Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
“Cheers.” The four of them raised their glasses.
Only Lu Ang had orange juice in his glass while the other three had beer.
Chang Yu said, “To be honest, Lu Ang, you’re really weird. You don’t even drink beer. We don’t drink that much, right?”
Wu Youming asked, “What if he’s allergic to alcohol?”
Lu Ang smiled. Actually, he was not allergic to alcohol. It was just that he had never had the habit of drinking. He did not like the feeling of being intoxicated by alcohol. Speaking of which, the captain had found an excuse for himself.
Ai Wu looked at Lu Ang. “Why do I feel like you don’t act like a man?”
Lu Ang pointed at himself. “Me…?”
Ai Wu said, “It’s just a feeling. Maybe you’re an honest person. Actually, when we just got to know Wu Youming, we also feel that he doesn’t act like a man at all. It’s not about his appearance, but just a feeling.”
Lu Ang said, “Maybe… we’re a little more disciplined.”
Wu Youming replied, “Yes, Lu Ang, don’t be led astray by these two. What, honest people aren’t men?”
Chang Yu said, “Didn’t Lu Ang drop out of school to play soccer in the past? Even the team members over there didn’t lead him astray, so how can we lead him astray? I heard that only those who play soccer are distinguished people. Am I right, Lu Ang?”
Lu Ang shook his head. “I’m not sure.”
Ai Wu faced Lu Ang. “But you’re pretty miserable yourself, and you’re having a hard time.”
That’s right. Lu Ang thought.
He had not appeared in an official competition for so long. His future was really uncertain.
Lu Ang said, “That’s right. That’s why we have to work hard together. Aren’t the three of you going to be in your fourth year soon? What are you going to do after getting ready? Are you going to play soccer?” Lu Ang used an ingenious method to shift the topic to the others.
Ai Wu thought for a moment. “I… I don’t know. I don’t think it’s very likely that I’ll be signed by a professional club within a year. I actually like watching soccer, but my old man just had to have a soccer dream, so he forced it on me. Actually, I’m quite interested in the Internet, but actually, I can do anything, as long as I can support myself.”
Wu Youming said, “You just like to play games, right? But Lu Ang, Ai Wu is really good at games. He was even invited by the soccer game company previously.”
Lu Ang questioned, “Is that so? Actually, I quite like playing FIFA too. Let’s play together when we’re free in the future. What about you, Captain?”
Wu Youming said, “I quite like soccer. When I played soccer in high school, my PE teacher felt that I was suitable to be a goalkeeper and said that there were monetary awards, so I played soccer. Of course, I want to join a professional club as it can really improve my family’s living conditions. But if I can’t be a player, I’ve already thought it through. I’ll be a sports teacher or a soccer coach, which is pretty good as well. Now, I’m already revising my teaching resources. My family is actually quite worried about me. They’re afraid that if I get injured from playing soccer, I won’t be able to do anything in the future.”
Chang Yu shook his head. “That’s the way it is now. Most players are only left with the choice to do jobs other than professional soccer players. But I’m different from the captain. I’ve always liked to play soccer since I was young. My goal is to go to Old Trafford to play soccer.”
Before he could finish, Ai Wu laughed.
Chang Yu hit him on the head. “What are you laughing at? That was in the past. Now, we know what our standards are. Everyone says that the feet of national players stink, but my feet stink even more. Forget about going to Old Trafford. Even if I wanted to join a local soccer club, it would be pretty good, and even the lowest level league would do. Even if I can’t get into it, I won’t be a coach or teacher. This kind of job is too boring, and I’m afraid of leading other children astray. I’m prepared to use the shares of my family’s company to invest in soccer. I don’t believe that I can’t be a boss even if I can’t become an athlete.”
Ai Wu asked, “What are you planning to do? Do you plan to destroy the club?”
Chang Yu said, “Don’t spout nonsense, I’m serious.”
Indeed, everyone had already made clear plans for the future even if they could not play soccer. Perhaps Lu Ang was the only one who had never thought about that future.
Wu Youming asked, “What about you, Lu Ang?”
Lu Ang said, “I don’t think I’ve thought about what I’m going to do if I don’t play soccer, because ever since I started playing, I’ve never thought of any other way out. It seems like all my thoughts revolve around wanting to be a professional athlete. I’ll still continue in the direction of the game, but if there’s any change in direction, I don’t think I’ve thought about what I’m going to do.”
Lu Ang thought of Wei Xinheng. The latter graduated from a sports university in the neighboring province. His leg was injured while he was playing soccer. After that, he gradually began to learn more about other industries from his teammates. In the end, he learned knowledge like dissemination and became the news officer of the team.
Chang Yu said, “It’s still better when I was young since my thoughts were pure. I can just go anywhere to play soccer, but reality is a little different.”
Lu Ang replied, “Yeah, you want to go to Old Trafford, while I want to play for City in the Etihad Stadium. The older I get, the more worried I am about the future. Now that I think about it, injuries and illnesses are probably the biggest obstacle to my career as a player.”
Wu Youming said, “Luckily, the few of us haven’t suffered too many injuries and illnesses.”
No one knew that Lu Ang’s eyes only had problems this year.
Lu Ang actually wanted to tell them about the helplessness and indecisiveness of not being able to play soccer for a month due to his eyes and the slight concussion, but he held back because he was gradually coming out of it.
Ai Wu said, “Let’s not talk about it. Let’s have a toast.”
Lu Ang suddenly thought of this saying and said, “Competitive sports are like the waves washing away the sand, and the gold left behind is always in the minority.”
Chang Yu said, “For us, gold is fine, but silver is not bad either. I just hope that I am silver.”
Everyone burst into laughter.
Wu Youming said, “We still have to work hard.”
Everyone nodded.
Lu Ang agreed. “Yes.”
Chang Yu looked at Lu Ang. “You haven’t played soccer in our school’s stadium, right? It feels really good.”
Lu Ang said, “Really? Then I’ll have to work hard.”
Wu Youming answered, “It’s ‘we’.”
Lu Ang replied, “Yes, yes. ‘We’.”
…
At that moment, Xia Mengyin was looking for an internship online. She grumbled, “As expected, most of the internships outside the school require working at least four days a week in the office. Sigh, can’t I just work remotely? It won’t affect my writing at all.”