101: Chapter 101 Goodison's Horror! A Torn Ligament Leads to a Tearful Farewell to Blue Fox, and a Reunion in the London Rain.

December 19, 2015, Merseyside, Goodison Park.

It had been only 72 hours since the soul-stirring 3-0 victory at Stamford Bridge that directly led to the sacking of the "Special One," Mourinho.

The Premier League's brutal "Christmas schedule" crushed every team without mercy, and even the red-hot leaders, Leicester City, had to face the dual challenge of physical exhaustion and form.

This time, their opponent was the "Toffees," Everton.

A traditional powerhouse with a tough style, direct football, and formidable home Strength.

The narrow pitch and fanatical atmosphere of Goodison Park had always been a nightmare for visiting teams.

Lineups:

Everton (4-2-3-1): Joel Robles / Leighton Baines, Phil Jagielka (C), John Stones, Seamus Coleman / Gareth Barry, Tom Cleverley / Kevin Mirallas, Ross Barkley, Gerard Deulofeu / Romelu Lukaku.

Leicester City (4-4-2): Kasper Schmeichel / Christian Fuchs, Robert Huth, Wes Morgan (C), Danny Simpson / Yu Bai, Danny Drinkwater, NGolo Kanté, Riyad Mahrez / Shinji Okazaki, Jamie Vardy.

Fatigue was written on the faces of many Leicester City players. But Yu Bai's eyes remained bright, even carrying a hint of impatience.

The 10 "Free Definition Points" gained at Stamford Bridge were all added to Stamina (78 → 88). He was eager to continue his hot streak, earn more playing time, and continue to rack up victories and stats.

However, he soon discovered that today's opponent had a completely different "welcome ceremony" for him.

As soon as the match began, Everton clearly and nakedly displayed their tactical core: Intensity! Physicality! Especially targeting Yu Bai!

This wasn't just "special attention," but nearly a "encirclement" and "lumberjack-style" defense.

In the 3rd minute, as Yu Bai ran to the left flank to receive the ball while off the ball, right-back Seamus Coleman unceremoniously and covertly used his knee to nudge the back of Yu Bai's thigh from the side-rear, while cursing: "Don't think you can move easily, kid!"

Yu Bai staggered and glared back at Coleman, who shrugged innocently as if to say, "Just normal contact."

In the 7th minute, when Yu Bai tried to take the ball in the middle for the first time, Gareth Barry expertly held his position, using his Strength to push him outward, while Tom Cleverley assisted from the side; the two of them almost "framed" Yu Bai out of the possession area.

In the 12th minute, an even more exaggerated scene occurred.

Yu Bai was cutting through on the right flank off the ball, trying to receive a Passing from Mahrez.

Left-back Leighton Baines—known for his attacking, but equally fierce in defense—actually covered from the other side to the middle. The moment Yu Bai was about to touch the ball, he executed a decisive, sliding tackle along the ground, taking both ball and player down!

"Whistle!" The whistle blew, a foul. But Baines' action was clean; he hit the ball first, and referee Michael Oliver only gave a verbal warning.

Yu Bai fell heavily onto the pitch, his chest feeling stifled.

He gritted his teeth and climbed up, feeling that the pitch at Goodison Park was exceptionally hard today, and the opponents' legs were equally merciless.

[Damn! Everton is trying to kill someone!]

[Baines' tackle was too vicious! It was completely aimed at the person!]

[Young Master is going to be targeted to death today...]

In the 20th minute, Yu Bai tried to break through on the left again. Facing Coleman, he had just made a feint when center-back John Stones moved quickly to form a block with Coleman.

Yu Bai barely poked the ball out, but he himself was solidly knocked to the ground by the two.

In the first 30 minutes of the first half, Yu Bai barely got a single comfortable opportunity to take the ball; his Shooting count was 0!

He seemed to have fallen into a quagmire made of muscles, studs, and vicious glares. Every touch was accompanied by intense physical contact and petty tricks.

Everton's strategy was simple and effective: use continuous, high-intensity physical contact that walked the line of fouls to disrupt Yu Bai's rhythm, drain his Stamina, enrage his emotions, and prevent him from utilizing his technical advantages.

Yu Bai suppressed a surge of anger in his chest, but forced himself to stay calm.

He knew that at times like this, he needed to be patient and wait for an opportunity.

However, misfortune often strikes at the most unexpected moments, in the most cruel ways.

In the 29th minute, Leicester City intercepted the ball in the backfield. Kante sent another precise Passing, finding Yu Bai who had dropped back slightly to receive on the left flank.

This was one of the few opportunities in the first half where Yu Bai could take the ball in a relatively loose environment.

Yu Bai stood with his back to the sideline, controlled the ball with his chest, turned, and faced Coleman, who was waiting in formation.

"Again!" Yu Bai's eyes narrowed; he decided to open up the situation in his most proficient way.

He lowered his center of gravity, gently flicked the ball inward with his right foot, and initiated his signature cut-in!

Coleman moved laterally to block the cut-in route quickly. At the same time, center-back John Stones also tacitly leaned to this side, and the two prepared to form a "block" again.

Everything seemed to happen in a flash.

Yu Bai's first step of the cut-in was fast; he had already dodged half a body length, and the ball was well under control.

He looked up, his peripheral vision already catching a gap at the edge of the penalty area, even seeing Vardy's run...

However!

Just as Yu Bai concentrated all his Strength on his left foot for support, his right foot was about to complete the flick and change direction, and his body's center of gravity was completely tilted—the most fragile and unchangeable moment—a hand, from the blind spot of Yu Bai's vision, from his left rear, suddenly and fiercely pushed his left shoulder!

It was Tom Cleverley! He had tracked back behind Yu Bai at some point, and at the moment Yu Bai was about to complete the breakthrough, he made this extremely covert and extremely lethal push!

"Ugh!"

Yu Bai had not expected this push from behind!

His perfect cut-in rhythm and body balance were instantly broken!

He uncontrollably staggered forward and to the right (the direction where Coleman and John Stones were about to "block")!

Coleman saw Yu Bai suddenly lose control and crash into him, subconsciously tensing his body to meet the impact!

John Stones also adjusted his steps to block!

Bang!

Yu Bai's left shoulder and chest hit Coleman's raised arm and side solidly! The impact caused his body to twist unnaturally again!

And in that second impact, as his body completely lost balance and was about to fall—Yu Bai's right foot, while landing to find support, squarely, at a nearly vertical angle, stepped onto the outer instep of John Stones' left foot, who was moving to block!

"Crack—!"

A faint but hair-raising, branch-snapping sound came from Yu Bai's right ankle! The sound wasn't loud, but in Yu Bai's own ears, it sounded like a thunderclap!

Immediately after—

"Bang!"

Tom Cleverley couldn't stop his momentum, and "rear-ended" him again, slamming into Yu Bai's back as he had already lost his center of gravity and was in excruciating pain in his right foot!

Yu Bai was like a bowling pin hit by a chain reaction, completely losing all support, his whole body crashing heavily onto the hard pitch of Goodison Park in an extremely twisted and painful posture!

He even rolled half a turn on the pitch due to inertia before curling up and stopping.

Time seemed to freeze at this moment.

The first second: Excruciating pain! An explosive, sharp, piercing pain as if countless steel needles were stabbing into his right ankle simultaneously, coursing through his whole body like high-voltage current!

Yu Bai's eyes went dark, his mouth opened unconsciously, but he couldn't make a sound due to the extreme pain, only emitting short, broken "Hoo... Hoo..." sounds from his throat.

The second second: Numbness and burning.

After the extreme pain, there was a sudden, complete numbness and coldness in his right leg from the ankle to the calf, as if that leg no longer belonged to him.

But immediately after, a more intense, burning, continuous swelling and tearing sensation like a branding iron spread and throbbed crazily at the ankle!

The third second: Visual shock.

Yu Bai barely lifted his head to look at his right foot.

He saw the outer side of his ankle tilted inward at a visibly unnatural, terrifying angle, swelling up, and the blood under the skin spreading into a purple-blue patch at an alarming speed! He could almost feel an ominous, empty "looseness" in the ligaments and joint capsule of his ankle.

"Ah——!!!" Only then, that delayed, shrill scream that didn't sound human finally tore through Yu Bai's throat, resounding throughout the suddenly silent Goodison Park stadium!

He held his twisted right ankle tightly with both hands, his body curled into a boiled shrimp, veins bulging on his forehead and neck, cold sweat soaking his jersey and hair like a waterfall instantly!

Tears, due to the physically uncontrollable extreme pain, surged out of control, mixing with sweat, and flowed recklessly over his face covered in grass clippings.

It was too painful!

And it was a kind of bone-deep, fearful pain with a premonition of destruction!

[Damn!!!]

[It's over... I know it's over just by the angle! The ligament must be seriously damaged!]

[Tom Cleverley, I...! That push was too dirty!]

[Xiao Bai... is crying... My heart is broken!]

The whole stadium was deathly silent.

All players gathered around; the Leicester City players had looks of horror and anger, and most Everton players also had grave expressions.

Coleman and John Stones stood aside, somewhat at a loss; they hadn't expected to cause such serious consequences.

Tom Cleverley's face went pale, and he didn't dare to step forward.

The team doctor rushed onto the field with a medical bag at a sprint!

Claudio Ranieri was pale, standing anxiously on the sidelines, gripping the roof of the dugout tightly.

After a brief check, the team doctor's expression turned extremely ugly instantly. He didn't even dare to move Yu Bai's foot easily, just quickly used spray for pain relief, then used bandages and splints for emergency fixation.

"Lateral ankle joint, possibly... ligament tear, severe angle." The team doctor whispered to the stretcher-bearer next to him, his voice trembling.

Yu Bai vaguely heard the words "ligament tear," and his already cold heart sank into a bottomless abyss instantly.

Fear, like a cold tide, drowned out all his pain instantly.

Football players are all afraid of such unpredictable, unknown-consequence injuries!

This wasn't just pain, but a threat to his career, a ruthless cutting off of all possibilities for hard work and dreams!

He lay on the stretcher, was carried off the field, tears streaming down his face, his eyes filled with pain, fear, unwillingness, and confusion about the future. He didn't even dare to look at his right foot again.

In desperation, Claudio Ranieri could only replace Yu Bai with Marc Albrighton.

When the substitution board lit up, scattered applause rang out at Goodison Park, then the applause grew, and many Everton fans also stood up to offer encouragement to this unfortunately injured talented opponent.

But to Yu Bai, this applause sounded distant and blurred, leaving only endless desolation.

The camera followed Yu Bai, who was being carried off the field, capturing every trace of pain and tear on his face.

That scene, filled with brokenness, tugged at the hearts of countless fans around the world.

[Crying... really cried!]

[Damn injuries! Get out of the football field!]

[Don't cry, Xiao Bai, you must get better!]

London, Tottenham training ground.

Mauricio Pochettino was watching this match in his office. When he saw Yu Bai twist and fall in that terrifying angle, screaming and tearing, he jumped up from his chair and slammed his fist on the table, making the coffee cup on the table jump.

"Fk! Fk! Fk!" Mauricio Pochettino's face was livid, roaring at the TV screen, "These Everton butchers! They destroyed a genius!"

He repeatedly watched the moment Yu Bai was injured, especially that covert push by Tom Cleverley, his eyes becoming colder and colder. As a former professional player, he knew too well the danger of that action in that situation.

Immediately after, a deeper sense of anxiety and decisiveness surged into his heart.

Yu Bai's injury definitely didn't look light.

The loan contract was set to expire during the winter transfer window, and Tottenham had already decided to trigger the mandatory recall clause.

If Yu Bai was seriously injured and required a long recovery...

Mauricio Pochettino immediately picked up the phone and dialed the number of the club's sporting director, his tone resolute:

"Listen, about Yu Bai."

"His injury is likely severe; he needs the best medical care and rehabilitation."

"I demand that the club immediately communicate with Leicester City to have Yu Bai end his loan early and return to London immediately to receive checks and treatment from our medical team!"

"I firmly believe that we possess the top sports medicine and rehabilitation team in the entire Premier League, and even all of Europe! We must be responsible for his career!"

"Furthermore," Mauricio Pochettino paused, his voice low and firm, "he was meant to return once the winter window opened anyway. Instead of letting him recover at Leicester City, it is better for him to come back early, integrate into our environment, and prepare for the second half of the season."

...

The match at Goodison Park continued.

Leicester City, having lost Yu Bai, displayed astonishing resilience and team spirit.

In the 35th minute, Jamie Vardy broke the deadlock, and in the second half, Riyad Mahrez and Marc Albrighton each scored a goal. Although Everton clawed back two goals through Lukaku and Deulofeu, ultimately, Leicester City won this goal fest 3-2 away from home, continuing to lead the league table.

However, the joy of victory was completely dampened by the dark cloud of Yu Bai's serious injury.

In the locker room, the atmosphere was heavy. All his teammates were worried about Yu Bai's injury.

After the match, Yu Bai was rushed to a local hospital for an MRI scan.

The results came out quickly, just as the worst expectations had predicted:

Diagnosis: Grade 3 initial lateral ankle ligament tear.

Primary injury: Anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) nearly completely ruptured, calcaneofibular ligament (CFL) partially damaged.

Treatment recommendation: Requires immobilization with a cast or specialized brace for 4-6 weeks, followed by systematic rehabilitation training. The total recovery and return-to-play time is estimated to be 6-8 weeks, or even longer, depending on the progress of rehabilitation and individual physical condition.

6-8 weeks!

This meant that Yu Bai would definitely miss the Christmas-New Year "devil" schedule and might even be absent until February of next year!

For a 17-year-old who had just played in peak form, was about to return to a giant club, and was in the midst of a rise, this was undoubtedly a heavy blow.

As the news broke, social media exploded instantly.

"Pray for Yu Bai! He must be okay!"

"Seeing Xiao Bai crying, my heart broke! Damn injuries!"

"That pushing action by Cleverley should be given an additional suspension!"

"Leicester City has lost its sharpest blade... the title race is in jeopardy."

"Tottenham, hurry up and take Xiao Bai back to treat him properly! Use the best medical facilities!"

"Don't cry, Xiao Bai, we will wait for you to come back! No matter how long it takes, we will wait!"

"Grade 3 tear... and it's nearly a complete rupture... too serious!"

"I hope it doesn't affect his speed and explosiveness!"

...

After urgent negotiations between Tottenham and Leicester City, and with the consent of Yu Bai himself and the Jonathan Barnett team, Leicester City agreed to Tottenham's request to have Yu Bai end his loan early and return to London for treatment and rehabilitation.

The farewell came faster and more abruptly than anyone had anticipated.

Leicester City training ground, parking lot.

There was no grand ceremony, only a few of his closest teammates came to see him off.

Yu Bai sat in a wheelchair, his right foot in a thick cast, leaning on crutches. His complexion was still somewhat pale, but his eyes were much calmer than when he had been injured.

Wes Morgan patted his shoulder firmly, his voice somewhat raspy: "Kid, heal up well. If White Hart Lane isn't any fun, come back anytime; there's always a place for you here!"

Jamie Vardy grinned: "Get well soon, I'm still waiting for you to feed me the ball!"

Riyad Mahrez hugged him: "Yu, you will become one of the greatest players, I firmly believe it. Come back soon."

Danny Drinkwater's eyes were red: "Damn it, we said we'd do something big together..."

NGolo Kanté, who had been standing silently at the back of the crowd, slowly stepped forward.

This small Frenchman, who was usually simple, shy, and rarely showed his emotions, looked at Yu Bai, who was sitting in the wheelchair and about to leave. His lips trembled, and his eye sockets turned red at a speed visible to the naked eye, pooling with tears.

He suddenly lowered his head, seemingly wanting to hide it, but large, heavy tears still fell uncontrollably and silently, hitting the concrete ground of the training base and soaking into a small dark patch.

He didn't say anything like "take care" or "goodbye," he just stepped forward, bent down, and gave Yu Bai in the wheelchair a solid, powerful hug—holding him very tight, very firmly, as if trying to convey all his encouragement and reluctance to let go in this way.

Yu Bai felt the slight trembling of NGolo Kanté's body and the dampness on his shoulder; his nose stung, and he almost couldn't hold back either.

He hugged his best partner and most silent protector back firmly, and in his ear, in a voice only the two of them could hear, he said clearly and firmly, word by word:

"NGolo."

"We will meet again."

"For sure."

"On a bigger stage."

NGolo Kanté nodded firmly, released the hug, turned around, wiped his eyes fiercely with the back of his hand, and without looking at Yu Bai anymore, walked straight towards the training field.

His back looked somewhat lonely, yet even straighter.

Yu Bai looked at his teammates, at this familiar training base, and at the blurred outline of the King Power Stadium in the distance. He took a deep breath, suppressing his surging emotions, and showed everyone a smile that, despite being pale, was trying to be bright, and waved his hand:

"Brothers, take care!"

"Thank you!"

Then, he was pushed into the car by the staff, the door closed, and he drove away from the city where he had fought for half a year and left behind countless legends and memories.

...

London, evening, drizzling rain.

The helicopter arranged by Tottenham landed on the private helipad.

Yu Bai, accompanied by club staff and medical personnel, completed the initial check-up and handover.

Tottenham's sincerity was beyond doubt; from arranging a private plane to bring him back, to contacting top sports injury experts in London in advance, everything showed how much they valued him.

With all formalities completed, Yu Bai, leaning on crutches and supported by staff, slowly made his way out of the medical center building.

He looked at the gloomy London sky and the familiar streetscape, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

He had returned, but in such an unexpected, bedraggled way.

Just then, a familiar, bright beam of headlights pierced through the rain curtain and shone precisely a short distance in front of him.

Yu Bai squinted his eyes and looked in the direction of the light.

He saw a pitch-black Maybach S600 with elegant, flowing lines, like a silent and loyal black knight, parked quietly by the roadside in the rain.

The car window rolled down, revealing a beautiful face he had been longing for—one that now carried undisguised heartache and a flush.

Wen Wan.

She was sitting in the driver's seat, without an umbrella, and hadn't gotten out of the car. She just looked at him quietly through the misty rain and the car window, her eyes filled with extreme complexity—there was the joy of reunion after a long separation, the heart-wrenching pain of seeing him injured and in a wheelchair, the grievance of being suddenly "banished" and then suddenly "recalled," and the silence of having a thousand words but not knowing where to begin.

Yu Bai's heart felt as if it had been gently struck by something.

He signaled to the staff, then, leaning on his crutches, he moved step by step, slowly, towards the Maybach.

The rain soaked his hair and jacket, but he was completely unaware.

Wen Wan pushed open the car door, picked up the umbrella she had prepared, and walked over quickly, holding most of the umbrella over his head, leaving half of her own body exposed to the rain.

She didn't speak, just carefully and with all her might supported Yu Bai's arm and waist, helping him move with difficulty to the passenger side door. Then she opened the door, helped him sit inside, and carefully arranged his right foot, which was in a cast.

Throughout the entire process, the two did not exchange a word. There was only the pitter-patter of raindrops hitting the car roof and the sound of each other's slightly rapid breathing.

Wen Wan closed the door, walked around to the driver's seat, sat down, rolled up the window, and turned on the heater.

The car was instantly enveloped in warmth and a faint, sweet fragrance unique to her.

This familiar scent made Yu Bai's tense nerves relax inexplicably for a moment.

The car slowly merged into the night traffic of London.

The windshield wipers swayed rhythmically, clearing away sheets of blurred water.

The car cabin was silent, with only soothing jazz music playing softly in the background.

Yu Bai leaned back against the comfortable headrest, watching the Passing London nightscape outside the window, soaked by rain and looking bizarrely colorful, and then looked at Wen Wan beside him, who was focused on driving, her profile appearing exceptionally soft under the dim light of the dashboard.

A long time passed—long enough that the car had already turned onto the familiar road back to the villa.

Yu Bai suddenly spoke. His voice was still a bit raspy from his injury and emotions, but it was clear, calm, and carried an unprecedented sense of gravity and determination:

"Tottenham..."

"Told me that because I performed well these past six months, they are going to give me a raise when I go back."

"The raise... is quite significant."

Wen Wan's hand on the steering wheel tightened almost imperceptibly, but she didn't respond, just pressed her lips together and continued to look at the road ahead.

Yu Bai paused, turned his head, his gaze landing on Wen Wan's profile, and continued in that calm yet firm tone:

"So..."

"Don't leave."

"It has... nothing to do with my parents."

"It has... nothing to do with your cousin either."

"It is I, Yu Bai," he enunciated his name clearly, word by word, "who wants to hire you."

He watched Wen Wan's back instantly stiffen and her shoulders begin to tremble slightly. He softened his tone, but his gaze remained locked on her:

"Are you... willing?"

"Willing?"

These three words, like a stone thrown into a still lake, stirred up massive waves in the already turbulent lake of Wen Wan's heart.

The tears she had been holding back, swirling in her eyes, burst out like a dam breaking the moment she heard those words, uncontrollable and surging! Large, hot teardrops slid silently down her fair cheeks, dripping onto the back of her hand gripping the steering wheel, and onto the tip of her heart, which was already filled with all kinds of emotions.

She didn't wipe away the tears, and didn't even turn her head to look at Yu Bai.

She kept staring fixedly at the road ahead, letting the tears blur her vision, only gripping the steering wheel even tighter until her knuckles turned white, as if that were the only support she could hold onto at this moment.

But her slightly trembling shoulders and the low, irrepressible sobs betrayed the earth-shattering emotion and surging love in her heart at this moment.

Willing?

Fool!

You fool!

Does that even need to be asked?!

Let alone just "hiring"... even if it were "marrying," even if it meant walking through fire and water, she would nod heavily without the slightest hesitation!

But at this moment, she was too choked up to say anything; she could only respond to his late, clumsy, yet sufficient-to-shatter-all-her-defenses question—"Are you willing?"—with her pouring tears and trembling body.

Yu Bai watched her silent weeping profile in the light of the rainy night, looking at her eyelashes wet with tears and her slightly reddened nose tip. The corner of his heart, which had been frozen due to injury and separation, seemed to be quietly melted by a warm current.

He didn't speak again, just slowly reached out his hand, somewhat clumsily and gently, and covered her hand that was gripping the steering wheel tightly and trembling slightly.

The warmth from his palm and that slight tremor allowed two hearts that had been drifting in the rainy night for so long to finally find a harbor where they could temporarily dock.

The car, amidst London's night rain and neon lights, drove steadily towards the direction they had once both called "home."

The rain was still falling.

But the warmth inside the car, and something lost-and-found, something even more firm, was quietly growing.