Chapter 104
Translator 8uhl
Chapter 104
Chapter Title Sibling Skills and Birthday Shenanigans
Englands elementary schools kick off afterschool activities right at 3 p.m.
Of course, its optional, but all three of Taeyangs younger siblings took part.
Gaeul was learning piano, Yeoreum was following his big brothers lead with soccer, and Gyeoul was doing swimming.
Gaeuls session wrapped up a little earlier than her siblings.
Shed always stick around to watch Yeoreum play soccer, then head off with him to pick up Gyeoul before waiting for Mom together to head home. That was their daily routine.
Hey, your sisters here.
Yeah, I know.
If you know, at least go say hi or something, man.
Me? A guy going up to a girl to say hello?
Shes your sister?
Still!
Yeoreum got embarrassed whenever Gaeul showed up.
It started after his friends saw her fussing over him like Mom used to and teased him about being a kid who needed his sister looking after him.
Yeoreum was the equivalent of fourth grade back in Korea by now. Right around the age where that stuff hit hard.
Yeoreum deliberately ignored his sister and stared at the ball.
He was playing striker just like his brother, but to him, it felt like he didnt have anywhere near the same talent.
His brother could rack up goals even against adults, but Yeoreum couldnt pull that off.
Sure, he wasnt seriously aiming to go pro or anything, but stillas his brothers little brotherhe couldnt help thinking, Is this really all Ive got?
For the record, no one around him was comparing the two.
Not only Yeoreum, but none of the siblings had ever let slip that their big brotherbig oppawas Taeyang.
And nobody doubted it.
Newcastle had a Chinatown, so there were plenty of Chinese folks and other Asians around.
Mom and the bodyguard were always waiting out front, but his friends just figured he was some rich kid weirdly going to public school.
Of course, a few close friends knew he was Taeyangs brother, but they didnt go blabbing about it.
Not because they were tightlippedit was more like they loved having this massive secret all to themselves.
Exactly the age for that kind of thrill.
Hey! Pass! Pass!
Anyway, hanging out and playing soccer with those friendseven if he couldnt match his brotherwas the highlight of Yeoreums day.
He took the pass from his friend and eyed the goal before shooting.
He did it just like the coach taught, but surprisingly, unlike his brother, Yeoreums shot was pure trashhis foot might as well have been triangular.
It was a massive home run, sailing way over the bar.
And that ball was heading straight for Gaeul. Yeoreum and his friends spotted her glued to her phone and freaked out.
Huh?
Hey, the balls going right to your sister.
Sis! Get out of the way!
Gaeul, who had been texting back and forth with Mom, looked up.
She spotted the dropping ball and took a step back, cushioning it perfectly on her instep.
The ball stayed glued to her foot before settling softly right in front of her.
Even the coach, who had turned at the kids commotion, froze in shock at that first touch.
Gaeul noticed everyone staring at her and glanced down at the ball by her feet.
Oh, rightI should give this back.
She flicked it up with her instep and volleyed it straight back onto the field.
But nobody gave a damn about the ball. They were all just gawking at Gaeul.
Uh, yeah, alright. Lets call it for today? See you all tomorrow, kids.
The coach finally snapped out of it and sent the boys home.
Yeoreum grabbed his stuff and walked over to pick up Gaeul and Gyeoul. He turned to his sister.
Sis.
Yeah?
Howd you do that thing earlier?
Huh? What thing?
You know, catching that ball and sending it back to us. How do you even do that?
Gaeul tilted her head, confused.
It just happened? Do they make you practice stuff like that in soccer class or something?
Why the hell are you even in the class then? Yeoreum couldnt help feeling annoyed at his sister for some reason.
While I was busting my ass in the FA Cup, the Asian Cup wrapped up.
Theyd made a big fuss about needing to bring me in, but in the end, the association didnt call me up.
Probably because of that SNS post of mine.
Anyway, howd the Asian Cup go?
We cruised all the way to the final, only to fall 20 to Iran in a heartbreaking loss, settling for runnerup.
Runnerups a solid result, right?
Korea hasnt won the damn thing once since 1960.
Asias tiger, Asias powerhousethats us, apparently.
No way anyone was satisfied.
Sure, anyone who knows soccer realized at some point that Korea wasnt Asias undisputed number one anymore.
People knew we were weak against Middle Eastern teams and that Japan had steadily improved to surpass our average level.
But public opinion? Not a chance.
We had to be Asias top dog. Always.
We had Cha Bumkun, Park Jisung, Son Heungmin, Lee Kangin, and a constellation of other stars shining in Europe.
And now theres Park Mingyu, a starter at Bayern Munich.
Thats not all?
This Asian Cup was hosted in Korea, so they dragged in every single Europebased player, insisting we had to win.
The association and coach bragged it was the best squad ever.
But we lost to Iran.
Yeah, let me say it again we still havent won since 1960.
Waithas it really been 75 years already? Holy shit.
Not the worst outcome for me, though.
South Korea National Team Coach Choi Panseong Sacked.
The guy who clearly wasnt cut out for the job got the boot.
Football Association Major Overhaul A New Era Dawns.
The entire Ji Youngsu faction got purged.
Theyd brought in the Ji Youngsu crew thinking it wasnt the project line, but their results were garbage and public opinion tanked, so the chairman couldnt just sit on his hands.
They were scouting for a new coach.
Everyone on the shortlist was a name I recognized.
What the hell?
These guys all command pretty hefty salaries, dont they?
With opinion so sour, maybe theyre finally ready to spend some cash this time.
No clue wholl get the nod, but one of them wouldnt be a bad pick.
On top of that, the association reached out separately.
Coach not finalized yet, but the March Amatch will be a European away game. Wed love for you to join the national team.
Something along those lines.
Not to me directlyto my agent, Anna.
Still, for a noseintheair association to contact an 18yearold17, technically, but Id just turned 18that was something.
Part of it was my form, sure, but public opinion was laserfocused on me too.
If they didnt call me up, the fans wouldve rioted.
I sent a positive reply through Anna.
In the meantime, we played round 25.
Opponents were Leicester. I bagged one, Silva unusually notched a brace, and we took the win.
Postmatch shower, then boarded the bus home.
Man, whenever I scrap with these guys, I end up taking the damn bus home. Such a hassle.
Silva grumbled as he plopped into a seat.
King Power Stadium was close enough that flying wasnt worth itwe took the bus or train.
The club preferred buses over trains for safety.
The seats were designed with players comfort in mindfirstclass flight vibes, no complaints.
The old mans just the type who cant sit still in one spot for long.
Better not chat or draw attention.
Chalret, Silvaanyone would bug me for sure.
I slipped on an eye mask and threw on my headset.
Then it got yanked right off.
Hey, what the!
I snapped irritably, but I shut my mouth at what was suddenly shoved in my face.
Happy birthday, brother.
Silva was holding a birthday cake.
Oh.
Come to think of it, tomorrow was my birthday.
In my past life, I hated spending it alone, so Id deliberately ignored it. Guess the habit stuck.
Forgot every year.
Plus, this was my first birthday with the first team.
What? Whatre you thinking so hard about?
Forgot all about itthats the thought. Anyway, youre not planning to smash that in my face on the bus, right?
Huh? Howd you guess?
Silva grinned and shoved the cake toward my face.
I smacked his hand away quick, lofted the cake into the air, snatched it with my other hand, and flipped it right onto Silvas mug instead.
Whoa.
Is that one of those Eastern martial arts things?
Nah, survival instinct.
Phew, came that close to wearing cake all the way home.
Anyway, thanks, everyone. Appreciate you guys doing this for my birthday.
Yeah, sure.
And no popping champagne or any other braindead crap on the bus. You lot are cleaning it up.
Yeah...
Ilnyu slunk back and sheepishly set down the hidden champagne.
Fireworks gonna be a thing too?
Yeah...
Lindeman did the same with his fireworks, looking deflated.
Anyone tries jamming a party hat on my head, Ill rip it off and poke your eyes out with the pointy end.
Come on, cut us some slack. Its going on the official SNS.
Ill just hold it.
In the end, I posed with the hat on while snapping a pic with cakesmeared Silva and the rest of the squad.
NUFC
Photo Yoon Taeyang and the Newcastle squad
Our young prince, our NO.7
Happy birthday, Yoon Taeyang! D
CHOOKTAEYANG 2.18
Happy bday Taeyang D
Thanks for being born
Happy birthday, Your Highness the Crown Prince!
HBD Taeyang congrats
LOL bdays Taeyangs but whys Silva the one with cake on his face
Tried pranking Taeyang and got owned instead, canon
LMAO fr Silva got wrecked
Then, out of nowhere, an unexpected SNS account wished me happy birthday.
NO.7_PARK
Koreas future! Happy birthday!
CHOOKTAEYANG
No.7 Park.
Park Mingyu, the guy carrying the torch for Koreas national team number 7 lineage.
His stature was on par with our senior from an earlier generation, Son Heungmin.
Playstyle closer to Ribéry, but his career arc mirrored Son Heungmins.
One big difference trophies.
Unlike Son Heungmin at trophystarved Tottenham, Park Mingyus club was Bundesliga behemoth Bayern Munich.
The Meisterschale was a given theremore a matter of lifting it than missing it. Bayern, the Champions League powerhouse among Real, PSG, and Munich.
Hed gotten Arminia Bielefeld into the Bundesliga, dropped a hat trick and a multigoal haul across the two secondhalf games against Bayern that season, leaving a mark. Transferred to Bayern for 2930, and over the last five seasons, hed consistently delivered 10 goals a year.
The Korean player every aspiring star idolized or respected.
South Korea national team captain.
The model pro adored by Korean fans and Bayern supporters alike.
Kinda random, though.
We had zero connection.
Still, ignoring it would bring the wrath of the entire nation down on me, so I had to reply.
CHOOKTAEYANG
Photo Park Mingyu celebrating a goal
Thank you! My idol!
TaegukWarriors NO.7_PARK RoleModel SomedayTogether
Nice to see seniorjunior vibes
Prince is so polite
Taeyangs got Park Mingyu as his role model too, figures
Any Korean player would
See? Public sentiments all warm and fuzzy now.
Too bad.
My role model used to be Del Piero. Now? Nobody.
Park Mingyu was just a rival Id have to snatch number 7 from someday in the national team.
Truth is, back in my past life, this guy I shouldve had no overlap with? We werent on good terms.
Hell, who is on good terms with him?
Oh yeahour next match is against his Bayern Munich.