Outside the stadium stretched a long curved road, the security checkpoint entrance seeming almost unreachable.
Lin Wanxing began to run with all her might. She ran so fast, driven by a heartfelt desire to catch up with time itself.
The spring wind whipped past, tangling the hair at her temples. Buildings cast vast, elongated shadows, while at the end of the road ahead, a bright cluster of light beckoned.
In the sweltering locker room.
Wang Fa stood up and looked at all his players.
"Let's go," he said.
Chapter 129: Light
This was He Youting's first time attending a football match.
The stadium was even more magnificent than what she had seen on television, with different sections featuring seats of varying colors. Standing at the highest point and looking down, it felt like surveying mountains from a peak.
The stadium's irrigation system was lightly watering the pitch.
Sunlight streamed down from the stadium roof, illuminating water mist at different angles, occasionally forming several brilliant rainbows that adorned the green field.
The stadium was filled with many young students. Besides the original Yongchuan Evergrande fans, Yongchuan City had organized numerous middle and high school students to watch this National Youth League final live.
The students wore unified school uniforms, some with "Yongchuan Middle School" printed on their backs, others with "Yongchuan No. 1 Middle School." Without exception, they were all here to cheer for the Yongchuan Evergrande youth team.
The Yongchuan Evergrande youth team players had already completed their warm-up, with some key players returning to the locker room to shower and change into their match kits.
They were determined to secure victory in this match.
Only 30 minutes remained until the official kickoff.
The Hongjing No. 8 Middle School players had still not appeared on the field.
The first person to sense something was wrong with the match was Jiang Xun.
Of course, the Yongchuan Evergrande club executives wouldn't be sitting in the away team section. He stayed by Professor He's side, listening to stories about Dr. Yan.
According to the match schedule, the final's opening ceremony was set for 13:30.
There would be brief cultural performances and speeches by officials.
But Jiang Xun noticed that not only were the Hongjing No. 8 Middle School players late to appear for warm-ups, the scheduled official speeches hadn't begun as planned either.
He saw familiar football association representatives being called down from the prepared VIP stand. Unable to resist any longer, he took out his phone and called Wang Fa. The ringtone sounded for a long time, but no one answered.
Chen Weiming was the match's head referee.
He had already completed his pitch inspection and was lined up with the assistant referees in the player tunnel, waiting for the opening ceremony entrance.
The player tunnel was unusually quiet today.
In his left pants pocket was folded a copy of the referee's oath - the same content every time about strictly adhering to referee discipline, practicing sports ethics, fulfilling referee duties, respecting objectivity, seeking truth from facts, being meticulous, and judging impartially.
He could recite it backwards without needing to review it before taking the field.
In the Yongchuan Evergrande home team locker room.
The youth team players had changed into dry kits, putting on jackets to stay warm, preparing to line up for the opening ceremony.
Fang Sulun looked back and saw Qin Qiechu wearing headphones, not looking up.
All the players were exceptionally serious and focused.
Fang Sulun understood clearly that although no one said it aloud, they valued this final more than anyone else.
They had been heaven's chosen ones since childhood, facing final opponents who were all professional players of the same caliber.
Everyone loved stories of underdogs reaching the top and dark horse comebacks, but they didn't want to become stepping stones for such legends.
Moreover, their previous 10 vs 11 defensive battle against Hongjing No. 8 Middle School, when the opponents weren't at full strength, had been truly regrettable.It is said that Hongjing No. 8 Middle School has remained undefeated since Coach Wang Fa reshuffled their formation.
Even if they were to become stepping stones, they would still face the legend.
Outside the security checkpoint, someone was waiting.
The two lean and dark-skinned forwards were Qin Ao and Chen Jianghe.
There were originally three midfielders: Zhi Hui, Zheng Ren, and Fu Xinshu. Later, Wen Chengye rejoined and swapped positions with Fu Xinshu. Both of them were fair and handsome, standing out from afar.
The defenders, from right to left, were Lin Lu, Zheng Feiyang, Fu Xinshu, Qi Liang, and Yu Ming. Lin Lu had large eyes, Zheng Feiyang was full of energy, Qi Liang always had shocking remarks with his curly hair, and Yu Ming was Qin Ao's little follower.
The goalkeeper was the tallest and burliest boy, named Feng Suo, who always made agile saves that defied his build.
And the person standing at the very front of them was Wang Fa.
He was an incredibly skilled coach with an English name reminiscent of the wind. When in a good mood, he always had many brilliant ideas.
He was also the person Lin Wanxing couldn't tear her eyes away from after catching a glimpse of him from afar during her long journey.
The long run had drained the last of Lin Wanxing's strength.
She forced herself to stand upright before Wang Fa, feeling the need to maintain some composure. But just as she was about to speak, a strong arm pulled her forcefully into his embrace.
Completely exhausted and her vision darkening, she could only bury herself in the man's chest. Her face pressed against the soft fabric of his sweatshirt, and she breathed in the faint scent of tobacco and mint. Her throat felt as if it were being cut, yet her chest gradually filled with warmth. The arm wrapped around her back held her so tightly that Lin Wanxing understood exactly why he had started smoking again.
She had been so terrified earlier, running frantically after getting off the bus, hoping to reach them before they made their final decision.
But when she saw the people waiting at the checkpoint, she knew it was already too late.
Once a seed is planted, one cannot know how tall the tree will grow.
Bittersweet and proud, the choice to advance and retreat together was something only passionate, foolish youths would make.
"I'm sorry, I'm really sorry..." was all she could say, apologizing for her sudden departure in the past and her belated arrival today.
"I told you she'd definitely cry," Qin Ao said smugly.
"You also said the teacher would rush into the coach's arms first, but it was clearly the coach who hugged the teacher first," Chen Jianghe's voice chimed in.
"I couldn't hold back anymore."
His chest vibrated with his deep voice as she heard Wang Fa say this.
In the VIP seats of the stands.
Jiang Xun learned about the organizing committee's final decision earlier than the opposing players. His first thought was that someone had interfered behind the scenes.
The committee official who had tipped him off was quite surprised, saying only that the opposing players had reported themselves, and the facts were confirmed.
Jiang Xun immediately stood up, his mind racing—should he go to Hongjing No. 8 Middle School first or try to pull strings at the football association?
Just then, a pair of warm, dry hands held him back.
Jiang Xun poured out everything he had just heard.
Professor He, however, sighed and smiled ruefully. "So, I won't get to watch the match again?"
Jiang Xun's mind was in complete disarray.
The final match, his father's hard work—everything couldn't fall apart now.
"Not necessarily. I'll go solve the problem right now."
Professor He patted his hand, his gaze incredibly gentle. "If Old Jiang were here, what do you think he would most want to see?"
The gleaming golden championship trophy was already placed at the center of the field, and the final match was about to begin.
Jiang Xun suddenly hesitated.For some reason, on the distant coaching bench of Hongjing No. 8 Middle School, he seemed to see his father standing there, proudly akimbo.
Chen Weiming felt a tap on his shoulder.
When he turned around, he unexpectedly received that news.
"Uphold sports professional ethics, fulfill refereeing duties."
His silently recited oath was interrupted there.
Chen Weiming only felt the left pocket of his trousers was unusually heavy today.
On the rostrum, football association officials hurriedly approached the municipal party committee leaders who had already taken their seats, informing them of the latest emergency.
In the visiting team's locker room, the football association official who announced the result closed the door and left.
The students weren't particularly surprised by this.
Everyone began packing their things.
Lin Wanxing had imagined many times what the finals locker room would be like.
Perhaps with towels thrown everywhere, shoes scattered all over the floor, the air thick and stifling.
But this place was cleaner and tidier than ever before.
The students had already packed their bags and jerseys, doing final cleanup - though they probably hadn't taken out many things to begin with.
Lin Wanxing sat on the long bench, staring blankly and silently at the result on the tactics board.
Fu Xinshu sat down beside her.
The young man's eyes were red and swollen, as if he had been crying for a long time, yet his gaze was exceptionally clear and firm.
"Why?" Lin Wanxing turned to ask him, why he had changed his choice at the last moment.
Fu Xinshu looked at the whiteboard and said, "Teacher, I've been thinking for a long time, about many people, and I also thought of your teacher. He was a terrible person, but actually quite cowardly and weak - he didn't even dare to confess his feelings for you, just a shady rat. But me? I'm different. I suddenly want to see the sun."
In the stands, the teachers received the news.
They notified the students to prepare for orderly departure.
Confused home team fans began chanting slogans, questioning the organizers.
The same confusion and bewilderment also lingered in Yongchuan Evergrande's home team locker room.
When Yongchuan Evergrande's players heard the notification, they initially thought someone from Hongjing No. 8 Middle School had been caught for match-fixing before the game.
But if their opponents could gamble their way all to the finals, did that mean they only bet on themselves to win? This was utterly humiliating to other teams.
Then they discovered that Hongjing No. 8 Middle School had actually reported themselves? Because of a violation bet from two years ago?
Some players thought their opponents must have lost their minds.
OpenNovel