Volume One: Our Own League Chapter 30: Our Lives Are More Than Just Football

“The Five-Starred Red Flag flutters in the wind, the song of victory rings so loud and clear. We sing for our beloved motherland, from today she marches toward prosperity and strength. Over mountains, across plains, beyond the surging Yellow and Yangtze Rivers, this vast and beautiful land is our dear homeland. The heroic people have stood up, united, strong as steel.”

Led by Xia Xinyi and the young women in their crisp uniforms, a resounding chorus erupted from the stands, brimming with vitality and grandeur, enveloping the entire field in its sweeping momentum.

The girls on the stands sang and danced, bouncing with delight as if it were a festival. The whole field was nearly awash in a sea of joy.

It was almost too much.

At the entrance, a middle-aged man in a black suit frowned deeply at the scene, eyes burning with fury.

“This is outrageous, hmph!”

Glaring coldly into the field, where the scene boiled like a pot set to overboil, he snorted and swept away in a huff.

The people on the pitch remained entirely oblivious, caught up in the throes of celebration.

Hearing that bold, soaring song, Xu He felt a surge of emotion, his eyes growing hot and red. This hard-won victory made him feel as if he could soar.

What an incredible feeling.

He loved it.

Xu He embraced each of his teammates warmly, repeating to each one, “You were amazing today. Fantastic!”

He was deeply grateful to his teammates; it was their efforts that secured victory and brought him such joy.

He was truly, deeply happy.

Of course, every member of Class Ten’s football team was overjoyed. They hugged, they praised one another, and the atmosphere was electric.

Naturally, the joint football team of Classes Five and Eight had already left, unwilling to linger and be taunted by Class Ten’s jubilation.

Yet, the Five-Eight team had left a strong impression—especially that “Shaolin monk” Liu Peng.

Even now, the players of Class Ten discussed this character.

Li Jie sidled up to Xu He, asking, “Hey Xu, was that guy really from Shaolin Temple?”

Xu He nodded confidently. “Of course! And he was a real, tonsured monk, not just a lay disciple.”

Li Jie’s eyes widened. “No wonder his Iron Head technique was so impressive. He must have learned the real thing.”

Xu He replied, “Exactly!”

Li Jie’s eyes sparkled mischievously. “Hey Xu, do you think he knows real martial arts? Maybe he learned the Seventy-Two Arts of Shaolin?”

Xu He shot him a look. “You’ve been reading too many martial arts novels. The Seventy-Two Arts? Why not ask if he’s mastered the Muscle-Tendon Changing Sutra?”

Li Jie snorted disdainfully. “Tch, you have no sense of humor.”

Xu He smiled wryly. “All right, all right, you win. You’re hilarious. Happy now?”

Ignoring him, Li Jie went on, “Still, seeing his Iron Head, I think he’s got the real skills. Maybe we should learn martial arts too. Become martial arts masters, get promoted and rich, become general managers, CEOs, marry wealthy beauties, and reach the peak of life…”

Xu He shook his head helplessly—his friend’s imagination had run wild.

Still, perhaps learning martial arts wasn’t such a bad idea. After all, every man harbors a martial arts dream, a yearning for those skills. Now, having witnessed real martial prowess in life, envy and ambition began to stir.

But after a moment’s thought, Xu He said, “Forget it. I’d better focus on improving my shooting skills.”

As he spoke, his spirits dimmed a little. He’d had plenty of chances this match, but failed to score—his poor technique to blame. Had he been better, Class Ten wouldn’t have struggled so much; they would have scored long ago.

Seeing Xu He’s mood drop, Li Jie clapped his shoulder. “You played great today. You tore their defense apart. The victory is yours too. You just had some bad luck.”

Xu He knew Li Jie was trying to comfort him, and he gave his friend a grateful look. “No need to console me. I know where I fall short.”

Li Jie nodded, offering no further words of comfort. He knew his friend was not one to let setbacks keep him down.

“Let’s not dwell on the negatives,” Li Jie said. “Now’s the time to celebrate.”

Xu He smiled. Indeed, this was a moment of joy.

He turned and hugged Lin Xuefeng, who ran over, elated.

“Xu He, you were fantastic today!” Lin Xuefeng exclaimed.

Xu He raised an eyebrow, thinking, “Isn’t that my line?”

Before he could reply, Xia Xinyi and her uniformed companions surged over, crowding around Lin Xuefeng.

“Congratulations on your victory, Lin Xuefeng!” they cheered, thrusting newly bought drinks into his hands.

Seeing this, the Class Ten players couldn’t help but look on with envy. Lin Xuefeng really was popular with the girls.

Especially Xia Xinyi—she stood there, beaming sweetly, offering a bottle of Coca-Cola, her eyes shining with admiration.

Li Jie muttered, “So jealous, so jealous…”

The other players echoed him, genuinely feeling the sting.

Li Jie grumbled, “We’re all on the same team, but the gap between people can be so big.”

Laughter erupted among the team.

Xu He laughed too, his eyes fixed on Li Jie. He hadn’t expected his friend to be so funny.

The mood among the Class Ten players was light and jubilant.

Zhu Ge, their captain, was equally pleased. This match had presented many challenges, but the team’s unity had pulled them through, filling him with pride.

The game had tested them, but they’d passed. Zhu Ge was certain that, after this match, their strength and cohesion would only grow.

This boded well for their chances at winning the championship this season.

He was delighted.

Zhu Ge joined his teammates, announcing, “You all played brilliantly today. I’m proud of you. To celebrate our victory, dinner’s on me. Pack up—let’s go and celebrate together!”

It was Friday—no school tomorrow. They could be home a bit later.

The players cheered, thanking Zhu Ge, even more excited.

Xu He wanted to join—such team activities helped him fit in—but he really couldn’t. He had to get home quickly, or his mother would be furious.

As he pondered how to decline, Mu Yang spoke up first.

Cool as ever, Mu Yang said, “I’ve got things to do. You all have fun.”

Rarely did Mu Yang say so much, and everyone was surprised.

Zhu Ge frowned. “Come on, Mu. This is our first team gathering. You’re really not coming?”

Mu Yang glanced at him, said nothing, waved to the group, and left without a backward glance.

So decisive and direct.

Zhu Ge, used to his ways, just smiled wryly and let it go.

“That’s just Mu for you,” he chuckled. “Let’s not worry about him. The rest of us, let’s go celebrate!”

Seeing this, Xu He felt even more awkward. Now that Mu Yang had declined, would it be bad if he refused as well?

As he hesitated, Lin Xuefeng spoke up.

“Captain,” he said, “my mom scheduled a piano lesson for me today. I have to head back now. I’ll skip the celebration this time.”

Zhu Ge’s spirits fell, but he knew Lin Xuefeng’s situation and didn’t press.

“All right, you’re excused this time, but you must join next time,” he said, a bit disappointed.

Lin Xuefeng smiled. “I’ll be there next time.”

He waved goodbye to his teammates and left, the group of girls trailing after him, leaving the field suddenly empty.

Zhu Ge looked around. “Anyone else got plans? If you do, head home now. We’ll celebrate together another time. The rest of you, you’re staying with me—we’re going to enjoy this properly.”

With that, Xu He and several others breathed a sigh of relief.

A few more stood up—one had math tutoring, another had dance practice.

Xu He also stepped forward. “Captain, my mom told me to come home early!”

Laughter broke out—Xu He’s reason was the most down-to-earth, and perhaps some branded him a mama’s boy for it.

Zhu Ge nodded, “All right, get home early. Don’t keep your mother waiting.”

Xu He knew they misunderstood but didn’t bother to explain.

Finally, Li Jie stood up. “Zhu, I have to practice calligraphy. There’s a competition next week—you know about it.”

Zhu Ge nodded—he was aware, and he and Li Jie were fairly close; their mothers were friends, after all.

“All right, you guys go ahead. We’ll celebrate another time.”

Zhu Ge and the rest bid farewell, heading off to celebrate.

Xu He watched his teammates go, feeling a twinge of envy.

Li Jie said, “All right, stop envying them. Let’s get home. If you’re late, you’ll be eating bamboo shoots with pork.”

Xu He shot him a glare. “Seriously? Can’t you wish me well? How does me getting beaten help you?”

Li Jie grinned cheekily. “Because seeing you get smacked makes me happy.”

Xu He rolled his eyes. “Then I hope you come in dead last in your calligraphy contest!”

With that, Xu He hurried home.