From Reject to Legend

** This is extra chapter which should have been before the previous chapter. More of a side story to build up the future plot and romance. Please Read carefully what I say here .

Sometimes, you guys can be distracting me as a writer, as we have seen in last incident. I had plans , but due to too much bs, I just had to cut it off and ruin my story. I couldn't even post some things I worked hard on. It feels like shit.

This basically makes me hate writing this story . If you can't accept reality and expect me to write shitty romance with brain dead plot and fmc, I'll permanently close romance. If I'm not proiud of my work and just compromise every time someone asks, then why the hell I'm even writing this?? I'll let someone else write this if that was the case, let them deal with it.

I have a life outside of this , and

This isn't arrogance or ignorance, just facts. Expectations are good, and it helps maintain quality, but too much of anything is bad. And if you're gonna read this story with chinese novel mentality of fmc who is just there as eye candy and and some r-18, I'll just have to stop posting here and find a better site .

Remember, I started this on a whim, and when you guys wanted me to continue, then I started writing with more focus and time. I tried to improve the writing, the plot and immersion, as well as taking advices.

But yet there's always more demands, more expectations, more ideas. So I decided to clear it up before I further invest myself in the story. If you feel I'm being unreasonable, let me know and this will be goodbye. Webnovel now is just not fun anymore.

Enough rant, I'm not Kanye. Enjoy this or not, upto you. ***

Kate lay sprawled across her king-sized bed, her phone resting on her stomach, glowing softly in the dim light. The world outside buzzed with excitement, but inside her room, everything felt still—except for the chaos unfolding on her Twitter feed.

"Adriano is the GOAT . The way he dismantled the USA today should be illegal."

"Tim Howard needs a purple heart and a presidential medalafter this match. He was fighting for his life out there."

"Adriano was moving like a video game glitch—teleporting past defenders while they lagged in real-time."

Kate smirked at the memes. One showed Adriano weaving through defenders with the caption: "Moving like a ninja." Another had a photoshopped Adriano dunking over a helpless defender, as if he had somehow switched sports mid-match.

She sighed, staring at the ceiling.

The entire world was talking about Adriano. But him? He wasn't talking to her.

Not that he ever really did.

Her phone buzzed again.

Sophia:"Your celebrity crush is basically football's John Wick. You seeing this??"

Kate let out a breathy laugh before hitting the call button.

Sophia picked up instantly. "Kate! Please tell me you saw that match. That man was ridiculous ! The USA defense was out there questioning their life choices."

Kate smiled. "I saw."

"Saw?!" Sophia scoffed. "Kate, Adriano broke those defenders. If this were medieval times, they'd be seeking sanctuary in a monastery right now."

Kate chuckled. "Yeah, He was impressive."

"'Impressive'?" Sophia groaned. "Kate, that guy was playing a movie . He was out there like he had the script in advance. My brother's friend is American footballer , and he just shut off after the match. Just turned off his phone and went to bed at Like, 'nope, today's done.'"

There was a pause before Sophia's voice turned sly. "So… have you talked to him?"

Kate's smile faded. "No."

Sophia groaned. "Kate."

Kate sighed, rolling onto her stomach. "I don't even have his number."

A long, dramatic silence.

Then: "KATE."

"What?"

"You're telling me you—" Sophia inhaled sharply, as if physically restraining herself. "You were right there with him. You had face-to-face conversations with him. You even had that deep talk about, what was it—? Oh yeah, his 'disillusionment with modern fame' or some poetic nonsense. And you didn't think to ask for his number ?"

Kate buried her face in her pillow. "Shut up."

"No, because I'm actually offended on your behalf," Sophia said. "Do you know how many women would literally break into his house to get his attention? And you, had the perfect opportunity and just—what? Let it drift into the wind like a sad indie movie?"

Kate groaned. "Sophia, stop."

"I won't stop hun, because I refuse to let you be the main character in a tragic romance where the credits roll before anything even happens. Do you even like this guy, or is this just because he's unattainable?"

Kate hesitated. "I… don't know."

Sophia scoffed. "Girl. Be for real right now."

Kate let out a frustrated sigh. "He's… different. He doesn't care about the things most people do. He doesn't chase clout, doesn't do fake smiles for cameras. He sees right through all the bullshit."

Sophia hummed. "So, what you're saying is… you actually respect him."

Kate was silent for a moment. Then: "Yeah. I do."

"Then why aren't you doing anything about it?"

Kate hesitated. "Because I already know I don't fit his type. He told me once that he doesn't respect celebrities who just chase fame by showing off their bodies. He was pretty adamant about it."

Sophia let out a slow, considering hum. "Hmm. Let me get this straight. A man who supposedly has no interest in you, took the time to tell you about his values ?"

Kate frowned slightly. "I mean… yeah I guess ."

"Kate." Sophia's voice was exasperated. "If a guy genuinely isn't interested, he doesn't waste his breath telling you what he respects in a woman. He just ignores you. Or he will try to lie and get into your pants, specially if a pretty girl like you showed interest. But he chose to tell you what he values, and even advised you sincerely . Do you understand what that means?"

Kate swallowed. "What?"

Sophia sighed dramatically. "He was giving you the hint about his criteria . Guy has been through 2 relationships and quite mature in his perception. He knows what he wants and and doesn't care about the rest. "

Kate bit her lip. "So… what do I do?"

"You decide if you actually want to be the kind of person he respects and try to charm him, or if you're just trying to change your ways ."

Kate frowned. "What's the difference?"

Sophia's voice softened. "Kate. If you were truly happy with the way things are, you wouldn't even be having this crisis. You can take this as a wake up call and follow your own path and be happy.

Or… you can actively try and pursue him, show him you have changed so much for him and hope he accepts it. Honestly, I met him for a short time and I can tell he's not like usual athletes who are horny all the time. Guy has standards and self control."

Kate opened her mouth to argue—then closed it.

Because… maybe Sophia was right.

She had started acting and modeling because she loved it, but somewhere along the way, she had been turned into something else. Something marketable.

She wasn't seen just as a model anymore—she was a brand, an eye candy .

A walking fantasy.

And for what? To be lusted over by strangers who didn't even care about her as a person?

Sophia's voice was gentle now. "Look, I'm not saying change entirely for a guy. But if you feel like you're stuck in a version of yourself that doesn't even feel real anymore… maybe it's time to take control."

Kate exhaled. "Yeah. You're right."

"I know," Sophia said smugly. "So, what's the plan?"

"I think it's time I start making decisions for me." Kate said with a sigh.

Sophia added, " and contact the guy! Don't be passive, see if he's interested in you really. if he is , go and get him! Otherwise I'll really knock him on insta, and send some pics of Karen he will surely like."

Kate shook her head and smiled, " Alright! I'll invite him to come over after the world cup."

The moment the call ended, Kate grabbed her phone and dialed her agent.

The line barely rang before he answered. "Kate! I was just about to reach out. We've got some amazing news—"

"I want to pull out of any future contracts that involve me exposing myself, swimsuits, lingerie or underwear model shows." Kate interrupted, her voice firm.

Silence.

"…Kate," her agent said carefully, "you're on track to win People's Choice Sexiest Woman of the Year. This is a huge opportunity. Maybe even a Victoria's Secret deal in future ."

Kate exhaled. "I'd rather be respected by people who matter than be fantasized about by people who don't."

Her agent sighed. "I get where you're coming from, but do you realize how much money is on the line? The breach-of-contract fees—"

"I'll pay them. You forget that my family is pretty well off."

Silence stretched between them.

Then, a slow, incredulous laugh. "You're actually serious?"

"Yes," Kate said. "Moving forward, only accept 'respectable' roles for me. No more projects where I'm just eye candy or as a show piece ."

Her agent was quiet for a long moment. Then, finally, he sighed. "Alright. If this is what you really want, I'll make the calls."

"Thank you."

The moment she hung up, she felt something lift off her chest.

For the first time in a long time, she wasn't following a script. She was choosing things for herself.

She opened her Instagram and nervously typed out a message, " Hi Adriano, It's Kate. I watched your match and you were absolutely amazing.

I have thought a lot about what you said and decided to follow your advice to change my career path. Although I'm not sure what future holds, I'm glad I was able to do this , mostly thanks to you.

After the world cup, I would like to invite you to come to Florida in my house for a visit. I want to personally thank you for your advice , and show you around, if you feel like it. Let me know if you can make it. "

She hit send and watched as the message went through. She decided to also delete her bolder photos from social media, a testament to her newfound resolve.