The Rosaleda Stadium in Málaga felt exceptionally hot under the afternoon sun.
The moment Lu Chuan stepped onto the pitch, he felt the huge difference between it and Vallecas Stadium.
The quality of the turf was noticeably inferior to their home ground, with some areas even showing clear depressions and hard patches.
The humid sea breeze blew in from the Mediterranean, carrying a salty smell that made players unaccustomed to Madrid's dry climate feel uncomfortable.
"This turf will be very awkward to play on," Álvaro García frowned, testing the hardness of the ground with his toe.
Comesaña wiped the sweat from his forehead; although the match hadn't started yet, the humid weather already made him uncomfortable.
"This awful weather, it feels like playing in a sauna."
Paco stood on the sidelines, observing the players' adaptation, his brow furrowed.
Málaga had two more days of rest than Rayo Vallecano, which gave their opponent a clear advantage in physical reserves.
Málaga coach Sergio Pellicer's words from the pre-match press conference still echoed: "We will use high-intensity pressing to wear down Rayo Vallecano and make them feel real pressure at the Rosaleda."
What was worse, Suárez's absence created a huge hole in the midfield defense.
Although the young José Pozo had good technique, his characteristic of being strong in attack but weak in defense would become a fatal flaw when facing Málaga's onslaught.
The player tunnel was quiet, but Lu Chuan felt a buzzing in his ears; the opponents' breathing, his own heartbeat, all sounded like heavy drumbeats.
Just that morning, before they departed, Esther appeared at his apartment door, holding an exquisite gift box.
"What is this?" Lu Chuan asked, taking the box with a puzzled look.
"Open it and see," Esther's voice was filled with excitement and mystery.
Inside the box was a meticulously crafted photo album, with "Our Story" written in gold foil on the cover.
Lu Chuan turned to the first page, which showed a photo from their first meeting; Esther was wearing sunglasses then, and he looked a bit reserved.
Behind each photo were words personally written by Esther. Behind the first photo, it read: "That afternoon, I met the person who changed my life."
Lu Chuan continued to turn the pages, seeing a photo of them watching a movie together, with the words: "Your smile is more wonderful than any movie."
There was also a photo of them walking in the park: "Every step leads to a better future."
The last page was blank, with only one sentence written on it: "When you come back, we'll continue writing."
Lu Chuan felt his eyes moisten; this gift was more precious than any expensive item.
"Thank you," he hugged Esther tightly, "This is the best gift I've ever received."
"This is just the beginning," Esther whispered in his ear, "No matter the outcome of the match, you are my champion."
This photo album became Lu Chuan's sweet antidote to stress.
Whenever he felt nervous, he would recall those beautiful memories, remembering Esther's support and encouragement.
However, external pressure still existed.
Just the day before, paparazzi once again took photos of Esther near Lu Chuan's apartment and hinted at an unusual relationship between them in the tabloids.
Esther's public relations team reacted quickly, issuing a statement that the two were just friends living in the same neighborhood, successfully suppressing the rumors.
But this feeling of being watched made both of them uncomfortable.
"We must be more careful," Esther cautioned over the phone, "Now that your popularity is growing, media attention will also increase."
Carlos also brought new business opportunities at this time.
Red Bull once again proposed the idea of Lu Chuan and Esther collaborating on a Brand commercial.
"Their idea is very interesting," Carlos explained over the phone, "They want to shoot a Brand commercial about 'dreams and support,' and you can appear as friends."
"Now is not the time," Lu Chuan rejected the proposal, "Let's talk about it after the season ends."
Carlos expressed understanding and suggested waiting until promotion was successful, then using "celebrating promotion" as an opportunity for collaboration, which would satisfy the Brand's needs without overexposing their relationship.
Meanwhile, good news also came from Brand company.
Based on Lu Chuan's image and story, they began designing an exclusive series of football shoes and apparel named "lone brave."
"The design concept is that indomitable spirit you show on the field," the Brand design director explained during a video conference, "We plan to officially launch this series after you make your La Liga debut."
The shoe design incorporated traditional Chinese elements and modern technology, symbolizing the combination of heritage and innovation.
The apparel featured simple lines and striking colors, reflecting the vitality and courage of young people.
"I'm really looking forward to seeing the final product," Lu Chuan was full of anticipation for this collaboration.
What moved Lu Chuan even more was the support from Chinese fans.
The domestic Rayo Vallecano fan club organized a "cloud cheering" event, recording a video of thousands of fans singing the team anthem.
The video was played to the players through the club before the match.
On the screen, countless familiar and unfamiliar faces sang Rayo Vallecano's team anthem in unison; although their pronunciation wasn't perfect, the genuine emotion deeply touched everyone.
"For Lu Chuan! For Rayo Vallecano!" At the end of the video, all the fans shouted this slogan together.
Lu Chuan felt his eyes moisten; these unfamiliar fans had put in so much effort to support him.
He declared within the team: "For them, we must give our all in this match."
His teammates were also moved by this support from afar. Trejo patted Lu Chuan's shoulder: "We won't let them down."
However, reality remained cruel. As the players walked towards the player tunnel, Málaga captain Adrián González was talking with his teammates.
This son of former Real Madrid legend Míchel was himself an experienced midfielder.
He withdrew his gaze and snorted at his teammates beside him; his disdainful attitude was more obvious than any words.
"Look at their starting lineup," González whispered to his teammates beside him,
"Luna is injured, Suárez is rested; their defense is already riddled with holes."
"That chinese kid certainly has some skills," Málaga's striker Sadiku nodded in agreement, "But football isn't a one-man sport."
"Exactly," González's eyes became firm, "Their winning streak is over; today, it's our turn."
Málaga players' confidence stemmed from thorough preparation and their opponent's difficulties.
They had studied videos of Rayo Vallecano's recent matches and identified clear weaknesses in their opponent's defense.
More importantly, they had a strong desire to win. As a team fighting for survival, every point was crucial to them.
The atmosphere in the player tunnel became tense. Although there were no direct clashes between the two teams' players, the air was thick with tension.
Lu Chuan felt the opponent's hostility, but he was not intimidated.
On the contrary, this pressure ignited his fighting spirit.
He remembered the photo album Esther gave him, the support from Chinese fans, and the trust of his teammates.
"Are we ready?" Trejo asked at the front of the line.
"Ready!" Everyone answered in unison.
The referee appeared at the tunnel entrance, signaling for both teams to enter the field.
Lu Chuan took a deep breath and followed the team onto the pitch.
Although the Rosaleda Stadium was empty, one could still feel the historical depth of this stadium.
It had witnessed countless exciting matches, and today, another crucial showdown was about to take place.
During warm-ups, Lu Chuan specifically observed the Málaga players' condition.
They looked energetic and physically fit, clearly well-prepared for this match.
"They're in great form today," Álvaro García warmed up beside Lu Chuan, "They look tough to deal with."
"Every opponent is tough to deal with," Lu Chuan responded, "But we're not pushovers either."
Paco observed the players' warm-up from the sidelines, his heart filled with worry.
An incomplete lineup, an unfavorable away environment, and the opponent's thorough preparation—all factors were against Rayo Vallecano.
But he also saw the determination in the players' eyes. Especially Lu Chuan, who, despite enduring immense pressure, remained calm and focused.
"Perhaps this is the quality of a leader," Paco thought to himself.
After warm-ups, the players returned to the locker room for final preparations.
Paco did not give too many tactical instructions; he knew that in this situation, the players' mentality was more important than tactics.
"gentlemen, I won't say too much," Paco looked around at each player,
"You all know the importance of this match. I just want to say one thing: believe in yourselves, believe in your teammates, and we will surely overcome the difficulties."
Lu Chuan stood up and spoke as the team's spiritual leader: "No matter what difficulties we encounter, we must stick together. This is not just for promotion, but also to prove that we are a real team."
His teammates nodded in agreement, their eyes burning with the flame of fighting spirit.
The match was about to begin, and the players walked towards the player tunnel once more.
This time, what Lu Chuan felt was no longer pressure, but an unprecedented sense of mission.
He knew that this match would determine the team's fate and test his ability as a leader.
Regardless of the outcome, he would give his all, not to let down those who supported him.
The turf of the Rosaleda Stadium sparkled in the sun, awaiting the arrival of this crucial showdown.
Lu Chuan clenched his fists, ready to face the challenge.
This was not just a football match, but a test of courage, unity, and dreams.