Football: He suffered a broken leg at the start of the game, but partnered with Haaland!

Sun Yang glanced at the news headline. It was a match report about the upcoming U23 Men's Asian Cup.

"The domestic epidemic situation is very serious right now. But some international events that were scheduled long ago are not governed by Europe. In Thailand, there is a match that is about to start, which is related to Olympic football qualification." Sun Wu pointed to the match grouping on his phone screen.

"This is the AFC U23 Asian Cup. It is also the final stage of the AFC-designated Asian qualifiers for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The top three teams in the tournament will directly qualify for the Olympics in Tokyo."

Sun Yang followed his father's finger and looked down.

"The Chinese U23 national Olympic team has qualified for the group stage of this Asian Cup. The team was originally training in Thailand. However, the sudden outbreak of the epidemic led to mandatory quarantine measures being implemented in the cities where many key players were located. Some key players of the national Olympic team were unable to obtain exit permits."

Sun Wu pushed his phone forward.

"The head coach of the national Olympic team currently in Thailand is going crazy because they haven't even managed to field an 18-man starting lineup. The defense and midfield are severely lacking in players."

Sun Tzu clasped his hands together.

"Yangyang, you now have the ability to start and play the full 90 minutes for Borussia Dortmund, and your technique is unparalleled in Europe. More importantly, you are exactly twenty years old this year, which fully meets the age standard for U23. Moreover, you have never represented any country's youth team in any official A-level match."

Having said that, Sun Yang had completely understood his father's meaning.

"Your maternal grandfather was a true Englishman. The FA has called Diana countless times, promising that if you agree to join the Three Lions, they will immediately establish you as the core of England's midfield for the next decade." Sun Wu looked at his son's face. "But at the same time, you are also a descendant of the Yellow Emperor. You've been practicing Peking Opera basics with me since you were little; Chinese blood flows in your veins."

Diana remained silent, taking a sip of her long-cold coffee. As a purely business agent, she preferred Sun Yang to join the England national team, a strong favorite to win the World Cup, which would bring a steady stream of top-tier commercial endorsements. But as a mother, she understood the importance of respecting her husband's and son's traditional values.

"China or England. This isn't a choice; it's a life-or-death question that will determine the major direction of your future career." Sun Wu paused for a moment. "No matter which country you choose, even if you ultimately choose England for your future, your mother and I will absolutely respect your decision. We are your strongest support."

Sun Yang picked up his phone from the coffee table and scrolled through the sports news article.

The Chinese Olympic team had extremely bad luck in this draw, being placed in a group of death. Their opponents include the formidable South Korean team, the physically strong Uzbekistan team, and Iran, a perennial Asian powerhouse.

None of these three teams are easy to mess with.

Domestic sports forums have been in an uproar. All the comment sections are unanimously pessimistic, believing that this depleted national Olympic team, which can't even field a complete roster, is simply throwing the game to Thailand, likely losing all three matches and failing to score a single goal, thus humiliating themselves.

Pessimism is spreading among the fans.

But what Sun Yang saw was a completely different scene.

The complete suspension of European leagues is indeed a commercial disaster. But it's also a golden opportunity for a break. Sports media worldwide are currently experiencing a match drought. Aside from daily reports of infection numbers, the sports sections can't even find any material to write about.

If at this moment, I were to be parachuted into the U23 Asian Cup, a tournament with very low public attention, as the rising star of the Bundesliga and the absolute core player who sank PSG in the Champions League.

What kind of terrifying traffic tsunami will this trigger?

Dortmund suspended with half-salary contract? Puma sponsorship betting crisis? As long as he plays in Thailand, he can treat Asian powerhouses like South Korea and Iran like European defenders, crushing them with incredible shots.

All the commercial sponsors would pounce like sharks smelling blood. Puma executives would even fly to Thailand overnight to revise those damned betting clauses for him, begging him to sign lifetime contracts.

A crisis can sometimes be the biggest opportunity.

Moreover, when faced with questions from British reporters about naturalization outside the hospital last time, he personally recited that opening poem from a Peking Opera, forcefully rejecting the FA's offer to recruit him. He had already declared himself a descendant of the Yellow Emperor; if he were to switch allegiance to England now, wouldn't that be a slap in his own face?

"Dad, go call them back home." Sun Yang put down his phone.

Sun Wu paused for a moment, then leaned forward slightly.

"Call the person in charge back home and tell them that the league in Dortmund has been suspended." Sun Yang stood up and walked to the huge floor-to-ceiling window. The grass outside still had dew left from last night.

"No matter how they operate, whether it's a visa or an exemption, get the paperwork done as quickly as possible. I need to go to Thailand to report for duty." Sun Yang turned to look at his parents on the sofa.

"Have you made up your mind?" Sun Wu's fingers tightened around the edge of his phone.

"It was decided a long time ago. Those reporters keep saying that Chinese football has no talent. Now we can't even put together a full roster for the qualifiers, and the Japanese and Korean media are making us a laughing stock." Sun Yang straightened the hem of his oversized tracksuit. "Then let me be the one to fill in. And while I'm at it, let all of Asia see what a true starting lineup from the top five leagues looks like."

Diana stood up and swept all the documents about pay cuts and breaches of contract into a folder.

"Well done, kid. You've got guts! Now that you've decided to represent the Chinese team, leave the commercial operations to me. I'll package your every move in Thailand into an exclusive breaking news story for European football during the suspension of matches. I'll handle Puma; as long as you perform well on the field, I guarantee they won't dare to even consider terminating your contract." Diana immediately switched into efficient agent mode.

"Knock knock knock".

There was a rapid knocking at the door. Then came the beeping sound of the fingerprint lock being opened.

Uncle Henry, panting, pushed open the door and came in carrying a large bag of fresh ingredients he had bought from the supermarket and a few pitiful boxes of aspirin.

"The situation outside is bad. There's not a car to be seen on the streets of Cologne, and long lines of people are scrambling to buy supplies outside the big supermarkets." Henry tossed the bag onto the kitchen island. "The news says many roads leading to the airport are going to be closed. Flights have been canceled on a massive scale."

Sun Yang and Diana exchanged a glance.

"Henry, book me the next available flight to Bangkok right away. No matter how many layovers, first class or economy, as long as it takes off and leaves Europe, buy the ticket immediately." Sun Yang went to the kitchen, took a bottle of purified water from the bag, and unscrewed it.

"Bangkok? What are you going to Thailand for?" Henry asked, completely bewildered. "The league's suspended, and with things so chaotic outside, staying home is the safest option."

"Go play football. Go beat those opponents who treat us like pushovers." Sun Yang tilted his head back and gulped down a large mouthful of cold water, completely suppressing the lingering heat in his body.