Chapter 46. Chapter 46 is over.

At this point, Ancelotti had no idea that Fino and Inzaghi's injuries were just the beginning.

Since their Champions League exit, Milan's luck has been getting worse and worse. The disadvantage of an aging team has become more and more obvious, and a wave of injuries has slowly arrived. Milan has quickly fallen into a slump.

In the 27th round of the league, Milan played away against Empoli. Besides Fino, Inzaghi, and Ronaldo, Seedorf and Nesta were also absent from the starting lineup due to injury, and veterans such as Cafu, Serginho, and Dida were still recovering from injuries. Milan lost the match 0-1, falling to third place in the standings where they were overtaken by Roma.

In the 28th round of the league, Milan and Roma faced off. Seedorf returned to the lineup, but Jankulovski was added to the injury list. Milan lost 1-2 away from home. Kaká scored for Milan, but he had to leave the field due to a back injury near the end of the match.

In the 29th round of the league, Milan hosted Sampdoria. Kaká, Nesta, and Jankulovski returned to the starting lineup, but Kaká aggravated his back injury just minutes into the game and was replaced by Paloschi. Paloschi scored a goal, and Milan lost 1-2, losing another 3 points.

In the 30th round of the league, Milan played away against Torino. Jankulovski was injured again, and Kaká was also absent due to injury. Milan lost again.

Milan suffered their fourth consecutive defeat, and the league standings have changed significantly.

Inter Milan remains at the top of the table with 66 points, Roma is second with 62 points, Juventus has risen to third with 58 points, AC Milan is currently in fourth place with 54 points, and Fiorentina is behind with 53 points.

Milan and Fiorentina are separated by only one point, and Milan could lose their Champions League qualification for next season at any time.

Major sports media outlets heavily criticized Milan, finding fault with everything from tactical arrangements to teamwork.

Panic gripped the crowd; fans had a bad feeling that things were about to collapse.

The boos from the South Stand reignited, with everyone from Berlusconi to Galliani, from Ancelotti to the players being booed. Berlusconi and Galliani were so booed that they no longer appeared at the San Siro.

Amidst the uncertainty and uncertainty, another piece of bad news emerged: Inzaghi had been misdiagnosed.

The left groin muscle injury, which was originally thought to heal in a week, has not improved after three weeks. It was only recently discovered that it was actually an inguinal hernia.

The outside world was in an uproar.

Regarding the treatment plan, Milan's team medical staff also disagreed with Dr. Galli, a renowned doctor in Milan. In the end, they invited Dr. Martens, a famous doctor from Belgium, to fly in for a consultation. After discussions among the three parties, a relatively safe treatment plan was proposed.

After missing three full weeks of training, Inzaghi was finally able to run lightly in training, which is a piece of good news amidst bad news.

During the three weeks he missed training, Inzaghi and Fino spent significantly more time alone together. With nothing to do, he often visited Fino at the hospital.

Despite his concerns about the team and Inzaghi, Fino was somewhat happy to have Inzaghi by his side.

Inzaghi became more composed and stopped teasing him so easily. Their relationship changed significantly, becoming closer to the state Fino wanted—warm and natural, just like that day at Inzaghi's house.

But gradually, Fino noticed Inzaghi's negative emotions; he was unhappy.

He initially thought that Inzaghi's injury was affecting his mood, but even as Inzaghi's injury gradually healed and he resumed training, his mood remained bad.

He awkwardly tried to comfort the other person, but Inzaghi's smile was forced.

On this day, Inzaghi hesitated several times before finally sighing and bidding farewell to Fino.

Inzaghi could sense Fino's recent mood changes. At this time, Fino didn't know what he was going to do. His little happiness was like a doomsday carnival. The happier he was now, the more he would be hurt in the future.

This made it even harder for Inzaghi to speak.

If only he could be like Maldini, able to settle down so easily, but he knew himself too well and had no confidence in Xu Fino's lifelong commitment.

It would be best to end things now; a short, sharp pain is better than a long, drawn-out one. But he couldn't even bear to let Fino experience that short, sharp pain. How could he say or do anything to prevent Fino from getting hurt?

After Inzaghi left, Fino sat on the small sofa and began to ponder why Inzaghi was unhappy.

He noticed Inzaghi's hesitation and, after eliminating other possibilities one by one, the result became clear.

The novelty of Inzaghi has worn off.

Because the passion was gone, so were the flirting and teasing. This was the kind of relationship he longed for, but in Inzaghi's eyes, it was probably boring and tasteless.

Because he was currently injured, Inzaghi couldn't bring himself to say it.

Inzaghi was overthinking it. Fino smirked. He had been preparing for this day for a long time, hadn't he?

When he made that promise, he swore in his heart that it was a chance for himself to get what he wanted or to give up completely.

Now it's time to give up completely.

He would not restrain a bird that yearns for freedom.

He will no longer go crazy in the icy wilderness of the Arctic Circle. Looking back now, it was really childish and pretentious. Fortunately, no one knows.

He didn't want to put Inzaghi in a difficult position; perhaps he should be bolder and be the one to propose it first.

He spent another sleepless night, but this time he didn't cry; he was able to face it calmly.

...

On March 30, in the 31st round of the league, AC Milan hosted Atalanta and lost 1-2 at home again, with Maldini scoring Milan's only goal.

Nesta's red card marked Milan's fifth consecutive league defeat.

Ancelotti was thoroughly humiliated by the media at the post-match press conference, wishing Fino could sit next to him and help him deflect the criticism.

Thinking of Fino, he suddenly had a good idea to change the subject. He revealed to the media that Kaká and Inzaghi would be back from injury in the next league match, and also detailed Fino's injury recovery – Fino had already removed his brace and could start rehabilitation training immediately, and would be able to play in 20 days.

At this point, he didn't care about using any smokescreens. The fans were already in an uproar, so the most important thing was to calm them down and boost their confidence.

After the brace was removed, Fino was finally able to be discharged from the hospital. His treatment in the hospital was basically over, and the remaining rehabilitation procedures could be handled by the Milan team medical staff.

But Inzaghi's misdiagnosis served as a warning to him that he shouldn't have placed all his trust in Milan's medical team, and that he also needed to maintain cooperation with outside doctors, just in case.

With the season nearing its end, Milan has returned to a schedule of playing one game a week, allowing for more rest, and the injury crisis has begun to subside.

After the 31st round of the league, Ancelotti gave the players a break, and Inzaghi visited Fino at his home with flowers.

Aside from the flowers Inzaghi sent during Fino's hospitalization, this is the fourth bouquet of flowers Inzaghi bought for her, and it is still white tulips.

This time, it was Fino who chose to confront them.

"Pippo, it's time to cancel that agreement, isn't it?"

Inzaghi, who was feeling uneasy, was shocked by what he heard and stared blankly at Fino.

Fino wore a knowing smile. He saw no negative emotions in Fino's eyes; her beautiful eyes revealed gentleness and tolerance.

Fino looked at a child who had made a mistake with leniency.

But I am not a child, and my behavior is not the kind of mistake a child makes.

Filled with guilt, Inzaghi nodded with difficulty.

“I agree.” Fino patted him on the shoulder.

As Fino saw Inzaghi to the door, he recalled the passionate kiss, and a thought suddenly flashed through his mind.

“Pippo,” he looked into Inzaghi’s eyes, “can we share another kiss?”

Inzaghi's eyes were unreadable. He hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

Fino placed her hands on his shoulders and gently kissed his lips.

The kiss was fleeting, lasting only about a second, but it felt like an eternity to Inzaghi.

After the kiss ended, Fino opened the door for Inzaghi.

Goodbye, Pippo.

Goodbye, first love.

It's been exactly 99 days since the Christmas dinner, a good omen, but unfortunately, he and Inzaghi were destined not to last.

Tomorrow is April Fool's Day, and ending at this time gives Fino a dramatic feeling that everything is arranged by fate. He is a clear-headed but fallen fool, but he returns to reality the day before April Fool's Day.

Two kisses, five bunches of white tulips, a crazy outburst in the snow, a dream that lasted 99 days, and four numbers constituted his first love.

It was all over. He had tasted the sweetness and bitterness, the joy and sorrow of love, and from now on, he would be a wise man who would never fall in love again.

He believed he would soon be able to appease himself, and that love wasn't really that important anyway.

On April 3, Fino appeared in Milanello, marking his first public appearance since his injury.

Before entering Nello, he stopped his car, rolled down the window, greeted the fans waiting outside, and chatted with them for a few minutes.

The team is on a five-game losing streak, putting immense pressure on both the club and the players. Online comments, boos during matches, banners outside Nello, and fan protests are everywhere.

Fearing attacks from radical fans, Ancelotti has banned players from contacting fans.

But Fino was different. He fought hard in the Champions League knockout stage and scored a goal, drawing the game and saving some face for Milan. He paid the price of injury for this, and he has a good reputation among fans.

After that, he completely avoided the bloodbath of a five-game losing streak due to injury. When Milan fell into a slump, the fans only missed him more.

When it's inconvenient for his senior teammates to step forward, he naturally has to stand up and reassure the fans. Besides, Ancelotti has already said that he can start rehabilitation training, so he needs to cooperate with Ancelotti's statement and show the fans his rehabilitation progress.

He lingered outside Nello for a while, and when he entered the locker room, many players were already there.

Everyone surrounded him, giving him the familiar pats on the shoulder, hugs, kisses on the cheek, and pats on the head...

Fino hasn't been in the locker room for a month. Although his teammates often visit him, the feeling of meeting him in the locker room is different; it's a feeling of sharing the same breath and fate.

He responded to his teammates' kindness one by one, and then saw Inzaghi standing outside the crowd, who looked somewhat hesitant.

He walked over, patted Inzaghi on the arm, and said "Good morning" to him.

It's over, it's over. We still have to fight side by side, so we should act like nothing happened.

After changing into their training uniforms, everyone left the locker room together. Fino could not join the group training for the time being; he needed to train alone under the supervision of the team doctor.

Inzaghi and Pirlo lingered in the locker room for a while.

Pirlo walked up to the stunned Inzaghi without saying a word.

Inzaghi closed his eyes, a flicker of struggle and pain crossing his face, before finally sighing, "It's over."

Pirlo patted him on the shoulder.