Chapter 117 In Fino's world, there is no longer...

Milan's recent form can be described as unstoppable. Not only did they make a strong run into the Champions League semi-finals, but they also dominated the domestic league, defeating Chievo, Torino and Palermo in succession, and taking a whopping 9 points.

After 33 rounds of the league, AC Milan topped the standings with 75 points, followed closely by Inter Milan with 71 points.

This season, Buffon missed 25 official matches for Juventus due to injury, which had a huge impact on Juventus' performance. After 33 rounds of league matches, Juventus only accumulated 62 points, ranking third.

With only five rounds remaining in the league, Juventus are virtually out of contention for the Serie A title this season.

During the break in the domestic league, Ancelotti squeezed in two days of rest for the players.

Fino, Pirlo, Kaká, and Nesta had arranged to drive together to Lake Como, north of Milan, for the holiday. Pirlo's agent had already rented a villa by the lake for them to rest and spend the night.

When Fino and his three teammates were discussing their short trip in the locker room, some of them were also interested and wanted to join in.

"Will you be spending the night there? Take me with you, I want to come too," Gattuso said enthusiastically.

Fino and the other three naturally agreed; the more people, the more fun it would be, and they could play games together in the evening.

"Anyone else want to come?" Pirlo looked around and extended an invitation to his other teammates.

Shevchenko and Ambrosini expressed their desire to participate, and Inzaghi, after some hesitation, also signed up.

The remaining teammates were less enthusiastic. With the season nearing its end and the summer transfer window about to open, not everyone was in the mood for travel. Moreover, older players like Maldini preferred to stay home with their wives and children on their days off.

As a peer, Fino also invited Pato, but Pato refused very firmly.

What's the point of this short trip? It'd be better to go clubbing with Xiao Luo and have a blast!

Ultimately, only eight people participated in the trip to Como: Fino, Pirlo, Kaká, Nesta, Gattuso, Ambrosini, Shevchenko, and Inzaghi.

On the first morning of the holiday, Fino, Pirlo, and Nesta went to the supermarket to buy enough food, then met up with the others and drove to the town of Bellagio on the shore of Lake Como.

Milan city is about a 1.5 to 2-hour drive from the town of Bellagio. Before 11 a.m., Fino and his party had arrived at the villa they had booked in advance.

After getting off the bus, Fino was immediately captivated by the scenery before her.

Bellagio is a town built against the mountains and beside the lake. Looking up the hillside from the lake, you can see stone paths leading up the hillside, with uniquely designed houses standing on both sides of the paths, which looks very beautiful.

Fino couldn't help but exclaim, "This is so beautiful! It feels like the perfect place to retire."

The teammates also got out of the car, equally captivated by the scenery before them.

Everyone leaned against the railings on the shore of Lake Como, watching the snow-capped mountains reflected on the shimmering lake surface, breathing in the cool air blowing from the lake, and for a moment no one spoke.

At this moment, the villa's butler came over to greet Fino and her group. After the handover was completed, the butler politely left, giving Fino and the others their time and space.

After entering the villa, everyone collapsed on the sofa and rested for a while, as lunchtime was approaching.

"Finnie, what are we having for lunch? Chinese food?" Kaka was the first to ask.

“No, we only bought ingredients and seasonings for Brazilian cuisine. You'll be in charge of our meals for the next two days,” Fino joked.

"Then you'll all be starving!" Kaka chuckled, revealing his bright white teeth. Of course, he didn't believe Fino would be so "cruel" to him; it was just a joke.

"Let's just have something simple for lunch, and then we'll cook a big meal together tonight."

Ambrosini and Gattuso volunteered to go to the kitchen to prepare lunch.

That noon they ate pasta with red sauce and a vegetable salad.

Ambrosini makes an excellent red sauce, which even Pirlo, an expert in Italian cuisine, praised after tasting it.

Ambrosini smiled smugly: "Fini, remember to invite me to your foodie gatherings from now on, you won't regret it."

Gattuso's vegetable salad was also... well... healthy, and no one showed any dissatisfaction as Gattuso surveyed the room with his knife and fork in hand.

After lunch, they took a yacht tour of Lake Como as planned.

The weather in late April was perfect – sunny, warm, and with just the right amount of sunshine and breeze.

Lying on the sofa on the deck, Fino lazily basked in the sun, listening to her teammates chatting idly, and slowly closed her eyes, taking a nice afternoon nap.

When he opened his eyes, it was almost four o'clock in the afternoon. His teammates were lying sprawled on the sofa and recliners, all fast asleep.

Fino gently removed Kaka's hand from his chest, stood up, stretched, and walked to the edge of the lower deck to get close to the lake surface.

Lake Como is a glacial lake, its water sourced from the melting snow and ice of the Alps. Even in late April, the water remains icy cold. Just approaching it, Fino felt a chill run down her spine.

At that moment, a thin blanket was draped over his shoulders.

Fino turned around and saw Inzaghi.

"Pippo, did I wake you up when I got up?" Fino greeted him with a smile.

Inzaghi shook his head and remained silent.

Fino hadn't spent time alone with Inzaghi like this in a long time. Since the two decided to cancel that agreement, all their interactions and exchanges had basically been limited to groups.

More than a year has passed since that experience, and Fino no longer cares about it. He can face Inzaghi calmly, as if that experience never existed.

It was just a failed first love that ended before it even began; it will eventually fade away with the wind, won't it?

He can interact with Inzaghi in the crowd naturally, no longer as if he's putting on a show. Even when Inzaghi does something silly or endearing on the field, he can genuinely find it cute, just like when he's judging Kaká and others.

Inzaghi is no longer that special person.

They rarely spend time alone in private, not only to avoid suspicion, but also because he and Inzaghi are from two different worlds, and it is difficult to find any common ground between them outside of football.

Fino himself couldn't understand why he liked Inzaghi so much back then, as if he were bewitched.

That year, Fino's playing time and statistics skyrocketed, and his fame and market value also soared. The significant increase in his competitive value brought even higher commercial value. Under the arrangement of his management team, he filmed many commercials and participated in many commercial activities, keeping him extremely busy.

In his social life, he is surrounded by good friends such as Kaká, Pirlo, and Nesta, and he also has frequent contact with Alonso in Liverpool.

Inzaghi seemed to have completely disappeared from his world. The sudden alone time even made him momentarily disoriented, wondering what year it was.

He wanted to find something to talk about to break the silence, but for a moment he couldn't think of anything to say.

While he was feeling awkward about the current situation, Inzaghi spoke first.

“Phineas, you’ve grown up.”

Fino chuckled softly: "What are you saying? I am an adult, after all."

“It’s different.” Inzaghi shook his head, leaning against the railing at the edge of the deck, looking at the lake in the distance. “You’ve grown up so fast this year. You used to be mature beyond your years, but now you’ve become a truly mature and steady adult.”

"That's a good thing!" Fino looked at the distant lake and spoke casually to Inzaghi.

“It’s a good thing.” Inzaghi pondered for a moment, as if making a decision, and said in a low voice, “If only that agreement had been made back then…”

"Hey, Finney, Pippo, what are you doing down there? Come up and play!" Kaka poked his head down from the upper deck, interrupting Inzaghi.

"Here you are!" Fino turned around, looked up, and waved to Kaka with a smile.

Then he patted Inzaghi's arm and said casually, "Pippo, let bygones be bygones, forget about it, and let's look forward."

Watching Fino walk up the escalator, Inzaghi finished saying the words Kaka had interrupted him in his mind.

How wonderful it would be if that promise was made together with you now?

So we are both mature and rational in our thinking, and can face this feeling objectively, rather than it being an older person tempting a younger person with a sense of guilt.

So we can follow our hearts and love each other, stay together, or break up...

Even if the outcome is bitter, the process of falling in love is still a beautiful memory, isn't it? Instead of ending before it even began, leaving only endless regrets.

That year, not only did Fino change a lot, but Inzaghi also changed a lot.

He no longer frequents nightclubs on his days off; the dazzling lights, the noisy music, the swaying waists... all of it now feels utterly tasteless to him.

He didn't even start a new relationship.

When attending certain occasions, some beautiful and charming women expressed their affection for him. However, when he saw the captivating eyes of these women, he would always hallucinate in the hospital, with Fino's moist and tender gaze looking at him.

Inzaghi seemed to hear Fino's words again: "Pippo, you've had such a hard time these past few years. You've suffered so much and endured so much hardship. It breaks my heart to see you like this."

This left Inzaghi feeling immense regret and bewilderment.

Fino would be such a perfect partner, why should I miss out?

That year, Pirlo and Fino grew very close, which Inzaghi noticed. He was initially angry at Pirlo for being hypocritical and advised him not to go his own way, but he himself was like a moth drawn to a flame.

But slowly, he began to feel sorry for Pirlo. A relationship that ended before it even began is certainly regrettable, but being able to only protect the other person as a friend is also a kind of mental torture.

He doesn't think he can do what Pirlo did.

His reason for joining the trip to Como was to have a chance to be alone with Fino. That year, Fino had matured rapidly, and he thought that perhaps that promise could be rekindled…

However, he should thank Kaka for interrupting him, shouldn't he? It saved him from an awkward and embarrassing situation.

Because, in Fino's world, there really is no longer a place for him.

He chuckled self-deprecatingly, "Inzaghi, so this day has come."

Perhaps I really am getting old, and my mindset is no longer as carefree and unrestrained as it once was.

...

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Author's Note: Thank you all for your support! [Let me see...]