Chapter 1 Familiarizing Himself with the Surroundings

Zhou Yi rented a house, and the next day he went out alone to familiarize himself with the surrounding environment.

Although the town of Krabber was not big, it had all the essential facilities. Banks, police stations, post offices, hospitals, supermarkets, taverns, restaurants…everything was available.

Most importantly, Zhou Yi found an open park with three football fields near the house he rented.

The football fields had natural turf and were open to the public for free, twenty-four hours a day.

Zhou Yi went up and ran around. He felt that although it was free, the turf was well maintained. Although it could not compare with the turf inside the Dortmund training base, it was enough for him.

With such a football field, Zhou Yi would have a place to practice in the future.

After familiarizing himself with the surrounding situation, July 2nd arrived.

This day was the day for the Dortmund first team to report and gather at the Brackel training base.

Zhou Yi, who was going out, was wearing a sportswear, carrying a backpack, and wearing a Dortmund club baseball cap. Cortana, who was also going out to school, mocked: "Are you going to training in that outfit? Aren't you afraid of being stopped outside by the security guard as a fan?"

"How is that possible?" Zhou Yi scoffed. "I'm very famous. Wouldn't the security guard recognize me? Only someone like you who doesn't watch football would think that way."

Cortana curled her lips: "Then I wish you good luck, big star."

"Thank you for your kind words." Zhou Yi turned his head and smiled at her.

※※※

From where Zhou Yi lived to the training base, it was about two bus stops away.

But Zhou Yi decided to run there, which was also an opportunity to exercise his physical fitness. Zhou Yi didn't want to waste it easily.

His biggest problem now was physical fitness. Zhou Yi couldn't be satisfied with just being able to play a ninety-minute game, such a low-end requirement.

Standing on the field for ninety minutes can also be considered playing the entire game, but what's the point?

Zhou Yi knew very well that his playing style required constant running, and only in this way could he demonstrate efficiency. If he could only run non-stop for half a game, and then be too tired to do anything for the remaining forty-five minutes, then for him, his physical fitness would not be up to par.

The fitness coach may only start from the most basic physical fitness needs and think that he is already okay.

But Zhou Yi must have higher requirements to improve.

Zhou Yi was very clear about this.

Carrying his bag, Zhou Yi kept changing speed on the sidewalk, running towards the training base.

When he was approaching the training base, he found that there were many cars on the side of the road. And people kept passing him, running quickly towards the gate of the training base. These people were either holding cameras or posters of stars, wearing jerseys of Dortmund players.

Zhou Yi looked at them. He had never seen this scene when he was playing for the youth team.

He had also experienced a training camp report when he was in the youth team, a winter break training camp.

But the gate of the youth team was much more deserted. The most frequent visitors were the parents' cars that brought their children to participate in training. There were no media or fans.

The Brackel training base has three gates. The north gate is never open for a long time, while the east and west gates are used by the first team and the youth team respectively. Everyone goes their own way and does not interfere with each other.

Before leaving, Zhou Yi received a call from Mark. In the call, Mark reminded him of this and told him not to go to the west gate as usual, which was the gate for youth team players.

Zhou Yi was very grateful to Mark for calling him to tell him this, because he really planned to go to the west gate before…

Fortunately, he didn't make a fool of himself.

When he was about to walk to the east gate of the training base, there were already many people on the sidewalk, so crowded that it was difficult for Zhou Yi to even walk, let alone run.

He had to squeeze forward while saying "Excuse me."

On the road beside him, cars drove past one after another, slowing down slightly at the gate, and then entering the training base.

And the fans would let out cheers.

"Neven! Neven!!"

"Mats! Welcome back! Dortmund is your home!"

"Kuba! Good luck this season!"

So Zhou Yi knew that those cars were all first-team stars, his future teammates.

Regarding his teammates, although Zhou Yi had trained with them in the virtual world for several days in advance, he was still looking forward to meeting them in reality.

After all, the teammates in the virtual world only have values and appearances, but no personality. They are real robots.

At the same time, this scene also made Zhou Yi look forward to the fact that before long, his name might appear in these people's cheers.

At that time…

"Zhou Yi! Zhou Yi! I want to have your babies!!"

How wonderful!

Zhou Yi fantasized, finally squeezing to the gate. Just as a car was about to enter, the gate opened, the car drove in, and Zhou Yi also planned to walk in.

But at this moment, he was stopped by the security guard at the door: "Hey, hey!"

Zhou Yi raised his head blankly, looking at the other party.

"Fans are not allowed inside." The middle-aged security guard said to Zhou Yi.

Zhou Yi was still in a daze.

After seeing Zhou Yi's face and expression, the other party frowned and turned back to the security booth for help: "Does anyone here speak Japanese, Korean, or…other Asian languages?"

The two partners in the security booth spread their hands: "What's wrong?"

"There is an Asian fan who wants to break into the training base, but he doesn't understand what I'm saying…" The middle-aged security guard pointed at Zhou Yi and said.

At this moment, Zhou Yi finally reacted. He said to the security guard: "No, sir, I'm not a fan, I'm a player."

The middle-aged security guard laughed when he heard Zhou Yi's defense: "You can speak German? That's easy. I know you fans can think of all sorts of ways to get into the training base, but pretending to be a player…that's really creative, although it's a very stupid creative."

Zhou Yi's mind flashed back to what Cortana said to him before he left the house: "Aren't you afraid of being stopped outside by the security guard as a fan?"…

That jinx!

"I really am a player!" Zhou Yi hurriedly explained. "I'm here to report for training."

The middle-aged security guard laughed: "If you're a player, then I'm Klopp!"

At this moment, the fans behind him shouted: "Mario—!"

Zhou Yi turned his head, and a car drove past him.

"That's Mario Götze, I know him! Hey! Mario—!" He pointed at the car and shouted.

The security guard smiled sarcastically: "How novel, everyone here knows Mario, does that mean they are all players too?" He pointed to the fans.

※※※

Sitting in the car, Götze suddenly turned his head to look outside: "I think I heard someone calling me…"

"A lot of people were calling you just now, Mario." His father, who was driving, said.

"No, not that, it was a somewhat familiar voice…" Götze frowned.

"Don't think about that, Mario. This is your second time coming to the first team. Try to stay in the first team this time. By the way, there is another person from the youth team who was transferred to the first team with you, right?"

"Yes, Zhou Yi." Götze said.

"Right, you two have to help each other."

"Don't worry, Dad."

※※※

Zhou Yi didn't know how to prove that he was a real player to this security guard. He couldn't take out any documents like a student ID card in a reality show. Dortmund players don't have player IDs.

This first-team security guard obviously didn't know much about the youth team either.

Seeing Zhou Yi standing there, and looking at his oriental face, the security guard suddenly felt that this person was quite pitiful. He must have traveled all the way from his country to Germany just to see the players of his beloved team. The security guard himself was also a Dortmund fan, so he naturally understood the mentality of fans.

So he softened his tone and said to Zhou Yi: "I understand you, young man. But this is my job, you can't go in if you can't go in. Okay…whose autograph do you want? I can help you get one, but don't think about going in anymore…Today is not an open day."

Zhou Yi was about to cry when he saw that this security guard was so "understanding."

The stalemate between Zhou Yi and the security guard also attracted the attention of some fans and media. Everyone cast curious eyes over, and immediately understood what was going on.

A fan who didn't know the rules actually wanted to break into the training base…should they say he was bold, or stupid?

Some media also pointed their cameras at Zhou Yi. On the first day of reporting to the Dortmund first team, such a thing happened, which was also an interesting episode…

At this moment, an Audi SUV stopped at the gate, waiting for the gate to open.

"Großkreutz! Großkreutz! Welcome home, Großkreutz!!"

The surrounding fans shouted excitedly.

The person in the car waved to them and also noticed the situation on Zhou Yi's side. He leaned out and asked: "What's going on?"

The security guard saw him and his attitude was different. He smiled wryly and helplessly: "This kid insists that he is a Dortmund player and wants to go in…"

"I really am a player!" Zhou Yi turned to this slightly burly future teammate and said, "And I know you too, Kevin, Kevin Großkreutz."

Großkreutz in the car grinned, and then said to the security guard: "He's right, he is indeed a player."

It was the security guard's turn to be surprised. Zhou Yi was also a little surprised—Großkreutz knew him?

"Get in the car, kid!" Großkreutz shook his head and said to Zhou Yi.

Zhou Yi, who had reacted, made a face at the security guard: "I can get the autograph myself, no need to bother you!"

After saying that, he opened the car door and jumped into the car.

Großkreutz stepped on the accelerator and the car sped into the training base.

Leaving behind a stunned security guard and other surprised onlookers.

"No way? That kid really got in?"

"Is that okay? I should have said I was a player too…"

"Hey, Großkreutz is truly a child of our Südtribüne (South Stand), he still maintains his true colors, without any airs. That kid met a good person!" Someone looked at the back of Großkreutz's car and said with emotion.

His statement was immediately echoed by the people around him.

"That's right, that's right, Kevin is a good person!"

"Of course, Großkreutz is the pride of our Südtribüne! He is a star who came out of our Südtribüne!"

"It's great that he was able to return to Dortmund this summer!"

And the security guard then reacted and turned back to ask his colleagues: "Have you ever seen a player walking to the first team for training?"

The two security guards shook their heads in unison.

"That kid must be a fan who sneaked in. Großkreutz is a good person and couldn't bear to see a fan being rejected." One of the colleagues said to the middle-aged security guard.

"Okay, I'll have to teach him a good lesson when he comes out!" The middle-aged security guard felt that the sympathy he had previously held for this Asian boy had been fed to the dogs, and he said angrily.

※※※

Sitting in Großkreutz's car, Zhou Yi asked the doubt in his heart: "Hey, Kevin, do you know me?"

Kevin Großkreutz whistled: "If you were a beautiful woman, then I would definitely know you, ha!"

Saying that, he drove the car into the parking lot. After stopping the car, he turned his head to Zhou Yi in the passenger seat and said: "Do you want an autograph?"

Zhou Yi was stunned.

Seeing that Zhou Yi didn't answer, Großkreutz simply took off the baseball cap from Zhou Yi's head and asked: "Do you have a pen?"

Zhou Yi maintained his previous expression.

"Okay, I've never seen such an inexperienced fan." Großkreutz said, while taking out a marker from the center armrest box. He signed his name on the brim of Zhou Yi's hat in a flamboyant manner, and then handed it to Zhou Yi.

"Next time, remember to prepare the tools for signing, which can greatly save the players' signing time, so they will be willing to give you autographs. There aren't many people as loving as me!"

"No…I'm really not a fan…" Zhou Yi took the hat and defended—So Großkreutz really thought of him as a fan, then why did he bring him in?

"Hey, there's no one else here, don't pretend, kid. I admire your courage to be able to think of pretending to be a player to sneak in. Next time, remember to drive a car, that's more like it, haha!" Großkreutz laughed. "Get out of the car, you can go around the training base yourself, but don't run into that building."

Großkreutz pointed to a small building not far in front of the parking lot.

"That's the first team's locker room, you can't just go in there. If you get kicked out by the security guard, I won't be able to help you."

Zhou Yi got out of the car and didn't explain to Großkreutz. He knew that it was useless to explain.

Anyway, being able to enter the training base was enough, and then…he could go to the locker room himself!

Großkreutz walked forward and found that Zhou Yi was actually following him.

So he stopped and turned back to Zhou Yi and said: "Didn't I tell you not to go there?"

Zhou Yi smiled at Großkreutz, but didn't say anything. At this moment, any explanation was pale and powerless.

Seeing that Zhou Yi was so stubborn, Großkreutz had no choice but to sigh: "Okay, give me the things in your bag, I'll take them to the locker room to help you get autographs, you wait for me outside, I'll be out soon. Is that okay?"

Zhou Yi didn't expect that Kevin Großkreutz, a cold virtual teammate in the virtual world, would be such an enthusiastic person, and didn't have any airs with fans. He was a little moved, but he still smiled, passed him, and walked towards that building.

"Hey, kid!" Großkreutz shouted, "Okay! If you insist on breaking in, don't blame me if you get kicked out later!"

As he spoke, the two had already walked to the gate of the small building. Großkreutz took the lead to walk in, and the security guard standing at the door smiled and nodded at him.

Großkreutz also greeted the other party, and then glanced at Zhou Yi behind him with the corner of his eye. He wanted to see how Zhou Yi would break in.

Zhou Yi walked in swaggeringly.

The security guard at the door did walk towards Zhou Yi, but just as he opened his mouth and before he could make a sound, he saw Zhou Yi pointing to the wall on the side of the entrance and said: "I'm a player here for training."

Großkreutz and the security guard looked over at the same time. The wall was full of standard photos of first-team players, lined up densely. Each photo had the player's name below.

Zhou Yi pointed to the lower right corner, the last photo, and then took off his baseball cap and said to the security guard: "Zhou Yi, promoted from the Youth A team to participate in the first-team training camp."

Großkreutz looked at the person in the photo and the person in front of him in surprise…They were exactly the same!

"You…are you really a first-team player?" He opened his mouth wide.

Zhou Yi spread his hands and said aggrievedly: "Do I look so unlike a professional player, Kevin?"

Großkreutz, who was stunned for a moment, laughed out loud. He laughed and patted Zhou Yi's shoulder hard: "To be honest, you look like a student, like a fan, but you don't look like a player, hahaha!"

"Thank you for telling me the truth…" Zhou Yi sighed.

"Okay, he really is my teammate." Kevin Großkreutz turned to the security guard and said, then put his arm around Zhou Yi's shoulder and walked towards the first-team locker room.

"You're from the Youth A team? I heard that Dortmund's Youth A team won the double crown last season?"

"Yes, otherwise why would I come to the first team?"

"Are you the main player of the Youth A team?"

"The core, thank you."

Großkreutz looked at Zhou Yi in surprise: "Is there no one else in the Youth A team?!"

"Hey! We're the double crown winners!"

"Haha! Just kidding!" Großkreutz laughed again. "I just signed your autograph, it's so funny to think about it. But it doesn't matter, I'll just think of you as my fan! Let's just say it like that, the core of the Youth A team double crown winner is a worshiper of me, Großkreutz! How great!"

"Okay, whatever makes you happy, Kevin…"