Volume One: Our Own League Chapter 003: Forming Our Own League

2-2.

Everyone’s eyes were fixed on Xu He.

Once again, him.

Once again, he appeared in the most dangerous position and finished the goal.

Lin Xuefeng was momentarily dazed. “This guy is incredible!”

Li Liying’s gaze was also locked on Xu He, her eyes shining with excitement.

Xu He was beside himself with exhilaration, feeling the hot blood surging through his veins. He pumped his fist and roared, “Yeah!”

Then Xu He ran straight to Black Glasses, and the two embraced tightly.

Lin Xuefeng’s reputation was well-deserved, but Xu He was no less formidable!

Full of confidence, Xu He threw himself back into the match.

The game resumed, and the Red Team launched a relentless wave of attacks.

Lin Xuefeng instantly became the center of attention, his deft footwork slicing through the flank time and again. His feints were indistinguishable from reality, executed with such flair that the watching girls on the sidelines squealed with delight.

Suddenly, Lin Xuefeng cut inside, bypassed the central defender, and unleashed a ferocious left-footed shot.

The ball flew like a bullet, smashing hard against the post before bouncing out for a goal kick.

Two minutes later, the Red Team surged forward again. Lin Xuefeng broke down the wing and then cut the ball back at a sharp angle. Zhong Haokun, following up, swung his leg and fired, the ball whistling past the goal, just slightly off target.

The Red Team’s onslaught was so overwhelming that Xu He and his teammates could barely breathe.

Xu He shouted to his teammates, “Hold on! Hang in there! We haven’t lost yet—we still have a chance! Come on, everyone!”

United, Xu He’s team gritted their teeth and defended with all their might.

No one knew how many times they’d fallen on the grass, but every time they picked themselves up, rejoining the defense.

Xu He’s team was pinned back, their chances almost nonexistent.

Still, they refused to give up; they kept fighting, teeth clenched.

“We’ll get our chance. Fight for victory!” Xu He shouted, both to encourage his teammates and to rally himself.

The ball rolled to Xu He’s feet. He instantly pulled it back, spun around, and prepared to launch a counterattack.

With a thud, Xu He was knocked to the ground by Zhong Haokun.

The girls on the sidelines screamed in fright, and Li Liying was visibly worried.

But Xu He leapt up from the turf as if nothing had happened, shouting to his teammates, “Keep going! Keep attacking! This is our chance—a free kick!”

He paid no mind to whether he was hurt, only that they’d won an attacking opportunity.

Xu He’s spirit infected his teammates.

Even Lin Xuefeng was stunned by Xu He’s tenacity.

That unwavering determination, never giving up to the very end, was deeply moving.

It was as though Lin Xuefeng were seeing Xu He for the first time.

“Don’t give up, attack—we’ll score again!” Xu He shouted, signaling his teammates to press forward.

Black Glasses understood at once and sent the ball flying with a powerful kick.

A quick free kick!

A rapid counterattack!

Black Glasses shouted, “Counter!”

Xu He’s teammates reacted immediately, turning and charging en masse into the Red Team’s half to join the attack.

They surged forward like a tidal wave.

But the real threat was still Xu He.

Xu He was at the very front, and his teammates were all too far from the soaring ball to catch up.

Yet that didn’t stop them; they poured forward relentlessly.

Unstoppable!

The ball soared through the air towards the opponent’s penalty area.

Lin Xuefeng’s expression changed dramatically. He roared, “Get back! Mark their striker Xu He—stay on him!”

But even as the words left his mouth, Lin Xuefeng’s heart sank.

The ball flew out like a bolt of lightning, streaking towards the edge of the Red Team’s box.

There, Xu He had shaken off all pursuers and, like a racing car, sped after the ball.

One-on-one!

Xu He was through on goal!

On the sidelines, Li Liying screamed in excitement, “Go, Xu He! Go for it!”

The Red Team’s players were instantly stricken with despair—even Zhong Haokun was powerless.

Xu He was simply too fast.

Xu He, at full sprint, was like Bolt in a hundred-meter dash—a streak of lightning, so fast it made the world spin.

He’d been shoulder to shoulder with three Red Team defenders.

But in an instant, Xu He burst out from the crowd, leaving them in his dust, far ahead.

All they could do was eat his wake.

The gap between them and Xu He only widened.

He was too fast!

Utterly hopeless!

One of the Red Team’s central defenders had even anticipated the quick free kick and moved first, ahead of Xu He. But he simply couldn’t match Xu He’s speed and was overtaken in a heartbeat.

Xu He simply outclassed him.

Everyone present was awestruck by this flash of lightning.

His legs spun like wheels of fire as Xu He stormed forward, overtaking the ball.

His eyes blazed with determination, fixed on the goal.

This time, I must score.

At the edge of the box, Xu He stretched out his leg and stopped the ball dead, facing the Red Team’s goalkeeper one-on-one.

A solo showdown!

All eyes were on Xu He.

He was just left of center, close to the near post.

Many in the crowd began shouting, “Far post! Shoot to the far post!”

Black Glasses also called out his advice, “Shoot to the far post!”

Xu He, sprinting at full speed, glanced at the Red Team’s box and saw their keeper moving toward the near post. A shot to the far corner was indeed the best option.

Xu He lifted his head, aimed at the far corner, and, still running, swung his leg to send the ball rocketing toward it.

He mustered every ounce of his strength, roaring inside, “Go in!”

With a bang, the ball flew low and fast.

Hearing the shouts from the opposing players and seeing Xu He’s gaze at the far post, the Red Team goalkeeper halted and dove left at full stretch.

His reflexes were sharp and his movements swift; he did everything right.

But the moment he launched himself, he realized he’d been fooled.

The ball hadn’t gone to the far post at all—it rolled straight into the near corner, scraping past the upright and into the net.

Everyone stared in disbelief as the ball slipped inside the near post.

Xu He had shot for the near corner!

That trickster!

“Yeah! Beautiful goal, Xu He!” Li Liying jumped up on the sidelines, waving her little fists in the air.

Xu He was momentarily stunned.

He was certain he’d aimed for the far post—how had it gone in at the near?

But his teammates wasted no time. Overcome with excitement, they rushed Xu He, tackling him to the ground and piling on top of him.

“Man, you’re amazing! You scored a hat-trick! You clinched the match! You’re our idol—you’re incredible!”

This victory was hard-fought, and his teammates’ faces were flushed with excitement.

Match-winner!

3-2!

Xu He had sealed the game!

Xu He was overwhelmed with joy, waving his fists and letting out three long howls.

Blood boiled through his body like water at a rolling boil, making him feel ablaze with heat, his heart burning, his entire being electrified.

This feeling was exhilarating!

Absolutely perfect!

This was the joy football brought him.

Pure, ultimate happiness.

Black Glasses was so excited he jumped onto Xu He’s back, waving his fists and shouting madly, “Man, you’re a legend!”

After celebrating with his teammates, Xu He turned to Li Liying, raising his fist as if to say, “See? I’m not bad either!”

Li Liying answered with a sweet smile.

To be honest, she found herself a little captivated by Xu He.

That never-say-die spirit, the way he fought to the last breath, was truly moving.

Lin Xuefeng stared at Xu He in amazement. What a player.

With skills like his, surely he played in the league as well?

Lin Xuefeng walked over and said, “You’re really fast and very talented. I hope we meet again in the league.”

With that, he was surrounded by a gaggle of excited girls and left.

League?

What league?

Xu He was puzzled.

Black Glasses came over to say goodbye as well. Only then did Xu He learn his real name—Yuan Fang. As Yuan Fang left, he also expressed hope to meet Xu He again in the league.

Xu He was completely lost. The league—again?

It seemed like everyone knew about this league except him.

League?

Thinking back to the feeling of giving his all for a single goal in the match just now, Xu He thought playing in a league sounded pretty good.

“Hey, what are you thinking about?”

Suddenly, someone patted Xu He on the shoulder, and Li Liying’s beautiful face appeared before him.

Xu He said, “I was thinking about the league.”

Li Liying was surprised. “You know about the league too? Do you want to play?”

Recalling the adrenaline rush of the match, Xu He nodded firmly. “If there’s a league, I want to play... Wait, how do you know about the league?”

Li Liying smiled mysteriously. “Of course I know!”

Xu He asked, “Why does everyone know but me? What kind of league is this?”

Li Liying explained seriously, “It’s a football league just for us first-year students!”

She then gave Xu He all the details.

Since the school didn’t organize football matches, the football-loving students from each class, led by their sports committee members, took it upon themselves to create a league for all the first-year students. The league was still being formed, and after seeing Xu He’s performance, Li Liying hoped he would join.

What an incredible idea!

How did they come up with something so bold?

Xu He was filled with admiration and respect.

Li Liying said, “If you want to join, your class needs to form a team quickly. The league is about to start.”

Xu He was thrilled. Playing in such a league would be a great way to improve his skills.

More importantly, he loved the feeling of playing matches.

This league—he was determined to play.

Xu He said to Li Liying, “Alright. We have quite a few players in our class. We’ll set up a team as soon as possible. When we join, do we come to you?”

Li Liying nodded gently. “Yes, just come to me. Good luck!”