Chapter 1 When Yang Pan Showed Up With a Big Bag

When Yang Pan showed up with a big bag in front of Bellucci, Bellucci hugged him tightly. "Great! You said you were coming back a few days ago, and you're finally here!"

Yang Pan didn't struggle, but just laughed, "You're still so strong, Claudio!"

Yes, he was back in Bologna. AC Milan had officially loaned him to Bologna until the end of the season. Fortunately, he hadn't sold his house in Bologna, so he could just move back in.

Besides, he could go to that Chinese restaurant again, learn French from the owner, and see her again…

After painstakingly declining Bellucci's invitation to stay for dinner, Yang Pan decided to go to "Chinachina" restaurant right away.

※※※

"Welcome!" Hearing the door open, Yilan quickly turned around and shouted loudly in Chinese, but then she was stunned.

Yang Pan took off his hat and sunglasses, and then said to Yilan, "One black pepper steak, medium-rare, and one Italian pasta."

Was it really him? Yilan hadn't recovered yet. She admitted that she had secretly prayed to God one hundred and one times, hoping that he would appear in front of her again. But when he really appeared as she wished, she felt a little overwhelmed.

Yang Pan ignored Yilan and went straight to his "reserved seat," put down his backpack, and waited for his meal.

Yilan finally woke up. It was indeed Yang Pan. She rushed to bring Yang Pan tea in a fluster, almost spilling the water on the table several times.

For some reason, Yang Pan seemed to enjoy watching Yilan's embarrassment. "You can't even hold a teapot steady, can you, Miss Yilan?" he teased. He was in a good mood today. Usually, he rarely even spoke to Yilan.

But to his surprise, Yilan's hands didn't tremble. The tea water steadily poured into the teacup, stopping just a little above the rim, but without overflowing. Yilan looked at Yang Pan triumphantly, as if saying, "See if you can pour a drop and drink it all!"

"This…" Yang Pan just put his hand on the table, and the water on the rim of the cup swayed as if it was about to spill out immediately.

Yilan snorted softly and turned to leave. She didn't know why, but she had been very pleasantly surprised by Yang Pan's sudden appearance, so much so that she was flustered. But after hearing Yang Pan's mockery, she suddenly calmed down and responded to Yang Pan's "challenge" with practical actions. Wasn't it supposed to be a touching reunion? She had rehearsed that touching scene countless times in her dreams…

…

"Welcome!" Hearing the door open, Yilan quickly turned around and shouted loudly in Chinese, but then she was stunned.

Yang Pan took off his hat and sunglasses, and then said to Yilan, "One black pepper steak, medium-rare, and one Italian pasta."

Was it really him? Yilan hadn't recovered yet. She admitted that she had secretly prayed to God one hundred and one times, hoping that he would appear in front of her again. But when God fulfilled her wish, she felt a little overwhelmed.

"Huh? What's wrong with you?" Yang Pan looked at Yilan strangely.

"N-nothing! You're back? Didn't you go to AC Milan?" Yilan asked, her tone like a wife who had been waiting bitterly for her husband.

"Because I… I… couldn't bear to leave you. In the days and nights away from Bologna, I couldn't stop myself from thinking of you! So, in order to face this feeling squarely, I finally made up my mind to come back and find you! Then take you to Milan, where we will build a love nest together!" Yang Pan held Yilan's hand and said gently, "And then we'll have lots and lots of cute little babies together!"

Yilan's face turned red, and she twisted shyly. "You're so annoying! You're so bad…"

…

Sorry, Yilan has been reading too many romance novels and watching too many soap operas.

That's how it should have been, but why is the reality so different?

"Yo! Yang's here, what brings you to our place? Aren't you in Milan?" The bearded man came out of the kitchen and saw Yang Pan staring blankly at a cup of tea.

"Don't you ever read the newspaper, or the news? I was loaned back to Bologna by AC Milan." Yang Pan looked up at the bearded man, then turned his gaze back to the teacup. He was worrying about how to drink the tea without losing face. It was absolutely impossible for him to lie on the table and drink like a dog. But if he used his hands, the cup was so hot that the water would definitely spill.

"Oh, oh, I've been too busy lately, I haven't paid much attention."

"Busy with what?"

"Moving." The bearded man glanced at his daughter, and her shoulders twitched as expected.

"Oh! That's a pity. It seems like I'll have to find a new place to eat again." Yang Pan was still fighting with the teacup, and didn't understand what the bearded man meant.

"But, we don't have to move now." The bearded man laughed. Indeed, they didn't have to move. Yang Pan was back in Bologna, so what was the point of them moving to Milan?

"That's great… I've got it!" Yang Pan suddenly had a good idea, and he called out to Yilan. "Miss Yilan, can I have a straw?"

"…"

Yang Pan sipped the hot tea in the cup with a straw, his eyes wandering over the crowds of people coming and going outside the window. His thoughts returned to the Olympic Games a few days ago, and his expression couldn't help but become a little gloomy. If he had worked harder, everyone would still be in Athens, joking around and looking forward to the future. He was the only one who had ruined everyone's dreams. For those who couldn't play football abroad, how much did they cherish this opportunity to show themselves to the world! But, fortunately, there were still a few people who finally made it. Li Yongle, Xiang Tao, Wang Yu… How are you guys doing now?

※※※

The youth team coach of Inter Milan, Juan Manuel Alfano, looked at the tall Chinese boy standing in front of him with satisfaction. "Not bad, even stronger than in the video!" His eyes weren't looking at a player, but admiring a horse, a little foal that would become a thoroughbred.

"Can you speak Italian?" Alfano asked the translator next to Li Yongle, but he didn't expect Li Yongle to answer him directly in Italian, "A little, a little, sir."

This surprised Alfano. It seemed that this young man had made a lot of preparations to come to Inter Milan. Such a hardworking person would achieve great things. "Haha! Very good, young man. But in order to help you adapt here faster, a translator is still needed. But don't forget to continue improving your language skills. A little is far from enough. Starting tomorrow, train with the youth team. If you perform well, I will let you participate in the games."

"Can I participate in the games now?" Li Yongle asked impatiently after listening to the translator.

But Alfano just smiled slightly, "Don't worry, young man. It's good that you have the desire to work hard, but if your physical condition is not good, don't force yourself, it will only ruin you! Remember, after completing your daily training, it's normal to do some targeted extra training, but do it in moderation. I don't think players who train crazily every day but don't know how to rest are excellent, and I will never let them play. Maybe in your China, this is considered glorious, but in Italy, it is foolish. Players who don't know how to rest won't know how to train!"

Li Yongle knew that his training at Inter Milan had already begun, starting with the collision between the Chinese football philosophy and the Italian football philosophy.

Although he was given a small lecture by the coach, Li Yongle was still very excited. He had arrived in Milan, Italy, and had come to Inter Milan. This morning, the translator Gu Lin took him to the Meazza Stadium (AC Milan's San Siro). Sitting in the stands, he looked down at the entire field. Although it wasn't a game day, and there were only a few maintenance workers and them, he still seemed to see the passionate fans in the stands during the game. They cheered, they sang, they applauded… Being able to play football here was truly a happy thing!

Everything felt like a dream. He had come here, and now he would work hard in Milan to prove himself. Next year! Next year, he must be here, playing in the Meazza!

Facing the empty stands, Li Yongle made a vow in his heart.

※※※

Belgium is a wealthy and beautiful country in Europe, and Brussels, as the capital of Belgium, is known as "the most beautiful city in Europe" and "the capital of Europe"…

Xiang Tao stood in the center of a spacious and beautiful square, turning his head to look at the spired buildings. It was dusk, and the sunlight made the entire square golden and brilliant. "It's so beautiful!" he couldn't help but exclaim.

"This is the Brussels Grand Place, a collection of, um, a collection of Gothic, Renaissance, and Louis XIV architecture. The square was built in the twelfth century, and the ground is paved with granite. Among the many buildings, the most striking is the City Hall, a Gothic building, built in two phases. The left half was built in 1442, and the right half was built in 1444. The main building is ninety meters high, with a five-meter-high statue of Saint Michael, the patron saint of Brussels, on top. The Brussels Grand Place is an ancient…"

"Damn it, girl. Anyone can read from a tourist guide! Stop looking at that thing! Take a picture of me, so I can send it home." Xiang Tao struck a pose in front of the City Hall - extending two fingers in a "V" shape. Wang Yu raised the digital camera and pressed the shutter.

"Come on, let's take a picture together!" Xiang Tao waved to Wang Yu.

"Take a picture together?" Wang Yu raised the camera. "Who will take a picture of us?"

"There are so many people here, just grab someone!" Xiang Tao walked towards a tourist, but he quickly turned back. "I can't speak English, you go!" he said to Wang Yu.

Wang Yu smiled and went forward to negotiate with the other party. Wang Yu had been a member of the exchange program between the Sichuan team and the English Premier League team Liverpool, and was sent to Liverpool's youth team for a period of training. Unfortunately, due to his limited abilities, he was unable to stay in the end. After the three-month training period was over, he returned to Sichuan. Originally, Xiang Tao should have gone with him. However, due to certain "unspeakable" reasons that everyone knew, Xiang Tao was brushed off, and his spot was replaced by a forward who usually paid attention to getting along with the coach. However, that forward was sent back by Liverpool after only a month. To this day, Wang Yu still believes that if Xiang Tao had gone to Liverpool at that time, he would have already been promoted to Liverpool's first team, but unfortunately he was delayed by these years in China!

Wang Yu finally asked that tourist to take a group photo of them. He and Xiang Tao stood in front of the golden Brussels City Hall, and the sunlight shone brightly on their smiling faces.

The past will eventually become the past, and the future begins now. On their first holiday after joining the Anderlecht youth team, the two Chinese youngsters left a memorable moment in the Brussels Grand Place. The two Chinese youngsters began their journey to the dream of world football in the unfamiliar "European Capital."

※※※

After Zhang Jun's rehabilitation treatment went smoothly and he could walk independently, he received a call from Qiu Suhui, asking him to go to Utrecht, where there was a very good nursing home with much better conditions than in Volendam, and the director was his friend, and the cost was not a problem.

After discussing with Feng Qing, he decided to go there to continue his treatment.

Utrecht is the capital of the province of Utrecht in the central Netherlands, and also the transportation hub of the Netherlands, where railways, highways, and expressways converge. From Volendam, you can take a bus to Amsterdam, and then transfer to a train to Utrecht. However, Zhang Jun and the others took a special car provided by the club directly, and it took them less than an hour to reach the Saint Eldron nursing home located in the suburbs of Utrecht.

This nursing home was originally a monastery, but it was completely destroyed during World War II, and the nuns and priests ran away. After World War II, the land was bought and a nursing home was built, which has been developed for more than half a century.

Feng Qing was very satisfied with the environment here. Located in the suburbs of Utrecht, it was quiet, had excellent greenery, fresh air, and complete nursing equipment, making it very suitable for patients to recuperate. But what surprised Zhang Jun even more was that there was a natural grass football field behind the nursing home!

"Haha! Qiu and I are old friends, and I naturally like football too! I'll even call some friends to play a few games here when I have nothing to do!" The director of the nursing home, the Dutchman Michel Stattenson, said with a smile.

Although Saint Eldron nursing home was in the suburbs, transportation was very convenient. Going out and crossing a quiet path led to the highway, and there was also a bus stop not far away, which could take you directly to the city. The nursing home also had its own special car. So, if Zhang Jun was bored in the nursing home, he could also take a car to the city to stroll around.

It was indeed much better than Volendam! No wonder Qiu insisted on letting him come here!

※※※

On the second day of arriving at Saint Eldron, Feng Qing went out early in the morning to stroll around the city of Utrecht. Traditional Chinese medicine was still relatively developed in the Netherlands, and he wanted to see if there were any Chinese medicine shops with a complete range of products, as the Chinese medicine needed for medicinal fumigation was running out.

Zhang Jun, accompanied by Sophie, strolled along the country paths near the nursing home, breathing in the fragrance of the morning soil, which made him feel much more comfortable.

It was said that Sophie was accompanying Zhang Jun, but in fact, it should be said that Zhang Jun was taking the time to accompany Sophie. As the start date of domestic universities approached, Sophie's return date was finally decided. Zhang Jun very much hoped that Sophie would continue to stay by his side like this. However, Sophie also had her own studies and life, and even as lovers, they had no right to restrain each other. So, he had been urging Sophie to go back to school. In addition, her parents must have missed her very much after she had been in the Netherlands for the whole summer. No matter what, Sophie could no longer stay in the Netherlands.

"Have you bought your plane ticket?" Zhang Jun asked Sophie, who was holding his arm.

"Yes, for the twenty-eighth."

"I'll see you off…"

"Don't." Sophie refused, "Don't see me off, I know how to get there. Your foot isn't better yet, so don't bother going back and forth. You have to take care of your body." In fact, Sophie was afraid of crying in front of Zhang Jun. They had been together for so many years, and she had only cried in front of Zhang Jun when they won the national competition qualification in their second year of high school and when they graduated from high school. She didn't want Zhang Jun to see too much of her weak side.

"Haha! Don't talk like we're saying goodbye forever." Zhang Jun laughed, "I'll take care of myself, and you be careful on the road. I won't be able to go back for New Year's Day and the Spring Festival. Wait for me in Luoyang next summer."

In fact, Zhang Jun was the most regretful about Sophie's trip to the Netherlands. During the two months of being alone with Sophie, this great beauty, he had done nothing but hug and kiss. On the one hand, Sophie was very stubborn, and on the other hand, he himself was horny but lacked the guts, and was useless. So, from this point of view, Zhang Jun hoped that Sophie wouldn't leave, and would stay by his side.

"Well, since you're leaving the day after tomorrow, let's have a farewell kiss!" Zhang Jun pouted and was about to kiss Sophie, but Sophie nimbly dodged him. "Hehe! You want to take advantage of me? No way!" she laughed.

"I'm your fiancé, how can kissing you be considered taking advantage of you?" Zhang Jun said aggrievedly, pouting.

The two were immersed in happiness, but they hadn't noticed that there was a person standing not far in front of them, worrying about whether to walk straight over. However, once couples in love start playing around, they can completely ignore everything around them, including living people. Considering that young men and women have plenty of energy, this kind of ignorance is likely to last for a long time. Wouldn't he have to stand here like a fool for several hours?

He had no choice but to step forward and cough softly.

The two people were almost face to face. Hearing this cough, Zhang Jun was very unhappy. Who was it? Coming to disturb him at this time! Couldn't they see that he was busy? But when he turned his head to see clearly who was disturbing him, he was stunned.

Sophie's face turned red, and she stood aside very properly, but she still didn't understand why Zhang Jun was stunned. The other party was just an ordinary middle-aged Dutchman!

But Zhang Jun stammered and called out, "M-Marco… van Basten…" He used Dutch, not Chinese or English.

"Haha! I think this is our first time meeting, right?" The visitor was none other than the current coach of the Dutch national team, Marco van Basten.

"Y-yes…" Zhang Jun licked his lips. He was a little flustered and blamed himself in his heart for his rudeness just now. He didn't expect to meet his idol here.

"Ah, I was originally going to play football with some friends up ahead, but I really didn't expect to meet you here." In comparison, van Basten was much more calm. Obviously, he had come prepared.

"Up ahead?" Zhang Jun was a little strange, that direction was so familiar…

"Dummy! It's Saint Eldron!" Sophie reminded him in a low voice. Since coming to the Netherlands two months ago, she had not relaxed her study of Dutch for a single day, and tried to communicate with people in Dutch as much as possible when going out with Zhang Jun. Now, she had no problem with basic conversation.

"Ah?!" Zhang Jun was shocked.

"Haha! It seems Michel didn't tell you, he and Qiu are old friends, and I'm also an old friend of his!" Van Basten said with a smile.

"Could it be that… the friends who often play football with him are…"

"That's me." Van Basten smiled brightly, but after Zhang Jun understood the situation, he felt a sense of powerlessness: Heavens! Who are all these people here!

"I was just about to go play football, are you interested in watching?" Van Basten extended an invitation to Zhang Jun, how could Zhang Jun refuse?

※※※

"But, sir, aren't you the coach of the Dutch national team? How do you have time to play football here?" Zhang Jun asked his question on the road.

"Just call me Marco, don't be so reserved." Van Basten smiled. "The coach of the Dutch national team also needs to have a vacation, right?"

But Zhang Jun knew very well that the German World Cup qualifiers had already begun, and van Basten's first game in charge was against their arch-rival Czech Republic. It was impossible for him to have a vacation at this time. Someone must have asked him to come… Thinking that Qiu Suhui had asked him to come to Utrecht - van Basten's hometown, and Yang Pan had told him that van Basten and Qiu Suhui were friends. So, the client must be Qiu Suhui!

Qiu was really doing his best for him!

"We're here!" Van Basten threw the bag he was carrying casually on the grass. Zhang Jun looked at the field, and there was a group of people playing "catch the monkey," and the "monkey" was none other than the director of Saint Eldron Nursing Home, Michel Stattenson.

"Watch us play here, you can't touch the ball yet." After saying that, van Basten took off his trousers and coat, took out a pair of ordinary sneakers from his backpack and put them on, did some warm-up exercises, and ran onto the field, joining the battle.

Later, the crowd was divided into two teams, each with four people, and they played a small-field game in the penalty area.

In Zhang Jun's view, those figures of varying heights, shapes, and sizes were just like any middle-aged people who loved football that he had seen in Luoyang, gathering with three or five friends on weekends to play football. Although they may not be able to run, their love for football would not diminish with age.

The Dutch people in front of him were the same. Some of them were as fat as meat balls, but they were still running tirelessly on the field, the sweat on their bald heads reflecting the sunlight, which was a little dazzling and a little funny.

Everyone is a lover of football, whether it is in China or the Netherlands, haha! Zhang Jun thought and smiled.

※※※

Among that group of people, van Basten's technique was obviously the most outstanding. In the game, a small-angle shot from him pierced the opponent's goal, making Zhang Jun's eyes light up, as if he saw the van Basten in the 1988 European Cup final, the young and vigorous van Basten.

After all, he was old, and the game ended after only a short time. Those friends said hello to van Basten and left, leaving only van Basten and Stattenson.

Van Basten sat next to Zhang Jun to rest.

"Who are those people…" Zhang Jun asked.

"Companions who played football together when we were kids, but only Michel and I became professional players. But Michel retired after participating in the 83 World Youth Championship due to a serious injury," van Basten said slowly.

Zhang Jun finally understood that this Stattenson, who was a little cute because of his fatness, was also a member of the Dutch National Youth Team, and had participated in a World Youth Championship with Qiu Suhui. No wonder they knew each other.

"Well, let's not talk about these past events, let's talk about you." Van Basten looked at Zhang Jun and said.

"Me?"

"How is your injury? I heard that you have a Chinese medicine practitioner treating you?"

"Yes, and the treatment is very effective, even better than I imagined." Zhang Jun looked at his left ankle and said. Feng Qing's method was indeed very effective, and he could even feel his ankle gradually becoming flexible.

"So, after your foot is healed, how do you plan to play football?" Van Basten's words confused Zhang Jun. "I mean, you can no longer go back to your style before the injury, that will only increase your chances of getting injured. You need to know that a striker only needs to shoot and score goals."

But Zhang Jun was silent. He didn't immediately say yes or no, but thought for a while before saying firmly: "Thank you, Marco. Many people have told me this, including my treating doctor, they all advised me to change the way I play football. But, if that's the case, then it's meaningless for me to risk accepting this Chinese medicine treatment. I know everyone is doing it for my own good, to allow me to extend my football career. But as far as I'm concerned, I don't like being a striker who only knows how to shoot. Maybe only shooting can still make you a great shooter. But I prefer to dribble the ball past people, break through, and then send the ball into the goal, that's the football I want to play. If it's just shooting, I think football is half as fun for me."

"You insist on playing football like you used to? Even if you get injured again because of it, and retire from football forever, you won't regret it? I retired because of that…"

"I won't regret it! Actually, I know that for a while you didn't allow people to mention football in front of you, and you played golf every day. But your happiest time was still on the football field with your friends, right?" Zhang Jun looked at van Basten and said.

Van Basten's face twitched, an expression of being caught off guard. Now that he thought about it, that was indeed the happiest time of his life, Ruud, Ronald, Frank, and his AC Milan teammates, they won one honor after another together…

"What a stubborn person!" Van Basten shook his head and smiled. Qiu Suhui had told him that Zhang Jun was very stubborn, and would not turn back even if he was wrong. Today, he had witnessed it. "Okay, since you insist so much, then I have some advice, do you want to hear it?"

Zhang Jun knew that the key part was coming. Van Basten's advice was not ordinary advice. As someone with rich center forward experience and who had also been the coach of Ajax's youth team, his advice would definitely make his level improve by leaps and bounds. Qiu had asked him to come here for this reason, right!

Zhang Jun nodded vigorously.

"Very good. Then first, you are no longer allowed to use that 'Scorpion' you invented." Van Basten pointed his index finger.

But Zhang Jun's mind was blown! Not allowed to use *Long Teng*? Why?

Even Sophie on the side was stunned. *Long Teng* was Zhang Jun's trademark, Zhang Jun's symbol. If he wasn't allowed to use it, Zhang Jun's emotions would not be able to accept it no matter what.

Zhang Jun looked at van Basten, but saw that his expression was very serious, and he was definitely not joking.