As the players stepped onto the stage one by one, Wohlbra smiled and placed medals around the necks of each FC Schalke 04 player.

  Su was the sixth to come out.

  In front of him was Hao.

  Hao looked at the medal around his neck and, in excitement, bit it right away.

  This redneck-like behavior made Su despise him!

  And when Su stood before Wohlbra—

  The white-haired Bundesliga president opened his arms and hugged him!

  “Son! You should have kept your talent in the Bundesliga!”

  “FC Bayern München can grant you the honor and status you deserve!”

  Right after the hug, Wohlbra whispered to Su!

  And with that?

  Su was stunned!

  The whole world knew the German Football Association was practically run by Bayern.

  But he never expected the association’s president to be so direct!

  Wasn’t that just outrageous?

  However!

  After a moment’s thought, Su understood!

  He wasn’t just any player—he was the face of China, and behind him lay the enormous Chinese market!

  It didn’t matter which league he played in.

  A phenomenal player like him was bound to be coveted.

  The whole world knew Su would move on, and Wohlbra was no exception.

  Clearly, he wanted to keep Su in the Bundesliga.

  Market!

  Money!

  As long as Su stayed in the Bundesliga, the league would reap astronomical broadcasting fees from China.

  Not just broadcasting fees—countless Chinese companies would be eager to pour money into Germany!

  China’s Sports Channel had already secured exclusive Bundesliga broadcasting rights for three years.

  Su knew the channel had already recouped that seemingly astronomical fee just by airing his matches.

  Who would’ve thought the most expensive TV ad slot in China would be the live broadcast window for Su’s games on Sports Channel?

  These staggering sums were enough for Wohlbra to cast aside any pretense of gentlemanly conduct and make his move right there at the awards ceremony.

  He was certain that, given his position and Bayern’s sincerity, an 18-year-old would grovel with gratitude and jump at the chance to join Bayern.

  And Bayern?

  That would be...

  Unfortunately for him, Su merely smiled as if he hadn’t heard a word, accepted his medal, and walked away without a second glance.

  The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  Wohlbra’s face betrayed no disappointment—a man of his stature had long mastered the art of masking his emotions behind a professional smile.

  After distributing all the medals, Wohlbra handed H?wedes the championship plate!

  As FC Schalke 04’s captain, H?wedes excitedly clutched the coveted trophy!

  The DJ cut the music!

  Every fan in the stadium held their breath.

  They were waiting for the climactic moment when H?wedes would lift the plate.

  But!

  Right at that moment—

  H?wedes walked up to Raul, holding the championship plate in his arms!

  “Come on, Raul, this is your moment!”

  H?wedes handed the plate to Raul, who was about to retire.

  But Raul refused!

  “It’s the captain’s duty! I’ve lifted countless trophies, but this one—I want you to lift it as the true FC Schalke 04 captain!”

  Looking into Raul’s sincere eyes, H?wedes didn’t insist any further!

  He turned around!

  Tears welled in his eyes as he gazed around the stadium!

  He bent down slightly, feeling the weight of the championship plate!

  At this moment!

  The live DJ slowly faded in the music!

  The staff beneath the stands readied the fireworks button!

  “2010-2011 Season!”

  “Champions of the German Bundesliga!!!”

  “Schalke 04!!!”

  Just before the DJ finished shouting the team’s name, H?wedes raised the championship plate high!

  “We are the champions!!!”

  “We are the champions!!!”

  “No time for losers!”

  “‘Cause we are the champions of the world!”

  In that instant, Gelsenkirchen erupted into a sea of celebration!

  Car horns blared across the city in unison!

  Fans in the square chanted even more wildly!

  ……

  In the stands, Su’s parents watched their son’s highlights on the big screen, tears streaming down their faces!

  “My son has made it!”

  “Yeah! I told you—he was born to play football!”

  “Don’t give me that! Every time I scolded Su for playing soccer as a kid, you were the one handing me the stick!”

  “Ahem! No, I was stopping you!”

  As Su’s parents bickered, Zhang and Wu watched enviously as Su and Hao stood at the center of the field, surrounded by fireworks!

  As for Carvajal—

  Ever since the match ended, his phone hadn’t stopped ringing!

  “Honey, I know, Manchester City isn’t bad! What? You’ll pay whatever it takes? That’s €100 million! Are you serious? What? The world’s highest salary? Why is it always ‘the highest salary’ with you?”

  “Alright, alright! I’ll tell Su!”

  “You know, it’s not just—oh! Sorry, Manchester United’s calling! You know how it is—that’s my old friend, I can’t ignore them. We’ll talk later!”

  Carvajal expertly ended the call, then grabbed the wine glass on the table and downed it in one gulp!

  Huh?

  No call this time?

  Right!

  He had already hung up several calls with the same excuse!

  Earlier, while talking to Real Madrid, he claimed Barcelona was on the other line.

  While negotiating with Inter Milan, he said AC Milan was calling.

  Even when answering Bayern’s call, he pretended Dortmund was ringing him.

  But with Manchester City—

  For Carvajal, Manchester City was currently the most sincere.

  Manchester City F.C. didn't make any other offers - they simply proposed the release clause fee and the world's highest annual salary!

  This... It was too damn tempting.

  He was tempted to just say yes immediately.

  However, Carvajal was an old fox who knew Su wouldn't get the best possible contract until the last possible moment.

  It's like that old Chinese saying!

  Good wine needs no bush!

  He still understood the principle of waiting for the right price!

  After a while!

  Su finally cleaned himself up and, after declining Magath's invitation to attend the press conference together, headed straight for the private box.

  The moment his son entered!

  Su's mother immediately rushed to him, sniffling with tears in her eyes.

  Gently touching Su's calf, she asked anxiously:

  "Su, are you okay? I saw that big brute from the other team knock you down and then laugh while patting your head. I wanted to run down there and give him a piece of my mind..."

  "Mom! There are so many people watching!"

  "Oh! Look at me forgetting - you're an adult now!"

  The heartwarming family scene made everyone present both emotional and amused.

  "Brother Su!"

  At that moment, Wu approached Su.

  Simultaneously, Hao also entered the box.

  "Haha, Wu, and Zhang! Let me formally reintroduce to you all - China's number one footballer and Bundesliga champion! My little brother! Su!"

  The moment he saw Wu and Zhang, Hao happily embraced them both!

  However, upon noticing Su's parents, Hao immediately released them and respectfully greeted the elder couple.

  After exchanging pleasantries for a while, Su and Hao hurried back to rejoin their team.

  The team had arranged a championship celebration dinner!

  As the two stars of the match, their absence would be unacceptable.

  Su asked Carvajal to take care of settling everyone else.

  As Su and Hao were making their way to the dinner...

  At that very moment, on the street outside Veltins-Arena!

  Ann Carr sat dejectedly on the curb, smoking a cigar.

  "Damn it!"

  "FC Schalke 04 won the championship - what the hell am I celebrating? My phone! Why did I have to throw it? It's gone again!"

  "Will Sir Alex Ferguson kill me?"

  "I was supposed to be the first to deliver Ferguson's congratulations!"

  "It's over!"

  "I've spilled over a hundred thousand dollars worth of coffee!"