[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-start-with-r9-template":3,"chapter-start-with-r9-template-start-with-r9-template-chapter-16":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Start with R9 Template",{"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},1388693,1840,"Chapter 16: Lukaku: Give It to Me and I'll Score!","start-with-r9-template-chapter-16",16,"\u003Cp>LeSports Broadcast Room\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"LING! LING CUTS INSIDE!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"BEAUTIFUL! HE'S PAST ZABALETA!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"PULLS IT BACK ACROSS THE GOAL... LUKAKU! TAP-IN! GOAL! IT'S IN!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhan Jun's voice cracked as he leaped to his feet, instinctively grabbing the microphone as it slipped from his headset.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In the 87th minute, Lukaku scores the goal that seals the victory! Manchester United leads West Ham United 3-0!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Lu chuckled twice, a complex, proud expression on his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ling used a brilliant drop of the shoulder to get past a world-class defender and create a perfect, unselfish opportunity.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This goal may just be icing on the cake,\" he continued, \"but it proves that Ling's ability isn't what the cynics claim. I hope all the fans can be more patient and create a better environment for these young players to grow.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Congratulations to young Ling on his first assist in a top-five European league! A great start. May his future performances only get better!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bin City, China\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Lanxia listened to the roaring cheers from the TV and the scrolling, praising comments on her phone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A happy, warm smile spread across her face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Chang,\" she said, nudging her husband. \"Convinced yet?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Changzheng's gaze remained fixed on the screen, watching his son on the replay.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Convinced,\" he murmured, his voice thick with emotion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the Pitch\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lukaku charged around like a frenzied rhinoceros.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A hat-trick!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'How long has it been?' he thought, his heart pounding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'One year! Do you know how I've suffered through this year?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He suddenly remembered the most important thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He scurried back, found Ling, and flashed his bright white teeth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Beautiful pass, Jemi Ling!\" he shouted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling's expression froze for a second before his mouth twitched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's 'Jeremy Ling,' Romelu,\" he laughed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No, no! 'Jemi ling!' I like it!\" Lukaku insisted, wrapping him in a sweaty, bone-crushing hug.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You give me assists like that, I'll call you whatever you want! I'll call you 'Dad'!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling just shook his head, still smiling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then let me teach you another Chinese phrase. Gei jiu you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What does that mean?\" Lukaku asked, rubbing his shiny head in confusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It means my positioning is excellent,\" Ling said, grinning. \"It means 'give [me the ball], and it's there [in the net].'\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lukaku's eyes lit up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He started repeating it, reinforcing the memory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Gei... jiu... you! I like it! Gei jiu you! Gei jiu you!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the referee's urging, the celebration was cut short.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The match resumed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the West Ham bench, Slaven Bilić glanced at Declan Rice, then abandoned the idea of bringing him on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The match was lost.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No need to have a young player's debut be a 3-0 defeat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked back at United's #23, who had just come on and completely changed the game.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'What a headache.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bilić rubbed his temples and urged his team forward one last time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>West Ham, now playing for nothing but pride, swarmed into United's half.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Regular time has ended. Three minutes of stoppage time,\" Zhan Jun announced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh! West Ham advancing... Arnautović chips it... Hernández! A volley!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Brilliant! DE GEA!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Spanish keeper, at full stretch, managed to claw the ball away with his fingertips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A fantastic save.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the sidelines, Mourinho looked extremely displeased, gesturing furiously for his team to tighten up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even with a 3-0 lead, he demanded perfection until the final whistle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the match neared its end, West Ham launched one last attack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A low, driven cross came into the box.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Phil Jones stepped up decisively, poking the ball away from Hernández.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It fell to Matic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Manchester United fans rose to their feet, sensing what was coming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Matic shrugged off a defender and swept a long, raking pass out to the left wing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zabaleta, exhausted and on a yellow card, didn't press recklessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He held his position.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'It's fine,' he thought. 'Let the kid take it himself. He'll slow down the attack, give us time to get back.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Ling wasn't a rookie.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn't make rookie mistakes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He took one touch, his head up, and spotted the gap on the opposite side of the field, where Mkhitaryan was sprinting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling shifted his weight and, without hesitation, struck the ball.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thump!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was another beautiful, arcing cross-field pass.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mkhitaryan controlled it perfectly in stride.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With no pressure on him, he curled a precise, early cross into the box.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Service delivered!\" Lukaku roared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He met the ball like a blazing titan, unleashing a thunderous, unstoppable shot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Joe Hart's heart sank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could only watch helplessly as the ball flew into the net.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Four-nil!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Trafford leaped and bounced with joy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>West Ham's fighting spirit vanished. They numbly, blankly, restarted play.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Peep! Peep! Peeeeep!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The referee's whistle signaled the end of the match.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>----------\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Old Trafford, joy and sorrow walked hand in hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Manchester United fans were over the moon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn't just the win; it was the statement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A 4-0 victory, with an attack that looked fast and hungry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After years of disappointment post-Ferguson, this... this felt like a new beginning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In contrast, the West Ham fans hung their heads like frostbitten eggplants, listless and dejected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the pitch, Lukaku was grinning from ear to ear, the match ball tucked under his arm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I've got that phrase down,\" he said to Ling, his voice booming. \"Gei jiu you! Give me a couple more.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Alright, let me think…\" Ling shook his head, a wry smile on his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Try 'Bao Tang'—it means to 'explode' past a defender with pure pace.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lukaku's eyes lit up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Bao Tang! I like it!\" He looked at Ling, his expression suddenly serious and grateful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"On good terms, yes? You help me get the Golden Boot, I'll... I'll teach you... Belgian!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Ling could respond, a large hand clapped him on the shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don't be jealous of his goals, kid,\" Ibrahimovic declared, his voice full of typical bravado.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Keep training taekwondo with me, and scoring four in a game will be easy for you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then I'd better step it up!\" Ling said, jokingly flexing a bicep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ibra feigned disdain, rolling up his own sleeve to reveal a forearm with explosively defined muscle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they chatted, Valencia, Matic, and Mata gathered around, all smiling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Great performance, kid,\" Matic said, his voice a low, respectful rumble. \"Way better than I was at your age.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's true,\" Mata chimed in, a grin on his face. \"Didn't it take you half a season to get your first assist at Chelsea, Nemanja?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Get lost, Juan. You're not much better!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The atmosphere was friendly, and Ling, despite his internal maturity, couldn't help but feel a simple, warm pleasure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He responded humbly to each of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, the group parted. Mourinho was walking toward them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It seems,\" the manager said, his eyes gleaming with a rare, intense satisfaction as he firmly patted Ling's shoulder, \"that putting you in was the right choice.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mourinho was relieved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He'd been losing hair over the left-wing problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>None of the existing players met his tactical requirements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Ling's performance today... it gave him the solution.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The kid's skills were still raw, but Mourinho had seen this before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He'd seen players like Drogba and Essien undergo magnificent transformations, forged in the fires of the Premier League.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He believed Ling, with his diligent attitude and clear talent, could do the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But young players needed tough love.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His face instantly became serious again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"However. There are many details you didn't handle properly. Go back tonight, review the game footage carefully, and then come find me for analysis.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He leaned in a fraction. \"Remember, if you want to improve, you must fix all those small, insignificant issues.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Okay, coach,\" Ling said, his own smile vanishing, replaced by a serious nod. He felt like he was being expertly manipulated, but he had no evidence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Post-Match Press Conference\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Jose, how would you evaluate the performance today?\" a Guardian reporter asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well,\" Mourinho said, \"I'm very satisfied. Especially the first 40 minutes, we maintained constant pressure. In the second half, they improved, and we lost a little control, but the substitutions allowed us to regain it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another hand shot up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Sun reporter. \"You brought on the young Chinese player, Ling. What did you make of his debut?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mourinho's expression immediately hardened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn't want young players exposed to media attention. It was poison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let me answer your question from a different perspective,\" he said, his voice flat. \"In my view, young players are somewhat like melons. Only when you cut them open and taste them can you be 100% sure of their quality.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He scanned the room. \"Sometimes, you have a beautiful melon, but the taste is not very good. And other times, you have an ugly melon... but when you open it, it tastes excellent.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Sun reporter, smelling blood, pounced. \"Are you suggesting that Ling's appearance is unattractive?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mourinho just stared at him, his face a mask of pure, undisguised contempt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He completely ignored the low-level, uninteresting question, stood up, and walked straight out of the press conference.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The journalists exchanged looks. Same old Mourinho.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Carrington Training Base\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moon was bright. Due to the time difference, Ling knew his parents would be asleep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wouldn't call them just yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a quick shower, he pulled out the tablet with the match recording and repeatedly reviewed every second of his 15-minute performance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Analyzing it from this \"god's-eye\" perspective, he could clearly see every mistake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'My attacking position was too deep here,' he wrote in his notebook. 'I should have held my width.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'My run here was too early. Ibra was right about Rashford, and I did the same thing.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'This first touch was heavy...'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Good things took time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as he kept summarizing and consciously making corrections, he would grow stronger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He paused the footage, his chest tightening. The pressure was immense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'This is just one good game,' he thought, his breathing growing rapid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He thought of the names on the team sheet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rashford. Martial. Lingard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the constant, swirling rumors of Alexis Sánchez arriving in January.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were all competing for his spot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Given his current ability, he was just a rotational substitute.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One small slip, one bad week of training, and he'd be out of the matchday squad entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"System,\" he said, a new determination in his voice. \"Activate.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A glowing panel materialized before him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Dribbling: 79.85 (97)'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Passing: 69.94 (83)'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Shooting: 70.56 (95)'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'...'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Module: Matthews' \"Shoulder Drop Dribble\".\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching the numbers rise, even by fractions, gave him a profound sense of accomplishment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was addictive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn't wait to head downstairs and start training again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, a cold, mechanical system voice echoed in his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Ding!'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Main Quest Activated: Score Your First Professional Goal in the Top Five Leagues!'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Quest Reward: Golden Treasure Chest!'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling stared at the prompt, his mind already working.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'What are the triggers for these quests?' he wondered. 'Are they based on my own goals, or does the system set them based on my progress?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lost in thought, Ling finally let the exhaustion of the day take over, and he drifted off to sleep.\u003C\u002Fp>",1855,"2026-06-05T22:48:22.783Z",1,"novelbin.me","d1973af84c0bdbc1a3641f97a9e46993e4b34c322a911347e1a062ce3775a50b","start-with-r9-template-chapter-113","start-with-r9-template-chapter-15",371,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fstart-with-r9-template-cover.jpg"]