I Just Wanted to Play Soccer, But I Became a Hollywood Heartthrob

Gu Ran could hardly believe his ears. Maria had just invited him over… to "sit and chat"? There was no way it was just that. Given her age and his youth, his mind couldn't help but wander, but he quickly forced himself to stay focused. 

"Maria, I'd love to, but I already have plans tonight. How about another time?" 

Maria's smile froze for a split second when she heard "I have plans," but then she laughed playfully. "Oh? Really? You have plans? Which young, beautiful girl are you seeing?" She crossed her arms, looking at him with a mock-scolding expression. "Gu Ran, you just finished a match. Your stamina hasn't fully recovered, and in two days, you have a crucial game that will determine your qualification. How could you waste your energy on meaningless dates?" 

Gu Ran felt speechless. She knew how important his next match was, yet she invited him out? If he had accepted, she probably would have drained him dry before the game. He quickly clarified, "No, Maria, you misunderstood. I'm not going on a date. I'm meeting a real estate agent—I'm looking for a new place to live." 

Maria giggled. "Gu, you're too cute! I was just teasing you! Look at you, rushing to explain yourself. I know you have an important match soon, so I was only testing you. If you had agreed, I would've been disappointed because it would've meant you weren't taking the game seriously." 

Gu Ran sighed. She really knew how to mess with him. 

Maria smoothed out the collar of his jacket. "Alright, alright, I won't tease you anymore. You're probably exhausted. After your house viewing, get some rest. If you need anything… you have my number. Bye-bye~" 

Before he could react, she leaned in, her fiery red lips lightly grazing his earlobe before turning away with a graceful sway of her hips. Her Chanel perfume lingered in the air, teasing his senses. 

His heart pounded wildly. If she had stayed a second longer, he wasn't sure if he could've held back. These older women… they were just too damn seductive. She didn't say much or make any explicit moves, yet he felt as if his whole body was tingling. One day, he would… No, no—that wasn't his thought. That was just his young body reacting instinctively. If anything, this just proved he was perfectly healthy. Still a respectable man. 

He took a deep breath, inhaling the lingering scent of her perfume, before finally hailing a taxi. 

Since it wasn't too late yet, Gu Ran went to meet the real estate agent. Housing prices in Southampton weren't cheap. With the money in his bank account, buying a luxury seaside villa was out of the question. But he wasn't planning to stay in Southampton forever anyway. Renting was the smarter option. 

His requirements were simple: a private, standalone villa with good security, a location by the sea with a private beach, and a backyard big enough for football training. Finding a beachfront property with these specifications was rare and expensive. After a full day of searching, the agent only found one suitable villa. 

It was near the famous Sand Dune Beach. The front yard opened directly to the sea, with a private dock and a small yacht. The backyard faced rolling hills, with enough space for a half-sized football field. It had a swimming pool and a basement gym. The villa was fully furnished and move-in ready. It had been used as a luxury vacation rental—but because of its high price, barely anyone ever booked it. 

After a full tour, Gu Ran was very satisfied. With its ocean in the front and hills in the back, this place was prime real estate. He turned to the agent. "How much is the rent?" 

The agent put on his professional smile. "As a vacation rental, it's 500 pounds per night. But for long-term rental, I can negotiate the price for you—1 month: 10,000 pounds. 6 months: 50,000 pounds." 

Gu Ran didn't even bother negotiating. "80,000 pounds. One-year lease. Plus the yacht." 

The agent's jaw dropped. "W-What? Are you serious?" 

Gu Ran turned to leave. "If that doesn't work, forget it." 

"Wait, wait! It works! But… you need to pay a deposit first. And for a full-year lease, you must pay upfront." 

Damn, he probably offered too much. He took out his phone. "Give me your company's bank details." 

The agent quickly provided the info. Gu Ran transferred the full 80,000 pounds immediately. When the agent received the confirmation, he was completely stunned. At first, he thought Gu Ran was just some young, curious window shopper—there was no way a kid like him could afford such an expensive rental. But within ten minutes, the deal was closed. And he paid in full! 

This was a goddamn rich Chinese daddy! The agent's attitude instantly changed. "Mr. Gu, you have impeccable taste! And such generosity!" 

"I'll have the place cleaned immediately, and your lease prepared. You can move in anytime tomorrow!" 

Then, lowering his voice, he winked and said, "By the way, if you ever want to throw… you know, a special kind of party, I can introduce you to some high-quality girls…" 

Holy crap. This guy wasn't just a real estate agent—he was a full-service provider. 

Too bad. Gu Ran wasn't interested. He shook his head. "No thanks. I like peace and quiet. I'll move in tomorrow at noon." 

"Understood, Mr. Gu!" 

With that, everything was settled. Time to go home. Tonight, he'd look into getting a cryotherapy chamber. If he could set it up before the next match, he'd be in peak condition. Of course, he'd need Maria's help to operate it… 

That night, Coach Carter entered the old "Pink Mermaid Bar." At the counter, Old Lais was sitting with his usual fisherman's hat, holding a glass of milk. Carter sat beside him. "One Captain Morgan! On Lais' tab!" 

Old Lais rolled his eyes. "Same old Carter." 

Carter downed the rum in one gulp. "Ahhh! Refreshing!" Then, grinning, he said, "Lais, I KNEW you'd show up to watch the match." 

Lais shrugged. "I wasn't planning to. My boat needed repairs in London, so I happened to be free." 

"HAHAHA!" Carter laughed heartily. "Oh, come on! Admit it! You still love football!" 

Lais remained silent. Carter leaned in, eyes shining. "Lais, did you see him? That insane sprint speed? That 'pass to himself three seconds later' move? His sky-high football IQ? Lais, you've struck gold! That kid has the talent of a superstar!" 

Lais's eyes flickered, but he quickly hid it. "Even with talent, few make it to the top." 

Carter took another swig. Then he sighed. "There's just one problem…" 

Lais raised a brow. "What?" 

Carter looked serious. "He's Chinese. If we want him in a professional British league… first, we need to get him a work permit."

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