---
Chapter 012 – Breaking Through the Circle
Date: 2006 (Simulation Timeline)
Place: Germany – Oe Youth Training Base
The camera flashed—Su Long found himself lying on the lawn, clutching his foot, crying in pain.
This was the moment of his injury.
Immediately after, the team doctor told him it was just an ordinary fracture, no surgery needed, just rest.
A month later, he was injured again and sent to the local hospital. From there, he was transferred to the best Charité University Hospital in Germany—where he was told he had missed the optimal surgery window. Even if the operation was successful, the chance of returning to his original level was less than 10%.
Su Long's fists clenched.
Five years at Oe… injured again and again.
Looking back, he realized: the team doctor's judgment on minor injuries wasn't a problem, but when it came to serious ones—it was completely unreliable.
"Damn… this team doctor really is a veterinarian!"
Su Long made a mental note: If I ever really join Oe, as soon as I get a serious injury, I'll go straight to Charité University Hospital.
It was far, yes, but it was one of the top five hospitals in the world.
He remembered the name well.
The camera shifted—Su Long was on the bench, watching teammates play. The head coach muttered a few words in English, then gave up when he realized Su Long couldn't understand.
Training days flashed by. In the morning, teammates greeted him politely:
"Good morning, Sue!"
At the end of training, they'd say:
"Goodbye, Sue!"
Slowly, Su Long picked up phrases, then full sentences. Within three months, he could follow basic instructions in English.
He also discovered something from home that teammates loved—tea leaves and teapots.
Germany, like much of Europe, loved to drink—but as footballers, alcohol was off-limits. So Su Long gave them tea. It wasn't expensive back in China, but the effect was tremendous. Coaches and teammates adored it, especially the teapots.
"They have such an ancient Chinese style," they'd say, praising the gifts.
The last flashback: Su Long was in a training match, laughing and battling with teammates for the ball. His football career ended there.
Life experience had preserved these important details.
"Very good…" Su Long suddenly blurted out in English. He froze.
"What happened?"
He kept speaking English, shocked.
"All the English I learned in my football career… stayed with me in reality?!"
He remembered—he had studied abroad in earlier simulations too, but never retained the language.
This meant one hidden effect of Life Experience was preserving acquired language skills.
His English was now at a level of fluent oral communication.
The translator beside him was stunned. Su Long walked directly toward the assistant coach and asked in English, smoothly:
"Hello, are you the assistant coach Mr. Eller?"
The translator's jaw dropped. Su's parents and Xu Gao were equally shocked.
Eller blinked.
"Yes, I'm Eller. And you are…?"
"I am Su Long, from China. I came for trial training. Mr. Golder asked me to report to you."
Eller studied him carefully, then smiled.
"Well, are you ready?"
"Ready," Su Long nodded.
"Good. Do you know what a ring snatcher is?"
"I know."
On the pitch nearby, seven players formed a circle, passing the ball quickly. Inside, three tried to intercept.
This was the rondo drill, Europe's favorite training game. If the defenders couldn't win the ball within 30 seconds, they were humiliated. If they won it, the passer who lost it had to switch inside.
Eller blew his whistle. "Adler, come out. Sue, go in."
"Is he Japanese?"
"Looks more like Korean."
"Either way, Asians in European trials… It's not easy."
Adler walked out reluctantly, glaring at Su Long.
Su Long entered the circle with a smile. "My name is Su. I'm from China."
The players were surprised.
"Ah, didn't expect a Chinese player."
"Can Chinese even play football?"
Su Long didn't explain. He let his actions do the talking.
The rondo began.
Su Long was fast, fierce, and skilled—grabbing balls within 10–20 seconds, dominating the drill. His anticipation and footwork stunned them.
In just ten rounds, everyone's opinion of him changed. Even Adler withdrew his hostility—Su Long's strength was undeniable.
"Sue, I'm sorry for what I said earlier."
"Su, are all Chinese players this strong?"
Respect was won by strength. And Su Long had it.
Eller soon rotated the players:
"Sue, go outside. Haas, inside."
Su Long switched roles. On the outside, his passing was just as sharp—ten rounds without losing the ball once.
Head Coach Golder arrived silently, watching. He finally nodded in approval.
"This is a brave and smart lad."
Golder preferred aggressive, attacking football—433 was his favorite formation. From Su Long's rondo performance alone, he could already see the qualities of a second-team player. Maybe even first-team.
---
⚽️