“Who left the message for Lin Wanxing on the blackboard downstairs about me not going to teach at Yongchuan Hengda?” Wang Fa asked.

“Old Chen wrote that secretly.”

“How did you know about this?”

“Oh, you don’t know? Old Jiang’s son is the deputy manager of Yongchuan Hengda Club!”

Wang Fa thought, why would I know that? How could I possibly know?

At this moment, he felt a hint of absurdity.

He hadn’t left after all, and it turned out he was betrayed by Yongchuan Hengda’s management.

Wanxing_lin@ychdfc.com

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The email was registered by Jiang Xun using his authority. After Old Chen learned that Wang Fa was leaving, he secretly wrote it on the Yuanyuan Tutoring Center blackboard. Lin Wanxing logged into the email and saw Yongchuan Hengda Club’s internal emails, which exposed his lie and revealed that he never actually went to work at Yongchuan Hengda.

He had guessed before that someone must have wanted to help Lin Wanxing and the students keep him, which was why his story was exposed.

Later, Lin Wanxing often recorded many things in that email account, so he didn’t ask further.

But what if there was more to it?

Wang Fa asked for Jiang Xun’s contact information. The two teachers, Chen and Qian, agreed to pass on the message and told him to wait for a call. As for why Lin Wanxing left, neither teacher knew.

Finally, the two teachers spoke a few words privately with Wen Chengye.

Wang Fa took the email and password written down by Old Chen and led the students back to the rooftop of 17 Wutong Road.

Away from the mountains, the weather was fine.

Sunlight streamed through the window frames, dust dancing in the light, making the Yuanyuan Tutoring Center feel warm.

This was still the classroom they knew so well, but because of those deeply hidden stories, all the furnishings seemed different from before.

The students were so quiet they didn’t want to say a word.

Wang Fa sat down at the back of the classroom. There were still arithmetic drafts left by students from long ago on the desk.

He used to come listen to Lin Wanxing teaching the students. In the afternoon, the corner of the classroom was very good for napping, especially with Lin Wanxing’s gentle, clear voice. He would read novels left by her grandparents. Not only did she never mind, but she would also recommend her favorites to him.

Thinking back now, those days truly felt like a dream.

There was also an old computer in the classroom that Lin Wanxing usually used for teaching. Qi Liang opened the Yongchuan Hengda Club’s official website and entered the email and password.

The inbox had only a few scattered emails, but the drafts folder was full.

Opening them one by one, they contained Lin Wanxing’s records of their daily lives.

Although Coach Jiang had passed away, she seemed to understand clearly what the deceased coach would most want to see.

The student’s coursework, their matches, the flowers and plants on the terrace, moments playing with stray cats…

Lin Wanxing wasn’t a professional photographer, but she always had many cute and quirky angles. She had recorded many interesting moments: lettuce grown in foam boxes, neatly hung soccer socks, and plenty of goofy close-ups of the boys making faces at the camera.

In the past, the students would have started criticizing Lin Wanxing’s photography skills. But now, this seemed to be all the memories she had left for them.

The entire classroom was very quiet, with only the faint sounds of clicking on the screen and scrolling the mouse.

Wang Fa occasionally saw himself in some photos, mostly side profiles or back views.

If Lin Wanxing were beside him, he would press her and ask why there were so few photos of him.

Just as he was thinking this, Qi Liang opened the last email, which was also the earliest one Lin Wanxing had saved.

To The Mysterious:

Hello, Mysterious, please allow me to address you as “the mysterious person.”

Thank you very much for the message you left on the blackboard, which helped us keep Coach Wang Fa.

Although I’m not quite sure who you are (though I do have some small guesses).

But I think we probably both believe that maintaining a certain appropriate level of mystery, without asking too many questions, makes things more interesting.

I have many things I want to say, but it seems there’s nothing much to say either.

Whoever you are, you probably care a lot about those students.

So I will use this email to record some of the students’ daily lives, as repayment for your help in keeping him.

The video below is the farewell message the students recorded for Coach Wang Fa before he left.

Now that he’s not leaving, there seems to be no way to show it to him.

Whether you log into this email in the future, or if these are just my monologues that no one will see, I want to use this video as the first record of our new life.

I still hope that all the deeply hidden gratitude and sentiments will one day be seen.

After Lin Wanxing’s brief letter was a video.

The preview image showed Fu Xinshu’s face.

Wang Fa remembered that on the evening he was supposed to leave, there were crimson clouds in the sky.

The students seemed to be doing something secretively but lost in the confusion of leaving, he hadn’t paid any attention.

“Should we watch it now?” Fu Xinshu sniffled, his eyes slightly reddened, turning to ask him.

Wang Fa nodded, the boys’ faces showing sadness and awkwardness.

“Maybe you should watch it alone. What we said is a bit mushy, it would be embarrassing to watch together,” Qin Ao suggested.

Wang Fa nodded in agreement, asking Qi Liang to forward the email to him.

The time was 2:00 PM, according to the student’s schedule, when they would begin their afternoon self-study.

The boys stayed in the classroom while Wang Fa took his phone and went upstairs alone.

Those were the stairs he walked every day. The high windows inside the stairwell let in some light, and there was brightness at the turn. But most of the long staircase was dim and extended.

He opened the video, leaving just enough volume for himself to hear, and continued walking up.

Fu Xinshu’s face appeared first. He had always been calm and resilient: “Coach Wang Fa, although you’re leaving, I still want to thank you for teaching us. I never thought I could play soccer with my brothers again, let alone win games. It feels like a dream, but it feels so good! Thank you!”

Chen Jianghe: “Coach, I knew you earlier than the others. Teacher Lin told me it was you who warned her that the agent was a fraud, which is why she came to help me. When I met that con man, I was tempted. I love soccer and wanted to make something of myself. Although you burst that bubble, you seemed to bring us new hope. Training diligently every day and feeling my abilities improve is the right path in soccer.”

Zheng Feiyang: “When you first appeared, we all thought you were a fraud, pretending to know soccer just to hit on our teacher! But damn, you weren’t pretending—you do know your stuff! It was like a gift from heaven. How could someone so amazing be willing to teach us?”

Lin Lu: “Coach, now that you’re leaving, I don’t want you to go! But it’s normal, right? How could such an awesome coach keep indulging us forever? We’ll continue to play well. Just remember to come back and guide us occasionally! Don’t forget to come back!”

…

Qin Ao and Lin Lu somehow ended up in the same frame: “Coach, you’re a god! You’re incredible!”

The two sang a chorus of “Ole, ole, ole,” with their noisy singing echoing in the space.

The scene changed, and Zhi Hui appeared at the end of the video: “Coach, I read your Eight Characters fortune before. Your male destiny meets the wealth star this year. You should have a predestined relationship, but you’re running away now, so I probably wasn’t skilled enough in my calculation.”

The video background was very dark, giving the whole atmosphere a mystical feel. The content, which sounded somewhat amusing, was delivered so seriously by Zhi Hui that Wang Fa couldn’t help but smile helplessly.

Wang Fa’s hand touched the iron door of the rooftop. The farewell messages from all 11 players had finished playing, and the video screen darkened. But when his finger touched the video to close it, the progress bar below indicated there was still more content.

A moment later, Lin Wanxing’s face appeared.

Wang Fa could almost hear his heart pounding violently. He unconsciously turned up the volume a bit.

It was still a dimly lit indoor space.

At first, Lin Wanxing looked uncomfortable recording a video. Her hair was lightly tied up, with some loose strands falling around her face. She tilted her head to the left, then smiled with the corner of her mouth, her gaze momentarily lost.

But after a while, she came back to herself, composed her emotions, and showed her usual relaxed, peaceful smile. She slowly began speaking to the camera.

“Hello Wang Fa:

I’ve never recorded something like this for a man before, so I’m a bit embarrassed. First, thank you very much for your companionship during this time, and for teaching the students.

Although I always encourage students to pursue their dreams, reality is cruel. I know better than anyone that without you, the students wouldn’t be able to continue playing soccer together. These players, to you, might just be passing strangers in life. You’re like someone who casually rescues a drowning cat, pulling them out to dry in the sun. But do you know, for little cats and dogs, being bathed in sunshine is the happiest, most secure thing in their lives!

So thank you very much!”

After saying this, Lin Wanxing seemed ready to stop recording.

She leaned forward, her delicate face enlarging in the frame. But at a certain moment, she stopped all movement.

As if suddenly interrupted by some sound from outside, or perhaps because she thought of something else, she sat back down.

The progress bar continued to play on.

“Was that a bit fake just now? Though it was sincere, it wasn’t completely from the heart. Rationally, what I most want to say can’t be told to you, but anyway, I’ll edit this part out, so you’ll never hear it, so it doesn’t matter.”

After muttering to herself for a while, she sat properly before the camera again, her smile fading to reveal her most genuine, calm face. She organized her thoughts and continued in a different tone—not as cheerful and lively, but particularly confused and puzzled.

“Wang Fa, I don’t know what’s wrong with me. When I heard you were leaving, my mood became strange. Very dejected, I suppose it’s dejection.

You’re the most interesting man I’ve ever met. Being with you every day is so relaxing and happy. Although you seem to have many stories, I also have many secrets.

But with you and the students around, it seems like every day is so busy that I can temporarily stop thinking about those questions I can’t answer.

There was a period before when I couldn’t sleep for entire nights, and of course, that happened after I came here too.

But thinking that you’re next door, and tomorrow you’ll be concocting some new drink, it’s like having different expectations every day.

It feels good to always have someone accompanying me. If you leave, the room next door will be empty, and I’ll be alone again.

It feels nice to hide on this rooftop with you every day.

So I want to ask you, could you stay for me?

I know this is selfish and annoying, and I don’t know why either, but I just want someone to accompany me.

So, can you stay and keep me company?”

In the frame, Lin Wanxing finally smiled mischievously. Then she leaned forward, as if making a determined decision, and abruptly turned off the camera.

The progress bar reached the end.

The image disappeared into darkness.

Wang Fa felt his breath almost stop, his eyes fixed only on Lin Wanxing’s final smile under the desk lamp.

Though it was the lightest of sounds, it thundered in his ears.

Their first meeting at Wuchuan Road Stadium, their reunion at Mingzhu Stadium, and gradually, Lin Wanxing and the players slowly seeped into his life.

He used to think they were like a passing breeze, giving his non-stop half-life a period of carefree relaxation. But in reality, after the wind blew, the entire city turned green, bringing vitality to his whole world. But there was also rain—at this moment, thunder roared, and he was completely drenched by the downpour.

His emotions were extremely complex and chaotic. On one hand, he was grateful he hadn’t left, accompanying Lin Wanxing through so many pleasant times; on the other hand, he felt fearful in retrospect.

But he had been kept by Lin Wanxing. Lin Wanxing clearly needed him, yet consistently refused his further approaches, and left with firm resolution.

He couldn’t understand any of it.

Behind the door, a sudden gust of wind swept across the rooftop, making the iron door clang loudly.

In all their stories, there must be something he had overlooked.

Wang Fa forced himself to calm down.

He kept recalling all the stories that had happened since he came to Hongjing, but at a certain moment, the timeline moved forward to a critical point. Almost unbelievably, he turned on his phone again and looked through his contacts.

It was just after six in the morning in the UK.

Psychologists and patients shouldn’t have private contact, but family psychological consultants could be exceptions.

When Wang Fa called, he thought he would have to wait a long time, but the call was answered almost immediately after connecting.

“Dr. Yan, sorry to disturb you so early,” he said, calming his emotions.

“Not early, I’ve been waiting for your call for a long time,” came the calm female voice from the other end, accompanied by the noise of a coffee machine starting.

Hearing the latter part, Wang Fa’s heart beat uncontrollably. He knew he had found the right direction.

The story returned to before he came to Hongjing.

He remembered clearly that after he decided to return to China, his psychologist advised him not to make a complete decision to give up so quickly. He could try choosing a place to live near a stadium, observe, and think more before making a choice.

So, he rented the rooftop at 17 Wutong Road.

Occasionally, there were family days—mandatory online psychological consultations for the whole family.

When discussing him, it was the psychologist on the other end of the phone who suggested he could go watch youth soccer matches in China and look for that initial thrill of loving soccer.

That’s why he went to Mingzhu Stadium that Sunday.

“I have a question—do you know Lin Wanxing?” he asked very directly.