Chapter One: The Last Shot Before the Window Closed

Gu had sat silently in the back. After the meeting, he stopped Luo. “Your first step is quick. Why don't you look up before receiving?” “Looking slows me down.” “Without looking, you're running away, not attacking.” Luo scoffed. “Catch me before you coach me.” For two days, Shen's counting filled the training ground. “Seven, eight—lost. Again.” “Nine—don't launch it!” “Eleven—” The ball crossed the touchline. The entire team collapsed onto the grass. They never reached twelve. Only 3,100 people came to Seaside Stadium on match day. A white banner hung from the stand: WAGES UNPAID. EFFORT PAID IN FULL. In the sixth minute, Cape City's midfielder miscontrolled the ball and Southport struck the bar.