Chapter 1076 Goodbye
After finishing the meal and tidying up the kitchen and dining room, it was very close to Leeds City’s away game against Warship Harbor in the afternoon.
Hu Lai and Li Qingqing sat side by side on the sofa and watched the game.
Li Qingqing has watched many Leeds City games, but this is the first time he has watched a Leeds City game without Hu Lai. After all, if Hu Lai doesn't play, what else is there to watch in Leeds City's game?
She is not a Leeds City fan.
As for sitting with Hu Lai and watching the Leeds City game without Hu Lai, this is an experience that Li Qingqing has never experienced before.
Warshipsport is one of the traditional giants of the Premier League, commonly known as the "BIG6".
Because it was originally a team composed of workers working in a military port on the Thames River, it was named "Warship Port".
Of course, more than a hundred years later, this team has nothing to do with the original military port. Only the front silhouette of a warship on the team logo shows the relationship between this team and that warship port.
As a traditional giant of English football, Warship Port has won a total of twenty English top league championships (including the Premier League and the English League One before the Premier League).
But it is a pitiful zero in terms of European honors.
This also makes their status and influence in English football inferior to the two giant rivals Tramed and Stan Park Rangers.
In the past ten years, the warship port has also entered a trough. As a BIG6, in many cases it is difficult to even guarantee the top six in the league.
This season they are twelfth in the league with mediocre results.
However, one of the greatest charms of the Premier League is that the league ranking does not fully reflect the strength of a team, or that the team's performance in the next game cannot be prejudged from the league ranking.
If you think Leeds City can beat Battleship Harbor away from home because Battleship Harbor is ranked two places lower than Leeds City, that is a typical football-blind perception. Moreover, Leeds City does not need to be much better than Warship Port - they are currently ranked tenth, only two points more than Warship Port.
What makes Hu Lai feel regretful is that although Morikawa Junpei entered the squad, he did not start.
In this game, Clark arranged an offensive-oriented personnel configuration. The two midfielders in the midfield were Jay Adams and Pete Williams, with Jack Walsh and Charlie Porter on both sides. The two forwards were Ismail Kamara and Dominique Laski.
During Hulay's absence for one and a half months, Lasky has worked very hard and has scored two league goals and one FA Cup goal, but Leeds City's overall number of goals is still low.
Since Hulay left the team to report for the national team on December 15, Leeds City has played nine games, seven of which were in the league and two in the FA Cup, scoring a total of twelve goals - so to speak Some Versailles, is scoring 12 goals in nine games still too few? You must know that the last four teams in the league have played 23 rounds and have not scored more than 20 goals...
But for a team like Leeds City that advocates offense and is good at attacking, there are indeed few.
Comparing the data from the nine games before Hulay left, Leeds City also played seven league games, and two were in the Champions League, which is more difficult to play than the FA Cup.
How many goals did Leeds City score?
Twenty-four balls.
Hulay scored nine goals among these twenty-four goals, and also had two assists, creating a total of eleven goals, which is almost half of the twenty-four goals.
Hu Lai's offensive importance to this team is evident.
"I think the characteristics and functions of Lasky and Kamara overlap slightly..." Li Qingqing commented while watching the game. "Both of them have very good foot skills and can play on the wing. If they are paired up as a forward, they will involuntarily run to the wing, leaving the center free... Especially Kamara, he particularly likes it. Playing on the wing, Lasky is better, at least he is a serious forward.”
Hu Lai also saw this problem. At the same time, he understood why Kamara played like this, because he was accustomed to leaving the space in the middle for himself... But now that he is sitting at home, he can only say that the power of habit Very powerful.
Kamara is originally a wide player, playing as a winger or a wide midfielder. It is really uncomfortable for him to play in the center.
"... Let these two people partner as a striker, why not replace one of them and let your captain play."
"The captain was injured and has missed three games..." Hu Lai explained.
Lorenzo Esposito was injured in the FA Cup third round match against York United.
He actually performed well as a starter in that game and scored a goal, but he was injured in the second half and was unable to persist and was substituted.
Then he has been absent until now. He is expected to be out for about another week, and with any luck he will be back before the Europa League resumes.
"Ah, then there's nothing we can do..." Li Qingqing immediately understood why Clark arranged his troops in such a way.
In the first half of the game, Warship Port, which played at home, took the lead. A goal from their American forward Carl Lambert gave the team the lead at home.
After Leeds City adjusted at halftime, Lasky equalized the score just at the beginning of the second half.
After he scored, Hu Lai in front of the TV jumped up happily, raised his arms and shouted: "This goal is beautiful!!"
But in fact, this is a very ordinary follow-up shot in front of the goal, which is not beautiful at all from an ornamental point of view.
Of course, Li Qingqing knew why he was cheering like this, and she covered her mouth with a smile: "So you are one step closer to the 'Red Hot Chili Peppers' dinner after the season?"
It was Lasky's sixth goal in the league.
Counting one goal in the Champions League, one in the FA Cup and one in the League Cup, he has scored a total of nine goals in all competitions this season, and is almost halfway to his 20-goal goal.
There is still half a season left, if everyone works hard, it will not be a dream to eat at Red Chili Pepper.
The Leeds City players on the field obviously knew this very well, so after Laski scored, they celebrated happily.
However, after Leeds City's equalizer, they were unable to hold on to the score.
Of course, they may not want to defend - they are still attacking, trying to defeat Warship Port on the road.
As a result, the opponent succeeded in a sneak attack in the 77th minute. Lambert scored twice, and Warship Harbor led Leeds City 2:1.
This score was maintained until the end.
Junpei Morikawa sat on the bench for 90 minutes and was named to the squad for two consecutive games, but did not play a single minute.
Commentator Matthew Cox comforted the Leeds City fans at the end of the game: "It doesn't matter, the darkness will eventually pass. Hu has ended his game in the national team and returned to the club. The next round of the league will play Walder Hampton game, we might see him on the roster! ”
Li Qingqing nudged Hu Lai with her elbow: "Do you feel like 'The Return of the King'?"
"What's going on? You want me to say, 'Leeds City, your king is back' before I go out to play? And then the fans at the scene collectively chanted 'HUHUHUHU'?"
Li Qingqing waved his hand: "The fans can't shout like that."
"Why?"
"As soon as they shouted, their momentum disappeared. It didn't sound like the king of Leeds City was back, but it sounded like the dog of Leeds City was back...ah hahaha!" At the end of the sentence, Li Qingqing couldn't hold it back and burst out laughing.
"Are you talking like a dog?" Hu Lai was furious.
Li Qingqing laughed so much that she rolled on the sofa holding her belly.
Hu Lai rolled his eyes, but did not rush her - according to their previous plan, they had to go to the airport after watching the game.
Until Li Qingqing calmed down, sat up from the sofa, and tied back the hair that had fallen away due to laughter.
The long hair that originally hung down was gathered into a ponytail, revealing her slender neck with soft curves.
Hu Lai was watching quietly from the side.
After tying her hair, Li Qingqing stood up: "It's time for me to leave."
"Okay, I'll take you to the airport." Hu Lai nodded.
Li Qingqing did not go to pick up the luggage, but said to Hu Lai: "I came here this time actually to comfort you, but after I came, I found that you are fine and don't need my comfort."
Hu Lai: "Then I should lock myself in the house, turn off the phone, close the doors and windows, draw the curtains, and let you knock on the door hard outside and I won't pay attention?"
"Disgusting!" Li Qingqing said angrily, and then said sternly: "But it would be nice to see that you are okay."
"Don't worry." Hu Lai patted his heart, "Big heart!"
Then he hesitated and said: "Paris and Leeds are so close. If you want to come and play, you can come at any time."
Li Qingqing nodded first and then said: "You can also come to Paris."
But she quickly changed her mind: "But you have been busy since then, and you probably won't have this opportunity to take a vacation at home..."
And she actually doesn't have that much time to waste on having fun.
In the summer of 2027, the 10th Women's World Cup will kick off in China.
As the absolute core and star of the women's football team, Li Qingqing has high hopes for her and the women's football team in this World Cup at home.
So a relaxing time like today is also a luxury for Li Qingqing.
Both of them knew their respective situations very well, so it was clear that such an agreement would be difficult to implement.
If professional players want to be dedicated, life is actually very boring. In addition to training, there are games, and there are many restrictions in daily life.
Although they make a lot of money, they can't eat whatever they want or play whatever they want like ordinary people.
It is a normal entertainment and pastime for ordinary people. In order to maintain a better competitive state, it is best for them not to touch it.
Training is boring and competitions are stressful. It is because of this that we see news in the media about professional players visiting nightclubs, bars, and carnival parties.
If their self-control is slightly weaker, they will vent their stress and emotions crazily off the court.
But Hu Lai and Li Qingqing are obviously not such people.
For them, it is a rare relaxation to be able to have a homely meal together, chat, and watch a game like they did these two days.
"Let's go. If you don't leave, you won't be able to catch the plane." Li Qingqing laughed again and walked towards the door.
"I'll see you off." Hu Lai took two quick steps, picked up the suitcase before her, and opened the door.
※※※
Parking the car in the airport parking lot, Li Qingqing refused Hu Lai to see her off: "Just don't get out. If someone recognizes you, you won't be able to run away."
After saying that, she opened the door and got out of the car to get the suitcase.
After taking the suitcase, he walked around to the driver's seat and said to Hu Lai: "After this season is over, I can't go back to China with you. We have to go back early to prepare for the World Cup..."
"I will tell my mother, she was still thinking about this before."
"Say hello to my uncle and aunt for me. I will go back to see them after I finish playing in the World Cup."
"Then why should I act on my behalf? I'll wait until you talk to them yourself."
Li Qingqing smiled: "Yes. Then wait until I see them again."
After saying that, there was a sudden silence between the two.
They looked at each other and neither of them spoke.
In the end, Li Qingqing forced out a smile: "Goodbye Hu Lai, thank you for staying with me for two days."
"I'm the one who should say thank you, right? You came here specially."
Li Qingqing just smiled without arguing, and then waved: "Goodbye, Hu Lai."
"Goodbye." Hu Lai also waved.
Li Qingqing turned around and left, walking towards the entrance of the terminal building.
Hu Lai raised his head and watched her back in the rearview mirror until he could no longer see her.
But he still looked and did not look away.
This was not the first time he and Li Qingqing were separated, but it was the first time he felt reluctant to leave.
He even... had a ridiculous idea in his mind: How great it would be if time could keep repeating these two days...
Then he was amused by his absurd idea: Putting aside its possibility, doesn't repeated cycles mean that he has to experience the feeling of separation again and again? How can I bear it...
Hu Lai smiled and restarted the car, slowly drove out of the parking space, ran in the opposite direction from the terminal, and drove towards the exit of the parking lot.
Behind the terminal, planes took off and landed, bringing some people with them and taking others away. (End of chapter)