Chapter 31: Registering a Media Account?

Utrecht Evening News Front Page Headline: Utrecht Manager Oppresses 16-Year-Old Prodigy; Dutch Cup MVP Not Fit to Eat in First-Team Cafeteria!

Royal Dutch Football Association: We will investigate the allegations of player abuse within the Utrecht squad. If the claims are substantiated, the head coach responsible for abusing youth players will face appropriate disciplinary action.

"Understand the Team" Top Post: The untold side of a prodigy; Dutch reporters capture video of Tang Ye training extra hours outside the training ground.

Soon, the news of Ten Hag denying Tang Ye access to the first-team canteen spread across both the Netherlands and China.

If Tang Ye were an adult player, this wouldn't be much of an issue.

The problem is that Tang Ye is not an adult; he is only 16 years old.

In the eyes of the fans, Ten Hag’s actions do not constitute discipline.

They constitute the abuse of a minor!

[What the hell, I’ve been saying Ten Hag is an idiot, what kind of results can a coach like this even produce?]

[He won't let my boy Tang eat? I hope Tang scores a hat-trick and destroys you!]

[Look closely, guys, it seems Tang Ye is eating late-night snacks in the first-team canteen. It’s not like he’s completely barred.]

[We still have to call him out. As the star player of Utrecht, how could Tang not even be allowed in the canteen?]

[Ten Hag, get out!]

[It’s heartbreaking. So, little Tang is working this hard? I thought he was a lazy player.]

[Behind every genius is secret effort. Just imagine how much hard work Tang Ye has put in to prove himself!]

Chinese fans are furious now.

Ten Hag has angered them!

How can a player who trains hard and performs well in matches be denied the basic right to eat?

...

Returning to the club after the match, Tang Ye was in a pretty good mood.

If nothing else, the reporters at the Utrecht Evening News were certainly effective.

With their help, Tang Ye regained permission to enter the first-team cafeteria.

"The Dutch FA and the Youth Protection Association might come by next week. Do you know what to say?" Ten Hag asked, double-checking with Tang Ye.

He was truly at his wit's end.

He had simply told Tang Ye to eat with the second team, but it reached the fans' ears as being denied food entirely.

Now, it wasn't just the Dutch FA handling the investigation.

Even the Dutch Youth Protection Association was getting involved.

"Hahaha, Erik, look at you now!"

In the base's physical therapy room, Tang Ye pointed at Ten Hag: "I'll just tell them I haven't eaten for days and that I fainted from hunger during the match! Hahaha, prepare to meet your doom!"

"Are you sure you want to do that?"

Ten Hag walked over, leaned down, and whispered in Tang Ye's ear: "My student, it seems you haven't finished any of your homework..."

"!!!"

Tang Ye gritted his teeth: "What I meant was, I was just joking. You are my coach; I will definitely speak up for you."

...

That evening, Tang Ye returned to the long-lost first-team cafeteria.

Although the first-team canteen wasn't much more luxurious than the second team's, it gave Tang Ye a sense of belonging.

Tang Ye knew he was a proud player of the Utrecht first team!

First-team players belong in the first-team cafeteria!

"Hey, Tang! Sofyan!"

Haller and Barazite walked over with their trays, while Tang Ye and Amrabat quickly scooted over to make room.

"You played really well today, but Erik doesn't seem very happy?"

Haller spoke to Tang Ye while eating: "He mentioned some Youth Protection Association—what is that?"

"Nothing important."

Tang Ye changed the subject: "Sebastien, I have to thank you. Thank you for the penalty. That was my first time taking a penalty for Utrecht, haha."

"So, how did it feel?"

Haller watched Tang Ye with a smile.

For him, a goal in the Dutch Cup was trivial, but for Tang Ye, it was different.

"Very profitable."

"Profitable?"

"Oh, I mean, that feeling of being watched during a penalty is great—everyone puts their hopes on you."

Tang Ye picked up a slice of herring with his fork and tossed it to Amrabat across the table: "Here, you eat it."

"Why don't you eat it yourself?"

Amrabat didn't like herring either and tried to pass it back, but Tang Ye moved his tray away: "I don't like it."

"If you don't like it, why did you take it?"

Amrabat was speechless, but Tang Ye actually had his reasons.

Van de Brom and the cafeteria chef had specifically instructed that Tang Ye must consume a certain amount of herring every day.

The reason was simple: herring provided the zinc and iron that Tang Ye desperately needed.

His levels for both of these minerals were substandard.

"Putting their hopes on you—don't you feel the pressure?"

Haller ate his macaroni, curious about Tang Ye's mentality.

"If I miss, then I miss. What else can I do?"

"Well, you've certainly got a great mindset!"

Haller and Barazite gave Tang Ye a thumbs-up simultaneously.

If they had Tang Ye's penalty-taking mentality, their success rate would probably go up significantly.

"Ding ding ding ding ding ding!"

"Ding ding ding ding!"

Haller's phone suddenly started ringing. The Ivorian hurriedly pulled it out: "Oh, sorry, I set a scheduled Instagram post and forgot to put it on silent."

Haller turned off the notifications and vibration, then showed the photo he had posted to everyone at the table.

In the photo, Haller, Tang Ye, Ramselaar, and Barazite were all hugging each other.

"Oh, that's the second goal."

Tang Ye pointed his fork at Haller's phone, recognizing the scene immediately.

"Right! The fans at the stadium took some great shots, so I grabbed one to post. By the way, Tang, you don't have an Instagram account yet, right? You should get one. Instagram and Twitter are both good."

"What's the point of this stuff?"

Tang Ye chewed on a piece of squid.

"It can help you make money."

Barazite, sitting across from Haller, chimed in: "You can take sponsorships later, or football agents might contact you through Instagram. Registering one is never a bad idea."

"You score spectacular goals often; it's easy to build a following."

Haller agreed with Barazite and added: "There are a lot of beautiful Dutch women on Instagram, you know. You follow them, and they might reach out to you. Oh, and you should put in your bio that you're a player for an Eredivisie club!"

Tang Ye listened to Haller and Barazite while he ate.

Start a social media account?

Maybe it's worth a try!

Tang Ye had heard from the club's deputy director that he had a lot of fans in China!

Once he registered his own account, he could chat with his fans in the comments section!