Volume One: Our Own League 144: Don't worry, I will definitely poach Xu He!

Zhu Ge and Zhong Haokun’s expressions remained grim; they looked quite displeased. Nevertheless, seeing Xu He and his teammates preparing to take the field, the two still walked over to offer their encouragement.

"Xu He, good luck! I believe you can definitely score!" Zhu Ge said.

Xu He gave Zhu Ge a hug and replied, "Captain, don't worry. I will surely help you break through their goal."

Zhu Ge nodded slightly, feeling satisfied. His own match had been incredibly frustrating and disheartening. He clearly felt that although the opponents were decent, they weren't particularly strong. By all logic, he should have performed well and perhaps even scored. But it had all been ruined by those "lunatics" who were desperate to show off. Zhu Ge still felt deeply unsettled by it. Naturally, he hoped Xu He and his group would perform well and vent his frustration for him. Seeing Xu He's response, he was quite pleased.

Zhu Ge nodded at Xu He, then turned his gaze toward Zhuo Jun, his eyes filled with vigilance. Honestly, he was genuinely worried about Zhuo Jun—worried that he would try to poach his player. Now that Xu He was on the same team as this guy, he feared Zhuo Jun might shamelessly seduce Xu He and lure him over to their squad. Zhu Ge knew Zhuo Jun had not given up.

Seeing Zhu Ge eyeing him this way, Zhuo Jun smiled slightly, clearly understanding what was on his mind. To be honest, he really did have that intention. He hoped to communicate more with Xu He during this match, let him experience playing alongside him, and make him realize they were a perfect match—the ultimate duo—so he could eventually bring Xu He into his own team. He thought highly of Xu He and believed he was the missing piece of their puzzle.

Zhuo Jun looked at Zhu Ge and said, "Don't worry, I will definitely invite Xu He. I think very highly of him; he is truly a perfect fit for our Class 16 football team."

Zhu Ge’s expression darkened; Zhuo Jun wasn't even trying to hide it. Xu He felt awkward being caught in the middle; it was an uncomfortable position to be in. Zhu Ge glared fiercely at Zhuo Jun, as if to say, "We won't back down. Xu He will never leave our Class 10 football team, let alone join your Class 16 team."

Suddenly, Zhuo Jun smiled and said, "Just kidding, everyone, don't be tense!" Sensing Xu He's discomfort, he said this to avoid putting too much pressure on him, which might affect his performance and cause him to miss the chance to join the school team. Zhuo Jun believed that only by joining the school team could Xu He’s talent be fully showcased.

Hearing this, Xu He let out a sigh of relief. Zhu Ge was still suspicious, staring at Zhuo Jun with a doubtful gaze; he was certain this guy had some ulterior motive. Suddenly, noticing Xu He by his side, he realized what Zhuo Jun meant: they couldn't add extra pressure on him!

Zhu Ge glanced at Zhuo Jun and thought, "You're not the only one who knows how to play the good guy!" He added, "I was joking too. I believe Zhuo Jun isn't that kind of person. Xu He, don't worry, just play well. After this match, you won't be a Class 10 team member anymore!"

Xu He and Zhuo Jun were startled, eyes wide as they stared at Zhu Ge. Zhu Ge chuckled, "After this match, you’ll be on the school team!"

Xu He and Zhuo Jun immediately rolled their eyes at him. This guy was teasing them; he really had a thick skin. However, Xu He clearly felt much more relaxed. He could see that both of them were trying to relieve his stress and not burden him, which touched him. Yet, he actually had his own thoughts on the matter.

Just then, Xu Dongsheng shouted, "Everyone, gather up! The match is about to start!" It was past three in the afternoon, nearly four, and the game was indeed imminent. Xu He and Zhuo Jun were set to start and play the first half. They walked over to Xu Dongsheng to listen to his tactical instructions.

However, Xu Dongsheng didn't say much, simply stating, "I hope you can show your true strength and perform well. Of course, focus primarily on teamwork. I don't want to see a repeat of this morning's first half, understand?"

Hearing this, Zhu Ge and Zhong Haokun’s expressions grew even uglier. Xu He and the others immediately responded, "Understood!"

Xu Dongsheng was satisfied and waved his hand, "Then hurry up and get to the game!" In truth, Xu Dongsheng hadn't given any real tactical breakdown; he wanted the players to play in their usual style to fully display their individual traits and make the selection process easier.

Xu He, Zhuo Jun, and the others nodded at Xu Dongsheng and stepped onto the pitch. As soon as Xu He entered, he felt countless eyes focusing on him. It seemed he had attracted quite a bit of attention. He clenched his fists, cheering himself on silently—he had to perform well and show them his strength.

Seeing Xu He take the field, Yangtong Mingxiong felt a surge of interest. He turned to glance at Xu He and said, "The kid is on. I wonder what his actual match performance is like? I hope he doesn't disappoint me!" Although he was already pleased with the surprise discovery of Xu Donglai, he still hoped Xu He would put on a stunning performance. Xu He's physical condition was excellent; if his skill matched, Yangtong Mingxiong would have struck gold, and the Jinguan City 17th High School team would have tremendous competitive edge in the national tournament.

"I hope this kid doesn't let me down!" Yangtong Mingxiong repeated.

Luo Dongqing, standing beside him, said indifferently, "The kid might have talent, but I think we shouldn't have such high expectations." It seemed Luo Dongqing wasn't very optimistic about Xu He. In truth, it wasn't Xu He he doubted, but his teammates. If Xu He's teammates were like the ones Zhong Haokun had that morning, Xu He wouldn't have much of a chance to shine. These kids were too focused on individual performance. Of course, if they could be like Yang Hao, that would be fine, but unfortunately, most of them had Yang Hao's "disease" without his ability.

Luo Dongqing was also dissatisfied with Yang Hao. He didn't doubt Yang Hao's strength—he clearly saw his exceptional individual ability and footwork, which would easily rank him in the top five of the school. But the guy was too selfish; he didn't trust his teammates at all. If he had trusted them and passed more, they might have turned the morning's loss into a win. It was a pity; Yang Hao had the skill but lacked team spirit. He was currently struggling with whether or not to recommend Yang Hao for the school team. The final decision rested with Yangtong Mingxiong, but he wondered if he should push for it. If he did, Yang Hao would likely get in.

Luo Dongqing remained skeptical about Xu He.

Xu He walked to the center circle, hands on his hips, one foot resting on the ball, waiting for the whistle. He looked back at his teammates in his half and recognized many of them: Li Bo, Xu Liuxian, Chen Ping, Chen An, Zhang Zhen, and Wang He. Honestly, this team was very strong. These players had all participated in the freshman football league; they had a great chance of winning. Xu He's strike partner was Zhang Zhen, which was fantastic—he felt they could turn the combined team’s penalty area upside down.

Xu He looked at Zhuo Jun and nodded slightly, as if to say the match was in the bag. He saw Li Bo from Class 9. In the league, Li Bo had been the goalkeeper, but today he was playing as a defensive midfielder. It was clear his true position was midfield; playing in goal had been a necessity. Today, he could finally appear in midfield, just like his idol, Steven Gerrard. He took this match very seriously and was eager to make the school team.

The goalkeeper for the Freshman B team was Wang He, the flamboyant keeper from the Class 17 united team. Today, he was dressed in his usual style: a green baseball cap and a purple ribbon tied around his arm, making him look very conspicuous. He certainly drew everyone's attention. So did the two full-backs, Chen Ping and Chen An, who were dressed exactly as they were in the league—one with a headscarf, the other with a headband. They were very eye-catching.

Yangtong Mingxiong frowned slightly at their attire. This was a football match, not a fashion show or a performance. He stared at the trio, wanting to see if their skill was as impressive as their outfits.

Just then, the referee blew the whistle to start the match.

Xu He tapped the ball, turned rapidly, and charged into the combined team's half. Zhang Zhen passed the ball to Li Bo in midfield. Li Bo took a touch, dribbled past the lunging No. 9 of the combined team, and delivered a long pass to the advancing Xu He. Li Bo trusted Xu He’s speed and, even more, his technique.

A chance! The Freshman B team had created a prime opportunity right at the start. Everyone on the sidelines turned their gaze to Xu He, eager to see exactly what he was made of.