13: Chapter 13 Pochettino's Career Plan for Yu Bai

"Let Linda go back to your side. Find me a professional football agent in London. As for a guardian..."

Yu Bai paused, "Forget it, it's about the same whether there is one or not."

On the other end of the line, the smile on Yu Yun's face faded slightly. He looked up at the woman standing in front of him, gazing at him—Wen Qing. Linda was Wen Qing's cousin, and it was Wen Qing who had recommended her in the first place.

"Xiao Bai, about this..." Yu Yun's voice carried a hint of hesitation.

"Stop," Yu Bai interrupted him, his tone leaving no room for negotiation, "Dad, this isn't a discussion. If you find it difficult to handle, I'll have my mom arrange it for me. She'd certainly be happy to, and it would be even more efficient."

"Hey, what are you saying!" Yu Yun said immediately, his tone turning light again, "This little thing, leave it to Dad! I'll find you the best agent in London right away! You should have had a professional agent long ago. For a big star like our Yu, is it appropriate not to have a professional team? Right?"

"Hmm," Yu Bai was satisfied, "Old Yu, that sounds much better. I'm hanging up. Take care of your health, drink less. Have tea when you're free."

"Beep, beep, beep..." The busy tone came through.

Yu Yun put down his phone, his face still lingering with that helpless yet indulgent smile. This expression made Wen Qing, who was in front of him, feel a bit strange. She was Yu Yun's secretary, now more closely a "life assistant," the woman closest to this man, yet she always felt she couldn't grasp that sense of real security.

What she feared most was a call from London. That boy, whom she had never met but who was destined to have everything, only needed to say "I don't like it," and all her efforts and companionship could turn into nothing. So when Yu Yun wanted to find someone reliable to go to London to take care of his son, she immediately recommended her cousin Wen Wan (Linda), who was studying in the UK. She had thought it would be an easy and good job, a way to do a favor and plant "one of her own." She didn't expect...

After hearing Yu Yun's account, Wen Qing's fingers trembled imperceptibly. She was both angry and afraid. Angry that her cousin was so lax, actually offending Yu Bai; afraid that this might implicate her, making Yu Yun think the person she recommended was unreliable.

But she was a smart woman and knew what to do at this moment. She suppressed her emotions, leaned forward slightly, and softened her voice: "Brother Yun, how about this? I'll have Wen Wan find the best football agent in London immediately and get it done as quickly as possible. Her salary will be halved as a punishment. But let her stay in London to look after Xiao Bai's daily life, that way you can be at ease, right?"

Yu Yun thought for a moment, tapping his fingers on the sofa armrest: "You can let Wen Wan help find someone. But you know Xiao Bai's temper, he means what he says. How about this, have Wen Wan call Xiao Bai herself, apologize, and explain clearly. If Xiao Bai agrees to let her stay, I have no objection. If he doesn't..." Yu Yun paused, "Then I'll have to discuss it with his mother and find someone more suitable."

"...Okay." Wen Qing could only nod, silently cursing her cousin for being incompetent. She stood up, her high heels making a muffled sound on the carpet, and walked aside to call Wen Wan.

Yu Yun watched Wen Qing's slender yet slightly tense back, and a thought flashed through his mind: Xiao Bai is still too young... Otherwise, what man in this world could look at Wen Wan's face and figure and say the word "fired"? You know, compared to her sister, Wen Wan is... He quickly stopped his train of thought, but silently gave his son a thumbs up: Kid, your willpower is impressive.

Linda—or rather, Wen Wan—received her sister's call and was scolded severely before she could even finish listening. She was also very confused; that little young master who had always been easy to talk to and almost never bothered her, why did he suddenly want to "fire" her?

"Sister! Don't worry!" Wen Wan promised over the phone, her voice still carrying the nasal tone of someone who had just woken up and a sense of grievance, "I'll handle that brat immediately! I guarantee I'll make him change his mind!"

"Handle it? How are you going to handle it?" Wen Qing suppressed her anger on the other end of the line, "I'm warning you, Wen Wan, if you make him unhappy again and ruin my plans, you'll immediately get back to the country, follow me, join the company from the lowest level, and work overtime every day!"

"Don't, Sister!" Wen Wan cried out, "Don't worry, even if... even if I have to sacrifice a bit of my looks and use a honey trap, I will definitely coax Yu Bai into being obedient!"

The phone went suddenly quiet. So quiet that one could hear Wen Qing's breathing, one, two, three times.

"Are you crazy?! I'm warning you, don't do anything reckless!" Wen Qing's chest heaved with anger, "He's not even an adult! You use normal methods! Apologize sincerely! Get the job done!"

"Got it, got it, Sister, wait for my good news."

Wen Wan hung up the phone, her previous confidence instantly collapsing as she looked at her phone in worry. She had said it nicely, but she had no confidence at all. That person Yu Bai, while looking gentle, had a very strong will and couldn't be swayed by just a few nice words.

She tried calling Yu Bai back, but no one answered. She pulled her hair in frustration, while hurriedly contacting channels to prepare the professional football materials Yu Bai wanted as quickly as possible, and at the same time, using her limited connections to inquire about reliable football agents in London. She was now regretting it so much her guts were blue; the alcohol at the plastic sisters' birthday party last night must have been fake! Otherwise, how could she have slept until the afternoon and dared to brush off that young master of the Yu family on the phone?

On the training ground, Yu Bai had just finished less than half an hour of extra training when he saw a familiar figure walking from the tunnel. It was Kieran McKenna. He wasn't wearing training gear, as if he had come specifically.

Coach McKenna walked to the sidelines and waved at Yu Bai. Yu Bai stopped the ball and trotted over.

"Training quite diligently." Coach McKenna said, his gaze sweeping over his sweat-dampened hair and training gear, getting straight to the point without wasting words, "Just had a meal with Mauricio Pochettino, Ugo Ehiogu, and the others. We talked about you."

Yu Bai's heart skipped a beat, but he kept his face calm as he looked at the coach.

"Mauricio Pochettino asked me to give you a message." Coach McKenna stared into Yu Bai's eyes, speaking clearly, word by word, "He said, if you can deliver a performance in the U21 matches that he 'approves' of—note, it's 'approves,' not 'just okay'—he will consider letting you come to the first team to train, and even give you a chance to make an appearance. Afterward, the club will find the most suitable loan team for you to ensure your playing time. The EFL Championship, or other Leagues where you can get playing time."

Yu Bai's breath hitched, his blood seemed to flow faster, and his ears were buzzing. First team? Mauricio Pochettino's approval? Loan for development?

"However," Coach McKenna's tone intensified, "the premise of all this is that you have to prove yourself on the pitch. Let your performance speak, with impeccable performance. We provide the opportunity, we build the ladder, but you must be the one to climb up. Understand?"

Yu Bai's Adam's apple bobbed, he nodded vigorously, his voice a bit dry: "Understand."

"Good." Coach McKenna seemed to have finished his task, his expression relaxed, even carrying a hint of amusement, "I've delivered the message. The rest is up to you. Oh, right," he turned to leave, then looked back to add, "Mauricio Pochettino is quite looking forward to seeing your performance. Don't let him, or me, down."

Having said that, he waved his hand and turned to leave, coming in a hurry and leaving just as decisively.

Yu Bai stood where he was, the afternoon breeze blowing over his heated body, but it couldn't blow away the fire ignited in his heart. Mauricio Pochettino's words were like the strongest stimulant injected into his veins. Challenges, approval, a clear path to a higher stage... everything was laid out clearly and cruelly before him.

He seemed to have already seen the expression Coach McKenna wanted to see—a complex look mixed with shock, ecstasy, pressure, and infinite fighting spirit, now clearly reflected in his own eyes.

He turned around, looked at the few footballs scattered at his feet, bent down to pick one up, and weighed it in his hand. Then, he stepped back, took a run-up, and fiercely, with all his might, kicked a "Beckhams Curve."

The ball traced a sharp arc in the air, heading straight for the dead corner of the goal, hitting the inside of the side netting, making a crisp "swish" sound.

Yu Bai looked at the swaying net, slowly exhaled, his eyes as sharp as a knife.

Coach McKenna turned back and continued walking. The expression on his face was not very clear in the afternoon sun, but there was an upward curve at the corner of his mouth.