Chapter 2

Thump thump thump. Zhou Yi stood in front of the sofa in the living room. The coffee table that was originally in this position had been pushed aside by him. He needed space to juggle the ball, and the coffee table was in the way. The continuous thump thump thump sounds were the result of his foot making contact with the soccer ball. While juggling the ball, Zhou Yi still held the remote control in his hand, his finger on the next channel button, mechanically pressing it repeatedly, causing the TV channels to switch continuously. One moment it was "Hey! Demon! Take a hit from my staff!" Then it quickly switched to "Er Kang, tell me, how can a broken me help a broken you..." followed by a bald monk shouting angrily, "Enough talk, Bai Suzhen! You have violated the heavenly laws, wreaking havoc on earth, committing grave sins! Now you dare to unleash demons, flooding the Jinshan Temple, causing the people to suffer and families to be torn apart, truly unforgivable..." A deep male voice sang, "The Yangtze River flows eastward..." "... Swallowing the wind, kissing the rain, burying the sunset, never wavering, trampling mountains, crossing seas, treading snow paths, never losing hope, plucking flowers, holding wine, yet breaking the world's infatuation, with these two eyes and a hundred or a thousand hands, unable to prevent..." ... Summer TV series appeared one after another, like a fleeting glance. Zhou Yi occasionally glanced at the TV screen quickly. If he wasn't interested, he would continue pressing the remote control button. Multitasking was not a problem for him. He had learned from a young age to listen to lectures while reading novels and to do homework while juggling a soccer ball under the table. His brain was always active, and doing just one thing made him feel unfulfilled. Even in his sleep, he had many dreams, all kinds of strange and bizarre dreams, good and bad, and even serial dreams that continued from one night to the next throughout the week. So, Zhou Yi had always felt that he was gifted and extraordinary since he was young. If it weren't for the heavy rain outside, Zhou Yi wouldn't have wanted to juggle the ball in the living room. If he accidentally broke the crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling, he would definitely be scolded by his mother when he got home. Of course, such things only happened when Zhou Yi first started playing soccer. Now that he was in high school, it almost never happened. He longed to go to the field and play soccer with his friends, but the rain had been continuous for several days, preventing him from going out to play. If he didn't juggle the ball at home, Zhou Yi feared that every joint in his body would rust. His fingers continued to press the remote control button mechanically, and the TV screen kept switching. Suddenly, a scene of a young boy playing soccer appeared on the TV screen, and a female voice announced, "... Yesterday afternoon, North Hemisphere Film and Culture Co., Ltd. held a press conference in Beijing, officially announcing the launch of China's first large-scale soccer reality show in the capital..." Zhou Yi, who was looking down at the ball, suddenly lifted his head and stared at the TV screen. His feet continued to juggle the ball mechanically. "... According to the head of North Hemisphere, this soccer reality show called 'Heir of the Superstar' will gather the strongest players in China at the age of seventeen, forming a team to challenge the youth academies of European top clubs, including Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Dortmund, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United, AC Milan, and Inter Milan..." "... These young players are mostly selected from the youth teams of domestic professional soccer clubs, with the famous Chinese forward, former top Asian forward Hao Dong, serving as the team's head coach... Meanwhile, the head of North Hemisphere also revealed at the press conference that, in addition to selecting players from the youth teams of professional clubs, this reality show has a significant difference: it reserves a spot for 'grassroots talents' who are not from professional soccer clubs. As long as they pass the nationwide auditions, they can join the team and participate in the challenge to the European top clubs' youth academies!" "Soccer talents, what are you waiting for? Quickly log onto the website or call the number at the bottom of the screen to sign up! Note, only those who have not received training in professional soccer clubs' youth teams are eligible to sign up..." Zhou Yi's eyes sparkled as if he were a sailor who had suddenly seen a new continent after a long journey. The soccer ball had already fallen from his feet and rolled to the corner of the room. ※※※ When Li Cuiyun opened the door with a non-woven bag full of vegetables, she saw her son eagerly rushing forward to help her carry the groceries. "Finished your homework?" she asked. "Finished! Long finished!" Zhou Yi said, taking the eco-friendly bag from his mother and running to the kitchen. After putting down the vegetables, he came back to help his mother take her handbag to the bedroom. When her son returned to her, she had just changed into slippers. "What's up?" Li Cuiyun asked, looking at her son's eager and flattering smile. "Hehe... Mom, can we talk about something?" Zhou Yi's smile became even more flattering. "Just say it." "I want to participate in a talent show, a soccer talent show." "What are you thinking? You're starting your senior year soon, and you only have one year until the college entrance exam. Focus on your studies, what talent show?" Li Cuiyun said this without thinking, as if it had become a conditioned response. After saying this, she walked to the kitchen to prepare dinner. Zhou Yi wasn't surprised by his mother's words, but he still tried to persuade her: "The auditions are during the summer break, it won't affect my studies when school starts." "Your school still has tutoring in August, how can it not affect you?" His mother didn't even turn around, busy in the kitchen. "But this time, there's a chance to play soccer in Europe, Mom!" As a soccer enthusiast, European soccer had a natural appeal to Zhou Yi. "That's still not acceptable, focus on your studies." His mother firmly refused Zhou Yi. Zhou Yi knew his mother's attitude towards his soccer, so further persuasion was futile. He huffed and declared, "I'm going on a hunger strike!" His mother glanced at him and then turned back to her work, seemingly not taking Zhou Yi's words seriously. Seeing that his mother wasn't paying attention, Zhou Yi puffed up and returned to his room, then poked his head out to shout at the kitchen, "I really am going on a hunger strike!" "Oh." His mother finally responded. ※※※ When Zhou Jianliang came home from work, his wife Li Cuiyun had just placed the soup on the dining table, a simple two-dish and one-soup meal. "Go wash your hands, it's time to eat," his wife said to Zhou Jianliang. Before Zhou Jianliang could respond, his son's room door suddenly opened, and Zhou Yi came out, his face lighting up when he saw his father: "Dad, you're back?" After greeting him, he sat down at the dining table. "Hey, weren't you on a hunger strike?" Li Cuiyun asked. "Hunger strike?" Zhou Jianliang was confused, not sure what was going on. "Yes, I've already started..." Zhou Yi glanced at the clock on the wall and said seriously, "... I've been on a hunger strike for half an hour, it's enough." After saying this, he reached for the chopsticks to pick up some food, but his mother stopped him: "Go wash your hands!" Zhou Yi pouted and went to wash his hands, giving Zhou Jianliang a chance to secretly ask his wife, "What's going on?" "Your son had another sudden idea, he wants to participate in a soccer reality show..." Zhou Jianliang understood immediately: "You disagreed, so he's on a hunger strike to protest?" "Yes. He gave up after just half an hour, even his hunger strike lacks perseverance. What can he do?" his mother complained. "Well, it's not like that. If he had the perseverance to go on a hunger strike, it would be more troublesome..." Zhou Jianliang waved his hands. "Anyway, this kid is always enthusiastic for three minutes. You know, his room is full of basketballs and guitars, all the results of his wide-ranging interests." "That shows our son is smart..." Zhou Jianliang said, sitting down and picking up his chopsticks, but his wife stopped him again. "Wash your hands." Zhou Jianliang hurriedly chuckled and went to the bathroom. At the bathroom door, he bumped into his son who had just finished washing his hands. "What's this reality show about?" he asked in a low voice. Zhou Yi glanced at the dining room and lowered his voice, "Dad, you have to support me this time!" "Tell me what this reality show is about first." So, Zhou Yi quickly and simply told his father what he had seen on TV. "Is it a scam?" Zhou Jianliang was a bit skeptical after hearing this. "It's on the sports channel!" "Hmm..." After hearing his son's explanation, Zhou Jianliang fell silent for a moment, then said to Zhou Yi, "Alright, don't say anything at dinner. I'll talk to your mother tonight and try to convince her." "You're the best, Dad!" Zhou Yi's voice was a bit louder, and immediately his mother's voice came from the dining room, "Washing your hands takes so long, what are you two doing?" "Hey, coming, coming!" Zhou Jianliang responded loudly, urging his son, "Hurry up!" ※※※ No one mentioned the soccer reality show during dinner. After eating, his mother washed the dishes and did housework, while his father went into the bedroom, sat down at the small study area converted from the balcony, and turned on the computer. He needed to find information about the soccer reality show his son mentioned, even though his son said it was reported by the national TV station, he was still worried about his son being scammed. As a father, he had the duty and responsibility to protect his son. Zhou Yi, on the other hand, locked himself in his room, doing who knows what. But his parents didn't care; it was summer break, and his homework was finished, so he could play whatever he wanted. When Li Cuiyun finished her housework, she entered the bedroom and brought her husband a cup of tea. Seeing her, Zhou Jianliang took off his glasses and gestured for her to stay. "That talent show..." Li Cuiyun turned to leave, "That's not possible. I don't plan on letting our son become a professional player. Look at those who get injured playing soccer..." Zhou Jianliang quickly waved his hands, "Let me finish, let me finish." So, Li Cuiyun turned back. "Let's not say that participating in this reality show means he has to become a professional soccer player. You know how much our son loves soccer. I admit he's enthusiastic for three minutes about most things, but he's been passionate about soccer since he was young..." "Isn't that because of you?" Li Cuiyun rolled her eyes. Zhou Jianliang nodded and smiled, "Of course, of course, a tiger father doesn't have a dog for a son..." Seeing his wife about to say something, Zhou Jianliang quickly continued, "What I mean is, it's rare for our son to be so persistent about something. We should encourage him. Besides... it's just a talent show. I checked, it's a nationwide talent show, and out of so many people, only one is selected. The elimination rate is so high. Let him try, it's just for fun. He might not even make it past the first round, right?" Zhou Jianliang looked at his wife, who lowered her head and fell into deep thought. After a while, she looked up and said, "I have to work every day, I don't have the time..." "I'll take leave to accompany him. I still have ten days of annual leave." Zhou Jianliang quickly said. "You're using your annual leave for this?" His wife was a bit reluctant but nodded. "Let him go then, how can he give up if he doesn't try?" She sighed, "You like soccer, and now you've made our son obsessed too..." "Liking soccer isn't bad, it's good for exercise and teamwork, and it teaches how to handle failure and setbacks..." Li Cuiyun quickly raised her hand, "Don't give me your big talk, I'm leaving, the finale of my drama is today!" "Should I tell our son?" Zhou Jianliang smiled and stood up. "Whatever." His wife turned and left the study to watch her drama in the living room. ※※※ Zhou Yi sat in front of the computer, still juggling the ball with his feet, but his mind was wandering. He was thinking about what he would do if his father couldn't convince his mother to let him participate in the talent show. Sneak off to sign up? In the city, it might be manageable, but the final round was in Beijing. If he made it to the final, how would he get to Beijing? His savings from New Year's money were all in his mother's hands, and he couldn't get them out... He opened QQ on his computer and entered the class group. The group was lively, with people discussing where they had gone and how to do the summer homework. Seeing everyone was there, Zhou Yi happily typed a message and sent it to the group: "Classmates! Do you have dreams? Have you ever had the impulse to pursue your dreams at all costs? Can you bear to see someone collapse from exhaustion on the path to their dreams? Do you know that sometimes, a small act can save someone's dream and life! My dream journey needs your help! Sponsor me 10 yuan each! Just 10 yuan! 10 yuan can't buy you a big meal, 10 yuan can't buy you a new phone, but 10 yuan can save a dream! 10 yuan each, a trickle can form a river, nourishing the dry soil, and my dream can sprout and grow, blooming into beautiful flowers under your care!" After he finished typing, someone in the group asked, "Zhou Yi, are you on 1024 again?" "Nonsense, I don't even know what website you're talking about!" "Then how did you get infected?" "Who got infected? Every word I typed myself!" After Zhou Yi said this, the lively class group suddenly fell silent, and no one spoke again. It was as if no one was in the group. "Damn! A bunch of heartless people!" Zhou Yi complained at the computer. At that moment, the computer beeped, and a girl's avatar flashed in the lower right corner. When he opened it, it was a classmate named Zheng Lulu. "I can sponsor you 200 yuan." This was followed by a grinning QQ default emoticon. Someone actually supported him! And it was Zheng Lulu, the "braces girl" he wasn't very familiar with—because Zheng Lulu wore braces, the boys in the class privately called her that. Just as Zhou Yi was about to reply, a coughing sound came from outside the door, and the door was pushed open. Zhou Yi quickly closed the laptop lid and pretended to be reading, ignoring the footsteps approaching from behind. "Your mother agreed." His father's voice came from behind. "Yes!" Hearing this, Zhou Yi couldn't pretend anymore and jumped up from his chair. "Mom, you're the best!" "I was the one who convinced her!" Zhou Jianliang was unhappy. "Dad, you're the best!" Zhou Yi quickly added. Zhou Jianliang nodded in satisfaction, "I have a question, son. Are you going to be eliminated in the first round?" Zhou Yi raised his head and said, "What are you thinking, Dad? Your son is the main forward of the school team! And our school is the best in the city!" He said this proudly. "That's good, being eliminated in the first round would be embarrassing!" "Don't worry, Dad, that won't happen to your son!" After sending his father off, Zhou Yi excitedly waved his fists in the air in his bedroom, imagining the scene of the auditions. Then he remembered that Zheng Lulu was still waiting for his reply. He quickly rushed back to the table, opened the computer, and said to Zheng Lulu, whose avatar had gone gray, "Thank you, but my mom has already agreed, so I don't need your sponsorship!" The message was sent, and Zheng Lulu's avatar lit up again: "Oh, it's fine. Congratulations! I hope you make great progress on the path to your dreams and that your dreams bloom into beautiful flowers!" She added a tongue-out, winking QQ default emoticon. However, after sending this message, the girl on the other side of the computer sighed softly. ※※※ That night, the excited Zhou Yi tossed and turned for a long time before falling asleep. When he closed his eyes, he couldn't help but imagine himself standing in places like the Bernabeu, Camp Nou, and the Allianz Arena, wearing the Chinese national team's jersey, facing the players of the top clubs, who were all famous stars in the current football world, and he was about to challenge them. If he scored a goal in the match, how would he celebrate? As he thought about it, Zhou Yi didn't remember when he fell asleep. In his dream, he found himself in a training ground surrounded by green trees, with rolling mountains in the distance, and white snow on the mountaintops. There were some people with blurred faces around him, all wearing red training jerseys like him. In front of him stood a short-haired, tall, and beautiful woman, the only one whose face he could clearly see. She smiled at Zhou Yi and said, "Welcome to the FIFAOL soccer world..." ※※※

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