The morning sun in Madrid streamed through the blinds onto Lu Chuan's face, and his phone's ringtone woke him from a light sleep.
The screen displayed Carlos's name, just past eight o'clock.
"Lu, are you awake?" Carlos's voice was filled with barely suppressed excitement, "I have some amazing news to tell you!"
Lu Chuan rubbed his eyes and sat up. Esther stirred beside him, her long golden hair spread across the pillow.
"What's got you so excited?"
"AulaVirtual!" Carlos almost shouted, "The online education platform you invested in has seen its user base increase tenfold due to the pandemic's stay-at-home orders! They just completed their Series A funding, and their valuation has quintupled!"
Lu Chuan's sleepiness instantly vanished, but the expression on his face remained calm.
This outcome was within his expectations; the pandemic would completely change people's lifestyles, and online education was just one of the emerging trends.
"Your 150,000 euros are now worth 750,000 on paper!" Carlos's voice trembled, "Lu, how did you predict this?"
Esther was woken by the phone call and opened her hazy eyes.
She saw the confident expression on Lu Chuan's face, and a wave of curiosity surged within her.
"Tell them I won't sell my shares," Lu Chuan's tone was unusually firm. "I choose to follow on the investment. Also, help me scout for new investment targets."
"...Are you crazy?" Carlos's voice sounded like he was choking.
"Lu, are you sure? The economic situation is so bad right now, many people are selling off assets.
The stock market is plummeting, businesses are failing, and you still want to keep investing?"
Lu Chuan walked to the window, looking at the empty streets of Madrid. A few ambulances whizzed by, reminding him of the crisis the city was experiencing.
"Be greedy when others are fearful," he said in an unquestionable tone, which choked off Carlos's subsequent questions. "Carlos, I need you to help me build a professional investment advisory team. Our capital will grow larger and larger in the future."
"What areas do you want to invest in?"
Lu Chuan quickly sorted through his memories from his previous life. Which industries would explode due to the pandemic? Which companies would rise in the crisis?
"Home fitness, mobile office software, short video social media," he said, word by word. "Go find the most promising startups in these areas. Focus on teams with strong technology but lacking capital."
"Lu, did you... did you study finance before?" Carlos couldn't help but ask. The players he had managed before only had luxury cars and parties on their minds.
"There's one more thing," Carlos's tone became serious. "Although the League is suspended, the endorsement negotiations with Joma and Brand have not stopped. Your 'lone brave' image and previously accumulated popularity still make Brands optimistic about you."
"What's the situation with Brand?"
"They proposed a five-year cooperation plan, with a total value exceeding 20 million euros. However, there's a condition: they hope you can showcase more Chinese elements on social media."
Lu Chuan pondered, "Chinese elements..." This request was not excessive; in fact, it aligned with his inner thoughts.
"Acceptable. You handle the specific details; I trust your professional ability."
After hanging up the phone, Esther was fully awake. She sat by the bed in her silk pajamas, her eyes full of curiosity.
"Were you just talking about investments?"
Lu Chuan nodded and walked back to sit by the bed. Esther's hair emitted a faint scent, which made him feel at ease.
"Want to hear my plan?"
Esther nodded excitedly. Although she was an actress, she also had a strong interest in business investments.
Lu Chuan explained his investment logic to her in detail.
The pandemic would change people's living habits, giving rise to new business models. Companies that could adapt to the changes would seize huge opportunities in the crisis.
"How did you think of all this?" Esther couldn't help but exclaim, "You're like a prophet." "From the perspective of the entertainment industry, I believe online virtual concerts and fan economy platforms will also be huge markets."
"That's right!" Lu Chuan clapped his hands. "How could I have forgotten that?" Esther's addition reminded him of the live streaming platforms and virtual idols that became immensely popular during the pandemic in his previous life.
"Your idea is very valuable," he held Esther's hand. "Perhaps in the future, we can establish our own investment company, called 'L & E Capital'. What do you think?"
Esther's eyes instantly lit up. This proposal not only represented business cooperation but also symbolized the further deepening of their relationship.
"I like this idea," she held Lu Chuan's hand tightly. "We can combine resources from both the sports and entertainment fields to create greater value."
The two began to discuss their future plans enthusiastically.
Lu Chuan's football talent and business acumen, combined with Esther's connections and resources in the entertainment industry, could indeed produce huge synergistic effects.
The sounds of discussion in the room gradually faded, and they held hands, the warmth in their palms conveying a tacit understanding named "us."
At lunchtime, Lu Chuan received an email from the Chinese Embassy.
The subject of the email was "Thank You Letter," and its content brought great comfort to both him and Esther.
"Dear Mr. Lu Chuan and Ms. Esther, the medical supplies you jointly donated have successfully arrived at the front lines in Wuhan.
This batch of masks and protective suits has provided crucial protection for frontline medical staff, who express their heartfelt gratitude for your kindness."
The email also included photos of the material handover. The medical staff in protective suits, though their faces were unclear, had firm and grateful eyes.
Esther looked at the photos, her eyes a little moist.
"We did something meaningful."
Lu Chuan gently stroked her back. In this special period, being able to contribute to his homeland gave him an unprecedented sense of satisfaction.
In the afternoon, Lu Chuan opened Weibo and found that his donation had been widely reported by domestic media.
The comment section was full of praise and support from netizens.
"This is a true Chinese player!"
"To still care about his homeland while abroad, Lu Chuan is amazing!"
"Those people in the Football Association should reflect seriously; why can't such a player be on the national team?"
These positive comments once again boosted Lu Chuan's domestic reputation. Especially against the backdrop of being "blacklisted" by the Football Association, his patriotic actions seemed particularly valuable.
In the evening, Carlos called again. This time he brought more good news.
"Lu, I've already contacted several investment advisory firms. One of them specializes in early-stage investments, and they are very interested in your ideas."
"Also, I've found a few projects that meet your requirements.
There's a startup doing home fitness; their app's downloads surged during the pandemic. And another one focused on mobile office, with a strong technical team but lacking capital."
Lu Chuan listened carefully to Carlos's report, already having a preliminary investment plan in his mind.
"First, arrange video conferences for me with the founders of these companies. I want to personally understand their products and teams."
"No problem. Oh, and one more thing. Nike also has an interest in contacting you; they want to know your endorsement intentions."
Lu Chuan frowned slightly. Nike was indeed a top Brand, but he already had a preliminary agreement with Brand.
"Politely decline for now. I don't want to negotiate with multiple sports Brands simultaneously; it's not professional enough."
After hanging up the phone, Lu Chuan walked to the balcony. The sun was setting, painting the Madrid sky golden.
The streets were still empty, but he could feel the immense energy contained within the city.
Esther hugged him from behind, and they quietly watched the distance.
"What are you thinking about?"
"I'm thinking, maybe this pandemic is really an opportunity for me."
Lu Chuan's voice was soft. "Not just in football, but in life."
Esther held him tightly. She could feel the maturity and wisdom in this man that transcended his age.
In the evening, Lu Chuan checked his bank account. Apart from his football income, the returns from investments had rapidly increased his wealth.
For the first time, he realized that beyond football, he was forging a Brand new path to financial freedom.
"System, simulate a closed-door match scenario for me."
He silently chanted in his mind, preparing to enter the training space.
Matches after the League resumed would be played without spectators, and he had to adapt to this special environment in advance.
But before entering the training space, he glanced at Esther, who was sleeping soundly beside him.
This woman was not only his lover but would also become an important partner in his career.
The road ahead was long, but he was ready.
Whether on the green field or the business battlefield, he would be the ultimate victor.