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

A restaurant called "Yipinju" has recently become very popular in London's East Chinatown.

The exterior decoration of Yipinju has a strong Chinese style.

But when you push open that wooden door and step inside, what greets you is not the intricate carvings of a traditional Chinese restaurant, but rather the atmosphere of a green football field.

The most eye-catching thing is the wall directly opposite the main gate.

This wall has become a small "Yan Yuan Honor Wall".

In the very center of the wall, the England national team's white number 17 jersey was meticulously framed, and the three lions on the team crest shone brightly under the lights.

On the left is Yan Yuan's blue and white number 17 during his time at Hoffenheim, bearing the immature mark of his early talent in the Bundesliga.

On the right is Arsenal's current red and white number 7, which, like a burning flame, symbolizes the current glory.

Below the three jerseys, several large photos were hung in a staggered arrangement:

A photo of Yan Yuan and Professor Wenger at the Kearney training ground; the professor's hand is on Yan Yuan's shoulder, and his eyes are full of expectation.

A photo of Yan Yuan and Nagelsmann taken during their time in Hoffenheim shows the young marshal's smile radiating the joy of discovering a gem.

A typical group photo of the Arsenal team at the training ground, and a slightly worn group photo of the Hoffenheim team at the end of the season, capture the starting point of Yan Yuan's professional career.

There was even a glass display case in the corner, displaying replicas of some of Yan Yuan's early trophies and autographed footballs.

Throughout the space, football elements are everywhere, yet they are cleverly integrated into the style of a Chinese restaurant. Mahogany tables and chairs, blue and white porcelain vases, and ink and wash landscape paintings complement the jerseys and photos, creating a unique "Yipinju" style.

This is Yan Yuan's restaurant.

Yipinju has been open for almost two months.

Business here is soaring, much like Yan Yuan's goal tally in the Premier League.

The booming business caught Yan's mother somewhat off guard.

There are always long queues outside during lunch and dinner hours.

the reason is simple.

Firstly, because Aunt Yan's decades of experience in cooking Northern cuisine truly made it authentic. The sweet and sour pork was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside; the braised prawns were steaming hot, fresh, and appetizing; and the handmade dumplings had thin skins and generous fillings, bursting with juice with every bite.

Secondly, the restaurant, owned by the "most expensive footballer in the Premier League," is a huge draw.

Many fans made a special trip just to have a meal at Yan Yuan's restaurant and experience the atmosphere.

Sometimes, if you're lucky, you might even bump into Arsenal players who are having dinner.

Saka, Odegaard, Ashraf, and Rodri, a few young men, have become regulars here. Photos of them sitting in a corner in casual clothes, enjoying their meal, have been taken by sharp-eyed customers and posted online, sparking another wave of check-in frenzy.

……

That afternoon, just after the lunch rush, a few tables of customers were still scattered around the restaurant, the air filled with the lingering aroma of food and a faint scent of tea.

The sound of running water and the soft clatter of dishes came from the kitchen as the waiters busied themselves cleaning up.

Just then, the brass bell on the door rang out crisply.

A tall figure walked in against the light, wearing a simple white T-shirt, jeans, and a baseball cap pulled down low, but his unique temperament and profile still stood out.

It was still recognized instantly by the sharp-eyed waiter, Xiao Li.

"Auntie! Brother Yuan is here!" Xiao Li shouted excitedly towards the kitchen, almost dropping the rag in her hand.

Hearing the noise, Aunt Yan poked her head out from the kitchen, still wearing the apron around her waist, her hands wet.

Upon seeing her son, she was taken aback at first, then her brows furrowed, and she quickly walked over, her voice filled with her usual heartache and reproach.

"What are you doing here, kid? You just played Liverpool yesterday, that match was exhausting! Instead of resting at home, what are you doing here at the shop? Look at those dark circles under your eyes!"

Mother Yan reached out to touch her son's face, but then realized her hands were dirty and quickly wiped them on her apron.

Yan Yuan smiled and took off his hat, revealing his usual smile.

He naturally took the wet towel that Xiao Li handed him, wiped his hands, and then put his arm around his mother's shoulder, speaking in a relaxed tone.

"What are you saying, Mom? I just missed you. I was just staying at home anyway, and I was getting tired of lying around."

"Coming to the store to stretch your legs and get some fresh air is better than lying around. Besides, you're busy running around in the restaurant, so as your son, shouldn't I do my part?"

"You're so glib!" Aunt Yan scolded playfully, but the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes smoothed out, and a smile spread from the bottom of her heart.

"What can you do to help? Just don't cause me any trouble! Go sit in the back room, Mom will make you two of your favorite pork sandwiches."

"No, no, no, Mom, I'm really not hungry." Yan Yuan waved his hand, his gaze sweeping across the store.

"I see that Xiao Li and the others have almost finished packing up, so I'll come run the waiter's shift and help you out."

As Yan Yuan spoke, he picked up a clean rag, walked to a table that had just been cleaned, and began wiping it deftly.

Yan Yuan had done this job frequently since he was a child, and he was very skilled at it.

Looking at her son's serious profile, Yan's mother's "complaint" had turned into a smile.

She didn't stop her anymore, but just smiled, shook her head, turned around, and went back to the kitchen, her steps becoming lighter.

Yan Yuan's appearance was like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, instantly creating ripples among the remaining customers at the restaurant.

The guest who recognized him first covered his mouth in surprise, then excitedly took out his phone and whispered to his companion to confirm. Soon, someone else mustered up the courage to come over.

"Um... Yan Shen? Can...can we take a picture together? I'm a die-hard fan of yours." A boy wearing glasses, his face flushed red, was so nervous that his voice was trembling.

"Of course." Yan Yuan put down the rag, revealed a gentle smile, and took the initiative to stand next to the boy.

The boy's friend quickly raised his phone.

With a "click," the camera captured the boy's excited, blurred smile and Yan Yuan's friendly figure.

Once this started, the other tables of guests couldn't sit still any longer and all gathered around.

Some asked for photos, others wanted autographs (Yan Yuan apologized for not having a pen, but promised to bring one next time).

A bolder older man patted Yan Yuan on the shoulder and said:

"Young man! Well done! That move you made past Van Dijk yesterday was absolutely brilliant! I almost smashed the table watching it!"

Yan Yuan smiled and thanked him, his attitude humble and without the slightest bit of star airs.

Just then, a middle-aged man wearing a retro Arsenal jersey and with his hair neatly combed walked over. He was holding a phone that was live streaming, with comments scrolling rapidly across the screen.

"Yan Shen! It really is you! My God!" The man was so excited he was incoherent, turning his phone screen towards Yan Yuan.

"Family members in the live stream, look who I met. I'm eating at Yan Shen's restaurant."

Yan Yuan took one look and laughed.

He's a frequent user of Douyin (TikTok), so he recognized who it was at a glance.

This is none other than "Teacher Li," a famous Arsenal die-hard fan on Douyin (TikTok), known for his professional yet humorous commentary and enthusiastic live game vlogs, making him extremely popular among Arsenal fans in China.

"Teacher Li, right? I've heard so much about you! I often see your vlogs trending on Douyin!" Yan Yuan extended his hand.

"No, no, you flatter me. Just call me Lao Li, Yan Shen." Teacher Li excitedly grasped Yan Yuan's hand and shouted into the phone camera, "Brothers, did you hear that? Yan Shen has seen all my videos. This trip to London was totally worth it!"

The two stood together and posed for a photo in front of the camera.

Teacher Li said excitedly.

"Yan Shen, I came here specifically to watch you play. I've already bought tickets for the next Arsenal home game."

Yan Yuan took the phone, which was currently broadcasting live, from Teacher Li and addressed the fans in the live stream.

"Thank you for your support, Mr. Li, and to all the Arsenal fans in the live stream. Thank you for cheering for Arsenal. Your support is our biggest motivation on the field. I will continue to play well."

Yan Yuan thought for a moment and then added.

"By the way, Mr. Li, if we can meet again after the next home game, I'll write you a signature then."

The live stream was instantly flooded with comments like "Ahhh," "I'm so envious," and "Yan Shen is so sweet."

Teacher Li nodded excitedly, "Yes, yes, yes! Definitely! Thank you, Master Yan!"

After seeing off the last group of satisfied guests, the restaurant fell completely silent.

The waiters quickly finished cleaning and went home one after another.

Only Yan's mother and Yan Yuan remained in the shop.

Yan Yuan didn't sit idle. He helped his mother put the chairs back in their places and then picked up the mop to mop the areas where the guests had walked around a lot.

Meanwhile, Aunt Yan was in the kitchen taking stock of the remaining ingredients, preparing the shopping list for tomorrow.

Under the warm orange light, the mother and son worked together in perfect harmony, creating a quiet and cozy atmosphere.

After mopping the last section of the floor, Yan Yuan put the mop away, walked over to his mother who was wiping the stove, cleared his throat, and spoke with a hint of nervousness in his voice.

"Mom, um... I have a friend coming to our shop for lunch tomorrow afternoon." Yan Yuan tried to keep his tone casual.

Aunt Yan's hands didn't stop moving, and she didn't even look up:

"Friends? Who? Your teammates? They come here often, do you need to tell them? Just let them come, Mom will give them a free meal."

"Not a teammate..." Yan Yuan paused, "It's... a senior, the one I mentioned before, the one who works at Goldman Sachs... the senior surnamed Lin."

Aunt Yan's hand, which was wiping the stove, suddenly stopped.

She slowly raised her head and looked at her son.

Under the lights, Yan Yuan's expression seemed calm, but a suspicious blush crept up his ears.

Yan Ma's eyes lit up instantly, as if she had discovered some rare treasure. The corners of her mouth couldn't help but turn up, forming a meaningful, slightly mischievous smile.

"Oh—! Your senior, Lin," she deliberately dragged out the word, her eyes scanning her son's face back and forth.

"You mean that girl who was really good at analyzing financial risks for you? Your 'casual friend'?"

"Mom!" Yan Yuan's face flushed red instantly.

"They helped me a lot, so it's only natural to treat them to a meal to thank them!"

"Yes, yes, yes! That's normal! Absolutely normal!" Aunt Yan smiled so much that her eyes curved into crescents, and she even forgot to put down the rag in her hand.

"Please! You absolutely must! Treat her properly! That young lady has helped us so much, one meal isn't enough!"

Aunt Yan took a step closer, lowered her voice, and spoke with gossipy excitement.

"Tell Mom what kind of food that girl likes? Our family mainly serves Northern cuisine, and Mom is worried that it might not suit her taste."

"She's from Hangzhou." Yan Yuan's voice lowered, a little embarrassed. "The tastes there are probably lighter, sweeter? I'm not entirely sure..."

"Hangzhou? Okay, Mom has it figured out!" Mother Yan slapped her thigh, instantly perking up.

"Although Mom is better at cooking Northern cuisine, she is not incapable of making elaborate dishes such as Squirrel Fish, Sweet and Sour Spare Ribs, and Longjing Shrimp."

"Okay, I'll go to the seafood market first thing tomorrow morning and pick out the freshest fish! I guarantee your 'ordinary friend' will be satisfied!" She emphasized the words "ordinary friend" and gave a knowing smile.

Seeing his mother's "I understand" expression and undisguised joy, Yan Yuan felt both helpless and amused, but a warm feeling welled up in his heart.

He nodded: "Okay, thank you, Mom. Well... I'll have to trouble you tomorrow."

"It's not hard work at all!" Aunt Yan waved her hand, unable to stop smiling.

"I'm so happy to be cooking for my son's best friend... cough cough, for his future son! You should go home and get some rest so you can properly entertain them tomorrow!"

Aunt Yan almost blurted out "future daughter-in-law," but luckily she reacted quickly.

Yan Yuan watched as his mother happily turned around to continue tidying up, even humming a little tune, and shook his head with a helpless smile.

He picked up his baseball cap, put it on, walked to the door, and then looked back at the brightly lit, bustling, and football-passionate "Yipinju".

Tomorrow, a special guest will be here.