"Old Cao?"
"Yeah, has anyone seen Old Cao?"
"I didn’t see him when we got here yesterday either."
"That’s weird. He booked our hotel and arranged for a car to pick us up. How co we haven’t seen him?"
"You don’t think he got lost, do you?"
"No way! Old Cao cos to Germany for matches all the ti. He’s been to Berlin a few tis already, how could he not know his way around?"
"I just ssaged him on QQ. Old Cao said he’s going through security."
"See? I told you."
"We really owe Old Cao for this trip."
"He says he’s in the stands now."
"Where is he?"
"Yeah, where’s Old Cao?"
As everyone looked around searching, a soft, clear voice ca from the entryway.
"Sorry, everyone. I’m late."
The voice was like a honey-soaked harp string, plucking at the heartstrings of everyone who heard it.
Everyone turned to look, and the once-boisterous stands instantly fell silent.
Many of the male fans who had been sitting even stood up involuntarily.
Standing in the entryway to the stands was a girl with neat, short black hair, the ends curled slightly. She wore a red jersey and white shorts, looking exceptionally youthful and energetic.
The young woman had a brilliant smile on her face. Under the stadium lights, her eyes were bright and full of life, exuding a cheerful and open deanor.
But her appearance seed to cast a spell on everyone. They all stood frozen in place, their eyes filled with stunned admiration.
"What’s wrong?"
As the young woman asked, the corners of her mouth curved up slightly, a sight that was particularly pleasant and soothing.
"You... You’re... Old Cao?"
"Holy shit, you’re Old Cao?"
"Old Cao is a girl?"
"No way! Old Cao is actually a girl?"
Everyone’s jaws nearly hit the floor, their faces a mask of disbelief.
They never would have imagined in their wildest dreams that the "Old Cao" they were always talking about was actually a girl.
And such a beautiful one at that.
"I don’t think I ever said I was a guy, did I? Besides, my QQ profile is set to female."
The young woman’s smile was even more beautiful, as if it dimd the very lights around her.
"Waaah, I always thought Old Cao was a guy pretending to be a girl!"
" too! Oh my God, waaaaaah..."
"I’m so ashad! I even asked Old Cao if he’d hooked up with any foreign girls while studying in London..."
"The day before yesterday, I told Old Cao that after we got to Berlin, I’d take him to the red-light district."
"I’m always talking about R-rated stuff in the group chat... I want to kill myself right now..."
The young woman’s laughter was like the chiming of a wind chi.
"It’s okay, it’s okay, don’t worry about it. It was all a misunderstanding. I definitely won’t tell anyone the secrets you all sent in private ssages."
She said that, but she was clearly smiling even more brightly.
The pack of wolves was on the verge of a complete breakdown.
If the stands of the Olympic Stadium Berlin weren’t made of reinforced concrete, they would have tried to crawl into a hole and hide.
"Old Cao, are you really a girl?"
The mont he asked, the poor schmuck slapped himself across the face.
"Tsk, I asked the wrong question. What I ant to ask was, are you really the Old Cao from the forums?"
"The one and only. My na is Shen Qinghe. I’m studying in London, and my family is from Hu City."
Shen Qinghe?
Green Grass by the Field?
So that’s how it was!
Less than five minutes later, soone made a post on China’s largest sports forum, sharing a photo.
The girl in the photo was wearing a red Mainz jersey with the number 9 on the back.
The title of the post was: "We Were Wrong!"
A crowd of netizens replied below.
"Holy shit, who is this? She’s gorgeous!"
"Is she a celebrity?"
"No, I’ve never seen a celebrity like her in China."
"She’s a total goddess!"
"She’s way prettier than any of those celebrities back ho, okay?"
"She’s wearing a Mainz jersey. Is she there to watch the ga?"
"No way, right?"
Soon, soone ca forward to reveal the truth.
"Everyone, she is Old Cao!"
In that mont, countless fans across the country had their minds blown.
But at the sa ti, countless other guys were utterly smitten.
...
Wang Shuo had no idea what was happening in the stands.
After finishing their warm-up, everyone returned to the locker room for the final pre-match preparations.
The players all changed into fresh clothes, put on jackets to stay warm, and sat in their spots.
Head coach Klopp was giving his final pre-match instructions.
Both teams had received the other’s starting lineup.
Mainz was sticking with their 4-4-1-1 formation.
But Klopp had made so adjustnts.
Goalkeeper: Dimo Wahe;
Defense: Lővér, Nowitzki, Bungert, and Hogland;
Midfield: Foyelner, Pekovic, Kalhan, and Helle, with Hainauer playing further forward;
Forward: Wang Shuo.
The biggest change was the return of Hogland, who was stronger defensively, to the starting lineup.
His position at right-back would pit him directly against Ribery.
Klopp hoped that Helle and Hogland could work together to lock down Bayern’s left flank.
Which was to say, the side with Lahm and Ribery.
As for Bayern, they were going with a 4-4-2 formation.
Goalkeeper: Butt;
Defense: Lahm, Demichelis, Lucio, and Oddo;
Midfield: Ribery, Van Boml, Schweinsteiger, and Hamit Altıntop;
Forwards: Klose and Luca Tony.
Neither team’s formation or starting lineup was too surprising.
In response to Bayern’s starting lineup, Klopp specifically emphasized Ribery’s breakthroughs, and the dominance of Luca Tony and Klose inside the box.
He also pointed out the late runs from deep by Van Boml and Schweinsteiger, especially their long-range shots.
Bayern’s offense was exceptional, and their players’ individual skills were extrely strong.
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