Chapter 444: Making a New Friend

“Believe me, this isn’t my first time watching a football game live.” In response to Lu Ke’s teasing, Leonardo rolled his eyes dramatically, then lifted his chin arrogantly, making no effort to hide his disdainful expression. It was as if he were condemning Lu Ke for his ignorance, for treating him like some country bumpkin. “Just because I’m not interested doesn’t mean I’ve never seen a game. Those are two different things.”

Lu Ke could sense Leonardo’s confrontational air, just like the first time they met.

‘He wasn’t sure what was causing it. Perhaps it was the typical airs of a top Hollywood superstar, or maybe it was just Leonardo’s personal habit. After all, in comparison, he was just a rookie player at the start of his career.’

However, Lu Ke didn’t show the slightest fear or hesitation. “So what brings you to Candlestick Park today? I’m guessing interest wasn’t your teacher.” Lu Ke launched his counterattack impassively. “Wait, or could it be… you came here specifically… for me?”

Lu Ke deliberately drew out his words, his voice thick with implication. As he looked Leonardo up and down, the hint in his eyes instantly lent his words a deeper, suggestive meaning.

Such a counterattack truly caught Leonardo by surprise. After a brief moment of shock, he immediately grasped the underlying meaning of the words. His self-protective instincts kicked in, and he retorted sharply, “Hey! Watch what you’re saying!”

Having navigated the glitz and glamour of Hollywood for years, especially after the explosive success of “Titanic,” Leonardo had become increasingly cautious about making friends. Everyone seemed to have an agenda. Friendships were no longer pure; even love and family ties were tainted. Aside from the friends he’d made before he was famous, Leonardo’s circle had grown smaller and narrower. Making a new friend was an exceedingly difficult process.

But now, after his reflexive retort, Leonardo saw the polite smile on Lu Ke’s lips. Lu Ke had even taken a friendly half-step back, creating more distance between them, showing no intention of getting closer, let alone attacking. Only then did Leonardo realize it had just been a joke.

If it had been a complete stranger, Leonardo wouldn’t have overreacted. But after their previous chance meeting, and considering Lu Ke wasn’t a Hollywood type but a professional football player of Chinese descent trying to make it in the NFL, he seemed like someone worth befriending. It was precisely for this reason that Leonardo was being extra cautious.

Now, it seemed his nerves were clearly wound too tight.

Leonardo shook his head gently, a wry smile on his face. He felt a bit helpless about his own reaction and said softly, “Sorry.”

Lu Ke raised his hands in a gesture of surrender. “I’ve always heard that Hollywood is a gladiator’s arena. I thought it was just a vivid metaphor, but now it seems it’s more of a direct comparison.” He was poking fun at Leonardo’s intense aggressiveness. “And you guys complain that football is too violent? Sir, that’s not very sporting of you.”

Then, Leonardo saw Lu Ke shake his head with a completely serious expression, as if in regret and disapproval.

Instantly, Leonardo couldn’t hold back a smile and let out a soft chuckle. “Honestly, you could be an excellent reporter. Or a talk show host.”

“Then football would be missing out on an excellent quarterback,” Lu Ke replied. “You win some, you lose some. It’s a law of conservation.”

The confidence in his words made Leonardo laugh cheerfully and nod repeatedly. He liked this kind of humor and this way of conversing.

“You still haven’t answered my earlier question,” Lu Ke pressed. “You came to Candlestick Park, and it clearly wasn’t to watch the game, nor was it for me.” Seeing Leonardo about to offer a defense, Lu Ke added with a chuckle, “My teammates might not know any better, but you and I both know we’ve only met once. I hardly think we can be called friends yet.”

Leonardo paused for a moment, then a smile spread across his face as he nodded in agreement.

“I needed a place to hide from those annoying paparazzi,” Leonardo said, deciding to be honest. “They’re like persistent flies, always buzzing in my ear. I could go to the Staples Center to watch a game, but they always find me there. A football stadium was clearly the most unexpected choice.”

This time, there were no pleasantries, no lies. Leonardo told the whole truth. “Besides, I’ve met Eli Manning a few times. We’re not close, but at least it was a name I’d heard of. Before I knew it, I was already here.”

Lu Ke nodded, acknowledging the possibility. “So it seems you’ve heard of more than just two football players’ names now.” This was an inside joke from their last conversation.

It took Leonardo a moment to recall the memory, then he broke into a cheerful laugh. The more he thought about it, the funnier it became, and his smile grew wider. “Aside from all those reasons, honestly, there was also some curiosity.”

“It’s not just the NFL. As far as I know, there really aren’t many players of Chinese descent in any of the four major professional alliances in the United States. Why choose football? Things might have been much easier if you’d chosen basketball. At least, Yao is doing exceptionally well right now.” As Leonardo spoke, he gradually noticed the look of disdain on Lu Ke’s face. He couldn’t help but tilt his head. “Hey, I’m being serious!”

“I know.” Lu Ke nodded, then shrugged and gave his earnest opinion. “But it’s clear you’re not cut out to be a reporter. You’re better suited to being an actor. Your questions are old, boring, and full of clichés. Nobody cares about that stuff.”

Leonardo could hardly believe his ears. “…Are you serious?”

“Of course, I’m serious,” Lu Ke said, rambling on. “It’s either for the dream, for perseverance, for the money—oh, and I forgot, for the passion. It’s always one of those. Even though I’m of Chinese descent and chose football, at the end of the day, the reasons are still the same.”

Finally, Lu Ke looked up and broke into a wide grin. “Isn’t that right?”

Leonardo blinked, seriously contemplating whether he should turn and leave in a huff or just burst out laughing at the absurdity. In the end, he chose the latter. “God, you’re an interesting guy.”

Lu Ke chuckled softly as well. “If you want to hear some chicken soup for the soul, I can tell you a story about how I fell in love with football as a kid and how I got into the sport. I guarantee Oprah Winfrey would be moved to tears. But…” At this point, Lu Ke’s words trailed off.

The smile lingered on Leonardo’s lips as he followed Lu Ke’s gaze.

At some point, their steps had led them up into the stands. Looking out, the surging sea of red was gradually receding, but the exhilarating and joyful atmosphere still pulsed in the air. The vast expanse of red seemed as if it could fill the entire world. In that moment, Candlestick Park was breathtakingly beautiful.

“But the truth is, I just love it,” Lu Ke said simply. “I love the feeling of standing on the field. I love the feeling of my palms sweating from the tension in a crucial moment. I love the feeling of outsmarting an opponent during a confrontation. That’s all there is to it.”

At the start of their dreams, everyone possesses a pure and simple heart. But on the path to chasing those dreams, they gradually forget that initial purity, even forgetting the original reason they started, and end up lost in the torrent of life, eventually becoming another mediocre, unremarkable member of society.

Leonardo stood rooted to the spot. Lu Ke’s words still echoed in his ears, and his restless mind couldn’t help but begin to calm down.

Leonardo had been in a career slump recently.

Starting with “Gangs of New York” in 2002, Leonardo had officially begun his pursuit of the little golden man for Best Actor at the Oscars. After a string of explosive performances in films like “The Aviator,” “Infernal Affairs,” “Blood Diamonds,” and “Path of Revolution,” he had suddenly hit a wall.

Last year, neither “Inception” nor “Shutter Island” had managed to secure an Oscar nomination. And this year, “Hoover” had met its Waterloo early in the first half of awards season, drawing a barrage of criticism from film critics. Christmas hadn’t even arrived, yet it was already certain he would be out of the running for the final stage this year.

In a daze, Leonardo found himself lost in confusion, unsure of his goals, his current situation, and even whether he was a competent actor. The relentless harassment from the paparazzi only made things worse, which was why he had fled far from Los Angeles to San Francisco.

Now, standing before this field, beside this young quarterback, Leonardo’s questions remained unanswered, but his mood gradually began to lift. ‘Just because I love it.’ He liked that answer. It was as if he could hear the sound of a pure, relentlessly beating heart pounding against a chest.

“Today’s game was a nail-biter, but it was a beautiful win. For the fans, this is the happiest of times,” Leonardo said with a smile. Although he wasn’t a football fan, he was a basketball fan, so he could certainly empathize with the feeling. “On those last few drives, were you really not nervous or hesitant?”

In truth, during the final drive, at least two of Lu Ke’s passes had been slightly off-target, their accuracy not particularly high. However, the failure of the final play was due to a combination of factors. In those final moments, every player on and off the field had to bear their share of the pressure.

“When you’re in a crucial moment of the game, you don’t actually feel nervous, because you have to be completely focused on the game. If you start feeling nervous, it means your focus has slipped, and that’s the worst thing that can happen,” Lu Ke said earnestly.

A look of sudden realization crossed Leonardo’s face. “So that’s how it is! No wonder! I was just saying, during crucial moments in several Lakers games, the players started losing focus! It’s no good, they just don’t have the heart for it.”

A basketball fan is, after all, a basketball fan.