Chapter 107

In the early morning, Beijing's hustle and bustle gave way to a rare tranquility, as the Summer Palace welcomed its first guests of the day. 

Elderly residents, up with the dawn, engaged in their morning exercises. Groups of three or five strolled through the Nanruyi Gate, entering this imperial garden that had once belonged to the emperor, savoring the exquisite scenery reserved for royalty. 

In this picturesque royal garden, even the air was infused with a delicate fragrance—the scent of blooming flowers. 

It was Yang Yang's first visit to the Summer Palace, and he was deeply awed by the grandeur and beauty of the grounds. 

At that moment, he stood at the fork near the Xidi. The lake to his east shimmered in the morning light, and as he gazed at the distant scenery, he marveled at its magnificence. 

To his right, the lake was dotted with lotus leaves, their sharp edges peeking through the water. This sight reminded Yang Yang of an ancient poem he had learned as a child: "Dragonflies have long stood up." 

Behind him, the elderly continued their leisurely morning routines. Some wielded long, thick brushes, practicing calligraphy on the stone pavement, while others gathered to perform Tai Chi under the shade. A few sat on the sidelines, engaged in quiet conversation. 

Suddenly, Yang Yang felt a deep sense of appreciation for this tranquility, sensing a profound beauty in the lives of the elderly. 

After standing for a moment at the intersection of Xidi, Yang Yang finally turned to the ball and began his morning exercises. 

... 

... 

Today marked the third day since Yang Yang returned home. 

Wei Zhen's family owned a house in a residential area south of the Summer Palace, which they had purchased four or five years ago. Originally, the family lived there, but they eventually moved out due to work commitments or overseas opportunities, leaving the house vacant. 

With Yang Yang planning to stay in Beijing for a while to prepare for the upcoming Asian Cup, Wei Zhen and his brother Wei Zheng suggested he stay here. The location was ideal—close to the Summer Palace, perfect for Yang Yang's morning practice routine. The peaceful environment of the community allowed him to avoid distractions and concentrate on his training. 

Upon moving in, Yang Yang found that the part-time worker had already cleaned the house. Two days later, Wei Zhen drove him around to familiarize him with the area, helping him stock the refrigerator with groceries before returning to work. 

Yang Yang was comfortable living alone and found great enjoyment in the quiet life. 

Frankly speaking, he was not accustomed to the days filled with media attention and public scrutiny. 

As he looked at the compliments and praises showered upon him in the media, on the internet, and through television, he felt a bit overwhelmed, knowing he was not as exceptional as portrayed. 

Yet, this recognition also served as motivation. He didn't want to disappoint those who supported and believed in him, pushing him to work even harder. 

... 

... 

In the early morning, there were few people at the Summer Palace, most of whom were elderly residents. Yang Yang dribbled the ball as he ran, and although it seemed unusual, no one disturbed him. Even if someone occasionally recognized him, they would only exchange a few words. 

He could hear their distant conversations, often mentioning his hard work, which satisfied his little vanity without any interruptions. This peace was exactly what he desired. 

As he ran north along the Xidi, Yang Yang felt as if he were moving through a landscape painting, often pausing to appreciate the beautiful scenery around him. 

It was his first time in this royal garden, and everything filled him with wonder and awe, reminiscent of Grandma Liu's entrance into the Grand View Garden. 

With the ball at his feet, he turned and stopped repeatedly, reveling in the sights along the way. 

"Little girl, can you run faster?" 

A loud yet gentle voice suddenly called out from behind him. 

Yang Yang was taken aback. He was clearly a young man—why had he been referred to as a little girl? 

Turning around, he discovered a little girl, seemingly his age, who had been following him. Behind her was an elderly man, panting as he ran. 

Upon hearing the old man's shout, the girl turned around and quickly apologized to him. She then glanced back at Yang Yang, her pretty face flushing a bright red as she appeared momentarily flustered. 

At first glance, Yang Yang was struck by her ethereal beauty, reminiscent of a flower blooming in spring. 

Encountering such a fairy-like figure in this enchanting Summer Palace felt almost romantic. 

As he admired her beauty, he was struck by a sense of déjà vu, though he couldn't place where he might have seen her before. 

"I'm sorry." Yang Yang said, stepping aside apologetically. 

The girl lowered her head shyly, her demeanor suggesting it was no problem, but the elderly man continued running past Yang Yang and quickly disappeared onto an arch bridge ahead. 

The encounter had been abrupt and fleeting, leaving Yang Yang with a lingering impression of her as a fairy. 

Amused by the familiarity he felt towards her, he chuckled to himself. 

"Man, it's normal to feel a sense of familiarity when you see beautiful women," he laughed bitterly. 

Not dwelling on it further, Yang Yang resumed his run, taking his time to enjoy the stunning scenery of the lake and mountains. He felt as if his skills with the ball had improved significantly, although he knew it was purely psychological. 

As he continued running, he made his way toward the Foxiang Pavilion and Wanshou Mountain to the north, marveling at the ancient Chinese gardening techniques. He then headed south along the eastern side of Kunming Lake, passing through the famous Seventeen-Arch Bridge and onto Nanhu Island. 

To his surprise, he encountered the little girl again on the Seventeen-Arch Bridge. 

Wearing a short-sleeved sports outfit that revealed her warm, jade-like arms and slender legs, her long black hair was pulled back into a ponytail, framing her delicate, pink-hued face. Yang Yang couldn't help but admire her beauty once more. 

She was stunning! 

Whether it was the effects of running or simply her presence, Yang Yang felt a bit shy, his cheeks warming with a flush as he continued to feel captivated by her. 

This time, their paths crossed directly, allowing him to see her clearly and intensifying the sense of familiarity he felt. Yet, he still couldn't place where he had seen her before. 

Could she be a celebrity he recognized from the internet? 

As they passed each other on the bridge, Yang Yang smiled politely, and the little girl nodded in response. 

He then charged forward onto Nanhu Island. 

The beauty of Nanhu Island and Longevity Mountain resonated in the distance, with the scenery around the island leaving a lasting impression on him as he became completely absorbed in the moment. 

... 

... 

As Yang Yang walked out of the Summer Palace through the South Ruyi Gate, he felt a sense of reluctance wash over him. 

What a royal garden it was! 

Outside the Summer Palace, a large area of land to the south was under renovation; some construction was underway while other sections sat idle. 

According to Wei Zhen, Metro Line 10 would soon pass by here, and housing prices in the vicinity had already begun to rise. 

However, Yang Yang currently had no money and couldn't afford a house in this area. Living next door to the Summer Palace would have been a delightful prospect. 

The surrounding amenities were still not fully developed. Additionally, before Yang Yang left Ajax, he had specifically consulted the team's nutrition expert for a meal plan, which he now followed diligently. This meant he could only return home for breakfast. 

Back in the community lobby, he saw the elevator arriving and quickly hurried to catch it. 

As he reached the elevator door, he was taken aback. 

"You again?" Yang Yang blurted out, realizing he sounded a bit rude. "I didn't mean it like that; I just meant it's a coincidence." 

Having encountered her three times that morning was indeed surprising. 

The little girl seemed unfazed by his slip-up, her cheeks flushing slightly as she nodded. "I live next to you." 

"Ah?" Yang Yang was startled. "You live next door to me?" 

Was she joking? 

But she nodded seriously, pointing to the floor above the elevator—indeed, it was the fifth floor. 

"How do you know where I live?" Yang Yang asked, puzzled, since he hadn't pressed the elevator button yet. 

"I watched you play." 

Yang Yang realized she was a fan, but he was still curious about how she knew his address. 

"I mean, during the live match—the Champions League final." 

With that, Yang Yang suddenly recognized her. She was the girl from the photo on Wei Zhen's blog! 

In the photo, she wore a school uniform with long hair, but now she was dressed in sports clothes with her hair in a ponytail. 

No wonder she looked familiar; he hadn't connected the dots earlier. 

Yang Yang couldn't help but feel a mix of amusement and embarrassment. 

"It turns out you are Su Xiaomei, the person my mom mentioned." He remembered hearing his mother speak highly of her while he was in Amsterdam, describing her as beautiful with a lovely demeanor. 

"My name is Su Ye," she corrected with a smile. 

"Hello, I'm Yang Yang. Thank you for taking care of my mother," he replied, grinning. 

"It's nothing. Your aunt has been very kind to me," Su Ye said, her sweet voice making her even more endearing. 

Yang Yang quickly shifted the conversation. "I heard from my mom that you went to Germany to perform?" 

"Yes, it was part of an exchange program organized by my school's drama club. I returned a little while ago," Su Ye said, smiling shyly. 

Yang Yang nodded, intrigued. 

As the elevator reached the fifth floor, Yang Yang learned from Su Ye that she lived directly across from Wei Zhen's family. They had always maintained a good relationship as neighbors. 

"My dad is a fan of yours! If he knew you lived here, he would be overjoyed and ask you for an autograph," Su Ye laughed. 

Yang Yang felt a bit embarrassed and didn't know how to respond. He was still adjusting to the attention. 

"You've just moved here, so you might not be familiar with the area. If you need anything, feel free to ask. I usually stay home except for school, and my parents are around after work." 

"Thank you, I really appreciate it," Yang Yang replied sincerely. 

"No need to thank me; you fulfilled my dad's dream by giving him a ticket for the finals," Su Ye said, smiling. 

Yang Yang waved goodbye and headed back to his house. 

For breakfast, he had milk with oats, two eggs, and two slices of whole wheat bread. 

While professional players have high dietary requirements, they are not overly demanding. At Yang Yang's age, during this crucial growth period, it was essential to maintain balanced nutrition. 

He avoided sugar and tried not to eat pork. He included some beef in his diet but favored fish for its easier digestibility. 

Before leaving Ajax, he had consulted the club's nutrition experts on these matters. 

In Almere, he hadn't focused much on his diet, but now it was essential. With contract renewal with Ajax on the horizon, he had to be mindful of both his professional development and career longevity. 

After finishing breakfast, Yang Yang took the ball and headed outside once more. 

He aimed to find a suitable place to train. 

While the Dream Training System was incredibly useful, it couldn't replace the effectiveness of real-world training. Yang Yang knew he couldn't rely solely on it; he couldn't afford to be lazy. 

As a resident of a high-end community, there was no wall nearby for him to practice against. He would have to venture outside. 

Wei Zhen had previously informed him of a park just north of the community, featuring a sports field and a concrete trapezoidal grandstand. 

After arriving at the park and observing the field for a while, Yang Yang was pleased with what he found. The back of the stand would serve perfectly for practicing his skills. 

Since participating in the Toulon Cup, he hadn't practiced basic wall training alone for nearly half a month. As he restarted, he felt a little rusty. After completing a full set of basic drills, he began to sweat, feeling invigorated. 

Next, he focused on his ball control training. 

The best way his first touch was typically with a partner, but given his circumstances, he had to make do with the wall. 

He started by touching the ball with both feet. 

To put it simply, he kicked the ball against the wall, and as it bounced back, he used various parts of his foot—different angles and postures—to stop it and send it back to the wall. 

This training was straightforward and fundamental, but as Yang Yang's basic skills improved, the demands increased. For example, he marked spots on the wall to hit. 

Different marks and angles created varying rebounds, which naturally altered the requirements for stopping the ball. 

As he gained proficiency, Yang Yang would shorten the distance from the wall, leading to quicker reactions and higher demands on his skills. 

Additionally, he varied his kicking methods, using the inside of his foot, instep, outside of his foot, and even headers. 

This seemingly simple training method was not only aimed at improving his first touch but also helped enhance his passing skills—these were the fundamentals he needed to master. 

After more than a year of rigorous training, Yang Yang's basic skills had become increasingly solid. Even among the China U20 team, apart from a couple of highly skilled players like Chen Tao and Hao Junmin, Yang Yang was not lacking in comparison. 

However, in Ajax, he still found himself outmatched by European stars like Van der Vaart, Ibrahimović, and Sneijder, especially when faced with high-intensity pressing. 

The main difference was still in consistency. As Lao Bing had said before, it was a matter of being dazed versus stable and reactive. 

Yang Yang was just beginning to step into a stable level, but he aspired to elevate himself to a reflexive stage through relentless training. He aimed to emulate players like Bergkamp and Van der Vaart, handling the ball with calmness and ease regardless of the situation. 

Whether it was the first touch in the Champions League final or his performance in the Toulon Cup, Yang Yang had experienced the advantages of a refined first touch. This had ignited an unprecedented fighting spirit within him, driving his desire to improve his ball control as quickly as possible. 

He believed that the better his first touch, the greater his threat on the field. 

... 

... 

Su Wenhong is a teacher at a prestigious nearby middle school, currently guiding a particularly stressed-out graduating class. 

Every afternoon after school, he runs in a nearby park to relieve the pressure, finding solace in the rhythm of his footsteps and the sweat that accompanies his exertion. This habit has been cultivated over the years. 

Each time he runs past the deserted football field in the center of the park, memories of playing football with his classmates and friends flood back, igniting a longing to kick a ball once more. However, whenever he glances down at his slightly protruding belly, he quickly dismisses the tempting thought. 

Every day brings its own pressures; he lacks both the time and energy to play. More importantly, he feels he can no longer keep up. 

Although he no longer plays, he remains a hardcore fan of the sport. 

When the national team qualified for the World Cup in Korea and Japan in 2002, he saved diligently and flew over to watch the matches live. Unfortunately, the national team failed to progress beyond the group stage, leaving him to return home disheartened. 

But for passionate football fans like Su Wenhong, such setbacks are merely temporary. He quickly rekindled his love for the game, particularly over the past six months. 

Yang Yang, a 17-year-old Chinese prodigy, had been unknown until recently, but he seemed to burst onto the scene, joining Ajax and making his way from the second team to the first. He dazzled everyone as he played in the Eredivisie and ultimately reached the Champions League final. 

Su Wenhong, now in his 40s, felt like one of those young fans in China, captivated by Yang Yang's remarkable performance in the Netherlands. After Wei Zheng returned to China, he shared stories of Yang Yang's exploits, deepening Su Wenhong's admiration. 

In the Champions League final, Su Wenhong finally secured tickets from Wei Zhen and Wei Zheng. Initially, he had planned to travel to Gelsenkirchen to watch the match before attending his daughter's drama performance in Germany. However, unexpected circumstances arose, and he was unable to go. 

Ultimately, he entrusted his wife—who had little interest in football—to attend the final on his behalf. Meanwhile, he stayed home to watch the live broadcast, witnessing Yang Yang score the winning goal and regretting his absence. 

When the Toulon Cup aired live in the country, Su Wenhong couldn't contain his excitement. He felt greatly encouraged, especially as the China U20 team triumphed over France U21 in the group stage, eliminated Sweden U21 in the semi-finals, and then defeated France U21 once again in the final to win the Toulon Cup. 

In his memory, he could not recall a rookie as talented as Yang Yang in Chinese football. He firmly believed that Yang Yang would emerge as a leader for Chinese football in the next decade, embodying the hopes and aspirations of countless fans. 

Whenever he contemplated this, he felt motivated to follow the upcoming Asian Cup with renewed enthusiasm. 

Perhaps this local Asian Cup would be different because of Yang Yang. 

This shared expectation resonated with him and countless other fans across the country. 

... 

After running three kilometers without stopping, Su Wenhong was panting and dripping with sweat. 

He had pushed himself to the limit. 

Struggling to catch his breath, he made his way to the trapezoidal stand nearby. As soon as he sat down, he heard commotion behind the stand, faintly catching mentions of Yang Yang's name. 

This made Su Wenhong's heart leap. 

Yang Yang? 

He quickly propped himself up and hurried to the back of the trapezoidal stand. Halfway there, he spotted two familiar faces he often encountered during his runs. 

"Lao Su, why are you here now?" 

"Isn't it? Hurry, the Yang Yang you're always talking about is here!" 

"Yang Yang?" Su Wenhong's excitement surged. "Is it really him?" 

"Of course it's true! Look, this is his autograph—can it be fake?" 

Su Wenhong leaned closer to examine the notebook. The signature clearly read Yang Yang's name, written in a neat and recognizable script, unlike the messy scrawls of others. 

"Is he still around?" Su Wenhong asked eagerly. 

"He just left, but you should be able to catch up!" 

At this, Su Wenhong wasted no time and rushed toward the back of the stand. However, by the time he reached the road, it was already empty, and Yang Yang was nowhere to be found. 

"Oh my god, how did I miss him?" Su Wenhong shook his head in frustration, his face filled with disappointment. 

Seeing his disheartened expression, the two runners understood the situation but could only offer words of comfort. 

"Old Su, don't be too upset. From what I heard, he should be back again." 

"Yeah, he's been focusing on preparing for the Asian Cup lately. He looked sweaty and completely absorbed in practice. I believe our national team might really have a chance this time." 

"Exactly! South Korea reached the semi-finals, and Japan qualified for the round of 16. We should definitely aim for the same or even better!" 

"It's the fault of the FA for messing up Chinese football," one of them lamented. 

"This time is different. With the Asian Cup being held at home, we must consider the national team's combat effectiveness. Anyone who dares to cause trouble won't hear the end of it from the entire country." 

"Right? Being the host gives us an advantage. If we don't break through this year, who knows how long we'll have to wait." 

"Who could argue with that? Look at this football field—it's deserted! No one comes to play, and no one takes care of it." 

The two older gentlemen continued their conversation, transitioning from discussions about the national team to the football association, the Asian Cup, and finally back to Yang Yang. 

Just moments ago, Yang Yang had signed autographs for them and chatted with them, leaving a positive impression that made them eager to praise him as a dedicated and hardworking young man in front of Su Wenhong. 

This only deepened Su Wenhong's disappointment. 

He had become a huge fan of Yang Yang, following his journey through TV broadcasts and newspapers, but he never expected to have a near miss with him today. 

"It's okay, it's okay, Lao Su. Come early tomorrow; I think you'll have another chance." 

"Yeah, I can't wait for the Asian Cup. I heard the national team might play in Beijing this time." 

"Really?" 

"The advantage of being the host—who would dare to say otherwise?" 

Everyone nodded in agreement. 

The advantages that Japan and South Korea enjoyed by hosting the World Cup had propelled them to the round of 16 and the semifinals. With China as the host, the arrangements should be similarly beneficial. 

Su Wenhong found himself clinging to this hope.