Chapter 852: The Crystal Shattered

The joy of two consecutive group stage wins filled all of China.

Although China’s team has recently shown a trend toward breaking stereotypes, winning two straight group matches was genuinely surprising.

Even fans who regularly follow the Chinese Super League and Premier League, and believed they understood Tang Ye and the national team, couldn’t help but marvel.

Has Chinese football finally woken up?

Chinese fans are certainly enjoying themselves, but fans of the other teams in this group—Germany and Argentina—are not feeling nearly as comfortable.

“Flick!”

“Hey, are you even listening to me?”

“Germany must advance!!!!”

“We can’t lose to China again!”

After losing to Argentina, German fans surrounded their team’s bus.

The bus curtains were closed, but that did nothing to stop the angry fans from shouting at Flick.

“One more loss and we’re out!!!”

“There’s only one match left in the group stage!”

“Flick! We can’t lose again! Germany must win! Germany will rise!”

The bus simply stopped in the middle of the road.

So many fans had gathered around that the driver dared not honk, afraid of provoking these already furious supporters.

“Calm down, please, just calm down a little?”

“I hear your shouts. I know exactly what we’re facing!”

Flick finally stepped out, and the crowd quieted somewhat: “We have only three points, yes—but you must understand, Argentina also has only three points. Many other top European teams have only three points too. I’m telling you, our points only look low—we will advance!”

“Don’t lose to China again!”

The fans shouted.

China has beaten Wales and the mighty Argentina back-to-back; it’s impossible for German fans not to be anxious.

“I know! We won’t lose to China!”

“2018 was 2018, 2022 is 2022!”

Flick stuck his head out the window, giving the fans strong assurances—only then did the German team’s bus resume normal movement.

“How do you feel about losing to Argentina?”

Reporters interviewed fans at the scene.

“Disappointed, very disappointed—we’re extremely disappointed!”

A fan shouted into the microphone: “It’s not as bad as without Russia, but I’m still furious. We had a chance to draw with Argentina, and we lost. We still haven’t qualified! And our next match is against China!”

Unconsciously, “China” had become a word of terror.

There was no choice—their do-or-die opponent was the Chinese men’s team, riding a two-win streak, led by GG himself. It was impossible not to be nervous.

Most bizarrely, even if Germany defeats China outright in their final group match, they still can’t guarantee qualification for the knockout stage.

They need enough goals to outpace China on goal difference!

“I don’t know what the next match will be like, but I’ll be there. I believe Germany still has a chance to advance.”

A fan spoke into the camera, voicing his true thoughts.

“Our performance keeps getting worse. I can’t accept it.”

“If we don’t qualify for the World Cup, I’ll make Flick pay!”

After a few seconds of silence, the screen went black.

The fan’s remarks involved threats of violence and were deemed unplayable.

…

The Sun’s World Cup Column—Germany’s team bus blocked by fans after loss to Argentina; Flick promises “definite qualification to knockout stage.”

The Sun—After China’s two consecutive group wins, PPBOND stock held by TY surged to 42 pounds per share, over 800% above its initial listing price.

Is China’s team the biggest winner of this World Cup?

You might think so, but you’re wrong.

The biggest winner is PPBOND.

Tang Ye dolls went viral + China’s two consecutive World Cup wins—perfect timing, perfect location, perfect circumstances. This World Cup felt tailor-made for PPBOND; its stock price rose 150% during the tournament, soaring straight into the sky.

PPBOND’s current market value is approximately 2.52 billion pounds—and the World Cup isn’t even over yet!

The Sun reporter: It remains unclear how many shares TY currently holds, but based on the last disclosed major shareholder data of “14.2%,” PPBOND has already added 350 million pounds to TY’s net worth. The massive success of the doll business and China’s World Cup wins are considered the main reasons.

“TY’s agent, Bohl, made only one truly outstanding choice in his entire career: signing TY. This Dutch agent’s professional skills fall far short of traditional agents like Mendes, but his business acumen is undeniably top-tier.”

“However, experts estimate that TY’s current stake in PPBOND has likely dropped below 10%, meaning TY cannot claim the full 350 million pounds in added wealth.”

“As for PPBOND’s future, eight out of ten interviewed experts believe ‘there is no future for PPBOND.’”

【To hell with The Sun—I only didn’t buy because I read The Sun, I’m so pissed】

【Turns out my brother Zhengxiong was the only light. I said a million times to buy China to beat Argentina, then put all profits into Tang Ye’s stock. The path to profit was right in front of you and you didn’t believe it—what can I say? Sigh… I’m following Brother Zhengxiong from now on, no more reckless moves】

【I’m laughing so hard—my brother Zhengxiong is a real genius. Wait, does he have insider info? How does he always get it right?】

【You mean Tang Zhengxiong knew in advance China would shock Argentina?? You might as well say the GG family is blessed with cosmic destiny—they don’t even need to try, coins just fall from the sky】

【Anyone know if I should sell Tang Wang’s stock now? 25 billion pounds is over 20 billion RMB—can dolls really make this much money?】

【You must sell! If you sell now, you’ll put my GG Zhengxiong on top of the mountain—won’t that be bragging rights for a year?】

…

Match preview: World Cup Group C showdown—Germany vs. China. Tang Ye leads the national team against the German war machine once again.

The scene from China’s 2018 match against Russia is still vivid—but that was already four and a half years ago.

This China team is no longer the same: the number of players from the top five leagues has risen from “2” to “3,” and Ballon d’Or winners have increased from “0” to “4.”

Germany has changed too; compared to four and a half years ago, the German war machine is far more united.

Both sides are stronger now, making the upcoming match incredibly compelling.

Thwack!

Zhang Xizhe delivers a corner kick; Tang Ye suddenly surges forward: “Look at me! Look at me!”

Jump!

He leaps, connecting with the corner kick mid-air, aiming for Yan Junling’s goal!

Thwack!

Tang Ye’s volley goes over the bar.

“Damn!”

“Hahaha!”

“Incredible, incredible!”

The crowd erupts in applause; Tang Ye stands at the arc, head in hands, sighing: “Didn’t get enough on it, damn.”

“No problem, no problem—as long as it was awesome!”

Wu Lei and Tang Ye bump fists.

Beside them, Escrivá and Ma Di crouch on the grass. The Chinese team’s head coach presses his notebook flat against the turf and scribbles rapidly with a pen.

“The atmosphere is really good…”

“Huh?”

Hearing the voice beside him, Escrivá turns: “What?”

“I said, the atmosphere is really good.”

“Hahaha!”

“Do you remember what you told me before the group stage started?”

Escrivá slips into memory mode; Ma Di can only sigh in resignation.

Before the group stage, Ma Di had feared that losing to Argentina in the first match would shatter China’s morale completely.

But these guys were ruthless—they overturned Argentina. In the end, Ma Di became the final fool.

“You didn’t expect it either. No need to laugh at me.”

“Hahaha, mainly because Tom said earlier he felt China could beat Argentina. Now thinking back, it’s unbelievable—how did he even predict that?”