Discouraging

April 2003, Almere, Flevoland, Netherlands.

On a lush green football training field in the northern sports park of the city, a group of sixteen-year-old Dutch boys were gathered in a circle, playing a game of keep-away. Though it was a training session, the boys' faces showed an unusual sense of ease. There was none of the tension expected during training; it was more like playing around, even mocking.

The keep-away game had another name: "walking the monkeys."

The Chinese boy in the middle, tasked with stealing the ball, was the one being "walked" by this group of Dutch teenagers.

His black hair and yellow skin made him stand out among the all-Dutch team. His tireless running and ball-stealing attempts on the field made him look like a headless fly, bumping into things haphazardly, which repeatedly drew laughter from the surrounding boys. This further fueled their playful mood.

The fans watching from the sidelines were also very excited, as if they weren't watching a football training session but a spectacular performance by the Amsterdam Royal Circus.

The ball was skillfully passed between the feet of the Dutch boys forming the circle. Although the Chinese boy ran constantly, chasing the ball, he couldn't get it. Several times he came close, eliciting surprised shouts from the onlookers, but in the end, he always missed the ball.

At first, every failed attempt to steal the ball was met with laughter, even sarcasm and ridicule. But gradually, the sound grew quieter, until finally, there was silence.

Any cruel game might initially stimulate the audience's adrenaline with novelty, but when it is repeated over and over, the audience gradually becomes numb and instead feels a sense of tragic grandeur.

A tragic grandeur of the weak being slaughtered by the strong.

"Poor kid, why does he keep going?" someone sighed sympathetically, shaking their head.

"It's not surprising, he's like this every time."

"It's been almost a year, why hasn't he given up yet?"

"If it were me, I would have given up long ago."

"His speed is quite good, and his stamina is also good, but his basic skills are terrible."

"I've been watching football for so many years, this Chinese kid really has no future. Forget professional leagues, I'm afraid he won't even meet the requirements for amateur leagues. He should give up quickly and find another path."

"Who says not? Mr. Reip has tried to persuade him to quit many times, but he just refuses to."

"What a stubborn kid."

"It's a shame. If he had come a few years earlier, with his speed and stamina, plus this determination, he really would have had a chance to play in a professional league, but now..."

"Sigh, what can you do?"

Head coach John Rep finally blew the whistle to end the training.

Everyone present, including him, let out a heavy sigh of relief.

It's finally over!

The ten-minute keep-away game felt incredibly long to them.

After the whistle blew, the Chinese boy, who still hadn't managed to steal the ball, collapsed onto the training field, completely exhausted, gasping for air.

As his teammates walked past him, one or two of them, out of pity, lightly patted his head and shoulders.

But the comfort from his teammates didn't make him feel any better; instead, it felt like humiliation. He clenched his fists and pounded the grass repeatedly, blaming himself inwardly.

His name was Yang Yang, sixteen years old, from a small county in Quanzhou, Fujian, China. His parents ran a small shoe factory, and their family conditions were decent. Seeing his love for football, they had him study with a retired professional player in the city since he was young. He was also a good student, always standing out among his peers.

His uncle, Shen Ming, ran a Chinese restaurant in Almere, Netherlands. During a visit back home, he happened to watch one of Yang Yang's school team matches and casually suggested that Yang Yang come to the Netherlands for further training. Yang Yang was immediately captivated.

His parents initially disagreed. After all, the gap between Chinese and European players was vast, and Yang Yang hadn't even undergone formal professional training. How could he possibly succeed?

But Yang Yang persisted, and with his uncle Shen Ming's support, his parents reluctantly agreed, treating it as an overseas experience.

They set a one-year limit. If Yang Yang could establish himself in the Netherlands, they would allow him to continue playing football. Otherwise, he would have to return home, study diligently, and abandon his dream of becoming a professional player.

Yang Yang landed in the Netherlands with great ambition, only to face a series of setbacks.

He first failed trials at several Amsterdam clubs and was not accepted. He was forced to rely on his uncle's connections to persuade the third-division amateur team, Almere, through sponsorship, to let him train with their youth team for a year. However, the result was that he was still far inferior to his peers in this Dutch amateur team.

During his year of training with Almere, despite his best efforts to improve and integrate into Almere's training, his poor basic skills were exposed in every daily practice. Especially in this seemingly simple but demanding keep-away game, his frequent passing and receiving errors meant he had to repeatedly enter the circle to steal the ball.

Scenes like today's were replayed almost every day.

If Yang Yang hadn't been clear-headed before, the experiences of the past year had made him fully realize the vast gap between himself and his Dutch peers.

He was unwilling, but he was helpless.

He had already missed the best age to solidify his basic skills.

With the one-year deadline approaching, Yang Yang's situation within the team deteriorated. Even though he had given his all, he couldn't improve, which made him extremely frustrated and self-reproaching. He could only repeatedly pound the grass to vent his inner frustration.

"Yang."

After the players had all left, John Rep walked up to Yang Yang. Looking at the sweat-drenched, panting teenager, he felt a wave of helplessness.

He was naturally aware of everything that had happened on the training field.

If, a year ago, John Rep had felt some aversion towards this "connected" player, then through his performance over the past year, Yang Yang had completely changed the Dutch veteran's opinion with his diligence and determination. However, this did not affect John Rep's judgment of Yang Yang's future.

The fifty-one-year-old Dutch coach felt pity and regret for Yang Yang's situation, but in the end, he hardened his heart and did not stop the training early, instead continuing to watch with a cold eye.

If it had been a few years earlier, with Yang Yang's persistence, he believed there would have been an opportunity. But now... he could only offer gentle advice to quit.

He believed this was taking responsibility for Yang Yang's future.

"Mr. Reip," Yang Yang said respectfully as he got up from the ground.

Over the past year, he had learned a great deal from the Dutch legend and had never dared to be the slightest bit negligent.

"You know, in about a month, this training session will be over, and we'll hold an internal assessment," John Reip said calmly.

Yang Yang nodded. This was a youth training model that Almere had borrowed from the Dutch powerhouse Ajax.

The annual assessment would eliminate some unqualified trainees and bring in fresh blood, stimulating internal competition. Meanwhile, outstanding trainees would be recommended by the club to travel to Amsterdam in July for Ajax's talent day selection, with a chance to be chosen for the Ajax youth academy.

As a satellite club of a Dutch powerhouse, Almere had three recommendation spots each year, and only the best trainees were eligible to receive such a letter of recommendation.

If a year ago, Yang Yang, who had just arrived, was full of confidence and looking forward to Ajax, then now, he had only one thought: to stay at Almere.

But this was becoming increasingly difficult.

"You know, Yang," John Reip said, looking at Yang Yang with pity and helplessness in his eyes, "we are the first team in Almere's nearly thirty years of existence with a real chance of entering the professional league. The city government and all sectors of society are very concerned about our team's development. This year's assessment will surely attract many guests and fans, so..."

John Reip couldn't bear to say some things directly, but he made his meaning clear.

Although he had only been in the Netherlands for a year, John Reip was confident that Yang Yang's Dutch language skills were sufficient for him to understand the implied meaning of his words.

"Your academic performance is excellent, and your teachers at school also speak very highly of you. We all believe you should focus your efforts in that direction. If you're willing, I can persuade the chairman to let you continue studying at the middle school we cooperate with, even if you leave the team. You'll definitely have a chance to get into Amsterdam University in the future."

Amsterdam University was the best university in the Netherlands and one of the most prestigious in Europe.

In John Reip's opinion, Yang Yang's chances of becoming a professional player were even slimmer than getting into Amsterdam University, despite the fierce competition for the latter.

Yang Yang understood what John Reip meant. Such dissuasion had been repeated many times recently, and the head coach's words had become increasingly direct. He knew that the promise John Reip was giving him today was already very generous.

The middle school he currently attended was a prestigious private school in Almere. Without being an Almere youth player, he would never have been able to enroll. The team had never offered similar compensation to other eliminated players before; this was an exception for him.

But Yang Yang still couldn't accept it.

"Thank you, Mr. Reip," Yang Yang said after a moment's thought. He looked up, met his head coach's gaze, and shook his head resolutely. "I understand your kindness, but I really don't want to give up like this. I won't admit defeat until the very last moment."

"You're again..."

"I've made up my mind, Mr. Reip," Yang Yang interrupted the conversation with no room for negotiation.

John Reip had already prepared himself for this outcome. He didn't mind Yang Yang's stubbornness and persistence at all; in fact, he admired it. But the more he admired him, the more regret he felt.

If Yang Yang had appeared before him a few years earlier, he believed the outcome would have been completely different.

At the very least, his fundamentals would have been more solid. With his speed and stamina, he could definitely have established himself at Almere, and even had the potential to do better.

It was just a shame that he had missed the optimal age.

With this thought, John Reip watched Yang Yang's retreating back and sighed deeply.

Almere was a satellite city of Amsterdam, and most of its residents worked in Amsterdam, commuting long hours. Dinner was therefore the busiest time for restaurants.

Today, Yang Yang didn't go to help at the restaurant after training as usual. He called his uncle to let him know, and then returned home, locking himself in his room.

He felt he needed some time to himself.

Lying on his back on the single bed, the low ceiling was covered with posters of his two favorite idols.

Ronaldo, the Brazilian superstar currently playing for Real Madrid, and Van Basten, the retired Dutch legend.

Countless times he had lain on his bed like this, watching his idols before falling asleep, even dreaming of competing alongside them.

But he had never felt so lost as he did now.

He knew himself well enough to understand the gap between himself and his Dutch peers, yet he was unwilling to fail like this and give up his football dream in disgrace.

He thought of his parents back home. They would surely be very disappointed to hear this news.

Although his parents always urged him to give up football and return to China to study properly, that was them hoping he would give up voluntarily.

No parents would want their child to suffer such a setback, would they?

And his uncle's family, they must have been mentally prepared for this, but they would still be very disappointed.

As he thought about it, he unknowingly seemed to fall asleep.

In a daze, Yang Yang had a very strange dream.

He found himself in a dark, pitch-black, unknown space.

He wasn't sure if he was dreaming. He shouted and ran with all his might, trying to escape this terrifying place.

But his voice grew hoarse, and he grew tired from running, yet he seemed to be in the same spot.

Just then, from a distant place, a faint, almost imperceptible voice drifted over.

Yang Yang!

He vaguely heard someone calling his name. It was extremely faint at first, but gradually, he could hear it clearly.

So, he immediately ran towards the sound.

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