Dominate the Super Bowl

"Indeed, it's here."

Li Wei picked up the tactical manual, ready to turn around and leave, but inadvertently, his peripheral vision caught a glimpse of a figure wandering on the training ground outside the meeting room window.

By now, night had fallen, and Kansas City was shrouded in a peacock blue twilight. Far away, one could see the refinery's tall smokestacks standing like giants at the edge of the sky, propping up the myriad stars above. There were no lights on the training ground, just the office building's, still not extinguished, casting scattered and sparse light downwards, faintly outlining wisps of light and shadow.

That figure, like a wandering soul.

Wait, is that—

Number eleven?

Picking up the tactical manual, Li Wei hurried down the stairs. Instead of heading to the parking lot, he walked toward the training ground, his feet once again feeling the softness of the grass the whole way.

The figure did not continue moving forward but instead found a spot at random, sat down cross-legged, back facing the office building, completely unaware of someone approaching.

Li Wei lightened and slowed his footsteps, stopping not far behind number eleven, following his gaze, pondered for a moment, then it dawned on him.

"Is that the direction of Arrowhead Stadium?"

Startled by the voice, number eleven turned around, and upon realizing it was Li Wei, he couldn't help but chuckle, "Caught me, huh?"

The home field of the Kansas City Chiefs was Arrowhead Stadium, but the training base was not there.

The training base was only a five-minute drive from Arrowhead Stadium, also within walking distance. It featured two training fields, one complete football field, and an indoor stadium, open all year round and always bustling with people.

If fans wanted, they could come to the training base any time to watch practice and cheer on the team.

And at this moment, the Kansas City Chiefs' starting quarterback, wearing the number eleven jersey, Smith, was sitting on the training ground of the training base, gazing at Arrowhead Stadium.

Li Wei was somewhat surprised.

Actually, Li Wei and Smith had always maintained a certain distance. Rather than friends, teammates was a more suitable term for them.

On one hand, because Smith was typically low-key and introverted, not much of a talker and rarely heard in the locker room; on the other hand, because Li Wei and Mahomes were good friends, and Mahomes was coveting Smith's starting position, making their relationship somewhat delicate.

However, after a whole season, the two were on good terms.

Smith was a person of gentle character, neither sharp nor edgy, and he was willing to share. If Li Wei had questions, he was more than happy to answer them. During games, the occasional tactical exchange went very smoothly; in fact, not just with Li Wei, if Mahomes had questions, he would also answer them without reservation.

As a teammate, as a mentor, as a quarterback, Smith was a great partner.

Tonight.

Li Wei had not anticipated Smith staying behind after everyone else and not leaving the training base, and even appearing on the training field, bathing in the starlight as he looked towards Arrowhead Stadium.

All these actions revealed a kind of strangeness.

And it was precisely because of this that even though they were not friends, and they never drank or partook in social gatherings outside of training and matches, maintaining a strictly professional relationship; as teammates, noticing Smith's oddity, Li Wei felt he had an obligation to ask.

Looking at Smith, hesitating for a moment, Li Wei still sat down beside him.

Smith seldom initiated conversation, but tonight seemed to be an exception. Sensing Li Wei's movement, he actually spoke first.

"Hey, do you believe it? This is only the third playoff victory in my entire thirteen-year career."

Li Wei was slightly taken aback—

So, that's it. The reason is right here.

People always emphasize the significance of a playoff victory for the Kansas City Chiefs, but no one mentioned its significance for the players.

Like Smith.

Li Wei shrugged lightly, "I think you might have asked the wrong person."

Smith was startled, "Ha, rookie, right, how could I forget about that? You know nothing about football; you don't even recognize Brady. How could you possibly know about my playoff performance?"

His words carried a hint of self-deprecatory bitterness.

Li Wei's eyebrows lifted slightly, "Sorry?"

The uncertainty in his voice made Smith laugh outright, "No, you don't need to apologize. To be precise, I should thank you, thank you for bringing us this victory."

As Li Wei was about to speak, Smith uncharacteristically interrupted him.

"I know what you want to say, it's the team's victory, but we all know that the person who had the courage to stand firm and lead the team forward at the last moment was you."

"Or perhaps I should say, I don't know if it was you, but it definitely wasn't me."

The words were slightly sharp but not grating on the ears.

Rather than envy or anger, they were tinged with self-mockery and bitterness. Even if it was an attack, it was directed at Smith himself.

Suddenly, Li Wei understood—

The post-game press conference.

Normally, the quarterback should be the biggest hero of a playoff victory, but clearly, Smith had been overlooked; there was no comparison with Li Wei, and even Mariota received more attention. The passes from Mariota to Mariota remained a hot topic of conversation after the game.

For Smith, it was also a milestone victory. His performance was still notable, with a solid start in the first half and consecutive successful passes in the last offensive push of the second half. His consistent performance laid the foundation for Li Wei's subsequent runs.

Regrettably, no one cared.

Upon reflection, if he were in Li Wei's shoes, he'd inevitably feel dejected, too.

So, how should he comfort Smith?

Li Wei, "Alex..."

Smith noticed the awkwardness in Li Wei's words, and he ended up laughing at himself, "Sorry, I vented at the wrong target. You are probably the least suitable person to confide in." Discover hidden content at My Virtual Library Empire

Li Wei smiled in response, "Think about it from another angle; I am the only right person to confide in. Sorry, I didn't mean to steal your thunder."

The latter part of his speech was said in a teasing tone. Smith was about to argue, but he couldn't help but be amused by Li Wei's tone, "Why does it sound like you're not sorry at all?"

Li Wei nodded earnestly, "Sorry, I'm not sorry at all."

"Haha," Smith burst into laughter, "You don't have to be sorry. Without you, we might have lost today, and that would have felt even worse."

"I just..."

He took a deep breath.

"I just hope that I can take up the responsibility, play the role of the quarterback, and help the team win. I don't want to be a replaceable part; I want to be a member of the team, fighting alongside you."

As he spoke, his voice gradually quieted.

"You know? More than once, I've wondered if my pride has been holding back the team's victory. Maybe, I'm not as good as I think; maybe, without me, the team could go further in the playoffs."

Li Wei was stunned.

He never knew that Smith had such troubles:

As the quarterback standing in the spotlight, it naturally came with corresponding responsibilities; if one couldn't bear it, the overwhelming pressure could completely break all resilience.