Chapter 36: This time, I have truly become famous.

Chapter 36: Truly Famous This Time

Li Mo had become truly famous. He was the youngest player in the Premier League to score a hat-trick.

Five rounds into the Premier League season, Li Mo sat atop the league's top scorer list. Thanks to his brace against Manchester City and his hat-trick against Southampton, he had claimed the lead.

And who was trailing behind him? Robin van Persie of Manchester United.

Van Persie had scored four goals. In fact, he had only played four matches; he hadn't been eligible to play in the first round as his contract was still with Arsenal at the time. Averaging a goal per game was certainly an outstanding feat. Thanks to Van Persie’s performance, Manchester United had secured 12 points from four wins and one loss, sitting in second place.

In first place was Chelsea. The reigning Champions League winners had hit their stride early, with four wins and a draw in five matches.

Surprisingly, Everton held the third spot. Their only defeat had come at the hands of David Moyes' Everton, who had tallied three wins, one draw, and one loss for 10 points. West Bromwich Albion and Manchester City also had 10 points, but West Bromwich held the fourth spot on goal difference, leaving City in fifth.

Arsenal, with two wins and three draws, sat on nine points, tied with Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur. Thanks to their 5-0 thrashing of Southampton, they held the sixth position, four points behind Chelsea and three behind Manchester United.

On the scoring charts, Li Mo held the top spot, followed by Van Persie. In third were Liverpool’s Luis Suárez and Tottenham’s Gareth Bale, with Suárez having scored three goals. There were many others with two goals, creating a crowded field at fourth place.

Before the season began, players like Van Persie, Suárez, and Agüero were undoubtedly the favorites for the Golden Boot. Nobody had expected that Li Mo, who hadn't even been on the public radar before the season, would be leading the scoring charts after just five rounds!

When Li Mo first joined Arsenal, the English media had been busy mocking the club’s frugality: "Van Persie leaves, and in comes an unknown named Li Mo." Such ridicule had naturally made Li Mo a target. After all, being compared to a player of Van Persie's caliber put immense pressure on anyone, let alone a seventeen-year-old.

But now, all that mockery and skepticism had turned into praise and adulation. That was the nature of the media—they shifted with the wind. The Fleet Street tabloids were now hailing Arsène Wenger’s genius, praising his eye for talent. Other outlets began to claim that Li Mo was even better than Van Persie. It seemed they wouldn't be satisfied unless they sparked a feud between the two sets of fans, or even the players themselves.

"Look at this, look at this newspaper: 'Arsenal’s teenage genius breaks Michael Owen’s record!'"

"And this one: 'The youngest hat-trick hero in Premier League history!'"

In the living room of his hotel suite, Li Mo and his family were happily flipping through the English press.

"It’s not just in England; I imagine there are plenty of similar reports in Italy and back home in China," Filippo Inzaghi said with a laugh, patting Li Mo on the shoulder. "You’ve truly made a name for yourself now."

"I’m sure if I don’t perform well in the next match, these media outlets will change their tune just as quickly," Li Mo replied with a shrug.

"You’re calm, which is good. The English media environment is exactly what worries me," Simone Inzaghi added, nodding. "Don't pay too much attention to what they say. They’ll praise you to the heavens today and trample you into the dirt tomorrow. Keep a level head."

As former professional players, his uncles were offering seasoned advice to ensure Li Mo could continue to handle the spotlight with grace.

While his family returned to Milan, the media in London and across England could hardly stop talking about Li Mo. Newspapers, television, and the internet were saturated with news about him. Thanks to the global reach of the English language, the influence of the British media was far greater than that of other European countries. By becoming famous in the Premier League, Li Mo had become famous worldwide.

However, Li Mo had started his own "media silence." He stopped concerning himself with what the press was saying, whether it was praise or otherwise. He knew he had plenty of room for improvement.

The club had sent a public relations coach to train him on how to handle reporters, hoping to teach him the standard, safe responses. But Li Mo felt it was a waste of time.

One day after training, as Li Mo prepared for his extra sessions, Arsène Wenger stopped him.

"Rest today, Li," Wenger said.

"But..." Li Mo was thinking about his progress in integrating the "Balotelli Physicality Module" and the "Basic Shooting Module." Although the system hadn't generated any new modules, these training sessions had accelerated the recovery of his fundamental skills. His basic passing had already reached an 'A' grade—a level consistent with a Premier League player. Once he finished the shooting module and integrated the physicality module, he would be more than just an opportunistic striker; he would be able to hold off defenders, engage in complex link-up play, and utilize a wider array of shooting techniques. Time was of the essence!

However, Wenger’s next words took him by surprise. "Get ready; you're joining me for the press conference."

The team's next opponent was Norwich City in the sixth round of the league. Because the third round of the League Cup was scheduled for the weekend, the match had been moved to midweek.

"Be prepared. Those hyenas are very interested in you," Wenger said with a wink. He knew he couldn't keep Li Mo in a protective bubble forever. Li Mo was too famous now to avoid the press.

"I’m not afraid of them," Li Mo said with a grin.