The China Team's first warm-up opponent was Japan.
After the rise of campus football, Japan's football scene exploded, and a wave of young talents emerged almost overnight. In this current squad, nearly every player was based overseas. Their overall intensity, movement, and technical stability were all of the highest caliber.
China chose Japan for a very specific reason: to prepare for the World Cup.
Japanese football was built around possession-based football—characterized by short passes, quick combinations, and constant movement on the ground. Japan, with its immaculate footwork and a style refined from Brazilian influences, had developed a system perfectly suited to simulating that challenge.
For China, this was an ideal warm-up match.
For Japan, the same was true.
While China's individual abilities varied, the spine of the team— Kai, Chen Man, and Fernando Kairui—were all players competing at major European clubs. Japan's coaching staff also wanted to see whether their side could maintain efficiency under pressure from this level of opposition.
Both sides agreed almost immediately to play.
The Beijing National Stadium—Bird's Nest—was already packed.
Fans from every corner of the country had poured in, filling the ninety-thousand-seat arena to the brim. Red shirts covered the streets outside the stadium like rolling waves. Banners stretched high into the air, each showing the names of different supporters' groups.
Many fans wore headbands; others had the national flag painted on their cheeks. The atmosphere was electric—drums, gongs, chants, whistles, it all blended into a roar that filled the sky.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
"China Team! Go! Go!"
Boom! Boom! Boom!
"China Team! Go! Go!"
Among the Shenyang supporters, Le Jianguo stood tall, clapping along with the rhythm and shouting himself hoarse.
"There are so many people today…"
Old Xu stared at the sea of red, shaking his head in amazement.
There must have been over a hundred thousand people gathered in and around the stadium. Even the police had been deployed in large numbers to maintain order.
Le Jianguo, buzzing with excitement, noticed countless fans wearing the No. 4 national jersey. A quiet pride rose in his chest.
The Le family had produced a dragon.
"Where's my son? When can I see him?"
Wang Peipei looked around anxiously, her voice trembling with excitement.
She wasn't a diehard fan, but in this environment, anyone would be swept away.
"Don't worry," Le Jianguo said, raising his voice above the drums. "Once we get inside, you'll see him. He's definitely starting today!"
Wang Peipei pouted. "It's not easy for him to come back to China, and we still can't even see him properly."
"No choice," Le Jianguo sighed. "The Premier League has no winter break, and this year happens to be the World Cup. We'll see him next year."
"A whole year…"
Wang Peipei murmured.
Le Jianguo put an arm around her shoulders. "Don't look so down. Our son's grown up now. Just look at this—how many people are here today because of him?"
Wang Peipei instantly straightened her back, pride swelling in her chest.
Then—suddenly—a huge cheer erupted from the crowd, spreading rapidly through the stands.
"What's going on?"
"What happened?"
Le Jianguo replied, "The national team players must have arrived. They're entering the stadium."
As if on cue, the gates were opened, and the crowd began to surge inside.
"Let's go! Move!"
People rushed into the stadium, and within moments the Bird's Nest transformed from echoingly empty to packed with noise and colour.
Once inside, the fans didn't sit quietly; they immediately went to work.
Supporter groups unfurled banners along the railings. Volunteers passed out small megaphones to boost the atmosphere. In the middle of the South Stand, a massive drum—taller than a person—was carried in by a dozen fans and set on its stand.
Two drummers stepped forward.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The deep echo rolled across the entire stadium, and Chinese fans responded instantly.
"China!!!!!!!"
"Victory!!!!!!!"
"Go!!!!!!!"
"China Team!!!!!"
...
Inside the China team's dressing room, Kai and the others could clearly hear the heavy drumbeats echoing through the tunnel.
Kai turned his head and asked with curiosity, "Is that the drum performance everyone talks about?"
At Chinese home matches, organized drum teams were a tradition — part support, part spectacle. Players like Kai, who had never played domestically, weren't used to it, but the local Premier League boys knew it by heart.
"It's a Beijing home-ground classic," Jia Zhenhua said with a grin. "Whenever we come here for a league match, that drum line leaves us buzzing for days."
Fernando Kairui chuckled. "Manolo's drum in La Liga is loud enough, but ours makes that thing sound like a toy. If they turn it up today, even Japan's backline might go deaf."
Laughter erupted across the room.
Kai smiled as well. Maybe because it was just a warm-up match, the atmosphere felt more relaxed.
"Alright! Time to head out and warm up!" Wang Yi called out.
Everyone got to their feet and followed him toward the tunnel.
Kai, Chen Man, and Fernando walked together, chatting as they went.
The moment the China team stepped into the Bird's Nest, the roar from the stands erupted like a shockwave.
When Kai and the other overseas players appeared, the noise surged to new heights.
"We can see the National Team is out on the field, set to face a strong Japanese side in this warm-up match. After their European tour, they'll head to Brazil for the 2014 World Cup."
"Overseas players like Chen Man, Fernando are all back in the squad."
"Last year, due to Le Kai's injury, we didn't get to see a complete National Team. Today, we finally have the strongest lineup."
Duan Xuan's voice rang loud and clear: "Give it your all!"
The Chinese fans roared in response, barely paying attention to the Japanese players as their eyes stayed glued to the home team—especially Le Kai.
Le Jianguo and his wife shared the thrill, though Wang Peipei suddenly exclaimed, "Why does our son look so… massive?"
Le Kai's physique was noticeably larger than the other players', leaving her astonished.
"That's called strength!" Le Jianguo replied. "You can't survive in the Premier League without it."
Wang Peipei tilted her head. "And that has to do with football… how?"
Le Jianguo gave a helpless shrug. "I can't explain it to you."
"How will I know then?" she asked.
Sighing, Le Jianguo went on patiently, "The Premier League is the most physically demanding among–"
"Ah… son!" Wang Peipei called out.
Le Kai came up to the barrier, smiled, and waved at his mother, but didn't linger in conversation. He turned back to focus on warming up, though he noticed his father looked unusually tense.
While stretching and jogging, Le Kai kept an eye on the Japanese team, who were observing him just as closely.
Shinji Kagawa walked over to midfield and called out, "Hey, Kai!"
Le Kai jogged over. Having crossed paths in the Premier League, their relationship was cordial but not particularly close.
"I heard you're leaving?" Le Kai said directly, hitting a sensitive spot.
Shinji grinned. "Still as blunt as ever, huh?"
Le Kai smiled. "Manchester United wasn't really your style."
He nodded. "Exactly. I want to return to Borussia Dortmund. Klopp's interested in bringing me back."
Shinji Kagawa had always been a talented attacking midfielder in Europe, and with his prior experience at Dortmund, he could reintegrate without issues.
"Well, wishing you all the best," Le Kai said.
"Thanks!"
They chatted a little longer before parting ways, both returning to their respective warm-ups.
The Chinese commentators echoed the excitement, led by Duan Xuan, whose voice boomed across the broadcast:
"Come on! Give it everything!"
...
Please do leave a review and powerstones, helps with the book's exposure.
Feel like joining a Patreon for free and subscribing to advanced chapters?
Visit the link:
[email protected]/GRANDMAESTA_30
Change @ to a