Chapter 14: The Clothes Haven't Loaded Yet
Page 1/3
“Subbed in at 82 minutes, 16-year-old Chinese prodigy makes Eredivisie debut”
“Relentless tackles, young Chinese player’s debut causes opponents to beg for mercy!”
Due to his limited playing time, Tang Ye did not receive a match rating from the Utrecht Evening News reporter.
But that didn’t matter—he already had a score on Hupu.
Tang Ye, 82’
4 touches, 2 tackles, rating 10.0
“A genius is not frightening; what’s frightening is a genius who has once fallen.”
…
Utrecht Training Base, Reserves/Youth Team Cafeteria.
“Oh my, Tang, you still know how to tackle!”
Zaka looked at Tang Ye in front of him, an indescribable surprise on his face.
He had known Tang Ye for over a year but had never heard he still possessed this skill!
Tang Ye quietly ate his food, when Merlent approached him.
“Tang, do you remember the promise between us?”
Huh?
Tang Ye was momentarily stunned.
What promise did he have with Merlent?
“Hey, you haven’t forgotten, have you?”
Merlent sat down beside Tang Ye. “You told me if the first team training got too exhausting, you would come running back!”
Just like Utrecht’s first team, the reserve team’s start to the season in the Eerste Divisie was also far from ideal.
After three rounds, they had yet to win a single match and had already dropped into the relegation zone!
The reserves needed a hero!
Or rather…
They needed a Mungo—a player who could open up their offense!
Suddenly, a flood of forgotten memories surged into Tang Ye’s mind.
“It seems there was such a promise, but I don’t think I’ll be coming back.”
Tang Ye’s words stunned Merlent into silence. “W-why?”
“I’m not who I used to be.”
Tang Ye’s expression turned serious. “I’m training seriously now, no more slacking off.”
Merlent pointed at Tang Ye’s plate. “Then why aren’t you eating in the first team cafeteria? Weren’t you punished by Erik?”
“That’s a rumor. I just eat here because I have friends in the reserves.”
Page 2/3
Tang Ye met Merlent’s eyes, his unwavering gaze making Merlent momentarily dazed.
The lazy pig of Utrecht had finally awakened!
In the afternoon, Ten Hag carefully analyzed the previous day’s match before leading the players into training.
Tang Ye also received his assignment.
[At 37, you made your debut in the Dutch top league. Your indomitable spirit proclaims your fighting will. Of course, you’re not ready to stop—you can still do more.]
[Make three appearances or score one goal in the Eredivisie. Reward: Unlock the Old Deng Shop section.]
Old Deng Shop?
This time, the system’s reward was neither attribute points nor a player loot box from any country, but unlocking a new section of the system.
Just by the name, Tang Ye knew this so-called Old Deng Shop was probably where one could spend “comeback points.”
Previously, he earned 15 comeback points from scoring in a reserve team friendly, and he hadn’t used any yet!
“Hey, Tang!”
Arie called out, then passed the ball with the arch of his foot. Tang Ye reacted quickly to control it.
“Don’t daydream!”
Ten Hag shouted, circling “Tang” on his notebook with the word “discipline” annotated beside it.
After the match against ADO The Hague, Ten Hag’s attention to Tang Ye was unprecedented. The Dutch coach even arranged for assistant coach Van der Gaag to give Tang Ye extra training.
The goal was simple: to help this 16-year-old reach Eredivisie level as quickly as possible.
His astonishing passing vision and impeccable tackling and interception skills were exactly what Utrecht needed now.
Under Van der Gaag’s training, Tang Ye’s technique and physicality improved dramatically.
But there was still one problem for these two Utrecht coaches.
Tang Ye’s discipline!
…
After dinner, Tang Ye returned straight to the reserves’ dormitory.
Utrecht did not provide dorms for first team players (they each had their own residences), so even after promotion, Tang Ye still lived in the reserves’ dorm.
What should have been a quiet evening was suddenly interrupted by a knock on his door.
Knock knock!
?
Tang Ye stood up from his chair and ran to open the door. “Solk, I’m not playing games, you should find someone else…”
But when he opened the door and saw who was standing outside, Tang Ye froze.
“E-Erik?”
“May I come in?”
Ten Hag gestured toward the room, indicating he wished to enter.
Tang Ye naturally did not refuse the head coach and welcomed him inside.
Page 3/3
“It’s only 7 o’clock. After dinner, shouldn’t you go out for a walk or ride a bike? People here like cycling after meals. I think you should try it too.”
Ten Hag sat down.
In his view, Tang Ye was at the age when training was most crucial.
If only he could persuade Tang Ye to do extra training at night!
A versatile central midfielder who could defend and attack—this was exactly what Utrecht needed.
“But I’m not a local, after all.”
Tang Ye sat on his bed.
Dutch people loved cycling; what did that have to do with a foreigner like him?
“Alright then. Hmm, your computer is on.”
Ten Hag pointed at the laptop on Tang Ye’s desk, the screen displaying an alien’s head. Beside the computer were several notebooks—Tang Ye sometimes had to do homework at his desk.
“Oh, that? I like to watch match footage and reflect on myself when I have free time.”
“Wow?”
Ten Hag’s eyes lit up and he motioned invitingly. “Come on, open your computer and let me see what matches you’re watching.”
Tang Ye was often late to training every day; Ten Hag had thought he was just an unmotivated slacker.
Who would have thought he watched past match videos at night for self-reflection?
Ten Hag had misjudged Tang Ye!
“Okay.”
Tang Ye stood up and opened his laptop.
Previously, Merlent had asked all reserve players to download footage of an Eerste Divisie match—now was the time to use it.
What Tang Ye did not know was that the system’s media player would automatically resume from where he last stopped.
Thus, under Ten Hag’s gaze, a naked man and a naked woman began a confrontation on the screen.
It was a match video, presumably of very high level, given the intensity of the physical contact—something ordinary people could not endure!
“What is this?”
Ten Hag pointed at the screen, astonished, looking at Tang Ye beside him.
“Ahem!”
Tang Ye quickly switched the screen. “The network’s a bit laggy; the clothes haven’t loaded yet.”
“Wait a moment.”
“Yes, yes, this is the video I wanted to show you.”
…