Gu Ran was still deep in thought when his teammates called out to him.
"Hey, Gu! Let's go!"
Snapping back to reality, he pocketed his phone. "You guys go ahead. I'll catch up after I pack up."
"Alright, see you after the break!"
"Yeah, see you—and don't forget to cover our tab at the bar!"
"Haha! Don't worry, we won't let you forget!"
His teammates left the locker room in high spirits, already looking forward to a night of celebration.
Gu Ran took his time, drying off, getting dressed, and packing up his bag before finally stepping out of the locker room.
But as soon as he stepped onto the school grounds, something felt off.
Peeking around the corner of the wall, he saw a massive crowd of girls gathered at the school gate, holding banners and posters.
Their eyes gleamed with excitement—like hunters searching for their prey.
Gu Ran shuddered.
His fan club had grown from a handful to two or three hundred people after this match!
And some of them were guys too!
This… was getting out of hand.
All he did was carry the team, lead an underdog victory, and score a last-minute, world-class free kick.
Did that really warrant this level of obsession?!
There was no way he could just walk out through the front gate.
But if he didn't, he'd be late for his plans tonight.
Screw it.
Gu Ran pulled a towel from his bag, draped it over his head to cover his face, and kept his head down as he quickly made his way toward the exit.
At first, everything was going smoothly.
Gu Ran thought he might actually pull this off.
Then—
"That's Gu Ran! I recognize his walk! He looks cool even when he's sneaking!" a girl shrieked.
"AAAAAHHHHHH!!!"
The crowd erupted and surged toward him.
Panic surged in Gu Ran's chest.
This is more terrifying than facing Gold Fleece FC!
He ditched the disguise and sprinted toward the exit!
"Gu Ran! Don't run! We love you!"
"Husband! I want to have your baby—RIGHT NOW!"
"Gu Ran! MARRY ME!"
Gu Ran zig-zagged like a winger dodging defenders, using every feint, turn, and sudden stop in his arsenal to evade his pursuers.
But his fan club had anticipated this—they spread out to block every possible escape route.
Their faces were filled with wild enthusiasm, a mix of love and madness.
This is insane!
If this continued, he'd be eaten alive by these fanatics!
Desperate times call for desperate measures.
Gu Ran reached into his bag, pulled out a game-worn jersey, and hurled it to the side.
"KYAAAHHHH!!!"
The crowd instantly changed direction like a pack of wild animals chasing prey.
They lunged at the jersey, tearing and clawing at it.
Seizing the chance, Gu Ran blasted out the front gate at full speed.
Behind him, the jersey was ripped to shreds, leaving no single victor in the battle for the ultimate souvenir.
By the time the fan club realized what had happened—
Gu Ran was long gone.
"NOOOO! HUSBAND, DON'T LEAVE ME!"
"Damn it! He's too clever!"
"But I still love him!"
"Hey! This sleeve is mine! Let go!"
"No! It's mine! I touched it first!"
The fans descended into chaos, fighting over scraps of his jersey.
Meanwhile, Gu Ran had sprinted an entire kilometer before finally stopping in a dark alleyway, gasping for air.
That was more exhausting than an actual match!
The football culture at Southampton Private School was seriously insane.
Then again… maybe it was because he was too good-looking and talented.
Of course he'd attract this kind of attention.
Looks like I need to start wearing hats, masks, and sunglasses.
All he wanted was to play football, yet now he was living the life of a celebrity.
Once he caught his breath, he flagged down a taxi and headed home.
Game Analysis & The Future
Sitting in the taxi, Gu Ran pushed everything else aside and focused on reviewing the match.
This game had been a huge win.
Not only did he level up his sidestep ball control, but he also secured the free-kick taker position.
His free-kick technique was clearly far superior to the others.
If he could learn more skills from legendary players, he'd be unstoppable.
Of course, basic techniques were still essential.
To survive in professional leagues—even in the Championship or League One, let alone the Premier League—he needed to master the fundamentals.
Stamina was also a huge issue.
Today, he had exerted himself more than in the previous two matches combined.
Stronger opponents meant more physical battles, and that drained energy fast.
As a left-back, his running demands were among the highest on the field.
His next priority: Boost stamina and recovery speed.
That's why tonight's liquid nitrogen recovery pod was so important.
It could speed up his recovery process, giving him an edge over his competition.
Another highlight of the match?
Trash talk.
Gavin's red card meltdown wasn't just his fault—Gu Ran had mentally broken him.
Talking trash was a real football skill.
The most famous example?
Zidane's headbutt in the 2006 World Cup final.
At higher levels, trash talk was rare due to cameras.
But in lower leagues, it was ruthless.
If he could weaponize trash talk, he could tilt matches in his favor.
Maybe when he had spare talent points, he'd invest in psychological warfare.
But first—he needed more talent points.
Maybe it was time to find another big-name star to drain points from…
Home Installation of the Cryogenic Recovery Pod
As soon as Gu Ran got home, the installation team arrived.
With four technicians, they set up the liquid nitrogen recovery pod in the downstairs bathroom—a spacious 30-square-meter room equipped with a double jacuzzi and a Norwegian sauna.
The setup took two hours, with the final step being liquid nitrogen injection.
The technician explained, "Mr. Gu, this liquid nitrogen supply will last 80 uses. We recommend calling us when you hit 60, so we can refill it. Please do not use third-party services—it could permanently damage the machine."
"How much is a refill?" Gu Ran asked.
"Only 30,000 pounds per refill!" the technician said with a beaming smile.
Damn it.
This was a classic corporate scam.
One refill every two months? That was a money pit.
Looks like he needed to withdraw some gambling winnings tomorrow.
At least the 2010 South Africa World Cup was about to start.
Time to make some big bets.
7:59 PM—The Doorbell Rings
Gu Ran jumped up from the couch.
The "test subject" for the recovery pod had arrived.
Taking a deep breath, he opened the door.
Standing on the steps, staring out at the ocean, was Maria.
She wore a backless dress, her smooth, flawless skin glowing under the moonlight.
The sea breeze lifted her hair and her sheer, flowing dress.
She was breathtaking.
The kind of beauty that wasn't just elegant, but dangerous.
Gu Ran swallowed hard. Focus.
Maria turned, eyes filled with playful charm. "Well? Aren't you going to invite me in?"
Gu Ran forced himself to stay calm. "Maria, please, come in."
She handed him a beautifully packaged bottle. "Here. A little gift."
Shit.
That was high-end London gin—the kind that knocked people out.
Maria smirked. "If we're not drinking, then how are we supposed to start?"
Gu Ran grinned. "Obviously, by checking out my recovery pod."
Maria's cheeks flushed red.
"Wow. You're bold."
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