Dominate the Super Bowl

"...Okay, I got it, I'll be careful."

After seriously listening to Lilith Rosen's words, Berry didn't say much, just nodded slightly to show understanding, and then stepped away.

As he turned around, he saw Li Wei approaching. Berry offered a smile, bumped Li Wei's shoulder, and patted Li Wei's back in encouragement.

"Well done, just a bit shy of my performance when I was young."

With a bit of teasing, they both laughed. Berry didn't pause and walked away briskly.

Although Berry didn't say anything, Li Wei could feel his despondence.

To be precise, it was a complex mixture of emotions, a kind of despondence that couldn't be simply described in a few words.

However, Berry masked it well, regaining his laughter as soon as he took a step, and if Li Wei hadn't been close, he might not have noticed it.

Unconsciously, Li Wei turned to take another look at Berry.

"Treadmill, put on the gear, jog for three minutes."

A cold voice came to his ears, like the ice of the Arctic Ocean, flowing in the calm rapids but never melting even slightly.

Li Wei withdrew his gaze and looked at Lilith.

Lilith didn't look at Li Wei, her eyes down, recording something on her tablet.

Li Wei still didn't know the reason he was here, but he didn't ask and temporarily cleared his mind, focusing on the treadmill in front of him.

The treadmill was an ordinary one, but it was equipped with a bunch of wires. With Lilith's assistance, Li Wei put on protective gear connected by wires around his shoulders and knees, somewhat like the motion capture technology used in movies, enabling the device to record all his movements.

Then, he began to run.

Running at different speeds for periods of time, the entire test only took about ten minutes. Kelsey hadn't finished her ice bath, and Li Wei was already done.

Li Wei was removing the equipment, while Lilith was still busy with her tablet.

Li Wei organized all the equipment neatly, and Lilith still hadn't looked up.

"Rosen, is everything finished?" Li Wei asked.

Lilith, "Hmm," still not looking up.

Li Wei nodded slightly, "Okay, then I'll take my leave now."

So straightforward?

Lilith was somewhat surprised, finally looking up to find Li Wei not playing coy. She was taken aback when he really turned and left, leaving only his retreating back.

"Li Wei."

Unusually, Lilith called out in a slight panic, halting Li Wei's footsteps. He turned, looking back in confusion.

It should have been Li Wei asking questions, but now the roles were reversed.

Lilith silently adjusted her breathing, controlling herself, "Aren't you curious what all this is for?"

Li Wei's face was the picture of innocence, "Should I be?"

His question caught Lilith off guard.

Just as Lilith was about to retort, Li Wei added, "I trust you."

Lilith was startled, her heartstrings lightly plucked.

"Trust."

Such a special and weighty word, yet spoken so lightly. The criticism and attack that had been on the tip of her tongue stalled when she saw the look in his eyes.

Li Wei's eyes were so bright and serene, like a clear emerald lake, reflecting her image crisply. As she gazed into them, she found herself drowning slowly, ripples inadvertently spreading across the water, causing her heartbeat to skip.

How could he be so sincere and straightforward?

Encounters with Li Wei seemed always like this, his unpredictable actions breaking her assumptions, unintentionally placing her in a passive predicament.

Lilith instinctively lowered her gaze to hide her fluster, regaining control over her emotions within a second and finding her rationality again.

Professionalism, she needed to remain professional.

Her expression once again settled into calm, as Lilith donned her iceberg mask and found her composure.

"This test mainly assesses your physical condition."

"In today's match, your shoulder endured multiple impacts, and during the tackles, I noticed your knees and ankles were under pressure, all of which need to be taken into account."

Li Wei gently lifted his chin; so that was it—

While they were competing on the field, the team's support staff was also busy. Berry and Kelsey must be in the same situation, requiring special examinations to facilitate observation by professionals.

"So, it's not an injury?" Li Wei inquired.

Lilith, "It's mainly about injury prevention."

Li Wei, "Is Eric alright?"

Lilith, "His ankle and knee need attention."

No wonder.

Berry had entered the League in 2010, and it was already his seventh season. He had suffered season-ending injuries in 2011 and 2014; he really needed extra vigilance every week, every game.

For professional athletes, being free of injuries is almost an impossibility. Behind every player's dazzling fame and fortune, there are moments of sleepless nights and difficult strides. How to avoid injuries, how to recuperate, and how to adjust have all become essential lessons for professional athletes.

It's similar to the saying 'sick to become a healer'; they know their bodies the best.

Clearly, Berry felt it too.

But a veteran like Berry was already used to playing through injuries and accustomed to facing more daunting challenges under continuous pressure.

So, he said nothing, silently shouldered the pressure, and kept moving forward.

Pausing for a moment, Lilith realized that she had inadvertently let down her guard and had actually shared Berry's situation with Li Wei.

Although injuries weren't a secret and the team would eventually find out, it was definitely not Lilith's usual style to speak so openly.

Lilith was somewhat annoyed with herself: Why did she carelessly speak out? It was all because Li Wei's recent words had distracted her.

Looking up, Lilith quietly glared at Li Wei for a while. A torrent of ferocious and ugly words churned at the tip of her tongue, but in the end, they transformed into the simplest, calmest, and most quintessentially Lilith statement. Her voice transmitted without fluctuation or warmth, and the atmosphere around them cooled instantly.

"You should focus on yourself."

Li Wei, "Okay."

He had agreed just like that, causing Lilith's prepared words to get stuck.

Lilith had mentally rehearsed various versions of launching an attack in her mind, but in the end, she controlled herself and did not get drawn into Li Wei's pace. She looked down at the tablet in her hands, her expression revealing a trace of deep thought:

Professional.

At this moment, maintaining professionalism was the most important thing.

Li Wei noticed, "What's wrong, is something amiss?"

Lilith shook her head, "No, all is well."

Li Wei, "So this is bad news?" Read exclusive chapters at empire

Lilith looked up irritably, "How could that be."

Then Lilith saw the slight uplift in Li Wei's smile, revealing the satisfaction of a successful prankster, and only then did she realize that despite all her control, she had still fallen for it.

The iceberg mask was slightly shaken.

But Lilith still managed to regain control over herself, returning to her professionalism.

"All is well."

"There's hardly any sign of the toll from today's match impacts and clashes, proving that your body has fully adapted to the intensity of professional competition."

"At the same time, your recovery ability is excellent."

"There are no abnormalities in the data. However, during tomorrow's recovery training, there's still a need to pay attention to massage and relaxation."

It seemed to be good news.