125 Press Conference Part 2 (2/2)
Tang En was overjoyed. ”You really know me well, Edward! I'll head there right now!”
※※※
Fifteen minutes later, Tang En appeared in Doughty's office located inside City Ground Stadium. When he was invited into the room by Ms. Barbara Lucy, Doughty was standing in front of the windows with his back facing the door as he looked at countless reporters rushing toward the gate.
Mr. Doughty, Mr. Twain is here.”
Doughty turned around and smiled at Lucy. ”Thank you, Ms. Lucy.”
Ms. Lucy poured a drink for Tang En before leaving the room promptly.
Tang En's eyes followed Ms. Lucy's shaking butt until it exited the room, before turning around. He saw Doughty staring at him and laughing, and therefore scratched his head embarrassingly. Tang En explained awkwardly, ”Erm… your new secretary is not, not too bad…”
”That is not a new secretary. Ms. Lucy followed me here from America and has always been my personal secretary. She and Allan are both people who I can completely trust.”
”Mhmm, I know. Then what about me?” Tang En was very intrigued by Doughty's last sentence, and decided to ask.
”You too, Tony. Although we've only known each other for a short time, but I like your straightforward personality a lot.” Doughty sat casually on one corner of the table. This kind of situation was something that would never been seen during his father Nigel Doughty's time as the club chairman.
”Hey, when you told me I wasn't in your plan, I really thought that I had been abandoned.” Tang En shook his head lightly. ”Did you know? At that time, I had at least three club's telephone numbers in my pocket, and I could have left whenever I wanted.”
Doughty nodded his head, signaling that he knew. ”That's why I always had a question. Tony, what made you ultimately decide to stay in this club where you were unable to see your future, even if it meant going back to the youth team to coach?”
This question made Tang En silent for a while. After which, he replied softly, ”Doughty, when I was deciding between whether I should leave or stay, I hesitated for a very long time. Many people helped me directly and indirectly, for instance… Boss Clough took me to the managers' cocktail party to gain exposure. There, I met countless successful and unsuccessful managers, and it was as though I had entered a completely different world from before. He even told me that failure is only temporary. After that I went to the youth training grounds and amidst the empty compounds, I saw George Wood—the genius who I found in the slums that day—he was practicing some basic techniques alone in the training field, striving hard toward his dream of becoming a football star. After that, I paid a visit to Gavin's grave.”
Hearing Tang En say this, Doughty no longer sat on the table casually with his body slanted. He got off and listened to Tang En while standing in front of the table.
”I met Michael there, and he told me that he wanted to return to America. His wife was unable to bear the pain of staying here, haunted by her longing for their son. Hence, they wanted to migrate to a country where there was no football. I did not try to persuade him, because his family and life are more important than football. He knew that I might leave, so he said…”
Tang En continued speaking slowly and softly, as though he had once again returned to that fateful afternoon. In front of Gavin's tombstone, Michael patted Tang En's shoulders and said, ”… Brian Clough came to this team on the 3rd of January, while you, Tony Twain came here on the 1st of January with a difference of two days. What a pity, perhaps we have all missed a legendary tale.”
”He left after that, while I remained in the empty cemetery alone. Even though Michael compared me to Clough, I still did not make up my mind to stay. Until I saw a line of words carved on Gavin's tombstone. The words were extremely small and had been neglected by me all the while. Do you want to know what was written on it?”
Doughty nodded his head.
”Written on it was: The person resting here is Michael Bernard and Fiona Bernard's deeply loved son, Nottingham Forest's most loyal fan, George Wood's number one supporter forever—Gavin Bernard.”
Tang En did not continue, and Doughty also fell into silence.
He knew of the incident between Tang En and Michael. Michael Bernard was a famous person amongst the football fans of that district, and everyone knew that he had a smart and lovable son. Doughty also felt sorry for Gavin's death. Otherwise, why would he have thought of holding a press conference today, in order to refute Millwall's groundless claims?
But he had not expected that young child would hold such an important position in Tony Twain's heart. Looks like he did the right thing by calling him over.
Doughty coughed and said, ”Alright, I think it's almost time. Let's go down…”
The silence in the office room was finally shattered, waking Tang En from his deep thought. He raised his head and looked at Doughty, before frowning and standing up.
”Erm, Tony,” Doughty reminded him. ”Do you need to prepare the script for your speech? I had Ms. Lucy draft up a copy for you beforehand…”
Tang En shook his head and declined his goodwill respectfully. ”Thank you, Edward, but there's no need for it. I've never heard of someone using a script when scolding people.” After that, Tang En pushed open the office door and walked out.