Chapter 26: A Brawl Breaks Out

Just after class, as he was packing his bag to head home, Tang Lin received a call from Mr. Berger.

"Tang, are you still at school?"

"Yes, Mr. Berger."

"Ah, that’s wonderful!"

Tang Lin could clearly hear his landlord let out a sigh of relief, so he asked, "Is there something you need my help with?"

"Ha! I certainly do! Could you do me a favor and go to the Tyne home stadium shop to buy a Wang jersey? I need to wear it tomorrow—Wang has been named in the matchday squad!"

The Tyne home ground, Leazes Park Stadium, was right next to Newcastle University, where Tang Lin studied. It was much more convenient for him to go there than for Mr. Berger to travel from home.

Tang Lin agreed without a second thought. "No problem, Mr. Berger."

"That’s great, thank you, Tang! There is one more thing..." Berger hesitated.

"It’s fine, go ahead."

"It’s just... could you buy two jerseys? Buy one for yourself as well..."

"Huh?" Tang Lin was surprised. "But I don't go to the matches..."

"It doesn't matter if you go or not. I just want to boost the sales figures for Wang’s jersey... Don't worry, I’ll transfer the money to you; consider it a gift from me."

Tang Lin hadn't expected his landlord to have such a thought—boosting Wang Lie's jersey sales... He couldn't help but think that perhaps the other man was the real Chinese person here. At the very least, he, the "genuine" Chinese person, hadn't even considered buying a Wang Lie jersey to support his countryman.

He laughed and agreed. "Alright, I’ll buy two jerseys, Mr. Berger. But you don't need to pay for mine. I'm Chinese; how could I let someone else pay for a fellow countryman's jersey?"

"You are such a good person, Tang! Thank you!"

"You're welcome, Mr. Berger. I might be back a bit late, so I’m sorry you’ll have to wait a little."

"Ha! It’s no problem, I’m in no rush, and you shouldn't be either!" Berger laughed loudly.

***

After hanging up, Jon Berger turned and pushed open the door behind him, re-entering the bustling Miners' Pub. The landlord, Theo Collins, was currently writing their bet on the chalkboard:

"Wang to play against Hellinham FC. Jon: YES, Robby: NO. One pint of beer."

***

As Tang Lin reached the shop entrance, the electric glass doors slid open automatically. He saw Wang Lie standing at the doorway, smiling at him... It gave him a start, but upon closer inspection, he realized it was a life-sized 3D holographic projection of Wang Lie wearing the Tyne blue home kit. It was so realistic that for a fleeting moment, Tang Lin thought he had run into the real person.

Regaining his composure, Tang Lin examined the hologram. It was positioned in the center of the shop, ensuring every customer saw it the moment they entered. From this alone, one could tell how significant Wang Lie’s status was at Tyne.

Circling past the projection, Tang Lin looked around at the densely packed merchandise. This was the club shop at Leazes Park Stadium. Blue was the dominant color, as it was the color of Tyne’s home kit. Jerseys were the main attraction—the blue home kit, along with white and gray away kits. Beyond that, there were jackets, scarves, hats, training gear, mugs, and fridge magnets—all emblazoned with the Tyne crest.

Tang Lin realized that most of these items were familiar to him, as he had seen them all at Mr. Berger’s house: the Tyne mug was what Mr. Berger used for coffee; the knit hat was what he wore whenever he went out; the puffer jacket was even more familiar, as Berger wore it to the Miners' Pub almost every day in winter; and the plates, forks, knives, and even the pancake pan—Tang Lin had used that pan in the kitchen, and it could indeed cook pancakes with the Tyne crest on them.

Beyond the vast array of goods, the shop was filled with player standees, posters, and large screens playing promotional videos. Tang Lin even noticed Chinese characters on some posters that read: "Welcome!" He wasn't sure if they had always been there or if they were added specifically after Wang Lie joined. It didn't matter; he wasn't there to investigate that. He remembered his mission.

He didn't linger in front of the various shelves but walked straight toward the section featuring Wang Lie's standee. The display was an entire wall, with three tiers of jerseys hanging, already printed with his name and number:

WANG. L
99

Although Tang Lin didn't watch football, he had heard the story from Mr. Berger and knew the origin of the number: because the team’s original number nine belonged to striker Peter Olivier, and since Olivier hadn't left, Wang Lie, who had always worn nine, chose the highest number available.

Generally, superstar players rarely chose such high numbers. Football numbers were not like standard digits where higher meant "better." In the early days, numbers were assigned based on the starting lineup order rather than being fixed. This created a lasting impression that numbers eleven and below represented the team's key players. Even though those days were long gone and players could choose their own numbers, most people were still unaccustomed to such high figures.

Wang Lie’s choice of ninety-nine had caused a minor stir, with people puzzled by his reasoning. If he liked nine but couldn't have it, a compromise would have been eighteen, since one plus eight equals nine. Perhaps he was protesting against Peter Olivier for not voluntarily giving up the number...

Tang Lin had no interest in psychoanalyzing Wang Lie’s number choice. He simply found the sizes that would fit him and Mr. Berger, grabbed them, and headed to the checkout.

There were already two long lines at the registers, each with about a dozen people waiting. Tang Lin noticed that everyone was holding Wang Lie’s number 99 jersey. Despite not having played a single match yet, Wang Lie, as a former world-class superstar, still held immense popularity even at a small club like Tyne.

Online rumors had suggested that Tyne didn't hold a welcome ceremony for Wang Lie because they feared a poor turnout would embarrass him, or that he would be booed by the fans. Tang Lin had observed on the day of the official announcement that not everyone seemed welcoming. Yet, the scene in the shop seemed to contradict those rumors. Were the Tyne fans welcoming him or not?

As Tang Lin pondered this, the line moved forward until it was his turn. The clerk was a middle-aged woman who looked just like any other server he’d met in supermarkets or pubs. Seeing Tang Lin’s Asian face, she smiled and greeted him in broken Mandarin:

"Ni hao."

Tang Lin was surprised; he hadn't expected such thoughtfulness from the club. Taken aback, he stammered a reply in Chinese: "Uh, n... ni hao..."

The clerk smiled and switched back to English. "Just these two?"

"Yes, just these two," Tang Lin replied in English.

"Alright, please wait a moment."

The clerk packed the jerseys into a bag and handed it to him with both hands.

"Thank you," Tang Lin said as he took it.

"You're welcome. Thank you for your purchase, and please come again!"

The clerk immediately turned to the next customer. Tang Lin walked out of the shop, but before leaving, he glanced back at the hologram. This time, the image had changed: Wang Lie was now standing with his hands on his hips, head held high, gazing into the distance. It looked quite imposing.

***

On the team bus from London to Newcastle, Hellinham FC’s manager, Kofi Roster, learned from the internet that Wang Lie had been named in the Tyne matchday squad. Seeing the name, Roster smiled. He had been worried that McNeil wouldn't include him; defeating Tyne wouldn't be as satisfying if he hadn't defeated Wang Lie. Now, he just hoped McNeil wouldn't let him sit on the bench for ninety minutes. "Put him on the pitch, McNeil!"

***

The English media seemed to share Roster's sentiment. After the squad announcement, they reported the news with unusual intensity. The coverage was so over-the-top that some initially feared it was bad news, like "Wang Lie injured in training, out for the season."

The headlines were sensational:
"Shock! Wang enters Tyne matchday squad!"
"Breaking! Wang may feature against Hellinham FC!"
"Extra! Wang set for his Tyne debut!"

They acted as if it were the biggest news of the century. Six months ago, it would have been a massive story if Wang Lie *wasn't* in the squad. Under Sven Herden, people had become accustomed to him being left out. Of course, the media’s excitement was fueled by Roster’s pre-match criticism, which had ignited the fire. They thrived on drama; without stoking the flames, how could they generate traffic?

Even the evening football shows were dissecting the possibility of his appearance. One pundit noted, "Considering Wang barely played at Solf Union, I don't think McNeil will rely on him. But since he's in the squad, surely he’ll play. I suspect McNeil will give him the last ten minutes to find his rhythm, but don't expect much."

Elliot Goetz, watching in his room at the Northumberland Football City, thought the guest was talking nonsense. Based on his observations during the week’s training, he believed McNeil intended to make Wang a factor, not just let him "find his rhythm." But whether he would start or come off the bench, he couldn't be sure. In the final training match today, Wang Lie had still been on the substitute team with Dean.

Goetz switched off the show just as a commotion and heavy footsteps echoed in the hallway. Curious, he opened his door and saw several teammates rushing past. He grabbed the last one, center-back Hugo Gonduz, and asked, "What’s happening?"

Gonduz replied, "Wang and Dean are fighting in the recreation center!"

"What?!" Goetz was shocked. He shut his door and ran after him. "Why are they fighting?"

Gonduz didn't know. "I don't know, I just heard they were fighting..."

Goetz sprinted, overtaking teammates until he burst into the rec center first. He saw a crowd gathered, with chaotic shouts:
"Go on, Dean!"
"Get him, Wang! Get him!"
"Is anyone betting? I’ve got money on Wang!"

Goetz was furious. *They’re fighting, and instead of stopping it, you’re cheering and taking bets?! Dammit! With this bunch of 'mercenaries,' what can we ever win?!*

He roared, "Enough! What are you doing?!"

The crowd turned, looking confused. Through the gap in the group, Goetz finally saw the scene: at one end of a ping-pong table, Sunny Dean was crouched low, paddle in hand, staring intently at Wang Lie, who was holding the ball.

Goetz's shout and the sudden silence caught Dean’s attention, causing his focus to drift. In that moment, Wang Lie tossed the ball and smashed it! Dean caught a glimpse of white light and swung reflexively, but he hit it with too much force, sending the ball out of bounds.

Wang Lie raised his paddle and cheered, "I won!"

Vitini, one of the onlookers, rushed over to hug Wang Lie. The crowd erupted in cheers and whistles.

Goetz turned to Gonduz, who had arrived with him. "This is your 'fighting'?"

Gonduz looked both innocent and disappointed. "They didn't tell me it was a 'ping-pong fight'..."

Dean, still stunned, shouted, "No! I didn't lose! I was distracted! That point doesn't count! Do it again!"

Wang Lie retorted, "I didn't tell you to get distracted."

Dean pointed at Goetz. "I was interrupted by the captain! That's unfair!"

Everyone looked at Goetz. Feeling embarrassed, he said to Dean, "Uh, sorry..."

Vitini tried to speak up for his idol, but Wang Lie patted his shoulder and pushed him aside. Wang Lie looked at the panting Dean. "What’s unfair? Why wasn't I distracted by Elliot? You didn't know this was my match point? Shouldn't you have been focused?"

Dean was speechless, then snapped. "You took advantage of the situation! Cheap shot! You just want to win!"

Wang Lie sneered, "Don't you want to win? If you didn't, why are you so angry? Just accept the loss calmly."

Dean was taken aback by the sharp logic, then roared, "I won't accept this kind of loss! I won't use underhanded tactics just to win! If you're capable, beat me fair and square!"

The atmosphere grew tense; people feared Dean might throw a punch. Goetz prepared to use his authority as the former captain: "Enough, Dean! It’s just a game!"

Katic, the referee, stepped between them. Dean, however, was past the point of listening. He looked at Goetz but pointed at Wang Lie. "Tell that to him! It's just a game, but this old scoundrel will do anything to win!"

Vitini bristled. "Who are you calling an 'old scoundrel'?! Show some respect, jerk!"

Dean ignored him, staring at Wang Lie. "If you're capable, play me again!"

Wang Lie patted Vitini’s shoulder and said to Dean, "I’m going to sleep. If you’re not satisfied, you're welcome to challenge me again. I won't refuse, but I fear you’re too scared to try again, because you’re destined to lose."

With that, he turned and walked away. Behind him, Dean’s chest heaved as he slammed his paddle onto the floor.

Katic saw Dean was just venting and stepped aside. Gonduz waved his hand. "Break it up, it’s over! The show’s finished!"

Goetz glared at him, then warned everyone: "Once you walk out that door, this is over! No one is allowed to speak of this, especially to the media!"

With Wang Lie’s arrival, journalists had gathered in Newcastle like sharks trailing a slave ship, hungry for blood and clicks. Any internal news could lead to frantic reporting. Despite no longer being the captain, Goetz still put the team first and didn't want them disturbed.

***

Vitini followed Wang Lie out, worried Dean might cause trouble. On the way to their rooms, he laughed, "Wang, you're amazing! A few words and you had him in a fit of impotent rage! Honestly, I’ve been at Tyne for four seasons, and I’ve never seen him lose his cool like that!"

Wang Lie looked at him and asked, "Vitini, if you were in Dean's shoes, could you have controlled your temper and not punched me?"

"Huh?" Vitini was surprised by the question.

Wang Lie pressed, "Could you?"

Vitini looked conflicted. "You're my idol..."

"Think of me as Dean. If Dean had said that to you, could you have resisted hitting him?"

This time, Vitini shook his head firmly. "No! I definitely would have punched him!"

Wang Lie smiled. "Exactly. So, Vitini, you still have a long way to go in learning to control your emotions."

At his door, Wang Lie unlocked it with his fingerprint and waved at the stunned Vitini. "Goodnight, Vitini."

***

Goetz caught up with Katic to understand the situation. "Dean hates Wang, right? Why were they playing ping-pong?"

Katic explained, "He probably wanted to regain his pride by beating him... Dean is the best ping-pong player on the team. And Wang is Chinese. Ping-pong is a Chinese strength; maybe he wanted to beat him at his own game. They were evenly matched, two games each. You arrived at the match point of the fifth game..."

Goetz felt guilty. "My shout definitely affected him..."

Katic disagreed. "That’s not your fault. Wang was right—why wasn't he affected? That’s why I ruled it a win for Wang. Dean’s problem is that he seems to lose his composure easily around Wang... Elliot, you’ve known Dean for years, is there some old grudge?"

Goetz shook his head. "No... I’ve never heard him say a bad word about Wang. He rarely even mentions him..."

Katic frowned. "That’s strange..."

***

Back in his room, Wang Lie called his agent, Fernando Clemente.

"Fernando, I need a favor."

Clemente asked lightly, "What is it?"

"Can you help me find a high-level ping-pong coach?"

"Huh?"

***

*(Author's Note: The book goes live tomorrow. I hope for your subscriptions and support, and please vote for me! If the performance is poor, I fear the book might get canceled... There’s a launch post coming at 11:00 PM. Once it hits midnight and I can upload VIP chapters, I’ll post one. The other two will follow tomorrow morning at 8:00 and afternoon at 6:00. Finally, please vote and subscribe! I’m begging you!)*