Chapter 207 – A Winning Start! A True Genius! "Fantastic, We're Going to Bayswater Chinese!"
Bayswater Chinese defeated Chelsea 4–1 to win the Community Shield!
The result quickly became a major talking point across the UK and even the whole of European football.
The Times commented that beating Chelsea would undoubtedly instill a greater sense of confidence throughout the entire Bayswater Chinese squad.
"Just look at their current lineup—it's hard not to be impressed."
"Especially the goalkeeper position."
Only 18 years old, Thibaut Courtois had just joined from Belgium for a mere €1 million.
And now, he had suddenly become the starting goalkeeper for Bayswater Chinese.
"Who did he replace?"
"One of the best goalkeepers at the South Africa World Cup, a multi-time Premier League Goalkeeper of the Year: Manuel Neuer!"
"A player worth just €1 million replacing the most expensive goalkeeper in history?"
"No one would believe it!"
"But Yang Cheng did it anyway!"
According to The Times, Courtois's performances from the International Champions Cup to the Community Shield weren't dazzling, but they were solid—no major mistakes, steady and composed.
Still, he was clearly different from Neuer.
Neuer had a larger command area, often charging out of the box.
Courtois was more conservative, staying within his area and focusing on positional play.
That meant Bayswater Chinese needed to keep working on their defensive coordination—especially communication between the keeper and the back line, which is vital in modern football.
The Times also pointed out a major concern for Bayswater Chinese: youth.
Their most successful season to date was undoubtedly 2008/09, when they pulled off an unprecedented six-title sweep, winning everything except the League Cup.
At the start of that season, their average squad age was 21.82 years—the highest in club history.
Meaning: when they won six trophies, the average age was 22.82.
Last season? That number dropped to 21.7.
"In the most recent campaign, Yang Cheng's team won the Premier League and League Cup double, but fell short in the Champions League and FA Cup semifinals."
"That exposed some issues in the squad's composition."
"Many believed Yang Cheng's commitment to a 23-man roster was too thin for the demands of the Premier League."
"With one more domestic cup than other leagues and fiercer competition, player fatigue becomes a much bigger issue."
"Back then, many called for Bayswater Chinese to strengthen their squad depth."
"But this summer, Yang Cheng stayed stubborn."
"Out of the 25 players submitted to the league, only 23 are regular first-team players."
"The remaining two are academy graduates—17-year-olds Harry Kane and Paul Pogba."
"With them included, the squad's average age is 21.6, the lowest in the last three years."
Of course, The Times also pointed out: if you exclude Kane and Pogba, the average age rises to 22, the highest it's ever been.
Still, this clearly diverged from what most experts were hoping for.
They expected more veteran depth, more proven signings.
Instead?
Neuer was sold.
Matuidi was "sold."
Both had been reliable pillars in previous seasons.
And who came in?
Courtois and De Bruyne, two young prospects who hadn't even proven themselves in Belgium yet.
"Among the three new signings, the most eye-catching has to be Toni Kroos, the former Bayern castoff."
"The German midfielder has been sensational from the ICC to the Community Shield."
"At Wembley, England manager Fabio Capello was in attendance to scout players. When interviewed, he said: 'Toni Kroos is the type of player England is desperately lacking.'"
"Capello even called him **'Bayswater Chinese's Xavi.'"
The Times agreed.
Through a series of warm-up matches and now a competitive fixture, Toni Kroos had clearly elevated the team's passing and build-up play.
"This is Kroos's first time playing as an 8, but he's already shown the vision and control of Xavi or Pirlo."
"His pinpoint passes consistently broke through defensive lines—especially his long balls."
"Hiddink admitted: Kroos was the most threatening player in the Bayswater Chinese lineup."
"He earned the Man of the Match award at Wembley—well deserved."
In conclusion, The Times believed that while Kroos had greatly diversified Bayswater's attacking patterns, their thin squad depth might still hold them back.
"Professional football is ruthless."
"Whether Yang Cheng's decision is pure stubbornness or brilliant foresight—we'll only know in May."
…
Other British media echoed the sentiment—showering Toni Kroos with praise after his first official match.
They all agreed: he brought a rare profile to the Premier League midfield.
Xabi Alonso and Pirlo were passing maestros, but both operated from deeper positions.
Kroos, on the other hand, was a converted No. 10, capable of playing wide, now transitioning into an 8—and seamlessly at that.
Getting the MVP in his competitive debut was nothing short of stunning.
While his ICC performances in the U.S. had been impressive, they were still friendlies.
The Community Shield at Wembley, however, unfolded right under the noses of the German press and fans.
Bild had this to say:
"The English gave their highest praise to Bayswater Chinese's newest signing."
"20-year-old Toni Kroos dominated the midfield at Wembley in the Community Shield."
"The ex-Bayern midfielder carved up Chelsea with surgical long balls, orchestrating a 4–1 demolition with intelligence and composure."
"If not for Čech's brilliance, the score could've been even worse."
"Van Gaal said Bayern needed a deep-lying playmaker, so he converted Schweinsteiger."
"But they let Kroos go for just €10 million."
"This so-called 'genius' in Yang Cheng's eyes sliced into Bayern's legacy with every pass like a knife, twisting the blade with clinical precision."
"Under Yang Cheng, he delivered a masterclass performance!"
And just to rub salt in the wound, the German media didn't stop at reporting.
They went and interviewed Leverkusen manager Jupp Heynckes.
When asked about Kroos's display, Heynckes didn't hesitate:
"I've always known he had extraordinary potential."
Why didn't Toni Kroos show this kind of form at Leverkusen last season?
"No, no, he actually played quite well," said Leverkusen manager Jupp Heynckes. "But due to various reasons, our central midfield was crowded, so he was pushed out wide. Even so, he delivered impressive performances and earned a call-up to the national team."
"Yes, we have to admit—under Yang Cheng at Bayswater Chinese, after a tactical shift, he's truly been outstanding!"
"I've never doubted that he would one day become a world-class midfielder."
Germany national team manager Joachim Löw also admitted in an interview that he had overlooked Kroos during the South Africa World Cup and didn't give him enough minutes.
"But we all know, the national team is not a place to test or develop players."
"I will personally call Yang Cheng. I hope to get more insight from him about Kroos."
"Although he's only been at Bayswater Chinese for about a month, Kroos's performances in the International Champions Cup and Community Shield have convinced me—he is exactly the kind of midfield orchestrator the national team needs."
Meanwhile, when reporters turned their microphones to Säbener Straße in Munich, Bayern's top brass went silent.
The club refused all media interviews.
Instead, a press conference was held, with only a spokesperson answering basic questions.
Bayern's official stance on Kroos's performance was a reluctant acknowledgment of his talent and potential.
"We've never doubted his ability."
Then why include him in the Neuer transfer?
Kroos's agent, Volker Struth, had already gone public: Bayern put him into the Neuer deal without even getting the player's consent.
In plain terms, he was treated like a throw-in.
"It was a very complicated negotiation. We can't disclose details," said Bayern's spokesperson. "All we can say is, when the renewal talks with Kroos stalled, and Bayswater Chinese showed interest, and the Neuer deal hit a financial deadlock, we made what we believed was the most reasonable choice."
But the German press and fans were having none of it.
Look at the way the British were talking—calling Kroos a maestro, a midfield general.
And you, Bayern, were still trying to reinvent Schweinsteiger?
Do you have eyes or not?
Yang Cheng saw it.
Why couldn't you?
Not only did you sell him—you sold him cheap.
And to the British, no less?
To German media and fans, Neuer was a must-bring-back.
But Kroos?
Now that he's blossomed the moment he left?
The only explanation: Bayern were clueless.
What? You couldn't keep both?
That's your problem!
If you can't, you'll be criticized.
If you're upset, maybe you shouldn't be running Bayern.
As criticism surged in Germany, Rummenigge made a phone call to Adam Crozier in London.
He asked if Bayswater Chinese could help publicly clarify the situation—give Bayern a way to save face.
Crozier brought it up with Yang Cheng.
Of course, Yang Cheng didn't refuse.
"But remind Rummenigge—this is the second time Bayern owes us one."
When it came to collecting favors, Yang Cheng was never soft-hearted.
Did Bayern's goodwill matter?
Absolutely.
With Germany's deep footballing resources, Bayern's academy was still a treasure trove.
Alaba, Kimmich, Alphonso Davies, and Musiala… all extremely talented—especially Musiala.
Born in 2003, this gem held multiple nationalities: British, German, Polish, Nigerian. An exceptional talent.
If Yang Cheng could one day pair him with Bellingham…
Well, Yang wouldn't wake up laughing in his sleep, but it would still bring him great joy.
So, yes—this favor from Bayern was worth something.
Yang Cheng quickly stepped forward to give an interview to British media.
When asked about Kroos, he gave high praise.
He believed Kroos could become the best midfielder in the world.
But he also emphasized that Bayswater Chinese now had a dream midfield lineup.
"I'm very satisfied with the squad—especially our midfield."
So how did the Kroos deal happen?
A journalist from The Times threw out the question, almost too perfectly timed.
Yang Cheng pretended to think it over.
"Well, we actually invited Kroos to join us back in 2005."
"I even spoke with him over the phone. But back then, we had just been promoted to the Premier League, and we were competing with several Bundesliga teams—especially Bayern Munich."
"Kroos chose Bayern. It was an important decision, and he made huge progress there. We've been quietly following his development ever since."
"In fact, we've tracked him for five years. Only recently did we start actively working to convince Bayern to release him."
"And let me make one thing very clear—Kroos was never a throw-in."
"He's one of my favorite midfielders. His transfer had nothing to do with Neuer—it was handled independently, but happened concurrently."
That final statement was meant to protect Kroos's pride and dignity.
As for Bayern's decision to let Kroos go?
Yang Cheng smiled. "That's football."
"The truth is, we didn't want to lose Neuer either—but we had no choice."
"Thibaut is still young, but I believe he has the potential to become a world-class goalkeeper."
Yang Cheng also responded to outside concerns about the squad's youth and depth.
"I've said this many times—whether it's 23 players or 25, I think it's perfectly reasonable."
"We're a young team. I need to make sure every player gets enough minutes."
"Sure, with our current reputation, we could sign 30 players if we wanted to."
Most young players don't even need to be registered to play.
"But the question is—if I have that many players, how can I guarantee game time for all of them? How do I make sure they're not constantly worried about their place in the squad?"
"A lot of people ask me—why do Bayswater Chinese's young players develop so quickly?"
"My answer is threefold:"
"First, we provide a stable, mature tactical framework."
"Second, we help players quickly find their role within the team."
"Third, we trust them—and give them enough minutes to grow."
"I believe any club that can do these three things will see their young players flourish."
Once Yang Cheng's interview hit the press, it made headlines across Europe.
After years of success, Bayswater Chinese had become a phenomenon in the football world.
And now, Yang Cheng's words sparked massive discussions throughout the sport.
As L'Équipe put it, "While the world admires Bayswater Chinese for its ability to develop young players and its brilliant results, Yang Cheng's three guiding principles have sparked serious reflection throughout the industry."
"Other than Bayswater Chinese, what club could actually do the same?"
When the story reached Germany, it significantly eased the media pressure on Bayern.
Thanks to some carefully guided PR from the club, the narrative quickly shifted.
Many outlets speculated that once Bayswater Chinese finished developing Toni Kroos, Bayern could simply buy him back—just like they had with Neuer.
But Yang Cheng could only laugh at that idea.
A strategic midfielder like Toni Kroos? He would never be for sale.
…
While Bayswater Chinese were thrashing Chelsea 4–1 in the Community Shield, across the English Channel in France, Nice kicked off their Ligue 1 campaign.
They hosted Valenciennes at home.
Valenciennes manager Philippe Montanier was no pushover.
A former pro who retired in 2000, he had worked as an assistant at Toulouse, Bastia, and even for the Ivory Coast national team, learning under veteran coach Nouzaret.
In 2004, he took over fourth-tier side Boulogne—Franck Ribéry's hometown club.
In three years, he took them from the fourth division all the way to Ligue 2.
Impressive, right?
And that wasn't all.
In their first season in Ligue 2 (2007–08), he kept them up.
By 2008–09, he had Boulogne fighting for promotion, finishing just 2 points behind champions Lens and tied with runners-up Montpellier to earn a historic promotion to Ligue 1.
Montanier had since been hailed as one of the most promising young coaches in French football.
Many even compared him to Yang Cheng.
After leading Boulogne into the top flight in 2009, Montanier joined Ligue 1 side Valenciennes.
Last season's mid-table finish had left both him and the club unsatisfied.
So opening the new campaign away to newly rebuilt Nice, led by the renowned Ronald Koeman, Montanier was determined to start strong.
From the outside, most assumed Nice were still fighting for survival.
And against a "relegation candidate," even away from home, Montanier wanted three points.
And when he stepped into the Stade du Ray and saw half-empty stands, he was even more confident.
The 46-year-old French manager lined up in his preferred 4-3-3, going head-to-head with Koeman.
Koeman also opted for a 4-3-3.
Nice Starting XI:
Goalkeeper: Ospina
Defense: Daley Blind, Koulibaly, Benatia, Clerc
Midfield: Kanté (holding), Strootman, Matuidi
Attack: Anthony Mounier, Pellè, Aubameyang
Daley Blind and Kevin Strootman were both Koeman's hand-picked signings, from Ajax and Sparta Rotterdam respectively.
Blind had struggled for game time at Ajax and arrived on a €500k loan deal.
But Nice had an option to buy him after one year for €1 million—a hefty sum for a player valued at €750k.
Koeman brought Blind in to shore up the left side of defense, having tried several players—Guess, Paisley, and Cantareil—with poor results.
On the right, however, Clerc had been solid.
Strootman, meanwhile, came from relegated Sparta Rotterdam. He had attracted attention with strong performances in the Eredivisie, but surprisingly, no team made an offer that summer.
Koeman believed Nice's midfield lacked maturity.
So after consulting with Emmanuel Perrin, they paid €700k to sign Strootman—a move that also gave Koeman more control of the locker room.
Having fellow Dutchmen around always helped reinforce his authority.
In their opening match, it took just 10 minutes for Matuidi to win the ball high up the pitch and play a through ball to Pellè.
Aubameyang sprinted through to meet it and smashed it into the net.
1–0!
In the 22nd minute, Matuidi struck again—this time a long-range rocket to make it 2–0!
At Bayswater Chinese, Matuidi had mostly been a defensive player, but in Ligue 1, with his athleticism and all-around ability, he looked a cut above—a textbook example of dominating at a lower level.
Before halftime, Valenciennes striker Grégory Pujol pulled one back.
But in the second half, Koeman's side continued attacking.
Eventually, Benatia scored from a corner.
3–1!
Nice beat Valenciennes at home.
…
After coaching the Community Shield, Yang Cheng took time to watch the full match replay.
It was a very Dutch match—but also not quite Dutch.
Koeman might've come from Ajax and been steeped in "Barça DNA," but in truth, he was nothing like Barcelona.
In fact, his strength wasn't possession.
Not even attack.
It was defense.
Even when coaching the likes of Ibrahimović, Sneijder, and van der Vaart at Ajax, Koeman's teams were only the Eredivisie's top scorers once.
Most of the time, PSV scored more goals.
But Koeman's teams were always among the best defensive sides.
And he didn't rigidly stick to 4-3-3.
He often used 4-2-3-1, 4-4-2, even 3-5-2.
In that sense, he was more flexible than most Dutch coaches.
Koeman was pragmatic.
When facing weaker opponents, he pressed high.
Against stronger teams, he sat deep.
No tiki-taka idealism here.
But tactically, his teams were still very Dutch, very Barça-inspired in one key area: intense pressing and positional rotation.
Especially in the front line, players constantly rotated, making them difficult to mark.
That was evident in the match against Valenciennes.
Also—his obsession with tall strikers.
The Dutch love target men.
So does Yang Cheng, if he's honest.
Koeman had developed Ibrahimović at Ajax.
And wherever he went, he always promoted a tall striker.
So when Yang Cheng first suggested Pellè, Koeman believed him immediately.
But beyond tactics, Koeman was also an excellent player developer, especially on the training pitch.
"Brian, what did you think?" Yang Cheng asked.
Yang Cheng smiled as he turned to Brian Kidd.
The veteran British coach chuckled. "There's definitely something there. It's just one game, so we'll see about long-term prospects, but the debut was well-structured."
"That alone is impressive," Yang Cheng said with a grin.
Kidd nodded.
Taking over a team that just went through a massive transformation and getting them to play with structure and intent in the opening match—that alone was a huge achievement.
"Let's take it slow. This team under Ronald Koeman might not be Premier League-ready just yet, but I think they'll be quite competitive in Ligue 1," Kidd said.
If it were up to Yang Cheng, he might've started Mahrez on the right wing.
The young winger had looked sharp after coming on in the second half.
Aubameyang would play on the left, with Pellè in the center.
But Koeman chose to start Mounier on the left and moved Aubameyang to the right.
That was a matter of personal preference.
Mahrez still played a bit too elaborately and wasn't particularly aggressive on defense—traits that didn't suit Koeman's taste.
The key now was how Koeman would develop him.
"With the quality they showed, they should at least avoid relegation," Yang Cheng laughed.
If Koeman somehow managed to sabotage this team, there wasn't much more Yang could do.
Still, given the setbacks Koeman had endured in recent years, that seemed unlikely.
…
Southampton City Center.
Daniel stood by the window of their rented flat, staring blankly outside.
Under the gray sky and persistent drizzle, Southampton looked even gloomier—just like his mood.
He desperately hoped the clouds would clear and the sun would break through, to chase away the sadness weighing on his heart.
A Nigerian with British nationality, Daniel had once played in Nigeria's professional leagues.
After moving to Germany, he met his wife, Caroline, in Stuttgart.
She had still been a student when they had their first child—a boy, just as Daniel had wished.
So he could teach him football.
Caroline was a diligent, ambitious student.
She completed her undergraduate degree in social sciences and later pursued a master's at Goethe University in Frankfurt.
She was a planner—always thinking about the future.
She dreamed of moving her family to a big city.
So when she was given a rare opportunity to study for four months at the University of Southampton, she jumped at it.
And just like that, a family of four left Germany and arrived in England.
In Germany, they had lived in the small town of Fulda.
Their son, Jamal, though only seven, was already a local football sensation—scoring five to ten goals nearly every match.
He netted over 100 goals in a single season.
It sounded unbelievable.
Everyone said it—Jamal was a genius.
Daniel believed it too.
He'd played professionally. He knew how good his son was.
After coming to England, they hoped Jamal would continue his progress and join an even better youth academy.
Caroline had also long planned for them to permanently settle in the UK.
While studying and writing her thesis in Southampton, she also kept an eye on London.
She didn't want to stay in Southampton—she wanted to live in a real international city, buy a home, and find a job there.
So their first choice for Jamal's club?
London.
They had prepared in advance—back in Germany.
At matches, Daniel would shout from the sidelines, cheering for Jamal.
Caroline would calmly take photos and record videos.
They made multiple copies of Jamal's game footage and carefully compiled a detailed resume.
Both believed—Jamal was exceptional for his age group.
And secretly, they hoped big London clubs would fight to sign their boy.
Just like in Fulda.
But reality hit them hard.
Once they settled in Southampton, they began calling every major club in London, asking if they were accepting seven-year-olds into their youth academies.
The responses varied.
Some offered addresses to send in materials, then said they would evaluate and reply.
Others simply rejected them outright, saying it was past the registration period.
Even when they mailed out Jamal's resume and footage full of hope, weeks went by with no reply.
Every time the phone rang, they'd jump—thinking maybe a club was finally calling.
But each time, they were left disappointed.
Caroline's classmates even teased her.
"In England, there are talented kids everywhere. Every parent thinks their child is a genius. The big clubs don't have time for all of them."
They advised her to be more realistic.
Start local. Try Southampton first.
"You know, the Saints have one of the best academies in England."
"Ever heard of Gareth Bale and Theo Walcott? Those two superstars playing for Bayswater Chinese? They came from Southampton's academy."
"If your son has that kind of talent, he'll shine just the same."
The repeated setbacks left both Daniel and Caroline feeling deflated.
It was like the never-ending English drizzle—gloomy and cold.
"I've checked—going straight to St. Mary's Stadium won't work. We need to go through something called the Saints Foundation."
"They said that to get into the academy, Jamal has to go through a selection process. If he impresses there, he might get scouted."
Just as Daniel sighed in frustration, Caroline spoke behind him—disappointed.
She had thought settling in London would be easy.
Now it seemed like even Southampton was hard.
"We still have to go through trials just to be seen?" Daniel muttered, struggling to accept it.
He was so proud of Jamal.
"They don't even know us," Caroline replied. "Apparently, the Foundation runs a community club, mostly for kids from low-income and immigrant families."
"We need to prove ourselves there first. If he performs well, they'll help us connect with Southampton's scouts."
"If Jamal stands out in the academy, maybe someday he'll reach a big London club."
"Just like Bale and Walcott."
Southampton were now in League One—the third tier—and had long since lost their Premier League prestige.
Who knew if their youth system was still any good?
Daniel nodded reluctantly.
But he still wasn't ready to give up.
"How about I take Jamal to London and try our luck there? Maybe someone will give him a chance to play?" he offered.
Caroline remained silent.
They had looked into local academies near the university.
Most required fees.
No payment, no training.
No exceptions.
As for those big London clubs? If you're not already one of their academy players, you won't even get past the gate.
"Stop dreaming. That path's a dead end. We were just too optimistic," Caroline said, her voice heavy with disappointment.
"But Jamal really is a great player."
"Who knows that?"
Daniel had no response.
Exactly. No one had even seen him—so how could they know? How could they believe?
"I heard those big London clubs get so many match videos and highlight reels every day that they don't even have time to watch them all. Some clubs might not even open the packages before throwing them in the trash."
"Who really cares how good a seven-year-old plays?"
After hearing that, Daniel finally lost all motivation to keep pushing.
"Let's do this for now," Caroline said. "If it's possible, let Jamal play for a local club here in Southampton. And if that doesn't work out, once I'm done with my program, we'll just go back to Germany."
Daniel sighed heavily and nodded.
That seemed to be the only option.
But just as the couple sat there, sinking deeper into frustration, the phone suddenly rang.
Caroline didn't feel like moving, so she motioned for Daniel to answer it.
Daniel was just as unmotivated, but he got up anyway and grabbed the phone from the table.
"Hello?"
"Hi, is this the residence of Mr. Daniel Richards?"
The voice on the other end was unfamiliar.
Still sounding deflated, Daniel replied with a question of his own. "Who's calling?"
"My name is Steve Jenkins. I'm a coach with the Bayswater Chinese Youth Academy. Did you happen to send us a player résumé and some video footage?"
Daniel froze halfway through the sentence. His hands trembled. He turned sharply to look at his wife.
"The phone—it's the phone!" Daniel covered the receiver and shouted at Caroline.
"Who is it?" she asked.
"A coach from Bayswater Chinese!"
"What?" Caroline shot up, stunned. She rushed over in just a few steps.
"Hello? Hello? Are you still there?"
"Yes, we're here, sir," Daniel quickly replied, trying to keep his voice steady.
"I'm very sorry, Mr. Richards. We received so many submissions that it took us a while to get to your son's materials."
"It's fine, it's fine," Daniel said, his heart pounding wildly.
Someone actually watched it!
He glanced at Caroline. She was so nervous she clutched his arm tightly with both hands.
"We've watched Jamal's game footage, and we believe he's a very gifted child. He has the potential to go far in football. We'd like to formally invite him to come and trial with our academy. Would that be okay?"
"A trial?" Daniel asked nervously.
He couldn't help feeling a little let down.
So it was just a trial.
But—that alone was already amazing.
He had sent out so many résumés and DVDs, waited for weeks, and heard nothing.
Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham, West Ham, Fulham...
All silent.
And now? The biggest name of all—Bayswater Chinese—was calling them.
It felt like a dream.
"Please understand, Mr. Richards. Because Jamal missed our regular academy intake, we need to follow protocol and invite him to trial. If he meets our standards, we'll offer him a place in the academy."
Daniel understood instantly and nodded eagerly. "Yes, yes—we have no problem with that at all."
"Great. We'll arrange for him to train and play with other kids in the U7 age group."
Then Steve Jenkins chuckled and added, "I've watched Jamal's video along with the technical staff. We're quite optimistic about him. As long as he performs normally, there shouldn't be any issue."
Daniel and Caroline lit up.
This was incredible.
A chance to join the Bayswater Chinese Youth Academy?
It was beyond their dreams.
Just moments ago, they were feeling hopeless—agonizing over whether they could even get into a third-tier club like Southampton.
Now, suddenly, they had an invitation from the best youth academy in all of England—no, the world.
The surprise was overwhelming.
Coach Steve Jenkins asked a few more questions about Jamal's playing habits and explained a few things about the trial process.
When the call ended, Daniel's head was still spinning.
He couldn't think straight.
"Bayswater Chinese?" he muttered in disbelief, looking at Caroline.
Caroline nodded vigorously. "Yes, that Bayswater Chinese—the biggest club in London. The one with Gareth Bale and Theo Walcott!"
Her classmates had always spoken of the club with awe.
Some had even taken a special trip to London just to watch them play, coming back bragging about the majesty of Wembley Stadium.
If their son got into Bayswater Chinese's academy, how envious would everyone be?
"So... do we still go to the Saints Foundation?" Daniel asked.
Caroline blinked. For a second, she looked like she might smack him upside the head.
You're going to trial at Bayswater Chinese—what do we need the Saints Foundation for?
"Daniel, listen to me. You don't need to think about anything else right now. Forget the Saints Foundation."
"From now until the trial this weekend, you are going to spend all your time preparing Jamal. Special training. Total focus."
Daniel laughed and nodded, heart suddenly light.
His spirits had completely lifted.
"If Jamal actually gets in, once I graduate, we'll move to London. I'll find a job near the training center and we'll rent a place nearby."
Daniel nodded again, more confident this time.
That had always been their plan in Germany.
Caroline would work, and he'd care for the kids.
They were even planning to have a third child.
"No, I've got to go tell Jamal the good news—he's going to be over the moon!"
Daniel was practically bursting with joy.
"This is the best club in the world!"
With that, he bolted out the door.
Their son Jamal was outside, playing with a ball in the hallway.
When he heard the news, he screamed with excitement.
Caroline, hearing the shout, came out smiling.
Father and son were already in the hallway, showing off their footwork to each other.
Caroline watched them, then looked up at the sky outside.
At some point, the rain had stopped.
The street was still wet.
But far in the distance, the thick gray clouds had begun to part.
And through the cracks...
A golden ray of sunlight pierced through.
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