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

The international arrivals exit at Shanghai Pudong International Airport has long been enveloped in a special kind of enthusiasm.

Despite it being late at night, fans and media who had heard the news still held up banners and waited on both sides of the tunnel, eagerly anticipating what was to come.

When Yan Yuan pushed his luggage cart, dressed in simple casual clothes and smiling, the scene instantly erupted in enthusiastic cheers and a flurry of camera shutters.

"Yan Shen! Look here!"

"Captain Yan! Welcome back to China!"

"God Yan! Shanghai welcomes you!"

Yan Yuan stopped, showing no signs of fatigue from the long flight. He responded in fluent Chinese with a friendly smile.

"Hello fans, thank you all for picking me up so late. I hope you had a long journey and that you are safe." He skillfully signed autographs for several familiar fans and posed for a few photos with the media.

This friendliness and composure instantly bridged the gap between him and everyone else.

After the brief interaction ended.

Yan Yuan arrived at the exit.

I spotted the staff member in a suit holding a sign with his name in both Chinese and English.

They were two young people with enthusiastic and professional smiles on their faces.

"Hello Mr. Yan, my name is Li Na, and I am the contact person for this event. Welcome to Shanghai! You must have had a long journey!" Manager Li said in fluent English and naturally took his luggage from his hands.

"Thank you, Manager Li. You can call me Yan or Yan Yuan, it's fine." Yan Yuan smiled and responded in clear but slightly accented Chinese, which surprised the two staff members a little, and their smiles became even more friendly.

"Mr. Yan's Chinese is excellent!"

"Fortunately, there are always people in my family who speak Chinese," Yan Yuan said with a modest smile.

After exchanging pleasantries, the group took a private car to the hotel.

As the vehicle smoothly entered the airport expressway, Yan Yuan's gaze was immediately drawn to the scenery outside the window.

Towering skyscrapers stand side by side, modern bridges crisscross the landscape, and lush parks dot the landscape, all shimmering with vibrant energy under the sunlight.

This is Shanghai in 2019.

"Wow, Shanghai has changed so much...it's incredible." He couldn't help but exclaim, almost pressing his face against the car window. "It's completely different from the time I came here as a child."

When Yan Yuan was a child, he transited through Shanghai once when he returned to England from China. That was in the early 2000s.

Li Na turned her head and said with a smile, "Mr. Yan hasn't been back for a long time, has he? Shanghai has indeed developed rapidly in recent years, especially the Pudong area."

"Yes, it's been many years." Yan Yuan nodded, his gaze still lingering on the view outside the window.

"This scenery, this grandeur... it's truly breathtaking, it feels like something out of the future."

Li Na continued, "Many people feel this way when they come for the first time. Especially at night, when the lights come on, the night view of both sides of the Huangpu River is truly enchanting. If you have time after your event, it's definitely worth a visit."

"Definitely, I'll find an opportunity to take a look when the time comes," Yan Yuan replied.

Suddenly, his gaze was drawn to a large "GG" sign that sped past on the roadside.

That was himself.

He was wearing the latest Adidas football boots, making a kicking motion in the air, with a burning flame effect in the background, and his name and the slogan "Legendary Skills, Ignite the Green Field" written in both Chinese and English next to him.

Li Na noticed this and said to Yan Yuan.

"The publicity for this event has been extensive. Your posters and GG have been seen in many places throughout the city these past few days. Especially on the main roads leading to the stadium and the city center, everyone is looking forward to your arrival."

"That's great, Chinese fans are so enthusiastic."

A warm feeling welled up in Yan Yuan's heart.

In London, he also met his boyfriend.

But seeing a huge Chinese poster with their own image on the land where their parents grew up brings an even stronger sense of honor.

As the vehicle continued its journey, he saw more posters of himself, some pasted on bus stops and others hanging on the exterior walls of tall buildings.

Each time he saw it, his anticipation grew.

He started chatting with Li Na, asking her about Shanghai.

"Is this the Huangpu River?" he asked, pointing to a wide expanse of water outside the window.

"Yes, Mr. Yan, the Pudong Airport we just came from is in Jiangdong, and now we're going to our hotel in Puxi. The 80,000-seat stadium for the finals is also in Puxi."

"I heard that Shanghai's snacks are very famous? Like xiaolongbao?" Yan Yuan asked with interest, recalling that his mother would occasionally try to recreate these hometown flavors at home.

"That's right, Nanxiang steamed buns, pan-fried buns, pork rib rice cakes, there's so much! It's definitely much more authentic than London's Chinatown," Li Na enthusiastically introduced.

"If you'd like, we can talk to the company and arrange for you to try some authentic Shanghainese cuisine tonight."

"That's great!" Yan Yuan added another item to his list of expectations.

The atmosphere inside the car became increasingly harmonious. His initial amazement gradually transformed into a deeper exploration, and his questions extended from the city's appearance to the atmosphere of football in China.

"Manager Li, how was the level of the national high school finals this year? Did it attract a lot of attention?" Yan Yuan asked.

"Although it can't compare to the football atmosphere in England yet, the level is definitely getting better and better," Li Na said confidently.

"Especially in recent years, school football has been very popular, and tomorrow's final has attracted a lot of attention. The tickets were sold out two days ago. Your arrival is actually a huge surprise and inspiration for these children who love football."

Yan Yuan nodded, feeling deeply moved.

He is a household name in the sports world, but seeing himself presented on such a massive scale here, in such a completely different cultural context, is a novel and indescribable experience.

He felt more acutely the globalization of his business influence and Adidas's emphasis on the Chinese market.

The convoy arrived at a top-tier luxury hotel in the city center.

Yan Yuan was led directly to the reserved high-rise suite.

Outside the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, there is an unobstructed panoramic view of both sides of the Huangpu River.

"Mr. Yan, please take a rest. Our company is having a simple welcome dinner tonight at the Chinese restaurant on the second floor of the hotel." After arranging everything, Manager Li politely took his leave.

The welcoming banquet in the evening was held in a harmonious atmosphere.

In addition to Wang Lei, several senior executives and the person in charge of event planning from Adidas were also present.

During the meal, everyone naturally started talking about the main event two days later.

"Mr. Yan, the main reason we invited you here is to cheer on the finals of the 'National High School Football League' that we sponsor," a male manager explained in detail. "This competition has been held for several years and its influence is growing. This year's finals are being held in Shanghai, which is a rare opportunity."

Li Na added.

"Mr. Yan, the event will proceed as agreed in the contract. The finals will be held on the afternoon of the day of the competition. After the competition, there will be a brief awards ceremony where you will present the awards to the winning team."

Then comes the most important part: your skill demonstration and interaction. We will be setting up some obstacles and markers on the course, and we hope you can showcase some of your skills…

Throughout this event, we hope to leverage your influence to inspire more young children in China to fall in love with football and participate in the sport.

……

Yan Yuan listened attentively, nodding occasionally.

The activity content is exactly the same as what was agreed in the contract.

"Yes, I understand. There are no problems with the event details. It's a fantastic event. It's my hope to be involved in the development of youth football in China."

Everyone enjoyed a pleasant dinner.

……

Two days passed in the blink of an eye.

On the day of the event, the Shanghai Stadium, with a capacity of 80,000, was bustling with activity.

Although it was just a high school final, Yan Yuan's appearance as the finale attracted a much larger audience than expected.

Today, the stands were 80% full, with countless young fans wearing Adidas gear and holding signs supporting Yan Yuan, creating an atmosphere as enthusiastic as a top-tier league match.

The media area was also filled with cameras and microphones, ready for action.

Backstage, Yan Yuan had already changed into a special red and blue jersey prepared for him by the organizers, with the words "YAN 7" and "Adidas" printed on the back.

He tidied himself up in front of the mirror and took a deep breath.

Outside, the host was excitedly introducing the event:

"...Next, let's welcome our special guest today with the warmest applause and cheers."

2018 Kopa Trophy winner, Champions League winner, Premier League winner, Bundesliga winner, key player in England's title-winning team, Arsenal captain, and Adidas global ambassador—Yan Yuan!!

The host rattled off all of Yan Yuan's titles in one breath.

"Strict God!!!!"

"Strict God!!!!"

The cheers of the audience swept through the entire stadium like a tsunami.

Yan Yuan jogged out of the players' tunnel and stepped onto the grass.

A tremendous roar and flashing lights instantly surrounded him.

His face beamed with a bright, sunny smile as he waved to the stands in all directions and even shouted in Chinese.

Hello everyone! Thank you all!

He walked to the center of the venue and took the microphone from the host.

The entire venue gradually quieted down, and tens of thousands of eyes focused on him.

"Hello everyone, I'm Yan Yuan." His opening remarks were simple and sincere, and his Mandarin was completely free of any accent.

"I'm so happy to be in Shanghai today, to this amazing stadium, and to see so many passionate fans!"

Applause erupted again.

"Today, the finals of the National High School Soccer League will be held here," he continued, his gaze sweeping over the young players on the sidelines, wearing their finals jerseys, their eyes burning with passion and tinged with a hint of nervousness.

"Football is a great sport. It teaches us not only about winning and losing, but also about teamwork, perseverance, respect for opponents, and the joy that football brings."

His words were simple yet powerful.

"When I was very young, I was just like you, running around on the grass, chasing after a football, and enjoying the simplest joy. It is this passion that has brought me to where I am today."

He paused, his voice becoming even more earnest.

"Seeing so many young people in China who love football, with such good facilities and so much attention, I truly believe that the future of Chinese football is bright!"

Perhaps in the new season of the top five European leagues, or in the next Champions League final, I will see a face from China, or even one of the people here today!

These words resonated deeply with many people, evoking a strong sense of shared experience.

"Today, I'm not a star player; I'm just someone who loves football just like you. I hope my presence can bring you a little encouragement and joy." Finally, he raised his voice to offer his blessings.

"I wish all young Chinese people who love football all their dreams come true! I wish Chinese football all the best! Thank you everyone!"

"Bravo!!!" Thunderous applause and cheers erupted.

Yan Yuan's speech was free of empty rhetoric and platitudes; it was simple yet inspiring, winning thunderous applause.

The media reporters on the sidelines nodded in agreement, recording this positive and inspiring scene.

Then, the final match officially began.

In front of tens of thousands of spectators, the two high school teams played without any stage fright, aggressively pressing the ball and boldly employing technical moves, demonstrating a very high level of competition and youthful energy.

Yan Yuan sat in the VIP section on the sidelines, watching intently and applauding the brilliant teamwork and saves from time to time.

In the end, after fierce competition, a high school team from the north narrowly defeated their opponents with a score of 3-2 to win the national championship.

When the final whistle blew, the team members hugged each other excitedly, some even shedding tears of joy.

The grand award ceremony began.

As the award presenter, Yan Yuan walked to the center of the venue under the guidance of the hostesses.

He pinned a silver medal on each runner-up, shook hands with them, and patted them on the shoulder to encourage them.

The atmosphere became even more enthusiastic when it was the champion team's turn.

Yan Yuan hung the gleaming championship medals around the necks of the young players one by one.

When it was the champion captain's turn, this tall, excited boy, his face flushed, suddenly spoke in a slightly trembling voice.

"Yan Shen! I am your idol! No, no, no... you are my idol! I will take you as my goal and continue to work hard!"

Yan Yuan was stunned for a moment, then smiled happily.

"Hahahaha, don't be nervous, don't be nervous..."

He gave the young man a tight hug and whispered in his ear.

"Keep going, the future belongs to you! I believe in you!"

Finally, he held the heavy championship trophy high and handed it to the winning team.

The boys huddled around the trophy, celebrating wildly, with confetti spraying and thunderous applause!

After the awards ceremony, staff quickly entered the venue and set up dozens of brightly colored marker cones, cones, and small obstacles in the center of the field.

"Next up is the moment everyone has been waiting for! Let's bring Yan Yuan back on stage to give us a showcase of Premier League superstar skills!" the host announced loudly.

Yan Yuan reappeared on the field, juggling a game ball with ease.

All the lights were focused on him.

The presentation has begun.

He first performed a series of dazzling ball juggling skills, with the ball bouncing as if it were glued to his body, bouncing with the rhythm of his movements, using his instep, thigh, shoulder, and head.

He then began practicing dribbling around cones.

His steps were light and fluid, with unpredictable rhythms. The ball seemed to come alive under his feet, weaving through the dense cones at lightning speed. Every touch was precise and deceptive, eliciting gasps from the audience.

In the climax, he recreated his world-famous signature move.

Facing a defender moving laterally, he deftly slid the ball with the tip of his right foot. The ball, with a strong spin, drew a strange arc, bypassing the "defender" and precisely returning to his path of progress!

The entire movement was executed in one smooth, elegant motion!

"Luanwei Spin! It's Luanwei Spin!" a knowledgeable football fan shouted excitedly.

The entire venue erupted in cheers, with deafening applause, screams, and whistles!

Finally, he dribbled the ball to the edge of the penalty area, faced a moving wall of defenders, and unleashed a powerful shot.

The ball flew like a cannonball, cutting a straight line and precisely nestling into the top left corner of the goal.

"You're so handsome, bro!!"

"I love you, Yan Shen!!"

After the presentation, Yan Yuan opened his arms to welcome the worship of the entire audience.

The cheers reached their peak!

The event concluded successfully in a very enthusiastic atmosphere.

Yan Yuan's performance today.

Whether it's a sincere speech, a friendly attitude, or superb footwork.

They all won high praise from Adidas officials, domestic media, and especially all the fans at the scene.

Everyone could feel it.

Yan Yuan's arrival was not just a commercial event, but also a sincere and inspiring dissemination of football culture.

His eyes revealed an unwavering encouragement for the younger generation and a deep love for football itself.

Although he is of Chinese descent, he has demonstrated through his actions that he sincerely hopes the seeds of Chinese football can take root, sprout, and grow strong in this young soil.