In a luxurious mansion on the outskirts of Manchester, Beckham, who had just returned from a workout in the gym, was sitting leisurely in front of a floor-to-ceiling window. The setting sun shone diagonally through the glass onto his body, warm and comfortable.
He stared intently at the newspaper in front of him, casually picked up a glass of water, took a sip, and put it back down. He turned the page to the entertainment section and was immediately drawn to a very conspicuous photograph.
"Ethan? Eva? Dating?" Beckham cried out in surprise.
"Victoria, do you know about this?"
Victoria, who was nearby taking care of their baby son, immediately handed the child to the nanny when she heard him. She gestured for the nanny to take him out, then walked over and sat down on Beckham's lap. She looked at the newspaper, which featured a photograph that was not very clear, but anyone familiar with them could tell it was indeed Ethan and Eva.
"I didn't expect a reporter to actually manage to sneak a photo!" Victoria said with a chuckle.
After hearing this confusing remark, Beckham stared at his wife strangely. "What do you mean, Victoria?"
Victoria gave Beckham a playful kiss on the cheek and said tenderly, "This is a woman blinded by love, deliberately setting a trap for the man she loves, just like I did to you back then."
"So, you knew they were dating all along?" Beckham looked at his beloved wife affectionately.
"Of course. You men are just too careless to notice. I've always felt that the way Eva looks at Ethan is different. However, I didn't expect them to progress so quickly. That little girl is really brave, almost as if she's afraid someone will steal her lover away!"
After saying that, Victoria laughed with great charm.
"Is she serious about Ethan then?" Beckham thought for a moment and asked.
In his impression, Ethan was a very good friend, very low-profile, and seemed never to have been involved in any romantic scandals. So he was a little worried for his good friend. After all, Eva was a rising star in Hollywood. If she only wanted to use Ethan for publicity, he would definitely have to point it out.
"Don't worry, David. I can guarantee she is absolutely, 100% serious. I even doubt there's anyone in this world who loves Ethan more than she does. At the very least, she secretly told me on the phone that Ethan is the man she's chosen for life!"
If Eva had said this directly to the media, it would not have carried much credibility. But coming from her close friend Victoria, it was naturally beyond doubt. At least, she had no reason to play games with Victoria.
"That's good then. I also think they look quite good together." Beckham breathed a sigh of relief and smiled.
"Mm, so that little girl has already started doing things for her lover," Victoria laughed.
Beckham pointed at the newspaper. "By relying on these media outlets?"
"David, don't you think it's quite incredible that the stadium opening ceremony of a National League club can attract dozens, or even over a hundred, British and European media outlets?"
Beckham looked at his wife in surprise. He felt as if he did not quite understand the ways of the entertainment industry.
"Eva's success in Hollywood isn't just due to her stunning beauty, nor just her acting skills and connections. It's also thanks to the team of people behind her making plans. She is a very, very smart woman, so she knows clearly that she can't help Ethan with football. That's why she wants to help him in other ways, like generating media attention for New Manchester United!"
"But on the football pitch, strength always speaks for itself, Victoria!"
"True, but you have to admit that football is becoming increasingly inseparable from the media. Sponsorship fees, appearance fees, and even club ticket prices are starting to be influenced by it. Many fans even start liking a certain team because of media promotion."
"Fine, I have to admit a club's reputation is important. From your tone, will Eva be attending that FA Cup match between New Manchester United and Arsenal?"
"Of course, David. She definitely won't miss it. She's the focus of those reporters. Plus, she invited me."
"You're going too?" Beckham chuckled a little. He felt he completely failed to understand what these women were up to.
The only thing certain was that Victoria was right. Eva really loved Ethan.
"Besides me, I hope you can go too, David!" Victoria suggested after a brief hesitation.
"That won't work, Victoria. You know we're flying to Brazil on the afternoon of the 2nd. If I go to watch New Manchester United's match on the 1st and happen to be caught by the live TV cameras, I'll have to spend ages explaining it to the club. Don't make things difficult for me, okay, honey?"
Beckham pulled Victoria into his arms. She curled up like a docile kitten against her husband's chest.
"But David, constantly giving way and being afraid of everything is certainly not the way forward. Look at Keane. He's had such a fierce fallout with Manchester United this season, but he succeeded. He successfully made Edwards break the club's wage structure, and he is now getting the highest salary at Manchester United."
Hearing Victoria bring the topic back to this issue again, Beckham's brow furrowed deeply. "It's not the same, Victoria. Keane is the captain. He has the reason and the ability to do that!"
"But you have them too, David. You know you do. You just don't want to!" Victoria cut him off, her tone becoming a little agitated. "Because of you, how much extra sponsorship money do those sponsors give Manchester United every year? Without you, Manchester United's appearance fees would drop by a third. Without you, how many Manchester United shirts would they even sell?"
At this point, Victoria paused for a moment, and her tone softened slightly.
"I know Keane is the captain and the core of Manchester United. But you are also a core player for Manchester United. You've suggested several times that you want to move into a central role and take on more responsibility as the team's core, just like Zidane. But every time, you're suppressed by the grand excuse of 'club interests,' and you've accepted it, David!"
Hearing his wife bring up these past events, Beckham could not find any grounds to refute her. He could only listen quietly, though heaven knew what he was thinking.
"Ferguson is always scolding you, saying you've been influenced by me and that you're drifting away from him and from football. But in reality, David, you know that's not how it is. That day when you were drunk, you said your first commercial contract was signed because Ferguson took you there. It was him and Manchester United who led you down this path. It was this club that pushed you out there because they needed you to take on that role for their own brand and image."
"And now look. You play for the club on the pitch and make money for the club off the pitch, but what about them? Stam was placed in the top wage bracket as soon as he transferred here. Now that Keane has caused a fuss, he has successfully gotten an even higher salary. The club has its eye on that Dutch striker named van Nistelrooy, and to snatch him up, they've offered him a high salary too. But what about you?"
"They're quick to scold you for being disloyal or for being led astray by me, but in reality, they are the ones mistreating you. They are using the label of 'loyalty' to take away your freedom and exploit your work. With your current status in football, you could get the highest salary in the world at any other giant club. But in this team, you're not even equal to Keane or Stam, and you might even be paid less than a Dutch striker who has barely made his name!"
The couple had discussed this topic many times, but almost every time, it ended in an argument. This time, however, Victoria's attitude was firmer than ever, because Keane had fought for and won what he wanted, which was also the same interests that Gary Neville, Beckham, Scholes, Giggs, and the others wanted to fight for.
The grass always seemed greener elsewhere. In recent years, Manchester United had used two completely different standards for youth academy players and incoming transfers. This conflict reached its peak in particular with the Veron transfer in 2001.
And besides Manchester United, almost every football club in the world had the same conflict.
The reason the club had hesitated for so long over Keane's contract renewal was that they knew very well they had been mistreating this group of players who had been raised in the academy and had high loyalty. Once they paid Keane a higher salary, it would mean other players could also use Keane's method to fight for more benefits for themselves.
"A player's career is very short, David. We have a child, and we must think about our future. You can't play football forever. Loyalty must be built on mutual respect. Leave the next steps to me, okay, David? Do it for the child!"
With his beloved wife pleading so softly, Beckham really did not know how to answer.
He knew very well what was going on, and he also knew that whatever Victoria did was for his sake. But he was still very hesitant. He still had deep feelings for this club. At the very least, it was this club and Ferguson, whom he had once regarded as a father figure, who had nurtured him. Otherwise, there would be no Beckham today.
"Don't worry, David. I know what you're worried about. I won't make things difficult for you. You just need to perform well on the pitch. As for everything else, leave it all to me to handle for you." Victoria took Beckham's hand, helping him make up his mind.
"Alright, Victoria. But don't let things get too tense!" Beckham sighed.
Victoria nodded with a smile. "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing!"
(To be continued.)