Volume One: Our Own League 104: I Will Definitely Shoot Toward Your Right Side

The girls in the stands all stood up, dancing in place as they cheered for Lin Xuefeng.
Xia Xinyi gave it everything she had, and she danced the best of them all.
That moment drew the eyes of so many spectators that, for an instant, her dance seemed even more captivating than the match itself.
The cheering squad she had organized immediately shouted with excitement: “Go, Lin Xuefeng! Lin Xuefeng is the best! Lin Xuefeng never loses!”

It was a flock of mindless fangirls devoted to Lin Xuefeng.
Of course, many of the boys were overcome with envy—some even with resentment.
“Lin Xuefeng, what makes you so special?”

Xu He was never surprised by it. He only stared at Lin Xuefeng steadily and cheered him on.

Of course, Xu He was also worried that the girls’ flamboyant support might put even more pressure on Lin Xuefeng, and he could not help but be concerned for him.

Lin Xuefeng walked calmly to the spot, not looking tense at all.
He seemed to have no pressure at all.

Only then did Xu He breathe easier and raise his fist in support.

If Lin Xuefeng could score this one, the entire weight would fall on the Class Sixteen football team. If the fifth shooter from their side, Song Xiang, failed to score, then Class Ten would be guaranteed the match and Xu He would not even need to step onto the field.

Xu He immediately shouted, “Xuefeng, go for it!”

Lin Xuefeng stood at the penalty spot. Hearing the shout, he turned at once and waved at Xu He and the others, signaling there was no problem, everyone should be at ease.

Seeing how relaxed Lin Xuefeng looked, Principal Wang was completely at ease, smiling as he said, “This game is about to be decided, Coach Song.”

Song Yu worried inwardly: the situation was far from good for Class Sixteen.
Yet outwardly he remained calm, saying drily, “Lin Xuefeng may not score, and your Class Ten team may not win either.”

Principal Wang gave a faint smile. “You may not understand Lin Xuefeng. He is very strong.”

Song Yu waved his hand off. “How strong can he be? Didn’t Baggio miss a penalty too?”

“Uh—” Principal Wang was momentarily speechless.

Song Yu said, “Let’s see, then. I trust Xu Donglai.”

A sharp note sounded. The referee blew the whistle to resume play.
Lin Xuefeng sprang into action, moving toward the ball and smashing it with one fierce kick. The ball shot away at lightning speed, whipping toward the upper right corner of the net.

It was truly fast.

Players of Class Ten raised both fists, already celebrating a goal.
Xu He leapt up and pumped his fist in triumph.

On the opposite stand, students from Class Sixteen and Song Yu were in despair. The speed was too great— even if someone with eight arms as Xu Donglai, this one was unsalvageable.

It was over.

The girls in the stands were wildly excited. Their Lin Xuefeng was incredible.

A sharp smack sounded. Like a monkey leaping sideways, Xu Donglai somehow saved the shot in a stunning way, and the ball flew fast out over the line.
Everyone on the field stood in stunned silence, unable to believe what they had seen.

Song Yu jumped up with delight. “Did you see that? Did you see that? This is Xu Donglai—this is Xu Donglai! The man who creates miracles!”

Song Yu was genuinely thrilled, nearly incoherent. Xu Donglai had not disappointed him in the slightest; he had saved even that shot. It was astonishing. Song Yu had assumed that one could not be saved—perhaps not even by a seasoned goalkeeper—but Xu Donglai did it.

It was a shock, a real shock.

If not for being mindful of Principal Wang beside him, Song Yu would have broken into dance from sheer joy.

Xu Donglai had been spectacular.
Principal Wang widened his eyes in disbelief. He had never expected steady Lin Xuefeng to miss such a shot. He could hardly believe it.

The girls on the stands did not believe it either, their faces open with shock.

Lin Xuefeng covered his face with both hands. He could not believe he had not scored. He felt the kind of humiliation that makes you want to vanish from public sight.

Zhu Ge, along with others, shook their heads and tried to reassure him, saying it was not Lin Xuefeng’s fault; Xu Donglai on the other side was simply too strong. If another goalkeeper had been there, no one would have saved it—Xu Donglai had gone beyond human today.
Xu He offered the same comfort.

Lin Xuefeng immediately looked at Xu He and said, “From now on, we’re relying on you, Xu He.”

Zhu Ge and Mu Yang also turned toward Xu He and cheered him on, hoping he could withstand the pressure and send the ball into Class Sixteen’s goal.

Xu He was thrilled and excited. He was about to go on.

At this moment he felt not the slightest tension, only the urge to step in.

After four rounds of penalties, the score was tied at two each.

The match was level.

In the fifth round, Class Sixteen’s shooter was Song Xiang. All the pressure was on him. If he missed, they would lose all initiative and be at the mercy of Class Ten. So Song Xiang had to score.

Zhuo Jun was shouting encouragement at him nonstop.

On the stands, Principal Wang called out, “Coach Song, do you think this one will go in?”

Song Yu stared hard at Song Xiang and said with conviction, “It will go in.”

Principal Wang gave a bitter smile. He did not believe Song Yu at all, thinking him somewhat unhinged. But then Song Xiang built his run and unleashed a shot at a wicked angle; the ball struck the inside of the post and bounced into the goal.

Three to two.

All the pressure shifted to Class Ten, and settled squarely on Xu He.

If he failed to score this one, the match would be over. Class Ten would lose their chance at the league championship, and Xu He would hand the trophy directly to Class Sixteen.

Xu He took a deep breath. He did feel a thread of pressure—
but he felt more excitement than anything else.

Li Jie came beside him. “Old Xu, don’t be nervous. Believe in yourself. You’ve practiced so many shots. Believe in your shooting.”

Zhang Zhen echoed, “Yes. You’ve practiced a lot; you definitely can.”

Zhu Ge, Mu Yang, and Lin Xuefeng came over too, encouraging him and trying to cut the pressure.

He truly did not need it—Xu He was not nervous at all.

He told his teammates right away, “Don’t worry. I’ll give it everything. I will score this one. I’m sure of it.”

Seeing Xu He’s unwavering look, everyone nodded, accepting his confidence.

And so Xu He walked slowly toward the penalty spot.

On the stands, both Song Yu and Principal Wang fixed their eyes on Xu He. Principal Wang was now very tense. At this point Class Sixteen was leading; if Xu He missed, their school would lose a brilliant coach like Song Yu. Principal Wang did not want to lose him.

In his heart, Principal Wang prayed and cheered silently for Class Ten, hoping they would score and level the score.

Song Yu watched Xu He from his seat, no longer sure if Xu He could score. He only wished for Class Sixteen to win, and, of course, he trusted Xu Donglai.

Xu He came before the spot and looked at Xu Donglai.
Xu Donglai watched him calmly, his gaze fixed and steady.

Xu He asked suddenly, “Do you think I’ll shoot to your right?”

Xu Donglai smiled faintly. “No matter where you shoot, you can’t get past my fingers.”

He sounded sure of himself and did not fall for Xu He’s provocation.

Xu He said, “You’re too sure of yourself. A little too full of yourself.”

Xu Donglai shrugged. “You’ll know in a moment if it’s overconfidence, kid.”

Xu He ignored him, crouched, and fussed with the ball. From that moment, the whole field fell quiet. Every eye was on him.

After setting the ball in place, he rose and said to Xu Donglai, “I’m definitely going to shoot to your right.”

Xu Donglai didn’t answer, his eyes locked on the ball at Xu He’s feet.

At that instant the referee blew the whistle.

Xu He stared at Xu Donglai, then accelerated forward in a quick run-up. His left foot sank into the turf like a steel nail, and his right leg whipped through, striking the ball hard.

There was a sharp *thud*: Xu He connected solidly, and the ball screamed away.

At the goal, Xu Donglai, eyes sharp, called out, “Right side!”

He spring-loaded both legs, lunged sideways at top speed, and stretched his arm straight out to block the shot heading for the right side of the goal.

Song Yu stood up in delighted shock—Xu Donglai had read the direction correctly.

And with that leap speed, with those long arms…

It was in!

Class Sixteen were about to take the championship.

The faces of Class Ten’s players drained; their mood turned heavy.

Was it all over?

Then—

The ball suddenly dipped, sliced just beneath Xu Donglai’s outstretched palm, and dropped into the net.

Three to three.

Xu He had scored the penalty.

The players of Class Ten immediately leapt in excitement, surged toward Xu He, and one by one knocked him to the ground in their rush, piling on him in gratitude. They celebrated as though Class Ten had already won the shootout.

In truth, they had only drawn level.

But at that moment they were so ecstatic they might as well have escaped a disaster and come back from the edge of hell.

In the stands, Song Yu stared open-mouthed at Xu He and whispered, “That boy is remarkable.”

It was true—Xu He had made a very strong impression on Song Yu.

At the goalmouth, Xu Donglai rose and fixed his stare on Xu He. He had never expected him to pull off such a move.

He said, “Impressive. Truly impressive. I wasn’t beaten unfairly.”

After five rounds, the penalty shootout remained tied at three-all.
It would now move to sudden death.

If one side scored and the other did not, the game ended immediately and the scoring side won.

The atmosphere on the field tightened to a peak.

Xu He, too, was extremely tense now, almost unable to speak.
He had not been nervous when he took his penalties; now he was.
The reason was simple: from here on, he could no longer control the fate himself. He would hardly have another chance to kick. The outcome had now been handed over entirely to others.

So Xu He was very nervous.

So were Principal Wang and Song Yu on the stands. Neither of them had much certainty now. From this point on, chance would dominate the match, and no one could tell who would seize this victory and claim the season’s championship.

Now Xu He could only quietly cheer his teammates, hoping they would finish well and bring home the season champion.