Chapter 8

A taxi stopped in front of a gate hidden among the green trees.

Zhou Jianliang and his son Zhou Yi got out of the car, walked around to the trunk, and opened it to take out their luggage.

The taxi drove away, leaving only the two of them and a suitcase, along with two bags.

"I didn't expect the training camp to be in such a remote place, even the taxi driver couldn't find it..." Zhou Jianliang sighed, looking at the unremarkable location.

"Dad, the car is gone, how are you going to get back?" Zhou Yi was concerned about his father.

"There's a bus stop over there. I'll go check which buses go where. Don't worry about that." Zhou Jianliang pointed to a bus stop across the street. "You, on the other hand, should focus on building good relationships with your teammates during the training. Don't joke around all day, be mindful of your words, and think before you speak to avoid offending anyone."

Zhou Yi pouted, "I know, Dad, I'm not a kid anymore!"

"You're only seventeen, how can you not be a kid?" Zhou Jianliang glared at his son, then sighed, looking at his son's somewhat thin body. "I told your mom that if you failed this time, it would be a good idea to give up on your soccer career. But now, you've won the final and got the chance to go to Europe. I came here with you, but now I have to go back alone. I don't know how to explain this to your mom."

"Hey, what's so difficult about that?" Zhou Yi, unconcerned, suggested, "Just say we were supposed to come back together, but the train was too crowded—after all, it's summer break, so it's normal for it to be crowded. Then we got separated, and you couldn't find me, so you had to go home first... Oh!"

Before Zhou Yi could finish, his father slapped him on the head, "What nonsense! What are you thinking all day?"

"I'm just trying to give you some ideas..." Zhou Yi said, holding his head in a pout.

"Thanks a lot," Zhou Jianliang huffed. "Forget it, don't worry about anything. Focus on your training here. Since you're in, do your best and don't embarrass your dad."

"I know," Zhou Yi looked around, observing the surroundings. He realized how remote this place was. All he could see was a small convenience store; there were no internet cafes or restaurants. The straight road was empty, and they hadn't seen anyone else for a long time, not even any passing cars.

It seemed impossible to sneak out to play—there was nowhere to go!

"I'm leaving, go and register quickly. Don't give the coach a bad impression on the first day."

With that, Zhou Jianliang picked up his bag and started to leave.

"Hey, I'll take you to the bus stop, Dad," Zhou Yi quickly tried to grab his father's bag.

"No need, it's just across the street. You go and register," Zhou Jianliang picked up his bag, waved, and walked across the street without looking back.

Zhou Yi didn't listen to his father and go inside immediately. Instead, he stood at the gate, watching his father's back.

He saw his father carrying a heavy bag, his body leaning to one side, taking deep and shallow steps. After looking both ways to ensure no cars were coming, he slowly walked to the bus stop across the street.

A thought suddenly welled up in Zhou Yi's heart, and he couldn't help but shout, "Dad!"

Zhou Jianliang stopped and turned to look at his son, who was standing alone at the gate, with a large suitcase and a backpack beside him, making him look even thinner.

Thinking about not seeing his son for three weeks, Zhou Jianliang felt a pang of reluctance.

He guessed his son's call was also out of the same emotion.

But as a father, how could he show such a weak moment in front of his son?

So, Zhou Jianliang forced himself to ask calmly, "What else?"

Zhou Yi pointed to the distance, "Use the crosswalk, Dad!"

※※※

After watching his father cross the road using the crosswalk, Zhou Yi picked up his bag, dragged his suitcase, and walked into the training base, filled with anticipation for the training life, curiosity about his new teammates, and excitement for the trip to Europe.

Fifteen minutes later, he arrived at a white three-story building, drenched in sweat.

The white exterior of the building reflected the glaring sunlight of the summer morning, making it hard for him to look at it. He squinted his eyes, but it was still too bright. So, he put his hand over his forehead to shield his eyes, like a monkey.

After doing this silly and childish action, Zhou Yi, carrying all his luggage, rushed into the office building—indeed, he was running, as he couldn't wait to join the team and challenge the youth academies of European clubs.

This was the only and ultimate goal for him to participate in this selection.

The registration process went smoothly. After submitting the application form and a few ID photos, everything was done. He didn't even have to pay, as all the expenses for the young players' training were covered by the sponsors.

After registering, Zhou Yi, with the key card to his dorm room, dragged his luggage out of the office building and headed towards the dormitory area.

But after walking for a while, he became hesitant.

The person at the registration desk only gave a general direction, and the specific route wasn't clear. Now, in front of him, there were three paths leading in that direction, and he didn't know which one to take...

At this moment, Zhou Yi saw someone walking towards him. Upon closer inspection, the person looked quite old. Zhou Yi guessed this was a staff member and decided to ask for directions, so he quickly approached and politely called, "Uncle."

The person walking towards him seemed not to hear him and tried to walk past him.

Zhou Yi wondered if his voice was too low, so he raised his voice, "Uncle! Sir!"

The person still kept his head down and didn't respond, but quickened his pace.

With no other choice, Zhou Yi, just as the person was about to pass him, reached out and stopped him, "Excuse me, sir, do you know how to get to the dormitory for the reality show participants? It's my first time here, and I can't find the way..."

Before he could finish, his shirt was suddenly grabbed by the other person.

This surprised Zhou Yi, and he quickly raised his hands to show he meant no harm.

The other person's face turned red with anger, and he gritted his teeth, shouting at Zhou Yi, "I, I, I, I... warn you! Don't, don't mock my, my appearance!"

Although his expression was fierce and his tone was harsh, his stuttering reduced the intensity of his threat.

Zhou Yi was innocent, "I didn't mock your appearance..."

He just called him "uncle," how did that become mocking his appearance? Zhou Yi was confused.

"Y-You, y-you, y-you're pretending, aren't you?!" The other person clenched his fists, ready to punch Zhou Yi in the face.

At this moment, two people suddenly appeared from the woods. One of them, a tall guy, pointed at them and shouted, "Guo Nu, stop!"

Seeing someone coming, the person who grabbed Zhou Yi let go but pushed him as he released him, causing Zhou Yi to step back two steps.

Zhou Yi was still confused about what had just happened—asking for directions turned into mocking his appearance? It was strange.

The two people who appeared quickly ran over and separated Zhou Yi and the other person.

"Guo Nu, do you want to be expelled for fighting again?" The tall guy stood between them, facing the other person and asked.

"It, it, it was him, he, he laughed at me..." Guo Nu pointed at Zhou Yi behind the tall guy, looking very aggrieved.

"I didn't!" Zhou Yi, feeling wronged, quickly defended himself, "I just asked him for directions..."

"You, you called me... uncle!" Guo Nu shouted.

Hearing this, the other slim, fair-skinned boy standing next to Zhou Yi couldn't help but laugh.

But he quickly realized his mistake and covered his mouth, explaining to Guo Nu, who was glaring at him, "Sorry, I didn't mean to..."

The tall guy and Guo Nu then turned their attention back to Zhou Yi. Guo Nu continued to stare at Zhou Yi, while the tall guy said to him, "Although Guo Nu does look a bit older..."

Hearing this, Guo Nu's face showed anger, but he didn't dare to react the same way to the tall guy as he did to Zhou Yi. It was clear he was somewhat intimidated by the tall guy.

"...he's not really an uncle. He's the same age as us," the tall guy continued.

Zhou Yi was surprised to hear this, "He's only seventeen!?"

The tall guy nodded, "Yes."

Zhou Yi was speechless for a moment, his expression showing shock as he tried to accept this fact. People always say not to believe your eyes, as they can deceive you. This was the first time he experienced being deceived by his eyes. But he couldn't understand why a seventeen-year-old boy looked like a man in his thirties...

Seeing Zhou Yi's silence, the tall guy turned to Guo Nu and said sternly, "Didn't you see he's new? If someone doesn't know your real age and just looks at your appearance, who wouldn't call you 'uncle'?"

Hearing this, Guo Nu had to back down—given the size difference, he couldn't win against the tall guy.

He just grunted, showing his dissatisfaction.

Just as the conflict between the teammates seemed to be defusing, Zhou Yi suddenly lowered his voice and asked, "So, if someone lies about their age and gets caught, will they be expelled?"

This made Guo Nu's face turn red instantly, and he roared like a mad dog, ready to charge at Zhou Yi. Fortunately, the tall guy in front of him stopped him, "Guo Nu, what are you doing!"

At the same time, he turned to the boy standing next to Zhou Yi and said, "Yang Muguo, take this kid and go, or they'll really start fighting!"

Hearing this, Yang Muguo quickly grabbed Zhou Yi's hand, "Let's go, I know where the dorm is!"

So, Zhou Yi, still confused, was dragged by Yang Muguo and ran towards the dormitory, with the sound of the tall guy and Guo Nu's argument still echoing behind them.

"Hey! Guo Nu, do you want to fight me?"

"I, I, I... y-you, y-you, y-you don't, don't, don't..."

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