Lu Yang Likes Driving Big Cars?

"Is Sanremo Football Club really that impressive?"

"Has Italy produced another pair of twin stars?"

"Is Maniero sure he wasn't drunk?"

"Can someone tell me what on earth is going on?"

"It's those two! The dual midfield engines of Sanremo!"

The Italian football world was in an uproar.

Everyone was scrutinizing the round of matches that had just concluded in Serie D.

In the match between Sanremo and Foggia, the veteran center-forward for Sanremo scored a goal, and the substitute center-back Nagy also found the net.

The team's left winger Vedian contributed a goal and an assist.

The team's midfield maestro Moric provided two assists.

And the team's newly minted defensive midfielder Lu Yang racked up a terrifying stat line of two goals and two assists!

Maniero was moved by the complete transformation of the Sanremo squad, and he was also building momentum for his old friend Soto.

He knew exactly what his friend needed.

To get their wealthy yet stingy chairman to open his wallet, Sanremo had to undergo a qualitative change.

A change in every aspect, from strength to reputation.

And those who flooded in following Maniero's comments did indeed express their awe after watching the match highlights and even the full replays.

"My god, that number 23, he really looks like a young Maniero. The only difference is that the young Maniero hadn't yet pioneered the deep-lying playmaker style, so he appeared a bit more sharp and aggressive."

"Hmm, his name is Moric. He is indeed a decent midfield prospect. Why hasn't a big club set their sights on this guy?"

"Someone has, but it's a Serie C club."

"What? Serie C? With Moric's ability to organize and control the midfield, he could surely hold his own in Serie B, couldn't he? He's only seventeen!"

"It's probably a height issue! Moric is only 1.72 meters tall. Considering his age, it's unlikely he'll grow past 1.75 meters. That doesn't fit the trend of Italian football in recent years."

"True, Maniero himself was 1.77 meters, and he suffered greatly for it early in his career. I'm afraid it will be hard for Moric to make it."

"Look at the players called up to the Italy National Team U21 and U19 squads; the average height of the midfielders is over 1.78 meters."

"Sigh, physical fitness has become a hard requirement in modern football. Personally, I think that's a shame. While height is an advantage, shorter players have their own strengths too."

"Are you talking about that Argentine genius who scores goals for fun in La Liga? He's the exception, not the rule!"

"This Lu Yang has a bit of the flavor of a young Soto."

"Yeah, I heard this guy started as a center-back. Was this his first match as a defensive midfielder?"

"Why does he look so familiar?"

"Is that the guy who scored in the Celebrity Match? The one who used a wood-chopping style shot to fool five Serie A players?"

"That's him! Can you believe that stunning bicycle kick from thirty-three meters out two months ago!"

"So it was him?"

"What a pity. He has flashes of technical skill, but his fundamentals aren't solid. Look at this pass; it was clearly botched. Situations like this happen all the time."

"It's definitely Serie D level. In higher-tier leagues, with the increased pressure and tempo, Lu Yang wouldn't be able to exert this kind of midfield control. Moric, on the other hand, might have a chance."

"Lu Yang's defense is decent even for Serie C, but his ball-handling and passing ability don't meet that standard. His shooting looks great, but it lacks the power to break through the defenses of top-tier goalkeepers."

"Those two rabona passes were pretty, but they were largely due to the defenders' carelessness."

"His first touch is quite beautiful, though. He feels like a loose cannon."

"You could think of him as a budget version of Soto. After all, Soto showed attacking talent when he was young, but he couldn't keep up with the team's level later on, which is why he transitioned into a defensive workhorse. Lu Yang's attacking ability is likely far inferior to what Soto's was back then."

"Of course, considering Lu Yang and Moric are only sixteen and seventeen, they still have some potential. Perhaps in two years, some big clubs looking to take a gamble might try to develop them, but it's too early right now."

There were many professionals who came to pay attention to Sanremo this time.

Compared to the casual fans just looking for excitement, their assessments were less flattering, but they were precise.

This left the football insiders who had swarmed in feeling slightly disappointed.

The claim that the Italy National Team was a "mini-Sanremo" was truly an exaggeration.

But considering it was Maniero who said it, everyone could understand his love for and desire to promote young players.

And there were indeed traces of the young Soto and Maniero in Lu Yang and Moric.

Any person of a certain age, if fortunate enough to see a young person who reminds them of their own youth, will inevitably pay them more attention or even offer them inexplicable help.

That is human nature.

Everyone understood Maniero.

But the fans who came for the spectacle didn't care about any of that.

Lu Yang's rabona assist and his goal were flashy as hell!

That Dipping Shot was simply dominant!

That final headed pass was nothing short of a classic!

The way Moric plays is so much like Maniero; he is a true midfield maestro!

Moreover, the record San Remo has put up is truly insane!

They have been on a tear since the second half of the season, sprinting from fifteenth place all the way up to seventh in the standings.

And they are only two points away from sixth!

They have played ten matches so far, with eight wins and two draws—undefeated and practically invincible.

Once you start following a team like this, you are bound to get hooked.

"Let's go, Lu, Moric, hurry up!" Vedian shouted from downstairs at the dormitory, clearly brimming with excitement.

"Alright, alright, we're coming," Moric said, looking speechless. "Why are they so enthusiastic about this kind of thing? Wouldn't it be better to spend our limited lives on something more meaningful? Isn't playing football more satisfying?"

Lu Yang had just finished showering and was changing into casual clothes. "There's no helping it; most teams have this kind of culture. Besides... they really do need to relax. After this night out, we have to launch our push for the promotion zone."

With that, Lu Yang put on a white shirt and jeans, finishing the look with a pair of brown Martin boots.

It was a simple outfit, but on a handsome guy like him, standing at one meter eighty-one, it hit differently—he seemed to be glowing.

In fact, the team members had arranged to go to a bar together tonight.

Since it was a team activity and even Rondo had agreed, Lu Yang and Moric couldn't really skip it.

However, they were different from some of the other players.

Some players went to the bar specifically for adult activities.

The older ones just paid for it.

The guys in their twenties preferred to try their luck at winning a "free workout" session using their personal charm.

But greenhorns like Lu Yang and Moric wouldn't engage in such follow-up activities; they were just there to drink and hum along to the music, essentially serving as atmosphere-setters.

That was exactly why Moric didn't want to go.

The kid was quite the flirt, but he refused to pay for thrills; at his age, he still believed in true love.

Unfortunately, there was no love to be found in a bar.

Even if there were, it wouldn't be for a one-meter-seventy-two boy.

After heading downstairs, the two of them joined Vedian and hopped into Rondo's car.

"Your passing was much more accurate today," Moric said in the car, still discussing their practice session.

"That's because I want to provide some brilliant assists for Vedian too," Lu Yang chuckled.

"It still needs some work. Your long passes are much more precise now, and the spin helps the receiver control the ball, but the speed is too slow to directly lead to an assist," Moric noted professionally, instantly recognizing that Lu Yang's delivery was a Weighted Spin Pass.

Yes, it was a player-level skill from the Superstar Legacy system: Weighted Spin Pass.

After the last match, Lu Yang knew he had gained some recognition from Soto because the system had issued his reward.

His long-passing attribute had been unlocked as a result, though at 50, it was barely usable.

"While I'm touched that you're both fighting to assist me, can we stop talking about football now? We're heading to the biggest bar in San Remo, filled with all sorts of beautiful women. Aren't you guys excited?" Vedian lived up to his reputation as a "brother from another mother"—as soon as the topic came up, he was wide awake.

"Uh... that's assuming you have enough money, Vedian," Lu Yang reminded him. "With your looks, you might not find a free 'workout venue' to move in and out of."

"I'm willing to put up all my goal bonuses!" Vedian declared confidently.

Rondo listened to the three greenhorns bickering and offered a scornful smile.

All of them were losers.

Once they got to the bar, he would show them the style of a veteran San Remo heartthrob like Rondo.

Eight o'clock, a bar in San Remo.

Lu Yang and Moric sat in a booth, looking rather bored.

Rondo was indeed a local celebrity; as soon as he walked in, many people greeted him, and he immediately began socializing. However, he didn't interact with any women because he already had a wife.

It was clear that there were tears shimmering in Rondo's eyes.

San Remo was a small place after all, and he didn't dare to mess around.

The other players weren't as restrained; they were like fish in water, especially since they were considered city heroes lately. The coastal city's tourism was already decent, but thanks to Lu Yang and the team's performance, foot traffic had increased significantly.

As a result, many more people were supporting the team.

Vedian went out a few times, only to return empty-handed each time, until finally, a black girl gave him a chance to keep talking.

After all, not every woman is interested in a man who is too fast.

Meanwhile, the backup center-back, Nagy, kept hitting walls because he was simply too tall.

Seeing a one-meter-sixty guy with someone over one-meter-ninety really lacked immersion; unless it was for the sake of treating cervical spine issues, such a combination was not recommended.

"Are we just going to spend the whole night like this?" Moric asked, feeling dejected.

Lu Yang nodded and stretched his back.

Just then, someone passed by, only to be blocked by Lu Yang's hand.

"Ah!"

The person let out a shriek, and the item in her hand dropped to the floor.

Lu Yang quickly stood up to help her pick it up, apologizing as he looked at her.

Then, he froze.

What bright headlights!

Classic long, black wavy hair draped over her shoulders.

A sexy, purple, hip-hugging miniskirt.

The top featured a camisole design, but the straps were made of a very unique, thin leather cord that left deep indentations on the skin of her shoulders.

This meant that whatever those two straps were supporting carried quite a bit of weight.

Sure enough, as his gaze shifted downward, the beauty's chest was quite substantial, a vast expanse of snow-white skin.

The hip-hugging skirt was very short, barely covering her backside.

She wore black silk stockings; the combination of purple and black created an intense sense of mystery and allure.

This woman was incredibly glamorous!

"Can you give me my script?" she asked, her expression not particularly pleasant.

"Of course." Since the floor wasn't very clean, Lu Yang wiped the script with a tissue. To ensure it was spotless, he even flipped through the pages to check if any part of it had been dirtied.

This gesture earned him her favor; at the very least, she stopped scowling.

Respect between people is always mutual.

"Naples Merchant Murder Case?" Lu Yang read the title of the script aloud and subconsciously scanned the content.

The woman took the script, nodded, and prepared to leave.

But she couldn't move.

Because Lu Yang hadn't let go.

The woman's face was full of question marks.

"I'm a mystery buff. This request might be presumptuous, but could I take a look at this script?" Lu Yang asked.

Rather than sitting in the bar bored, watching people dance to the beat, Lu Yang would much rather revisit classic mysteries to keep his brain's rational thinking sharp.

"Your way of hitting on me isn't very clever. How old are you? Nineteen or twenty? I'm already twenty-eight, and I like mature men." The woman's expression was icy. It seemed like a non-sequitur, but this statement was a direct critical hit to anyone with ulterior motives.

Take the rookie Moric nearby, for example.

Because translated, that sentence meant: You're just a little boy!

But Lu Yang smiled; he clearly saw a flicker of passion in the woman's eyes.

Every creator hopes for their work to be affirmed by others.

This woman was no different.

But she had been rejected too many times, so...

"Actually, when I saw this title, a story popped into my head. We can exchange ideas later. That way, you'll know I'm not hitting on you. I'm just here at a bar for the first time, and while feeling out of place, I saw something that interested me, so..." Lu Yang explained.

The woman looked at Lu Yang.

Lu Yang's gaze was steady, a smile playing on his lips.

"Fine. Hey, little boy over there, please order me a Mojito and bring it over, thanks." The woman sat down right next to Lu Yang. "I'd love to hear your brilliant insights."

Seeing the look in her eyes, Moric took the initiative to get up and leave.

Only after walking two steps did he remember: I'm not a little boy, damn it! Lu Yang is the actual little boy; I'm a year older than him!

But it was too late. Since he was already up, he had no choice but to go order the drink.

He couldn't fight against the supernatural power of the "Eight Great Forgivenesses," like "He's already here," "It's the holidays," "He's just a kid," and "It's not easy for anyone."

And when Moric returned with the Mojito, his world collapsed.

Lu Yang was actually chatting and laughing with the gorgeous woman in the purple miniskirt. He was pointing at the script, gesturing as he spoke, and the beauty was listening with great interest. In the noisy environment, she even leaned in closer to Lu Yang to hear him more clearly, making very intimate contact with him.

That bastard! We play soccer together every day, when did he learn how to pick up women?

Soon, the news that Lu Yang was hitting on a great beauty spread throughout the bar.

The San Remo players were all observing Lu Yang's progress from every direction.

When Rondo finally got a clear look at the beauty's face, he exclaimed in shock: "My god, it's Sophia Catina! It's that big star!"