Sunlight slanted through the apartment blinds, casting alternating light and shadow patterns on the floor.
Lu Chuan sat on the sofa, holding the newspaper, his eyes fixed on the blurry candid photo in the corner.
In the picture, a man and a woman were embracing by a car in a mountain park; although the light was dim and their faces were indistinct,
the man's figure, outline, and attire were almost identical to Lu Chuan's after yesterday's match.
"This was taken by paparazzi from a distance; they're not yet sure it's you," Carlos said, standing nearby, his tone grave.
His fingers tapped rhythmically on the coffee table, making a steady drumming sound. "But this is a warning. Lu, every time you two meet, it could be under the surveillance of countless eyes."
Lu Chuan slowly raised his head, feeling for the first time the immense pressure of a top celebrity romance so directly.
The feeling of being spied upon sent a chill down his spine, as if countless eyes were secretly watching his every move.
His phone suddenly rang, displaying Esther's name. Lu Chuan quickly answered.
"Did you see the newspaper?" Esther's voice came through the receiver, surprisingly lighthearted.
"I saw it," Lu Chuan's voice was a little tense.
"Don't worry, dear," Esther chuckled lightly, "My PR team can handle these baseless photos in minutes.
You just need to focus on playing your game; if the sky falls, I'll be there to hold it up for you."
Her composure and responsibility gradually dispelled Lu Chuan's anxiety. This girl always offered support when he needed it most, and her calm demeanor made him feel much more at ease.
"I've already had the team prepare a statement, saying I was resting at home last night and the person in the photo isn't me," Esther continued,
"The paparazzi have no substantial evidence, so this matter will blow over quickly."
After hanging up, Carlos's expression visibly relaxed. He took a document from his briefcase, a smile on his face.
"Good news, the official Brand contract has been drafted," Carlos handed the document to Lu Chuan,
"Their legal and PR teams both stated that they don't care about external 'scandals'; what they value is your topicality and 'lone brave' spirit."
Lu Chuan took the document, a thick stack of papers feeling substantial in his hands.
The contract terms were dense, but the most important number made his eyes light up: a five-year endorsement contract worth over 4 million Euros in total.
"A contract of this magnitude is absolutely unprecedented for a segunda división player."
Carlos sat opposite him, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "Brand is betting on your future; they believe you can become a representative figure for Chinese football."
That afternoon, when Lu Chuan arrived at the training ground, his teammates were already warming up. As soon as he entered the locker room, he heard a burst of laughter.
"Hey, Lu! Who's that lucky girl in the newspaper?" Álvaro García squeezed over, winking.
"Our Chinese kid not only scores goals but also gets girls!" Suárez chimed in from the side, making an exaggerated blowing kiss gesture.
"Don't talk nonsense, you can't even see clearly in that photo," Lu Chuan waved his hand dismissively, feigning nonchalance.
"It's more interesting when you can't see clearly!" Trejo patted his shoulder. "Mystery is the best seasoning."
These good-natured jokes actually diffused Lu Chuan's tension.
He realized that as long as he performed well on the field, the team would be his strongest backing. His teammates' attitudes proved this point.
Once training began, the entire team's attention quickly shifted to the second leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final against Real Sociedad.
This was Rayo Vallecano's most important match of the season so far; a win would make history, leading them to the final.
The atmosphere on the training ground became unprecedentedly serious. Everyone knew the significance of this match and that there was no room for error.
Paco Jémez stood in front of the tactics board, drawing formations with focused intensity.
Uncharacteristically, he didn't continue to drill defensive counter-attacks, but instead sketched out a highly aggressive 4-3-3 formation on the tactics board.
"On our home turf, we don't defend!" Paco's voice was firm and powerful. "We will attack them! We will overwhelm them with our passion and fighting spirit!"
He turned and pointed at Lu Chuan, his eyes burning with fiery fighting spirit: "You are the culmination of our attack!"
Lu Chuan nodded, feeling an unprecedented level of pressure and expectation. The entire team's attack would revolve around him; this trust was both motivation and a heavy responsibility.
Returning to his apartment that evening, Lu Chuan opened the system panel, and a blue, semi-transparent interface appeared in his mind.
[Current LP Balance: 2430]
[Activated Skills (Permanent): Full Field Vision, Penalty Box Finisher]
[To Be Activated/Synthesized: Big Heart (Fragment x1)]
[Core Talents: Guaranteed Long Shot (10%), Guaranteed Penalty Kick (30%)]
[Physical Attributes: Speed (greatly improved), Strength, Stamina (steadily increasing)]
Lu Chuan looked at his LP balance of 2430, resisting the urge to spend.
He knew that the next expenditure would be crucial for acquiring Big Heart. He had to accumulate enough LP through the upcoming matches.
"Enter training space," Lu Chuan murmured.
The scene instantly changed, and he found himself on a virtual football field.
There were no spectators, no noise, just him and the football.
Lu Chuan began repeatedly simulating match scenarios against Real Sociedad. He focused on practicing quick releases under the opponent's high press, and small-group link-up play with Trejo and Álvaro García.
Virtual Real Sociedad players constantly closed in on him, and Lu Chuan tried different ways to break free again and again.
Touching the ball, turning, passing—every action was ingrained deeper into his muscle memory.
Despite being banned by the Football Association, domestic fans' support for Lu Chuan reached its peak.
On social media, the hashtag #GoLuChuan remained trending. Many fan organizations stayed up all night, preparing to watch the live broadcast of this Copa del Rey semi-final.
Fan-made support videos spread online, and various banners and slogans emerged endlessly.
"Lu Chuan is our pride!" "The future of Chinese football!" "The lone brave never falls!"
These voices from his homeland traveled across mountains and seas, reaching Lu Chuan's ears and becoming his motivation.
The night before the match, Lu Chuan was making his final preparations in his apartment when his phone suddenly rang. The screen displayed Esther's name.
"Tomorrow's the big battle, are you nervous?" Esther's voice came through the receiver, tinged with concern.
"I'm alright, I'm fully prepared," Lu Chuan leaned back on the sofa, feeling the warmth her voice brought.
"I have a suggestion," Esther paused, "If you make it to the final, I'll grant you one wish, any wish at all."
Lu Chuan's heart suddenly raced; this tempting "bet" ignited his fighting spirit to its peak.
"Any wish?"
"Any wish," Esther's voice held a hint of playfulness, "But the prerequisite is that you have to win."
The next day, match day arrived as scheduled.
Vallecas Stadium became a sea of red and white, with twenty-eight thousand fans singing the team anthem in unison, their voices shaking the heavens.
The entire stadium was like a waking giant beast, awaiting the impending fierce battle.
In the player's tunnel, players from both teams were making their final preparations. Real Sociedad's players looked serious; they knew the difficulty of playing away from home.
Lu Chuan was adjusting his shin guards, feeling the tension and excitement in his muscles.
Just then, Real Sociedad captain Oyarzabal walked past him and suddenly stopped.
"Kid, your luck has run out," Oyarzabal turned around, his eyes cold, "The Copa del Rey final stage does not belong to a segunda división team."
Lu Chuan raised his head, his gaze meeting the other's. He didn't reply, just stared quietly into Oyarzabal's eyes.
Outside, the fans' singing grew louder and louder, and every inch of Vallecas Stadium vibrated.
Lu Chuan clenched his fist, a fierce fire burning in his heart.
Tonight, he would prove with goals that a segunda división team could also create miracles.