Chapter 31 — Not Normal
The field wasn't empty.
Not crowded either.
Just enough people to keep a game going.
"Five?" someone asked.
"Yeah."
Teams formed loosely.
No one argued.
Li Shen stepped in.
Same place as before.
Same ball.
Same movement.
The game started.
Pass.
Return.
Side.
Back.
Clean.
Predictable.
Li Shen moved with it.
Adjusted.
Kept pace.
Same.
Jayden called for the ball.
Got it.
Lost it.
Diego held too long.
Again.
Daniel reset everything.
Again.
Marcus stayed in position.
Again.
Nothing broke.
Nothing shifted.
…this again.
The ball rolled to Li Shen.
He controlled it.
Looked up.
Options.
Clear.
Simple.
Pass left.
Pass right.
Carry forward.
All correct.
Boring.
"Play it," Jayden said.
Li Shen didn't move.
A beat.
"Hey—pass."
He waited.
The defender stepped in.
Committed early.
Too fast.
Li Shen shifted the ball slightly.
Not forward.
Not sideways.
Just enough.
The defender adjusted—
late.
The space changed.
Not open.
Not closed.
Unstable.
Now.
He moved.
One step forward—
then stopped.
The defender overstepped.
The line broke.
Li Shen didn't push through.
Didn't dribble.
He struck.
Not toward the goal.
Not directly to a player.
The ball left his foot—
angled.
It traveled straight—
then bent.
A shallow curve.
Late.
It slipped past the defender's reach.
Cut behind him.
Jayden reacted—
late—
then adjusted.
The ball met his run.
Perfect height.
Perfect speed.
Jayden hit it.
Goal.
The field paused.
Not loud.
Not immediate.
Just—
a gap.
"…what?"
Jayden turned.
Looked at Li Shen.
Then back at where the ball came from.
"You could've just passed earlier," he said.
Li Shen looked at him.
"It worked."
Jayden frowned.
Didn't answer.
The game reset.
This time—
the pace changed slightly.
Not faster.
Just… aware.
The ball came again.
Different angle.
Different pressure.
Li Shen received it.
Marcus stepped in immediately.
Closer than before.
"Not this time," he said.
Li Shen didn't respond.
The space was tighter.
Cleaner.
Less room to wait.
Good.
He moved the ball forward—
then stopped again.
Marcus didn't bite.
Held position.
The angle didn't open.
Not enough.
Li Shen shifted left.
Marcus followed.
Shift right.
Still there.
Then change it.
He stepped back.
Unexpected.
Marcus hesitated.
Half-step.
That was enough.
Li Shen struck again.
Different angle.
Same idea.
The ball curved—
tighter this time.
Marcus turned—
too late.
The pass slipped through again.
Diego reached it this time.
Caught it.
Didn't hesitate.
Shot.
Missed.
"—close!" someone called.
The game didn't stop.
But the noise changed.
Less talking.
More watching.
Li Shen moved again.
Not faster.
Not stronger.
Just—
earlier.
Then later.
Then earlier again.
The rhythm shifted around him.
Unstable.
Not everyone kept up.
Some plays broke.
Some didn't.
One more sequence—
The ball came high.
Awkward.
Three players hesitated.
Li Shen didn't.
He stepped in.
Controlled it mid-drop.
Didn't settle.
Struck immediately.
The ball curved—
sharper—
faster—
It clipped the post.
A sharp metallic crack echoed.
Silence again.
Short.
"…you're doing that on purpose," Marcus said.
Li Shen looked at him.
"Yes."
Marcus exhaled once.
Shook his head.
"That's not normal."
Li Shen glanced back at the field.
Players repositioning.
Watching him now.
Not fully understanding.
"Yeah," he said.
The game continued.
But it wasn't the same anymore.
Passes came faster.
Or later.
People adjusted without realizing.
Or failed to.
Li Shen didn't force it again.
Didn't need to.
Once was enough.
He stepped off when the game ended.
Same as always.
No celebration.
No reaction.
Just—
quiet.
He looked back once.
The field.
The space.
The movement.
Better.
A small pause.
Still not enough.
But this time—
it wasn't distant.
It was close.