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"After coming off the bench, he delivered two assists—one through ball and one cross—and both were extremely precise. Leo Lin looks like he's showcasing a new ability."
"Overall, some of his forward passes still went astray, but nobody's perfect. Compared to the last few matches, his passing has clearly improved."
Even with the boost from the Pirlo template, Leo Lin's overall attributes were still in a growth phase, so the effect of the skill wasn't overwhelmingly dominant yet.
After completing the through-ball assist, he tried several more similar passes, but the results were fairly average.
Fortunately, it was his cross that helped Firmino score again, giving Leo Lin his first-ever two-assist performance in a league match.
The fans in the stands applauded enthusiastically, celebrating Liverpool's hard-fought win over Crystal Palace.
The remaining minutes passed quickly, and the referee finally signaled for full time.
"Look at all the Liverpool fans on their feet!"
"The match is over!"
"Liverpool get the result they wanted—three straight wins to start the Premier League season. They can't afford to lose, not a single match!"
"Nine points from three games, sitting top of the table on goal difference!"
"I believe ever since Leicester City miraculously stole the league title last season, and in the years before that when the trophy went to powerhouses like Chelsea, Manchester City, and Manchester United…"
"Liverpool have missed that once-dominant version of themselves, even though Gerrard's heartbreaking slip cost them a league title that was within touching distance."
"But they did reach the summit of Europe, lifting the Champions League, and they also won domestic cup titles."
"Still, since the golden generation gradually left, Liverpool have drifted further and further away from league glory. When Klopp took charge, he said he wanted to win the league during his tenure."
"I think this year might be his best chance—and Liverpool's best chance—because a genius has emerged in their midfield!"
The broadcast camera immediately cut to Leo Lin on the pitch. At that moment, a Crystal Palace player, Jason Puncheon, walked over to him.
"Lin, can we swap shirts?"
Leo Lin nodded. "Of course."
The two quickly exchanged jerseys. Another Palace player arrived just a few seconds too late, watching regretfully as Leo Lin's shirt disappeared.
"Leo Lin's shirt is gone—Pang Qiong really hit the jackpot."
"The younger the player, the more valuable the shirt. Right now, the most expensive ones on the market are usually jerseys worn by top stars in their very first season—those can fetch incredible prices."
"If Leo Lin keeps performing like this, the value of his shirt is only going to soar."
At the post-match press conference, Leo Lin attended alongside Klopp, and it was obvious that most of the questions were directed at him.
"Leo, after coming off the bench today, you once again delivered a performance that convinced the fans."
"You're so young, yet you play with such maturity. Do you have any secrets?"
Leo Lin smiled as he replied,
"I do have a secret—eat well, sleep well. That's the road to success."
The reporters burst out laughing.
Most of the questions that followed were answered by Leo Lin with smooth humor, keeping the atmosphere relaxed and upbeat.
Yet once the press conference ended, many of the journalists felt there was something subtly unusual about his answers.
Gradually, they realized it—this was Leo Lin's linguistic charm, the art of expression.
Another outstanding performance had made his commercial value increasingly visible.
Soon enough, Barnett received Leo Lin's first endorsement offer.
Early in the morning on August 30, Leo Lin was still in bed, enjoying some precious rest.
A piercing ringtone shattered the morning calm.
Half-asleep, Leo Lin fumbled for his phone and barely managed to open his eyes.
Without even checking who was calling, he answered weakly,
"Hello… who is this?"
Barnett's booming voice crashed into his ears like a heavy hammer.
"What time is it, and you're still sleeping?"
"It's almost evening!"
"You're so young—how can your schedule be this irregular?"
Leo Lin gave a wry smile. "It's eight in the morning. Is that really late?"
"It's my day off."
"I've got early training!"
The very next second, there was a knock on the door.
Leo Lin opened it to find Barnett standing there, a thick stack of documents in his hands.
"I didn't think I'd land your first endorsement deal this fast, kid!"
Hearing it was an endorsement contract, Leo Lin's eyes lit up.
An endorsement meant income—and that was exactly what he needed most right now. In fact, it was something everyone needed at every moment of their lives.
"The offer is pretty generous. They're willing to give you a first-year endorsement worth 1.0 million euros."
"All you need to do is shoot an ad for them and be the cover model. You know—strike a few handsome poses, make their product look good."
"And I only signed a one-year deal. If your value and popularity keep rising, and they want to renew, they'll have to raise the price significantly."
"As for the product, I tried it today. Take a look—doesn't this hairstyle look great?"
"And I've got to say, the hold really is impressive. They claim one use lasts a long time, so I'm testing it myself. A lot of products really are top quality."
As an agent, Barnett knew exactly what kind of contract suited Leo Lin best at this stage.
Short-term deals with relatively high pay were precisely what Leo Lin, still in the early phase of his career, needed.
Leo Lin quickly agreed to the terms, and both sides reached an agreement.
The "Three-Day Hold" brand immediately sent a professional filming crew to Liverpool to avoid affecting Leo Lin's match preparation.
The production team arrived that very evening and began shooting without delay. The female photographer, dressed in a black skirt, cut a striking figure with her perfectly outlined silhouette.
Throughout the shoot, every movement she made stirred the emotions of the other staff on set.
Leo Lin's task was simple. Holding a bottle of "Three-Day Hold" styling gel, with his hair slick, sharp, and polished, he faced the camera with a professional smile, raised the product, and delivered his line:
"Men's styling gel—I only trust Three-Day Hold!"
The photographer practically pressed the lens right up to Leo Lin, carefully capturing shot after shot of him, while also taking close-ups of the product.
"Um… shouldn't we take a few more shots of the styling gel itself? That's what headquarters asked for," the young assistant said cautiously.
The photographer immediately shot the assistant a sharp look.
"Shut your mouth!"
...
(60 Chapters Ahead)
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