The day after the warm-up match, a transfer order from the first team officially promoted captain Javi Hernández.
His teammates gathered around Javi, excitedly patting his shoulders and back.
"Congratulations, Javi! You finally made it!"
"When you go to the first team, don't forget us brothers in the B Team!"
Javi was beaming, the wrinkles on his face all crinkled together. He hugged his teammates one by one. When it was Lu Chuan's turn, he paused, pressing Lu Chuan's shoulders firmly with both hands.
"Brother, I have to thank you. Those two goals of yours were the most crucial two in my career."
"Without you, Coach Pellegrino wouldn't have called me up to the first team so quickly."
Lu Chuan sincerely shook his hand: "You deserve it, Captain. Your defense should have been in La Liga long ago."
Javi shook his head, leaned in, and whispered: "This will be your domain from now on. Keep up the good work."
Lu Chuan felt a mix of emotions. He knew very well that Leganés's first team's three non-EU player spots were already full, and he had no chance in the short term.
But this did not prevent him from feeling genuinely happy for Javi's success.
Three days later, the club held a small welcome ceremony for Lu Chuan.
Sports Director Juan Carlos personally presided, and several local Madrid sports media outlets also sent reporters.
"Welcome Lu Chuan to the Leganés family!" Juan held up a jersey with Lu Chuan's name on it, and flashlights immediately flickered.
The first official match quickly arrived. In the segunda división b league against Leganés C Team, Lu Chuan started AS a left winger.
In the 23rd minute of the match, he received a diagonal pass from midfielder Perea and, without even adjusting outside the box, shot directly, and the ball found the net. In the 67th minute of the second half, after the team conceded an equalizer, he scored again from almost the same position with an even more tricky long-range shot, sending the ball into the top corner of the goal.
Two-to-one, Leganés B Team won. Lu Chuan scored twice and was, without dispute, named Man of the Match.
After the match, Spanish local media reported on this emerging Chinese star.
From Madrid's AS to the national Marca, all praised this young player from the East.
The domestic reaction was even more enthusiastic, AS if the long-silent Chinese football had finally seen a glimmer of hope.
Sports Weekly's front-page headline: "New Hope for Overseas Players! Chinese Youngster Shines in Spain with a Brace on Debut!"
Football News commentary: "Lu Chuan: The Future Answer for the National Team's Frontline?"
However, there were also dissenting voices online. Famous football commentator Dong Lu posted on Weibo:
"Another 'export-to-domestic-sale' reserve? Hope history doesn't repeat itself."
"Back then, Yang Chen and Sun Jihai truly established themselves in Europe's top Leagues."
"But in recent years, too many so-called 'overseas players' are just on a gilded trip."
"For example, that Hu Ruibao from Evergrande back then, claimed to be from Manchester City's youth academy, and what was the result?"
"And there are some who spent a few years in the Portugal League, or played some games in Spain's B Team, like Tang Shi and Chen Zepeng. After returning to China, their value skyrocketed, but their actual level is obvious to everyone."
"Hope this Lu Chuan can truly make a name for himself in Europe, and not just for gilding."
This Weibo post quickly sparked heated discussion, with supporters and skeptics arguing fiercely in the comments section.
Some strongly supported Lu Chuan, believing he had the ability; others echoed Dong Lu, holding a pessimistic view on the prospects of Chinese players going overseas.
Lu Chuan merely glanced at it before turning off his phone, without much emotional fluctuation.
He knew his goals and understood that doubts would never disappear.
At that time, many young Chinese players were sent to secondary Leagues or youth academies in countries like Portugal and Spain.
Their "overseas" experience could theoretically give them a gilded edge, but very few truly established themselves in Europe's top Leagues.
Many players toiled for a few years in the Portuguese Primeira Liga, Segunda Liga, or even lower-level Leagues, or spent a few years in B Teams and youth teams in Spain and Germany. After failing to secure stable first-team appearances, they chose to return to China.
However, relying on that "overseas background," these players, once back in China, could catch the wave of the Chinese Super League's "money football."
They often received exorbitant transfer fees and sky-high annual salaries far exceeding their level in Europe, with their value often reaching tens of millions or even hundreds of millions of RMB, becoming typical examples of "export-to-domestic-sale."
Fans, on one hand, hoped they could bring advanced European football concepts and high-level performances, but on the other hand, they were disappointed and skeptical of their "unjustified" high salaries and their failure to fully realize their potential on the field.
It was this widespread phenomenon of "gilding trips" that made "export-to-domestic-sale" a sarcastic term.
It also meant that any new hope for an overseas player had to face scrutiny under a magnifying glass and harsh judgment.
Lu Chuan knew he had to break these prejudices and doubts with sustained, undeniable performance.
He wasn't here to gild himself; he was here to play football, to establish himself, and to climb higher.
On the training ground, Chema Rico blew his whistle, gathering the whole team.
"After Javi left, we need a new captain." He scanned the team, his gaze finally settling on Lu Chuan.
"After careful consideration, I have decided that Lu Chuan will be the team's new captain."
AS soon AS he finished speaking, the locker room fell silent.
Joaquín was the first to step forward, his face full of defiance: "Coach, I object!"
He pointed at Lu Chuan, his voice sharp with emotion: "He's only been here a few days? Not even a week! Why should he be captain?"
Several other substitute players also began to whisper, clearly very unhappy with the decision.
Lu Chuan stood up and calmly looked at Joaquín: "You can state your opinion directly."
"Opinion?" Joaquín sneered, "You're Chinese, you haven't even learned everyone's names yet, and you want to be our leader?"
"Joaquín!" Chema Rico sharply reprimanded, "Watch your language!"
But Joaquín couldn't stop: "I've been here for two years, shed blood, and suffered injuries for this team! Why should a foreigner lead us?"
Lu Chuan didn't get angry; instead, he walked up to Joaquín: "You're right, I haven't been here long. But the captain's armband isn't about seniority; it's about performance on the field and the determination to be responsible for the team's victory."
He turned to the whole team, his voice not loud but very clear: "I won't force anyone to accept me. But since the coach trusts me, I will use my performance to make you feel that this armband on my arm is well-deserved."
Joaquín still wanted to say something but was held back firmly by a teammate beside him.
In the subsequent training, Lu Chuan deliberately sought to cooperate with Joaquín in attack.
After a breakthrough on the wing, he chose not to shoot himself but instead delivered a perfectly weighted low cross. Joaquín arrived just in time and easily tapped it in.
After scoring, Joaquín didn't celebrate; he just glanced at Lu Chuan, his eyes complex.
Over the weekend, Lu Chuan and his roommate Miguel went to a small restaurant in the city center for dinner.
"You really should get an agent," Miguel mumbled, stuffing tapas into his mouth.
"Otherwise, those old foxes at the club will screw you over. I know a good one named Carlos, he specializes in young players, very reliable."
Lu Chuan nodded: "It's definitely something to consider."
He didn't want to experience the hardships of his previous life due to not having a good agent.
"I'll help you arrange a meeting with him tomorrow," Miguel patted his chest. "Don't worry, he's my guy, he definitely won't rip you off."
Back in the dorm, Lu Chuan lay on his bed, the system interface appearing in his mind.
"[Main Quest: Lead the B Team to a Top Three Finish in the League] has been issued!"
"Quest Reward: Unlock Legendary Skill [Aura of Leadership] (Beginner)."
Lu Chuan's lips curved slightly. The burden of captaincy was not light, but the system's reward came at just the right time.
He closed his eyes. The night in Madrid was deep outside the window, and his journey had just begun.