The Rise of Millwal

Chapter 113: Aldrich, the captain of the starting lineup!

Aldrich is on fire!

Since the weekend match was played in the evening, and the Christmas rush was about to begin, Aldrich gave the team a day off right after the game. He woke up early to go for a jog and work out.

However, as he opened the door wearing his workout gear, he was greeted by a swarm of paparazzi outside, cameras flashing in his face, making his eyes ache a bit.

"Mr. Hall, did you have a sex party at the Green Hotel last night?"

"Did you finally dump that little pop star?"

"Were there any Millwall players at the party?"

"Besides flirting with Katie Price, who else do you have?"

"Do you acknowledge any intimate contact with Katie Price?"

"She called you a disgusting man; what's your response?"

"What time did you get home last night?"

"Will you take legal action to protect your reputation?"

"What is your relationship with Katie Price exactly?"

"Have you considered apologizing or offering compensation?"

The British paparazzi are relentless, especially when it comes to breaking news. They can make someone the center of attention in no time and do so with the most vicious words, provocations, and shameless tactics to make the subject lose his composure, even sanity, in the process. That way, they can snatch the most sensational photos.

Facing these malicious questions, would Aldrich get furious and make an irrational move?

If he exploded in anger, regardless of the truth behind the news, his reputation would be immediately tarnished. If he even swung a fist, things would get even messier.

Aldrich took a couple of steps outside and, confronted with numerous microphones and cameras, paused in surprise for a second. Then he smiled and slowly stepped back inside. As he retreated, he pointed to the threshold of his home, signaling for the reporters to be cautious and not to cross the line, or it would be considered trespassing.

With a big smile, he gently closed the door.

The paparazzi sighed in disappointment and retreated to their cars, but their high-powered cameras remained trained on Aldrich's apartment.

Sitting on the couch, Aldrich pondered. He had a computer at home, but there was no news to browse through online that could keep up with current events. He had a rough idea of what had happened; it was probably the "乳皇" Jordan biting back again.

Just as he was about to dial a number, someone called in.

"Hello."

"Aldrich, where are you?"

"At home."

"Stay home and don't go anywhere, and don't talk to anyone outside. Disconnect your landline; I'm coming over."

"Okay."

Aldrich ended the call from Andrew and sat quietly, waiting as expected. His home phone started ringing non-stop, indicating that numerous reporters were attempting to interview him. Instead of unplugging the phone, he picked it up to hang it up again, then set it back on the table, keeping the line engaged.

Andrew arrived quickly, looking sharp in a suit, giving off a true lawyer's vibe. He had two men in their thirties with him, likely employees from his firm.

When Aldrich opened the door, journalists crowded outside again, but aside from snapping a few photos, they couldn't get any significant news.

Just as Aldrich was about to open the door, he suddenly heard someone angrily shouting at the group of reporters, "You bunch of filthy liars! My boss had dinner at my house last night and didn't go to any lousy hotel!"

Aldrich peeked out and saw Villa, clutching a soccer ball, standing outside with a furious expression.

The reporters were taken aback, turning to stare at Villa. Some even attempted to snap photos, but Aldrich quickly shouted, "David, go home!"

Andrew reacted swiftly, signaling to his assistant, who immediately stepped outside to warn the photogs, "He's still a minor. If you take any photos and publish them, be prepared for a summons from the court!"

Villa, seeing Aldrich smiling with no sign of nervousness, showed disdain towards the paparazzi and then dropped the ball, dribbling away faster than they could catch sight of him.

Once again, Aldrich shut the door. As he sat back down on the couch, Andrew pulled out several newspapers from his briefcase and handed them to Aldrich for him to review.

They were gossip tabloids filled with sensational news.

Among them, the headline of The Sun stood out: one half showcased Aldrich commanding his team from the sidelines, while the other half featured a picture of Katie Price in plain clothes.

"The lion-hearted young coach takes the field! He is the starting XI captain! Katie Price flees from the Green Hotel!"

Aldrich couldn't help but laugh when he saw that headline.

As he flipped to the next page for more details, he became engrossed in reading the news.

The reports cited private comments from Katie Price.

She sounded so innocent: "Everybody knows I admire Aldrich. I wanted to be friends with him, so when he reached out to me, I was surprised. I thought maybe something romantic might happen between us, and it would be wonderful. But when I walked into the suite at the Green Hotel he booked, the handsome image I had of him was completely shattered. He's a disgusting man, and there were almost a dozen half-naked guys in that suite, obviously prepared to have a good time. Aldrich thought wrong; I'm not that kind of girl. I immediately left the suite; nothing happened. But I don't know what they did afterward. I turned them down, but they were already ready to enjoy themselves, and I'm sure they'll look for other girls to entertain them. Right now, Aldrich is just making me feel sick."

Aldrich put the paper down and grabbed another gossip sheet, which also followed the same narrative.

Andrew waited for him to finish reading all the newspapers before crossing his arms and calmly asking, "What happened? Tell me the truth, from start to finish."

In that moment, as a lawyer, Andrew was serious.

Aldrich honestly recounted everything that had happened. Andrew looked at him with a strange expression.

He beckoned Aldrich to follow him to the kitchen, nodding towards it. "Let's talk privately."

Aldrich followed him into the kitchen. The two brothers lit up cigarettes, and Andrew spoke first: "Aldrich, what are you doing? You could have ignored her, played along, or anything. There was no need to make a big deal out of it."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, my brother, you're a celebrity now. You have money—look at you! Dressed in Armani, with looks that make others jealous, and a body that's off the charts. Every weekend, countless people cheer for you, and of course, there are multiple girls wanting to get close to you. Some of them will be top-notch. But what are you doing? You've shut the door on them, keeping them out. Only the most pious among men would do that, but you have no religious beliefs. I just don't get it."

Andrew looked at Aldrich as if he were a strange creature, but Aldrich shook his head, "My brother would do the same."

"Your brother's ambition is focused on his career! He's trying hard to build the noble image of the Hall family, but he can't shake off the nouveau riche background. He can only avoid mistakes. Others might point fingers at him calling him illiterate or a nouveau riche, but they can't call him a playboy. That won't make him a noble, but it will earn him some respect. Aldrich, I've always thought that you and I are similar. We can live in the moment; there's no need to impose a monk's doctrine on ourselves. You're wealthy, and countless women are eager to be with you. If you go bankrupt, they'll abandon you. That's how the world works."

Andrew said, his eyes wide open.

Perhaps because as an underage helper at a glass factory while growing up, Aldrich's elder brother Barnett was incredibly passionate about social status, even as a newly minted British business mogul who hadn't indulged in debauchery. Instead, he worked hard to present himself as a noble—one who may never reach that lofty height in his lifetime but would tirelessly strive for the second and third generations to fulfill that dream.

Aldrich smoked silently for two minutes and then slowly replied, "Andrew, let me tell you a story."

"I'm all ears."

"I know a friend; he's an ordinary guy, graduated from a regular university, has a standard job, and then he got a typical girlfriend. When he was almost thirty, he proposed to her. She hesitated because her family wanted him to have property. So, that relationship ended. The man stayed single, filled with confusion about marriage and family because he knew he couldn't earn enough for a house in just a few years."

"That's it?"

"That's all."

"Was your friend's girlfriend an idiot? Are her family members idiots too?"

"My friend is Chinese. The consumer mindset there is quite different from that in Europe and America. In our circles, as long as someone has a stable job, they can afford housing and a car, provided they pay off the mortgage before they die. But in China, it's different; they save up to buy a house before they die, and many never manage to save enough. Renting or mortgaging a house lacks a sense of security."

Andrew blinked, uninterested in delving into cultural differences. It wasn't something he could grasp just by ruminating on it. He simply shrugged and said, "Your travels taught you that emotions and money should be kept separate, right?"

Aldrich pondered for a moment and then nodded, saying, "It's a massive shock when genuine feelings are rendered worthless in the face of money. That's why I want to live simply. Today it's Katie Price; tomorrow it could be someone else. Girls like these keep appearing one after another. I'm not trying to paint myself in a good light; it's just the traditional, trashy entertainment culture in England."

Andrew patted Aldrich on the shoulder, finally understanding his brother's mindset.

He recognized his own position; he had indulged in many models and celebrities, but if he lost his wealth, those beautiful women would certainly distance themselves from him.

Hence, this playboy could only enjoy superficial relationships. Aldrich had no such penchant, and Andrew saw no reason to criticize him.

"Okay, I understand. Bring me the phone recording; I'll take care of it. I'll make sure that from now on, those gold-digging women won't set their sights on you again, or they'll humiliate themselves."

Aldrich laughed and bumped fists with him before going upstairs to fetch the recording for Andrew.