Ye Chen gradually approached Lina, leaving her momentarily stunned.
The next second, she instinctively stepped back half a step.
"Ye, what are you doing?" Lina asked, startled.
Ye Chen froze, his face turning red with embarrassment.
Even after living two lives, he had no clue about relationships.
"I... I... I'm sorry. You're just so beautiful, and I couldn't help it!" he stammered awkwardly.
Despite his confidence in chatting with Klopp and acting naturally in their previous encounters, standing in front of Lina made his heart race uncontrollably.
"Do you act this way with other fans too?" Lina raised an eyebrow and countered.
Ye Chen immediately shook his head. "Of course not... Honestly, I think you're my only female fan!"
"That's impossible! You're so handsome and such a great player!" Lina exclaimed, her eyes wide in disbelief. "When you scored today, I saw so many Dortmund girls throwing flirtatious looks at you and even shouting that they wanted to have your babies!"
"That's all nonsense. I don't even know them!" Ye Chen said, flustered. "Besides, you know how things were in Manchester United's academy. I barely had any fans, let alone female ones."
The football world doesn't lack handsome players, and only those who excel on the pitch have the right to be picky about relationships. Ye Chen's performance in Manchester United's youth academy had been mediocre, and he had no fan base to speak of. In fact, Lina only became his fan after one game!
Looking at the boy in front of her, Lina chuckled.
It was hard to reconcile the shy boy here with the confident one who tore off his shirt to celebrate after scoring on the field. But this contradiction was what made him so fascinating.
"So, do you like me?" Lina asked playfully, her cheeks flushed, her heartbeat quickening.
Ye Chen nodded, then shook his head. "I'm not sure. But seeing you travel so far just to watch my game really touched me."
"So you're just touched, not in love with me?" Lina asked back, her once racing heart suddenly sinking. That was too blunt.
Ye Chen immediately shook his head. "No, that's not it. I do like youâof that, I'm sure!"
"Then why did you shake your head earlier? Hmph!"
Ye Chen didn't realize that when a girl acts pouty, it's often a good sign. But this didn't stop him from wanting to be Lina's boyfriend. "I wasn't sure what you thought of me. I was afraid you didn't like me."
A bright smile lit up Lina's face. This silly boy was too adorable!
Why would she have traveled all this way to watch his game if she didn't like him?
She wasn't that bored... or, well, she didn't have that kind of free time.
But that didn't matter. Lina smiled and asked back, "What do you think? Do I like you?"
"Maybe?" Ye Chen replied uncertainly.
"You idiot!" Lina glared at him. "Sit tight; we're leaving!"
"Alright, let's grab some food and chat while eating," Ye Chen suggested, fearing she might be upset. After all, he had acted a little too hastily.
Contrary to stereotypes about foreign girls being bold, Ye Chen found that they could be very reservedâso long as they weren't your girlfriend. And because of their broader experiences, they were often more selective and serious about choosing a partner.
In contrast, girls in his home country were often easier to impress.
Back home, someone like Ye Chenâa handsome football playerâwould have girls throwing themselves at him in droves.
Although he had just delivered a stellar performance on the field, his fame hadn't reached the masses yet. As a result, no one at the restaurant recognized him.
While eating, Lina asked Ye Chen about his past relationships and his career plans, acting almost like a girlfriend already. Ye Chen answered her questions candidly, knowing honesty was key if he wanted to date her.
Lina also shared her story, mentioning that she might study in Germany.
Her father had moved back to Norway, and her mother followed. Now, only Lina and her younger sister were in Manchester, but her sister was about to return to Norway for school, leaving her alone. Though transferring schools could be tricky, Lina was confident she could manage.
Her words left Ye Chen slightly confused. But even an idiot could guess what she meant.
"Are you saying you agree to be my girlfriend?" Ye Chen suddenly realized and asked her.
Lina couldn't help but laugh at Ye Chen's excited expression.
Her laughter was dazzlingly beautiful.
With her looks, did she even need to bother with school? She could easily become a star!
Even compared to famous domestic celebrities like Dilraba Dilmurat, Lina was just as stunning!
"Tell me!" Ye Chen urged.
Lina nodded slightly. "Yes!"
"Yes!" Ye Chen jumped up from his seat, drawing annoyed looks from other diners. He quickly apologized.
But none of that mattered anymore because Ye Chen had a girlfriend!
Admittedly, his initial attraction to Lina was all about her looks. After all, who wouldn't like a beautiful girl? But what truly won him over was how natural and comfortable he felt around her. This was a girl who genuinely cared for him. Missing out on her would've been a mistake he'd regret forever.
While Ye Chen and Lina were eating, news about the Bundesliga was spreading like wildfire.
⢠"The Strongest Rookie in Bundesliga History: Dortmund's Ye Debuts with a Hat Trick!"
⢠"Man United Castaway Joins Dortmund, Makes Kingly Comeback in First Match!"
⢠"Dortmund Rising Star Ye Declines to Discuss Manchester United!"
⢠"The First Player in Bundesliga History to Score a Hat Trick on Debut: Meet the Talented Ye!"
⢠"From Club and National Team Rejections to Dortmund's New Hope: Ye, the Strongest Rookie, Arrives!"
Every major sports outlet replaced their headlines with news about Ye Chen. German Bild even made his shirtless celebration their front cover.
Matchday 6: Mainz vs. Dortmund.
China's Ye Chen became an overnight sensation!
Titles like "Strongest Rookie" and "Genius Striker" flooded social media. Back home, his reputation was skyrocketing.
In the internet age, Ye's dismissal from Manchester United had split fans into two camps. Some believed his departure was a waste of talent, while others thought he wasn't good enough. Many Man United fans had tuned in to this game.
Initially, they mocked the Bundesliga as inferior to the Premier League. But by the second half, they were speechless.
The first goal might've been luck. The second? Maybe also luck. But what about the third?
Some even started comparing Ye Chen to Wayne Rooney, as both had debuted with hat tricks!
A video comparison went viral: one side showing Rooney's first three goals and the other, Ye Chen's hat trick. The internet exploded.
Ye Chen's third goal, a stunning free kick from 35 meters out, had everyone in awe.
The unpredictable swerve of the ball combined with its sudden drop reminded fans of Cristiano Ronaldo.
His earlier midfield lob also drew comparisons to David Beckham.
Suddenly, Man United fans were losing their minds. Could Ye Chen really be a mix of Rooney, Ronaldo, and Beckham?