During the match, aside from showing some interest in running at the very beginning, his teammates quickly lost their fighting spirit after conceding a goal, and by the end, they had simply become spectators. This was the thing that Brian Carter was most dissatisfied with.

Olivia Harris also felt that Brian Carter had a point, but some of the others were his acquaintances too, so he didn’t feel comfortable blaming either side. All he could do was say helplessly, “You can’t expect everyone to be like you, Da Chu…”

Brian Carter nodded, took off his jersey, and stuffed it into Olivia Harris’s hands. “If you’re going to play with them in the future, don’t call me. I play to win, not to lose!”

The others, who were just about to leave, heard Brian Carter’s words and immediately started cursing and mocking him: “Listen! Listen to what he’s saying! Undefeated in a hundred battles, huh?”

“Damn, what an attitude! You don’t want to play with us? We don’t even want to ask you! You think you’re that good? You’re just an idiot who can run and nothing else!”

“Hey, have you only played one match in your whole life?”

“So arrogant! Even Ronaldo wouldn’t dare say that!”

“Of course he wouldn’t, he even cried during the match against Lazio!”

“I’ll tell you a way to never lose a match—just never play in one!”

“Hahahaha!”

The group left, laughing loudly.

Brian Carter stuffed his jersey into his bag, seemingly deaf to the ridicule, mockery, and angry shouts from those people. He was getting ready to leave for his part-time job.

“Da Chu!” Olivia Harris called out to him.

Brian Carter turned to look at him. Olivia Harris wasn’t just a fellow townsman, but also his roommate in their shared apartment. If it weren’t for his relationship with Olivia Harris, and for all the help Olivia Harris had given him when he first arrived in the UK, he wouldn’t have given up two hours of work to come and embarrass himself with that group.

“Um… I’m sorry, and thank you.” Olivia Harris said. He knew very well that today’s crushing defeat was due to the team’s lack of skill, but Brian Carter was the one who put in the most effort. Even though those teammates mocked and ridiculed Brian Carter, he still felt he had to say thank you. Brian Carter had given up two hours of paid work to help, only to become the butt of jokes from the spectators and his own teammates. If he didn’t say thank you and sorry, he’d feel guilty. Brian Carter’s family wasn’t well off, and he was always busy working part-time. Two hours could earn him nine pounds, but instead, he spent it getting humiliated on the field with them.

This match was humiliating for him too, but there was nothing he could do—he just wasn’t as skilled as the others. Brian Carter was already the best performer on the team, but a lone tiger can’t fight off a pack of wolves. No matter how good he was, what use was it? Besides, he was just a defensive midfielder.

When Brian Carter heard this, he turned back, took the jersey he’d just given to Olivia Harris from his hands, and said, “I’ll wash the clothes and shoes before returning them to you.”

After saying this, he turned and left. He was in a bad mood and didn’t want to say anything more.

Brian Carter left, and so did the other teammates, leaving only Olivia Harris behind. He squatted down to pack up his things, getting ready to head home as well.

“Huh, everyone’s gone already?” a slightly disappointed female voice sounded behind him.

Olivia Harris turned his head and saw that the newcomer was an old acquaintance—Emily Clark.

Olivia Harris and Emily Clark had known each other for a long time, since Emily Clark was a member of the student council, and as the representative of Chinese international students, Olivia Harris naturally interacted with her often. He quickly stood up and asked, “Are you looking for someone, Emily Clark?”

“Ah, Yang. Yes, I’m looking for someone…” After greeting Olivia Harris, Emily Clark shrugged as she looked at the now-empty field.

“Who are you looking for? If it’s one of our players, I know them all.”

“Um… Number 6, your number 6 player. I’ve never seen him before. Is he a student at our school?” Emily Clark spread her hands.

Olivia Harris laughed, “You’re looking for Brian Carter? What a pity, he’s already left. He’ll officially be a student at our school in September; he just finished his foundation course.”

Emily Clark looked a bit disappointed and shrugged.

“Is there something you need from him, Emily Clark? Maybe I can pass on a message for you.” Olivia Harris pushed up his glasses.

“Mm… Actually, it’s nothing.” Emily Clark shook her head. “Since he’s not here, I’ll go too. Goodbye, Yang.”

“Goodbye, Emily Clark.”

Olivia Harris watched Emily Clark’s figure as she walked away, pushing up his glasses. He knew Emily Clark was a die-hard football fan, but what did that have to do with Brian Carter?

Behind him, the sky was growing darker, and the white moon and faint stars were already visible.

Chapter Two Brian Carter (Part Two)

Emily Clark could never have imagined that she would see that number 6 again so soon—just one day after that match.

As she walked slowly home along the sidewalk, carrying a paper bag full of dinner, a black-haired boy with a backpack slung over his shoulder came rushing around the street corner. Accompanying his appearance was a cry of distress: “I told you I’m not a thief! Damn it!”