I Just Wanted to Play Soccer, But I Became a Hollywood Heartthrob

As Gu Ran instinctively turned around, he saw Ms. Maria walking gracefully towards him, pulling a small, elegant suitcase behind her.

Today, she wore bold makeup, with delicate gold-rimmed glasses resting on her nose. She was dressed in a sky-blue checkered office dress, which perfectly outlined her S-curve figure. The look was completed with black stockings, eight-centimeter high heels, and a cool, aloof expression—an aura of a dominant queen.

The entire train platform fell silent.

Even the ever-flirty Suzanna took two steps back, automatically making way.

Ignoring everyone else, Ms. Maria walked straight up to Gu Ran, giving him a slight glare. "Gu, what's going on? You asked for my number that day—why didn't you call me?"

Everyone on the platform: "???"

Gu Ran: "…"

"Uh, Ms. Maria, I… I've just been really… really busy lately…"

Between helping Sophie with her audition, spending quality time with Sophie, and training—he really had been busy.

Besides, he hadn't moved out of the Turner house yet. He hadn't even bought his liquid nitrogen cryo-chamber. So, calling Ms. Maria had never even crossed his mind.

And it wasn't like not calling her was a crime—at worst, it was bad manners. But with the way she was questioning him, Gu Ran suddenly felt guilty, like he had wronged her.

—Her dominant aura was just too strong today.

No. No way.

He was a man with twelve years of experience ahead of this timeline.

How could he let himself be overwhelmed by a powerful older woman?!

Gu Ran took a deep breath and flashed his signature smile.

The Heartthrob Smile.

Let's see who dominates who!

Ms. Maria flushed, then chuckled softly. "Alright, alright. I'll forgive you—if you carry my luggage onto the train."

"Of course, Ms. Maria. That's no problem at all."

Gu Ran immediately took her suitcase, but he couldn't help but ask, "Ms. Maria, are you going to London for a trip?"

After all, this train was headed for London.

The Bucks would get off at London Station, switch to a chartered bus, and head to Tonbridge School in Kent.

Maria smiled. "Of course… not. I'm here to accompany you to your match."

Gu Ran's entire body froze.

Wait… what?

"Ms. Maria, please tell me you're joking."

She casually tucked a strand of her wavy hair behind her ear, her pose effortlessly seductive. "I'm not joking. I'm here just for you. If you don't believe me, ask your coach."

Holy sh*t.

She's serious?!

Even Gu Ran was stunned.

The entire platform was even more stunned.

What the hell is going on?!

At first, everyone thought no one would come to see Gu Ran off.

Then Suzanna showed up—uninvited and impossible to get rid of.

Fine. That was expected.

Then came a huge crowd of fangirls, chanting his name with fan signs.

Annoying, but manageable.

But this?!

The final person to show up was Ms. Maria?!

And not only that—she was getting on the train and traveling with him?!

None of the other players' girlfriends could match this level of devotion.

Gu Ran was truly built different.

His girlfriend, Sophie, had barely left, and he was already seamlessly transitioning to the next woman.

And not just any woman—his team's personal physiotherapist?!

He was playing on another level!

At that moment, the entire team broke down.

Especially Suzanna.

She had thought that after Sophie left, she had no real competition.

She had believed it was only a matter of time before she won Gu Ran over with her charm.

But now—her opponent was Ms. Maria?!

On the platform, negative emotion bubbles exploded like fireworks.

Even the train conductor dropped a bubble.

Damn.

Looking around, except for Ms. Maria, the entire platform was covered in bubbles.

What a beautiful sight…

Not bad. Ms. Maria was surprisingly useful.

That said, even though there were a ton of bubbles, most of them were useless.

Among five blue bubbles, all of them were trash skills.

Instead, Gu Ran used his thoughts to pick up two Stamina Training bubbles from the white bubbles.

Why just two?

Because he was two bubbles away from getting another talent point.

And just as expected, the system dinged in his mind:

"Ding~"

"Congratulations! You have accumulated 100 hours of specialized training and earned 1 Talent Point."

Nice.

He would save the Talent Point for the match—use it when needed.

Gu Ran picked up Maria's suitcase. "Ms. Maria, after you."

Lady first.

He wasn't a caveman, after all.

Maria smiled seductively and stepped onto the train.

That body… too good…

Gu Ran quickly followed behind.

Inside the train, Ms. Maria sat right next to him.

The faint scent of Chanel perfume drifted from her neck—intoxicating.

Gu Ran's thigh brushed against her silk stockings, and he instinctively pulled back.

Maria laughed softly and leaned in close, whispering in his ear. "Gu, you're so adorable…"

Gu Ran cleared his throat. "So, uh… Ms. Maria, you're here to be our team's physiotherapist, right?"

She pouted slightly and leaned back against the seat. "I already told you—I'm only here for you. Your coach said I only need to give you muscle therapy during halftime. I don't care about anyone else."

Holy sh*t.

I'm getting VIP treatment?!

Gu Ran hadn't expected this.

Rusty overheard and immediately yelled across the train car: "THIS IS BULLSH*T! WHY DOES ONLY GU RAN GET THERAPY?!"

Watergate complained, "Coach, this is so unfair! I'M the team's star player! Why is he getting better treatment than me?! This isn't coaching—this is fatherly favoritism!"

Rusty shouted dramatically, "Yeah! Coach is treating Gu Ran like his own dad!"

The train car fell silent.

Because Coach Carter had just walked in.

The whole train immediately shut up.

Rusty hurriedly sat back down.

Carter slowly scanned the room, making sure Gu Ran and Ms. Maria were seated, before stepping up to Rusty.

"Rusty. What did you just say?"

Rusty lowered his voice, "…Coach, I said you're like a father to us all."

Carter narrowed his eyes. "500 frog jumps—on the record."

Rusty's face fell. "COACH! IT WAS WATERGATE WHO—"

Watergate immediately turned on him. "RUSTY! YOU TRAITOR! WE'RE ENEMIES FOR LIFE NOW!"

Gu Ran sighed.

How am I supposed to play seriously with these idiots?

Ms. Maria yawned, then leaned over and rested her head on his shoulder.

"Lend me your shoulder—I'm taking a nap."

Wait, I haven't even agreed yet?!

(End of Chapter)