You're Just Jealous That I'm More Handsome Than You

"Anno, if you want to gain the upper hand in physical battles against opponents on the pitch, you have to train your lower body and core."

In the gym, fitness coach Lucas was giving Chen Anno some extra instruction.

During this period, besides the team's regular training sessions, old captain Ceni was teaching him free-kick techniques, while Lucas and Lucio were in charge of his strength training.

"Before, every time you went up against Lucio on the training ground, you looked like you were struggling. That's because your lower-body strength still isn't enough."

Chen Anno listened carefully to Lucas's explanation, afraid of missing even a single word.

"On the domestic stage, you can use your technique and reactions to shake off most defenders. But in Europe, players start practicing direct physical confrontation from a young age.

"You'll definitely play in Europe someday, so before that, you have to make up for this weakness."

At that point, Lucas pointed at the barbell beside them. "This is a sixty-kilogram barbell. Come on, get it on your back."

"Keep your back straight! Tighten your core! Point your toes slightly outward, and keep your knees aligned with your toes!"

"Yes... that's it. When you squat, feel like you're sitting your butt back, like you're sitting down in a chair... Control your breathing. That's it."

"Anno, imagine this: if you can squat one hundred or even two hundred kilograms, then when an opponent weighing seventy or eighty kilograms charges into you, would you even feel it?"

Under Lucas's supervision, Chen Anno fought battle after battle against the iron in the gym.

"Hey...! This is fun..."

Holding a medicine ball in both hands, Chen Anno slammed it into the ground with all his strength.

"Anno... that's not how you slam it!" Lucas held his forehead.

"Don't use your arms to smash it. You need to push off the ground with your feet and drive force downward. Tighten your core to transfer that force to your arms, then release it into the ball in an instant before slamming it into the floor."

"Yes, that's it. Keep it up. Imagine that defender who's always pestering you is right in front of you. Smash the ball into the ground at his feet! That's right, just like that. Ten reps per set, three sets."

Loud booms echoed through the gym.

Then came Bulgarian split squats, hanging leg raises, and more. With every movement, Chen Anno felt his muscles burning.

Lifting iron in the gym and battling Lucio physically on the training ground, Chen Anno learned a great deal from the Brazilian center-back.

For a rookie like Chen Anno, the Brazilian defender's experience battling through the Top Five Leagues was incredibly valuable.

Old captain Ceni's free-kick lessons also benefited him immensely.

Thanks to his natural talent, Chen Anno improved rapidly, leaving several coaches and the team's veteran players looking at him in a new light.

After all, it had been less than two months since Chen Anno joined the club.

Everyone could not help but marvel: Was this what it felt like when God personally chased after you to feed you?

During that time, Sao Paulo played another league match at home against Goias.

The club was from Brazil's Goias State and was a lower-mid-table side in the Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A.

Chen Anno was still a substitute for this match and did not get his chance until the seventy-fifth minute of the second half.

Even so, he made the most of his limited time and scored a goal, helping Sao Paulo defeat their opponents 2–1 at home and secure their fourth straight league victory.

He had scored in three consecutive matches, and Chen Anno earned everyone's recognition through his own ability.

"♫ I still remember you promised me

You wouldn't let me lose you

But you followed those migratory birds flying south, so far away

Love is like a kite with its string cut..."

That day, Chen Anno had just finished lifting and stepped out after a shower when he heard his phone ringing.

"Hey...! Neymar, what made you think to call me?"

"As expected of you, Anno. The moment you got to Sao Paulo, your name was everywhere. Looks like after I left, this place became your territory."

Neymar's teasing voice came from the other end of the call.

"To Sao Paulo? You're back?" Chen Anno ignored the teasing and caught the important part instead.

"Hehe... that's right. I came back as soon as La Liga ended. Lotus Club tonight—I've already booked a private room. We have to have a proper drink. It's been more than two years since we last met, Anno."

So he was on summer break. No wonder Chen Anno could hear the excitement in the guy's voice even over the phone.

But... Lotus Club? Wasn't that a nightclub?

To be honest, Chen Anno was not very interested in places like that, but he did not want to spoil Neymar's mood. As Neymar said, they had not seen each other for more than two years.

"All right... send the address to my WhatsApp. I'll get ready and head over in a bit... By the way, how long are you staying this time?"

"I have to leave tomorrow and report in Rio de Janeiro."

"Report?" Chen Anno was a little confused.

"Hey...! Reporting to the national team. You didn't know?"

"The national team? Are there any international matches coming up?"

On the other end, Neymar covered his forehead with one hand. "Anno, don't tell me you've been holed up in the training base and never come out? The Confederations Cup is being held in Brazil, and you didn't know?"

"Uh..." Chen Anno was suddenly at a loss for words. Neymar had actually guessed right—ever since returning to Brazil, he had stayed at the base and barely gone out.

"Hey... I'm coming!" Someone seemed to be calling him from the other end of the line, and Neymar quickly answered before saying, "Anno, I've got something to do here, so I'll leave it at that for now. No need to send you the location either. I'll call you later, and you can come out. I'll drive over to pick you up at the base."

After hanging up, Chen Anno shook his head. Neymar was still the same as ever, always like a child.

Back when he was still at Santos, he often came to Sao Paulo to hang out with Chen Anno. Although they were four years apart in age, Chen Anno had always been more mature and steady than Neymar when it came to personality.

Of course, that might have had something to do with Chen Anno's upbringing. Under Chen Fuqing's "Chinese-style" education, aside from football and studying, Chen Anno rarely ran around barefoot everywhere like the other Brazilian kids.

After returning to the dormitory and packing up a little, Chen Anno changed into a more casual tracksuit. Since the temperature was somewhat low at night, he also put on a vest.

The moment he stepped out of the base gates, a fiery red Ferrari 458 Spider entered Chen Anno's sight.

Neymar wore a white baseball cap and a loose hip-hop-style outfit. He had grown some stubble on his face, making him look much more mature than before, at least in appearance.

Most importantly, the guy was still wearing sunglasses in the middle of the night, leaning against the front of the car in an extremely flashy pose.

When he saw Chen Anno come out, he took off his sunglasses, a smile immediately blooming across his face as he spread his arms wide toward him. "My brother! Long time no see!"

The two embraced, and Neymar looked Chen Anno up and down. "Not bad. You really look like a grown man now! Hmm... still just as handsome. You're only a tiny bit away from catching up to me."

Chen Anno wore an equally genuine smile as he lightly punched Neymar in the chest with his right hand. "You're still such a show-off. Wearing sunglasses in the middle of the night."

Playing along with Chen Anno's gesture, Neymar clutched his chest and put on a pained expression. "Ow... see? You're still so jealous of me. Jealous that I'm better than you at football, jealous that I'm more handsome than you."

"Hahaha..." Neither of them could help laughing.

The two boys from back then had both grown up. Though they had not seen each other for a long time, the bond between brothers remained the same.