"Ten minutes of regulation time remaining, and Wolfsburg utilize their final substitution. Maximilian Arnold replaces David Qin."
"Dieter Hecking is clearly battening down the hatches, looking to preserve this slender one-goal lead until the final whistle."
"Mönchengladbach, however, refuse to go quietly into the night. Granit Xhaka is on the ball again, orchestrating another wave of attack, though he looks a bit leg-heavy now. Fatigue is undoubtedly setting in."
...
"Full time! It's all over!"
"Congratulations to Wolfsburg on securing the points in this Matchday 13 clash!"
"Looking back at the only goal of the game, it was David Qin's audacious piece of skill on the wing that unlocked the defense. De Bruyne was there to provide the link, sliding the ball to Ivica Olić, and the Croatian veteran did what he does best—turning a half-chance into a match-winner."
"The chemistry between the Wolfsburg front line is becoming telepathic. One has to wonder if their sights are no longer set on merely a Champions League spot, but on the Meisterschale itself!"
"Of course, it's far too early for that kind of talk. We've seen many teams start like a house on fire only to flicker out by the spring."
"Arsenal are the poster boys for that," noted the analyst. "There's a famous saying among fans: Arsenal are like an elephant in a tree. No one knows how it got up there, but everyone knows it's eventually going to fall down. The real test of a title charge comes in the final stretch. Let's see if the Wolves can maintain this momentum."
"I certainly hope so. And I hope David Qin keeps soaring—he's a pure joy to watch."
As the Sport1 commentator finished organizing his match notes, the results from another fixture flashed across the screen: Borussia Dortmund had fallen 0-2 to Eintracht Frankfurt.
He mused that Dortmund could effectively be ruled out of the title race this season. In a way, it was a relief; that was one less rival for Wolfsburg to worry about as they chased Bayern Munich. Unfortunately, Bayern had edged out Hertha Berlin 1-0 earlier that day, with Thomas Müller assisting Arjen Robben for the winner.
The gap remained unchanged.
Upon returning to Wolfsburg, David Qin was summoned to the Sporting Director's office.
"David, we spoke about this before," Klaus Allofs began, his tone uncharacteristically cautious. "We're hoping you can find some time to attend a few promotional events for Volkswagen, as well as some endorsement shoots specifically targeted for the Chinese market."
Back when David first joined the club, he was essentially a "mascot" signing. Had he remained in that role, Allofs wouldn't be treading so lightly; he would have simply handed him a schedule and told him to show up.
But things had changed. David Qin was now an indispensable cornerstone of the Wolfsburg resurgence.
"Of course. It's in the contract, isn't it?" David replied, skipping the pleasantries. "If the shoots are urgent, I have some free time over the next couple of days. But the production window has to be tight. I can't miss training."
"Understandable. And don't worry about the compensation; they won't be stingy."
In a sense, Allofs and David were on the same side of the table now. Their interests were aligned. As for the Volkswagen Group... ever since they witnessed the tidal wave of social media engagement triggered by David's recent trip to China for the national team, they knew they had to treat him as a VIP.
Any attempt to strongarm him—be it through low-ball offers or threats of being "frozen out"—would backfire spectacularly. The Chinese sporting world finally had a generational talent; anyone seen trying to clip his wings would face a PR nightmare of epic proportions.
"Rest assured, it's just a few stills and some green-screen work. Post-production will handle the rest." Allofs paused, testing the waters. "They've recently sponsored a major variety show back in your home country. They were wondering if you'd be interested in making a guest appearance—"
"Mr. Allofs," David interrupted, his expression turning cold. "I am a footballer, not an actor."
He knew exactly what VW and the showrunners were after. They wanted to harvest his "clout." But he wasn't selling. This was the most critical juncture of his nascent career. He wasn't about to abandon the pitch for a television set, even if the paycheck was enough to set him up for life.
If he wanted to make easy money, he could have found a dozen ways to do it in this era. But he was here to chase a childhood dream—to climb the peaks of world football and see the view from the summit. Everything else was secondary.
"Fair enough. I told them the same thing," Allofs said, visibly relieved. From a club perspective, he didn't want David going anywhere, but he couldn't have stopped him if the boy had been intent on chasing the limelight. After all, Wolfsburg was VW's flagship club.
Two days later, December arrived in Wolfsburg, bringing with it the first flurries of snow. Pedestrians scurried through the streets huddled in heavy parkas. Inside the Volkswagen headquarters, a massive photography studio had been transformed into a sleek set.
Fischer, the European Director for the VW Group, greeted David with a warm, firm handshake. "I've watched every one of your matches, David. You remind me of my favorite player from back in the day."
"Thank you, sir," David replied with a polite smile, his eyes drifting to the vehicle under the spotlights.
"The Lamando," Fischer introduced. "Or as we call it in China: Ling Du. It's our first premium wide-body coupe, scheduled for release early next year. It features a 1:1.28 height-to-width ratio and a distinctive, diving front-end design..."
"It's a sharp-looking car," David noted. From the perspective of his past life, the Lamando was just another sedan, but in 2014, the "wide-body coupe" segment was a fresh, untapped niche in the Chinese market.
"We're planning a massive launch event in Shanghai this January," Fischer continued. "We're inviting major media outlets, the cast of Keep Running, and various high-profile influencers."
Fischer cared about football, but he cared about sales data more. He wanted this launch to go viral.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Fischer, but in January... well, I'll be in Australia for the Asian Cup. I won't be able to attend the launch in person." David heard the subtext, but remained unmoved. He offered a compromise before Fischer could even dangle a carrot: "However, I can record a video message for the event."
Fischer looked at the teenager. David was only seventeen, yet he navigated these corporate waters with a cynical smoothness that left no room for negotiation.
"That... will have to do," Fischer sighed.
The shoot itself was straightforward. David stood before the car, striking a few specific poses. The final shot required him to look into the lens and deliver the tagline: "The Lamando Coupe: The Armor of Charm."
"Not a bad line," David remarked, satisfied.
Fischer, however, was frowning. Would a clean, minimalist ad like this really work? Most car commercials followed the "fast cars and beautiful women" formula. They had the car; where was the beauty? He had wanted to hire some high-end models to add some "glamour" to the shoot.
But the Chinese branch had vetoed that plan instantly, leaving zero room for debate. The reason was four words long: He is a minor.
Fischer had conceded, figuring he'd just wait a year to do a more "adult" campaign. But then, a sobering thought struck him.
A year from now, would David Qin still be at Wolfsburg?
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