Chapter 41: The Initial Probability of 99,999 Fragments

“What? Why 99%?”

Tang Ye suddenly stood up, counting on his fingers as he slowly analyzed for Ten Hag: “One attempt is 10%. Before training just now, I was at 90%. So now I should be at 100%. Sir, you can’t take away my 1%!”

Ten Hag shook his head: “Remember what I said? Effort brings reward. At 99%, it means your effort still isn’t enough.”

Tang Ye lowered his head, expressionless. Seeing this, Ten Hag quickly added: “Tang, you should focus on the positive side. You’re at 99%—that means you’re just one step away from locking down a starting spot, isn’t that right?”

“...”

Tang Ye said nothing.

Although Ten Hag was a bit sneaky, Tang Ye couldn’t find any flaw in what the Dutchman said.

99%...

To be honest, Tang Ye no longer wanted to run, but he was still under the 【Grimaldi Draft Beer】 state.

In the end, Tang Ye negotiated with Ten Hag and agreed to stay after dinner tonight for extra training.

“Excellent, that’s the spirit.”

Ten Hag placed his hand on Tang Ye’s shoulder: “I feel your determination—you’ll get closer and closer to the starting lineup!”

After training, in the first-team cafeteria, Tang Ye sat with teammates he knew well, eating.

He picked up a slice of raw herring from his plate and skillfully placed it on Amrabat’s plate.

Van der Gaag imposed strict dietary rules on Tang Ye, but Tang Ye was smart—he knew how to lighten his own burden.

Amrabat was used to this gesture from Tang Ye; he didn’t like raw herring either, so he just left it untouched on his plate.

Aale finished eating quickly, then stared at Tang Ye beside him: “Will you start in the next match?”

“I don’t know yet.”

Tang Ye bit into his Angus mega-beef burger with three beef patties, chewing as he said: “Eric always releases the lineup late. I bet he won’t tell us who’s starting until tomorrow night.”

“But I saw you talking to Mr. Eric about the starting spot.”

Balazic, sitting across from Aale, reminded him. Tang Ye nodded: “Yeah, I’ve brought it up with him many times, but...”

“But what?”

Ayoub, who rarely spoke, suddenly chimed in.

Tang Ye asked Amrabat to fetch the salad dressing from the next table, adding it as he explained: “Mr. Eric hasn’t guaranteed me a starting spot. He said if I want to start, I need to train nonstop—he’ll consider me only if I prove myself.”

Ten Hag had emphasized this many times.

Tang Ye was still far from having the level to start in the Eredivisie.

So if Tang Ye wanted to start, he had to make a small “sacrifice”—his rest time.

“Eric has a sadistic streak—he just wants to see me suffer during training!”

Hearing that Ten Hag hadn’t confirmed Tang Ye’s starting spot, Ayoub sighed in relief, then asked: “You ate so much for dinner—do you still have training tonight?”

“Yes, training tonight.”

Tang Ye took another bite of his giant burger.

Four fried eggs, three beef patties—nutritional value maxed out!

“Wow, I didn’t know you were this hardworking, Tang!”

Aale sipped his juice and gave Tang Ye a thumbs-up, making Tang Ye feel slightly embarrassed.

“Eh, it’s nothing special. As a professional, this is just what I should do.”

“Just get used to putting in effort!”

“Hahaha.”

Amrabat pointed his fork at Tang Ye across from him: “Bullshit, what are you talking about? Don’t lie, Tang—I know your real self!”

“Hey, people change!”

Tang Ye put the burger back on his plate, wiped his hands with his shirt, and explained: “People change. I’m completely different from who I was before. You know what? The extra training tonight—I asked for it myself!”

He asked for extra training himself!

Tang Ye’s words stunned Amrabat.

Damn it!

We all came up from the second team—you suddenly become this hardworking and make me look like an idiot!

That night, after two hours of massage and stretching, Tang Ye arrived at Utrecht’s indoor football pitch.

Ten Hag sat on the substitute bench chair—he’d been waiting for nearly ten minutes.

“The early bird catches the worm, Tang. Start warming up!”

“I just finished stretching—my body’s still warm,” Tang Ye said, plopping down on the grass and immediately putting on his cleats.

His progress had reached 99%. He was just a hair’s breadth away from a guaranteed starting spot in the next match.

The current progress has reached 99%, just a hair away from securing a starting spot in the next match.

Tang Ye urged to start training immediately. Ten Hag naturally didn’t refuse—he quickly ordered the overtime staff to set up the training area.

Tap-tap-tap—five man-walls were placed at the arc’s top. Ten Hag walked over with Tang Ye, talking as they went.

“Remember that far-corner curler you scored against Sneek in the Dutch Cup?”

“Don’t remember,” Tang Ye shook his head.

“I don’t remember,” Tang Ye shook his head.

“Cough, fine, doesn’t matter—I saw it.”

Ten Hag pointed to the upper-right corner of the goal, then to the five man-walls in front: “You scored that curler without any training. That means you have some natural talent for this.”

Ten Hag pointed to the upper-right corner of the goal, then to the five man-walls in front: “You scored that curler without any training. That means you have some natural talent for this.”

Tang Ye’s eyes lit up.

【De Bruyne Far-Corner Curler】 was only at Lv.1—the chance of successfully executing it was low.

But Ten Hag had just praised his talent.

Holy shit—Tang Ye suddenly felt seen.

“Hey, what are you so happy about?!”

Ten Hag noticed the shift and quickly corrected himself: “I mean, your curling talent is only slightly above average. Get it? Compared to the other players here, your talent is still ordinary!”

Ten Hag noticed the shift and quickly corrected himself: “I mean, your curling talent is only slightly above average. Get it? Compared to the other players here, your talent is still ordinary!”

Tang Ye sighed.

Looks like De Bruyne’s ability is still too weak.

The system was on par with him—probably just a fraud too.

If Tang Ye really wanted to develop, he’d have to rely on his own training.

Under Ten Hag’s guidance, Tang Ye began his shooting drills.

Checking his balance, he didn’t buy Ronaldo’s Brussels sprouts.

Since the curling distance still had a long progress bar ahead, he’d just train himself for now.

Since there’s still a long way to go before the curling distance upgrades, Tang Ye decided to practice on his own for now.

Pah!

Duang!

The sounds of cleats striking the ball and the ball hitting the crossbar rose and fell in rhythm.

【De Bruyne Far-Corner Curler, Lv.1: Imitate】

Proficiency: 2.4/50

Proficiency: 2.5/50

Proficiency: 12.2/50

“Holy shit, phew...”

Tang Ye panted, hands on his hips, walking over to Ten Hag, who was reading a newspaper.

The latter raised an eyebrow: “Okay, solid training. Your starting probability is now at 99.99%!”

“But I was already at 99.99%,” Tang Ye reminded him.

“But I was already at 99.99% just now,” Tang Ye reminded him.

Ten Hag put down his newspaper: “I know. But you’re still at 99.99%—the remaining 0.01% requires ten fragments.”

“Given your outstanding performance today, I’ll give you nine fragments right away!”

“Given your outstanding performance in today’s training, I’ll give you nine fragments right away!”

(End of Chapter)

(End of chapter)