On the TV screen, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's face was more serious than ever.
His voice echoed through the apartment from the speakers, every word heavy with meaning.
"Given the rapid spread of the novel coronavirus nationwide, I declare Spain to be in a state of national emergency.
All non-essential activities will be suspended, including professional sports events."
The remote control in Lu Chuan's hand slipped onto the carpet, making a slight thud.
He stared at the screen, his mind blank. Just moments ago, he was excited about scoring in consecutive matches, but now he was hit hard by the sudden reality.
Esther sat beside him, holding his hand tightly. She could feel the dampness and slight tremor in his palm.
Outside the window, the streets of Madrid were visibly changing.
Gran Vía, usually bustling with traffic, became empty, with only a few pedestrians hurrying by, each wearing a mask, their eyes filled with fear and unease.
Esther's phone suddenly rang, its shrill sound breaking the silence of the room.
"Esther, you must return to the manor immediately!" Her agent, Maria's, voice was anxious, "There's a professional medical team and a complete security system there. Madrid is too dangerous!"
Esther glanced at Lu Chuan, who was staring blankly out the window, his eyes so hollow it was heartbreaking.
"No, Maria." Esther's voice was unusually firm, "At this time, I'm not going anywhere."
"Are you crazy? Taking such a risk for a man?"
"He's not 'a man,' he's my man." Esther hung up the phone and tossed it aside.
Lu Chuan turned his head, complex emotions flickering in his eyes: gratitude, guilt, and a hint of an indescribable warmth.
"You shouldn't have, for me…"
"Shut up." Esther put her finger to his lips, "We're in this together, remember?"
In the following days, Madrid completely became a ghost town.
The once bustling Puerta del Sol square was deserted, with only cleaners working in solitude.
The gates of Retiro Park were locked, its usual laughter replaced by a deathly silence.
Lu Chuan's apartment became their isolated island.
The two had their first uninterrupted 24-hour time together, but it was under such circumstances.
Outwardly, Lu Chuan appeared unusually calm. He woke up on time, ate on time, and even did some simple physical training in the living room.
But Esther keenly sensed his inner anxiety.
Late at night, she often found Lu Chuan standing on the balcony, staring blankly in the direction of the distant Vallecas Stadium.
That look in his eyes was like he was gazing at an unattainable dream.
"What are you thinking about?" Esther asked softly.
"I was in great form, with a strong momentum of scoring in consecutive matches." Lu Chuan's voice was a little hoarse, "Now suddenly stopping is like slamming on the brakes on a highway."
Esther didn't speak; she understood that this kind of disappointment couldn't be soothed by a few words of comfort.
To help Lu Chuan adjust his mood, Esther came up with various ideas.
She found classic match videos from Rayo Vallecano's history, and they watched them together on the sofa.
"Look at this, the 1977 promotion play-off." Esther pointed at the black and white screen, "They also went through difficult times, but in the end, they succeeded."
Lu Chuan watched the old players striving on the screen, and his eyes gradually lit up.
The charm of football lies in this: no matter how times change, the desire for victory will never change.
Esther would also share some interesting stories from the entertainment industry.
She imitated the peculiar temper of a certain famous director and mimicked the funny accent of a certain celebrity, making Lu Chuan laugh heartily.
"Do you know? That guy who plays tough guys in 'Fast & Furious' is secretly most afraid of spiders.
" Esther made an exaggerated expression of fear, "Once during filming, the props team put a fake spider in his trailer, and he screamed and ran out, more dramatically than any actress."
Lu Chuan was doubled over with laughter at her performance, his tense nerves finally relaxing a bit.
Every night, Lu Chuan would follow the domestic epidemic situation online.
When he saw news of Wuhan medical staff fighting on the front lines, he was deeply touched.
Those figures in protective suits, those tired but determined eyes, reminded him of himself striving on the football field.
"I must do something." Lu Chuan suddenly stood up, picked up his phone, and dialed Carlos's number.
"Carlos, use my last bonus and advance payment for endorsements to buy 100,000 euros worth of masks and protective suits.
Find a way to contact the embassy and ship them back to the country as quickly as possible!"
Esther heard him and walked over without hesitation.
"Count me in, I'll add another 100,000 euros. Tell them, this is from both of us."
Lu Chuan looked at her, his heart warming. So this is what it felt like to have someone stand with him.
Subsequently, Lu Chuan posted simultaneously on Weibo and Instagram. He wrote in both Chinese and English: "The virus knows no borders, but love has power. May all medical staff fighting on the front lines return safely. Go Wuhan, Go China!"
This Weibo post quickly received tens of thousands of reposts and comments.
Domestic fans praised his actions, and many left messages saying: "This is a true Chinese player!"
That night, Lu Chuan had a video call with his parents back home. On the other end of the screen, his parents' faces were filled with worry.
"Son, are you doing alright over there?" His mother's eyes were a little red, "We saw the news saying the situation in Spain is also very serious."
"Mom, I'm fine. Esther is taking care of me." Lu Chuan tried to make his voice sound relaxed, "Did you see the news about my donation of supplies?"
His father nodded vigorously, his eyes shining with pride.
"Son, you did the right thing. No matter where you go, you must not forget that you are Chinese."
"We are proud of you." His mother choked up, "Not just because of your football skills, but also because of your character."
After hanging up the video call, Lu Chuan's eyes were a little moist. During this special period, the support and understanding of family were especially precious.
To lighten the mood, Esther suggested they cook a Chinese meal together.
She found a recipe for Kung Pao Chicken online and confidently walked into the kitchen.
"How hard can it be? It's just stir-frying a dish, right?" Esther rolled up her sleeves, looking very confident.
The result, however, was a disaster. She mistook light soy sauce for dark soy sauce, sugar for salt, fried the peanuts to a crisp, and cut the chicken into uneven pieces. Smoke billowed in the kitchen, and the range hood hummed painfully.
Lu Chuan rushed into the kitchen to help, and the two frantically tried to salvage the dish.
Spatulas flew through the air, seasoning bottles toppled over, and the floor was splattered with oil.
The "Kung Pao Chicken" finally served at the table had a bizarre color and an indescribable taste.
It was sweet with a hint of salt, salty with a hint of bitterness, and also had a burnt smell.
The two looked at each other, then burst into laughter. They ate this "dark cuisine" while laughing, tears streaming down their faces.
"This might be the worst-tasting Kung Pao Chicken in the world." Esther coughed while laughing.
"But it's also the most meaningful." Lu Chuan seriously picked up a piece of burnt chicken, "Because we made it together."
Late at night, the streets of Madrid became completely quiet.
Outside the window, there was a deathly silence, only the wailing of ambulances, from far to near, then from near to far, each time tugging at people's heartstrings.
Lu Chuan and Esther stood on the balcony, looking at the distant, silent city. Neon lights still flickered, but they lacked the usual vitality and energy.
"They say this is a disaster." Lu Chuan's voice was exceptionally clear in the night wind, "But for me, this might be a gift."
Esther looked at him puzzled, only to see Lu Chuan's eyes suddenly become sharp, as if he had made some important decision.
"What do you mean?"
Lu Chuan did not answer: "System, activate training space!"
He knew that when the whole world hit the pause button, it was the best time for him to surpass himself.
While others rested, he would train.
While others waited, he would improve.
When the League restarted, he would return to the field as a brand new person, giving everyone a surprise.