At the players' tunnel.
Kai was carrying a bag of footballs, ready to return to the changing room.
He had had a very fruitful day.
"Your behavior sickens me!"
Cristiano Ronaldo emerged from the corner, his eyes red, clearly having cried. "Do you really like those star players? Or do you just want to turn all this into money? Don't you think your actions are despicable? You're defiling football! Someone like you doesn't deserve to beat me! Doesn't deserve to lift the trophy!"
Kai shrugged. "My parents raised me with great difficulty. If I wanted to play football, they sent me to train. If I wanted to study, they paid my tuition.
"Although our nationality is Portuguese, we're ultimately outsiders. Chinese families don't have it easy in Lisbon. My father's salary is below Portugal's per capita GDP, and my mother's salary is even smaller.
"So yes, I can completely set aside my pride to beg those big-name players for autographs, tell lies that neither they nor I believe, and then sell these things.
"Do you think Guardiola and the others don't know? They know, but they still sign for me, because they understand life's hardships.
"Of course, I feel guilty and ashamed for doing it, but I am willing to bear it.
"Because when I bring that stack of cash home, my parents might finally rest their tired bodies and minds on the weekend instead of working a second or third job.
"Is this very sickening?"
Kai looked at Ronaldo.
Ronaldo's gaze gradually softened. He had to admit, he was stunned by Kai's words.
Because it was something he hadn't considered.
At this stage, Ronaldo hadn't contributed much to his family. His parents worked hard to raise many children, but because of his football talent, they fulfilled his every request. Their investment in him far outweighed that of his siblings.
The financial struggles of his other family members? Ronaldo knew about them, but never truly felt them. At most, the other kids wore Adidas while he wore off-brand gear—but at least he had something to wear.
The first time Ronaldo felt a real inferiority, realizing the difficulties his parents and siblings faced, was when he moved from Madeira to Lisbon. That first two to three months changed him profoundly.
"I wasn't talking about that!" Ronaldo snapped, changing the subject. "I'm talking about your behavior on the pitch! You're a thief! You stole a penalty! You stole a victory that belonged to me! Diving! Flopping! Is that all you've learned in school over the past three years? You've disappointed me too much!"
Seeing the agitated Ronaldo, Kai set down the bag and stepped forward. "Chris… don't you understand yet?"
"This is one thing.
"For you, this match is glory. Just a trophy.
"But for me, it's a job opportunity. The most important step toward becoming a professional player.
"And after I become a professional, I can make sure my parents never have to work again, let them return home to be with family and friends, and prove to Europeans that Chinese players can be developed. The things we carry are fundamentally different.
"Moreover, my football—why should I play it according to your ideas?
"Should I keep dribbling, waiting to be overtaken and tackled by you? My speed is far inferior to yours, so should I just be overtaken without thinking of a solution?
"My height is also far inferior, so when we both challenge for a header, should I just give you possession?
"My body isn't as strong as yours either, so when you break through, should I let you pass freely?
"My dribbling isn't as good as yours, so when you make a fancy move, should I just applaud and watch you score?
"If that's the case, why are we even playing? Just hand you the trophy! Because your team is stronger!
"If that's what football is supposed to be, then I wouldn't like football.
"The only reason I love football is that even if I'm short, weak, slow, or technically poor, if I'm willing to work hard and think strategically, I might achieve victories I shouldn't!
"The weak have their way of playing, the strong have theirs. Did I ever say it was unsportsmanlike for you to overpower me with speed and strength?
"I won't deny that mistakes happen, or that my final roll involved a little acting—but did I really break the rules?
"If I did, let the rules punish me—not your mouth!"
Ronaldo tried to interrupt, but Kai's words cut him off each time.
Finally, Ronaldo said angrily, "Weakness isn't your excuse… at least your methods weren't honorable!"
Kai shook his head. "Are you really worried about honor? No. You think it's dishonorable simply because you can't do it yourself.
"But will you always be able to? Can you always crush your opponents? Even in the Portuguese league, the top five leagues, the Champions League, or the World Cup?
"No!
"Even Ronaldo has to dive.
"Even Zidane has to foul deliberately.
"Even Rivaldo has to waste time.
"Even Figo has to win penalties.
"Even Romário elbows.
"Even Batistuta collides with goalkeepers.
"Can you always play football without getting your uniform dirty? Who do you think you are?
"I admire your pride, but if it becomes arrogance, today's defeat won't even be the worst in your career.
"Cristiano Ronaldo, you will become one of the greatest players in the world. But only if you fix your bad habits!
"If you had passed to a teammate just one more time today, you'd be taking home the championship trophy.
"Do you remember the four times I tackled you? You didn't give me possession—you gave me the trophy."
Kai finished speaking and left, leaving Ronaldo alone in the tunnel, blushing and deep in thought.
At the end of the tunnel, Kai saw Guardiola.
He had clearly heard everything.
Guardiola's face was streaked with tears. In Kai's words, he heard the struggle of a young man with limited physical talent, and the sense of family responsibility of a mature child—just like Guardiola himself.
If only he were stronger, faster, taller—he wouldn't be stuck in the backfield. He could be a midfield maestro like Zidane, a contender for the Ballon d'Or.
These past few years, he also wouldn't have been plagued by injuries or defined as a transfer target by Barça's senior management, missing out on the World Cup.
What Kai said—Ronaldo might not fully understand yet—but Guardiola understood perfectly.
"Do you need me to get more autographs for you? As many as you want, even a hundred is fine." Guardiola said gently.
"Thank you, but… three to five is enough." Kai nodded.
"It's okay, kid. My hand isn't tired." Guardiola still wanted to sign more.
"No, it's mainly that too many signed balls lose value on the market," Kai politely refused. "Or, could your teammates sign some and send them to me? My address is…"
The veins on Guardiola's bald head bulged.
He really had a business mind.
So Guardiola contacted the organizer, paid for several footballs, and personally packed and sent them to Kai by taxi.
Afterward, Guardiola immediately called Van Gaal.
Their relationship was complicated—Van Gaal had promoted him to Barça captain, valued him as a number four defensive midfielder, and saw him as the team's organizational core.
Yet many of Van Gaal's philosophies were completely opposite to Guardiola's.
He wasn't great at managing relationships with players either—friendships often fell apart later.
So Guardiola usually kept his distance from Van Gaal.
But this time, he didn't care.
He believed La Masia should take in Kai.
Although Kai wasn't a naturally gifted prodigy, his philosophy of doing everything possible to win was perfect for Barça.
Because Barça, built from La Masia to the first team on the principle of possession above all, would sooner or later need this type of strategic, non-technical player.
Van Gaal, after answering the phone, said he would contact Barça's youth academy director—but it was clear he wasn't very enthusiastic.
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