Xiaopang was a foreign student studying at the University of Manchester.
Living in a city steeped in football culture, it was almost impossible not to be influenced. Unsurprisingly, Xiaopang became a die-hard Manchester United fan.
With some free time today, he decided to watch the U18 Red Derby.
Although it was only a youth match, the rivalry between Manchester United and Liverpool still drew a large crowd of like-minded fans.
As a member of United's fan coaching team, Xiaopang paid close attention to the development of the academy players.
"If we could produce just a couple more Pogba-level talents, United could save a lot in transfer fees," he thought.
However, as he scanned the squad list, one name caught his attention: Ye Chen.
"Wait, isn't he supposed to be with the national team?" Xiaopang muttered in confusion as he opened his domestic football group chat to ask what was going on.
What greeted him was a torrent of criticism.
He also came across several reposted articles, all echoing the same sentiment: mocking Ye Chen for "acting arrogant despite not even making the Manchester United U18 lineup."
Some claimed his football skills were poor, and his attitude even worse.
The group, made up of die-hard Manchester United fans, were well aware of Ye Chen's situation in the youth team. They were among the first to express disappointment in him.
But Xiaopang, unconvinced, posted the latest squad list from United's official website. The group fell silent.
Everyone was stunned. Ye Chen had actually made the squadâfor a crucial match like the Red Derby, no less!
The game was being broadcast by a local Manchester TV channel, but fans in China had to rely on VPNs or unofficial streams to watch.
A few dedicated fans managed to find links and shared them. These streams, powered purely by passion, carried no monetary benefit.
Nonetheless, the game garnered significant attention.
The first half belonged to Sterling from Liverpool, who dominated with his individual brilliance. However, when Ye Chen was subbed on in the second half, the match took a dramatic turn.
The relationship between the fans and Ye Chen began to warm up.
It felt like a budding romance, gradually growing deeper.
Then came the corner. Januzaj delivered a cross, and Ye Chen charged in, striking a flawless volley!
The move was fluid, the shot powerful, igniting the crowd's passion instantly.
That one strike made countless United fans fall in love with him.
Later, his fake shot turned assist in front of goal demonstrated his calm composure under pressure.
Many players in such situations would have taken a reckless shot, regardless of the outcome.
But Ye Chen, in the most complicated scenario, made the coolest decision!
How could anyone not love such a player?
What truly cemented their admiration, however, was his dribble past an opponent and a stunning long-range chip shot that became the game-winner.
Xiaopang, witnessing it live, was moved to tears.
Fans who watched the broadcast were also left in awe. They couldn't believe that this player, showcasing such extraordinary talent, was once labeled by the Chinese Football Association as "talentless," "mediocre," and "not worth expecting."
Who else in China could pull off a midfield chip in a competitive match?
The match was quickly edited into highlight reels and circulated online.
Trailing, equalizing, falling behind again, leveling the scoreâand then a Chinese youngster sealing the win with a breathtaking midfield chip!
The storyline was nothing short of epic.
Even officials from the Chinese Football Association were stunned upon watching the footage.
However, the team leader quickly dismissed it, saying, "Matches are full of randomness. Shots like these are mostly down to luck."
This statement left fans outraged.
They had encountered ignorance before but had never seen such a blatant display of it.
Did he genuinely believe a midfield chip was a fluke?
Back at Old Trafford, the referee's whistle marked the end of the game.
Before anyone else could approach, Liverpool's Sterling rushed over to Ye Chen.
"Hey, mate, why not join Liverpool? Let's play together!" Sterling grinned as he extended an invitation.
Ye Chen was momentarily stunned. "No, thanks," he replied politely.
He didn't have three years to waste.
Initially, he had hoped to make his mark as a Manchester United academy player, but fate had other plans.
"Well then, how about a jersey swap? You were incredible out there. Let's meet again on the pitch someday!" Sterling removed his shirt as he spoke.
But Ye Chen shook his head. "Sorry, this is my last Manchester United jersey. I want to keep it for myself."
"Fair enough. But if you ever change your mind about Liverpool, our doors are open!"
"Get lost!"
Before Sterling could say more, Januzaj pushed him aside.
"Ye, don't listen to him. We're not going anywhere!" Januzaj said earnestly.
"Exactly, stay! The team needs you!" Chiriano joined in.
Sterling, seeing this, simply walked away.
Though Liverpool had lost, Sterling's individual performance had been impressive.
He now had to focus on finding the right team to gain experience before making his mark in Liverpool's senior squad.
As for Ye Chen's future? Only time would tell if they would meet again at the peak of their careers.
The match ended, but United fans lingered, reluctant to leave.
Ye Chen, however, made his way to Solskjær. "Boss, what's going on?"
Solskjær sighed. "Let's talk in the locker room. Your situation is... complicated."
In the locker room, Solskjær locked the door behind them.
"Kid, this decision baffles me too, but the club manager has informed me that you are no longer part of Manchester United."
"That fast?" Ye Chen frowned. "Don't terminations require FA approval?"
Solskjær shook his head. "This is a unilateral termination. You'll receive this month's salary of â¬90 and â¬2,000 as compensation. Kid, do you still want to play football?"
"Of course!" Ye Chen replied without hesitation.
"My hometown club, Molde FK in Norway, has invited me to coach. I'd like you to join my team!"
"Ding! Do you accept Molde FK's invitation?"
"No!" Ye Chen thought to himself before replying, "Sorry, boss, I want to stay in one of the top five leagues."
"How about I talk to Sir Alex and get you a new contract?"
"No need," Ye Chen said, shaking his head.
A broken heart is like shattered glass.
If the club was willing to pay â¬2,000 to terminate him, why should he stay?
Solskjær nodded in understanding. "By the way, are you interested in the Bundesliga? A friend of mine is an assistant coach at a German club... You know how hard it is for you to get a work permit in England."
"Of course!" Ye Chen's eyes lit up.
Having connections made things much easier. At least this would save him the trouble of contacting clubs himself!