Dominate the Super Bowl

January in Tuscaloosa was not cold, with a gentle breeze blowing and the sun lazily spilling over, exhibiting the leisurely and relaxed atmosphere of the Southern climate.

The students at the University of Alabama went about their business, starting a brand-new day in an orderly fashion, while the fervor of yesterday's Crimson Tide Storm championship win still spread throughout the campus, with traces of the celebration lingering in the air.

However, Donald Yee was highly focused, intently watching Li Wei in front of him, undisturbed by the surrounding environment.

After yesterday's game, Donald saw a quality in Li Wei, a distinctive temperament he had been searching for, ardently desiring.

It made Donald believe that he should sign Li Wei at all costs.

But because of that very desire, because of his urgency, he needed to stay calm, steady, and rational, aware that this young man wouldn't be easy to fool—

He liked that. He liked players who could think, who used their brains.

So, Donald met Li Wei's gaze, still maintaining his smile.

"I will tell you, Li Wei, you are making a mistake,"

"You should choose me."

Donald said calmly, noticing the smile in Li Wei's eyes that held a hint of teasing, but he didn't mind.

"Do you know why I am here?"

"Because I believe in you, because I believe in your uniqueness and singularity."

"Do you know why I am neither hurried nor anxious?"

"Because I know about your reasoning and intelligence, even as we speak right now, you are not overwhelmed, you are clearly aware of what is happening, and you can analyze the situation calmly."

Li Wei was somewhat surprised, even Saban and Burns hadn't shown this level of trust. In their eyes, they always regarded him as a child—

Not that it was bad, both Saban and Burns, as well as his parents, considered his welfare; but they had not seen the deep, intrinsic change in his soul.

But Donald had.

Li Wei's mouth quirked slightly, making a joke, "Should I be happy, or should I worry about a stalker?"

Donald understood right away, rarely showing a smile, "No need to worry, I just watched the Peach Bowl and yesterday's game a dozen times. Just the highlights."

So that's how it was.

Donald continued.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

"Li Wei, I do not want to discuss contracts and money with you. Trust me, you will make a lot of money, an unimaginable amount, even to the point that it may break the barrier for a running back's salary so that to you, money will be just a series of numbers, with one zero more or less making no difference."

"The fact is, money can buy almost anything, but it cannot buy immortality, because that must be fought for on your own."

This was a surprise.

Li Wei admitted he had not anticipated this.

Donald made a gesture, inviting Li Wei to sit with him on a bench, his composed, confident, and calm demeanor on display.

Then, Donald looked into Li Wei's eyes, slowing his speech and lowering his voice, exuding a sense of certainty, his belief shining brightly.

"Now, I will look into your eyes and tell you what will happen in the future."

"You are a rookie, who had never played football before the spring training camp last April, but in just one year, you have amazed everyone."

"You will win the Heisman Trophy, you will enter the NFL through the draft, you will win the Super Bowl, and you will dazzle the world as an outsider."

"Not just in the United States, not just in Hua Xia, but the whole world loves such stories, and goes crazy for them."

"So, people will put you on a pedestal, God, they definitely will,"

Donald's voice was trembling slightly, suppressed emotions leaking out from his lips, his eyes, and his tightly clenched fists, revealing a hint of exhilaration.

"Because when you're at your best, you are the most dazzling presence on the field, we will love you, we will worship you, we will submit to you,"

"You're a rookie, you're Hua Xia descent, you're an anomaly, you're a miracle that's never happened before on the football field, we will craft you into a deity that doesn't exist in reality, just like Michael Jordan, just like Tiger Woods, just like Diego Maradona, just like Roger Federer, and then, you will completely change the world."

A pause.

"But, do you know?"

"After the world puts you on a pedestal, they will try to pull you down, it's the most predictable pattern, people love to make gods and they love to destroy them even more."

"We will shape you into a character that's never been seen before, which means you will have to strive to meet the expectations, strive to be the person we expect, strive to be that perfect being spoken of by the media and the people."

"Every minute, every hour, every day, every month, every year, day and night, persistently."

"But,"

"Once you show even a small flaw, or even just fall slightly short of expectations, you will be attacked, betrayed, slandered, humiliated, and devastated, those forces will come crashing down trying to completely destroy your existence."

"You'll face all of that."

"Countless people manage to climb to the pinnacle of fame and fortune, but what really destroys them are the downhill slopes, the setbacks, the difficulties, and the bumps because those will be the moments you fight alone and also the moments that test your soul."

"Great achievements come at great cost."

"The countless skeletal remains that have fallen on the downhill path, in the Abyss, they can't even be counted, but what will you do?"

"Can you muster the courage to overcome the obstacles, continue to fight and climb back to the top?"

"'Who are you, Li Wei?' This is the question that will define your life."

"I think you already know the answer, that's why I'm here. Yesterday's final, you gave your answer through your performance, giving me conviction and determination."

Taking a deep breath, Donald's gaze was firmer than ever, looking straight at Li Wei."

"Li Wei, I am nothing."

"To put it bluntly, I'm just an agent, a normal person without any special abilities, only having value standing by your side."

"Whether it's me or other agents, we're all nobodies, we need your existence to give our lives meaning, to enable us to touch greatness."

"Let me tell you, me and those agents—those agents who talk a good game—we're all the same, we all will be forgotten after we die, but you won't be."

"You will be remembered because some things are eternal and unchanging, you are Li Wei, and your story will inspire us to fight and chase our dreams,"

"Not just Clark, not just Jacobs, but every ordinary person."

"Now, Li Wei, I invite you to let me be the one standing behind greatness, to complete this journey with you."

Hum.

The air, stirring, the lazy January sunshine of Alabama falling on the skin, yet one could clearly feel that golden light burning and boiling in the blood.

Then.

Li Wei looked at Donald, without bombast or spewing passion, but his calm words carried an unyielding strength; he reached out his right hand, his smile gently rising at the corners of his mouth.

"Please guide me well, Mr. Agent."