After Paris Saint-Germain was removed from the list, I led England to victory!

The day after winning the championship.

In the mornings of Sinsheim, the air is filled with the festive spirit, more intense and pure than any other holiday in previous years.

Early this morning.

The streets of the town were already packed with surging crowds, with team flags, scarves, and balloons creating a sea of ​​excitement.

Not only residents of Sinsheim, but also media reporters from all over Germany and even Europe, carrying their cameras and microphones, crowded into the best spots to record the glorious moment when this small rural football club made history.

"Hoffenheim! Champions!"

"Salad plate! Salad plate!"

"We are the Bundesliga champions!!!"

The deafening cheers rose and fell like an endless tide.

An open-top double-decker bus, adorned with a huge club emblem and a gold sash, slowly drove along the town's main road, escorted by police cars.

On the rooftop platform, the Hoffenheim players, wearing brand-new championship commemorative T-shirts, beamed with uncontrollable joy and pride.

Salad platters and the German Cup trophy, gleaming dazzlingly silver in the sunlight, were held high by the players in turn, displayed to the sea of ​​red lining the roadside.

Every time the trophy is raised, it triggers a thunderous and overwhelming response.

Yan Yuan stood in the middle of his teammates, near the front of the bus.

He was also wearing a champion's T-shirt, with a bright and genuine smile on his face.

He waved vigorously to the fans chanting his name wildly on both sides of the road, responding to their calls.

The shouts of "Yan! Yan! Champion!"

When it was his turn to lift the salad plate, he took a deep breath, feeling the heavy weight and cool touch of the metal platter, and then raised it high above his head!

At that moment, all eyes were on him, and the cheers reached their peak.

He is no longer the boy who just arrived; he is a legend of this small town and the absolute core of this team's crowning victory.

The bus moved slowly forward, and wherever it went, there was a sea of ​​red and deafening cheers.

Children rode on their fathers' shoulders, waving their little hands excitedly; elderly people with white hair clapped excitedly with tears in their eyes; couples embraced, sharing this glory that belonged to the entire town.

The march lasted all morning.

When the bus finally returned to the Rhine-Neckar Arena, the players were almost soaked in sweat and their voices were a little hoarse, but the excitement and satisfaction in their eyes were not diminished at all.

……

As the daytime hustle and bustle and glory gradually subsided, the Rhine-Neckar Arena was enveloped by a deeper and more complex emotion at night.

The stadium was illuminated as if it were daytime, and the stands were packed, but the atmosphere was completely different from the daytime revelry.

The air was filled with a sense of satisfaction after the celebration, but also mixed with an indescribable sadness of parting.

As fans know, tonight's "end-of-season celebration party" will not only celebrate the glory of the double championship, but also has an unavoidable theme - farewell.

Yan Yuan's impending departure is no longer a secret in Hoffenheim, or even throughout Europe.

The party proceeded according to the schedule.

Club president Hope delivered a passionate speech, reviewing the fantastic season and thanking the players, coaches, staff, and all the loyal fans.

The salad plate and the German Cup trophy were brought back to the center of the stage, gleaming under the spotlight, eliciting thunderous applause and cheers from the audience.

The players took turns going on stage to receive the fans' salute and share the joy of winning the championship.

However, as the event neared its end and the host picked up the microphone again, the entire audience gradually quieted down.

An unspoken understanding flowed in the air.

Everyone knew that moment was approaching.

"Now," the host said with a touch of emotion.

"Let's hand the stage over to a special player."

He came from England, but on the land of Sinsheim, he wrote a legendary chapter that belongs to him and to all of us.

He's the Champions League Golden Boot winner, the Bundesliga Golden Boot winner, he's our reliable finisher, he's Hoffenheim's number 17, Yan Yuan!

The spotlight instantly focused on the stage entrance.

Yan Yuan's figure appeared there.

Tonight, he is wearing that familiar, brand-new blue and white home jersey with the number 17.

This outfit instantly moved all the fans in the stadium, eliciting the longest and most enthusiastic applause of the night!

Enduring!

Nagelsmann, Chairman Hopp, Director Rosen, and other senior executives, all dressed in formal attire, along with all the players in their jerseys sitting in the front row, all stood up and applauded.

Nagelsmann watched his disciple walk to the center of the stage, his eyes filled with complex emotions—pride, satisfaction, and deep reluctance.

Yan Yuan walked to the center of the stage and took the microphone.

He looked around at the packed stands, at the faces, some familiar, some unfamiliar, all filled with love and reluctance.

He took a deep breath, trying to calm the turmoil in his heart.

The applause gradually subsided, leaving only expectant gazes in the audience.

"Good evening, Sinsheim," Yan Yuan said, his voice clearly carried through the microphone to every corner of the stadium.

"Thank you everyone, thank you for coming here tonight and celebrating this incredible season with us."

As he spoke, his gaze swept over the club's executives, coaching staff, and teammates in the front row below the stage.

"First of all, I want to say that being able to stand here and share the glory of this championship with everyone is one of the greatest honors of my life." His voice gradually calmed, filled with heartfelt gratitude.

"This season, for me and for Hoffenheim, has been like a dream, a beautiful dream woven from sweat, tears, hard work and countless sleepless nights."

His gaze turned toward the podium:

"President Hope, Director Rosen, my coach, thank you."

Thank you for choosing to believe in an unknown 17-year-old boy from England that summer, and for giving him a chance to prove himself in the Bundesliga and the Champions League.

Without your trust and the platform you provided, I wouldn't be where I am today. Hoffenheim's vision and courage will forever earn my respect.

Then, his gaze shifted to the coaching bench and landed on Nagelsmann.

Their eyes met in the air, as if countless memories and emotions were flowing silently between them.

"Coach Nagelsmann," Yan Yuan's voice was clearly tinged with emotion.

"You are the most important mentor in my career."

It was you who taught me how to think, run, and fight on the highest level stage.

It was you who gave me unparalleled trust and freedom, allowing me to fully unleash my potential.

"It was you who, during my most difficult, confused, and even reckless times, embraced me and guided me." He paused, his voice slightly choked.

"I will always remember what you said to me in the hospital after that night at the Bernabéu. What you taught me was not just football tactics, but how to become a better person, a person who understands responsibility and commitment."

Thank you, Coach! Thank you so much!

Nagelsmann, sitting in the audience, instantly had tears in his eyes.

He pursed his lips tightly, forcing back his surging emotions as he clapped and nodded vigorously to his beloved student on the stage.

Yan Yuan turned his gaze to his teammates:

"And you, my brothers!"

Gnabry, Amiri, Grillitsch, De Jong, Maguire, Vogt, Uth, Baumann, Kaderabek, Schulz, Kramaric, Nordvet, Akpoguma, Demirbay, Oakes…

Yan Yuan read out the names of the other 26 players in the first team besides himself. He remembered every single one of them.

"We've sweated together, bled together, laughed together in the locker room, competed together on the training field, gritted our teeth together in desperate situations, and celebrated wildly together after victory!"

A last-minute winner at Anfield, lifting the trophy at Allianz Stadium…

Every moment is so precious and irreplaceable because you are by my side! You are my best brothers! You are my most trusted support on the field! Thank you! To fight alongside you, to lift the salad plate and the German Cup together, is the proudest thing in my life!

Grillitsch and Amiri sat in the audience, their eyes already wet with tears. They clapped vigorously and gave Yan Yuan a thumbs up on stage.

The other teammates were also moved, and the applause became even more enthusiastic.

Finally, Yan Yuan's gaze returned to the stands, looking at the sea of ​​fans:

"Finally, and most importantly, thank you, all the Hoffenheim fans!"

Thank you for every cheer you gave at the Rhine-Neckar Arena!

Thank you for following me every time we played away! Thank you for your support during our low points! Thank you for your celebrations during our high points!

It is your passion, your loyalty, and your unconditional love that have given us boundless strength!

You are the team's strongest support! You are the true soul of Hoffenheim! It is my greatest honor to fight for you and bring you the glory of a championship!

Yan Yuan's voice was choked with emotion, but every word was clear and powerful, filled with sincere feelings.

As soon as he finished speaking, he bowed deeply to the stands in each direction.

The entire audience erupted in thunderous applause!

Amidst shouts of "Yan! Danke!" (Thank you!), many fans were even moved to tears.

This applause is an affirmation of his contributions, a blessing for his farewell, and a response to his sincere confession.

The applause gradually subsided, but a sense of parting had already filled the air. The host announced at the opportune moment, "Now, let us give our warmest hugs and bid farewell to our forever number 17!"

The host gestured for the teammates to come up on stage.

The first one to come up was Gnabry.

This winger, known for his speed and passion, had tears welling up in his eyes.

He hugged Yan Yuan tightly, his voice choked with emotion: "Brother...take care! When you get to London, stay just as fierce, even fiercer. I'll be watching your matches!"

Yan Yuan hugged him tightly and patted his back:

"You too, Sergei, I hope you get even stronger!"

Amiri followed closely behind, relatively reserved, but his eyes were also moist.

He gripped Yan Yuan's hand tightly, his voice low and sincere: "Yan, you're the best partner I've ever had, bar none. Take care! Bring back a championship from Arsenal and show us!"

Next came De Jong, Maguire, Vogt, Uth, Baumann... Every teammate who fought alongside Yan Yuan went on stage, hugged him tightly, and offered their blessings.

Some people patted his shoulder, some rubbed his hair, some said encouraging words, and some simply hugged him tightly; everything was understood without words.

Every hug was filled with brotherhood and reluctance to part.

Finally, Nagelsmann took to the stage.

Instead of embracing him immediately like the others, he stood in front of Yan Yuan and looked at him intently for a few seconds.

In the eyes of this young head coach, there was pride, satisfaction, sadness at parting, and even more so, boundless expectations for his disciples' future.

He opened his arms and gave Yan Yuan a firm hug, patting him hard on the shoulder.

"Yan," Nagelsmann's voice was low and solemn.

"You've grown up, you've really grown up."

From that young boy who buried himself in training to the superstar standing atop Europe... I am incredibly proud of you.

Nash paused, as if he had a thousand words to say.

But in the end, it all came down to the simplest words:

"Yan, London is a big stage, Arsenal is a great team, and Professor Wenger is a legendary mentor."

Go there, unleash your talents, win more championships, and conquer a wider world.

Remember, wherever you go, no matter how great your achievements, Sinsheim, the Rhine-Neckar Arena, will always be your home.

Wherever you are in the future, every "family member" here will cheer you on and be proud of you! Go and showcase your talent on the next stage!

Yan Yuan nodded vigorously, tears finally streaming down his face uncontrollably.

"I promise you, Coach! I definitely will!"

The farewell ceremony has ended.

According to the program, after the party, a group photo of the Hoffenheim 2017/18 double champions will be taken.

As arranged by the photographer and according to the players' wishes.

Nagelsmann sat in the center of the first row, in the C position.

To his left was captain Vogt, the defensive stalwart with a solemn and resolute expression.

There was an empty seat to his right.

Surrounded by his teammates, Yan Yuan walked over and sat down in his assigned spot.

This is Nagelsmann's "right-hand man".

The photographer pressed the shutter.

The flash went off, capturing this unforgettable moment.

In the photo, Nagelsmann is sitting in the center, with Vogt on his left and Yan Yuan on his right.

Behind and around him were all his brothers who fought alongside him: Grillitsch, Amiri, Gnabry, De Jong, Maguire, Uth, Baumann, and others.

Everyone's face was beaming with the joy of victory.

This photograph, both now and in the future, will become one of the most precious images in Hoffenheim's history.

The photo is titled "The New Hock Village Miracle".

This photo captures the pinnacle of a small-town team's glory, and also the moment when a gifted young man embarked on his journey from here.

The party ended.

As the noise subsided, the stadium gradually returned to tranquility.

Yan Yuan returned to the locker room alone, changed out of the No. 17 jersey that carried countless honors and memories, carefully folded it, and put it into his backpack.

He slung his bag over his shoulder, walked out of the locker room, and headed towards the players' dormitory.

Back in the dormitory, I put down my backpack.

He instinctively wanted to check his backpack to see if he had forgotten anything, but when he reached into the side pocket, he touched something thick and square.

This is neither a phone nor a wallet.

He hadn't noticed this side pocket before, and only discovered it now.

Yan Yuan took it out with a puzzled look.

This is a thick kraft paper envelope without any markings.

He sat down on the edge of the bed and curiously opened the envelope. Inside, there was no letter, only a thick stack of photos and a folded letter.

He unfolded the letter first.

The letter was handwritten, with varying handwriting, indicating it was written by multiple people.

[Dear Yan:]

By the time you read this letter, we guys will probably be back in our rooms or out at the bar having our farewell drinks tonight (don't worry, I didn't call you because I know you have to catch a morning flight tomorrow).

But we feel that there are some things we still want to tell you in this way.

First of all, congratulations, bro!

Bundesliga champion! German Cup champion! Double Golden Boot winner! Champions League semi-finalist!

You've been a monster this season!

But we absolutely love you, you monster!

To be honest, when we first heard at the beginning of the season that the club had signed a 17-year-old kid and was even going to directly join the first team, we old-timers were a little skeptical.

I thought to myself: Where did this little brat come from? Can he even do it?

And the result? You completely overwhelmed Sergi during your first training session (Sergi insisted we add this sentence)!

He scored in his very first official match!

And then... you just couldn't stop!

You led our group and we swept Liverpool, Dortmund, Bayern Munich, Manchester City, and Real Madrid (although you lost in the end, we all felt you won), and finally brought back the Salad Bowl and the German Cup!

This is like a dream!

And all of this would have been impossible without you, Yan!

We remember you were a little reserved when you first came, but now you're the life of the party in the locker room, our core, and our pillar of strength!

You're like a lion on the field, but off the field you're a quiet, studious high achiever (we truly admire that!).

You're willing to bleed and fight for the team (that night at the Bernabéu really scared us!), and you'll stay after training to practice free kicks until dark.

You are a genius, but you work harder than anyone else, which is why we all admire you!

Now, you're leaving.

Go to London, go to Arsenal, go to a bigger stage.

To be honest, we really miss you. The locker room will definitely feel much quieter without you.

Without your familiar figure practicing Tai Chi on the training field, there will be a lot less fun.

But we all know you deserve it! You belong on a bigger stage! Professor Wenger is a great coach, Arsenal is a great team, and we believe you will continue to shine there and win more championships!

Kid, don't worry about us.

Hoffenheim will keep going! The coach will lead us, along with our new teammates, to keep fighting!

We will protect the salad bowl you helped us win back, and we will make the Rhine-Neckar Arena continue to be a nightmare for our opponents!

Finally, remember: wherever you go, no matter which club's jersey you wear, Hoffenheim will always be your home!

There's always a place for you in the locker room here!

The brothers here will always be your brothers!

Go Yan, conquer the Premier League! Conquer the Champions League! Make the whole world remember your name! We will be in Sinsheim, cheering for every goal you score! Celebrating every victory you achieve!

I'll always be your brother.

The entire Hoffenheim team & Julian Nagelsmann.

The letter ended with a dense collection of signatures:

Grillitsch, Amiri, Gnabry, De Jong, Maguire, Vogt, Uth, Baumann, Kaderabek, Schulz, Nordtveit...

The names of all the team's players are listed on it.

Finally, there was a flamboyant signature.

[J. Nagelsmann]

After reading the letter, Yan Yuan's vision blurred instantly.

Then, with trembling hands, he picked up the thick stack of photos beneath the letter.

First picture: Taken on the training field, he, Grealich, and Amiri are arm in arm, making faces at the camera, the sunlight shining on their sweaty faces, their smiles are bright and carefree.

Second picture: After defeating Liverpool, during a champagne battle in the locker room, he was sandwiched between Amiri and Uth, soaking wet and with foam in his hair, but he was laughing like a child.

The third picture shows him sitting around a table in an old restaurant with his teammates surrounded by plates. He is stuffing a large piece of meat into his mouth, while Gnabry points at him and laughs.

Fourth picture: In a quiet corner of the library, Yan Yuan is dressed in casual clothes, with thick textbooks and notebooks spread out in front of him. His brows are slightly furrowed, and his expression is focused. The afterglow of the setting sun shines on him through the window.

Fifth picture: After winning all their group stage matches in the Champions League and advancing to the knockout stage, the whole team celebrated wildly in the locker room. He was tossed high into the air by his teammates, his face filled with ecstasy and excitement.

Sixth photo: After a league victory, he and Nagelsmann celebrated with a high-five on the sidelines. The coach slapped his palm hard, and both of them had relieved smiles on their faces.

……

Some of these photos were taken by teammates, and some were taken by reporters.

All of these records document Yan Yuan's journey from a greenhorn who first arrived to becoming the core of the team.

The sweat shed fighting side by side, the celebrations after victory, the hardships of training, the playful banter off the field, the perseverance of studying late into the night...

All the memories of Hoffenheim came flooding back like a tidal wave, instantly filling his heart.

Looking at the familiar faces in the photos, at the moments we shared, a warm smile involuntarily crept onto his lips.

As I laughed, my eyes grew hotter and hotter, and my vision became increasingly blurry.

All the warmth, emotion, and reluctance overwhelmed the last line of defense in his heart.

Tears finally welled up uncontrollably, streaming down her cheeks and dripping onto the photograph in her hand.

Yan Yuan didn't wipe away the tears, but let them flow freely.

He flipped through the photos one by one, sometimes grinning foolishly, sometimes feeling a lump in his throat.

On this quiet night, in this place where he was about to say goodbye, he stood alone, facing the photos that carried countless memories and the letter full of brotherly affection, laughing and crying at the same time.

The town was so quiet at night that you could hear every sound.

From Yan Yuan's dormitory came his soft sobs and the rustling sound of flipping through photos.

Tears blurred the bright smiles in the photos, but made the warmth of home, belonging to Hoffenheim, even clearer and hotter in his heart.

Wherever Yan Yuan may be in the future, this land, these brothers who fought side by side, and this coach who is both a teacher and a friend will always be the warmest and most precious starting point and eternal harbor of his football career.