Leo Lin's impassioned post-match speech quickly shot to the top of the trending charts. Liverpool eliminating Bayern Munich and advancing to the Champions League final claimed the number one spot.
At just 18 years old, Leo Lin also became the youngest Player of the Match in Champions League semifinal history, taking the number two trending spot.
Traffic exploded overnight. Searches for Leo Lin across social media platforms surpassed ten million.
Right at this crucial moment, another endorsement offer arrived.
These sponsors always seemed to choose the perfect timing to approach Leo Lin—maximizing both the surge in public attention and the overall impact of the endorsement.
This time, the invitation once again came from a motorcycle brand.
But instead of Royal Enfield, it was Norton.
After Royal Enfield invited Leo Lin to endorse their street motorcycle series—an endorsement that generated an outstanding response—Norton now wanted to invite Leo Lin to promote their flagship off-road motorcycle line.
Norton was planning to create a premium brand IP by bringing back their classic Ghost series, combining it with the off-road lineup to produce an entirely new flagship performance model.
And Leo Lin was the spokesperson they had chosen.
Pete had returned.
The last time he met Barnett, Pete had been representing Royal Enfield.
But just two months later, Norton had poached him with a lucrative offer. Pete had become one of Norton's senior executives, responsible for overseeing operations across ten departments in Europe.
To be Barnett's friend, Pete naturally had exceptional abilities.
He possessed an incredibly meticulous mind and his own distinctive management system—one that proved highly effective in the motorcycle industry.
Royal Enfield had once tried to keep him with a massive contract.
But Pete ultimately chose to join Norton in search of greater challenges.
April 3rd, 9:00 a.m.
Only Pete knew how much mental preparation he had gone through before meeting Barnett.
"Pete, you can do this! You can defeat that devil Barnett!"
"You must push the negotiation terms as low as possible. You have to create maximum profit for your company!"
"There's nothing to be afraid of. Barnett is still human—and humans have weaknesses!"
After completing all of these mental pep talks, Pete slowly pushed open the door of the café.
What greeted his eyes was Barnett sitting calmly like a fisherman waiting for a bite, wearing a devilish grin.
Beside him sat Leo Lin, gentle and refined, with a pure and innocent smile on his face.
Angel and devil.
Pete's psychological defenses collapsed the moment he saw Barnett.
Because he suddenly realized that what he was about to face wasn't a man.
It was a demon.
At the negotiating table, Barnett's presence was like a god of slaughter on the battlefield.
Two generals facing each other one-on-one: you're holding a dagger, while Barnett stands across from you with a Gatling gun.
Beyond one meter, the gun is fast.
Within one meter, the gun is both fast and accurate.
Within one meter—and the opponent is holding a Gatling gun—that is true speed, precision, and ruthlessness.
Once negotiations began, Barnett was just as quick, precise, and ruthless.
Beside him, Leo Lin continuously played along.
Their coordination had reached perfect synchronization.
"Let me tell you something," Barnett said.
"You're the ones who came to invite Lin. This redesigned Ghost off-road model must be endorsed by the youngest, most handsome, and most popular star in world football today."
"And Lin is your only choice."
"So four million euros is definitely not enough. Our Royal Enfield deal was already three million. You're only offering one million more than them—not even double. That shows zero sincerity."
Leo Lin spoke up beside him.
"Ah, come on, Barnett. Don't make things so difficult for him."
Barnett waved his hand.
"Fine. Since Lin is speaking up for you, I won't push too hard."
"I'll just double the price."
"Six million per year, with a three-year contract."
Leo Lin nodded thoughtfully.
"Well, if that's the case, it shouldn't be a problem."
"I believe Mr. Pete has the authority to approve that."
"After all, he's part of Norton's senior management, highly respected inside the company with considerable influence."
"This level of authority should be nothing for Mr. Pete."
"And since Norton put so much effort into poaching Mr. Pete from Royal Enfield, they must have given him plenty of decision-making power."
After saying this, Leo Lin turned toward Pete with an innocent smile.
"I'm right, aren't I, Mr. Pete?"
Pete's mouth twitched violently.
He very nearly grabbed the ashtray on the table and smashed it over both Barnett and Leo Lin's heads.
The two of them had staged the entire act perfectly, pushing him onto a pedestal so high he had no way to step down.
Pete forced a stiff professional smile.
The words squeezed out from between his teeth.
"No problem. Absolutely no problem."
"Since Mr. Lin trusts me so much, I'll do everything I can."
"The new contract will be fully upgraded."
"Six million pounds per year, for three years."
"Deal."
Barnett leaned back in his chair with a satisfied expression.
"You know, Pete, this is exactly why I love you."
"You're always so excellent. You always manage to satisfy me."
Pete silently raised his middle finger toward Barnett.
Both hands.
Leo Lin immediately stood up and shook Pete's hand.
The Norton redesigned Off-road Ghost series would officially be endorsed by Leo Lin.
That very evening, Rolls-Royce immediately dispatched a photography team to shoot Leo Lin's promotional photos.
The yet-to-be publicly revealed Off-road Ghost rested quietly on the ground like a crouching beast.
It looked incredibly cool.
This was a bold gamble by Norton.
Previously, they had focused almost entirely on road motorcycle models and rarely entered the off-road market.
But now they wanted to break into the off-road sector.
And if they wanted a breakthrough, they had to show real determination.
This Off-road Ghost series would determine whether Norton's first step into the off-road motorcycle world would be a success.
Leo Lin became the symbolic ambassador of this flagship IP.
And Norton didn't only sign Leo Lin.
Tennis superstar Nadal had also reached a partnership agreement with Norton to promote the brand's new IP together.
At this point, Leo Lin already held endorsement deals with two motorcycle manufacturers: Norton and Royal Enfield.
However, because they represented different product lines, the agreements did not violate the exclusivity clause.
Barnett had been extremely crafty.
When negotiating with Royal Enfield, he had forced Pete to change the clause from "no endorsements for other motorcycle brands" to "no endorsements for motorcycles of the same category."
The first deal was for street bikes.
This one was for off-road motorcycles.
There was no conflict at all.
This was also why, after Pete was poached by Norton, he suggested approaching Leo Lin again—because he knew the exact details of Leo Lin's contract with Royal Enfield.
Rumors were already spreading that many luxury automobile companies were eager to approach Leo Lin.
Not just motorcycle brands.
Many high-end sports car manufacturers were also very interested in signing him.
In their eyes, Leo Lin's explosive power and speed on the pitch—combined with his perfectly defined athletic physique—made him the ideal face for sports car endorsements.
Especially after Royal Enfield partnered with Leo Lin, their sales had steadily increased, particularly across Asia.
Other manufacturers could only watch with envy.
Norton immediately released the endorsement photos.
In the image, Leo Lin—sporting a brand-new hairstyle—sat astride the Off-road Ghost.
He looked overwhelmingly powerful.
Title:
"The World Watches — The Off-road Ghost Is Coming!"