Chapter 1 Zhang Jun Receives a Phone Call

Zhang Jun received a call from Kaka, saying his season was over and he planned to return to China. He didn't say "come to China," but "return to China," indicating that he always considered China to be his true homeland.

"I haven't seen you guys in so long, I miss you!"

"Hey, hey, don't be so cheesy, okay?" Zhang Jun felt goosebumps all over his body.

"Hehe! I want to play soccer with you again, drink again... Oh, right, remember to call Sophie!"

"You only remember Sophie, why call Sophie when drinking? You must have ulterior motives! Hmm? Aren't professional players not allowed to drink alcoholic beverages?"

"Hehe! The coach doesn't know, the agent doesn't know, my parents don't know, what am I afraid of?"

"Ah ah! Extra! Extra! Brazilian idol soccer star Kaka is actually maliciously drinking! His image is ruined!"

"...Zhang Jun, you're in a good mood."

"Hehe, yeah, yeah. You're coming to China, and Sophie is returning to Luoyang tomorrow too. Good things come in pairs."

"Everyone's coming back, it'll be very lively then, looking forward to it! I'm so lonely in Brazil by myself..."

"Ugh... you pervert, I really don't know what your female fans will think when they know your true colors!"

"Haha! But I really miss you guys!"

"I know, me too, it's been two years since we met... Come back, let's go drinking."

"Ah? Extra! Extra! The silver boot scorer of the Dutch league is actually enticing Brazilian idol soccer star Kaka to drink! It's truly the biggest scandal in the soccer world!"

"..."

According to Kaka, he would arrive in Shanghai on June 24th, transfer to Zhengzhou, and then transfer to Luoyang. This trip back was actually squeezed out of a busy schedule; the transfer to Milan was in full swing, but he flew alone to China. So he couldn't stay for long; he had to return to Brazil in at most a week, and then wait for news to go to Milan. The contract should be signed around then.

It had been two years apart, and he should go back to see those buddies no matter what, to relive the good times together.

Come back, Kaka.

※※※

After finishing her last exam, Sophie couldn't wait to board the train back to Luoyang that evening. If she didn't catch this one, she would have to wait two more days, because the train was from Hefei to Chengdu, and there was only one every other day. Sophie obviously couldn't wait that long, and she began to imagine the scene of reuniting with Zhang Jun on the train. It had been almost a year since they last met; how had he changed? Had the boy who hugged her like a doll a year ago grown up?

The train rumbled, passing through a tunnel.

The train rumbled, passing through the plains.

The train rumbled, why was her heart beating so fast?

Why did she feel that her heartbeat was so in sync with the rumble of the train?

Homeward bound, homeward bound...

When Sophie got off the train, she didn't see the figure of Zhang Jun that she had been looking forward to all the way. Looking at the bustling train station square, it took her a while to realize that Zhang Jun had told her that he wouldn't pick her up because he didn't want the reporters to have a chance.

"You take a taxi back by yourself, I'll be waiting for you at home."

I'll be waiting for you at home.

"Taxi!"

"Where to?"

"Xinglin Community, Peony Square, Jianxi. As fast as possible, please, driver."

Waiting for me at home, Zhang Jun.

※※※

When Sophie got home, she put down her things and chatted with her parents for a few words before becoming absent-minded. Her parents found it funny to watch from the side, "Sophie must be tired, right? Rest for a while, we'll go to Zhang Jun's house for dinner later." They said, and began to walk towards their bedroom.

"Okay." Sophie nodded.

The door closed, and the sound of the television came on. Sophie took a light breath, then secretly glanced at the tightly closed door of her parents' bedroom; there was no movement. It seemed possible; time to act...

Sophie tiptoed out the door. Although she liked Zhang Jun, and Zhang Jun liked her, they hadn't made their relationship public to the point where they could be unrestrained in front of their parents. Knocking on the door of Zhang Jun's house, Zhang Jun's parents weren't home; Zhang Jun opened the door.

"Sophie!" Zhang Jun exclaimed excitedly after seeing the girl he had been thinking about day and night.

Sophie also wanted to shout out, if Zhang Jun hadn't shouted out before her. She finally saw Zhang Jun clearly and distinctly, not through television screens, nor through photos in newspapers, but a boy who could breathe, talk, get excited, and even grin foolishly...

Sophie opened her arms to Zhang Jun: Zhang Jun, I'm back...

※※※

"Zhang Jun, you've gotten darker," Sophie said, looking at Zhang Jun's face.

"Tsk, such a cliché line; similar words have already appeared three times in these two chapters," Zhang Jun said, turning his head, "However, I like it."

Sophie smiled.

"Did you know? Zhang Jun, someone actually asked me to film an advertisement!"

"Advertisement?"

"Yeah, when I was sketching at school, a person claiming to be a director found me. I didn't want to agree at first, but when I heard that I would be acting with you, I agreed without hesitation. Hehe!"

"Ah?! So that's what Hua-jie meant when she said that there was an advertisement we had to shoot in July. I really didn't expect you to be the female lead?!" Although Zhang Jun was a little surprised, he was still happy, because he could spend a few more days with Sophie.

The time to return was always too short, the days passing too quickly.

Why won't it stop? Why won't it wait?

Wanting to make this moment last forever, but realizing that he didn't know magic.

Let me look at you a little longer, look at you a little longer.

Forever remember each other's faces in our hearts.

No matter where we are in the future, we won't be lonely.

Really, we won't be lonely.

...

The two of them just looked at each other like that, until Zhang Jun suddenly remembered something, and then asked Sophie, "Are Uncle and Aunt at home?"

Sophie nodded.

Zhang Jun pulled Sophie up, and then walked to the mirror to tidy up his clothes. "What are you doing?" Sophie asked him, puzzled.

Zhang Jun ran a comb through his hair a few times, turned his head and said to Sophie, "I want to formally propose to you in front of our parents!"

※※※

Zhang Jun's parents and Sophie's parents sat side by side on the sofa in Zhang Jun's living room with puzzled expressions, looking at Zhang Jun and the shy Sophie sitting opposite them. They didn't know what tricks they were up to.

Zhang Jun coughed first, "Um, I..." His heart was beating very fast, and his voice was a little shaky when he opened his mouth. He was trying desperately to steady his nervous emotions; if he spoke haltingly about such an important matter, wouldn't it be too insincere and ruin the atmosphere?

Seeing that Zhang Jun hadn't spoken for a long time, his dad finally couldn't help but ask, "Zhang Jun, is there something you want to say?"

"I, I want to announce to you, announce something." Zhang Jun lowered his head, clenching his hands into fists on his knees. He licked his lips, and took another deep breath. "Actually, I already mentioned this to Sophie last year. Um, this time I want to ask for your opinions." Before he knew it, he had forgotten his nervousness.

The summer sunset hung on the horizon, and golden light poured in from the window. The lights inside weren't turned on; there was only light and shadow. It was another dusk; he really had a connection with dusk... Zhang Jun sat in the shadows, his voice growing louder.

"I, Zhang Jun, formally propose to Sophie, hoping that Sophie can marry me, Zhang Jun!"

The second hand ticked for the last time, then stopped next to the number "6."

Both sets of parents looked at each other in surprise, then looked at Zhang Jun and Sophie. Zhang Jun still maintained his previous posture, without moving. And Sophie turned her gaze to the red sky outside the window; the clouds in the sky were dyed red by the sunset, like a big red "happiness" character...

For a long time -- at least that's how Zhang Jun felt -- Sophie's dad opened his mouth: "Zhang Jun, we know that you've always liked our Feifei, hehe, we've known since three years ago. It can be said that your aunt and I have a pretty good impression of you. You're a sensible, ambitious young man..."

Hearing Uncle say so much unrelated things, Zhang Jun had a bad feeling; next would definitely be those third-rate lines: But...

"But," Sophie's mom took over, "you're all still young, and Feifei is still in school. We know that you have the ability to take care of Feifei..." Seeing Zhang Jun raise his head as if he had something to say, she directly nipped that thought in the bud. "But young people should focus on their studies and careers. As Feifei's mom, I certainly wouldn't want Sophie to be a full-time housewife, hehe! Therefore, we hope that you won't think too much about marriage before Feifei graduates from college; that's still too far away. You work hard outside, and Feifei will concentrate on studying at school."

Hearing this, Zhang Jun was a little frustrated; it seemed they didn't agree.

Aunt seemed to see through Zhang Jun's mind: "But, you don't need to feel frustrated, Zhang Jun. We just don't approve of you getting married too early, but we didn't say that we don't agree to your engagement, hehe!"

"Ha! Don't scare Zhang Jun! You're scaring the child. It's our blessing that your Zhang Jun can take a fancy to our Feifei! Isn't that right, future in-laws?" Sophie's dad turned to ask Zhang Jun's dad on the side.

"Haha! How can you say that? It should be that our Zhang Jun can marry Sophie; it's a blessing he's cultivated for eight lifetimes!"

Originally, a very grand and formal -- at least that's what Zhang Jun thought -- proposal, was ruined by two middle-aged men. Zhang Jun looked at the two elders making jokes with each other, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

Sophie's mom then said with a smile, "Zhang Jun, what are you still standing there for?"

Zhang Jun raised his head in confusion.

"An engagement should have a token, right?" Zhang Jun's mom reminded her son from the side.

Only then did Zhang Jun react; he took out a small and exquisite box from his pocket, and then carefully opened it in front of Sophie, a beam of white light reflecting on Sophie's face in this dusk.

Zhang Jun didn't know what to do; he just opened it and let Sophie admire the platinum diamond ring he bought back from Milan. In the end, it was his dad who reminded him: "Silly boy, what are you standing there for? Quickly put it on Sophie!"

Only then did Zhang Jun frantically take the ring out of the box, but he froze again, because he didn't know which finger to put the engagement ring on. This time, the parents didn't say anything; instead, they watched with great interest as Zhang Jun stood there at a loss.

In the end, it was Sophie who blushed, lowered her head, and softly reminded him, "Middle finger." Only then did Zhang Jun take Sophie's left hand, and then gently put the ten-thousand-euro platinum ring on Sophie's jade-like finger.

The sunlight reflected on it, startling Sophie. Sophie kept her head lowered, looking at the ring on her hand, never expecting that the first thing she wore on this hand that had never worn anything before would be this: an engagement ring.

An engagement ring that binds a lifetime of happiness and promises.

※※※

When Kaka saw Zhang Jun and Yang Pan, as well as a large number of reporters and fans, picking him up at Luoyang Airport, he didn't see An Ke and Ren Yudi, nor Sophie, who should be inseparable from Zhang Jun.

"An Ke hasn't had his vacation yet, but it's coming soon. He might arrive in a few days." After Zhang Jun finished speaking to Kaka, the reporters around him asked him to hug Kaka, and the flashes of light flashed in a sea of ​​light.

After Zhang Jun finished hugging, it was Yang Pan's turn. The flashes of light flashed again in a sea of ​​light.

"Hey, when did this become so blatant?" Kaka asked in a low voice, a little surprised.

"All the Chinese fans know that the three of us are friends, what are we pretending for?" Yang Pan said, waving to a group of female fans in the distance and smiling, immediately causing a high-decibel scream.

"You guys are really unrestrained..." Kaka said, and began to look around. "Don't look, Sophie didn't come. Zhang Jun is afraid of being exposed by the reporters, so he didn't dare to bring Sophie out." Yang Pan saw through his thoughts at a glance.

"Cough cough! By the way, where's Ren Yudi? Why didn't I see him?"

"Ren Yudi's family has moved away, and we can't contact him." Zhang Jun said sadly.

※※※

Zhang Jun and Yang Pan had a disagreement on the issue of where Kaka should stay. Naturally, Kaka couldn't stay in a hotel, right? So the two of their homes became Kaka's choices. Zhang Jun wanted Kaka to live with him, but Yang Pan firmly disagreed, thinking that Kaka shouldn't disturb the happy life of the young couple. So he forcibly pulled Kaka to his house. Why say "forcibly"? Because Kaka also wanted to live next door to Sophie.

After putting away his luggage, Kaka followed Yang Pan to Zhang Jun's house. When Kaka saw Sophie, dressed in a refreshing outfit, in Zhang Jun's house, he gave her a hug in the Brazilian way. Sophie was also very generous, and Zhang Jun didn't think there was anything wrong with it; everyone was friends, it was normal.

After the hug, Kaka had time to take a good look at Sophie, whom he hadn't seen for two years. She was fuller than before, and taller. Her jet-black hair was tied up behind her head, and a few strands of hair that fell casually in front of her forehead made her look very charming. Her skin was still so white, and coupled with her bright black eyes, she was indescribably beautiful. Sophie was more mature than when he first met her... But, Kaka's eyes blurred; just now when Sophie raised her hand, he was dazzled by something.

Looking closely, he found a ring on the middle finger of Sophie's left hand, reflecting the sunlight with the movement of her hand. "Sophie, huh, what's that on your hand..."

"Oh, hehe! Zhang Jun bought it for me, an engagement ring!" Sophie said proudly, raising her hand. The platinum ring reflected the sunlight, stinging Kaka's eyes, and also stinging his heart.

Engaged; Sophie was already engaged. Two years ago, she was still a naive and romantic little girl, but two years later, she was already engaged to someone. Although that person was his best friend, there was still some bitterness in his heart. The girl who asked him with wide eyes when they first met, "Is Kaka from Brazil?" was gradually drifting away from him.

Looking at Zhang Jun grinning foolishly on the side, Kaka sighed in his heart: I really don't know what Sophie saw in this papaya. He patted Zhang Jun on the shoulder: "You guys are actually engaged? Don't you know that marriage is the tomb of love?" he said with a wry smile.

Zhang Jun smiled: "But if you don't get married, love will have no place to be buried."

Kaka looked surprised: "Wow! When did you learn to say such profound things, kid? Yang Pan, how did you educate him in the Netherlands?" He turned to ask Yang Pan.

"Go to hell! A scholar who has been away for three days should be looked at with new eyes. What's more, we haven't seen each other for two years." Zhang Jun shouted.

We haven't seen each other for two years... He raised the World Cup; Zhang Jun and Yang Pan also became professional players, and won the first championship of their professional careers; this summer he would transfer to Milan, and they would also land in Serie A; and also, Sophie had grown taller, matured, but was also engaged... A lot of things had really happened in these two years.

"I want to see Lao Liang," Kaka murmured.

"Don't worry, let's all go together when An Ke comes back," Yang Pan said with a smile, "We'll have a good get-together; a lot of people will come then, it'll be very lively."

※※※

Inside the newly expanded student cafeteria of Shuguang Middle School, there was a hubbub of voices, bustling and lively. As a rising soccer star school that had won the national high school soccer league championship for two consecutive years, Shuguang Middle School was becoming more and more popular among junior high school graduates in terms of enrollment. Especially after Zhang Jun, Yang Pan, and Kaka came out, Shuguang became a sacred place in the minds of many young soccer players. The school expanded its enrollment every year, and the scale of the school gradually expanded. It was said that the school had cooperated with another school in the high-tech development zone to build a branch school, which would officially start enrolling students this summer and implement boarding management. And the school that cooperated with Shuguang was their former opponent on the field: Keda Affiliated Middle School.

Li Yongle still had his energetic short hair, wearing a casual loose short-sleeved t-shirt and shorts, with his hands in his pockets as he stepped into the gathering venue. The other two people with him were naturally familiar faces: Zhang Yang and Zhang Lintao. One was wearing a military uniform, and the other was wearing a terribly fat t-shirt and long pants.

Zhang Jun said to them with a smile, "Seeing you three again; it's been a long time since we were together, right?"

Zhang Yang struck a pose: "We are the legendary Keda Affiliated Middle School star trio!"

Li Yongle turned his head away: "I don't know him." Zhang Lintao was even more direct; he turned his head and looked around, shouting loudly, "Guard! Security! How did this lunatic get in here? Take him back to Baima Temple (Luoyang's mental hospital is near Baima Temple)!"

"Zhang Lintao! Do you want to die? I'll let you see the style of Chinese soldiers!"

Everyone laughed.

Liang Ke and Sun Laihong found a quiet place to discuss some matters concerning the upcoming recruitment of soccer players at the new school. This wasn't their first collaboration; in the national high school competition this winter vacation, the Luoyang team was co-coached by the two of them. It wasn't uncommon for two head coaches to co-coach a team; Sweden had dual coaches.

※※※

This was a big gathering, a grassroots gathering. Everyone you could think of had come. Zhang Jun's teammates, opponents; everyone who could come had come.

"Hey! Lin Ling, long time no see, what are you doing!" Zhao Defeng grabbed Lin Ling, who was looking around; his former opponent, the captain of Tongxing High School.

"Oh! Lao Zhao, you're too short; I really couldn't find you." Lin Ling looked "surprised".

"Go to hell!" Zhao Defeng scolded with a smile.

"Ha! Lao Zhao, Lin Ling's here!" The person who said this was Fan Cunjie, "It seems that it was right for me to come this time... Um, Lin Ling, Lao Zhao just told you to go to hell; what do you think should be done?"

"Um um, Lao Zhao, you say, do you want a one-on-one fight, or a group fight?" Lin Ling said with a wicked smile.

"A one-on-one fight means you fight all of us. A group fight means we all beat you up," Fan Cunjie explained, clenching his fists on the side, "Which method do you choose?"

"You all?" Zhao Defeng looked at the two people in front of him.

Fan Cunjie flashed to the side, and Zhao Defeng saw all the opponents he had defeated in the past. Shui Huajun of CITIC Heavy Industries also stood up: "Hehe, Lao Zhao, don't blame us for being ruthless. Who told you to keep us suppressed in the dark back then? Look how pitiful little Fan is; he was ruined in your clutches for three whole years!" Shui Huajun said righteously, while Fan Cunjie "sobbed" softly on the side.

"Damn it! Don't pretend!" Zhao Defeng, who was attending college in Beijing, shouted, "There are debts and creditors. Little Shui's elimination in his senior year was Zhang Jun and the others' responsibility; the goal in nine seconds at the beginning was so…" He saw that Shui Huajun's face was wrong, and quickly changed the subject. "Also, Fan Jie (Fan Cunjie's nickname), didn't you lose your last year because of Shuguang? Zhang Jun even scored a d…" He saw that Fan Cunjie's face was also wrong, and quickly changed the topic again. "Uh, d… Dragon Soar, did you guys see that game? The Dragon Soar that Zhang Jun scored in the Dutch Cup final! I saw in the Sports Weekly that Europeans call that goal a 'Scorpion', which is also quite descriptive."

"That's right! That goal was indeed... To be honest, when he scored that goal like that in the Xigong Stadium back then, I didn't expect that he would score that goal like that in the Netherlands three years later," Fan Cunjie said, looking at Zhang Jun's busy back in the distance.

"Is it our good fortune or misfortune to be able to compete on the same field as them?"

No one answered him; perhaps they themselves didn't know the answer.

※※※

"Zhang Lintao, how's your manga drawing going?" Zhang Jun asked Zhang Lintao when he had time.

"It's okay; I've organized a manga studio with some people. We take on some miscellaneous jobs to make a living while preparing to draw the great work I've been thinking about for a long time, hehe!"

"Oh? What great work?"

"It's about our life in high school; soccer games every day, skipping class to watch games, life with friends! I've been thinking about the name for a long time, and I've finally decided on it."

Zhang Jun was stunned for a moment; life in high school... "What's the name?" he murmured.

"Doyoumindifiplay." (我踢球你在意吗)

"Doyoumindifiplay?"

"Yes, doyoumindifiplay."

Doyoumindifiplay? Zhang Jun thought about what he had been playing soccer for in the past four years. Not for the future of Chinese soccer as mentioned in the newspapers; he hadn't thought that far ahead. Nor was it to stand out from the crowd, to make money and profit. So what was he playing soccer for?

"Sister Sophie!"

He suddenly turned his head and saw Sophie greeting He Wen.

"Because I like soccer!" Was it for this sentence? For this sentence, to see her smiling face.

Doyoumindifiplay...

"Not a bad name, keep up the good work!" Zhang Jun patted Zhang Lintao's shoulder next to him.

※※※

"Sister Sophie, you're getting more and more beautiful!" He Wen had obviously come after carefully dressing up; her straightened hair just reached her shoulders, with light eyeshadow and lipstick, and two dabs of blush. She was wearing a sexy and refreshing suspender vest and a miniskirt. But when she saw Sophie, she immediately felt a little discouraged; her careful dressing was defeated by Sophie's pureness without a trace of artificial modification.

Sophie still had her long hair tied up behind her head, fixed with a hairpin, with a few strands of hair scattered casually in the front, lightly caressed by the wind. She had no makeup on her face, wearing a light green long dress, paired with sandals. When the wind blew, it really brought a touch of fragrance to the people around her.

"Hehe, aren't you too? Little sister He Wen."

"But compared to you, Sister, I'm far behind." He Wen pouted her mouth, looking even more adorable.

"Hehe, where's your brother?"

"He's over there!" He Wen pointed with her hand, but Sophie called out in confusion: "Li Yongle?" Only then did He Wen realize that she had pointed wrong; she had pointed to Li Yongle, a senior from Keda Affiliated Middle School, instead of her brother An Ke on the other side. "Ah! Wrong, wrong! They're both tall!" He Wen quickly explained.

Sophie laughed: "Then why didn't you point to Sima Hongxin and Liu Peng, who are also tall?" She wanted to tease this adorable younger sister who was two years younger than her.

He Wen blushed.

"Who are you dressing up so nicely for?"

He Wen blushed, and she called out coquettishly: "Hate it! Sister is bullying me! I'm not dressing up for Li Yongle at all..." She suddenly understood, and Sophie was already bent over with laughter.

※※※

"Liu Peng, and Sima. We heard that you guys are national champions now!" Yang Pan said, holding a glass of beverage towards the two who had come all the way from Maojiayan, Sichuan, "Shouldn't you consider treating us?"

"That's right, that's right! Treat us!" The people behind him echoed loudly.

"Go! If you're talking about treating us, it should be you and Zhang Jun who treat us! Not only have you two become professional players, but you've also quickly become the hope of Chinese soccer, and you've also won the cup championship in the Netherlands. If you don't treat us, it's against nature!" Liu Peng shouted; his u21 championship was nothing compared to the Dutch Cup championship.

"That's right, that's right! Treat us!" The people behind him echoed loudly.

"You guys go to hell! You're afraid the world won't be chaotic!" Yang Pan said "angrily".

"Ah? What, what? Who's treating?" As soon as An Ke heard that he could freeload a meal, he immediately squeezed in.

"You get energized as soon as you hear this." Yang Pan gave An Ke a look.

"It shouldn't be us treating!" Zhang Jun and Li Yongle walked over, and he pointed to Kaka, "The one who should treat us the most is this kid! World champion, raised the World Cup! And then became a new idol of Brazilian soccer, and then he's going to join the giant team AC Milan. Let's all go eat him!"

"Ah?" Kaka was startled, "No, if you guys go, Milan will go crazy."

Everyone laughed.

"Li Yongle, the Major League has been postponed; what are you planning to do?" Yang Pan asked Li Yongle next to him.

"Don't know, wait," Li Yongle shook his head.

"Why don't we tell Adriaanse to let you go to Volendam for a tryout, and then join the team?" Yang Pan suggested to Li Yongle.

"That's right, that's right! Adriaanse is very good at training young players. Oh, right, let Leys train you for three months, and it will definitely be no problem for you to play professional games; your foundation is even better." Zhang Jun also strongly invited him.

"That's right; in the current environment of Chinese soccer, no matter how hard you try, you won't be able to get ahead, Li Yongle. Unless…" Liu Peng thought of Qiu Suhui, who was already coaching in the National Olympic team, "Unless you can find a good coach."

Li Yongle nodded: "I originally wanted to win the best player in a Major League, and then go to the Netherlands through Philips, and follow the same path as you. But now…" Li Yongle shrugged, a little helpless.

"Um, it's good that you have this idea. Then it's settled; give me a tape of your games, and we'll take it to Adriaanse when we go back and recommend you to him."

"Okay, by the way. What's the status of you two's transfers?" Li Yongle asked back.

"Yang Pan is basically set to go to Bologna; my destination, Hua-jie and the Milan club are busy with it. There should be news soon, right?" Zhang Jun answered.

An Ke was listening to them talking about professional soccer all the time, one by one achieving success and returning home in glory, their words and actions quite like soccer stars. He felt a little unable to get a word in, so he had to listen on the side, but how much of it did he actually hear?

His former classmates, friends, were now drifting further and further away.

Only then did Zhang Jun notice An Ke, who hadn't said anything on the side: "Huh? An Ke, are you still working in Germany?"

An Ke nodded.

"Didn't you do anything else?"

"Yes!"

"What is it?" Zhang Jun was very interested in this; he had always hoped that An Ke could return to the soccer field.

"Continue chasing girls! I'm now starting to target German girls; my goal is to chase them out of Asia and sleep with them all over the world!" An Ke shouted, raising his arms.

"Tch--" An extremely enthusiastic boo.

※※※

People were constantly coming in and out; when they saw someone they knew, they would sit down and chat together. The gathering was no longer limited to the cafeteria; you could see groups of three or five people all over the campus. They were sitting or standing, walking or stopping, laughing and joking, making noise...

The number of people inside the cafeteria was gradually increasing; although all the air conditioners and fans were turned on, the temperature still couldn't be lowered. A glass of ice water that Zhang Jun was holding had been baked into hot water by the heat. Everyone was busy; for the time being, no one came up to chat with him, and Sophie was talking to a few of her high school friends on the side about the secrets that belonged only to girls.

He had also seen Liang Ke; he asked him about some things and then didn't say anything, just letting him grasp it himself. "The agent can only advise you; you still have to make your own decisions. Grasp it yourself, and the road you walk will be more regretless."

Yuan Gang had run off to college in Heilongjiang, said to be adult education. He had dedicated three years of high school to soccer, so he could only attend adult education in college. But it was nothing; adult education was college, and unified enrollment was also college. He planned to come out and find a job after graduation; he was still playing soccer, but his family wouldn't let him be a professional player. He was also satisfied with his current situation: "I can still continue to play soccer, hehe, not bad!"

Hearing these words, Zhang Jun thought of Ren Yudi; his family had moved away, not in Luoyang. No matter what, he couldn't contact him for this gathering. He didn't know how he was doing in another place, whether he was still playing soccer.

Some of these younger students of Lin Xiaofang had gone to college, mostly adult education or self-study; others had directly entered society to work. The even younger ones had just graduated from high school and were beginning to look forward to their future. Some of them were still playing soccer, while others basically didn't play soccer anymore. Life was very realistic; not everyone could make a living from soccer like them; as long as they still loved soccer, that was enough, wasn't it?

Zhang Jun thought of the scene when the three of them arrived at school early, before the gathering had officially started.

※※※

He thought he was the earliest to arrive, but there were already a lot of cars parked in front of the school gate; bicycles, motorcycles, cars... After entering the school gate, they didn't go to the cafeteria where the gathering was; instead, they went straight to the soccer field -- this seemed to have become a habit for them -- when they came to Shuguang, they had to go to the soccer field.

Zhang Jun, Yang Pan, and Sophie first went to take a look at the team's locker room. They originally just wanted to take a look from the outside, but Sophie took out a key, saying she wanted to see if she could still use this key from two years ago to open the door after two years. Unexpectedly, after inserting the key and turning it, the door really opened with a creak. The three of them looked at each other in surprise, and then pushed the door open and went in.

The locker room had been renovated and looked brand new, with aluminum alloy doors and windows, and newly painted walls and ceilings. When Zhang Jun first pushed open the door, he almost didn't recognize that this was the locker room he had used for three years. New seats, a new long table, new ceiling lights, a new team group photo... But he still found a row of cabinets against the east wall that looked extremely uncoordinated with all of this.

"Ah! Still..." Sophie exclaimed.

Yang Pan stroked the cabinets with the paint peeling off, and found his name on it: Number 7, Yang Pan Special. Next to it was: Number 11, Zhang Jun Special. There were also more familiar names, Number 9, Ren Yudi Special; Number 10, Kaka Special; Number 1, An Ke Special... "These cabinets seem to have been deliberately left behind, like souvenirs," Yang Pan said, looking at this row of mottled cabinets.

"It should have been emptied, right?" Zhang Jun touched the top of the cabinet and the position corresponding to his own cabinet -- in the past, their keys were placed on their respective cabinets, and no one had ever lost anything; he didn't know if this tradition had been maintained -- his hand turned cold; there really was a metal object in his palm. He took it down and looked at it; it was indeed a key! He opened his cabinet, and everything in front of him surprised him; a white Shuguang jersey was folded neatly in the cabinet!

"This..."

Yang Pan also opened the cabinet that belonged to him, and the Number 7 jersey printed with his name was also lying quietly inside, with a red captain's armband on top of the jersey!

Zhang Jun took out the jersey, and there was still a faint scent of laundry detergent on it. "They seem to take it out and wash it often."

Sophie also opened the cabinet with her name on it; there were no clothes inside, but there were three hardcover books and a pen; that was her team record. One book a year, three thick books.

Zhang Jun suddenly felt very moved; these things that they handed in when they left the team were kept by their younger students.

"There is only one Shuguang Number 11 jersey printed with Zhang Jun's name, and the same is true for the Shuguang Number 7 jersey printed with Yang Pan's name," Liang Ke's words rang out behind them.

"Coach!" The three of them were surprised and happy.

"Hehe, I didn't see you in the cafeteria, so I guessed you would come here." Liang Ke walked in; he looked at the jersey Zhang Jun was holding and said, "I asked them to keep your jerseys. The managers would take them out regularly to wash and dry. Not only you two's, but theirs are all still there. I'll give the new recruits new lockers; these old lockers aren't used anymore."

Zhang Jun and Yang Pan looked at each other.

"The keys are still