Old Rice tried to calm his trembling heart, "...Ah, of course! This is just a contract offered by our club. You can certainly make requests. If you have any requests, just tell us and we will discuss and negotiate together."

Gu Ran said slowly: "First of all, Mr. Rice, is the termination fee of this contract too high?"

Old Rice laughed. "Is that the question? Gu, I'm very optimistic about you. I think you're worth much more than 5 million. I even want to ask for a higher price."

Gu Ran asked in confusion, "Can't it be reduced? For example, around 1 million?"

Old Rice laughed and said, “No, no.”

Although it was a negotiation and discussion, old Rice was very experienced in wrangling.

In his mind, Gu Ran was a once-in-a-millennium talent. Such a talent would emerge sooner or later. If he really only set a 1 million termination fee, wouldn't that be like fattening him up and giving him away for nothing? Gu Ran asked, "Can't we lower it? Even if it's reduced to 3 million pounds?"

"Hahaha..." Old Rice laughed easily. Seeing Gu Ran's confused look, Old Rice was completely relieved.

He felt as if he had grasped the fishing rod again.

Gu Ran is still a child after all!

The way he bargained proved that he was simply a newbie!

Got it! This time it’s done for sure!

Old Rice calmed down and grinned, "My dear Gu, we can discuss everything else, but the termination fee cannot be reduced."

Gu Ran raised a barely perceptible smile, then shrugged helplessly, "Okay, then I'll ask the second question."

Old Rice adjusted his sitting posture and leaned back comfortably on the back of his boss chair. "Go ahead, except for the termination fee, you can raise any other price you want. I will never reduce the termination fee."

Gu Ran immediately said: "There is no labor permit clause in this contract. Mr. Rice, you know that the prerequisite for me to join Southampton is to get a labor permit and participate in the professional games of the first team. Although I have great faith in your ability, Mr. Rice, if I sign this contract and the club fails to issue me a labor permit, then won't I be trapped in the U18 team of Southampton?"

Old Rice was frozen in his chair.

The soft seat back was no longer comfortable, but like a bottomless trap that kept him sinking! Old Rice struggled subconsciously! ——This big man who had experienced countless storms and waves actually lost his composure at this moment!

He never expected that after reading more than thirty pages of the contract in just over ten minutes, Gu Ran's mind was still so clear and agile!

Moreover, Gu Ran immediately caught the biggest loophole in this contract!

The labor certification is indeed a prerequisite for this contract, and it cannot be circumvented! "Mr. Rice, what's wrong with you? Are you okay?"

Gu Ran suppressed his inner smile, his face full of genuine concern.

"No, it's okay, I'm fine!" Old Rice was an experienced person after all, and he quickly returned to normal.

But inside old Rice's heart, it was like the overturned Pacific Ocean.

It was not until then that old Les truly realized... Oh no, I've become a prey.

Before Old Rice could fully react, Gu Ran said directly: "Mr. Rice, I hope to include the work permit clause in the contract. If Southampton Club cannot issue me a work permit at the beginning of the new season, then even if Southampton Club breaches the contract, I will be free again and receive the minimum termination fee from Southampton Club."

Termination fee...

Old Rice was stunned! At this moment, he felt like he was being dragged into the sea by a giant deep-sea shark, both the man and the boat! What was he talking about? What was he talking about whether it was a fishhook or not? What was he talking about whether it was a trick or not? This time, he was about to be eaten alive!

I was careless...

Gu Ran, this guy... is not a fish at all, he is pretending to be a fish to eat the boat! Damn it, if I can't get a work permit, not only will Gu Ran run away, but I will also have to pay him a 5 million pound termination fee! Could it be that this guy has planned it from the beginning and is waiting for this moment to hunt me down?

It's impossible?

He is so young, how could he have such a meticulous mind? Impossible! Absolutely impossible! It must be a coincidence, I must be overthinking!

After being confused for a while, Old Rice said tremblingly: "...Wait, I suddenly feel that what you said just now, Gu Ran, is right, the termination fee is indeed set too high..."

This slap in the face came too quickly! Old Rice just said proudly that the termination fee would never be reduced! But now he swung it around and gave himself a big bag!

Gu Ran smiled calmly and said slowly, "Oh? Really? Then reduce it to 1 million? In fact, I think it's okay not to set a termination fee. In this way, if Mr. Rice can't get a work permit, Southampton Club won't lose a penny."

When Old Rice heard this, his whole face turned red with excitement!

"Gu, if you say so..."

Old Rice took a deep breath, gritted his teeth, and said with a firm expression: "The termination fee will not be reduced! It will be 5 million pounds! The work permit clause will also be added according to your request! If I, Rice Reed, cannot get a work permit for you, Southampton Club will willingly let you go and compensate you 5 million pounds! That's right, I dare to write this into the contract, because I can do it! I have confidence! I must keep you in Southampton Club, and I will do my best for this! I will use all means!"

Good! Manly enough! Gu Ran secretly admired Old Rice.

His admiration for Old Rice did not start from now. Ever since Old Rice said that he could pull it out, Gu Ran has admired the old man's ruthlessness.

The fact that he could withstand the pressure of possibly losing 5 million pounds and the work permit clause shows that old Rice's love and trust in him are absolutely genuine.

Gu Ran then said: "Thank you, Mr. Rice. I believe you can do it, and I will never let you down."

Old Rice's face was full of pride. "Yes, that's right! We all need to work hard! Gu, if you have any other requests, please tell us!"

Gu Ran said: "I am very satisfied with the other aspects of the contract. I only have one last small request."

Old Rice said, "Just tell me."

Gu Ran then said, "I think after the high school championship is over, before the club starts training for the new season, we can train at the Staplewood training base."

There are only two games left in the National High School Championship, which will be over in a dozen days at most, and the club's first-team training will start on July 10, which means there is still about half a month in between, which can't be wasted!

Moreover, during the past half month, training with Southampton Club's U18 professional youth team will also allow Gu Ran to gradually adapt to professional life.

Old Rice said in surprise: "Gu, don't you want to take a break and relax now?"

Gu Ran said seriously: "No, to enter the professional league, I need to work harder."

...We must work harder to get free stuff! We must prepare to shock the English League One and beat our opponents all the way!

Old Rice nodded with satisfaction. "You are worthy of being my favorite player! You are a genius and work so hard. I believe you will shine in the professional league soon! Okay, your request is no problem. You don't even need to write it into the contract. As long as you sign this professional contract, you will be a member of Southampton Club. You can come to train whenever you want during the holidays."

Gu Ran immediately said: "Then I have no other questions. As long as the contract is revised, I can sign it at any time."

Old Rice said excitedly, "Great! Gu, wait here for a moment. I will immediately find the club's general manager and legal director to handle the new contract. This may take some time, about 1-2 hours. You can walk around the training base."

"Okay." Gu Ran nodded.

Old Rice took the old contract and hurried out of his office.

Normally, signing a professional contract is not something that senior board members like Old Rice are responsible for, but Gu Ran is very special, so Old Rice naturally has to do it himself.

Adding contract clauses requires review by the legal department and signature by the general manager. After the modification is completed, it has to be reviewed again, reprinted and stamped. It takes at least one day to complete this series of necessary processes. However, with the intervention of old Rice, this process is greatly shortened.

Taking advantage of this time, Gu Ran visited the multi-functional gym, physiotherapy room, restaurant, showroom and other places in the training base.

In the showroom of the training base, Gu Ran also saw huge photos of Southampton Club’s former meritorious players, including Kevin Keegan, Alan Shearer, Peter Crouch, Wayne Bridge, and Gareth Bale.

...are all well-known figures.

Especially "Tall" Crouch and "Green Hat" Bridge.

Bridge's situation is more miserable. He is the one whose girlfriend was slept with by his good friend Terry.

In fact, Bridge is also a very good typical English right back.

Bridge is a native Southamptonian and a product of Southampton's youth training. He can compete with Lampard for the title of "Iron Man".

Bridge once played 113 consecutive Premier League games until the green hat incident occurred, and his consecutive appearance record was broken by Lampard.

After the cuckold incident, Bridge suffered another serious knee injury, and has been a glass man ever since. He retired early in 2014...

Sigh.

So, if you want to be a professional player, don’t find a girlfriend.

Girlfriends are creatures that only delay your football playing.

——Of course I am an exception, because I have been through it and I can be self-disciplined.

After Gu Ran had been wandering around the training base for about an hour and a half, he received another call from Old Rice.

The new contract is ready!

Gu Ran immediately went to Old Rice's office.

At this time, several senior executives of the club were already sitting in Old Rice's office. They were all there to witness Gu Ran's signing.

Old Rice introduced them to Gu Ran one by one, and Gu Ran politely shook hands and greeted the big guys.

One of them is the coach of the U18 youth team.

Old Leicester specially called the coach of the youth team so that Gu Ran could train with the U18 youth team in the future.

After a polite greeting, Old Rice handed the revised new contract to Gu Ran.

Gu Ran took a quick look and confirmed that several other important parts had not been changed, only the labor certificate clause had been added. Then he took the pen handed to him by Old Rice and signed his name.

From this moment on, he is a real professional player!

From an amateur grassroots, I jumped from semi-professional to the ranks of professional players! Gu Ran couldn't help but feel excited: The wheel of fate in the previous life has changed! The big guys in the football world, wait for me!!! When Gu Ran finished signing, the big guys in the office applauded.

Old Rice excitedly gave Gu Ran a big hug, "Gu, my child! From today on, we are a family! Saints welcome you! I'm sorry that the signing was very hasty and we didn't prepare any signing ceremony for you, but don't worry, we will definitely use our greatest resources to train you! Tomorrow, I will officially issue your work permit! Just wait patiently for my good news!"

"Thank you Mr. Rice, thank you everyone." Gu Ran said excitedly: "This is my first professional contract in my life. Southampton is a very professional and promising club. I am very grateful to the club for giving me such favorable conditions. I am also very grateful for the club's appreciation of me. I will fight for the Saints and burn every bit of my own strength for the Saints! The Saints are moving forward!"

"good!"

"Gu! We all have high hopes for you!"

"Come on! The Saints are moving forward!"

The atmosphere in the entire office reached its peak.

After signing the contract, Old Rice and others wanted to keep Gu Ran to have dinner together to celebrate, but Gu Ran declined on the grounds that he had to train the next day.

——I do have to train tomorrow, but more importantly, I have to cherish Anne Hathaway tonight.

Seeing Gu Ran was so insistent, Old Rice no longer forced him.

A large group of senior executives took the initiative to escort Gu Ran downstairs and to the parking lot.

This kind of lineup is extremely rare in the entire Southampton club.

When the senior executives saw that the car Gu Ran was driving was a Porsche Cayenne, they all showed surprised expressions.

Gu Ran smiled helplessly, "Oh, my girlfriend insisted on giving it to me, so I couldn't do anything about it."

The top executives were all envious.

Gu Ran waved goodbye to the senior executives, started the car and left the Staplewood training base.

"Annie! I'm back!"

As soon as Gu Ran got home, he ran excitedly to Annie's room.

As soon as he entered the room, Gu Ran saw a bright red talent point bubble falling by Annie's window.

However, Anne's mood is much better than before.

Seeing Gu Ran coming back, Annie rushed over with a skilled hug, "Gu! Why did you come back just now? I missed you so much!"

Damn it! We’ve only been apart for a short while and you’re already missing me so much.

Fortunately, I am strong enough, otherwise, I am afraid I can't bear your demands! Gu Ran smiled and concentrated his mind to collect the free talent point bubble and add it directly to his physical attribute. At the same time, he held Annie's waist and hips with his hands, "I also want to come back early, but you know that signing a contract is very troublesome, and I don't have an agent."

Annie immediately said, "If you want an agent, I can introduce one to you."

Gu Ran smiled and said, "No need. The agents you know are all in the film and television industry, which is a world away from football."

"That's right." Annie asked with concern: "Have you signed your contract?"

Gu Ran smiled happily and said, "Signed."

Annie said excitedly: "So, you are a professional player now?"

Gu Ran nodded, "Yes."

"Ahhh! That's great! Gu! I knew you could do it!" Annie's eyes were red with excitement. "I knew you could do it. You would become a football star! You would become a football star known to the whole world!"

Gu Ran smiled wickedly, "Then how are you going to reward me?"

Annie's pretty face turned red, "Hate~ Then...what reward do you want?"

"There are still a few more moves. I think we need to have a more in-depth discussion." Gu Ran carried Annie to the floor-to-ceiling window.

Annie said coquettishly: "Gu, no, it's not dark yet, and we haven't had dinner yet..."

“I’ll eat later…”

"Really, is it just a moment?"

"You don't know me yet?"

…

There is another chapter today, which will be posted “later”.

(End of this chapter)