October 11th.
In the upscale Herrera residential area, a Volvo XC90 was parked in front of a villa.
Two adults and two children emerged from the house.
Ling's expression was full of resignation.
He had originally planned to enjoy a romantic, peaceful holiday alone with Maria, but after her younger siblings, Marius and Valentina found out, they threw tantrums and insisted on coming along.
Seeing the two little ones looking at him with big teary eyes, Ling could only silently nod in agreement.
Pep Guardiola however, seemed quite pleased.
Having someone help take care of his mischievous children meant he and his wife could finally enjoy some long-awaited alone time.
This made him feel that Ling wasn't so annoying after all.
His wife, Cristina, walked to the car. "Jeremy, please be careful while driving, and don't forget to call when you arrive in Brighton."
Facing Cristina's motherly instructions, Ling showed no impatience, carefully taking everything to heart.
"Auntie, don't worry. I'll bring them back exactly as I take them there."
Hearing this, Cristina nodded, her gaze toward Ling growing increasingly satisfied.
Every mother in the world wishes for her daughters to be treated well, and she was no exception.
After everyone quickly packed their luggage, they got into the car.
Watching the Volvo steadily disappear from view, Guardiola inexplicably sighed.
"Don't you feel a bit regretful that Ling isn't your player?" Cristina asked with a teasing smile.
Guardiola rubbed his smooth, bald head and smirked.
"Every football coach in the world would feel regretful about that. Anyway, let's go! Our vacation has begun!"
Inside the Volvo, Ling, wearing sunglasses, steadily gripped the steering wheel.
Manchester is 417 kilometers away from Brighton—roughly a four-hour drive.
He slightly lowered his sunglasses, looking up at the clear sky over the English countryside, watching Land Rovers and Jaguars whiz past them on the highway.
With his favorite music playing through the speakers, the leisure and relaxation of the holiday permeated his entire being.
The mental fatigue from his recent high-intensity training and the grueling football schedule dissipated.
Sometimes, it's necessary to give yourself a break.
Life isn't just about pushing forward diligently, it also needs moments to enjoy its beauty.
"Will there be a seafood feast tonight?" Marius asked excitedly from the backseat.
"Yes, there will be!" Ling laughed.
Actually, the two little ones traveled often, but it was rare for them to travel without their parents, which made this feel like a grand adventure.
They chattered excitedly until they unknowingly drifted into sweet dreams.
Ling didn't drive particularly fast, stopping to rest at a service area along the way.
Every stop was to recharge their energy so they could travel more safely.
The four of them had a simple meal before continuing their journey.
"How long have we known each other?" Maria suddenly asked tentatively from the passenger seat.
"Four months?" Ling guessed.
He had never really paid attention to such details.
After all, for football players, time is mostly marked by match days.
Maria arched her eyebrows. "We've known each other for so long—don't you have anything to say?"
To be honest, she was starting to feel somewhat embarrassed and annoyed.
To outsiders and the media, they were already considered a couple, but in reality, they still hadn't taken that crucial step forward.
She couldn't possibly let a girl take the initiative, could she?
Due to her father's constantly changing workplaces, Maria's childhood was essentially fragmented, moving from Spain to Germany, then to England.
Coupled with a strict family upbringing, she had never actually been in a relationship.
It might sound unbelievable, but that was the truth.
She wasn't sure exactly when she fell for Ling.
Unintentionally, she recalled their first encounter—a dimly lit bar, a cliché hero-saving-the-beauty scenario.
Perhaps it was his relentless fighting spirit, his refusal to give up in the face of any setback, that drew her to his unique charm.
Heroism is always captivating, and being by his side inexplicably brought her peace.
Ling suddenly realized his mistake and hurriedly corrected himself.
"May 3rd! The night after the second leg of the Champions League semifinals!"
The corner of Maria's mouth twitched slightly, trying to hide her smile.
...
By the time they arrived in Brighton, the sun had already dipped below the horizon.
They drove straight to a seaside restaurant.
Today, Maria had deliberately changed into an evening gown—a tight floral dress that couldn't quite contain her stunning figure, shedding her usual innocence for a touch of sensuality and charm.
"Brighton's lobsters and scallops are famous," Maria said, taking the meat from a lobster claw and placing it on Ling's plate.
"They don't have much fat, so you can eat them."
Ling naturally didn't hold back, eating everything offered to him.
Seeing this, Marius also opened his mouth wide, seeking to be fed like a baby bird.
But Valentina mischievously stuffed a clove of garlic into his mouth instead, making Marius's eyes water from the pungency.
Ling and Maria couldn't hold back and burst into laughter.
When two people are together, they always bicker like children who never grow up.
After the seafood feast, the four headed to the nearby beach.
The two little ones seemed to have boundless energy, sprinting wildly across the white sand.
A cool night breeze swept by, and the beach was illuminated by dim yellow lights.
A half-moon rose into the quiet night sky, casting gentle moonlight over the sea.
Stars twinkled like diamonds scattered across the boundless night.
Waves gently embraced the shore, producing a beautiful and melodious sound, like a serene symphony.
Maria was just about to lay all her cards on the table and confess her feelings when her phone rang at the most inopportune moment.
"Dad, what is it?" she sighed.
"When you're staying overnight, make sure to look after your younger brother and sister," Guardiola's voice came through.
"Don't let them get too wild. Oh, and Valentina tends to kick off her blankets in her sleep."
Maria awkwardly ended the call, and all her previous courage vanished in an instant.
A sense of loss washed over her.
She regretted not just speaking her mind outright.
Ling and her father were exactly alike in this regard—always ruining the mood!
And what was Ling thinking at that moment? He certainly didn't want to treat Maria as a backup option, nor did he want to passively string her along like a playboy.
But the painful experiences from his past life left him unsure how to broach the subject.
To be honest, he really liked the girl beside him.
Maria wanted to break free from her father's massive shadow and carve out her own career.
Her talent and hard work revealed a unique charm unlike that of other celebrity children.
She combined beauty and brilliance, with almost no visible flaws—she would undoubtedly be an ideal partner.
Ling struggled to find the right words.
In such situations, he was more accustomed to action, just like on the pitch.
So he turned to look at Maria.
He seemed to see his own reflection in her pupils, which also held a hint of disappointment.
"Um... this is a gift for you," Ling said softly.
He pulled a small box from his pocket and opened it to reveal a necklace with elegant curves, shimmering with a captivating glow.
Inside were also two rose-gold diamond rings.
Nearby, the two little ones hid behind a trash can, whispering to each other.
"Ah, I'm so jealous of my sister!"
"Valentina, you're only 10! No early dating, okay?"
"You don't know anything, Marius!"
Maria tilted her head slightly to look at the necklace.
"Chanel's new rose-gold necklace?" she asked in surprise. "It hasn't even been released yet—how did you get it?"
"I asked David Beckham to help me get it," Ling replied.
"Do you know what it symbolizes?" Maria took the necklace and examined it closely.
Suddenly, she took a step forward, closing the distance between them, and answered her own question.
"To be closer to my beloved."
For the rest of the holiday, the four visited the largest aquarium in the UK, the Royal Pavilion, the white cliffs called the Seven Sisters, and the world's tallest mobile observation tower.
Ling and Maria strolled hand in hand through the bohemian-style Kensington Gardens after officially becoming a couple.
...