“Damn it!” Sebastian cursed in his heart and rushed back to try again.
But as he charged in recklessly, the ball was flicked up once more by a black boot, arcing over his head again.
It was as if two rainbows had appeared on the training ground.
After cushioning the ball with his left foot, Qin Ming ignored Sebastian entirely—he already had all the space he needed to make the pass.
He laid the ball across to De Bruyne, who forcefully bumped off Malanda and delivered a sharp ground through-ball.
Arnold, a product of Wolfsburg’s academy, chased it down and smashed it into the near post.
2–1!
Arnold laughed heartily and embraced De Bruyne.
He always felt comfortable playing alongside him.
Because the passes always landed right at his feet.
The timing, speed, and weight were always just right.
He didn’t forget about Qin Ming either, reaching out and saying, “Nice move back there.”
“I thought so too.”
Seeing Arnold show goodwill, Qin Ming didn’t bother with false modesty.
He shrugged and grinned.
“Hey, who the hell plays football like that?”
Suddenly, a voice full of anger shattered the harmony.
Sebastian stormed over, locking eyes with Qin Ming.
What others might’ve seen as a dazzling bit of skill, Sebastian saw as mockery.
“Hey, if you’re not good enough, then work harder.
Don’t take your frustration out on others—no one here owes you anything.”
Before Qin Ming could even respond, Arnold stepped in.
As someone who came up through Wolfsburg’s system and had spent five years at the club, his words carried weight.
To him, Sebastian’s anger was nothing but the tantrum of a sore loser.
“…”
Sebastian seemed to regain his composure.
Starting conflict right after joining a new club definitely wouldn’t reflect well.
Still, he couldn’t bring himself to apologize and simply walked away, sulking.
“Thanks,” Qin Ming said sincerely.
In a foreign country, here just for a trial, anything he said would’ve been inappropriate.
Arnold standing up for him was the best possible outcome.
“It’s nothing.
I was like that when I was younger too.
Don’t worry—soon, we’ll be teammates.”
Arnold gave him a firm pat on the shoulder.
The club hadn’t announced it yet, but in Arnold’s heart, Qin Ming was already one of them.
“If you need anything, you can talk to me.”
Even the introverted De Bruyne managed to speak up.
He too had once left home, been bullied by teammates.
And having been through the rain, he wanted to offer someone else an umbrella.
“Kevin, has anyone ever told you you’re a good person?” Qin Ming asked suddenly.
De Bruyne froze, and a memory of Caroline—the woman who cheated on him—surfaced.
He rubbed his face hard.
“Don’t say that.
I’m not a good person.”
“Okay, okay.
You’re not a good person.
I’m the good one.” Qin Ming grinned, guessing the reason.
Just a couple of jokes—but the bond between them grew.
With that, the first half ended.
When the second half began, Dieter Hecking subbed Qin Ming out.
The two found a quiet place to talk—a kind of informal interview, perhaps.
“Mind telling me why you’re here for a trial?”
“I had a disagreement with the second team coach.”
“Can you elaborate?”
“He wanted me to transfer to the Chinese Super League, to a team back home.
But I wanted to stay in Germany, so…”
Qin Ming didn’t finish the sentence, but the meaning was clear.
“Alright.
I can tell you now—you’ve passed the trial.”
Hecking nodded in understanding.
Coaches suppressing young players was nothing new.
He added, “But your transfer is complicated.
There are other factors involved.
We’ll need to make preparations.
Some events may also require your presence.”
Though he recognized Qin Ming’s talent, Volkswagen’s plan remained the same: signing a Chinese player to help reverse their sales decline in China.
“I know.”
Of course Qin Ming knew—his transfer involved a lot.
But he was happy with that.
Because for the sake of sales, Volkswagen would have to push him hard.
The more he played and the better he performed, the greater the chance of the company’s plan succeeding.
That meant he now had a powerful force supporting him.
“As for Bayern, we’ll negotiate.
We’ll try to reach a deal that satisfies both sides.”
“Oh, and about your salary—the club won’t be stingy.”
Hecking saw real potential in Qin Ming.
He wanted to take care of all the distractions so the kid could focus entirely on football.
“No problem.”
Qin Ming nodded.
Just a few days ago, he’d checked his bank balance and realized he was broke.
Maybe Bayern II’s wages were just that low.
If it weren’t for the club covering food and housing, he probably wouldn’t have made it this far.
And that bastard Ten Hag didn’t even let him into the cafeteria.
Truly ruthless.
August 1, 2014 – Volkswagen Arena
Qin Ming’s transfer progressed quickly.
First, Wolfsburg launched a Chinese-language version of their official website.
Then they signed a sponsorship deal with a well-known Chinese tire company.
Finally, they held a grand press conference.
The conference room buzzed with media presence.
Outlets like Xinhua News Agency, Kicker, Bild, and Wolfsburger Allgemeine Zeitung filled the seats.
In front of the cameras, Qin Ming sat quietly like a mascot beneath the backdrop.
On the banner behind him: Ni hao, Ming Qin!
“Mr.
Allofs, is Qin Ming’s signing an athletic acquisition or a clever marketing move?” asked a Kicker journalist bluntly.
“No need to think about that—I can answer directly.
Signing Qin is not a marketing gimmick.
It’s the result of serious discussion.
He’s a talented young player, and we believe he can perform well in the Bundesliga.”
Allofs replied with a smile.
“For the next two and a half years, who will be coaching him?
Please tell us about Coach Dieter Hecking,” asked Zhang Wei from Xinhua.
Zhang had been stationed in Germany for years and, unlike many Chinese fans, knew Qin Ming well.
He frequently watched Bayern II matches—but his expectations had faded over time.
Because Qin Ming’s performances had been just too ordinary.
So he knew—this transfer was a business move.
“Coach Dieter Hecking is a man full of passion for football.
He eats, drinks, and sleeps football.
He knows how to shape a team tactically and works well with players.
He communicates constantly and is deeply driven for success.
He wants to show the unique style of Wolfsburg.
I believe under his guidance, the team will achieve great things this season.”
Allofs may have exaggerated a bit, but overall, he wasn’t wrong.
(END CHAPTER)