Laura Scott let out a light snort. “Of course, he’s a star player—he has to be the last one to make an entrance, otherwise how could he be the grand finale? And the head coach personally went to the gate to welcome him and take him to check in. Look at that treatment... tsk tsk!”

“The head coach personally took him to check in... Why does he get that kind of treatment?”

“He’s the only national team player on our team.” Laura Scott spread his hands and shrugged.

“Aren’t we supposed to be the strongest team in the country for our age group? Isn’t it normal to have national players?” David Carter found Laura Scott’s words odd. The only national team player?

As soon as David Carter asked this, Laura Scott fell silent. The usually talkative guy actually had nothing to say for once. Olivia Baker, standing nearby, answered David Carter’s question for him.

“That’s just media hype, a gimmick. In reality, we’re not the strongest in the country for our age group at all. Wouldn’t the strongest be the U17 (under-17 national team)? If that were the case, they could just send the national youth team—why bother cobbling together a team like us?” Olivia Baker didn’t say much, but his quietness was different from Julia Evans’s. Even when he wasn’t talking, he always wore a smile, while Julia Evans would just keep a cold face and say nothing. One was warm, the other aloof.

To make sure David Carter understood, Olivia Baker actually said more than usual in one go.

“So actually...” David Carter had already guessed.

Olivia Baker nodded. “A lot of us here might not even be starters in our own clubs’ youth teams. Otherwise, what club would be willing to send their main players to take part in a TV reality show that’s just for fun?”

“So no one really cares about this at all...” David Carter thought back to how excited he’d been when he saw the news on TV. Turns out it was just because he hadn’t seen much of the world. People who have wouldn’t take the hype seriously, right? He felt a bit disappointed, thinking maybe this show was just about going to some European cities, playing a few games, taking some scenic photos, and that’s it. He even started to doubt whether he’d get to see those youth talents from the European football giants.

“Well, yeah. Who would believe a team thrown together at the last minute could be qualified to challenge the youth academies of giants like Barcelona and Real Madrid?” Laura Scott snorted from the side. “Europeans would definitely think we’re just talking nonsense.”

Olivia Baker didn’t say any more. He’d said all that needed to be said, and if he kept going, it would just be discouraging. He didn’t want to dampen the spirits of this new teammate.

But David Carter kept thinking along those lines. “So, the production team brought in a national youth team player just to make our team look less weak, to save face?”

“Yeah, and not just any player—he’s not a substitute, he’s a starter, the main striker!” Laura Scott’s words sounded sarcastic to David Carter.

“A striker...” David Carter frowned as soon as he heard the word. He was a striker too, and with such a strong competitor, he might end up as a substitute. If he went to Europe and couldn’t even play, what a shame that would be.

“Yeah, it’s like he’s the head coach’s own son or something...” Laura Scott lowered his voice as he said this, clearly aware that badmouthing the coach behind his back wasn’t a good idea.

“If he’s so amazing, why would he join our reality show? Didn’t Olivia Baker say those clubs didn’t want to play along with us?” David Carter had another question.

“I heard the head coach used some personal connections to get him, so he’s really treasured...”

Just as they were talking, a commotion broke out at the restaurant entrance. Many people who had been eating put down their chopsticks and spoons and looked up.

Then Laura Scott, David Carter, and Olivia Baker saw someone walk in at the restaurant entrance.

“Hey, the star has arrived. Even for dinner, he has to be the last one for the grand finale, tsk!” Laura Scott snorted through his nose.

But David Carter was stunned.

Why?

Because the newcomer was none other than... Julia Evans, his roommate!

……

When Julia Evans walked into the restaurant, he could clearly feel the noisy place quiet down, with countless eyes fixed on him.

But Julia Evans wasn’t surprised or unfamiliar with this.

As the main striker of China’s under-17 national youth team, he was already used to this kind of attention.

He ignored all the looks thrown his way, whether they were curious, flattering, or disdainful.

Without glancing sideways, he walked straight to the food counter, picked up a stainless steel tray, and started ordering food.

He didn’t order much, and deliberately avoided the especially greasy dishes. He didn’t take any of the pork that was so popular with the others.

After ordering, he carried his tray straight to an empty table and started eating.