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In La Liga Round 16, Atlético Madrid secured a dominant 5-0 away victory against Málaga.
Only one match remained before the end of 2015.
On December 31st, Atlético Madrid vs Rayo Vallecano.
"I thought I could ring in the New Year with you."
In the video, Chloe pouted a little, looking unhappy.
Lance had always believed that the expression of a girl puffing out her cheeks, as seen in anime, was difficult to perfectly replicate in real life.
But on Chloe's small face, she actually managed to make the exact same expression.
I'll secretly take a screenshot first.
"Hey, what are you doing? You're not secretly doing anything weird, are you?"
Chloe leant closer to the camera, seemingly trying to peer through the internet cable to see Lance's little actions.
"No, no."
"That's good then."
"I'm openly taking a screenshot to use as an emoji."
"Hey!! Jesus!!"
Click, click, click!
Seeing her flustered and impotently furious, Lance couldn't help but take a few more screenshots.
Noticing Chloe was about to get really angry, he quickly changed the subject.
"By the way, are you busy with exams during your Christmas break?"
"Of course... Ugh—"
At the mention of exams, Chloe slumped like a blob of slime, softly lying on her room desk.
German university exams are relatively strict.
Chloe's major was in the Faculty of Sport Science and Health, specialising in Sport Management and Policy.
Lance couldn't understand why a delicate rich young lady would choose such a major.
She even minored in Health Science - Prevention and Health Promotion courses.
The content of one major was already enough to give her a headache; if she didn't earn enough credits, she could be forced to withdraw.
Adding a minor completely filled her schedule.
Time, it was all about time.
No wonder during the period when Lance first arrived at Atlético Madrid, which was also when Chloe first started university, they almost lost contact.
Chloe was having a harder time than even a Chinese university entrance exam taker.
As the exam month approached, Chloe was even more overwhelmed, having to spend her Christmas break in the university library.
Lance had originally thought she could come to Madrid to visit him again, like last time.
It seemed unlikely now.
Lance himself couldn't go to Germany.
He only had 2 days off during Christmas, and then he had to prepare for new matches.
In early January, besides La Liga, there was also the Copa del Rey.
Lance also feared that if he went, he would disrupt her study rhythm.
Besides, in what capacity would he go? Just as a friend?
"What are you thinking?"
After a moment of silence, Chloe was the first to ask.
Lance's slightly furrowed brow suggested he also had something difficult on his mind.
Chloe forgot her own troubles, wanting to comfort him, wishing she could reach through the screen and smooth his brow.
"I'm thinking I'll be interviewed by the TV station again later, those reporters are a bit annoying."
"Oh, well, don't think too much. Just say what's on your mind. Whatever you say, you're right, don't feel pressured, good boy~"
"Pfft—"
She was full of her own worries, yet she was comforting him.
This silly girl.
Lance had hesitated just now mainly because he didn't want to put pressure on her.
This girl often sacrifices herself to avoid making others worry, which makes people feel sorry for her.
"Let's not talk anymore for now, you should hurry up and study, and don't get too tired. Get up and move around after studying for a whilst."
"I..."
Chloe seemed about to say something, but then someone apparently entered her room.
"Hey, darling, who are you chatting with? Your boyfriend?"
"Well... I have to go, bye bye."
Seeing the girl hang up the video in a panic, Lance just shook his head and smiled.
Still so easily shy...
"You're acting strange!"
Laila grinned, showing her white teeth, tucking her chestnut wavy hair behind her ear, her intense gaze fixed on Chloe's evasive eyes.
"There's nothing to hide about a boyfriend, come on, let me see if he's handsome."
"No, really, there isn't."
"Hmm? No way, looking at your expression during the video call just now... It's the first time I've seen you smile so gently."
Laila looked at the shy girl with a suggestive expression.
"Is it that person you secretly went to Madrid to see last time?"
"Something like that, but, but he's just a good friend."
Chloe was incredibly embarrassed, like a little girl who had done something wrong.
If it were anyone else, pretending he was her boyfriend wouldn't be a big deal.
The crucial thing was, he was Lance!
Laila's obsession with Lance was something she had recently experienced firsthand.
This perverted girl wanted to print a Lance body pillow and hug it to sleep every day.
Whenever Lance had a match, she practically wanted to lick the screen.
Chloe dared not let her know about her relationship with Lance, otherwise, who knew what might happen, and it wouldn't be good to disturb him.
Besides... Lance, he, he can only be mine.
"Oh, oh, oh, I get it. You're still dating for now, just one step away, right?"
"Uh, something like that."
"Leave it to me! As a romantic French person, I can tailor an unforgettable date for Your Royal Highness, guaranteeing you both..."
"Exams are more important! That can wait for later. Study, please study first!"
Chloe quickly extinguished that 0.1-second flicker of intention, afraid she would lose focus on her studies.
She knew how important it was to successfully earn degrees in both majors.
Not just for herself, but also for...
"Christmas is ruined, but it doesn't matter."
Since he couldn't visit her during the Christmas break, Lance had no choice but to focus on training and matches.
The psychological shadow from the previous "system bug" still hadn't disappeared.
Lance had developed a distrust of the system.
He used to blindly rely on the system, thinking that cheating would flatten everything.
Who knew the system could pull such a huge stunt right before a critical big match!
Fortunately, he had developed long-term muscle memory, and coupled with his overflowing desire to win, he ultimately managed a difficult last-minute goal to defeat Barcelona.
Otherwise, if he had lost to Barcelona due to his overconfidence, Lance would truly have failed his hardworking Atlético Madrid teammates.
Being strong himself was true strength!
On the training ground recently, Lance's main focus was on trying to activate muscle memory and trying to break free from reliance on the cheat.
"Lance, are you really not celebrating Christmas?"
After the day's routine training, the team would be on holiday until the 26th.
Training would resume on Boxing Day afternoon.
Griezmann had already packed his suitcase and was heading directly from the training base to the airport to go back to France for Christmas.
"Yes, we don't have that custom. The Spring Festival is usually more grand."
"Then how will you spend it? Are you going to do extra training at the base?"
"You guessed it?"
"Jesus!!"
"Fuck off!! You bastard!!"
A chorus of curses rose and fell in the changing room.
It was like a top student who scored 149 on a maths test still saying he didn't do well and needed to do two more sets of practice papers during the holiday.
How could the struggling student who scored 100 survive?
Since his time at Bayer Leverkusen, Lance had been a training fanatic.
He had grown accustomed to the sweat in the gym and on the training ground.
"Did I distrust the system from the very beginning?"
Otherwise, anyone else would have long since given up and relaxed.
Spending every day at nightclubs, playing games, throwing yacht parties, why bother training? Isn't it better to crush opponents with the system's power of the Heavenly Dao?
Wouldn't working hard be foolish?
No.
Lance stood with a football on the empty green pitch, closing his eyes and feeling the connection with the ball.
Training was not a painful process.
The better and more solid his ball control, the more fully he could utilise the power brought by the system!
Feeling the process of gradually getting stronger, Lance's gaze remained unwavering!
Who was the fool after all?
Certainly not him!
Hoo—
Hoo—
Lance returned to the changing room, drenched in sweat, his brain completely enveloped by the endorphins from exercise.
This feeling was even better than starting a game!
Wait, you, Xiao Chunnan, have never started a game, how do you know how good it feels?
Gulping down several sips of electrolyte drink, Lance, whilst resting and scrolling through his phone, inadvertently saw the schedule calendar sent in the club's email.
The 31st, match at 13:00, that's really early.
Which meant it would end by 15:00.
If they defeated Rayo Vallecano, it would mean a full day off on the evening of the 31st and all day on January 1st!
Lance quickly outlined a plan in his mind!