"Holy shit, good news! Our Chinese kid is warming up! He's about to come on, lads!"
"Really? I thought half-time just ended. Why's he warming up already?"
"You don't get it? Players who're coming on at the start of the second half usually don't have time to go to the dressing room, so they get ready during the 15-minute break!"
"Hahaha, awesome! Wonder if he'll perform. Brother at the ground, film some clips and post them on the thread after the match!"
"Yeah, film our guy. But if he plays terribly, maybe don't — I'd be embarrassed."
"Hahaha relax, it's the 3. Liga. The standard's about the same as the Chinese Super League. From what I saw, he should handle it fine."
"I think so too. 3. Liga's pretty average. 2. Bundesliga is a whole different level."
...
Back on Chinese football forums, hundreds of fans were hanging on every update about Su Bai.
Meanwhile, inside the Schalke dressing room, Daniel stormed in and kicked the tactics board over in a rage.
The players behind him shrank back like frightened quails, not daring to breathe.
"Where was the tactics?!
The movement?!
The running?!"
"Were you all asleep out there? Did you not understand a word I said?!"
"Wide switches, do you understand?
Quick passes, build-up from the back — connect the play!"
"Did I not say that?
How did you play?!"
"Halim! Were you brain dead out there? You're coming off."
Daniel roared like an angry lion.
Halim hated the decision, but he didn't dare argue.
He knew Daniel's stubborn, no-nonsense character — arguing now would only make things worse.
The 15-minute half-time break passed quickly.
Both teams walked back onto the pitch.
Daniel called Su Bai over to the touchline.
"Su, your job is to pass. I've already told Whit Benedict and the others — get the ball to them immediately.
And remember — don't hold onto it."
Su Bai nodded.
The fourth official held up the substitution board, and Su Bai stepped onto the pitch, taking his position in midfield.
"Hahaha he's on! He's on, lads!"
A young Chinese student in sunglasses in the stands typed excitedly on his phone, posting a new reply on the forum.
Wu Qiang was studying in Germany and had come early for the Bundesliga match between Schalke and Stuttgart. Bored, he'd wandered into the stadium to watch the 3. Liga game — never expecting to see a fellow countryman playing.
In that moment, he became the live text commentator for the match.
And the Chinese football forum turned into Su Bai's very first live broadcast platform.
But Su Bai had no idea so many people back in China were watching him.
All he could hear was his system.
As soon as he stepped onto the grass, a new mission popped up.
Ding!
System Mission: Perfect Debut
Mission Rank: D – SSS
Rewards based on performance quality.
Looking at his teammates, Su Bai wondered what kind of display would raise his mission rank.
Whistle!
The referee blew his whistle, and the second half of Schalke 04 vs. Rostock — the opening game of the 3. Liga season — was underway.
Rostock kicked off.
Striker Hahninger played the ball back to attacking midfielder Beinlich and sprinted straight for the Schalke box.
Beinlich didn't hesitate — he drove forward with the ball.
Facing Whit Benedict's press, he easily shifted the ball to his right and glided past him.
Next, he came up against Su Bai.
Su Bai charged at the tall, imposing Beinlich.
But his Defending stat was only a pitiful 58.
At that level, he might as well have been a lamp post.
One simple turn, and Beinlich sailed past Su Bai.
Luckily, Daniel had told defensive midfielder Lloyd Angelo to watch over Su Bai and help him defensively during the break.
Seeing Su Bai get skinned easily, Angelo slid in hard, taking Beinlich and the ball.
The referee blew for a foul but kept his card in his pocket.
On the touchline, Daniel looked worried.
He'd substituted Su Bai in a fit of anger.
Now, seeing Su Bai get beaten so easily, he began to panic.
What if…
What if he couldn't even pass the ball? Schalke's entire midfield would collapse.
"What's going on? Did they replace that idiot?"
"Who's this black-haired stickman? Japanese? Korean? When did we get this guy?"
"Look at him — he shouldn't even be playing football. He'll get blown over by a strong wind. No physicality at all!"
"Schalke's hit rock bottom. They'll sign anyone. He was just a statue out there!"
"Yeah, the last guy was useless, but at least he could take a tackle. This guy? No protection in midfield at all!"
"We're done for! The first team's garbage, and the U18s are just as bad!"
The home fans grumbled loudly.
They couldn't understand why Schalke kept signing Asian players. The first team had one last year who did nothing, and now they'd brought in another from Japan.
In German fans' eyes, football was a man's game — hard tackles, physical battles, real collisions.
A skinny Asian kid?
He must be a joke.
On the pitch, Rostock's free kick was punched away by the Schalke goalkeeper.
By pure chance, the ball dropped to Ben Kersey on the edge of the area.
Ben Kersey quickly turned, looking to launch a counter — but Rostock's right winger Bartels was already on him.
With no other choice, he slid the ball to Su Bai on the right of the center circle.
Su Bai moved to meet the pass.
And then he saw it — a golden passing line appeared in front of him.
Next to it was a number he'd never seen before: 100%.
He glanced up.
The line led straight to the Rostock goal.
Golden path. 100% success rate.
Su Bai didn't hesitate.
He didn't even take a touch.
He smashed the ball with the outside of his right foot.