Chapter 814: On His Own
"That's exactly it!"
"Yes, yes, you're right, that's it. What my wife says is always right."
"Ahem. There's a minor present. You two should be more careful." Seeing his father and mother act like playful children, Lu Ke cleared his throat. The heart that had jumped into his throat finally returned to his chest and settled down.
Holding back a smile, Lu Ke returned to the main topic. "I've had a talk with Vance, and I've also asked Leigh about it in detail. From now on, things will be the same as they were before. You can continue to make friends. If you like them, you can keep in touch more often. If you don't, you can slowly let go. There's no problem. You don't have to worry about me."
"But, didn't you say it was Nike? If Nike wants to work with you, wouldn't it be... not good if we're like this? Shouldn't we be more proactive?" Jiang Younning's tone was still a little hesitant, unsure if her guess was correct.
Lu Zhengze's first reaction was the same. "Will this affect your partnership? Should we actively try to build a good relationship with them?"
Then, he paused for a moment and remembered another thing. "Wait, doesn't Lu Ke still have a sponsorship contract? With Under Armour? Is it not right to talk to other brands now? The Under Armour sponsorship has been pretty good, hasn't it? Should we renew with them after the contract expires?"
"I don't think so. I see other professional athletes change contracts often... right?" Jiang Younning said, not so sure herself.
Lu Zhengze also thought about it seriously. "But top players don't change sponsors, do they? I feel like many professional athletes are with Nike, and they stay with Nike and never change."
Looking at his two amateur parents seriously discussing and expressing their worries, a warm feeling slowly flowed through Lu Ke's chest. The things he had been worried about never happened. Getting straight to the point and talking about it made things simpler.
Lu Ke completely relaxed. "Don't worry. It won't have an effect. Sponsorship brands ultimately make their decisions based on my on-field performance. If my performance isn't good, we don't need to make a decision. The brand will naturally not renew the contract after it expires. On the other hand, if I play well, they will always be the ones to come to me."
He smiled and looked at his parents. Lu Ke added, "In short, you don't have to worry. If there's a problem, Leigh will let me know."
Even so, Jiang Younning looked at Lu Zhengze. "In the future, we should be a little more reserved. Don't be evil to others, but don't be defenseless against them either."
"Mom, you don't have to do that. You don't have to change your lifestyle because of me. I don't want that. You can still feel free to make new friends. Isn't it bad to be so restrained? There's really no need." Lu Ke was worried that this would happen, and his parents would eventually become cautious.
Jiang Younning, however, waved her hand and said carelessly, "I know what you mean, and you don't have to worry too much. To be honest, a lot of people in Chinatown know your dad and me now. We also sometimes run into fans at work. They know we're your parents, and many people come over to cheer for us, whether you win or lose. We can feel the enthusiasm from the fans."
"But at the same time, we have to face the pressure that comes with it. Everything has two sides. How can we enjoy the cheers and shouts but not the pressure and interference? If we were like that, we would be too selfish. The world doesn't revolve around us. If some people like you, there will definitely be people who hate you. In the same way, if there's a positive effect, there will naturally be a negative one." Jiang Younning was a very open-minded person. Instead, she smiled and comforted Lu Ke.
"What's more, I don't think Vance is a negative influence. At least so far, from our interactions, he's a very friendly and kind person. It's just that from now on, we need to be a little more careful. He's still different from Austin and Tiffany, and that's enough." Jiang Younning quickly calmed down, and her mindset changed quickly.
Lu Zhengze also nodded in agreement. "You don't have to worry about your mom and me. We've lived for most of our lives, and we've seen it all. But you, you've been winning, and the pressure must be getting bigger and bigger. Don't take everything on your own shoulders. If you want to, come home more often. Your mom and I will always be here. If it's not convenient, go out with friends more often. Only when you learn to release pressure can you take on more responsibility."
Jiang Younning couldn't help but start complaining. "What can Lu Ke talk to us about? We don't understand what he says. We can't help him with anything, so we can only mess around at home. Don't listen to your dad. If you have any worries or pressure, talk to your friends more. But remember, if you're ever tired, you can always come home."
Lu Zhengze muttered under his breath, "Isn't that the same meaning? What's the difference?"
"What?" Jiang Younning suddenly turned her head and looked at her husband.
"Nothing, nothing at all," Lu Zhengze waved his hands. "You're right, that's exactly it."
Lu Ke sat on the side, and a smile slowly appeared on his face and then blossomed. They were always worried about each other and always supported each other. Like this, he could always charge forward in battle with confidence because, deep down, he knew that he would always have the most solid support behind him.
"Okay, I understand," Lu Ke said, interjecting to help his dad out. "There's nothing else. I'm going to go home and rest. You two should go to bed early too. You have to go to work tomorrow. I can always adjust my sleep schedule, but you can't, so you should get ready for bed soon."
"When you get home, go straight to bed. Don't watch any more game footage. Don't you have a practice scheduled for tomorrow morning? Rest is the most important thing. I talked to your nutritionist, Judy, the other day, and she said that a regular sleep schedule is the most effective way to maintain enough physical strength. Oh, and also the other thing..." Jiang Younning started nagging again.
Lu Ke didn't argue or show impatience. Instead, he obediently listened.
With Jiang Younning by his side, they left the living room and walked toward the car. After Jiang Younning had finished saying everything, Lu Ke gave his mother a hug and said goodnight.
Jiang Younning couldn't help but stand on her tiptoes, patted Lu Ke's back, and chuckled. Lu Ke was confused and looked at her with a questioning gaze. Jiang Younning didn't say much. She put her feet back on the ground and took a step back. "Nothing. You should hurry back. Drive safely on the road. There might be some wild animals at night, so don't brake suddenly."
Jiang Younning stood at the side of the road, watching her son's car get farther and farther away until it completely disappeared around the corner. But she still couldn't bring herself to leave. She stood there for a long, long time.
Seeing this, Lu Zhengze walked over and stopped beside his wife. "What's wrong?"
Jiang Younning lowered her head, rubbed her eyes, and then leaned into her husband's arms. "Nothing, I just feel like Lu Ke has really grown up now. I have to stand on my tiptoes to reach him."
This was only part of it. The real reason was the conversation they had tonight.
Jiang Younning could feel her son's caution and worry. He was using his shoulders to support a shelter for them against the wind and rain. He was worried that they would get hurt and sad. When something happened, he would always consider their feelings and thoughts first, just like they used to do for him.
Although Jiang Younning had always known that Lu Ke was a mature and stable child who didn't need them to worry too much, the feeling tonight was different. The little boy who always needed them to follow him and protect him from the wind and rain was now standing tall, supporting a world for them.
It was a mix of relief and sadness that was difficult to describe in words.
"Time passes so fast. It feels like just yesterday he was so small, wrapped in a blanket. When he was a kid, he was always getting sick, with a cold or a cough every now and then. He would get a fever if the weather got a little cold. He always liked to be in my arms, even when I was busy running around. He just loved to stick to me..."
Gradually, Jiang Younning's words faded away. There was no need for more words. The memories slowly came flooding back, and warm tears welled up in her eyes.
Lu Zhengze gently rubbed his wife's arm, using his chest to support her.
Lu Zhengze let out a slow breath and nodded in agreement. "Children will grow up one day. We've done our best to pave the way for him. Now, he has to make his own way in the future. Don't worry, Lu Ke is doing very well. He's doing better than we ever did, so don't worry about him. We should worry about ourselves now and not hold him back."
The conversation was going well until this point, but then Lu Zhengze started to stray from the topic, and his subsequent words were a joke, which made the emotional atmosphere disappear.
"Or are you going to be a burden and follow our son around every day, becoming the kind of mother-in-law that her daughter-in-law dislikes?" Lu Zhengze's teasing made Jiang Younning speechless. She hit her husband's stomach hard with her elbow. "You're the burden! When I retire, I'll travel the world by myself, and you can stay home and be a homebody."
When children are young, parents wish for them to grow up and be able to take on the future burdens. But when children grow up, parents feel a little sad and are reluctant to let go. But this is life. You always have to grow and move forward.
With Lu Zhengze's comfort, Jiang Younning's sadness slowly subsided. The couple bickered as they turned and walked back into the house. Their figures slowly disappeared into the creamy yellow light. Even though their son no longer lived at home, it still exuded a unique sense of warmth and harmony.
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