95: Chapter 95 Football is more than just winning and losing: an embrace, a legacy, and Yu Bai will surely be there again!

Through the joint efforts of Yu Bai and the entire team, Leicester City withstood the final offensive onslaught from Manchester City in the first half.

Both sides were locked in a fierce, gritty battle in midfield, with attacks and defenses transitioning at a dizzying pace, yet neither could create any absolute scoring opportunities.

"Beep — Beep — Beep —!!!"

The halftime whistle finally sounded amidst the smoke of battle and the sound of heavy breathing.

1:1.

A spectacular, intense first half filled with world-class goals and tough physical confrontations.

Players from both sides began walking toward the tunnel, wearing expressions of satisfaction, frustration, or exhaustion.

The roar from the stands quieted slightly as fans rushed to take care of personal matters.

Just then — an accident occurred!

A small figure in a blue jersey, agile as a young deer, suddenly vaulted over the bottom railing of the East Stand at the Etihad Stadium, not stopping for a moment as they charged straight toward the Leicester City players walking along the sidelines!

"Hey! Stop!"

"A fan has stormed the pitch!"

The stadium security personnel reacted, immediately blowing their whistles and closing in from several directions!

The figure was small but running very fast, with a clear target — it was none other than Yu Bai, who was wearing number 52 and walking slightly behind the rest of the team!

Yu Bai heard the commotion, stopped in his tracks, and turned around in confusion.

He saw a little boy, who looked to be only eight or nine years old with black hair and yellow skin, having already charged to within a dozen meters of him. The boy's face was a mixture of excitement, nervousness, and determination, his eyes fixed solely on Yu Bai.

Behind him, two tall security guards were rapidly closing in.

It looked like he was about to be caught!

Something stirred in Yu Bai's heart. Without any hesitation, he turned around, ran a few steps toward the boy, and waved his hand forcefully at the pursuing security guards, shouting loudly in English:

"Stop! It's OK! He's with me!"

His voice was clear, carrying an unquestionable, gentle strength.

The two security guards were taken aback; they slowed their pace and stopped a few meters away, watching vigilantly but not advancing further.

The little boy seized the opportunity and dove into Yu Bai's arms, wrapping his hands tightly around Yu Bai's waist. He buried his small face into Yu Bai's jersey, his shoulders trembling slightly from excitement and running.

Yu Bai smiled. He bent down, gently put his arm around the boy's shoulders, and led him toward the area where the cameras were most concentrated on the sidelines.

Facing the nearest camera, as well as the reporters and fans who were raising their phones and cameras all around, he flashed a warm and brilliant smile.

Then, he lowered his head, looked at the little boy in his arms, and asked softly in Chinese: "Little one, what is your name?"

The little boy looked up, his eyes sparkling, sweat still clinging to his face. He spoke in Chinese with a distinct British accent, but fluently enough, saying excitedly and loudly:

"Brother Yu Bai! My name is Chen Xi! Xi as in the morning sunlight! I... I am your fan! I su—per like you!"

"I'm in Manchester now, playing for the Manchester United U10 youth team! I play as a striker!"

Manchester United U10 youth team!

At the home of Manchester City, a young Chinese player from the Manchester United youth academy had rushed onto the pitch to embrace Yu Bai of Leicester City!

This scene was full of wonderful drama and warmth.

The smile on Yu Bai's face deepened. He affectionately ruffled the boy's sweat-dampened hair, just like an older brother treating his own mischievous yet adorable younger brother.

"Chen Xi, that's a great name."

Yu Bai's voice was gentle and encouraging: "You must work hard in the Manchester United youth academy, train seriously, and listen to your coach."

"Remember," he looked into the boy's eyes, speaking seriously, word by word, "play football well."

"Yes!"

The little boy nodded vigorously, his face full of determination. Suddenly remembering something, he quickly added: "Brother Yu Bai, can I take a picture with you?"

"Of course."

Yu Bai nodded with a smile, put his arm around the boy's shoulders, and they both faced the nearest camera.

Yu Bai flashed his signature, clean, and handsome smile toward the lens, while the little boy huddled closely against Yu Bai, his face filled with an expression of immense happiness and pride, as if his dream had come true.

"Click! Click! Click!"

Countless lenses captured this heartwarming and highly shareable moment.

After the photo was taken, Yu Bai gently patted the boy on the back and nodded to the security personnel nearby.

A security guard walked over, gently but firmly taking the boy's hand, ready to lead him away.

The little boy was led a few steps away, but he couldn't help turning back, waving vigorously at Yu Bai and shouting with all his might:

"Brother Yu Bai! Good luck! I will always support you!"

Yu Bai also smiled and waved back at him until the boy's figure disappeared into the tunnel entrance.

He turned around, preparing to continue walking back to the locker room. But in the instant he turned, the smile on his face faded slightly, and a flash of extremely complex, indescribable emotion passed through the depths of his eyes.

That little boy named Chen Xi just now, those sparkling eyes filled with admiration and dreams, that courage to rush down regardless of the consequences, and what he said about being in the "Manchester United U10 youth academy"...

For a moment.

Yu Bai seemed to peer through the mists of time and see himself as a child from many years ago, in the drizzle at the London Colney Training Centre—that same small figure with yellow skin and black hair, feeling a bit timid in the face of a group of tall white children, yet gritting his teeth and getting back up every time he fell.

Did he have an idol back then like the "current Yu Bai"—someone radiant, capable of lighting up the path ahead, and telling him that "yellow-skinned people can do it, Chinese people can do it, too"?

It seemed not.

In the European football scene of that time, Asian faces were an absolute minority, and successful ones were even rarer.

He persisted more by relying on a stubborn refusal to admit defeat and a vague dream buried deep in his heart that he didn't even dare to speak aloud.

If...

If he had also had a compatriot idol back then like the "current Yu Bai"—someone dominating the Premier League, in the spotlight of the masses, and winning everyone's respect through their performance...

Would he have felt more confident?

Would he have believed sooner and more firmly that the road, which seemed so unreachable and filled with thorns, could truly be walked?

Believing that Chinese people could truly become shining stars in world football?

Yu Bai exhaled softly, pressing this sudden surge of emotion back into the depths of his heart.

He lifted his head, his gaze becoming firm and clear once again, and walked with steady steps toward the player tunnel.

He didn't know what the future held for the little boy named Chen Xi.

But he hoped that his performance today, and that warm embrace and encouragement just now, could be like a small seed planted in the child's heart.

Allowing him to have a little more confidence and courage when encountering difficulties and doubts in the youth academy in a foreign land.

Perhaps this was the power of an idol, and the meaning of legacy.

"Tearing up... This scene is so heartwarming!"

"The spark of Chinese football is being passed down in a foreign land!"

"That look in Xiao Bai's eyes at the end... He must have been reminded of himself, right?"

"Little one, keep it up! Looking forward to seeing you and Brother Xiao Bai compete on the same pitch in the future!"

"Yu Bai's significance no longer lies in whether he achieves results for the Chinese National Football Team, but in telling the kids: Go for it, there will come a day when you become Yu Bai!"

Halftime ended, score 1:1.

A world-class goal, a pitch invasion, an embrace, a legacy.

Football is more than just winning or losing.