Chapter 485 - 318: Appearing on a Show

Chapter 485: Chapter 318: Appearing on a Show

"Someone in Hollywood wants me on a show?" Li Wei asked. "What show?"

"A talk show," Don Quixote said. "Not just some ordinary small-time show. It’s one of the hottest late-night talk shows in Hollywood, *The Tonight Show*."

"Jimmy Fallon?" Li Wei realized.

*The Tonight Show* is one of the most popular talk shows in America.

"That’s right," Don Quixote said, sitting down. "Their producers have been contacting me since last month. I kept turning them down because I was negotiating with those guys from the NFL. Now that the dust has settled, I think you can make the trip."

"The kind where we just chat?" Li Wei mused.

"It’s an exclusive interview, about 20 minutes," Don Quixote said. "They said it’ll be a casual conversation, no sensitive topics. I’m sure you can handle it."

"Besides, I think it’s time for you to get out and relax a little," he said, looking at Li Wei. "You’re in the off-season anyway. Xiaojin is already busy expanding production for the beverage company, so there’s not much for you to do for a while."

"But I was just in Los Angeles last month," Li Wei said with a shrug.

"That wasn’t for relaxation," Don Quixote corrected him. "That was a business trip. Young man, you need to learn how to balance work and rest."

"Alright, fine," Li Wei said after a moment’s thought. "I’ll go. When’s the taping?"

"Next Wednesday," Don Quixote said, checking his phone. "But they suggest you go a day or two early to get familiar with the place and shoot some promotional materials."

"Okay," Li Wei said. "I’ll head over next Monday then."

...

「The following Monday.」

Jin Heon was incredibly efficient. Within two days, he had negotiated a new annual private jet contract with the service provider NetJets—a Gulfstream G650ER for 300 flight hours, including VIP lounge access, full in-flight catering, and 24-hour on-call availability. The total came to nearly two million USD.

Li Wei was a little hesitant at first, but once he remembered the money was actually being paid by the Pepsi Group, he signed without a second thought.

At 10 a.m. that day, Chen Haisheng, Jin Heon, Anya, and the others took off from Teterboro Airport, destination Los Angeles.

Don Quixote didn’t come with them. He had made plans with Jose to visit some of their old work buddies and was also staying behind in New York to receive furniture shipments arriving from all over the country—not a simple or cheap task.

The exterior facade renovation, interior walls, electrical and plumbing upgrades, central air conditioning system overhaul, and bathroom remodeling were all handled by Jose’s company, but Don Quixote had to be there in person for the final inspection.

However, compared to the structural work, the interior decorating and furniture were where the real money was spent.

For the 28 million USD mansion, including the designer’s fee, Li Wei spent nearly 15 million USD on just the interior decorating, smart home system, and furniture.

The most expensive single item was a mattress chosen by Anya: a top-of-the-line Vividus from Hästens, which cost 400,000 USD—about the same price as a standard Rolls-Royce.

But in the end, the Pepsi Group was footing the bill for all of it.

Thank you, Pepsi.

Even though the 50-million-USD endorsement from Mercedes flew out the window and the 2-million-USD MVP bonus from Nike was gone...

It didn’t matter. The Pepsi Group was there to cover for him. Pepsi had basically said, "Here’s 450 million USD."

Before the game, Li Wei had over 14 million USD left in his savings. After factoring in the Super Bowl prize money and the compensation from Pepsi, his available cash flow had already exceeded 170 million USD.

And that wasn’t even including the 20 million USD from LW Beverages.

So, he could easily afford the 15 million USD for furniture and general contracting; he didn’t even have to grit his teeth.

Still, someone had to stay behind to receive everything, which was why Don Quixote hadn’t come along.

However, he had already contacted *The Tonight Show*’s production team, and they were sending someone to host them for the entire duration of their stay in Los Angeles.

"Huh?" Anya, who was on her phone, suddenly let out a small sound of surprise.

"What is it?" Li Wei asked.

"A friend of mine from school is also on vacation in Los Angeles right now," Anya said, looking up to meet Li Wei’s gaze. "You don’t know her. She was a classmate of mine back in Moscow."

"Want to hang out with her?" Li Wei considered. "We don’t really have any plans for the next two days, just sightseeing."

"Hmm... okay, I’ll ask her," Anya said after thinking for a moment. "It’s been a while since we’ve seen each other, after all," she added.

"Sounds like you two were close?" Li Wei asked casually.

"Mm, we were, back in Moscow. Daria Sapurova. We were in the same circle," Anya said. "My father and her father are friends. Her dad is a mining tycoon in Kazakhstan, one of the biggest chromium developers in Astana."

"So, she’s rich?"

"Reasonably," Anya said with a smile. "But not *that* rich."

Li Wei nodded.

Strictly speaking, even his own net worth of two billion USD probably didn’t count as ’that rich’ in Anya’s eyes. This friend’s father was likely in a similar bracket.

A little over five hours later, the Gulfstream G650ER landed.

The cabin door opened, and the March sunshine and dry, warm air of Los Angeles flooded in.

Li Wei gave a big stretch and was the first to walk down the airstairs.

On the tarmac, two Cadillac Escalade ESVs and a Mercedes V260 van were lined up neatly, their bodies gleaming as if they had just been washed.

Which was very likely the case.

A white man in a suit, in his early thirties, walked up quickly, followed by two assistants holding walkie-talkies.

"Mr. Li Wei! I’ve been a Giants fan for 10 years! It’s an honor to finally meet you!" he said, extending his hand with a huge smile. "I’m Jason Miller, an associate producer for *The Tonight Show*. I’ll be with you for the next three days."

"Hello, Jason." Li Wei shook his hand.

"Jimmy asked me to bring you a welcome gift," Jason said, signaling to an assistant behind him. "He said if you don’t accept it, he won’t be able to sleep tonight."

The assistant pulled a large box wrapped in deep blue Giants-colored gift paper from the trunk of the van.

Li Wei unwrapped it and was stunned.

"Well..." He looked at the New York Giants No. 1 jersey and raised an eyebrow. "Thank you, Mr. Jimmy Fallon, for giving me... my own jersey. To be honest, this was the one jersey I was missing."

Framed inside was, of all things, Li Wei’s own jersey.

"Hahahaha, Mr. Li Wei, why don’t you turn it over and take a look?" Jason Miller said with a laugh. "The real surprise is on the other side."

Li Wei turned it over and almost lost his composure.

On the front, right across the chest, a huge name was scrawled flamboyantly in a gold marker.

Jimmy Fallon, with a lopsided smiley face next to it.

Li Wei looked at the huge signature on the jersey and shook his head with a laugh.

"Alright," he said. "I’ll have to bring him one of mine in return."

"Then Jimmy’s goal has been achieved," Jason Miller said flatteringly. "He’s a huge fan of yours too."

Once they were in the car, Jason, sitting in the passenger seat, opened his iPad and went over the schedule for the next two days.

Originally, their network, NBC, had a corporate agreement with the Beverly Hills Hotel and had booked a suite for Li Wei.

However, Anya had a hotel she preferred, and since Daria was also staying there, the convoy headed for the Hotel Bel-Air instead.

Compared to the Beverly Hills Hotel, the Bel-Air was quieter and more classic in its decor. Audrey Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe had both been long-term residents there.

There was no conspicuous sign, no queue of guests—only a narrow private driveway leading to the entrance.

As the Cadillac Escalade pulled into the circular driveway, the front office manager was already waiting under the portico.

"Miss Anya," she said with a slight bow. "It’s wonderful to see you again."

"Sorry, Mary," Anya said with a grin. "Last time I stayed at The Peninsula and didn’t come to your place."

"If it was for the Super Bowl, The Peninsula’s location is indeed more convenient," the manager said with a smile. "Your room has been prepared for you."

Just as the group walked into the lobby, a surprised shriek came from the lounge area.

"Anya!! My darling Anya!!"

A tall young woman with golden-brown hair jumped up from a sofa, her low heels clacking on the floor as she ran over.

She was almost as tall as an average man, a rather brawny "tough girl" type, decked out in luxury brands. She had a flashy look, but not in an obnoxious way.

"Daria!" Anya exclaimed in pleasant surprise. "You look... so grown up!"

"Oh my god, I just got here today," Daria said, hugging Anya. "Long time no see! How are you so skinny!"

"I’m fine, but you..." Anya changed the subject. "Weren’t you in London? What brings you to Los Angeles?"

"My dad is thinking of buying a house in Los Angeles, so I came along for fun," Daria said, linking her arm with Anya’s. "I’ve been waiting for you forever! You didn’t even tell me you were in Europe last time!"

"Last time, uh..." Anya said. "I was really busy, you know, with the trust fund stuff—"

"Ah, well, that can’t be helped," Daria said, turning her head to look at Li Wei. "So this must be Li Wei."

"Yes," Anya introduced him proudly. "My boyfriend, Li Wei."

"Hello," Li Wei said in Russian. "Daria Sapurova, I’m Li Wei."

"Oh, crap, you speak Russian," Daria said, slapping her forehead. "Now how am I supposed to talk trash about you to Anya?"

"Go ahead, I’m listening," Li Wei said with a smile. "I can take the criticism if it’s true, and if not, it’ll keep me on my toes."

"Anya was always telling us about you, saying you’re a big star," she said. "...Very impressive."

Li Wei just smiled and didn’t respond.

The ’very impressive’ comment itself felt hollow, like politely complimenting a neighbor’s kid on their mediocre piano playing. It was polite, but not sincere.

"Daria!" Anya shot Daria a look of displeasure.

"Okay, okay, my bad," Daria said. "Let’s find a place to chat."

Li Wei could understand why Daria was being hostile toward him. In Russia or Central Asia, an athlete was just a physically fit laborer, not in the same league as wealthy industrialists like her family.

She probably thought Anya was only with Li Wei for his handsome face and good body.

’Well... she wasn’t entirely wrong about how it started, was she?’ Li Wei thought.

Daria and Anya went off to whisper to each other. At that moment, Daria’s parents also walked over from the lounge area and exchanged some pleasantries with Li Wei.

Unlike Daria, her father, Ruslan Sapurov, had been to Los Angeles more often and was much more polite toward Li Wei.

After some polite conversation, Ruslan’s family left first.

After the front office manager arranged several suites near Anya’s for Jin Heon, Chen Haisheng, and the others, Anya linked her arm through Li Wei’s and they entered the elevator.

"Don’t you think Daria’s tone was a little strange?" she asked.

"It was fine." Li Wei entered their room and took out his Switch.

"Did you really not notice, or do you just not care?" Anya stared at him for two seconds.