I Just Wanted to Play Soccer, But I Became a Hollywood Heartthrob

"Oh, nothing."

Facing Sophie's questioning, Gu Ran remained composed. "Your dad just asked what I wanted for lunch. I told him I'd be busy at noon and in the evening, so I won't be eating at home."

Sophie frowned. "Just talking about food took you guys five minutes? And you were all excited about it?"

Gu Ran shrugged. "Was it that long? I didn't notice. Anyway, I'm heading out now."

Sophie was surprised. "You're not studying anymore? What are you going to do?"

"I'm preparing for tomorrow's match against Rusty."

Sophie pursed her lips. "Then wait for me, I'll come with you. After all, we have… an agreement."

Gu Ran smirked. "You just don't want to eat at home, do you?"

Sophie didn't bother arguing. "Just wait, I need to change and put on some makeup."

Crap.

It was almost noon already, and if she took her time getting ready, neither of them would be able to escape lunch.

Gu Ran immediately waved her off. "You're too slow. Today, the agreement is on pause. We'll continue tomorrow—I'm leaving now."

Without giving her a chance to argue, he walked straight out the door.

Sophie stomped her foot angrily from the stairs. "Gu Ran, you actually find me troublesome? And you think you can just unilaterally pause our agreement? You better not come back! Never come back! Or you'll see how I deal with you! Gu Ran—do you hear me?!"

Andrew poked his head out from his room, frowning. "Sophie, is that any way to talk to Gu Ran? He's… our tenant."

"Mind your own business!" Sophie snapped.

Andrew instantly shrank back inside.

Gu Ran hailed a taxi and headed straight to Southampton's largest sports store.

With over £70,000 in his pocket, life was good.

He could move out of Sophie's house and finally escape the horrors of British cuisine.

But then again, Sophie was a future superstar—her presence alone was a goldmine of talent points.

If things went well, he could keep milking talent points from her every night until she left for her Game of Thrones audition.

So, for now, even with money, he wasn't in a hurry to leave.

Tomorrow was the match against Rusty, and he needed proper gear.

The moment he stepped into the store, a saleswoman—who looked a bit like Max from 2 Broke Girls—walked up to him.

Before she could say anything, Gu Ran spoke first. "I want a pair of Lionel Messi's F10 TRX FG football boots."

This was the pair he had dreamed of in his past life but could never afford!

The saleswoman gave him a skeptical look. "Messi's signature boots? Those are expensive—£1,999. Are you sure you can afford them?"

Excuse me?

Gu Ran smiled calmly. "Remember this—you can doubt anyone's ability to pay, but never doubt a Chinese person's purchasing power."

The saleswoman blinked in surprise.

The young Chinese man in front of her looked youthful, but there was an unmistakable charm in his demeanor—a maturity that made her heart skip a beat.

Immediately, her expression changed into a sweet, seductive smile. "Oh! A Chinese gentleman! Of course! Please, sir, have a seat in our VIP lounge while I fetch your shoes."

Gu Ran added, "Wait, also bring me two pairs of football socks, two sets of shin guards, and two training kits. The most expensive ones you have."

"Of course, sir! Please wait a moment!"

The saleswoman scurried off, while Gu Ran leisurely sat in the VIP lounge, sipping tea.

A short while later, she returned, arms full of boxes.

"Sorry for the wait, sir!" She knelt at his feet, opening the shoebox. "Let me help you try them on."

"Alright," Gu Ran casually stretched out his foot, enjoying the high-quality service.

Damn…

This feels amazing.

Messi's signature boots, huh?

The moment he slipped them on, he felt like Messi himself.

The snug fit, the excellent design, the stiff FG sole built for natural grass—all of it meant better grip and faster acceleration.

The saleswoman tied the laces and looked up at him, her eyes shining. "Sir, these shoes look amazing on you! You were already handsome, but now? Now you're simply breathtaking!"

Ha!

This woman sure knows how to sweet talk.

Gu Ran looked down at her with a slight smile.

That was a mistake.

The moment he smiled, the saleswoman's entire body jolted as if struck by lightning. The way she gazed up at him changed completely.

Sht.*

Gu Ran suddenly realized—he had unintentionally activated the Heartthrob Smile skill!

He quickly erased his smile and cleared his throat. "I need to test how they feel."

"Of course—"

Before she could finish, Gu Ran sprinted out of the store at full speed!

He was confident in his speed.

In his past life, he was a forward on his street team, known for his explosive pace.

The saleswoman, still dazed, stared at his disappearing figure. "Wow… even the way he runs is handsome… Wait—where did he go? Sir! Come back! Those cost £1,999! Someone stop him! He's stealing the shoes!"

She bolted after him, her… assets bouncing wildly with every step.

Just as she reached the door, she slammed into Gu Ran, who had already sprinted back.

With his strength, she never stood a chance—she stumbled backward, nearly falling over.

Gu Ran instinctively reached out and caught her.

"Are you okay?"

Breathless, she clutched her chest. "Sir, you scared me!"

Gu Ran remained calm. "What? You thought I was going to steal them?"

She let out a giggle. "Steal? Sir, this is the first time I've heard that phrase used like this!"

"I had to test them. These are expensive shoes—how could I know if they're worth it without a full-speed sprint?"

Realizing what had happened, the saleswoman gave a sultry smile. "So, how do they feel?"

Big.

No, wait. Soft.

No, that's not it either. Damn, focus!

Clearing his throat, he regained his composure. "They're good. I'll take them. No need to try the rest—just pack everything up."

"Of course, sir!"

The saleswoman was overjoyed!

Not only was he rich, but he was also handsome, mature, and charming.

She grabbed the POS machine. "That'll be £4,785. Please enter your PIN."

Gu Ran casually entered his card details.

Transaction successful.

With both hands, the saleswoman returned his card—along with a flirty wink.

As Gu Ran took it, he noticed a small slip of paper underneath… with a phone number written on it.

She raised her eyebrows and whispered, "Call me~"