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Chapter 38 - Chapter 38: Simon Got Played, and Zidane Was Tightfisted

"You're right! Every one of you is incredibly successful, truly remarkable. But when it comes to contributions to Real Madrid, none of you compare to Su Hang!"

Off to the side, Su Hang, who had been practicing his shots, slipped and fired a stunning long-range screamer.

"Is Su Hang weak? No, Su Hang is one of the best forwards in my heart!" Simon revealed. "But for the sake of team harmony, he came to me himself and asked to be left off the squad list."

"That way, more players who had issues could get game time, helping to keep the locker room balanced."

"He gave up his own minutes, and yet here you are arguing over who gets the biggest piece of the pie!"

"Do you even have a conscience?!"

Su Hang rushed forward to stop Simon.

Stop talking.

If this goes on, there's no walking it back.

"Don't hold me back, Su! I need everyone to see what you've done! Otherwise, they'll just think you're coasting!" Simon roared. "Me, Simon! Even if I get sacked tomorrow, I'm saying this today!"

"Su is starting the next match! Not even Jesus himself could change my mind!"

"You really think Su Hang can't score as a starter?"

"You really think we can't win with him in the lineup?"

"Let me tell you—Su Hang has played nine games for the team. He was Man of the Match in four! He helped us win two championships! Only one of those games didn't end in a win!"

"He has the highest win rate on the team. No one else comes close!"

"Mock me, ignore me, trample on me all you want... but don't you dare take Su's sacrifices for granted!"

"You should all learn from Su. He's the only one who truly sees Real Madrid as home!"

Simon's outburst shook everyone.

When the quiet ones blow up, it hits hard.

But what hit even harder was how much Su Hang had given behind the scenes.

The truth always comes out.

News of it quickly spread across Spain.

"Did you hear? Su wasn't included in the squad before because he wanted to keep the peace."

"He gave up his spot for others, but some people still weren't satisfied."

"Honestly, I don't think there's anyone more deserving of a starting spot than Su Hang! Just look at the titles he's helped us win!"

"Su is amazing, but he's too kind. He never fights for anything."

"Well, that's just who he is—always putting others first. It's honestly heartbreaking."

"If this kid were just a little more selfish, he might already be the next big star!"

"Su Hang's seriously talented! I heard that just to stay off the matchday squad, he even faked not knowing how to control, pass, or dribble in training!"

"Are you kidding? There's no way Su can't do those things! His talent is the stuff of legends!"

"Well, now he's starting the next match! The whole world will finally see how much Su has given up!"

As Su Hang scrolled through the comments, tears streamed down his face.

What if... Su hadn't really sacrificed anything?

What if he was just genuinely bad?

Wouldn't letting a player like that play be straight-up cruel?

In no time, the next La Liga fixture—otherwise a forgettable round—became the hottest topic.

People unfamiliar with the hype thought it was the next El Clásico.

But then they saw... Albacete?

Fans from other leagues jumped in: "What's up between Albacete and Real Madrid? Why is this game so hyped? Over 150 media outlets are reportedly broadcasting it!"

Real Madrid fans quickly explained everything.

Naturally, even more people became curious about Su Hang.

Eventually, over 240 media outlets signed up to cover the match.

All 80,000 seats at the Bernabéu sold out.

Ticket prices on the black market doubled or even tripled.

But the hotter the hype, the more trouble for Su Hang.

He knew all too well how fickle these fans could be.

For low-stakes games, no one cares much.

But in high-profile matches, if you mess up, you're instantly labeled the scapegoat.

You go from fan-favorite to discarded overnight.

This can seriously affect how the club sees you.

Just look at Karius—after one brilliant season, he was ruined by a single Champions League final. His career nosedived after that.

If Su Hang had real ability, he wouldn't care what the fans thought.

But the truth was, he didn't have it yet.

He couldn't let the world realize he didn't belong on Real Madrid's first team.

So sure, he could act like a scrub during training matches.

But in real games? He had to deliver.

...

To do better, Su Hang approached Zidane for advice after the final pre-match training session.

He was hoping the bald one would throw him a Moment Card to save the day.

"I get how you're feeling," Zidane said, patting Su Hang on the shoulder. "You've done so well before that now you're feeling the pressure."

"Worried about underperforming, not scoring or assisting."

"That's not a bad thing, Su. Not every player gets to start their career with such a bang. Even I had to grind it out at small clubs for years before getting a big break."

"You're only afraid to lose because you don't fully know yourself yet. But the truth is..."

"So just give yourself to the game. When the moment comes, you'll know exactly what to do."

Zidane was a master at getting into players' heads.

Those words could ease the nerves of any genius.

But Su Hang... wasn't a genius.

There were no flashes of brilliance.

Just system-granted skills and Moment Cards!

Zidane!

"Oh, right. If I had to suggest something... try using more wall passes with your teammates in the final third," Zidane added. "It's a simple move, but it works wonders. Never fails!"

"Ding! Zidane has given you key advice. You have learned 'Wall Pass'."

"Wall Pass: Player-level skill. Increases the success rate of wall passes."

Su Hang wiped the sweat from his forehead.

At least he got something out of it.

Still, Zidane was getting stingier—going from Moment Cards to Superstar Skills, and now barely tossing out player skills.

And he wasn't even ashamed!

Looks like it's time to start cozying up to other superstars.

Zidane, your golden boy status is in danger!

Meanwhile...

Walking out of the training ground, Zidane furrowed his brow.

Could a cool-headed, big-hearted talent like Su Hang really be nervous?

No way.

Then why did he say all that?

Trying to show off?

Impossible—Su Hang wasn't that kind of guy.

But saying he used to play well and was worried about a bad performance now... was he hinting for Zidane to give him more chances?

Was Su Hang gearing up to go all out next match to stand up for Simon with his performance?

Zidane fell deep into thought.

Helping Su Hang might not be a bad idea. After all, between the Spanish clique and the South American one... Zidane had even less patience for the latter.

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