Chapter 120

The temperature difference between morning and evening in the Netherlands during August was quite noticeable. The chill of the early morning air contrasted sharply with the warmth of the afternoons, and Yang Yang could feel it as he stepped out of bed. 

Despite being away for two months, his body clock remained sharp. He got up at his usual time, brushed his teeth, washed his face, and slipped on his Adidas boots—the distinctive Chinese red ones. Pulling on a lightweight sports jacket, he grabbed the football that always sat by the door. Just as he was about to leave, he heard hurried footsteps from the floor above. 

"Wait, wait, wait for me!" 

Yang Yang chuckled to himself, recognizing the voice. A few moments later, Vermaelen came barreling down the stairs, bursting through the door with an almost comedic rush. 

"What's the hurry? I wasn't going anywhere without you," Yang Yang scolded playfully, shaking his head. 

Vermaelen grinned sheepishly, barely catching his breath. He pointed a thumb behind him, and Yang Yang followed his gesture. Sure enough, Maxwell was coming out the door as well, looking just as eager to join them. 

In the latter half of last season, the four of them—Ibrahimović, Vermaelen, Maxwell, and Yang Yang—had developed a routine of training together every morning. Now, even though Ibrahimović had moved on to Juventus, the remaining trio still kept the tradition alive. What really caught Yang Yang's attention this morning, though, wasn't the familiar faces of his teammates—it was the unfamiliar woman who had just seen Maxwell off at the door. 

"Who's that?" Yang Yang asked, raising an eyebrow in curiosity. 

Before Maxwell could respond, Vermaelen seized the moment. Kicking the ball over to Maxwell, he laughed aloud, "Yang Yang's asking why you've been hiding a woman in your house!" 

Maxwell shot an embarrassed smile at them, clearly a little shy about the situation. "That's my wife," he admitted, his tone both proud and a little awkward. 

"You brought your wife over?" Yang Yang grinned, surprised but genuinely happy for his friend. "When did this happen?" 

"Just this summer," Maxwell replied with a wide smile. "We've got two kids now, and we're planning to settle in Amsterdam so they can start school here." 

Yang Yang's grin widened. He had known Maxwell was preparing for a major life change, but he didn't realize it had already happened. It was clear that Maxwell's decision to bring his family to the Netherlands hinted at one of two possibilities: either he was staying with Ajax on a new, improved contract, or he was preparing for a move to a bigger club, with family security in mind. 

As one of Ajax's standout players from last season, Maxwell was sure to demand a significant salary increase if he were to stay. It would have to be at least on par with what Yang Yang himself was earning. 

Vermaelen, never one to miss an opportunity for a joke, chuckled and added, "He doesn't go out at night anymore. He's at home every evening, quietly working on baby number three!" 

Yang Yang laughed and shook his head in admiration. "Wow, you're a legend, Maxwell. Two kids already, and you're thinking about another? Respect." 

Maxwell grinned but shrugged modestly. He adored his two sons, and it was clear that family life was a huge priority for him. "I do love kids," he admitted, "and they keep me busy. Every night is a challenge!" 

"He's building his own football team," Vermaelen teased. 

Maxwell mock-charged at Vermaelen, who dodged out of the way with ease, laughing all the while. The good-natured banter continued as the three teammates made their way toward the training ground, the early morning air fresh and invigorating. 

As they approached the row of houses they knew so well, Yang Yang's eyes fell on the house that used to belong to Ibrahimović. "Looks like someone else moved in across the street," he commented, pointing to the familiar building. 

"Yeah, it's rented out again," Vermaelen replied casually, before glancing at Maxwell with a mischievous grin. "To one of his fellow countrymen." 

"Who?" Yang Yang asked, not quite understanding. 

"Two new Brazilians joined the club over the summer," Vermaelen explained. "One's a left-back named Filipe Luís. He's only 19. The other is a right-back called Douglas Maicon, 23 years old. Guess where they're staying?" 

Yang Yang's eyes widened in realization. "So they're living in Ibrahimović's old place?" 

Maxwell nodded. "Yep, we're building a little Brazilian corner over here," he joked. "Both of them are solid players. You'll see them in training soon." 

Yang Yang paused, thinking about what Maxwell had just said. These transfers had flown under the radar, with little media attention, so there wasn't much coverage on the new signings. However, Yang Yang had heard of Douglas Maicon. The Brazilian right-back had started his career at Cruzeiro, the same club where Maxwell had played. Not only were they the same age, but they had also been teammates in both the youth and reserve teams at Cruzeiro. Maicon, however, hadn't managed to secure a regular starting spot in the first team. 

Yang Yang remembered that last season, Trabelsi had requested a transfer, which left Ajax looking for a new right-back as early as the winter break. Back then, they had set their sights on Maurinho, Cruzeiro's first-choice right-back. But complications during the negotiations led to the deal falling through. 

To everyone's surprise, instead of signing Maurinho, Ajax had ended up acquiring Maicon, his backup. 

"How strong is he?" Yang Yang asked, genuinely interested. 

As a right-winger, Yang Yang was always concerned about the quality of the right-back behind him. Their partnership on the flank would be crucial, and he needed to know what to expect from Maicon. 

"He's fast," Maxwell said thoughtfully. "Good technique, solid with the ball at his feet, and he's got potential. But, like a lot of Brazilian full-backs, he's more focused on going forward. His defensive game is a bit weak, and that could be a problem." 

Yang Yang wasn't surprised to hear this. Maxwell himself wasn't known for his defensive prowess, so if even he felt Maicon's defense needed work, it likely did. Ajax would definitely need to tighten that up if Maicon was going to succeed in European football, where defensive discipline was critical. 

Maicon, along with Filipe Luís—the young Brazilian left-back also signed over the summer—were now living in Ibrahimović's old house across the street. Maxwell had helped them settle in, and soon, both players would likely be playing as full-backs on either side of Yang Yang during matches. The prospect of working with two new full-backs brought an added layer of excitement, as well as a bit of uncertainty, to the season ahead. 

And it wasn't just Maicon and Filipe Luís. Several other new signings were also settling into the neighborhood, adding to the sense of change swirling around the team. 

"Van Gaal took over as head coach of Alkmaar," Vermaelen chimed in, "and we've brought in Ron Vlaar from there. He's a young defender, but really strong. It's going to add some pressure for competition this season." 

The three of them continued their light jog, passing the ball between them as they ran. The movements were fluid, the ball rolling seamlessly from foot to foot, as if tied to them with invisible threads. 

"I know Vlaar," Yang Yang said with a smile. "He's got a lot of potential. He might even have a chance to break into the starting lineup." 

Vermaelen grinned, his competitive nature showing. "Well, I'm not exactly weak either," he said with a wink. 

Maxwell chuckled. "You've got competition now, Thomas." 

Then, with a teasing grin, Maxwell changed the topic. "We've also got a new kid up front. He reminds me a bit of Zlatan." 

"Who?" Yang Yang asked, intrigued. 

"Niklas Bendtner," Maxwell replied. "The young Danish striker." 

Yang Yang suddenly remembered hearing about Bendtner. "Oh, yeah. Van Gaal personally went to Portugal to secure his transfer, snatching him away from Arsenal. Is he really that good?" 

Maxwell shrugged. "He's promising. He's only 16, but people are really optimistic about him. He's already been placed straight into the first team and played in a few of the warm-up matches. I expect he'll get some game time this season. His style is similar to Zlatan's, but he's got a bit of an attitude." 

"Attitude?" Yang Yang raised an eyebrow. 

"Yeah," Vermaelen chimed in with a playful smirk. "Right after joining, he publicly said he's going to challenge you for the title of the team's top young star." 

Yang Yang blinked in surprise, then broke into a wide smile. "Me? The top young star? Since when?" he laughed, shaking his head. He hadn't realized he had earned such a reputation within the squad. 

Vermaelen chuckled. "It's kind of an unofficial thing. The players at De Toekomst came up with it—Ryan Babel held that spot before, but after last season, it's clear that you're the undisputed number one. But now this kid wants to dethrone you. You'll have to work even harder. Don't let him embarrass us." 

Yang Yang couldn't help but laugh at the idea. A new challenger, huh? This must be a case of the fearless newcomer, not afraid of seasoned players. 

"Speaking of new faces," Vermaelen continued, "Angelos Charisteas is settling in well. You probably saw him during the Amsterdam Invitational Tournament. His role as a traditional target man is pretty clear. He and Wesley Sonck are competing for that striker position." 

Wesley Sonck, who had a reputation for his goal-scoring prowess, thrived in front of goal. Last season, Ibrahimović wasn't exactly a classic center-forward in terms of tactical play, but now the club had brought in Charisteas—one of the standout players from the European Championship. Ajax was clearly looking to reshape the attack. 

With Charisteas in the center, Sonck on the left, and Yang Yang on the right, it seemed like the club was set on a new front three for the upcoming season. 

The only worry, Yang Yang thought to himself, is that I missed pre-season. My link-up play with the team might still be a bit rusty. 

Fortunately, there was still a week left before the season opener, giving him enough time to sharpen his chemistry with his teammates. 

"How about the vacancy left by Rafael?" Yang Yang asked, voicing his concern. Rafael van der Vaart had been a crucial figure in midfield last season, partnering Sneijder, while De Jong and Galásek rotated through the middle. Now that Van der Vaart had moved on, a crucial spot in the heart of the midfield was up for grabs. 

"Pienaar is the first choice for that spot now," Vermaelen replied. "His partnership with Sneijder has been developing well. From what we saw in pre-season, they've got a good understanding. It's looking solid." 

Yang Yang nodded, gaining a clearer picture of the squad's framework for the upcoming campaign. 

In goal, Lobont had been reliable last season, but he'd since moved to Fiorentina. In response, the club promoted the talented Maarten Stekelenburg to the first team, though to balance youth with experience, they'd signed 34-year-old Hans Vonk from Heerenveen. Vonk's presence was meant to bring stability, especially with such a young squad. 

The team's average age has dropped significantly, Yang Yang mused. This Ajax side must be one of the youngest teams in Europe—probably around 21 years on average. 

The defense, meanwhile, looked solid but had seen some changes. Maxwell was set to be the starting left-back, with Filipe Luís providing cover. If Maxwell were to leave, Filipe would naturally step up into the first-choice role. 

On the right, competition was fierce between Maicon and Grygera. As for center-backs, Petri Pasanen and Julien Escudé had both left during the summer transfer window, but the club had brought in Ron Vlaar. That left Heitinga, Vermaelen, and Vlaar battling for starting positions, with De Jong and Grygera as versatile options capable of filling in if needed. 

In midfield, Yang Yang felt relatively secure about his role on the right wing, though it wasn't a given. His position was solid for now, but with competition fierce, he knew complacency wasn't an option. 

Moreover, he couldn't ignore the upcoming Asian Youth Championship in September, which would take him away from the squad for a while. The Chinese national team had agreed with Ajax on his participation, so he would have to leave the team at a crucial point in the season. Fortunately, he wasn't expected to be called up for the senior World Cup qualifiers just yet, which gave him more time to focus on his club duties. 

Team Leader Zhu had mentioned that the national team had been lucky in the draw for the second round of the Asian World Cup qualifiers, avoiding any major footballing powerhouses. The team felt confident about advancing to the final round, and that's when they would need Yang Yang's presence. 

For now, at least, he can concentrate on club football. 

... 

... 

As usual, after completing his morning routine of running two laps around Lake Odekerke, Yang Yang made his way to the small breakfast shop nestled on the corner of the street. 

When the shop owner saw Yang Yang entering, his face lit up with a mix of surprise and delight. "Hey, you're back!" he exclaimed, clearly excited. "I wasn't expecting to see you around here so soon." 

Yang Yang flashed a small, easy smile. "What, you don't want me back?" he teased. 

"Of course, we do! We've all been waiting for you," the owner replied with a grin. 

The warmth of the welcome made Yang Yang chuckle. It was nice to know he was missed. 

"I've been following your progress for a while now," the shop owner continued. "I've cut out every news report and article about you and saved them all. I figure they'll be worth something someday." With that, he turned around and retrieved a thick notebook from a shelf behind the counter. 

Yang Yang glanced through it, surprised to see that the man wasn't joking. It was packed with neatly cut newspaper clippings, each one documenting his rise within Ajax and the impressive performances he'd delivered the previous season. 

"You know, the team's had a lot of changes going into this new season," the owner went on, "but the financial situation has improved quite a bit. We all know that's thanks to players like you and a few of your teammates who really stepped up last year. You've got to keep it going." 

Yang Yang didn't know the shop owner's name, nor did he feel he needed to. He had come to learn that in Amsterdam, there were passionate Ajax fans everywhere. Every time he ventured out, it seemed like he'd encounter someone who recognized him and supported the team wholeheartedly. 

As Yang Yang stood there, he found himself reflecting on the loyalty of these fans. Whether Ajax was winning or struggling, they stood by the club. They were, in many ways, the backbone of the team's long-term success, the true heart of Ajax. 

"Don't worry," Yang Yang said, taking the pen offered to him and signing his name across the latest newspaper clipping, "I'll keep working hard." 

"I'm counting on it," the owner replied. "This season is a big opportunity for you. I'm sure of it." 

Yang Yang nodded with a polite smile, collected his breakfast, and stepped back outside. 

As he walked away, the morning sun was beginning to rise over the city, its golden light casting long shadows along the streets of Amsterdam. It felt like the dawn of a new chapter—not just for him, but for the team.