Chapter 65: Wishing We Had Met Sooner

This story is purely a work of fiction.

In just a short while, they arrived at Aunt Wei's house. The head coach parked the car, and Wei quickly hopped out to help her aunt carry the groceries from the trunk, taking the bags inside.

The head coach stepped out, brushing the dust from his clothes and straightening his attire, worried that any imperfection in his appearance might be noticed by Aunt Wei.

Aunt Wei greeted the head coach warmly, inviting him into her home. "Welcome to my humble abode, please forgive its simplicity!" Because the coach was so tall, he had to duck his head to enter.

"You flatter me! This house is hardly small. Most people in the city live in places just a few dozen square meters, but you have such a spacious home, easily two hundred square meters per floor—three floors, six hundred in total. And it's not far from downtown. I heard the government plans to requisition land here to build a high-speed rail station. It won't be long before your nephew joins the ranks of those who profit from redevelopment. Wei, haven't you heard about this?" the coach asked.

"No, I haven't. I don't concern myself with such matters. Besides, if the house is torn down, that's Aunt's business. What does it have to do with me? Don't you agree?" Wei replied, seemingly indifferent.

"It has everything to do with you! Your aunt lives alone; besides you, there's no one else. What belongs to her is yours. Look at you!" The coach affectionately tapped Wei.

"My aunt may be alone now, but she won't always be. When she's older, she'll need someone by her side. I always tell her, once I can support myself, she should find someone who loves her, so she'll have companionship in her later years. But Aunt always says she's fine on her own. I know it's because she worries about me, so she hasn't sought anyone," Wei confided to the coach, sharing personal thoughts about his aunt.

Wei found the premium Tieguanyin tea in the cabinet. Picking up the electric kettle, he went to the kitchen to fetch water and boil it for tea.

The coach and Aunt Wei chatted happily, as if they had met too late in life. The coach was deeply moved by this woman—not just because she was Wei’s elder, but from the moment he saw her photograph, he felt a sudden attraction, a love at first sight.

When he saw her picture, his heart skipped a beat. Meeting her in person, his heart raced even more. He feared losing composure in front of his player, so he kept his feelings hidden. Turning to Aunt Wei, he said, "Just before we left, Wei was saying I’m like an old horse in the stable, past my prime!"

Hearing this, Wei quickly responded, "Are you blaming me for using the wrong idiom? Let me pick another to express my admiration for you!" Wei said, a little embarrassed.

"What words of praise? I’ve never heard you use idioms to flatter anyone. Go ahead, let’s hear it," the coach said, looking expectantly at Wei.

Wei pressed his fingers to his temples, his eyes darting as he pondered. Suddenly he exclaimed, "I've got it! This time, my praise will please you, Coach. You are—" He shifted his finger from his temple to point at the coach.

The coach leaned back, waiting with anticipation. "Well? What is it? Tell me!"

"You are suave and elegant, dignified and imposing! These two idioms perfectly express my admiration for you," Wei blurted out, words he’d never used before suddenly coming to him.

The coach was a little surprised. "Suave and elegant fits well enough, but dignified and imposing? Are you teasing me or do you not really know what it means?"

Aunt Wei, sitting in the back, though not highly educated herself, sensed her nephew had made a mistake and quickly stepped in. "Don’t blame Wei. He really only has a middle school education. He wouldn’t deliberately use the wrong words to offend such a renowned national coach as yourself," she said, giving Wei a meaningful look.

Wei realized he’d used the wrong idiom, feeling embarrassed. His cheeks flushed red. "I’m sorry, I really don’t know what it means. I absolutely didn’t mean to slight you—please forgive me!"

"You’re exaggerating! How could I take offense at my beloved student’s words? Don’t worry, don’t worry," the coach replied sincerely.

With the coach’s reassurance, both aunt and nephew felt the weight lift from their hearts.

Once the water boiled, Aunt Wei brewed the Tieguanyin.

Though the house was a bit old, Aunt Wei kept it tidy and spotless, with everything in its place.

Busy preparing the evening meal for Coach Nian, Aunt Wei moved with practiced efficiency. Wei rummaged through the cabinet, searching for previously stored white liquor. The cabinet was so full, it took quite an effort to dig out the two bottles.

They’d been sitting for nearly a year; the packaging was thick with dust. Wei found a cloth to wipe them clean. As he took the bottles out of their boxes, a fragrant aroma of liquor filled the room.

Coach Nian stood in the kitchen, assisting Aunt Wei, deftly peeling garlic and preparing vegetables.

Following Aunt Wei’s recipes, he helped ready each ingredient. It was almost like an assembly line—one prep, one cook.

Soon, Aunt Wei’s signature dishes appeared on the table. The meal was a feast for the senses—colorful, fragrant, delicious. Among them were Coach Nian’s favorites: sweet and sour spare ribs and braised pig’s trotters.

Coach Nian gazed at the dishes, the aroma making his mouth water. He forgot all about maintaining his image, especially when he saw the pig’s trotters. Like a child, he grabbed one and began gnawing away, looking quite amusing.

Wei, seeing this, hurriedly handed the coach a stool. "Don’t rush, I haven’t poured your wine yet!"

Entranced by the flavor, Coach Nian perked up at the mention of wine. "Quick, quick, fill it up! You pour yourself a glass too. Let’s enjoy ourselves tonight!"

Aunt Wei watched the coach devour the pig’s trotters, knowing her cooking was unmatched. No matter how messy, such eating was to be expected. She placed a plate of peanuts before him, gazing fondly at the man, then at Wei. "Tonight, you must drink a few cups with Coach Nian. Make sure he eats and drinks well!"

The coach turned to Aunt Wei. "No need to make more dishes. Look, the table is full, and there’s no one else here. This is plenty. You’ve been busy all day—come, sit down and join us."

He moved a chair closer to the table, signaling Aunt Wei to sit.

Aunt Wei took the seat beside Coach Nian, her heart pounding restlessly after years of widowhood, sitting so close to this man.

She reminded herself that he was her nephew's coach—not someone she should fantasize about. But for Wei’s future, she gathered her courage and said, "Coach Nian, I’m so glad you could visit us today. Ever since Wei joined the Dahe Football Club, I have admired you, hoping you would help make my nephew an outstanding football player." As she spoke, she raised her glass and stood. "Come, I toast you on behalf of my elder brother—cheers!"

Nian Wei quickly set down the pig’s trotter, grabbed a napkin, and wiped the grease from his mouth, feeling a bit embarrassed. "You’re too kind, Aunt Wei. When your brother entrusted Wei to me, I felt as though I’d received a treasure."

"Wei trained at the Brazilian Football School and is one of the country’s top prospects. I’d like him to play soon, but every player in the club is a big shot, all with their own backgrounds. I dare not offend any of them," the coach explained.

"I may be the head coach, but I can’t make all the decisions. Sometimes I want to give Wei a chance to play, but the opportunity hasn’t come yet. I hope you understand. I believe his day on the field isn’t far off, so please don’t worry." With that, Coach Nian drained his glass in one gulp.

After finishing his drink, Nian Wei placed his cup before Aunt Wei, gesturing, "Fill it up again."

Seeing how heartily Nian Wei drank, Aunt Wei quickly handed the bottle to Wei. "Go on, don’t just sit there, fill your master’s glass! Quick, quick! This child has no sense for the occasion." Aunt Wei motioned to Wei to pour.

Wei took the bottle and carefully refilled the coach's glass, then filled his own.

After pouring, Wei raised his glass and toasted the coach. "Master, thank you for your concern. I remember everything you said. I know the difficulties you face, and I understand. I’ll train hard, improve my skills, and when I’m ready, I believe I’ll get to play and bring honor to the club!" He finished his speech and drained his glass.

Wei, not accustomed to drinking, immediately flushed bright red, the color rising to his ears.

He felt a rush of heat, his face burning, and soon began to itch, scratching at spots that felt uncomfortable.

(To be continued)