Ye Qiuxue didn't know much about soccer, but she recognized a bicycle kick when she saw one.

Hu Ming's last strike had practically slapped every spectator in the face.

She'd seen it clearly: Han Shuyi had interfered with Hu Ming.

Hu Ming's body was off-balance before he even kicked.

Yet he'd still scored such a beautiful goal under those conditions.

So this guy had been hiding his skills all along?

Why play so poorly before? Showing off would've drawn more attention.

A flicker of doubt crossed her mind.

Around her, classmates buzzed about Hu Ming's shot.

A satisfied smile spread across Ye Qiuxue's face, tinged with quiet pride.

*See? My judgment's always been spot-on!*

No one knew her thoughts. On the field, everyone seemed stunned by Hu Ming.

They'd planned to humiliate him on the pitch.

Instead, he'd shattered their delusions completely.

Watching his moves, how could he possibly be bad at soccer?

Despair deepened on their faces.

Except for one person.

Han Shuyi panted heavily, eyes locked on Hu Ming.

His fists clenched tight.

Hu Ming's goal replayed in his head, but he refused to surrender.

Losing to Hu Ming? Unthinkable!

He'd forgotten he'd insisted Hu Ming play.

This time, he'd truly shot himself in the foot.

The match restarted.

Hu Ming's teammates fought harder for the ball.

They kept glancing at Hu Ming's position.

Of course—they had an ace on their side. Who wouldn't rely on him?

Opponents who'd played casually now tensed up.

Even shaking off defenders felt difficult.

Under this pressure, the scattered rivals lost possession easily.

Before anyone noticed, Hu Ming had dribbled the ball away.

Han Shuyi gritted his teeth and charged at him.

Seeing Hu Ming straighten up, Han Shuyi assumed he'd stop the ball to dribble past.

Instead, Hu Ming dropped low and left him far behind.

Hu Ming chased the ball, dipped his left shoulder as if heading for the baseline.

The defender leaned toward the touchline.

Then Hu Ming flicked the ball sideways with his right instep.

As the defender turned to intercept, Hu Ming smoothly pulled it back.

He accelerated past the man.

Gasps erupted from the crowd.

Some even shouted Hu Ming's name!

This had never happened before.

But now, on this pitch, Hu Ming made it happen.

Li Yue stared blankly from the sidelines.

She'd never seen Hu Ming shine so brightly—blindingly so.

Had she made a mistake?

The thought flashed through her mind, then vanished.

She was right. Han Shuyi was better than Hu Ming.

Han Shuyi had pulled her from darkness.

Hu Ming? Just a matchstick lighting her path briefly.

"Han Shuyi's catching up!"

A girl's voice snapped Li Yue back to reality.

She saw Han Shuyi closing in on Hu Ming.

An excited smile lit her face.

*Yes! Catch him, Han Shuyi!*

Meanwhile, Ye Qiuxue stood arms crossed, face unreadable.

Inside, she was a storm of tension.

She watched Han Shuyi reach Hu Ming, trying to steal the ball.

Class would end soon.

If they lost the ball now, another attack might be impossible.

Staring at Hu Ming's back, she recalled his confident grin.

This guy felt completely different now.

Somehow, she calmed down.

She trusted Hu Ming wouldn't let her down.

On the field, Hu Ming sensed someone chasing him.

Heavy breathing signaled exhaustion.

He didn't need to look—he knew it was Han Shuyi.

Even a full match wouldn't tire him out.

Han Shuyi saw himself as the star.

Hu Ming sensed his obsession with humiliation.

Beating Hu Ming would boost Han Shuyi's image.

Hu Ming found it amusing.

The original owner would've crumbled by now.

But as long as Hu Ming was here, he'd own this game.

Han Shuyi lunged for a sliding tackle, aiming dirty at Hu Ming's legs.

As he looked up, he caught Hu Ming's mocking smirk.

Han Shuyi's pupils shrank.

Hu Ming trapped the ball, spun 180 degrees.

Mid-turn, he nudged it to his other foot and dribbled sideways.

"Holy crap! Was that a Marseille turn?!"

"So smooth!"

"He just nutmegged Han Shuyi!"

Ye Qiuxue ignored the cheering around her.

She checked her watch.

Ten seconds left!

Hu Ming's move ruined Han Shuyi's tackle.

Han Shuyi froze, watching Hu Ming sprint toward goal.

A defender rushed to block him.

Hu Ming swung his right leg and shot!

Five seconds!

The ball arced like a crescent moon.

It brushed the goalkeeper's arm and slammed into the net.

Silence fell over everyone.

The school bell rang at the same moment.

A storybook ending!

Dribbling past multiple players, then scoring the final goal.

This strike showcased Hu Ming's skill perfectly.

It shattered the opponents' defense utterly.

Han Shuyi's teammates stared at Hu Ming.

At the boy they'd once despised.

Now he'd scored openly against them.

He'd even clinched a last-second winner as class ended.

A wave of exhaustion hit them.

Han Shuyi looked at Hu Ming.

Hu Ming walked straight to him, towering over him.

It felt like his dignity was trampled underfoot.

"I said a draw wasn't the end," Hu Ming said, offering his hand like a victor's charity. "Now you know how it feels to shoot yourself in the foot."

Han Shuyi glared coldly.

His usual warmth had vanished, replaced by a dark scowl.

He didn't want to take Hu Ming's hand.

He tried to stand alone.

Hu Ming's voice cut in again.

"Refusing might make others think we have issues. Given our... special status."

Hu Ming kept smiling.

That smile grated on Han Shuyi.

Like Hu Ming held him completely in his grip.

Han Shuyi forced a stiff smile.

He grasped Hu Ming's hand and pulled himself up.