Chapter 915: 914 Fashion Trend

Charisma.

An intangible yet undeniably real quality.

Take a simple example, JJ-Watt and Aaron Donald, both top-tier players, both winners of the League’s Defensive Player of the Year, and both exemplary athletes on and off the field. But why is Watt more loved by sponsors?

The answer is charisma.

Mannerisms, style, public image, and other intangible assets–this is what elevates a star athlete to a celebrity icon, relying on personal charisma.

Louis Vuitton saw this unique charisma in Li Wei.

Whether as the leader unifying the team’s spiritual power on the field, the hero carrying social responsibility off the field, or his unwavering stance in the face of doubts and provocations, he commands attention in every aspect.

“…They hope Louis Vuitton can become part of your image.”

“Of course, they understand the daily habits of professional football players. They’re not asking you to dress extravagantly like David Beckham every day on your way to training–that kind of high-profile approach would feel too deliberate.”

“They’re expecting two things.”

“First, they will design a series of professional training gear and bags specifically for you, the ‘Li Wei Collection,’ hoping you’ll use these items for training and games.”

“Second, when you appear at formal occasions, you’ll wear Louis Vuitton attire–primarily tailored suits crafted just for you.”

“Additionally, they’ll provide you with a personal stylist to curate a collection of everyday outfits and even stock your wardrobe. When you go out casually, you can opt to wear Louis Vuitton or other clothes–there’s no rigid requirement.”

“Their ultimate goal is to discreetly integrate Louis Vuitton into your personal life, avoiding overly explicit advertising campaigns. Instead, they want Louis Vuitton to become a seamless part of your brand image and daily existence.”

Ambition begins to reveal itself–

No wonder they’re a top-notch luxury brand; the entire blueprint unfolds meticulously.

Clearly, Louis Vuitton came prepared.

Since they decided to break the rules and be the first to dive into uncharted territory, they’re determined to seize the opportunity and become pioneers in the industry.

In such situations, the outcome often boils down to two results.

Either massive success, ushering in a new era for the industry and setting trends.

Or complete failure, crashing and burning into ridicule.

There’s no middle ground.

Louis Vuitton does not plan to be the latter.

Li Wei was slightly surprised, “Looks like they’ve been planning this for a long while.”

Donald responded, “Think carefully, it’s about time.”

“You should know Armani has always had a tradition of sponsoring Italy’s men’s soccer team, and every World Cup, Italy gets nicknamed as the ‘male model team’ by fans online–this has deeply influenced brand perception. Plus, with Beckham’s integration into fashion over the years, they’ve had their eyes on this for a while, itching to break the mold.”

“Now, the opportunity is here. Simply put, Louis Vuitton just happened to move a bit ahead of the curve.”

Li Wei tilted his chin slightly, a trace of playful intrigue flashing in his eyes, “So when you said you wanted to create a superstar modeled after Beckham back then, that wasn’t a joke?”

Donald responded matter-of-factly, “I don’t joke.”

“Ha.” Li Wei chuckled, “So, you want me to sign the deal?”

Donald said, “As you just mentioned, there’s no reason for us to refuse.”

“Moreover, Louis Vuitton came with full sincerity, offering an incredibly persuasive proposal. Eight million US dollars annually, for a five-year contract.”

Wow.

That was astonishing.

Inevitably, Li Wei remembered the iconic line from *The Godfather*: “I’ll make him an offer he can’t refuse,” signaling Louis Vuitton’s determination.

But Li Wei was more curious, “How did you respond to that?”

Donald’s face remained composed as he said nonchalantly, “Ten million US dollars annually.”

Negotiation, after all, is an expected game of bargaining.

Donald quickly caught on to Louis Vuitton’s strategy. They threw out a shockingly good offer upfront to seize the upper hand amidst the surprise–a tactic not unlike calling out a jaw-dropping bid at an auction to intimidate rivals, showcasing both decisiveness and resolve.

Having weathered many ups and downs, Donald wasn’t easily cornered by traps.

And so, Donald countered.

However, Donald still underestimated Louis Vuitton’s commitment.

Donald glanced at Li Wei and wasted no time escalating the stakes.

“They agreed. Very decisively.”

Li Wei: …

Briefly stunned, Li Wei quickly caught on, his smile curving upward.

“Looks like they were just waiting there, ready to swiftly cut through negotiations and eliminate any conflict with an assertive approach.”

“So, do you regret not throwing out an even higher number on the spot?”

Donald shook his head, “That’s hindsight talk.”

Regret is inevitable, but Donald remained clear-headed and refused to let greed cloud his judgment.

“From the very beginning, they mapped everything out and planned every step ahead. My response didn’t catch them off guard–this round, they had the upper hand.”

Li Wei chuckled dryly, “Your tone sounds like we suffered a loss. If we sign this contract, it’ll be worth fifty million US dollars. Plus, wouldn’t I be the first professional athlete to collaborate with a fashion brand?”

Donald remained calm and humble, fitting for an agent’s demeanor.

Donald refrained from reacting but instead fixed his gaze on Li Wei, “So, what’s your decision? Ready to sign?”

Li Wei spread his hands, “Hey, do you think I’d turn down a fifty-million-dollar paycheck? Vacation? What vacation? I love working.”

…

The offseason had begun.

Yet the League remained bustling.

On one hand, the Free Market became the focus, with top players awaiting contract renewals attracting a lot of attention. Neither they nor team managers found much time to rest, diving into intense negotiations as the market buzzed with movement.

Several professional commentators from “inside the League” stated this could be the busiest offseason in five years due to several marquee players facing pivotal contract decisions–agents would truly showcase their talents now.

Simultaneously, attention turned toward rookie players. The likes of Goff and Wentz from 2016, Li Wei and Mahomes from 2017, and the five first-round quarterbacks from 2018 have shown that rookie players hold increasing significance in the League over the past three years. The wave of younger athletes has never been clearer.

Add to that the hard salary cap, and the hassles of haggling with veteran players over contracts are nowhere to be found with rookies. This year’s Los Angeles Rams and Kansas City Chiefs offer a striking contrast–

One team splurged on a lineup of mercenaries, only to get obliterated in the Super Bowl. The other boldly invested in developing rookies and achieved the glory of defending their championship title.

The answer couldn’t be clearer, staring everyone in the face–

More teams now believe the rookie contract period is no longer just a promotional gimmick. Exploiting rookie contracts strategically to build teams is the proper route to pursuing the Super Bowl.

Countless eyes, hungry and sharp like wolves, converged on the rookies.

Though the draft is an annual sensation, this year it seemed to generate even more fervor.

And amid the chaos of these heated developments, Li Wei once again emerged out of nowhere, effortlessly stealing the spotlight from every corner inside and outside the League.