The Strongest of the Newcomers

As students, few people probably liked Mondays, because they meant another long week of studying had arrived. They wished weekends could be longer and longer, because they still had not had enough fun...

Hu Lai was the opposite. He hoped the new week would arrive quickly.

Because that meant he would have three more chances to play football after school—on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

Luo Kai was also looking forward to the new week, because he would get to see Li Qingqing again.

After that match, he believed his image in Li Qingqing's mind must have become absolutely dazzling.

To further cement that image in Li Qingqing's mind, he had already challenged Class Five of the first year to a match after school on Tuesday.

After making the arrangements, he invited Li Qingqing to watch the match on Tuesday morning.

But to his surprise, Li Qingqing refused this time!

"Ah, sorry, Luo Kai, but I have to go straight home after school." Li Qingqing wore a polite smile.

She was going to coach Hu Lai after school. How could she possibly go watch Luo Kai play?

"Is that so? It's fine, I was just asking..." Though he was deeply unwilling to accept the rejection, Luo Kai still tried to act like a gentleman in front of Li Qingqing. He forced out a dashing smile, then turned and left with gritted teeth.

On the football field after school that afternoon, Class Two and Class Five of the first year were playing a match.

After dribbling past three defenders, Luo Kai fired a low shot. The football nearly grazed the corner of the goal as it flew in, while Class Five's goalkeeper stood rooted to the spot, unable to make any move at all.

Cheers erupted from Class Two. Li Zhiqun led his teammates rushing toward Luo Kai to celebrate with him.

But Luo Kai waved them off, turned, and ran back to his own half.

Li Zhiqun looked at him in disappointment, signaling the others not to go over and make fools of themselves.

He could more or less guess why Brother Kai seemed so uninterested after scoring—because that figure was nowhere to be found in the stands...

If he had not already made arrangements with Class Five, Brother Kai might even have wanted to cancel this match...

"That's really impressive."

A tall, handsome figure stood in the stands with his hands in his pockets, sighing to the person beside him.

His companion, a head shorter than him, clicked his tongue. "That was his seventh goal, right? Class Five has been completely crushed. I feel like their goalkeeper doesn't even want to keep playing. This is too miserable... Captain Chu, is he that 'strongest newcomer'?"

The tall, handsome boy called Captain Chu nodded. "Luo Kai from Class Two. I heard he received professional training before. There are quite a few good players among this year's first-years, but he's the best."

"I heard the new coach is very capable too. With newcomers like Luo Kai and the others, maybe we really can make it to the national tournament." His companion looked at Luo Kai on the field and sighed.

"Let's beat Jiaxiang first before talking about that." Captain Chu shook his head.

Jiaxiang High School, in the neighboring provincial capital, was currently the dominant force in the province's high school football scene. Ever since the National Unified High School Football Championship had begun, they had represented Andong Province at the national tournament for five consecutive years. They were the shining banner of high school football in Andong Province.

"With Luo Kai, I think we can fight Jiaxiang." His companion said.

As they spoke, Luo Kai scored another goal. Just like before, he turned and ran back to his own half after scoring, with no intention of celebrating and no expression on his face.

"He doesn't let his emotions show even after scoring. He really has the bearing of a great leader..." His companion praised him. The more he watched Luo Kai, the more he liked him. He could practically see Luo Kai charging into battle for Dongchuan Middle School in this year's provincial qualifiers, helping them defeat Jiaxiang High School, rise to the top of Andong Province's high school football scene, and become the provincial representative at the national tournament.

Captain Chu chuckled. "Who would still celebrate after scoring eight goals in one match?"

With that, he turned and headed down from the stands.

"Huh? You're not watching anymore?" His companion was surprised.

"Yeah, I'm done watching. I still have homework to do." Captain Chu said. "Do you think I'm one of you second-years?"

"Heh, what's wrong with us second-years? We have tons of homework too, you know!" His companion turned and followed him. "I'm going back to do homework too!"

"I have the college entrance exam next year," Captain Chu said as he walked ahead.

"We have it the year after..." His companion stopped halfway through the sentence. He suddenly understood why Captain Chu had said that.

The college entrance exam was next year, so this winter would be his final chance. Whether he could make it to the national tournament depended on this attempt.

Unlike other schools, which used more experienced third-year players as captains, Captain Chu had been captain of the school team ever since he joined it in his first year. Because at that time, he was the only player Dongchuan Middle School had who could truly hold his own.

He had arrived when the Dongchuan Middle School Football Team was at its lowest point, bearing the responsibility of restoring Dongchuan Middle School's reputation as a traditional football powerhouse. But two years had passed, and he still had not completed that mission.

In his first year, he had been full of spirit, but reality dealt him a crushing blow—Dongchuan Middle School had been eliminated in the very first round of the qualifiers.

In his second year, he had become more mature and gained the help of new teammates like them. They had charged all the way to the third round of the qualifiers, only to face the powerful Jiaxiang High School and lose without the slightest suspense.

This year was Captain Chu's third year, and also his last chance to make a run at the national tournament.

Thinking of this, he stopped and looked back toward the field, finding Luo Kai among the players.

I hope this kid steps up and helps Captain Chu fulfill this wish.

If he really can do it, I'd even hand the captaincy over to him at this time next year.

Luo Kai scored again, and cheers rang out from the stands. They came from the girls of Class Two, who had specifically come to cheer for Luo Kai.

This was not an official match between two classes, and it was after school, so there were not many people in the stands. The cheers of those dozen or so girls sounded especially clear.

"Go, Class Two!"

"Go, Luo Kai!"

"Luo Kai is so handsome!!!"

"Luo Kai is the best!!"

To the players of Class Five, those cheers were simply ear-piercing. Many of them looked at the figure who did not even celebrate after scoring and wanted to howl at the sky—Heavens! How can you be so unfair? He's good at football, handsome, and so popular with girls... Why do all the good things have to be piled onto one person?

Under the murderous glares of Class Five's players and the soaring cheers of Class Two's girls, Luo Kai remained calm, even somewhat bored...

He had scored so many goals against Class Five as if venting his frustration, yet he found that the emotions in his heart still had not eased.

What meaning would reaching the peak of my life have if you weren't by my side?

No. Without you by my side, it wouldn't be the peak of my life at all!

He tilted his head slightly and looked toward the western sky, filled with the glow of sunset.

The golden clouds seemed to take Qingqing's form, smiling as she watched him.