Life Changes on the Soccer Field - Chapter 8
Chapter 8: Disappointment and Excitement
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Lu Ang kept thinking about Xia Mengyin’s face from time to time, but this did not make his condition worse, so he did not pay too much attention to it. However, it was rather strange for someone to suddenly appear in his mind from time to time.
Especially in the school’s dining hall, teaching block, and library, he kept searching for her. For instance, one day, he really saw Xia Mengyin and a few girls walking down the stairs of the school building. He was right behind them, but there were many people in the school building as well.
He was too embarrassed to greet her.
Xia Mengyin said, “Look at the boys in our school. They don’t even wear socks to class. I’m speechless. Also, it’s the same in the cafeteria. Some people don’t even wear shirts. Although it’s nothing much, they look really silly.”
Lu Ang looked at himself. Fortunately, he did not have the habit of wearing slippers. However, this was already very normal in a sports school. It was true that there were many people who wore slippers to eat in the dining hall. It did not look good, but he felt that it did not matter anyway.
The girl beside Xia Mengyin said, “I’ve already gotten used to it, hahaha.”
Xia Mengyin said, “I know, I just wanted to say it when I saw it. I was just complaining to you girls.”
Lu Ang followed them all the way to the dining hall. He felt like a pervert, but somehow he felt rather good.
He sat not far from her and ate.
Lu Ang knew that the members of the school soccer team were eating at the same table as them. Although he did not know them and did not train with them, he vaguely remembered their faces.
Xia Mengyin seemed to be having a good time with them. Lu Ang had an indescribable feeling in his heart. He didn’t know if it was jealousy or envy, or perhaps he didn’t have any conscious feelings. He simply felt that those guys were lucky. It was a pity that he didn’t have the courage to sit with them.
One of the team members was still wearing a pair of basketball shoes that Lu Ang also had. He could tell at a glance that it was the same limited edition. However, although Lu Ang also had one, he almost never wore it because he was a soccer player. He was also not used to wearing basketball shoes outside.
After Lu Ang finished eating, they left.
However, just as he was putting the cutlery back into the bin, someone poked his waist. Lu Ang suddenly had a sense of vigilance and turned around with a frown.
Looking down, his brows suddenly relaxed. “Ah, it’s you.”
It was her, Xia Mengyin.
She waved her hand. “Hey, I wasn’t mistaken. It’s you.”
Lu Ang said, “Yeah, you’re here for lunch too?” He thought that he was so stupid to say such things.
Xia Mengyin replied, “No, I’m here to swim.”
Lu Ang did not understand the joke and asked, “Huh? There’s a swimming pool in the school’s dining hall?”
Xia Mengyin said, “I was kidding! I was eating not far away from you.” She pointed at her seat.
Lu Ang replied, “What a coincidence.”
Xia Mengyin smiled again. “I knew you didn’t see me. I’m going back to my dorm. I have two classes in the afternoon. Bye bye.” She had a bottle of drink in her hand.
She probably went to get this bottle of drink. Is that why she didn’t leave with the others? Lu Ang thought.
Later that afternoon, Lu Ang was very excited. Of course, he did not realize it himself. This was reflected in his training on the field. He was even able to enjoy the “monkey” soccer game on the field that he disliked playing with the physical education students.
The “monkey” game was a kind of relaxing activity that soccer teams in Anxi City played during practice. The team members would form groups of 11 people. 10 of them would form a circle and one would stand alone in the center of the circle to receive the ball passes that came from other people’s diagonals. They would see if the “monkey” in the middle could intercept the ball. If he couldn’t intercept the ball, he would have to stay in the center of the circle like a monkey being played.
And if the one who passed the ball was cut off by the “monkey” in the middle, he would become the one being played.
Lu Ang really hated this game because he was standing in the middle and receiving everyone’s gazes. Moreover, it was these students. He felt uncomfortable every time. Even though he could frequently intercept the ball, this feeling really made him struggle on the inside. This was even more uncomfortable than when he faced the audience during the competition.
He had actually wondered if he was really suited to be a soccer player. After all, soccer was the most watched sport in the country, but he really was just as Wei Xinheng said. If the outside world didn’t interpret him as a different image, people who knew him would probably think that he was “cowardly”.
However, he felt that his form was getting better recently.
And it was reflected in today’s “monkey” game segment. Lu Ang’s gaze clearly became more angular, and even the physical education students felt that something was different with him. Lu Ang’s standard in soccer was higher than theirs, but this game segment gave people the feeling that he wasn’t that serious. But today, he seemed especially excited.
Lu Ang felt that every time he touched the ball, it felt really good. It made him feel like he was alive.
He was still living outside the school and would train alone every night. However, he did not see Xia Mengyin at night, which made him feel a sense of loss that he did not realize.
However, this sense of loss encouraged him. He did not feel that this feeling was bad.
Right now, he was very used to playing alone at the field every night. From juggling to shooting the ball, he was very focused on every move. Even though his focus was no different from before, with the addition of his mental state, the effect was better than before.
After he finished his training, he went back to his place and turned on the disc machine to listen to music for a while. Then, he would watch the replay of the match and study the kicking method.
The chance of meeting Xia Mengyin in school was not high, but Lu Ang could always find some details, such as her script in the school’s promotional column or her comments in the school newspaper.
Especially with her resume in his hands and her pen name at the back, he could find her articles online.
He loved one of her essays on deciphering Kompany. “The eight years Captain Kompany spent in Manchester City last summer,” by Xia Mengyin. It described the level of defense he put up as a defender and the Premier League’s key moments. There was also a small part of the story about Kompany and his wife, Carla, and how he previously stayed in Manchester City because of her.
This summer was his nine-year anniversary in Manchester City. There was news that he might be staying there until the end of the 2018/19 season, which was just two seasons away.
As for the Belgian national team, Captain Kompany’s retirement date was uncertain, but everyone knew that he would definitely participate in next year’s World Cup in Russia.
Amazing. This is indeed the key to being a world class defender. Lu Ang thought as he watched the Premier League matches.
