When Kai and Chen Man stepped out into the arrival hall at BJ Airport, the place erupted. The noise hit them like a wave.
Fans gasped as they caught sight of Kai.
"Look at the size of him!"
"He looked big on TV, but in person… wow."
Kai's frame was the first thing people noticed. Just looking at him, you could imagine the kind of collision a forward had to endure when Kai stepped into a challenge.
He looked around, a mix of surprise and curiosity on his face.
Beside him, Chen Man nudged him forward with a laugh. "Come on, don't just stand here and soak it in."
They moved toward the exit and soon spotted Fan and Zhang Chen waiting for them.
The moment Fan Hongwu saw them, he strode over with a booming laugh — far more animated than when he'd greeted the others earlier.
"Coach Fan ?"
Kai and Chen Man spoke at almost the same time.
Fan Hongwu, once a senior youth coach at the Northern Youth Training Base, had watched both of them grow from skinny academy boys to full-fledged professionals. He'd produced several overseas talents before, but these two were special — they were his boys.
"You two… look at you now," Fan Hongwu said, patting their arms as if checking they were real. "Proper players. Dragons out of the gate!"
For someone who'd devoted his life to youth development, nothing compared to seeing his players succeed — and Kai was now captain and cornerstone of Arsenal, one of Europe's giants. Fan Hongwu had every right to feel proud.
Kai's eyes dropped to the badge on Fan's chest. "Team Leader, huh?"
Chen Man grinned. "So you're cashing in on your connections now?"
Fan Hongwu smirked. "Let's just say they thought you two might be a handful. They figured having me around would make things smoother."
It was half a joke, half the truth — big-name players weren't always easy to manage. Bringing in their first mentor was a smart move.
As they chatted, Zhang Chen walked over and offered his hand.
"Hello, Kai. I'm Zhang Chen, assistant to Coach Liu Hongbo."
Kai shook his hand firmly. "Nice to meet you, Coach Zhang."
Zhang Chen smiled. "Just call me Zhang Chen or Senior Brother Zhang. I'm also from the youth system. Didn't make it as a player, so I switched to the touchline instead."
He gave Kai's arm a friendly tap. "Come on, everyone's waiting on the bus."
Cameras trailed them the whole way. Fans on both sides shouted their names nonstop — especially Kai's. His name echoed through the terminal like a chant from a packed stadium.
Once they climbed aboard, they immediately spotted Wang Yi, Guo Liang, Yu Hao, and Kairui.
Kairui shot up first, throwing his arms around Kai in a dramatic bear hug.
"Kai! You absolute monster!"
Kai laughed. "What are you on about now?"
"Man-marking Cristiano Ronaldo!" Fernando Kairui groaned. "That guy plays like he's out to take revenge on us every time."
Chen Man chimed in from the side, grinning. "Then why didn't you go for it? You talk a big game."
"Do you think I didn't want to?" Kairui shot back. "If I get sent off, who's taking responsibility? I can't just lose my head."
"You bottled it," Chen Man teased.
"Bottled my ass!" Kairui barked.
"You did!"
"I didn't!"
"If you didn't, then go for it next time!"
"And get a red card? Sure."
"So you did bottle it!"
"Get out of here!"
Their bickering bounced across the aisle, drawing a laugh from Wang Yi. He patted Kai on the shoulder, then pointed to two players a few seats away.
"That's Guo Liang and Yu Hao — your midfield partners."
The two looked similar at first glance, but Guo Liang's dyed blond hair and Yu Hao's close-cropped buzz cut made them easy to tell apart. They were a little older than Kai but greeted him politely.
"Just call me Guozi," Guo Liang said.
"And I'm Yu Hao."
Kai smiled. "Kai."
Since they'd be working together in midfield, it didn't take long for all three to size each other up. First impressions were good, but it was clear Guo Liang and Yu Hao weren't exactly chatterboxes.
Wang Yi confirmed it with a sigh. "These two barely say a word. No reminders before passing, nothing. After the ball's gone, they tell me, 'We signaled with our eyes.' Honestly, if they keep playing mute, feel free to give them an earful."
Guo Liang and Yu Hao's expressions tightened. "Brother Wang, if we talk too loudly, the opponents hear us too."
"And so what?" Wang Yi groaned. "People don't understand our language anyway. Your mouths are going to waste."
He turned to Kai. "Give them a proper scolding if needed. Just like you do at Arsenal."
Then he faced the pair again. "And you two — don't drag whatever happens on the pitch back off it. We're all here to win. Understood?"
Guo Liang and Yu Hao exchanged a glance. They knew exactly what that meant. Wang Yi was backing Kai, and the coaching staff had already built a system around him. That was the hierarchy now.
Both immediately voiced their stance.
"On the pitch, say whatever you need to say. If we mess up, we'll take the heat."
"If there's a problem, speak up. We'll sort it together."
Kai nodded simply. "I will."
The three stared at him for a moment. They expected him to soften it with polite words, but no — Kai was direct. With his status and ability, though, none of them found it hard to accept.
The bus rolled for another half-hour before they reached the training base. Reporters and fans were still gathered outside, but the vehicle drove straight through the gates, leaving no chance for anyone to swarm the players.
A few minutes later, they pulled up to a two-storey terraced building inside the complex.
Waiting at the entrance was an elderly man with white hair, wearing a red national team training top. His posture was straight, and his smile deepened the wrinkles around his cheeks.
"Coach!"
"Coach Liu!"
"Hello, Coach!"
Kai and the others stepped off the bus, all greeting Old Coach Liu Hongbo with respect. He responded by patting each of their shoulders warmly.
But when he reached Kai, his smile widened even more, lines gathering across his face.
"Good, good. Zhang Chen will take you to your rooms shortly. After that, we'll do your physicals. Training starts tomorrow."
Everyone nodded, and Coach Liu left with a satisfied expression.
Zhang Chen then began sorting out accommodation. Since this was closed training, no one was allowed to leave the facility without special permission.
Rooms were shared — two players per unit.
Kai assumed he'd be paired with Chen Man but ended up rooming with Wang Yi instead. He was a bit surprised but didn't think too much of it.
The room was nice. Each had a separate bedroom with a shared living room in the middle. There was a TV, internet, and everything they needed. The bathroom was spotless, and toiletries were neatly arranged.
Kai was pleased.
Wang Yi had finished unpacking and was about to find Kai to walk around the base, but before he could step out, Kai was already looking for him.
Wang Yi found Kai already dressed in the team's training kit.
He glanced at the time. "Physicals don't start until four."
"We've got two hours," Kai said. "Want to hit the gym for a light warm-up?"
"Now?" Wang Yi blinked. "Aren't you tired after flying all day?"
Kai chuckled. "Just a light session."
Wang Yi hesitated, then shrugged. "Alright. Give me a minute."
...
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