Late at night in Beijing, China, at the headquarters of National Television.
Because Yang Yang had already demonstrated his influence at last year's FIFA Awards Ceremony, and because this year's ceremony would see him step onto the stage again with two separate chances to receive awards, National Television decided to arrange a full live broadcast. This marked the first time the FIFA Awards Ceremony was being broadcast live on national television.
Wei Zhen was one of the people in charge of the broadcast. When he saw Yang Yang arrive together with Su Ye, he was stunned, just like everyone else present. The domestic media had been searching for the so-called mysterious girlfriend of Yang Yang for a long time, yet no one had expected him to reveal her identity in such a direct and public manner. More importantly, everyone was struck by Su Ye's beauty that night. This included Wei Zhen himself, who had watched her grow up and could be considered an elder figure to her, and even he could not help but sigh inwardly. That night, Su Ye seemed like a fairy descending from the Guanghan Palace, elegant, composed, and refined.
"So she really is Yang Yang's girlfriend."
One colleague recognized Su Ye, since the domestic media had followed her before, though no concrete news had ever been released. Wei Zhen nodded somewhat awkwardly. He had known the truth for a long time, but he had deliberately kept it from everyone else.
"Look at this. Netizens are already starting to discuss it wildly."
"The major online portals have begun publishing follow-up reports. This will definitely become the hottest topic on the domestic internet tomorrow, and probably across the whole country. Su Ye is bound to become famous overnight."
"It's the FIFA Awards Ceremony after all. It's being broadcast live around the world and is known as the Oscar of the sports world."
"I bet even foreign websites and overseas media are already reporting on it."
"My god, with that appearance alone, Su Ye's value has multiplied countless times from this moment on."
"Exactly. Yang Yang personally opened the door for her."
"She really is stunning. Netizens both at home and abroad are practically unanimous in praising her beauty."
Listening to his colleagues' comments, a surge of emotions rose in Wei Zhen's heart. He knew very clearly that after tonight, Su Ye's popularity would explode. She would become a national sensation and quickly rise to the very top tier of public attention in China. Yang Yang possessed not only immense influence but unquestionable strength, and this public appearance was clearly something he had arranged deliberately.
Wei Zhen also knew Su Ye's situation well. After all, he worked in the same industry. However, Su Ye had once asked him not to mention anything to Yang Yang, so he had kept silent. Now, with Yang Yang stepping forward personally, all those hidden troubles had been resolved in one stroke.
From this point onward, no one would be able to suppress Su Ye anymore. Even the film company that had once threatened to blacklist her if she did not sign a contract was, at this very moment, likely filled with regret. In present-day China, Yang Yang might not be the single most powerful figure imaginable, but as Su Ye's support, he was more than enough to push her toward a far higher position.
As the live broadcast continued, the wave caused by Yang Yang and Su Ye continued to intensify, spreading rapidly both domestically and overseas.
…
…
Every year, FIFA sets a theme for the awards ceremony. This theme is not a superficial gimmick, but something that runs through the entire event, with all performances and arrangements built around it. This year's theme was "Football Meets Mozart," so the musical performances interspersed throughout the ceremony were all based on works by Mozart. The ceremony was jointly hosted by the famous Dutch football figure Gullit and the well-known television host Amanda McLane-Attali.
After a series of opening performances, FIFA President Blatter took the stage to deliver his speech. Once his remarks concluded, the World Cup–related awards began. The first to be presented was the Fair Play Award. Brazil received the honor, represented by Ronaldo and Brazilian Football Confederation president Teixeira, while Spain was represented by Raúl and head coach Aragones.
There had long been media rumors suggesting that Raúl and Aragones were not on good terms. The Spanish Football Association's decision to have the two appear together was widely interpreted as an attempt to demonstrate unity between two important figures in Spanish football. Although Spain's overall performance at the World Cup had been disappointing, Aragones still expressed confidence and encouragement toward the team.
Next, Italy's Buffon won the Lev Yashin Award for Best Goalkeeper of the World Cup. The Italian goalkeeper had also made the top ten in the FIFA World Player of the Year rankings, though he did not reach the top five, and his exact position was not disclosed. What impressed many observers was that after Juventus were relegated due to the Calciopoli scandal, Buffon was one of the few world-class players who chose to remain with the club, a decision that clearly reflected his loyalty to Juventus.
Following the Lev Yashin Award, the World Cup Best Young Player Award was presented. This was a newly established FIFA award, and Yang Yang became its first-ever recipient. The fact that it was presented immediately after the Fair Play Award and the Best Goalkeeper Award highlighted the importance FIFA placed on it.
When Blatter called out Yang Yang's name, the Zurich Opera House erupted in applause. Yang Yang stood up with a smile, leaned over to gently kiss Su Ye on the forehead, nodded briefly to nearby players such as Gerrard, and then walked briskly onto the stage. He accepted the Best Young Player Award from Blatter.
"Congratulations," Blatter said warmly as he embraced Yang Yang. "I hope you can continue like this. We all believe that the next ten years will be your stage."
Another round of applause echoed through the hall.
Yang Yang thanked Blatter and then stepped up to the microphone.
"I am very excited right now," Yang Yang said, "because this is the most significant and meaningful award I have received in the more than three years since I entered professional football. Thank you to FIFA, thank you to President Blatter, and thank you to everyone who voted for me."
The audience responded with enthusiastic applause.
"This award does not belong to me alone. It belongs to all the players of the Chinese national team and to all Chinese fans."
As he said this, Yang Yang's voice carried a trace of emotion.
"In football, we are a weak side. We waited more than forty years before qualifying for the World Cup for the first time in 2002. We returned four years later and achieved one win and one draw, and we even came close to advancing from the group."
"I know that for many strong teams, this might seem insignificant, or even a poor result. But for us, we truly gave everything we had. That was the limit of our ability at that time."
"Strength on the pitch may be strong or weak, but I believe the effort of the players should never be judged that way."
"So today, I want to dedicate this award to all my teammates in the Chinese national team, to all football players in China, and to all Chinese fans. I hope everyone can continue to work hard together with me. I believe the future of Chinese football is something we must create together."
"Finally, I want to thank my parents and my family for their support, and I also want to thank my girlfriend…"
Yang Yang raised his hand and pointed toward Su Ye. The live broadcast immediately cut to a close-up of her.
"…Su Ye. You are the goddess in my heart, my first and last woman. Thank you for your silent support and encouragement."
After finishing his speech, Yang Yang stepped back and raised the trophy high above his head in acknowledgment of the audience. Thunderous applause once again filled the hall.
There was no doubt among those present that if Yang Yang continued to develop at his current pace and avoided serious injuries, he would certainly occupy a place at the very top of European football in the future.
"Thank you, Yang Yang, for those heartfelt words," the host said as Yang Yang left the stage.
Gullit and Amanda McLane-Attali then returned to the podium.
"To be honest," Gullit said, "I personally watched Yang Yang make his debut in the Eredivisie. Over the past three years, he has worked extremely hard. As a former opponent, I admire him greatly."
"Here, I want to say something that may sound old-fashioned. Yang Yang, keep going. You will make everyone cheer for you."
The audience responded with another wave of applause.
After that, the top three of the World Cup Golden Boot rankings were announced. Klose, Yang Yang, and Ronaldo Nazário finished first, second, and third respectively, receiving the Golden Boot, Silver Boot, and Bronze Boot awards. Yang Yang returned to the stage alongside the two veteran strikers to accept the honor.
Gullit joked as he addressed Ronaldo. "Ronnie, many people say that Yang Yang reminds them of you. What do you think?"
Ronaldo turned toward Yang Yang, revealing his trademark smile, and replied, "I think that comparison is a compliment to me. But I do not think Yang Yang is like me. He is more complete than I was and, in some ways, even better. I believe he can achieve greater things than I ever did."
Yang Yang embraced Ronaldo politely and thanked the senior players for their support and encouragement.
Next, the top three of the World Cup Golden Ball awards were announced. Zidane, Cannavaro, and Pirlo occupied the top three positions.
After that, the FIFA Fair Play Award was presented to recognize the spirit of sportsmanship displayed during the 2006 World Cup. The award was handed out by German football legend Franz Beckenbauer, drawing warm applause from the audience.
The FIFA President's Special Award was then presented posthumously to Giacinto Facchetti, the former president of Inter Milan, who had passed away in September 2006. The tribute honored both his enormous contribution to football and his integrity on and off the pitch. The ceremony also observed a minute of silence in his memory, highlighting Facchetti's status and influence within world football. Yang Yang's own impression of Facchetti was vague, but he knew that receiving such recognition clearly reflected the achievements of Facchetti's life, particularly his lifelong devotion to Inter Milan.
Afterward, the top three for the Women's World Player of the Year were announced. Brazilian star Marta won the award, Germany's Birgit Prinz finished second, and Kristine Lilly, captain of the United States women's national team, finished third.
Finally, the climax of the evening arrived with the announcement of the FIFA Men's World Player of the Year. Italy's defensive leader Cannavaro defeated Zidane and Ronaldinho to claim the top honor. The result caused considerable surprise, as defenders had rarely won this award in recent years. Many immediately speculated that the decision would face significant debate afterward, given Zidane's outstanding World Cup performance and Ronaldinho's clear dominance at club level.
When the detailed points rankings were later released, Yang Yang discovered that he had finished fifth overall, narrowly edging out Eto'o to enter the top five. The previous year, he had placed tenth by a small margin, which made his rise all the more notable. Henry finished fourth, while Drogba, Kaká, Buffon, and Pirlo placed from seventh to tenth respectively. Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United finished eleventh, which aligned with general expectations, as many believed that the Premier League in the coming season would revolve around competition between Yang Yang and Cristiano Ronaldo.
...
Everything seemed to happen overnight.
The next morning, when people awoke, they suddenly discovered that a wave of breaking news had swept across China. National Television's morning news program was the first to report on the FIFA Awards Ceremony held the previous night. In addition to covering Cannavaro's victory over Zidane to win the FIFA Men's World Player of the Year, the report placed special emphasis on the fact that Chinese player Yang Yang had won both the World Cup Best Young Player Award and the World Cup Silver Boot. This was an honor that had never before appeared in the history of Chinese football.
In its coverage, the national television station devoted a significant portion of airtime to the intense discussion sparked by Yang Yang and Su Ye's appearance on the red carpet, even quoting comments from an authoritative European fashion magazine.
"In the selection by a leading European fashion magazine, Yang Yang's outfit was once again highly praised, making him the first male guest to be named Best Dressed of the evening at the awards ceremony. Meanwhile, Su Ye, with her striking features and elegant temperament, took first place among the Best Dressed Female Guests."
"The photographs of the two walking hand in hand on the red carpet triggered heated discussion among media outlets and fans around the world overnight."
"On the American Yahoo website, the red carpet photo of Yang Yang and Su Ye quickly appeared on the front page, receiving the highest number of views and likes. On the Google search engine, the names Yang Yang and Su Ye instantly became trending keywords."
"On major domestic websites in China, Yang Yang attending the FIFA Awards Ceremony hand in hand with Su Ye rapidly became front-page headline news and also turned into a major trending topic."
"It can be said that their joint appearance sparked widespread discussion across the globe in a very short period of time."
"In Italy, the renowned sports daily La Gazzetta dello Sport reported that Yang Yang and Su Ye were wearing creations from the luxury brand Armani. Their flawless presentation significantly boosted Armani's visibility and public attention."
"Major British media outlets also reported on the event, triggering lively discussion throughout the United Kingdom."
At the same time as the morning news broadcast, major domestic newspapers also featured the story prominently, with some even placing it on their front pages. Regarding Yang Yang and Su Ye's appearance together, mainstream media offered overwhelmingly positive evaluations. Public attention naturally focused on the beautiful and graceful Su Ye, with many believing that her relationship with Yang Yang perfectly matched the traditional image of a talented man and a beautiful woman in the eyes of the Chinese public.
More importantly, it was revealed that the two were each other's first love, which many people found particularly touching.
Netizens quickly flooded the internet with comments, offering their blessings to Yang Yang and Su Ye and expressing hopes that they would stay together until the end.
"As long as we see you happy together, we will always believe in love!"
Reporters from major domestic newspapers also took notice. News related to Su Ye's background at the Chinese opera academy undoubtedly became the new focal point of public attention.
…
…
"Have you seen the paparazzi outside the gate?"
"Of course. I heard they're from newspapers all over the country, and some are even foreign media."
"It's unbelievable. Just one night and it's already this crazy."
"Exactly. When I woke up this morning, so many friends called me and sent QQ messages asking about Su Ye. I was completely confused and didn't even understand what was going on at first."
"This is insane. In just one night, she's become unbelievably popular."
"Yang Yang's influence is really terrifying, especially at an occasion like the FIFA Awards Ceremony. Bringing Su Ye with him like that is far more effective than domestic actresses walking the red carpet ten times over."
"That's only natural. Yang Yang didn't take her there to gain exposure, he took her there to receive awards. That's completely different from those people in China who deliberately chase red carpets."
"Exactly. Yang Yang won two awards last night. Even FIFA President Blatter said he would be standing on that stage for the next ten years. Think about it. Su Ye wouldn't even need to do anything. Just by walking the red carpet with Yang Yang every year in Zurich, she would firmly enter the top tier in China without lifting a finger."
"Hey, you're really underestimating Su Ye. If she were as shallow as you say, she would have announced their relationship long ago. Why would she wait until now?"
"The key point is that her academic results are excellent, she understands acting, and she's willing to put in the effort. She could clearly rely on her looks and her boyfriend to succeed, but instead she insists on relying on her own ability. That alone already puts us to shame."
"To be honest, if it were me, I would have taken advantage of Yang Yang's popularity a long time ago. I wouldn't have worked this hard."
"If Su Ye were really like you, Yang Yang probably wouldn't be able to handle it."
"What did you say?"
"I said I was just kidding…"
There were not many students at the Chinese opera academy, and the campus itself was small, so news spread extremely fast. Discussions filled the entire campus. Although the paparazzi had been kept outside the gates, Su Ye's dormitory still became the center of attention. Whenever people ran into Su Ye's roommates on campus, the first thing they often said was the same sentence.
"You really kept it secret!"
In reality, Su Ye's roommates were also shocked. It turned out that the man wearing a baseball cap and a mask who had appeared at the school gate that day was Yang Yang. Previously, they had even blamed him for being irresponsible, thinking that he did not care enough about his girlfriend. Now, looking back, they felt deeply embarrassed.
It was not that Yang Yang was irresponsible, but that he truly had not known anything at the time. Once he learned the situation, he had immediately adjusted his packed league schedule, flew back to Beijing, took Su Ye to Zurich, and orchestrated what could almost be described as a flawless public appearance.
Judging from the current situation, Su Ye was undoubtedly going to become extremely popular. In the future, she would no longer need to worry about whether she could sign a contract. Instead, her headache would be deciding which production to choose, because Yang Yang was standing firmly behind her.
After learning about Yang Yang's relationship with Su Ye, her roommates also realized why Su Ye had always liked football. She had followed Ajax matches before and later began following Liverpool as well. At the time, everyone had simply assumed that she had been influenced by her father and had become a fan of Yang Yang.
"Goddess Su really hid things well. If we had known Yang Yang was backing her, we wouldn't have worried so much."
"To be honest, we made so many questionable decisions back then. Thinking about it now is really embarrassing."
"Relax. Su Ye isn't that kind of shallow person. She won't hold it against you."
"Exactly. Not knowing isn't a crime. You all know Su Ye's character."
The roommates had previously been worried about Su Ye's future, but overnight, not only were all those concerns resolved, what awaited her now was a bright and open road ahead. Seeing this sudden turnaround left all of them feeling genuinely envious.
...
In the male dormitory of the Chinese opera academy, a slightly overweight student with a bruised nose suddenly woke up from his bed.
The moment he opened his eyes, he discovered that the roommates who had beaten him up earlier were standing neatly beside his bed, staring at him in silence. A chill ran through him. His whole body jolted as he shrank back instinctively, retreating to the corner of the bed, curling himself up in fear.
"Don't come any closer. If you come again… if you come again… I'll…"
Before he could finish his sentence, the roommates suddenly lowered their heads in unison.
"Sorry!"
The fat man froze completely. His mind went blank.
What was going on?
"I'm sorry, Qiao Shan. We beat you by mistake," the tall roommate said, handing him a newspaper.
Qiao Shan took it in a daze and looked down. The headline was a large photo of Yang Yang holding Su Ye's hand as they walked down the red carpet.
In the picture, Yang Yang looked exceptionally handsome, while Su Ye was breathtakingly beautiful. The two stood side by side, their appearance making anyone who saw it feel a sense of admiration and envy.
Qiao Shan's eyes instantly turned red. Tears poured down his face.
At last, justice had arrived for his suffering.
…
…
Although the FIFA Awards Ceremony had already come to an end, the discussion surrounding Yang Yang and Su Ye continued to rage across the world. In China in particular, the topic remained intensely heated, with media reporters fully immersed in digging up every possible detail.
Before long, almost everything about Su Ye had been uncovered. Her age, school background, past experiences, and personal achievements were quickly brought to light. What surprised many people was that, no matter how thoroughly the media searched, there were virtually no negative points to be found.
From childhood onward, she had been an outstanding student with excellent academic performance. Both of her parents were teachers at a key middle school in Beijing, the very school where Yang Yang had once trained. Teachers and classmates who knew Su Ye all agreed that she possessed strong character and impeccable conduct.
She had achieved an excellent score in the college entrance examination and had the qualifications to attend other top universities, yet she chose the Central Academy of Drama because of her genuine love for acting. Her academic performance at the academy had consistently been strong, and she had been diligent and serious in every audition she attended.
Even the productions she had auditioned for were quickly unearthed by the ever-present media. It soon became widely known that Su Ye had auditioned, from the very beginning, for three major film projects: Red Cliff, directed by internationally renowned filmmaker John Woo; The Warlords, a large-scale domestic production directed by the famous Peter Chan; and the Sino-American co-production The Forbidden Kingdom, a project aimed directly at the international market.
All three were major productions, both domestically and internationally. Anyone who followed entertainment news was familiar with them, as numerous first-line and quasi-first-line actresses had fiercely competed for roles in these films. In particular, The Warlords had already begun shooting recently, yet the female lead had still not been finalized.
As reporters continued their relentless investigations, even more news emerged. Among it was insider information suggesting that a well-known domestic film company had attempted to sign Su Ye, allegedly because the company's boss had taken a personal interest in her, but that Su Ye had firmly and repeatedly refused.
Once this news surfaced, Su Ye's popularity surged yet again. In response, the film company in question hurriedly issued a statement, declaring that the rumors were entirely false and that their interest in Su Ye had been based solely on her potential, with no other motives involved.
Soon after, the production team of The Forbidden Kingdom announced that, following discussions with other investors, including those from the United States, they had unanimously decided to terminate cooperation with the aforementioned domestic film company and withdraw its investment.
The production team also clarified that filming was still some time away, that the female lead had not yet been chosen, and that Su Ye's outstanding performance during the audition had been unanimously recognized by the director and several leading actors. As a result, she was expected to advance to the second round of auditions.
As the situation continued to ferment, more and more details were brought to the surface. Even the Yongqiang footwear industry in Quanzhou, Fujian, once again attracted public attention because of Yang Yang. In recent years, this domestic sports brand, which had focused primarily on the professional running shoe market, had steadily risen through three years of careful and dedicated operation, gradually emerging as a new force within China's sportswear industry.