Volume 1: Our Own League 166: Football is Not Important to Me!

The first official training session of the No. 17 Middle School football team in Jinguancheng did not actually involve much professional training. It consisted of distributing equipment uniformly, getting to know the teammates, and learning the team rules.

Once all of that was over, the squad was dismissed.

In fact, Xu He and the others still had no idea who the three people standing on the stage actually were.

As they were dismissed, Xu He and the rest appeared rather quiet.

To be honest, they hadn't quite processed it yet.

The team rules were truly strict, and they had been given quite a shock. The coaching staff had given them a stern warning right off the bat, and Xu He was indeed startled.

Although these rules seemed simple enough to follow in theory, the punishments were far too severe.

At every turn, there was the threat of disqualification from matches or even expulsion from the team.

These consequences were more than anyone could comfortably bear.

Therefore, they were wilted like eggplants touched by frost!

Everyone's mood was heavy.

Especially Zhu Ge, who wore a mournful expression throughout, completely unable to conceal his inner frustration and agony.

What kind of rule was this, forbidding even carbonated drinks?

Wasn't this practically taking his life?

Xu He naturally knew the importance of Coca-Cola to Zhu Ge. He immediately stepped forward, patted Zhu Ge on the shoulder, and said, "My condolences. You'd better give up cola; after all, staying on the team is what matters most."

Zhu Ge turned his head sharply to look at Xu He, a strange gleam flickering in his eyes. "To be honest, I really want to leave the team right now and go drink my cola!"

Everyone gasped in shock, never expecting that Zhu Ge would give up his spot on the school team just for Coca-Cola.

This was simply astonishing.

Lin Xuefeng immediately chimed in, "Don't talk nonsense, Zhu Ge!"

Li Jie also quickly added, "Yeah, it wasn't easy getting into the school team, so don't give it up so lightly. Besides, we still have to go fight in the national tournament together."

Although Xu He remained silent, he kept his eyes fixed firmly on Zhu Ge.

Seeing his teammates trying to persuade him, Zhu Ge let out a sigh and said, "Rest assured, I won't be that impulsive!"

Hearing this, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

Zhu Ge continued, "Still, these team rules are way too bizarre. We can't even decide what to eat or drink for ourselves—what is this supposed to be? Are we their prisoners?"

Clearly, Zhu Ge was still filled with grievance.

The others said nothing, only looking at Zhu Ge with wry smiles.

Zhu Ge went on complaining, "You guys don't understand. Drinking cola is a habit I've had since childhood. If I had to choose between playing football and drinking cola, I'd choose cola without a moment's hesitation. Both are among my many hobbies, but if forced to choose, I still think drinking cola is more important."

Xu He frowned slightly; he hadn't expected this.

He had originally thought Zhu Ge was just like him—passionately devoted to football, willing to do anything for the sake of the sport. But now he realized football wasn't like that for Zhu Ge. In fact, playing football didn't even seem as important to Zhu Ge as drinking cola.

Xu He offered a slight, bitter smile, feeling that he had been somewhat naive.

Zhu Ge continued, "Besides, leaving the school team doesn't mean I can't play football anymore, does it? It's not like we won't play in the league just because we joined the school team."

Everyone shook their heads. Even if they entered the school team, they would still play in the league.

Zhu Ge immediately said, "There you go. If we can't be teammates on the school team, we can still be teammates in the league! We can still play football together and chase glory together!"

Xu He and the others frowned, staring at Zhu Ge with a sense of bewilderment.

None of them had expected Zhu Ge to be like this.

Xu He suddenly asked, "Don't you want to play in the national tournament?"

Zhu Ge replied, "Of course I want to play in the national tournament, but I also want to drink cola. And I want to play Winning Eleven, and CrossFire... I have many hobbies, and football is just an ordinary one among them..."

Xu He understood now. In Zhu Ge's heart, football was just a very, very ordinary hobby, one that couldn't even compare to drinking cola.

Hearing this, everyone fell silent.

Zhu Ge quickly added, "Hey, you guys don't need to look like that. It's not like I've actually left yet!"

With a collective sigh, Lin Xuefeng asked, "Then have you truly made up your mind to give up the chance of joining the school team simply because you want to drink cola?"

Xu He and the others immediately raised their heads to look at Zhu Ge, their gazes carrying varying degrees of anticipation.

They didn't want Zhu Ge to give up just like that; they were hoping for a miracle.

Meeting their eyes, Zhu Ge offered a faint, wry smile and said, "Do you guys have to look at me like that? Isn't this a bit much?"

No one spoke, continuing to stare at him fixedly.

Zhu Ge said helplessly, "If it weren't for the fact that you guys are all here, I'd go find Xu Dongsheng right now and forfeit my spot on the school team."

Xu He and the others brightened up, staring at Zhu Ge in confusion as they asked, "What do you mean?"

Zhu Ge replied, "What else could I mean? Because of you guys, I've chosen to accept their damn rules, give up cola, and stay on the school team!"

Everyone was pleasantly surprised, never expecting Zhu Ge to compromise for their sake.

It seemed that deep down, this group of good teammates was still more important to Zhu Ge than drinking cola.

Xu He immediately slapped Zhu Ge on the shoulder and said, "What are you playing at? You almost scared me to death just now. I actually thought you'd throw away your school team spot over a bottle of cola."

The others chimed in as well, clearly having been given quite a scare.

Zhu Ge said, "With all you good brothers here, how could I get off the bus early? For you guys, I can drink a little less cola. At worst, I just won't drink any at school and drink my fill at home!"

Everyone stared at Zhu Ge as if to say, "You sneaky bastard!"

Of course, Xu He and the others were also deeply moved. For Zhu Ge to choose compromise for them proved that he was truly a great brother.

Lin Xuefeng immediately stretched out his fist and said, "No brothers, no football! Brothers, let's go make some waves in the national tournament!"

One by one, the others extended their fists, gathering them together in the center as they shouted in unison: "No brothers, no football! Let's go make some waves in the national tournament!"

At that moment, the seed of striving for the national tournament was firmly planted in their hearts.

Having settled the matter with Zhu Ge, Xu He immediately asked, "Captain, is there still no news about Mu Yang?"

To be honest, even Xu He hadn't expected that he would care so much about Mu Yang. Usually, during team activities, he and Mu Yang didn't communicate all that much, and their relationship didn't seem to have reached this level.

So why was he paying so much attention to news about Mu Yang now?

Could it be that he felt a sense of gratitude toward Mu Yang?

Was he grateful for all the things Mu Yang had taught him over the past season?

Perhaps so. After joining the Class 10 football team, Xu He had indeed learned a great deal from Mu Yang, lessons that would benefit him for a lifetime. Perhaps because of this, he cared so much about Mu Yang's whereabouts.

Or maybe it was simply because Mu Yang possessed great strength, and Xu He was concerned purely with strengthening the school team and increasing their capability to challenge for the national tournament?

Whatever the reason, Xu He had been paying close attention to Mu Yang lately.

This left Zhu Ge, Lin Xuefeng, and the others quite surprised. They hadn't expected Xu He and Mu Yang's relationship to be this close. Even Li Jie felt a great deal of astonishment—since when had Xu He and Mu Yang become so friendly?

Still, no one said much, as they were all deeply concerned about Mu Yang's situation anyway.

Zhu Ge, Lin Xuefeng, and the others had always had a good relationship with Mu Yang, especially Zhu Ge. Naturally, they were very worried about him and remained anxious.

Zhu Ge sighed and said, "Still no news about Mu Yang. Who knows where he went?"

Hearing this, everyone's mood instantly plummeted.

They were all worried about Mu Yang, and some even harbored the secret fear that he might have transferred schools and would never appear at their school again.

This was what worried them the most.

Sensing their thoughts, Zhu Ge said, "He shouldn't have. I asked our head teacher, and he said Mu Yang just asked for a few days of leave and should be back soon. Let's just wait a bit longer; maybe Mu Yang will return tomorrow?"

Xu He and the others nodded in succession. For now, that was all they could do.

Their spirits dampened, everyone started preparing to head home.

Suddenly, Zhu Ge asked, "Is anyone here going to play Winning Eleven with me today? Winning Eleven is so much fun. I've set up a Master League save, and I've already reached the fourth season. My team is about to win a three-peat..."

Xu He immediately shook his head and said, "I don't have time. I need to get straight home."

Li Jie also gave a slight shake of his head and said, "I don't have time either. I've made plans with my comrades—there's an important clan match today, and I have to participate."

Xu He turned to look at Li Jie in confusion. What on earth was this?

Lin Xuefeng looked at Li Jie with the same puzzled expression.

Zhu Ge turned his gaze to Li Jie and asked tentatively, "CrossFire?"

Li Jie's eyes lit up as he said, "Yes! Our clan has been getting more and more challenges lately. Everyone is preparing for the upcoming Hundred Cities League, and some members of our clan want to enter it too. So, I've been pretty busy lately..."

Xu He and Lin Xuefeng were completely baffled. What was the Hundred Cities League?

Zhu Ge cried out in astonishment, "You're entering the Hundred Cities League too? Then do you even have time to attend school team training? Do you even want to play football?"

Startled, Xu He and Lin Xuefeng both turned their heads to stare at Li Jie.

Li Jie quickly explained, "Don't listen to him making a fuss over nothing. I'm just going to make up the numbers; of course, my priority will still be the school team and the national tournament. CrossFire is just something I play occasionally when I have spare time!"

Hearing Li Jie say this, Xu He let out a breath of relief.

Seeing Xu He relax, Li Jie breathed a sigh of relief as well.

Xu He didn't notice Li Jie's reaction, but both Zhu Ge and Lin Xuefeng caught it clearly. Their brows furrowed slightly as they exchanged a glance, then stared at Xu He with a hint of something inexplicable flashing in their eyes.

Noticing this, Li Jie quickly changed the subject. "Hey, who do you think those three guys on the stage were today? Are they from our school? Are they members of our school team too? How on earth does our school have Africans?"

Everyone's attention was instantly hooked by this, and they began to discuss it animatedly.

Zhu Ge said, "Those three are very likely catfish brought in from elsewhere by Yangtong Mingxiong—just here to stimulate us, steal our positions, and give us a harsh wake-up call!"

Xu He and the others constricted their pupils as a sense of crisis washed over them.