Chapter 1 Aftermath

After leaving messages for his parents, Zhou Yi finally had time to look at the other messages. He saw one from Fang Shuai.

Hearing that he had his own online forum, Zhou Yi was a little excited. He quickly opened the Zhou Yi fan forum and sure enough, saw his name frequently appearing on the page.

"Hey, when do you guys think Zhou Yi will be able to play in the first team?"

"As a Borussia Dortmund fan, I'm incredibly happy right now!"

"Moderator, moderator, update quickly!"

"Any news about Zhou Yi today?"

"Everyone talk about when you first learned about and fell in love with Zhou Yi?"

…

Zhou Yi read through each of these posts, all the way back to when the forum was first established. He even laughed out loud several times while reading.

Seeing Zhou Yi staring at the screen and laughing, Götze leaned over and asked, "What are you looking at? What's so funny?"

Zhou Yi turned to let Götze see, and said proudly, "My fans made this... personal website for me!"

Zhou Yi didn't know how to translate "tieba," so he simply called it a personal website.

Götze leaned in for a look, but all he saw were square characters, which made him a little dizzy.

"What does it say?"

"Of course, it's all praise for me!" Zhou Yi said smugly.

"That's amazing!" Götze gave Zhou Yi a thumbs up. Since he couldn't understand it, he backed away.

Zhou Yi then switched to QQ and left a message for Fang Shuai: "I went to the forum, thanks a lot, Little Shuai. I'm doing physical training with the first team now, it's super tiring! Let me tell you, it's way more tiring than when we were trying to pass the sports standards! But I've already made it through, aren't you impressed with me? To be honest, I'm impressed with myself! Well, as for other things... it's just training, training, training every day, like they're trying to completely drain my energy. There's nothing else to say... In the future, if anything interesting happens, I'll leave a message on QQ, and you can take it and post it..."

※※※

Just when Zhou Yi thought he would get more and more relaxed with the training, he found that things seemed to have changed...

Neither the head coach nor the fitness coach told him anything, but he could still feel the change—just the next morning's practice, after an hour, Zhou Yi collapsed on the ground, drenched in sweat.

His chest heaved violently, and his eyes looking at the sky were a little unfocused—he didn't even have the strength to focus his eyes now, that's how tired he was.

Großkreutz was also strange: "Kid, did you secretly go on a date with a woman yesterday? Why are you suddenly so weak?"

Zhou Yi was panting and couldn't answer him.

"Okay, if you don't speak, I'll take it as a yes. I'll assume you did." After saying that, Großkreutz stood up and shouted to everyone, "Hey! Everyone listen to me, Zhou Yi went out on a date with a woman yesterday!"

His shout attracted everyone's attention, and they all gathered around, looking down at Zhou Yi lying on the ground.

"No way?" Hummels asked in surprise.

"I don't think Zhou Yi is that kind of person..." Weidenfeller stroked his chin, frowning suspiciously.

"Roman, just because Zhou Yi said nice things about you when he first joined the team, you're helping him like this..." Großkreutz said.

"Didn't you say he was your fan?" Weidenfeller glared at Großkreutz.

Zhou Yi lay on the ground, watching a group of teammates surround him, carefully studying the truth of Großkreutz's words just now, he was almost in tears—my innocence, was just defiled by that bastard Großkreutz!

He gasped for breath, intermittently defending himself: "Do-don't...don't...don't listen to Kevin's bull-bullshit! I...I...I was in...in my room all...all night yesterday. Mario...Mario can testify!"

Everyone turned their attention to Götze.

Götze hesitated for a moment and said: "Yes, Zhou Yi did sit in front of the computer until he went to bed, he looked at the computer very happily, and smiled from time to time." He said it in great detail, with details, which increased credibility.

But Şahin keenly captured Götze's hesitation and asked doubtfully, "You don't seem too sure, Mario?"

"No, no. I'm sure." Götze waved his hands quickly.

"Then why did you hesitate just now?" Şahin pressed.

"Uh..." Götze hesitated again, he looked at Großkreutz.

"Why are you looking at me?" Großkreutz asked.

"I'm afraid you'll beat me if I tell the truth..." Götze said timidly.

"...I want to beat you now, Mario!" Großkreutz roared.

Götze quickly ran behind Captain Kehl.

"Okay, Kevin, stop making trouble, if you're so lively, be careful the coach sees you." Kehl stopped Großkreutz. "He will think your training volume is not enough. Do you want to be like Zhou Yi?"

This sentence was more effective than anything else, so Großkreutz immediately became honest, he glanced at Zhou Yi: "Who wants to be like him!"

"You think I...I want to!" Zhou Yi retorted.

Götze, who was hiding behind Kehl, turned his attention to Zhou Yi, thoughtfully.

Later, Zhou Yi found that Götze was very strange during this day. He would always turn his attention to himself, but when asked what was wrong, he would always shake his head and say nothing.

It's like he wanted to say something but stopped.

During dinner, Zhou Yi insisted on getting Götze to say it, but Götze always insisted that there was really nothing.

But as soon as he returned to the room, Götze suddenly came to Zhou Yi and asked, "So Zhou Yi, are you worried that the training volume is too large, so you pretend to be so tired?"

Zhou Yi was confused: "What are you talking about?"

"Didn't the captain warn Großkreutz today that if the coach saw him being so energetic, he would increase his training volume. So I was thinking, wouldn't you deliberately act so tired after training because you were worried about having your training volume increased..."

Zhou Yi couldn't bear it any longer and interrupted Götze: "Hey! Am I such a scheming person!"

"Yes." Götze replied decisively without hesitation. "Otherwise, why were you fine after training yesterday, but so tired today?"

Zhou Yi rolled his eyes: "You're asking me? I'm still wondering! I just feel that training today is particularly tiring, more than yesterday...no, it's more strenuous than before."

"Isn't this your illusion?" Götze asked.

"The brain can have illusions, but the body won't." Zhou Yi said. "It's really more tiring. I just want to sleep now, I don't even want to take a shower..."

Götze pinched his nose: "Fortunately, we don't sleep in the same bed..."

"I want to sleep in the same bed with you!" Zhou Yi said angrily. "I don't even have the strength to take a shower now. If you think I stink, can you help me wash it?"

Zhou Yi originally thought that Götze would refuse without hesitation, but he didn't expect Götze to hesitate again!

So Zhou Yi quickly waved his hand: "Just kidding, just kidding. If you were a woman, I would consider letting you help me take a bath, Mario. What are you hesitating for."

Götze breathed a sigh of relief: "Is that so? Then I'm relieved." Then he frowned again, "But don't you think it's strange? Why do you feel so tired again? Did you not rest well last night, causing your physical condition to be poor today?"

"Impossible, right?" Zhou Yi also began to suspect, he had never heard that training in a dream would affect the quality of sleep...

But Götze said very definitely: "I think that's the case, otherwise how would you explain being trained so embarrassingly today?"

Zhou Yi really couldn't figure out why, so he could only be dubious about Götze's explanation.

But the next day, Zhou Yi still collapsed on the ground after morning practice... After the whole day of training, Zhou Yi was like he was about to die at any time.

Facing Götze's doubtful eyes, Zhou Yi gasped and said, "I definitely rested well."

The third day, it was still the same.

Zhou Yi finally confirmed that the intensity requirements in his training plan had been modified.

This question was also confirmed in his conversation with Bartlett.

After getting a positive answer from Bartlett, Zhou Yi was dumbfounded: "Why?"

"Because we all think you still have a lot of potential to be tapped, in terms of physical strength." Bartlett said with a smile.

Zhou Yi looked at Bartlett dumbfounded: "Coach, what made you have the illusion that I still have potential to be tapped?"

"It's your own performance, Zhou Yi. Okay, don't think too much, let's start training quickly."

"This..." Zhou Yi wanted to cry but had no tears. The feelings of his previous performance in training had put him in hell!

He suddenly thought of what he had bragged to Götze before, that his treatment in physical training was not the coach targeting him, but valuing him... Unexpectedly, it came true!

He really wanted to slap himself for being a jinx... He really hoped that he had thought too much as Götze said at the beginning!

The other players of Borussia Dortmund also noticed that the coaching staff seemed to have special arrangements for Zhou Yi. Zhou Yi was so tired after each training session, it was definitely not because his physical strength was the worst, but because his training intensity was greater than others.

Großkreutz said that Zhou Yi collapsed on the ground after training because he went to find a woman last night. Everyone naturally knew that this was a joke. It's almost the same if this happened to Großkreutz himself, but it's absolutely impossible for it to happen to Zhou Yi.

But no one knew why the coach would do this.

Großkreutz went to ask Zhou Yi what was going on: "Hey, Zhou Yi, did you offend a coach? For example... Bartlett?"

"What are you thinking, Kevin? Of course, it's because the coaching staff sees that my bones are amazing, my talent is extraordinary, my appearance is majestic, everyone loves me, flowers bloom when they see me, and cars carry me when they see me... They have higher requirements and hopes for me." Zhou Yi hummed.

Großkreutz didn't expect Zhou Yi to be able to come up with so much, he was stunned, wiped the dazed expression from his face with his hand, then came back to his senses and waved his hand: "Zhou Yi, I've seen people bragging, but I've never seen someone as shameless as you."

"What bragging? I'm telling the truth! It's true that the coach intends to let me challenge myself and break through my limits..." Zhou Yi explained.

"Yeah, yeah, Zhou Yi, as long as you're happy, as long as you're happy..." Großkreutz shook his head and left, no longer listening to Zhou Yi's self-bragging.

Zhou Yi turned his head and looked at Götze next to him: "Mario, do you believe that I'm telling the truth..."

"I understand you, Zhou Yi. Sometimes, when we are very uncomfortable, we really need to find some reasons for ourselves to gain strength from it." Götze patted Zhou Yi on the shoulder, then turned and walked away.

Looking at the backs of the two people in front and behind, Zhou Yi cursed: "Damn! In this day and age, no one believes the truth! Where is the most basic trust between people!"

※※※

"How is the Chinese boy doing?" Klopp asked Bartlett.

Bartlett said: "The maximum heart rate continues to decline. The doctor is right, his heart is much stronger than we initially thought. It's just..."

Speaking of this, Bartlett hesitated, hesitant to speak.

"Just what?" Klopp asked.

"It's just that his mouth is really..." Bartlett thought of Zhou Yi's strange behavior during training. "He always yells strange things like 'I can't do it anymore' and 'I'm going to die'..."

Klopp laughed, he seemed to be able to imagine the scene: "Okay, since he still has the strength to shout tired, it means he still has some energy left. Don't be polite, squeeze him as much as you can."

"Okay." Bartlett nodded.

※※※

And so, Zhou Yi was fully squeezed dry in three training sessions every day. If he didn't take a nap at noon, he would not have the strength to train in the afternoon, but even if he took a nap at noon, after an hour and a half of extreme squeezing in the afternoon, he would be exhausted again, so he could only go to bed early at night and sleep until dawn the next day, and then be squeezed dry again, repeating this...

During this time, he didn't even turn on his computer, let alone go on QQ.

Fang Shuai had been waiting for Zhou Yi to bring him new news, but he never got it.

Time passed unknowingly to the last day of physical training.

On this day, Klopp arranged another team-limited mountain climbing training.

The same route and distance, the same time limit.

But this time, the performance of the vast majority of Borussia Dortmund players was much better than when they first arrived here.

Zhou Yi still had a deep memory of this mountain climbing training when he was running, and even had some fear. He knew how difficult it was to run on this rugged mountain road that was all uphill. It was really a huge test of physical strength and will.

But this time, when he ran to the end, he was a little surprised.

He ran past the finish line, put his hands on his hips, strolled around, and at the same time turned his head left and right to look around, looking at the teammates and coaches who also ran to the finish line, and confirmed that this was really the finish line.

Seeing Zhou Yi, who was tired but looked around in confusion, Klopp went up and asked, "What's with that expression?"

"Uh, coach..." Zhou Yi gasped, "I'm a little...a little surprised... When I ran last time, I felt like I didn't know how many times I was going to die before I reached the finish line. And this time, I didn't realize I had finished until I reached the finish line..."

"So you think it's easier this time?" Klopp asked, looking at him with his arms crossed.

Zhou Yi frowned, thought carefully, and then nodded: "It seems...it seems like this."

"Well, Zhou Yi, you are better at running than you think." Klopp praised.

Getting the coach's praise made Zhou Yi very happy, he scratched his head: "Right? I said I was naturally talented!"

"So do you want to run it again?" Klopp asked with a smile.

Zhou Yi was so frightened that he raised his hands that were on his waist and waved them in a panic: "No, no...coach! I'm already exhausted, actually I can't do it anymore...I'm just holding on in front of you!"

He said with a painful expression.

"Why do you have to hold on?" Klopp asked.

"I don't want to be said to be a man who can't satisfy his girlfriend again." Zhou Yi said with his head up and a sad face.

Klopp laughed loudly when he heard the words.

In the laughter, he patted Zhou Yi on the shoulder hard. Then he went to find the next player.

And Zhou Yi was almost kneeling on the ground with his knees soft after being patted by him, if it weren't for his hands supporting his knees - he was really tired.

But at the same time, he was indeed not as tired as the first time.

Zhou Yi left the knees he was supporting with both hands, straightened his back, and looked up at the distance.

He was now at the top of the mountain, with an excellent view. In front of him at the foot of the mountain was the town of Radkersburg.

The setting sun was low on the sky behind him, casting the shadows of the Alps on the town. Most of the roofs were covered in darkness, only the tallest building in the town—the spire of the church—could still be bathed in the afterglow of the setting sun, shining with holy light.

Birds flew up from the town, flew in the blue sky, and flew to the mountains and forests in the darkness.

The street lights in the town were lit, and more light began to leak out from the windows of the houses, sprinkled on the old road paved with bluestone.

Looking further into the distance, there were continuous green mountains, as if they would extend to the other side of the earth.

"It's so beautiful..." Suddenly there was another Götze next to him, also looking at this scene, with emotion. "Actually, it's not bad to stay in this place, why change to another place for training..."

"Then you want to stay, Mario?" Zhou Yi asked him.

"Don't you think it's beautiful here?" Götze pointed to the scenery at the foot of the mountain and said.

"Beautiful." Zhou Yi nodded. "But no matter how beautiful the scenery is, it will always be left behind, Mario. For me, the most beautiful scenery is always in front of the road."

After speaking, he turned and left, joined the team, and prepared to leave.

The coaches were blowing their whistles to remind everyone to return to the team, to take the bus back, and some teammates were cheering: "The physical training is finally over! Hooray!"

"Radkersburg, I don't want to come back again!"

Götze looked back at Zhou Yi's back, and then shouted at him: "Hey, Zhou Yi! You're not saying that because you don't want to continue physical training, are you?"

Zhou Yi almost staggered.

"What nonsense are you talking about!" He turned around and yelled at Götze. "A person like me who dares to challenge himself, would I be worried about that?! Let me tell you, I like to challenge my limits the most! Only in this way can my strength be reflected!"

Götze shrugged.