The National Youth League, fully known as the National Youth Football Super League, is a competition that brings together youth teams from clubs participating in the Chinese Super League, China League One, and China League Two, as well as football schools, amateur football clubs, teams from member associations of the Chinese Football Association, and school football teams.
The league is divided into two stages: the qualifying rounds and the main tournament. During the qualifying stage, matches are organized into regional competitions, divided geographically into six regions: the Northeast, North China, East China, Central China, South China, and Western regions.
Hongjing City falls within the East China region, and Hongjing No. 8 Middle School is designated as a "National Youth Campus Football Featured School," representing the achievements of campus football development. This is also the reason the leadership insisted they must participate.
The above information was what Lin Wanxing found on the official website.
The competition is formal, but since major clubs will be sending their youth teams, for an ordinary high school without significant "background," participating in the qualifiers is essentially like being an "extra" in a play.
Therefore, Teacher Qian and Group Leader Zhao believed that since winning wasn’t necessary, the task was simple: just bring a group of boys to show up on time. That’s why they assigned it to her.
On Thursday at noon, summoned by Teacher Qian, Lin Wanxing was about to meet the entire Hongjing No. 8 Middle School football team for the first time.
The meeting was held in an ordinary multi-purpose classroom.
In the midday heat of September, the temperature still soared above 30 degrees Celsius.
Lin Wanxing arrived ten minutes early.
The classroom clearly wasn’t used often. Thick curtains covered the windows on both sides, and the air inside was stifling.
She turned on the fan and opened the curtains.
Just then, there was a knock at the door.
A lanky boy in a school uniform stood at the entrance.
His left hand was still half-raised, not fully lowered from knocking. His uniform sleeve was pulled up quite a bit, revealing his slender wrist.
The cuff of his sleeve was washed to a faded, frayed state. He was excessively thin, with pale skin, and the prominent ulnar joint made it seem as though his wrist could snap with the slightest pressure.
"Teacher," the boy said, his voice soft and calm.
Lin Wanxing shifted her gaze from his wrist. "Hello, did Teacher Qian send you?"
The boy nodded.
"Take any seat," Lin Wanxing said.
The boy seemed like a well-behaved, gentle child. He even carried a pencil, an eraser, and a test paper.
Not only did he knock and announce his arrival, but he also gave her a slight bow before finding a seat. He was completely different from Chen Jianghe or Qin Ao.
As she opened the remaining windows, Lin Wanxing casually asked over her shoulder, "Are you also on the school football team? What’s your name?"
"Fu Xinshu."
Lin Wanxing paused. "That’s a lovely name."
Fu Xinshu shook his head silently.
"You’re on the football team too? What position do you play?"
"I used to be a midfielder."
"Used to... What about now?"
"I haven’t played in a long time."
"Oh. Are you confident about the match on Sunday? There are still a few days left—maybe you should gather and practice?"
Lin Wanxing chattered on for a bit but noticed Fu Xinshu simply watched her calmly, waiting until she finished before shaking his head again.
His movements were slow, carrying a gravity that didn’t match his age.
The ceiling fan whirred overhead, and the classroom fell into an unbearable silence.
Fu Xinshu took out his test paper and began working on it, head down. Lin Wanxing felt it wasn’t the right time to disturb him.
Another five minutes passed, and it was time for the scheduled meeting.
Finally, a second student appeared at the door.
Fu Xinshu, who had been focused on his work, seemed to sense the footsteps and looked up.
Lin Wanxing saw his face instantly pale, a drop of sweat sliding from his forehead.
It was 12:30 PM, and the second hand of the clock swept almost perfectly to the 12.
This punctual student was the polar opposite of Fu Xinshu.
Although all students wore the same uniform as per school rules, the boy at the door was handsome, tall, and slender. His white shirt collar was crisp, he wore a pair of black AJs, and on his wrist was a skeleton watch with visible movement. His demeanor was cold, giving off the air of a privileged young master from a wealthy family.
"Did Teacher Qian send you?" Lin Wanxing asked.
"Yes."
"What’s your name?"
"Wen Chengye."
"Alright, Wen Chengye, take any seat," Lin Wanxing said.
Wen Chengye entered, turned left, and sat directly in the first row, as if unwilling to waste any time or energy.
Naturally, this was also the seat farthest from Fu Xinshu.
After sitting down, Wen Chengye did nothing else but stare at the clock on the wall.
Lin Wanxing had a feeling that if the meeting didn’t start within three to five minutes, he would leave precisely on time.
Sure enough.
At 12:35, Wen Chengye pushed back his chair and stood up.
Without a word to anyone, he strode out of his seat, ready to leave.
Just as Lin Wanxing was about to stop him, Teacher Qian’s large figure finally appeared at the classroom door.
"Where are you going?" Teacher Qian said to Wen Chengye.
Wen Chengye froze in place.
"Only two are here?" Teacher Qian, holding a large tea mug, stood stunned at the door. He scanned the classroom, and his eyes widened like copper bells.
"Yeah," Lin Wanxing nodded, gesturing with her eyes for Wen Chengye to sit down.
"This is outrageous!"
Teacher Qian slammed his tea mug onto a desk.
The loud "bang" made Lin Wanxing and the three boys who had just appeared at the door jump.
Qin Ao stood frozen at the entrance. Lin Wanxing met his gaze, and the boy’s face once again showed an expression of "Why is it you again?"
Behind Qin Ao were his two smoking buddies. Lin Wanxing remembered one of them, a cute boy named Lin Lu, and the other named Yu Ming.
"What time did I say to gather?" Teacher Qian asked Qin Ao irritably.
Qin Ao had fallen silent the moment he saw Wen Chengye, his eyes fierce.
"Teacher, we arrived early and went to the restroom," Lin Lu raised his hand and shouted, very quick-witted.
Lin Wanxing didn’t expose them.
"Find a seat," Teacher Qian said, displeased but seemingly resigned to the fact that scolding was pointless.
The three entered the classroom.
Lin Wanxing noticed that Qin Ao, who usually swaggered at the front, deliberately slowed his pace, falling behind the other two.
He walked steadily straight to Wen Chengye’s desk and kicked it hard.
The metal leg screeched violently against the terrazzo floor.
Wen Chengye looked up sharply, his gaze calm and icy.
Lin Wanxing narrowed her eyes.
"Qin Ao, what are you doing!" Teacher Qian’s face turned completely green.
"Sorry, teacher," Qin Ao turned around with a cheeky grin. "I didn’t notice—there’s a puddle on the floor. Did someone pee here? Made me slip."
He glanced at Wen Chengye, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
"Too bad you didn’t fall to your death."
A light, airy voice came from outside the classroom.
Seven minutes past the meeting time, the sixth team member finally arrived.
"What did you say?" Qin Ao snapped.
"Stop barking and find a seat."
The newly arrived boy at the door looked lazy, with thin lips and messy, straw-like hair.
He brushed past Qin Ao’s shoulder and sat down behind Wen Chengye, clearly marking his allegiance.
Lin Wanxing looked helplessly at Teacher Qian. This team seemed ready to fight at the slightest provocation, hardly the type to obediently show up for a match.
"Qi Liang, stop stirring trouble," Teacher Qian first gave her an awkward smile, then immediately switched to a stern expression, forcefully suppressing the other side. "Qin Ao, get back to your seat. Do you want to fight, get demerits, and be expelled?"
"Soon, no rush," Qi Liang said lightly, then leaned back in his chair and crossed his legs, looking utterly unbothered by any scolding.
Qin Ao’s eyes blazed, his fists clenched so tightly it seemed he might explode at any moment.
Seeing he was genuinely angry, Lin Wanxing spoke up at the right moment, "Qin Ao, come sit over here."
The boy, fists still clenched, refused to turn around.
"Qin Ao." At that moment, Fu Xinshu’s calm voice rang out.
His voice was slightly hoarse but carried an undeniable authority.
To Lin Wanxing’s surprise, though slow and reluctant, Qin Ao unclenched his fists. With extreme displeasure, he turned and found a seat near Fu Xinshu.
Though angry, Teacher Qian seemed too tired to bother with them.
A few more students trickled in, easing the previously tense atmosphere.
After Chen Jianghe finally took his seat, the entire 11-member team was finally present.
"Look at you, always so sloppy. What kind of example is this?" Teacher Qian stood at the podium, took a sip of tea to calm his anger. "I called you here to inform you that there’s a National Youth League qualifying match on Sunday. Your game is at 1:00 PM against Anning Experimental High School."
"Why do we still have a match to play?" Qin Ao drawled, raising his hand.
"Rare for trash to have self-awareness," Qi Liang sneered, muttering under his breath.
"Anning Experimental is really strong. We definitely can’t beat them," Lin Lu’s eyes sparkled as he quickly changed the subject. "Why don’t we just forfeit again!"
"Am I here to discuss this with you?" Teacher Qian puffed out his large belly. "Your task is to go and play this match. Anyone who doesn’t show up will fail PE this semester."
Teacher Qian believed his threat carried weight. Ignoring the students’ protests, he cut to the chase: "This is Teacher Lin. She’s in charge of taking you to the match on Sunday. Follow her arrangements."
Lin Wanxing was heavily patted on the shoulder and, before she could react, was pushed to the center of the podium.
Below, some students sat upright, while others lounged with legs crossed.
But every student was looking at her.
The classroom suddenly fell silent.
Only the sound of Teacher Qian’s footsteps echoed as he left.
Lin Wanxing took a deep breath.
"Listen well to Teacher Lin."
Teacher Qian turned back at the door and said one last thing.
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