After Aaron left to rest, George's gaze swept over the players who had gathered to watch the excitement.
Clearly, the more material available, the better for promoting the Medford High football team.
However, facing the coach's gaze, the players one by one guiltily turned their heads away, and soon after, they scattered.
The players had already fully experienced Mike's power, and they certainly didn't want to be the second "lucky one."
George wasn't very surprised by the players' reaction. He shook his head, then looked at Jack, who was fiddling with the camera, and asked, "How was it? Did you get all the previous footage?"
"Of course! As a sports reporter, how could I miss such a brilliant moment?" Jack's face showed excitement, and then he flattered, "I'm even more certain now that Mike will definitely become a 'Star' on the football field in the future."
Jack's bet on Mike was not wrong. The footage he had previously captured of Mike scoring touchdowns in games had already been accepted by the local TV station for the football "Top Ten of the Week."
This also earned the down-on-his-luck sports reporter a considerable bonus.
So, now Jack found Mike, this dark horse, more and more pleasing to the eye.
George, on his part, was very pleased with Jack's praise for his player. He smiled, then turned to Mike and said, "All right, you can continue training."
Mike nodded and returned to the equipment area to continue his personal workout.
Another afternoon passed in boring training.
Jack also captured a lot of footage of Mike training again. Seeing that it was almost time, he packed up his equipment and, before leaving, didn't forget to remind Mike to watch the sports channel tonight.
During the inter-school league, the local TV station would compile highlights from the inter-school league and broadcast them during prime time on Friday night.
This also turned the school football game into a nationwide carnival.
As Jack left, George then explained the situation of next week's opponent to the players and urged everyone to prepare diligently after returning home.
Then, as soon as George announced "dismissal," the players cheered and left the field.
In the players' hearts, the joy of the weekend was just as important as winning the game.
As for Mike, he simply washed up and walked out of the locker room. Following the routine of the past few days, he once again declined the invitations of several girls who were still waiting persistently at the door.
With Mike's current popularity in school, if he wished, he could simply wave his hand and have an in-depth conversation with a certain girl.
However, after the baptism of Karen, Mike had no interest in girls with ordinary looks.
Yet, his indifferent demeanor seemed very irritating to Georgie.
Georgie expressed: envy, jealousy, and hatred!
"Isn't that Sheldon?" They hadn't walked far when Mike saw Sheldon's small figure by the roadside.
"What a pain in the neck…" Georgie grumbled, putting on a poker face.
His expression seemed to say that "seeing Sheldon on campus" was an unlucky thing.
Usually, after school, Sheldon would take George's car directly home and wouldn't leisurely walk home like Georgie and Mike.
His abnormal behavior today definitely meant something had happened.
"Hey, Sheldon, is something wrong?" Mike greeted him proactively.
"Nothing." Sheldon replied, trying to appear natural.
However, his steps unconsciously caught up with Mike's. Looking at the conflicted expression on his face, it was clear he was hiding something.
"Alright." Mike smiled and didn't ask further; he was well aware of Sheldon's tsundere personality.
Moreover, from his understanding of Sheldon, if he had something on his mind, he definitely wouldn't be able to keep it in for long.
Indeed, after the three of them walked out of school, Sheldon deliberated for a while longer and then asked, "Mike, do you think dad and mom will get a divorce?"
"Why do you say that?" Mike turned his head and asked curiously.
Mary and George were considered a model couple; Mike couldn't think of any reason for them to get to the point of divorce.
"These past few nights, I've often heard them arguing in their room," Sheldon analyzed seriously. "As far as I know, every couple goes through this stage before getting a divorce."
"What are they arguing about?" Mike continued to ask.
"I don't know either, maybe it's about Connie's brisket recipe," Sheldon sighed.
No matter how smart Sheldon was, he couldn't understand why Connie's brisket recipe had such "power."
However, Mike had guessed some of the hidden reasons: George was probably not angry about a brisket recipe; he felt that his decades of effort had not received understanding and recompense from his family.
Humans are emotional beings after all, and after giving, they also want to receive some positive "feedback" to show their value.
And Connie's brisket recipe could only be considered a negative trigger.
However, Mike still found it a bit hard to believe that George and Mary would get a divorce over such a small conflict.
So, he turned and asked, "Georgie, do you know what dad and mom are arguing about?"
"How would I know?" Georgie, who had been acting like he wasn't there, hadn't noticed the change in the family atmosphere.
Then, he continued, "Isn't arguing normal? I argue with some people on the football team all the time."
"Shut up, Georgie." Sheldon heard Georgie's foolish remark and said discontentedly, "Dad and mom's argument is completely different from yours…"
Then, Sheldon tried to explain the differences between the two to Georgie.
"Whatever—" Georgie said indifferently, "If they get a divorce, I want to live with dad, and you're not allowed to choose the same…"
Georgie even began to fantasize about how wonderful life would be without Sheldon.
"Stop—"
Seeing that things were going awry, Mike spoke up to stop the impending argument between the two brothers. He soothed, "Sheldon, you're too sensitive. George and Mary won't get a divorce."
With Sheldon half-believing, half-doubting, the three walked back to the Cooper house.
With Mike's guidance along the way, Sheldon's mood seemed much better.
And every weekend, if there were no other plans, the Cooper family would have a family dinner with Connie.
This was their family's leisure time.
Of course, before this week's dinner, there was an additional activity: watching the local sports channel.
As prime time arrived, the whole family gathered in front of the TV.
On the TV, exciting footage of Mike carrying the ball, crossing opponents, then violently knocking down the opposing safety, and successfully scoring a touchdown was playing.
"Mike, hurray!!! Hurray—"
Seeing Mike's heroic performance on TV, Missy excitedly ran around the house.
"Mike, you'll become a star…" Connie also said happily, very proud of Mike.
Then, the others, like family, also offered their congratulations to Mike.
Among the family, only George seemed to be in low spirits at this moment.
"George, don't you want to say something? Mike is your player." Mary noticed her husband's unusual behavior and reminded him.
"Mike, congratulations." George said, covering his face with a magazine.
"Can't you put the magazine down?" Mary was a little angry.
"No, I don't want to see someone." George said, blocking Connie's gaze with the magazine.