Lu Ke and Leonardo sat quietly in the stands, watching the red sea of people slowly recede. The commotion and excitement gradually subsided, and soon the entire Candlestick Park returned to its original state. The vibrant colors seemed to fade into a black-and-white landscape. A breathtaking hush fell over the vast, empty space.
The two men sat in silence, admiring the grandeur and beauty of the moment. They enjoyed a rare period of peace, undisturbed and without the need for conversation. This was true for Leonardo and also for Lu Ke, who was gradually becoming a figure in the spotlight.
"I think I should go back to the locker room," Lu Ke said, breaking the silence with a smile. "I need to take a shower and a cold bath. I probably need to relax my muscles. The team doctor is probably looking for me by now."
Especially after the ups and downs of today's game, the fatigue in his right arm muscles needed more physical therapy. Otherwise, if he got into a similar situation in every game, he couldn't guarantee that he would be able to survive each time.
"You know, athletes always have a routine to follow. It's to prolong our careers and to ensure our health outside of sports," Lu Ke joked, his simple words carrying a hint of teasing.
Leonardo couldn't help but chuckle and nodded repeatedly. "Of course. Please forgive my rudeness. I'd better not delay the Bay Area's King's rest and recovery. Otherwise, if something goes wrong in the next game, I'll be in trouble."
The King of the Bay Area. The phrase, hidden in a bunch of other words, was seemingly calm but held a touch of mockery. Leonardo had also teased Lu Ke, an exchange that made them equal friends.
Lu Ke didn't argue but accepted the teasing with a smile. "By that logic, what are you? The King of Hollywood?" This was his way of accepting the praise and turning the tables on him.
Leonardo opened his mouth, instinctively wanting to argue, but seeing Lu Ke's nonchalant expression, he realized that in terms of wit, he was at a disadvantage. If he continued to tease him, he would only put himself at a disadvantage. So he changed the subject. "Hohoho, relax, relax. I'm not a New York Giants fan, and I'm not a news reporter. I'm just..."
"You're just the King of Hollywood," Lu Ke seamlessly finished Leonardo's sentence. The two paused for a moment before bursting into laughter. The atmosphere became more relaxed and cheerful.
After they had finished laughing, Leonardo took the initiative to extend an invitation. "If you ever have the chance, you should come to Los Angeles and attend a movie premiere."
Without a second thought, Lu Ke smiled and shook his head in refusal. "That's not my kind of stage. I'll stick to practicing my passes on the training field. But thank you for the invitation. I know it's an opportunity many people would dream of."
"No, I'm serious," Leonardo interrupted, his face full of sincerity. Then, seeing Lu Ke's surprised expression, he added, "I believe the reporters would welcome your arrival with open arms. Even in Hollywood, you would have a place. Of course, if you're willing, I can also introduce you to some actor friends and invite you to some parties... It's a familiar routine, but it's quite interesting if you get into it."
Hollywood? Although Lu Ke had spent four years in Los Angeles for college, which was the center of the world's film industry, he knew very little about Hollywood. He had barely even seen a few movies. The last time he went to a movie theater was a long time ago. If he wanted to watch a movie, renting a disc or streaming it online was a more direct option. But even then, he hadn't done that in a long, long time.
Just as he was about to refuse, another thought crossed Lu Ke's mind. "You know what? Maybe in the future, if I get a movie premiere ticket, I could give it to someone else?" To avoid misunderstanding, he quickly explained, "I mean, my parents are huge movie lovers. They still go to the movies every week." Lu Zhengze and Jiang Youning were pure movie lovers, not the kind who studied films intensely but simply enjoyed it as a form of relaxation. It had been this way since they were in China. After they immigrated, they continued this hobby. At first, they used it to practice their daily English, so they made a point of going to the movies every week, but it gradually became a habit. Because Lu Ke wasn't very interested in movies, their weekly movie time became a rare chance for Lu Zhengze and Jiang Youning to enjoy their time alone.
Leonardo looked surprised. "Of course. If you need it, I can give you a few more premiere tickets. You can bring your friends. Just give me a heads-up." After a moment's pause, Leonardo still found it hard to believe. "Are you serious? Your parents go to the movies every week? I thought they were sports fans, just like you."
"I'll tell you a secret. My father's English name is Jack. It comes from..." Lu Ke didn't finish his sentence and looked at Leonardo. Leonardo was puzzled at first, but then he came to a sudden realization, his eyes widening in disbelief as he looked at Lu Ke. "Are you serious?"
"No offense, but it's true," Lu Ke said with a sincere smile.
In fact, the first time they met, they had talked about Titanic. The age gap between Lu Ke and Leonardo was larger than expected, a full fifteen years. Now, the two had unexpectedly become friends. In a way, could this be considered a friendship between generations?
Leonardo slowly came to his senses, shrugging, trying to pretend he didn't care. "No problem, of course. I mean, sure, that's... uh, a possibility. Besides, Jack is a very common name..." After fumbling for his words, he paused. "Wait, are you sure? Your father decided on his English name after watching..."
"'Titanic,' yes, I'm sure," Lu Ke said, sensing Leonardo's "breakdown." He couldn't seem to believe it, which made Lu Ke laugh heartily.
Leonardo frowned, still in disbelief. "What about your mother? Her name...?" After saying it, Leonardo regretted it. He couldn't continue with his question and just stared at Lu Ke. He realized that Lu Ke wasn't going to say anything, and his heart sank. He felt like he was digging a hole for himself and getting deeper and deeper. What was going on?
After a deliberate pause, Lu Ke saw the conflicted look on Leonardo's face and finally delivered the punchline. "No, my mother's name is Anne. Her name comes from Shakespeare's wife, Anne Hathaway." Later, an actress also named Anne Hathaway entered the public eye and became an overnight sensation with The Princess Diaries, but Jiang Youning's English name was chosen long before that.
Leonardo let out a long sigh of relief. Although he knew it wasn't necessary, a huge weight had been lifted off his shoulders. He nodded repeatedly. "Anne is a good name, yes, Anne is a good name." The look of relief on his face was truly funny.
Lu Ke decided he shouldn't add insult to injury. Originally, Lu Ke had wanted to say that Lu Zhengze and Jiang Youning both loved Titanic and that they would be very happy if Leonardo could sign something for them or if they could meet in person next time. But seeing Leonardo's lingering fear, Lu Ke was convinced he shouldn't scare away his new friend.
He escorted Leonardo to the VIP entrance, which led directly to a private parking lot, away from the celebratory crowds of fans. He watched as Leonardo took a dark blue baseball cap from his back pocket and zipped up his jacket, hiding his face. His broad back looked a little comical. Lu Ke tilted his head slightly. He had a feeling that the Leonardo he saw in the paparazzi's photos was always wearing the same outfit. He looked like an ordinary middle-aged man or a walking meme.
Lu Ke couldn't help but laugh again.
He turned and walked back to the locker room. His teammates were still making a fuss, and they all came up to Lu Ke to high-five him and cheer. "Man, that's awesome! You're really something! You even made a connection in Hollywood. Are you going to be a movie star next?"
"Ha. Ha. Very funny." Lu Ke's forced smile did nothing to stop the gossiping guys. He wondered why he had never known that athletes could be so gossipy.
If it weren't for the timely appearance of team doctor Walter Hudson, Lu Ke would have been completely torn apart. Walter gave a stern look at the players. "Get to work, now! Don't bother Lu Ke. He needs to get checked out. There was an incident in today's game. He might not be so lucky in the future." After saying that, Walter quickly walked toward the medical room, motioning for Lu Ke to follow.
Lu Ke, who was behind, spread his hands and made a pitiful expression. Then he dejectedly followed Walter, his feet dragging. The vivid action made everyone burst into laughter, but under Walter's stare, they had to shut up. It was hard to hold back their laughter.
🗒️NOTE:
New chapters drop Three times a day, every Monday through Sunday! Plus, you have the power to unlock more: we'll release Three bonus chapters for every 300 votes! Let's get this story moving together.
Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/MistaQuartz
Explore up to 30 chapters in advance!