Chapter 61

The sun streamed through the window, and the dark clouds of the previous night had dispersed.

Gao Bo opened his eyes and looked at the sunlight outside with joy. Good weather was a rare occurrence in England.

He rubbed his swollen temples, still exhilarated from last night's stunning victory.

He vividly remembered how, when Adam scored the second goal, he had run forty meters down the touchline at Stamford Bridge in sheer excitement.

Luton held on to win the match.

When the referee blew the final whistle, Gao Bo rushed onto the pitch, sliding on his knees in celebration at Stamford Bridge—a stadium where he had once worked.

Previously, Gao Bo had served as the Chelsea U18 head coach, leading their youth team to their first-ever FA Youth Cup title. Now, just six months later, in the senior FA Cup, he had returned to this same stadium and led his Luton team to a victory over Chelsea.

Even the next morning, Gao Bo remained exhilarated as he recalled the match. This was no ordinary win; they had beaten a Premier League team!

In just six months, Luton had transformed from a struggling club to a dark horse making waves in the FA Cup. After the game, Gao Bo learned that reaching the fourth round was already a historic achievement for Luton. One more victory, and they would rewrite the club's record books.

The memory of the match banished any lingering morning drowsiness.

Luton's next match wasn't until January 14, ten days away, against Chester in the 24th round of the league. The team now had a rare break. Except for Irish U19 fullback Mitchell Piran, who had to report for international duty, the rest of the squad had six days off.

For Gao Bo, this was also his first extended break since taking over at Luton.

After making breakfast, Gao Bo reached for the newspaper on the coffee table. Realizing it was yesterday's edition, he went downstairs to fetch the latest one from the mailbox.

Unfolding the fresh, ink-scented newspaper, Gao Bo wasn't surprised to see that the coverage was dominated by last night's match.

Chelsea's elimination by a second-division side was headline news. Major outlets like the BBC and Sky Sports were sure to report on it for days. However, rather than focusing on Gao Bo, the English media had chosen to spotlight Adam White, the young player who had emerged as the hero of the match.

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"The third round of the FA Cup saw a shocking upset as second-division Luton defeated Chelsea away. Scolari's team was eliminated from the competition! With a solid defensive setup, Chinese coach Gao Bo led Luton to withstand Chelsea's attacks in the first half. In the second half, he introduced 17-year-old Adam White, who dazzled with two brilliant moments that led to both goals."

"Ashley Cole, Alex, Ivanovic, Bosingwa, Deco—this lineup of Chelsea stars was left stunned by Adam White, a previously unknown young talent."

"This match will go down as one of the biggest FA Cup upsets in recent years. Before the game, Gao Bo's provocative remarks had drawn attention, leading Scolari to field a strong lineup. Yet, Chelsea's elite squad was toppled by Luton, and the orchestrator of this upset was 17-year-old Adam White, who is now the hottest prospect in the transfer market!"

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Gao Bo chuckled as he read. He wasn't worried about Adam being poached; English contracts didn't include release clauses, which gave him more control in transfer negotiations. Still, Adam's newfound fame meant big clubs would soon come knocking.

Fleet Street was abuzz with praise for the young talent:

"A once-in-a-generation talent!"

"England's Robben!"

"Better than Messi!"

Every adjective under the sun was used to describe Adam. As for Gao Bo, his name only appeared in passing, often as an accessory to Adam's success:

"Gao Bo's decision to bring on Adam White turned the game around."

"Chelsea defeated by one man—Coach Gao Bo's secret weapon!"

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Just then, a cheerful voice interrupted Gao Bo's thoughts.

"Reading the paper, I see?"

It was Roy, returning from her morning run in a tight sports outfit. Her smile was radiant, and the sunlight seemed to enhance her lively demeanor.

Gao Bo remained unfazed. What's she up to now? he thought, eyeing her warily.

"Are you talking to me?" he asked.

Roy's smile faltered for a moment, but she quickly recovered, suppressing her irritation. "Of course, Mr. Gao Bo."

"Then why are you wasting your breath?" Gao Bo retorted, holding up the newspaper.

Roy glanced at the photo of Adam celebrating a goal on the front page. "Luton won't be able to keep him. As far as I know, several big clubs are already eyeing him. What's your plan, Coach Gao Bo?"

Gao Bo gave her a sidelong look. "You think I'd tell you? You're a journalist. If this ends up in the media... heh."

"I'm a Luton fan first!"

"And still a journalist," Gao Bo shot back.

Roy clenched her fists but forced a smile. "Since you've been staying in my house for so long, could I ask you for a favor, Mr. Gao Bo?"

"Oh, it'd be my honor. Please, go ahead," Gao Bo replied mockingly, turning to close the mailbox.

"We at The Hat Seller want to do a feature on you," Roy said.

"I refuse," Gao Bo replied bluntly, rolling up the newspaper and heading back inside.

Roy's smile vanished, replaced by a look of exasperation. "You... jerk!" she muttered through gritted teeth.