After the first goal, Liu Hongbo made quick adjustments, pulling in defenders like Kairui to join the main squad and form a complete unit.
This was essentially the lineup he planned to take to the World Cup.
And once the full group took shape, the difference was immediate. Their overall sharpness doubled.
For Kai, things became far simpler. He barely needed to contribute defensively because Kairui handled most of the dirty work behind him, giving Kai the freedom to focus on driving the attack.
Of course, this setup depended heavily on the level of the opposition. Against a low-pressure reserve side, this structure looked seamless. Against stronger teams, both would need tighter coordination.
Still, the training match was a revelation for the national team.
Kai's presence lifted the entire atmosphere on the pitch.
The improvement wasn't subtle. It was everywhere.
The midfield no longer collapsed under pressure. Defensive cover was reliable. Passing became cleaner and more purposeful.
Wang Yi and Chen Man also rediscovered their League sharpness, holding the defensive line with impressive composure.
And their influence began to rub off on the domestic players as well.
What shocked the staff most was how little adjustment Kai needed.
Would he need time to fit in?
That question had weighed heavily on Liu Hongbo's mind. After all, Kai had never trained with the national team before.
But instead of adapting to the team, it felt as though Kai was quietly adjusting the team to him—refining their rhythm, smoothing their movements, and making everything look more natural.
It was a strange feeling, but impossible to deny.
By the end of the session, everyone felt they'd gained something. Confidence swelled. Even the World Cup suddenly felt a little less daunting.
Kai's integration was instant, and performance settled every doubt.
Domestic players had accepted him as the core, but some still worried—What if he doesn't fit? What if the chemistry isn't right?
The pitch gave them their answer.
Kai stitched the whole team together, raising their collective level.
Liu Hongbo let out a long breath. "Arsène Wenger once said Kai is the heart of Arsenal. Honestly, I thought he was just praising him. Now I understand—he meant it literally. Kai plays like a heartbeat, sending energy through the whole team."
Zhang Chen grinned. "Well, that heart belongs to us now."
The coaches burst into laughter.
By three in the afternoon, training finally wrapped up.
The players drifted off the pitch one after another. Beijing had hit 35°C that afternoon, and after a full session under the sun, everyone was completely drained and more than a little sunburnt.
Most of the squad headed straight for the locker room, but Kai stayed behind.
He walked to the sideline where Ouyang Fei was gathering up the match balls.
"Just leave them there. I'll take care of them later."
Ouyang Fei turned. His youthful face, with a few wisps of fuzz above his lip, made him look like he was halfway between a teenager and an adult.
"You're staying for extra training?" he asked.
Kai nodded.
Ouyang Fei hesitated, then ventured, "Can I… train with you?"
He was clearly shy.
Kai smiled. "Of course you can."
Ouyang Fei's eyes lit up instantly, almost sparkling. He looked like he was trying very hard not to cheer out loud.
"Come on, let's start with a few laps."
"O-okay!"
They jogged side by side around the pitch.
Ouyang Fei pushed himself to match Kai's pace, glancing sideways every few seconds.
His eyes were full of curiosity, admiration, and a mix of awe and ambition.
Kai finally asked, "Do I have something on my face?"
Startled, Ouyang Fei shook his head quickly. "Sorry!"
Kai chuckled. "Why are you apologizing?"
"Huh?"
Ouyang Fei stared at him, completely lost.
Kai smiled and shook his head. "I know who you are."
Ouyang Fei almost stumbled mid-run. "… You know me?"
Kai nodded. "I watched your East Asian Cup games. You did well."
The boy's eyes lit up instantly. Getting praised by the person you idolize hits harder than any medal. Ouyang Fei had earned his national team call-up through that tournament, even if everyone understood he wasn't here as a major piece yet—more as a developing talent getting exposure around senior players like Kai.
He knew his place, and because of that, he learned quietly and worked hard.
But right now, his shoulders slumped.
"My performance was awful today…"
In the training match earlier, he had been swallowed almost whole by the main squad. Every time he ran into Kai, he lost the ball, panicked, and then started shrinking into himself. It spiraled from there.
Kai gave his shoulder a light tap. "Don't overthink it. When I was 18, I was still stuck at centre-back. You'll grow. Just give it time."
Ouyang Fei nodded quickly, hanging on to every word.
Kai studied him for a moment. "Ever thought about playing abroad?"
"Yes!" The answer came without hesitation.
For this new generation of China internationals, going overseas wasn't a fantasy anymore—it was a challenge, but a realistic one. Kai, Fernando Kairui, Wang Yi, Chen Man… all of them were living examples. If they could break through, why couldn't someone else?
"Which team?" Kai asked.
Ouyang Fei didn't even pause. "Real Madrid."
Kai raised an eyebrow. "Ambitious."
The boy scratched his head. "I know I'm far from it. I'll just take it step by step."
Kai nodded, glancing at him again. He was young, athletic, and honestly… not bad-looking either.
"Your basics are solid."
"Huh?"
"Nothing. Just… Real Madrid's old guard will probably like your type."
Ouyang Fei didn't fully get it, but he nodded anyway, holding on to the encouragement.
Meanwhile, Liu Hongbo had already arrived at the press conference hall. The room was packed—cameras, microphones, reporters all buzzing with anticipation.
Before anyone could bombard him with questions, he raised a hand.
"Regarding Kai, let me address everything at once."
He continued, steady and confident:
"I know everyone is very curious about his form. I can give you a clear answer—he has been excellent. As for the specifics, you'll see them yourself during the warm-up matches."
A ripple of excitement moved through the room.
Liu Hongbo added, "Kai is a core player at a top club, so we naturally treat him as such. But even beyond what we expected from him in midfield, he's given us additional surprises. Not just him—Wang Yi, Chen Man, Fernando, Guo Liang, Yu Hao… our overseas players have all been impressive. With this group, the staff is confident we can deliver strong performances in the group stage."
A reporter called out, "Does that mean you expect to qualify? Reach the knockouts?"
Liu Hongbo chuckled and pointed toward him. "You all know our group. Spain, the Netherlands, and Chile. We won't say something unrealistic, but we will give our very best."
The room collectively sighed.
Group B. Of course, it had to be Group B.
Spain and the Netherlands were practically locked in for qualification. China's chances of squeezing into the next round looked brutally thin. The team was the strongest they had ever assembled—yet the draw had handed them a mountain.
Still, the headlines that night were upbeat:
Xinhua News Agency:
"China Men's National Team Forms Full-Strength Squad Ahead of World Cup"
People's Daily (Sports Edition):
"Coach Liu Hongbo: National Team Shows Outstanding Condition in Training"
Titan Sports Weekly:
"Kai Delivers Exceptional Performance, Boosting Team Confidence"
Across the country, excitement spread. Fans were booking flights, waving flags, and heading to Brazil early to support the team and enjoy the carnival atmosphere.
And with that wave of anticipation behind them, the China National Team stepped forward to meet their first warm-up opponent.
...
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