Regarding the fact that Chen Hero had been photographed going to nightclubs again, Advocaat was numb—in the beginning, he was furious and wanted to throw these ignorant kids into the reserves to cool off, but now he was completely used to it. Anyway, their visits to nightclubs didn't seem to affect the game at all. The team still won, and Chen Hero still scored.

It was just that this recent period had been a bit special; the team had lost two games in a row, and Chen Hero himself was in a goal drought. So this time, being photographed going to a nightclub became more direct evidence for many media outlets to fire at him.

Advocaat didn't really care. From his observation, Chen Hero really separated his work time from his private time. His attitude in training was extremely serious, even desperate. It didn't seem like training, but like a real match. With this attitude, even if he went to nightclubs, Advocaat had nothing to say. Because those players who didn't go to nightclubs couldn't match Chen Hero's attitude in training.

Looking at Chen Hero, who was so dedicated and serious in training, how could Advocaat bring up the nightclub issue to him?

He couldn't.

On August 11th, the league war reignited. Zenit St. Petersburg defeated Vladivostok Luch-Energiya 3:1 cleanly at their home stadium, ending their two-game losing streak.

But Chen Hero still didn't score.

Some media outlets started clamoring again: "Chen Hero's frequenting of nightclubs has led to a sharp decline in his form! He is squandering his talent! He may become a brilliant shooting star, leaving nothing but sighs..."

Now on the league's top scorer list, he had been surpassed by Pavlyuchenko, who now had sixteen goals, two more than Chen Hero.

Pavlyuchenko obviously didn't want to give up his top scorer position; he wanted to defend his Golden Boot this season. Although he spoke of heroes respecting each other, in his heart, he was an absolute hardliner who wouldn't back down.

He would fight Chen Hero to the end!

※※※

Chen Hero didn't have time to think about the top scorer battle with Pavlyuchenko because the UEFA Cup was here!

Although it was just the UEFA Cup qualifiers, not the main competition yet, Chen Hero was still full of expectations for this event.

When he was still a semi-professional player, the name of the UEFA Cup had been deeply engraved in his mind. He didn't need anyone to introduce it to him; he knew what kind of competition it was.

The UEFA Cup, the club competition second only to the European Champions League. Many clubs regarded winning a UEFA Cup as their highest goal, and winning the championship was still considered the King of Europe.

And they were also qualified to compete with the Champions League champion in the European Super Cup before the start of the season, to compete for the real King of European Kings.

In short, the UEFA Cup was a stage that could lead him to the whole of Europe, and even further to the world.

Chen Hero was full of expectations for this. What kind of performance could he have on this highly anticipated stage? Could he become famous overseas and become a real star?

In addition, he hadn't forgotten the bet he had with Martin Škrtel.

"Martin!"

On the plane from St. Petersburg to Moravce, a city in Slovakia, Chen Hero found Škrtel.

"I said, you haven't forgotten, have you, mate?" he asked.

"Forgotten what?" Škrtel looked blank.

"The bet, the bet!" Chen Hero reminded him.

"Ah... I haven't forgotten. What's up?"

"Nothing, hehe, I'm just reminding you..."

Škrtel curled his lips. "We bet on the knockout stage matches. This is just the qualifiers. It's still early!"

"I know, but hehe..."

Škrtel saw Chen Hero's unusually excited look and knew that he was looking forward to this UEFA Cup. Then he realized that this was his first time participating in the UEFA Cup, and he was relieved.

"Ahem." He coughed. "Actually, the UEFA Cup is no different from the league... At least the qualifiers are not as good as the league level. Except that the teams we play against are particularly unfamiliar, I think their strength is not as good as ours. The group stage of the main competition feels more like the league. The knockout stage... That's the essence of the UEFA Cup. But we should have no problem entering the knockout stage."

Chen Hero nodded. "Of course. If we can't even get into the knockout stage, how can we bet?"

Seeing Chen Hero staring at this bet, Škrtel rolled his eyes.

※※※

Chen Hero's first UEFA Cup match ended with a victory for Zenit St. Petersburg. In the away game, Zenit easily defeated Moravce with a score of 3:0. Chen Hero didn't score, but his performance was good because he caused a lot of trouble for Moravce's defense on the field, and ultimately caused their confusion, allowing Kerzhakov, Arshavin, and Domínguez to seize the opportunity to score a goal each and win the game.

Winning 3:0 away from home, the game back at home was basically without suspense. Zenit could be said to have entered the third round of qualifying in advance.

From this game on, the lively European season for Zenit began.

Due to different factors such as climate, the Russian league and the European continental league are always different in time. The leagues in many European countries span the year, but Russia does not. Therefore, the Russian league looks more like an independent kingdom. Only at this time do their teams have contact with the mainstream European leagues, and it is also evidence that they are still under the management of UEFA.

※※※

Not scoring in the domestic league, and not scoring when going abroad to play in the UEFA Cup qualifiers, the media seemed to have seized a god-sent opportunity to criticize and question Chen Hero. This time, the matter of him going to nightclubs was brought up again.

But two days later, in the domestic league match where Zenit St. Petersburg played against Tom Tomsk at home, the shrill air defense siren sounded again...

"Woo—woo—"

The alarm stunned the media who were waiting to see a joke. On the stands of Petrovsky Stadium, there were crowds of celebrating people everywhere.

"Ah! Ah! Chen Hero finally scored! After not scoring in six league rounds and one UEFA Cup match, the Northern Bear is back!" Shirayevsky shouted.

After scoring, Chen Hero stopped his teammates from coming up to celebrate with him, and then ran straight to the camera position in the corner flag area. Then he took off his jersey and threw it aside. He turned around to let the camera film his back!

A vivid, lifelike, standing and roaring bear appeared in front of everyone...

Some viewers in front of the TV didn't react and were startled! They jumped up from their chairs.

Shirayevsky was also taken aback, but he quickly calmed down and realized it was just a tattoo...

It was just that this tattoo was particularly realistic, particularly huge, and had a particularly strong visual impact.

Denisov on the bench stood up and cheered, "Good job, Hero!"

This kid finally realized this wish, haha!

※※※

The TV in the Dogshit Tattoo Shop was playing the game. A customer sitting in a chair getting a monster tattoo was looking up at the game. When he saw Chen Hero take off his jersey and reveal the giant bear tattoo on his back, he couldn't help but exclaim, "So cool!"

The Monster Shop owner shifted his gaze from the TV screen and asked him, "Want it?"

That person shook his head. "I don't have the aura to pull it off... Ha!"

※※※

"Facts have proved that he was just in a short 'summer sleep'! Now, he has awakened from his slumber... He is back!"

After Chen Hero fully displayed the giant bear tattoo on his back, he opened his arms to his teammates. Then Kerzhakov jumped up and crashed into his arms.

"Nice, Hero!" he roared in Chen Hero's ear.

For this popular kid, breaking his goal drought was something the whole team was happy about.

"Damn it! You've been holding back, wanting to show off your tattoo. Now you've finally got your wish, haha!" Other teammates also rushed up and surrounded him.

※※※

"He took it off again! He took it off again!" Potter was furious when he saw Chen Hero take off his shirt to celebrate. This meant he would get another yellow card, and then be suspended for another game after accumulating four...

Advocaat didn't say anything next to him. He knew why Chen Hero took off his shirt. He wanted to show everyone his tattoo... He wondered if having this tattoo would greatly increase his chances of taking off his shirt to celebrate?

※※※

"He took it off! He took it off! He finally took it off!" Female fans in the stands and in front of the TV screamed and cheered in surprise when they saw this scene.

Coming to see Chen Hero's game, they were looking forward to him wildly showing off his body, which could satisfy the yín fantasies in the hearts of those female fans.

"This tattoo is so cool!"

"Awesome! I like this style of tattoo!"

Not only female fans, but many male fans couldn't help but envy the vivid and lifelike giant bear tattoo on Chen Hero's back—appearing on Chen Hero's muscular and powerful back, it was indeed very stylish!

Many people had already begun to inquire about which tattoo shop Chen Hero had gotten his tattoo done at... It seemed that there would be many similar tattoos on the streets of St. Petersburg soon.

※※※

After Chen Hero celebrated his goal with his teammates, he didn't immediately put his jersey back on. He knew that the camera would definitely give him close-up shots, especially of such a cool tattoo. They couldn't not film it for a while, so he simply walked back to his own half of the field with his upper body naked.

The referee chased after him. There were only so many referees in the Russian league. A referee would always officiate a team's game multiple times, so this person was familiar with Chen Hero...

"I'm sorry, Hero, I have to give you a yellow card." The middle-aged referee with a bald head smiled and said to Chen Hero.

Chen Hero shrugged. "I'd be surprised if you didn't give me a yellow card."

The referee took out a yellow card from his chest pocket. Chen Hero patted the "duty-bound" referee on the shoulder and ran back, preparing to put on his jersey.

"This tattoo is pretty beautiful," the referee said to Chen Hero after recording.

Chen Hero turned around and said to him, "Thank you."

Actually, he was quite helpless. This meant he had two yellow cards on his body. If he got two more, he would definitely be automatically suspended for one game.

He liked to take off his shirt after scoring to show off his muscles, but the damn FIFA didn't allow players to do this. Why was that? Who was bothered by a player taking off his shirt to celebrate?

Perhaps it was because those FIFA officials were all pot-bellied fat men with out-of-shape bodies, so they were jealous of players like us with good figures!

Chen Hero could only think that way...

※※※

ps, the second chapter is here as an extra for monthly tickets~

Keep asking for monthly tickets!