Three days of intense training had earned Su Bai 3 free attribute points.
He didn't hesitate—he poured every single one into Ball Control.
Even at 68, his Ball Control was still pretty terrible.
But at the 3. Liga level, he could at least pull off basic movements cleanly now.
The two teams split up, and the intra-squad scrimmage began.
As the only member of the matchday squad in Team B, Su Bai automatically became their midfield playmaker.
The role wasn't easy, though.
The entire B-team attack ran through him.
Receiving passes, one-touch distribution, linking play…
Su Bai went from rusty to gradually clicking with his teammates.
With the La Croqueta skill card backing him up, he grew more and more comfortable in midfield.
"Hey—this kid's actually improving!"
Daniel watched Su Bai organize Team B's play smoothly and said in surprise.
Wycliffe stood beside him.
"Not surprising. He's the hardest worker on the team by a mile."
"And he's stuck to the diet I gave him perfectly. That disgusting chicken breast? It's basically his main meal now."
Wycliffe nodded approvingly at Su Bai's performance.
Talent was always nice.
A talented player who worked this hard? Even better.
"Looking at this, he's definitely ready to play."
Daniel said.
Wycliffe just smiled and didn't reply.
He knew his boss well.
Daniel had already made up his mind—he just wanted Wycliffe to say it first, like it was his idea.
Daniel shot Wycliffe a mock glare.
The 30-minute scrimmage ended quickly.
3–0—Team A won easily.
Team B had created several good chances, but their striker was useless. He blazed even the clear-cut through balls Su Bai played him over the bar.
Daniel could only sigh.
That was the reality of the U18 squad.
The starting eleven was good enough for the 2. Bundesliga, but the reserves were hopeless.
It couldn't be helped. If a backup had starting-level quality, he would've left for a bigger chance already.
No one still stuck in Team B waiting for an opportunity was actually talented.
After the scrimmage, Daniel set the lads to light recovery training and canceled the afternoon session.
Tomorrow was matchday, after all—no point tiring them out.
While everyone else rested, Su Bai had no plans to stop.
One more afternoon's training, and he'd earn another attribute point.
He wasn't in the mood to relax at all.
But at around four in the afternoon, his phone rang.
It was the middle of the night back in China, and he had no other friends in Germany. His phone had never rung before.
Su Bai walked to the sideline and picked up.
It was Hao Junmin?
The Bundesliga season also started tomorrow—why was Hao calling him now?
He answered in confusion.
"Xiao Bai?"
"Yeah, it's me, Brother Hao."
"Come over to my place for dinner tonight. My wife's cooking some home-style Chinese food. I'll wait for you outside the club."
Hao was in a hurry and hung up after a few words.
Su Bai felt a warm glow in his chest.
Hao was struggling for minutes in the first team himself, but he still looked out for Su Bai like a fellow countryman in this foreign land.
Checking the time, Su Bai packed his gear and headed back to the dorm.
He was soaked in sweat—he couldn't show up at someone's house like that.
After a shower and a quick tidy-up, he hurried out.
Luckily, Schalke's complex was in the city center. Su Bai found a supermarket right away and bought some fruit.
By the time he reached the club entrance, Hao Junmin was already waiting with his bag.
"Xiao Bai! Why did you buy stuff?"
Hao hurried over and took one of the bags from him.
"Hehe, Brother Hao, it's my first time at your place—I couldn't come empty-handed."
"Fruit's expensive in Germany. You haven't got your first wage yet, right? Don't waste your money. We've only got two people at home; we can't eat all this. I'll take some back to your dorm."
Hao turned to head back into the club.
"Brother Hao, you're treating me like a stranger. We don't show up empty-handed to someone's home—that's our rule in China."
Hao smiled helplessly at Su Bai's stubbornness.
"Alright, let's go."
Hao led Su Bai to his car—a Volkswagen Passat, nothing fancy.
It was a common family car in Germany.
Hao laughed bitterly as he noticed Su Bai looking it over.
"It's second-hand. I didn't dare buy anything nice when I moved here. You know how our fans are—they'll tear you apart for the smallest thing."
Su Bai smiled and nodded. He remembered Dong Fangzhuo being criticized for nearly a decade after buying a luxury car early in his spell at Manchester United.
Hao had always kept a low profile, which made him one of the few Chinese players fans rarely bashed.
He wasn't the most talented, but no one had a bad word to say about him.
Soon they pulled up outside Hao's apartment building.
"13th floor. These are modern apartments.
Rent's a bit steep, but it's safe—mostly middle-class and professional Germans live here.
It's quiet too. If you want, I can hook you up with a place. I'll cover the deposit if you're short on cash."
Hao thought Su Bai might not want to stay in the U18 dorm.
"No thanks, Brother Hao. My wage barely covers food as it is. I'll wait until I'm playing regularly."
"That's the spirit—young and hungry."
The two chatted and laughed as they went inside Hao's apartment.
It was a two-story duplex, spotlessly clean.
Li Qian was waiting by the door as soon as they walked in.
"Aiya, you didn't have to bring anything! Come in, come in!"
Li Qian was in her twenties—not flashy, but with a gentle, classic Eastern look.
She took the fruit from Su Bai, poured him a glass of water, and headed to the kitchen.
Su Bai and Hao sat down on the sofa.
"Xiao Bai, just take it slow at first. You've only been at Schalke a few days. I didn't get my first minutes until a month after I arrived.
The U18s are one of the better teams in the 3. Liga. If they weren't a reserve side blocked from promotion, they'd be in the 2. Bundesliga by now.
Just keep training hard. Raúl saw your passes the other day and couldn't stop praising them. He's even been telling the first-team lads I've got a little brother with insane passing."
Hao rambled on, noticing Su Bai seemed a little nervous.
"Uh…
Brother Hao, I actually made the 18-man matchday squad."
The moment Su Bai spoke, Hao spat out his tea all over the table.
"What?!"