Youth on the Soccer Field

Bathed in the golden glow of the evening clouds, a schoolboy in uniform was juggling a soccer ball on the emerald green turf.

Thump—thump—thump—

The rhythmic, crisp sound of the ball striking his foot echoed in the air.

He alternated his feet with meticulous precision, sending the descending ball up again and again. The black-and-white ball danced beneath him like a lively sprite, spinning and leaping, each bounce reaching almost exactly the same height.

Such control and feel for the ball spoke volumes of his skill.

It was hard to imagine a thirteen-year-old student possessing such phenomenal fundamentals.

Yes, he was only thirteen.

His name was Xu He, an ordinary student at No. 17 Middle School in Jinguancheng.

At that moment, Xu He was utterly focused, completely absorbed, as if engaged in a most sacred act.

"Nine hundred seventy-seven, nine hundred seventy-eight, nine hundred seventy-nine…"

He counted under his breath while juggling, advancing toward his set goal of one thousand touches.

The relentless effort had drained him completely; his body was at its limit, his head spinning and his vision blurring.

He could collapse at any moment.

Was he about to give up?

No!

Never—give—up!

He gritted his teeth and persevered, stubbornly raising his legs, relying on sheer will to precisely control the ball, mechanically kicking at it even when it veered off course.

Thump!

Xu He struck the ball, sending it up to the same height as before—one thousand!

Yeah!