Chapter Thirty: Patronage

Sponsorship, unlike brand endorsement, is essentially an advertising contract with a prepaid deposit. Over the next few years, one is required to participate in some promotional activities for the sponsoring company. The contractual restrictions aren’t as stringent, but the scope of personal reciprocation is quite broad. This is a local company’s investment in a local athlete—a regional custom, so to speak—driven largely by personal connections. If Rousseau truly achieves success in the future, he mustn’t forget his roots.

Coach Lu Jinrong was accustomed to such matters and was happy to help facilitate this. He vividly remembered Rousseau borrowing four hundred yuan from him upon joining the team; there was no doubt Rousseau needed the money.

If these companies wanted to sponsor Tian Shiwei, Lu Jinrong would have refused outright. Given Tian Shiwei’s family background, he wouldn’t care for such a trifling sum.

However, Lu Jinrong still advised Rousseau to wait until after the Provincial Games to consider the sponsorship. Winning a gold medal, or even finishing in the top three or ten, would multiply the sponsorship amount several times over—perhaps even tenfold. After all, while sponsorship involves personal relationships, it’s also business.

“How much is it?” Rousseau couldn’t help but ask.

Lu Jinrong told Rousseau a figure he could hardly imagine.

“It’s that much and they think it’s not enough?” Rousseau’s eyes widened.

Seeing Rousseau’s look of inexperience, Lu Jinrong couldn’t help but laugh, a little wistfully. “Once you achieve results on the world stage, you’ll know what it means to be flush with cash. Times have changed; our country isn’t what it used to be...”

Rousseau’s expression was filled with longing.

At this, Lu Jinrong reminded him, “Your academic exam is in two days. Take it seriously. If you fail, you really won’t make the Provincial Games roster.”

“Really?” Rousseau double-checked.

“Really.” Lu Jinrong said this without expression, though he knew in his heart that Rousseau would have to go regardless. But it was a good opportunity to give these kids who disliked studying a wake-up call.

“The exam is... two days from now?” Rousseau counted and his expression shifted slightly.

“What is it?” Lu Jinrong asked.

“Nothing. In two days, it’s my sister Lu Xiaoyu’s birthday. What a coincidence,” Rousseau said. “I’ve celebrated her birthday with her every year.”

“What a coincidence, but you can’t miss the exam,” Lu Jinrong said.

Rousseau nodded.

He left Lu Jinrong’s office as if sleepwalking.

He couldn’t help but want to share the good news with Lu Xiaoyu.

Your brother’s got money now... haha~

Of course, Rousseau didn’t plan to accept the sponsorship just yet; the coach was right. Since he was bound to get results at the Provincial Games, he should wait until afterwards.

If he had money, he’d buy Lu Xiaoyu a phone... Rousseau couldn’t help but start planning.

Then he steadied himself; results were most important—achievements were the foundation.

It was because he ran the 100 meters in 11 seconds that the coach had taken him to interviews, that the outside world learned his name and talent, that companies became interested in investing in him. All of these rewards stemmed from his performance on the 100-meter track.

And before Rousseau had shown such results, obviously the coach had no intention of giving him any of this. Rousseau didn’t think the coach was wrong; in fact, he was right. The world should reward those with talent—otherwise, how could someone like Rousseau, with no background, ever get a chance?

But the exam...

Rousseau felt he truly couldn’t pass it.

His academic foundation was too weak; even though the coaches had lowered the exam level to that of a first-year high school student and only required a passing grade, it was still too difficult for Rousseau.

This thought made him frown.

He needed to figure something out.

Standing at the door of the coach’s office, he could see the men’s and women’s dormitories under the shade of the trees. Dusk had fallen; a broad sweep of pale, fiery clouds flowed across the sky, mellow as warmed yellow wine, as if about to pour into the golden goblets of the two dorm buildings.

Rousseau had an idea.

That night, the Provincial Team’s “Three Musketeers” held a secret gathering—the perennial contenders for last place began to plot their scheme.

The next day, Rousseau requested leave and went home.

On the third day, the exam was scheduled for the afternoon, but Rousseau brought Lu Xiaoyu to the sports school that morning.

Ordinarily, outsiders weren’t allowed into the Provincial Team’s training base without the coach’s permission.

But the coach was partial to Rousseau—for his background, his performance, and because Lu Xiaoyu was genuinely adorable. With the excuse of her birthday, the special permission was granted without issue.

That morning, Lu Xiaoyu celebrated the grandest birthday of her life in Rousseau’s dormitory.

When Rousseau, Juno, and Tian Shiwei sang “Happy Birthday” to her as she wore her birthday hat, Lu Xiaoyu’s fair cheeks were aglow with the light of the candles, making her look every bit the beautiful little princess. At that moment, Tian Shiwei handed her a carefully wrapped box.

Lu Xiaoyu didn’t take it right away, but looked to Rousseau.

Rousseau hesitated; he knew that whatever Tian Shiwei gave, it wouldn’t be cheap, so...

“Take it—it’s a present and a token of respect,” Tian Shiwei said sincerely. “After I realized that Lu Xiaoyu was the one who did that senior-year exam paper, I started treating her like a goddess. I’ll need your help with the exam this afternoon—consider it payment for your trouble.”

The way Tian Shiwei phrased it was amusing, and Rousseau thought it made sense, so he told Lu Xiaoyu, “Go ahead, take it.”

Lu Xiaoyu accepted the gift. There isn’t a girl who doesn’t like presents. She opened it—a CD player, maroon in color, lightweight, with a large LCD remote, the letters “SY” in bold silver on the body, elegant and beautiful.

“SY’s new NE20? This hasn’t even been released in the country yet,” said Juno, patting Tian Shiwei on the shoulder. “You really went all out.”

“Of course! It’s the first time I’ve celebrated Lu Xiaoyu’s birthday—it had to be special,” Tian Shiwei replied with a laugh.

Lu Xiaoyu thanked Tian Shiwei very earnestly. Juno also presented his own gift: a necklace.

It wasn’t gold or silver, but made of a special leather-like material. The pendant was a butterfly, pieced together from several colors of crystal. When light hit it, the crystals shimmered as if the butterfly were about to take flight.

At first glance, it looked like an inexpensive trinket for children, but a closer look revealed exquisite craftsmanship in every detail.

Since she’d accepted Tian Shiwei’s gift, she couldn’t refuse Juno’s. Rousseau nodded, and Lu Xiaoyu took the necklace, delighted.

Rousseau, too, had prepared a gift for Lu Xiaoyu—a large red envelope. When Tian Shiwei exclaimed, “How much money do you put in such a big envelope?” Lu Xiaoyu pulled out a folded newspaper from inside.

Awkward... Tian Shiwei looked to Rousseau in confusion, but Lu Xiaoyu, as if she’d found a treasure, unfolded the newspaper—“Pengcheng Daily”—and eagerly searched its pages. When she found what she was looking for, her face lit up with joy.

“Thank you, brother!” she exclaimed.