FSGOR Ch24

City South Football Stadium – convenience store.

Jiang Tian sat by the window, waiting for Lu Qiao to finish picking out rice balls from the display shelf. Lost in thought, he absentmindedly played with his milk straw, gazing off into the distance.

A few seconds later, he lowered his eyes, staring at his unlocked phone screen. His gaze skimmed over a conversation in their group chat, and his face reflected regret.

He’d let his guard down.

What was supposed to be just a five-minute casual chat had turned into something deeper. With his recent stress over questions about his sexuality, he’d sought a reckless outlet.

He shouldn’t have shared such private topics with someone he’d just met online.

KIRA: Last month.

KIRA: I watched it with someone I was dating online.

Jiang Tian bit down hard on the straw, frowning slightly. More than questioning why he revealed so much so easily, he couldn’t understand why he had instinctively referred to his sister’s ex as someone he’d dated online.

That night, he had just finished showering, sitting on his bed about to fall asleep. His brain had been clear, but his body was in that relaxed, vulnerable state—maybe that’s why he replied that way, without thinking.

“Got it!”

Lu Qiao’s voice snapped him out of his daze.

He sat down beside Jiang Tian with an armful of rice balls and sushi platters. Jiang Tian casually asked, “You really gonna finish all that?”

Lu Qiao raised an eyebrow confidently, ripped open the plastic wrap, and took a big bite. “Have a little faith in my battle power, won’t you?”

Jiang Tian chuckled quietly, took a sip of his milk, and mentally noted they should hurry and finish so they could change in the stadium locker room.

But clearly, Lu Qiao was hyped. This was their last official game in high school. He chatted nonstop about past matches, reliving every moment while stuffing his face.

Worried he might choke, Jiang Tian silently passed him a napkin—but his own mind still wandered.

Finally, they finished eating. Lu Qiao stood up, still unsatisfied, and muttered, “Last year’s Affiliated High team—such dirty tactics…”

Before he could finish, they both looked up and saw several players in Affiliated High’s team uniforms walking into the store—and they had heard what he said.

The air instantly turned hostile.

Relying on their numbers, the Affiliated High boys stared them down. One of them sneered, “Isn’t that the goalie from Third High?”

Another one jeered, “Haha, last year’s third-place team, right?”

“You’ve got a lot to say about the champions behind our backs. Your coach know you run your mouth like that?”

“Hope you don’t lose too badly again this year…”

Jiang Tian frowned. He saw Lu Qiao clench his fists, clearly seconds away from punching someone.

He stopped his impulsive childhood friend with a firm hand and calmly replied, “You know exactly how you won last year.”

The Affiliated High guys suddenly fell silent.

They hadn’t expected the straight-A scholar from Third High to hit back so directly. Their faces twitched with awkwardness, but none of them dared to respond.

****

After leaving the store, Lu Qiao turned back and flipped them off, muttering, “Damn, talk about bad luck in the morning. Do they really think last year’s win was clean?”

Jiang Tian didn’t respond, but deep down, he agreed. That was the match where he’d injured his leg.

They had experienced firsthand how dirty the Affiliated High team played—constant small fouls and underhanded moves.

Though Third, Fifth, and Affiliated were all top schools in Ning City, Affiliated’s academic atmosphere was particularly oppressive. Maybe that environment made them obsess over winning at any cost.

Still, after last year’s disciplinary notice, they probably wouldn’t dare pull anything too shady this year.

Jiang Tian and Lu Qiao regrouped with the team and headed into Third High’s exclusive locker room. After changing into his uniform, Jiang Tian sat on a bench pulling up his socks when his sports bag vibrated.

A familiar feeling crept up on him—reminiscent of the tension during the catfishing days. But no, that was behind him.

He pulled out his phone. False alarm. It wasn’t from the bar’s customer service—he was just overthinking it again.

ORANGE Customer Service: Good morning, cutie~

ORANGE Customer Service: Today’s task is to send a small gift to your teammate~

ORANGE Customer Service: Hint: A red envelope counts. Please complete the task before midnight~

Jiang Tian replied with a quick “Got it,” then put his phone away, laced up his cleats, and headed out with his teammates.

***

City South Football Stadium was a standard-sized venue that could hold up to 6,000 spectators. On normal days, it hosted mostly middle-aged fitness clubs. But today, it was packed with energetic boys and girls for the high school league match.

Naturally, there were also teachers and school leaders seated in various sections to ensure safety and a smooth event.

Fifth High’s seats were in Section C, with a poor view. Players on the field rarely looked in that direction, especially those in Third High’s team—their rest area faced away from it entirely.

***

The young vice principal of Fifth High, whose family worked in government circles and had some ties to the prestigious Chu family, never expected Chu Xuyu to suddenly ask him for a ticket to this match.

“President Chu,” the vice principal greeted, stealing glances at the casually dressed CEO. The last time they’d met like this was on a golf course. “What brings you to a high school game?”

What he really wanted to ask was: What demon possessed this billionaire CEO to attend a kid’s soccer match?

Chu Xuyu lounged in his seat and replied lazily, “Felt like coming.”

Vice principal: “…”
Rich people are wild.

He didn’t stay long—duties called—leaving Chu Xuyu alone in this perfect vantage point for watching hot boys.

From his angle, he had a clear view of Jiang Tian waiting on the sidelines. The youth wore his team uniform, lean and strong-limbed, exuding charm from every angle.

His physique was flawless. Calves hugged by long socks, perfectly defined muscles—sinfully attractive.

The outdated stadium lacked ventilation, making it stuffy. Chu Xuyu’s throat was dry. On impulse, he raised his phone and snap—took a picture of the boy, saving it to his gallery.

Unable to resist, he finally messaged him.

L: Got the message from customer service?

***

Buzz.

The phone vibrated in Jiang Tian’s sports bag again. Behind him was the noisy stadium crowd. He and his teammates were still waiting in the rest area. Their coach had stepped out to grab water, leaving them a bit of free time.

Jiang Tian opened the message, planning to reply quickly and zip up his bag.

KIRA: Saw it.

KIRA: I’m a bit busy today.

KIRA: Let’s just send red envelopes later?

L: I already brought a gift.

L: No pressure, though.

Jiang Tian paused, surprised the other person was not only watching the game—but had also prepared gifts. A strange feeling crept into his chest.

L: I brought gifts for you and your crush.

L: Which one are you on Third High’s team?

 

KIRA: That’s too much.

KIRA: You don’t need to bring gifts.

Jiang Tian felt a bit awkward. Luckily, most of his teammates were also on their phones, so he didn’t stand out—he just had to avoid confirming who he was.

L: Are you the one with the yellow curls?

L: Pretty sure I saw you at the bar.

KIRA: …

KIRA: Yeah.

Since the other party had already recognized him, denying it would only backfire. He had no choice but to admit it.

Side note—he used to have Lu Qiao block admirers for him, and the guy was always happy to help, given how much free food he mooched off Jiang Tian.

L: Good luck.

L: Hope your team gets a great result.

L: ^^

KIRA: Thanks.

Jiang Tian purposely didn’t put his phone away immediately. Instead, he messaged his sister. From afar, Chu Xuyu caught this tiny bit of cunning with sharp precision—

And found it adorably clever.

Chu Xuyu crossed his long legs and prepared to watch the match. It had been years since he’d been in such a youthful and vibrant atmosphere, and for a moment, he felt like he’d aged backward by a decade.

But the illusion didn’t last.

Jiang Tian still hadn’t gone on the field. Chu Xuyu leaned against his left hand and dozed lightly.

Until—

A deafening wave of screams suddenly erupted through the stadium, jolting him awake.

Who knew what time it was already—Jiang Tian had entered the field as a forward, and with the referee’s whistle, the game resumed. Almost every eye in the crowd was drawn to the handsome, explosive young player.

He ran freely across the field, coordinating seamlessly with his teammates. Sweat soaked through the strands of his bangs, and as his uniform lifted during sprints, it revealed his tight, lean waist and defined abs—driving Chu Xuyu nearly mad.

His heartbeat thudded wildly, in sync with the crowd’s roar. His narrowed eyes darkened, dangerous with desire, and he could barely restrain the impulse to rip off the boy’s uniform right then and there.

And then, pin him to the bed, call him sweetheart, and kiss him breathless.

“…”

The elite CEO sat there in broad daylight, looking like he was under the influence of some aphrodisiac. Yet, he acted so well that even the vice principal beside him didn’t notice anything unusual.

Then—

Just as he casually exchanged a few words with the vice principal, the stadium erupted in alarmed gasps.

Chu Xuyu followed the noise and turned to the field.

Chaos had broken out.

Third High’s goalkeeper was on his knees, holding his head, clearly injured. Meanwhile, Jiang Tian stood flushed with fury, gripping the collar of one of Affiliated High’s forwards, angrily demanding an explanation.

The crowd was in an uproar:

“What happened?!”

“Affiliated’s forward just kicked Third High’s goalie in the head! There’s blood! That’s insane!”

“It’s him again!”

“Isn’t he the one who injured Jiang Tian last year?! I remember him!”

“Trash like that, hiding behind money and power—absolutely disgusting!!”

The scene was spiraling out of control. What was supposed to be a friendly match had turned ugly.

The vice principal frowned, thinking these teenagers were way too impulsive—but as a Fifth High administrator, this wasn’t his fight to mediate.

BANG—

The CEO next to him suddenly stood up.

Startled, the vice principal looked over—Chu Xuyu’s direction clearly indicated he was heading toward Third High’s bench.

“???”

A man of his status suddenly leaving? The vice principal, just a lowly school official, had no choice but to follow and ask anxiously, “President Chu, is something wrong?”

Chu Xuyu’s face had gone cold, like a god of death. The vice principal’s gut clenched. Then he heard a dangerously calm voice ask:

“What’s the background of that kid?”

“Huh?!”

The vice principal caught on fast.

“You mean the one who kicked? I think he’s the youngest son of some bank chairman… Always causing trouble, even outside school…”

Chu Xuyu’s frown deepened. He raised a hand to signal the vice principal not to follow, then took out his phone, clearly preparing to make a call—to fix this personally.

Vice Principal: “???”

‘Wait a minute…’

‘Who on Third High’s team could possibly have such strong connections?!’