Lisbon, a slum district.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
Hugo was tied to a stool while his so-called "good friends" were beating the hell out of him.
"You little bitch! You made me lose thirty thousand!"
"Damn it! You'd better pay this money back, or I'll kill you!"
"I lost thirteen thousand too! Fuck!"
"Did you secretly bet on the other side? That's why you deliberately let your brother score so many goals?"
"That must be it! That bastard—tomorrow I'll find someone to break his legs! I'll make sure he never kicks a ball again!"
Hugo's face was covered in blood. He no longer had the strength to argue.
Didn't he lose money?
He lost too.
More than twenty thousand.
How could he possibly pay it back?
How could his mother afford the compensation on a monthly salary of just over five hundred?
At this moment, he truly felt that maybe it would have been better to just die.
But when he heard them say they wanted to break Cristiano Ronaldo's legs, he used the last bit of strength he had to spit blood into the other man's face.
"If you want to mess with someone, come at me! Don't touch my family!" Hugo was on the verge of passing out.
Di—wu—di—wu—di—wu—
Suddenly, police sirens rang out nearby.
One of the men went outside to check, then shouted in panic:
"The police are coming!"
"Run! There are so many cops!"
"Fuck! Who called the police?!"
"Go, go, go!"
"We're done if we get caught!"
The gang scattered instantly.
The sirens outside didn't stop.
Just as the last footsteps faded, Hugo heard someone approaching from behind.
The rope around his body was untied.
He turned his head and saw Cristiano Ronaldo and Kai.
"Chris… why are you…" Hugo's voice was weak.
"Let's leave first. We'll talk later," Kai said quickly. "If they come back, it'll be trouble."
Only after entering the Chinese community did Kai finally relax.
It was safe here.
Cristiano Ronaldo knew exactly what kind of ending Hugo could face in Lisbon.
By the time the two arrived earlier, Hugo had already been restrained by those people.
The police report had been made by Kai and Ronaldo.
However, Kai deliberately didn't report Hugo's exact location, but the building next door.
If the police had arrived directly, Hugo and the others could've been exposed for illegal betting or even gambling. That would leave a record on Hugo and could also affect Ronaldo.
Scaring them off was the best outcome.
If it hadn't worked, Kai was prepared to lure the police over himself and save Hugo first—though that would've caused endless trouble afterward.
Cristiano Ronaldo had been extremely worried about Hugo.
But Kai was confident.
These people were after money.
If Hugo died, they'd get nothing.
So in the short term, Hugo wouldn't be killed.
Besides, Hugo wasn't exactly harmless back in Madeira. Once he returned there, most of these problems would disappear.
The only thing left was the twenty thousand he owed the bank.
Official money is the hardest to escape.
…
"Did you play like that on purpose?" Hugo finally exploded. He had already realized it back at the Alvalade Stadium and now stared at Kai viciously.
"Before I answer you, let me ask you something," Kai said calmly. "Do you still think those people are your friends? Do you still believe they wouldn't hurt you or Cristiano Ronaldo?"
Kai showed no guilt at all.
Some people just don't understand until they get beaten half to death. Low IQ, low EQ—pain is the only teacher they listen to.
"Do you know how much debt this puts on our family?" Hugo knew Kai was right, but he couldn't accept the method. "You're not worthy of calling yourself Chris's best friend."
"You dragged his family into massive debt! We'll be poor for the rest of our lives!"
"You bastard! You never had good intentions!"
"Brother, that's enough!" Cristiano Ronaldo finally stood up. "Kai is my friend. He was worried about me, and he saved you. And this is how you talk about him? Apologize!"
Hugo was stunned.
His younger brother had always been obedient, never raising his voice.
But this time—
"Chris, you—"
"Apologize!" Ronaldo was furious. "If you don't apologize to Kai, I won't recognize you as my brother! Apologize!"
"I've had enough of you!" Hugo completely snapped. "Why are you always so high and mighty? Always ordering everyone around?"
"Do I owe you anything?"
"I entered society early and worked myself to death for this family! And you? Your expenses alone are higher than the rest of the family combined!"
"Father and mother love you the most. I'm their son too—have they ever cared about me?"
"Do I want to lose money? Do I want to be in debt? Do I spend it on pleasure?"
"I'm doing this for the family too!"
"You're selfish!"
Hugo slammed the door and stormed out.
This time, he truly left.
Cristiano Ronaldo stood frozen, unable to refute a single word.
Because Hugo wasn't wrong.
Kai patted Ronaldo on the shoulder—you were right—then chased after Hugo.
Kai caught up, pulled something out, and threw it at him.
Hugo turned around, ready to punch him—
Then froze.
Money?
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Kai threw several thick bundles to the ground.
"This is the money Cristiano Ronaldo borrowed from me," Kai said. "It's all the scholarship money I advanced from the school."
"Use it to pay off the dirty debts you owe."
"If there's any left, tell Auntie you earned it this time. Set up a stall, do some small business."
"And never—ever—gamble again."
"Don't touch things you can't quit. You'll destroy your whole family."
Kai knew very well that family—especially Ronaldo—meant everything to Hugo.
Saying the money came from Ronaldo would keep Hugo from wasting it again.
If he still dared to waste it, he'd lose his brother forever.
That wouldn't be a bad thing for Ronaldo.
Hugo's hands trembled.
As he bent down to pick up the money, he asked hoarsely, "How can Chris afford all this?"
"He'll become a star," Kai said. "Your family won't need to worry about money in the future."
"But no matter how big a star someone becomes, if his family is a mess and keeps breaking the law, he'll only become a joke."
"From now on, don't walk crooked paths for money. Take care of your parents and your two sisters. That's the greatest support you can give Cristiano Ronaldo."
"He gave you a book last time. Haven't you read it?"
Hugo shook his head. He didn't even remember the book's name.
"Wait here. I have the same book at home," Kai said. "I'll get it for you."
"Once you get it, leave for Madeira immediately. Your 'friends' probably won't react tonight."
"But if you don't leave now, it'll be much harder later."
Two minutes later, Kai ran back and handed Hugo a book.
Hugo looked at the cover.
Comprehensive Study Materials for the Football Agent Professional Qualification Exam.
He raised his head and looked at the shadow standing silently on the distant balcony.
Tears streamed down his face.
"Thank you, Kai. Chris and I… we're really lucky to have met you. Thank you."
Hugo disappeared into the darkness.
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