[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-foresight":3,"chapter-foresight-foresight-chapter-118":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","FORESIGHT",{"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},1847716,2452,"Chapter 118 118: Tea, Talk, and Trouble Ahead","foresight-chapter-118",118,"\u003Cp>That evening, Vermaelen had gone all out — renting a spacious villa in North London for a proper team celebration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn't a title party, not yet — just three rounds into the season — but the performances had been sharp, the mood buoyant. And for that, the skipper decided the lads deserved a treat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Out in the garden, a long oak table stretched across the lawn, big enough to seat over twenty players and staff. There were steaming platters of peri-peri grilled chicken breast, baked salmon fillets with lemon and herbs, roasted sweet potatoes, quinoa salad with chickpeas and roasted vegetables, and wholegrain pasta with a light tomato-basil sauce.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A colourful spread of fresh fruit bowls and mixed nuts catered to the snackers, while platters of hummus and whole-wheat pita sat within easy reach. Large jugs of iced water and fresh orange juice lined the table, alongside recovery smoothies for those on post-match nutrition plans. In the corner, a barbecue grill hissed as lean turkey skewers and vegetable kebabs sizzled. A cooler of isotonic sports drinks sat beside the table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not far from the food, a TV was set up and tuned to the evening's big event — the Champions League group stage draw.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kai sat beside Vermaelen, dressed for comfort in a plain white tee, black sweatpants, and a pair of battered slippers. One leg rested lazily across the other, his posture relaxed, almost catlike. Every so often, he'd fork a piece of grilled chicken into his mouth, chewing slowly, his eyes half on the TV and half on the lively banter circling the table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The winning streak had put him in high spirits. Sure, they hadn't faced a powerhouse yet — but a win was still a win. And wins deserved to be celebrated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Next to him, Luis Suárez was sipping from a guampa filled with a murky yellow-brown liquid. The bombilla bobbed between his teeth as he drank with a contented sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What's that?\" Kai asked, leaning over, his curiosity piqued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suárez grinned. \"This is yerba mate — tea from Uruguay. You want a go?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kai hesitated, then nodded slightly. \"Alright, let me try a sip.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He took the guampa carefully, drawing a tentative mouthful through the straw. The taste hit immediately — bitter, earthy, with a tang he couldn't place. His eyebrows arched as he swallowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Huh… different,\" Kai admitted. \"Not bad, though. I can see why you like it — feels strong.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suárez's grin widened. \"Told you. Grows on you after a while.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kai chuckled. \"When I head back to China, I'll bring you some proper chai. Then you can decide what real tea tastes like.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suárez's eyes lit up. \"Deal. Here — you can have this one.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kai laughed and shook his head. \"One sip is enough for now. I'll stick to the barbecue.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From further down the table, Bacary Sagna piped up. \"Right, who do you reckon we'll get in the Champions League?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Immediately, the conversation caught fire. Arsenal, thanks to consistent domestic and European performances, were in Pot 1 — meaning no Manchester United, Real Madrid, Bayern, Benfica, Chelsea, Porto, or Barcelona in the group stage. But Pot 2 was a minefield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'll take Shakhtar Donetsk, Zenit, and Steaua Bucharest, thank you very much,\" someone joked, earning laughs all around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Flamini had his turn. \"Don't care who else — as long as it's not Atlético Madrid, Dortmund, and Napoli.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few heads turned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oi, why's Dortmund in Pot 3 anyway?\" Chamberlain asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Points system,\" someone answered. \"Doesn't matter if they were finalists last year — not enough coefficient points.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Whoever gets Dortmund,\" Pat Rice muttered from the corner, \"gets a group of death.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And Atlético Madrid's a nightmare this season,\" another added.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the debate rolled on, the TV feed shifted to the live draw. Conversations faded. All eyes were on the screen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One by one, the groups filled in — and then it came.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Group A\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Manchester United\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shakhtar Donetsk\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bayer Leverkusen\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Real Sociedad\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Group B\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Real Madrid\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Juventus\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Galatasaray\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>FC Copenhagen\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Group C\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Benfica\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Paris Saint-Germain\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Olympiacos\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anderlecht\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Group D\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bayern Munich\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>CSKA Moscow\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Manchester City\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Viktoria Plzeň\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Group E\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chelsea\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Schalke 04\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>FC Basel\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Steaua Bucharest\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Group F\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arsenal\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Olympique de Marseille\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Borussia Dortmund\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Napoli\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Group G\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>FC Porto\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Atlético Madrid\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zenit St Petersburg\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Austria Vienna\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Group H\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>FC Barcelona\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>AC Milan\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ajax\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Celtic\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Group F: Arsenal, Marseille, Borussia Dortmund, Napoli.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The garden erupted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is a joke!\" Chamberlain groaned, clutching his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Four strong teams from four different leagues — every single one capable of advancing. The so-called group of death had a new home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The smell of the barbecue suddenly seemed less inviting, except for Kai, who was still happily chewing on a turkey skewer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Can you even eat right now?\" Chamberlain asked him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why not?\" Kai said with a shrug. \"It's just a draw. We're Arsenal. We play to win. Marseille, Dortmund, Napoli — bring them on. It's the others who should be worried, not us.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His calm confidence seemed to spread. Cazorla thumped the table. \"He's right! Eat up, mis hermanos — you'll need the strength to put them to the sword!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Laughter followed, and the plates started filling again. But beneath the surface, Kai knew this group would be no walkover. Qualification was possible — likely, even — but it would be a battle.\u003C\u002Fp>",892,"2026-06-09T07:00:21.491Z",1,"novelbin.me","0230e6b4567d5bca7168eba9e1f03b365236775b081ecbe58e0c74d085e701c9","foresight-chapter-119","foresight-chapter-117",405,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fforesight-cover.jpg"]