The Master's Remedial Class

Tens of thousands of players pour into European football pitches every year, a march as treacherous as crossing a single-log bridge. Those graced with extraordinary talent dazzle from the start, while the relentless grinders slowly accumulate their power and bide their time. Yet football has always been a meritocracy of raw gift—a city-level genius looks pedestrian at the provincial level, and a provincial star fades into obscurity on the national or world stage. There is always a taller mountain, and the old adage rings true: genius is merely the ticket to stand before me. In 2034, as the five-star red flag soars and victory chants fill the stadiums, Wei Lai watches from his cramped room—the television glowing with images of red-clad players hailed as the true golden generation of Chinese football. His eyes hold a mixture of unwillingness and hope, but he is nothing more than a spectator. Layer after layer of trials separate the chosen from the rest; effort alone can no longer bridge the gap, for the ceiling of natural ability has become the final arbiter of success. Cast out from the selection process, Wei Lai returns to the very place where his dream first began. But this time, talent is no longer the exclusive domain of the prodigies.