Chapter 916: 915 a heavy bomb

“Li Wei appears in Los Angeles to shoot the latest endorsement advertisement for Net-Jet.”

“Li Wei heads to Rio de Janeiro to join a group of stars in shooting the latest Nike commercial.”

“Pepsi superstars gather in Egypt for a new ad campaign, with Li Wei and Barkley playing pivotal roles.”

“Li Wei arrives in Stockholm to film a Mercedes-Benz 007 blockbuster.”

“Li Wei spotted on the streets of New York, filming JPMorgan Chase’s newest commercial. Crowds completely blocked the streets, causing a temporary traffic shutdown.”

“Li Wei is set to grace the cover of ‘Time Magazine,’ becoming the new face of the NFL.”

“Breaking news! Li Wei shoots his first personal fashion feature for ‘GQ’ magazine!”

Hot topics, hot topics, everywhere hot topics–

During the offseason, Li Wei managed to trend on social media headlines almost every three days, consistently igniting a frenzy across the internet.

Endorsements. Magazines. Events. Interviews.

A fully packed schedule–he’s in Europe in the morning and aboard a plane to South America by the afternoon. One moment you catch news of Li Wei in Alaska, and the next, social media reports he’s strolling the streets of Rome, showcasing his global omnipresence.

Yet, that’s still not everything.

“Li Wei + Louis Vuitton = A history-breaking partnership defying all conventions.”

A bombshell quietly lands, throwing the entire globe into chaos–

The news comes from “Vogue.”

Now, let’s talk about “Vogue,” the world’s best-selling and most influential fashion magazine with editions across the globe. Its U.S. version reigns supreme, while the French and Italian editions also top the industry. Undoubtedly, it is the pinnacle of the fashion world.

The movie “The Devil Wears Prada” is based on the real-life experiences of the former assistant to “Vogue”‘s editor-in-chief.

Anyone–literally anyone–would take pride in featuring on the U.S. edition of “Vogue,” even if it’s not the cover but just an inside feature.

This magazine holds unparalleled influence, shaping fashion, culture, and trends alike.

To date, “Vogue” has adhered to a longstanding tradition of featuring only women on its covers, with very few exceptions where men appear–and even then, only partnered alongside female co-stars.

By the end of 2019, only eight men had ever graced the U.S. “Vogue” cover, and every one of them appeared with a female counterpart.

Among them, LeBron James made history in April 2008 by appearing on the cover with legendary supermodel Gisele Bundchen, marking the first and only time a male athlete adorned the “Vogue” cover.

That remained true until the April 2019 issue, when history was rewritten.

The U.S. edition of “Vogue” featured a man once again, and this time it was the second athlete in history to be featured–but here’s the real shock:

This time, it was a solo cover.

Witness history.

Li Wei becomes the first man in history to appear solo on the U.S. “Vogue” cover, igniting worldwide attention in a groundbreaking fashion.

Furthermore, this solo cover came with another bombshell announcement: Louis Vuitton signed Li Wei as its global brand ambassador.

One explosive announcement collides with another, and the ripple effect is far more than a simple sum; it’s an exponential detonation, catching everyone off-guard.

At this moment, people united to bear witness–witnessing the clash between sports and entertainment, witnessing the collaboration between fashion and sports, witnessing Li Wei’s dominating entrance that disrupted everything familiar, witnessing him transcending boundaries and taking the global stage.

Before this, Li Wei had already made history numerous times, including earning a regular-season MVP title. Though impressive, those feats were confined to his professional field, generating admiration and awe centered around his “prodigious talent.” This led to McVay’s comments after the Super Bowl.

Strictly speaking, it wasn’t out of scope.

But now things are different. Li Wei, as an outsider, has casually disrupted rules across fashion, trends, entertainment, and cultural fields, invading mainstream public consciousness far beyond his professional realm, bringing football into the spotlight.

The most astonishing aspect? When people saw Li Wei in a perfectly tailored Louis Vuitton suit posing stylishly on the cover of “Vogue”–

It didn’t feel out of place.

Not only did it feel natural, but it also felt refreshing. The vibrant, youthful image of Li Wei in his casual wear flashes through people’s minds, stirring their emotions and excitement.

Everything, seamless and perfect, showcasing yet another charming side of Li Wei beyond the sports arena.

Awe-inspiring.

Overnight, Li Wei became the dream man of countless women, skyrocketing support for football, prompting ESPN to exclaim:

“The Beckham effect returns.”

Back then, Beckham’s suave and handsome image dominated the media. Many players and coaches sneered, dismissing him as a “pretty face.” Yet reality painted a different picture: Beckham’s presence attracted a massive influx of female fans, boosting the popularity of soccer.

Thanks to this, sponsors and financial backers turned their attention to soccer leagues. This influx of funding ushered in a period of rapid growth for professional soccer leagues.

Of course, the phenomenon had many contributing factors, but undeniably, Beckham’s charisma and appeal brought attention and popularity, genuinely propelling the sport forward.

Now, ESPN marvels at a familiar scene seemingly reappearing.

First came Asian fans, then female fans. Li Wei’s presence is gradually breaking barriers, opening doors. People assumed football had already reached its zenith in North America’s expansive market, and further expansion seemed impossible despite Goodell’s persistent efforts; but now, Li Wei is bringing new hope.

Everything feels surreal–a rookie, an outsider, stumbles his way into the world of football, stirring up a refreshing breeze.

Perhaps Li Wei truly can bring profound change, and maybe only Li Wei can achieve it.

And yet, this bombshell is merely the beginning.

The “Vogue” cover debuts, and people are still digesting the shock, while Louis Vuitton and Nike jointly announce:

The two brands are set to collaborate and launch a co-designed collection centered around Li Wei. This “Li Wei series” will be released simultaneously by Louis Vuitton and Nike.

Boom, boom, boom! Boom, boom, boom!

Jaw-dropping, eyes wide open.

What are they witnessing?

Two industry titans joining forces to launch a dedicated “Li Wei series”–what kind of prestige and significance does this imply?

Can anyone explain how this even came to be?

Shock, wave after wave.

Initially, some wondered what would happen to Nike after Li Wei signed with Louis Vuitton for endorsements.

Before questions could arise, the giants already had answers:

Mutual collaboration.

Though, one can’t help but wonder what role Li Wei’s agent Donald played in this grand event. After all, convincing two industry leaders to join hands is no trivial task, but Donald pulled it off.

Thus, this moment unfolds, and the unbelievable becomes reality. Undoubtedly, this marks one of 2019’s milestones destined for the history books.