In the next two attacks, Lin Wansheng repeatedly gave the most precise tactical suggestions, and the second string miraculously advanced all the way to the first string’s 30-yard line.
Coach Bob, standing on the sideline, took all of this in.
The expression on his face shifted from his initial rage at Mark and the others.
Gradually, it turned into a trace of scrutiny toward Lin Wansheng.
……
……
Just as the second string’s morale was soaring and they were preparing to attack again, an accident happened!
Mark, the first string’s quarterback, moved like a cheetah. The instant the second string quarterback received the pass, Mark seized the opportunity and brought him crashing to the ground with a Tackle.
The football slipped free!
Mark was quick-eyed and quick-handed. Before anyone else could react, he scooped up the ball that had fallen to the ground!
And just like that, possession changed!
Holding the ball, Mark began sprinting madly toward the second string’s end zone!
As a wide receiver, Lin Wansheng immediately turned and chased after him.
Meanwhile, Avery, the first string’s starting running back, was like a bulldozer running at full power.
He charged ahead of Mark, acting as his lead blocker!
“Bang!” Avery delivered a clean, decisive hit.
He sent a second string player who had tried to step up and intercept them crashing to the ground.
“Bang!” Another one!
With Avery clearing the way with two devastating blocks in a row, Mark easily crossed midfield.
However, just as Mark was about to rush into the end zone, a sudden change occurred!
The second string quarterback—the one who had just lost the ball—had bloodshot eyes at that moment. Like a crazed bull, he completely ignored the rules.
He charged straight toward Mark’s blind side.
Desperately lowering his head, he turned his helmet into a battering ram.
And smashed viciously toward Mark.
Mark let out a short, sharp scream.
That hit from his blind side made him instantly lose control of his body.
His entire body toppled backward as if his bones had been pulled out, his legs flipping upward in an unnatural way.
His whole body was in an extremely dangerous, head-down, feet-up position.
And then, with his head aimed at the turf, he was about to crash straight down!
In that split second.
Lin Wansheng, who had been chasing relentlessly behind Mark, suddenly felt his scalp go numb.
Without even thinking, he dove forward. Just as Mark’s head was about to hit the ground, Lin Wansheng used his arms and body.
He forcefully supported Mark for an instant, slightly changing the angle of his landing.
“Bang!”
A heavy impact rang out, but the most terrifying consequence had been avoided.
“Idiot! Moron!” Coach Bob charged onto the field like a madman.
He kicked the fouling second string quarterback.
“Are you trying to kill him?! Is your fucking head full of shit?!”
“Using your helmet to hit someone! Do you even know that’s a foul?!”
Then he turned toward the still-shaken Mark and cursed him out just as mercilessly.
“And you! You think you’re taking a walk in the park?!”
“As a quarterback!”
“Even your fucking ass**le needs to grow eyes for me! Don’t you know that?!”
Finally, he glanced over.
Lin Wansheng had just climbed up from the ground and was moving his wrist.
His tone finally softened slightly.
There was even a trace of approval in his eyes.
“Not bad reflexes, kid.”
“Your teammates are your family.”
“Good job!”
After saying that, he blew his whistle. “Training’s over! All of you, get your asses back to the locker room!”
On the way back to the locker room.
Avery caught up in a few steps, hooked an arm around Lin Wansheng’s neck, and trapped him under his arm.
He lowered his voice, his tone filled with dissatisfaction.
“Why’d you save that guy? Would’ve been great if he’d gotten a concussion.”
“I didn’t want to either. My hands moved faster than my brain.” Lin Wansheng broke free from Avery’s “chokehold” and rubbed his neck.
“And besides, no matter how you see him.”
“Whether as captain or as quarterback, Mark is qualified.”
“Qualified my ass!” Avery scoffed. “I heard about it. A while ago at the subway entrance, he and Kevin mocked you together.”
“It wasn’t really him… mainly that idiot Kevin.”
“That’s no different!” Avery raised his voice.
“Mark was standing right there watching! Watching makes him guilty too!”
Lin Wansheng looked at his friend’s expression, which clearly said, “I’m ready to go fight for you anytime.”
He could only sigh helplessly.
“Don’t you know? Eugene, the second string quarterback, is transferring once school starts.”
“The only reason he’s still here training now is because he needs Coach Bob to put in a good word for him with the coach at his next school.”
Avery froze for a moment. “Transferring? Where to?”
“His dad got transferred by his company to Flint, Michigan.”
“So he’s going to be the starter at Flint Central High School over there.” Lin Wansheng spread his hands.
“Now you tell me, if Mark really died, who goes in?”
“That tenth-grader on the third string who can’t even hold onto the ball?”
……
……
……
In the locker room, the atmosphere was so oppressive that even people passing by lowered their footsteps.
Everyone had their heads down, silently taking off their protective gear.
Even Avery, who was usually the most lively, unusually remained silent.
Coach Bob stood blocking the doorway with his arms crossed, like an iron tower.
His icy gaze swept over the faces of every first string starter.
“What, no one’s talking now?” he sneered.
“Weren’t you all so capable? Don’t you all think you’re All-American stars?”
“I’m telling you idiots, those verbal offers you’ve got are worth less than a piece of fucking toilet paper!”
“All I have to do is call those college coaches and tell them what you’re like in training. Take a guess.”
“Will those offers still be there?”
“Forget verbal offers—even if you’ve signed a fucking Letter of Intent, as long as I want to, I can still find a way to make the school cancel it!”
His voice suddenly rose, echoing through the locker room like a thunderclap.
“If I catch anyone drinking again! Smoking weed!”
“Every single one of you who does it will get the hell off my team immediately! Do you hear me?!”
“We hear you!” A scattered response rang out.
“Louder!”
“WE HEAR YOU!!!”
……
……
Lin Wansheng was wiping off his sweat with a towel.
Just then, Mark walked over, his face carrying a bit of awkwardness and apology.
“Hey… thanks for earlier.”
Lin Wansheng’s hand paused mid-wipe. He lifted his eyes and glanced at him, then gave a lukewarm “Mm” as a response.
Seeing Lin Wansheng’s cold reaction, Mark hesitated for a moment but still said, “Listen, I know we’ve had some issues before.”
“But the stuff before, the things aimed at you.”
“I swear, it wasn’t because of racism or anything like that. God as my witness, I’m not that kind of asshole.”
Seeing that Lin Wansheng still wasn’t paying him any attention.
He took a deep breath, as if he had made some enormous decision.
Only then did he speak in an extremely awkward tone.
“It’s because of my sister.”
“She… she seems to kind of like you.”
“So, as her older brother, I kind of… couldn’t help myself.”
Lin Wansheng had been about to throw the towel into the laundry basket, but his hand instantly froze in midair.
He slowly turned around and looked at Mark.
At that moment, there was only one thought in Lin Wansheng’s mind.
“Huh? Who’s your sister?”