"Bernabéu has fallen!"
After the match, Marca's sports front page had no pictures, only a full page printed with a line of bold black text.
Jin Hayes never expected that he was just trying to win as much as possible, to score a few more goals to ensure victory. The result, however, became the direct fuse for changes in Real Madrid's management.
Within just one week, Real Madrid's elections, originally scheduled for May 2009, were moved up to December 2008. In early December, before Christmas, the election ceremony was held at the Hotel Ritz Madrid, and Florentino Pérez, as the sole candidate, automatically became Real Madrid's new president.
Former Real Madrid president Ramón Calderón resigned voluntarily through a post‑match press conference on the day of the 5‑0 crushing defeat to Dortmund. If he hadn't done so, he would surely have been besieged by angry Real Madrid fans. To save his job or to save his life, any normal person would make the same choice.
As for Real Madrid coach Juande Ramos, he also chose to resign on the same day. Real Madrid temporarily invited the unemployed Zinédine Zidane to serve as an interim caretaker coach.
According to Marca, Zidane had originally planned to serve as Florentino's football consultant after Florentino took office next year. However, due to the 5‑0 defeat, Zidane started his job at Real Madrid earlier.
"Jin, look at what you've done, you really are a coach killer, hahahaha—" The next day, at the InterContinental Madrid, seeing the freshly published Marca in the restaurant, Mats Hummels was overjoyed. This guy was really enjoying the gossip.
"You can read Spanish?"
"Of course! Don't underestimate me!" Hummels wanted to show off, but Mario Götze exposed him in a second. "Dedê translated it for him."
Substitute left‑back Dedê was Brazilian and was fluent in Portuguese and Spanish. "I knew it, how could you learn so fast?"
"Nonsense, I learn languages very quickly!" Hummels was still unconvinced. "How about the Chinese you taught me last time?" Hummels imitated Jin Hayes's tone and said: "Look at what you've swept."
*Ignore lit lol
"Pfft—" Jin Hayes almost spat milk on his face. It was over; these foreigners were really being led astray by him. What would they do if they traveled to China in the future? They would definitely get into trouble.
"How about it, want to explore Madrid's nightlife tonight?"
"Forget it, the plane is flying back this afternoon. Why didn't we go yesterday?"
"Uh—" Nuri Şahin was embarrassed. Yesterday, the brothers were too excited in the dressing room, drank too much beer, and fell asleep as soon as they returned to the hotel.
He heard that Madrid's largest nightclub, Kapital, had a total of seven floors. They missed the chance to go last time when they played Atlético Madrid, and they missed it again this time.
Both Atlético Madrid and Real Madrid had been eliminated from the Champions League, so there was no chance to come to Madrid this season. It was a bit of a shame they didn't get to go out and have fun.
Just then, coach Jürgen Klopp entered the restaurant, carrying a plate with bacon and toast. Şahin's eyes darted, and he went over with a cheeky smile.
"Coach, can I ask you for something?"
"Speak." Klopp kept his eyes fixed, carefully spreading butter on his toast.
"Aren't we also on holiday tomorrow? Can I ask for leave to stay in Madrid?"
"You want to go to a nightclub, don't you?"
"No, no, no, I want to explore the city." Nuri Şahin said earnestly.
"Stop pretending, don't think your little tricks can fool me."
"Coach, what about the leave?" Nuri Şahin gave two awkward laughs.
"Don't even think about taking leave." Klopp refused quite bluntly.
"Alright." Şahin thought about it, and it was true; coaches usually hated players going to nightclubs. Indulging in debauchery really affected a player's form, just look at those early stars who amazed the world but later faded into obscurity.
Even someone as strong as Ronaldinho would lose his flair after spending too much time in nightclubs, let alone players with average talent.
"This guy is hopeless."
Jin Hayes was struggling with his bacon; the InterContinental Madrid was a five‑star hotel, but the bacon was fried like a shoe sole—tough and hard to chew. Seeing Şahin dejected, he couldn't help but feel a little schadenfreude.
Jin Hayes just wanted to return to Dortmund as soon as possible and have a good sleep in his own room. Using Steel Body multiple times yesterday had somewhat overdrawn his stamina, making him easily exhausted the next day, like staying up all night at an internet café, feeling completely drained.
However, Şahin hadn't walked two steps before Klopp called him back. "Hey, I only said I wouldn't approve leave, not that I wouldn't approve going out to have fun."
"Was?! Really?!"
"Tonight's flight has been rebooked for tomorrow. We'll go out and have some fun tonight." Klopp gave his signature grin, still looking a bit fierce. But from Nuri Şahin's perspective, Klopp was simply an angel.
"Coach!!" Şahin was eager to embrace him but was mercilessly pushed away.
"Get lost, go away."
"Yay!!!" Şahin, like a puppy, excitedly ran back to his teammates to announce the good news.
"Ah? Really?"
"That's great!
" "Absolutely true, Jürgen said it himself, we can play for a day!"
"Fantastic!"
Hummels, Neven Subotić, Jakub Błaszczykowski, and others were all extremely excited. Only captain Sebastian Kehl and Alexander Frei were quite helpless; they wanted to go back and spend time with their families, but now they had to spend another day in Madrid with these young people.
But it was also good; after continuous intense matches, moderate relaxation was very necessary. Otherwise, if the team's nerves were too tense, they could easily snap. A 5‑0 victory over Real Madrid at the Bernabéu, successfully securing first place in the Champions League group, was certainly worth celebrating.
"The family is preparing roasted pork knuckle tonight, when will you be back?"
Jin Hayes's phone vibrated, and he opened it to see a text message from Anna.
"The team is staying in Madrid for a day, returning tomorrow."
"Alright."
…
Dortmund.
The young girl Anna sat on her bed with her legs hugged, sighing softly as she lay back.
"Anna! Didn't you say you were going to cook yourself? I've prepared the ingredients!" Maria's loud voice from downstairs pierced through two floors.
"I'm not doing it! Let's just eat whatever tonight!" Anna pouted, pulled open the door, shouted, and then threw herself back onto the bed. "Hmph! Just when I finally prepared to cook—"
The more Anna thought, the more annoyed she became, grabbing the teddy bear from her bedside and kneading it furiously. "Ah ah ah ah ah—Damn it! The books are all lies!"
On the girl's bedside table, the same book was open as before, "You Can Flirt with Guys Like This," the latest chapter read:
"Chapter Three: Steak Frying and Accelerated Heartbeats—A Kitchen Hormone Game." Subtitle: "Conquering His Taste Buds with a Frying Pan." Kitchen Psychology: Food is a Metaphor for Desire. There's a good German proverb that says, 'Der Weg zum Herz des Mannes geht durch den Magen' (The way to a man's heart is through his stomach). Data corroboration: 72% of German men find women more attractive when cooking. Why not try making some of your signature dishes—"
After tormenting the teddy bear for a moment, Anna turned over and picked up her phone again. She opened the browser, and it was still yesterday's news report about Dortmund's big win over Real Madrid.
Today, the German media were completely ecstatic, widely publicizing Dortmund's victory. In yesterday's Champions League, Werder Bremen lost 3‑0 at home to Greek team Panathinaikos; Bayern Munich lost 3‑2 away to Ligue 1's Lyon; only Dortmund crushed Real Madrid 5‑0, truly getting revenge for the Bundesliga.
Who would have thought that Bundesliga powerhouse Bayern Munich would decline so quickly this season, while the youthful storm of Dortmund had instead become the face of the Bundesliga.
Looking at Jin Hayes's handsome face in the news, Anna couldn't help but gaze in fascination. "What am I going to do with you? I just want to see you sooner—"
When the Chinese boy lingered in her mind, Anna had fully realized her feelings.
That's right, she had already fallen for Jin Hayes. From waiting for him after school to walk home together, from the jealousy when her classmate Claudia publicly confessed to Jin Hayes, from seeing his spirited smile on the field, from missing him during away games—
…
"Is this Spain's number one nightclub? Wow!"
"Holy shit!"
"Berghain in Berlin is nothing compared to this."
Madrid, night.
The Dortmund players, dressed in casual clothes, streamed into Madrid's largest nightclub, Teatro Kapital. The young men were wide‑eyed, taking in the dazzling lights and multi‑level layout.
This time, Jürgen Klopp led the team. Nuri Şahin, Mats Hummels, Jakub Błaszczykowski, Neven Subotić, Marcel Schmelzer—even Mario Götze came. Except for poor Marco Reus, who had already been sent back to Germany for treatment due to an Achilles tendon injury.
Jin Hayes originally planned to sightsee in the city during the day and rest at the hotel at night. However, he couldn't resist the pleas of his friends, so Jin Hayes reluctantly accompanied them out.
"Please, Jin! With you and Marco as wingmen, our success rate with girls will greatly increase."
There was nothing he could do; these guys not only needed him for assists on the pitch, but even for flirting with girls. However, it was good to relax; a seven‑story nightclub not only had explosive electronic music dance floors but also quieter jazz areas. Jin Hayes thought it wouldn't be bad to sit and listen to a live performance for a while.
At the entrance, a stout security guard in a suit saw the group of young men and initially pointed to the long queue, telling them to hurry up and line up. But upon closer inspection, he recognized them all as familiar faces from television.
"OMG! It's the Dortmund players! Please come in!"
"That easy?" Jin Hayes was stunned.
"Of course, I'm an Atlético Madrid fan." The stout security guard grinned. Nothing made him happier than seeing his arch‑rival humiliated. Although Dortmund had also eliminated Atlético Madrid, it didn't stop him from enjoying Real Madrid's embarrassment.
Alright.
Jin Hayes did not follow the hormone‑fueled group onto the dance floor, but instead went with Götze to the bar on the second floor, where they each ordered a non‑alcoholic drink. The two chatted briefly about yesterday's match when Şahin, with a flushed face, came over and put his arm around Götze's shoulder.
"Mario, come help me! Jin, you too, the girls in Madrid are amazing!"
"You guys go, I just want to rest."
"Alright, it's your loss if you don't come."
Götze was dragged away by Şahin, looking helpless, leaving Jin Hayes alone at the bar. Jin Hayes opened his phone, ready to text Anna. He typed several messages but deleted them all, feeling that his words sounded a bit too deliberate or sentimental.
As Jin Hayes was at a loss, he suddenly caught a sweet, cloying scent. A slender figure, about eighteen or nineteen years old, appeared on the high stool beside him. A black velvet slip dress tightly hugged her warm‑toned skin, and the hem of the skirt barely reached her knees, revealing the long, delicate curve of her legs. Two thin silver chains barely hooked over her shoulders, as if they would snap with a single breath. Her chestnut short hair was styled into lazy waves, and her eyes shimmered under long eyelashes. Her alluring red lips curved into a charming arc in the dim light of the bar.
"¿Te invito una copa?"
"Qué? Sorry, my Spanish isn't very good."
Realizing that this woman was hitting on him, Jin Hayes pretended not to understand Spanish to refuse her. As a professional footballer, he was easily involved in various scandals. To avoid affecting his football and the team, Jin Hayes tried his best to avoid complicated situations.
However, the woman did not back down. Instead, she chuckled softly and invited him again in English. "Can I buy you a drink? My name is Irene."
"Sorry, I'm not old enough to drink."
Ignoring Jin Hayes's refusal, Irene directly greeted the bartender: "Two virgin mojitos."
To be fair, even though this fiery short‑haired woman was a bit forward, her voice was truly magnetic, like a softly singing diva from an old film.
After playing as a professional footballer for over a year, Jin Hayes finally experienced what it was like to be approached by a beautiful woman at a nightclub.