Chapter 112: Chapter 86: The Price of Fame

"Really?" Michael said, a little excited. "Thanks."

...

At lunchtime, Travis was eating his fried chicken as usual. Craig’s plate, however, was filled with nothing but chicken breast and broccoli. It just goes to show why he and Manu were the only two with a real shot at playing professionally.

Judging by his expression, though, eating chicken breast and broccoli wasn’t his idea. Sitting next to him was a girl who Li Wei found a bit homely, but who might be considered a beauty by other Black people. This must be Jasmine, the one who had tried to force Li Wei off the football team for Craig’s sake.

"Hey, Li Wei," Craig said, standing up a bit awkwardly when he saw Li Wei arrive. "This is my girlfriend, Jasmine. Jasmine, this is Li Wei."

Li Wei pretended he didn’t know anything and shook Jasmine’s hand before sitting down across from them.

"Oh, right, bro," Craig said. "I heard from Coach Miller that you accepted the invitation to the All-American Bowl. Congratulations, man. You’re heading to the national stage."

"That’s right, and I have to thank you on Craig’s behalf," Jasmine chimed in quickly. "You led the team to the PSAL championship, and you also introduced the scout to Craig..."

"It was nothing," Li Wei said, shaking his head. "Craig’s my friend. Getting noticed by a scout has more to do with his own talent."

Craig wanted to say something more, but Jasmine gently took his hand.

"Keep eating, honey," she said, her tone both doting and gentle. "Look at Li Wei. He’s already broken multiple records and basically has a ticket to the NFL locked up. You, on the other hand, still need to work hard. For our future."

"I know, Jasmine," Craig said, completely exasperated. "It’s just that I really don’t want to eat this—"

"Shhh," Jasmine said, covering his mouth. "Don’t think you can rest on your laurels just because you’re getting into the NCAA. Now, tell me, who wants to win the Heisman Trophy?"

"I do!" Craig said reflexively. "I’m going to win the Heisman Trophy."

"Good boy," Jasmine said, patting Craig’s face like she was training a dog. "When you win that Heisman Trophy, I’ll... reward you."

Li Wei kept his head down and ate, not saying a word.

The Heisman Trophy is awarded to the most outstanding player in NCAA college football. It’s the highest honor a player can receive during their college career.

’He really didn’t think Craig’s talent was at that level.’

"Alright, you guys keep eating," Jasmine said, glancing at her watch and getting up. "I’m going to have a meal with some agents to ask them how to best manage your image rights for maximum profit."

She gave Craig a quick kiss on the cheek, then waved at Li Wei (completely ignoring Travis) and left the cafeteria.

After Jasmine left, Craig stared at the chicken breast in front of him, waging a long internal battle. In the end, his muscles won out over his mind, and he forced himself to keep stuffing the protein into his mouth.

"Hey, Li Wei," a fragrant breeze wafted up from behind him. "We’re having a sorority party this weekend. I was wondering if you had time to come?"

"Thanks, ladies," Li Wei politely declined. "The next two weeks are going to be pretty busy for me. I’m afraid I won’t have the time."

The cheerleaders left, looking a little disappointed.

Li Wei noticed Craig’s gaze on the cheerleaders had changed. He looked like a starved wolf that had been celibate for 150 years, his eyes practically glowing green.

"Hey, snap out of it," Li Wei said, snapping his fingers in front of Craig’s face. "What’s with you? Your girlfriend leaves and you’re already checking out other girls."

"Girlfriend..." Craig reluctantly chewed and swallowed the chicken breast in his mouth. "Sometimes I wish I didn’t have a girlfriend."

"Isn’t Jasmine good to you?" Li Wei said with a laugh. "She’s very concerned about your future and your career. Not like this idiot over here—"

He pointed at Travis, who was devouring his fried chicken. "He eats so much his body’s probably riddled with inflammation, only kept going by drugs. He might just keel over and die one of these days."

"Whatever," Travis said smugly, dipping a chicken leg into his mashed potatoes. "I only ever wanted to use football to get into college anyway. By the way—I’m planning to major in physical education. I want to be a coach in the future."

Li Wei almost choked with laughter. He seriously doubted that Travis, who probably didn’t even know what an unknown variable was, could teach students anything.

"Don’t forget you and Craig both have minimum grade requirements, a 2.5 out of 4 GPA," he reminded them. "Craig’s grades have always been good, but I’m actually a little worried about you."

"I’ll figure out a way to let him copy my homework," Craig mumbled from the side. "Help him pass the tests in a few classes."

"I guess that works..." Li Wei couldn’t be bothered with it. "Anyway, Craig, are you that unhappy with your girlfriend?"

"It’s not that I’m unhappy," Craig really had a lot on his chest. "But man, you have no idea. Jasmine, she... she..."

He hesitated for a moment before whispering the truth to Li Wei.

"What?" Li Wei asked, shocked. "She gets you all worked up and then just stops? She’s edging you?"

"Yeah," Craig scratched his head, quite annoyed. "According to her, it’s a way to keep my energy and desire at their peak, which helps improve my performance. And my performance *has* improved, but I feel like I’m going to explode every day."

"So why don’t you just... you know?" Li Wei asked. "Take care of it yourself."

Seeing Craig’s frustrated expression, Li Wei knew exactly what the guy’s daily life was like. ’Pure repression,’ he thought. ’And he’s Black, and a high school quarterback, no less.’

"Why don’t you just break up with her," Travis suggested. "Once you get to college, you think you’ll have trouble finding women?"

"I can’t," Craig shook his head. "Jasmine and I are from the same neighborhood. We grew up together. I can’t just abandon her."

"So when are you two going to...?" Li Wei began to ask. "It can’t seriously be until you win the Heisman, right? We all know how hard that is."

"She said we can once I make it to the NFL," Craig said, covering his face. "That means I have to hold out for several more years."

"Good luck..." Li Wei sighed. "You guys go ahead and eat. I need to go change for my interview this afternoon."

Li Wei really didn’t know what to say. It wasn’t his place to meddle in their affairs. He could only sigh and get up to leave.

「Two o’clock in the afternoon.」

Franklin High School’s gymnasium was completely transformed. The NBC broadcast team had set up a massive green screen.

Li Wei stood in the center of the spotlight, cooperating with the crew as they performed a 3D body scan. This data would be sent to their partner equipment company to create a custom-fitted set of gear for him.

"Arms out. Yes, hold that position."

The red light of the scanner swept over the contours of Li Wei’s bulging muscles.

"Mr. Li, regarding your decision to refuse all NIL deals and keep your image rights for yourself, there’s a theory circulating online," an Asian female reporter in charge of the interview seized a break in filming and eagerly pushed her microphone forward. "They’re saying you’re using your minority status and your position as the only five-star Asian player in history to generate hype, and that you’re just waiting for a better offer. What’s your comment on that?"

"First of all, I am not using my minority status to generate hype," Li Wei said. "Secondly, I believe it’s too early to sell my image rights, especially since the All-American Bowl hasn’t even started yet."

"So, are you saying you’re very confident you’ll perform well at the All-American Bowl?" the reporter pressed. "Some online comments suggest that Asians are naturally athletically inferior to Black and white people, and that your achievements are all due to cheating. Do you have any response to that?"

"As for whether or not I’m cheating," Li Wei said, "let’s find out on game day."

...

In the two weeks that followed, Li Wei came to deeply understand what was meant by "the price of fame."

His life was completely broken down into countless blocks of time, scheduled down to the hour: