I Just Wanted to Play Soccer, But I Became a Hollywood Heartthrob

Early the next morning, Gu Ran got up, washed up, had a nutritious breakfast, packed his belongings, and hurried out the door.

The Turner family was still asleep at this hour. Gu Ran didn't wait for Andrew to drive him and instead took a cab straight to school.

When he arrived, the Southampton Private School team bus was already parked at the school gate, waiting. It wasn't even 8:30 yet, but the area was already crowded with school team players and their girlfriends who had come to see them off.

The players looked full of energy, their faces glowing with pride. Their girlfriends, dressed in their best, subtly competed for attention, making the scene even livelier.

Couples clung to each other, whispering sweet nothings, acting as if they were parting for years instead of just a school football tournament. Some were even shedding tears—never mind that they weren't normally that affectionate, anyone who didn't know better might have thought these players were heading off to war.

Even though this was just high school, the air was already thick with a sense of status and prestige.

Gu Ran glanced around. The only one who seemed to be alone was Rusty. Even the team's assistant equipment manager had a girlfriend sending him off.

No wonder Rusty kept confessing to every girl he saw…

At this moment, Rusty looked annoyed, keeping to himself and sulking. But when he spotted Gu Ran arriving alone, his eyes lit up instantly.

I'm not the only one!

Rusty swung his arms dramatically and called out in front of everyone, "Hey, Gu! You're alone too? Where's your girlfriend, Sophie? She's not here to see you off?"

In an instant, all eyes turned to Gu Ran.

The players who had their girlfriends with them smirked triumphantly.

Watergate raised an eyebrow. "Haha! Gu Ran, Sophie didn't show up at such an important moment? Did she dump you? Or maybe she just doesn't care about you at all? Man, that's rough, haha!"

"Yeah, Watergate's got a point!"

"We're representing the school, and our girlfriends are proud of us! There's no way they'd miss seeing us off!"

"Gu Ran, I thought you were good with girls. Turns out you're just average, huh? Hahaha!"

The troublemakers on the team jumped at the chance to mock him.

But Gu Ran just smiled faintly. "I know seeing us off is important to you guys. But… for me, letting my girlfriend sleep in and wake up naturally is what's most important."

Silence.

The players who had been laughing a second ago suddenly looked like they had swallowed a lemon.

Their girlfriends, meanwhile, turned to them and started punching their arms.

"See! That's what real love looks like!"

"And you were just making fun of him? You should take notes!"

"Gu Ran, right? Remember me, I'm Bettina. If I ever break up with Watergate, you're my first choice…"

Oh hell no.

Gu Ran quickly turned to board the bus.

Rusty threw an arm around Gu Ran's shoulder. "Doesn't matter if Sophie didn't come to see you off! You're not the only one without a girl—I'm here with you! We'll sit together on the bus…"

Before he could finish, a sweet voice called from afar.

"Hey! Gu—wait up!"

Both Gu Ran and Rusty turned their heads.

Dressed in a sleek black dress, makeup done to perfection, and exuding a mature charm, Susanna jogged over.

She stopped in front of Gu Ran, smiling flirtatiously. "…Just made it in time. Gu, I came to see you off."

Gu Ran chuckled. "No need."

Rusty: …

Susanna wasn't offended. Instead, she giggled. "Gu, why are you being so formal with me? I just wanted to wish you luck in your match. After all, you're playing for our school. Oh, and this is a gift from me."

Please don't say 'gift.' I have trauma from that word right now…

Gu Ran instinctively took a small step back.

Susanna let out a soft laugh. "Gu, you're so cute when you act like this! I'm not going to eat you~"

She pulled a red-and-white striped knitted scarf from her bag.

Without waiting for a response, she stood on her toes and looped it around Gu Ran's neck. "I stayed up all night knitting this for you. I hope it brings you luck."

Damn.

This girl really had a strategy.

It was a hard gift to reject outright—after all, it was in Southampton school colors.

And besides, rejecting good luck wasn't exactly a great omen.

Gu Ran casually took off the scarf and draped it over his arm. "Thanks. On behalf of the whole team, I appreciate your support."

Susanna's expression stiffened for a moment.

But she quickly recovered and smiled charmingly. "By the way, where's Sophie? It's such an important day, and she's not here? That's a bit much. But Gu, don't be too mad at her, she's always been like this. You need to be more understanding with her."

Gu Ran was just about to respond when suddenly, a group of over ten girls swarmed in from the side.

Each one held handmade support signs.

The signs were decorated with hearts and over-the-top slogans:

"Gu Ran is our king!"

"Gu Ran Support Club wishes you victory!"

"I love you, Gu Ran, my husband!"

"Hubby must win!"

"King, let's go!"

"Hubby, if you win, we're all yours!"

The entire team stood frozen in shock.

They had been playing for years—when had they ever had a support club?!

How the hell had Gu Ran, who had only been on the team for two days, already gathered a whole group of long-legged fangirls?!

Just moments ago, they had laughed at him for having no one to see him off.

And now?

First, an over-the-top beauty like Susanna shows up.

And then, a full-blown fan club appears?!

They glanced at their own girlfriends.

…Suddenly, everything just felt wrong.

Today, no matter what they ate, it was going to taste bitter.

The fangirls surrounded Gu Ran, excitedly calling out to him.

"King—"

"Hubby—"

"We heard you're representing our school at the national tournament! We're so excited!"

"King! We stayed up all night knitting this scarf for you! You have to take it!"

"Hubby, if you wear our scarf, you have to score a goal!"

What the—

Gu Ran felt his soul leaving his body.

I don't even know if I'll get any playing time!

And you want me to score goals?! Do you even know what position I play?!

And why is everyone giving me scarves?! Are they trying to kill me with heatstroke?!

Looking at the army of fangirls, Gu Ran just wanted to escape.

Rusty, meanwhile, was seething with envy.

Is this what happens when you're good at football?

Gu Ran, are you lying to me?

Rusty suddenly doubted everything Gu Ran had ever told him about "working hard for success."

Susanna, seeing her moment being stolen, immediately put on a pitiful expression. "Wow, Gu, you have so many scarves. You probably won't even care about mine, right? Maybe I should just take it back… It was my first time knitting for a boy, and I didn't do a great job. I might as well unravel it."

"Good idea."

Gu Ran, already drowning in scarves, shoved hers back into her hands without hesitation.

Susanna was completely dumbfounded.

Wait, wait, I was just fishing for a compliment!

Why the hell did you actually give it back?!

Now this was just awkward.

Gu Ran, how the hell are you so difficult to deal with?!

The other girls giggled at Susanna's failed act.

"Alright, enough!" The team captain, Bread, stepped forward. "Coach is arriving soon! All players, board the bus!"

The players said their goodbyes to their girlfriends.

Gu Ran, arms full of unnecessary scarves, was about to get on the bus when a familiar voice called out behind him.

"Gu… darling!"

Not again?!