Title: Girlfriends Come to You
The wedding of Beckham and Victoria at the turn of the century caused a massive sensation throughout the United Kingdom.
The wedding took place at Loutleston Castle, one of Ireland's six mysterious ancient castles. This castle is situated within a natural golf course and appears extremely luxurious.
Levi and his entourage flew into Dublin, then rented a car to drive from Dublin to the castle.
Although the wedding wasn't scheduled until tomorrow, a large number of journalists had already gathered outside the castle. They were being held back by police and security guards who were maintaining order.
"It's awkward wearing this black suit!" Sitting in the car, Levi looked at the black suit on his body and found it displeasing. He was not accustomed to wearing suits and shoes.
"No, I think you look quite sharp in it, more stylish than usual!" Bruce said with a smile.
Levi shrugged, unsure if Bruce was joking or offering genuine admiration, and decided not to respond.
Rumors had it that this wedding had invited over 250 guests, each one a celebrity. The cost was undoubtedly exorbitant, likely running into millions of pounds! Walsh, seated in the back, admired the magnificent old castle in front of them.
Beckham and his wife were both stars in their respective fields.
"They probably made a fortune just by selling the broadcasting rights!" Levi commented with a smile.
Though he wasn't entirely comfortable with the hype surrounding Beckham's wedding, it couldn't be denied that the event had elevated the Beckham couple to Britain's most renowned celebrity status, further expanding Beckham's commercial endeavors.
But ultimately, when it came down to it, everyone had the right to choose their own path in life. Friends should offer support and reminders rather than criticism and lectures.
After having their identities verified at the security checkpoint outside the castle, Levi and his companions exited the car and entered through the gates.
As the first guests to arrive, they were headed to attend a bachelor party with the groom tonight, an event typically reserved for close friends.
"Levi, you really ought to consider buying a car, or even a helicopter!" Walsh remarked, observing the luxury cars parked outside, while they had only rented one. He felt somewhat embarrassed.
"Maybe you should get one too?" Levi retorted.
But the idea of purchasing a car did pique Levi's interest; after all, not having one could be inconvenient at times.
You couldn't rely on Jim Shuttle for everything!
Privacy was something people needed occasionally!
"Ha, Levi, Steve, Andy, why are you so late!" Beckham had evidently received word and was waiting for them at the castle gate.
"This guy just got back from Brazil. He hadn't prepared at all. He wanted to buy clothes and dress like a woman. This is as good as it gets!" Bruce joked, pointing at Levi.
"Yeah, it's his fault and he should be punished. Find him!" Walsh chimed in, not one to miss a moral lecture.
Levi, slightly embarrassed by his friends' teasing, turned to Beckham. "Who told you I'd wear a black suit? Of course, I had to get something ready! Otherwise, I'd just wear my collector's edition Manchester United No. 7 jersey!"
This remark caused Bruce and Walsh to burst into laughter, eventually joining Beckham in a jovial mood.
"You rascal!" Beckham almost chuckled, giving Levi a playful punch before leading them into the castle.
"Where's Gary? Heard he's the best man!" Levi casually inquired, his eyes meanwhile taking in the castle's walls and decorations.
He had to admit, this old castle was undeniably luxurious. Just being here felt like an experience fit for nobility. Living in such a place was a world apart from the aristocracy, or rather, even cooler!
"Off to get a manicure!"
"What? He's getting a manicure too?" Walsh exclaimed in disbelief.
Laughter ensued.
Gary Neville was never one for such things. His hair was usually unkempt, his nails untrimmed, and his attire casual.
However, it was evident that he considered Beckham's wedding to be of utmost importance. Thus, for the first time in his life, he was getting his nails done.
Beckham led the three of them into one of the grand halls where Beckham's friends were gathered. Among them were several Manchester United players and fellow members of the England national team, including Michael Owen.
"Hi, Michael!" Levi greeted with a smile as he approached.
"Hello, Levi. Nice to meet you!" Owen returned the smile politely, shuffling the deck of cards in his hands. "Care for a game?"
Levi immediately recalled the stories of the England national team's card games. In reality, Levi knew it wasn't just the English national team; gambling was a prevalent aspect of British culture. However, English football's version of it was particularly intriguing.
"No, thank you!" Levi declined politely.
Owen shrugged and returned his attention to his blackjack game.
After ordering a glass of wine, Levi stepped out onto the balcony of the ancient castle, enjoying the breeze and gazing at the darkening sky. It felt peculiarly pleasant and serene.
The castle was surrounded by a vast golf course, offering a cool, refreshing breeze that contrasted sharply with Manchester's industrial pollution and poor air quality.
However, as night descended, the air outside the castle would grow damp, often shrouded in mist.
Contrary to popular belief that London was the only foggy city, many parts of the UK experienced similar weather conditions. Thick fog was a common sight, making life challenging for many foreign players unaccustomed to such conditions.
"How's it going? Uncomfortable dressed like that?" Ryan Giggs' voice interrupted Levi's thoughts from behind.
"A bit awkward, you know. I'm used to dressing casually, so this feels a bit off!" Levi replied with a smile.
Giggs raised his glass, clinking it against Levi's and taking a sip of his wine. "I owe you an apology about Rodrigo."
"Don't mention it, Ryan. He's a professional player; he made a reasonable decision. Besides, his departure had my consent. No one at the club will hold it against him. We're still friends, right?"
"Thanks!" Giggs lightly tapped Levi again.
"Will Fergie be coming to tomorrow's wedding?" Levi asked casually.
Levi had heard plenty about Ferguson's disapproval of Victoria. He was well-informed about these matters in this life.
"Maybe. It would be quite the hassle if he didn't show up at an occasion like this!" Giggs chuckled.
Levi nodded. They were all public figures, and even if they held personal grievances, they were expected to maintain appearances at events like these.
After chatting for a while, Giggs excused himself to join a card game. In recent years, he had tempered his fiery temperament considerably after enduring Ferguson's stern admonishments.
Levi moved to another part of the hall and took a seat opposite Peter Schmeichel.
"It's been a while, Peter!"
"Hi, Levi. Indeed it has."
Although Schmeichel lived in Manchester, he rarely ventured out socially. After matches and training, he preferred to stay home.
"I heard you're planning to leave Manchester United? Are you thinking about retirement?"
"Yes, I'm 36 now. Last season, I was playing third-string, and I could feel my body wasn't up to the rigors of the Premier League anymore. I actually informed the boss back in November, but he wanted me to stay until the end of the season!"
Schmeichel looked troubled as he spoke. "As for retirement, I'm still undecided. I've been thinking about moving somewhere with less demanding games. But with my family and son here, it's a tough decision."
"Have any clubs approached you?" Levi inquired, concerned.
"Yes, a few. Sporting Lisbon in Portugal has been in talks with me for a while. Their coach even visited me in Manchester personally. But I'm still hesitant, you know. My family and son are settled here."
"Eight years, right?"
"Yeah, after eight years in one place, I've won nearly every accolade a goalkeeper can in the club. It's hard to leave all that behind suddenly."
"Why leave?" Levi interjected.
Schmeichel looked at Levi, surprised by the seriousness in his tone. It didn't seem like Levi was joking.
"Yeah, why leave? Stay. We at New Manchester United could really use a top goalkeeper like you to lead us forward. And your experience could really benefit the younger players. When you do decide to retire, you could even consider coaching or joining the management team."
Schmeichel was taken aback by Levi's proposal. He had never considered the possibility of joining New Manchester United. Levi's unexpected offer had caught him off guard.
Even though it was just a fifth-tier team, everyone familiar with New Manchester United knew the club had promising prospects for development. Besides, it was hard to imagine Levi, the wealthy man behind the scenes, content to stay in lower leagues forever.
Playing for a few years at a club like that, and then transitioning into coaching or management, might just be the path forward for him. After all, Schmeichel had been worried about his future after football. How would he sustain himself?
As Schmeichel hesitated, a security guard in a black suit entered from outside, scanning the room until he spotted Levi.
"Hello, Levi," the security guard greeted respectfully.
"What's the matter?" Levi asked, puzzled.
"There's a woman outside who claims to be your girlfriend. Would you mind coming to the door with me?"
Levi froze. A girlfriend? Looking for him?
What could this possibly mean?