Chapter 783: The Dawn of Resumption
After the games and the night that followed, Bruno found his relationships with the women deepening.
That night, as Liu Yan quietly crawled into his tent, Bruno was awake.
The intensity of the moment was palpable, and Bruno didn't hold back. As passion ignited like a volcano, the aftermath was a serene calm.
Bruno noticed something on the bedding—delicate marks that surprised him. Liu Yan, a public figure with a cultivated image as a sultry and sophisticated actress, had an entirely different story to tell.
His expression didn't escape Liu Yan's notice. She burst out laughing, a proud, confident glint in her eyes.
Bruno felt restless, not out of indifference but because his sense of responsibility gnawed at him. Their moment together had been more instinct than love.
"I need to be honest," Bruno began. "Liu Yan, I don't want to deceive you. I wasn't prepared to start something new like this. It's not fair to you."
Instead of anger, Liu Yan smiled brightly. Her happiness was clear as she chattered away.
Her message was simple: she had desired Bruno, and she had acted on it. As for the significance of her "first time," it was a gift to herself, a cherished memory of being with a man she admired.
A New Day
Early the next morning, Liu Yan left Bruno's tent discreetly, not wanting the others to suspect anything.
When Zhang Liangying glanced at Bruno later that morning, her gaze carried a mixture of bashfulness and something unspoken—perhaps the events of the previous night still lingered in her mind.
The group planned to go diving again that day. Bruno took charge of their safety, while Vanessa stayed on the yacht.
By noon, they reconvened at the cove for a simple lunch before heading back to Galliot Cay. The trip to San Salvador Island had been a resounding success.
When they arrived at the dock, Liu Lili and Liu Yimei were already waiting for them.
An Yi couldn't stop talking, animatedly describing all the fun they'd had. She lamented that Liu Lili and Liu Yimei had missed such a great adventure.
Everyone was exhausted after two days of non-stop fun. They retired to their rooms to rest.
By the end of April, Liu Yan and her friends left Galliot Cay, heading to Nassau before catching international flights back home.
Bruno remained on the island with his two wives, Liu Yimei and Vanessa. During this time, Vanessa confirmed she was pregnant.
Bruno's life, though less carefree, became filled with joy as he anticipated the arrival of a new addition to their family.
The Path to Resumption
On May 1st, the BBC reported that representatives from all 20 Premier League clubs met to discuss resuming the league. The clubs reaffirmed their commitment to completing the 2019–2020 season and discussed the steps necessary to safely restart matches.
The meeting reached no final decisions but explored ways to resume the season while prioritizing the health and safety of players, coaches, staff, and fans.
It was agreed that opinions from the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA), the League Managers' Association (LMA), and other stakeholders would play a crucial role in the process. Clubs also expressed hope that the government would support their desire to complete the season.
Premier League officials emphasized that training and matches would only resume after consultations with medical experts, players, and coaches, and in alignment with government guidelines.
Neutral venues were proposed as the only viable way to finish the season, with around 10 stadiums likely to be selected. All matches would be played behind closed doors.
Before resumption, Premier League players and staff would undergo 40,000 virus tests.
According to The Telegraph, the league had distributed a tentative timeline to the clubs, suggesting full training could resume by May 18, with matches starting three weeks later on June 8. However, this plan was still awaiting government approval.
Bruno Prepares
Vanessa returned to Manchester ahead of Bruno to manage his personal affairs and liaise with Manchester United regarding training schedules.
She kept Bruno informed via emails and phone calls, even as she lamented the workload. Meanwhile, Manchester United had confirmed the resumption of team training.
Bruno spent his remaining days in the Bahamas, exploring nearby islands with Liu Yimei and Liu Lili.
As Vanessa's updates grew more frequent, she urged Bruno to return soon. Club training would commence, and the season's restart seemed inevitable.
Bruno knew it was time to prepare for his return to England. The dawning light of football's resumption beckoned.
Bruno Knew It Was Time to Return to Manchester
After finalizing his return date, Vanessa promptly arranged for their private jet to fly from the UK to the Bahamas.
Bruno first escorted Liu Yimei and her mother back to Los Angeles before boarding the jet to Manchester to resume training.
During the extended break caused by the pandemic, while Bruno had kept up with some physical training, it lacked the systemic rigor required to maintain competitive match fitness.
The Premier League's Delayed Restart
Shortly after Bruno's return, plans for the Premier League's restart faced yet another delay.
On May 29, the Premier League officially announced that all 20 shareholders had agreed to tentatively resume matches on June 17. This would mark the first time since 1947 that Premier League games were played in June. After a three-month hiatus, the world's most commercially successful football league finally glimpsed the possibility of resumption.
The official statement emphasized that June 17 was a tentative date, contingent on meeting all safety requirements. The final decision would be made after a collective vote during a meeting on June 4.
This meant that the restart still had uncertainties. Even if the two catch-up matches scheduled for June 17 went ahead, any resurgence of COVID-19 cases linked to the games could prompt another suspension—or even outright cancellation—of the season.
According to reports, the June 4 meeting would also include a Plan B on the agenda: canceling the season outright. The discussions would address critical questions, such as determining the champion, allocating Champions League spots, and deciding relegation outcomes.
Matches Behind Closed Doors
The one certainty was that the remaining matches of the season would all be played behind closed doors. Depending on the pandemic's progression, this measure might even extend into the next season.
While playing without fans wasn't new—before Serie A's suspension, Juventus and Inter Milan had played their "Derby d'Italia" in an empty stadium—it fundamentally altered the dynamics of home advantage.
For clubs with fervent home crowds, such as Liverpool at Anfield, this posed a significant challenge. Anfield, famed for its electrifying atmosphere and its anthem "You'll Never Walk Alone," has long been considered one of Europe's most intimidating venues.
Statistics from the Bundesliga's resumed games underscored this shift. Of the nine matches played in Round 28, only two home teams emerged victorious. Even Borussia Dortmund's "fortress" at Signal Iduna Park fell to Bayern Munich.
Data showed that since the Bundesliga's restart, the away teams' win rate had risen from 35% to 44%, almost a 10% increase—a tangible loss of home-field advantage.
Despite the lack of fans in stadiums, concerns about crowd gatherings persisted. London Mayor Sadiq Khan issued a warning against public gatherings for matches, highlighting the need for caution.
Neutral Venues Considered
To mitigate the risk of large fan gatherings, the Premier League proposed hosting matches at neutral venues.
For instance, London derbies might relocate to non-club-affiliated stadiums. Media reports suggested that Arsenal and Tottenham's North London Derby would be held at London Stadium, while Tottenham's clash with West Ham would move to Wembley.
Six high-risk fixtures were singled out by the UK police for relocation. Liverpool's games made up half of this list, including the Merseyside Derby, which was slated to move to Manchester City's Etihad Stadium.
A "New Experience" for Fans
The Premier League announced that all 92 remaining matches would be broadcast live. To expedite the season's conclusion, matches would be played every day of the week, Monday through Sunday.
For fans starved of action during the three-month hiatus, this could feel like a football overload. Matches every single day might seem thrilling initially but could also lead to viewer fatigue.
For clubs, the condensed schedule would test squad depth, with even relegation battlers experiencing the grueling intensity of playing two or three matches a week—something usually reserved for the top teams.
Injury Boosts for Teams
The extended break offered teams a chance to recover key players. Tottenham Hotspur, for example, saw a significant boost as three key players—Son Heung-min, Moussa Sissoko, and Steven Bergwijn—returned from injury. This provided much-needed reinforcements for a side struggling in the top-four race before the break.
As the June 17 restart loomed closer, the Premier League prepared for an unprecedented chapter in its history. Bruno, like many others, was eager to return to the pitch and embrace the challenges ahead.
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