Chapter 705: Presumption of innocence 704
“…Rookie. Rookie! We need to leave now,”
Kelsey whispered repeatedly, calling out as he watched Li Wei surrounded by children, doing his best to hide his impatience.
Standing to the side, Mahomes chuckled, his expression exceptionally cheerful.
Upon arriving at the hospital, Kelsey boasted proudly that he had a special way with kids and that no child could resist his charm. He enjoyed playing with kids himself, so he had come prepared today, ready to show off his skills.
Yet, it was Li Wei who turned out to be the most popular among the children.
Even as they prepared to leave, one child clung to Li Wei’s neck, whispering secrets into his ear, finding it hard to part; this scene made the self-proclaimed “King of Kids” Kelsey envious, urging Li Wei to hurry up and leave.
Li Wei finished whispering with the kids, waved goodbye, and stepped forward to catch up with Mahomes and Kelsey, heading towards the elevator together.
Kelsey narrowed his eyes and sized up Li Wei, “So, what were you guys just talking about?”
Kelsey: … “Fine, keep it then. I’m not interested at all, haha.”
As they stepped into the elevator and watched the doors begin to close, a voice called from outside, “Wait, wait.”
Li Wei instinctively reached out to hold the elevator.
After a short wait, there appeared a panting figure—it was none other than Annie.
Annie looked up with sparkling eyes, “Li Wei… Li Wei.”
Li Wei took a step forward and bent down.
Annie leaned close to Li Wei’s ear and whispered softly, “I just succeeded.”
Li Wei’s mood brightened as well, “Wow, 007, mission accomplished!”
After speaking, Li Wei raised his right hand, smiling as he looked over.
Annie caught on, her smile perfectly curving up, eyes forming crescents, she raised her hand and gave Li Wei a high-five with a crisp sound. Then, she brought her index and middle finger together to form a gun gesture and blew on it.
With that single move, both Annie and Li Wei burst into laughter.
Annie turned around, pressed against the wall, and bent her knees, imitating the moves of a spy in the movies, ducking and turning, clearly having a blast on her own.
Li Wei leaned out, watching the slightly clumsy and shaking figure, his mood quietly brightening. He then stepped back half a step and retreated into the elevator.
A sense of being wronged seemed to project from behind him. Li Wei straightened up, placed his hands in front of him, and turned slightly towards Kelsey.
“Just now, Kevin told me that his actual favorite player is Travis Kelce, but because he likes him so much, he was too shy to tell him in person. He asked me to share it before the next game starts, hoping Mr. Travis Kelce would give it his all.”
Kelsey, “You’re outing someone’s secret just like that? That’s not kind at all. I said I wasn’t interested in secrets.”
Despite his words, Mahomes could see Kelsey’s mouth curving into an undeniable smile, trying hard to maintain a composed facade, yet the laughter in his eyes was unmistakable; his spirits were soaring.
Mahomes struggled to hold back his laughter.
Happiness, after all, is fleeting.
Leaving the hospital, Mahomes had to return to reality and face his own mess. Just the thought of his situation with Brittany gave him a headache.
The sound of knocking came from outside. Li Wei looked through the peephole and turned back to Mahomes, who was sitting in the lounge, “It’s her.”
Mahomes nearly choked on his saliva, stood up quickly, and flopped over the couch to hide behind it, then waved his hands frantically at Li Wei, gesturing for him to keep it a secret.
It seemed that Mahomes was not yet ready to face the difficulties head-on.
Li Wei waited for Mahomes to hide before opening the door—
She stood at the door expressionless, and upon seeing Li Wei, she didn’t even lift her eyelids, but raised the carry-on travel bag she was holding and spoke on her initiative.
“Inside are some clothes for changing, toiletries, and also his notebook, among other things. Tools he usually uses for tactical meetings and watching game footage.”
Li Wei: Cough, cough.
“Sherlock isn’t here,” Li Wei lied through his teeth.
Brittany’s expression remained unchanged as she glanced over Li Wei’s shoulder, “Then, when you head to the team’s practice, pass them on to him.”
Li Wei considered for a moment, “Brittany, what happened?”
This time, Brittany finally looked Li Wei straight in the eye—
A bit tired, because of the significant difference in height, Brittany had to step back slightly and look up at Li Wei, her neck aching as she raised her head.
Brittany, “So, you don’t know?”
Li Wei shrugged lightly, “Sherlock and I are good friends, but even good friends have their own privacy. I wouldn’t inquire about matters between you two, and he wouldn’t ask about my private life.”
Brittany chuckled coldly, “Are you implying that you are innocent? You’re completely unaware of him texting other women?”
Li Wei couldn’t help but smile wryly, not concealing his helplessness, “Whether I’m innocent or guilty, at least let me know what the allegations are.”
Brittany was taken aback—
She had assumed that Li Wei already knew the full story.
To be more precise, she thought Li Wei was the instigator.
After all, Li Wei was Mahomes’ close friend, and for a long time, even Mahomes’ only friend. Brittany knew that behind Mahomes’ successful takeover of the quarterback starter position, Li Wei had been a great help; but if Mahomes was led astray, Li Wei might very well be the main culprit.
However, looking at Li Wei, Brittany’s thought wavered.
Li Wei noticed the change in Brittany’s expression and added another comment.
“Texting women? So, in your eyes, I’m the type to be keen on texting women after practice every day?”
No. That doesn’t seem like him.
Actually, on thinking it over calmly, Li Wei was never the type to casually flirt. Not to mention going to bars or clubs, he rarely even touched alcohol or cigarettes, and his entertainment life outside of training and games was exceptionally dull.
So, it wasn’t Li Wei?
But her thoughts were fleeting, and Brittany did not waver easily.
Taking a deep breath, Brittany regained her composure.
“Who knows. Beyond the glare of the spotlights, what you’re really like.”
“I know what this is about. You’re superstars, not only pursued by the media, but countless women also throw themselves at you, and not even needing you to beckon, an endless stream of girls come forth.”
“In your domain in Kansas City, you might be a bit more restrained; but when you go for away games, in the dead of night, loneliness and emptiness chilling you, how could you bear to sleep alone in that big bed?”
“Everything is too easy for you, and refusing is the hard thing.”
“So, don’t stand there pretending to be pure and innocent, we’re not children anymore.”
With a burst of words, Brittany uncontrollably vented her anger and irritation.
After saying her piece, Brittany even tiptoed and shouted over Li Wei’s shoulder.
“You can deceive others, but not yourselves.”