Chapter 11: The Super Cup Is Here? Are the Gemini Twins Going to Play Together?

At 6 p.m. on the evening of August 19th, although there were still two full hours before the German Super Cup final, the area outside Augsburg’s Impuls Arena was already packed with fans from both teams.

“It’s been a long, arduous journey! We wanted more from the very start! F.C. Bayern forever number one!”

As Germany’s premier powerhouse, Bayern Munich’s supporters vastly outnumbered the Schalke 04 fans by several times. The raucous Bayern chants echoed freely from every corner of the stadium.

Still, despite being outnumbered, the resilient Schalke 04 fans did their best to make their voices heard, letting everyone know their team was not alone.

At 6:15 p.m., the team bus carrying Bayern Munich’s world-class stars slowly rolled into the stadium’s inner passage. The arrival was met with deafening roars from tens of thousands of Bayern fans.

When the stars inside—Klose, Lahm, Ribéry, Robben, and others—waved to their supporters, the atmosphere instantly surged to a fever pitch.

Inside the bus, the Bayern stars, having just enjoyed a perfect vacation, seemed to have shaken off the shadow cast by their defeat at the hands of Inter Milan’s veterans months earlier. Everyone wore relaxed expressions.

After all, it was just the German Super Cup. And their opponents, Schalke 04, had never posed any real threat. Not only did Van Gaal believe they were simply there to lift the trophy, but the players themselves saw the match as a mere formality. Once the referee’s final whistle blew, they would begin the new season as champions.

Thus, the Bayern bus entered the stadium amid the adulation of their supporters.

Five minutes later, a less conspicuous blue bus arrived at the same pace.

“Raúl!”

“Raúl!”

“Raúl!”

If Schalke’s supporters couldn’t match Bayern’s in sheer volume, the name Raúl at least restored a bit of their pride.

Inside the bus sat Hao Junmin and Lin Hao at the back, while Raúl, Schalke 04’s current star, sat confidently up front.

Hearing the countless shouts outside, Raúl smiled and waved both hands to the fans.

“Hey, Xiao Lin, when do you think we’ll ever be cheered like that?” Hao Junmin muttered, not out of jealousy but genuine admiration as he looked at Raúl basking in the spotlight.

Before Hao could finish, amid the clamorous chants for Raúl, a familiar voice suddenly pierced through.

“Lin Hao!”

“Lin Hao!”

“Lin Hao!!!”

Mandarin?

Hao Junmin snapped to attention, and Lin Hao, who had been closing his eyes to endure his dreaded debuff, turned his head toward the window.

Humans are strange creatures. Though the sea of blue stretched before them, they immediately spotted a splash of bright red nestled within.

It was the vivid red only they recognized.

Indeed, among Schalke 04’s fans were hundreds clad in Chinese national team red jerseys.

Judging by their ages, these were likely Chinese students studying in Germany.

“What the heck, Xiao Lin, you actually have this many fans?” Hao Junmin exclaimed.

Though their red numbers paled against Raúl’s, the two were thrilled. Being far from home, this was the first time they’d seen a group of fans rallying behind them.

Hao Junmin quickly realized that although Lin Hao had just been promoted to the first team, his outstanding performances in the German third division and at the AFC U-19 Championship had already won over fans back home.

After crushing records to claim the golden boot at the tournament, it was no surprise that so many had come to cheer for Lin Hao.

Red flags waved, names were shouted with passion.

At that moment, even though Lin Hao didn’t know if he’d get any playing time, his blood was already boiling.

...........................

A tense pre-match press conference.

The locker room alive with Jürgen Klinsmann’s passionate pep talk.

Fans from both sides erupting in wild cheers.

Though Lin Hao had already played a year at U20 level, none of this was anything he had ever truly experienced before.

Especially sitting on the bench, feeling the overwhelming wave of sound that made the stadium tremble.

Only then did Lin Hao understand what genuine football culture—the kind wholly beyond their reach—really felt like.

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“Zhuang Diantai! Zhuang Diantai! You’re watching the live broadcast of the 2010 German Super Cup final! Bayern Munich versus Schalke 04!”

“The players are already standing in their respective halves!”

“The referee is checking his watch!”

“Beep!”

...........................

“With the referee’s whistle, the match officially begins!”

“Here are the starting lineups...”

Lin Hao and Hao Junmin sat on the edge of their seats, watching the game unfold.

By chance, the CTV5 live broadcast team was less than ten meters from their bench.

Though Lin Hao and Hao Junmin didn’t spot He Wei in the booth, He Wei’s gaze had never left them since warm-ups began.

As CTV5’s star host, this was the first time He Wei had seen two fellow countrymen on the matchday roster.

Although neither started, after introducing the lineups, He Wei immediately shifted focus to the two Chinese players.

“We can clearly see Lin Hao and Hao Junmin sitting on Schalke 04’s bench!”

“Just over a week ago at the AFC U-19 Championship, it was Lin Hao’s dazzling performance that carried our young national team all the way to the final...”

“Ah! Schalke 04 on the attack!”

“Japanese fullback Uchida Atsuto slips a right-footed pass!”

“Kruse makes a run down the right!”

“No hesitation—he shoots!”

“To the middle—Raúl!!!”

“Oh!”

“The header was a bit too central!”

“From today’s starting lineups and Schalke’s recent attack, it’s clear that Hao Junmin has lost the competition for the fullback spot to Uchida Atsuto.”

“However, Hao Junmin excels more as a winger!”

...........................

He Wei continued commentating, simultaneously educating countless Chinese viewers about the difficult circumstances faced by Hao Junmin and Lin Hao within Schalke’s squad.

- “Though we hope our players can make their mark in the Bundesliga, He Wei’s words reveal just how tough it is!”

- “Brother San (Hao Junmin) was top-class back home, but look at who he’s competing with in Germany—Draxler, Rakitic, Jurado... all destined for the world’s elite clubs. And on defense, there’s Uchida Atsuto, the weakest of the lot, and even he outmatches Brother San!”

- “Forget Brother San, Lin Hao’s situation is even harder! I don’t get why he joined Schalke 04. Everyone knows Raúl’s here, plus Dutch international Huntelaar and Peruvian star Farfán—all far stronger players!”

...................

Everyone, including He Wei in the broadcast booth, lamented the uphill battle for Hao Junmin and Lin Hao to get playing time.

Yet, no one expected what happened next.

In the 38th minute, Uchida Atsuto—the player competing with Hao Junmin—pulled a thigh muscle in a non-contact incident!

Though he staggered forward a few steps, Uchida finally tearfully signaled to an anxious coach Magath on the sideline that he could no longer continue.

“Oh!”

“This changes things!”

“Schalke’s right-back Uchida Atsuto appears to have a thigh injury and can’t go on. Could this mean...”

- “Wow! This is Hao Junmin’s chance! Brother San’s moment has come!”

- “Exactly! Brother San, rise up! This is Bayern we’re facing—if he scores, the whole country will be buzzing for days!”

- “No doubt, that would be amazing! Haha, Lin Hao’s presence is deadly—he causes injuries without any contact! This is hilarious!”

- “Look at Magath’s face—he’s on the verge of collapse!”

He Wei turned with surprise toward Schalke’s bench.

Sure enough, the bald coach was bitterly shouting “Hao! Hao!!!”

“Hao Junmin is warming up!”

“Though Schalke regrets having to substitute due to injury, for us Chinese fans, it means we might finally see our players on a stage like the Super Cup!”

He Wei’s excitement was palpable.

Meanwhile, Lin Hao beside Hao Junmin wore a face of helplessness.

You see, because of his admiration for Raúl, Lin Hao clearly remembered every detail of Raúl’s debut in the previous life.

According to history, little Uchida played the full match and performed admirably.

Who would have thought that because of his cursed “no-trophy” debuff, poor Uchida would be stretchered off.

Perhaps feeling guilty, or because Uchida had invited him twice to experience Japan’s most secretive mixed bathing culture, Lin Hao hurried to Uchida’s side after he was carried off.

“How are you, Uchida?”

“Ugh... Sumimasen, Lin-san. I... I’ve let the team down!”

Lin Hao expressed concern, and coach Magath also approached Uchida.

Seeing the coach come over, Uchida tried to sit up reflexively, but Milner gently pushed him back down.

Thus, the unfortunate Uchida Atsuto was forced to withdraw from the Super Cup stage because of Lin Hao’s “little butterfly” effect.

At the same time, Hao Junmin, suddenly called upon, was embraced by Magath as the coach began outlining tactics.

Although Magath doubted Hao Junmin could withstand Bayern’s relentless wing assaults, he had no choice—there was no better fullback on the bench.

In that instant, Magath lamented his club’s dire finances.

If only he were wealthier, he would have bought a fullback like Lahm.

...................

The match resumed.

Seeing the previously well-organized right flank suddenly falter, Van Gaal at Bayern’s bench waved his hand impatiently and directed his players to launch fierce attacks toward Brother San’s side.

...................

From that moment, the tension that gripped Schalke’s fans and countless supporters in China truly began.

In the 41st minute, Schweinsteiger—nicknamed “Little Pig”—faked a move toward the wing before powering forward, using his body strength to shove past a struggling Brother San and sending the ball deep into the box.

Lin Hao on the bench watched Brother San get bypassed so easily, and his heart sank.

Fortunately, Metzelder headed the ball away before Klose could get to it.

Schalke escaped disaster.

“Hao! Don’t rush the first touch, stay with him!” Metzelder gently warned Hao Junmin.

“Got it!” Hao nodded, admitting his mistake.

But Bayern, seeing how easily they could penetrate Brother San’s side, kept sending wave after wave of attacks his way.

- “Man, the gap in skill is huge! Brother San was so dominant in the Chinese Super League, but here in Germany, it’s scary!”

- “Duh, it’s the German Super Cup! Look at the opponent—last season’s UEFA finalists, with world-class stars in every position. Brother San making the squad at all is impressive!”

- “True, let’s hope Brother San scores in the second half! Or maybe Huntelaar and Farfán get injured too, so Lin Hao can get on!”

- “Whoa, you’re ruthless! One injury already, if two more happen, Magath will ship Lin Hao off after the match!”

- “Haha, I agree!”

...................

Chinese fans began joking and complaining, while on the pitch, Brother San’s ordeal continued.

In the 44th minute, Schweinsteiger and captain Lahm combined forces.

Dealing with Schweinsteiger alone was tough; facing both was overwhelming.

Brother San was again easily beaten by the duo.

However, knowing Bayern would target Brother San’s flank, Magath had prepared a countermeasure.

After Hao Junmin was bypassed, Schalke’s midfield enforcer launched a ferocious sliding tackle that sent Lahm flying.

The tackle sparked a brief scuffle.

Baumjohann received a yellow card for a reckless challenge, and Schweinsteiger retaliated by pushing Baumjohann down, earning a yellow card as well.

A card each.

That skirmish marked the end of the first half.

In just a few minutes, Brother San was gasping for breath.

In the locker room, Magath didn’t blame him—Brother San wasn’t a natural fullback, and even Uchida would have struggled against Bayern’s relentless offense.

But as Magath entered the room, he felt an unusual unease.

Yes, he couldn’t explain why, but his team’s luck today was abysmal.

Raúl had three clear scoring chances in the first half—one shot flew over, another was a complete miss, and the most heartbreaking was a lob that hit the post and bounced out.

Not only was their attack unlucky, but their defense was riddled with strange mistakes.

Had Bayern’s veterans not still been in holiday mode, Schalke would have been shredded in the first half.

Luck, indeed...

Magath suddenly glanced toward Lin Hao sitting in the far corner of the locker room.

Lin Hao met his gaze.

Magath wondered: Could this guy’s curse be real?

Lin Hao, seeing the coach’s slightly suspicious look, thought, “Is he going to put me on now?”

There was still half a match to go. Huntelaar was invisible today, but in front of him was Farfán, ready to come on as a substitute.

Lin Hao looked toward Farfán, thinking the third striker was prepared.

However...

Lin Hao could never have imagined that while Magath didn’t believe in curses, Farfán from Peru was devoutly superstitious.

Since rumors spread that Lin Hao carried a curse, Farfán had kept his distance.

Especially after Charlestias—Lin Hao’s competitor—injured himself vaguely during stretching, Farfán was even more convinced Lin Hao harbored dark secrets.

Now, with the Japanese player injured while competing for Lin’s spot, the pieces all added up.

Farfán’s hairs stood on end.

And Lin Hao was looking right at him.

“Laran limasi!” (a chant to ward off evil)

Staring at Lin Hao’s gaze, Farfán involuntarily began reciting protective incantations from his Moche faith—one of Peru’s three major religions, famed for live human sacrifices.

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PS: After a thorough revision, it reads much better.

Here’s a 5,000-word chapter for today; I humbly beg for your monthly votes and comments!