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

That afternoon, after the signing was completed, Yan Yuan was taking official photos for the new season at Arsenal's photo studio.

"Yan, tilt your head a little more to the left... Good! Hold on, just like that!" The photographer's voice echoed in the empty studio.

Yan Yuan blinked his eyes, which were blurry from the flash, as he adjusted to the light.

He stood straight, his brand-new Arsenal home red and white jersey still smelling of freshly unpacked clothes.

The team emblem on his chest weighed heavily on him; it was a symbol he had once looked up to in countless highlight reels and posters.

Number 7, bright red, is branded on the back and chest, simple yet sharp.

"My God, this red and white outfit looks even better on you than on the model in the brochure!" The young assistant holding a reflector exclaimed softly, his tone full of genuine envy.

Yan Yuan tugged at the corners of his mouth, revealing a humble smile:

"The team emblem itself has power."

He raised his hand and gently stroked the abstract cannon emblem on his left chest, as if he could sense something ancient and resilient emanating from it.

Yan Yuan subconsciously moved his shoulders, trying to get the brand-new battle robe to fit him as quickly as possible.

The huge incandescent lights on the ceiling cast a scorching light, and sweat began to trickle down my temples.

"Just a few more sets, Yan! Hang in there!" The photographer crouched down, his lens pointed at him like a hawk's.

"Eyes! Give me that... um... yes, that calm yet fiery feeling! It's amazing!" The shutter clicked continuously.

During a break in the photoshoot, Emily, the club's press officer, strode over. Dressed in a sharp suit, she held a freshly printed press release, still warm from the heat, and spoke rapidly, like a machine gun:

"Yan, perfect results! We've already started the official announcement process, and the social media hype will begin soon. After today's filming, you can report to the national team; time is indeed very tight there."

She glanced at her watch, her brows furrowing slightly.

"Once you're done here, we'll arrange a car to take you back immediately."

"Understood, Ms. Emily, thank you for your hard work." Yan Yuan nodded, his voice steady.

He took the water his assistant handed him, unscrewed the cap, and took a big gulp.

The cool water slid down my throat, suppressing the stuffiness in the shed and calming the slight unease in my heart caused by the urgency of the situation.

Leaving Hoffenheim, where he had played for a season and ultimately won the Bundesliga title, bidding farewell to coach Nagelsmann, and embarking on a brand new journey, all of this happened as fast as a whirlwind.

Only the weight of the red and white battle robe he wore reminded him that this was not a dream.

Yan Yuan joined Arsenal, and Hoffenheim received a transfer fee.

……

Shortly after the photoshoot.

Arsenal Football Club's official social media accounts were also updated promptly.

There was no lengthy preamble, just a photograph and a short, powerful line of text:

Arsenal Football Club has officially announced that it has completed the signing of 18-year-old English player Yan Yuan for a transfer fee of £1.58 million.

Yan Yuan, 2017-2018 Bundesliga and Champions League top scorer, Bundesliga Best Young Player, Bundesliga champion, German Cup champion, key player in the Champions League semi-finals, welcome to North London, Yan! #WelcomeYan

The accompanying photo is the final portrait that was repeatedly polished in the photo studio.

In the picture, Yan Yuan is wearing a brand-new Arsenal No. 7 red and white jersey, standing tall and straight like a pine tree.

His gaze was calm as he looked directly at the camera, a slight smile playing on his lips, neither exaggerated nor deliberately affected.

Only the calm confidence and youthful vigor emanating from his brows can be clearly felt through the screen, revealing a power poised to be unleashed.

This photo is like a boulder thrown into a calm lake.

BBC Sport: [Breaking! Arsenal officially announce the signing of newly crowned Champions League and Bundesliga Golden Boot winner Yan Yuan! The 18-year-old prodigy winger has officially arrived at the Emirates Stadium!]

Sky Sports: [Bombshell! Arsenal beats out numerous top clubs to successfully sign Hoffenheim's star striker Yan Yuan! Wenger finally gets the striker he's always dreamed of!]

Bild: [Shocking! Bundesliga champion and double Golden Boot winner Yan Yuan transfers to Arsenal! Nagelsmann devastates the loss of his star player, Gunners usher in a revolution in their attack!]

Next came the comments from netizens.

"Champions League Golden Boot + Bundesliga Golden Boot??? £1.58 million??? Arsenal??? Am I still dreaming, or did Professor Wenger finally get through to the oil tycoons?" A fan with a Manchester United crest commented under Arsenal's official announcement tweet, followed by a string of exaggerated, incredulous emojis.

"Wenger Finally Got His Man!" This tweet from a veteran Arsenal fan account was quickly shared and liked likes.

"This time, it's finally not a draw with a temperature difference," said a veteran Arsenal fan.

"Two Golden Boot winners have joined?! Can we start chanting 'We have Yan' next season?! My God, I'm already looking forward to the new season!" Another Arsenal fan's comment was filled with elation.

"I don't understand! I just can't understand it! He's only 18 years old, and he just won the Bundesliga title and the Champions League Golden Boot! Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Manchester City are all waving their checkbooks, so why did he choose Arsenal? What's the point? Just because there are so many rainy days in London?" This was the title of a popular post on a well-known sports forum.

"Did Wenger give this kid some kind of magic potion? Or did Arsenal offer an exorbitant signing fee? Otherwise, I really can't figure it out!" The comments were full of similar confusion.

In China, the fans' enthusiasm instantly ignited the entire internet.

The top ten trending topics on Weibo were instantly dominated by hashtags such as "Yan Yuan joins Arsenal", "Chinese talent lands in the Premier League", and "New owner of Arsenal's No. 7".

"Holy crap! Yan Shen is awesome! Arsenal even gave him the number 7 jersey! That's incredible!" The most upvoted comment was concise and powerful.

"I'm moved to tears. Finally, a Chinese face (although of Chinese descent) is wearing the core number of a top club in one of the top five European leagues! Go Yan Yuan! The sky over London is red!" The words are filled with pride and expectation.

"Waaaaah, as a gunslinger and Yan Yuan fan, today is like New Year's Day! I'm ecstatic for both of us! Professor and Yan Yuan, this scene is too beautiful for me to bear!"

Arsenal's official store page launched a pre-sale link for the new season's number 7 jersey just minutes after the official announcement, but it immediately crashed.

The customer service backend was flooded with inquiries about when "YAN 7" would be shipped.

Questioning, amazement, ecstasy, confusion...

Various voices collided and fermented fiercely in the virtual world, converging into a media storm that swept across the top five European football leagues.

At the eye of the storm, the owner of that name was currently packing his things in his new dormitory. He was going to report to the training camp tomorrow.

The storm raged online for several hours.

Just as various speculations and discussions were about to reach their peak.

Yan Yuan, the protagonist at the center of the storm, finally updated his personal social media account with a post.

There were no fancy videos, no elaborate declarations, just a photo and a short text.

The content of the photo is:

Yan Yuan's hand rested gently on an open acceptance letter bearing the Imperial College London emblem. The contents were clearly visible: Computer Science, accepted.

Yan Yuan's caption for the post consisted of only two paragraphs:

[Next stop on the dream journey: North London. It's an immense honor to wear this legendary red and white jersey and fight for Arsène Wenger and all the Gunners fans! See you next season, Gunners!]

Furthermore, I am very much looking forward to the new journey that will begin at Imperial College London. Football and academics are equally important, and I will give my all in both.

Many fans were initially puzzled as to why Yan Yuan chose Arsenal, but after this post, it's no longer surprising.

"Imperial College?! Computer Science?! Holy crap... mystery solved, guys! They're aiming for London's top academic resources! Playing football and studying at the same time!"

"No wonder they chose Arsenal instead of Real Madrid, Barcelona, ​​or Bayern Munich... London has Imperial College London; how many other cities where top clubs are located can offer both a top-tier university and a top-level league platform?"

"Professor Wenger is known for his emphasis on player education! When Fabregas and others were young, he strictly required them to complete their studies! This is a coach who truly considers the long-term development of his players! Yan Yuan's choice of Arsenal and Wenger was extremely wise!"

"Who said they were after the rainy days in London? Come out and take your punishment! They were after offers from top universities worldwide! Open your eyes!"

"A football prodigy + a top student? Yan Shen's character is so appealing, he's like a novel protagonist."

"The professor was right about him. This kid knows what he wants, he's talented, intelligent, and has a plan. He's a shoo-in for a Golden Globe."

The moment the post was published, the tide turned.

The initial incomprehension and ridicule were quickly replaced by amazement, admiration, and a deeper level of recognition.

The label "Imperial College" completely dispelled all doubts about his choice.

Arsenal fans stood even taller, proud that the club had attracted such a goal-oriented and academically excellent talent.

Professor Wenger's long-held philosophy of holistic player development has been powerfully illustrated by this signing.

……

Just as Yan Yuan's post sparked a new round of heated discussion, and the debate about him being a "scholar-player" had not yet subsided, German football also dropped a bombshell.

Bayern Munich Football Club officially announced:

[Official Announcement: FC Bayern Munich is delighted to announce that Julian Nagelsmann will officially assume the role of head coach of the team on June 5, 2018, on a three-year contract. Coach Nagelsmann led Hoffenheim to historic victories last season, winning both the Bundesliga and the German Cup. His advanced tactical philosophy and ability to develop young players were truly impressive. We firmly believe he is the right person to lead Bayern to further success. Welcome to Bayern, Julian!]

This news, like a powerful bolt of lightning, instantly cleaved the pages of all sports media outlets, pushing the buzz surrounding Yan Yuan's potential move to Arsenal to new heights.

"My God! Nagelsmann is gone too? To Bayern! Hoffenheim's like a supermarket opening up, their championship-winning coach and top scorer all poached in one summer?"

"The mentor and his protégé are trending online: one went to London to take the number 7 jersey for Arsenal, and the other went to Munich to manage Bayern Munich. Who wrote this script? It's so exciting!"

"Nadal's move to Bayern Munich was both logical and widely expected. Given his ability and last season's results, coaching a top club was only a matter of time. It's just unexpected that it coincided with Yan Yuan's transfer announcement; this has generated a huge buzz!"

"Nagelsmann nurtured Yan Yuan from a youth academy reject into a two-time Golden Boot winner at Hoffenheim, making him undoubtedly Yan Yuan's mentor and benefactor. Now, the mentor has gone to the Bundesliga powerhouse, while the disciple has gone to Arsenal in London... Although they are now on different teams, it's truly the best ending. I wish both mentor and disciple great success in their new environments!"

"If Arsenal face Bayern Munich in the Champions League next season, the clash between the coach and his protégé... wow, just thinking about it is exciting!"

"Hoffenheim fans are heartbroken right now... but seeing their coach and star player on a bigger stage must be somewhat comforting, right? A real-life example of instant fame + the rise of a young coach!"

……

It was late at night, in Yan Yuan's room at the Arsenal players' apartment complex.

The weather in London has never been good, and it's starting to rain again at this time. The glow of the streetlights casts long, hazy shadows on the wet streets.

Only one reading lamp was lit in the room, casting a warm yellow light on a corner of the desk.

Yan Yuan sat alone at the table, on which lay several thick introductory computer science textbooks.

Beside him was a thick stack of tactical analysis materials and a large amount of video footage sent by the Arsenal coaching staff, which Yan Yuan had requested.

He had just finished three hours of "pre-season preparation" and was about to close his eyes and rest for a while.

Just then, the system came back to life.

[Season achievements settlement begins...]

[2017/18 season, German Cup champion, confirmed.]

[The 2017/18 Bundesliga champions have been confirmed.]

[2017/18 UEFA Champions League, reached the semi-finals (finally finished third), confirmed.]

[Championship coefficient bonus (cumulative coefficient 1.6x) is in effect...]

[Total Basic Achievement Points: 43200]

[A review of individual honors...]

[The 2017/18 Bundesliga top scorer (Golden Boot) has been confirmed, with a reward of 2000 points.]

[The 2017/18 UEFA Champions League top scorer (Golden Boot) has been confirmed, with a reward of 4000 points.]

[2017/18 Bundesliga Best Young Player, confirmed, reward points: 1000]

[Total Personal Honor Reward Points: 7000]

[Last season's points balance confirmed: 22530]

[Currently available total points: 43200 + 7000 + 22530 = 72730]

The light blue settlement information stream abruptly stopped, finally settling on that number: 72730.

"call……"

Contrary to expectations, Yan Yuan simply opened his eyes slowly and let out a long, silent sigh.

Yan Yuan almost thought the system was going to renege on its promise, but thankfully, the points were credited to his account.

His gaze lingered on that number for a long time.

This is the recognition he earned through sweat, running, and crucial goals at Hoffenheim, under Nagelsmann, in the Champions League, in Westphalia, at the Allianz Arena, at the Etihad Stadium, and at the Bernabéu.

Arsenal's number 7 jersey, an offer from Imperial College London, the professor's trust, the fans' expectations...

The road ahead is long, and the challenges will only get greater.

But looking at this number, Yan Yuan felt a surge of confidence and burning fighting spirit.