The fans were ecstatic.
[2:1! Now the pressure is on the Iranian team~]
[The pressure has also affected the men’s football team.]
[The comments above are as hilarious as Wu Di’s hahaha~]
[Come on! Fight to win this round!]
[Hold on, hold on tight. Er Leng’s injury to the back of his head came out of nowhere. I hope Pishen can fill in for Er Leng’s position!]
Pishen had a secret: he once secretly wore five pairs of socks in his sneakers to artificially increase his measured height.
Later, he realized that in volleyball, players had to take off their shoes to measure their height. So when he joined the provincial team, he was still designated as a libero.
In reality, even if he wore ten pairs of socks, regardless of whether the sneakers would fit or not, there was a high probability that Gao Depi would still end up practicing as a libero.
In the past, he was very unwilling to be a libero, but now he had regained the opportunity to stand on the international stage due to his solid defensive foundation and excellent all-around skills in both offense and defense.
Perhaps everything had its pros and cons.
“Take this!”
Gao Depi executed a powerful jump and successfully scored the first point of the fourth game for the Chinese team!
Any small-sized male athlete who could compete in sports like basketball and volleyball always possessed one or two unique skills.
Standing at a height of 1.84 meters, which was already considered tall in the eyes of ordinary people, Gao Depi responded swiftly and leaped again with great force.
Unfortunately, the serve was not executed well this time. The ball brushed against the net and landed on the Chinese team’s side. Gao Depi showed his embarrassment: “Oh, I didn’t serve well this time.”
The serve was now in the hands of the opposing team, and the two teams, already heated up, engaged in a regular contest. Gao Depi quickly demonstrated his superior defensive skills.
Gao Depi’s fans from the past were astonished by his playing style because, as an attacker, he didn’t like to dive for balls. In his view, men just wanted to smash the ball. Pishen’s powerful spikes were as natural as Er Leng’s sets and Qin Chunxiao’s defense. When he didn’t dominate the ball and attacking position, it would surprise the fans.
Considering the characteristics of the three players from Guangdong Province, fans gave them the nicknames “Gao Bu Fang” (Gao Unprotectable), “Qin Bu Lan” (Qin Non-Blocking), and “Li Bu Wen” (Li Unstable).
Ultimately, tonight, the three key players from Guangdong Province became “Gao Bu Kou” (Gao Non-Spiker), “Qin Bu Jie” (Qin Non-Receiver), and “Li Bu Chuan” (Li Non-Passer).
Pishen stood in the back row, looking intently across the net. The Iranian players were serving to them, and he was preparing to receive a pass.
He was finally back on the court.
At this moment, Gao Depi was almost moved to tears.
As the brightly colored volleyball flew towards him, Pishen grinned and lunged forward, propelling the ball towards the net with both hands.
“Xiaozi!”
Qin Chunxiao made a back set, and Qiao Mingming delivered a powerful spike.
With a resounding thud, the volleyball hit the ground forcefully. Qiao Mingming pounded his chest once again, let out a roar, and even bumped chests with Fu Biyang.
The pace on the court was fast. The rally seemed long, but Pishen only got back up when the ball touched the ground. He ran towards his teammates and embraced them.
As some old fans witnessed this scene, their eyes inexplicably welled up with emotion. They weren’t new fans who fell into the pit because of the appearance of the National Youth Team; they had been following players like Ding Rong and Gao Depi for many years. Some of the veterans in the game were unfamiliar with the fan circle jargon used by the new volleyball fans, and they didn’t engage in much communication with them.
Even when Li Ling was off the court, they chose to ignore the barrage of comments in the video such as “I’m momentarily stunned,” “Who is this new player?” and “This is so strange.”
At this moment, they truly felt the thrill of dedicating themselves to a sport for a long time, watching the athletes who struggled within it gradually descend into the abyss and then desperately claw their way back up.
After Ding Rong transformed into a setter and returned to the game, Gao Depi, who was the most injured among the four main attackers, also made his comeback.
They were all back.
In a sporting goods store in Guangdong, Uncle Gao, who had taken care of Qin Chunxiao a lot, took off his glasses, wiped the corners of his eyes, and let out a relieved sniff.
A year ago, he couldn’t have imagined that his nephew Xiaopi would return to the court, let alone that he and Xiaozai, who worked a summer job at his store, would become such harmonious teammates. To be able to stand together and fight side by side in the international arena today was a testament to the wonders of fate.
After all, fate had been kind to these children who refused to give up on their dreams.
Uncle Gao believed that no one in this world could be happier than him to see these children shine.
In this regard, Yang Yun, who was at the La Plagne ski resort in the French Alps, had something to say: Although he and Uncle Gao had never met, he shed as many tears for the Chinese men’s volleyball team as Uncle Gao did.
Yang Yun and his grandson, Yang Lan, had been in France for a long time and had visited Paris. The Eiffel Tower had served as a background for their photos several times during their wanderings. Now they were at the ski resort again. Although Yang Yun didn’t ski, he enjoyed taking the cable car twice a day, sipping hot tea, and watching sports games in the hotel lobby.
The hotel lobby had an oversized projection screen that showed sports events every day.
The La Plagne ski resort was renowned worldwide, and several world-class athletes trained there. One would expect the hotel owner to be a winter sports enthusiast, but people often do the opposite. The hotel projection screen only displayed three major sports: football, basketball, and volleyball. In the male and female areas, players from these sports were constantly running across the screen.
Coincidentally, Yang Yun had a strong background in volleyball and was fluent in French. He had become acquainted with the hotel owner over the past half month. Since it was the off-season, no one was competing with Yang Yun for control of the TV.
As he watched the collaboration between Gao Depi and Qin Chunxiao, Yang Yun proudly said to his grandson, “Look at the two of them. They may not be tall, but their presence and determination when playing are much stronger than yours.”
Yang Lan replied, “Grandpa, let’s watch the game and not compare me to your own grandson, okay?”
Ever since his first encounter with Qin Chunxiao, Yang Lan knew that his opponent was an exceptional player who would undoubtedly excel in the professional arena in the future. Yang Lan was happy to witness it because only by surpassing himself and losing to someone more formidable could he avoid feeling like he had missed out.
The hotel owner also chimed in, saying, “I have watched their games. Misha Qin is very talented. He is the only player who won the MVP for his defense in the recent World Youth Championships. If he plays in the French League in the future, I will definitely support him. I’ve already bought tickets to see him play.”
Yang Yun chuckled and replied, “There must be many clubs interested in inviting him. It will depend on which one offers the highest bid and the most suitable conditions.”
The French men’s volleyball team was also highly skilled. Their defensive system was comprehensive, and all team members were capable of both attacking and defending. If they were in good form, it wouldn’t be surprising to see them on the podium in world-class competitions.
While they were talking, the Chinese team and the Iranian team on the projection screen were engaged in an intense battle, with both sides fighting fiercely.
The Chinese team followed Lao Niu’s strategy of targeting the setter who appeared to be full of tricks. When attacking, they focused their attacks on Ah Sang, excluding the libero. As the saying goes, “You kill my wolf, I’ll cut your mulberry.” They weren’t holding back!
Some fans who watched this intense game felt that the two teams might not be enemies after the match.
The expressions of certain players were as fierce as those of bandits!
Speaking of Fu Biyang!
Fu Biyang, the roaring chicken, deserved to be ranked alongside Min Yaoyang as a “world-class player below the neck.” These players had a lot of passion when playing, giving their all in every match. There was no need to worry about them slacking off or coasting, but they could also be prone to emotional outbursts.
Fu Biyang had even greater strength than Min Yaoyang, and his temperament was even more fiery. When the game intensified, he became unstoppable. However, it was unfortunate that both Ah Sang and Ding Rong, being deceptive blockers in the setter position, could trick the opposing opposite hitters like kids on a trampoline. They might jump around, but their blocking efficiency was significantly reduced, leaving both opposite hitters frustrated.
Fu Biyang managed to score a quick break after Qin Chunxiao’s second set, and immediately yelled towards the other side of the net. Qin Chunxiao tugged at his shirt a few times, but the kid didn’t react.
Qin Chunxiao said, “So in my previous life, I had a violent incident with this guy on the field. It really wasn’t my fault.”
The referee’s loud noise was hurting his ears, and he couldn’t bear it, so he showed Fu Biyang a yellow card.
Fu Biyang exclaimed, “Eh? Why did I get a yellow card? I didn’t do anything, what the hell?”
The young man immediately went to discuss with the referee. He had a strong and imposing presence, with a face that no gangster would dare to approach if he walked the streets at night in the United States. The referee was so frightened that he almost pulled out the red card to send Fu Biyang off.
Qin Chunxiao took a deep breath and shouted, “Fu Biyang!”
Fu Biyang’s survival instincts kicked in, and not just him, but other players on the field dared not move.
Newton quickly stood up and made a substitution: “Maiti, you go in for Biyang.”
Aizmaiti stood up and sighed, “Coach, I know your name is Maiti, which is as friendly as Pishen, but you should call me by my full name, Aizmaiti, otherwise it’s like buying and selling.”
Now it wasn’t a team practice match, Fu Biyang was on the verge of losing control, and Ding Rong and Qin Chunxiao couldn’t go over and beat him up. Otherwise, the violence on the court would result in both Vice Team Ding and Qin the attacker being sent off, which was much more serious than replacing Fu Biyang.
This was the problem with having such a young team. The players’ ability to control their emotions had not yet been fully developed, so they always had to be vigilant against their impulsiveness.
Fu Biyang took the number plate from Aizmaiti’s hand and said solemnly, “Go all out.”
Aizmaiti was taken aback.
While Fu Biyang being replaced seemed unfair and helpless for the Chinese team, the Iranian team was more cheerful. Fu Biyang’s arms, thicker than normal thighs, were too intimidating, and he always loved to shout. He successfully blocked the ball, and the fast break succeeded. He continued to roar. Once he rotated to the front row, the Iranian attackers faced immense psychological and auditory pressure.
Qin Chunxiao saw the smiles on the faces of the Iranian attackers, squinted his eyes, and then made an opponent hit the ball out of bounds in the next round.
Using a hand to redirect the ball was one of the most irritating volleyball tricks. The ball would brush against a player’s blocking hand and then float out of bounds, giving a point to the opponent. It was really annoying to think about it.
Then the Iranian side attacked, and they were experienced players. Qin Chunxiao intuitively realized that Misha Qin’s ball was off. He anticipated the ball’s trajectory.
He tried to lean back, attempting to avoid the ball.
As long as the ball didn’t touch any player from the Iranian team, the out-of-bounds ball would ultimately be scored for the Iranian team!
The volleyball flew over the players’ fingers and finally floated three meters away from the baseline. When Qin Chunxiao landed, he saw the referee signal for the Iranian team to score.
He remained calm, raised his left hand to Newton, and pointed to his right index finger, indicating that the ball had touched the opponent’s finger.
Qin Chunxiao shouted, “This ball belongs to us!”
Newton immediately stood up and said he wanted to challenge with Hawkeye.
Volleyball matches often involved various challenges. According to the rules of the game, even if the ball just touches a player’s hair and floats out of bounds, it can still be considered as touching the player and judged as out of bounds.
At that moment, Hawkeye started to replay, showing Qin Chunxiao’s left hand slapping the yellow-blue volleyball to the opposing side. The two secondary attackers of the Iranian team jumped up to block the net at the same time, and the ball lightly brushed against one of their index fingers.
The referee nodded, signaling that the point belonged to China.
The score had now reached 20-20. If the Chinese team won the fourth game, the score would become 3-1, leading them to victory. The Iranian team would not tolerate that happening.
Even the fans watching in front of their TVs became nervous.
Uncle Gao from Guangdong clenched his fists and said, “Come on!”
Meng Yuqing, who was playing in the Women’s Volleyball Asian Championships in Manila, Philippines, looked at the tablet and muttered with her teammates, “Come on!”
Yang Yun in the France nodded approvingly and said, “This is how the game should be played. Keep it up!”
All these volleyball players from around the world who were watching the game at the same time had only one expectation in their hearts—to win!
A particularly tall boy walked into the hall where Yang Yun was, carrying his skis on his shoulders. He happened to see the Hawkeye challenge on the projection screen. The blue eyes of the petite Chinese team player had a strong presence on the screen.
The buddy, who was at least 2.05 meters tall, asked his partner, “Where is this game taking place?”
The partner said, “Asia, don’t you see the national flags behind the scores of the two teams? That blue-eyed one is the MVP of the World Youth Championship. Buddy, you were the MVP of the World Junior Championship. Don’t you pay attention to your fellow players?”
Sidney laughed and replied, “I never pay attention to Asian teams.”
Sidney, like Dominique, was also a young player. Born in 2002, he was one year younger than Qin Chunxiao. Full of the pride and lightness of youth, he always had a contemptuous attitude towards Asian teams.
However, Qin Chunxiao’s good looks attracted the admiration of young fans. They asked him to put down his skis and brought a chair to watch the game. The chair ended up serving as a makeshift bench.
After watching a few plays, the young fan realized that apart from height, Qin Chunxiao seemed to possess other remarkable qualities… which were not inferior to his own.
In addition to his exceptional ball sense, sharp facial features, and god-level reaction speed that would take a while for coaches to fully appreciate, Qin Chunxiao displayed visible top-level explosive power and jumping ability. These attributes became his assets in competing against taller players.
Furthermore, Qin Chunxiao exhibited impressive coordination, flexibility, and strong bones, which not only made him highly resistant to injuries but also made every movement look particularly smooth and harmonious.
Narrow-minded fans had complained about it. No matter how good-looking Fu Biyang and Min Yaoyang were, their movements resembled a clumsy King Kong. The gracefulness and agility of Qin Chunxiao’s movements added a special effect of beauty +50.
Sidney, a player known for his explosiveness and flexibility, saw Qin Chunxiao’s posture of pulling back and smashing the ball, and it was as if he was looking at a miniature version of himself. The sense of connection and familiarity burst instantly.
He couldn’t help but sigh, “With such excellent offensive abilities, no wonder he won the MVP.”
It appeared that he had underestimated the talents of players from around the world. Even a small Asian player could perform at such a high level.
Sidney’s friend had a subtle expression on his face. Actually, the MVP was awarded for defense. This kid clearly hadn’t watched the World Youth Championship.
As the competition became increasingly intense, the expressions of these young people became as serious as those of Yang Yun and the hotel owner.
The level of intensity in adult competitions was much higher than that of teenagers and youth. It was like male athletes who hadn’t fully developed yet. It was difficult for them to match the strength of adult players.
Qin Chunxiao skipped the World Junior Championships to compete in the World Youth Championships, and now he was pulled to the Senior Championships, which made a group of old fans in China feel that Newton was supporting the youth.
Qin Chunxiao himself never felt inferior to anyone else. He hadn’t reached his peak, but he possessed a super fighting spirit. In a field full of giants, he persisted in fighting against the adult players of the Iranian team.
With the combined efforts of Gao Depi and Du Xiaofeng, the impact of the wolf-killing tactics on Qin Chunxiao had been minimized, as the Iranian team suddenly realized that Qin Chunxiao’s offensive attack was just as threatening as his defense against the Iranian team.
In the fourth game, the score was 37:36, with the Chinese team leading by one point!
All the members of the Iranian team were sweating, and even the coach was drenched. Standing on the sidelines, he looked at Qin Chunxiao in disbelief. At this moment, he agreed with the FIVB MVP evaluation of Qin Chunxiao at the awards ceremony.
“He truly deserves to be the player who leads the championship team.”
This kid wasn’t the most powerful attacker, but he was undoubtedly one of the core players of the team. His willpower and emotions were incredibly stable. As long as he remained composed, his teammates could also maintain their mental stability and grind the opponents point by point.
In the eyes of the Iranian coaches, this mentality and influence were even more valuable than football skills!
Initially, he thought that the soul of the Chinese team was the kid named Qiao Mingming, but that wasn’t the case. Newton, a bold and clever strategist, had actually entrusted this extremely important role to a 16-year-old underage player.
Sidney from France also stood up to watch the game.
He looked at the projection screen and remarked, “The Chinese team might not be as strong as the Iranian team, but they play with great determination.”
The human body had its limits. No matter how hard they practiced, they couldn’t reach five meters high or lift ten thousand catties. The physical fitness of athletes from the top teams was generally similar after training. Therefore, what needed to be fought for was technique, tactics, and willpower.
The Chinese team was very young, but a team with such a fighting spirit was destined to be a team that everyone had to treat with caution. As long as they were in a match, their opponents would face a tough battle, even if they didn’t end up defeated!
Sidney had never encountered such an opponent in the World Junior Championships, but he knew that with the strength of this Chinese team, they would eventually meet on the world stage.
He had a hunch that he would stand on opposite sides of the court with these awe-inspiring opponents, fighting for the highest honor!
Aizmaiti stood at the net, his heart pounding like thunder. In that moment, he heard Qin Chunxiao’s voice.
“One more point.”
The unwavering determination in his voice startled Aizmaiti, instantly clearing his mind that had been somewhat clouded by the intense competition.
Meanwhile, Gao Depi returned to position 1. His hands were drenched in sweat. Before serving, he had to wipe his hands on his trousers several times, fearing that they would slip while serving.
Feeling a bit unstable, Lao Gao looked at Newton decisively. Newton took the last chance to make a substitution and replaced the server with You Ziyu.
You Ziyu adjusted his wrists, walked to the serving area, held the ball, and calmly surveyed the positions of the Iranian team.
The setter Ah Sang stood in the back row, while the Iranian team occupied the front row with their formidable attackers. This was the strong rotation of the Iranian team. If the ball wasn’t played, they wouldn’t be able to make a second touch under the rule that consecutive touches were not allowed.
However, the libero of the Iranian team was standing next to Ah Sang. If You Ziyu attacked Ah Sang, the libero would surely make a quick move. However, their captain Mallard stood on the other side, separated from the libero by Ah Sang, making it difficult for him to provide assistance.
From what You Ziyu knew, Mallard, the Iranian captain, had a knee injury, was tall with a high center of gravity, and his ball reception level could only be considered satisfactory, not excellent.
After analyzing the situation, You Ziyu sharpened his gaze and took a deep breath. Two seconds after the referee blew the whistle, he tossed the ball for a running start, leaped high, arched his back, and struck the ball forcefully with his palm!
The volleyball soared toward the middle of Mallard and Ah Sang at a speed of 120 kilometers per hour. Both reached out to catch it simultaneously, but collided with each other.
Mallard’s arm made contact with the ball first, but it flew out of bounds! The libero of the Iranian team quickly chased after it and sent the ball back to the net.
The libero shouted loudly, “Last ball!”
The height of the ball was not suitable for a smash, so their side attack in front of the net could only send it to the opposite side of the net, which happened to be a chance ball for the Chinese team!
Aizmaiti leaped the moment the ball crossed the net and attempted a probing hit, but the spiked ball was blocked by the charging middle blocker!
Ah Sang grinned triumphantly. His teammates never faltered at crucial moments, and they had anticipated the Chinese team’s move!
At that moment, Aizmaiti felt a surge of panic. Was the Iranian team going to block and score?
Fu Biyang suddenly ripped the white towel off his head, stood up, and shouted urgently, “Quick!”
It turned out that Qin Chunxiao had already dashed over, raising his foot and kicking the volleyball, sending it towards Ding Rong behind him, who made the crucial save!
Aizmaiti saw Qiao Mingming starting to sprint, and with Fu Biyang’s shout, he instinctively understood his teammates’ intentions.
That’s right, Lao Niu had told them during the practice match.
Qiao Mingming could spike over many players in the Asian Super League without a run-up, so if he initiated a run-up, the others had to quickly prepare—because the captain was covering for their real attack, it was time for teammates to jump up and attack!
The ball soared high once again, accidentally Qin Chunxiao slipped his foot on the ground and executed a split. Some people with poor flexibility winced in pain upon witnessing this scene, like Yang Lan in France.
Sidney instinctively shouted, “He’s not injured!” Athletes with good flexibility wouldn’t get injured from splits.
On the screen, Ding Rong immediately set up the second pass, and Qiao Mingming began his run-up from the baseline. The moment he crossed the three-meter line, he exerted all his strength and leaped into the air.
The young man who had become the Chinese team’s primary offensive force raised his arms high, ready to swing them.
Ah Sang yelled, “Get the ball!”
The libero of the Iranian team quickly positioned himself, prepared to receive the ball, but Qiao Mingming swung his arm, only to hit nothing but air. As he landed, Aizmaiti soared high from behind him.
This young man, born in Xinjiang and who had been benched by Kong Duojin and Fu Biyang since the beginning of the game, watched the volleyball with just one thought in his mind.
Last ball!
He forcefully slammed the ball into Iran’s unguarded backcourt, and as the ball hit the ground, he also landed on the floor.
The referee fixed his gaze on where the volleyball landed, paused for two seconds, blew the whistle, and made the necessary gestures.
At 38:36, the Chinese team took a 2-point lead and secured victory in the fourth game. The overall match score stood at 3:1 in favor of the Chinese team.
Aizmaiti stood there, his hands still trembling, while his teammates rushed over to celebrate.
The captain, vice-captain, setter, support players, Xiaozai, Li Ling, Xiaoji, teammates on the field, teammates on the bench, coaches, team doctors, and accompanying players all embraced each other like children jumping in circles.
In this moment, it seemed that some team members were crying tears of joy for this hard-earned victory, some were laughing, and some were simultaneously crying and laughing.
Qin Chunxiao was lifted up by Qiao Mingming and You Ziyu together, and his teammates carried him around the court as if showing him off. He didn’t feel any anger but rather shook his red Big Big Wolf towel and smiled with happiness.
Defeating the Iranian team was not the final step in the Asian Championships, and the gold medal still seemed distant.
But for now, Qin Chunxiao felt immensely content.
Because in team sports like volleyball, victory is the culmination of everyone’s collective efforts.
Through this game, he fully realized that his new life was filled with good fortune.
His teammates were all exceptional—the stability and accurate analysis of opponents by Squid, Li Ling’s trust in him, Fu Biyang’s selflessness when he was off the court, Qiao Mingming’s willingness to help in crucial moments, and the cover provided by his teammates.
Thanks to them, the Chinese team managed to defeat the Iranian team with a hard-fought victory this time.
Qin Chunxiao was also confident that as long as he continued to stand alongside these teammates, they would be able to keep pushing forward on the path of competition until they achieved the highest glory that all athletes yearn for.
Olympic gold medal.
France:
Sidney looked at the projection screen and said excitedly to his partners, “Hey, we will definitely face the Chinese team in the future Olympic Games. Do you have the video of the World Youth Championship? I want to watch their other games again!”
His partners laughed and replied, “Don’t worry, our club has their game videos. The coach has been impressed with Qin Misha since the World Youth Championship. He’s considering making an offer to him and inviting him to play in our league.”
Poland:
Sebastian, who had recovered from his injury, watched the game with his nurse girlfriend and said with a smile, “This team has great potential.”
Brazil:
Dominique was filled with excitement and exclaimed, “They’re even stronger than last time! I really want to compete against them again!”
Dominique’s teammates reminded him loudly, “Hey, the coach told you to build muscle, and the cafeteria lady recommended muscle-building meals.”
Dominique groaned, “This is already my fourth meal today! My stomach isn’t empty yet!”
Italy:
Coach Lorenzo started seriously considering whether he should extend an offer to Qin Chunxiao while also inviting Fu Biyang and Qiao Mingming to join the team.
Qin Chunxiao was a versatile player who excelled in both attack and defense, making him extremely valuable. Moreover, his defensive skills were particularly impressive, making him Lorenzo’s favorite idol player.
Russia:
Nikolai wore a serious expression as he contemplated whether the $300,000 per year he had originally quoted would be sufficient to bring the duo over.
The fans were ecstatic.
[2:1! Now the pressure is on the Iranian team~]
[The pressure has also affected the men’s football team.]
[The comments above are as hilarious as Wu Di’s hahaha~]
[Come on! Fight to win this round!]
[Hold on, hold on tight. Er Leng’s injury to the back of his head came out of nowhere. I hope Pishen can fill in for Er Leng’s position!]
Pishen had a secret: he once secretly wore five pairs of socks in his sneakers to artificially increase his measured height.
Later, he realized that in volleyball, players had to take off their shoes to measure their height. So when he joined the provincial team, he was still designated as a libero.
In reality, even if he wore ten pairs of socks, regardless of whether the sneakers would fit or not, there was a high probability that Gao Depi would still end up practicing as a libero.
In the past, he was very unwilling to be a libero, but now he had regained the opportunity to stand on the international stage due to his solid defensive foundation and excellent all-around skills in both offense and defense.
Perhaps everything had its pros and cons.
“Take this!”
Gao Depi executed a powerful jump and successfully scored the first point of the fourth game for the Chinese team!
Any small-sized male athlete who could compete in sports like basketball and volleyball always possessed one or two unique skills.
Standing at a height of 1.84 meters, which was already considered tall in the eyes of ordinary people, Gao Depi responded swiftly and leaped again with great force.
Unfortunately, the serve was not executed well this time. The ball brushed against the net and landed on the Chinese team’s side. Gao Depi showed his embarrassment: “Oh, I didn’t serve well this time.”
The serve was now in the hands of the opposing team, and the two teams, already heated up, engaged in a regular contest. Gao Depi quickly demonstrated his superior defensive skills.
Gao Depi’s fans from the past were astonished by his playing style because, as an attacker, he didn’t like to dive for balls. In his view, men just wanted to smash the ball. Pishen’s powerful spikes were as natural as Er Leng’s sets and Qin Chunxiao’s defense. When he didn’t dominate the ball and attacking position, it would surprise the fans.
Considering the characteristics of the three players from Guangdong Province, fans gave them the nicknames “Gao Bu Fang” (Gao Unprotectable), “Qin Bu Lan” (Qin Non-Blocking), and “Li Bu Wen” (Li Unstable).
Ultimately, tonight, the three key players from Guangdong Province became “Gao Bu Kou” (Gao Non-Spiker), “Qin Bu Jie” (Qin Non-Receiver), and “Li Bu Chuan” (Li Non-Passer).
Pishen stood in the back row, looking intently across the net. The Iranian players were serving to them, and he was preparing to receive a pass.
He was finally back on the court.
At this moment, Gao Depi was almost moved to tears.
As the brightly colored volleyball flew towards him, Pishen grinned and lunged forward, propelling the ball towards the net with both hands.
“Xiaozi!”
Qin Chunxiao made a back set, and Qiao Mingming delivered a powerful spike.
With a resounding thud, the volleyball hit the ground forcefully. Qiao Mingming pounded his chest once again, let out a roar, and even bumped chests with Fu Biyang.
The pace on the court was fast. The rally seemed long, but Pishen only got back up when the ball touched the ground. He ran towards his teammates and embraced them.
As some old fans witnessed this scene, their eyes inexplicably welled up with emotion. They weren’t new fans who fell into the pit because of the appearance of the National Youth Team; they had been following players like Ding Rong and Gao Depi for many years. Some of the veterans in the game were unfamiliar with the fan circle jargon used by the new volleyball fans, and they didn’t engage in much communication with them.
Even when Li Ling was off the court, they chose to ignore the barrage of comments in the video such as “I’m momentarily stunned,” “Who is this new player?” and “This is so strange.”
At this moment, they truly felt the thrill of dedicating themselves to a sport for a long time, watching the athletes who struggled within it gradually descend into the abyss and then desperately claw their way back up.
After Ding Rong transformed into a setter and returned to the game, Gao Depi, who was the most injured among the four main attackers, also made his comeback.
They were all back.
In a sporting goods store in Guangdong, Uncle Gao, who had taken care of Qin Chunxiao a lot, took off his glasses, wiped the corners of his eyes, and let out a relieved sniff.
A year ago, he couldn’t have imagined that his nephew Xiaopi would return to the court, let alone that he and Xiaozai, who worked a summer job at his store, would become such harmonious teammates. To be able to stand together and fight side by side in the international arena today was a testament to the wonders of fate.
After all, fate had been kind to these children who refused to give up on their dreams.
Uncle Gao believed that no one in this world could be happier than him to see these children shine.
In this regard, Yang Yun, who was at the La Plagne ski resort in the French Alps, had something to say: Although he and Uncle Gao had never met, he shed as many tears for the Chinese men’s volleyball team as Uncle Gao did.
Yang Yun and his grandson, Yang Lan, had been in France for a long time and had visited Paris. The Eiffel Tower had served as a background for their photos several times during their wanderings. Now they were at the ski resort again. Although Yang Yun didn’t ski, he enjoyed taking the cable car twice a day, sipping hot tea, and watching sports games in the hotel lobby.
The hotel lobby had an oversized projection screen that showed sports events every day.
The La Plagne ski resort was renowned worldwide, and several world-class athletes trained there. One would expect the hotel owner to be a winter sports enthusiast, but people often do the opposite. The hotel projection screen only displayed three major sports: football, basketball, and volleyball. In the male and female areas, players from these sports were constantly running across the screen.
Coincidentally, Yang Yun had a strong background in volleyball and was fluent in French. He had become acquainted with the hotel owner over the past half month. Since it was the off-season, no one was competing with Yang Yun for control of the TV.
As he watched the collaboration between Gao Depi and Qin Chunxiao, Yang Yun proudly said to his grandson, “Look at the two of them. They may not be tall, but their presence and determination when playing are much stronger than yours.”
Yang Lan replied, “Grandpa, let’s watch the game and not compare me to your own grandson, okay?”
Ever since his first encounter with Qin Chunxiao, Yang Lan knew that his opponent was an exceptional player who would undoubtedly excel in the professional arena in the future. Yang Lan was happy to witness it because only by surpassing himself and losing to someone more formidable could he avoid feeling like he had missed out.
The hotel owner also chimed in, saying, “I have watched their games. Misha Qin is very talented. He is the only player who won the MVP for his defense in the recent World Youth Championships. If he plays in the French League in the future, I will definitely support him. I’ve already bought tickets to see him play.”
Yang Yun chuckled and replied, “There must be many clubs interested in inviting him. It will depend on which one offers the highest bid and the most suitable conditions.”
The French men’s volleyball team was also highly skilled. Their defensive system was comprehensive, and all team members were capable of both attacking and defending. If they were in good form, it wouldn’t be surprising to see them on the podium in world-class competitions.
While they were talking, the Chinese team and the Iranian team on the projection screen were engaged in an intense battle, with both sides fighting fiercely.
The Chinese team followed Lao Niu’s strategy of targeting the setter who appeared to be full of tricks. When attacking, they focused their attacks on Ah Sang, excluding the libero. As the saying goes, “You kill my wolf, I’ll cut your mulberry.” They weren’t holding back!
Some fans who watched this intense game felt that the two teams might not be enemies after the match.
The expressions of certain players were as fierce as those of bandits!
Speaking of Fu Biyang!
Fu Biyang, the roaring chicken, deserved to be ranked alongside Min Yaoyang as a “world-class player below the neck.” These players had a lot of passion when playing, giving their all in every match. There was no need to worry about them slacking off or coasting, but they could also be prone to emotional outbursts.
Fu Biyang had even greater strength than Min Yaoyang, and his temperament was even more fiery. When the game intensified, he became unstoppable. However, it was unfortunate that both Ah Sang and Ding Rong, being deceptive blockers in the setter position, could trick the opposing opposite hitters like kids on a trampoline. They might jump around, but their blocking efficiency was significantly reduced, leaving both opposite hitters frustrated.
Fu Biyang managed to score a quick break after Qin Chunxiao’s second set, and immediately yelled towards the other side of the net. Qin Chunxiao tugged at his shirt a few times, but the kid didn’t react.
Qin Chunxiao said, “So in my previous life, I had a violent incident with this guy on the field. It really wasn’t my fault.”
The referee’s loud noise was hurting his ears, and he couldn’t bear it, so he showed Fu Biyang a yellow card.
Fu Biyang exclaimed, “Eh? Why did I get a yellow card? I didn’t do anything, what the hell?”
The young man immediately went to discuss with the referee. He had a strong and imposing presence, with a face that no gangster would dare to approach if he walked the streets at night in the United States. The referee was so frightened that he almost pulled out the red card to send Fu Biyang off.
Qin Chunxiao took a deep breath and shouted, “Fu Biyang!”
Fu Biyang’s survival instincts kicked in, and not just him, but other players on the field dared not move.
Newton quickly stood up and made a substitution: “Maiti, you go in for Biyang.”
Aizmaiti stood up and sighed, “Coach, I know your name is Maiti, which is as friendly as Pishen, but you should call me by my full name, Aizmaiti, otherwise it’s like buying and selling.”
Now it wasn’t a team practice match, Fu Biyang was on the verge of losing control, and Ding Rong and Qin Chunxiao couldn’t go over and beat him up. Otherwise, the violence on the court would result in both Vice Team Ding and Qin the attacker being sent off, which was much more serious than replacing Fu Biyang.
This was the problem with having such a young team. The players’ ability to control their emotions had not yet been fully developed, so they always had to be vigilant against their impulsiveness.
Fu Biyang took the number plate from Aizmaiti’s hand and said solemnly, “Go all out.”
Aizmaiti was taken aback.
While Fu Biyang being replaced seemed unfair and helpless for the Chinese team, the Iranian team was more cheerful. Fu Biyang’s arms, thicker than normal thighs, were too intimidating, and he always loved to shout. He successfully blocked the ball, and the fast break succeeded. He continued to roar. Once he rotated to the front row, the Iranian attackers faced immense psychological and auditory pressure.
Qin Chunxiao saw the smiles on the faces of the Iranian attackers, squinted his eyes, and then made an opponent hit the ball out of bounds in the next round.
Using a hand to redirect the ball was one of the most irritating volleyball tricks. The ball would brush against a player’s blocking hand and then float out of bounds, giving a point to the opponent. It was really annoying to think about it.
Then the Iranian side attacked, and they were experienced players. Qin Chunxiao intuitively realized that Misha Qin’s ball was off. He anticipated the ball’s trajectory.
He tried to lean back, attempting to avoid the ball.
As long as the ball didn’t touch any player from the Iranian team, the out-of-bounds ball would ultimately be scored for the Iranian team!
The volleyball flew over the players’ fingers and finally floated three meters away from the baseline. When Qin Chunxiao landed, he saw the referee signal for the Iranian team to score.
He remained calm, raised his left hand to Newton, and pointed to his right index finger, indicating that the ball had touched the opponent’s finger.
Qin Chunxiao shouted, “This ball belongs to us!”
Newton immediately stood up and said he wanted to challenge with Hawkeye.
Volleyball matches often involved various challenges. According to the rules of the game, even if the ball just touches a player’s hair and floats out of bounds, it can still be considered as touching the player and judged as out of bounds.
At that moment, Hawkeye started to replay, showing Qin Chunxiao’s left hand slapping the yellow-blue volleyball to the opposing side. The two secondary attackers of the Iranian team jumped up to block the net at the same time, and the ball lightly brushed against one of their index fingers.
The referee nodded, signaling that the point belonged to China.
The score had now reached 20-20. If the Chinese team won the fourth game, the score would become 3-1, leading them to victory. The Iranian team would not tolerate that happening.
Even the fans watching in front of their TVs became nervous.
Uncle Gao from Guangdong clenched his fists and said, “Come on!”
Meng Yuqing, who was playing in the Women’s Volleyball Asian Championships in Manila, Philippines, looked at the tablet and muttered with her teammates, “Come on!”
Yang Yun in the France nodded approvingly and said, “This is how the game should be played. Keep it up!”
All these volleyball players from around the world who were watching the game at the same time had only one expectation in their hearts—to win!
A particularly tall boy walked into the hall where Yang Yun was, carrying his skis on his shoulders. He happened to see the Hawkeye challenge on the projection screen. The blue eyes of the petite Chinese team player had a strong presence on the screen.
The buddy, who was at least 2.05 meters tall, asked his partner, “Where is this game taking place?”
The partner said, “Asia, don’t you see the national flags behind the scores of the two teams? That blue-eyed one is the MVP of the World Youth Championship. Buddy, you were the MVP of the World Junior Championship. Don’t you pay attention to your fellow players?”
Sidney laughed and replied, “I never pay attention to Asian teams.”
Sidney, like Dominique, was also a young player. Born in 2002, he was one year younger than Qin Chunxiao. Full of the pride and lightness of youth, he always had a contemptuous attitude towards Asian teams.
However, Qin Chunxiao’s good looks attracted the admiration of young fans. They asked him to put down his skis and brought a chair to watch the game. The chair ended up serving as a makeshift bench.
After watching a few plays, the young fan realized that apart from height, Qin Chunxiao seemed to possess other remarkable qualities… which were not inferior to his own.
In addition to his exceptional ball sense, sharp facial features, and god-level reaction speed that would take a while for coaches to fully appreciate, Qin Chunxiao displayed visible top-level explosive power and jumping ability. These attributes became his assets in competing against taller players.
Furthermore, Qin Chunxiao exhibited impressive coordination, flexibility, and strong bones, which not only made him highly resistant to injuries but also made every movement look particularly smooth and harmonious.
Narrow-minded fans had complained about it. No matter how good-looking Fu Biyang and Min Yaoyang were, their movements resembled a clumsy King Kong. The gracefulness and agility of Qin Chunxiao’s movements added a special effect of beauty +50.
Sidney, a player known for his explosiveness and flexibility, saw Qin Chunxiao’s posture of pulling back and smashing the ball, and it was as if he was looking at a miniature version of himself. The sense of connection and familiarity burst instantly.
He couldn’t help but sigh, “With such excellent offensive abilities, no wonder he won the MVP.”
It appeared that he had underestimated the talents of players from around the world. Even a small Asian player could perform at such a high level.
Sidney’s friend had a subtle expression on his face. Actually, the MVP was awarded for defense. This kid clearly hadn’t watched the World Youth Championship.
As the competition became increasingly intense, the expressions of these young people became as serious as those of Yang Yun and the hotel owner.
The level of intensity in adult competitions was much higher than that of teenagers and youth. It was like male athletes who hadn’t fully developed yet. It was difficult for them to match the strength of adult players.
Qin Chunxiao skipped the World Junior Championships to compete in the World Youth Championships, and now he was pulled to the Senior Championships, which made a group of old fans in China feel that Newton was supporting the youth.
Qin Chunxiao himself never felt inferior to anyone else. He hadn’t reached his peak, but he possessed a super fighting spirit. In a field full of giants, he persisted in fighting against the adult players of the Iranian team.
With the combined efforts of Gao Depi and Du Xiaofeng, the impact of the wolf-killing tactics on Qin Chunxiao had been minimized, as the Iranian team suddenly realized that Qin Chunxiao’s offensive attack was just as threatening as his defense against the Iranian team.
In the fourth game, the score was 37:36, with the Chinese team leading by one point!
All the members of the Iranian team were sweating, and even the coach was drenched. Standing on the sidelines, he looked at Qin Chunxiao in disbelief. At this moment, he agreed with the FIVB MVP evaluation of Qin Chunxiao at the awards ceremony.
“He truly deserves to be the player who leads the championship team.”
This kid wasn’t the most powerful attacker, but he was undoubtedly one of the core players of the team. His willpower and emotions were incredibly stable. As long as he remained composed, his teammates could also maintain their mental stability and grind the opponents point by point.
In the eyes of the Iranian coaches, this mentality and influence were even more valuable than football skills!
Initially, he thought that the soul of the Chinese team was the kid named Qiao Mingming, but that wasn’t the case. Newton, a bold and clever strategist, had actually entrusted this extremely important role to a 16-year-old underage player.
Sidney from France also stood up to watch the game.
He looked at the projection screen and remarked, “The Chinese team might not be as strong as the Iranian team, but they play with great determination.”
The human body had its limits. No matter how hard they practiced, they couldn’t reach five meters high or lift ten thousand catties. The physical fitness of athletes from the top teams was generally similar after training. Therefore, what needed to be fought for was technique, tactics, and willpower.
The Chinese team was very young, but a team with such a fighting spirit was destined to be a team that everyone had to treat with caution. As long as they were in a match, their opponents would face a tough battle, even if they didn’t end up defeated!
Sidney had never encountered such an opponent in the World Junior Championships, but he knew that with the strength of this Chinese team, they would eventually meet on the world stage.
He had a hunch that he would stand on opposite sides of the court with these awe-inspiring opponents, fighting for the highest honor!
Aizmaiti stood at the net, his heart pounding like thunder. In that moment, he heard Qin Chunxiao’s voice.
“One more point.”
The unwavering determination in his voice startled Aizmaiti, instantly clearing his mind that had been somewhat clouded by the intense competition.
Meanwhile, Gao Depi returned to position 1. His hands were drenched in sweat. Before serving, he had to wipe his hands on his trousers several times, fearing that they would slip while serving.
Feeling a bit unstable, Lao Gao looked at Newton decisively. Newton took the last chance to make a substitution and replaced the server with You Ziyu.
You Ziyu adjusted his wrists, walked to the serving area, held the ball, and calmly surveyed the positions of the Iranian team.
The setter Ah Sang stood in the back row, while the Iranian team occupied the front row with their formidable attackers. This was the strong rotation of the Iranian team. If the ball wasn’t played, they wouldn’t be able to make a second touch under the rule that consecutive touches were not allowed.
However, the libero of the Iranian team was standing next to Ah Sang. If You Ziyu attacked Ah Sang, the libero would surely make a quick move. However, their captain Mallard stood on the other side, separated from the libero by Ah Sang, making it difficult for him to provide assistance.
From what You Ziyu knew, Mallard, the Iranian captain, had a knee injury, was tall with a high center of gravity, and his ball reception level could only be considered satisfactory, not excellent.
After analyzing the situation, You Ziyu sharpened his gaze and took a deep breath. Two seconds after the referee blew the whistle, he tossed the ball for a running start, leaped high, arched his back, and struck the ball forcefully with his palm!
The volleyball soared toward the middle of Mallard and Ah Sang at a speed of 120 kilometers per hour. Both reached out to catch it simultaneously, but collided with each other.
Mallard’s arm made contact with the ball first, but it flew out of bounds! The libero of the Iranian team quickly chased after it and sent the ball back to the net.
The libero shouted loudly, “Last ball!”
The height of the ball was not suitable for a smash, so their side attack in front of the net could only send it to the opposite side of the net, which happened to be a chance ball for the Chinese team!
Aizmaiti leaped the moment the ball crossed the net and attempted a probing hit, but the spiked ball was blocked by the charging middle blocker!
Ah Sang grinned triumphantly. His teammates never faltered at crucial moments, and they had anticipated the Chinese team’s move!
At that moment, Aizmaiti felt a surge of panic. Was the Iranian team going to block and score?
Fu Biyang suddenly ripped the white towel off his head, stood up, and shouted urgently, “Quick!”
It turned out that Qin Chunxiao had already dashed over, raising his foot and kicking the volleyball, sending it towards Ding Rong behind him, who made the crucial save!
Aizmaiti saw Qiao Mingming starting to sprint, and with Fu Biyang’s shout, he instinctively understood his teammates’ intentions.
That’s right, Lao Niu had told them during the practice match.
Qiao Mingming could spike over many players in the Asian Super League without a run-up, so if he initiated a run-up, the others had to quickly prepare—because the captain was covering for their real attack, it was time for teammates to jump up and attack!
The ball soared high once again, accidentally Qin Chunxiao slipped his foot on the ground and executed a split. Some people with poor flexibility winced in pain upon witnessing this scene, like Yang Lan in France.
Sidney instinctively shouted, “He’s not injured!” Athletes with good flexibility wouldn’t get injured from splits.
On the screen, Ding Rong immediately set up the second pass, and Qiao Mingming began his run-up from the baseline. The moment he crossed the three-meter line, he exerted all his strength and leaped into the air.
The young man who had become the Chinese team’s primary offensive force raised his arms high, ready to swing them.
Ah Sang yelled, “Get the ball!”
The libero of the Iranian team quickly positioned himself, prepared to receive the ball, but Qiao Mingming swung his arm, only to hit nothing but air. As he landed, Aizmaiti soared high from behind him.
This young man, born in Xinjiang and who had been benched by Kong Duojin and Fu Biyang since the beginning of the game, watched the volleyball with just one thought in his mind.
Last ball!
He forcefully slammed the ball into Iran’s unguarded backcourt, and as the ball hit the ground, he also landed on the floor.
The referee fixed his gaze on where the volleyball landed, paused for two seconds, blew the whistle, and made the necessary gestures.
At 38:36, the Chinese team took a 2-point lead and secured victory in the fourth game. The overall match score stood at 3:1 in favor of the Chinese team.
Aizmaiti stood there, his hands still trembling, while his teammates rushed over to celebrate.
The captain, vice-captain, setter, support players, Xiaozai, Li Ling, Xiaoji, teammates on the field, teammates on the bench, coaches, team doctors, and accompanying players all embraced each other like children jumping in circles.
In this moment, it seemed that some team members were crying tears of joy for this hard-earned victory, some were laughing, and some were simultaneously crying and laughing.
Qin Chunxiao was lifted up by Qiao Mingming and You Ziyu together, and his teammates carried him around the court as if showing him off. He didn’t feel any anger but rather shook his red Big Big Wolf towel and smiled with happiness.
Defeating the Iranian team was not the final step in the Asian Championships, and the gold medal still seemed distant.
But for now, Qin Chunxiao felt immensely content.
Because in team sports like volleyball, victory is the culmination of everyone’s collective efforts.
Through this game, he fully realized that his new life was filled with good fortune.
His teammates were all exceptional—the stability and accurate analysis of opponents by Squid, Li Ling’s trust in him, Fu Biyang’s selflessness when he was off the court, Qiao Mingming’s willingness to help in crucial moments, and the cover provided by his teammates.
Thanks to them, the Chinese team managed to defeat the Iranian team with a hard-fought victory this time.
Qin Chunxiao was also confident that as long as he continued to stand alongside these teammates, they would be able to keep pushing forward on the path of competition until they achieved the highest glory that all athletes yearn for.
Olympic gold medal.
France:
Sidney looked at the projection screen and said excitedly to his partners, “Hey, we will definitely face the Chinese team in the future Olympic Games. Do you have the video of the World Youth Championship? I want to watch their other games again!”
His partners laughed and replied, “Don’t worry, our club has their game videos. The coach has been impressed with Qin Misha since the World Youth Championship. He’s considering making an offer to him and inviting him to play in our league.”
Poland:
Sebastian, who had recovered from his injury, watched the game with his nurse girlfriend and said with a smile, “This team has great potential.”
Brazil:
Dominique was filled with excitement and exclaimed, “They’re even stronger than last time! I really want to compete against them again!”
Dominique’s teammates reminded him loudly, “Hey, the coach told you to build muscle, and the cafeteria lady recommended muscle-building meals.”
Dominique groaned, “This is already my fourth meal today! My stomach isn’t empty yet!”
Italy:
Coach Lorenzo started seriously considering whether he should extend an offer to Qin Chunxiao while also inviting Fu Biyang and Qiao Mingming to join the team.
Qin Chunxiao was a versatile player who excelled in both attack and defense, making him extremely valuable. Moreover, his defensive skills were particularly impressive, making him Lorenzo’s favorite idol player.
Russia:
Nikolai wore a serious expression as he contemplated whether the $300,000 per year he had originally quoted would be sufficient to bring the duo over.
