"How many consecutive wins did Manchester United have, you said?"
"They're at 11 consecutive wins."
"Then aren't we still quite a few games short?"
"Why compare ourselves to Manchester United? Let's just play our best!"
In the dressing room before the match, Dortmund players were discussing the winning streak records in Europe's top leagues for the 08/09 season. The mighty Barcelona had just been held to a 1‑1 draw by Getafe, ending their 9‑game winning streak. Inter Milan only had 8 consecutive wins so far. Wolfsburg's winning streak had also been ended by Dortmund.
Currently, across Europe's five major leagues, only Dortmund and Premier League leaders Manchester United had winning streaks exceeding ten games.
The young players of Dortmund were all competitive and eager to win, wanting to contend for any honor. Naturally, they also wanted to try for the consecutive win record. As everyone was excitedly discussing, they were interrupted by head coach Jürgen Klopp.
"This thing about consecutive wins, the more you take it seriously, the more easily it becomes a psychological burden. You guys aren't qualified to talk about consecutive wins yet. Have you won the league? Have you formed a dynasty in the Bundesliga?"
Klopp's series of questions made the players in the dressing room fall silent. Normally, Klopp seemed alright, but anyone who dared to provoke him would inevitably face a storm of roaring. Except for Jin Hayes, most other players were quite afraid of him.
"Every game, no matter who the opponent is, must be played like a final. Anyway, whoever messes up gets replaced. If you don't want to play, there are plenty of people who do!"
In that instant, Jin Hayes suddenly had a sense of déjà vu. It was as if he were some miserable employee in a small company, being relentlessly pushed by a demanding boss. Countless fleeting scenes flashed through Jin Hayes's mind, showing him an alternative life.
...
If he hadn't had his unique abilities, if he hadn't stood out in the talent show... he would have returned home disheartened after filming the show, completely giving up his football dream. Then he would have diligently attended high school, seriously taken the college entrance exam, scored a mediocre grade, and attended a mediocre university.
He wouldn't learn any real skills during his four years of university.
At most, he would use his football skills to join the Computer Science department's football team, perform well in the inter‑university football tournament, and lead the Computer Science team into the final.
Their opponent would be the Sports College, a formidable rival that had won the championship for many consecutive years. Their team would mostly consist of professionally trained footballers, or at the very least, sports students. They would be somewhat overwhelming for the Computer Science team in all aspects.
Against all odds, Jin Hayes, relying on the experience gained from the football talent show back then, helped his team resist tenaciously. They held on until the very end of the game, which was still tied 1‑1. The Sports College had underestimated them and wasted many opportunities.
Their last counter‑attack was intercepted by a teammate, who, without hesitation, launched a long ball directly to Jin Hayes in the final third. Jin Hayes chested the ball down and dribbled to the edge of the penalty area, still without anyone marking him tightly. But the defenders were all rushing towards him, and there was no time left to handle the ball.
With the game about to end and his teammates almost exhausted, Jin Hayes became the key player on the pitch. He drew back his leg, and under the gaze of all the girls from his department, he calmly unleashed a long‑range shot that pierced the Sports College's goal.
The Computer Science department won, breaking the Sports College's years of dominance. Everyone on the pitch rushed over crazily to celebrate passionately, making Jin Hayes feel the only true match atmosphere he had ever experienced in his life.
After the match, the class beauty, whom Jin Hayes had secretly admired for two years, came over, blushing, to give Jin Hayes water, encouraged by all the girls in the class. The boys and girls around them were cheering and whistling. This might have been Jin Hayes's most glorious moment. He finally mustered the courage, taking advantage of the girl giving him water, to invite her for a walk after school.
That night, Jin Hayes arrived at the girls' dormitory building full of anticipation. She had clearly washed her hair; her long hair fell naturally to her waist, and Jin Hayes was captivated.
At first, both were a bit awkward, the ambiguous atmosphere making them both nervous. Fortunately, as they started chatting, things gradually became much more natural, and the class beauty was laughing uncontrollably at Jin Hayes's jokes.
They walked around the campus's tree‑lined paths, circling again and again in the gentle early summer evening breeze, unknowingly reaching past 10 PM. They walked on the road, watching their elongated shadows under the streetlights, their shoulders occasionally bumping together.
The emotions in Jin Hayes's chest could no longer be contained; his heart rate soared, and he gently took the class beauty's cool hand. The girl flinched, about to pull her hand away, when Jin Hayes stammered his confession to her. Feeling Jin Hayes's sincerity, the girl shyly lowered her head and, in a voice as soft as a whisper, agreed to be with Jin Hayes.
Over the four years, there was studying, failing courses, playing football, and falling in love; it wasn't a waste of time, nor was it without meaning. After graduation, due to differences in career paths, they began a long‑distance relationship; the girl went to Shanghai, and Jin Hayes returned to Guangzhou.
When he missed her terribly, he would take an overnight hard‑seat train to Shanghai to see her. Initially, the novelty could sustain the relationship. Later, poor communication due to the distance, coupled with a fading relationship, led to more and more friction, eventually resulting in a breakup. After getting completely drunk, life still had to go on.
Jin Hayes went through countless resume submissions and interviews, finding a decent small company. He worked hard for two or three years, saving little money, and then fell into the cycle of changing jobs again.
Over ten years, salary increases came entirely from job hopping, from a few thousand yuan to over ten thousand, barely enough to establish himself in Guangzhou. Unfortunately, housing prices were also soaring.
His parents, unable to bear housing prices continuing to rise, gritted their teeth and used their savings to pay Jin Hayes's down payment. After paying off the loan, Jin Hayes's salary didn't leave much. He was also constantly pushed by demanding bosses, overtime increased, his hairline gradually receded, and his belly gradually protruded.
Every night, returning to his rented room, he just wanted to lie on the bed. The games he once indulged in, the dramas and anime he followed, he no longer had the energy for. Only mindlessly browsing the internet or watching short clips could provide a bit of relaxation. He would stay up until two or three in the morning, unwilling to sleep; his only disposable time each day was the few hours after he got home.
In this state, finding a partner was difficult; the desire to share and communicate gradually disappeared. Except for a very few close friends he'd go drinking with, he almost completely cut off all social interaction. As he approached his thirties, his family started to worry and introduced him to blind dates. They would exchange messages sporadically, neither side being proactive, neither investing too much, so naturally, nothing came of it.
Occasionally, he would meet a girl who seemed quite nice, arrange to meet a couple of times, have a few meals, go shopping a few times, and watch two movies. Jin Hayes thought he might just haphazardly settle down and start a family with someone like this. Then one day, their chats became less and less frequent, and a month's worth of conversation ended with a simple farewell, with no further communication.
Jin Hayes was still that solitary worker, returning to his empty rented room, lying on his bed, scrolling through football forums. He would envy others' seemingly perfect lives. Then he'd scroll to recent matches, and his beloved Arsenal had yet again missed out on a championship for another season.
On the continent, unexpected results were shaking up the Champions League. He was also surprised that some mid‑table teams could even compete for European silverware.
Modern football, Jin Hayes understood it less and less. The two absolute legends who had dominated football for a decade, like Jin Hayes's youth, gradually faded with time.
One in Saudi Arabia, one in North America, each still fighting stubbornly. It was just a pity that they had faded from the mainstream spotlight. Occasionally, a 16‑year‑old prodigy would make headlines, shining brightly with a promising future. Jin Hayes's eyes held only envy.
"What if I had had the chance to stay and play in Europe back then?"
Late at night, 3:30 AM. There were less than five hours until he had to wake up for work, to continue the suffocating routine of day after day. Jin Hayes's thoughts couldn't help but fly to Europe, back to his younger self.
...
"Jin! Hey, let's go!"
"What?"
"You're on! Don't just stand there!"
"That's right, Jin, we're counting on you for today's game, cheer up!"
"Kid, you seem off, are you sick?"
Jin Hayes was momentarily dazed; these blond, blue‑eyed foreigners in front of him were both familiar and strange. Affected by the life review he had just experienced, he felt as if he had been transported to another era.
"That's strange—oh, oh, nothing, I'm not sick, get your dirty hands off me."
"That's more like it!" Mats Hummels wasn't angry, giving Jin Hayes a thumbs‑up. A group of hyper‑excited young men, hooting, walked out of the players' dressing room, eager to make a big splash.
Turning a corner, Jin Hayes bumped into a team wearing white jerseys. There wasn't much animosity or tension between them, but the air was still thick with some pre‑match friction.
"Which team are they again?"
"You're really confused, aren't you? It's Borussia Mönchengladbach! Today's a tough fight, pull yourself together!" Nuri Şahin thumped Jin Hayes hard on the shoulder, and Jin Hayes finally cleared his head a lot.
2008‑2009 season, Bundesliga Matchday 16, the second‑to‑last round before the winter break. Dortmund vs. Borussia Mönchengladbach.
Although Mönchengladbach was near the relegation zone, currently ranked 15th in the league this season, their strength was not to be underestimated as a long‑standing pillar of the Bundesliga. Relegation‑threatened teams often burst with powerful fighting spirit.
Furthermore, Dortmund's current top spot was not secure. Wolfsburg had been knocked down, and Hoffenheim had surprisingly risen, with a five‑game winning streak that allowed them to surpass Wolfsburg in points, climbing to second place, eyeing Dortmund from behind.
If it weren't for Dortmund, this remarkable promoted team would have been the Bundesliga winter champion this season. With Marco Reus absent and some key defensive players injured, Dortmund had gradually lost their margin for error. Every game was crucial.
"Good! Let's go for the win!" Jin Hayes clenched his fists together, the fire of battle rekindled in his eyes. The life review he had just experienced was merely self‑discipline and motivation. That version of himself in that life had given up his football dream, falling into an ordinary and mundane existence, with occasional small joys. He had dreamed of stepping onto the pitch, standing on the green grass.
And now, he was following the team, with one foot already stepping onto the Westfalen pitch. Listening to the live DJ passionately shouting his name, listening to over 80,000 people chanting "Jin Hayes" in unison, echoing through the Westfalen sky.
There were also millions of German fans in front of their televisions, and countless compatriots in the distant East awaiting him through their screens. Jin Hayes could not waste this rare opportunity, nor waste his professional career.
After the pre‑match ceremony, both teams lined up, ready to begin today's contest. Jin Hayes happened to pass the South Stand and saw the angelic blonde girl Anna in the front row. She was waving at him, shouting encouragement. In a trance, the class beauty from his life review overlapped with Anna, then quickly dissipated. Only Anna's shadow remained in Jin Hayes's eyes.
...
He raised his right hand, turning the back of his glove towards Anna, where her personally embroidered words were still visible. "I'll do my best! Get ready to celebrate!"
Whistle!
The referee's whistle blew. Jin Hayes was completely immersed in the game. At this moment, he knew exactly who he was.
"I am Jin Hayes, starting player for Dortmund's first team, number 10!"