Chapter 39: The Best Player Trophy and a Pay Raise!

"Tang, this belongs to you."

Tang Ye accepted the trophy from a Dutch Football Association official. Examining it closely in his hands, he saw it was made of glass with a metal base. On the base, a small line of text read: 2015-2016, the season identifier. Above it, on the glass, was another inscription: [speler van de wedstrijd].

Although Tang Ye’s Dutch wasn't exactly fluent, he had no trouble understanding that. It meant "Man of the Match."

"You got the MVP trophy in your very first start," Van der Maarel said, walking over to Tang Ye after signing a few autographs for fans in the stands.

Tang Ye was thrilled, tossing the trophy slightly in his hand. "This thing is actually pretty heavy."

"You deserve it," Van der Maarel said, patting Tang Ye on the back.

In truth, there was quite a bit of controversy surrounding this MVP award, as some fans felt Tang Ye had only played the second half. He hadn't been absent in the first half; he had simply been invisible. Of course, Van der Maarel had absolutely no objections. If it weren't for Tang Ye exploding with a brace in the second half, he himself would have been the villain of Utrecht!

As Tang Ye headed from the podium in the center of the pitch toward the tunnel, he heard a voice from the away stands just as he was about to enter. "Tom, your autograph! Can you give me your autograph?"

"What?" Tang Ye paused, stunned. Van der Maarel, assuming Tang Ye hadn't heard clearly, prompted, "He wants your autograph."

"Au... autograph?" The concept felt entirely foreign to him.

Tang Ye walked over. The person asking was a bearded, portly man who looked to be pushing fifty. As soon as Tang Ye approached, the man proudly declared his status: a devoted Utrecht fan for forty-seven years!

"Tang, could you sign my shirt?" The man turned around to reveal he was wearing a number 22 Haller jersey. He produced a marker, hoping Tang Ye would sign right over the number.

"Are you sure you want my signature? I mean... I'm not exactly a star," Tang Ye said, feeling a bit embarrassed. In his mind, autographs were for superstars, not a U17 player. Was it really appropriate?

"I'm a Utrecht fan, and in my heart, you're a star."

The man's words left Tang Ye momentarily speechless. He decided against signing the Haller shirt. "Sir, I really appreciate your support. If you'd like, I can give you the shirt I'm wearing right now."

"That would be even better!" The man beamed. Tang Ye took off his jersey, revealing his scrawny frame, took the marker, and carefully wrote his name in Chinese characters over the number "99": [Tang Ye].

"Here you go." Tang Ye handed over the jersey and the pen. It was his first time signing for someone, and it felt surreal.

"Thank you, Tang. I will treasure this shirt." The man folded the jersey, draped it over his arm, and promised to keep it for at least twenty years.

"Thank you!" Tang Ye shook his hand. As they walked into the player tunnel, Van der Maarel teased him, "You're a star now. How does it feel?"

Tang Ye rubbed his head, his face flushing slightly. "I... I don't think I'm a star yet, but it does feel pretty great. I like hearing people call my name."

...

The next day was Sunday, and all Utrecht teams from U15 to the first team were off. Usually, Tang Ye would spend his day off playing FIFA with Xhaka in the dorms, but since Xhaka had returned to his hometown in Amsterdam, Tang Ye was left playing ranked matches alone. He wanted to work hard in secret so he could crush Xhaka the following weekend!

On his screen, Tang Ye opened an in-game loot box. Instead of immediately revealing the player, it provided clues: 1. Eerste Divisie, 2. China, 3. Midfielder, 4. Jong Utrecht.

"..." Fuck!

By the third clue, Tang Ye had already realized what was happening. He had pulled himself in the game!

Ye Tang (CHN)
Utrecht II
CAM (Attacking Midfielder)

Tang Ye stared at the terrible character model FIFA had created for him, lost in thought. However, he was quickly distracted by the numbers below: an overall rating of 51! This was based on data through the 2014-15 winter window. Given Tang Ye’s meager playing time, the FIFA staff had likely based his stats on his preseason performances. They really had worked hard!

*Vibrate, vibrate, vibrate.*

His phone, charging on his bedside table, buzzed. It was a call from the team manager, Charles.

"We have accepted Erik’s proposal. You need to come to the third-floor office on Monday at noon. We have a new contract for you."

Tang Ye had been nervous when he first received the call, as Charles had mentioned Ten Hag. In Tang Ye's experience, anything involving Ten Hag was never good news. The wretched Dutchman was surely trying to find a new way to restrict him!

The next day, accompanied by Pol, Tang Ye went to Charles's office and finally understood what the contract was for. After his starting appearance in the KNVB Cup victory over Sneek, Ten Hag had proposed a salary increase for Tang Ye, and the management had discussed it.

The decision was in: considering Tang Ye’s rapidly improving skills and increasing playing time, his €1,000 weekly wage was no longer appropriate.

Charles stood before him holding a folder, beaming with excitement. "Little star, sign this new contract and you'll be earning €2,100 a week. I guarantee you, that is the most generous salary for any U17 player in the entire Netherlands!"

Tang Ye took the document and read through it, occasionally using his phone to translate complex Dutch terms. Compared to his current youth contract, the new one was significantly better. The most obvious change was the salary, which would triple if he signed.

€2,100 a week—€8,400 a month! Tang Ye realized his salary was finally catching up to his cost of living. Hard work always pays off, doesn't it, my friend?

Charles watched him with a gentle expression. "Well? Satisfied? You can sign right here!"

*Ahem!*

Tang Ye coughed twice, handed the document to Pol, straightened his training kit, and stood up straight. "Mr. Charles, I have an agent, you know!"