Walking out of the Arsenal training base, Kai spotted Billy's truck parked at the gate.
A massive flag jutted out from the rear, half of it already billowing in the wind.
Kai walked over and saw Billy wearing an Arsenal jersey. He raised an eyebrow. "Coming back from the ga?"
"Yeah," Billy chuckled and nodded his head, gesturing for Kai to hop in.
Once Kai was in, Billy drove off toward his place.
"The boss called us to watch the ga," Billy said with a grin.
"The boss?" Kai looked puzzled. "You an adows?"
"Exactly!" Billy laughed. "Didn't you notice how fired up the stands were today?"
Kai nodded. The energy at the ho ground had been electric, deafening chants and roars.
He had assud it was just the fans reacting to a big win. He hadn't expected adows to be among them.
"Rember, the east stand is where the black jerseys gather. Just look for the section with the most flagpoles—that's us," Billy said proudly.
Kai grinned. "adows ca to watch play?"
Billy shrugged. "He didn't say it outright, but every ti you intercepted or tackled, he was the loudest one cheering."
Kai couldn't help but smile, his heart feeling a bit lighter.
"He's even got a gift for you," Billy added.
"A gift? What kind?"
Billy shook his head. "No idea. He just said he'd tell you when the ti cos."
Kai chuckled. "Alright then, I'll wait for the surprise."
Back at Billy's place, Elena greeted him warmly at the door.
"Sweetheart, you were incredible today. Such a sha I couldn't be there in person," she said with a tinge of regret.
Kai smiled. "There'll be more chances. I'll only keep getting better."
"You make sure to always help Arsenal win," Elena replied with a proud smile.
Just then, there was a knock at the door.
Billy opened it to find Kevin bouncing with excitent. He burst in, fists pumping, heading straight for Kai.
"That long pass was insane."
Kai ruffled Kevin's hair with a laugh.
Later that evening, Kai returned to his room and was about to review the match footage on his phone when it buzzed.
[Le Jianguo is calling you on video]
Kai answered with a smile, and a familiar face filled the screen.
"Kiddo! How've you been?"
Kai grinned. "Not bad! The food's good too."
"Co on! You have to watch that diet. You're an athlete—you've got to be careful."
"Alright, alright."
Kai noticed the background behind Le Jianguo—there was a Chinese flag painted on his cheek, a crowd around him, and loud announcents in the distance.
"Dad, where are you?"
Le Jianguo lifted a small flag and waved it excitedly. "Shenyang organized a fan group—we're off to Iraq to support the national team. We're going to cheer on Wang Yi!"
"Asian qualifiers?"
"Yep."
"What about Mom?"
"She stayed back. Said she needs to watch your matches to stay motivated." As he spoke, soone suddenly leaned into the fra.
"Lao Le, who are you talking to? Oh—wait! That's Kai, isn't it?"
There were loud shouts.
"Kai? Where is he?"
"Old Le, your son Kai from Arsenal?"
"Move over, let see."
Kai laughed as a sea of uncles jostled into view. He greeted them each while trying to keep up.
Eventually, Le Jianguo gently pushed them aside and looked back at his son.
"So, any word from the national team yet?"
Before Kai could answer, Le Jianguo continued, "It's fine if not. You're only 18—plenty of chances ahead."
Kai nodded with a smile. "Dad, don't worry. Even if they plan to call up, now's not the ti. I'm still fighting for a spot at the club. Besides, the national team already has others holding it down. They don't need just yet."
"True! That's my boy. Just stay focused, and when the World Cup cos around, I'll be there in the stands cheering for you!"
The surrounding uncles chid in again.
"Go for it, Kai! We'll be watching from ho!"
"When you play in the Premier League, don't hold back—you're a Northeasterner, act like one."
"Play hard! We're all behind you!"
Kai thanked them sincerely before ending the call.
At an airport, a group of fans carrying the Shenyang Fan Club flag stared at Le Jianguo.
A bespectacled uncle gave a thumbs-up. " Your son is seriously impressive."
Le Jianguo smiled. "He's doing alright. Maybe we'll see him on the national team one day."
Everyone chuckled. Maybe?
Being on the bench in the Premier League is already enough to qualify for the national team, especially Arsenal's bench.
And Kai's recent performances spoke volus.
His fierce midfield defense and clean ball handling had caught everyone's eye.
The national team, currently suffering from weak midfield options, would be lucky to have soone like Kai.
Chances are, they were already watching him but holding off to avoid affecting his club form.
But co World Cup season, expect a call-up.
And it's not just Kai.
Porto's Chen Huan and Atletico's Fernando Kairui are also expected to return.
Add Wang Yi, and that's a formidable squad.
...
September 23, 2012.
[Etihad Stadium, Manchester]
In the fifth round of the Premier League, Arsenal faced off against last season's champions, Manchester City. Arsenal was sitting in second position with 10 points, while City was in fourth with 8 points.
City, featuring stars like Aguero, Dzeko, Nasri, David Silva, Tevez, and Balotelli, posed a massive challenge, especially in an away ga.
The tickets were sold out, with the stadium filled with almost 48,000 people roaring their team on. The referee for the the was Mike Dean.
From the sound of the whistle, both teams entered into battle. The ga was held in a balance without a breakthrough until a mont of magic from Manchester City.
In the 40th minute of the first half, Silva assisted Lescott for a goal, leaving Arsenal scrambling.
The defense had beco a major headache.
Manchester City were clever.
They shifted Aguero away from Kai's zone, avoiding his defensive influence altogether.
Modern football defenses operate as a grid—it's pointless for Kai to chase Aguero across the pitch.
Wenger, observing from the sideline, realized City had deliberately sidestepped his young midfielder.
He needed to free Kai up.
He walked to the sideline, signaled with crossed and rotating index fingers—ti for a positional switch.
Kai and Arteta got the ssage instantly.
Then, Wenger pressed both hands down toward Kai.
Kai paused. That gesture ant liberation.
Free-roaming defense.
A nod from Kai was all that was needed.
He was now free to patrol the midfield as needed.
In the BBC comntary box, Donald Walker turned to his co-host. "Arsenal's struggling defensively. Kai's been isolated."
"Wenger needs to set him loose," said Lee Dixon, forr Arsenal defender turned pundit.
Dixon continued, "Kai's defensive stats are insane—nearly three steals per ga. That's elite level."
"He reminds of Tony Adams, our old captain. Adams intimidated through sheer presence. But Kai? He's like a predator—quiet, calculated."
"He's always barking instructions, helping shape the line. But when it cos to tackles, he pounces at the perfect mont—deadly precise."
As Kai stepped into his new tactical role, his eyes locked with Aguero's across the pitch.
Ga on.
Manchester City didn't rush the attack. They were patient, composed.
Yaya Toure and David Silva orchestrated from midfield while Aguero and Dzeko waited for the opening.
Aguero's role was crucial, often dropping back to link play.
Yaya looked for a pass to Aguero but hesitated.
Kai was lurking—perfectly positioned to intercept.
If that ball was misplaced, Arsenal would launch a counterattack.
Kai noted Yaya's hesitation and smiled,
He's spotted .
Aguero saw Kai, too, but the alarm bells weren't going off.
So Aguero dropped deep.
Yaya passed.
And Kai waited.
...
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