"Wow!!!"
The entire Anfield Stadium rose to its feet in an instant. More than fifty thousand Liverpool supporters exploded into frenzied cheers, the roar surging upward as if it could tear the roof from the stadium and shake the very sky.
Yang Yang had only just landed on the turf. His first reaction was relief that he was not injured. If he had hurt himself attempting an overhead kick, it would hardly have been worth it. Fortunately, the thunderous eruption from the stands reached his ears a split second later, and a rush of ecstasy surged through his chest.
Did it go in?
Yang Yang lifted his head. He saw Bolton goalkeeper Jussi Jääskeläinen lying on the grass, much like he himself had moments earlier. Behind the goalkeeper, the ball rested in the net. That alone answered everything.
"Wow!!!"
Yang Yang roared and sprang up from the ground. Peter Crouch came charging from behind, arms outstretched, trying to grab him in celebration, but Yang Yang shook him off and broke free. He sprinted away at full speed, waving his arms wildly as he ran, laughter spilling out uncontrollably.
He raced all the way toward the front of the stand. He knew exactly where Su Ye was sitting.
Stopping beneath the terrace, he stood upright, his heart pounding violently. First, he extended his right hand and thumped his chest hard. Then he pressed his fingers to his lips and kissed them with force, before pointing up toward the woman he loved in the stands.
That single gesture ignited an even greater response.
The entire stadium erupted again.
"So handsome!"
"Yang Yang—this bicycle kick was beautiful, and even his celebration is beautiful!"
The on-site commentator let out an exaggerated cry, pushing the atmosphere to another level. Anfield was engulfed in deafening cheers and applause.
Yang Yang was quickly swallowed by teammates who caught up from behind. Peter Crouch wrapped him in a bear hug, half-jokingly complaining that Yang Yang had copied one of the proudest goals of his career. Gerrard and the others piled in as well, mock-grumbling that Yang Yang's celebration had stolen all the spotlight.
Eleven sweat-soaked men embraced on the touchline, celebrating the goal with unrestrained joy.
In the stands, more than fifty thousand Liverpool supporters screamed themselves hoarse. Amid the crowd, the girl in the black down jacket covered her face, her eyes shining with emotion and happiness.
"Incredible!"
"From the slow-motion replay, Pennant's delivery wasn't particularly good. You could even say it was a mistake."
"But Yang Yang reacted instantly in a moment of urgency and decisively chose what he believed was the best possible shot. That was the only option he could make in that situation."
"This is the instinct of a top scorer!"
"It was an extremely difficult shooting action, arguably even more difficult than Crouch's famous goal against Galatasaray—and even more spectacular."
"It really isn't easy, especially when you consider that Yang Yang's recent form hasn't been at its best. He's clearly been affected by the brutal Christmas schedule."
"For a player who is only twenty years old, and experiencing the Premier League for the first time, being asked to play four matches in ten days, including two games within three days, is an enormous test. A dip in form is completely understandable."
"But even when he isn't at his best, Yang Yang's efficiency remains remarkably high. He can still contribute to the team—with assists, with intelligent off-the-ball movement, and with his sharp goal-scoring instinct."
"We can even say that the goal we just saw is something only a striker like Yang Yang can produce. It requires not only outstanding awareness of goal, but also exceptional control of the body."
"This might be the most thrilling goal of the Premier League season so far!"
...
Just over a minute after coming on, Yang Yang had already produced such a stunning goal for Liverpool. It not only broke the deadlock on the pitch and dealt a heavy blow to Bolton's morale, but also dramatically lifted the confidence and fighting spirit of the Liverpool players and the Anfield crowd.
Barely two minutes later, Yang Yang went on the attack again down the left flank.
Receiving the ball near the touchline, he deliberately slowed his stride, drawing the first defender toward him. With a sharp drop of the shoulder, he nudged the ball inside with his right foot, forcing the defender to shift across. Before the second man could close him down, Yang Yang instantly flicked the ball back outside with his left, slipped cleanly between the two challenges, and burst forward.
In just two touches, he was free.
Relying on his pace, Yang Yang drove straight toward the byline, keeping the ball tight to his feet as Bolton's defenders scrambled to recover. As the goalkeeper edged toward the near post, Yang Yang glanced up and cut a low pass sharply across the face of goal.
The delivery was flat, precise, and perfectly weighted.
Unmarked at the far post, Dirk Kuyt arrived at the right moment and guided a low finish into the net from inside six metres, leaving no chance for any defender to intervene.
In the space of only a few minutes, Yang Yang had contributed one goal and one assist, completely overturning the rhythm of the match and firmly tilting it in Liverpool's favour. With a two-goal cushion secured, Liverpool slightly eased the tempo, circulating possession and controlling the flow of the game without dropping too deep.
The contest was finally put beyond doubt in the 83rd minute. On the right flank, Dirk Kuyt and Jermaine Pennant combined smoothly, exchanging a quick one-two to slip past their marker and create space near the edge of the area. Pennant carried the ball forward before whipping in a driven cross toward the centre.
The ball dropped perfectly around the penalty spot, where Steven Gerrard had timed his run to perfection. Without taking a touch, he struck the ball cleanly on the volley, sending it screaming into the top-left corner of the goal. The goalkeeper could only watch.
There was no saving it.
3–0.
Anfield was transformed into a sea of celebration. More than fifty thousand fans roared and cheered as Gerrard and his teammates celebrated on the touchline. This was Bolton Wanderers, a side sitting fourth in the league table. Beating such opponents at home by three clear goals was a powerful statement of Liverpool's current form.
Especially this season, with Yang Yang's arrival providing the team with a reliable and consistent scorer, Liverpool's overall attacking strength had been significantly enhanced. In December in particular, after the squad had been refined and settled, Liverpool had produced a series of emphatic victories, repeatedly winning by large margins.
...
"Yang Yang's arrival has completely changed Liverpool."
"This is not merely about scoring goals, but about the transformation of the team as a whole."
"From this match alone, it is not difficult to see that Liverpool actually held the advantage in the first half. They controlled territory and possession, yet failed to score. Whether it was Crouch or Kuyt, both clearly lacked the decisive finishing ability needed to convert that dominance into goals."
"But in the second half, Yang Yang came on."
"Everyone knows that he is not currently in his best physical condition, yet the moment he stepped onto the pitch, he changed the game. A spectacular overhead kick and a precise cross led directly to two goals."
"Two goals in three minutes, and Liverpool had effectively secured all three points."
"Yang Yang's activity immediately lifted Liverpool's overall performance. The subsequent interplay between Kuyt and Pennant on the right flank became far more dynamic, and Gerrard's volleyed finish was the perfect conclusion."
"But why did none of this appear in the first half?"
"The answer is actually very simple. Yang Yang's presence on the left flank drew defensive attention away from other areas. This significantly reduced the pressure on Gerrard in the centre, as well as on Kuyt and Pennant on the right, allowing them to play with greater freedom and initiative."
"Sometimes, victory can conceal many underlying details. But if we analyse the match carefully and objectively, it becomes clear that Liverpool with Yang Yang and Liverpool without Yang Yang are two entirely different teams."
"And Yang Yang's importance to this Liverpool side is no longer up for debate."
…
…
Liverpool thrashed Bolton 3–0 at home.
Yang Yang scored and assisted, delivering a stunning overhead kick.
The magical Yang Yang produced what many were already calling the goal of the season.
After Liverpool's emphatic victory over Bolton, the entire British media seemed to descend into a frenzy. To many, this performance felt like Yang Yang's direct response to Cristiano Ronaldo's run of three consecutive braces.
In this round, the Manchester United star failed to find the net. After scoring so heavily in the previous three matches, Ronaldo's brief silence was understandable.
What truly ignited the media, however, was Yang Yang's explosive display. The excitement surrounding his performance rivaled the festive atmosphere of the holiday period itself. In particular, his breathtaking overhead kick was widely praised and prematurely crowned as the best goal of the season.
Even the official website of the Premier League publicly acknowledged the strike, stating that it was unquestionably spectacular and already among the most exciting goals scored so far this season. Once again, Yang Yang had used his performance on the pitch to prove his quality beyond any doubt.
...
Manchester United traveled away to face Newcastle United. Cristiano Ronaldo was held in check, but Paul Scholes stepped forward as if reborn. After James Milner gave the Magpies the lead, Scholes scored twice in quick succession for Manchester United. Even so, the Red Devils were ultimately unable to take all three points from the away fixture.
Chelsea, meanwhile, were held to a goalless draw away at Aston Villa. José Mourinho's side controlled large portions of the match, but they simply could not find a breakthrough. Didier Drogba's form was noticeably below his usual standard, and Chelsea once again dropped points.
Arsenal hosted Charlton Athletic at home. The Gunners' start was far from convincing, and many observers even felt that Arsenal might struggle to beat Charlton. The turning point came in the 29th minute, when a red card reduced Charlton to ten men. From that moment on, the balance shifted completely. Thierry Henry opened the scoring, Robin van Persie struck twice, and Arsenal cruised to a 4–0 home victory.
After twenty-two rounds, the Premier League finally emerged from the brutal Christmas schedule, and the overall picture became much clearer. Manchester United remained top of the table with 51 points. Liverpool followed closely in second place with 48 points. Chelsea, after consecutive draws and further dropped points, slipped to third with 45 points. Arsenal and Bolton Wanderers both stood on 39 points, occupying fourth and fifth respectively.
Only after completing these twenty-two rounds did Yang Yang truly begin to understand why the Christmas schedule was so often described as a watershed in the Premier League title race. Chelsea had started to fall away.
From a purely numerical perspective, Chelsea's situation did not appear hopeless. With 45 points, they were only six points behind Manchester United. With sixteen league matches still to play, that gap amounted to just two games, especially considering that a direct confrontation between the two sides was still to come.
Yet the reality felt very different. Once the Christmas schedule had passed, almost everyone sensed that Chelsea's title hopes were fading. This run of draws had dealt a heavy blow to their morale and fighting spirit.
And it was not only Chelsea. Arsenal were effectively out of the title picture as well.
Sometimes, a league title race is driven by momentum. Once that momentum is lost, it rarely returns. This was precisely why the Christmas schedule mattered so much. It was not only about widening the points gap, but also about what lay ahead. The next four matches posed serious challenges for every team.
January would bring league fixtures alongside the League Cup and the FA Cup. February would then usher in the Champions League. How to balance these four fronts, and how to avoid ending the season empty-handed and embarrassed, was a severe test for all of the traditional top sides.
Arsenal, it seemed, were clearly leaning toward prioritizing cup competitions. Liverpool, however, might be forced into difficult compromises. The most important reason was simple: the squad depth was not strong enough, and reinforcements had not yet arrived during the winter transfer window. Fighting on three fronts while navigating knockout competitions might not be the most sensible path forward.
...
...
Once again, Su Ye was heading for Heathrow Airport, and Yang Yang could not hide his worry. He understood very clearly that once she returned home, she would have to face everything alone.
Recently, Su Ye had been pushed to her limit by news and feedback coming from China. Yang Yang's fame had helped her resolve many problems, but it had also brought new ones. From now on, she would have to learn how to deal with increasingly complex situations and communications, especially the relentless attention of the media.
But most importantly, from this moment onward, she would carry a label that could never be shaken.
Yang Yang's girlfriend.
That label brought her enormous popularity, both at home and abroad, but it also imposed countless invisible restrictions. No matter how well she performed in the future, many people would take it for granted, believing that her success was natural because she had someone like Yang Yang behind her. Yet if she made even the smallest mistake, she would be questioned even more harshly—accused of failing despite having access to such "good resources." That, to her, was the most dangerous trap.
Yang Yang understood why Su Ye had not publicly acknowledged their relationship earlier. She wanted to carve out her own path and prove that she was worthy of him. That mindset reminded him of himself in the past, when he had just started his career and hated being called "the second Ronaldo." He respected and admired Ronaldo Nazario, but he was not the second Ronaldo. He was Yang Yang—one of a kind.
Reality, however, was far more complicated than ideals. In the end, Su Ye could not completely avoid relying on Yang Yang's support. She had taken care of him during her time in the UK, but some things simply had to be faced and endured back home.
Yang Yang was still uneasy.
Su Ye saw the worry in his eyes, yet her resolve only grew stronger.
"I really like the label 'Yang Yang's girlfriend,'" Su Ye said softly, a sense of relief in her voice. "I'm willing to wear it for a lifetime."
"You don't need to worry about me. I'm not that weak," she continued calmly. "I can handle what's ahead. You've already given me the best of everything. From now on, just watch. I'll do my best to prove that I deserve you, and that I deserve this label."
She felt only gratitude for what Yang Yang had given her. She also knew very well the pressure public opinion would place on her next, but she believed it was fair. Yang Yang was her support, her pressure, and also her motivation. If she shrank back now and complained, even she herself would feel unworthy of him.
She loved him deeply, and precisely because of that, she had to make herself worthy of standing beside him. Wearing a label was not frightening. What was frightening was living forever in its shadow and accomplishing nothing.
"It's different now," Yang Yang said seriously, "but you have to tell me everything. Do you understand?"
As a man, the values he had grown up with taught him to protect her from harm, to give her the best, and to make her happy.
"You must always remember this," he added quietly. "I'm standing behind you. As long as you look back, you'll see me."
Su Ye's eyes reddened. She stepped forward and hugged him tightly, nodding as she complained in a slightly choked voice, "Don't say any more. If you keep talking, I really won't be able to leave."
"Go," Yang Yang said, holding her firmly before finally letting go.
Su Ye stepped out of his arms, then leaned in again and kissed him hard before pulling away.
Off to the side, Winston Bogarde watched the reluctant farewell with a mixture of envy and embarrassment. Being a third wheel at a moment like this was truly cruel. After checking the time and seeing that it was almost time, he coughed heavily to remind the couple.
"You two… that's enough," he said helplessly. "Have some mercy on single people."
Su Ye quickly steadied herself, left Yang Yang's arms, and reached for her luggage. Yang Yang, shameless as ever, looked at Bogarde with a grin.
"Jealous? Then go find yourself a girlfriend."
Bogarde nearly wanted to cry. That was his weak spot.
This time, he was returning to China with Su Ye because his work in Liverpool had come to an end. Before the winter period, Benítez had recruited a fitness coach from Spain named Francisco de Michele, who officially joined the club on January 1st.
Bogarde had always been working part-time, and he still needed to manage his own gym in Beijing. Once De Michele arrived, Bogarde immediately submitted his resignation to Benítez. Although the manager tried hard to persuade him to stay, his decision was already made.
Even so, during his time at Liverpool, Bogarde's abilities had been fully recognized. Whether in physical conditioning or rehabilitation therapy, he had proven himself highly competent. In the end, Liverpool chose to retain ties with him, giving him the title of consultant and keeping open channels of communication.
Before leaving, Bogarde worked closely with Pako Ayestarán and De Michele to formulate a training plan for Yang Yang for the coming months, with particular emphasis on his daily workload. This was especially important.
After all, the Premier League was very different from the Eredivisie. There was no winter break at all. Bogarde believed Yang Yang needed to reduce some of his additional training appropriately to avoid injury in the second half of the season.
From this point on, De Michele would take responsibility for closely monitoring Yang Yang's physical condition, along with that of several other key players in the squad.
…
…
Su Ye took a British Airways flight from London in the afternoon and arrived in Beijing right on time at noon local time.
As she and Winston Bogarde walked out of the arrivals hall with their luggage, they immediately spotted Wei Zheng and Shen Yuzhu waiting for them.
"Second Brother, Sister Yuzhu, why are you here?" Su Ye asked in surprise.
Wei Zheng smiled as he stepped forward and took the luggage from Su Ye's hands, while Shen Yuzhu naturally held Su Ye's arm, walking beside her with familiar warmth.
"Not Yang Yang, of course," Shen Yuzhu said with a smile. "He was worried about you, so he asked us to come pick you up."
As she spoke, Shen Yuzhu reminded Su Ye to make a call and report that she had arrived safely.
"It's still early morning in the UK right now. He probably hasn't slept yet. He called me earlier to ask whether you'd arrived. I'm guessing that if you don't call him back, he won't be able to sleep at all."
Su Ye felt a wave of emotion rise in her chest. She immediately took out her phone and found Yang Yang's number. Sure enough, he answered almost the instant the call connected.
Of course, Su Ye had no way of knowing that with the help of the super training ground, Yang Yang could fall asleep and wake up whenever he wanted. She simply assumed he had been waiting anxiously for her call. Her voice softened instinctively, filled with warmth and happiness as she spoke to him.
After the call ended, they all boarded the car and left the airport together.
"Su Ye, this is something Yang Yang asked me to pass on to you," Shen Yuzhu said, handing her a set of documents.
"What is this?" Su Ye asked, surprised.
Wei Zheng, who was driving, spoke up. "Didn't Yang Yang ask me to help him set up a company in China to handle his domestic affairs?"
"Yes," Su Ye nodded. She was aware of that.
"He called me a few days ago and said that he intends to sign you as well. From now on, this company will be the exclusive agency handling the business affairs of both of you. A dedicated team will be established to take care of everything for the two of you," Wei Zheng explained. Seeing Su Ye's startled expression in the rearview mirror, he added, "Didn't he tell you?"
"No," Su Ye shook her head.
"After you join, the company will have two shareholders," Wei Zheng continued.
Su Ye was momentarily stunned. She had not expected Yang Yang to have done so much for her behind the scenes. Whether it was providing services for Yang Yang himself or collaborating with him, everything involved top industry talent and leading corporate brands in China. And now he was sharing these resources with her.
What mattered most were the shares.
If she remembered correctly, Yang Yang's domestic business income in 2006 alone had exceeded one hundred million, not even counting his overseas earnings. Now he was offering her equity. It was less a business arrangement and more a gift.
"Yang Yang said that from now on, what's his is also yours," Shen Yuzhu added with a smile.
Including Yang Yang and his family, everyone was deeply satisfied with Su Ye. In their eyes, she was already regarded as Yang Yang's future wife.
Su Ye thought for a moment, closed the documents, and looked at Shen Yuzhu. "Sister Yuzhu, I'm willing to sign an agency contract for as long as needed—even for a lifetime—but I don't want the shares."
"Why?" Shen Yuzhu asked in surprise.
This represented tens of millions in annual income, and that was only the beginning. Based on Yang Yang's current momentum and his investments over the past few years, the future value could easily reach hundreds of millions.
Not only Shen Yuzhu, but even Wei Zheng felt a stir of emotion.
"There's no reason," Su Ye replied calmly. "Since his and mine are already the same, why do you need to transfer anything to me?"
Shen Yuzhu immediately understood. This girl had already made up her mind to walk the same road as her cousin.
Yang Yang was willing to give her shares without hesitation. Su Ye, in turn, chose not to take them, and even volunteered to sign a lifetime contract. That mutual sincerity was quietly moving.
"Alright, then we'll discuss it again later," Shen Yuzhu said, not pressing the matter.
Wei Zheng suddenly remembered something else. "Oh, right, Su Ye. Armani China contacted me earlier. They received confirmation from headquarters and have decided to sign you as the spokesperson for Armani women's wear in China. They want us to meet and discuss the details."
"What?" Su Ye was genuinely shocked.
That was Armani—a top luxury brand with worldwide influence, one that countless leading actresses in China competed fiercely for, often without success. And now it had come to her?
"They were very satisfied with your appearance on the red carpet in Zurich," Wei Zheng explained.
Su Ye could not help but suspect that Yang Yang's presence beside her had played a role as well. Regardless, once the Armani endorsement was signed, her status would change dramatically.
"In addition," Wei Zheng continued, "both film crews for The Warlords and Red Cliff have contacted me. They've confirmed that you will be playing Liansheng and Sun Shangxiang respectively. The Founding of a Republic has already begun shooting and hopes you can report to the set as soon as possible."
"And the The Forbidden Kingdom crew also informed me that you've entered the second round of auditions. On top of that, I've received invitations from several domestic productions, as well as one from a Hollywood film crew. You know how hot the Chinese market has been in recent years—Hollywood studios are very optimistic about it."
Su Ye listened, completely overwhelmed.
Wasn't everything changing far too fast?