N'Golo Kanté lived in an apartment complex on the outskirts of London.
Le Kai pulled over by the roadside and looked out at the lively street below, hesitating for a moment before getting out of the car.
"Did your agent help you find this place?" Le Kai asked.
For professional players, privacy aside, most could easily afford more secluded residences.
He genuinely hadn't expected Kanté to live in such a busy area. There was heavy foot traffic outside, and a small shopping mall right downstairs.
Kanté smiled shyly. "No… I find it myself. My agent, he very busy. Many things to do."
Le Kai nodded slightly.
It was obvious Kanté's agent hadn't fully shifted his focus onto him yet. Once Kanté truly broke out, that same agent would probably be hovering around him all day.
After saying goodbye to Kanté, he drove home.
He arrived before four in the afternoon.
Once inside, he took a quick shower, then headed straight to the kitchen to make dinner. His cooking wasn't anything special, but pan-frying a chicken breast was manageable. A sprinkle of black pepper, and that was that.
He finished the meal quickly.
Checking the time, Kai saw it wasn't even five yet.
He had no intention of doing extra training today. With the Premier League about to begin, adjusting his condition was more important than pushing himself.
He sat down on the sofa, turned on the television, and casually flipped through channels.
Sports programs had already shifted into full Premier League preview mode.
Some shows were even running early-season polls, asking viewers to predict the Premier League winner after all thirty-eight rounds.
Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Manchester City were all receiving plenty of votes.
Although Arsenal had won the Premier League last season, the league itself was famously unforgiving. No team dominated year after year, which was why many pundits were backing Chelsea instead.
With Mourinho at the helm, they believed Chelsea could reclaim European glory.
Liverpool, after their strong campaign last season, was also attracting confidence.
Manchester City, meanwhile, had stumbled late, losing both the title race and Champions League qualification. Many believed that setbacks would only make them more dangerous.
Next came long segments breaking down predicted lineups for the new season.
Kai was halfway bored when the doorbell rang.
He stood up, walked to the door, and checked the entry system. A familiar round face appeared on the screen.
Barnett.
Kai opened the door, genuinely surprised. "What are you doing here?"
Barnett snorted. "Don't talk like I'm some heartless agent who ignores his players."
Kai shrugged and stepped aside to let him in.
Heading toward the fridge, he asked, "Iced water?"
"Iced water, please," Barnett replied without hesitation.
Kai handed him a bottle, glanced him up and down, and said, "You just get back from a business trip?"
Barnett froze. "How did you know?"
Kai smiled faintly. "Suit, tie, polished shoes. You look like you're heading to a banquet."
Barnett laughed, loosened his tie, undid a couple of buttons, and let out a long sigh. "That already feels much better."
"So," Kai said, sitting back down, "what's this about?"
Knowing his personality, Barnett went straight to the point. "Your national broadcaster contacted me. They want to film you."
Kai raised an eyebrow. "CCTV?"
He didn't usually refuse requests like that.
"The filming period is long," Barnett added.
"How long?" Kai asked, slightly wary.
Barnett raised one finger. "One full season."
Kai blinked, then laughed. "That's impossible. I have training, closed sessions, and match-day restrictions. The club would never allow it."
"They already have," Barnett replied calmly.
Kai stared at him. "They agreed? How?"
Barnett smiled knowingly. "You're underestimating the Chinese market. Arsenal wants to expand there, and you're the key. Your national media exposure helps your standing back home, and it helps Arsenal's global reach. It's a win-win."
So the interests had lined up.
Kai leaned back and grinned. "Alright, but what exactly are they filming? I don't have time for daily interviews."
"Once a week," Barnett explained. "Vlog-style, documentary format. Your daily life, training, and matches. A dedicated crew will follow you. They've even asked me to find a place near your home to make filming easier."
Le Kai frowned slightly. "So… it's basically a show?"
Barnett nodded. "Yes. Centered on you. Working title is Giant Star Road."
Le Kai rubbed his forehead, half amused, half embarrassed. "That name is a bit much."
He had only just begun to build momentum, and already they were calling it a 'giant star.'
It felt too exaggerated.
Kai looked at him and asked , "So—what's your opinion?"
Barnett leaned back slightly and said calmly, "Accept their invitation."
Kai looked up at him. "Why?"
"There are two reasons," Barnett replied without hesitation.
"First, this helps solidify your image back home. It boosts your popularity and standing. You're playing football in Europe, but you can't afford to lose touch with your own country—especially the Chinese market. Trust me, that market will become a long-term asset for you."
He continued, "Second, I know you're not a fan of hype. But the truth is, a certain level of publicity is unavoidable if you want to become a star. Without exposure, no one knows who you are. And this is official national media. Compared to commercial outlets, it's much more controlled. We can be comfortable with it."
Kai rubbed his temples, thinking for a moment before responding, "One filming day per week. No more than four hours each time."
Barnett smiled. "All of that can be discussed. Your opinion will be respected."
Kai nodded.
At that moment, Barnett stood up and walked over to the window. He glanced toward the villa next door and said thoughtfully, "That place looks empty. They could stay there. If the budget's tight, I can help cover part of it."
Kai fell silent. "…"
For some reason, Barnett seemed unusually enthusiastic about the whole thing.
Clearly, the man was still dreaming of turning his players into full-blown superstars.
But if it were that easy, everyone would be doing it.
After the discussion, Barnett took his leave.
Kai didn't particularly oppose the arrangement. As long as it didn't interfere with his daily routine or training, he could live with it.
Players and the media were inseparable—especially in modern football.
Even if he personally disliked it, compromise was sometimes unavoidable.
With the filming matter settled, Kai stopped dwelling on it. When the time came, they'd handle it naturally.
For now, his focus was elsewhere.
The new Premier League season.
...
Time passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye, two days were gone.
North London came alive once again.
The 2014/2015 Premier League season was about to officially kick off.
Arsenal would open their campaign at home against Crystal Palace.
Crystal Palace had finished 11th the previous season. They'd narrowly avoided disaster after a poor first half, managing to steady themselves after January.
Still, Arsenal couldn't afford to take anything lightly.
This was the Premier League.
Upsets happened every week.
As Champions League qualifiers and title contenders, any early stumble would invite endless ridicule.
And with so many eyes on them, Arsenal simply couldn't afford to lose face.
August 16th. 3:00 PM.
Streams of Arsenal supporters, dressed head to toe in red and white, poured toward the Emirates Stadium.
Three months had passed since the last celebrations. The long wait was over—the Premier League was finally back.
This opening fixture attracted enormous media attention.
Fans were eager to see what Arsenal would look like after reinforcing their squad.
Had they really improved?
Could this be the season they took another step forward?
Inside the stadium, the atmosphere steadily rose.
The Gunners' chants echoed around the stands, growing louder and louder as kickoff approached.
The press box was noticeably more crowded than the previous season—more than twice as many reporters.
Arsenal were, without question, one of the league's biggest talking points.
Everyone wanted the first story of the new campaign.
Then, the familiar voice of Sky Sports filled the broadcast.
Martin Taylor's voice rang out with energy.
"Good afternoon, everyone. The three-month wait is finally over, and the 2014/2015 Premier League season is about to get underway."
"Arsenal versus Crystal Palace here in North London. First game, first test—and Arsenal will be keen to make a statement."
Alongside him, Alan Smith added with a chuckle, "There's no such thing as an easy opening day in this league, Martin. Palace won't roll over, but Arsenal will fancy their chances at home."
Martin continued, "This is the Emirates Stadium—the home of Arsenal."
"And now, let's welcome the Gunners back for the start of a brand-new Premier League season."
The roar from the stands answered him immediately.
. . .
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