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Chapter 009 — Twin Stars Rise and
〖Simulation begins!〗
〖In China, because of your excellent performances with King Dong in the Second League and at the Asian Games, you are famously known as the Twin Stars.〗
〖In 2007, at age 21, you finished the season as league top scorer—with 18 goals.〗
〖The top scorers in the second league for two consecutive years are Chinese strikers, sparking a wave of Chinese forwards in Belgium and across Europe.〗
〖That same year, you joined the national Olympic team for the Toulon Cup—you scored 3 goals in the final to beat France 3–2 and became China's top scorer of the tournament.〗
〖In 2008, at age 22, you suffered a vicious second-half foul that led to a serious cruciate ligament injury, ruling you out for the season.〗
〖It marked the tragic fall of the "Twin Stars"—both you and King Dong injured in the same season.〗
〖The August blow meant surgery ruined your Olympic hopes—a lifelong regret.〗
In 2009, at age 23 and still recovering, your contract with Sergea Bruges expired—and wasn't renewed.
In 2010, at the age of 24, you signed with the French Second Division club Red Stars.
〖In one match, you scored twice but were injured, sidelining you for a month and costing you your main role upon return.〗
〖You were injured again during training.〗
〖You never fully recovered from the initial ACL injury, and gradually faded from view.〗
In 2014, at the age of 28, you left Red Stars and joined Dortmund B in Germany's Third Division.
〖In 2015, at age 29, you enjoyed a brief resurgence—29 games, 12 goals scored.〗
〖In 2016, at age 30, you played 30 games and scored 9 goals, helping Dortmund B reach the D-League Regional League.〗
〖In 2017, age of 31, you appeared in 10 games for Dortmund B, scored 2 goals, and lost your starting position.〗
In 2018, at age 32, exhausted from life abroad, you returned home and joined the Chinese Super League's Tianhai Team.
〖In 2019, at age 33, you revived yourself once more—scoring 15 goals as a firm starter.〗
〖But in 2020, age 34, Tianhai dissolved; you were owed ¥5 million in wages—and the money was never recovered.〗
In 2021, at the age of 35, you settled back at home.
In 2022, age 36, still at home.
〖You thought: "Maybe it's time to retire and enjoy family life."〗
Since then, your football career has quietly ended.
Su Long sat stunned.
"To play until 34… battling injuries, yet finding a second spring in Dortmund…"
He reflected: the years at Bruges laid his foundation, and his revival in Germany proved he still had value.
He wondered why his previous simulations never connected him with King Dong—perhaps he chose the wrong "path" earlier in life.
Now, the system displayed his latest attributes:
〖Simulation ends: Physical 15, Technical 17, Mental 30〗
Four new upgrade options appeared:
Physical attributes of a 22-year-old (score 25)
Technical attributes of a 30-year-old (score 30)
Mental attributes of a 30-year-old (score 40)
35-year-old life experience
Su Long stared at the stats, longing for them all.
Physical 25 would be insane—if he could avoid injury, he'd be unstoppable.
But injuries were a threat to the footballer's life.
Yet the seductive "Technical 30" was too tempting.
"Select the technical attributes of a 30-year-old."
〖You now have Physical 15, Technical 30, Mental 30〗
Instantly, Su Long's mind flooded with technical details.
The biggest lesson: mastering the "ball stop"—knowing when to stop it half a meter in front, or 2 meters away.
Also weaving sudden changes in direction, faked moves, even dives—skills he never appreciated before.
He realized he had once despised diving… but now saw its tactical beauty.
He tested his strength mentally: his Physical 15 might still beat the average, but with Technical and Mental 30… he could dominate the second league.
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The next morning, Su Long shared his plan with his parents.
"I'm going to play in Belgium's second league," he said.
"Going to a top team means too much competition. I need playing time—that matters most."
His parents supported him. He rang Agent Xu Gao.
"Belgium? Are you sure?" Xu Gao asked, surprised. But Su Long was steadfast.
Soon, Xu Gao arranged trials with clubs in Belgium's Second League, including Club Brugge.
They essentially treated him as "the new star from the U17 World Cup."
Even though Chinese football had a poor reputation, clubs could lose nothing by trying him.
A successful trial would open doors.
By October 1, Su Long and his parents flew to Belgium for trials with a full visa process—after all, he was their only son.
Su Long looked at the blue sky:
"Belgium, here I come!"
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