[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-football-at-16-let-me-retire-and-come-back":3,"chapter-football-at-16-let-me-retire-and-come-back-football-at-16-let-me-retire-and-come-back-chapter-104":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Football: At 16, Let Me Retire and Come Back?",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2300074,4499,"Chapter 104: The Ultimate Chest","football-at-16-let-me-retire-and-come-back-chapter-104",104,"\u003Cp>After winning the Eredivisie, Utrecht secured a spot in next season’s UEFA Champions League as champions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This achievement was historic; that evening, club owner Verhof booked a local Western restaurant in Montford to host a banquet for the entire Utrecht team.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Vamos!!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the door opened, Amrabat shouted at Tang Ye so loudly the Moroccan nearly made him spit out his gum.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Damn it, Sofyan, what are you doing?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Ye spat out his gum and immediately wrestled with Amrabat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey, don’t rush—this is something Spaniards shout. Do you even know what ‘vamos’ means? It’s Spanish! Ramos yelled it when Real Madrid beat Manchester City in the Champions League!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After saying this, Amrabat paused briefly, then shouted again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Vamos!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Okay, okay, okay—so what does it mean?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under Amrabat’s guidance, Tang Ye entered the second-floor hall. Verhof had rented this modest space, where players could freely roam—even jump on tables was fine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It means you play football well.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amrabat said, leading Tang Ye to grab a Coca-Cola in a glass bottle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amrabat gnawed at it for ages but couldn’t open the glass bottle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let me! Let me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Ye, growing impatient, stepped forward and took the bottle from Amrabat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sofyan, watch this!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Ye held up the glass bottle and walked to the table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He shook it vigorously in his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why are you shaking it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amrabat looked confused by Tang Ye’s action.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’ll open easier this way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Ye explained, pointing the bottle’s mouth toward Amrabat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he smashed it against the table corner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Puff!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cola inside suddenly erupted, shooting straight at Amrabat’s head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hahaha! Hahahahaha!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Ye reacted quickly, slammed the bottle onto the table, and bolted away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Damn it, Tang, you’re dead!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amrabat wiped the foam off his face, grabbed a new cola from the bar, and chased after Tang Ye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amrabat had been determined to settle things with Tang Ye, but just then Verhof arrived, along with Ten Hag.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Verhof and Ten Hag, the players instantly fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three giant tables: the starters, head coach, and Verhof sat at the first; substitutes at the second; and first-team staff at the third.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To celebrate the victory, Verhof even brought over Utrecht’s pitch maintenance staff!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The banquet began. The atmosphere at the second and third tables was lively, but the first table was tense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Verhof’s presence made the players feel restrained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mr. Eric!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Ye gently tugged at Ten Hag’s shirt, who leaned his ear close: “What is it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“See that wrap on your right, in front?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Ye lifted his fork.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he said, a beef-and-vegetable wrap sat exactly where his fork pointed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Can you get me one?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ten Hag was speechless: “Can’t you get it yourself?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m too shy—nobody’s speaking.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ten Hag wanted to refuse, but Tang Ye gazed at him with hopeful eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Helpless, Ten Hag stood up and, under the stares of players and owner Verhof, picked up one wrap from the platter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He placed it on Tang Ye’s plate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Ye rubbed his hands together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d noticed the wrap as soon as he sat down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t that Tang Ye was greedy—he usually ate something back at the base after matches, but tonight’s banquet meant the cafeteria hadn’t prepared food.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was starving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Ten Hag fetch the wrap for Tang Ye, Verhof suddenly remembered something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tom, you’re tonight’s biggest hero.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Verhof said, mimicking Ten Hag’s gesture to take a squid wrap for Tang Ye, then added: “Everyone eat, everyone eat!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without waiting for Verhof, Tang Ye had already eaten half the beef wrap Ten Hag gave him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t notice he was the first person at the table to speak and eat—but no one minded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>About five or six minutes into the banquet, several waiters arrived carrying glasses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They placed the glasses before the players and poured red wine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Ye got one too: a female waiter shifted his plate slightly, set a wine glass on it, and began pouring liquid into it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uh...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Ye squinted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was wondering why the liquid in his glass differed from everyone else’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone else had bright red wine—his was black.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was it bubbling?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Damn it!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is this cola?” Tang Ye raised his glass; teammates turned to look.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Haha, Tang, what else are you gonna drink if not cola? You wanna drink wine?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Ye glanced left and right—only his glass held black liquid—so without hesitation, he swapped cups with Amrabat on his left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I thought you hadn’t learned to drink yet, so I arranged cola for you...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Verhof chuckled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Ye shrugged, picked up the glass, and took a small sip of the red wine, imitating his father’s manner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He swallowed with difficulty, then turned to Amrabat on his left: “Sofyan, can I have your cup? I’ll ask a waiter to bring you a fresh glass of wine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amrabat shrugged, but if Verhof hadn’t been at the table, he’d have laughed Tang Ye to shame.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I knew you’d want your cola back, so I didn’t drink it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amrabat was easygoing—he returned the cola to Tang Ye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Squeak!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Verhof stood up: “Today is the most historic day in Utrecht’s history—we’ve won...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned toward the Eredivisie trophy displayed by the wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’ve won the championship—our first ever. I’m deeply grateful for your efforts, Eric, Bart, Sebastian, Tang...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Verhof recited the names of every Utrecht player, from starters to substitutes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Ye was surprised—Verhof pronounced “Tang” with perfect accuracy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I truly thank you for your dedication to the team—and the fans too. This has been a perfect season.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All players stood, raising their glasses to the center.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seventeen glasses on Table One—all red, except one that stood out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its liquid was black, with bubbles rising from the bottom and bursting at the surface.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Tang Ye looked down at his glass, his expression grew slightly awkward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it didn’t matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Utrecht!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Utrecht!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Utrecht! (off-key)!!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back at the dorm that night, Tang Ye’s stomach felt bloated—clearly from too much cola.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Ye wanted to shower first, but before that, he had something far more important to do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ultimate Chest!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having won both the Dutch Cup and the Eredivisie, Tang Ye had unexpectedly fulfilled Condition Three to unlock the Ultimate Chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One hundred percent ultimate template!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An ultimate template one level stronger than a legendary template!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without hesitation, Tang Ye went to the bathroom, squeezed face wash onto his hands, and carefully washed his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Are you certain you wish to open the ultimate chest using Condition Three?】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Confirm】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two enormous spinning wheels appeared before Tang Ye, both beginning to rotate simultaneously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Reward determination in progress…】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Ousman Dembélé 55-Dribble Template (Legendary)】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Effect: Your non-dominant foot (left foot) gains the same dribbling proficiency as your dominant foot (right foot); you have no off-foot disadvantage during dribbling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Ye frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He recognized the player this template came from: Dortmund winger Dembélé.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Top-tier 55-dribble technique; although Dembélé himself isn’t considered a legend, his skill being classified as a legendary template is entirely justified.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Excellent dribbling ability—exactly what a ball-dominant midfielder needs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Tang Ye now had a problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wasn’t this supposed to be an ultimate template?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What’s with getting a legendary one?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Tang Ye could investigate whether his system had another bug, the familiar voice spoke again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Ousman Dembélé 55-Dribble Template (Legendary) undergoing ultimate transformation】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【You have obtained Zhou Botong’s Left-Right Mutual Combat Template (Ultimate)】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Botong?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Ye narrowed his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something felt off—why did this name sound so distinctly Chinese?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could it really be a Chinese person?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Ye felt a twinge of anxiety; Chinese football’s strength was internationally considered quite backward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So was this template garbage?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But why did the name feel so familiar?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Forget it—let’s just check the effect first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Template effect:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(1) Fully replicate the ability of your dominant foot onto your non-dominant foot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(2) Whenever your dominant foot gains a new template, fully replicate that template onto your non-dominant foot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Holy shit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: Unlike lower-tier templates, the distinction between superstar and legendary templates does not rely solely on player market value—it also considers template effect, or rarity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1357,"2026-06-20T06:50:08.245Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","e9faa55d2813af7fca3b1e0ea3a8584186dbe689e401285445b708eff6c5daa0","football-at-16-let-me-retire-and-come-back-chapter-105","football-at-16-let-me-retire-and-come-back-chapter-103",918,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Ffootball-at-16-let-me-retire-and-come-back-cover.jpg"]