Chapter Summaries

Tang Ye claimed the Captivating All talent reward and raised his physicality before receiving the Premier League Player of the Season and Young Player of the Season awards. After reaffirming that he wanted to stay at Manchester United, he returned to China for national-team preparations and was greeted by fans at Pudong Airport.

• Tang Ye used his talent reward to raise his physicality from One in a Hundred to Captivating All, increasing his physicality attribute to 81.
• Rodri told Tang Ye that he had been named the Premier League Player of the Season after recording 17 goals and 33 assists in 35 league appearances.
• Tang Ye collected the Premier League Player of the Season and Young Player of the Season trophies and said he wanted to remain at Manchester United.
• Tang Ye reassured Marcus Rashford that they would keep playing together and promised they would stay at the club to pursue their goals.
• Tang Ye flew to Shanghai with Boer and the China national football team staff, where Boer displayed Tang Ye's Player of the Season trophy to waiting fans.

Tang Ye joined China’s national team camp ahead of the World Cup, while Lippi worried about finding strong warm-up opponents. In the match against Shanghai SIPG, China fell behind 2-0 in the first half as Tang Ye prepared to come on after the break.

• Tang Ye trained with the national team, joked with Wu Lei about his childhood football ambitions, and learned that his physical examination showed he had grown taller.
• Massimo Maddaloni gave Lippi the late-arriving players’ reports, and Lippi discussed the difficulty of arranging high-level warm-up matches.
• Ping An announced a 1.64-billion-yuan insurance policy for Tang Ye, drawing widespread online attention.
• Tang Ye arrived at Shanghai Stadium to a large crowd, then watched from the bench as Shanghai SIPG took a 2-0 lead over China through goals involving Oscar.
• Tang Ye warmed up to cheers from the crowd and told Lippi he was ready to enter in the second half.

Tang Ye came on at halftime and transformed China’s attack against Shanghai SIPG, scoring twice and helping set up Wu Lei’s goal as China drew 3:3. The match left Lippi and his staff with tactical lessons to consider ahead of the World Cup, while fans celebrated Tang Ye’s performance.

• Lippi criticized China’s slow play at halftime, and Tang Ye proposed playing more directly and taking responsibility for possession in midfield.
• Tang Ye entered in the second half, scored with a curling shot, and helped Wu Lei score as China pulled the score back to 2:3.
• Tang Ye continued directing China’s attacks and scored again after shaking off Oscar, bringing his direct goal contributions to three.
• Lippi substituted Tang Ye, and the match ended 3:3 after China’s substitutes struggled to maintain the same attacking threat.
• Massimo Maddaloni noted that Tang Ye should play every minute at the World Cup, that Wu Lei’s role should grow, and that China’s defenders should use more long passes.

After China drew with Shanghai SIPG, Lippi identified tactical problems and prepared the team for its friendly against Saudi Arabia, while Tang Ye worried that he lacked time to improve the squad. When Lippi admitted that China could not find enough opponents for future friendlies, Tang Ye offered to use his connections to help.

• Tang Ye told Zhang Yuning that China had too many problems, and Lippi later urged the team to use friendlies to identify and fix them.
• On the trip to Riyadh, Tang Ye reviewed China's lineup and worried that his season settlement reward had not arrived, while Ousmane Dembélé discussed his possible transfer to Manchester United and France's upcoming friendlies.
• Lippi told Tang Ye that China's tactics depended on using both his and Wu Lei's strengths, and Tang Ye said he was willing to make sacrifices for the team.
• Tang Ye practiced through balls with Wu Lei, and Lippi made Tang Ye the team's primary penalty taker after confirming Wu Lei and Gao Lin had no objections.
• Lippi told the players that China had not secured more friendlies after Saudi Arabia, so Tang Ye offered to help because he had many friends.

China defeated Saudi Arabia 5–4 in its final warm-up match, as Tang Ye helped the team develop a faster attacking rhythm and linked up repeatedly with Wu Lei. After the match, Tang Ye arranged a June friendly against France, leaving the national team to prepare for a major test ahead of the World Cup.

• Tang Ye helped China take a 3–1 halftime lead over Saudi Arabia with a fast-paced attack, a goal, and a converted penalty, while Lippi focused on finding the right tempo.
• China continued its quick passing after halftime, and Tang Ye and Wu Lei combined in an attack that made it 4–1 before Saudi Arabia scored twice.
• Tang Ye scored from a corner as China won 5–4, then gave his shorts to fans after being substituted off.
• Lippi said China would arrange two or three June warm-up matches, and Tang Ye told reporters the team needed to reduce its mistakes when playing at a higher tempo.
• Tang Ye proposed friendlies against several top national teams, and China agreed to face France on June 6 at Old Trafford, with a reported agreement that Tang Ye would play at least 60 minutes.

The China national team arrived in Manchester for its World Cup training camp and faced Brazil in a friendly at Old Trafford, where Tang Ye reunited with his CS teammates. Brazil took an early lead, and China showed flashes of promising play as the match continued.

• Tang Ye traveled with China’s squad to Carrington, where Manchester United fans welcomed him and the national team.
• China’s World Cup odds rose after it was drawn into a group with Germany, Sweden, and Senegal.
• Tang Ye greeted Neymar, Casemiro, and Marcelo before Massimo Maddaloni and Lippi briefed China’s players for the Brazil friendly.
• Tang Ye helped create China’s early attack, and Wu Lei crossed for Gao Lin, whose shot Alisson saved.
• Brazil scored through William after Philippe Coutinho set up Gabriel Jesus, then China defended and counterattacked through Tang Ye and Yu Hanchao.

China lost 4–1 to Brazil after Tang Ye helped Wu Lei score, while Lippi’s staff debated how to adapt the team’s tactics to its players. As China prepared for the World Cup group stage, Maddaloni urged Lippi to simplify the approach and build around Tang Ye’s strengths without expecting the rest of the squad to match his level.

• Tang Ye missed a free kick before halftime, then remembered Lippi’s advice to push players forward and create numerical advantages in attack.
• Tang Ye set up Wu Lei to score against Brazil, and Zhang Yuning replaced Gao Lin before later testing Alisson with a header.
• Brazil scored twice more, and Lippi substituted Tang Ye for Wei Shihao as China continued attacking and eventually lost 4–1.
• Wu Lei accidentally broke Tang Ye’s locker after the match, and Tang Ye moved his belongings into Rodri’s and Marcus Rashford’s lockers.
• Tang Zhengxiong criticized online doubters in an interview and predicted that China could win a group-stage match, perhaps against Sweden.
• Maddaloni told Lippi that Zhang Yuning suited Tang Ye better than Gao Lin and urged him to simplify the tactics; Lippi considered the advice as the team trained at Carrington.

Tang Ye’s enhanced physical talent helped him improve his fitness as he prepared with China for the World Cup, while his endorsements and a Pepsi commercial drew attention. In a friendly against France, China fell behind 3-0 by halftime, and Tang Ye saw his teammates grow timid under pressure.

• Tang Ye filmed a Pepsi commercial with Lionel Messi and James, then trained with China’s fitness coach and raised his physicality from 81 to 82.
• BYD named Tang Ye a brand ambassador, and the company’s sales of the BYD Tang surged after fans associated the model’s name with him.
• Lippi started Zhang Yuning alongside Wu Lei against France, and Tang Ye encouraged the nervous striker before the match.
• France scored through Griezmann before Ousmane Dembélé added two goals, taking France’s lead to 3-0 in the first half.
• Tang Ye created attacking chances for China but noticed his teammates becoming timid after falling behind, and Zhang Yuning misplayed a pass out of bounds.

After China fell behind France 0-3, Tang Ye urged his teammates not to fear stronger opponents, and China responded with a more aggressive second half before losing 1-3. The chapter ended by introducing Germany, China's first World Cup group-stage opponent.

• On the way to the locker room, Ousmane Dembélé and Kylian Mbappé joked with Tang Ye about China's first-half performance.
• Massimo Maddaloni criticized China's collapse, and Lippi warned the players that they would face similar pressure at the World Cup.
• Tang Ye told his teammates not to fear European and South American teams and urged them to attack more boldly, while Feng Xiaoting backed him and rallied the team.
• China attacked early in the second half, and Zhang Yuning scored from Tang Ye's through ball to make it 1-3 against France.
• Lippi substituted Tang Ye and Zheng Zhi, and China finished the friendly with Zhang Yuning's goal as its only score.
• Tang Ye and his teammates left the stadium after China lost 1-3, while a preview introduced Germany as China's first group-stage opponent.

China national football team prepared for its final World Cup warm-up against the United States while Tang Ye’s father drew attention by betting 10 million on China to beat Germany. In the match, Tang Ye orchestrated China’s attack and assisted Wu Lei for the opening goal, leaving China leading 1–0 as another promising chance developed.

• Wu Lei showed Tang Ye the online abuse aimed at China national football team, while Tang Zhengxiong publicly declared he would bet 10 million on China beating Germany.
• At a team barbecue, Tang Ye told his teammates he doubted his father had really placed the bet and recalled being left to travel alone as a child.
• Lippi instructed China to attack the United States in the final warm-up, keeping Tang Ye on if they had a chance to win and substituting him if they did not.
• Tang Ye helped China dominate possession and launch a flowing attack, but Wu Lei’s first goal was ruled offside.
• Tang Ye beat defenders with a heel pass into the box, and Wu Lei scored to give China a 1–0 lead.
• Tang Ye continued creating chances and sent another through ball to Wu Lei, who broke into a one-on-one opportunity.

China defeated the United States 5-3 in their final warm-up, with Tang Ye scoring once and assisting three goals as the team showed improved coordination. After playing until the 82nd minute and nearly vomiting from exhaustion, Tang Ye reminded his teammates that their next match would be in the World Cup.

• Tang Ye scored China’s second goal, then helped Feng Xiaoting make it 3-0 before the United States scored before halftime.
• At halftime, Lippi said China’s teamwork had improved to a 75-level performance and that reaching 80 would require every player to be in top form under World Cup pressure.
• The United States cut China’s lead to 3-2 after the break, but Tang Ye set up Wu Lei’s cross for Zhang Yuning to score.
• Lippi brought on Wei Shihao, Gao Lin, and Gao Zhunyi to build their chemistry with Tang Ye, who remained on the pitch as China won 5-3.
• Tang Ye was substituted in the 82nd minute, nearly vomited from exhaustion, and told his teammates that their next match would be the World Cup proper.

Tang Ye and the China national team arrived in Moscow and began preparing for their World Cup opener against Germany. After Ousmane Dembélé and Kylian Mbappé climbed into China’s training base to find Tang Ye, Moscow police arrested them, leaving France facing an investigation and possible penalties.

• Tang Ye arrived in Moscow with the China national team, joked through a CCTV interview, and showed reporters his notebook of basic reminders to cooperate with teammates and listen to the coach.
• Tang Zhengxiong became the target of a Singapore anti-gambling advertisement after betting ten million on China to win, while Tang Ye began training in Moscow and teased his teammates about how nervous they seemed.
• Ousmane Dembélé and Kylian Mbappé entered China’s training base to look for Tang Ye, and Lippi and Tang Ye learned that reporters had photographed them climbing the fence.
• Moscow police arrived and took Dembélé and Mbappé away for trespassing despite Tang Ye’s explanation that they had come to visit him, not spy on tactics.
• News reports identified the arrested French players as Mbappé and Dembélé, and leaked footage confirmed that they had climbed over the fence to find Tang Ye, prompting speculation about fines, detention, and FIFA penalties for France.

After Mbappé and Dembélé were released, France sought China’s support against a possible FIFA points deduction for entering the Chinese team’s base. Tang Ye reassured French fans and explained the misunderstanding to the visiting French president, who voiced friendship between the countries and hinted at watching their World Cup matches.

• Mbappé and Dembélé told reporters they had gone to find Tang Ye, while the French Football Federation sought China’s help to reduce a possible FIFA punishment.
• Tang Ye’s teammates discussed the incident, and French fans outside the training base begged China to save France from losing points; Tang Ye told them their leaders were communicating.
• Tang Ye studied his player panel during training and asked Wei Shihao about his dyed, permed hair, admiring how cool it looked.
• The French president visited the Chinese team’s base, and Tang Ye explained that Mbappé and Dembélé had contacted the team beforehand and had not seen the training.
• The French president thanked Tang Ye, invited him to the Élysée Palace, and said he might attend the teams’ World Cup matches.

Tang Ye and his teammates prepared for China’s opening World Cup match against Germany as analysts predicted a defensive approach and France received a reduced points penalty for spying on China’s training. The chapter ended with the team rallying together on their way to the stadium and the announced starting lineup featuring Tang Ye, Wu Lei, Zhang Yuning, and Zheng Zhi.

• Tang Ye watched Russia beat Saudi Arabia 5:0 in the World Cup opening match and predicted Cheryshev would score.
• Senegal beat Sweden 1:0, and commentator Zhang Lu recommended that China defend deep and use Tang Ye’s passing to launch counterattacks against Germany.
• FIFA reduced France’s punishment for trespassing at China’s training base from three points to one, leaving France on -1 before their World Cup debut.
• Tang Ye and his teammates boarded the bus amid crowds of Chinese fans, and captain Feng Xiaoting encouraged them to play their own game against Germany.
• Feng Xiaoting’s speech prompted the players to roar together as the team bus left the training base.
• China released its 23-man squad for the match, with Tang Ye and Wu Lei leading the lineup and Zhang Yuning and Zheng Zhi starting.

Tang Ye rallied China before their World Cup opener against Germany, then drove their attack with a series of bold plays. He nearly scored past Manuel Neuer, leaving Lippi and Massimo Maddaloni to realize that Tang Ye had not taken the friendlies seriously.

• Tang Ye checked his boots and encouraged his teammates to play forward before China took the field against Germany.
• China started cautiously under Germany’s press, and Toni Kroos’s long-range shot was gathered by Zeng Cheng.
• Tang Ye dropped deep to help China build an attack and sent Zhang Yuning through, but Zhang Yuning’s slow control let Germany recover.
• Tang Ye combined with Zhang Yuning and Wu Lei, then dribbled into the penalty area and nearly scored with a heel flick that Neuer saved.
• Lippi told Massimo Maddaloni that they had forgotten what Tang Ye was like because he had not played seriously in the warm-up matches.

China held Germany to a scoreless first half, but Tang Ye grew increasingly angry at Germany’s repeated fouls and his teammates’ reluctance to attack. In the locker room, he challenged the team to stop retreating and start moving the ball forward.

• Tang Ye created early chances for China, but German players repeatedly fouled him as Germany pressed and Müller’s goal was ruled offside after a VAR review.
• Tang Ye urged his teammates to attack, but China continued passing at the back while he was fouled repeatedly and suffered bloody scrapes.
• After Özil’s studs caught his thigh, Tang Ye confronted him, exchanged shoves and insults with him, and received a yellow card alongside Özil.
• China went into halftime at 0:0, while Mbappé posted a picture of Tang Ye’s bleeding arm and drew attention from football figures and fans.
• In the locker room, Lippi proposed continuing to defend, but Tang Ye argued that China could not find its rhythm without attacking and demanded that his teammates pass forward instead of playing scared.

After halftime, Tang Ye urged China to attack more boldly, and the team returned with Wei Shihao replacing Yu Hanchao. Tang Ye scored with a curling long-range shot to give China a 1–0 lead over Germany, and the chapter left China defending its advantage as Germany pressed forward.

• Tang Ye confronted his teammates for failing to pass forward, and Lippi and Massimo Maddaloni agreed to make China more aggressive.
• Lippi brought on Wei Shihao for Yu Hanchao before the second half began.
• China won the ball from Germany’s attack, and Tang Ye directed a counterattack through Wu Lei, Zhang Linpeng, and Wei Shihao.
• Tang Ye cut inside past Toni Kroos and Sami Khedira, then curled a shot into the top-right corner to put China ahead 1–0.
• Germany pressed for an equalizer, but Zhang Linpeng blocked Müller’s long-range shot as China held its lead.

China conceded an equalizer against Germany, but Tang Ye rallied his teammates and scored a late free kick to put China back ahead. Wang Yudong watched the match kneeling, convinced God would not let him stand.

• Wang Yudong told his mother he was watching God and wondered if he could someday become Tang Ye's teammate.
• Müller scored from a corner to equalize for Germany, making the score 1:1.
• Tang Ye and Wei Shihao formed a youth academy bond as China prepared to keep attacking, while Lippi's staff urged them to protect Tang Ye from injury.
• Tang Ye and Mesut Özil clashed, but neither received a card; Germany coach Löw was booked for arguing with the referee.
• Tang Ye assisted China's attack, won a free kick after Kroos fouled him, and scored directly to give China the lead.
• Wang Yudong's mother found him kneeling in front of the television again, and he explained that God would not let him stand.

Tang Ye scored twice as China defeated Germany 2-1 in Moscow for the national team’s first World Cup victory. After celebrating with his teammates and fans, Tang Ye received a Barcelona Legendary Chest from the system.

• Tang Ye scored directly from a free kick to put China ahead 2-1, then helped the team defend its lead through stoppage time.
• Tang Ye booted the ball out of bounds, and the final whistle confirmed China’s 2-1 victory over Germany.
• Tang Ye celebrated with his teammates in the locker room, where he learned he had been named Player of the Match and that his knee-slide marks topped Baidu’s trending searches.
• Lippi congratulated Tang Ye, and the system awarded him a Barcelona Legendary Chest · Legend.
• Tang Ye returned to the pitch with his teammates and thanked the Chinese fans as they celebrated and sang in the stands.

After China defeated Germany 2:1, Tang Ye handled interviews and celebrated with his father and teammates while attention grew around his performance. He reset the Barcelona Legendary Chest for a Messi template, and the story left him preparing for China’s next group matches as a QQ scammer’s fabricated connection to him went viral.

• Wanda covered its malls with Tang Ye posters, and Tang Ye moved closer to a Wanda advertising board before answering reporters’ questions about the victory and China’s tactics.
• Tang Zhengxiong admitted he had not placed his claimed 10-million-yuan bet, then urged Tang Ye to beat Senegal.
• China topped Group F alongside Senegal, Manchester United celebrated Tang Ye, and Neymar said China’s win was unsurprising because Tang Ye was on the team.
• Tang Ye opened a Barcelona Legendary Chest, received an Iniesta vision template, reset it, and obtained Lionel Messi’s Step-Over Shoulder Drop Template, improving his ball control and speed.
• Police released a video about a Zhengzhou woman who lost 228,000 yuan to a scammer claiming Tang Ye had messaged him on QQ with inside information.
• German fans blamed the team’s defeat on its players having wives and girlfriends, while one fan claimed Tang Ye’s single status had helped China win.