Chapter 896: 895 defending champion
“Hey, buddy.” Berry gently bumped Houston’s shoulder, warmly welcoming back the old-timer with a smile, “So, what did the test results say?”
Houston looked at Berry’s careful movements, as if handling something fragile, “You don’t need to be so cautious, do you?”
Berry maintained his smile, “The answer should come from you, shouldn’t it? Do I need to be careful?”
Houston sighed lightly, his old friend still understood him, “Mild concussion, mandatory four weeks of rest, at least.”
Berry patted Houston’s shoulder again. For their age and bodies, any injury was difficult, as their bodies were becoming more fragile and recovery was harder, and the news of injuries was always disheartening.
Then Berry smiled again, “Fortunately, it seems we two old bones won’t need to be on the field tonight.”
Following Berry’s gaze, Houston took a deep breath and paused there for a long time before exhaling deeply.
“Who would have thought, on the Super Bowl stage, we’d have a chance to joke around here?”
“Haha.” Berry laughed heartily, “Catching a ride on the bandwagon occasionally feels pretty good. Justin, we seem to have no worries about the team.”
Although Houston didn’t follow Berry’s gaze, he knew who Berry was talking about as he watched that figure silently, the figure wearing jersey number twenty-three.
“Yeah.” Houston said, nodding lightly.
Even though the game had entered garbage time, Li Wei was still on the field, remaining fully focused—
Because this was the Super Bowl, the ultimate stage of the year, where so many players longed to set foot, even for just one chance to showcase themselves, yet it always eluded them, and they should not waste it.
Because Donald was still fighting, despite the score, Donald never gave up, always burning and striving, he deserved respect, and Li Wei felt compelled to fight till the end.
Also because of Annie Galas.
Not for victory, not for the championship, but to blossom life without regrets, with full abandon. Annie longed to fight, to fight with all her might, even if just one more day, but she had no chance as time froze forever before her twelfth birthday.
This game, this battle, its meaning and value had long surpassed that of a championship, it was the stage where Li Wei bore Annie’s dream.
Therefore, Li Wei would not slack off, not be proud or complacent, he continued to diligently complete the game on the field.
Moreover, he refused to hold back.
Li Wei and Donald faced off once more.
Donald was ready to tackle, but saw Li Wei plant his back into Donald’s chest, suddenly exerting force, subduing Donald.
Donald’s chest felt heavy, his arms numb, unable to exert force.
Immediately, Li Wei used the recoil to spin counterclockwise, freeing himself from Donald’s arm control, sliding past Donald’s body.
A 360-degree rotation.
Li Wei and Donald had switched positions.
As Li Wei was about to break free, Donald couldn’t react in time, but with his center of gravity pressed against Li Wei, forcibly leaned back, directly pressing down.
With force and weight combined with inertia, it piled on layer upon layer.
Li Wei was just about to run forward, when he felt the weight of a mountain toppling behind him, his center of gravity suddenly lurching forward, dragging his upper body with quick, heavy steps.
The balance, completely lost.
Stumbling, tottering.
Li Wei struggled to control himself, watching helplessly as he was about to fall, supporting himself with his left hand on the ground, scrambling forward a few steps with his hands and feet, his feet barely touching the ground as he staggered a few paces forward. Just before completely losing balance and falling, energy from the depths of his dantian burst forth.
The body, almost parallel to the ground, in a torpedo-like posture, surged forward, defying gravity, as Li Wei took off ahead.
“Wow, Li Wei! Li Wei did it again, Li Wei completed it once more.”
“In the head-to-head clash with Donald, Li Wei once again turned the mundane into the extraordinary, in an unbelievable display, turning a three-yard advance into seven.”
“This means Li Wei has once again completed the third gear conversion, the Kansas City Chiefs once again secured the first down; simultaneously, it also means the entire game has concluded prematurely.”
“Li Wei has ended the Los Angeles Rams’ last effort with a direct breakthrough, sealing the game with absolute strength and dominance.”
Donald knew, time was up, the Los Angeles Rams’ Super Bowl time had ended.
The entire fourth quarter had been garbage time, and Donald thought he was mentally prepared; but when the moment came, it was still bitter in his mouth.
Sighing in discontent.
Damn Li Wei, damn Li Wei, truly didn’t ease up at all, remained relentless and focused until the last moment, personally ending the game.
A hand appeared in front of him, and Donald looked up to see Li Wei’s face.
Donald couldn’t help but feel stifled, grabbing Li Wei’s right hand and giving it a hard pull, trying to pull Li Wei down.
But unexpectedly, Li Wei was mentally prepared, not only holding firm but using Donald’s distraction to pull Donald up.
Donald suddenly stood up, looking at the forthright and bright-eyed Li Wei before him.
Finally, a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth, and Donald patted Li Wei’s shoulder, “Thank you. Thank you for fighting till the very end.”
If Li Wei had chosen to step out during garbage time, or had slackened off at the last moment, Donald wouldn’t be happy, instead he’d see it as an insult.
And now, although the scene was ugly, at least it proved that he had driven Li Wei to give his all till the end, making this loss bitter yet ultimately precious.
With just a few words of thanks, the two didn’t continue the conversation, turning to line up again—
At least, the game clock hadn’t run out.
In a football game, like the current situation, where the Kansas City Chiefs were far ahead and had possession, they could directly kneel to run out the clock.
So-called kneeling means giving up this play, letting the game clock automatically count down forty seconds.
Just now, Li Wei secured the first down for the Kansas City Chiefs once more, granting them three offensive plays, Mahomes needed only to kneel three times to declare the entire game over.
The outcome was already beyond doubt.
However, Mahomes despite the excitement and exhilaration, calmly completed the kneels.
After the third kneel, the Kansas City Chiefs, who had been waiting anxiously at the side of the field, could no longer contain their excitement and exhilaration, rushing onto the field as a group.
Mahomes raised the football high in his right hand, shouting loudly, “Brothers, let’s go!”
About to celebrate, Li Wei was confused, glancing at Mahomes intending to ask, only to see his teammates swarming over to surround him.
One arm and one leg, they didn’t care about Li Wei’s protests and collectively lifted him, tossing him into the air.
“Ho, hey, champions!”
“Ho, hey, champions!”
The whistle marking the end of the game blew, officially ending the 53rd Super Bowl—
Champions, Kansas City Chiefs!