134: Chapter 134 This Red Is Not That Red

Germany, Berlin.

Late March in Berlin, the cold wind was still biting, but the sky was clear as crystal.

The trees along the Spree River had begun to sprout tender buds, adding a touch of vitality to this city that had weathered so much history.

Yu Bai stood before the floor-to-ceiling window of his hotel suite, looking out at this city that carried both heavy history and modern vitality, feeling a subtle mix of emotions.

Tomorrow, in this city's Olympic Stadium, he would don the red jersey of the England National Football Team and make his national team debut.

His phone vibrated twice.

The first message was from his mother, Shen Muwan: "I've arrived at the hotel lobby. Is your dad here? It's best I don't run into him. Bad luck."

The second message was from his father, Yu Yun: "I've arrived. Has your mom arrived yet? If she has, I'll go walk around nearby to avoid seeing her cold face and ruining my mood."

Yu Bai looked at the two messages, his temples throbbing.

He took a deep breath. He first replied to his mother: "Mom, I'll wait for you at the lobby café. Just the two of us, let's have lunch first." Then he sent one to his father: "Dad, go rest in my room first. The key card is at the front desk, just give them my name. I'll have dinner with you tonight."

After arranging everything, he changed his jacket and walked out of the room.

Some things couldn't be forced. All he could do was try to keep them from staying in the same space for too long.

In the hotel lobby café, Shen Muwan was already waiting. She wore a sharply tailored camel coat, her hair pinned up, her makeup exquisite. She sat by the window, holding a cup of black tea with an elegant posture and a powerful aura. The surrounding guests couldn't help but glance at her.

"Mom." Yu Bai walked over and sat opposite her.

Shen Muwan put down her teacup, her gaze landing on her son, her eyes instantly softening: "You've lost weight. Has the schedule been too packed lately? Is the diet the English arranged for you adequate? Do you want Mom to send you some wolfberry and ginseng slices from home?"

"Mom, I'm doing fine. The nutritionist has everything planned." Yu Bai smiled and shook his head, beckoning the waiter to order two light meals.

The mother and son ate and chatted, the atmosphere relaxed and warm. Shen Muwan didn't mention Yu Yun, and Yu Bai tactfully didn't bring him up either. The meal was quiet and comfortable.

After the meal, Yu Bai took a neatly folded red jersey out of the paper bag he was carrying.

The vibrant red, under the soft lights of the restaurant, looked like a burning flame. The back of the jersey had clear lettering and a number:

YU

7

"Mom, this is for you."

Yu Bai handed the jersey to his mother, "Tomorrow, wear it to watch my game."

Shen Muwan was stunned.

She reached out, her fingertips gently brushing over the "7" on the jersey, her eyes slightly reddening.

She looked up at Yu Bai, her eyes filled with heartache and complex emotions.

She remembered many years ago, that small figure chasing a ball on the pitch.

Back then, she was raising her child alone in a foreign land, watching him tumble in the mud.

Back then, the little guy's dream was to one day wear the jersey with the five-star red flag and fight for his country.

But now, what he handed her was a red England National Football Team jersey.

Shen Muwan was silent for a long time. In the end, she said nothing, only carefully folding the red number 7 jersey and putting it into her bag. Her movements were very light, as if it weren't a jersey, but a priceless treasure.

"Mom will wear it." She only said that one sentence, her voice a bit hoarse.

Yu Bai looked at his mother, a lump forming in his throat. He knew what she was thinking, but he couldn't explain. He could only keep that secret buried deep in his heart hidden.

"Mom, there's one more thing I want to tell you."

Yu Bai weighed his words, "Tomorrow... my dad will be there too. He'll be in another stand. You... don't need to meet. I know the relationship between you two, I won't force you to make up, but tomorrow is a big day for me, I hope..."

"Don't worry." Shen Muwan interrupted him, her tone calm, unreadable, "Mom won't cause trouble at your game. He can walk his path, and I'll walk mine. As long as he doesn't appear in front of me, I'll pretend he doesn't exist."

Yu Bai sighed in relief and nodded: "Thank you, Mom."

In the evening, Yu Bai had dinner with his father, Yu Yun, at another restaurant near the hotel.

Yu Yun still looked as casual as ever, asking about the team situation, giving a few instructions like "don't get hurt" and "play freely," without mentioning Shen Muwan. Just before leaving, he patted Yu Bai's shoulder: "Xiao Bai, son, play well tomorrow."

When Yu Bai handed the red number 7 jersey he had prepared to his father, Yu Yun took it, glanced at it, was silent for a few seconds, then folded it casually and stuffed it into his inner jacket pocket.

"Alright, I'll wear it tomorrow." He didn't say much more and turned to leave.

Yu Bai stood at the restaurant entrance, watching his father's back disappear around the street corner, recalling his mother's silent gaze earlier, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

He returned to the hotel room, took a hot shower, put on loose pajamas, and lay down on the soft bed. He picked up his phone and saw a missed call from Dilraba.

He checked the time; it should be daytime back home, so he called back.

The call was answered quickly, and Dilraba's crisp, pleasant voice came through with a hint of surprise: "Hello? Yu Bai? Are you done?"

"Yeah, just got back to the hotel."

Yu Bai smiled, "I saw you called, is something up?"

"Can't I call you if there's nothing?"

Dilraba retorted playfully, then her tone became serious, "I just wanted to tell you, good luck with your game tomorrow! I'll be watching on TV!"

Yu Bai felt a warmth in his heart: "Thank you."

"Also," Dilraba's voice became lively again, "When you come back during the next off-season, I must take you to try our most authentic Xinjiang Dapanji and lamb skewers! I guarantee they're a hundred times better than those Western meals you eat!"

Yu Bai couldn't help but laugh: "Alright, it's a deal."

"It's a deal! No bailing!" Dilraba's tone carried a girl's unique playfulness and anticipation.

They chatted a bit more and, after wishing each other well, hung up.

Yu Bai looked at the call-ended screen on his phone, a smile still lingering on his lips.

Ever since they added each other during the commercial shoot in London, he and Dilraba had kept in touch.

They talked about everything, from food to movies, music to travel, and occasionally football.

Dilraba had an open and generous personality, and she was fun to talk to; chatting with her always made Yu Bai feel relaxed and happy.

Yu Bai wasn't stupid; he could feel that Dilraba seemed to have a bit of affection for him that went beyond that of a normal friend. And he himself... was not opposed to this beautiful, confident, and slightly mischievous girl.

Yu Bai put down his phone, turned off the light, and closed his eyes.

Tomorrow, another tough battle awaited him.

The next morning, an update from the German Transfermarkt website hit the global football world like a depth charge!

The official site released the latest player market value ranking.

First place was still Barcelona's Messi, valued at 120 million Euros, firmly holding the top spot.

Second place was Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo, valued at 110 million Euros, following closely behind.

And in third place, there was a name that made everyone turn their heads—

Yu Bai, Tottenham Hotspur / England, Value: 100 million Euros!

The Transfermarkt official note: Although Brazilian star Neymar's value was also 100 million Euros, after comprehensive evaluation and algorithmic calculation, Yu Bai ranked third by a very slim margin. This meant that Yu Bai, at only 17 years and 9 months old, had officially surpassed Neymar on the Transfermarkt value list, occupying the third spot alone, second only to the two peerless stars, Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo!

A stone stirred up a thousand waves!

Social media exploded instantly!

"Holy sh*t! 100 million Euros! Young Master's value broke 100 million!"

"17 years old! 100 million! What kind of concept is this?!"

"Surpassing Neymar! Approaching Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo! My God!"

"Is Transfermarkt serious? Although Xiao Bai is indeed strong, isn't 100 million a bit exaggerated?"

"What's exaggerated? Look at his performance this season: Premier League Player of the Month three times in a row, Europa League 'Five goals in nine minutes record', leading the team to eliminate Borussia Dortmund, and now selected for the England National Football Team! Which 17-year-old player can do that?!"

"Traffic + strength + potential, 100 million is even conservative! If Tottenham were willing to sell now, wouldn't Real Madrid and Barcelona fight over him?"

"Haters keep being salty! My Young Master is worth this price!"

Amidst the amazement and heated discussion, some also raised doubts and concerns: "The higher the value, the greater the pressure. Tomorrow's national team debut, if he doesn't perform well, this value might become a target."

But regardless, this update from Transfermarkt undoubtedly pushed Yu Bai to the forefront of public opinion and made the upcoming Germany vs England friendly match even more eye-catching.

Berlin Olympic Stadium, home locker room.

The Germany team players were making final preparations. The atmosphere was relatively relaxed; after all, this was just a friendly, and although the opponent was England, the pressure was far less than a major tournament.

Mats Hummels was taping his shin guards. The fear of being dominated by Yu Bai in the previous Europa League match was still fresh in his memory; his task today was still arduous.

Just then, the locker room door was pushed open, and a figure walked in—it was Marco Reus, who had just finished the pre-match warm-up, sweat still on his face.

Reus looked around the locker room, his gaze landing on Antonio Rüdiger, who was silently stretching in the corner.

Rüdiger was a center-back by trade, but today, due to Joshua Kimmich's injury, the head coach Löw chose to have him play right-back, and his main defensive target was likely that England number 7 who had been on fire recently—Yu Bai.

Reus curled his lips into a mischievous smile, cleared his throat, and said in a voice loud enough for everyone to hear: "Hey, guys! How about we play a guessing game?"

Everyone's eyes in the locker room turned to him.

Reus pointed at Rüdiger, who was stretching, and said with a smile: "Guess, can Tony successfully defend that 'Director' Yu Bai today? Bets are welcome! I'm the bookie!"

The locker room was quiet for a second, then erupted into laughter and cheering.

"I bet he can't! Fifty Euros!" Thomas Müller was the first to raise his hand, fearing no chaos.

"I also bet he can't! One hundred Euros!" Toni Kroos chimed in with a laugh.

"I bet... Tony can last half a match without being dribbled past five times! Twenty Euros!" Mario Götze also joined the bet.

Rüdiger, being teased by everyone, stopped stretching, turned his head, and looked at this group of "bad friends" helplessly, especially the instigator, Reus: "Hey! Marco! Are you still my teammate? Can you be this much of a jerk?"

Reus spread his hands, looking innocent: "I'm just raising a constructive question to make everyone look forward to the match more."

Hummels, who had finished taping his shin guards, looked up and added a quiet, stinging comment: "Tony, take some advice from your brother. If you really can't defend him, just foul him. Don't push yourself too hard, it's easy to get psychological trauma. That kid... is wicked."

Rüdiger: "..."

He felt that his prospects for playing right-back today were bleak.

Berlin Olympic Stadium, stands.

There was still some time before the match started, but the stands were already full of fans. The white of the England fans and the white of the Germany fans were intertwined, forming a sea of white, but clearly distinct.

In an inconspicuous seat further back, a figure wearing a black baseball cap and a mask sat quietly. The brim was pulled very low, covering most of her face, revealing only a pair of bright eyes.

It was Wen Wan.

She had come alone, without telling Yu Bai, having bought a plane ticket and booked a hotel, quietly arriving in Berlin.

She didn't know why she wanted to come; perhaps she just felt that this match was of extraordinary significance to Yu Bai, and she didn't want to miss it, even if it was just watching him from afar in the stands.

And in another area of the stands, a figure who was also not so conspicuous, but actually quite recognizable, also appeared unexpectedly.

NGolo Kanté.

The Frenchman had withdrawn from the current French national team squad due to muscle fatigue and hadn't returned to Leicester to recuperate, but had appeared in the stands of the Berlin Olympic Stadium. He was wearing a plain grey hoodie and a baseball cap, looking like an ordinary fan.

But when the camera swept over him, the on-site director keenly captured him and gave him a big close-up.

"Oh? Is that... Kanté? Leicester's Kanté?"

The commentator said in surprise, "Didn't he withdraw from the French team due to injury? Why would he appear in Berlin? Could he be here to cheer for Yu Bai?"

The director's camera immediately cut to the entrance of the player tunnel.

There, the England National Football Team players had lined up, ready to walk out. Walking at the very front of the team was captain Wayne Rooney. And not far behind Rooney, a figure wearing a vibrant red number 7 jersey with a tall, straight posture was particularly eye-catching.

Yu Bai.

He didn't know which special spectators were watching him from the stands.

He didn't know Wen Wan was there, nor did he know Kanté was there.

He only knew that his parents would likely appear in different corners of this stadium today, wearing the red number 7 jersey he gave them, separated by the entire stadium, never meeting.

That was enough.

He took a deep breath, his gaze passing through the player tunnel, looking towards the brightly lit green field.

Berlin Olympic Stadium...

I'm here to blow the roof off!