Chapter 148: Chapter 101: Shaking the World, Starting From This Moment

If he hadn’t known it was a hotel, Li Wei might have thought he’d walked into a massive comic-con. The entire hotel had been booked out by the NBC Television Network for the whole week. The lobby was completely overrun with All-American Bowl materials—sponsor banners everywhere, life-sized player posters, and a constant stream of people with different colored credentials hanging from their necks.

From here, the crowd began to split up. After a brief word with Li Wei, Don Quixote and Lily were guided by staff to a different check-in lane, while Li Wei, as a player, had to go another way.

From now on, Li Wei would be living communally with the other players for a week. The next time he’d see Don Quixote and Lily would likely be at the stadium on game day, Saturday. If his eyesight was good enough, he might be able to spot the family box—and them—among the more than 50,000 spectators.

"Mr. Li Wei, please come this way for the ’car wash’ process," a more senior-looking female staff member said, stopping him.

"Car wash?" Li Wei raised an eyebrow.

"It’s jargon, Mr. Li Wei," the staff member said with a smile. "Registration, measurements, equipment pickup, likeness agreement, and schedule pickup. It’s an assembly line. You have to go through it all, just like a car going through a car wash, before you can get your room key."

Li Wei followed the staff member to a massive ballroom sectioned off by black curtains.

Over the next 40 minutes, Li Wei was first made to stand in front of a backdrop with measurement markings while three cameras took close-ups of his face from different angles. This was followed by a height and weight check (even though there would be a public weigh-in tomorrow). Then, a huge black duffel bag was thrust into his hands.

"This is the convertible backpack from Adidas," said the young Black man handing out the gear, his hair in dreadlocks, which seemed to be a common hairstyle. "Two pairs of cleats, one pair of training shoes, three sets of quick-dry training outfits, two hoodies, and this custom-made helmet... If you don’t like the stiffness of the sole plates on these shoes, you can exchange them at the service station on the sidelines during practice tomorrow."

Li Wei hefted the heavy bag. This set of custom-made Adidas gear alone, tailored to his previously recorded measurements, was worth well over several thousand USD.

Factoring in the round-trip airfare, hotels, and family accommodations, the hard costs for these hundred-plus players alone exceeded several million USD.

At the end of the line, he came to a long table where a woman in glasses handed him a thick binder.

"Mr. Li Wei," she said, her expression serious as she tapped the cover. "There are a few points I must emphasize. Please listen carefully."

Li Wei gave a slight nod. "Go on."

"First, there is a curfew during game week. You must be back in your room by 10:30 PM. We’ll have dedicated coaches and staff doing room checks. If you’re not in your room without a valid reason—such as an official interview—you’ll get a warning the first time. A second violation could affect your starting position and you could face a lawsuit from NBC."

"I understand," Li Wei said with a nod. "Anything else?"

"Second is the dress code. From the moment you receive your room key today, you must wear the apparel provided by Adidas whenever you leave your room," she said. "If you are photographed in public wearing Nike or Under Armour, it is a serious breach of contract and could result in your immediate disqualification from the event."

"Finally, media. You must cooperate with all officially scheduled interviews, such as with the NBC Television Network," she said, pausing for a moment. "Also, during game week, please be mindful of your statements on social media. From this moment on, you represent the brand image of the All-American Bowl."

After she finished, the woman pushed up her glasses and handed him a room key.

"In addition, soliciting prostitutes, drug use, and drinking alcohol are also considered serious breaches of contract during this period," she added, a smile appearing on her face as she looked at Li Wei. "But I trust you won’t be doing any of that. Your room is on the 24th floor. You’ll be sharing with a wide receiver from the West team. This is to encourage interaction, and it’s a tradition. Do you have any questions?"

"No," Li Wei said, shaking his head. He took the room key and the thick schedule, then walked through the event area and into the main part of the hotel.

He made his way up to the 24th floor and swiped open the door to room 2408. A rush of cool air greeted him.

It was a standard executive suite with two beds. Through the massive floor-to-ceiling windows, he could look down on the winding San Antonio River and the enormous silver roof of the Alamo Dome Arena in the distance.

The room was empty, but a large sports bag sat on the other bed. It seemed his short-term roommate—and rival—had already arrived, but wasn’t in the room at the moment.

Adhering to the principle of ’if you sign a contract, you follow the rules,’ Li Wei changed into the full set of clothes provided by Adidas. Just as he was about to sit down and study the thick schedule, there was a sudden knock on the door.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK.

Li Wei walked over and opened the door.

Standing at the door was a middle-aged man in a dark suit. A red "All-Access" credential hung from his chest, a higher level than any of the staff members he had encountered so far.

"Mr. Li Wei?" he asked, his tone certain. "I’m a coordinator for the organizing committee. Please come with me. Someone wants to see you."

"Now?" Li Wei glanced at the time. "But according to the schedule, this is supposed to be free time to rest. Dinner isn’t for another hour. Besides, if this were a media interview, someone should have notified me in advance." 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

"It’s not the media, and it’s not on the schedule," the man said, lowering his voice and glancing around. "It’s a private meeting. With someone you know."

Li Wei narrowed his eyes.

"Lead the way," he said simply, closing the door behind him.

The man didn’t lead him toward the crowded guest elevators, but to one at the end of the hallway.

He took out a solid black card and swiped it. The elevator doors slid open in response.

Unlike the guest elevators, which were packed with five rows of buttons, this one had only two options: Lobby and PH (Penthouse).

The elevator ascended rapidly. When it reached the top floor, what came into view were two large, carved doors flanked by a pair of burly bodyguards. Upon seeing Li Wei, one of them nodded at him and pushed the doors open.

This was the presidential suite of the San Antonio Junyue Hotel.

The suite’s decor was the height of luxury. A massive crystal chandelier cast a soft glow, and the air was filled with the faint, mixed aroma of cigars and aged whiskey.

A familiar figure stood with his back to the door, looking out the enormous panoramic windows, gazing down at the bustling, ant-like activity of San Antonio below.

"The last time I was here... it must have been 16 years ago," he said upon hearing the footsteps. He turned around slowly, a wide smile on his face. "We meet again, Li Wei."

"Mr. John Mara," Li Wei said with a slight nod. "We do meet again. You look as healthy as ever."

"Fate has been kind enough to let me hang on a little longer," John Mara said with a wave of his hand. "Have a seat."

The two of them sat on the sofas in the sitting area, exchanging a few pleasantries like an ordinary elder and junior.

"How’s the car handling?" Mara asked. "No problems with it, I hope?"

"Everything’s fine, Mr. Mara," Li Wei said. "My favorite feature is the digital rearview mirror. It’s very useful."

"Good," Mara nodded. "Otherwise, I’d have to quietly stuff the dealer who sold it to me into the trunk."

Li Wei pressed his lips together and didn’t reply.

"I’m just joking," Mara said with a laugh. "I wouldn’t do something like that over such a small matter."

Then, his tone shifted. "But some people would, Li Wei. Are you prepared?"

"Are you saying someone will try to kill me?" Li Wei asked, pointing to himself. "Like you told me last time?"

"Oh, it won’t go that far," Mara said, waving his hand dismissively. "That really was just a joke. But there are genuinely a lot of people in the NCAA Alliance who will do everything in their power to keep you from playing. That part is true."