The Ambitious Reporter and the Arrogant Player

"I knew it, I knew you'd be there!" Moric rushed over and jumped onto Lu Yang, pounding his chest frantically. "That strike was absolutely brilliant! A dipping shot—you actually pulled off a dipping shot! Do you realize that's striker-level finishing?"

Following that, the rest of the players swarmed in, surrounding the two of them.

Everyone celebrated wildly.

They won!

It was over!

Lu Yang's goal came in the first minute of stoppage time. There were only two minutes of stoppage time in total.

Lu Yang had killed the game, and San Remo had won!

Everyone was incredibly emotional.

It had been so long since their last victory, let alone a comeback win or a last-minute game-winner.

At the very least, they had never experienced anything like this all season!

On the sidelines, Soto began a passionate knee-slide celebration!

The commentator was ecstatic: "This is a rebirth for San Remo! A legend belonging to San Remo is truly setting sail! Lu Yang, Moric, Soto—I hope everyone remembers their names, because this legend is being written by them!"

"We can see that when Moric surged forward, most of the San Remo players were also pushing up. And among them was Lu Yang, who should have been stationed in the backline. He sprinted the entire way, bypassing Avellino's forwards and midfielders."

"If Avellino's players could foresee the future, they would definitely have held Lu Yang back. Because this center-back was about to completely turn the game around with a thunderous strike!"

"People often call aggressive defenders 'blade-wielding defenders,' but I would call Lu Yang a 'cannon-wielding defender'! This heavy artillery of his, a world-class dipping shot from nearly thirty meters out, was truly shocking!"

"We can see their never-say-die spirit on the faces of Lu Yang and Moric. They are green, they are immature, they are only sixteen or seventeen years old, but they are always hungry for victory—they just want to win!"

Sure enough, after San Remo finished celebrating, Avellino kicked off, and the referee blew the final whistle.

Soto found Lu Yang and Moric and brought them to the post-match press conference.

Yes, even in the Italian fourth tier, San Remo had its own post-match press conference because their head coach was Soto.

This small fourth-tier match wasn't broadcast nationally; it only had coverage in the Liguria region, and even that was only because of Soto's arrival. Otherwise, San Remo wouldn't have received such treatment.

There were quite a few media outlets present today, about a dozen or so, including two that were quite famous throughout Italy, such as Live Football News.

Hans was a columnist for Live Football News. He had a keen nose for news and had taken an interest in Lu Yang during the previous celebrity match. Therefore, he had proactively applied for this "Soto's Debut" assignment.

But his real target was that miraculous center-back.

And this center-back certainly did not disappoint him.

"Hello, Soto. I'm Hans from Live Football News," Hans asked first.

"Oh, I know you. My retirement wouldn't have happened without your help." Soto recognized Hans. His retirement was due to many factors, but a significant one was related to his aggressive style on the pitch.

An article had exposed the lives of the players Soto had injured, some of whom had ended up in miserable states, which had once ruined Soto's reputation.

And the author of that report was none other than Hans.

He was a reporter who knew exactly how to tell a story.

"Heh, we're all just trying to make a living, aren't we? Besides, I published articles speaking up for you later on," Hans laughed.

"But the one where you said nice things didn't go viral," Soto replied flatly.

"Alright, Soto, may I ask: during the match, we saw Lu Yang, a center-back, repeatedly controlling the ball and even charging up to the edge of the opponent's penalty area. Is this kind of tactical discipline allowed in your team?" Hans's question was very sharp.

Soto, however, did not hesitate at all: "Obviously, this kind of tactical discipline is not allowed in any head coach's team."

Hans's eyes lit up.

Was Soto walking into a trap?

In fact, this question was difficult to answer.

If you say you allow Lu Yang to break discipline, the head coach's authority is undermined, and team discipline loses its binding force.

But if you criticize Lu Yang... you have to remember, Lu Yang was the hero who scored the winner!

Soto's answer was effectively the latter.

But Soto quickly added: "However, I believe that in any team, scoring goals is allowed, no matter how the goal is scored!"

Clap, clap, clap!

Applause erupted from the audience.

Lu Yang's actions were indeed debatable, but the fact that the goalscorer is innocent was one of the true principles of football.

It went viral!

San Remo was trending once again!

<After Soto takes charge, the first match ends a four-game losing streak; a comeback win shows his power!>

<Miraculous substitutions! Both players brought on by Soto scored!>

<13 seconds! The fastest second-half goal record in Italy!>

<A double-perfect debut! Two San Remo youth substitutes come on and both score!>

<Magical midfielder! Moric scored with his second touch after coming on, and his first touch was the kickoff.>

<Cannon-shot defender! Lu Yang scores a screamer in the final minute of the match!>

<The defender who should be playing striker in Serie D, look at how lethal his dipping shots are!>

<The longest goal of the season in Serie D is born, a 29.6-meter screamer, courtesy of San Remo!>

All sorts of news were flying everywhere, especially in the Liguria region, where Lu Yang and Moric became overnight sensations.

Of course, for Lu Yang, it was a second overnight sensation.

The title of "San Remo Twins" spread like wildfire.

Likewise, Lu Yang broke a record in the last match: the youngest player to appear in the Italian professional leagues. On the day of the match, Lu Yang was only sixteen years and 181 days old.

Naturally, this record doesn't hold much weight, as young players frequently appear in Italy's lower-tier leagues.

If this were Serie A or Serie B, it would have certainly sparked a wave of attention.

But even so, there were still those who were very dissatisfied with Lu Yang's record.

That person was Arnold, the star player of Bisceglie Football Club.

Arnold isn't old, only nineteen, but he has already been playing professional football for over two years. He made his first Serie D appearance at sixteen years and 300 days old.

This year is also Arnold's final year in Serie D.

He has already been pre-signed by a Serie B team, which is why he is the team's top star; he is about to head to a higher-level league.

The top five leagues poach fresh blood from the second-tier leagues, while the second-tier leagues look for dark horses in the lower-tier leagues.

"Lu Yang? Who are you talking about? Sorry, I haven't heard that name," Arnold stated during a media interview. "If he plays as a defender, then in our next match, I will make him feel just how sharp a Serie B-level attack can be."

"If he plays as a forward, I will make him realize the gap between himself and a Serie B-level striker."

From this statement, you can probably tell that this Arnold's intelligence is clearly not very high.

He considers himself a Serie B-level striker, believing he is superior to the Serie D league.

Never mind Lu Yang, even his own teammates might not be happy about that.

How is this any different from those who, after striking it rich, immediately claim they were never farmers?

Did you think everyone forgot what your legs looked like when they were covered in mud?

In a busy society, no one will look down on you because of your past, unless you look down on yourself first.

Soon, the troublemaker Hans found Lu Yang, hoping that Lu Yang would give Arnold some kind of response.

"I can give you any answer you want, perhaps even exceeding your expectations," Lu Yang said as he and Hans sat in a café.

Moric was sitting nearby to keep watch; he was wary of this reporter who had once "framed" Soto.

This type of reporter is like a tiger—they eat people without spitting out the bones, just as dangerous as those low-quality agents.

Hans was stunned by Lu Yang's words.

This didn't sound like the tone of a sixteen-year-old.

"What are you talking about?" Hans pretended not to understand.

Lu Yang smiled slightly: "Serie D doesn't get much attention; it's just a lower-tier league. But lower-tier leagues can also produce some promising young players. And stories of grudges are always the best way to attract attention."

"As for who gets the popularity, it depends on who can seize the opportunity better. Even without my involvement, you could turn our conflict into the focus of Serie D, but... with my participation, it will be much easier for you to operate."

Hans took a sip of coffee and nodded: "Few young football players can see through this game of commercial hype so thoroughly."

Lu Yang shook his head: "The thorough part isn't here, it's in... I will help you teach Arnold a lesson."

Hans's hand trembled, and a few drops of coffee spilled out.

He frowned deeply.

Lu Yang knew about his conflict with Arnold?

If the person sitting across from him were Maniero, Hans could accept this calmly. If it were Soto, he at least wouldn't have been so rattled.

Lu Yang is only sixteen!

How did he know?

"It's simple," Lu Yang said, as if he knew what Hans wanted to ask. "I've read your column. You know, your articles often circulate widely. Last year, you mentioned Arnold of Bisceglie in Serie D several times, but you haven't mentioned him since October."

"Conversely, I found articles praising Arnold in other newspapers."

"I even suspect that Arnold being scouted by a Serie B team might have something to do with your articles. But... he betrayed you. Or rather, he found a better media partner."

"So you intentionally told Arnold about my excellence, prompting him to publicly criticize me in front of the media. You want me to help you give this arrogant young man a hard slap in the face."

Hans finally regained his composure, not because Lu Yang was wrong, but because he liked working with smart people.

Arnold's betrayal taught Hans the terrifying nature of a fool.

"Guess why Arnold left me?" Hans smiled and held up three fingers. "A three-hundred-euro interview fee."

After he finished speaking, both Lu Yang and Hans laughed.

Three hundred euros—it seems like quite a lot now.

A week's salary for a player in a lower-tier league might only be that much, or perhaps even less.

But... could what Hans brought to Arnold really be worth less than three hundred euros?

The attention and potential transfer to a Serie B team caused Arnold's market value to skyrocket dozens of times over, and his future salary would follow suit.

Isn't that worth more than three hundred euros?

Staying away from fools isn't because they lack intelligence—that wouldn't be a major issue—but because the true danger lies in their inability to distinguish right from wrong, leading them to harm those who genuinely care about them at critical moments.

Throughout history, many famous figures, whether heroes or villains, have been ruined by the "fools" in their own camps.

Hans felt fortunate that he had been betrayed by Arnold early on.

If he had waited until they had a deeper partnership, or until Arnold had already become a Serie B player before the betrayal, he likely would have been blindsided by his enemies, and the losses would have been catastrophic.

As for now, he was just a Serie D player; what kind of loss could there be?

"So, what do you want from me? After all, you're going to help me teach Arnold a lesson, right?" Hans began to treat Lu Yang as an equal adult.

An exchange of interests—everyone feels at ease with that.

"I want you to help me say some things that I want more people to hear," Lu Yang said. "When a football player isn't powerful enough yet, the media dictates their image. Players with poor media relations often have very rough paths."

"A smart decision. You are very clear about the power of the media, and perhaps... even wary of it," Hans said. "So, what do you want me to say for you? Should I praise you just like I praised Arnold, so you can also catch the eye of a Serie B team?"

Lu Yang shook his head: "If I want to go to Serie B, I will walk there myself. I want you to help shift the focus back to football, and then let me use victory after victory to show them that this is how football can be played!"

Hans narrowed his eyes. He didn't rush to agree, but instead studied Lu Yang carefully for a moment before saying: "You are very confident—no, I should say arrogant!"

Lu Yang replied: "That depends on where you are."

Hans looked confused.

Lu Yang continued: "If you had watched my matches, you would know that compared to my performance on the pitch, this is just me playing normally!"

Clap, clap, clap!

Hans applauded.

He admired this kind of bold, meticulous, and intelligent player. This was a player with a big heart, and big hearts often create true miracles.

"Alright, then I'll wait and see your next match. If you can really help me teach Arnold a lesson, I would be more than happy to be your channel for speaking out." Hans stood up and shook hands with Lu Yang.

Both sides wore brilliant smiles.

The next day, a response from Lu Yang appeared in Live Football News.

"Honestly, if I hadn't checked the logo on the schedule, I would have thought I was playing in Serie B. Come on, look at your registered team; you're just a Serie D player."

"Besides, I don't think a half-season Golden Boot counts as a Golden Boot; after all, the league didn't award him a trophy, did it? He only has two more goals than our team's Vedian, yet he acts like he has twenty. By the end of the season, the Golden Boot trophy might not be his."

"Finally, Arnold, right? I suggest you dress warmly for the next match, because players who get frozen out tend to feel quite cold!"

This column immediately caught the attention of football fans across Italy.

Causing trouble again?

A sixteen-year-old player who just entered the first team is already declaring that he will freeze out the league's top scorer?

Too arrogant!

Oh, is that Lu Yang, the one who scores by "logging" the ball?

Wow, so he actually had a stunning long-range goal in the last round?

What, that lightning-fast goal was also orchestrated by him?

Well, since we're tired of watching Serie A, why not have a light snack and watch the lower-tier Serie D?

Soon, many people expressed interest in the upcoming Serie D match between San Remo and Bisceglie.

And the number of such people continued to grow.

Upon seeing the news, Arnold gnashed his teeth in anger.

A mere Serie D defender dares to spout such nonsense?

To hell with Serie D!

Your whole family plays in Serie D!

I'm going to Serie B next season!

Similarly, after delivering his harsh words, Lu Yang silently opened his system.

In the last round, he had achieved his first professional victory.

As a result, he had earned two random gift packs.

Now, it was time to open them!

Mero Negle, Guiyang Halukai, I choose you, Pikachu!