Dominate the Super Bowl

Chapter 785: 784 Spiritual Continuation
 

Li Wei let out a long sigh, a hint of bitterness seeping into his smile.

“Indeed, Annie was right.”

Jenna was stunned, and so was Jeff.

Jenna abruptly looked up at Li Wei, her lips trembling slightly as she tried to speak; then, like slamming on the brakes, she cut herself off, staring wide-eyed at Li Wei, a torrent of emotions surging within her.

Realizing her own lapse, Jenna hurriedly forced a stiff smile, trying to lift the corners of her mouth in an effort to mask her panic, feigning ease as she spoke.

“What did Annie say? Heh, that girl never has a quiet moment.”

Instantly, the chattering image of Annie came to mind for Li Wei, vivid as if alive, and he couldn’t help but smile.

“Annie said, she hoped you could forget her.”

Jenna was taken aback.

Jeff’s eyes bulged, “Bullshit.”

The swear word slipped out without a thought.

At this moment, Mr. and Mrs. Galas were too distraught to care about Li Wei in front of them; they would not allow anyone to speak ill of Annie.

Jeff took a deep breath, but he still couldn’t contain his anger, “Mr. Li Wei, this is my house, and if you came here to spout nonsense, I ask you to get out immediately. You’re not welcome here.”

However, Li Wei did not shrink back, standing tall as he met Jenna and Jeff’s gaze head-on.

“Annie said, after she left, you would become like zombies, staring blankly at the air in silence, you’d be at a loss without the center of your lives, you would deny reality, you’d be trapped in your memories unable to pull yourselves out, you would torture yourselves in pain and sorrow.”

“Winter passes, spring comes, but you still can’t forgive yourselves, forever staying in that world of ice and snow.”

“You would wonder if it was something you did wrong that led to such a tragedy, you would repeatedly regret your decisions, you would agonize over not giving Annie a better childhood, you refuse to move on, to forget the past, and you would continue to punish yourselves.”

Jeff was stunned.

He forgot to breathe, “I didn’t…”

But the rest of the words disappeared in his throat, as if struck by lightning, he stood frozen in place, his eyes devoid of tears, but pulled into a vast sadness, crumbling bit by bit.

Jenna shook her head repeatedly, “No, I won’t, I didn’t.” She sat up straight, quickly explaining, “I didn’t, how could Annie think that.”

“Annie heard it,” Li Wei said.

Jenna, “What?”

Li Wei, “In the ICU, she heard everything you talked about.”

“Others advised you that after Annie’s death, you should pick up the pieces of sadness, that life must go on, that you can’t be trapped forever in Annie’s illness, that you should conceive another child and continue living.”

“But you refused.”

“You said you would always be Annie’s mother.”

“Annie heard it all.”

Jenna covered her mouth, gasping in shock, as if her spine had been snapped in an instant, her whole body slumping, “Oh, God.”

Jenna’s eyes widened, her mouth agape, staring blankly at Li Wei, unable to express or move, yet tears simply slid down her face.

All of this was just too cruel.

Jeff tried to comfort his wife, but when his left hand lay on Jenna’s shoulder, it had no strength. He turned his head away, his whole body shaking uncontrollably.

Li Wei was no different.

In an instant, as if drained of strength, Li Wei’s shoulders sagged as well.

“So, Annie hopes that you will forget her, that everyone will forget her. She doesn’t want you to be imprisoned by memories; she needs you to move on with your lives, she needs you to find happiness and joy again.”

“Just like Annie did.”

“She always faced everything with positivity and sunshine, even in the presence of the Grim Reaper.”

His voice was strained.

Li Wei took a deep breath, struggling to keep his overwhelming emotions in check.

“But, Jenna, Jeff, do you know?”

“Annie won’t be forgotten.”

“Annie will fight with us; she will accompany the Chieftain in their relentless struggle and run, she will become a part of the Chieftain, a continuation of life.”

“We will continue to move forward, carrying Annie’s dreams, carrying Annie’s spirit.”

“Jenna.”

Li Wei called out, and Jenna looked up, staring blankly at Li Wei, completely losing her ability to respond.

Li Wei gazed into Jenna’s eyes.

“You know, Annie always wanted to witness my games in person; she regretted missing the divisional playoffs, but now there’s still the conference championship.”

“So, I hope she can see.”

“I will reach the end zone, just like Annie hoped.”

Words have both temperature and weight.

Li Wei took an envelope out of his pocket, which contained two tickets for the conference championship, placed it on the table, and then pushed it toward Mr. and Mrs. Galas.

Li Wei wanted to say more, but he found that all words seemed pale and powerless, and he ended up swallowing them all.

“Well, I’m off to train now.”

“For the conference championship, we’re not just looking forward to a single touchdown, are we? We should take Annie with us to the Super Bowl final.”

Then, without saying anything more, Li Wei stood up, turned around, and left.

Jenna tried to call Li Wei back, but looking up at Li Wei’s retreating figure, clad in the red number twenty-three jersey, she felt as though she saw Annie.

“Run, Li Wei, run!”

“He’s here, he’s there, he’s everywhere, he is the Edgerunner, Li Wei Li Wei Li Wei!”

Annie was jumping for joy, shouting and singing with all her might, her radiant smile and excited cheers reverberating in the ears, shining like a little sun.

Suddenly, Jenna was struck fiercely, unable to control herself any longer, she completely fell apart, burying her head in Jeff’s arms, crying her heart out.

Jenna cried so sorrowfully and painfully, as if her heart were tearing apart.

Li Wei stood at the door, hearing the sounds from inside, he looked up to the sky of Kansas City. The weight on his chest seemed to ease a little, and he felt his blood and passion slowly stir within him.

“Hey, Annie, ready to fight?”

…

“David…”

“David!”

“Are you sure you don’t want to go to the game?”

West looked toward the Old Oak Tavern and shouted.

Anderson waved his hand, “I need to be here, with everyone. You go, take my strength with you, we might need it this year.”

West didn’t say much else, waved his hand, and walked out.

Looking up, he felt a touch uneasy—

Today, Sunday, the conference championship match day, with the drums of war formally sounding.

However, the weather in Kansas City was discouraging.

Clouds covered the sky, a mass of darkness, devoid of any brilliance, layers of gray pressed above, suffocating.

Barely on tiptoes, it seemed possible to touch the sky.

Oppressive, rolling, thundering, the wind howled as if heralding the end of the world.

It was still morning, and the perceived temperature had already fallen below minus ten degrees Celsius. Snow or rain might have improved the conditions; but for now, the darkness simply hung overhead, brewing a storm.

Huh.

West exhaled deeply, it seemed the weather knew as well, how critical this match was, expressing its mood blatantly—

Against the New England Patriots, the Kansas City Chiefs’ most important and toughest fight of the season, a match not inferior to the Super Bowl in any way.

The storm, starting mightily from Foxborough, made its way south to reign over Kansas City.