Chapter 63 Encounter
Fino and Pirlo stayed at a luxury hotel in the town of Positano. The hotel had a fantastic view, with mountains on one side and the sea on the other. Looking down from the terrace, you could see the rooftops stretching towards the Mediterranean Sea, and below them, the bustling crowds on the beach.
Fino disliked crowding the beaches; he and Pirlo spent most of their time wandering aimlessly through the town. They climbed the winding paths, exploring the unique and authentic shops lining the stone steps.
When the mood strikes, some might venture a little further, hiking along well-developed coastal trails to enjoy the scenery, or taking a yacht tour of the Amalfi Coast and exploring the famous Blue Grottoes on Capri Island.
When you don't feel like doing anything, you can lie on the hotel terrace, chat lazily, bask in the sun, and take a sweet afternoon nap under a parasol.
Fino had also asked Pirlo for his preferences and opinions, since this was a trip for two and they couldn't just go along with his own whims. But Pirlo was very compliant with Fino's ideas and arrangements; he felt that a vacation was a vacation, and it should be relaxing and enjoyable.
That afternoon, they whiled away the time in a small open-air café, letting the gentle sea breeze tousle their hair.
While casually flipping through the newspaper, Fino came across some interesting reports.
“Andrea, we’re in the newspaper again,” Fino chuckled.
It was the Italian newspaper "La Gazzetta dello Sport" that captured images of Fino and Pirlo strolling through the streets of Naples.
Fino's sunglasses were tucked into his shirt collar, and he was holding an ice cream cone, offering it to Pirlo's lips with a radiant smile, just like the Neapolitan sunshine. Pirlo, holding a glass of lemonade, also smiled and gently opened his mouth to receive the ice cream from Fino.
The headline, as always, was full of ambiguity and implications, which Fino was used to. He even had the mood to admire the photos in the newspaper, realizing how radiant his smile had been back then.
Pirlo took the newspaper, glanced at it, and then handed it back to Fino: "Hmm, very well done."
Just then, a golden kitten jumped onto the table, made eye contact with Fino, and then lay down facing the sea.
The town of Positano has many cats that are not afraid of people and roam freely among tourists. When they get tired, they choose a favorite spot to close their eyes and rest.
Fino reached out and scratched the kitten's head. The kitten looked up at him, meowed softly, as if to say, "Human, don't disturb my sleep," and then pulled its head back and gently closed its eyes.
Fino found it amusing, and just as he was about to speak to Pirlo, he discovered something even more interesting.
At this moment, Pirlo's blond hair shimmered in the sunlight, and his eyes looked even more sleepy, just like the kitten on the table.
Fino couldn't help but laugh out loud.
Pirlo gave him a questioning look, like a cat.
"Andrea, you are like a golden cat."
Upon hearing this, Pirlo's pupils dilated slightly. After pausing for a few seconds, he placed both hands beside his ears, loosely clenched his fists, and waved them downwards.
"Meow~" Pirlo tilted his head and imitated the kitten's meow.
Aaaaaaahhhhh!
Fino screamed inwardly, "Pirlo is practically being maliciously cute, it's adorable to the point of being unfair!"
He couldn't resist reaching out and ruffling Pirlo's blond hair.
Pirlo cooperatively leaned forward.
Then they started talking about the Beijing Olympics.
This summer, the Italian football world has focused all its attention on the European Championship, and few people are paying attention to the fact that the national Olympic team is about to compete in the Beijing Olympics.
After the European Championship squad was announced, the Chinese Olympic team's head coach, Casiraghi, called AC Milan, hoping to call up Fino, who was left out of the European Championship squad, to play in the Olympics. However, Ancelotti rejected the request outright.
The Olympic Games schedule conflicts with Milan's preseason training. Milan will play in the Champions League qualifiers on August 12, and Fino will be indispensable in Milan's squad.
Casiraghi did not persist.
Despite Casiraghi's slogan that "the Olympics are just as important as the World Cup," it's clear from the player selection process that Italy doesn't place much importance on this Olympics.
Fino himself was somewhat disappointed, not because he couldn't participate in the Olympics.
He had been away from China for ten years. Ten years was enough time for China to take off and change rapidly. He felt a little apprehensive about returning home and dared not easily embark on the journey back.
If he could participate in the Beijing Olympics with the national Olympic team, he could use official business as an excuse to fulfill his wish to return to his homeland.
But it's okay, there will be plenty of opportunities in the future.
...
After wandering around outside all day, Fino was a little tired, so they returned to the hotel to rest.
Around 8 o'clock, Pirlo knocked on Fino's door; it was time for dinner.
Instead of going out, they chose to have dinner at the hotel's scenic restaurant.
Pirlo ordered a bottle of local lemon liqueur as a dessert wine.
The lemons grown on the Amalfi Coast are famous for their low acidity and delicious taste, and are used to make a wide variety of lemon products.
After pouring himself a full glass, Pirlo looked up and asked Fino for his opinion.
"Phineas, want some? It might be a bit too strong for you, but it smells great."
Fino shook his head.
Pirlo didn't insist and ordered him a slice of lemon cake.
After a leisurely dinner, they went to the terrace to enjoy the sea breeze, admiring the town's mountain and sea views at night while chatting idly.
After a while, Pirlo, who had been drinking, became sleepy, said goodbye to Fino, and went to his room to rest.
"Finnie, let's go back to our room after a little while. The night breeze is a bit chilly, so don't catch a cold."
Fino nodded, leaning lazily against the stone half-wall at the edge of the terrace, and waved goodbye to Pirlo: "Goodnight, Andrea, see you tomorrow."
By this time, there were very few people left on the terrace. Tourists who had enjoyed themselves all day had chosen to go back to their rooms to rest, and the animals were all partying in the bars and dance halls at night. The terrace, with its excellent view, was now empty.
The lemon cake after dinner had a lingering aftertaste, and the aroma of lemon still lingered in Fino's mouth. To suppress the sourness of the lemon, a lot of white sugar must have been added to the cake, as Fino felt a little dry in her throat.
He went to the 24-hour bar and ordered a glass of iced water, but when he turned around, he saw an unexpected person sitting at the bar.
Xabi Alonso.
What a small world! Someone I met just over ten days ago has reappeared in front of me.
While waiting for the ice water, Fino hesitated whether to go up and greet Alonso. It was impossible for them not to know each other, but they had never spoken and were only nodding acquaintances—literally, they were separated by the stadium and the stands, nodding to each other from a distance.
Alonso once again keenly noticed Fino's gaze, and he looked up at him, just like before the Italy-Spain match in the European Championship.
Alonso looked somewhat surprised; he hadn't expected to run into Fino here.
By this time, the waiter had prepared Fino's iced water. Fino took it, nodded to Alonso again, left the bar, and returned to the edge of the terrace.
Alonso had a difficult 2007/08 season.
Due to injuries, his playing time has been greatly reduced this season. Coupled with the amazing performance of his teammate Mascherano, Alonso, who has made great contributions to Liverpool's two Champions League finals in the past three seasons and is only 26 years old and in his prime, is showing signs of losing his starting position this season.
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez made no secret of his desire to sell Xabi Alonso in exchange for the transfer fee needed to buy England international Marco Barry. He openly told the media that selling Alonso was not just about making money, but also because Barry could bring something different to Liverpool.
Alonso has a very high sense of pride, and Benitez's remarks, along with the club's blatant sale of players, have brought the relationship between Alonso, Benitez, and the club to a freezing point.
If one place doesn't want me, another will. At the peak of his career, Alonso is not short of suitors. Juventus has already made an offer to Liverpool for him, and Arsenal is also trying to persuade him through Fabregas.
Of the two teams, Alonso prefers Juventus, and he expressed his desire to join Juventus in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport before the European Championship.
Juventus and Liverpool are currently negotiating a transfer fee, and Alonso is very close to joining Juventus. If all goes well, Alonso will be wearing the "Old Lady's" black and white striped jersey next season.
Frustrated by the transfer window's endless wrangling, he left all his affairs to his agent and went on vacation alone in Positano. Unexpectedly, he encountered Fino Cabrini there, the Fino Cabrini who had made a lasting impression on him with a fleeting glimpse in the stands.
Alonso thought for a moment, picked up his wine glass, and walked over to Fino, who was standing at the edge of the terrace.
"Hello, Fino, I believe we don't need to introduce ourselves."
Alonso took the initiative to greet Fino. Although Spanish and Italian have some similarities, he was not sure if this similarity would guarantee that they could communicate fluently, so he chose to use English.
“Hello…” Fino was wondering how to address Alonso.
Alonso affectionately called him "Fino," and if he were to use Alonso's surname, it would seem presumptuous, which wouldn't be appropriate. He should also address Alonso by his first name, "Xabi," but Fino hesitated. He was aware of the Chinese internet, even though Alonso himself was unaware, but Fino still felt that calling Alonso "Xabi" was rather impolite.
He had a sudden inspiration and came up with a name for you: "Would you mind if I called you 'Loongso'? It's derived from Alonso. In China, the dragon (Loong) is a powerful, majestic, and wise creature, representing strength and intelligence."
“Of course not,” Alonso smiled. “It’s a nice wish, isn’t it?”
Fino smiled and nodded.
A nickname quickly brought the two people closer. Even though it was their first real interaction, they chatted like old friends who had known each other for years.
In the intoxicating night breeze of the Amalfi Coast, beside the stunning mountain and sea views of the town of Positano, on an undisturbed terrace.
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