Lu Chuan opened the email.
The bright red official seal and the signature "Head Coach: Li Tie" made his blood boil.
The dream of playing for his country was within reach at this moment.
He immediately told his parents, who were far away in China, and heard his mother's joyful sobs over the phone.
"Mom, I've been selected for the national team!"
"Really? Chuan Chuan, really?" His mother's voice trembled, "My son, I'm so happy!"
His father's voice came from the other end of the line: "Don't just get excited, ask when the training camp is, and what you need to prepare."
"Dad's right, you need to take care of yourself and don't get injured." His mother composed herself, "All these years of hard work are finally paying off."
"Mom, I will." Lu Chuan's eyes welled up as he listened to his mother's sobs.
Before training the next day, Paco Jémez announced the news to the entire team. The locker room erupted in enthusiastic applause and whistles.
"Our teammate Lu Chuan has been selected for the China national team!" Paco waved his fist.
Captain Trejo led the teasing: "Hey, Mr. International! You'll have to look out for us little brothers from now on!"
"Treat us to a meal!" Álvaro García clapped his hands, "It's tradition for internationals to treat!"
"This kid is going to get rich!" Mario Suárez laughed as he put his arm around Lu Chuan's shoulder, "National team stipends are not small."
"Don't forget us brothers!" Santi Comesaña gave a thumbs-up, "The pride of Rayo Vallecano!"
"When you go to the national team, don't forget the tactics we taught you!" Isi Palazón joked, "Remember to say you learned them from Rayo Vallecano!"
The teammates' congratulations were sincere; being selected for the national team is the highest recognition of a player's ability.
Paco Jémez found Lu Chuan alone, and for once, he didn't pour cold water on his enthusiasm.
"This is a well-deserved honor for you." Paco's tone was unusually serious, "
However, long flights and jet lag will severely affect your physical condition. I don't want you to come back like a puddle of mud. You need to learn to protect yourself; this is also a mandatory lesson for professional players."
"I understand, Coach." Lu Chuan nodded, "I'll take good care of myself."
"In the national team, you must demonstrate the spirit of Rayo Vallecano." Paco patted his shoulder, "But remember, your main job is here."
When Carlos arrived at the apartment, he didn't even take off his jacket, placing his briefcase directly on the table, his expression one Lu Chuan had never seen before.
"Lu, sit down, we must talk." He took a document from his briefcase, "This is what I learned through my network, some 'unspoken rules' about this training camp."
Lu Chuan took the document, the cover of which read "Internal Data."
The document detailed some of the bad practices in the domestic football circle: seniority, factionalism, and even unwritten rules about giving "red envelopes" to the coaching staff and key figures in exchange for more playing opportunities.
"Although Head Coach is a new coach and is striving for reform," Carlos's voice was very low, "the deep-seated problems have been around for a long time, and he alone cannot fully control many things."
"Red envelopes…" Lu Chuan whispered these two words, a self-deprecating smile playing on his lips. It turned out that after all this time, he still couldn't avoid this wall.
"I won't give them." Lu Chuan's voice was cold and firm, "I earned this opportunity with my strength, why should I buy it with money? This is an insult to football!"
He had compromised once in his previous life, and in this life, he would never repeat the same mistake.
Carlos took a deep breath: "I support you. But you have to be prepared for the worst.
If you refuse, you are likely to be completely blacklisted. At that time, overwhelming public pressure will crush you. Are you sure you can handle it?"
He no longer looked at Carlos, just stared out the window: "I just want to play football cleanly. If I can't, then I won't play, it's that simple."
He had made up his mind to use his own way to challenge that invisible wall.
"Alright." Carlos closed the document, "I'll prepare an envelope with cash in it. But I know you won't use it."
"Then why prepare it?"
"Because I want you to have the right to choose." Carlos's eyes were complex, "What if you change your mind?"
Lu Chuan opened the system, hoping to get some hints, but there were no new tasks or warnings on the system panel.
The system seemed to be testing him, testing what choices he would make without the intervention of a golden finger.
The evening training was particularly intense. Lu Chuan suppressed all his emotions, ready to explode on the field.
He knew that before going to the national team, he had to leave a perfect mark in the League.
Paco had him practice shooting in various situations: close-range shots in the box, long-range shots outside the box, and one-on-one breaks during counterattacks.
"Your physical condition is very good." Paco watched Lu Chuan's precise shots, "But I feel like something is on your mind."
"Nothing, Coach." Lu Chuan wiped his sweat, "Just want to get into the best possible state."
"Remember, there are no distractions on the field." Paco's tone was serious, "Your mind can only have football."
After training, Lu Chuan stayed on the field alone. Madrid had cooled down at night, and his breath condensed into white mist in the air.
He thought of his experience in his previous life, of those dark days. This time, he would not succumb again.
The next morning, Lu Chuan packed his luggage, ready to head to the airport.
Before boarding the plane to Miranda de Ebro, he received a message from Esther: "
Going to an away game? Go, my Mr. International! When you come back, I'll come watch your game."
Lu Chuan looked at the message, a mix of emotions in his heart. Esther's words reminded him of last night's date, and her phrase, "I'll come chase you."
He replied with a "Okay" and then turned off his phone.
The plane slowly taxied, and Lu Chuan looked at Madrid's nightscape through the window.
The brightly lit city grew smaller and smaller beneath him, and he knew that a bigger storm awaited him.
The cabin was quiet, and his teammates were resting. Lu Chuan closed his eyes, replaying Carlos's warning and Paco's advice in his mind.
The national team, the stage he had always dreamed of, had now become complicated.
He thought of his parents' expectations, his teammates' congratulations, and Esther's support.
No matter what lay ahead, he would stick to his principles.
Football, after all, should be pure.
The plane broke through the clouds, and Lu Chuan's mood gradually calmed.
Tomorrow's match was his last battle before going to the national team.
He wanted to prepare for his national team journey with a victory.
The plane traversed the night sky, carrying him towards an unknown future.