Manchester International Airport.
"What is the purpose of your visit to the UK?" the immigration officer asked mechanically, stamping the previous passport.
"My husband and I are here to watch a football match," Yan Lanxia replied, her English practiced but nervous.
"Manchester United versus Manchester City."
"Do you have relatives in the country?"
"Yes, our son lives here."
"Where will you be staying, and for how long?"
"Near the Carrington training base. About a week."
The officer paused.
She glanced at the middle-aged man standing next to Yan Lanxia.
There was a familiarity in his brow—a striking resemblance to a certain local hero.
She looked back down at the passport name: Ling.
Her professional demeanor cracked. "Excuse me, but... is your son a player for Manchester United?"
Yan Lanxia smiled gently and nodded.
"Is it Ling?"
"Yes."
The officer's attitude did a complete 180. Her face lit up.
"Oh my goodness! I'm a huge United fan. Please, could you pass a message to him? Tell him we believe in him. I know he's going to score tomorrow!"
She stamped their passports with a flourish. "Welcome to the UK. I hope you enjoy the match!"
Yan Lanxia was taken aback by the sudden warmth. "Thank you. I will tell him."
Once they cleared customs and entered the arrivals hall, Yan Lanxia let out a breath.
"I told you to start learning English two months ago, but you just wouldn't listen."
Ling Changzheng shrugged while looking around curiously. "Come on, I left all my English back in the classroom thirty years ago. Besides, I've got you, haven't I?"
"And what if we get separated?"
"Hey, look over there! Isn't that our brat?"
Ling Changzheng, sharp-eyed as ever, cut her off.
Yan Lanxia turned immediately.
Outside the barrier, a young man stood holding a pickup sign with clear, bold Chinese characters.
Although sunglasses covered most of his face, a mother knows her son well.
She hurried over, her voice trembling slightly.
"You've grown taller. Tanner, too." She reached out to touch his arm. "You've been through a lot, haven't you?"
"Mom, playing football isn't suffering. Your son is living the dream!" Ling flashed a bright, white smile.
Before the moment could get too sentimental, Changzheng shoved two heavy suitcases toward Ling.
"Don't just stand there posing kid. Be proactive."
Ling laughed, grabbing the handles. "Dad, you look good. Fewer white hairs. Did you dye it again?"
"Nope." Ling Changzheng pulled out an identical pair of sunglasses and put them on coolly. "Ever since I stopped funding your football career, my wallet is fuller and my stress is lower. I feel ten years younger."
Ling chuckled. "Let's go. I finished training early. I'm your tour guide for the afternoon."
....
In the Parking Lot.
"Kid, you're driving a Camaro?" Ling Changzheng whistled as he circled the car.
"Dad, the club gave it to me for free. Performance bonus," Ling said, popping the trunk.
"Not bad. But when you make it big, I expect a Rolls Royce."
They climbed in, and Ling stomped on the accelerator.
The engine roared, and the car shot forward with a jarring whoosh.
"Do you have to drive like a maniac?" Yan Lanxia gasped, clutching the handle.
"Sorry!" Ling quickly eased off. "Since the calf injury, I haven't quite got the feel for the pedal pressure yet."
The temperature in the car seemed to drop instantly.
"Listen to me," Yan Lanxia said, her tone shifting from motherly to stern. "Football is important, but not more than your legs. What is the point of all this money if you ruin your body?"
"She's right," his father added. "You just recovered. If you get hurt in the Derby tomorrow... maybe you should ask the coach for leave?"
Ling smiled, turning the music down.
Usually, his mother nagging annoyed him, but after a lifetime—and a rebirth—away from home, this worry felt like a warm blanket.
He was truly loved.
Soon, they arrived at the stadium.
On non-match days, tourists paid £15 for a tour, but Ling's face was the only ticket they needed.
"This stadium is massive," Yan Lanxia marveled. "Look, old man, there's a poster of our son on that pillar!" She whipped out her phone, snapping photos rapidly.
Ling Changzheng looked at the pitch, his eyes distant.
"I still remember taking you to watch Dalian Shide play when you were tiny. Who would have thought... so many years passed in a blink."
"The year I went abroad was the year Shide disbanded," Ling said softly. "We watched their final match together."
It was a bittersweet memory.
That was where his football enlightenment began, back when domestic football had a vibrant atmosphere.
They walked through the tunnel and onto the sidelines.
"This is my locker," Ling said, gesturing like a child showing off a perfect report card. "This is where I stood for my first start. And that spot over there? That's where I scored my first goal."
His parents listened intently to every word, trying to fill the gap of the years they had missed.
Half an hour later, Yan Lanxia was chatting happily with a stadium security guard who was praising Ling.
Meanwhile, father and son stood by the railing, looking at the empty stands.
It felt like they had been transported back ten years—Ling riding on his father's shoulders, waving his small hands whenever their local team scored.
"Son," Ling Changzheng said, his voice dropping the joking tone. "Do your best tomorrow. Don't let us down."
He wasn't speaking as a father now, but as a football fan who finally had a hope on the world stage.
Ling wrapped an arm around his father's shoulders, squeezing firmly.
"Dad, it's just Manchester City. Watch me take them apart."
....
By evening, while Ling reviewed tactical footage of Manchester City's defense, the internet was already boiling over.
The Manchester Derby was always huge, but Ling's return added a volatile new ingredient.
Twitter (X) Trending: #ManchesterDerby #LingReturns
@RedDevil_99:The King is back in the North! If Ling starts tomorrow, City defenders are going to have nightmares. 3-1 United, calling it now.
@CityZenBlue:One decent run of form and United fans think he's Messi. Nobody is worried. Manchester is Blue. 🔵
@PunditGary:Huge test for Mourinho tomorrow. But having Ling back gives them that vertical threat they've missed. If he isolates the center-backs, it's game over.
Hupu Football Forum (China)
[Thread] Ling's parents spotted at Manchester Airport!User883:
The elders are there to supervise the battle! Buff activated!
SoccerKing:I'm staying up all night for this. If Ling scores against Guardiola's City, he is officially the number one player in Asia. No debate.
GloryUnited:Did you see the photos? He looks confident. Let's go!!!
....
Match Day - December 31st
The stars shifted, ushering in the last day of the year.
The Premier League's 21st round.
Snow fell in heavy goose feathers, painting the roof of Old Trafford white, but the cold couldn't dampen the fire in the streets.
The air smelled of fried onions, beer, and anticipation.
A reporter from LeTV Sports stood amidst a sea of red jerseys, microphone in hand.
"Which team do you think will win tonight?" he asked a group of fans.
The fans looked at him as if he had asked if water was wet.
"Of course Manchester United!" a burly man shouted.
"Our boy Ling is back!" a woman added, pointing to the name printed on her back. "He's going to score a hat-trick and send City back home crying!"
As they marched toward the turnstiles, a chant began to rise, echoing off the brick walls, louder than the wind.
"Glory, Glory, Man United!"
"As the Reds go marching on, on, on!"
"With Pogba passing and Ling scoring..."
"We'll keep the blue flag off the mast!"
The stage was set.
---------
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