Chapter Twenty-Nine: Li Weihong's "Plea to Stay"

Wang Lei was packing his luggage; he had to return to Jinling ahead of schedule. The theater affairs would be handled by the ever-enthusiastic Zhang San and "Li Si," so no major issues were expected. Besides, there was the passionate support of Teacher Cui Jingfang, which meant there was no worry about other troupes poaching their actors. Given that their performing group was mainly composed of students and enthusiasts, there was little risk of shows being halted due to a lack of actors, as long as the key performers stayed.

The copyright issue for "Goodbye, Charlotte" was entrusted entirely to Ma Pingdong. As Wang Lei's future father-in-law, Ma was a prominent figure in the arts community with a wide network, so there was no fear of being taken advantage of. Wang Lei felt reassured leaving this matter in his hands.

Although Ma Dongmei had professional caregivers on her side and her injuries weren't particularly severe, Wang Lei still couldn't help but worry. He didn't want his beloved to end up like him, with her dreams shattered by physical harm.

Online, news about Wang Lei had stirred up a modest wave. Most netizens regarded his experiences and current actions with sympathy and relief. Some admired his talent, and a few veteran basketball fans even created dedicated forums for him.

But where there are positives, negatives follow. Under the instigation of a few with ulterior motives, some messages used Wang Lei's background to criticize the country's sports management system. A small group, driven by the belief that others' success diminished their own, accused Wang Lei of neglecting his profession, behaving recklessly, and even claimed that "Goodbye, Charlotte" was sheer fabrication.

Having endured the baptism of Earth's online world, Wang Lei ignored all such negativity. These matters only became more senseless the more one engaged with them.

His ticket was booked, and he packed only a few changes of clothes; everything else was available in Jinling. He also tucked his self-made physical data quantification chart into the most concealed pocket. Though it wasn't much of a secret, it was best to keep it discreet.

Just as he was heading out with his things for the airport, his phone rang.

Seeing the name on the screen, Wang Lei had a pretty good idea of what was coming—it was Li Weihong. It seemed he might not be leaving today after all.

"Hello, Auntie, it's Lei," he answered.

"Lei, do you have time this evening? I have something to discuss with you. Seven o'clock at Yuanju Restaurant, just outside the neighborhood. Don't be late."

Before Wang Lei could reply, Li Weihong hung up. She was always this assertive, as if Wang Lei would never say no. And to be fair, he didn't dare refuse her invitation—after all, she was Ma Dongmei's mother. No matter how Wang Lei felt about her, that fact couldn't be changed.

He changed his flight, feeling somewhat deflated as he tossed his luggage aside. Dinner with Li Weihong was never an easy affair.

Wang Lei could have simply ignored Li Weihong, but that would only make things worse. All he wanted was to spend his life with Ma Dongmei, but he couldn't let that lead to a rift between her and her family. If Wang Lei really acted on his own willfulness, he might not mind, but Ma Dongmei would end up being criticized behind her back. He couldn't allow his momentary stubbornness to bring future regret.

He arrived at Yuanju Restaurant half an hour early, reserved a private room, poured the tea, and waited for Li Weihong.

Dressed formally, Li Weihong arrived right on time at seven. She glanced at Wang Lei as he came forward to greet her.

"Good, you're punctual," she noted.

"I just arrived myself, Auntie," Wang Lei replied.

"What would you like to eat? Or shall I order?"

"I'll leave it to you, Auntie. Whatever you prefer."

Wang Lei did his best to humble himself, hoping for a smooth meal.

"You know my position regarding you and Dongmei. It's not your disability I mind; I simply don't want my only daughter to be unhappy in the future."

"I understand, Auntie. But you see, Dongmei and I truly care for each other. Our generation may have its issues, but after these two years, I know I can't live without her."

After they ordered, Li Weihong spoke her mind directly, and Wang Lei seized the chance to share his own thoughts.

"Dongmei is my only daughter, and she's quite stubborn, to be honest. I know that even if I oppose you to the end, you'll still end up together. I've seen the changes in you over these two years, and that's good. But I don't want my daughter to face endless troubles and disturbances in the future. I think you know what I mean."

"I do, Auntie. I'm not ambitious for fame—it's just a hobby. You see, in this digital age, having some supporters is actually a good thing, isn't it?"

"As long as you understand. You've matured a lot in these two years, which makes me happy. I won't oppose you and Dongmei, but I have one condition. If you agree and fulfill it, I'll personally arrange your wedding. If you refuse, then let me be clear: I will oppose you two being together to the end, even if Dongmei disowns me as her mother."

She finished and fixed Wang Lei with a piercing gaze, her formidable presence weighing on him.

"Thank you for your understanding, Auntie. But could you tell me what the condition is? Of course, you know, if it's beyond my ability, I won't agree lightly."

Wang Lei wasn't about to agree blindly. He needed to be cautious—some things simply weren't that easy.

"The Xinjiang Basketball Association is about to publicly recruit a head coach for their youth team. I can recommend you. It's not hard to arrange. My condition is that you must lead the Xinjiang youth team to a top-three finish in the national competition within the next three years. If you can do that, I'll give my full blessing to you and Dongmei. If you can't, then I'm sorry—you know my temperament. Not even your Uncle Ma can sway me."

Li Weihong's true intent was to put things off, to pull Wang Lei away from Ma Dongmei for a while and let both cool down. She believed that Wang Lei, who had been away from basketball for two years, couldn't possibly achieve remarkable results as head coach in just two or three years.

Wang Lei pondered. To him, this condition was also an opportunity. If he succeeded, nothing would stand in the way of his relationship with Ma Dongmei. Besides, he'd always wanted to return to basketball—his original dream was to make his mark through the sport.

"Auntie, this is a significant matter. May I have some time to consider it?"

He didn't agree right away. While he felt he had some advantages—his unique sensory talent was especially useful in spotting talented athletes—the task was still complicated. He needed to think it through carefully, and discuss it with Ma Dongmei. Moving to the northwest would mean being apart from her, and they'd need to prepare for that in advance.