Chapter 1 The Unexpected Event

Everything was normal when the plane took off from the Capital International Airport and soared into the night sky.

Chen Yingxiong chatted with Cabral for a while, then felt a wave of fatigue and decided to rest. So he covered himself with a blanket and prepared to get a good night's sleep.

Maybe when he woke up, he wouldn't be far from Liverpool.

This journey meant rushing back and forth and exhaustion for many people, but Chen Yingxiong really didn't feel anything. He was just full of a sense of accomplishment—score five goals before leaving, and participate in the game immediately after returning. This brother is going to score goals again! How many players in the world would dare to do this?

When those players encountered this kind of problem, they would immediately complain that they were too tired from running back and forth and ask for a rest. Or they would simply return to the team a day or two late to avoid being too tired on the journey. Some clubs even dispatched private jets to pick up and drop off players participating in national team matches to ensure they wouldn't be too tired.

Ordinary people are just ordinary people, hehe!

With this smugness, Chen Yingxiong quickly fell into a dream.

※※※

Chen Yingxiong had a dream.

It was a very unlucky dream. He dreamed that the plane crashed. He immediately called Martin O'Neill and told him that he had encountered some trouble and might not be able to make it back in time to participate in the game. But if O'Neill was willing to wait, he would definitely try his best to get back and strive to participate in the game against Newcastle.

Then... he woke up.

After waking up, he pondered this dream and felt it was absurd. Why, when the plane crashed, didn't he hug Cabral beside him, saying "we'll be together even in death," nor did he call his parents to tell them to take care of their health, and then tell them the password to his bank account, as the money he had earned was enough for the two elders to live a worry-free life for the rest of their lives?

Instead, he called Martin O'Neill and vowed that he could participate in the game, saying that what he was currently encountering was just a small problem... Was a plane crash a small problem?!

And why would they allow phone calls during the flight?

Just then, the announcement in the cabin sounded: "...Dear passengers, we regret to inform you that due to some unexpected circumstances, our flight will make an emergency landing at Frankfurt Airport in Germany..."

Hearing this, the passengers in the cabin immediately became agitated.

At the same time, the flight attendants also came out to appease the passengers.

But obviously, a sense of panic was spreading in everyone's hearts.

Chen Yingxiong was dumbfounded—Damn! Seriously? I just had a dream about a plane crash, and now this plane is going to have an accident?

He turned to look at Cabral and found that Cabral also turned to look at him as soon as she realized the problem.

The two of them read "concern" in each other's eyes.

"What's going on?" Chen Yingxiong asked.

Cabral shook her head: "So far, I don't know."

Many passengers thought the plane had crashed, and some with poor mental fortitude had already let out terrified screams.

This emotion was like a contagious disease, quickly spreading throughout the cabin. Some people grabbed the back of the seat in front of them with their hands on their heads, some were at a loss, and some were so frightened that they burst into tears.

Chen Yingxiong didn't do any of these things. He just grabbed Cabral's hand next to him and held it tightly in his palm, while his mouth was still trying to reassure Cabral: "It's okay, I don't feel any abnormal turbulence in the plane..."

Just then, the cabin announcement sounded again.

"Please remain calm, passengers. The plane is flying normally. The reason for the emergency landing at Frankfurt Airport is because of the Icelandic volcano eruption. For safety reasons, we can only make an emergency landing at Frankfurt Airport..."

This announcement was repeated several times in both Chinese and English before everyone calmed down—as long as the plane didn't crash, it was fine to land in another place. Delaying some time was simply insignificant compared to life.

Chen Yingxiong also breathed a sigh of relief—it seemed that his dream wasn't so unlucky.

Although he was also nervous, he still had to comfort his girlfriend: "See! I told you there was nothing wrong, right?"

Cabral smiled sweetly: "Your palms are sweating, Yingxiong."

Chen Yingxiong rolled his eyes.

The atmosphere of a hero saving a beauty disappeared in an instant.

He let go of Cabral's hand.

He was relieved to have escaped death, when suddenly his heart was lifted again.

Because he thought of something.

Chen Yingxiong thought of that dream.

Although he didn't crash, the dream correctly predicted one thing—he would really encounter a little trouble getting back to participate in the game against Newcastle...

"Christine?"

"What's the matter?"

"How are we going to get from Frankfurt to Liverpool?"

※※※

After the plane landed at Frankfurt Airport, the airport was already a busy scene, because many flights had been forced to land here due to the Icelandic volcano eruption.

In fact, the plane that Chen Yingxiong and Cabral were on had circled in the sky several times before being granted landing approval. There were still many planes circling in the sky, waiting in line to land.

The originally spacious terminal was also overcrowded. People who had landed here temporarily from all over the world gathered together, hoping to take off again. The airport's televisions were all showing the latest news about the Icelandic volcano eruption.

It was also at this time that Chen Yingxiong learned that the Icelandic volcano had suddenly erupted three hours after they took off from Beijing. Although there had been signs of eruption before, no one expected it to erupt so quickly. It caught everyone off guard.

Volcanic ash was blown across the entire European continent by the wind. Airports in France and the United Kingdom had already completely suspended flights. Germany, because it was farther away, could still take off and land planes. But all flights flying west were affected.

The airlines had already proposed that they could refund part of the ticket price, after all, they had not flown to the specified destination. Passengers who were willing to wait would be provided with food and accommodation by the airline until the weather improved and they could set off again.

The terminal was filled with anxious and helpless air. All the seats were already full, and those who came later had to sit on the floor. No one knew how long the impact of the volcanic ash would last. The Icelandic volcano had been causing trouble for the European aviation industry for several years, and none of the previous eruptions had ended in a day or two.

In addition, winter in Europe had many cloudy days and rainy and snowy weather, which made the weather even worse, and the impact of volcanic ash was even more difficult to eliminate.

Chen Yingxiong had just turned on his phone when he received a call from Martin O'Neill.

"Yingxiong, where are you?"

"Uh, I'm in Frankfurt..."

"How are things over there?"

"The plane can't fly. The TV says that some of the volcanic ash has entered German airspace..."

"Damn it!" O'Neill cursed on the other end of the phone.

Chen Yingxiong was also depressed. The originally perfect plan had become a joke because of a volcano eruption.

"Is there any other way to get back?" O'Neill asked after cursing.

Chen Yingxiong honestly replied: "I don't know..."

After a moment of silence on the other end, O'Neill's regretful and unwilling voice rang out again: "Okay, Yingxiong, don't worry for the time being. Just consider this game a rest for you..."

"No!" Chen Yingxiong was anxious when he heard this, and his voice was a little louder.

"I will definitely come back to participate in the game, boss. I promised you, and I have to keep my word. I said I could make it back to participate, and that means I can make it back to participate! So keep the spot for me, boss. I guarantee I won't be late or absent!"

"This isn't like in the game, where you say you'll score five goals and you score five goals, Yingxiong..." O'Neill felt that Chen Yingxiong was being too absolute.

"Oh, boss. Anyway, I said I can participate, so I will definitely come. If I can't come, you can suspend me for a month, and I won't have any objections!"

"All the planes are grounded now, how are you going to get back?"

"This... is the problem I need to consider, Dad. Don't worry about it, anyway, when the game comes, I guarantee you'll see me!"

After saying that, he hung up the phone, he had to find a way back to Liverpool.

※※※

Martin O'Neill put down the phone. He didn't actually want to exclude Chen Yingxiong from the starting lineup, because Liverpool's current offensive tactics revolved around Chen Yingxiong. Even though Chen Yingxiong wasn't there during these few days of training, O'Neill hadn't adjusted the tactics—who could have imagined that the Icelandic volcano would suddenly erupt?

If it weren't for this, he would have been able to see Chen Yingxiong during training tomorrow morning. There would be no suspense at all.

Now there's only one day left before the game. Changing the tactics at this critical moment? It would have a big impact on the team.

Martin O'Neill really didn't want to do this.

But what if Chen Yingxiong really couldn't come back? Then this set of tactics wouldn't be usable.

He had to change it even if he didn't want to.

So, should he change it now or not?

It seemed that he could only wait for news from Chen Yingxiong...

※※※

Chen Yingxiong discussed it with Cabral, and he had to go back to Liverpool to participate in the game no matter what. So what could he do to get to Liverpool on time?

Planes were out of the question, and the only feasible means of transportation were trains and cars.

He might not be able to get train tickets, and he was afraid of traffic jams if he drove—with planes grounded, people who wanted to travel could only choose ground transportation, and there would definitely be a lot of people taking trains and driving.

Chen Yingxiong suggested using a motorcycle.

But Cabral rejected it, because motorcycles were not safe and they couldn't rest. Besides, it was winter now, not summer, and the temperature outside was below zero. If they used a motorcycle to get to Liverpool in this temperature, they would probably freeze into popsicles before they even got to France.

In the end, Cabral made the decision: "Let's drive. The volcanic ash has just spread over, and the planes have only just been grounded, so there aren't too many cars on the road yet. If we wait any longer, it's hard to say. Let's hurry up. If we start driving now, there shouldn't be too much traffic."

Chen Yingxiong felt that what Cabral said made sense. So they decided to do it. They could have gone to the airline to get a refund, but Chen Yingxiong didn't care about that little bit of money. Besides, at this time, money was not as important as time.

The two of them went straight to the outside of the airport.

※※※

An hour later, Martin O'Neill received a call from Chen Yingxiong.

"We're now on the road from Frankfurt to Liverpool, boss! Don't worry, no matter what difficulties there are, they won't stop me! I will definitely come to participate in the game against Newcastle! I guarantee you that if I, Chen Yingxiong, say something, I will definitely deliver!"

Driving?

Martin O'Neill was stunned.

Driving in this weather and on these roads? It was snowing in many places, would they even be able to make it in a day and a half?

"You have to save a spot for me, boss!"

Martin O'Neill hesitated for a moment, but finally nodded: "Okay, I'll save a place on the roster for you, Yingxiong."

It sounded a bit reluctant, but in fact, he was also thinking—maybe this time, the hero could really create another miracle?

"Thank you, boss!"

Before Chen Yingxiong hung up the phone, O'Neill heard his fighting roar: "Step on the gas, Christine! We're racing against time! This will be another great game..."