In the underground parking lot of Vallecas Stadium,
dim lights cast long shadows on the concrete walls.
Lu Chuan, escorted by security personnel, walked through the enthusiastic crowd of fans, the roaring cheers still echoing in his ears.
An unassuming white Mini Cooper was parked quietly in a corner. Esther took off her sunglasses, her golden hair shimmering with a soft glow under the lights.
Her eyes held a smile, and a hint of nervousness.
"You actually drive this car?" Lu Chuan walked to the car, a little surprised.
Esther shrugged: "My Ferrari is too flashy."
Her casual remark, "my Ferrari is too flashy," made something in Lu Chuan's heart soften.
He didn't say anything, but when he got into the passenger seat, his movements were a little lighter.
As he got into the car, the outside noise was instantly cut off. The small space was filled with Esther's faint perfume, and Lu Chuan's heart inexplicably quickened.
Esther started the car, the engine emitting a slight hum, but she didn't drive away immediately; instead, she turned to look at Lu Chuan quietly.
"Congratulations, my hero." Her voice was soft, her eyes filled with an indescribable tenderness. "You were truly amazing today."
The scent of her perfume mixed with the leather smell of the car, wafting into his nostrils, and Lu Chuan suddenly felt his throat dry.
"Oh, my friend really likes you, she wants to—"
Before Esther could finish, a girl wearing a similar hat suddenly appeared from the back seat, excitedly handing over a football and a pen.
"Lu! I'm your fan! Can you sign this for me?"
Lu Chuan then realized that Esther's friend was actually Sofía, another popular young actress in Spain. Her face showed undisguised excitement, her eyes incredibly bright.
"Of course." Lu Chuan took the football and signed his name on it.
"Oh my goodness, your volley was absolutely brilliant!" Sofía held the football, her eyes shining with admiration. "I never thought football could be so captivating!"
After getting the autograph, Sofía tactfully made an excuse to leave. Before she left, she winked at Esther, an ambiguous look that made Esther's cheeks flush slightly.
"She's gone." Esther restarted the car, but instead of going home, she drove towards the edge of the city.
The car drove on the winding mountain road, and the lights of Madrid gradually faded into the distance. The night breeze blew in through the half-open window, carrying the unique fragrance of the mountains.
"Where are we going?" Lu Chuan asked curiously.
"Somewhere special." Esther smiled mysteriously.
The car finally stopped at a mountaintop park overlooking the night view of Madrid. The city lights in the distance twinkled like stars, and the whole world seemed to be beneath their feet.
"I don't like noisy parties." Esther unbuckled her seatbelt and turned to look at Lu Chuan. "I just want to spend some quiet time with you."
Her voice was very soft, carrying an indescribable tenderness. In this world where it was just the two of them, all pretenses and defenses could be dropped.
The two got out of the car and stood on the observation deck. Stars dotted the night sky, and the mountain breeze gently brushed their cheeks, bringing wafts of fresh scent.
Esther looked earnestly into Lu Chuan's eyes, those blue eyes sparkling under the starlight.
"Lu, I'm not kidding." Her voice trembled slightly. "From the moment you protected me in Barcelona, I was drawn to you."
She paused, took a deep breath, and continued: "Your matches, your perseverance, your courage to stand against the whole world... all of it fascinates me.
I like you, I want to be your girlfriend, I'm serious."
Faced with such a direct confession, Lu Chuan no longer avoided it.
He remembered the girl's embrace when he was at his lowest, he remembered the ray of light she brought. That warmth and support were his most precious comfort in this foreign land.
He reached out and gently stroked her cheek. Her skin was smooth, with a slight warmth.
"Esther, I—"
Esther didn't let him finish, leaning in directly and kissing his lips.
This kiss was different from the impulsive one before; it was full of tenderness and affirmation. Her lips were soft, with a faint sweetness.
Lu Chuan lowered his head, resting his forehead against hers, their breaths mingling. He said nothing, only responding with a deeper, more tender kiss.
After a long while, they finally separated. Esther's cheeks were flushed, her breathing a little rapid.
"We have to keep it a secret." She leaned on Lu Chuan's shoulder, her voice as light as a feather,
"Before your career is stable, before our relationship is strong enough, I don't want external pressure to ruin everything."
Lu Chuan tightly held her hand, feeling the warmth of her palm.
"I understand." He nodded in agreement. "We both need time."
The night breeze danced gently in the mountains, and the two leaned against each other, sharing each other's warmth.
"You know what?" Esther suddenly spoke. "I've been thinking that the cross-industry integration of sports stars and entertainment stars will be a major trend in the future."
Lu Chuan was a little surprised she brought up this topic: "You mean business collaborations?"
"Not just business collaborations." Esther turned around, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "I'm thinking, if we can combine our respective resources and influence, and invest in some meaningful projects, such as technological innovation or cultural industries."
Lu Chuan's eyes lit up: "Your idea is very interesting. I've also been considering some investments recently, especially in the tech and gaming sectors."
"Really?" Esther excitedly held his hand. "We can do these things together! I have a lot of resources in the entertainment industry, and you have influence in the sports world; we can absolutely create new possibilities."
The more they talked, the more they found common ground, from investment philosophies to future plans, from business strategies to social responsibility. They discovered that they resonated with each other on many ideas.
"Oh, when is your Copa del Rey semi-final second leg?" Esther suddenly asked.
"Next week." Lu Chuan's expression became serious. "It's our home game, we must win to advance. Real Sociedad is very strong."
Esther held his hand, her gaze firm: "I believe in you. You will definitely lead the team to create a miracle, just like you always do."
Her trust filled Lu Chuan's heart with infinite strength. With someone like her supporting him, believing in him, he felt he could overcome any difficulty.
As night deepened, the two reluctantly returned to the car. On the way to drop Esther off, they talked about their pasts and shared their inner secrets.
"Thank you for accompanying me tonight." Esther lightly kissed his cheek at her apartment door. "This is the happiest night I've had in a long time."
"Me too." Lu Chuan looked into her eyes. "Goodnight, Esther."
"Goodnight, my hero."
Back in his apartment, Lu Chuan lay on his bed, his heart filled with immense happiness. At the same time, a hint of worry quietly arose. How to protect this precious secret relationship would become his biggest challenge, besides football.
He remembered Esther's words, her support and trust. This girl not only gave him love but also gave him the courage to face the future.
His phone vibrated slightly on the nightstand. Lu Chuan picked it up and saw a message from Esther: "Sweet dreams, my love."
He smiled and replied: "You too."
The next morning, while Lu Chuan was still immersed in the sweetness of the previous night, Carlos knocked on his door with a serious expression.
"Lu, you need to see this." Carlos handed him a newspaper, his expression unusually grim.
Lu Chuan took the newspaper. In a corner of the entertainment section, a very blurry telephoto picture was prominently displayed: a man and a woman embracing by a car in a mountaintop park.
The photo was very blurry, their faces unrecognizable, but the man's figure and attire were identical to what Lu Chuan wore after yesterday's match.
The headline of the report conspicuously read: "New King of Vallecas, Mysterious Girlfriend Exposed?"
Lu Chuan's heart sank. Happiness came too fast, and the storm arrived too suddenly.