Chapter 47

After Rongguang scored the goal, the stands erupted with the cheers of the São Paulo fans, drowning out the previous noise from the Santos supporters.

In fact, there weren't many São Paulo fans, but at this moment, the Santos fans were all silent—they were all stunned.

No one could have imagined that Rongguang would break his goal drought against them!

However, while the São Paulo fans were overjoyed, the São Paulo players and coach were still in a daze.

Amidst the cheers, the head coach, Oswaldo, stood frozen, looking at the ball in the net with disbelief.

At the pre-match press conference, a journalist had questioned why he insisted on keeping Rongguang in the squad.

He had answered that it was for tactical reasons.

He wasn't lying; there were indeed tactical reasons.

When he substituted Kaká for Rongguang in the 80th minute, it was for this very reason.

He didn't expect Rongguang to score as soon as he came on; he just hoped that Rongguang's speed would intimidate Santos, forcing their defense to not push up as a whole, thus reducing the threat to São Paulo's goal.

Rongguang was like a nuclear weapon; even if not used, just being on the field could serve its purpose.

He never expected Rongguang to score. He knew Rongguang's strengths and weaknesses, and he knew the opponents would easily limit him. But to limit him, they would have to sacrifice their own attacking capabilities...

Oswaldo effectively used Rongguang to neutralize Santos' entire attack.

This was the reason he insisted on keeping Rongguang in the 18-man squad.

But he never imagined that this "nuclear weapon" would detonate on its own, neutralizing Santos in such a way!

Now São Paulo was leading Santos 2-0 with only five minutes left in the game, which basically meant a death sentence for Santos!

This was completely unexpected for Oswaldo...

"Was that... not an illusion?" Oswaldo turned to ask his assistant coach, Mauro.

Mauro shook his head.

"When did he learn to dribble?"

Mauro continued to shake his head.

The team's usual training for Rongguang included dribbling, but it couldn't have improved so quickly...

Moreover, the team's training was just to familiarize him with dribbling, with no emphasis on speed.

But from the way he handled the ball against Robinho and Diego, it was clearly a very skilled high-speed dribble!

Mauro and Oswaldo were 100% sure that he didn't learn this in the team's training!

At this moment, Mauro suddenly remembered something.

"Special training?" he asked Oswaldo in surprise.

Oswaldo also recalled the conversation he had with Rongguang when he saw him covered in injuries.

Rongguang had told him he was undergoing special training.

At the time, Oswaldo had dismissed it, not believing it at all.

He even criticized Rongguang, telling him not to engage in such nonsense, as it could hurt his body.

If it weren't for the team doctor, José Sánchez, confirming that Rongguang's injuries were only superficial, Rongguang wouldn't have been allowed to train that day.

Later, as Rongguang's injuries decreased, Oswaldo didn't think much about the special training.

He thought Rongguang was just enthusiastic for a short while, thinking he had found a shortcut. Once he realized the special training was useless, he would stop this foolish and childish behavior.

But he never imagined that Rongguang didn't give up, but persisted and... really improved?!

How... could this be possible?

***

After scoring, Rongguang didn't run around celebrating, leaving everyone behind.

He stood where he was, in Santos' penalty area, spreading his arms and roaring to the sky!

In the previous three matches, one as a starter and two as a substitute, he never felt he had given his all. He always felt he had more energy left, and the matches ended before he could use it.

Especially as a substitute, he wanted to run, sprint, and use his speed to break through the opponents' defense and defeat them, just like in the previous matches.

But unfortunately, he couldn't.

He fell repeatedly, was fouled, and restricted, and the matches ended.

After several matches like this, his energy had nowhere to go.

So he ran and fell on the avenue, using his nearly self-torturing special training to vent the energy he couldn't release on the field.

But it still wasn't enough; he still felt stifled in the matches.

Although he didn't read the newspapers, the media's opinions always reached his ears through various channels, like news on TV during meals or radio in Godo's car...

He knew what people thought of him.

They said all sorts of nasty things.

Some even advised him to go back to China, saying he had no future in professional football.

Although Rongguang was usually cheerful and optimistic, it didn't mean he had no temper. He was very angry at being humiliated, but he couldn't show his anger because he played poorly.

So the anger built up inside him.

He didn't know how long he could hold it in, but he knew he couldn't wait much longer. He didn't have the patience!

Now, today! Finally, he could release it!

So he roared to the sky, venting all the pent-up frustration in his chest.

***

Seeing Rongguang like this, Godo in the stands suddenly felt a sense of empathy.

When Rongguang was questioned, he was under pressure, and as his agent, Godo was no different.

Leiko's disregard for him was also a disregard for Rongguang.

He also thought about his attitude towards Rongguang's special training.

"Special training, special training, special training... damn special training!" His roar at Rongguang now felt like a slap in his own face, burning with pain.

Now Godo was especially glad that Rongguang didn't listen to him and stop the special training. Otherwise, how could there be this moment today?

Godo realized that as an agent, he had to be taught a lesson by a 16-year-old kid...

He remembered his daughter's most common complaint: "Don't use your outdated standards to judge young people, okay, Dad?"

Could it be... that I'm really old?

***

Luis Fabiano, Baptista, Ricardinho... many São Paulo players ran over and hugged Rongguang.

They celebrated the goal with him.

This goal saved São Paulo from certain defeat, and everyone's tense nerves relaxed.

They breathed a sigh of relief, feeling like they had survived a disaster.

So they all came to thank Rongguang for the goal.

Baptista patted Rongguang's shoulder: "You were just lucky, right, Rong? You must have been lucky, right?!"

He was referring to Rongguang's dribbling past Robinho and Diego.

"Absolutely lucky!" Fabiano nodded in agreement with a serious face.

"Bullshit! It's the result of my special training..." Rongguang didn't finish his sentence before being swarmed by his teammates.

His words were drowned out...

***

Rote stood by the sidelines, feeling his strength drain from his body.

The Chinese kid's goal had completely taken the suspense out of the match. Santos was destined to lose, and they couldn't even equalize.

São Paulo's victory in this match secured their place in the top four of the league, while Santos... would not make it to the semi-finals of the Rio-São Paulo Championship.

As for himself... dismissal was his only fate.

In Brazil, people don't accept losers, and he was unfortunately one of those hated losers.

But his eyes were still wide open—when Rongguang came on, he didn't take him seriously at all. He didn't need to give special instructions to the players; they knew how to handle such an easily frozen player. He focused on how to score two goals in the final moments to win the match.

But who could have thought that this rookie he didn't take seriously would be the biggest reason for his failure!

How could a player who couldn't dribble suddenly become so good, outpacing Robinho and Diego?!

He stared with wide eyes, unable to accept it.

***

Robinho stood in the center circle, watching the São Paulo players celebrate the goal in front of Santos' goal.

He was still thinking about what had just happened.

He ran as hard as he could but couldn't catch up to the Chinese player, let alone take the ball from him.

He had never felt this way before.

Even if Rongguang was fast and could catch up to him and take the ball, it was different when he was dribbling and Rongguang was running without the ball.

But why, when Rongguang was dribbling and he was running without the ball, couldn't he catch up?

"This isn't scientific..." Robinho shook his head, muttering.

Diego, standing next to him, said, "Maybe we should have fouled earlier?"

Renato, rubbing his sore bottom as he got up, complained, "Damn, that kid is really fast!"

Robinho looked at Renato and said, "I don't think it would have helped..."

Diego sighed and said nothing.

In the face of Rongguang's speed, there was nothing to say...

***

Korel and her friends hugged each other; Kaká could finally continue playing!

At this moment, they forgot that Rongguang was someone they disliked.

Korel stared at Rongguang, thinking about his dribbling.

She suddenly felt... like Kaká!

But she quickly realized—how could that bastard be compared to Kaká?

Hmph, it must have just been luck!

***

Rongguang's goal put São Paulo 3-1 ahead of Santos, and the match lost its suspense and meaning.

The remaining time became garbage time.

Santos' entire team was heavily affected by the goal.

They had no hope left; what was the point of continuing the match?

So they didn't need Rongguang to intimidate them; they stopped attacking on their own.

In the remaining few minutes, Santos seemed very passive.

Even their coach, Rote, made no adjustments.

When the match reached the 91st minute, despite three minutes of stoppage time remaining, the referee blew the final whistle.

"The match is over! São Paulo has defeated Santos 3-1 away! Regardless of the results in other matches, they have secured a place in the semi-finals! After a thrilling 15 minutes, São Paulo is safe! But the one who saved São Paulo is someone no one expected..."

The TV broadcast immediately showed a close-up of Rongguang.

In the picture, he was celebrating the victory with his teammates.

"A rookie who has only been playing football for four months has saved São Paulo!"