Tied Again

Even as he sat in a taxi heading back to the Oude Kerk area, Chen Tao remained in a state of awe. 

What he had just witnessed at the airport had left a profound impression on him. From flight attendants to the captain and even the passengers passing by, each person's expression changed completely upon seeing Yang Yang. Their faces filled with admiration and respect, and, in some cases, a touch of awe. Even children as young as five or six eagerly approached Yang Yang, hoping for a signature or a quick photo with him. 

The respect extended beyond the airport. In the taxi, the driver spoke to Yang Yang with deep reverence, treating him like a city icon. 

In that moment, Chen Tao realized something significant: Yang Yang wasn't just a footballer here. He was a hero, someone the city looked up to and celebrated. 

And all of this—this respect, admiration, and reverence—was brought about by football. 

After they boarded the plane, Yang Yang had chatted briefly with him before falling asleep. But Chen Tao found himself too restless to even consider sleeping. 

Choosing to go abroad with Yang Yang had been a decision he made with conviction. He hadn't told his parents the details, only saying he was leaving to pursue football. Now, he had no way back; his only option was to keep moving forward. 

It was a make-or-break moment, and he was fully committed. 

Having taken this step, he wasn't interested in returning to his old life. He wanted to carve out his own path, to make a name for himself in the Netherlands and across Europe. 

Just like Yang Yang had. 

... 

... 

If placed in China, Oude Kerk would likely feel like a quaint village. Its neat, clean streets gave it a distinctive charm. 

As they arrived, Yang Yang exited the taxi, exchanged a few words with the driver, paid the fare, and led Chen Tao toward the door. 

"The place has two rooms and a main hall, and there's a small single room upstairs that just needs a bit of tidying up," Yang Yang explained warmly, showing Chen Tao around. 

"The Belgian international I share with is Thomas Vermaelen—a really great guy. Feel free to make yourself at home." 

Yang Yang continued, pointing out nearby homes. "Across the street was Ibrahimovic's old place, and next door is Maxwell's. After Ibrahimovic transferred, Maxwell rented it, and he's now living there with Maicon and Filipe Luís from Brazil." 

"A lot of Ajax players live around here, so it's usually lively. You'll bump into familiar faces when you step outside." 

Chen Tao took in the surroundings, nodding with genuine appreciation. It felt far better than he had anticipated. 

Upstairs, Yang Yang showed him the small single room. Though modest in size, it had everything he'd need, including a single bed. They could pick up some new bedding, and Chen Tao would be all set for the night. 

"How about it? It's small, but it's cozy," Yang Yang said with a smile. 

Chen Tao, his eyes slightly misty with emotion, nodded gratefully. "It's already so much better than our dorms back in China." 

"Great! You can stay here as long as you need," Yang Yang assured him. 

Yang Yang then explained the plan. "Albers called earlier—he's arranging trial opportunities for you, so starting tomorrow, you'll join me at Ajax for training. Adjust to the time difference and stay sharp. You'll want to be in top shape when the trial comes." 

"Thank you," Chen Tao said, gratitude evident in his tone. 

"No need to thank me," Yang Yang replied with a smile. 

They then set about cleaning up the room, scrubbing down surfaces and preparing the bed. Just as they were finishing up, they heard movement downstairs—Vermaelen had arrived home. 

Yang Yang had already told Vermaelen about Chen Tao over the phone, so he greeted Chen Tao warmly and welcomed him to the home. Soon after, Maxwell, Maicon, and a few others dropped by upon hearing about Chen Tao's arrival, and the house quickly filled with friendly banter and laughter. 

Curious about their new teammate, everyone bombarded Chen Tao with questions. Fortunately, Chen Tao had been preparing for life abroad and could communicate in English, though a little clumsily at times. 

Before long, however, they shifted focus from Yang Yang's game in China to lighter topics. Maxwell grinned mischievously as he pulled out his phone. "Hey, Chen, take a look at this. Is this Yang Yang's girlfriend?" 

He held up a photo of a pretty young woman, her delicate features strikingly beautiful, almost like something from a fairy tale. The photo had been taken by a Dutch journalist during last year's Champions League final, and rumor had it she was somehow connected to Yang Yang. Maxwell gave Yang Yang a playful wink, as if to say, Got you this time, buddy! 

Chen Tao glanced at the picture, instantly recognizing Su Ye. He looked up at Yang Yang, as if to ask, Brother, should I tell them? 

Yang Yang chuckled. "Go ahead, clear things up for them." 

Chen Tao grinned, setting the record straight. "She's definitely not his girlfriend." 

"Not his girlfriend?" Maxwell echoed, clearly surprised. 

"Nope," Chen Tao confirmed. "She's actually his sister." 

"His sister?" Vermaelen asked, puzzled. "Biological?" 

Chen Tao shook his head. "They're not related by blood, but they're close like family. Yang Yang calls her 'sister,' but there's no actual relation." 

Despite the clarification, Vermaelen seemed unconvinced. "I don't buy it. I've seen Yang chatting with her late at night, looking very... 'close.'" 

"Come on, who looks 'close'?" Yang Yang protested, rolling his eyes. 

"Hey, hey, calm down!" Maxwell intervened, holding up his hands in mock defense. "We're just verifying the facts here!" 

The others nodded in mock solemnity, their expressions full of playful suspicion. 

"Oh, you guys are impossible…" Yang Yang muttered, shaking his head. 

He could tell they were just having fun, but the teasing had escalated. They'd turned what was a simple friendship into an ongoing saga, claiming he texted her every night, chatted secretly, and, of course, acted "very ambiguous." It was enough to even make Chen Tao start to wonder. 

"Listening to them," Chen Tao admitted, "even I'm starting to think you and Su might have something going on…" 

Yang Yang threw up his hands in exasperation. "Unbelievable! You guys are really something else!" 

Sometimes, Yang Yang thought, even the Yellow River couldn't wash away all the misunderstandings. 

... 

... 

The next morning, Chen Tao was up early alongside Yang Yang. 

Back on the national team, he'd heard Zheng Zhi talk about Yang Yang's intense morning training routine and was eager to challenge himself by joining it. To his surprise, several other Ajax players were up just as early, including Vermaelen, Maicon, Filipe Luís, and Maxwell. A tall, sturdy Danish forward, Nicklas Bendtner, joined them, his imposing presence adding to the group's energy. 

Although it was only his first time meeting them, Chen Tao could sense the respect this group of Ajax players had for Yang Yang. It wasn't merely because Yang Yang was Ajax's top star; it was a respect he had earned gradually, through hard work and perseverance, impressing them with his strength and dedication until they were all convinced of his talent—even the outspoken Bendtner. 

In China, Chen Tao had always been known for his technical skill. Even on the national team, he'd stood out for his abilities and had developed a healthy confidence in his talent. However, as he joined Yang Yang and the others on a morning run around the lake near Oude Kerk, he quickly found himself struggling to keep up. At first, he managed to match their pace, but soon his form began to falter, his stamina dwindling. His movements became unsteady, revealing gaps in his conditioning. 

In contrast, Yang Yang's stride was steady and controlled. Although he didn't appear especially muscular, each movement was precise and well-balanced, his steps hitting the ground with surety. Yang Yang's skillful pace made running seem effortless, and the rest of the Ajax players ran with similar ease, including Vermaelen, a central defender. 

It was just a simple morning lap with the ball, yet Chen Tao already felt the significant gap between his current fitness and that of these Ajax players. 

After finishing their run and grabbing breakfast, Yang Yang took Chen Tao to Ajax's training facility, De Toekomst. Although Chen Tao would only be training temporarily with the team, the staff had already prepared Adidas training gear for him and even provided a temporary locker in the changing room. 

Ajax's team captain, Tomáš Galásek, greeted Chen Tao warmly, giving him a quick tour around the facilities while Yang Yang headed to the medical office for his routine physical check-up and began his daily strength training in the gym. 

As Galásek guided Chen Tao into the gym, they saw Yang Yang in the middle of a cycling session, sweat pouring down his face as he pushed himself with relentless focus. Chen Tao was taken aback by the intensity. 

"Does he do this every day?" Chen Tao asked in astonishment. 

Galásek nodded with a smile. "Yes. He's been doing this since he joined us almost two years ago, training hard every single day. About six months ago, he started coming to the gym even more regularly. Most of us thought he'd last two months tops, but here he is, still going strong every day." 

Galásek's tone held a genuine admiration. "Football rewards skill, but it's the players who work hard and push themselves that earn true respect." 

Yang Yang, Chen Tao realized, was one of those players—hardworking, dedicated, and powerful. 

Seeing all this firsthand, Chen Tao understood why Yang Yang's rapid rise from an unknown to one of Europe's most promising young players was no accident. Hearing these words from the Ajax captain confirmed the strength of Yang Yang's work ethic. 

"He's an exceptional player!" Galásek added with a smile. 

Chen Tao could only nod in agreement, deeply impressed. 

Later, when Yang Yang finished his strength training and headed back to the training field, the rest of the team had already begun their warm-up drills with a rondo session. As Yang Yang's guest, Chen Tao was warmly welcomed by the group, with Vermaelen, Maxwell, Sneijder, and Heitinga going out of their way to make him feel at ease. This show of support made it clear to Chen Tao just how respected Yang Yang was at Ajax. 

Once training began in earnest, however, Chen Tao experienced firsthand the high intensity of European club practices. Despite his best efforts, he could barely keep up with the Ajax players' pace. 

To his dismay, after training ended, Yang Yang mentioned that this morning session was only a restorative workout, meant to ease players back into rhythm after a game. The intensity was much lower than their usual sessions—a revelation that nearly made Chen Tao lose heart. 

If this was only the recovery session, he thought, what would full training feel like? 

But on the other hand, he knew that such high-intensity training would only push him to improve faster. With daily exposure to this environment, Chen Tao began to understand how European clubs molded their players' strength and skills with such consistency. This was his chance to take his game to a new level. 

... 

... 

April 2, Heerenveen – Abe Lenstra Stadion 

In the 27th round of the Eredivisie, Ajax faced Heerenveen away in a crucial match. 

In the 37th minute, Maicon sent a sharp pass to Sneijder in central midfield on the right. Sneijder quickly played a diagonal ball toward the wing, finding Yang Yang, who surged forward, skillfully carrying the ball down the right side with incredible speed. 

With precise timing, Yang Yang sent a low cross into the penalty area from the right side of the box. 

Danish striker Nicklas Bendtner, replacing Charisteas for this game, was perfectly positioned and met the cross with a powerful header, directing the ball into Heerenveen's net and putting Ajax ahead 1-0. 

After the halftime break, both teams returned with renewed energy. In the 63rd minute, Ajax launched another attack from their backline. Although Bendtner couldn't gain control of the initial pass, De Jong was quick to react, intercepting the loose ball and immediately directing it to Sneijder. 

Sneijder attempted to turn and escape Heerenveen's midfield press, but a defender lunged in, knocking the ball loose. It rolled directly to the right side of the penalty arc. 

Yang Yang, alert and anticipating the play, shot forward from the right flank, outpacing the defenders to reach the ball first. In one smooth motion, he carried it into the box and unleashed a powerful right-footed volley. 

"Goooooooooooooal!!!" 

"Goal!" 

"Yang Yang scores!!!" 

"Heerenveen's defense slipped up, and Yang Yang took full advantage, driving into the penalty area and firing a stunning volley with his right foot to double Ajax's lead!" 

"2-0 to Ajax!" 

"Yang Yang has been outstanding, contributing both an assist and a goal. His form has been exceptional, and it's hard to believe he's only 18 years old." 

"This goal marks Yang Yang's 22nd of the Eredivisie season." 

Yang Yang was visibly elated as he celebrated his goal on the sideline, joined by his jubilant teammates. The Ajax players surrounded him, sharing in the moment. 

All eyes this season had been on the tight race between Yang Yang and Dirk Kuyt for the Eredivisie's top scorer. Ajax manager Ronald Koeman had expressed his full confidence in Yang Yang, asserting that despite his young age, he was more than capable of competing for the title of top scorer. 

Ajax captain Tomáš Galásek echoed this sentiment in a recent interview, praising Yang Yang as one of the Eredivisie's standout players, with the skill and determination to rival Kuyt. 

The television broadcast zoomed in on Yang Yang's celebration, his face glowing with excitement, beads of sweat glistening as he reveled in the moment. His recent form had been impeccable, with the coaching staff actively working to maintain and refine his consistency. 

"It's worth noting," the commentator added, "that in another key match, Feyenoord is currently leading Alkmaar 4-1 at home. Although Kuyt has provided an assist, he has yet to score, while his strike partner, Kalou, has achieved a hat trick." 

"If the scores remain as they are, Yang Yang will tie Kuyt at the top of the scoring chart with 22 goals each. Both players will sit atop the league as joint top scorers." 

"Meanwhile, Feyenoord's Salomon Kalou will move into third place in the scoring race with his 17th goal of the season, thanks to this impressive hat trick." 

... 

... 

By the 75th minute, Ronald Koeman decided to substitute Yang Yang, who had stayed on the pitch 15 minutes longer than initially planned. Although Yang Yang had managed two solid attempts, he hadn't added to his goal tally. 

Yang Yang knew that while his ball control was good, it needed to become more than just a skill he practiced—it had to be instinctive, like a natural reaction. Players like Bergkamp and Van der Vaart had this ability; they didn't just control the ball, it was as if their bodies moved on their own, perfectly in sync with the game. Yang Yang wanted to reach that level, but he knew it would take a lot of time and hard work to get there. 

Achieving that level of instinct, though, would demand years of dedication and discipline. 

"How's it going?" Yang Yang asked, immediately curious about the Feyenoord match. 

Ronald Koeman and Ruud Krol exchanged knowing glances, aware that Yang Yang was anxious to know if Kuyt had scored. When they informed him that Kuyt hadn't found the net and that Feyenoord was leading Alkmaar 4-1, a grin spread across Yang Yang's face. 

With 22 goals, Yang Yang had finally caught up with Kuyt in the race for the league's top scorer. 

Not only that, but with Alkmaar's loss, Van Gaal's team had dropped from the top of the standings, allowing PSV Eindhoven to claim first place by a narrow one-point lead over Ajax, who now held second place. Alkmaar fell to third, while Feyenoord occupied fourth. 

The Eredivisie title race was heating up, becoming one of the most thrilling competitions in recent seasons. 

On top of the championship chase, the race for the league's top scorer was equally fierce, with Yang Yang and Kuyt neck and neck, adding another layer of excitement to the season's climax. 

... 

... 

Ajax ultimately secured a 2-1 victory over Heerenveen away from home. Heerenveen's lone goal came in the 81st minute when Victor Sikora, on loan from Ajax, provided an assist to Samaras. 

Sikora, a right-winger, had started the season with a regular role at Heerenveen, even making the starting lineup initially. However, his performance gradually declined, leading to him losing his position on the team and often missing the squad list altogether. In this match against Ajax, Sikora came on as a substitute in the final 11 minutes and managed to contribute an unexpected assist. 

After the game, Sikora approached Ronald Koeman, exchanging a few words with his former coach. Being on loan from Ajax, it was natural for him to seek a quick conversation. But Sikora's expression was noticeably downcast, his gaze drifting toward Yang Yang from time to time, highlighting the stark contrast between their current paths. 

Last season, Yang Yang was a substitute, much like Sikora. Now, he had become a central figure in Ajax's lineup and was even contending with players like Kuyt for the league's top scorer title. Meanwhile, Sikora struggled just to get minutes at Heerenveen, often not even making the squad. 

The difference in their situations—the progress of Yang Yang and the struggles of Sikora—was evident to everyone watching. It was a reminder of the ups and downs that define professional football, a reality Yang Yang was well aware of. 

While he felt some sympathy for Sikora, Yang Yang had no reason to feel guilty. His achievements had come through relentless effort, and he understood that in professional football, positions are earned and lost based on performance. If, one day, his own strength declined, he would likely face the same fate without any mercy from others. 

For Yang Yang, Sikora's experience served as a cautionary tale, reinforcing the unforgiving nature of the sport. 

Meanwhile, the rest of the Ajax players, apart from a few who had friendships with Sikora, joined in celebrating Yang Yang's achievement. After all, he had caught up with Kuyt once again in the race for the league's top scorer. 

... 

... 

Rotterdam, Feyenoord Stadium 

As the final whistle blew, referee Roelof Luinge signaled the end of the game, and Kuyt slowly lowered his head, walking off the field with a heavy heart. 

He felt particularly frustrated. Throughout the game, he'd attempted over a dozen shots, but each one either fell into the goalkeeper's hands or veered off target. He hadn't managed to score even once. 

To make matters worse, his strike partner, Kalou, had netted a hat trick, scoring three times in quick succession. 

What could Kuyt say? It wasn't that his midfield teammates hadn't supported him—they had gone out of their way, especially in the second half, to pass him the ball at every opportunity. But somehow, it felt as though the goal was cursed, like a wall was standing between him and the back of the net. 

"Don't worry, Dirk," Kalou came over, patting him on the shoulder. "We'll keep feeding you in the next game, and you'll score for sure." 

Kuyt nodded, though his expression remained glum. This was his fourth consecutive game without a goal—a situation he found hard to accept as a striker who took pride in scoring. 

It wasn't the first time Kuyt had faced a dry spell. He'd gone through similar goal droughts last year, both in September and December. He was known for his relentless work ethic, running tirelessly, challenging every loose ball, and fighting for every chance. But sometimes, it felt like he was just a touch away from scoring—a strange feeling, as if a thin, invisible barrier stood in his way, needing only a slight push to break through. 

And now, he found himself in that place once again. 

"How did Yang Yang do?" Kuyt asked, looking over to the sidelines as he approached. 

Head coach Gullit and his assistants exchanged glances before finally delivering the news. 

"He scored one. He's caught up with you again." 

"Wow!" Kalou shook his head in disbelief. "Is that kid taking something? How did he suddenly turn into such a machine this season? Last season he barely scored, and now he's at 22 goals!" 

Gullit chuckled, shaking his head. "No, Kalou, no drugs involved. It's just that he's improved at an incredible rate. Honestly, he was already showing flashes of brilliance in the second half of last season. And with Champions League experience, his development has accelerated. This season is just the culmination of that hard work." 

"But come on, this is insane!" Kalou replied, exasperated. "At 18, he's already scored 22 goals—he's not far off Ronaldo's pace." 

Kalou wasn't just concerned for Kuyt; he was frustrated for himself too. He'd scored 17 goals so far, and he knew he was having a fantastic season. But Yang Yang's achievements overshadowed him completely. Without Yang Yang, Kalou was convinced he'd be the Eredivisie's most talked-about young talent. But as it stood, Yang Yang was capturing all the attention, not only from the Dutch league but from clubs across Europe. 

It didn't sit well with Kalou. 

"Could he actually catch up with Ronaldo?" someone muttered. The idea seemed unlikely, but not impossible. 

"It's not just about age," Gullit added thoughtfully. "Ajax's system suits him perfectly, and Koeman has adapted the team's tactics to maximize his strengths. And you have to admit, Yang Yang is performing brilliantly. His playmaking, positioning—he's proving himself." 

Gullit turned to Kuyt and gave his shoulder a supportive pat. 

"Don't stress yourself, Dirk. Goals come more naturally when you're relaxed. And don't see Yang Yang as an enemy; see him as the motivation to push yourself, to reach your own potential." 

Kuyt gave a determined nod. "I don't hate him. If anything, I respect him. Honestly, I'd love to meet him and have a good chat someday—after I beat him for the top scorer title, of course." 

"That's the spirit!" Gullit laughed, encouraging him. "Stay confident, fight hard, and we'll be there to support you." 

Feyenoord's hopes of winning any trophies this season were slim to none. But they still had one goal to fight for: helping Kuyt win the league's top scorer award. If they lost that, the season would feel like a complete loss.