Jason Bolton’s left shoulder dropping was indeed a feint. As Liam expected, his right foot swept toward the ball, as if he was really going to break through from the right. Liam judged correctly! This time, there was hope to win back a point!

However, Jason Bolton’s right foot sweep was also a feint! As his right foot swept past, his heel immediately knocked the ball through Liam’s legs as Liam stepped out! Then, pivoting on his left foot, he spun his body to the left!

Liam was tricked again!

Paul Young’s eyes lit up. He had never seen this move before—could it be that this silly kid came up with it himself?

Jason Bolton turned around, caught up with the ball, and for the third time stopped the soccer ball right on the sideline.

This time, Liam didn’t say, “Again!” He seemed not to have figured out how he’d been beaten.

Paul Young stood up at just the right moment. “Alright, the sun’s too harsh, let’s head back!”

When the boss spoke, who dared not listen? The five of them packed up and left the field.

Paul Young deliberately walked at the back with Jason Bolton.

“How do you feel?” Paul Young asked Jason Bolton in a low voice.

“A bit tough,” Jason Bolton wiped his sweat.

“I could tell, he’s very tenacious... but...”

The two exchanged a glance.

“I understand now why I was eliminated in the second round...” Paul Young continued, “That slide tackle in the first half—if you had just gone down, you could’ve easily drawn a penalty. That kind of tackle is fine on the wing to stop a breakthrough, but he’s a center back, and to do that in the box...”

“You think I’m the kind of person who fakes a fall to beg for a call?” Jason Bolton shot Paul Young a look.

“Of course you’re not!” Paul Young quickly laughed. “But just because you’re not doesn’t mean everyone else is a gentleman, right? Your strengths and weaknesses are both obvious, but the weaknesses are even more fatal. What a pity...” Paul Young shook his head as he looked at Liam’s back.

“At first, he really reminded me of ‘him.’”

“‘Him’?”

“But later, it was different. Leonard Thompson’s moves are fierce too, but he has great control. Liam doesn’t. Just this difference seems to have determined their fates...”

“Yeah, yeah. By the way, when did you come up with a new move?” Paul Young looked at Jason Bolton.

“Huh? The Little Li Flying Dagger?” Jason Bolton played dumb.

“...Don’t play dumb with me! Practicing in secret behind my back, huh? Heh!” Paul Young wouldn’t let it go.

Jason Bolton kept playing dumb. At that moment, they heard a whistle, followed by Frank Bolton’s voice: “Beauty!”

Jason Bolton and Paul Young looked ahead and saw Sophie standing under the dormitory building. The “beauty” Frank Bolton mentioned was definitely her.

“Sophie, when did you get here?” Jason Bolton ran up happily.

“Just arrived. I saw you all, so I waited here.” Sophie smiled. The other three were instantly stunned.

“Su... Could it be, you’re the legendary manager of Dawn?” Frank Bolton pointed at Sophie, half his face surprised, half delighted.

Paul Young knocked Frank Bolton’s hand away. “Hey! It’s rude to point at a lady! Ahem!” Paul Young coughed. “Let me introduce everyone. Frank Bolton, Henry Clark, Liam, we’re all from the same dorm, all soccer talents.”

Sophie smiled graciously at the three. “Hello!”

“Hel... Hello!” In contrast, the three of them became tongue-tied.

“And these two,” Paul Young pointed at Jason Bolton and Sophie, “are the legendary golden boy and jade girl of Dawn! As for me, I’m their guardian knight...”

“You mean the 250-watt lightbulb!” Jason Bolton corrected him.

Everyone laughed. Paul Young shot Jason Bolton a look and turned to Frank Bolton: “Frank Bolton, I remember you just whistled at our jade girl, didn’t you?”

Frank Bolton shivered.

“Come on, pick one of the top ten tortures of the Qing Dynasty for your punishment!”

Seeing Frank Bolton’s embarrassed look, Sophie laughed. “Alright, Paul Young, stop teasing him. Hehe! It’s nothing!”

Frank Bolton breathed a sigh of relief. Sophie really was as kind to everyone as the rumors said...

“Spared from death, but...” Paul Young’s voice rang out again, “but you can’t escape punishment! Go, buy each of us a bottle of Coke—your treat!”

Frank Bolton ran off toward the store as if he’d been pardoned.

“Make it cold!” Paul Young called after him.

“Yeah, yeah!” Frank Bolton waved his hand without looking back and ran off.

Chapter 004: The Forty-Four-Year Dream

Since the 1957 World Cup qualifiers, China—a country with nearly a quarter of the world’s population—has been chasing a dream for forty-four long years. The most populous nation on earth unable to prove itself in the world’s number one sport—this is something some people just can’t understand.