Jin Hayes had a dream. He dreamt he was standing in the Theatre of Dreams, Old Trafford, surrounded by the clamor of cheers and screams from the stands. His ecstatic teammates encircled him, lifting him and tossing him into the air. Flying over the Theatre of Dreams, Jin Hayes, the sole protagonist in the spotlight, felt as if he had conquered the stadium.
In his dream, he had defeated the previous Ballon d'Or winner, the temporarily recognized world number one, the superstar about to join Real Madrid for a world-record transfer fee—Cristiano Ronaldo.
Does this mean I'm also the world's number one?
"No, you are not."
Hiss—
He woke up with a start.
The Theatre of Dreams, the stands, the green pitch, the cheering crowd, the spotlight—everything was gone. Only the dim hotel room and an unfamiliar ceiling remained.
Who am I?
Where am I?
Was everything just a dream?
Am I not a professional player?
Following the loud snores, Nuri Şahin on the other side was sound asleep. Turning his head again, the Champions League MVP trophy sat quietly on the bedside table, draped with a red jersey from who knows where, its slightly damp feel a bit disgusting.
Jin Hayes sat up and took the trophy; it was cold to the touch and not as heavy as he imagined. Perhaps the upper part of the trophy was a hollow metal sphere, replicating the official Champions League logo, with most of the weight coming from the base. The base was also engraved with the match date, venue, and his name.
"So, it wasn't a dream."
Everything that happened yesterday at Old Trafford was real. He really had defeated Manchester United at Old Trafford. He had led the youngest Borussia Dortmund team to eliminate the defending champions, the favorites to win, the Premier League overlords—the Red Devils Manchester United.
With pre-match odds heavily favoring United, the whole world believed Manchester United would crush Dortmund and advance to the semi-finals. Even a 3-0 lead at the start made the outcome seem almost certain. But Jin Hayes did it; they achieved the nearly impossible.
Looking at the slightly damp red jersey again, the front was printed with "AIG" and the Manchester United crest, while the back bore a large number 7. "Ronaldo."
Cristiano Ronaldo's jersey.
Oh, right.
Jin Hayes remembered, after the match yesterday, Cristiano Ronaldo had exchanged jerseys with him. After the match, at the Old Trafford stands, disappointed Manchester United fans left one after another; staying to watch Dortmund players celebrate was simply heartbreaking.
Dortmund players went to the away stands after the match to thank the fans for traveling all the way to Manchester to support the team. It was a pity that none of the Heinrich family came, so he couldn't share the joy of victory with them immediately. He couldn't hold the girl in his arms right away.
Recently, old Fritz's health hasn't been good, and he often has to go to the hospital for check-ups. They could only stay in Dortmund to take care of the old man. Only Frank represented the whole family, coming to Old Trafford to support the team and also serving as the team doctor.
"Hey, You!"
"Hey!!! Man!"
Someone called out several times before Jin Hayes turned his head to look. Cristiano Ronaldo was shirtless, holding a jersey. His expression was quite displeased, and he pouted, looking away. Perhaps out of some obsession, this guy insisted on finding Jin Hayes.
"Exchange?"
"Sure."
Usually, when star players exchange jerseys, they interact in a friendly manner. Jin Hayes felt as if he owed Cristiano Ronaldo thousands, his face really was ugly. Losing was already so hard, why come over and humiliate himself?
"This is a reminder to me, to always remember this day of humiliation. Next year, yes, next year if I meet you, I will show no mercy."
—Why is he spouting war declarations like a villain in a TV show?
"Alright, alright, whatever you say."
"Wait! Can't you be serious?"
Cristiano Ronaldo couldn't keep it up. He had clearly issued a serious challenge, but this kid wasn't taking him seriously at all. Damn it!
"Let's talk about it next time we meet. What if I make it to the quarterfinals next year, and you're still in the round of 16?"
Cristiano Ronaldo stopped himself from cursing, turned his head away angrily, and left. He really regretted coming over to exchange jerseys; he must have been crazy.
Looking at the jersey in his hand, Jin Hayes could somewhat understand Cristiano Ronaldo's feelings. Although he loved to show off and seek attention in front of the cameras, his desire to win was, at least, unquestionable. Cristiano Ronaldo had even willingly sacrificed himself tactically in yesterday's match, using his runs to draw defenders and create opportunities for Wayne Rooney.
This was enough to prove how much he wanted to win.
In fact, Manchester United almost did it. It's just that they were a little too conservative at the end, and compared to a Dortmund team that threw everything they had, Manchester United lacked a bit of the determination to fight to the death.
Jin Hayes was already used to strange terms popping up in his mind.
Time: 6:00 AM Greenwich Mean Time.
His long-established biological clock made him wake up naturally. After getting up and washing, he prepared to change into his training clothes and head to the five-star hotel's gym to start his daily workout. However, the gym didn't open until 9 AM, so Jin Hayes could only jog on the streets outside the hotel, experiencing Manchester in the early morning.
Aside from a few scattered vehicles, there were occasionally drunkards who had been at the bars all night, wearing Manchester United jerseys, drunkenly embracing and singing Manchester United's team anthem. Clearly, they were in a bad mood after yesterday's loss and were drowning their sorrows in alcohol.
"Hey! Why are you running alone?"
A slender figure suddenly appeared beside him, almost scaring Jin Hayes. He initially thought it was a female fan trying to chat him up, which he had encountered many times on the streets of Dortmund and would usually stop for autographs and photos. But upon closer inspection, why did she look familiar?
Chestnut short hair, alluring eyes, and a noticeable Latin accent.
"Did you forget? Madrid, you left me alone at the bar, it was quite embarrassing."
The woman looked at Jin Hayes with a rather resentful gaze, biting her lower lip.
"Why are you here?"
"I'm working in Manchester. I saw a very familiar back, and it turned out to be you."
"What kind of work do you do?"
"I'm a model, here for a magazine shoot. I even made time to watch your game yesterday, you played great! I just came out for a morning run and found we're in the same hotel, what a coincidence, wouldn't you say?"
The woman looked at Jin Hayes charmingly, acting very familiar.
Jin Hayes always felt like she was pursuing him a bit too persistently. But there was no real reason; he was usually low-key enough and not some big star.
t/n:Yeah,right!
"Okay, enjoy your morning run."
Jin Hayes turned around and ran back to the hotel on the spot.
"Hey! Wait!"
"Excuse me…"
Ignoring Eileen's calls from behind, Jin Hayes didn't look back. He was afraid of being caught by paparazzi on the street and becoming the male lead in a gossip story in The Sun. No matter how resentful the young woman's eyes behind him were, Jin Hayes couldn't care less. An insignificant interlude would not affect his good mood today.
...
After returning to Dortmund with the team and disbanding, Anna was still waiting for him in front of the training ground. Only this time, the girl knew how to be shy and wouldn't openly kiss and hug him in front of his teammates. Instead, she waited until all the teammates had dispersed and left. Only then did Anna lean in.
"Have you thought about how you're going to reward me?"
"No, reward for what?" The blonde girl suppressed a smile, raising her chin.
"Hmm? We clearly agreed last night that if I won, you'd give me a reward."
"Picking you up is the reward." The girl's clear blue eyes blinked, a cunningness hidden within her innocent and naive look.
"If you don't give it to me, I'll take it myself."
"Hey, wait! They haven't gone far yet—mmph!!" The girl immediately panicked, but she couldn't resist Jin Hayes's domineering move. He pulled the girl into an embrace, like the classic "Victory Kiss" photo in Times Square after World War II. Anna had nowhere to retreat and was "arrested" by Jin Hayes on the spot.
After a long while.
"You—you're annoying."
The girl's face was flushed, and she walked quietly beside Jin Hayes, head down. The commotion just now had still been noticed by the Dortmund players. It was utterly embarrassing. It was all this guy's fault.
"This is also a victory kiss." Jin Hayes was satisfied with his reward, pulling his suitcase, feeling refreshed.
"You're getting worse and worse. Honestly, every time you go for an away game, do you mess around behind my back?" Jin Hayes had always thought Anna would remain that serene and cool girl. He never expected that the closer they became, the more he touched her truest side. In private, she was essentially no different from other girls; she also got jealous and worried about gains and losses. Sometimes she was clumsy and silly, other times a little neurotic.
"No, I didn't. Think about it, after playing Manchester United, I was exhausted. Who would have the energy to mess around?"
"Nonsense, I saw the news yesterday, you guys went to a nightclub again."
"It wasn't me, I was very well-behaved. I went straight back to the hotel from the stadium."
"Really?" Anna grabbed Jin Hayes's arm, her blue eyes fixed on his, her expression suspicious.
"Uh, really." Jin Hayes felt a little guilty.
"Ha! You hesitated, sure enough—after the novelty wears off, men stop loving."
"Pfft, you've watched too many TV shows. Come here, let me prove it."
"No, my lips are all swollen from your kissing, they'll notice when we get back."
"I don't care."
"Ah—." The girl hurriedly ran away, and Jin Hayes, dragging his suitcase, quickly chased after her.
...
Frank Heinrich returned to the training ground with the club bus, sleeping in the back row the whole way. Waking up, he got off the bus in a daze and saw the scene between Jin Hayes and his sister. He watched everything without batting an eyelid, completely bewildered.
"Wait, didn't any of you notice I was still here?"
That brat Jin Hayes!
Considering his decisive goal against Manchester United and his hard work over the past two seasons, Frank took a deep breath and decided to let him off the hook. Otherwise, if it were anyone else, Frank would never allow his sister to be so easily taken away.
At the same time, all of Europe was abuzz.
Marca, Mundo Deportivo, Bild, The Sun, The Times, Kicker, France Football—the front pages of all prominent football and social media were dominated by the same person. The handsome face of the black-haired, Asian youth occupied large sections of most newspapers. The teenager, celebrating with raised arms at the Theatre of Dreams, once again became the talk of all Europe.
Bild: "The Miracle at the Theatre of Dreams! 16-year-old Asian prodigy creates three goals, Dortmund 7-6 in a desperate comeback, stunning the reigning champions!"
Marca: "Ferguson Trembles! Manchester United's 3-goal lead tragically overturned, Dortmund's youth storm rewrites the Champions League script!"
L'Équipe: "The Craziest Comeback in Champions League History! Jin Hayes's 80-meter sprint + 0-degree angle winner, Manchester United's dynasty collapses!"
The Times: "From Heaven to Hell: Red Devils' 3-goal advantage vanishes, Asian prodigy shatters Manchester United's title defense dream at the Theatre of Dreams!"
La Gazzetta dello Sport: "Europe Trembles! Magical Teenager Creates 5 Goals in Two Legs, Dortmund 7-6 Strangles Champions League Top Favorite!"
...
Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke's phone was ringing off the hook. Agents, clubs, intermediaries—the entire European football world wanted to contact him, subtly inquiring about Jin Hayes.
"—What? Don't even think about it, €30 million definitely won't sell, he's not for sale—no, your official fax is useless, give up on that idea—."
"—Yes, long time no see, what made you think of contacting me? Oh, Jin Hayes, I'm sorry, you can buy other people, but don't even think about Jin Hayes…."
"Mr. Florentino, you can just instruct others, calling me personally is truly an honor—yes, mm, that's right—."
"With all due respect, Mr. Florentino, he is very important to us, I'm sorry, €100 million? Hahahahaha, you're so humorous—."
"Jorge, why are you calling too? Don't tell me Jin himself wants to leave, you scared me to death! I thought Jin wanted to leave. Okay, I'm free all this week, let's meet up and talk."
"Don't worry, even if you don't say anything, I'll prepare a new contract, this time I'll definitely satisfy you all—"
Hanging up the phone, Watzke pulled a bottle of Scotch whisky from the liquor cabinet, put spherical ice cubes in a glass, poured a little less than half a glass of liquor, and drank it in one gulp.
"Damn it! A bunch of old foxes!"
His expression shifting between light and shadow, Watzke pondered for a moment, then dialed another number.
"Jürgen, come over when you have a moment, I need to discuss something with you."