Chapter 209: Chapter 131: Who in the World Doesn’t Know You

"Slept fine," Li Wei said, shaking his hand as they sat down on the sofa together. "My contract’s already signed, anyway."

Everyone in the room burst out laughing.

"I hope you’re not under too much pressure," Roger said, holding his coffee cup. "Because that Wor God guy wasn’t someone we hired to stir up hype. He’s connected to the NCAA."

"The NCAA’s?" Li Wei realized instantly. "Are they trying to cash in on me again?"

"It can’t be helped. Since they couldn’t stop you, this is the only thing they could do," John Mara said. "With us on your side, they can’t openly block you from joining the NFL."

「10:15 AM.」

The media rehearsal and Q&A talking points session ended. There were still 15 minutes until the press conference officially began. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

The quiet period.

All the bigwigs had retreated backstage, leaving Li Wei standing alone behind the enormous curtain. The crew was making final equipment checks, but he could no longer hear them.

Or rather, he was hearing too much.

As a small amount of adrenaline was released, the senses of his Silver Body were passively amplified. He regulated his breathing and closed his eyes.

His hearing pierced through the heavy curtain.

He could hear the clamor of several hundred reporters whispering amongst themselves, the sound blending together like the buzzing of a swarm of hungry flies.

Countless cameras of all shapes and sizes were warming up, the faint hum of their capacitors charging coalescing into an ocean of electric current. Thousands of hearts were beating, thousands of lungs contracting.

THUMP THUMP! THUMP THUMP!

It was a tide—a tide of desire, curiosity, greed, and scrutiny, waiting for the moment the dam would break.

「10:30 AM.」

Without any warning, the curtain was drawn open.

KA-CHA—!!!

In that instant, hundreds of camera flashes went off at once, illuminating the dim conference hall as if it were broad daylight. The intense light was like a physical blow, enough to blind an ordinary person in an instant.

Yet Li Wei simply smiled, a pair of Beats headphones hanging around his neck, and walked to the center of the lectern under the spotlight.

John Mara and Roger Goodell stood on either side of him.

The NFL was crazy, letting a kid who hadn’t even graduated high school join the league.

The NCAA was crazy too, for actually remaining silent on the matter.

The whole world had gone mad. The entire room fell dead silent for a moment, leaving only the frantic sound of camera shutters.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Roger Goodell’s voice echoed through the hall via the sound system and was broadcast across the globe. "Regarding whether Mr. Li Wei is qualified to join the NFL, the Alliance has conducted a week-long, rigorous review and independent testing."

He paused, took out a thick stack of documents, and showed it to the cameras below.

These were the documents provided during Li Wei’s previous physical examination.

"We all know Mr. Li Wei broke multiple records at the All-American Bowl. That’s all public data and video footage," he said. "Additionally, we invited Mr. Li Wei to New York’s Presbyterian Hospital. Following a joint assessment by a team of psychology experts and sports medicine specialists, it was determined that Mr. Li Wei’s mental maturity and bone density fully meet the standards for professional-level competition, and even far exceed the average level of current professional players."

The crowd below erupted. All the sports journalists were dumbfounded. The reporters from the finance and tech media saw their colleagues’ reactions and knew this had to be an incredible piece of news.

"Therefore, based on the supplementary clause regarding ’Special Talent Acquisition’ in the NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement, as well as the support of the doctors and the wishes of Mr. Li Wei himself," Roger Goodell said, enunciating each word, "on behalf of the NFL Alliance, I officially announce: Mr. Li Wei has passed the review under the special provision, is approved to be exceptionally admitted into the NFL, effective immediately."

At that moment, the dust settled. At the same time, betting markets across the globe related to the Giants and Li Wei instantly lit up red.

"MAMMA MIA!!!" Russo yelled, excitedly jumping onto the table and sending documents flying everywhere. "We won! We won! I knew this kid was sent by God! 30 million USD! A 2.7x payout! We’re gonna be rich!"

Luca couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief. "So, should I pull the soldiers back?"

"Pull them back. Give each of them some cash," Frank Russo said with a wave of his hand. "They get the day off!"

On Madison Avenue, Emma clenched her fists tightly. "FUCK YEAH!! I knew he could do it!"

"You bet on him too?" Lady Delores watched the ecstatic Emma with a calm expression. "How much?"

"A full 500,000 USD!" Emma was grinning from ear to ear. "That’s money I saved up from working for more than ten years, and now it’s more than doubled! I’m rich!"

In the mayor’s office, Mayor Holmes watched the live broadcast of Li Wei, closed his eyes in satisfaction, and swirled the red wine in his glass.

He was very pleased with this gift from the Gambino Family. But his attitude toward and perception of Li Wei himself were even better.

’He’s someone Mellon brought in, and right now he’s the center of attention. Is there some way to get on his good side?’

He stared at Li Wei’s face on the television screen. Very young, very handsome, with a kind of unbridled energy and swagger completely different from the Chinese who were born and raised in the United States of America.

’Wait,’ he suddenly thought, ’didn’t Lin Daohang speak with him privately at the banquet?’

"Bring me the Chinatown renovation proposal to look over again," he said to his secretary. "And while you’re at it, bring me the urban planning map for the Bronx. I want to see if there are any suitable areas for redevelopment."

Li Wei was riding a huge wave of popularity right now, second to none. ’If I build a good relationship with him,’ he thought, ’I might be able to secure the support of a portion of the Chinese voter base in a year or two.’