Midfield virtuoso

Why is Raul here?

Whilst Old Jess had indeed made mention of a formal player contract, when the actual document was presented before Su Bai, he betrayed not even the faintest glimmer of surprise. The weekly remuneration stipulated therein was a meager 175 euros, a sum that could incontrovertibly be classified as the most paltry within the entire roster of the team. Given Su Bai's recent and unheralded arrival, however, such a contract was, in a certain sense, not entirely unexpected.

Daniel, who had accompanied Su Bai on this journey, seemed to take the matter in stride, displaying no outward sign of perturbation. It was Old Jess, on the other hand, who could not conceal a certain degree of embarrassment. After all, he had placed a rather significant call to the club's general manager, and yet, that wily old fox had seen fit to offer Su Bai a contract of the most ungenerous nature. In truth, this contract bore a striking resemblance to the apprenticeship contract that Daniel had previously alluded to, the sole distinction being the presence of a 500,000 euro penalty clause in Su Bai's contract, whereas the apprenticeship contract was devoid of such a stipulation.

"Su, this is but the initial step. Do not allow yourself to be dispirited. So long as you are able to secure playing time and perform in a manner that commands respect, Schalke will surely hasten to augment your weekly emolument. Is that not so, Daniel?" Old Jess concluded his exhortation and directed a sidelong glance at Daniel, who stood beside him.

"Er, yes, quite so! Su, you have no cause for concern," replied Daniel, somewhat absently. For him, who was in dire need of a proficient passing midfielder, the most pressing matter at present was to ensure Su Bai's continued presence within the Schalke fold.

Nevertheless, it seemed that Su Bai was, at this moment, entirely oblivious to the presence of the two gentlemen beside him. His attention had been abruptly and completely commandeered by the sudden announcement from the system.

"Dingdong!"

"Congratulations, Host! The task of procuring the first apprenticeship contract within seven days has been triumphantly accomplished!

Completion Grade: SSS!

System Reward: Golden Treasure Chest! (Random high-level rewards are triggered upon exceeding the task requirements!)"

At this juncture, Su Bai's heart was aflame with excitement, his pulse quickening to a feverish tempo. Were it not for the presence of these two individuals, he would surely have plunged headlong into the system to uncover the nature of the bountiful rewards that awaited him. This was a random high-level reward for exceeding the task requirements. A Golden Treasure Chest, no less! The mere mention of it conjured images of unimaginable riches and treasures.

"Er, Su? Do not be downcast, I beseech you," murmured Daniel, observing the young Chinese lad who seemed momentarily transfixed by the apparent blow. A flicker of concern passed across his countenance, for he had expended no small amount of effort in securing this promising talent, and it would be a veritable tragedy if he were to succumb to despondency.

"Oh, I am quite alright, sir. I am satisfied," replied Su Bai, snapping out of his reverie. Upon witnessing his belated reaction, Daniel exhaled a sigh of relief, the tension that had been coiled within his shoulders gradually dissipating.

Emerging from the administrative building, Old Jess took his leave. However, prior to his departure, he proffered his telephone number to Su Bai and enjoined him to train with unremitting diligence and to reach out to him should he encounter any difficulties. Watching the receding figure, Su Bai was touched by a pang of gratitude. This obstinate yet warm-hearted old German was, in truth, something of a benefactor to him. Were it not for his fortuitous appearance, Su Bai would likely have found himself en route to the airport, preparing to return home in a state of abject dejection.

"Come along, lad. To the training ground," said Daniel, regarding the figure of Su Bai before him. With a shrug and a smile, he urged him to proceed.

"Mr. Daniel, I have yet to secure lodgings. I suspect the dormitory at Dortmund will no longer offer me shelter this evening," replied Su Bai, his thoughts still preoccupied with the alluring image of the Golden Treasure Chest. As for training, it could surely wait.

"Haha, fret not. All will be arranged presently. It is also time for a meal. I shall dispatch someone to escort you to the dormitory," replied Daniel, with a reassuring smile. "Incidentally, there will be a physical test this afternoon. Your arrival has been rather precipitate, and we have yet to conduct the physical examination." Pointing in the direction of the cafeteria, Daniel then took his leave.

Watching Daniel's departure, Su Bai slung his bag over his shoulder and ambled towards the cafeteria. At this moment, the Schalke staff members who had just finalized the contract were engaged in a somewhat vexed discussion. This was the most rudimentary of formal contracts, one that Schalke had not proffered in nearly five years. The last recipient had been a young lad from Africa, who had departed in a state of ignominy after a stay of less than half a month.

"Should we publicize this on the official website?" queried one of the staff members, a note of uncertainty in his voice.

"Perhaps it would be best to refrain. A Chinese lad? There is scarcely a chance he will remain. Have you not heard that Hao Junmin is on the verge of being relegated to the reserve team?" replied another, with a dismissive shrug.

"How could that be? Coach Magath still holds him in high regard," interjected a third, a note of disbelief in his voice.

"Another Japanese lad has emerged, purportedly superior to Hao Junmin. Coach Magath is now somewhat at a loss," added the first, with a sigh.

"Oh. The Japanese are indeed more accomplished than the Chinese. Well, this lad will scarcely make a mark. Why waste our time?" concluded the second, with a final shake of his head.

With these words, the individuals placed Su Bai's contract in a drawer and promptly departed for the day.

Meanwhile, Su Bai had just meandered to the entrance of the cafeteria. Upon entering, he was momentarily arrested in his tracks, his eyes widening in surprise. Something seemed amiss. As he crossed the threshold, he espied a familiar figure with black hair seated near the entrance.

Why, it was none other than Third Brother! As the preeminent Chinese midfielder, Hao Junmin had continued to ply his trade until 2022. In his recollections, he had even ascended to the position of national team captain.

At this moment, Hao Junmin, who was in the midst of his repast, also detected the presence of an Asian countenance. Black hair, black eyes!

"Third Brother?" exclaimed Su Bai, unable to contain his excitement.

Upon hearing the familiar Chinese tongue, Hao Junmin sprang to his feet and hastened over.

"And you are...?" he inquired, a note of curiosity in his voice.

"Hello, Third Brother. I am Su Bai. I have just signed with Schalke!" replied Su Bai, beaming with pride.

Hao Junmin was visibly elated. This was a Bundesliga team, after all. The fact that this young lad had managed to secure a contract was cause for celebration. Nevertheless, he was somewhat perplexed, for he had never before heard the name Su Bai.

"From which club did you transfer?" he asked, his eyes narrowing inquisitively.

The sense of camaraderie that arises when encountering a fellow countryman in a foreign land had animated Hao Junmin. Having been with Schalke for half a season, although his playing opportunities had been scant, he had nonetheless managed to secure some playing time under the tutelage of Magath. This had afforded Chinese fans the opportunity to catch a glimpse of their compatriot on the television screen each week. It must be noted that, at this time, he was the sole Chinese player in the top five European leagues. The sudden appearance of a fellow countryman was, for Hao Junmin, a cause for jubilation.

"I was previously unattached to any club," replied Su Bai, somewhat sheepishly. He was, in fact, a free agent, having emerged from a rather unorthodox selection process. He had not received any formal training, having been plucked from obscurity by the football association.

"What? Then how...?" exclaimed Hao Junmin, his eyebrows shooting up in surprise. This revelation left him somewhat bemused. Unattached to any club? Could he be a Chinese descendant in Germany?

"I have just signed a formal contract, albeit with the U18 youth team," replied Su Bai, with a shrug.

Although somewhat disappointed, Hao Junmin was nonetheless encouraging. "The U18 youth team is no mean feat. They can surely achieve a top-ten finish in the 3. Liga. Keep up the good work!" he said, clapping Su Bai on the shoulder.

"By the way, what brings you here?" he asked, observing Su Bai's backpack.

"Mr. Daniel instructed me to come here for a meal. He pointed in this direction, and so I came," replied Su Bai, with a grin.

"Erm..." began Hao Junmin, a note of hesitation in his voice.

"However, this is the first-team cafeteria. The U18 cafeteria is downstairs, Xiaobai," he added, with a chuckle.

It was at this moment that Su Bai espied the individuals seated at Hao Junmin's table. There was Raul! The legendary Real Madrid star, the most illustrious number seven in the club's history! And Huntelaar! Over yonder was the German international Metzelder! Good heavens! These were bona fide football luminaries!