A Chairman Who Has No Regrets - Chapter 176



Only Noblemtl

Episode 176 – Entrance Test (2)

The first test was running.

A shape that tests how fast you can run on the field.

The blond boys who were preparing waited for the starting signal with solemn faces. On the other side, the coaches were waiting with timers. Among the blond boys, Taesu, who had black hair, stood out.

Perhaps because running is something he is confident in, his expression was determined not to give up.

Flutter.

The flag goes down and the children start running and jumping.

The kids who were running fiercely and running very fast, as expected from kids who are preparing to become soccer players. The sight of them running with all their might reminds me of hyenas rushing for the ball.

Bang! Bang!

Taesu is not happy with my grades, so he hits the grass with a sharp stud.

Despite his confident face, he doesn’t seem to be happy about coming in second place in the race.

“You play well, Taesu.”

The older sisters also nodded at their mother’s words. Contrary to Taesu’s thoughts, they seemed surprised that Taesu came in second place.

Thud, thud.

The guy who is still frowning while studding the grass, it seems like he is not used to the act of running on grass with football boots on and he does not like it.

Perhaps he has regrets about not being able to fully demonstrate his skills. His competitive spirit is famous both at school and among the kids in Sanggye-dong.

Contrary to what the guy thought.

‘Oh, that’s fast.’

I feel the same way as my family.

He’s not used to the grass field yet, but he came in second. It seems he definitely has talent, which surprised Cha Geun-beom.

The next test seemed to be about ball control, with the children being sent a ball at random intervals and being assessed on how they moved the ball.

I honestly don’t know the criteria for the test. I’m not a soccer expert, so I guess the coaches or managers have the skills they want.

All we know is that the brief special training session with Cha Geun-beom seems to have worked for Tae-soo.

Thump, thump, thump, thump.

Taesu was trapping, changing the height here and there, just like he did at Cha Geun-beom’s house. And there were quite a few coaches who were watching him with interest.

This might turn out better than he feared.

The subsequent passes, shots, free kicks, etc.

Tests were conducted on a variety of kicking abilities. Almost all of the boys showed decent ability to shoot or pass to the desired location.

The boys were showing such great soccer skills that the broadcasting station staff, family members, and I let out a short exclamation of “Wow.”

What’s regrettable but also fortunate is that Taesu is also a decent player, so he doesn’t look that bad or good.

Beep.

As the whistle blew from what appeared to be a coach, the coaches handed out fluorescent vests to some of the kids.

“It looks like there’s a game going on.”

At my words, my mother’s eyes lit up and she raised both arms to her chest as if she was going to clap her hands until they broke.

“Mom, let’s just endure it for now.”

“why?”

“Fair play.”

“What is that?”

“Isn’t it true that the other kids are all nervous too? Wouldn’t it be weird if we only cheer for Taesu?”

“hmm…”

My mother lowered her hand as if she was very sorry. But since her arms tend to bend inward, I couldn’t help but understand her.

Before the game starts, Taesu, wearing a vest, looks around again.

It’s a long time to wait for someone who won’t come. I thought that just as Tae-soo wanted fair play, Cha Geun-beom also knew that.

External pressure.

What is achieved through external forces is bound to collapse in the end. The easy and fast path is not necessarily the best path for everyone. Especially when it comes to a boy or young man whose growth is infinite, it is not the best direction.

If it were my previous life, I would have cursed and said it was bullshit, but now I feel like I know what it is.

Because.

The smile never leaves my lips right now, because I think that the time Taesu spends being cut and broken will make my friend stronger, make him more solid.

“You’ll do well, right?”

I nodded with a smile at my mother’s worried words.

“of course.”

My younger sister and older sister tilt their heads and look at me.

“Why is that obvious?”

A question from my little sister who couldn’t hold back her curiosity.

“Because you are my friend.”

The older sister tilts her head.

“Does that have anything to do with what Taesu is good at?”

I said with a shrug.

“I’m first, and he’s second. But I’m not there? Then who would be first?”

“Ugh, that’s unlucky.”

The younger sister pretends to vomit and shakes her head while looking at Taesu with eyes full of support, while the older sister nods with a smirk and looks back at the field.

Beep-

The whistle blew again and the game started. I wonder if Taesu will be okay with this game since he doesn’t speak the language or have any bond with the boys over there.

Of course, the coaching staff and the manager could not have been unaware of that. At first glance, I had a feeling that it was an unfair test.

“@@#$!”

The field is filled with children shouting in an unknown German, and the will to win at all costs fills the field.

It was a moment where you could feel the passion of the boys running towards their dreams. And in that moment.

“Here! It’s here! Don’t you understand Korean?”

“Oh my gosh- pass! It’s empty!”

“Hey! Where are you looking, you punk! I need to stab you here!”

“Ah! If only it had flowed backwards!”

Taesu was also running like crazy in the passionate scene, screaming loudly.

Taesu was always treated as an ace in school. Although he had not received proper training, he showed quite a striker-like movement.

The problem is that the pass doesn’t reach the guy, or rather the other boys who don’t seem to have any intention of passing.

“Hmm.”

Director Baek let out a sigh that contained various meanings. I also felt the same way.

“Full-time student.”

“Yes, sir.”

“I guess so.”

I nodded.

Right now, Taesu’s mind must be in a state of isolation and helplessness.

Discrimination tends to come in a harsher form than we think. When I first came to America, I also knew how scary, lonely, and isolating discrimination can be.

“Tsk, outside they treat me like Chaboom’s friend.”

“Because this is a competition.”

Director Baek nods his head.

To those blond-haired boys right now, Taesu is nothing more than a challenger, a weightlifter who has come to usurp their opportunity. From Taesu’s perspective, those blond-haired boys are nothing more than competitors. So, since they are wary of each other, there can be no good teamwork.

“It won’t be easy, right?”

I nodded to Director Baek’s words.

Herchando also felt sorry about the situation and cursed softly before continuing.

“It’s frustrating as a striker, because it means you’re not able to integrate with the team, but on the other hand, if the opponent’s press is too strong, you’ll have to lower your line a bit and try to score a goal.”

Taesu, as if he had heard Herchan’s words on the field, moves a little further down the line to try to score the goal himself.

“As expected, your sense is not bad.”

And Herchan looks at that sight with pleasure.

Herchan’s eyes would be more accurate since he is a much more expert than me and Director Baek. Perhaps the coaches and managers would express similar feelings as Herchan when they saw the situation.

“It’s a shame that Hong is in a situation where he absolutely needs experience right now.”

But that too was short-lived, and regret burst out of Herchan’s mouth.

He could tell just by looking at Taesu that he had never played soccer in such an isolated environment.

In our school, the ball naturally flows to Taesu because he has never stepped down from his position as the undisputed ace.

also.

In a situation where he has no choice but to be greedy for goals because of children who do not pass the ball to him, it would be difficult for Taesu, who is competitive and has high self-esteem, to develop altruism in an excited state.

Beep- beep.

The whistle that signals the end of the first half.

“profit!”

Taesu gets really angry and starts yelling at the German boys.

I tried speaking Korean and English, but the boys didn’t even pretend to listen.

“Ah!”

A guy who came up to us and got angry because he couldn’t control his anger.

“hey.”

Even though you don’t feel good about my calling, you still look at me. I guess it’s because of the bond.

“why.”

It was obvious that he was not in a good mood.

“Think of Brother Cha Geun-beom.”

The guy suddenly frowned.

“What are you talking about?”

“Think of our mother.”

“……”

“Think of your mother.”

“hmm.”

I could have said more, and I think I know what the coaches and the manager want now, but I didn’t explain it in detail. It was a problem that he had to figure out on his own. As Herchan said, he needs experience now.

“Look, we need a striker over there.”

Taesu stared blankly for a moment with a complicated expression, then nodded and began to trudge toward the field. During the short break of 5 minutes, I wonder if he accepted my few words of advice. Will he understand my true intention?

For some reason, I felt excited.

Because I thought Taesu would understand what I was saying.

Beep-

The game resumed with the whistle.

The ball is still not delivered to Taesu, but the guy is more explosive in his activity level than before.

He was seen participating in defense and even trying to receive passes in any way he could. Was he thinking of using up all his remaining stamina in the second half?

“Oh!”

My mother, my sisters, and my staff.

Everyone couldn’t take their eyes off the important scene. Taesu, who had been running around, finally intercepted the ball and began dribbling it fiercely across the center line toward the opponent’s goal.

Take off one person, then take off another.

Now all that’s left are two defenders.

Before, they had been defenseless, but this time the defenders were on guard, and that included the guy with the long pole who always blocked the governor’s path.

Gulp.

A moment of tension as defenders leisurely close in from both directions, as if the ball could be stolen at any moment.

Boom!

Taesu lightly kicked the ball over the heads of the defenders.

“Pass?”

Herchan’s surprised voice.

And the blonde running behind receives Taesu’s pass and leisurely faces a 1:1 situation with the goalkeeper.

The guy who received the pass also looks flustered and shoots a shit shot.

“Oh! Your feet are triangles!”

Taesu loses his temper in Korean.

The guy who received the pass is still scratching the back of his head in bewilderment.

A chuckle escaped.

As expected from that Taesu guy.

My advice was definitely taken.

Cha Geun-beom, his mother, the boy’s mother, and our family.

Everyone was a strangely altruistic person, and Taesu was also a strangely altruistic person, so I thought that even if I didn’t know, he would definitely understand.

And that was correct.

Glance.

In the distance, I could see the coaches and the manager having a pleasant conversation.

“@#$%!@#%%#”

Muldae, who received a pass from Taesu, shouted something, and with about 5 minutes left, the play of Taesu’s team, wearing vests, began to change surprisingly organically.

All those starts were the result of one pass from Taesu.

Beep- beep.

But unfortunately, there wasn’t enough time to score a goal. As Taesu’s team changed, the opposing team also became more desperate.

“Ah! That little bastard…”

Taesu was about to swear, but he shut his mouth when he saw his sisters, mother, and the camera.

“Ugh.”

“It’s too bad.”

“Well done.”

Taesu nodded and looked around again with a relieved face. It seemed like the guy was still waiting. While he was trying to understand why Cha Geun-beom hadn’t shown up,

“Oh, I’m dying.”

Taesu lying down on the field.

Beep-

The coaches blew the whistle again and called the boys who were scattered here and there, exhausted.

“Eek! There’s still a physical test left?”

Taesu looks at me blankly, his face like he’s completely ruined.

Well, this is something I didn’t expect either.