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Wang Sanchun's business card felt particularly heavy in Suning's hands.

The six gold-plated characters of "League A Scout" gleamed under the lights, like a door to a new world.

“Xihong City FC…” Su Ning murmured to himself, his fingertips gently stroking the edge of the business card.

He certainly knew this team; they finished fourth in the Jia-A League last year, just one step away from the Chinese Super League.

"Scout Wang said the tryouts can be arranged next week." A blond teammate from the Da Xiang team leaned over, his eyes full of envy. "Brother Duoyu, you're about to make a big leap forward!"

Su Ning forced a smile, her gaze sweeping over the familiar faces in the locker room.

It's been three years. Although these teammates are not very skilled, they are all true brothers.

Especially that big guy in the corner who was quietly tidying up his shin guards...

Center-back Zhuang Qiang has taken good care of him since the first day he joined the team.

"What are you all doing here?" Coach Ma Daxing's voice boomed from the doorway. "You think you're all that just because you won a friendly match? We have a league game against the Hawks next Sunday!"

The locker room fell silent instantly.

The team members looked at each other, and then, without prior arrangement, all turned their gaze toward Suning.

“Coach…” Su Ning took a deep breath, “I have something to say.”

Five minutes later, Ma Daxing's roar almost lifted the roof off the locker room.

"What? Xihong City FC? That old fox Wang Sanchun poached my players?" Ma Daxing's face turned bright red, and the veins on his neck bulged. "Wang Duoyu! I trained you for three years, and this is how you repay me?"

Su Ning lowered his head, letting the spittle splatter on his face.

In the original owner's memory, although Ma Daxing had a fiery temper, he was truly devoted to the players.

Last year, when "Wang Duoyu" had a high fever, Ma Daxing rushed him to the hospital overnight and even paid for his medical expenses.

“Coach, I’m thirty-two…” Su Ning looked up. “This might be my last chance.”

"Bullshit!" Ma Daxing slammed his fist on the locker with a loud "bang!" "You're a starter on Daxing's team, but if you go to Xihong City FC, you won't even get a seat on the bench! Those professional players will devour you without leaving a trace!"

Suning remained silent.

Ma Daxing's words made sense, but he had the system as a secret weapon.

After gaining the ability to "react instantly," he felt that his judgment of the ball's trajectory had almost reached the level of predicting the future.

"Coach, let Duoyu go." A deep voice suddenly rang out.

Zhuang Qiang stood up, his nearly 1.9-meter height appearing particularly imposing in the cramped locker room.

"His skill level... really shouldn't be buried in the amateur league."

Ma Daxing stared wide-eyed at Zhuang Qiang and then at Suning, finally letting out a long sigh: "You young people... have no idea how cruel professional football is!"

At the team meeting that evening, Ma Daxing announced with a dark expression that Suning was about to leave the team.

After the meeting, Zhuang Qiang grabbed Su Ning's wrist and said, "Come on, let's go for a drink."

The two went to their usual food stall.

Without saying a word, Zhuang Qiang ordered two cases of beer, then stared at Su Ning with red eyes: "Are you really decided?"

"Hmm." Su Ning nodded, opened a bottle of beer, and took a big gulp.

The icy liquid slid down his throat, but it couldn't extinguish the fire in his chest.

"Qiangzi, do you know how late I practice every day?"

“I know.” Zhuang Qiang also opened a bottle. “I also know that those ‘Analysis of World’s Top Goalkeeper Techniques’ books under your pillow are practically worn out from reading them.”

The two men smiled at each other and clinked their bottles together.

After a few rounds of drinks, Zhuang Qiang suddenly collapsed onto the table and burst into tears, drawing the attention of the surrounding diners.

"Holy crap, what are you doing?" Su Ning hurriedly handed over a tissue.

"I...I can't bear to part with you!" Zhuang Qiang cried, snot and tears streaming down his face, looking like a child whose toy had been taken away. "Who will fill in for me if you leave? Who will train with me after practice? Who...who will cook instant noodles for me in the middle of the night!"

Suning's eyes welled up with tears.

In the original owner's memory, he and Zhuang Qiang shared a dormitory for three years, trained together, were scolded together, and even chased after the same soccer babe.

That kind of brotherhood is pure and passionate.

“It’s not like I’m not coming back.” Suning patted Zhuang Qiang on the shoulder. “When I become a professional player, I’ll ask you to be my personal bodyguard.”

"Get lost!" Zhuang Qiang burst into laughter through his tears, raising the wine bottle. "Come on, let's drink until we drop tonight!"

Three days later, Suning stood outside the Xihong City FC training base gate, dragging his suitcase.

……

The sight before him made him gasp for breath...

Standardized training facilities, a modern gym, and even a dedicated rehabilitation center.

This is a world apart from the bumpy, uneven basketball court of the Da Xiang team.

"Wang Duoyu." A middle-aged man wearing a club polo shirt came up to him.

"Mr. Sanchun, hello!" Su Ning quickly stepped forward to shake hands.

Wang Sanchun was about forty years old, with bright, piercing eyes; he was clearly a shrewd man.

"Come with me, the coaching staff is waiting for you," Wang Sanchun said as he walked. "Don't be nervous, just treat it like a normal training match."

"clear."

Suning nodded, but his palms were sweating involuntarily.

His current identity is "Wang Duoyu", a 32-year-old amateur league goalkeeper.

Under normal circumstances, someone of that age would never be favored by a professional team.

If it weren't for his amazing performance in that friendly match, he wouldn't even have had the chance to try out.

On the training field, a dozen or so players are warming up.

Suning immediately recognized several faces that frequently appeared on television...

The team includes national team striker Li Wei, midfield maestro Zhao Tianyu, and young Olympic team player Zhang Hao.

"Everyone, this is our new trial goalkeeper, Wang Duoyu." Wang Sanchun clapped his hands. "He'll be joining the substitutes for today's intra-squad scrimmage."

The players glanced at Suning, their eyes filled with the arrogance and scrutiny characteristic of professional players.

No one greeted them, and no one welcomed them.

In the jungle of professional football, skill is the only passport.

"A thirty-two-year-old coming for a trial?" a blond midfielder muttered under his breath. "Turn left after leaving the retirement home."

"Hahaha……"

Amidst the laughter, Suning silently walked towards the reserve team's goal.

He took a deep breath and brought up the system interface in his mind:
[Host: Su Ning (Wang Duoyu)]

【Age: 32】

[Current Ability: LV.2]

【Attribute: Reaction Speed: 85】
Positive firefighting ability: 80
Positional awareness: 70
Hand control: 65
One-on-one: 60

[Experience value: 650/1000]

[Active Skill: Ball Trajectory Prediction Line (Automatically activated during match)]

Passive Skill: Instant Reaction (Reaction Speed ​​+20%)

The competition begins.

The main team showed an overwhelming advantage from the start, creating three shots on goal in just five minutes.

Suning was completely focused, the red prediction line in front of him clearly showing the trajectory of each ball.

In the seventh minute, Li Wei received a through pass from Zhao Tianyu and found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper.

This regular member of the national team easily dribbled past the substitute team's defender and opted for a chip shot against Suning.

To onlookers, this was almost a sure goal.

But in Suning's view, the ball's trajectory was clearly visible, as if it had been slowed down.

He took two steps back, leaped up, and barely touched the ball with his fingertips, tipping it over the crossbar.

"Great save!" Wang Sanchun cheered from the sidelines.

Li Wei frowned, clearly not expecting such a reaction from this "amateur goalkeeper".

The following matches became a personal showcase for Suning...

He kept Zhao Tianyu's long-range shot, Zhang Hao's header, and even Li Wei's penalty kick out of the net.

"This kid's got some skills..." The blond midfielder stopped mocking and instead began to carefully observe Suning's every move.

In the second half, the main team intensified their attack.

During a corner kick, Li Wei overpowered the defender at the far post and delivered a powerful header that flew straight into the top corner.

Suning almost instinctively lunged to make the save, his body fully extended, and just as the ball was about to cross the goal line, he flicked it away with his fingertips!

"World-class save!" The assistant coach on the sidelines jumped up excitedly. "That reaction speed is incredible!"

The training match ended with the substitute team unexpectedly defeating the main team 1-0.

Suning made an astonishing twelve saves, three of which were rated "world-class" by the system.

"Wang Duoyu," head coach Chen Zhiyuan walked over, a rare smile appearing on his serious face, "Welcome to Xihong City FC. We'll discuss the contract tomorrow."

"Thank you."

That night, Suning lay in the apartment arranged by the club, feeling like he was dreaming.

From the team dormitory to this one-bedroom apartment, from boxed meals to today's steak dinner, the gap between professional and amateur football is not just about technical skill.

My phone suddenly vibrated. It was a message from Zhuang Qiang: "How was it? Did you get crushed by the pro players?"

Suning replied with a smile: "We'd rather crush them. We've signed it, we'll discuss the contract tomorrow."

"Awesome! I knew you could do this! Remember to treat me!"

After putting down his phone, Suning walked to the window.

The night view of Xihong City was dazzling, and the lights of the stadium in the distance twinkled like stars. He knew that the real challenge had just begun.

The intensity of the top-tier league is far beyond that of amateur matches, and his system is still in its early stages.

"System, view new tasks."

Main Quest: Complete your professional league debut.

[Reward: 1000 experience points, one random skill]

Side Quest: Make 10 spectacular saves during team training (6/10)

[Reward: 200 Experience Points]

Suning clenched his fist.

He wants more than just to stand on the professional stage; he wants to become the most dazzling star.

Those who mocked his age, those who looked down on amateur players, will eventually witness the birth of a legend.

On the second day, at breakfast time, Suning experienced the professional club's food standards for the first time.

The buffet restaurant is filled with a variety of nutritious dishes, including sea cucumber, steak, and salmon.

"Is this newcomer?" a sweet voice sounded from behind.

Suning turned around and saw a pretty girl wearing a club promotional T-shirt with a name tag that read "Cheerleader Lin Lin".

“Yes, we just signed the contract yesterday.” Su Ning nodded.

Lin Lin smiled radiantly, blatantly throwing herself at him: "I heard you pounced on Li Wei so hard he was practically dumbfounded yesterday? Teach me how to be a goalkeeper sometime~"

Several veteran team members cast envious glances from a distance.

Suning then realized that in the world of professional football, strength brings not only respect, but also...

Other temptations.

"System," he murmured to himself, "I need to become stronger."

[Tip: You can level up through matches and training. The next stage will unlock the "Goalline Lightning" ability, which greatly increases save speed.]

Suning took a bite of the sea cucumber, and the delicious flavor spread throughout her mouth.

This feeling is like his brand new life—full of endless possibilities.

……

Suning stood outside the general manager's office of Xihong City FC, clutching the trial evaluation report given to him by Wang Sanchun.

Data on paper is cold and objective...

A reaction speed of A, a save success rate of 87%, and high ball control of B+ are extraordinary performances for a goalkeeper who has just jumped up from the amateur league.

But the world of professional football is never just about statistics.

General Manager Liu Zhenhai is a shrewd middle-aged man, impeccably dressed in a suit, with sharp eyes.

He flipped through Suning's information, his brows furrowing slightly.

"Wang Duoyu, 32 years old, previously worked for Daxiang team... in the amateur league?" His tone carried a hint of doubt.

"Yes." Su Ning nodded, her expression calm.

Liu Zhenhai put down the document and crossed his arms: "To be honest, we generally don't sign players of this age, especially those who come from lower-level leagues."

Suning had anticipated this.

Professional football is brutal. Youth means potential, and 32 years old is seen by many as the end of a professional career.

But he has a system.

“Mr. Liu, the data doesn’t lie.” Su Ning looked directly at the other man. “In yesterday’s training match, I saved three sure goals from Li Wei, including a penalty.”

Liu Zhenhai was silent for a moment, then finally smiled slightly: "Alright! Wang Sanchun was right about you. One-year contract, base salary of 15 yuan, performance bonuses extra. Accept?"

15 is not a high amount for a professional player.

But for Suning now, this is a huge leap from the monthly salary of 3000 yuan in the Daxing team.

“I accept.” He nodded without hesitation.

After signing the contract and walking out of the office, Suning breathed a sigh of relief.

From this moment forward, he is an official player for Xihong City FC...

Despite being a substitute goalkeeper.

The pace of professional football is far more intense than Suning imagined.

7:00 AM, physical training; 9:00 AM, tactical analysis class; 11:00 AM, technical training; 3:00 PM, intra-team scrimmage.

In the evenings, we will also have to do extra training on reaction speed and strength.

In amateur teams, after training everyone could go out for barbecue and beer with their arms around each other, but in professional teams, no one dares to be so indulgent.

There are strict rules about diet, sleep time must be guaranteed, and even social activities must be reported.

"Old Wang, your save technique is too old-fashioned, you need to change it." Goalkeeper coach Mark is German and speaks directly. "The shooting power of strikers in professional leagues is three times stronger than the ones you've encountered before. Reaction alone is not enough; your technique must be standard."

Suning nodded and silently made a note of it.

The system gave him extraordinary predictive abilities, but he is still adapting to the details of professional football.

The locker room of a professional football team is strictly hierarchical.

The key players have their own small circles, while the substitutes stick together for mutual support.

As a newcomer and a "senior" student who skipped grades, Suning was naturally neglected at first.

"I heard this guy jumped straight from the amateur team?" Su Ning overheard someone talking behind his back after training one day.

"He's 32 years old, probably just here to build up his resume."

"Has the coaching staff lost their minds? Why sign this old guy?"

Suning ignored it and just quietly practiced more.

He knew that in the world of football, skill was the only true currency.

The opportunity came quickly.

With starting goalkeeper Chen Lei injured during national team training and the backup goalkeeper in poor form, the coaching staff decided to give Jiangsu Suning another chance…

In the intra-squad scrimmage, he represented the reserve team against the starting lineup.

Before the match started, star striker Li Wei walked over and patted him on the shoulder: "Old Wang, don't be nervous, I won't be too ruthless."

Despite saying that, Su Ning could read the disdain in his eyes.

"System, activate the ball trajectory prediction line."

The match began, and the main team immediately launched a barrage of attacks.

In the fifth minute, Li Wei unleashed a powerful shot from outside the penalty area, the ball flying like a cannonball into the top corner!
But in Suning's eyes, the ball's trajectory was clearly marked by the red prediction line.

He moved ahead of time and leaped into the air...

Snapped!
The ball was held firmly.

A gasp rippled through the crowd from the sidelines.

"You're in luck, Lao Wang!" Li Wei shouted with a smile, but his eyes had already changed.

The following matches became a personal showcase for Suning.

Li Wei's curling shot, Zhao Tianyu's long-range effort, Zhang Hao's header...

He turned them all away.

The most exciting moment came in the 75th minute when Li Wei broke into the penalty area on a one-on-one, faked out the defender, and fired a low shot into the near corner...

Suning made a save almost the instant the ball left his foot, his body springing out like a spring, and he blocked the ball out of bounds with one hand!
"What the hell is this reaction?!" A substitute player on the sidelines jumped up.

The match ended with the substitute team pulling off a stunning 1-0 upset victory over the first team.

Suning made 9 saves, 3 of which were marked as "world-class" by the coaching staff.

After the game, the atmosphere in the locker room subtly changed.

Li Wei walked over and handed him a bottle of sports drink: "Old Wang, I underestimated you before."

Zhao Tianyu patted him on the shoulder and said, "With your skill level, you should have joined a professional team a long time ago."

Suning smiled but didn't say anything.

He knew that he had finally earned respect.

The life of a professional athlete is more than just training and matches.

The apartments arranged by the club were much more luxurious than the dormitories of the Daxing team, complete with a gym and physiotherapy room.

The meals are no longer boxed lunches and instant noodles, but high-protein meals specially prepared by nutritionists, with sea cucumber and steak becoming daily staples.

Even the cheerleading girls started to look at him differently.

"Hey Lao Wang, are you free this weekend? A few of the girls in our team would like to treat you to dinner~" Lin Lin came over with a grin, her eyes hinting at something.

Suning smiled and politely declined, saying, "Maybe next time! I have to practice extra this weekend."

He knew that the world of professional football was full of temptations, but if he relaxed, he would be eliminated.

Of course, the main reason is that I am not familiar with the other party and I don't know whose mount it is.

Back in the apartment that evening, Suning brought up the system interface:
[Host: Su Ning (Wang Duoyu)]

Current Level: LV.3

[Experience value: 850/10000]

[Skills: Ball trajectory prediction line (automatically activated during the match), Instant reaction (passive +20% reaction speed)]

"Level three! Is there still more possibility in the future?"

Suning clenched his fist, his gaze resolute.

His professional league debut is one he's determined to make everyone remember...

The name Wang Duoyu!
……

(End of this chapter)