On April 2, just after midday, the 31st round of the Eredivisie kicked off at Limburg Parkstad Stadion, where Roda JC hosted Ajax.
Despite playing away from home, Ajax immediately took control of the match and imposed their tempo from the first whistle. The aggression was especially visible down the right flank, where Yang Yang tore into Roda's defense with relentless intent.
Barely two minutes had passed when Yang Yang linked up with Maicon, the Brazilian full-back overlapping down the wing. Maicon whipped in a precise cross, and Angelos Charisteas rose highest to head the ball past the goalkeeper, giving Ajax a dream start.
Roda JC quickly pulled back their lines, retreating deep into their own half to stem the flow of attacks. But even parking the bus couldn't fully contain Ajax's rhythm.
In the 39th minute, another attack originated on the right. Maicon combined with Yang Yang again before cutting the ball back. Charisteas, central to everything today, nodded it across the box, where Wesley Sneijder arrived late to guide it into the net with a composed header. Ajax doubled their lead, 2–0.
After the break, Ajax resumed their offensive without pause, and once again, the danger came from the right.
Just three minutes into the second half, Sneijder picked up the ball centrally and floated a clever pass over the top. Yang Yang timed his run to perfection, darting in behind the defensive line. As the ball dropped, he took a touch, cut inside to shake off his marker, and unleashed a left-footed volley that slammed into the far corner.
3–0 Ajax.
That goal marked Yang Yang's 43rd league goal of the season, drawing him level with Coen Dillen's longstanding Eredivisie single-season record—a record that had stood untouched for five decades.
Only five minutes later, the balance shifted temporarily to the left flank. Maxwell surged forward and delivered an inch-perfect cross into the area. Charisteas, brimming with confidence, buried his second header of the match to make it 4–0.
By the 60th minute, with the match effectively sealed and eyes already turning toward the midweek clash with AC Milan, Ronald Koeman made the expected substitutions. He brought off both Sneijder and Yang Yang, protecting their legs for what would be the biggest match of the season.
Roda JC managed to pull a goal back late on, but the result was never in doubt. Ajax left Limburg with a 4–1 victory, three more points, and their domestic dominance firmly intact.
However, the post-match discussion across Dutch media was less about the scoreline—and more about Yang Yang.
His performance was once again electric. His goal had tied Coen Dillen's all-time record. But what truly captivated the press was his demeanor: composed, focused, and already mentally preparing for what was to come.
"Forty-three goals in a single Eredivisie season," De Telegraaf wrote, "and yet you get the feeling Yang Yang hasn't even looked at the number."
They were right. When asked about the record after the match, Yang Yang was unfazed.
"To me, what matters most is winning," he told reporters. "That applies to today's league match—and it will apply to Tuesday's Champions League quarterfinal."
When asked directly about possibly breaking the record and hitting fifty goals, Yang smiled.
"I know it's difficult, but I'll give everything. Of course, if I had to choose between breaking records and reaching the Champions League semi-finals... I'd choose the latter."
His teammates backed him up. Sneijder praised Yang's focus. Even Johnny Heitinga, who had struggled in the previous match and was benched today, assured the press that he was physically and mentally ready for Tuesday's decider against AC Milan.
That same night, news arrived from Italy that added another layer to the upcoming clash.
AC Milan had just lost 0–1 away to Lecce in Serie A's 32nd round. The only goal came in the 54th minute, and once again, the second half exposed Milan's recurring vulnerability—fatigue, defensive fragility, and disjointed substitutions.
What stung even more for Milan was that Juventus had dropped points earlier that weekend. A win would have helped close the gap at the top, but instead, the deficit grew to nine points, effectively ending Milan's realistic title hopes.
The Italian press, particularly La Gazzetta dello Sport, didn't mince words. AC Milan had only fielded four regular starters—Dida, Kaladze, Pirlo, and Gilardino. Paolo Maldini returned after injury but performed poorly, and Cafu's form was equally disappointing. The team looked flat, uninspired.
Critics speculated that Milan had already chosen to sacrifice the domestic title to focus on the Champions League.
Ancelotti, reportedly frustrated after the match, had hoped Maldini could regain rhythm ahead of Tuesday's test against Ajax. The coaching staff were exploring a possible reshuffle—returning Maldini to partner Nesta in central defense and pushing Kaladze out to left-back in hopes of dealing with Yang Yang's threat more effectively.
But the gamble didn't seem to pay off. Maldini was rated one of the worst performers on the pitch. Cafu was overwhelmed. And once again, Milan's second-half energy levels dipped alarmingly.
Ancelotti's substitutions—especially pulling Pirlo shortly after conceding—were heavily criticized. Some saw it as preserving players for Ajax; others saw it as defeatism.
"Milan's title hopes died the moment Pirlo left the pitch," read one sharp editorial.
AC Milan CEO Adriano Galliani took to the media to calm the firestorm. He stood by Ancelotti, blaming the strain of competing on two fronts. Still, he admitted the loss was damaging.
"We must now give everything in the Champions League," Galliani said. "If we had won tonight, we could have reopened the title race. But that didn't happen. Now, all eyes are on Tuesday."
In a separate quote that quickly spread across Europe, Galliani added:
"I believe Tuesday will be our best performance in the last two months. If we draw, we go through. Then we can look forward to the semifinal against Barcelona."
His statement caused an immediate stir in all Europe.
...
...
"Don't you think he sounds a bit arrogant?"
Su Ye's message popped up on Yang Yang's QQ chat. She had just forwarded a link from a Chinese sports site—one reporting on Galliani's latest comments. The article quoted the AC Milan CEO as saying that even a draw in Amsterdam would be enough, and Milan were already thinking about facing Barcelona in the semifinals.
Some of the remarks, understandably, left readers uneasy.
Yang Yang glanced at the screen and smiled.
"It's not arrogance," he replied. "It's confidence. Milan are a strong team. And Galliani's trying to boost morale. Maybe even play some mind games. Don't let it get to you."
"But I still don't like it," Su Ye messaged back immediately.
He chuckled softly. He knew she was just upset on his behalf.
She always took things personally when it came to him.
"Oh, by the way," she wrote after a pause, "Coca-Cola has started airing World Cup ads in China."
"Already?" Yang Yang was surprised. "It's only April."
"Pre-hype," she explained. "Gotta build momentum."
He nodded to himself. That made sense.
"Some of my classmates saw your ad," she added. "They said you looked good. But I still think it's not great."
Yang Yang raised his eyebrows playfully. "Naturally. The camera can't capture all my handsomeness," he replied, adding a grinning emoji with perfectly white teeth.
Su Ye immediately sent a "spitting" emoji in return, clearly unimpressed.
"I'm serious though—once you learn to drive, you should take the Cayenne."
"Why?" she asked, puzzled.
"I signed a deal with Porsche," he explained. "They're giving me a Cayenne here in Europe, and another one in China as part of the sponsorship deal. It's free, all covered. I'd rather give it to you than let it go to waste."
"I don't want it," Su Ye replied instantly.
"Why not?" Yang Yang asked, this time genuinely confused.
There was a pause before she answered.
"I like you because of you. I don't mind you giving me small gifts—those mean something to me. They show that you were thinking of me. Even the tiniest thing, I treasure it."
"But something too expensive? It would make me feel uncomfortable."
Yang Yang fell silent.
Suddenly, her words reminded him of what Su Wenhong, Su Ye's father, had once said—that if Yang Yang had reached this level just a year earlier, they might never have invited him into their home. They didn't want to be seen as taking advantage, or be misunderstood. They didn't want to lose dignity.
Now, he could feel that same instinct in Su Ye. Her words weren't about pride—they were about equality. She didn't want to be indebted to him. She didn't want to be treated like someone dependent on his success.
She loved him, but she wanted to stand beside him—not behind.
"I'm sorry," Yang Yang typed, his fingers pausing on the keys.
"I knew you'd understand," she replied.
"I do," he answered.
He really did.
Su Ye was someone with dreams, direction, and her own path. She had never intended to be just "Yang Yang's girlfriend." She wanted to be someone he could respect, someone who could inspire him just as much as he inspired her.
And that made him respect her even more.
"I remember you once told me," she continued, "that you wanted to become the best player in the world—so that I could be proud of you. Well… you've done it. No matter what happens on Tuesday, I'm already proud."
"But now it's my turn. I'll work harder too—so that one day, you can be proud of me."
Yang Yang's chest tightened slightly, and then he smiled at the screen.
"Okay," he wrote. "I'm waiting for you."
As the chat fell silent, his thoughts lingered on her—on the girl halfway across the world, alone in Beijing, but always by his side in ways that mattered most.