I Just Wanted to Play Soccer, But I Became a Hollywood Heartthrob

Both of them lost balance in their struggle for dominance!

Rust crashed onto the turf, rolling several times until his face was covered in grass and dirt.

Gu Ran, however, relied on his street football instincts from his past life—his hands and feet moving instinctively to stabilize his body before he could fall.

Damn, this guy is strong!

They both had the same thought at the same time.

At that moment, Gu Ran's hands were trembling slightly, a result of the adrenaline surge and sheer exertion.

His blood was boiling, fueled by a mix of adrenaline and dopamine.

That one second of absolute dominance—

Though brief, it was enough.

Looking back, if he hadn't collected all those power training bubbles, and if he hadn't used his stat point on Power, then he might not have won that raw physical battle.

Gu Ran exhaled, quickly sprinting after the ball and launching it over the midfield line with a single powerful strike.

Rust sat up from the ground, his expression filled with disbelief.

The entire training field was silent, filled only with the sound of gasping and murmured expletives.

No one mocked Rust anymore.

That last exchange was too convincing.

The so-called "Human Tank" had just been bodied.

And the seemingly lean, unimpressive Chinese kid had turned out to be an absolute beast.

Rust's lips quivered, his eyes watering slightly. "M-My Susanna…"

Coach Carter's lips pressed into a thin, grim line. "Rust, 300 frog jumps."

Ding!

"You have absorbed 88 points of negative emotion from Chris Dick. Generating System Bubble…"

A blue system bubble formed at Rust's feet!

Oh?

Gu Ran's eyes brightened.

A skill bubble!

What will I get this time?

If it was another Physical Collision +1, then he could increase his Legal Shoulder Charge to +2—which would save him a precious stat point!

Excited, Gu Ran casually strolled over to Rust, lightly tapping the blue bubble with his foot while flashing a calm, victorious smile.

"Rust, check out my Messi-exclusive cleats… Aren't they beautiful?"

Rust trembled with rage. "Are you the devil?!"

Ding!

"You have acquired a skill: Eyelid Bottle-Opening +1. Daily Collection Progress: 5/10."

"Note: This skill does NOT increase attraction from the opposite sex but MAY gain admiration from other men. Use with caution—this skill has a chance of failure, which may result in injury."

Gu Ran: …

What the hell?!

Eyelid Bottle-Opening?!

88 points of negative emotion and THIS is what I get?!

Rust, do you not have any other useful skills?!

No wonder he couldn't find a girlfriend.

If this was the kind of stupid party trick he trained, then he was doomed from the start.

What a waste of a system bubble…

He needed to reach System Grade C as soon as possible so he could preview bubbles before collecting them.

Suppressing his frustration, Gu Ran refocused.

"Coach!" Rust suddenly got up, still filled with defiance. "Please, give me one more chance! Just one more! I… I was careless again! I swear, if I get one more chance, I'll CRUSH this Chinese kid!"

Gu Ran immediately followed up, his voice equally eager. "Coach! Please give him another chance! Just one more!"

It was a genuine request.

I need another bubble. Give me a real skill this time!

Rust turned to him in shock. "Why are YOU helping me?!"

"Relax," Gu Ran sighed. "I'm just being nice."

Rust scoffed. "Hmph! Don't think this makes us friends!"

Gu Ran almost burst out laughing.

Carter, however, wasn't amused.

"Rust, quit wasting my time! Get started on those 300 frog jumps! If you don't finish by the end of the day, you're not playing in the tournament!"

Rust looked devastated. "...Yes, Coach."

With no choice, he obediently started frog-jumping around the field.

Gu Ran jogged up to Carter. "Coach, I passed the test. That means I can join the team now, right?"

Carter's expression remained stern. "No."

Gu Ran frowned. "But I won both rounds. Isn't that enough?"

Carter narrowed his eyes. "Kid, do you think you can fool me?"

Gu Ran's heart skipped a beat.

He knows?

This coach… really had a sharp eye.

But Gu Ran had played well, hadn't he?

Where did he slip up?

Keeping his composure, Gu Ran replied calmly, "Coach, is it because I didn't attempt a tackle? I thought this was strictly a physical test, so I focused on body-to-body defense."

Carter chuckled. "Your physicality is solid. The lack of defensive technique isn't the problem. But I saw through your biggest weakness. Unlike the others, you can't fool me."

He leaned in slightly, his sharp gaze locking onto Gu Ran.

"You're a left-footed weakling, aren't you?"

Gu Ran's pulse quickened.

He figured it out?!

Carter really knew his football.

In soccer, a player's dominant foot was called their "strong foot", while their weaker one was their "weak foot".

Most professional players were right-foot dominant, meaning their left foot was their weak foot.

Some rare players—like Ronaldo and Messi—had trained themselves to be nearly ambidextrous.

And then… there were disasters like Morata, who seemed to have two weak feet.

Left-back defenders were typically left-foot dominant so they could properly cover the left flank, clear balls safely, and execute proper challenges.

Gu Ran, however, had clearly used his right foot for ball control during his test.

Meaning?

He was right-foot dominant—and that was a major red flag for a left-back.

The biggest problem was defensive positioning.

A right-footed left-back had a natural disadvantage in challenges, interceptions, and clearances.

A right-dominant defender would often hesitate or misposition themselves, creating gaps in defense.

That was an instant deal-breaker for Carter.

The coach let out a regretful sigh. "I don't just need a physical defender. I need a complete left-back—someone like Olin. Strong, fast, capable of pushing forward, and able to strike from a distance."

"I respect your courage, Chinese kid. But you're not what I need."

If this had happened in his past life, Gu Ran would have laughed awkwardly, thanked the coach, and left in quiet defeat.

But now?

Now, he had matured mentally.

He had a second chance at life.

There was no way in hell he was giving up.

I've fought my way back to my youth—why the hell would I let a few words destroy my dream?

Gu Ran straightened his posture and smiled confidently.

"Coach, you're wrong."

(To be continued.)