In the tactical meeting room at the training base, Paco Jémez posted the latest segunda división standings on the whiteboard.
Rayo Vallecano was in fourth place, only two points away from the automatic promotion zone, with a playoff spot within reach.
"gentlemen, the Copa del Rey is over." Paco's voice echoed in the room, and every player could hear the determination in it. "Now, our real final has begun!"
He used a marker to draw a red circle on the standings, circling the top six teams.
"From this moment on, every League match is our final. We only have one goal—promotion!"
Lu Chuan sat in the front row, his hands crossed on the table.
The loss in the Copa del Rey was like a thorn in his heart; every time he recalled the header that hit the crossbar, a dull pain surged in his chest.
Paco walked over to Lu Chuan and placed his hand on his shoulder.
"Lu Chuan showed us what a true core is. When the team needed him most, he stepped up."
The coach's words silenced the entire room. "Now, I need each of you to become a lone brave like him!"
Trejo clapped his hands hard, and other teammates also applauded. The applause echoed in the room, shaking everyone's heart like thunder.
After training, Lu Chuan returned to his apartment. Esther was sitting on the sofa, with a laptop on her lap, its screen showing the waiting interface for a video call.
"Your 'cloud signing' is ready," she winked at him.
Lu Chuan walked over and saw that the computer screen was connected to an encrypted video conferencing software.
Carlos had specifically arranged this; the pandemic made international travel difficult, but business cooperation could not be halted.
The video connected. On the other end of the screen, a familiar Chinese face appeared in front of the camera. Li Hua, the Brand Director of Brand, was wearing a suit, with the company's iconic display wall behind him.
"Mr. Lu Chuan, we finally meet," Li Hua's Mandarin carried a strong sense of excitement. "We've been following you for a long time!"
Lu Chuan sat up straight, and Esther quietly retreated to a spot out of the camera's view.
"Hello, Director Li."
"The lone brave spirit in you, that refuses to bow to old rules, is the best interpretation of our 'Anything is Possible' Brand philosophy!"
Li Hua became more and more excited AS he spoke, his gestures growing larger. "Lu Chuan, let's be frank. You are currently the center of attention and also a 'troublemaker.' Other Brands are afraid, but we are not. We, Brand, love troublemakers like you!"
A stack of contract documents lay on the computer desk, with key clauses marked on each page.
A five-year term, a basic annual salary of 800,000 euros, plus various floating clauses and bonuses, bringing the total value to over 4 million euros.
"This is the largest overseas player endorsement contract in our company's history."
Li Hua solemnly held up a document in front of the camera. "We believe you will become the pride of Chinese football!"
The signing ceremony was simple. Lu Chuan signed his name in front of the camera, and Li Hua did the same in his office in BJ.
Two cities, two time zones, yet connected in this instant.
"Happy cooperation, Mr. Lu Chuan!"
"Happy cooperation!"
After the video call ended, Esther brought out two glasses of champagne from the kitchen.
"Congratulations, my lone brave," she raised her glass.
"Congratulations to us," Lu Chuan gently clinked her glass, and the crisp sound echoed in the apartment.
The news quickly spread throughout Spanish football. The front page of Marca read: "4 Million Euros! segunda división Player Sets Endorsement Record."
AS was even more direct: "Chinese Brand Bets on lone brave."
Rayo Vallecano's official Twitter account retweeted Brand's promotional poster, and tens of thousands of congratulatory messages instantly flooded the comments section.
Fans expressed their excitement in various languages, with Chinese, Spanish, and English intertwined.
After the signing bonus arrived, Lu Chuan immediately contacted Carlos.
"Help me look into a German startup called 'Solar Energy Storage,' they are developing a new generation of lithium battery technology."
He quickly organized his thoughts on the phone. "Also, investigate the 'Green Hydrogen Energy' project in the Netherlands; that's where the next decade's boom will be."
Carlos kept taking notes on the other end of the phone. The Chinese young man's business acumen amazed him; he always managed to plan for the future before others even reacted.
"Lu, are you sure you want to invest so much money in these areas?"
"I'm very sure," Lu Chuan looked out at the Madrid night view from the window. "Energy transition is an inevitable trend, and now is the perfect time to enter."
To celebrate the successful signing, Esther decided to cook herself. She was busy in the kitchen, wearing an apron, and the spatula rhythmically clanked against the frying pan.
"Why does it smell burnt?" Lu Chuan called from the living room.
"It's nothing! Everything is under control!" Esther's voice clearly betrayed her guilt.
Half an hour later, she brought out her "masterpiece"—a plate of charred steak and a bowl of mushy pasta.
The two looked at each other, then burst into laughter.
"I think we should order takeout," Esther spread her hands helplessly.
"No, I think this is the most delicious dinner in the world," Lu Chuan seriously cut a charcoal-like piece of beef. "Because you made it."
During dinner, Esther shared her experience in the entertainment industry with him.
"When facing the media, never show stage fright. They can smell your nervousness, just like sharks smell blood."
She picked at the pasta with her fork. "Keep smiling, but don't overdo it. Sincerity is more important than perfection."
Lu Chuan nodded, while also describing the tactical game on the football field to her.
"Football and acting are very similar; both require understanding the opponent's intentions." He arranged several seasoning bottles on the dining table.
"The striker is like the protagonist, needing to step up at critical moments. But the real art lies in letting the audience see a natural performance, not deliberate acting."
Lu Chuan used the salt shaker AS a defender, demonstrating famous runs to Esther, while Esther imitated an agent's exaggerated tone, making Lu Chuan laugh. The night deepened outside, and the mess on the dining table, along with their laughter, made the small apartment feel exceptionally warm.
Lu Chuan brought up the system panel in his mind.
[Host: Lu Chuan]
[Current LP Balance: 710]
[Activated Skills (Permanent): Full Field Vision, Big Heart]
[Core Talents: Guaranteed Long Shot (10%), Guaranteed Penalty Kick (30%)]
[Physical Attributes: Speed (significantly increased), Toughness (slightly increased), others steadily growing]
He didn't look at the pitiful LP balance again and directly closed the system. A loss was a loss, there was nothing more to say.
He walked to the schedule on the wall, his gaze falling on the name of the next opponent, his eyes like he was staring at prey.
He transformed all his unwillingness, anger, and disappointment into motivation to move forward. Every training session, every sprint, every shot, carried a desire for revenge.
The next day's training was particularly intense. Lu Chuan was like an enraged lion, unleashing his energy on the field.
His teammates could feel the strong fighting spirit emanating from him, and the intensity of the training was subtly elevated by several notches.
After training, Carlos handed Lu Chuan a newspaper.
"Your next opponent has something to say to you."
On the sports page of AS, Elche coach Pacheta was interviewed.
"Lu Chuan's fairy tale should end," Pacheta's words were written in a large quote box.
"In front of my team, any striker will feel suffocated. We will let Rayo Vallecano know what real defense is."
Lu Chuan finished reading the report, a cold smile playing on his lips.
He walked to the "12 Consecutive Kills" schedule on the wall and heavily circled "Elche" in red.
Taking out his phone, he sent a message to Esther: "Next game, come see me score."
The message was quickly replied to: "I'll be waiting for your performance in the vip box. Remember, use your goals to hit them hard."
In the night sky of Madrid, the stars were brilliant. Lu Chuan stood on the balcony, looking in the direction of Vallecas Stadium in the distance.
Tomorrow, a new battle would begin.