The summer sun over Munich burned bright, and the training base buzzed with talk about the upcoming friendly match. Bayern II would face 1860 Munich, their long-time crosstown rival.
Normally, it was just a warm-up game — a chance for fringe players to get minutes. But this time, the buzz was louder than usual.Because of one name.
Qin Ming.
In the locker room, the air smelled faintly of liniment and fresh laundry.Qin Ming sat quietly on the bench, tying his boots. His heart thumped with a rhythm that wasn't nervousness — it was anticipation.
He could feel the system humming faintly in his mind, almost like it was alive.
[Mission Activated: Make Your Mark!]Objective: Record a goal or an assist in your first official match appearance.Reward: +10% Template Fusion (80%)Bonus: Unlock Special Skill — Ronaldinho's No-Look Pass
"An assist or a goal, huh…" he murmured, smiling faintly. "Piece of cake."
Across the room, Højbjerg was watching him.The Danish midfielder had seen the whispers — the coaches, the scouts, even some reporters asking about the "Chinese kid who dribbles like Ronaldinho."
He walked over, nudging Qin Ming's shoulder. "You ready?"
Qin Ming glanced up, eyes calm and sharp. "Always."
"Good," Højbjerg grinned. "Because Ten Hag just told the press he's testing you today."
"Testing?"
"Yeah — as in, if you flop, he's shipping you off to Shanghai."
Qin Ming chuckled softly. "Then I guess I'll have to give him a reason to cancel that ticket."
Kickoff — Grünwalder Stadion
The crowd was small but lively — local fans, academy kids, and a few scouts with notepads.
Qin Ming started on the right wing, wearing number 18. The moment the whistle blew, he felt his pulse sync with the rhythm of the match — fast, crisp, alive.
1860 Munich pressed high, their defenders rough and physical. A few early bumps, a shove here and there — they thought he was just another foreign exchange kid.
Big mistake.
Fifteen minutes in, Højbjerg won the ball in midfield and sent a quick pass to the right.Qin Ming received it cleanly, trapping it with the outside of his foot. The defender charged in immediately, shoulder first.
Perfect.
Qin Ming feinted left — the defender bit — and in one smooth motion, he snapped the ball right with an Elastico, leaving the man stumbling into empty space.
The crowd gasped. Even from the sidelines, the assistant coach muttered, "That move… that was exactly like Ronaldinho…"
Qin Ming didn't stop. He cut into the box, faked a shot, rolled the ball past another defender, and squared it across the goal.
Højbjerg arrived right on time, sliding it home.
1–0.
The fans erupted.
Højbjerg got up, grinning from ear to ear, and yelled, "Assist king!"
Qin Ming laughed, clapping him on the shoulder. "Told you I'd make it easy for you."
[Mission Progress: Goal Contribution +1][Reward Unlocked: +10% Template Fusion (80%)][Skill Acquired: No-Look Pass]
He felt the surge again — the system's energy coursing through his veins.His field of vision seemed to expand; every player's position, every movement — he could read it all as if time had slowed down.
Ten Hag, standing by the touchline, couldn't hide his surprise this time.He'd seen potential before — flashes, talent, enthusiasm — but this was different.The confidence, the body language, the sheer joy in every touch.
He leaned toward his assistant. "That's not luck. That's instinct."
The assistant nodded slowly. "Feels like… something's awakened in him."
By halftime, Qin Ming had the crowd on his side. Every touch earned cheers, every feint drew gasps.Even the opposing players looked wary now — they'd been embarrassed once; they weren't eager for a repeat.
As the team gathered near the bench, Ten Hag walked over.His tone was calm, but his eyes were bright.
"Qin," he said. "You've got 15 minutes left. Show me something unforgettable."
Qin Ming looked up, the hint of a grin tugging at his lips."Unforgettable, huh? You got it, Coach."
Second Half
The rhythm of the match picked up. Bayern II pushed forward, but 1860 Munich defended deeper, packing their box.It was hard to find space — until the 72nd minute.
Qin Ming drifted inside, exchanging a one-two with Højbjerg. Three defenders surrounded him.He glanced toward the far post, eyes flicking quickly — and then, with a casual flick of his right foot, sent the ball sailing sideways.
The defenders turned — the pass had gone completely the wrong way.
Or so they thought.
From the corner of their vision, the left winger darted in. The ball curved perfectly into his path.A no-look pass — fast, clean, unreal.
Another goal. 2–0.
The stadium roared again.
Ten Hag's lips twitched into the faintest of smiles. He looked down at his clipboard and wrote two words:
"Keep him."
As the final whistle blew, Qin Ming raised his hands and looked up at the Munich sky.For a moment, he could almost hear the crowd at the Allianz Arena in his mind — the roar of fifty thousand fans.
He smiled.
[Mission Complete: Make Your Mark!][Template Fusion: 80%][Hidden Quest Unlocked: Path of the Maestro — Ronaldinho's Legacy.]
Back in the locker room, Højbjerg smacked him on the back."Man, if you keep this up, you'll be in the first team by Christmas."
Qin Ming laughed. "Christmas? Try sooner."
As he pulled off his boots, the system shimmered faintly before his eyes again:
[Next Target: Earn Your Place in Bayern's Senior Squad.][Condition: Impress the First Team Scouts within Three Matches.][Reward: New Skill — 'Elastic Dribble Flow.']
Qin Ming grinned, eyes gleaming like fire."The road to the Allianz Arena… has just begun."