Chapter Three: Changing the Future

"Nice one, Wei Lai!"
"Great defense!"
"Keep it up! Leave Guo Fan to you!"
"Take them down!"

Three consecutive brilliant one-on-one defensive plays by Wei Lai immediately boosted Team C's morale. Guo Fan was the only one they were worried about! As long as they could pin Guo Fan down, they had a chance to counterattack and even level the score.

Wei Lai clenched his fists tightly. He knew Guo Fan had a small habit when starting his run: he would subconsciously lower his head to look at the ball. Whenever that guy dropped his head, Wei Lai knew he was about to accelerate. And during that acceleration phase, he would just charge straight in and give him a hard hit. In defense, if you don't make your opponent fear you, it's hard to defend well. Wei Lai’s actions were a warning: if you dare to use your speed to force your way through, be prepared to be fouled, or even knocked down.

Sure enough, after those three confrontations, Guo Fan didn't dare to charge in recklessly anymore. Taking advantage of this, Team C launched several decent attacks and counter-attacks, though their overall strength was still weaker than Team B. Especially once the wings were neutralized, Team B's midfield began to control the situation. Under this shift, Team C found it increasingly difficult to play.

"Don't rush! Don't rush! Let's take it slow!" Team B's midfielder commanded loudly, holding up an index finger. Guo Fan also joined in, starting to integrate into the team rather than fighting alone.

Wei Lai pursed his lips; this situation was quite a headache. Soon, Team B controlled the midfield, passing the ball around while looking for opportunities. Meanwhile, Guo Fan stood in the half-space area, restless. Wei Lai knew clearly that once his team's positioning was off, Guo Fan could immediately slip in with his speed, and the opponent's pass would arrive right on cue.

As they patiently passed the ball, Guo Fan noticed Cheng Haoran's positioning leaning toward the left. He immediately moved forward a few steps, occupying a dangerous position. Sure enough, the Team B player on the wing delivered a cross.

"Beautiful!" Guo Fan's eyes lit up. He had a trick up his sleeve—he could volley it directly. Watching the ball descend, Guo Fan took small steps to adjust. Just then, the sound of intense footsteps reached his ears.

"Give it to me—" A figure suddenly flashed before his eyes. Wei Lai lunged out viciously in a flying-tackle posture, kicking the ball away well in advance.

"Get lost!!!"

Guo Fan froze completely. Getting hit in the leg by that kind of kick was no joke.

"Big brother! Was that necessary? Are you trying to kill me?" Guo Fan turned his head, shocked.

Wei Lai replied, "You pulled back because you couldn't reach the ball. If your judgment had been sharper, it would have been me pulling back!"

Guo Fan grinned, "You didn't have any intention of pulling back; you clearly wanted to finish me off!"

"Heh!" Wei Lai gave a sinister laugh, his expression suddenly turning fierce. "I actually do want to finish you off! You dog, you once dribbled past me like I was a lamppost!"

Guo Fan: "..."

However, Wei Lai was given a verbal warning for the high boot.

"Excellent positioning awareness, strong defensive will, tough defensive style..." Old Man Chen had shed his previous annoyed expression and was scribbling incessantly in a small notebook. He looked up and added another line: "Excellent judgment of the ball's trajectory!"

*Snap!*

The notebook closed, and Old Man Chen suddenly stopped the match. Everyone turned to look. Old Man Chen pointed at Wei Lai and said, "That number 3, yes, you! Go play defensive midfielder, and that number 8, go play fullback!"

Cheng Haoran pointed at himself, "Ah? Me? Play fullback?"

Old Man Chen’s face darkened, "If you don't want to play, get off the field!"

Cheng Haoran didn't dare say no and could only trudge toward the wing.

"Number 3, two tasks for you now!" Old Man Chen held up an index finger. "First: in the midfield area, compete for the first bounce! Second: lock down Guo Fan! Can you do it?"

Wei Lai looked dazed; he had no memory of this scene. But then his spirit surged, and he answered loudly, "Yes!"

Wei Lai felt excited; he felt as though he had changed something. Guo Fan felt uncomfortable. Why was he being targeted? He glanced at Wei Lai—to be marked by this 'butcher' again!

A man-marking midfielder! Although Wei Lai's professional career wasn't long, this was exactly the position he played. He did the dirty, tiring work. He was all too familiar with how to complete the task: interfering, pushing, pulling, pressing, driving...

Wei Lai stayed by Guo Fan's side, constantly applying pressure. Wherever Guo Fan went, Wei Lai followed, completely stifling the opponent's core player.

"Big brother, stop following me, okay?" Guo Fan was almost in tears. But he didn't dare to go all out. Today was the promotion-relegation match for the Third Division. Tomorrow was the promotion-relegation for the Second Division! He needed to play for a Second Division team; that was when he would truly shine.

Wei Lai said, "Then drop back. If you drop back to your half, I won't follow you!"

Guo Fan pursed his lips, "Then I'm going to sprint!"

Wei Lai narrowed his eyes, "Bring it on!"

Guo Fan twisted his body repeatedly, feinting to break free and creating a gap. "Pass it here!"

Just as the ball reached Guo Fan's feet, Wei Lai was right on him.

"Damn it!" Guo Fan immediately tapped the ball laterally and ran toward the wing, with Wei Lai following close behind. A teammate sent a long diagonal pass, and Guo Fan started his run, dashing toward the landing spot. Wei Lai naturally couldn't keep up with Guo Fan's acceleration and speed.

Wei Lai pointed at Cheng Haoran, "Disturb him!"

Cheng Haoran immediately moved in to interfere. At the same time, Wei Lai looked up to judge the ball's trajectory and leaped ahead of everyone.

*Bang!*

He headed the ball directly into Guo Fan's back, sending it out of bounds.

"Smart," Old Man Chen raised an eyebrow slightly.

*Bang! Bang! Bang!*

Wherever Guo Fan ran, Wei Lai followed. The two battled in every corner of the field. Guo Fan tried to shake off Wei Lai, but Wei Lai stuck to him like a plaster—there was no getting rid of him.

*Huff! Huff! Huff!*

Guo Fan leaned on his knees, gasping for air. Who would have thought he’d be so miserable playing against a Third Division team? He looked at Wei Lai.

"Buddy, tell me the truth, are you an U16 player sent here specifically to mess with me?"

Wei Lai replied, "I'm 15! Besides, you're nothing. If an U16 player came down here, they'd be here to take down He Chaoyue!"

Guo Fan: "You f***ing..."

Wei Lai was also gasping heavily. He wasn't the 'stamina freak' or the 'die-hard' yet. It would likely take until he was 16, through constant and diligent training, for his stamina and endurance to show significant improvement.

At that moment, a Team B teammate passed the ball to Guo Fan.

Guo Fan was alarmed, "Don't pass it—"

It was too late. Wei Lai had already lunged in from the side. Relying on his physical advantage, he forcibly squeezed Guo Fan behind him and completed the tackle. While holding off the struggling Guo Fan, Wei Lai waited for a split second. That split second allowed his team's center-forward, who was moving laterally through the gaps in the crowd, to get into position.

*Bang!*

Wei Lai sent the ball straight along the central axis to the center-forward's feet. The center-forward shifted it to the wing, the right winger quickly drove to the end line, made a cut-back pass, and the supporting midfielder followed up and shot.

*Swish!*

The ball hit the net!

Team C 1:2 Team B!