NOVEL WEB Chapter 72: 72
"Thank you! Thank you, everyone."
Gu Ran tried to control the excitement surging within him and spoke calmly, "I know I still have many shortcomings, but I'm willing to improve together with all of you! For the Bucks Steelhorns!"
"For the Bucks Steelhorns!"
The entire team raised their fists and cheered in unison.
Gu Ran was fully aware that his words weren't just modesty—he truly knew he had a lot to improve on.
Fortunately, with the National High School Amateur League just beginning, there was still time to work on those weaknesses.
Coach Carter was very satisfied with Gu Ran's speech.
Carter pressed his palms down, signaling for everyone to quiet down.
"Next, I will update you all on the results of the other match in Group E."
All the players in the locker room perked up their ears.
"According to the latest official report from the FA, the other match in Group E has ended. Rugby College won their home game against Tonbridge School with a score of 4-2."
"So currently, the Group E standings are as follows: Rugby Golden Fleece leads with 3 points, we are in second place with 1 point thanks to our away goals, the Pirates are third with 1 point from our draw, and Tonbridge Wild Boars are at the bottom with 0 points."
"Ohh!"
"We're second in the group!"
The Bucks Steelhorn players cheered excitedly.
Carter frowned and barked, "What are you all so happy about? This is just the first match! The next two games will only get tougher. In three days, we will be playing away at Tonbridge School. They will be desperate to take three points from us! If we lose, we'll drop to the bottom of the group! Now, all of you, get in the showers. Once you're done, we're leaving immediately."
"Yes, Coach!"
The players quickly showered, changed into clean clothes, and left the locker room, chatting and laughing.
Coach Carter was the last to remain, tidying up.
Gu Ran had already stepped out of the locker room but suddenly remembered he wanted to ask Carter for a copy of his personal stats from his debut match as a keepsake.
So, he turned around and walked back inside.
As soon as he stepped in, he saw Coach Carter unbuckling his belt, relieving himself in the corner of the locker room.
"Those damn Pirate brats dared to humiliate my players? Well, I'm leaving them a little present too..."
Carter let out a long, satisfied sigh as he finished.
Damn, this old man…
The smell was overwhelming!
Gu Ran quickly turned and fled.
A few minutes later, the Bucks Steelhorns boarded their chartered bus and headed to Manchester Airport.
By the time they arrived, there were still over two hours before their flight.
Carter gave the team some free time.
Gu Ran ditched the rowdy teammates and found a Chinese restaurant, treating himself to a delicious meal.
After eating his fill, he wandered around the airport's shopping district.
Since he had made this trip, he figured he should bring Sophie a gift.
Otherwise, it wouldn't feel right, considering she had spent two to three hours getting ready just to see him off in the morning.
As he walked past a Cartier jewelry store, a Balenciaga boutique, a Chanel perfume shop, an SK-II cosmetics counter, a toy store, and a flower shop...
He finally stopped and walked into an unassuming airport bookstore.
In less than a minute, he had purchased the first four volumes of A Song of Ice and Fire.
A Song of Ice and Fire was the original novel of the soon-to-be-filmed and globally popular TV series Game of Thrones.
Sophie was going to audition for Game of Thrones over the weekend.
Getting her to read the original books in advance was the perfect gift.
One day, when Sophie looked back on this, she would definitely be touched!
Why only the first four volumes?
Because the legendary slow-writing author, George R.R. Martin, had only written up to the fourth book at this point.
The fifth volume wouldn't be released until 2013, and as for the sixth book, The Winds of Winter...
Even in his past life, Gu Ran had never seen it released.
If he ever got a chance to go to Hollywood, he swore he would bring a stack of razor blades to visit Martin personally—just to ask why the hell he wrote so damn slowly...
By 8 p.m., their rickety little regional flight took off with the Bucks Steelhorns on board.
Close to 10 p.m., Gu Ran took a taxi back to the Turner household.
The Turner family was still awake, waiting for him in the living room.
As soon as Gu Ran walked through the door, Sophie was the first to stand up.
She seemed to have a thousand things she wanted to say, but in the end, she simply parted her lips and said softly, "You're back."
Gu Ran grinned, "Yeah, I'm back."
Andrew eagerly asked, "Gu! Did you win or lose?"
Sally frowned and scolded her husband, "What's wrong with you? Gu has had a long day, and the first thing you ask is whether he won or lost? Gu, don't mind your Uncle Andrew. Tell Auntie, are you okay with the food outside? I saved you a portion of your favorite lamb kidney pie, and I even added oysters and mustard to it."
Well, if Aunt Sally thinks that's a treat, then so be it...
Gu Ran quickly waved his hands. "No need, no need, Aunt Sally! I already ate. Uncle Andrew, we drew 2-2 against the Pirates."
Andrew immediately asked, "How's your group standing?"
Gu Ran answered honestly, "We're second for now."
"Not bad, not bad!" Andrew laughed heartily. "The Bucks Steelhorns are probably the weakest team in the National Top 32. Managing to force a draw at an away game against the Pirates and ranking second in the group—this is actually a great result! By the way, Gu, I suppose you didn't play, right?"
Gu Ran smiled, "I did. Came on as a substitute in the second half, played for about 40 minutes."
Andrew was stunned. "You actually got to play? Gu, are you joking? Your team's Coach Carter is known for being ruthless. He let you, a Chinese player—oh, sorry, no offense."
Gu Ran shrugged. "None taken."
Andrew continued, "Carter actually let you, a newcomer who joined just three days ago, sub in? He must be insane!"
Gu Ran chuckled. "Maybe, but I think I played okay."
That was putting it lightly.
In reality, he hadn't just played okay—he had practically carried the team.
Andrew asked, "What was your post-match rating?"
Gu Ran answered truthfully, "7.1."
Andrew burst into laughter. "No way! Absolutely impossible!"
Sally asked, "7.1 isn't that high, why is it impossible?"
Andrew scoffed, "What do you know? The most important factor in post-match ratings is playing time. Gu just said he only played 40 minutes—not even a full half! A 7.1 rating is higher than what most players get for a full game! If this trend holds, if he played a full match, he'd be at least an 8! He's a newcomer, a substitute—how could he score that high? Unless he's a genius. And not just any genius—a once-in-a-generation football prodigy!"
Gu Ran sighed helplessly. "Uncle Andrew, I swear I'm telling the truth."
Andrew smirked. "Alright, alright, true or not, I get it. Gu, Uncle was young once too, I know your little tricks! You just want to show off in front of girls your age, make yourself look impressive so they'll admire and like you. Uncle gets it—I used those tricks back in the day too. So tell me, you've got your eyes on my Sophie, haven't you? That's why you're bragging in front of her, saying you got to play, saying your match rating was high? Were you also planning to say that your presence on the field saved the Bucks Steelhorns? That without you, the team wouldn't have earned that one point?"
Whoa, whoa, whoa!
Uncle, how did your logic just go flying off like that?
I'm not like you in your younger days!
With my looks, do I even need tricks to get girls?
I really just want to play football!
Gu Ran quickly explained, "No, no, no! Uncle, you've completely misunderstood! I really did get a 7.1! I was going to bring back my post-match stats, but there was… an incident… But you can call Coach Carter! He'll vouch for me! I really played, my rating was really high, I really helped the team… Without me, we wouldn't have— I—I—I…"
Oh crap, why was this so hard to explain?!