, I don't have the answers when it comes to injuries."
"Eric… I don't know how to comfort him or motivate him either. Any words I say just feel like empty platitudes. And it's also because his situation is familiar. We all might face that challenge someday."
"So…"
"We take it one day at a time. Don't think about tomorrow, don't think about the future. One step at a time, starting with the simplest, most basic training."
"What do you say, JJ? Are you sure you want to invite me to train with you? My training intensity…"
Watt's voice immediately perked up. "What about your training intensity?"
Lance replied, "My training intensity might be a bit much for you. You might not be able to handle it."
"Hahaha!" Watt laughed heartily.
Lance continued, "Back then, you might have barely kept up. But now? You're just coming back from injury. We should take it easy, right?"
That teasing, that playfulness.
Watt laughed even louder. "Man, I'll see you at training camp. I'm ready for it."
Lance shrugged. "Alright then. I warned you. See you at camp."
The call ended.
Watt still held the receiver in his hand, a trace of amusement lingering in his eyes.
Watt knew Lance was a special guy. Not because of the victories or the fame, but because of their brief clash on the field. The spirit and determination that Lance showed had left an impression.
Today further confirmed it.
One step at a time, focusing on the present—
He could do that.
It looked like Lance was itching for another showdown with him, even if it wasn't on the field, but in the training grounds.
That was perfect. He was looking forward to it too.
"JJ, how did it go?"
Derek pushed open the door to the hall, with TJ following behind, car keys in hand.
"Now you can tell us, right? Who are you inviting? You've been so mysterious," TJ asked, eyes filled with anticipation.
Watt finally stopped being secretive. "Lance."
Derek was completely stunned.
TJ pumped his fists and shouted, "Oh yeah! Oh! Yeah! Derek, I told you, didn't I? Lance! JJ and I were thinking the same thing—it had to be Lance!"
Derek blinked in disbelief. "He agreed? But… I thought he would train with Brady."
"Hey, Derek, are you getting scared already? Legs shaking? Word is that Lance is a workout monster too, and he plays the same position as you," TJ teased, nudging Derek's shoulder playfully.
Derek: … Get lost.
But TJ wouldn't stop. "What do you think? When JJ and Lance meet up, who's the bigger beast?"
Watt spread his hands. "Come on, guys. Have a little faith in me."
While the Watt brothers were fooling around, Lance was dialing Donald Yu's number.
Offseason training might not be popular, but it wasn't rare either. And if you were going to train, it was best to train with the best. Even if it was just technical and physical conditioning, the benefits were enormous.
And not just in terms of skills—connections and resources were an extra bonus.
Naturally, the personal training camps hosted by top players were highly sought after, much like the long-standing brotherhoods at Ivy League universities. Everyone wanted to be a part of them, but not everyone got the chance.
Donald Yu had his own resources—
Tom Brady.
Every year, Brady would hold a mini-camp in the offseason. It wasn't long—sometimes just a week, sometimes two. Countless players wanted to join, but Brady was selective.
This year, Donald had hoped to get Lance into Brady's camp.
In Donald's eyes, it was a win-win: not only would the training improve Lance's form, but the PR side would create buzz—
Especially for Brady.
After all, Brady had lost to Lance twice in one season. Whether Brady liked it or not, the "Brady vs. Lance" rivalry was spreading like wildfire and was destined to be a major talking point next season. If Brady could invite Lance to his camp, it would show his magnanimity and elevate his image.
Unfortunately…
Lance now had to turn it down.
"Hey, Lance, give me three seconds," Donald said as he picked up the call, quickly wrapping up what he was doing.
"Sorry about that. I was in a meeting, getting things ready for the offseason," Donald explained.
Free agency. The draft.
Truth be told, the offseason was when Donald really shone.
"As for the offseason training, the team's all set. You can start whenever you're ready."
"As for Tom, he and Gisele took the kids to Cancun. His camp won't be anytime soon—not until they're back from vacation, at least."
"So, you can stick to your own training schedule for now."
Donald rattled off information swiftly and systematically, as always.
But despite the calm and detailed delivery, Lance still picked up on the hidden message.
Lance asked, "So, basically, Tom hasn't given you a definite answer yet, right?"
Donald: …
Lance was just too sharp.
When Donald first proposed the idea to Brady, Brady immediately shot it down. It wasn't that he had a problem with Lance or held a grudge; it was simply that, "I'm not a babysitter, and I'm not spending my offseason looking after your client."
That was all there was to it.
Then Brady went on vacation, turned off his phone, and ignored everyone—except for Belichick.
So Donald had tried to gloss over the details.
But actually, it worked out perfectly.
Lance said, "Actually, Donald, I won't be able to join Tom's camp this year anyway."
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Powerstones?
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