My Soulmate is A Libero
In fact, there had been an unprecedented level of attention in the country towards this World Cup, and it had a bit to do with Lu Xuandong.
Busy as Lu Xuandong was, accompanied by his face growing more handsome, his body getting better, himself getting wealthier, and thus becoming more charming, even after stepping back from the entertainment scene, Dongzi’s popularity unexpectedly skyrocketed, surpassing the fan base of many so-called top stars who were still actively working in the industry.
What’s most important was that everyone knows Lu Xuandong’s fans were active fans, not bought.
Ever since Lu Xuandong announced his relationship, despite Qin Chunxiao receiving a fair share of criticism, his social media followers also surged. Many people kept an eye on him, ready to jump on any poorly-worded post he made and turn it into a hate campaign against him.
This time, Lu Xuandong didn’t accompany Qin Chunxiao to Japan for the World Cup. Some even said that their relationship wasn’t that strong if Lu Xuandong didn’t go with his boyfriend to the World Cup. They speculated that Lu Xuandong reluctantly agreed due to Qin Chunxiao’s insistence, suggesting that Lu Xuandong’s feelings might not be that deep for him.
Regardless of the negative factors in this surge of attention, the number of people watching the matches increased significantly.
At the beginning, their discussions went like this:
“Has the match started? Who are they playing against today? Are they strong? How’s the world ranking? Is that someone playing or not?”
“They haven’t played much. That guy is the main player. Against weaker teams, they might rotate players. Hard to tell how they’ll do.”
“Today, they’re playing against the USA, ranked within the top five in the world, very strong. That guy is in the starting lineup as libero.”
“What’s libero?”
“It’s the one wearing a different color jersey, can only defend, not attack.”
“Well, as long as that guy performs well, we’ll consider it as bringing glory to the country. If he doesn’t play well, he can’t blame us for criticizing him. If he drags down the team, don’t hesitate, immediately criticize him. Put all the blame on him if they lose. Pay attention to the time he enters the court.”
After the Chinese team humorously fought against the American team while battling each other in a comedic skit, many newcomers to volleyball were left baffled.
Is this Chinese team strong or weak?
If you say strong, they were just too funny to be taken seriously as strong players. If you say weak, they just defeated the American team.
After browsing the internet, nobody was discussing how difficult it was for China to beat the USA. All the veteran fans were busy laughing and sympathizing with the unfortunate referee.
Finally, someone asked, “How significant is China’s victory over the USA?”
The veteran fans were also puzzled by this question. “It’s pretty significant. That’s the USA team! Just a few years ago, our Chinese team was barely in the top 20 world rankings. We wouldn’t even dare to think about beating the USA back then.”
Then this person asked, “Is Qin Chunxiao impressive?”
Veteran fans replied, “Of course! He’s the best male libero in Asia, the only one in Asia who can go head-to-head with top European and American liberos. Do you think he’s impressive? In the realm of volleyball libero, he’s at least in the top five globally. Moreover, he’s the youngest with the greatest potential. In this current men’s volleyball lineup, no matter what tactics they use, Qin Chunxiao is definitely a core player, the team’s assurance. If he’s not on the court, China’s ranking would drop from top five to barely top eight!”
Even though the veteran fans weren’t merely exaggerating about Qin Chunxiao, in the realm of sports, only the strong can earn the respect of these old-timers. The fact that Qin Chunxiao could improve a team’s world ranking by at least three positions wasn’t a claim he made himself. It was said by the Russian national team coach, Nikolai, on Twitter, and it was endorsed by China’s coach, Coach Newton, as well as his teammates.
In other words, Qin Chunxiao’s prowess was widely acknowledged. The only one who could share this honor with him was Dario.
Unfortunately, in the eyes of some, if Qin Chunxiao didn’t win the championship, he was still just a second-rate athlete. No matter how much the veteran fans praised him, it didn’t matter. At most, they thought that Lu Xuandong’s judgment wasn’t too bad.
After the match between the Chinese team and the Italian team began, this group of people chose to continue focusing on the court, wanting to criticize and nitpick further.
However, whether it was this group of individuals who knew little about volleyball or the veteran fans, no one anticipated that the Italian team would launch such a fierce counterattack from the very beginning.
But the Chinese team also had their confidence – they had the fastest libero in the world!
The audience saw the number 8 in the yellow jersey dash to the landing point of the ball, without even looking back, he bumped the ball backwards. In a situation where he hadn’t even used his vision, relying solely on exceptional spatial awareness, he set the ball to the fourth position.
The feel and spatial awareness of that play were just incredible!
Tong Shulan immediately delivered a spike.
1-0, the Chinese team took the first point.
Before, it was You Ziyu whose jump serve had been received. Now, he stepped back onto the serving spot once again.
“It’s the pressure that comes with facing Xiaozai,” You Ziyu took a deep breath and, as the referee blew the whistle, tossed the ball into the air once more.
Dario was not one to accept defeat easily. Let him test this libero’s skill with his most cunning floater serve that could give the libero the hardest time!
You Ziyu’s jump floater could take a sharp turn midway. Currently, there were only four players on the Chinese team who could execute such a wide curve: You Ziyu, Luo He, Gao Depi, and a rather unexpected Li Ling.
However, Li Ling’s jump floater was almost negligible because even he didn’t know what his success rate was. Teaching him that skill had frustrated You Ziyu to the point where he started drinking ice water every day.
This time, Dario seemed a bit flustered, yet he still got the ball to the setter, showcasing remarkable ball control.
Moreover, Dario had saved the ball with his foot.
Newton remarked, “Hmm… seems like it’s not only our Xiaozai and the Brazilians who are good at saving balls with their feet.”
Both the men’s and women’s teams from Brazil had instances of saving the ball with their feet. They were known for their strong football talents. Qin Chunxiao’s foot saves could even be compiled into a fifty-second highlight reel. As for Italy… in two more years, the Italian football team would take the European Championship with their song “Lose Some Weight.” The charm of this song could rival the Hamster Club’s anthem “Forever Running on the Wheel.”
If Qin Chunxiao exuded wildness and aggressiveness, like an impassioned beast as a libero, then Dario was like an honor student. His exceptional talent grew and flourished within a well-rounded training system, shining even brighter through his diligence. He could practically be studied from a textbook.
In simple terms, many of Qin Chunxiao’s moves couldn’t be replicated because most people lacked his reaction speed and agility. On the other hand, Dario was like a presence that many liberos could reach out and match.
However, the efficiency of these two players on the court was quite similar; both could make the spikers feel just how difficult it was to get a point against them.
At the end of the first set, Qin Chunxiao had a higher attacking efficiency than Dario against opponents. In a situation where the attacking level of both teams was fairly equal, China managed to secure the first set with a delicate advantage.
Lorenzo was a bit puzzled, “Did that guy’s moves become smoother?”
Newton wore a mysterious smile. His years of flattery to his superiors had paid off in leaps and bounds. Just before the World Cup began, the leadership finally allowed the men’s national team to go to the wind tunnel.
The wind tunnel was a high-tech facility that originated in the 1940s and 1950s. Back then, scientists used wind tunnels to test the resistance and various parameters of aircraft and missiles in the air.
Even now, athletes could enter wind tunnels to test their various moves, calculating which actions had less air resistance and which were more efficient and swift. Sports such as speed skating, swimming, and cycling have already started benefiting from wind tunnel training.
In the men’s volleyball team, the main participants in this training were Qin Chunxiao, Xiong Wu, Du Xiaofeng, and a few other liberos. They were all responsible for various on-court movements and ball-saving actions. Among them, Qin Chunxiao had a sprinting background, which meant he utilized some sprinting techniques when chasing after balls. Speed training was particularly suitable for him.
As for the results of Xiong Wu’s 100-meter run after coming out of the wind tunnel… well, it’s a secret. Otherwise, the track and field team might really come to compete with Newton for people. With Xiong Wu’s current 100-meter time, it wasn’t just about becoming a key player in the track and field team. He could also greatly contribute to the relay team.
Dario’s ankle was a bit uncomfortable. Under tremendous pressure from the Chinese team, he couldn’t afford to take a set off. So, before the second set began, he sat down and massaged his ankle, while the team doctor brought him an ice pack to apply. However, he remained restless, wiping his sweat continuously.
He complained, “What’s Misha doing playing volleyball? With his speed, he should be challenging the 100-meter record.”
Many players who had faced Qin Chunxiao shared similar thoughts about him. Misha’s decision to play volleyball was a waste. He should hurry and go to the track and field arena, preferably keeping his distance from them!
The Italian team doctor said, “He can’t maintain the same level as in the first set.”
Dario asked, “Huh?”
The Italian team doctor explained, “Rapid acceleration and deceleration, especially when done at top speed, cause wear and tear not only on people, but even on cars. Misha Qin is still a flesh-and-blood human. In the first set, he used his maximum speed to pressure you all, but he can’t keep this up indefinitely. Otherwise, his joints won’t be able to handle it.”
This veteran team doctor’s speculation was correct. By the second set, Qin Chunxiao’s running speed had slowed down a bit. However, Newton had already put Gao Depi and Li Ling on the court.
The nickname of the Guangdong team was the “Defensive Brigade.” Now, their leader, second-in-command, and third-in-command were all on the court. While Qin Chunxiao was a libero and couldn’t transition to the attacking side, Gao Depi and Li Ling were free to shift as they pleased. They quickly activated the team, adding a touch of flamboyance to China’s tactics.
But unfortunately for the Italian team, they lacked a mythical-level player who could use high attacks to deal with such flamboyance!
Was China’s victory already guaranteed? No! Captain Mattia of the Italian team’s eyes sharpened, and the angle of his sets became even more cunning.
In the volleyball arena, there’s a saying that goes like this: a good setter can turn an ordinary attacker into a world-class one! Setters are like commanding towers. They decide the path the attacker will take, where the attack will be initiated, and how to deceive the opponent’s block. Some skilled setters even develop formidable serving, blocking, and second-touch attacking abilities.
Mattia was currently the best setter in the world. He alone was enough to activate the Italian team and make their tactics more elaborate than those of their opponents. With Mattia’s incredible performance, the Italian team managed to win the second and third sets in succession!
By the end of the third set, Qin Chunxiao was covered in sweat. If it weren’t for the headband he was wearing, the sweat would have been so much that he wouldn’t be able to open his eyes. Yet, only 50 minutes had passed in the match.
The commentator said, “Both the Chinese and Italian teams are playing at a fast pace today. The rapid tempo is putting a lot of pressure on the players’ nerves, which has led to mistakes on both sides.”
Newton was also pondering. While the tempo was still within the players’ control, continuing at this rate would inevitably push their stamina to the limit. Should he slow down the pace or persist and bet on their opponents breaking down first?
In the end, he made his decision: don’t slow down the pace, fight with Italy to the end!
The Italian team made the same decision. They believed in their determination and were convinced that their young players wouldn’t lose.
The battle between the two teams entered its most intense phase.
Qin Chunxiao believed in Newton and followed the tactics set by the coach. However, being in the midst of it all, he felt like he was on fire. In the fast-paced and fierce men’s volleyball match, he was even cautious about blinking, afraid of missing his opponents’ movements.
The so-called libero was omnipresent on the court, constantly running to protect his teammates, serving as their guardian. They needed to be more reliable than anyone else!
Qin Chunxiao once again entered a wild sprinting state, constantly diving, leaping, and running on the court. Sometimes, he would land heavily on the ground, but he didn’t mind. His teammates were also giving their all.
They wanted to win this game because they didn’t want to leave the glory of conquering all the strong teams for the Olympics. They wanted to defeat the formidable Italian team that they had never beaten before.
When the score reached 24:23, all China needed was one more point to even the score.
Mattia once again set the ball, successfully deceiving You Ziyu and Fu Biyang’s block. Italy’s fierce attacker spiked the ball towards China’s floor like a heavy cannonball. Qin Chunxiao ran toward that side. Li Ling, in his path, pulled Qiao Mingming aside and ran to a suitable position for a set.
While running, Qin Chunxiao stumbled, but he managed to push off the ground with his left wrist, propelling himself like a fish. In mid-air, he reached out with one hand and gently guided the ball towards the net.
What was surprising was that even in such an extreme saving posture, he managed to neutralize the strong spin on the ball.
Li Ling looked at the ball and caught a glimpse of Mattia on the opposite side of the net. A thought crossed his mind.
Mattia had made China suffer for so long. It was time to give him a taste of their own medicine.
With both hands raised, Li Ling used one hand to tap the ball back across the net.
Li Ling’s second-touch attack scored a point!
The twin stars of the Guangdong team, this perfect pairing, secured the most crucial point for the Chinese team at the end of the fourth set, tying the score at 2-2.
Qin Chunxiao lay on the ground and didn’t get up for a while. Gao Depi went over to help him up, “Xiaozai, what’s wrong with you?”
Qin Chunxiao propped himself up. The headband was slanted on his face, and a large area of his forehead was bruised.
He remained calm, “Oh, I was busy saving the ball just now. When I landed, I had to use my face to cushion the impact… bumped into it a bit. Don’t worry about it.”
Gao Depi said, “But you were crying.”
Qin Chunxiao responded, “Those were physiological tears from the pain. I already said, don’t worry about it!”
Come on Pishen, give Xiaozai some face.
Normally, when an athlete gets injured, the coach would consider substituting them. After all, they’re human beings, not replaceable items. Among those who couldn’t stand Qin Chunxiao, aside from the craziest group, some thought that he should be taken out.
【That guy is really giving his all in the game.】 Even those who didn’t understand the sport can see that Qin Chunxiao saved many crucial balls today.
【He’s quite determined, enduring all those falls until now. He’s probably reached his limit.】 They admired Qin Chunxiao’s willpower.
【Do athletes really have such great endurance? Could what that group of people said about Qin Lu be true? I don’t want that! Our Dongzi Emperor is clearly the main attacker!】 This person had already started to get confused.
But Qin Chunxiao didn’t really take it to heart. As long as he was a libero, he was used to falls and hits. It was just a facial injury; it was not like his limbs are broken. He could still keep playing.
Du Xiaofeng and Xiong Wu were trying to persuade him from both sides, “Come on, don’t be stubborn. Give us a chance to play.”
Qin Chunxiao said, “No! I want to keep playing! If Dario doesn’t come off the court today, I won’t either. I have to settle the score with him!”
Why is this kid so stubborn?
Du Xiaofeng sighed, “Fine, I’m going to be benched again today because of you.”
Xiong Wu said, “I get it now. I and Xiaofeng are here to increase the depth of the bench.”
Wang Yan rolled his eyes from the side, “Alright, if you can’t persuade him, then forget it. Stop blocking the way with your comedy routine. Let’s make some space. Xiaozai, come and ice your face.”
The dreaded fifth set has arrived.
Newton made two more substitutions. In the fifth set, the lineup consisted of Qiao Mingming, You Ziyu, Kong Duojin, Fu Biyang, Li Ling, and Qin Chunxiao.
The team’s best attacker, the best server, the best blocker, the fastest attacker, the setter with the most unpredictable playmaking, and the best defender – Lao Niu had brought out the strongest assets of the entire Chinese men’s volleyball team. They were ready to give their all against the opponents!
The Italian team wasn’t backing down either; they fielded their strongest lineup.
At this point, both coaches instinctively activated their most potent tactics – “Kids, let’s go all out against the other side!”
Right at this moment, the Chinese commentator Wu Di exclaimed, “Ladies and gentlemen, as we enter the fifth set, China’s domain has arrived.”
In terms of stamina, the Chinese team had a significant advantage. The reason was simple – considering the average age, they were a whole 6 years younger than the Italian team!
When both teams were evenly matched in skill, stamina would determine the outcome of the match. This was particularly evident in the competition between the two liberos, Qin Chunxiao and Dario.
While Qin Chunxiao was still able to sprint across the entire court, Dario was beginning to feel his steps growing heavy. He was struggling to keep up.
Having already won against Japan’s team, Brazil’s coach, Mars, who was present at the venue with his players, took a sip of his cola and said, “The Chinese team is going to win.”
His captain, Caique, smiled and commented, “Misha and Dario are roughly at the same level, but Misha managed to secure the victory with his endurance.”
Mars continued, “And speed. That kid has even greater potential.”
Mars both admired and regretted Qin Chunxiao’s abilities and potential. He sighed, “It’s a pity that when he was still a newcomer, I didn’t spend big money to invite him to play in Brazil. Now, the Hamster Club definitely won’t let him go easily.”
In terms of financial resources, the major clubs in the Brazilian league couldn’t compete with the backing of the Russian Snack King’s Hamster Club.
“Let’s go, we’re about to meet the Chinese team.” Mars got up and left, followed by a line of tall Brazilian players.
Dominique was engrossed in his phone, his body slightly trembling. His teammate, Joshua, reminded him, “Dom, stop playing games.”
Dominique’s voice trembled as he replied, “Just wait… wait until I finish this round!”
Joshua said, “If you’re scared of ghosts, then don’t play a haunted house escape game!”
Five minutes later, the match concluded, and the Chinese team narrowly defeated the Italian team once again.
Qin Chunxiao tilted his head back while the team doctor held an ice pack for him. Li Ling raised one of his hands to help wipe off the sweat. Suddenly, a commotion broke out behind them, accompanied by screams.
Wang Yan chuckled softly, “Turn around and see who’s here.”
Qin Chunxiao turned around and saw a familiar face wearing a casual expression.
There was a slight weariness on Lu Xuandong’s face, but he was neatly dressed in a white T-shirt, black pants, and sports shoes. He removed his mask with his left hand and raised his right hand to wave.
“Hey.”
【Ah ah ah! Dongzi Emperor!】
【Damn, he’s so handsome! Why does he still look so handsome even on a sports channel without any filters?!】
【Why did he come to Japan!】
【I’ve been saying this for a while now. Even before they were officially together, whenever conditions allowed, Lu Xuandong would always come to watch Qin’s games. Plus, now that they’re together, it’s normal for him to be here. There’s no need to make a big deal out of it.】
Qin Chunxiao widened his eyes, “When did you come to Japan?”
Lu Xuandong replied, “If you’re asking about my entry time, I arrived in Japan 40 minutes ago. I took a shower at the hotel and came right away.”
Qin Chunxiao instinctively calculated – when Lu Xuandong had called him this morning, he reported that he had worked until 3 AM last night, attended a meeting at 8 AM, and needed an hour on the high-speed train from the factory to the airport. This meant that after enduring the flight, he probably hadn’t even caught his breath yet before he came rushing over. His shower was likely just to prevent Qin Chunxiao from seeing him all dusty and disheveled.
He couldn’t help but laugh, “You crazy person.”
To hurry here like this, he wasn’t afraid of collapsing from exhaustion midway.
Lu Xuandong didn’t say anything, he simply naturally blended into the team as they were leaving the court, picking up a sports bag for Xiaoqin. He explained in a hushed voice, “I just saw some people online saying that we got together, and I never came to watch you play in the World Cup. They thought I wasn’t valuing you.”
Qin Chunxiao responded, “But you have work, and you can watch the live broadcast of the games online. I wouldn’t feel neglected because of such a small matter.”
Is Xiaozai really such an unreasonable person? “As long as you’re not feeling neglected, it’s good, but even without these comments, I really wanted to see you.” Lu Xuandong held Qin Chunxiao’s hand, “I promise, I finished my work before coming.”
Qin Chunxiao didn’t say anything, but after they got on the bus, he had Lu Xuandong lean against him and said, “You need to rest.”
Lu Xuandong responded with a sound and closed his eyes. After a while, his breathing became steady.
Looking at the dark circles under Lu Xuandong’s eyes, Qin Chunxiao embraced his body, which felt a bit too large for him. He thought to himself, “Even when he’s so tired, his face doesn’t sag. He really has the confidence to be photogenic.” However, more than his face, he was indeed more concerned about Lu Xuandong’s health.
Once they’re back in the country, he would urge Lu Xuandong to undergo a full-body checkup. They should have a checkup every three months from now on.
Because unless something unexpected happens, they were going to be together for a very long time. Qin Chunxiao didn’t want to lose colorful vision when he’s in his sixties or seventies. For someone who had the potential to challenge the Guinness World Record for longevity, having only black and white for the remaining sixty years would be too cruel.
My Soulmate is A Libero
In fact, there had been an unprecedented level of attention in the country towards this World Cup, and it had a bit to do with Lu Xuandong.
Busy as Lu Xuandong was, accompanied by his face growing more handsome, his body getting better, himself getting wealthier, and thus becoming more charming, even after stepping back from the entertainment scene, Dongzi’s popularity unexpectedly skyrocketed, surpassing the fan base of many so-called top stars who were still actively working in the industry.
What’s most important was that everyone knows Lu Xuandong’s fans were active fans, not bought.
Ever since Lu Xuandong announced his relationship, despite Qin Chunxiao receiving a fair share of criticism, his social media followers also surged. Many people kept an eye on him, ready to jump on any poorly-worded post he made and turn it into a hate campaign against him.
This time, Lu Xuandong didn’t accompany Qin Chunxiao to Japan for the World Cup. Some even said that their relationship wasn’t that strong if Lu Xuandong didn’t go with his boyfriend to the World Cup. They speculated that Lu Xuandong reluctantly agreed due to Qin Chunxiao’s insistence, suggesting that Lu Xuandong’s feelings might not be that deep for him.
Regardless of the negative factors in this surge of attention, the number of people watching the matches increased significantly.
At the beginning, their discussions went like this:
“Has the match started? Who are they playing against today? Are they strong? How’s the world ranking? Is that someone playing or not?”
“They haven’t played much. That guy is the main player. Against weaker teams, they might rotate players. Hard to tell how they’ll do.”
“Today, they’re playing against the USA, ranked within the top five in the world, very strong. That guy is in the starting lineup as libero.”
“What’s libero?”
“It’s the one wearing a different color jersey, can only defend, not attack.”
“Well, as long as that guy performs well, we’ll consider it as bringing glory to the country. If he doesn’t play well, he can’t blame us for criticizing him. If he drags down the team, don’t hesitate, immediately criticize him. Put all the blame on him if they lose. Pay attention to the time he enters the court.”
After the Chinese team humorously fought against the American team while battling each other in a comedic skit, many newcomers to volleyball were left baffled.
Is this Chinese team strong or weak?
If you say strong, they were just too funny to be taken seriously as strong players. If you say weak, they just defeated the American team.
After browsing the internet, nobody was discussing how difficult it was for China to beat the USA. All the veteran fans were busy laughing and sympathizing with the unfortunate referee.
Finally, someone asked, “How significant is China’s victory over the USA?”
The veteran fans were also puzzled by this question. “It’s pretty significant. That’s the USA team! Just a few years ago, our Chinese team was barely in the top 20 world rankings. We wouldn’t even dare to think about beating the USA back then.”
Then this person asked, “Is Qin Chunxiao impressive?”
Veteran fans replied, “Of course! He’s the best male libero in Asia, the only one in Asia who can go head-to-head with top European and American liberos. Do you think he’s impressive? In the realm of volleyball libero, he’s at least in the top five globally. Moreover, he’s the youngest with the greatest potential. In this current men’s volleyball lineup, no matter what tactics they use, Qin Chunxiao is definitely a core player, the team’s assurance. If he’s not on the court, China’s ranking would drop from top five to barely top eight!”
Even though the veteran fans weren’t merely exaggerating about Qin Chunxiao, in the realm of sports, only the strong can earn the respect of these old-timers. The fact that Qin Chunxiao could improve a team’s world ranking by at least three positions wasn’t a claim he made himself. It was said by the Russian national team coach, Nikolai, on Twitter, and it was endorsed by China’s coach, Coach Newton, as well as his teammates.
In other words, Qin Chunxiao’s prowess was widely acknowledged. The only one who could share this honor with him was Dario.
Unfortunately, in the eyes of some, if Qin Chunxiao didn’t win the championship, he was still just a second-rate athlete. No matter how much the veteran fans praised him, it didn’t matter. At most, they thought that Lu Xuandong’s judgment wasn’t too bad.
After the match between the Chinese team and the Italian team began, this group of people chose to continue focusing on the court, wanting to criticize and nitpick further.
However, whether it was this group of individuals who knew little about volleyball or the veteran fans, no one anticipated that the Italian team would launch such a fierce counterattack from the very beginning.
But the Chinese team also had their confidence – they had the fastest libero in the world!
The audience saw the number 8 in the yellow jersey dash to the landing point of the ball, without even looking back, he bumped the ball backwards. In a situation where he hadn’t even used his vision, relying solely on exceptional spatial awareness, he set the ball to the fourth position.
The feel and spatial awareness of that play were just incredible!
Tong Shulan immediately delivered a spike.
1-0, the Chinese team took the first point.
Before, it was You Ziyu whose jump serve had been received. Now, he stepped back onto the serving spot once again.
“It’s the pressure that comes with facing Xiaozai,” You Ziyu took a deep breath and, as the referee blew the whistle, tossed the ball into the air once more.
Dario was not one to accept defeat easily. Let him test this libero’s skill with his most cunning floater serve that could give the libero the hardest time!
You Ziyu’s jump floater could take a sharp turn midway. Currently, there were only four players on the Chinese team who could execute such a wide curve: You Ziyu, Luo He, Gao Depi, and a rather unexpected Li Ling.
However, Li Ling’s jump floater was almost negligible because even he didn’t know what his success rate was. Teaching him that skill had frustrated You Ziyu to the point where he started drinking ice water every day.
This time, Dario seemed a bit flustered, yet he still got the ball to the setter, showcasing remarkable ball control.
Moreover, Dario had saved the ball with his foot.
Newton remarked, “Hmm… seems like it’s not only our Xiaozai and the Brazilians who are good at saving balls with their feet.”
Both the men’s and women’s teams from Brazil had instances of saving the ball with their feet. They were known for their strong football talents. Qin Chunxiao’s foot saves could even be compiled into a fifty-second highlight reel. As for Italy… in two more years, the Italian football team would take the European Championship with their song “Lose Some Weight.” The charm of this song could rival the Hamster Club’s anthem “Forever Running on the Wheel.”
If Qin Chunxiao exuded wildness and aggressiveness, like an impassioned beast as a libero, then Dario was like an honor student. His exceptional talent grew and flourished within a well-rounded training system, shining even brighter through his diligence. He could practically be studied from a textbook.
In simple terms, many of Qin Chunxiao’s moves couldn’t be replicated because most people lacked his reaction speed and agility. On the other hand, Dario was like a presence that many liberos could reach out and match.
However, the efficiency of these two players on the court was quite similar; both could make the spikers feel just how difficult it was to get a point against them.
At the end of the first set, Qin Chunxiao had a higher attacking efficiency than Dario against opponents. In a situation where the attacking level of both teams was fairly equal, China managed to secure the first set with a delicate advantage.
Lorenzo was a bit puzzled, “Did that guy’s moves become smoother?”
Newton wore a mysterious smile. His years of flattery to his superiors had paid off in leaps and bounds. Just before the World Cup began, the leadership finally allowed the men’s national team to go to the wind tunnel.
The wind tunnel was a high-tech facility that originated in the 1940s and 1950s. Back then, scientists used wind tunnels to test the resistance and various parameters of aircraft and missiles in the air.
Even now, athletes could enter wind tunnels to test their various moves, calculating which actions had less air resistance and which were more efficient and swift. Sports such as speed skating, swimming, and cycling have already started benefiting from wind tunnel training.
In the men’s volleyball team, the main participants in this training were Qin Chunxiao, Xiong Wu, Du Xiaofeng, and a few other liberos. They were all responsible for various on-court movements and ball-saving actions. Among them, Qin Chunxiao had a sprinting background, which meant he utilized some sprinting techniques when chasing after balls. Speed training was particularly suitable for him.
As for the results of Xiong Wu’s 100-meter run after coming out of the wind tunnel… well, it’s a secret. Otherwise, the track and field team might really come to compete with Newton for people. With Xiong Wu’s current 100-meter time, it wasn’t just about becoming a key player in the track and field team. He could also greatly contribute to the relay team.
Dario’s ankle was a bit uncomfortable. Under tremendous pressure from the Chinese team, he couldn’t afford to take a set off. So, before the second set began, he sat down and massaged his ankle, while the team doctor brought him an ice pack to apply. However, he remained restless, wiping his sweat continuously.
He complained, “What’s Misha doing playing volleyball? With his speed, he should be challenging the 100-meter record.”
Many players who had faced Qin Chunxiao shared similar thoughts about him. Misha’s decision to play volleyball was a waste. He should hurry and go to the track and field arena, preferably keeping his distance from them!
The Italian team doctor said, “He can’t maintain the same level as in the first set.”
Dario asked, “Huh?”
The Italian team doctor explained, “Rapid acceleration and deceleration, especially when done at top speed, cause wear and tear not only on people, but even on cars. Misha Qin is still a flesh-and-blood human. In the first set, he used his maximum speed to pressure you all, but he can’t keep this up indefinitely. Otherwise, his joints won’t be able to handle it.”
This veteran team doctor’s speculation was correct. By the second set, Qin Chunxiao’s running speed had slowed down a bit. However, Newton had already put Gao Depi and Li Ling on the court.
The nickname of the Guangdong team was the “Defensive Brigade.” Now, their leader, second-in-command, and third-in-command were all on the court. While Qin Chunxiao was a libero and couldn’t transition to the attacking side, Gao Depi and Li Ling were free to shift as they pleased. They quickly activated the team, adding a touch of flamboyance to China’s tactics.
But unfortunately for the Italian team, they lacked a mythical-level player who could use high attacks to deal with such flamboyance!
Was China’s victory already guaranteed? No! Captain Mattia of the Italian team’s eyes sharpened, and the angle of his sets became even more cunning.
In the volleyball arena, there’s a saying that goes like this: a good setter can turn an ordinary attacker into a world-class one! Setters are like commanding towers. They decide the path the attacker will take, where the attack will be initiated, and how to deceive the opponent’s block. Some skilled setters even develop formidable serving, blocking, and second-touch attacking abilities.
Mattia was currently the best setter in the world. He alone was enough to activate the Italian team and make their tactics more elaborate than those of their opponents. With Mattia’s incredible performance, the Italian team managed to win the second and third sets in succession!
By the end of the third set, Qin Chunxiao was covered in sweat. If it weren’t for the headband he was wearing, the sweat would have been so much that he wouldn’t be able to open his eyes. Yet, only 50 minutes had passed in the match.
The commentator said, “Both the Chinese and Italian teams are playing at a fast pace today. The rapid tempo is putting a lot of pressure on the players’ nerves, which has led to mistakes on both sides.”
Newton was also pondering. While the tempo was still within the players’ control, continuing at this rate would inevitably push their stamina to the limit. Should he slow down the pace or persist and bet on their opponents breaking down first?
In the end, he made his decision: don’t slow down the pace, fight with Italy to the end!
The Italian team made the same decision. They believed in their determination and were convinced that their young players wouldn’t lose.
The battle between the two teams entered its most intense phase.
Qin Chunxiao believed in Newton and followed the tactics set by the coach. However, being in the midst of it all, he felt like he was on fire. In the fast-paced and fierce men’s volleyball match, he was even cautious about blinking, afraid of missing his opponents’ movements.
The so-called libero was omnipresent on the court, constantly running to protect his teammates, serving as their guardian. They needed to be more reliable than anyone else!
Qin Chunxiao once again entered a wild sprinting state, constantly diving, leaping, and running on the court. Sometimes, he would land heavily on the ground, but he didn’t mind. His teammates were also giving their all.
They wanted to win this game because they didn’t want to leave the glory of conquering all the strong teams for the Olympics. They wanted to defeat the formidable Italian team that they had never beaten before.
When the score reached 24:23, all China needed was one more point to even the score.
Mattia once again set the ball, successfully deceiving You Ziyu and Fu Biyang’s block. Italy’s fierce attacker spiked the ball towards China’s floor like a heavy cannonball. Qin Chunxiao ran toward that side. Li Ling, in his path, pulled Qiao Mingming aside and ran to a suitable position for a set.
While running, Qin Chunxiao stumbled, but he managed to push off the ground with his left wrist, propelling himself like a fish. In mid-air, he reached out with one hand and gently guided the ball towards the net.
What was surprising was that even in such an extreme saving posture, he managed to neutralize the strong spin on the ball.
Li Ling looked at the ball and caught a glimpse of Mattia on the opposite side of the net. A thought crossed his mind.
Mattia had made China suffer for so long. It was time to give him a taste of their own medicine.
With both hands raised, Li Ling used one hand to tap the ball back across the net.
Li Ling’s second-touch attack scored a point!
The twin stars of the Guangdong team, this perfect pairing, secured the most crucial point for the Chinese team at the end of the fourth set, tying the score at 2-2.
Qin Chunxiao lay on the ground and didn’t get up for a while. Gao Depi went over to help him up, “Xiaozai, what’s wrong with you?”
Qin Chunxiao propped himself up. The headband was slanted on his face, and a large area of his forehead was bruised.
He remained calm, “Oh, I was busy saving the ball just now. When I landed, I had to use my face to cushion the impact… bumped into it a bit. Don’t worry about it.”
Gao Depi said, “But you were crying.”
Qin Chunxiao responded, “Those were physiological tears from the pain. I already said, don’t worry about it!”
Come on Pishen, give Xiaozai some face.
Normally, when an athlete gets injured, the coach would consider substituting them. After all, they’re human beings, not replaceable items. Among those who couldn’t stand Qin Chunxiao, aside from the craziest group, some thought that he should be taken out.
【That guy is really giving his all in the game.】 Even those who didn’t understand the sport can see that Qin Chunxiao saved many crucial balls today.
【He’s quite determined, enduring all those falls until now. He’s probably reached his limit.】 They admired Qin Chunxiao’s willpower.
【Do athletes really have such great endurance? Could what that group of people said about Qin Lu be true? I don’t want that! Our Dongzi Emperor is clearly the main attacker!】 This person had already started to get confused.
But Qin Chunxiao didn’t really take it to heart. As long as he was a libero, he was used to falls and hits. It was just a facial injury; it was not like his limbs are broken. He could still keep playing.
Du Xiaofeng and Xiong Wu were trying to persuade him from both sides, “Come on, don’t be stubborn. Give us a chance to play.”
Qin Chunxiao said, “No! I want to keep playing! If Dario doesn’t come off the court today, I won’t either. I have to settle the score with him!”
Why is this kid so stubborn?
Du Xiaofeng sighed, “Fine, I’m going to be benched again today because of you.”
Xiong Wu said, “I get it now. I and Xiaofeng are here to increase the depth of the bench.”
Wang Yan rolled his eyes from the side, “Alright, if you can’t persuade him, then forget it. Stop blocking the way with your comedy routine. Let’s make some space. Xiaozai, come and ice your face.”
The dreaded fifth set has arrived.
Newton made two more substitutions. In the fifth set, the lineup consisted of Qiao Mingming, You Ziyu, Kong Duojin, Fu Biyang, Li Ling, and Qin Chunxiao.
The team’s best attacker, the best server, the best blocker, the fastest attacker, the setter with the most unpredictable playmaking, and the best defender – Lao Niu had brought out the strongest assets of the entire Chinese men’s volleyball team. They were ready to give their all against the opponents!
The Italian team wasn’t backing down either; they fielded their strongest lineup.
At this point, both coaches instinctively activated their most potent tactics – “Kids, let’s go all out against the other side!”
Right at this moment, the Chinese commentator Wu Di exclaimed, “Ladies and gentlemen, as we enter the fifth set, China’s domain has arrived.”
In terms of stamina, the Chinese team had a significant advantage. The reason was simple – considering the average age, they were a whole 6 years younger than the Italian team!
When both teams were evenly matched in skill, stamina would determine the outcome of the match. This was particularly evident in the competition between the two liberos, Qin Chunxiao and Dario.
While Qin Chunxiao was still able to sprint across the entire court, Dario was beginning to feel his steps growing heavy. He was struggling to keep up.
Having already won against Japan’s team, Brazil’s coach, Mars, who was present at the venue with his players, took a sip of his cola and said, “The Chinese team is going to win.”
His captain, Caique, smiled and commented, “Misha and Dario are roughly at the same level, but Misha managed to secure the victory with his endurance.”
Mars continued, “And speed. That kid has even greater potential.”
Mars both admired and regretted Qin Chunxiao’s abilities and potential. He sighed, “It’s a pity that when he was still a newcomer, I didn’t spend big money to invite him to play in Brazil. Now, the Hamster Club definitely won’t let him go easily.”
In terms of financial resources, the major clubs in the Brazilian league couldn’t compete with the backing of the Russian Snack King’s Hamster Club.
“Let’s go, we’re about to meet the Chinese team.” Mars got up and left, followed by a line of tall Brazilian players.
Dominique was engrossed in his phone, his body slightly trembling. His teammate, Joshua, reminded him, “Dom, stop playing games.”
Dominique’s voice trembled as he replied, “Just wait… wait until I finish this round!”
Joshua said, “If you’re scared of ghosts, then don’t play a haunted house escape game!”
Five minutes later, the match concluded, and the Chinese team narrowly defeated the Italian team once again.
Qin Chunxiao tilted his head back while the team doctor held an ice pack for him. Li Ling raised one of his hands to help wipe off the sweat. Suddenly, a commotion broke out behind them, accompanied by screams.
Wang Yan chuckled softly, “Turn around and see who’s here.”
Qin Chunxiao turned around and saw a familiar face wearing a casual expression.
There was a slight weariness on Lu Xuandong’s face, but he was neatly dressed in a white T-shirt, black pants, and sports shoes. He removed his mask with his left hand and raised his right hand to wave.
“Hey.”
【Ah ah ah! Dongzi Emperor!】
【Damn, he’s so handsome! Why does he still look so handsome even on a sports channel without any filters?!】
【Why did he come to Japan!】
【I’ve been saying this for a while now. Even before they were officially together, whenever conditions allowed, Lu Xuandong would always come to watch Qin’s games. Plus, now that they’re together, it’s normal for him to be here. There’s no need to make a big deal out of it.】
Qin Chunxiao widened his eyes, “When did you come to Japan?”
Lu Xuandong replied, “If you’re asking about my entry time, I arrived in Japan 40 minutes ago. I took a shower at the hotel and came right away.”
Qin Chunxiao instinctively calculated – when Lu Xuandong had called him this morning, he reported that he had worked until 3 AM last night, attended a meeting at 8 AM, and needed an hour on the high-speed train from the factory to the airport. This meant that after enduring the flight, he probably hadn’t even caught his breath yet before he came rushing over. His shower was likely just to prevent Qin Chunxiao from seeing him all dusty and disheveled.
He couldn’t help but laugh, “You crazy person.”
To hurry here like this, he wasn’t afraid of collapsing from exhaustion midway.
Lu Xuandong didn’t say anything, he simply naturally blended into the team as they were leaving the court, picking up a sports bag for Xiaoqin. He explained in a hushed voice, “I just saw some people online saying that we got together, and I never came to watch you play in the World Cup. They thought I wasn’t valuing you.”
Qin Chunxiao responded, “But you have work, and you can watch the live broadcast of the games online. I wouldn’t feel neglected because of such a small matter.”
Is Xiaozai really such an unreasonable person? “As long as you’re not feeling neglected, it’s good, but even without these comments, I really wanted to see you.” Lu Xuandong held Qin Chunxiao’s hand, “I promise, I finished my work before coming.”
Qin Chunxiao didn’t say anything, but after they got on the bus, he had Lu Xuandong lean against him and said, “You need to rest.”
Lu Xuandong responded with a sound and closed his eyes. After a while, his breathing became steady.
Looking at the dark circles under Lu Xuandong’s eyes, Qin Chunxiao embraced his body, which felt a bit too large for him. He thought to himself, “Even when he’s so tired, his face doesn’t sag. He really has the confidence to be photogenic.” However, more than his face, he was indeed more concerned about Lu Xuandong’s health.
Once they’re back in the country, he would urge Lu Xuandong to undergo a full-body checkup. They should have a checkup every three months from now on.
Because unless something unexpected happens, they were going to be together for a very long time. Qin Chunxiao didn’t want to lose colorful vision when he’s in his sixties or seventies. For someone who had the potential to challenge the Guinness World Record for longevity, having only black and white for the remaining sixty years would be too cruel.
