Chapter 204: Pomelo Leaves and Red Roses
Pomelo leaves are the best for warding off evil spirits.
According to folk customs in the Lingnan region of China, pomelo leaves are believed to ward off bad luck and purify the atmosphere, especially beneficial after attending a funeral or returning from the hospital. The word "pomelo" (柚子) is a homophone for "blessing" (佑), so it could be considered a form of psychological suggestion.
Fino didn't really believe any of this. He had just said it in a moment of madness to tease Ramos. Since he had already said it, he figured he might as well go through the motions and wish for good luck.
As for Real Madrid's double-decker bus, Fino also plans to get rid of its bad luck by taking it with him; he already has a good idea.
He asked Julia to get a large amount of grapefruit leaves and brought them to Real Madrid's training ground on training day.
After everyone had showered at the end of the day's training, Fino called out to Ramos.
He took out grapefruit leaves, poured them all into the warm water pool in the lounge, and then gestured for Ramos to go in.
"Why, Finney?" Ramos was confused, but he still obediently cooperated and started taking off his clothes. His teammates who came over to watch were also puzzled.
“Because we’re aiming for the treble this season, and you threw away the Copa del Rey, that’s very unlucky, so you need to get rid of the bad luck! Taking a bath with pomelo leaves, it’s a Chinese tradition.” Fino crossed his arms, tilted his head and looked at Ramos, “Go on in.”
Ramos obediently sat in the warm water and reached out to pick up grapefruit leaves to play with: "Will these leaves keep me away from bad luck? Will they bring us good luck and help us win the treble?"
As soon as Ramos finished speaking, his teammates' eyes lit up.
Although it's a bit superstitious and outlandish, there's nothing wrong with believing in some things, just in case. Giving yourself a little boost of confidence isn't a bad thing, right? Besides, this custom comes from ancient China, which sounds quite sophisticated!
Before Fino could even speak, Ronaldo couldn't sit still any longer. He immediately suggested, "Let's all go inside and soak in the bar. Let's all get rid of bad luck and let the pomelo leaves bless us to win the treble!"
After he finished speaking, he went down into the pool first, and then his teammates rushed into the warm water pool and started playing around.
The warm water pool was about six or seven square meters. More than 20 men were thrown in like dumplings and were immediately filled to the brim.
"Come down, Fino!" Kaka dodged the grapefruit leaf that Ronaldo threw at him and waved to Fino from the edge of the warm water pool.
Fino smiled and shook his head, ignoring these childish fools. He glanced at Alonso, who hadn't gone into the water either, and then turned and left the lounge.
Alonso followed him out.
Fino took Alonso to see the double-decker bus, and by then the driver had driven it onto the road near the training ground.
The white flowers and ribbons tied to the fence have been removed and replaced by a dense cluster of red roses, numbering in the thousands, adorned only with green eucalyptus leaves and white baby's breath, creating a fragrant, vibrant, and dazzling display.
Many staff members from Real Madrid's sports complex gathered nearby, marveling and taking photos.
"Wow!" Alonso exclaimed in surprise, "Does the club have some kind of event happening again?"
Fino pointed to himself with his thumb, a hint of pride in his eyes, and said, "I did it."
Before Alonso could speak, a staff member came over and teased Fino, "Fino, that's quite a treat! Are you proposing?"
Fino had contacted the club beforehand, so many staff members knew that it was Fino who did it, and the staff's cooperation was indispensable in the process.
The bus is now decorated in a more magnificent and spectacular way than it was on the night of the Copa del Rey victory. On that night, there were only a few hours to decorate, and the flowers were only tied along the fence as decorations to facilitate interaction between the players and the surrounding fans. In the current decoration, the amount of flowers has increased at least fivefold, layer upon layer, and the gaps between the fences are completely invisible.
The cost of flowers and florists combined can easily reach tens of thousands of euros, which is a really big expense.
Fino laughed: "Red represents passion, life and strength. The Champions League semi-final is coming up soon, and I hope these red roses can bring us good luck."
He turned to the bearded driver standing beside him: "Raphael, how about we take a drive around the sports city?"
“Sir, it is an honor to serve you!” Raphael gave him a somewhat dramatic bow.
Fino found it interesting, so he continued the dramatic atmosphere created by Raphael, bowed 15 degrees, palms up, and smiled as he invited Alonso: "May I invite you to come along?"
This was a gesture by a man inviting a woman to dance, and the staff watching started whistling and cheering. The usually composed Fino was actually flirting with Alonso, which was quite amusing.
Alonso's expression was somewhat amused. He was certainly open to playing along, but he didn't want Fino to treat him like a lady. So he grabbed Fino's hand, took the lead, and led her onto the float.
Screams came from behind me.
The bus slowly started moving and began to travel along the lanes inside the Real Madrid Sports City.
Fino and Alonso held hands tightly under the fence and never let go.
In the April sunshine and gentle breeze, amidst the fragrant flowers and a sea of red roses, they would occasionally exchange a knowing glance. They didn't speak, yet everything was understood without words.
After the bus had driven away from the crowd, Alonso couldn't help but ask, "Finnie, may I kiss you?"
His eyes held a gentle smile, full of affection and tenderness.
Fino grabbed Alonso's shirt and pulled him down to crouch down, disappearing into the sea of red roses.
They exchanged a kiss.
First, lips gently touched, then the tip of the tongue explored, gradually deepening the sensation. Heartbeats quickened, bodies burned, and sweetness intertwined...
"I really hope the season ends soon," Alonso whispered in Fino's ear after the kiss.
Fino smirked, patted Alonso's face, and pulled him to his feet.
When Raphael drove them back to the starting point, not only were staff members waiting there, but also their teammates who had had enough fun in the warm water pool.
"Wow, you're riding the float and not waiting for us, is that acceptable?!" Ramos, feeling that the incident of smashing the King's Cup was over, immediately perked up and took the initiative to attack.
Kaka stood beside him, arms crossed, glaring angrily at Fino. Fino had changed; he was always playing with Alonso now, spending less time with him.
"Go up and play!" Fino reached out and ruffled Kaka's hair.
At this moment, staff from Real Madrid's publicity department arrived with their filming equipment. Upon seeing the expanse of red roses, the photographer suddenly had an idea.
Players can take a series of photos shirtless in the sea of roses. The height of the fence is just around waist level for an average person, allowing the players to show off their strong chest muscles and some abdominal muscles. The combination of men and roses, strength and grace, will create a strong visual impact.
Especially since the players are generally quite good-looking, take lots of individual photos, duo photos, and group photos, and they'll definitely go viral on social media!
After the photographer expressed his idea, the players immediately agreed happily. Who wouldn't like to show off their muscles and physique? Besides, they all thought they were incredibly handsome.
Cristiano Ronaldo took off his shirt and was the first to get in the car for a photo.
While his teammates were posing and preening in the sea of roses, Alonso pulled out some roses, skillfully wove them into a rose wreath, and raised his hand to place it on Fino's head. Fino did not refuse and bowed his head in agreement.
That day, reporters and fans waiting outside Real Madrid's training ground were left waiting in vain for the players to finish training. By the time the players' cars finally drove out of the gate, it was already very late, and only a few reporters remained.
"Hey Sergio, training's ended pretty late today. Do you guys have any activities planned?" A familiar reporter stopped Ramos's car.
“Well, Finney prepared a huge surprise; we took a really great set of photos,” Ramos replied happily.
Ramos's words were quickly posted online by reporters, and fans were speculating about the surprise Fino had prepared.
When some players posted selfies taken in the hot tub online, fans were greatly disappointed. Was this supposed "huge surprise" prepared by Fino just these tattered leaves? The players' muscles were indeed impressive, but they weren't exactly "super attractive," were they?
Real Madrid's publicity department was very efficient. The photography team prioritized editing the group photos, and the official media released them that same evening. As the photographer had predicted, the photos went viral on social media.
A sea of roses, naked handsome men of various styles, beautiful muscle lines, and suggestive expressions combine to captivate both men and women, directly winning over all those who appreciate good looks.
While fans were still expressing their admiration and excitement in the comments section, Real Madrid's official media released a second set of photos, this time focusing on interactions between the two players.
That wasn't all. Real Madrid's publicity department stayed up all night, posting each completed section online immediately, and individual photos of the players were also released one after another.
The publicity staff were also cunning, deliberately putting photos of popular stars like Fino, Kaká, and Ronaldo last. As a result, the individual fans of these stars kept a close eye on Real Madrid's official media, urging them on while waiting for individual photos of their favorite stars.
When the solo photos of Fino wearing a flower wreath were released, it was already the next morning, meaning that millions of fans had stayed up all night with Real Madrid's publicity staff.
This kind of suspense is bound to get you criticized, and Real Madrid's official media certainly got a lot of flak in the comments section, but there were even more compliments. The more photos like these, the better! It's a true visual feast!
After the main feature was released, Real Madrid's official media began releasing behind-the-scenes footage, and photos and videos taken by staff and players were also randomly posted on their personal accounts. The overwhelming amount of material overwhelmed the fans, whose bloodshot eyes were filled with excitement and happiness.
With only a month left in the 2010/11 season, all the clubs were in the midst of a tense battle for points, and there was very little activity outside of competition. Real Madrid pulled off such a big stunt at this time, which kept them trending on social media for many days.
In the era of online media, traffic equals money. The number of registrations for Real Madrid's official supporters (Madridista) has skyrocketed, and jerseys, support scarves, and other merchandise have also seen a surge in sales, making the club's management very happy.
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Author's note: Thank you everyone for your support! [cheering emoji]
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