Cunning Fox

"GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL!!" Gross's long celebration echoed again; he felt today was simply too beautiful, as if he had become the happiest person in the world.

Of course, there were many others who felt the same, all loyal fans of the White Star team!

Whether at the stadium or following the match through the internet, texts, or other means, hearing their team lead 3-0 made them feel incredibly happy.

"When SV Rosler decided to play defensively, we thought the game would go into a deadlock. But unexpectedly, Zhang gave us a pleasant surprise!"

"Zhang's shot hit an opposing defender, and the ball, as if guided by some ghostly force, landed at the unguarded Gil's feet. Our beloved Gill seemed so overwhelmed by his sudden fortune that he hesitated before kicking the ball. But God favored his efforts, and the ball went in, marking Gil's first goal of the season!"

"Does this count as an indirect assist from Zhang? Or is it an assist from the opposing defender? Ah, this is indeed a question worth pondering, haha!"

...

The large score of 3-0 took the match into garbage time.

SV Rosler had no heart to continue fighting, while the White Star team, except for Zhang Xu, lost their aggressive spirit, and the game entered a boring phase of stalemate.

But Zhang Xu didn't care about the score. He knew as long as the match wasn't over, he needed to strive for goals. This wasn't to show off his skills to his parents or to make Nicole happy but a necessary professional ethic as a player.

He noticed his teammates' attitudes and, while he didn't agree, he avoided criticizing them verbally. Instead, he chose to be more active in running, fiercer in tackling, and sharper in organizing attacks!

Zhang Xu believed his efforts would eventually make his teammates understand.

Indeed, his hard work paid off. Seeing Zhang Xu's sweat, the shirt stained with multiple colors from falls, and his collapses from being tackled by several opponents, his teammates finally became more active.

It seemed the team's coordination was improving, and a genuine smile finally appeared on Zhang Xu's dirt-stained face.

As the 89th minute ticked by, Zhang Xu's relentless energy and tactical awareness bore fruit again. Spotting and intercepting an opponent's pass, he immediately sprang into action. His technique in this moment was a blend of speed and agility. He accelerated swiftly, using his exceptional speed and agility to embark on a thirty-meter sprint with the ball.

As he advanced, Zhang Xu encountered two SV Rosler players attempting to halt his progress. Employing a mix of close ball control and rapid changes in direction, he skillfully dribbled past them. His technique involved swift lateral movements and feints, misleading the defenders about his intended path. By keeping the ball close and varying his pace, he created confusion and space to maneuver through.

Upon reaching a strategic point, Zhang Xu executed a diagonal pass to Gil, who was positioned further up the field. Gil, finding himself with limited options and under pressure, smartly decided to return the ball to Zhang Xu. In the meantime, Zhang Xu had cleverly carved out a bit of space for himself, anticipating the return pass.

Receiving the ball, Zhang Xu opted for a dynamic and somewhat unconventional technique. Without pausing to control the ball, he used the back of his right foot in a fluid motion to strike it. This technique, while difficult to execute, can catch defenders and goalkeepers off guard due to its unexpectedness and the deceptive direction it can impart on the ball.

The ball navigated through the narrowest of gaps in the crowded field, finding its way to the edge of the penalty area. At that moment, a teammate, seeing the opportunity, extended his foot and deftly redirected the ball. This subtle touch altered the ball's trajectory, steering it towards the bottom right corner of the goal.

The shot's pace was moderate, but its sudden change in direction and the short distance to the goal left the SV Rosler goalkeeper with little chance to react. Despite his quick reflexes, the proximity meant he could only watch as the ball rolled past him into the net.

Goal!

The score was an astonishing 4:0!

"GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL!!! The ball's in! My God! We've scored five goals! Unbelievable! Today is just wonderful! I think it's a wonderful day for all White Star fans!"

"This goal, I think we should credit most of it to Zhang. On one hand, because it was his assist, and on the other, it was his influence that created this opportunity. So, Zhang deserves great credit!"

...

After Zhang Xu and his teammates celebrated the goal, the match entered extra time. Soon, the two minutes of added time ended, and the coach blew the whistle signaling the end of the match.

Zhang Xu, with two assists and one goal, helped his team slaughter the visiting SV Rosler team with a significant score of 4-0!

For this, Zhang Xu was once again named the best player of the match, receiving his second bottle of champagne!

Moreover, as the referee's whistle blew, a series of "dings" echoed in Zhang Xu's mind. He knew without looking that he had completed all ten side quests issued before the match, earning fifteen attribute points and a substantial amount of experience.

At that moment, he couldn't bother checking his attribute panel because he had more important things to do.

After embracing his teammates, he ran straight to the stands where his parents were. It was a performance match dedicated to his parents, and since it had ended with a splendid victory, it was natural to share the triumph with them.

"Mom, Dad! Am I not awesome?" His parents and Nicole had already come to the edge of the field, so Zhang Xu could talk to them face-to-face.

"Awesome, of course, you're awesome! My son is the best!" His mother looked at her sweaty son with a mix of pride and concern, "Go take a hot shower, don't catch a cold!"

"Yes, listen to your mom, go take a hot shower quickly. It's easy to catch a cold if you don't keep warm in this weather, go now!" His father, trying to appear stern, waved his hand, signaling Zhang Xu to hurry to the changing room.

Understanding the situation's gravity, Zhang Xu nodded and said to Nicole, "Nicole please take my parents to the café outside the stadium and wait for me, I'll just be a moment."

"Of course, don't worry! I'll take good care of your parents!" Nicole smiled charmingly at Zhang Xu and nodded in response.

Zhang Xu nodded back, then waved to his parents and hurried into the players' tunnel.

He had thought he would leave the stadium with his parents shortly, but just as he finished showering, he heard the captain, Driss, looking for him. He responded curiously.

"Hey, Zhang, I've been looking for you!" Driss grabbed Zhang Xu and dragged him towards the changing room exit.

"Hey, captain, what's this about?" Zhang Xu asked as they walked.

"Mr. Mazu wants you, he says you're to attend a press conference!"

"What? A press conference? Me?" Zhang Xu was baffled; this had always been the captain's exclusive right. When had it become his turn?

"Haha, silly boy, surprised, aren't you? I was a bit too, but you did well today; it's the honor you deserve. Go on, Mr. Mazu might be waiting anxiously!" Driss playfully punched Zhang Xu's chest, laughing as he explained.

"Alright, captain, I'm off then!" Zhang Xu nodded and hurried to the conference room where the press conference was being held.

Driss watched Zhang Xu's departing figure and sighed, "This kid really is extraordinarily talented. He's achieved so much so quickly; his future must be incredibly bright! I just wonder how long White Star can keep him, sigh!"

When Zhang Xu arrived at the conference room, Mazu was already sitting on the main stage, smiling and waving at him.

Zhang Xu walked up to the stage, and under Coach Mazu's gesture, he casually took a seat next to Mazu, facing the many reporters with their cameras and mics with a calm and confident smile.

The personnel settled, and the host announced the start of the press conference.

First, both coaches commented on the match and evaluated the teams and players' performances.

Coach Mazu, while speaking, specifically praised Zhang Xu beside him, claiming he had become a pillar of the team and an invaluable asset.

Zhang Xu naturally accepted the praise, showing a modest smile.

Then came the Q&A session. Before it started, Mazu whispered a reminder in Zhang Xu's ear to think carefully before answering, and if something was hard to answer, to face it with silence.

Zhang Xu nodded, indicating he understood, though he didn't seem too concerned.

After all, when it comes to the art of language, which nation could surpass the Chinese?

"Mr. Mazu, I'm Jess from 'Woluwe Talks Soccer Daily.' We noticed that Zhang wore the captain's armband this match. Was this a spontaneous decision or a tactical arrangement?"

"Of course, it was a tactical arrangement!" Mazu replied. "Actually, we had planned to let Zhang play as the midfield core before this match and did many drills for it. The results were not bad, so we naturally adjusted our tactics this time. And as you see, Zhang did well, right?"

"Then, Zhang," Jess obviously didn't want to let this go; he turned to Zhang Xu, hoping to get some good news from him, "We also saw that your parents were at the match, and we welcome them! So, do you think your role as today's on-field captain has anything to do with your parents' presence?"

"Hehe, Mr. Jess is quite humorous!" Zhang Xu's eyes narrowed slightly, and he smiled, "Actually linking my parents to my role as on-field captain! I think my role as on-field captain has nothing to do with my parents coming to watch the match. It's entirely related to the team's tactical arrangement."

Zhang Xu's answer was watertight, circling around but ultimately returning to the point Mazu had made earlier.

This left reporter Jess with a headache, thinking: This guy is not only good at football but also has a sharp mind, how outrageous!

Jess was stumped, and other reporters, seeing an opportunity, quickly raised their hands.

The host randomly picked one.

"Zhang, hello, I'm Mag from 'Belgian Football News.' In this match, we noticed that you not only replaced Captain Driss as the on-field captain but also took over his central midfield position. My question is, will this situation affect your relationship with Captain Driss?"

Another sharp question, turning a normal tactical issue into a question of personal relationships.

Zhang Xu smiled again, "Thank you, Mr. Mag, for your concern and love for our team! My position switch with Captain Driss is like Mr. Mag and Mrs. Mag cleaning the house. If Mr. Mag cleans today, then Mrs. Mag will have to work hard tomorrow. That's how you divide the chores at home, right, Mr. Mag?"

Good! Mazu silently applauded Zhang Xu's skillful and light-hearted response.

And Mr. Mag was clearly displeased: I'm asking about internal team relationships, and you're talking about marital relationships, you cunning fox!