LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 95: 95
All the tall players on the field were vying for the first touch on the ball. Rusty's positioning wasn't ideal, but he still jumped with all his strength and managed to get a slight touch on it first.
However, his header lacked power, and instead of clearing it far, the ball deflected to the front of the small penalty area.
No. 10 Quinlan seized the opportunity, taking a sharp-angle shot!
Goalkeeper Tyrant lunged sideways, stretching out his hand in an attempt to save—
The ball hit the inside of the left goalpost, bouncing in a sharp zigzag before drilling into the net!
GOAL!
The score was now: Wild Boar Jazz 1:1 Bucks Steel Horns!
Just as the first half was about to end, after several relentless attacks, the Wild Boar Jazz finally equalized through a corner kick!
The students of Tonbridge Middle School erupted in wild celebration!
Fireworks exploded on the sidelines!
The beautiful cheerleaders once again tore open their tight white shirts, revealing stylish sports bras underneath!
The Wild Boar Jazz players swarmed around Quinlan and Belward, celebrating ecstatically!
One of their players deliberately ran over to Rusty, executing an exaggerated noble-style bow before sneering, "Thank you, you big, dumb fish-seller. This goal should count as your assist, hahahaha!"
"F*ck!" Rusty was about to explode in rage, completely ignoring the cheerleaders' dramatic display!
His eyes burned with fury, and his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles cracked. He was about to throw a punch!
Captain Bread rushed over and grabbed Rusty's hand. "Calm down! Rusty! Don't fall for it! If you throw a punch now, you're definitely getting carded!"
Rusty was the team's starting center-back. If he got sent off, the Bucks Steel Horns would be at a huge disadvantage!
Rusty knew this too, but... being publicly humiliated like this was unbearable!
Just then, Gu Ran stepped forward, blocking Rusty while pushing his body into the opposing player who had provoked him. "You guys still needed our player to assist your goal, and you have the nerve to act cocky? You call yourselves a second-tier powerhouse, a strong contender for the national top four? We've tied you 1:1 in the first half, and you still have the guts to celebrate? Come on, kneel down and bow to me again, and maybe—just maybe—I'll consider gifting you another assist in the second half!"
"You—you—you—!"
The player's face flushed red, but his trash-talking skills were no match for Gu Ran's!
He was on the verge of losing it! Gu Ran didn't even use profanity, yet every single word hit him like a punch to the gut!
Damn it! A top-tier second-division team struggling to a 1:1 draw in the first half—and only managing to score thanks to a defensive blunder? That was downright embarrassing...
Ding~
A blue skill bubble appeared at the player's feet.
Gu Ran glanced at it indifferently. It was a non-football-related skill. Trash. Ignored.
Gu Ran then barked at the player, "Still not leaving? Waiting for a second round of my insults for free?"
The rest of the Bucks Steel Horns players joined in, shouting and taunting.
The moment that was supposed to be the Wild Boar Jazz's goal celebration had turned into a public humiliation session, courtesy of Gu Ran!
"Just wait and see!" The provoker turned tail and hurried back into position.
Having successfully trashed-talked his opponent into submission, Gu Ran turned to Rusty. "Your clearance wasn't that bad."
Sure, Rusty's clearance had led to the goal, but honestly, he hadn't done anything wrong—it was just bad luck.
That's football.
Unpredictable things happen all the time.
What matters is how you handle your mindset after the unexpected happens.
If conceding a single goal and losing a lead was enough to break your mentality, then you weren't cut out for competitive sports.
With 12 years of football IQ ahead of the others, Gu Ran had a far more mature mindset than anyone else on the field.
Rusty's eyes grew misty. He clenched his fists tightly and pounded his chest. "Gu... you're a real brother!"
Gu Ran rolled his eyes. "...Idiot. By the way, in case you didn't notice—the Wild Boar Jazz cheerleaders just ripped their shirts."
"Where?! Where?!!" Rusty's head darted around frantically. "Holy sh*t—!"
With that, Rusty's mindset, which had been thrown off by the provocation, was completely restored.
The game continued.
There were 4 minutes of stoppage time in the first half.
The intensity on the field didn't drop due to the time—it only increased.
Especially for Rusty—his fighting spirit had been reignited.
After several rapid counterattacks, the referee looked at his watch and blew the whistle—halftime.
The score remained 1:1.
The Wild Boar Jazz players looked utterly frustrated.
This was not what they had planned. In their strategy, they were supposed to be leading this "bottom-tier" team by at least three goals by halftime!
Their head coach ruffled his hair furiously, stomping back toward the locker room.
The Wild Boar Jazz players slumped off the field, too ashamed to even acknowledge the cheering Tonbridge students.
Meanwhile, the Bucks Steel Horns weren't discouraged at all by being tied at halftime—this was their expected game plan.
More importantly—they had fought like equals!
They had proven that they were no pushovers.
The Bucks Steel Horns walked off the field with their heads held high, despite the deafening boos from the Tonbridge students.
Suddenly, plastic drink bottles flew toward them—at least five or six of them aimed directly at Gu Ran.
These arrogant noble kids simply couldn't accept that their two best players had been completely humiliated by a Chinese player!
Not acceptable?
I don't give a damn.
Sooner or later, you'll have to accept it.
Sooner or later, you'll be on your knees calling me daddy!
As the bottles came flying, Gu Ran casually dodged four with effortless head tilts.
The last one?
Smack. He caught it with one hand.
Gu Ran stood at the entrance of the players' tunnel. He turned back, staring down the entire Tonbridge student section. He slowly twisted open the bottle cap...
The stadium erupted into furious boos!
Just when everyone thought he was about to take a sip, Gu Ran poured the water onto the soles of his Messi-edition cleats.
That's right.
I want you all to understand—your so-called "noble blood" is only worthy of washing my f*cking shoes!
After cleansing his soles, Gu Ran hurled the half-empty bottle directly onto the Wild Boar Jazz team emblem at the tunnel entrance!
The Tonbridge students completely lost their minds.
Gu Ran smirked, turned his back to them, and walked into the tunnel like a king.
From the stands, Maria trembled slightly at the sheer dominance radiating from Gu Ran's back.
Realizing her purpose, Maria quickly rushed after him.
She almost forgot—she came to help Gu Ran recover during halftime.
Gu Ran entered the visitors' locker room, greeted with high-fives and cheers from his teammates.
This moment had completely cemented his status in the team.
Coach Carter walked over, handing him an electrolyte drink. "Gu! That was incredible! How's your stamina?"
Gu Ran took the drink. "I'm good, Coach."
Carter nodded. "Great. In the second half, I'm going to have the team create more wing opportunities for you. If you see a chance, push forward—don't worry about the defense."
"Got it, Coach." Gu Ran took two small sips, swirled another in his mouth, and spat it out—proper hydration technique to avoid cramping.
Just then, Maria rushed in, panting. Carter immediately waved her over. "Gu, go with Maria for treatment—we need you sprinting in the second half."
"Yes, Coach!"
Gu Ran followed Maria into the therapy room.
"Lie down," Maria said, kneeling to find the massage oil.
As she bent over, her skirt stretched dangerously.
Gu Ran's mind suddenly recalled a famous psychological theory—"If a woman unconsciously presents her backside to you, she has a subconscious attraction to you."
Maria turned and caught Gu Ran staring. She smirked. "Like what you see?"
Gu Ran panicked. "No—wait—I mean, yes—no! I mean, I saw nothing!"
Maria chuckled. "Relax, tough guy. Let's get started."
As Maria's skilled hands worked, Gu Ran's legs grew hotter—almost like they were on fire.
"Maria... thank you."
Maria, exhausted and breathless, gazed up at him. "I just... want to see you win."
Gu Ran's heart surged with determination.
"Then I'll win. For you."
"Hey, Gu! Second half—let's go!"
(End of Chapter.)
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