Chapter 1361: Chapter 1360: The Restless Crowd
“Professor!”
“Professor!”
Layer upon layer, wave upon wave, in an instant, the chilly Houston winter turned into a scorching hot sumr, the fiery air almost searing the skin.
Over the past three seasons, Li Wei had witnessed the ferocity of Gillette Stadium, the throngs on the streets of New York, and the wild frenzy of Wembley Stadium, but none of it compared to what was before him.
It wasn’t about the size of the crowd or the intensity of the cheers, but the youthful, innocent faces before him.
Without the tempering of society or the tests of life, despite their naivety and confusion, they still held hope for the future, believing in life, dreams, and miracles, convinced that with a long enough lever, they could move the world, confident that they could change the world with their own two hands.
Perhaps so adults, weary of the trials and hardships, may cynically strike down these youths: “Once you’ve been beaten down by society, you’ll wake up to reality.”
Dreams?
Those are luxuries.
However, Li Wei didn’t think so.
Only those who dare to dream have the motivation to pursue those dreams, only those who believe in miracles can truly realize them; so-called realism is not maturity but cowardice and pettiness after being stripped of one’s edges by the mundane world. True maturity is daring to know oneself and embrace oneself, with the courage to dream even after recognizing reality.
The power of dreams does not lie in their realization, but in the energy they bring to life, making it bearable.
Just like Annie, just like Felix, just like these middle schoolers in front of him.
If Li Wei had truly learned sothing in these four years of entering the NCAA and NFL, it was to believe in dreams, believe in miracles, and believe life held more possibilities.
Thus.
Li Wei raised his right hand high, giving high-fives to the crowd, waking a wave of excitent at the entrance, quickly pushing the atmosphere to its peak.
Behind, Watt and Ohai watched the scene wide-eyed, completely unprepared for this:
How, they wondered, did Li Wei do it?
Step by step, step by step.
Jogging along, after exchanging high-fives with the young people on the left side, Li Wei stopped, preparing to head to the right side of the passage but surprisingly turned back.
The young people on the right side, eager for high-fives, groaned in disappointnt and urged with their voices, making Li Wei smile and gesture for calm, asking for patience as he returned to the left crowd to search.
Earlier, the corner of his eye had caught a chubby figure struggling in the crowd, jumping with all his might to high-five, but unfortunately trapped and unable to jump up.
At that ti, Li Wei was moving forward quickly and couldn’t stop until all the high-fives were exchanged, then he returned, searching through the crowd.
Ethan Cotter was trying to distract his brother, missing a high-five was okay, Li Wei was not far ahead.
However, this wasn’t easy, because his brother had Down syndro, lacking patience and reason.
Today, Ethan hadn’t planned to bring his brother, because their parents disapproved, worrying that in a crowded place his brother might lose control, beco a danger, or trouble others; Ethan was only seventeen, and couldn’t even care for himself, let alone his brother.
Ethan agreed, he hadn’t intended to bring his brother along.
But his brother kept trying to please him, even took out his hidden energy bar to sweeten Ethan, hugging him tightly, pressing his head against Ethan’s shoulder, softly pleading, “I’ll be good, I promise. I, I just want to see JJ. Really, let’s make a pinky promise.”
Despite his poor coordination, stumbling even while walking, he loved football the most; they often played in the scrap-strewn empty lots in the community, those were his happiest monts, rain or shine, always loving to play ball.
Ethan… couldn’t refuse.
As soon as they arrived at the scene, Ethan regretted it.
The young people attending were indeed too many, the line entering the venue wound like a dragon, snaking around, seats quickly filled, leaving them to wait at the entrance, but the overwhelming crowd left them breathless.
His brother was well-behaved, didn’t fuss, but as the crowd beca denser and more turbulent, his brother remained oblivious, bobbing through the sea of people; Ethan grew more anxious and fearful, worried things might spiral out of control, having no ti to take stock of the scene.
Li Wei!
God, that was Li Wei!
That was Ethan’s favorite player! He knew Li Wei and Watt were good friends, but never expected to see Li Wei at today’s event.
Before, like everyone else, Ethan admired quarterbacks, admired JJ-Watt, as for running backs? In modern football, they truly lacked presence.
Until Li Wei appeared, proving through his actions, in football, no position was unimportant, none should be overlooked or ignored, if one allowed stereotypes to limit imagination, then football, a turn-based strategic ga, lost its core appeal.
Ethan admired and looked up to Li Wei as a personal hero.
Though living in Houston, Ethan’s room was filled with Kansas City Chiefs rchandise – jerseys, caps, scarves, posters, and more.
Seeing Li Wei now, Ethan was completely awestruck.
But Ethan couldn’t cheer freely for Li Wei, as he needed to care for his brother.
“Hey, get out of the way, you idiot!”
Soone on the side cursed, turning to shove Ethan’s brother, unable to push away due to the crowd, couldn’t even fully stretch his arm.
Ethan’s temper flared; no one could insult his brother, he straightened up, confronting the guy directly, “What did you say?”
“Idiot! I said idiot!” The person snarled nacingly, glancing disdainfully at the brother.
Ethan’s eyes reddened instantly, he gritted his teeth, ready to charge, but unexpectedly the bully struck first, shoving Ethan’s face back.
Things were about to blow up, the surrounding crowd pressing in tightly.
Then, a hand reached out, grabbing the bully’s wrist, twisting it gently, without much force, yet the thug stood on tiptoe, yelping, “Let go, let go!”
A voice ca from the side, “Apologize.”
The bully continued to shout nonsense, even starting to curse.
The other remained unmoved, “Apologize. Now, imdiately.”
As soon as the words fell, the wrist twisted again, making the thug scream like a chicken. “Ah, sorry, sorry. Damn God, sorry.”
“Not to , apologize to the right person.”
“Ah, my hand, it’s going to break, break. Sorry, sorry, I shouldn’t have spouted nonsense, I’m the idiot, I’m the real idiot. Sorry, please forgive .”
Looking up, who else but Li Wei could it be?
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