My Soulmate is A Libero
China and Japan had no significant time difference, so watching the live broadcast of Japanese matches was very convenient.
The match between China and Italy started at 4 PM, and since it was during the summer vacation when some people had less academic work to worry about or had a free day at work, many tuned in to watch China’s battle against Italy on their TVs, smartphones, or computers.
In the eyes of many, China’s will to win in this match shouldn’t have been very strong. After all, they had already secured their spot in the next round, so why push so hard?
But when they turned on the television, they were surprised! Why was China dominating Italy?
The Italian team was equally bewildered and then infuriated. In past Olympics, Italy had been plagued by a “Quarterfinals Curse” – either failing to make it to the quarterfinals or getting eliminated in that round. This curse had affected both their men’s and women’s teams. In one Olympic cycle, the Italian men’s team had assembled a team with a chance at the gold medal, only to run into a group of death in the preliminary stage.
This year, Italy had finally reached the semifinals, which felt like a miracle. However, in the last match of the round-robin phase, they encountered a suddenly dominant Chinese team. They were not only angry but also frustrated because after plundering China today, they might end up helping their opponents tomorrow.
How unlucky could they be!
Wu Di commented, “Oh my, even at the Olympics, our Chinese team refuses to change its style of robbing the rich to help the poor… Ah!”
They were currently doing live commentary for CCTV. Why were they talking nonsense?
Li Laiheng withdrew his foot from his colleague’s leg and said, “Tomorrow, China will face the Russian team.”
His implication was that the Russian team was the “rich” team, and China’s vigorous performance today could be considered a form of wealth redistribution.
[Hahaha, internationally renowned Robin Hood Squad.]
[The bandit-style men’s volleyball team.]
[A few years ago, they were clearly like white-cut chicken, but Coach Newton’s influence on the national team is immense.]
With the contributions of Liuyuelou and Min Yaoyang, as well as the seamless coordination between Ding Rong and Kong Duojin, two veteran players, along with Qin Chunxiao and You Ziyu’s support in defense and serving, the Chinese team today exuded one word—smooth.
It was a kind of seamless harmony across all positions, with perfect connections in serving, receiving, attacking, blocking, and defense. It was incredibly smooth. Not to mention, it elevated the entertainment value of the game by several levels.
Lorenzo was so frustrated that he cursed, “What’s the use of all these fancy tricks? Jesus, smash for me!”
Jesus immediately started to show his power. He was also a heavy-hitting player capable of scoring through high jumps. However, China unexpectedly substituted in another heavy hitter, Qiao Mingming.
Both Jesus and Qiao Mingming could score through high spikes, but Qiao Mingming had an extra trick up his sleeve. He could play a deceptive, “soft” shot. Lorenzo’s two middle blockers responsible for blocking Qiao Mingming, Louis, who was famous for his tactical jokes, and another middle blocker who was part of the barbecue club with Mingming, were caught off guard. They were familiar with Qiao Mingming’s playing style but struggled against this new version.
Qiao Mingming gently lifted the ball with his fingertips over the net, and it landed on Italy’s side of the court as light as a feather, just like Second Crazy’s way of thinking.
The other middle blocker, the one who was part of the barbecue club, was the first to react. “When did he learn this?”
Louis quickly realized, “I see. Last year, due to the pandemic, global club events were suspended, so Chinese athletes embarked on long-term training. This wasn’t just closed-door training; it was about learning from their teammates’ strengths and consolidating their own skills.”
Qiao Mingming’s teammates, Misha Qin and Tong Shulan, were both masters of playing “soft” shots. Naturally, he had learned the technique too. After the training period, the Chinese team’s overall strength had noticeably improved, making them much tougher to deal with compared to the previous year.
All the strength accumulated throughout the Tokyo Olympic cycle was concentrated and unleashed during the Tokyo Olympics. This was Newton’s initial plan, and he had strategically positioned the team to enter the window of opportunity for a championship during the Tokyo Olympics!
Lorenzo pondered Newton’s arrangement and couldn’t help but admire him. This guy was truly exceptional, able to elevate a mediocre team to this level within four years. It seemed that men’s volleyball was about to produce its fourth world-class coaching legend.
But now, Newton was obsessed with another matter.
“Every heavy hitter’s ultimate destination is ‘softness,’ and Mingming has already got that touch,” Newton praised. In the volleyball world, “softness” was a complimentary term. If a player’s shots could be described as “soft” against their opponents, it meant they had become a successful master of “soft” play.
Jiang Xiaohai remarked, “If Xiao Le could learn this ‘soft’ play style toward the end of his career, he might be able to extend it for another couple of years.”
Chang Xiaole said, “No thanks, given my former partner’s temperament, I wouldn’t be able to continue playing.”
However, the Italian team was feeling the pressure as well. China’s tactics today had stirred up resentment. The thought of facing Russia tomorrow and being exhausted today made them not only angry but also prone to losing their temper.
There was no possibility of a physical altercation off the court, and fighting on the court was out of the question too. They couldn’t beat the Chinese team. They had no choice but to vent their frustrations on the court.
A world-class setter began to vent his frustrations, and it was as if he had opened Pandora’s box. The pressure on the Chinese team suddenly increased, and they felt the same urgency as when they faced Brazil. They immediately realized that Italy might be using their secret weapon meant for Russia today.
In the midst of Qin Chunxiao’s full concentration, Mattia managed to deceive his eyes and provided consecutive assists to his attackers.
On the other hand, China’s setters did not have the ability to deceive Italy’s block because their middle blocker, Louis, was exceptionally sharp. This kind of physical condition might not be world-class, but his intellect made him a top-tier blocking expert, which posed a headache for the Chinese team.
The “soft” playstyle was vulnerable to players like him. Louis adapted to Qiao Mingming’s “soft” shots in less than half a set.
Italy managed to win the third set and started to exert pressure in the fourth set. Ding Rong managed to hold his ground, contributing not only as a setter but also scoring points on his own. Both sides were evenly matched, with China slightly trailing.
However, in competitive sports, a slight disadvantage could be critical.
What was the solution at this point? Continue with strong attacks?
As a coach, Newton provided his answer, “Er Leng, replace Ding Rong.”
Ding Rong had a knee injury and needed surgery after the Olympics. After playing three sets, he was supposed to rest.
The worst fear for intellectual players was encountering unpredictable geniuses, as their thinking often deviated from the norm. Fortunately, the Chinese team had a setter like that.
[Why did they suddenly change setters? Ding Vice Captain could clearly continue playing.]
[Yeah, they were doing well, and it’s 2-1. Why make a substitution?]
[Today, Gua played really well. Is it because they lost one set that they’re changing players?]
[It’s unlikely. In the match against Brazil, they faced several set points from the opponent and Newton didn’t make substitutions. This time, they’re replacing Ding Rong, possibly related to his landing posture after blocking in the third set.]
Normal players landed on their feet after spiking or blocking, but previously, only Tong Shulan sat on the ground to cushion her landing due to her knee problems. Now, Ding Rong was also using this landing method, indicating that his injury had worsened.
When the topic of injuries came up, the barrage momentarily stopped. It was genuinely heartbreaking. Some fans who had no attachment to older players like Ding Rong and favored newer players like Li Ling could relate; they knew that Li Ling, Qin Chunxiao, Min Yaoyang, and others might also face this day in the future.
Sure enough, without an explosive performance from Li Ling, the efficiency on the court was similar to Ding Rong’s. Italy still held the upper hand, taking the fourth set.
Now it was 2-2, and it all came down to the fifth set. It was like a repeat of China vs. Brazil, except this time, China found themselves on the other side of the comeback.
But when Mattia and Louis exchanged glances, they both knew that China still had the advantage. This group of highly conditioned individuals was renowned for excelling in the fifth set. When a match went to the fifth set, their probability of winning was 70 percent, a terrifying statistic.
“Will I lose to the Chinese team?” Mattia looked towards the audience and saw the black beauty who had expressed her affection for him earlier. He felt determined.
[Even if you’re in a bad state now, your life won’t end here, and mud can be molded into art. Maybe you can still win.]
This was the letter Luma had written to him when she couldn’t speak yet.
Even if he failed here, his Olympic journey was not over, and the game was far from over. Perhaps he could still win.
The fifth set began, and neither side was giving in. The score slowly climbed to 14-14.
Now, no one could expect the game to end at 15 points.
Standing at the No. 1 position, You Ziyu prepared to serve the ball, and as he delivered it, the ball touched the ground.
15-14.
The game couldn’t end at 15 points, so the Chinese team intended to finish it at 16 points. Qin Chunxiao stood on the volleyball court, took a deep breath, and focused. This time, Dario received You Ziyu’s serve, but the ball went out of bounds, and Mattia chased after it recklessly.
It was just one match point, and if the Chinese team could overturn Brazil’s match point, then the Italian team could do the same!
Jesús took a few steps back, started a run-up towards the ball, and then leaped to spike it towards the Chinese team. If he could tie this point, they still had a chance to win!
However, Qiao Mingming and Liu Yuelou both jumped to block. The ball touched Liu Yuelou’s hand and flew backward. It was a soft block, and Qin Chunxiao was waiting in the back. He raised his hands gracefully and, with superb finger control and spatial awareness, pushed the ball out with the “special effect” of a top-class setter.
This was a ball that didn’t require any setter adjustments, and the attackers could immediately go for the spike!
You Ziyu had already begun his run-up from position five, and he jumped from just outside the three-meter line to spike the ball over the net.
The game was over, and the Chinese team defeated the Italian team!
[Oh, oh, oh! The championship window team, composed of the world’s number one and two setters, a genius opposite hitter, a Cuban ace, and a super libero, has been defeated by the Chinese team!]
[These young men have once again proven themselves!]
[Ah, ah, ah, I can brag about my last push for a lifetime. Who can match this spatial awareness? I dare you to find someone!]
The stadium resounded with cheers, and the Chinese internet was even more jubilant. Everyone could see that the Chinese team had taken a big step closer to the championship.
Mattia stood in place for a while, then helped up Dario, who had failed to receive the ball. He walked to the net and patted his teammates’ shoulders.
He said to Jesús, “Our Olympics isn’t over yet. Let’s grab a drink and relax after the game.”
Jesus turned around and apologized in broken Italian, “I’m sorry, captain, I didn’t block it.”
“It’s okay,” Mattia patted Jesús on the back. “Don’t be pressured. You played really well today, young man. I understand.”
He comforted the young man who had recently become a naturalized citizen.
There was no need to feel guilty and overwhelmed for a momentary poor performance. It wasn’t like they lost the game; they would face the Chinese team again in the future, and Mattia swore he would win next time.
Qiao Mingming and Min Yaoyang also helped their teammates up. Qin Chunxiao pinched his shoulder and walked towards the coach, saying, “My shoulder is so stiff. Do I have to join the ‘stiff-shoulder club’ before the age of 20?”
Li Ling playfully pinched his shoulder. “It’s okay, my shoulder doesn’t feel great either. Maybe we can go to the hospital together. After shoulder surgery, we might even get to share a hospital room.”
Qin Chunxiao stumbled. “Forget it, even if my injury gets to that point, I don’t want to be in a hospital room with you. That would be too miserable.”
Li Ling said, “Oh! Xiao Zai, you can’t despise me like that! What about your partner’s love?”
Qin Chunxiao replied, “Eaten by Cuiihua!”
They bantered as they left. Qin Chunxiao finally looked towards the audience area again and waved in the direction of Lu Xuandong.
[How should I put it, there should be more shots of these post-match scenes; it feels so heartwarming.]
[Both team captains are so nice, they seem like gentle and mature male gods.]
[Mattia was a crazy fan ten years ago, he wasn’t like this before. Ten years ago, he was just a crazy guy.]
[Mingming was a crazy godmother ten years ago; our captain has always had this gentle and motherly image.]
Luma got up, stuck her hands in her pockets, found a spot to sit under a tree, lowered her head to play with her phone, and still had her mask on. Even with the hot breeze blowing, she didn’t seem to mind.
After a while, Mattia came over and sat down beside her. “I knew I’d find you here.”
Every time he looked for Luma, he found her easily. Luma didn’t know why, but Mattia said it was their soulmate connection.
Luma rolled her eyes and put away her phone. “You’ve come to me for more psychological counseling?”
Mattia shook his head, a proud look on his face. “I’m not the kid I used to be who needed comforting after losing a game.”
Once upon a time, he had nothing. His childhood was marred by domestic violence, his mother left in anger and abandoned a young Mattia. As an adult, Mattia had bounced between alcohol, nicotine, and nightclubs, fearing for his own life. He believed he was a bad person, with some talent in volleyball but unable to reach higher levels. He saw a bleak future, likely retiring from the club due to their many complaints. Thanks to his parents, he didn’t think he could form a happy family, as no one could truly love him.
If he unfortunately lived to be 50 years old, he would undoubtedly be one of those solitary individuals who couldn’t form a family, with no wife or children to welcome him home. Even if he died, he would die alone in his house, with his decaying body not discovered until several days later. At that time, Mattia was even afraid of his own life.
Mattia didn’t understand why he had such sad and decadent moments. Perhaps childhood wounds had a lifelong impact on people. When he met Luma, this woman kindly extended a hand to him. When he couldn’t speak, she took him to the sea, taught him to dive, and he felt like he had found a savior. He continued to seek emotional validation from her.
Later, he thought about it. Luma had indeed given him a future, but she hadn’t thought about giving him more. Both of them had similar childhood experiences, but Luma was stronger. However, she could barely take care of herself, and she didn’t want to carry the burden of an immature boy.
“I used to be terrible, but now I think I’ve improved a lot. Even without you, I can walk my path independently. I already have that courage, but this courage is also thanks to you.”
Mattia took a deep breath. “Losing this game made me see myself clearly. I am already a responsible team captain and a mature man who won’t be defeated by failure. Luma, do you think that someone like me has the right to ask for more from you? Not in terms of taking but in the sense of wanting to take care of you for the rest of your life.”
After saying these words, he nervously looked at his Black Pearl.
Luma looked at him and yawned. “There’s something I need to tell you.”
Mattia asked, “Huh? What is it?”
Luma said, “I’m pregnant.”
Mattia didn’t say anything for a while. It wasn’t until Luma tapped him that he let out a grunt and fainted.
Luma: …
While Yashinka was giving You Ziyu a massage, Gao Depi, who was having his massage from Wang Yan in the next bed, suddenly jumped up.
Wang Yan asked, “What are you doing?”
Qin Chunxiao, who was also curious, asked, “What?”
Gao Depi said, “Mattia found out that Luma is pregnant, and he fainted from excitement. Luma couldn’t carry him back alone, so she called me. She said she didn’t know how to call an ambulance in Japanese, so she came to ask me. Louis knows that some of the Chinese team members have played in the Japanese league, so he thought we might be familiar with the area.”
“In general, she wouldn’t get so nervous, but Mattia’s father died of a cerebral hemorrhage after drinking too much, so she seems very worried about Mattia’s cardiovascular health.”
This tangled web of connections left Qin Chunxiao blinking, and Wang Yan was already on his feet. “Get her to give us the address, Squid! Come help me call an ambulance!”
The former Japanese league superstar, You Ziyu, rushed over from the next bed. “What ambulance? Did someone go eat cod again?”
In the end, Mattia was fine. He woke up in the ambulance when it arrived. He chuckled all the way to the hospital, and the doctor diagnosed him as being quite healthy except for some wear and tear on his leg joints and a severe wrist injury. Everything else was robust enough to knock out a bull.
Luma, listening to the doctor’s Japanese-accented English, asked, “Are his cardiovascular and cerebrovascular systems okay?”
The doctor asked, “Does your husband smoke or drink excessively?”
Luma said, “He quit both.”
The doctor decisively said, “Then his cardiovascular and cerebrovascular systems won’t have any problems for the next 20 years, madam. He’s very healthy.”
Luma pointed to Mattia, who was still grinning like a fool. “But he looks so silly!”
Youth & Bittersweet Aftertaste
Link Ke Bacaan
Serina merupakan siswi SMA penyendiri dan memiliki kompleksitas karena demam panggung. Karena trauma masa lalu, Serina yang suka menari terlalu takut tampil di depan umum. Walau begitu, ia memiliki identitas lain yang tidak diketahui oleh siapa pun. Dia merupakan pemilik akun di balik sosok misterius ‘kelinci_putih’, tiktoker yang kontennya berisi video-video dance cover dengan satu juta follower. Menjadi tiktoker membuat Serina lupa dengan sosok pecundangnya di dunia nyata. Namun, demi menggaet hati cowok paling populer di sekolah, Serina memutuskan masuk ekskul dance untuk mengatasi demam panggungnya dan membangun kepercayaan diri.
Tojoillust 