Lu Chuan, sit," Instructor Wang said, pointing to the chair opposite him in the office of the Evergrande Football School's Spain branch, his tone remarkably calm.
Lu Chuan pulled out the chair, the sound of its metal legs scraping the floor was a little grating.
He sat down quietly, his hands on his knees, the unease in his heart rapidly expanding.
He had been here for four and a half years and knew Instructor Wang's style too well; the calmer and more business-like he was, the more irreversible the situation.
Instructor Wang said, "Lu Chuan, after our assessment, we believe that your physical talent and ability to compete may not be suitable for future development in Europe's top Leagues."
He continued earnestly, "However, for your professional development, and to help you play professional matches as soon as possible, the Football School has secured an opportunity for you to develop back home."
He paused, seemingly to let Lu Chuan digest the first part of his statement, before delivering the conclusion.
"Specifically, it's a trial with a domestic China League One team — Shanghai Shenxin Football Club.
We hope you perform well in the trial, secure a professional contract, and enter a professional League soon."
The four words "Shanghai Shenxin" buzzed in Lu Chuan's ears, and his mind went blank.
It was exactly the same as in his previous life.
He wasn't looking down on this China League One team, affectionately nicknamed "Three Yellow Chickens" by fans, nor was he disdaining the meager professional contract.
It was because in his previous life, he had sat in an office just like this, listening to almost the exact same words.
He accepted the arrangement, returned to China with a desire for professional football and a hint of unwillingness, and successfully signed a contract with Shanghai Shenxin.
He thought his dream had merely moved to a different place, continuing to burn.
However, that flame was quickly extinguished by the cold water of reality.
In the 2019 season, the team was relegated three rounds early.
He played his heart out for an entire season but ended up not receiving a single penny in wages.
The long road of demanding back pay began; from the Shanghai Football Association to the Chinese Football Association, he wore out his tongue, only to receive indifferent glances and the perfunctory response of "wait a bit longer."
Ultimately, Shanghai Shenxin's qualification for the 2020 China League Two was revoked, and he, due to his persistence in demanding back pay, gained a reputation as a "troublemaker" in the industry, with no other team inviting him for a trial.
He was forced to retire before the age of twenty.
Evergrande now wanted to sell him to Shanghai Shenxin to recover the 700,000 yuan youth training compensation fee, preemptively filling a small brick in their future financial collapse.
Moreover, the Chinese Football Association would require clubs to use neutral names in less than two years; this requirement led to many sponsors withdrawing their investments, ending the golden age of money in domestic football.
Going back now meant he wouldn't even get a hot meal.
He knew that once he boarded the plane back to China, that tragedy would repeat itself precisely.
He would rather play for a U19 youth team in Spain than go back!
"No!" Lu Chuan suddenly stood up, knocking his chair over backward with a loud crash. "I'm absolutely not going back!"
Instructor Wang hadn't expected Lu Chuan to refuse an opportunity to play in a professional League, especially so decisively.
He said, "Lu Chuan, developing back home is for your own good. Your current abilities won't allow you to gain a foothold in the European Leagues. We've submitted your information to many European clubs, and almost none of them are interested in you."
"That's why we turned to the domestic League. No China Super League team was interested in you either, so we submitted your information to Shanghai Shenxin."
"Their head coach, Zhu Jiong, has shown great interest in you because their team lacks a forward, which is why they're offering you a trial. Don't waste this opportunity."
"Furthermore, if you don't accept this arrangement, the Football School will not issue you an international transfer certificate. This means you will be unable to register and play for any club in Europe."
Lu Chuan instantly felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar.
He was trapped.
Going back was a dead end, but staying meant no football. Four and a half years of his youth, over a million yuan invested by his parents, all turned into a joke.
A tremendous sense of despair made his body sway, almost causing him to collapse to the ground. Just as his mind and body were on the brink of collapse, a voice sounded in his mind, instantly cutting through all the noise and despair.
"Detecting the host's intense desire for football, the 'Football Legend System' has been activated."
"Initial enhancement obtained: [Physical Transformation] (enables the host's physical qualities to meet the basic requirements for professional Leagues)."
"[training space] and [Talent: Guaranteed Long Shot] unlocked."
"Urgent mission issued: Escape the predicament, obtain a professional contract, and begin your professional career (Time limit: 7 days)!"
Along with this sudden voice, a translucent blue panel, visible only to him, appeared before his eyes.
[Personal Panel], [training space], [Talent: Guaranteed Long Shot]... Lu Chuan was stunned.
An indescribable warm current surged from his heart to his limbs, and he felt his body filled with unprecedented strength, his muscles cheering, his bones yearning.
He slowly lifted his head, the despair in his eyes fading, replaced by a nearly burning brightness.
He immediately said to Instructor Wang, "Instructor Wang, could you please give me seven days to consider this matter? Can I give you an answer within seven days?"
Instructor Wang thought for a moment, then agreed, saying, "You need to consider it carefully. There are so many Chinese youth training players in Europe now, and not many can enter China League One."
"During your consideration period, you can pause your training. Think it over carefully."
"Okay, Instructor Wang." Lu Chuan walked out of the office and quickly found a place to study the System.
He hurried through the corridor, found a secluded corner, and eagerly immersed his mind in the faintly glowing blue panel in his mind.
[Personal Panel] was the first thing that caught his eye. A series of data was clearly listed:
Strength: 62
Speed: 75
Stamina: 60
Explosive Power: 71
Shooting: 78
Heading: 73
Ball Control: 74
Dribbling: 76
Passing: 72
...All physical indicators had soared to a new height, a level not inferior to China Super League players.
He could even feel his muscle fibers excitedly twitching, and an unprecedented vitality surging through his blood vessels.
This was the result of [Physical Transformation], instantly elevating him from an ordinary youth player to a top-tier standard with a professional League foundation.
Next, the [training space] option lit up.
With a mental touch, he felt as if he was in a training ground that was both ethereal and real, where the flow of time seemed to be manipulated, and every training session here would receive several times the efficiency bonus.
But what excited him most was undoubtedly the [Talent: Guaranteed Long Shot]. The System immediately added an explanation in his mind: This is a primary passive talent, triggered intermittently. When the host takes a long shot from outside the penalty area, the System has a 10% chance to convert it into an incredible guaranteed goal.
Lu Chuan himself would only feel "incredibly good touch" or "clear ball trajectory" when it triggered, but he couldn't actively control it.
However, the words "guaranteed goal" undoubtedly foreshadowed that this would become a decisive trump card at critical moments to turn the tide of battle.
System, this was simply a heaven-defying tool for him, tailor-made to change his fate!