Unconventional Center

Chapter 4: The Fox on the Offside Line

“Hey! I mean, it’s one thing that you didn’t come up with a system spirit or a system store, but how come there isn’t even a quest module? Isn’t that a bit outdated?” Having devoured tens of millions of “system-genre” novels in his previous life, Chu Yang was well-versed in the tropes of reincarnation and systems—he just never expected that one day, such a windfall would land right in his lap. The Superstar System consisted of nothing more than a simple interface floating before his eyes, listing Chu Yang’s various attributes. His communication with the system was conducted through brainwaves or telepathy—phenomena that defied scientific explanation. Although the system appeared highly intelligent and user-friendly, it was actually quite monotonous. “Quests? They’re a piece of cake,” the system replied. “What kind do you want?” “Something that lighthearted?” Xiao Han asked. “Then let’s start with one that offers a higher-tier reward.” “A high-reward one? Let me see… how about this?” A line of text appeared rapidly on the interface: “System Mission: Win the Ballon d’Or Award. Reward Talent: The Terminator.” Chu Yang said helplessly, “I can’t even hold down a spot on the bench, and you want me to compete for the Ballon d’Or? If you’re going for an ‘up-and-comer’ story, this isn’t how you do it, is it?” In this world, the Ballon d’Or is also the highest honor a soccer player can receive. Its selection process is far more complex and rigorous, and since there’s no equivalent to the FIFA World Player of the Year award, the competition is fierce and the award carries even greater prestige. “Not satisfied? How about another one?” Another line of text appeared on the system interface: “System Quest: Lead the China National Team to win the World Cup. Reward Title: King of Soccer.” “……” Chu Yang fell silent for a moment. “Let’s stick to discussing the Ballon d’Or.” Amid Chu Yang’s rambling thoughts, the match resumed. Sevilla was clearly not satisfied with a one-goal lead and launched a fierce attack right from the kickoff. The ball flew back and forth in Deportivo La Coruña’s half, and the area in front of the goal instantly became a battleground. Right before everyone’s eyes, the home team was pinned down and soundly beaten by the visitors. Deportivo La Coruña had cleared out a large number of veterans this season, and most of the new players were young—each bearing the aura of “So-and-So II” or “a rising star from such-and-such country.” When the game was going their way, their play was indescribably fluid and imaginative; when the tide turned against them, it became a real test of character. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out how a group of young players who haven’t gelled yet would perform on the field. Their tactics are essentially improvisation, and scoring goals comes down to individual skill—in short, everyone wants to be the savior. But the savior doesn’t take the field every game. If he were to play today, he’d certainly be wearing the No. 11 Laco jersey. It was unclear whether it was a clearance or a pass, but the ball was kicked out amid the scramble, flying across nearly half the field. Judging by its trajectory, it was heading toward the edge of Sevilla’s penalty area. “Great clearance! The Deportivo La Coruña lads deserve… Oh! Who’s that? Chu! He’s caught up with it!” The commentator’s tone instantly shifted from listless to electrified. The entire stadium erupted to their feet. Harte felt a chill run down his spine. He’d been tracking Chu Yang the whole time—he’d merely glanced up at the ball for a moment—but by the time he snapped back to attention, Chu Yang had already sprinted forward, as if he knew exactly where the ball was headed without even watching its trajectory. The ball landed on the instep of Chu Yang’s foot and rolled half a meter forward before he brought it under control. With only the goalkeeper in front of him and the nearest defender more than two meters behind, and the match now in its final stages, Chu Yang—who had just come on as a substitute—was the freshest player on the field. All he had to do was sprint forward, shake off the defender completely, and go one-on-one with the goalkeeper. Both head coaches felt as if their hearts were about to leap out of their chests. The Sevilla coach certainly didn’t want to see three points turn into one, while for Laco’s coach, Happer, a goal here could end his agonizing five-game losing streak. But before the Deportivo La Coruña fans could even begin cheering, the whistle blew. The linesman’s flag shot high into the air—offside. “Chance! Chu Yang is through on goal! He’s got only the goalkeeper in front of him… Wait, the referee blew the whistle—offside!” Duan Xiang’s cheers came to an abrupt halt. “Was that offside? Let’s see the replay.” “That call is debatable,” Xu Songming remarked. “It was basically a borderline call. Chu Yang’s run really tested the referee’s eyesight and decisiveness.” “It’s a shame—that was a great chance to tie the game. You can tell Chu Yang is in excellent form. I hope he can keep it up, settle into La Liga as soon as possible, and make the National Team.” When it came to the National Team, Duan Xiang’s tone was filled with anticipation. The World Cup qualifiers have come to a close, and the China National Team narrowly advanced, qualifying for the World Cup finals for the first time. The entire nation is paying close attention to this team that has made history. The forwards, who are most likely to shine on the field, are undoubtedly the focus of attention—but unfortunately, the more attention they receive, the more painful it becomes. In the end, the conclusion is that it might as well be a formation without a striker. If Chu Yang can truly bring the skill and form he displayed in this match to the World Cup, it’s not impossible for the China National Team to advance further in the tournament. Chu Yang had no idea that his compatriots, thousands of miles away, had already begun fantasizing about his National Team career; he was still lamenting that missed goal. At that moment, he was marked by only one player, Harte. Given the current disparity in stamina between the two sides and Harte’s underestimation of him, he could have easily taken a moment to catch his breath before making his run—there was no need to test the referee’s judgment. But the moment the ball came flying toward him, he instinctively ran toward it—without premeditation or planning, driven entirely by an instinct and nature that seemed ingrained in his very bones. Like a cunning fox, he always bared his not-so-sharp fangs the instant his prey let its guard down, stealthily tearing off a crimson chunk of flesh. The “Fox of the Box” describes a player’s keen instincts and elusive movement—but it’s not limited to the penalty area. So, in reality, this is a fox that prowls both the offside line and the penalty area. Harte approached Chu Yang with a sour expression and said, “Hey, rookie, you’re just lucky…” “I’ve certainly had some good luck, but your luck is about to run out, Harte.” Although Chu Yang believed in the philosophy of “actions speak louder than words,” he wasn’t the type to take insults lying down. In the past, when he lacked confidence, he had no choice but to swallow his anger; now that he’d gained some backbone, he was certainly going to fire back. Harte was a bit taken aback. In his mind, Asians—especially people from China—were supposed to be taciturn; the kind who, when insulted to their faces, would only dare to grit their teeth and curse under their breath. Why did this guy seem so different? “Oh, and one more thing,” Chu Yang said as he jogged back toward the field. “Scoring a goal right in front of you was really satisfying—it was absolutely awesome. I hope you get used to this kind of situation as soon as possible, or the rest of the game is going to be pure torture for you.” “Hey, China rookie, who gave you the guts to talk to me like that? Was it a lucky shot, or that offside call earlier?” “No, there’s a saying in China: ‘Bully the weak and fear the strong.’ That describes someone like me,” Chu Yangdao said. “And today, I’m picking on you, you wimp.”