Chapter Summaries

Tang Ye lounged on the bench during Utrecht II’s preseason friendly against Go Ahead Eagles, while the team struggled against a high press and fell behind. A mysterious message showed him the wasted future his laziness would bring and offered a midfield star skill if he appeared in the match.

• Zaka asked Tang Ye whether they would play, and Tang Ye revealed that he had played only five minutes in the league the previous season.
• Chinese streamer Wang Chao discussed betting on the friendly as fans debated Tang Ye’s talent and his reputation for slacking.
• Coach Merent considered using Tang Ye to address Utrecht II’s midfield problems but left him on the bench.
• Go Ahead Eagles scored after a cross while Tang Ye dozed on the bench, prompting him to shrug off the team’s setback.
• A message appeared before Tang Ye, describing his regretful future and offering a random midfield star skill if he appeared in the friendly.

Tang Ye entered Utrecht’s friendly against Go Ahead Eagles as a substitute and earned a new outside-foot skill from the system. After a quiet start, he sent Zaka through on goal with a curling pass, setting up Utrecht’s score as the chapter ended.

• Milner was injured, and Merent reluctantly sent Tang Ye onto the pitch because management wanted to boost jersey sales.
• Tang Ye received Modrić's Sublime Outside-Foot Shot (Right Foot) when he came on as a substitute.
• Tang Ye jogged through his first ten minutes on the pitch with little involvement, drawing boos from the home fans.
• Trupe passed to Tang Ye, who shielded the ball from a defender and ignored Merent’s call to keep possession.
• Tang Ye struck an outside-foot through ball that curled past the defense, giving Zaka a one-on-one chance.
• Zaka scored from Tang Ye’s pass, and the broadcast focused on Tang Ye after the goal.

Tang Ye assisted Zaka with a remarkable outside-of-the-foot pass as Utrecht’s reserves beat Go Ahead Eagles, then insisted to coach Merent that the pass had been a fluke. He discovered a new mission from his system and, the next day, received praise from first-team coach Erik ten Hag.

• Tang Ye’s outside-of-the-foot assist set up Zaka’s goal, helping Utrecht’s reserves defeat Go Ahead Eagles in a friendly.
• The system awarded Tang Ye Comeback Points and issued a mission to score in a friendly for a Bone Density Enhancement Capsule.
• Merent confronted Tang Ye about hiding his passing ability, but Tang Ye claimed the pass had been a fluke.
• Tang Ye checked his attributes and system mission in the dormitory, then went to training the next day.
• Haller complimented Tang Ye’s pass, and Erik ten Hag confirmed that it had made the news.

Tang Ye’s poor effort during a second-team training match nearly convinced ten Hag to dismiss him, but a precise outside-of-the-foot pass impressed the first-team coach. Ten Hag praised Merent’s judgment while Merent tried to walk back his recommendation.

• Tang Ye arrived late to training and learned that ten Hag was watching the second team because Utrecht needed midfielders.
• Ten Hag criticized Tang Ye for barely running, and Merent ordered him to start defending.
• Milner forced his way forward instead of passing to Zaka and lost possession, leading Merent to point ten Hag toward Tang Ye.
• Merent told ten Hag that Tang Ye could reproduce his impressive passing, while ten Hag remained concerned about his attitude and fitness.
• Tang Ye sent an outside-of-the-foot pass to Kallon, and ten Hag applauded before Merent hastily warned that Tang still had many flaws.

Tang Ye’s creative passing impressed Erik ten Hag, while his laziness continued to frustrate Merent. During Utrecht’s friendly against Sparta Rotterdam’s second team, Merent sent Tang Ye on after the home side took an early lead, hoping to reveal his weaknesses to Erik ten Hag.

• Tang Ye left the training match to replace his gum, and Erik ten Hag praised his passing before remembering him.
• Tang Ye sat down during Merent’s tactical talk, prompting Merent to scold him for being lazy.
• Utrecht took a 1–0 lead against Sparta Rotterdam’s second team, and Merent decided to keep Tang Ye rather than let him go.
• Merent sent Tang Ye to warm up in the fourteenth minute and brought him on in the thirty-fifth, unsettling livestream viewers who had bet on a 3–0 result.

Tang Ye came on early for Utrecht against Sparta Rotterdam, struggled with fatigue, and unexpectedly helped create goals with a bizarre outside-of-the-foot pass and a late solo finish. Utrecht led 3-0 in the seventy-ninth minute after Tang Ye scored.

• Merent sent Tang Ye onto the pitch in the first half, where he pressed actively before tiring and slowing to a walk.
• Tang Ye passed to Zaka, found an opening, and sent an outside-of-the-foot ball toward the left byline, where Trupe headed it into the net for Utrecht’s second goal.
• Utrecht went into halftime leading 2-0, and Tang Ye acknowledged the fans despite feeling exhausted.
• Sparta Rotterdam marked Tang Ye more closely in the second half as his fatigue worsened.
• In the seventy-ninth minute, Tang Ye spotted space in the penalty area, beat a defender, and scored to put Utrecht ahead 3-0.

After scoring in a warm-up match, Tang Ye received a system reward that increased his physical strength and brought him closer to an official return. The next day, Erik ten Hag put him into a first-team training match, where Tang Ye’s lack of pressing shaped the coaches’ plans.

• Tang Ye used a Bone Density Growth Capsule, which raised his bone quality and physical strength, and he worried that his height might have changed.
• Utrecht II defeated Sparta Rotterdam 3-0, with Tang Ye scoring a goal and assisting another, and the system gave him a mission to make an official matchday squad.
• Zaka asked Tang Ye how to grow taller, and Tang Ye told him to get more sleep.
• Tang Ye ignored his changing daily exercise missions and learned that the reserve team would scrimmage against Utrecht’s first team.
• Erik ten Hag stopped the struggling practice match and ordered Milner and Tang Ye moved to the first team, explaining that Tang Ye’s failure to press would have the same effect as removing a striker.

During a training match, Tang Ye impressed Erik ten Hag with a precise through ball, prompting the coach to move him into the first team and register him for the Dutch Eredivisie. Tang Ye reluctantly accepted the promotion after Merent urged him to pursue his potential.

• Tang Ye initially played passively in the first-team lineup, then sent Haller a through ball that created a one-on-one chance, which Haller missed.
• Erik ten Hag decided Tang Ye should train with the first team and be registered for the Dutch Eredivisie, despite Merent warning that Tang Ye lacked discipline and needed more time.
• Merent told Tang Ye and Amrabat that they would train with the first team that afternoon and be registered the next day.
• Tang Ye asked to remain with the second team, but Merent told him to pursue his potential and angrily sent him toward the first-team training ground.

Tang Ye joined Utrecht’s first team on a youth contract and reported late to his first training session, where Erik ten Hag warned him to be punctual. After seeing Tang Ye use a low-effort but clever pass in a rondo, ten Hag told the other players to keep an eye on him and, if necessary, let him taste some pain.

• Utrecht announced that Tang Ye and Sofyan Amrabat had been promoted from the reserves to the first team, and Tang Ye appeared on the squad list with a higher wage and a release clause.
• Tang Ye ignored a daily task and arrived late for his first first-team training session.
• Ten Hag warned Tang Ye that the late arrival had to be his first and last, then van der Gaag introduced tactical rondo drills.
• Tang Ye let the ball run through to Haller to evade Ramselaar, earning van der Gaag’s approval for his creativity.
• Ten Hag told Ramselaar, Kum, and the others to target Tang Ye if necessary, and Ramselaar soon tackled him as Tang Ye protested.

After Tang Ye was left out of Utrecht’s season opener, Erik ten Hag reviewed the loss and demanded a midfielder who could control the ball under pressure. Tang Ye then claimed he was a ball-playing midfielder, though he was unsure what the role involved.

• Wang Chao watched Utrecht lose 1–3 to Feyenoord without Tang Ye in the squad and grew angry at Erik ten Hag for leaving him out.
• Ten Hag told reporters Utrecht should have won and defended his decision to promote the sixteen-year-old Tang Ye to the first team.
• Tang Ye ate lunch with Zaka, explained that he had been banned from the first-team cafeteria for lateness, and joked that eating burgers would help him grow and fight his teammates.
• Ten Hag used a tactical board to explain that Utrecht lost because its midfielders could not support the defenders or control the ball under Feyenoord’s press.
• Tang Ye told ten Hag that he thought he was a ball-playing midfielder.

After Utrecht lost its first two league matches, Erik ten Hag considered using Tang Ye as a possession midfielder despite being unable to identify his playing style. Tang Ye was named among the substitutes for Utrecht’s upcoming match against ADO Den Haag and received a Brazil Superstar Chest.

• Tang Ye struggled to explain what kind of midfielder he was, so Erik ten Hag tested him in a five-a-side scrimmage and still could not determine his role.
• Utrecht lost 2–1 to Heerenveen after Amrabat conceded a penalty, leaving the team with two straight defeats.
• Erik ten Hag and Mitchell van der Gaag discussed Utrecht’s need for a midfielder who could retain possession, and ten Hag agreed to try Tang Ye.
• Tang Ye trained with the first team, improved his ball control and shooting by one point each, and was named among the substitutes for the away match against ADO Den Haag.
• Tang Ye received the Brazil Superstar Chest after being selected for the matchday squad.

Tang Ye received the Casemiro Tackle skill and was named among Utrecht’s substitutes for their match against ADO The Hague. With the score tied 1:1, Erik ten Hag sent the sixteen-year-old on in the 82nd minute, hoping he could produce a lucky breakthrough.

• Tang Ye questioned why a possession midfielder had received a tackling skill, though it boosted his defense and physicality.
• Utrecht’s matchday squad included Tang Ye, prompting Chinese fans and Wang Chao’s livestream viewers to react to his possible debut.
• Havenaar scored a header in the 34th minute to put The Hague ahead, and Utrecht equalized through Haller in the second half.
• After Utrecht failed to take the lead, Erik ten Hag called Tang Ye to warm up and selected him as a substitute.
• Tang Ye replaced Ayoub in the 82nd minute as ten Hag hoped he would create a breakthrough.

Tang Ye came on as Utrecht chased a late win, and Haller's brace put them ahead 2-1. As The Hague pressed for an equalizer, Tang Ye made two clean tackles that helped Utrecht protect their lead, leaving Erik ten Hag and Mitchell van der Gaag wondering how he had learned to tackle so well.

• Three minutes after Tang Ye entered the match, Luwin crossed to Haller, who scored his second goal to give Utrecht a 2-1 lead.
• Korte protested Utrecht's celebrations, and the referee showed Haller a yellow card as the players returned to position.
• The Hague attacked through Christensen, Alberg, and Havenaar, but Tang Ye moved into position as Duplan advanced toward Utrecht's goal.
• Tang Ye slid in and cleanly knocked the ball away from Duplan, then helped him up and apologized.
• Erik ten Hag and Mitchell van der Gaag discussed Tang Ye's unexpectedly proficient tackle, and Tang Ye tackled Duplan again two minutes later.

After Tang Ye’s Eredivisie debut, he rejected Merent’s invitation to return to the reserves and received a system goal that would unlock the Old Man Shop. Erik ten Hag visited Tang Ye to discuss his development, but their meeting ended in embarrassment when Tang Ye’s laptop resumed an explicit video.

• Zaka was astonished that Tang Ye could tackle, while Merent asked him to return to the reserve team and Tang Ye refused, insisting he had changed.
• Tang Ye received a system task to make three Eredivisie appearances or score one goal to unlock the Old Man Shop.
• Erik ten Hag and Mitchell van der Gaag gave Tang Ye extra training to improve his technique and physical condition, while Erik remained concerned about his discipline.
• Erik visited Tang Ye’s dorm room and asked to see the match footage Tang Ye claimed to watch for self-improvement.
• Tang Ye opened his laptop, which resumed an explicit video; he hurriedly switched away and claimed the clothes had not loaded yet.

Erik ten Hag urged Tang Ye to train harder, then left him out of Utrecht’s starting squad against Groningen. With the match still scoreless and Groningen pushing forward late, ten Hag brought Tang Ye and Amrabat on in the seventy-ninth minute.

• Erik ten Hag told Tang Ye that he needed to work on his football skills and physical conditioning while he was young.
• Tang Ye watched Utrecht face Groningen from the bench as Utrecht struggled to contain the visitors’ attacks.
• At the thirty-fifth minute, Erik ten Hag asked Tang Ye if he could play, then sent him to warm up.
• Utrecht remained locked at 0-0 with Groningen late in the match, and Groningen began pushing its defensive line higher.
• Erik ten Hag brought Tang Ye and Amrabat onto the pitch in the seventy-ninth minute.

Tang Ye came on late for Utrecht and set up Haller’s winning goal with a long pass in the eighty-sixth minute. Utrecht took control after the goal, and Tang Ye celebrated learning he could eat in the first-team cafeteria, unaware his assist had saved fourteen lives.

• Tang Ye pushed forward as Ramselaar and Van der Maarel won the ball from Antonia.
• Ramselaar passed to Tang Ye, who used his improved strength to break free from Sierhuis.
• Tang Ye sent a long pass over Groningen’s midfield and defense to Haller.
• Haller controlled the ball and scored past the onrushing goalkeeper, giving Utrecht a late win.
• Haller lifted Tang Ye in celebration, and Erik ten Hag told him he could eat in the first-team cafeteria.
• Tang Ye ran more actively as Utrecht took control, unaware his pass had saved fourteen lives.

After Tang Ye’s late assist brought attention to his talent, he settled into Utrecht’s first-team routine and returned to China briefly to renew his visa. His parents welcomed him home, but he had to leave again the next afternoon, so Tang Zhengxiong decided they would celebrate his return that evening.

• Erik ten Hag told reporters that Tang Ye was talented but not yet a genius, and credited specialized training for his passing ability.
• Tang Ye joined the first-team cafeteria, where Haller praised his assist and urged him to work hard for a starting place.
• Tang Ye returned to China because his tourist visa required him to leave and reapply every three months.
• A taxi driver advised Tang Ye to pursue computer science instead of football, but Tang Ye ended the conversation.
• Tang Ye surprised Zhang Qingqing and Tang Zhengxiong at home and explained that he had to return to Utrecht the next afternoon.
• Tang Zhengxiong asked Zhang Qingqing to put aside her rent collection and take Tang Ye out to celebrate.

During Utrecht’s match against Vitesse, Tang Ye came on in the second half and helped set up the equalizer with a clever tackle and pass. Erik ten Hag recognized Tang Ye’s deliberate defensive gambit and told him to credit his instincts to training.

• During endurance training, Erik ten Hag told Mitchell van der Gaag that Tang Ye could become a decent midfielder in two or three years, while Mitchell said the board had lowered its target to a top-twelve finish.
• Utrecht trailed Vitesse 0-1 at halftime, and Erik ten Hag brought Tang Ye and Amrabat on in the 55th minute.
• After Nathan got past him, Tang Ye tracked back, won the ball with a sliding tackle, and passed forward to Haller, whose cross allowed Balazhit to equalize.
• Erik ten Hag questioned Tang Ye about letting Nathan through, and Tang Ye explained that he expected to win the ball back and draw Vitesse’s defenders out.
• Erik ten Hag told Tang Ye that training had enabled his thinking, and Tang Ye readily believed him.

Tang Ye scored the winning goal as Utrecht beat Vitesse 2–1, prompting Erik ten Hag to plan more intensive training for him. After Tang Ye celebrated getting two days off, Erik visited him and offered a way to avoid his difficult Dutch homework.

• Erik ten Hag moved Tang Ye into the attacking-midfield role, and Tang Ye scored in the 78th minute after Haller passed him the ball.
• Utrecht defeated Vitesse 2–1, earning their third consecutive win.
• Erik ten Hag told Mitchell van der Gaag he wanted to accelerate Tang Ye’s development with extra physical and tactical training.
• Tang Ye told his mother, Zhang Qing, that he had been given two days off, then opened the door to Erik ten Hag.
• Erik ten Hag found Tang Ye’s Dutch essay assignment and asked whether he wanted to be exempt from homework.

Tang Ye was forced by ten Hag to replace unfinished homework with two hours of nightly football training, then explored the newly unlocked system shop during his workout. The chapter ended with Tang Ye buying Kevin De Bruyne’s Growth Template on credit and discovering he had a 100,000 Huabei balance due within a month.

• ten Hag offered Tang Ye a way to avoid homework by doing extra nightly training, and Tang Ye reluctantly agreed when ten Hag warned that his mother might be contacted.
• At the first-team weight room, Mitchell van der Gaag told Tang Ye to warm up with a three-kilometer run before assigning his strength training.
• Tang Ye inspected the system’s Item Shop, unlocked another product slot, and found consumables including Grealish’s Lager and Cristiano Ronaldo’s Broccoli.
• Tang Ye discovered the Template Shop’s expensive skill and Growth Templates, including Kevin De Bruyne’s Growth Template (Anti-Cuckold Version), priced at 100,000 Comeback Points.
• Tang Ye selected Huabei as the payment method and bought Kevin De Bruyne’s Growth Template on credit, with repayment due by October 13, 2036.