[Football] The system upgrade task of the dream pitch

一

Messi felt something was wrong with Zhu Xu.

Zhu Xu...Zhu Xu shouldn't be like this.

He would still talk to Zhu Xu regularly, and read various reports that Zhu Xu was training hard and getting along well with his teammates, but suddenly he felt that Zhu Xu in those pictures was so strange.

He didn't know where this feeling came from, but he couldn't help doubting and thinking.

Even if he once loved Zhu Xu deeply.

two

Sometimes Messi also thinks, if he has not been awakened by Aguero in the World Cup in 10, will he never find out that he likes Zhu Xu?

But the result is always "impossible".

Love cannot be hidden.

Even if there is no Aguero, there will be other people or things to stimulate Messi and let him recognize his feelings.

At that time, he maintained correspondence with Zhu Xu, wrote a sentence on the letter paper, and all he thought about was what Zhu Xu would look like when he read it.

He was eager to meet Zhu Xu, and hoped that the two of them could spend a little longer together.

But he doesn't know why, and now everything has changed.

After another match against Real Madrid, Messi briefly hugged Zhu Xu.

He watched the back of the black-haired man walking towards the Real Madrid dressing room, and when Neymar asked himself with concern, he calmly replied "nothing".

This is the 2015 year.

They no longer communicate with each other.

The promise of "every game must be believed" that was thought to last forever turned out to be a "childish past" that was laughed off by both parties a few years later.

But this is what I brought up.

After returning to his residence in Barcelona, ​​Messi sat in front of those boxes of letters, thinking quietly.

About a year and a half ago, Messi discovered...he didn't know what to write to Zhu Xu after the game.

He was holding the letter paper, but he could no longer find the excitement he used to have.

I used to think of Zhu Xu's pen that he couldn't stop after he thought of his reply, but now he was extremely stagnant, and when he penned with difficulty, what appeared on the paper was an empty greeting.

This is something that has never happened before, 12 years, 11 years, 10 years....

Messi's mind went blank at the time.

So at the agreed time for exchanging the written letters, Messi was empty-handed and said the phrase "Zhu Xu, we are all mature, we have something to do, don't continue?"

When Zhu Xu looked over in surprise, Messi regretted it.

He even felt that as long as Zhu Xu said "why" depressingly, he would throw away his helmet and armor, and immediately admit his mistake to Zhu Xu, even willing to say that he was just joking.

But Zhu Xu said, yes.

Zhu Xu didn't object, as if...he had been waiting for this moment for a long time.

three

This is not right.

Messi thought.

They are obviously so close, when did they start and get to where they are today?

Messi picked up a letter.

This is what Blanca wrote to Lily.

In the letter, Zhu Xu asked Messi if the pattern he designed was good-looking.

Good-looking, of course good-looking.

In 2015, Messi sat on the floor, holding the letter in his right hand, and gently touching his ankle with his left hand.

It was the summer of 2010, and he got the tattoo.

It is the tattoo designed by Zhu Xu, which is composed of his name and Messi's name.

Messi got the tattoo with fiery, intense, and joyful feelings, and he always remembered Zhu Xu's care and concern for him.

Now I don't regret it either.

Messi thought.

He still remembers the feelings at that time, even recalling Zhu Xu at that time, he would smile unconsciously.

But soon, after the previous game, the back of Zhu Xu who walked into the player tunnel without hesitation without even asking him if he wanted to stay in Madrid for a night after a short hug with him came to mind again.

The smile faded from Messi's lips.

He knows it's normal.

Zhu Xu has his teammates and his new friend, Messi?

Messi is just a friend from his rebellious days in La Masia.

What's more... In fact, Zhu Xu is not so indifferent to Messi - in fact, he still has a very good relationship with Messi.

But Messi felt that something was wrong.

four

Earlier, when Zhu Xu had not returned to Real Madrid, or a little later, in the first year of Zhu Xu's return to Real Madrid, Messi thought that even if their relationship could not go any further, it could still be maintained. .

That private atmosphere that only each other can understand will always exist.

This is the foundation laid by countless starry nights at Camp Nou, and the guarantee brought by many getting along under the sun of Barcelona.

Even at that time, none of them fulfilled the agreement.

Zhu Xu once said that he will be on the same team as Messi, and they have agreed to score goals at the Nou Camp and start together to win the championship together.

Later Zhu Xu returned to Real Madrid.

Many of Messi's expectations had to be cruelly abandoned by the owner himself.

Then came the national derby in the 11/12 season.

Zhu Xu and Messi exchanged jerseys, he even arranged Messi's hairband, and even apologized to Messi after the game.

What else can Messi say?

When the reporter asked Zhu Xu about the national team after the game, Messi cheered up.

And the national team!

He can still look forward to the national team! ! !

Although the last game of the Argentine national team in 2011 has ended, Messi believes that with Zhu Xu's performance, the Argentine national team will definitely recruit him in 2012!

At that time, they can be on the same team!

This is almost Messi's last hope.

But even this little hope was teased by cruel fate.

Zhu Xu's biological parents found him.

Zhu Xu, the new prince of Real Madrid, changed his nationality and joined the Chinese national team.

The moment Messi heard the news, he almost went crazy.

There is nothing more devastating than gaining hope and losing it.

What's more, this means that they will always be opponents on the field, not teammates.

All the good plays that had been imagined in the past, such as Messi assisting Zhu Xu to score a goal, or Zhu Xu passing the ball to Messi's goal, all came to nothing.

There is no tacit cooperation, no encouragement before the game, no hugs and celebrations after the game, only a life-and-death struggle against each other.

He can only look forward to the charity match and the friendly match after retirement.

But that's different.

"Don't wait long, I'll be here soon."

What Zhu Xu said to Messi in La Masia once again rang in Messi's ears.

But this time, it completely shattered into the air.

But Messi hasn't gone crazy yet.

Because Zhu Xu stood in front of him and told him that it was his motherland.

Yeah, I can understand.

Messi thought while listening to Zhu Xu's words.

Of course he can understand.

But it was precisely because of understanding, precisely because he knew why Zhu Xu made such a choice and he couldn't stop it, that made it more painful and sad.

If his feelings for Zhu Xu hadn't changed, maybe he could have a better life at this moment.

But there is no if in the world.

"I don't blame you, you know."

Messi said softly.

And I love you, do you know that?

While hugging Zhu Xu, Messi asked silently in his heart.

五

Messi repacked the letters.

Thinking about it now, even in 2012, it was better than now.

Messi was so sad at the beginning, but as long as he and Zhu Xu are together, it is difficult for the two of them to insert a third person.

It was an aura that was indescribable in words.

Subtle, intimate, with a tacit understanding that no one can interfere with.

But the wonderful aura that made the relationship of "friends" special is gone now.

Messi thought.

……

2012? !

Messi froze.

How could he forget about this? ? ?

After the end of the 11/12 season, Zhu Xu once fell into a coma for an unknown reason.

At that time, Messi was so anxious that he guarded Zhu Xu in Madrid for a week.

Because of this, in front of Zhu Xu's adoptive father Lei Dongdo, his thoughts were completely exposed.

But that was nothing compared to the good news of Zhu Xu waking up.

Back then, Messi was grateful for Zhu Xu's return, and fortunate that he never lost Zhu Xu after all.

But thinking about it now, after Zhu Xu woke up, Messi felt more and more that something was wrong with Zhu Xu.

The person is still the same person, and Zhu Xu also remembers what happened between them, and there has never been anything wrong with their conversation and manner.

but……

Messi has become more and more calm since then.

So far, he can only admit that he once loved Zhu Xu deeply, but he cannot say that he still loves him.

But on the other hand, he misses the past so much, misses that... Zhu Xu before 2012.

An idea gradually became clear in Messi's mind.

What if, before and after that coma, Zhu Xu was different?

He knew it was ridiculous, but he couldn't help himself.

六

When the system told Zhu Xu that he could start his way home, Zhu Xu was stunned for a moment.

"Are you hesitating?"

Anthropomorphic system questions.

"I can't stay."

Zhu Xu didn't answer the question.

No one knows his situation better than Zhu Xu.

After completing the upgrade task, he must go back.

Because the "Zhu Xu" in this world is still there.

If he doesn't go back, it's the sparrow occupying the dove's nest, which will bring negative impacts on the two worlds.

How could it be willing?

The faces of his friends flashed across his mind, his father Redondo, his mother Natalia, his brother Fernando Federico, his sister Luciana, and finally... Messi.

Rio.

Zhu Xu read the name softly and set off on his way home.

Seven

He knew that maybe Messi liked him.

In Barcelona, ​​when Messi proposed to send him a plane, Zhu Xu vaguely understood.

Who would send another person a private jet for no reason?

Even if they are such good friends.

Zhu Xu didn't accept it because of some inexplicable factors in his subconscious, and because he knew that sooner or later he would leave.

After the national derby, when he decided to accept the call of the Chinese team and stood in front of Messi, he understood it.

Messi's eyes are wrong.

That was not the way a person who heard the news looked at his friend.

Zhu Xu knew that he was actually quite dishonest.

Or rather, cruel.

He said many things first.

At the beginning, he also believed sincerely that he could do it.

But in the end, it was he himself who broke all promises bit by bit and cut off all possibilities with his own hands.

Sorry, briquettes.

Zhu Xu thought while hugging Messi.

Everything I did for him was also because of his inability to respond to this feeling.

Eight

For Zhu Xu, Messi is a special one.

His adoptive father, adoptive mother and younger siblings are his family members, and they are special existences in terms of family affection.

And Messi, Messi is different.

Zhu Xu, who later recalled everything, was a little bit dumbfounded.

What he had to admit was that after all this, in this world, the person who knew him best was actually Messi.

Whether it is football or life outside of football.

Messi is the one who can see all his intentions on the pitch, and the one who understands all his hesitations, worries and anxieties off the pitch.

And the days they spent together...

Zhu Xu clenched the medal in his hand.

That was in the summer of 2012.

In the just-concluded season, Real Madrid won historic honors.

And Zhu Xu also got his own medal.

But when he returned to his room and was alone, looking at the medals, what he recalled was the summer of 2008.

That summer, Messi put his Olympic gold medal on Zhu Xu's neck.

And last October, because of Zhu Xu's joke, Messi brought all his trophies and medals to Madrid on Zhu Xu's birthday.

"Silly."

Zhu Xu said something in a low voice.

He called Messi.

A few hours later, Messi's home in Barcelona.

Faced with Messi's doubts about "Last time, you said you would wait until later to exchange all the trophies at once", Zhu Xu replied willfully, "I changed my mind."

"The Champions League medal is exchanged for the league, you earn it!"

He watched Messi carefully put away the medal he brought, and almost couldn't control his expression.

How do you tell Leo that this is the last time?

How... to say, he is leaving?

Zhu Xu couldn't say it.

nine

Zhu Xu looked at the boxes under the bed.

There are all his correspondence with Messi.

Lily and BLanca, the girl names they take each other...

At that time, Zhu Xu was still in La Masia, and since they met, they have known each other quickly.

He still remembers the stars of Camp Nou, and under the stars, Messi who was by his side.

He also remembers the sunshine in Barcelona, ​​and those days, traveling with Messi.

Zhu Xu unfolded the letter paper, trying to write something.

It's a pity that he didn't write anything except a name.

He sat dryly, and soon waited for the notification from the system.

It's time to say goodbye.

In this world, the soul of "Zhu Xu" will return to his place, and he will have all the memories of "Zhu Xu" here before.

"I can't stay."

Zhu Xu murmured.

He can't leave anything behind.

including hope.

Ten

Messi sits on the turf at Camp Nou.

2015 is long gone, and Messi's conjectures are always conjectures.

He watched the Real Madrid teenager who once followed Zhu Xu and looked up at Zhu Xu return to Real Madrid to become Real Madrid's deputy team. He witnessed Zhu Xu wearing the Real Madrid captain's armband, but he talked less and less when getting along with Zhu Xu.

He is still Zhu Xu's friend, but that's all.

Zhu Xu has always been the dazzling and outstanding Zhu Xu who makes people want to make friends with him.

But he is no longer the object of Messi's deep love.

There are few stars tonight, and the bright moonlight falls on the Nou Camp, reminding Messi of the past.

"There are more stars in the universe than there are stars on the beach, and only a small part of them can be observed by our flesh."

"But Leo, I think that sometimes, looking at the stars is better than looking at you."

"After all, you are so shining."

A long time ago, when Zhu Xu and himself were young and vigorous, the Chinese with black hair and black eyes once lay on the grass, turned his head and said such words to Messi in a joking tone.

Messi never forgot those words and everything he got along with Zhu Xu in the past.

But now, Messi is the only one who will come to Camp Nou on such a night.

"Zhu Xu."

Messi lay down and stared at the night sky.

He seemed to see the smiling face of the other party again, but he also understood that everything was just his own fantasy.

Reality has already confirmed to Messi that what he expected will not happen, just as Messi understands that yesterday will never happen again.

————————————————————————————

Well, this IF episode is actually the original outline that was mentioned a long time ago.The main difference from the main text is that Zhu Xu chose the Chinese team, and Zhu Xu will not respond to Messi's feelings, and Messi, who likes him, did not come across the world with Zhu Xu.

If there are no friends, it is likely that the text will develop according to this situation (laughing)

The last two chapters don't seem to be very sweet... Everyone must believe that this is the knife that the author accidentally brought out for self-defense when he was digging out candy, and it was not the author's original intention! (serious face

Well, see you on Wednesday, everyone!