The afternoon sun at Vallecas Stadium pierced through the clouds, bathing the ground in light, as the shouts of twenty-eight thousand fans echoed through the sky.
This was Lu Chuan's first home League match after his break with the Football Association, and the entire stadium was buzzing for him.
The "Bukaneros" fan group in the South Stand was already prepared, and a giant TIFO banner slowly unfurled.
On the banner, Lu Chuan was depicted wearing a red and white striped jersey, his right hand clenched into a fist, his gaze as resolute as steel.
Next to the banner, a striking line of Spanish glittered: "Tu Lucha es Nuestra Lucha" (Your fight is our fight)!
"Oh my God, these fans are crazy!" Trejo stretched his neck to look out from the player tunnel, his eyes filled with shock.
Álvaro García patted Lu Chuan's shoulder: "Kid, did you see that? All of Madrid is cheering for you."
Lu Chuan took a deep breath; the fresh scent of the stadium grass, mixed with the fans' enthusiasm, filled his lungs, dispelling the gloom of recent days.
Suárez leaned over, lowering his voice to joke: "Lu, you're our cash cow now, don't get injured."
"Get lost, I'm not a porcelain doll." Lu Chuan rolled his eyes, but his mood was unusually relaxed.
Amidst his teammates' banter, they walked out of the player tunnel. A deafening roar of cheers instantly enveloped them, and Lu Chuan felt an unprecedented sense of belonging.
The Real Oviedo players walked solemnly on the opposite side; they were clearly shocked by the home atmosphere.
Head coach Ziganda constantly gestured to his players on the sidelines, his intention clear—defend, defend to the death.
The whistle blew to start the match, and Oviedo immediately set up a solid 5-4-1 formation.
Five defenders stuck close to the penalty area line, four midfielders spread across the midfield, leaving only one forward to roam up front.
"This is going to be turtle football." Trejo looked at the opposing formation, shaking his head with a wry smile.
As soon as Lu Chuan got the ball, center-backs Alejandro Arribas and Carlos Hernández clung to him like two magnets.
They converged from both sides, giving him no space to turn.
"Careful, Chinaman." Arribas whispered in his ear, his tone provocative.
Lu Chuan didn't respond, merely giving him a cold glance. This kind of low-level psychological warfare had no effect on him.
The first half of the match was unusually dull. Oviedo's goalkeeper Andriy Lunin performed heroically; the Ukrainian talent on loan from Real Madrid repeatedly thwarted Rayo Vallecano's attacks.
In the 23rd minute, Trejo took a long shot from outside the box, the ball flying straight towards the top-left corner of the goal. Lunin made a diving save, tipping the ball over the crossbar with one hand.
"Damn it!" Trejo clutched his head, stomping his foot in frustration.
A few minutes later, Álvaro García broke through on the left wing, creating a one-on-one opportunity. Facing the rushing Lunin, his shot was blocked by the opponent's leg.
"Is this goalkeeper a monster?" Álvaro slumped on the grass, his face full of disbelief.
Under the opponent's tight marking, Lu Chuan found it difficult to get a shot on goal. He began to adjust his strategy, playing more passes for his teammates and using his ability to draw defenders to create space for breakthroughs on the wings.
In the vip box, Esther nervously gripped the railing, her blue eyes fixed on the number 9 figure on the field. Her friend beside her, another Spanish actress Sofía, curiously observed her.
"Esther, when did you become a football fan?" Sofía held a glass of champagne, her eyes sparkling with gossip, "And a fan of a segunda división team?"
Esther's fingers unconsciously twirled her ring, her gaze never leaving the field: "I just... developed an interest in football."
"Just in football?" Sofía leaned closer, lowering her voice, "Or in a certain player?"
Esther's cheeks flushed slightly, but she still didn't answer. All her attention was on the struggling figure on the field.
"Oh my God, you're really in love!" Sofía covered her mouth, her eyes wide with surprise, "Esther Eperost is actually head over heels for a football player?"
"Don't talk nonsense." Esther gently stopped her, but the tenderness in her tone betrayed her feelings.
Sofía blinked: "I get it, a secret romance. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone."
During halftime, Paco Jémez paced the locker room. He didn't yell, he didn't accuse, he simply looked calmly at each player.
"They want 0-0, they want to take a point." Paco's voice was low and powerful, "But we can't let them have their way. This is our home ground, and our fans are waiting for a goal."
Lu Chuan sat in the corner, resting with his eyes closed. He could feel his teammates' anxiety and unease, but he felt unusually calm inside.
"Lu, do you have any ideas?" Paco walked up to him.
Lu Chuan opened his eyes, his gaze firm: "Coach, just give me one chance."
The second half of the match remained deadlocked. Oviedo's defense was watertight, and Rayo Vallecano's attacks were repeatedly thwarted.
The time came to the 65th minute, and the stalemate finally began to loosen.
Lu Chuan received a pass with his back to goal at the edge of the penalty area, and two defenders immediately closed in on him. He didn't turn, he didn't try to dribble, but instead used an incredibly imaginative backheel flick.
The ball precisely found captain Trejo, who was making a late run.
"Beautiful!" Paco on the sidelines couldn't help but pump his fist in celebration.
Trejo understood perfectly; he knew Lu Chuan's intention. Without stopping the ball, he immediately chipped it forward, and the ball arced beautifully into the penalty area.
The moment he made the pass, Lu Chuan, who had just set up the play, had already started his counter-run.
He was like a flash of lightning, darting past the two defenders, completely shaking off his marker.
"Damn it!" Arribas realized the danger and desperately tried to chase back, but it was too late.
The ball soared through the air, and Lu Chuan waited for its arrival in the penalty area. This was a perfect combination of technique, awareness, and understanding.
Facing Trejo's perfectly weighted chip, Lu Chuan didn't hesitate. He met the incoming ball, and without letting it touch the ground, he unleashed a side-footed volley!
Under the gaze of twenty-eight thousand eyes, Lu Chuan's right leg swung like a battle-axe.
The ball, like a streak of white light, whistled past the fingertips of the talented goalkeeper Lunin.
Lunin had made the most extreme save possible, but the ball's speed and angle were too tricky.
The net rippled, and the ball found its way into the goal!
1-0!
Vallecas Stadium instantly erupted, twenty-eight thousand fans simultaneously rising to their feet and cheering. The roar was earth-shattering, as if it would overturn the entire stadium.
"OOO!" The live commentator's voice changed pitch, "Lu Chuan! It's Lu Chuan again! An unparalleled volley!"
League consecutive scoring record, third match, achieved!
After scoring, Lu Chuan didn't celebrate wildly; he simply ran calmly towards the vip box. He looked up, and towards that direction, he blew a kiss.
This secret gesture was understood only by him and Esther.
Esther felt her cheeks burning. She instinctively raised her champagne glass, only to find her hand trembling slightly. Her hand unconsciously moved to her chest, feeling the flutter.
"Oh, my God!" Sofía exclaimed from beside her, "Did he just blow a kiss to you?"
Esther didn't answer, merely biting her lip lightly, her eyes full of happy light.
This goal completely opened up the game. Oviedo's psychological defense collapsed, and they were forced to push forward to find an equalizer.
In the 78th minute, Lu Chuan received the ball on the right wing. Facing the double-teaming of two defenders, he executed a brilliant 'roulette' dribble, then passed the ball horizontally to the center.
Isi Palazón followed up into position and easily tapped the ball into the empty net.
2-0!
Vallecas Stadium erupted once again, fans singing team songs, celebrating this exhilarating victory.
When the final whistle blew, Lu Chuan slumped onto the grass, panting heavily. His teammates gathered around him, surrounding him completely.
"Lu, you're a genius!" Trejo excitedly patted his back.
"That volley was a work of art!" Álvaro gave a thumbs up.
Lu Chuan stood up and walked around the pitch to thank the fans. As he passed below the vip box, he looked up, but Esther was no longer there.
A hint of disappointment welled up in his heart, but the vibration of his phone interrupted his thoughts.
The message was from Esther: "I'm waiting for you in the parking lot, my hero. Tonight, we should have a real celebration."
Lu Chuan's lips curved into a smile, and the disappointment in his heart instantly vanished. The joy of victory and the sweetness of love intertwined; at this moment, he felt like he owned the whole world.
As night fell, the lights of Madrid began to twinkle. In the underground parking lot of Vallecas Stadium, a new story was quietly beginning.