Unconventional Center

Chapter 31: The Nature of Ideals

“Chu, get ready for the post-match press conference,” Heike shouted as he opened the locker room door. “Hey, buddy, I knew you couldn’t get away,” Mo Ya said with schadenfreude. “Cesc, I don’t have any experience with this. You’re a pro when it comes to dealing with reporters—you’ll have to help me out.” Chu Yang was mentally prepared for this and wasn’t surprised. “Don’t worry. This is Mestalla—our home turf. If they go too far, the club will step in. And most importantly, we’re the winners—we’re not the ones who’ll be embarrassed.” As the team captain, Mo Ya was a regular at press conferences. In the Mestalla press room, the Leonesa delegation had long since grown somewhat impatient. “The better team won. Congratulations to Valencia—their winter signings were a success,” said the Leonesa head coach, who seemed dissatisfied with his own team’s transfer efforts and took the opportunity to vent. “More successful than any team in the Segunda División.” The “Uncrowned Kings,” of course, wouldn’t let this opportunity slip by and quickly seized on the remark: “Are you saying your team lost to Valencia’s newcomer, Yang Chu?” “No, no, I didn’t say that. Even my three-year-old son knows that soccer is a team sport—the individual can never take precedence over the team. Of course, I have to admit that number 9 was the best player on the field today; he was just as impressive as Cesc.” “Mr. Marco, you started Chu in this match. Was that because you were influenced by the fans? We know that although Chu is just a newcomer to Valencia, he’s very popular with the fans, and many people wanted him to start.” “We select our starting lineup based solely on form and ability. Chu excels in both areas, so he made the starting lineup—it’s as simple as that.” No sooner had Gleiser finished speaking than the media spokesperson standing next to him cleared his throat softly. Gresel immediately added, “Of course, the fans’ opinions are also important. We’ll listen to what they have to say and take meaningful suggestions to heart.” It was unlikely that any major news would come from a Segunda División veteran like Gresel. The reporters were much more eager to ask questions of Chu Yang, who was appearing at a press conference for the first time. He was the star of the day, and as a complete novice when it came to giving interviews, he was simply the perfect choice. “Hey, Chu, hello. I’m Elena from Valencia Sports Channel. First of all, congratulations on the victory, and congratulations on scoring another hat trick. This is already your second hat trick since joining the Segunda División. Combined with the one you scored in La Liga, that’s three consecutive games with a hat trick—it sounds almost like a dream. Can you tell me how you did it?” How did I do it? I have a cheat code. I’m a cunning fox on the offside line, a fake beast in the penalty box—an Asian player whom everyone, no matter how seriously they pretend to take me, subconsciously dismisses. I’m constantly expanding my arsenal,and one day I’ll stand at the pinnacle of this sport, pulling out soccer tricks from another world one by one to blind your titanium-alloy dog eyes—just as your soccer blinded me when I first arrived in this world. I have no reason not to perform at my best and keep excelling. But can I really talk about all this? Chu Yang ranted endlessly in his mind, but his words were utterly earnest: “I think all of this depends on my teammates’ flawless coordination and the coach’s brilliant tactics. I’m a forward; my job is to score goals. But behind every goal is actually the collective effort of the entire team—I’m just the lucky one standing at the very front.” Oh! All the reporters let out a silent groan—here was another one who wouldn’t play along. “Congratulations on having such outstanding teammates. I’d also like to ask about that free kick,” said Elena, a local reporter who, as expected, received preferential treatment, firing off question after question. “Without a doubt, that was a great goal. I think many fans are very curious—was that goal a fluke, or do you truly possess that kind of shooting ability? I’m sorry, I don’t mean to question you, but that goal was just so incredible.” “I think I’m the best person to answer that question—and perhaps Fernando as well,” Mo Ya interjected. “Since we’ve both done special free-kick training sessions with Chu, I can say with certainty that it wasn’t luck; Chu really is capable of taking shots like that.” “Chu, hello. Could you tell us about your time with Deportivo La Coruña? We all know you were brought to Spain by Deportivo, and you’ve played for both their Youth Team and first team. How do you feel about them…” Chu Yang finally understood why Mo Ya always looked so unenthusiastic whenever he heard about press conferences—because they were just so boring. He didn’t dare tell the truth, and he didn’t want to tell lies; with all the truth mixed in with lies, even he didn’t know for the life of him what on earth he’d been rambling about for the past half-day. Once he’d finally endured it to the end, Chu Yang quickly hitched a ride with Mo Ya and made a swift getaway. “Hey, Chu, you should buy a car. You’re a big star now.” “I’m broke, and besides, running here every morning isn’t so bad—I’ll just treat it as a workout.” “Speaking of which, my friend, I have a suggestion,” Mo Ya said earnestly. “You really should work on your stamina. You’re a starter now, and it doesn’t seem like your stamina is enough to sustain high-quality play for the entire match.” “Thanks, Cesc. That’s a very real issue. Actually, I’ve already been working on it,” Chu Yang said with a wry smile. “Or rather, I’ve been doing it all along.” Unlike many protagonists in novels who are transformed by mysterious powers after traveling through time,Chu Yang had been frail and sickly since childhood. Later, he sought treatment from an elderly traditional Chinese medicine practitioner, taking herbal remedies and practicing martial arts under his guidance. Although he never mastered any legendary martial arts techniques, his health gradually improved. Now he’s even become an athlete, though certain genetic limitations still remain—stamina being the biggest one. He used to be the type for whom no amount of training would make a difference, but now, with the Superstar System, anything is possible. From a sickly child who would collapse at the slightest breeze to a rising star at the World Junior Championships, he even stepped onto the field of the world’s top league a year ago. Although that journey could only be described as a failure, for him it was nothing short of a complete transformation. No one knows how much sweat and effort he poured into it during that time. Chu Cheng, Mei Yun, and Chu Yu all witnessed Chu Yang’s determination firsthand. So even if they weren’t entirely on board, they had no choice but to support him as he continued down this path. In his previous life, soccer was merely a hobby for Chu Yang; in this life, it started out as nothing more than a fantasy, but now he could finally call it his dream. Although the concept of a “dream” may sound rather vague, the motivation it can provide is truly immense.