After the second set ended with a score of 25:20, the victory of the Hamster team was already certain.
Nikolai did not call for substitutions anymore and told them in the third set, “You guys will maintain this lineup until the end of the game. I will only call for a timeout when you are exhausted, to give you a short rest.”
Anton glanced at Li Ling, didn’t say anything, just nodded. After they went up, Alexander sat next to Nikolai.
“Do you have high hopes for those two Chinese boys? It’s rare to see you feed someone so much after their first game.”
Nikolai crossed his arms, “Kid, they are the best championship puzzle I could get with a budget of only 600,000 dollars. I went through a lot of trouble to ensure the Hamster club wins the Russian Super League championship before you retire. Do you know how much effort I put in?”
Alexander understood, “Now it seems like this deal was worth it. Misha’s reception is very good, so good that I can’t believe he’s only 16 years old.”
Nikolai spoke slowly and solemnly, “I was also scared by him”
On the court, the steel’s main attack once again roared and smashed the ball, but Qin Chunxiao predicted his trajectory in advance, blocked the ball at its landing point, and sent it above Antong with a tap of his hands.
Assuming a match consists of 3 sets, with both teams having similar attacking efficiency, but one team always managed to reach 25 points five balls ahead of the other team, then how did this team manage to lead by these five balls? It was simple, because someone was catching those five balls! The most terrifying ability exhibited by 16-year-old Misha Qin was not just the comfortable set that only the setter could appreciate, but his ability to predict the ball trajectory.
In every round, he could focus on the opponent’s attacker with his formidable vision and quickly judge the opponent’s trajectory based on their movements. The next step was to chase the ball, and with his sprinter background, his speed in chasing the ball was truly unparalleled in the volleyball world.
Nikolai was also a volleyball player, and he knew that players with this kind of vision were all treasures and each one was an SSR1. However, even with SSR players, maintaining this level of defense requires a great deal of energy and focus.
But Misha Qin, playing as a libero, managed to maintain this state until the end of the match. If we considered a person’s focus as a rubber band, an ordinary person could withstand pressure of 90-120 for 45 minutes. Once the pressure reaches 150 and lasts for a long time, there was a risk of the rubber band breaking.
However, Misha Qin could withstand pressure of 180-300 for a long time without letting the rubber band break. This was not even his limit, and his recovery speed was definitely not bad.
After all, Misha Qin often played full games in the World Youth Championships and Asian Championships, but he was always stable. This intangible, mental talent was what makes even experienced coaches like Nikolai drool.
Upon further consideration of Misha Qin’s age, he definitely hasn’t reached his peak yet, and his physique is so healthy, this is nothing short of UR!
When he thought about how he managed to pick up such a big bargain with 300,000 US dollars, Nikolai almost imitated a Marvel villain and said, “I am destiny.”
As for Er Leng… Nikola had heard that this was a magical existence of “one person touching the ball causing panic for 11 people.”
As soon as Two Leng received the ball, both his teammates and opponents become alert, so Nikolai had already prepared himself with anti-anxiety medication to deal with various unexpected situations from Li Ling.
Luckily, Li Ling didn’t draw too severely today, and he had excellent cooperation with Qin Chunxiao on the defensive end. Nikola happily kicked the medicine bottle back into the depths of his bag and watched his championship puzzle pieces work hard to level up on the field.
After 68 minutes, the match ended with Hamster Club winning 3-0.
At the Roller Sports Center, the audience cheered for the players of the Hamster Club, and some people called Qin Chunxiao by his foreign name “Misha.”
Many old fans were holding posters with cartoon hamster designs, the hamsters wearing jerseys and having different expressions, clearly the players of the Hamster Club in hamster form.
There was also a lot of cheering and laughter on the Chinese internet, with many fans exclaiming “Little Qin’s team is amazing.”
[Last year, the hamster’s setting and screening were the same, but this year it suddenly became an impenetrable defense! Nikola’s vision is still accurate, deliberately pulling over the second and third in command of the Guangdong defense team, isn’t this weak point filled?]
[I think I heard Coach Nikola calling Two Leng “two leng,” is that his English name? And Two Leng actually responded, I’m laughing so hard hahaha.]
[The first time I saw Little Qin’s team play against the libero, I felt a bit sorry for him, clearly he’s always been a setter in the domestic league.]
[What do you mean sorry? Does that mean my libero are lower than other positions?]
[That’s right! Anyone with a discerning eye can see that I Lang has completely rejuvenated the Hamster’s defense today! He’s always been a defensive genius, and in a situation where there is no shortage of players on the offensive end, focusing on defense has clearly produced better results.]
[I drew again today, luckily he had previously made up his mind to follow wherever I Lang goes, otherwise, with his drawing power, what would I do?]
{Others cling to powerful people, but Er Leng clings to a 25-centimeter Achilles tendon. I have watched ten years of volleyball games and had never seen a defensive powerhouse like him, always supporting the team. I admire his unwavering character.]
Er Leng: No one can bully me! I have someone behind me, no, I have a wolf behind me!
Meanwhile, in the office of the national men’s volleyball team coach in Beijing, Newton stared at the computer screen without saying a word.
Newton had considered and abandoned the idea of making Qin Chunxiao specialize in defense. Due to the roughness of many Chinese players, Qin Chunxiao occasionally needed to assist in the offense. Newton always assigned Dundun as his backup.
He had always believed that he was good at utilizing players, allowing Qin Chunxiao’s abilities to fully shine on the court. Now he realized he was wrong. Dundun was undoubtedly strong, but libero was Qin Chunxiao’s strongest form!
He sighed, “When it comes to utilizing players, it has to be Nikolai.”
Players like Qin Chunxiao, who were not outstanding in height in the volleyball field, and Li Ling, who was unstable, were like lottery tickets in the volleyball world. No one knew what they would become once they were given a chance. Newton confidently selected them for the national team because they were already strong domestically, but their level was slightly lower in Europe and America.
But Nikolai dared to take a chance on these two players and accurately recognized their true strengths. He started feeding them from the first regular match. What kind of coach had such courage?
Coach Nikolai from Russia could be ranked alongside Coach Mars in Brazil and Coach Lorenzo in Italy as one of the three great male volleyball coaches, proving that he had something special.
As for the leader of the Hamster Club, the captain of the locker room, and the “mom-like” second setter, Mr. Anton, he also realized after this game that clinging to a 25-centimeter Achilles tendon was not an ordinary thing.
Back in the locker room, Anton decided to put aside his pride and build a closer relationship with Misha Qin. He walked up to Qin Chunxiao and extended an invitation, “Hey, Misha, want to take a shower together?”
After the game, the players were covered in sweat, so there was a public bath next to the locker room where they could shower and change clothes. It was common for close teammates to shower together and have a chat.
Qin Chunxiao took off his waist guard, arm guard, knee pads, and other protective gear and replied directly, “No, I’ll just go back and shower.”
Due to genetic issues, many European and American players had a strong body odor and had to shower after the game. However, Qin Chunxiao didn’t mind. As long as he sprayed some deodorant, there was basically no smell on his body.
Also Qin Chunxiao’s countdown to his hidden soulmate in his left abdomen, Qin Chunxiao didn’t mind letting others know that he has a soulmate, but he is well aware that currently, the whole world believed that the most suitable intimate relationship to establish with a soulmate was as lovers. He was only 16 years old and didn’t want to be asked, ‘Who is that person?’ and ‘How are you two doing?’ It’s too troublesome.
So after the game, he only changed his clothes, with a bandage covering his waist to prevent pulling injuries. So far, only Chang Xiaolei had caught him with the countdown.
As the team’s leader, when Anton invited them, even if it was just to save face, his teammates would agree. Qin Chunxiao’s decisive refusal made him feel a bit embarrassed, but when he thought about that amazing pass, Anton rubbed his hands.
“Shall we go eat dinner together?”
Li Ling’s Russian level was terrible, but he understood the word ‘dinner’, and his ears perked up.
Qin Chunxiao naturally replied, “Sure.”
Li Ling thought, has Xiaozi’s mood improved after the game? Is he going to the cafeteria to collect ingredients and then invite me and Anton to dinner?
As a result, in the disappointed eyes of the two, Qin Chunxiao and Anton went to the cafeteria together.
And Anton sat across from Qin Chunxiao, watching Two Leng eat with great effort, feeling that something was off.
Fortunately, at this moment, Alexander led an old man with silver hair to the cafeteria, and the atmosphere became less awkward.
The old man’s grandson followed behind him, and he shook Li Ling’s hand as soon as he approached: “Hello, I’m Powell Jr. Were you the one who helped my grandfather to his seat? Thank you for taking care of him.”
Li Ling didn’t understand the situation at all, but when someone said thank you, he smiled foolishly, “You’re welcome, you’re welcome.”
As soon as Old Powell appeared, he pointed at Li Ling and criticized, “Your passing is terrible.”
Li Ling immediately felt disheartened. He and Qin Chunxiao had only been in Russia for about ten days, and during that time, they had also experienced wilderness survival training. Today was their first time fully cooperating in a match, and they still lacked understanding of their teammates and adaptation to the pace of the Russian Super League. Qin Chunxiao had already anticipated that Li Ling would make mistakes, so he didn’t blame his partner.
But Li Ling knew that he didn’t perform well and felt guilty. He hung his head and said, “I, I will train harder. In the next match, I will try not to hold back my teammates.”
Old Powell patted his shoulder, “Think positively. Every athlete has a rookie period. Only when you recognize your shortcomings can you surpass yourself in the future. I know a girl named Sara, she was also terrible, but I know she has potential. In another two years, she will enter the national team as my partner…”
When he heard the name Sara, Powell Jr. rubbed his eyes, and someone who didn’t know the situation would think that his dark eye sockets were still hurting. But Qin Chunxiao saw the glistening in his eyes.
Alexander sent a message to Qin Chunxiao on his phone.
[Sara is Powell’s wife, Powell Jr’s grandmother. She had a stroke while taking care of Powell a year ago and passed away.]
The old man’s memory was confused. In his heart, his girl was still young, and in a little while, they would go to the Olympics together.
After listening for a while, Anton quietly asked Alexander, “Does Two Leng know about Powell’s condition?” He pointed to his head.
Alexander shook his head, and Anton fell silent.
At this moment, Li Ling patted his chest and said loudly, “In the future, I will also go to the Olympics with Xiaozi!”
Powell smiled, “Then we will be opponents!”
Li Ling said with great momentum, “We will defeat you!”
Powell replied boldly, “Bring it on! The Soviet men’s volleyball team is the strongest!”
They chatted happily, and when Old Powell was helped away, Alexander added a sausage to Li Ling’s plate because in his memory, Powell hadn’t been this happy in a long time.
Qin Chunxiao, who had been focused on eating, finished his vegetable and fruit juice, wiped his mouth, and suddenly spoke up, “You did well.”
Li Ling scratched his head, “It was okay. Powell’s stories were interesting. Coach Yang was actually a newcomer in his story.”
Qin Chunxiao was not surprised at all: “You really found out”
Alexander, confused by their conversation in Chinese, asked: “What are you talking about?”
Qin Chunxiao repeated their words in Russian.
Anton exclaimed in shock, “Two leng, did you discover that Powell has Alzheimer’s?”
Li Ling replied naturally, “I noticed it a long time ago. Powell always thinks he is still living in the 1970s when he speaks.”
Even though they discovered Powell’s illness, Two leng continued to chat with him normally and even made plans to meet at the Olympics.
Although a bit silly, Er Leng did indeed have emotional intelligence.
Anton’s gaze at Li Ling became complicated, and after a while, he also picked up a sausage and put it in Li Ling’s plate.
Li Ling said innocently, “I’m already full.”
Anton patted his shoulder and said, “Eat, only when you’re full can you have the energy to train and compete. Come to the training hall tomorrow morning, and I will tell you about the attacking habits of the team’s attackers.”
He then looked at Qin Chunxiao and said, “Misha, you come too. Let’s do morning training together.”
Qin Chunxiao smiled at him, and her blue eyes were as clear as glass. “Okay.”
Anton’s heart moved. At this moment, he felt for the first time that the distance between him and his new teammates had been shortened. The desire to impress the two foreign aids as the team leader faded, and a kind of understanding connected them.
He couldn’t help but smile and took out a small notebook from his bag. “Everyone in our team has a mascot. Lisa from the logistics department can help make it, or you can design it yourself. I studied art in college and can help you make a mascot for free. I will design it tonight, and tomorrow it can be announced as a surprise on the official website. Misha, if I do a good job, can you give me more treats during the matches in the future?”
The captain voluntarily released goodwill, and Qin Chunxiao naturally accepted it happily. They also set the time for tomorrow’s morning training and went back to their respective homes.
Before going to bed, Qin Chunxiao told Lu Xuandong about the matter of the mouse he had set up.
Qin Chunxiao: “I checked, Alexander’s mouse is a golden silk bear, and Antonio’s is a purple granary mouse. I don’t know which breed my mouse is.””
Lu Xuandong: [should be a more domineering variety.]
Qin Chunxiao: [I think so too.]
After chatting with Lu Xuandong, Qin Chunxiao found that Li Ling had specially posted on Weibo about the mouse design, and fans in the comment section expressed their anticipation.
Green Oil [It seems that our child is doing well in the hamster club.]
Chicken King Championship [Yes, seeing how much their teammates care about them in the club, I feel relieved too.]
White Blood Cell [Protecting the world’s most idiotic treasure, even though I’m so foolish, my teammates don’t dislike him. It’s really great.]
Raisin [The Gemini stars are the first to start playing in the league among the overseas players. It can be seen that the club values them. I hope the Gemini stars will continue to improve in the future matches.]
Due to their appearance, Qin Chunxiao had unknowingly become the number one male volleyball player in China, and his news with Li Ling had always been a concern for domestic fans.
So the next day, everyone calculated the time difference and went to see the official website of the hamster club. The official website did not disappoint, and released the mouse design of the two players.
In the hamster club’s equipment room, Anton greeted Qin Chunxiao and Li Ling: “You are here, come and take a look. These are the hamsters I drew for you.”
Qin Chunxiao walked over and first saw a milk tea hamster with cheeks bigger than its body. It was wearing a number 9 jersey and holding a sausage. Clearly a hamster, but its expression miraculously resembled a husky.
It’s the Er Leng2.
Next to the milk tea hamster was a curly-haired Roborovski hamster, wearing a number 8 jersey, only half the size of the two idiots, with a pair of blue glass-like eyes, soft and cute.
Anton boasted to Qin Chunxiao, “Misha, do you know? Roborovski hamsters are famous for their small size. Your mouse device is also the smallest in the entire club, so everyone can tell it’s you just by looking at its size.”
The smile on Qin Chunxiao’s face gradually disappeared.
He looked at Anton, and the thought of him mentioning his short stature at the World Youth Championship crossed his mind. Originally, he didn’t want to dwell on it, but this guy kept bringing up the topic again and again.
Li Ling couldn’t understand Russian, but his intuition was always sharp. Seeing Qin Chunxiao’s expression, he decisively pulled Alexander out and said, “Let’s warm up by running a few laps around the gym”
Alexander looked confused as he was dragged out.
Anton watched their backs in confusion and asked, “Why did they go out to run? It’s so cold outside, and there’s a treadmill indoors.”
Qin Chunxiao smiled kindly and said, “Maybe it’s too stuffy indoors, and they want to get some fresh air and calm down.”
#Kindness and pettiness are two qualities that don’t conflict with each other.#
No one knew what happened to Anton that morning, but netizens soon discovered that an official website had replaced the design of Qin Chunxiao’s hamster with a different breed one hour after its release
.
The website explained that Anton, who designed the hamster, believed that the timid nature of the Roborovski hamster didn’t match with Misha Qin’s character. Therefore, after careful consideration, it was replaced with a different breed.
Note: The chosen breed, known as a long tail hamster, is one of the least suitable species for beginners to raise because they have a more aggressive temperament and can bite people when provoked.
Many hamster enthusiasts were confused by this move from the Hamster Club. They thought Misha Qin looked petite and cute, and he seemed like a perfect match for the Roborovski hamster. So why did they change it?
Regardless of everyone’s confusion, Qin Chunxiao’s official hamster design was still chosen as the long tail breed. This breed was larger than the average long tail hamster and stood out among the club’s hamsters like a father figure. It wears a number 8 jersey with a white base and black edges, holding a small volleyball in one paw, and its blue eyes contain a hint of hostility.
After seeing this hamster design, Newton, Jiang Xiaohai, Chang Xiaole, as well as the national team and Guangdong team players who knew Qin Chunxiao’s true personality, all felt relieved.
They discussed privately, “It seems that Xiaozai has already established a foothold in the Hamster Club.”
“I wonder who the unlucky one to be dealt with is.”
“I knew this kid would feel right at home even in Russia.”
“Hey, I never worried that he would suffer in Russia, I only worried that he would adapt too well there, fully awaken his Russian bloodline, and then even Ding Rong wouldn’t be able to control him.”
In short, Qin Chunxiao became the only player in the Hamster Club with two hamster mascots. Although most fans generally believe that Roborovski hamsters were more in line with his image, those who have come into contact with Qin Chunxiao firmly believe that the long tail hamster was more suitable for him.
Because the eyes of these two versions of the hamster mascots were drawn very beautifully, when the club made hamster plush dolls, they used blue glass beads for the eyes of Qin Chunxiao’s mascot. Therefore, these two models of plush dolls sold very well, and many people who didn’t watch volleyball matches couldn’t help but buy one when they saw such exquisitely made dolls.
In order to facilitate Chinese fans to purchase the Hamster Club’s peripheral toys, they signed a cooperation agreement with a factory in Yiwu. After seeing the samples, the club’s high-level immediately agreed that the club’s peripherals would be produced by the Yiwu factory in the future.
The high-level of the club sighed: Signing Misha Qin was indeed the right decision, just the production and sale of peripherals alone is a steady stream of income.
The Two-Leng hamster plush dolls also sold well. According to the buyers’ show and the comments of the fans, they felt that the design of the Two-Leng hamster was very practical. As long as the chain at the cheek pouches was pulled open and a hot water bag was placed inside, it would be the best companion for working people and students in winter.
Since the Russian Premier League had 26 rounds of regular season matches, the Hamster Club would fly to Murmansk in a few days to play an away game against the Aurora Club there.
Aeroflot was still the same, taking off and arriving on time, regardless of wind or rain.
Murmansk was the largest city within the Arctic Circle. It has a non-freezing port and experiences polar days around May and polar nights around December.
Late October was a time when there was neither polar night nor polar day to see, but the daytime was relatively shorter and the temperature was also low in comparison to lower latitude areas.
Qin Chunxiao exhaled a breath of white air and looked at the shivering Two-Leng with some confusion, “Is it really that cold?”
Two-Leng wrapped in a scarf and wearing fluffy earmuffs, spoke intermittently, “It’s very cold, Xiaozai, aren’t you cold?”
Qin Chunxiao replied, “Hmm, I feel that the climate here is not difficult to adapt to.”
Misha Qin, with his strong physical resistance to injuries, was equally resilient to hot and cold weather.
They arrived in Murmansk in the evening and had a match the next day. The coach arranged a triple room for them in the hotel, and Qin Chunxiao stayed with Li Ling and Anton.
Qin Chunxiao had a good night’s sleep and got up at six in the morning. He opened the window, took a breath of the cold morning air, and felt in a great mood.
“The weather is really nice today, it’s a good day for a competition.”
Anton was startled by the noise made by Qin Chunxiao, and looking at the grey sky outside the window, he couldn’t bring himself to say that it was good weather.
The head of the Hamster Club couldn’t help but suspect who the Slav was.
Li Ling shivered and said, “Xiaozi, close the window, it’s a bit cold.”
Qin Chunxiao quickly closed the window and apologized, “Sorry, I forgot that you’re afraid of the cold.”
Then the two setters looked at their libero who changed into thin sportswear and went outside for a morning run with water bottles. When they came back, they even built a snowman and tried to take a picture of it to post on Weibo.
However, because the weather was too cold, Qin Chunxiao only took two photos before his phone automatically shut down due to freezing.
Qin Chunxiao blinked his eyes, shook his phone, and pressed the power button for a full minute, but found that the phone still didn’t respond, showing his frustration.
He made a quick decision and went to the hotel lobby to borrow a lighter from the front desk, then placed the phone in the flame, trying to heat it up and turn it on. At that moment, Nikolai happened to pass by and seeing the situation, he stumbled and quickly rushed over.
“Misha, what are you doing? Put down that phone, you’ll end up damaging it by heating it up.”
The acronyms SSR, SR, and UR can have different meanings depending on the context. Here are a few possible interpretations:
After the second set ended with a score of 25:20, the victory of the Hamster team was already certain.
Nikolai did not call for substitutions anymore and told them in the third set, “You guys will maintain this lineup until the end of the game. I will only call for a timeout when you are exhausted, to give you a short rest.”
Anton glanced at Li Ling, didn’t say anything, just nodded. After they went up, Alexander sat next to Nikolai.
“Do you have high hopes for those two Chinese boys? It’s rare to see you feed someone so much after their first game.”
Nikolai crossed his arms, “Kid, they are the best championship puzzle I could get with a budget of only 600,000 dollars. I went through a lot of trouble to ensure the Hamster club wins the Russian Super League championship before you retire. Do you know how much effort I put in?”
Alexander understood, “Now it seems like this deal was worth it. Misha’s reception is very good, so good that I can’t believe he’s only 16 years old.”
Nikolai spoke slowly and solemnly, “I was also scared by him”
On the court, the steel’s main attack once again roared and smashed the ball, but Qin Chunxiao predicted his trajectory in advance, blocked the ball at its landing point, and sent it above Antong with a tap of his hands.
Assuming a match consists of 3 sets, with both teams having similar attacking efficiency, but one team always managed to reach 25 points five balls ahead of the other team, then how did this team manage to lead by these five balls? It was simple, because someone was catching those five balls! The most terrifying ability exhibited by 16-year-old Misha Qin was not just the comfortable set that only the setter could appreciate, but his ability to predict the ball trajectory.
In every round, he could focus on the opponent’s attacker with his formidable vision and quickly judge the opponent’s trajectory based on their movements. The next step was to chase the ball, and with his sprinter background, his speed in chasing the ball was truly unparalleled in the volleyball world.
Nikolai was also a volleyball player, and he knew that players with this kind of vision were all treasures and each one was an SSR1. However, even with SSR players, maintaining this level of defense requires a great deal of energy and focus.
But Misha Qin, playing as a libero, managed to maintain this state until the end of the match. If we considered a person’s focus as a rubber band, an ordinary person could withstand pressure of 90-120 for 45 minutes. Once the pressure reaches 150 and lasts for a long time, there was a risk of the rubber band breaking.
However, Misha Qin could withstand pressure of 180-300 for a long time without letting the rubber band break. This was not even his limit, and his recovery speed was definitely not bad.
After all, Misha Qin often played full games in the World Youth Championships and Asian Championships, but he was always stable. This intangible, mental talent was what makes even experienced coaches like Nikolai drool.
Upon further consideration of Misha Qin’s age, he definitely hasn’t reached his peak yet, and his physique is so healthy, this is nothing short of UR!
When he thought about how he managed to pick up such a big bargain with 300,000 US dollars, Nikolai almost imitated a Marvel villain and said, “I am destiny.”
As for Er Leng… Nikola had heard that this was a magical existence of “one person touching the ball causing panic for 11 people.”
As soon as Two Leng received the ball, both his teammates and opponents become alert, so Nikolai had already prepared himself with anti-anxiety medication to deal with various unexpected situations from Li Ling.
Luckily, Li Ling didn’t draw too severely today, and he had excellent cooperation with Qin Chunxiao on the defensive end. Nikola happily kicked the medicine bottle back into the depths of his bag and watched his championship puzzle pieces work hard to level up on the field.
After 68 minutes, the match ended with Hamster Club winning 3-0.
At the Roller Sports Center, the audience cheered for the players of the Hamster Club, and some people called Qin Chunxiao by his foreign name “Misha.”
Many old fans were holding posters with cartoon hamster designs, the hamsters wearing jerseys and having different expressions, clearly the players of the Hamster Club in hamster form.
There was also a lot of cheering and laughter on the Chinese internet, with many fans exclaiming “Little Qin’s team is amazing.”
[Last year, the hamster’s setting and screening were the same, but this year it suddenly became an impenetrable defense! Nikola’s vision is still accurate, deliberately pulling over the second and third in command of the Guangdong defense team, isn’t this weak point filled?]
[I think I heard Coach Nikola calling Two Leng “two leng,” is that his English name? And Two Leng actually responded, I’m laughing so hard hahaha.]
[The first time I saw Little Qin’s team play against the libero, I felt a bit sorry for him, clearly he’s always been a setter in the domestic league.]
[What do you mean sorry? Does that mean my libero are lower than other positions?]
[That’s right! Anyone with a discerning eye can see that I Lang has completely rejuvenated the Hamster’s defense today! He’s always been a defensive genius, and in a situation where there is no shortage of players on the offensive end, focusing on defense has clearly produced better results.]
[I drew again today, luckily he had previously made up his mind to follow wherever I Lang goes, otherwise, with his drawing power, what would I do?]
{Others cling to powerful people, but Er Leng clings to a 25-centimeter Achilles tendon. I have watched ten years of volleyball games and had never seen a defensive powerhouse like him, always supporting the team. I admire his unwavering character.]
Er Leng: No one can bully me! I have someone behind me, no, I have a wolf behind me!
Meanwhile, in the office of the national men’s volleyball team coach in Beijing, Newton stared at the computer screen without saying a word.
Newton had considered and abandoned the idea of making Qin Chunxiao specialize in defense. Due to the roughness of many Chinese players, Qin Chunxiao occasionally needed to assist in the offense. Newton always assigned Dundun as his backup.
He had always believed that he was good at utilizing players, allowing Qin Chunxiao’s abilities to fully shine on the court. Now he realized he was wrong. Dundun was undoubtedly strong, but libero was Qin Chunxiao’s strongest form!
He sighed, “When it comes to utilizing players, it has to be Nikolai.”
Players like Qin Chunxiao, who were not outstanding in height in the volleyball field, and Li Ling, who was unstable, were like lottery tickets in the volleyball world. No one knew what they would become once they were given a chance. Newton confidently selected them for the national team because they were already strong domestically, but their level was slightly lower in Europe and America.
But Nikolai dared to take a chance on these two players and accurately recognized their true strengths. He started feeding them from the first regular match. What kind of coach had such courage?
Coach Nikolai from Russia could be ranked alongside Coach Mars in Brazil and Coach Lorenzo in Italy as one of the three great male volleyball coaches, proving that he had something special.
As for the leader of the Hamster Club, the captain of the locker room, and the “mom-like” second setter, Mr. Anton, he also realized after this game that clinging to a 25-centimeter Achilles tendon was not an ordinary thing.
Back in the locker room, Anton decided to put aside his pride and build a closer relationship with Misha Qin. He walked up to Qin Chunxiao and extended an invitation, “Hey, Misha, want to take a shower together?”
After the game, the players were covered in sweat, so there was a public bath next to the locker room where they could shower and change clothes. It was common for close teammates to shower together and have a chat.
Qin Chunxiao took off his waist guard, arm guard, knee pads, and other protective gear and replied directly, “No, I’ll just go back and shower.”
Due to genetic issues, many European and American players had a strong body odor and had to shower after the game. However, Qin Chunxiao didn’t mind. As long as he sprayed some deodorant, there was basically no smell on his body.
Also Qin Chunxiao’s countdown to his hidden soulmate in his left abdomen, Qin Chunxiao didn’t mind letting others know that he has a soulmate, but he is well aware that currently, the whole world believed that the most suitable intimate relationship to establish with a soulmate was as lovers. He was only 16 years old and didn’t want to be asked, ‘Who is that person?’ and ‘How are you two doing?’ It’s too troublesome.
So after the game, he only changed his clothes, with a bandage covering his waist to prevent pulling injuries. So far, only Chang Xiaolei had caught him with the countdown.
As the team’s leader, when Anton invited them, even if it was just to save face, his teammates would agree. Qin Chunxiao’s decisive refusal made him feel a bit embarrassed, but when he thought about that amazing pass, Anton rubbed his hands.
“Shall we go eat dinner together?”
Li Ling’s Russian level was terrible, but he understood the word ‘dinner’, and his ears perked up.
Qin Chunxiao naturally replied, “Sure.”
Li Ling thought, has Xiaozi’s mood improved after the game? Is he going to the cafeteria to collect ingredients and then invite me and Anton to dinner?
As a result, in the disappointed eyes of the two, Qin Chunxiao and Anton went to the cafeteria together.
And Anton sat across from Qin Chunxiao, watching Two Leng eat with great effort, feeling that something was off.
Fortunately, at this moment, Alexander led an old man with silver hair to the cafeteria, and the atmosphere became less awkward.
The old man’s grandson followed behind him, and he shook Li Ling’s hand as soon as he approached: “Hello, I’m Powell Jr. Were you the one who helped my grandfather to his seat? Thank you for taking care of him.”
Li Ling didn’t understand the situation at all, but when someone said thank you, he smiled foolishly, “You’re welcome, you’re welcome.”
As soon as Old Powell appeared, he pointed at Li Ling and criticized, “Your passing is terrible.”
Li Ling immediately felt disheartened. He and Qin Chunxiao had only been in Russia for about ten days, and during that time, they had also experienced wilderness survival training. Today was their first time fully cooperating in a match, and they still lacked understanding of their teammates and adaptation to the pace of the Russian Super League. Qin Chunxiao had already anticipated that Li Ling would make mistakes, so he didn’t blame his partner.
But Li Ling knew that he didn’t perform well and felt guilty. He hung his head and said, “I, I will train harder. In the next match, I will try not to hold back my teammates.”
Old Powell patted his shoulder, “Think positively. Every athlete has a rookie period. Only when you recognize your shortcomings can you surpass yourself in the future. I know a girl named Sara, she was also terrible, but I know she has potential. In another two years, she will enter the national team as my partner…”
When he heard the name Sara, Powell Jr. rubbed his eyes, and someone who didn’t know the situation would think that his dark eye sockets were still hurting. But Qin Chunxiao saw the glistening in his eyes.
Alexander sent a message to Qin Chunxiao on his phone.
[Sara is Powell’s wife, Powell Jr’s grandmother. She had a stroke while taking care of Powell a year ago and passed away.]
The old man’s memory was confused. In his heart, his girl was still young, and in a little while, they would go to the Olympics together.
After listening for a while, Anton quietly asked Alexander, “Does Two Leng know about Powell’s condition?” He pointed to his head.
Alexander shook his head, and Anton fell silent.
At this moment, Li Ling patted his chest and said loudly, “In the future, I will also go to the Olympics with Xiaozi!”
Powell smiled, “Then we will be opponents!”
Li Ling said with great momentum, “We will defeat you!”
Powell replied boldly, “Bring it on! The Soviet men’s volleyball team is the strongest!”
They chatted happily, and when Old Powell was helped away, Alexander added a sausage to Li Ling’s plate because in his memory, Powell hadn’t been this happy in a long time.
Qin Chunxiao, who had been focused on eating, finished his vegetable and fruit juice, wiped his mouth, and suddenly spoke up, “You did well.”
Li Ling scratched his head, “It was okay. Powell’s stories were interesting. Coach Yang was actually a newcomer in his story.”
Qin Chunxiao was not surprised at all: “You really found out”
Alexander, confused by their conversation in Chinese, asked: “What are you talking about?”
Qin Chunxiao repeated their words in Russian.
Anton exclaimed in shock, “Two leng, did you discover that Powell has Alzheimer’s?”
Li Ling replied naturally, “I noticed it a long time ago. Powell always thinks he is still living in the 1970s when he speaks.”
Even though they discovered Powell’s illness, Two leng continued to chat with him normally and even made plans to meet at the Olympics.
Although a bit silly, Er Leng did indeed have emotional intelligence.
Anton’s gaze at Li Ling became complicated, and after a while, he also picked up a sausage and put it in Li Ling’s plate.
Li Ling said innocently, “I’m already full.”
Anton patted his shoulder and said, “Eat, only when you’re full can you have the energy to train and compete. Come to the training hall tomorrow morning, and I will tell you about the attacking habits of the team’s attackers.”
He then looked at Qin Chunxiao and said, “Misha, you come too. Let’s do morning training together.”
Qin Chunxiao smiled at him, and her blue eyes were as clear as glass. “Okay.”
Anton’s heart moved. At this moment, he felt for the first time that the distance between him and his new teammates had been shortened. The desire to impress the two foreign aids as the team leader faded, and a kind of understanding connected them.
He couldn’t help but smile and took out a small notebook from his bag. “Everyone in our team has a mascot. Lisa from the logistics department can help make it, or you can design it yourself. I studied art in college and can help you make a mascot for free. I will design it tonight, and tomorrow it can be announced as a surprise on the official website. Misha, if I do a good job, can you give me more treats during the matches in the future?”
The captain voluntarily released goodwill, and Qin Chunxiao naturally accepted it happily. They also set the time for tomorrow’s morning training and went back to their respective homes.
Before going to bed, Qin Chunxiao told Lu Xuandong about the matter of the mouse he had set up.
Qin Chunxiao: “I checked, Alexander’s mouse is a golden silk bear, and Antonio’s is a purple granary mouse. I don’t know which breed my mouse is.””
Lu Xuandong: [should be a more domineering variety.]
Qin Chunxiao: [I think so too.]
After chatting with Lu Xuandong, Qin Chunxiao found that Li Ling had specially posted on Weibo about the mouse design, and fans in the comment section expressed their anticipation.
Green Oil [It seems that our child is doing well in the hamster club.]
Chicken King Championship [Yes, seeing how much their teammates care about them in the club, I feel relieved too.]
White Blood Cell [Protecting the world’s most idiotic treasure, even though I’m so foolish, my teammates don’t dislike him. It’s really great.]
Raisin [The Gemini stars are the first to start playing in the league among the overseas players. It can be seen that the club values them. I hope the Gemini stars will continue to improve in the future matches.]
Due to their appearance, Qin Chunxiao had unknowingly become the number one male volleyball player in China, and his news with Li Ling had always been a concern for domestic fans.
So the next day, everyone calculated the time difference and went to see the official website of the hamster club. The official website did not disappoint, and released the mouse design of the two players.
In the hamster club’s equipment room, Anton greeted Qin Chunxiao and Li Ling: “You are here, come and take a look. These are the hamsters I drew for you.”
Qin Chunxiao walked over and first saw a milk tea hamster with cheeks bigger than its body. It was wearing a number 9 jersey and holding a sausage. Clearly a hamster, but its expression miraculously resembled a husky.
It’s the Er Leng2.
Next to the milk tea hamster was a curly-haired Roborovski hamster, wearing a number 8 jersey, only half the size of the two idiots, with a pair of blue glass-like eyes, soft and cute.
Anton boasted to Qin Chunxiao, “Misha, do you know? Roborovski hamsters are famous for their small size. Your mouse device is also the smallest in the entire club, so everyone can tell it’s you just by looking at its size.”
The smile on Qin Chunxiao’s face gradually disappeared.
He looked at Anton, and the thought of him mentioning his short stature at the World Youth Championship crossed his mind. Originally, he didn’t want to dwell on it, but this guy kept bringing up the topic again and again.
Li Ling couldn’t understand Russian, but his intuition was always sharp. Seeing Qin Chunxiao’s expression, he decisively pulled Alexander out and said, “Let’s warm up by running a few laps around the gym”
Alexander looked confused as he was dragged out.
Anton watched their backs in confusion and asked, “Why did they go out to run? It’s so cold outside, and there’s a treadmill indoors.”
Qin Chunxiao smiled kindly and said, “Maybe it’s too stuffy indoors, and they want to get some fresh air and calm down.”
#Kindness and pettiness are two qualities that don’t conflict with each other.#
No one knew what happened to Anton that morning, but netizens soon discovered that an official website had replaced the design of Qin Chunxiao’s hamster with a different breed one hour after its release
.
The website explained that Anton, who designed the hamster, believed that the timid nature of the Roborovski hamster didn’t match with Misha Qin’s character. Therefore, after careful consideration, it was replaced with a different breed.
Note: The chosen breed, known as a long tail hamster, is one of the least suitable species for beginners to raise because they have a more aggressive temperament and can bite people when provoked.
Many hamster enthusiasts were confused by this move from the Hamster Club. They thought Misha Qin looked petite and cute, and he seemed like a perfect match for the Roborovski hamster. So why did they change it?
Regardless of everyone’s confusion, Qin Chunxiao’s official hamster design was still chosen as the long tail breed. This breed was larger than the average long tail hamster and stood out among the club’s hamsters like a father figure. It wears a number 8 jersey with a white base and black edges, holding a small volleyball in one paw, and its blue eyes contain a hint of hostility.
After seeing this hamster design, Newton, Jiang Xiaohai, Chang Xiaole, as well as the national team and Guangdong team players who knew Qin Chunxiao’s true personality, all felt relieved.
They discussed privately, “It seems that Xiaozai has already established a foothold in the Hamster Club.”
“I wonder who the unlucky one to be dealt with is.”
“I knew this kid would feel right at home even in Russia.”
“Hey, I never worried that he would suffer in Russia, I only worried that he would adapt too well there, fully awaken his Russian bloodline, and then even Ding Rong wouldn’t be able to control him.”
In short, Qin Chunxiao became the only player in the Hamster Club with two hamster mascots. Although most fans generally believe that Roborovski hamsters were more in line with his image, those who have come into contact with Qin Chunxiao firmly believe that the long tail hamster was more suitable for him.
Because the eyes of these two versions of the hamster mascots were drawn very beautifully, when the club made hamster plush dolls, they used blue glass beads for the eyes of Qin Chunxiao’s mascot. Therefore, these two models of plush dolls sold very well, and many people who didn’t watch volleyball matches couldn’t help but buy one when they saw such exquisitely made dolls.
In order to facilitate Chinese fans to purchase the Hamster Club’s peripheral toys, they signed a cooperation agreement with a factory in Yiwu. After seeing the samples, the club’s high-level immediately agreed that the club’s peripherals would be produced by the Yiwu factory in the future.
The high-level of the club sighed: Signing Misha Qin was indeed the right decision, just the production and sale of peripherals alone is a steady stream of income.
The Two-Leng hamster plush dolls also sold well. According to the buyers’ show and the comments of the fans, they felt that the design of the Two-Leng hamster was very practical. As long as the chain at the cheek pouches was pulled open and a hot water bag was placed inside, it would be the best companion for working people and students in winter.
Since the Russian Premier League had 26 rounds of regular season matches, the Hamster Club would fly to Murmansk in a few days to play an away game against the Aurora Club there.
Aeroflot was still the same, taking off and arriving on time, regardless of wind or rain.
Murmansk was the largest city within the Arctic Circle. It has a non-freezing port and experiences polar days around May and polar nights around December.
Late October was a time when there was neither polar night nor polar day to see, but the daytime was relatively shorter and the temperature was also low in comparison to lower latitude areas.
Qin Chunxiao exhaled a breath of white air and looked at the shivering Two-Leng with some confusion, “Is it really that cold?”
Two-Leng wrapped in a scarf and wearing fluffy earmuffs, spoke intermittently, “It’s very cold, Xiaozai, aren’t you cold?”
Qin Chunxiao replied, “Hmm, I feel that the climate here is not difficult to adapt to.”
Misha Qin, with his strong physical resistance to injuries, was equally resilient to hot and cold weather.
They arrived in Murmansk in the evening and had a match the next day. The coach arranged a triple room for them in the hotel, and Qin Chunxiao stayed with Li Ling and Anton.
Qin Chunxiao had a good night’s sleep and got up at six in the morning. He opened the window, took a breath of the cold morning air, and felt in a great mood.
“The weather is really nice today, it’s a good day for a competition.”
Anton was startled by the noise made by Qin Chunxiao, and looking at the grey sky outside the window, he couldn’t bring himself to say that it was good weather.
The head of the Hamster Club couldn’t help but suspect who the Slav was.
Li Ling shivered and said, “Xiaozi, close the window, it’s a bit cold.”
Qin Chunxiao quickly closed the window and apologized, “Sorry, I forgot that you’re afraid of the cold.”
Then the two setters looked at their libero who changed into thin sportswear and went outside for a morning run with water bottles. When they came back, they even built a snowman and tried to take a picture of it to post on Weibo.
However, because the weather was too cold, Qin Chunxiao only took two photos before his phone automatically shut down due to freezing.
Qin Chunxiao blinked his eyes, shook his phone, and pressed the power button for a full minute, but found that the phone still didn’t respond, showing his frustration.
He made a quick decision and went to the hotel lobby to borrow a lighter from the front desk, then placed the phone in the flame, trying to heat it up and turn it on. At that moment, Nikolai happened to pass by and seeing the situation, he stumbled and quickly rushed over.
“Misha, what are you doing? Put down that phone, you’ll end up damaging it by heating it up.”
The acronyms SSR, SR, and UR can have different meanings depending on the context. Here are a few possible interpretations: