Chapter 4 Because of Maldini

Milan haven't had such a resounding victory in a long time.

Victory can bury all problems, and the players who have been heavily criticized recently can finally breathe a sigh of relief and get some breathing room.

Kaka, who had earned a hefty bonus for scoring goals today, was urged to treat everyone to a meal, which he gladly accepted.

Perhaps worried that the coaching staff and Maldini would be unhappy, Kaka thought for a moment and then emphasized that it was just a simple meal, without going to nightclubs or drinking alcohol.

Inzaghi curled his lip and complained, "Ricardo's treats are always incredibly boring. What's the point if we don't go to nightclubs?"

"Have you been going to nightclubs a lot lately?" Maldini frowned, wanting to criticize Inzaghi, but not wanting to ruin the pleasant atmosphere. "You just won a game, don't be too high-profile. After you get on a winning streak, I'll pay for you guys to have a good time."

The dinner was held at an Italian restaurant near La Scala.

This restaurant is very famous and often requires advance reservations, but that's not a problem for the Milan star. The restaurant owner is a Rossoneri by trade and is happy to make things easy for him.

Everyone was in high spirits, filled with the joy of a resounding victory.

Amidst the banter, Kaka egged on the newcomers to stand on chairs and share their feelings about joining the team, and the others joined in with great interest.

The only newcomer, Fino, keenly sensed Kaka's kindness.

Young players aren't big-name stars, so they don't get special welcome ceremonies. Kaka is now creating an opportunity for himself to integrate into the locker room.

Kaka is really a very good person.

Fino's heart was pounding. She told herself not to be nervous, and then stood up on the chair, pretending to be calm.

While everyone was clapping, Fino gathered her thoughts briefly, cleared her throat, and began to speak.

First, it celebrates the greatness of AC Milan, highlighting their brilliance in the history of Serie A and football as a whole.

Next, he expressed his excitement about being promoted to the first team, conveyed a sense of responsibility and mission as a youth player to his parent club, and his determination to strive to help Milan achieve new glory.

Then he praised the outstanding performance of the first-team players and their positive influence on the youth training players, saying that the power of role models is boundless.

Finally, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone for their patient guidance over the past few days, which has enabled me to smoothly integrate into the tactics. Even a simple pass can be elevated to the level of selfless dedication and helping young players grow.

His sincere and heartfelt praise made the bigwigs feel like they were basking in a spring breeze, their faces beaming with smiles and their whole bodies at ease.

I didn't even realize how much I helped the youth training players. I'm such a great person!

With everyone involved, who would deliberately target a sweet-talking and charming young player, especially one whose talent is clearly visible?

Captain Maldini praised him for playing well today, vice-captain Ambrosini patted him on the shoulder, and even the soon-to-retire Costacurta said a few words to him, telling him to be more outgoing, not shy, and to communicate more with everyone.

Fino breathed a sigh of relief. Sure enough, the skills you practiced could come in handy sometime. All those thank-you speeches weren't for nothing.

This kid is so, so, so interesting!

Having witnessed everything, Inzaghi had this idea once again.

His witty remarks at this moment are a stark contrast to his taciturnity of the previous few days.

Inzaghi was quite certain that Fino was not as Costacurta thought—silent because of shyness; he was simply being cautious and discreet in unfamiliar surroundings, observing cleverly and looking for an opportunity to integrate.

Now he has found it and successfully captured it.

When the day's activities finally came to an end, and after taking a shower and lying comfortably in bed, Fino finally shed all her fatigue.

Today was really tiring. The competition was tiring, and the dinner was even more tiring.

He is not someone who can please everyone, nor does he have a relaxed and effortless grasp of interpersonal relationships.

His experiences in two lifetimes have shaped his cautious and overthinking personality. Today's performance at the dinner party was more like a performance; he tried his best to play the role of a cheerful and enthusiastic young player who actively integrates into the locker room.

Cheerful and enthusiastic? Those are words that have absolutely nothing to do with Fino.

In her past life, Fino was an orphan who was abandoned by her parents because of her congenital heart disease and grew up in a children's welfare home.

With the support of the state and society, his hereditary heart disease was improved through surgery, but because he missed the best time for treatment, he suffered some sequelae, which is why he has not been adopted.

Even though the staff at the children's welfare home repeatedly emphasized that his heart disease sequelae would not affect his normal life or lifespan, the adoptive family still had their own concerns, and everyone would prefer to adopt a completely healthy child.

The director of the children's welfare home named him Li Xiao, hoping that his life could break through the darkness and usher in a bright dawn.

Li Xiao grew up just as the dean had hoped. He was smart and sensible. After completing nine years of compulsory education, he was admitted to a key high school with excellent grades. Not only were all tuition and fees waived, but scholarships also fully covered his living expenses.

This is a story that deserves to be reported repeatedly; it's heartwarming and inspiring.

Indeed, this is the reality. The intelligent and sensible Li Xiao has always been a typical example reported in this children's welfare home. From a young age, she has been taken to take photos and express her gratitude to various charitable organizations, groups, and individuals.

Regardless of whether the donor's intentions were genuine or just for show, Li Xiao genuinely received help. He was sincerely grateful and did not mind cooperating with the donor by giving interviews.

From being taught word by word to speaking fluently, as she grew older, Li Xiao became more and more composed and mature.

The other side of maturity and understanding is that he lost the innocence and joy of childhood too early. He learned to hide his true emotions early on and always presented a positive and optimistic image to the public.

At the age of 15, a sudden car accident completely changed Li Xiao's life.

He still remembers the day he opened his eyes after the car accident. There was a nurse who looked like a foreigner standing in front of him, speaking a language he couldn't understand.

When he took the water cup from the other person, he was shocked to find that the outstretched hand belonged to a child. He felt that he, at 15, should not have such a small hand.

An unbelievable thing happened to me: two car accidents occurred at the same time, and my soul traveled thousands of miles from China to Italy, where it awoke in the body of a 9-year-old boy.

He did not gain the child's memories.

A foreign country, a foreign language, everything is unknown.

So he could only silently play the role of a child who had lost his memory in a car accident, keeping a proper guard up and following the instructions of a stranger.

As time went by, he gradually came to understand his current identity.

Fino Cabrini's father is Italian and his mother is a descendant of Chinese immigrants. The family of three lives in Milan.

Fino's parents died on the spot when the car accident happened, and he fell into a coma after being taken to the hospital.

After his parents passed away, Fino became an orphan, with no relatives left to take over his care.

After his treatment, he was sent to a children's welfare home in Milan, and the property left by his parents was supervised by the relevant government departments until Fino came of age and inherited it according to law.

The fact that he was reborn, such an unbelievable thing, actually happened to him left Fino with a sense of unreality for a long time. He was confused and uneasy.

But life must go on.

He cautiously observed this unfamiliar country, learning to accept different cultures and striving to integrate into local life.

He did a good job.

Especially after playing football, the joy and pain on the football field are all linked to winning and losing. He runs and fights hard, and when he wins, he feels heartfelt joy, and when he loses, he feels pure pain.

The heavy limbs, rapid breathing, and strong heartbeat made him feel great; it was proof that he was truly alive. He gradually freed himself from the confusion and unease of rebirth.

Paolo Maldini was the catalyst for Fino's involvement with football.

In the summer of 1998, the fervor of the French World Cup swept the world. Countries with a strong football culture like Italy were even more enthusiastic. Even in children's welfare homes, the hot topic revolved around the performance of the Italian national team in the French World Cup. Staff and children alike gathered together to watch the World Cup.

So, Fino, who had just arrived in this world, saw Maldini on television for the first time. Maldini was attending a press conference as the captain of the Italian national team.

Although he couldn't understand what the other person was saying, Maldini's dignified and firm demeanor when silent and his gentle and kind manner when speaking captivated Fino's attention.

He looked like a shrewd leader, a gentle yet powerful protector, and a strong and brave warrior; he perfectly matched Fino's imagination of the father figure.

After being reborn, Fino mocked the cruel twist of fate, having lived two lives without a single relative, her kinship so weak.

How he longed for a complete family, how he wished to grow up healthy in love and happiness like a real child.

He had dreamt countless times of his home: a dignified yet loving father, a gentle yet intelligent mother, a happy and innocent version of himself, and perhaps a mischievous little dog...

And then countless times I woke up from those beautiful dreams...

Ever since I saw Maldini on TV, the vague image of my father figure in my dreams has begun to become clearer.

That's what Maldini looks like.

He desperately wanted to get close to Maldini.

So he began to actively learn about football, joined children's football matches, and went to Milan for a trial in the fall...

The gears of fate began to turn from there.

Because of Maldini, Fino chose football; and because of football, Fino gradually began to look forward to a new life.

In the daily training and matches, the light of football gradually pierced through the fog of confusion, anxiety, and dampness, illuminating Fino's heart.

Fino believes that football will guide his future.