Chapter Thirty-Six: Dormitory 505

Compared to the dormitory where Long Bisheng had stayed at that other soccer school, Dorm 505 felt much more spacious. Although seven people lived there as well, each person had far more room, and they even had large personal lockers to store their belongings.

When Xia Liquan led the Long family into Dorm 505, the place was bustling with life. Four boys with differing features were sitting around a small square table, boisterously playing cards. Judging from their conversation, they were playing tractor—a game that runs from 2 up to ace. There was no money on the table, so it seemed they were playing just for fun.

The other two boys in the room were just as varied. One, a strong and sturdy boy, was doing pull-ups on the iron bar of the bunk bed, while another, whose face bore the scholarly air of a bookworm, was reclining on a bed with a book in hand.

As soon as Xia Liquan opened the door, the four card-players made the same sudden movement—they stuffed their cards into their pockets and stood up promptly.

The boy doing pull-ups dropped to the ground, panting slightly, and the one reading sat up. Together, the six of them called out, "Coach."

“Mm,” Xia Liquan grunted in reply. “Today, I’ve brought you a new teammate—Long Bisheng. Come here.”

Long Bisheng stepped forward shyly. Though, seeing these boys playing cards, he felt a bit disappointed—were they going to be just like last year’s roommates? But Long Bisheng, who had learned how to deal with others, knew well that in this world, one should adapt to the environment, not the other way around.

“Hello, everyone. My surname is Long, and my name is Long Bisheng. I’m very pleased to meet you all.”

Xia Liquan smiled at Long Yuyun. “Mr. Long, let’s go take care of the enrollment procedures… Let the young people get to know each other. You guys, help with the luggage, will you? Can’t you show a little initiative?”

The four card-players immediately crowded over. A boy with delicate features and lively eyes grinned as he took the lightest of Long Bisheng’s bags. “No problem, Coach! We’re the model youths of the new era—it’s only right for us to help each other!” He turned to Long Bisheng. “I’m Zhou Wei—Zhou as in surrounding, Wei as in circle—the most handsome, the smartest, and the best footballer in Dorm 505!”

“No need… I can handle it myself…” Long Bisheng was bewildered by their sudden enthusiasm. At that moment, a tall and strapping boy, just as big as Long Bisheng himself, pushed Zhou Wei aside before he could finish, snatching up the bedding. “Don’t mind that little guy’s nonsense. I’m Wu Bufan. You’re tall—taller than me, even. Old Hu here is the best at making beds. Hu, you do it!” With that, he tossed the bedding to the boy who had been doing pull-ups.

The boy caught it easily, swiftly unfolded it, and began making the bed, glancing up with a smile at Long Bisheng. “Hello, Long Bisheng. I’m Hu Gandang, the dorm leader here.”

At that, the other five all let out a collective, dismissive sound. The scholarly boy who’d been reading came over to help make the bed. “Dorm leader? Self-appointed, huh?” He straightened up, offering Long Bisheng a gentle smile. “Your surname is a fine one. The dragon can rise or hide, grow large or small. Large, it summons clouds and breathes mist; small, it conceals itself and vanishes. Rising, it soars through the universe; hiding, it lurks beneath the waves… It’s the symbol of the Chinese nation. Ah, I forgot to introduce myself. My surname is Dai—Dai Guangming. Everyone calls me Bright Dai.”

“My surname is Zhang—Zhang Yi, Yi as in wings,” another card-player, even more striking than Zhou Wei, took the initiative to shake Long Bisheng’s hand. The last, who was just a bit shorter than Long Bisheng but equally sturdy, was moving Long Bisheng’s luggage into a locker as he said, “My surname is Li—Li Jie.”

Long Bisheng quickly memorized their names. The scholarly, gentle one was Dai Guangming. The strong, steady boy was Hu Gandang. The mischievous, sharp-tongued, slightly short one was Zhou Wei. The delicate, almost girlishly handsome one was Zhang Yi. The one just a bit shorter than himself was Wu Bufan. The loud, robust one—just like Hu Gandang—was Li Jie.

In the years to come, these would be his roommates. Some of them might be eliminated, but perhaps they would all make it to the top as professional footballers.

While they chatted, the six boys efficiently helped Long Bisheng settle in. Watching them bustle about on his behalf, Long Bisheng felt a warmth inside. It seemed these boys would be easy to get along with.

“By the way, Long Bisheng, what position do you play?” Dai Guangming clapped his hands, admiring the neatly made bed, and suddenly asked.

“I… I don’t know which position suits me best. My previous coach had me play center back,” Long Bisheng replied after a moment’s hesitation.

“Center back is great! The last line of defense before the goalkeeper,” Li Jie said excitedly. “I play center back too—maybe we’ll be a great partnership.”

“Hmph, when the time comes, you’ll have to follow my lead and protect my goal,” Wu Bufan waved a hand. “As a goalkeeper, nothing’s worse than bad defenders in front of you… You two, don’t drag me down!”

“As if defense alone wins matches,” Zhou Wei said, throwing an arm around Zhang Yi’s neck. “We’re the left and right wings, sending missiles forward so the strikers can win game after game. You didn’t know, did you, Long? We’re the magical fourth-grade double wings! And I am the best, most talented left winger there is!”

“I don’t know him!” Zhang Yi shrugged off Zhou Wei’s arm, and the others burst out laughing.

“I’m a defensive midfielder—the most important position on the field!” Hu Gandang declared grandly. “The defensive midfielder is the field marshal!”

“I’m the attacking midfielder—the brain of the team!” Dai Guangming jumped in to spar with Hu Gandang. “That’s the truly vital position!”

“Defensive midfielder is!” Hu Gandang shouted.

“Attacking midfielder is!” Dai Guangming countered.

“Don’t mind them,” Zhang Yi said with a smile to Long Bisheng. “Once they start, they won’t stop arguing for half an hour. Welcome to Dorm 505.”

P.S.: Heh heh heh, can you guess who these boys are based on?