With all the luggage loaded, Lu Ke leaned over from the passenger seat and saw his parents standing at the front door. He waved. "I'll get going now. I'll call you once I'm settled in. Do you still not need me to pick you up for the moving party on Thursday?"

"No, no, we'll go with Tiffany and Austin." Jiang Younning waved her hands repeatedly, shouting in response, then couldn't help but remind him, "Drive carefully on the road; be safe."

As she spoke, her eyes welled up with tears, and Jiang Younning lowered her head in embarrassment, her voice caught in her throat.

Lu Zhengze waved at Lu Ke, signaling him not to worry, and then made a gesture for Lu Ke to leave.

Releasing the handbrake, Lu Ke drove the car out of the parking spot, then lowered his head again and waved goodbye to his parents. He then slowly drove away, focusing on the road ahead.

Suddenly, a strange feeling washed over him. He instinctively looked up at the rearview mirror and saw his parents still standing at the front door, lingering there reluctantly, their eyes fixed on his car.

Jiang Younning leaned gently against Lu Zhengze, raised her right hand, and covered her mouth, unable to suppress her sadness and reluctance. Lu Zhengze held his wife with one arm, his expression not showing much, but his eyes were fixed on the fading figures, standing there in a daze.

In the rearview mirror, the two figures gradually became smaller, but they were like sunflowers, always facing the direction he had left.

For some reason, Lu Ke also felt a sense of reluctance.

He looked away and turned on the car radio. A melodic guitar tune slowly drifted in the lazy golden sunlight. John Denver's moving voice was singing at the top of his lungs, "...Country roads, take me home, to the place I belong, West Virginia, mountain mama, take me home, country roads..."

San Francisco mornings were always quiet, wrapped in morning mist and filled with sunlight. In the gentle sea breeze, the steep coastline, the magnificent Golden Gate Bridge, the winding coastal highway, and the lush mountains were full of life, arousing a deep-seated affection that made one want to linger.

He had just left, and he was already starting to miss them.

Towering redwood trees stood on both sides of the road. Their straight and tall trunks stretched endlessly, as if they were propping up the vast distance between the ground and the sky. The crystal-clear blue sky gradually became incredibly distant, and the vastness and grandeur of the world were amplified, making humanity seem even more insignificant.

Looking up, his neck almost broke just to catch a glimpse of the sky.

Slowly, Lu Ke parked his car in a spot on the side of the road. After turning off the engine, he looked around with curiosity and confusion, his eyes full of uncertainty. He strongly suspected that Google Maps had given him the wrong directions, leading him away from the city of San Francisco to another mysterious world, like... Alice in Wonderland.

In his line of sight, he could see a finger-wide stream flowing along a channel beside the road. The clear and transparent water was filled with refreshing green oxygen, winding its way through moss, decaying wood, fallen leaves, shrubs, and soil.

Beams of sunlight pierced through the dense canopy, scattering sparsely. In the light, he could see dust dancing freely, and a magnificent spider was busy preparing for its next hunt between two trees.

Rustling sounds drifted in the gentle breeze. He looked in the direction of the sound but couldn't see anything moving. In a trance, he felt as if a wild rabbit would suddenly appear and transform into the Mad Hatter, inviting the visitor into a fantastical wonderland.

After leaving home, Lu Ke had driven for less than twenty-five minutes. On the way, he had slowed down a bit to follow the navigation, which took a little extra time. If he were familiar with the route, he could get there in under twenty minutes at a normal speed.

He was sure he was still in San Francisco and right next to the Haight-Ashbury district, but the scenery in front of him felt like a paradise. The hustle and bustle of the city were completely isolated, leaving only peace and tranquility.

After getting out of the car, Lu Ke noticed that the right side of the road was a large forest that stretched endlessly. It seemed he was on the mountain range next to the Haight-Ashbury district.

On the left side of the road was a residential area with two-story single-family villas. The villas were about forty to fifty meters apart, with lawns and garages in between. The villas stretched along the road, and he could see at least ten houses on the entire hillside, and possibly more.

"Hey, you're here. Much earlier than I expected. What, you didn't have much to move?" A familiar voice broke the silence. He turned his head to the left and saw Leigh standing at the door. He had opened the front door and was smiling as he greeted Lu Ke. "I heard the engine. Do you need help moving your luggage?"

Although he asked if he needed help, Leigh's feet showed no signs of moving. For the elderly Leigh, physical labor was too much for him.

Lu Ke quickly waved his hands. "No, thanks. It's just one suitcase." He opened the car door, took out the suitcase and sports bag, one in each hand, and walked with large strides towards the villa in front of him.

The front door faced the street, with a red mailbox next to it. To the right was the garage, and to the left was a small garden. The wooden exterior of the house blended in with the natural environment.

As he walked into the villa, a huge living room came into view. There was a spacious and bright floor-to-ceiling window, and the sunlight poured in unobstructed. The interior was decorated in a simple and elegant style with deep gray and sea blue as the main colors. The living room alone was larger than Lu Ke's entire house. With so much space, it was more than enough to host a party for two hundred people.

But what really caught his eye was the view outside the floor-to-ceiling window.

He walked straight ahead, passed through the living room, and pushed open the glass door. A turquoise swimming pool came into view, extending about twenty-five meters along the right side. At the end of the pool was a spacious balcony with four lounge chairs. Directly in front of the pool was a boundless panoramic view of the city of San Francisco.

The villa was situated high on the mountain, overlooking the entire city. The lush greenery on both sides outlined large patches of green, contrasting with the blue sky and the colorful city, as well as the grandeur and majesty of the distant coastline. In an instant, he felt refreshed and wanted to open his arms and embrace the world. It felt as if he only had to stand on his tiptoes to spread his wings and soar.

"Candlestick Park is to the right. It's about a fifteen to twenty-minute drive. It's a bit further from downtown, but you can still experience the city's prosperity within thirty minutes. San Francisco isn't a big city to begin with." Leigh's voice came from behind him as he also stepped out onto the balcony, admiring the view. "Most importantly, this is a high-end residential area. It's quiet and private enough. Even if the paparazzi find your place, they won't be able to get much."

The villa was located on a mountain, with a sheer cliff directly in front, which cut off all prying eyes. The main living spaces were all on the side facing away from the main street. Even if someone were to peek in from the driveway or the garage, they probably wouldn't get anything.

"I remember you have a training plan every morning. This area is perfect for that, since it's not a bustling residential area." Leigh further explained. He had given a lot of thought to the apartment rental, and his main goal was to ensure Lu Ke had a quiet environment to prepare for the season so he could fully focus on the professional games. "So, what do you think?"

Lu Ke's attention was still on the breathtaking view in front of him, and his reaction was a bit slow. He then chuckled. "It's great, it's really great." He looked away and at Leigh. "Actually, it's a little too great. Are you sure I can afford this place? From what I know, my salary isn't that high."

The income of an undrafted rookie was naturally not high. His annual salary was $465,000, but that was before taxes. On the 49ers team, Lu Ke's salary was only slightly higher than some special teams players. He was by no means in a high-income bracket.

In college, Lu Ke lived in a shared house and split the rent with Logan Newman and Jay Fox. Before today, Lu Ke was still living with his parents. Now, he had suddenly moved into a mansion. His progress was a bit too fast.

"You can't live too extravagantly on a rookie minimum salary, but you've already gotten sponsors, and you also have bonuses," Leigh kindly reminded him. "So, you can definitely afford this place. The weekly rent is $1,600."

When he signed the contract, Lu Ke's terms included a bonus of $20,000 for every game won. The San Francisco 49ers had clearly not expected Lu Ke to actually become the starting quarterback and win one game after another.

"I know that this level of spending is a bit fast." After all, once Lu Ke started losing games, this spending would gradually become a burden. Leigh had obviously thought it through. "However, not only is this place quiet, private, and well-located, but it also has a professional gym."

Before he could even finish his sentence, Leigh saw Lu Ke's eyes light up, and he couldn't help but laugh. "Yes, the owner of the house built a gym here. It's on the first floor near the garage, and the equipment is all professional. This is perfect for you."

"Okay, no problem, this is the one." Lu Ke agreed with a decisive nod, then gestured to the luggage he had left by the door and said with a chuckle, "Otherwise, it would be too much trouble to carry the luggage back now."

Oh, the Spring Festival Gala has started.

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