Scoring twice against Louletano greatly improved Su Dong's standing within Clube Atlético de Portugal.
Although the club had already seen potential in him, after this match, everyone became fully aware of just how promising his future could be. At sixteen years old, with such a standout performance and the rapid progress he had shown recently, Su Dong's trajectory seemed to be headed beyond the confines of Portugal. The general consensus within the club was that a player like him might not stay long in the Portuguese leagues.
Not only had Matello and the others become more welcoming towards Su Dong, but even the main forward, whose place he had effectively taken, harbored no ill feelings. Part of it was because Su Dong was now regarded as the future of the team, and partly because they believed Su Dong's time in Portugal would be brief.
After all, why resist when he might soon be on his way to bigger opportunities?
The Segunda Liga B didn't carry much weight in terms of attention or influence. Beyond home matches, interest in these games waned quickly, so Su Dong's two goals sparked excitement for him personally, but it wasn't long before he regained his focus.
His routine remained unchanged. He still woke up at four in the morning, beginning his day with physical conditioning, followed by a session at the Eduardo VII Park Stadium. There, he trained with Cristiano until the afternoon before returning to the club for team training. Afterwards, he added an extra hour of personalized work with Matello.
What had changed, however, was the addition of two more training partners.
One of them was Canelas, a 21-year-old midfielder from Benfica's youth academy. Canelas had impressive passing ability and played with intelligence, though his slight frame and lack of physical strength made it difficult for him to excel in matches against adult teams. Despite not knowing each other before, after the game against Louletano, he and Su Dong became fast friends.
The other was Baru, a 24-year-old right winger of African descent, who had come up through the youth system at Belenenses. While his technical abilities were solid, they weren't extraordinary, but his greatest assets were his speed and his physical strength, both of which made him a dangerous player in lower-tier teams.
Both Canelas and Baru were full-time players for Clube Atlético de Portugal, indicating the club's recognition of their abilities.
The presence of these two players enriched Su Dong's training sessions considerably, with the variety of drills and exercises increasing noticeably. It was said that the team's head coach, Gorba, had arranged the new training setup personally.
All of this made one thing clear: the club was fully committed to developing Su Dong as their most promising player. Their ultimate aim was to position him for a high-profile transfer, generating a lucrative transfer fee in the process.
Su Dong didn't resist this approach. While it might seem like players were treated as commodities, there was no reason why both parties couldn't benefit from the situation. After all, when the time for a transfer eventually came, Su Dong's preferences and decisions would still play a major role.
At this stage, he was only signed to a youth contract, and his opinion would inevitably matter when bigger clubs came calling.
...
In the fast-paced rhythm of life, another week flew by quickly.
The third round of the Segunda Liga B was approaching, and Clube Atlético de Portugal was once again facing an away match, this time against a strong opponent — the reserve team of Marítimo from the Primeira Liga.
As one of the well-established clubs in the Primeira Liga, Marítimo B had a solid reputation. In the Segunda Liga B, they consistently ranked in the upper half of the table, generally a notch above Atlético de Portugal.
Unlike the previous away match, this game was to be played on the Madeira Islands, far from the European mainland.
Located to the west of the African continent and close to Spain's Canary Islands, the Madeira Islands are a well-known tourist destination. There are daily flights from Lisbon to Madeira, with a flight time of roughly two hours. While it's possible to make a round trip in one day, it would be too hectic. Typically, teams travel a day earlier, spend the night there, and then return the same evening after the match.
This was precisely the plan for Atlético de Portugal.
When head coach Pereira announced the squad for the game, it was no surprise that Su Dong was included in the squad. However, Pereira later informed him that he would still begin the game on the bench, but Su Dong was thrilled nonetheless.
Being consistently named in the first-team squad was already an achievement in itself.
The evening before the match, after finishing his training, Su Dong was packing his luggage in the dormitory when he received a call from Cristiano, letting him know he was downstairs.
"Why are you here?" Su Dong quickly ran downstairs, where he found Cristiano standing by the intersection, carrying a large bag.
"When I thought about not seeing you tomorrow, I just had to come by," Cristiano said with a mock pout.
"Why don't you come up and sit for a bit?" Su Dong hesitated, but he eventually invited his friend upstairs.
The place Su Dong lived in was labeled as an apartment, but it was really just a small, old room. The facilities were outdated, and the corridors were poorly lit. It was far from luxurious.
Cristiano's brow furrowed as soon as he entered the room, clearly surprised by the condition of the place.
In the past, Cristiano often complained to Su Dong about living at Gate 10 of the Alvalade Stadium, sharing a room with three other players. But compared to Su Dong's current situation, Cristiano's old dormitory now seemed like a three-star hotel.
Su Dong had never mentioned his living conditions before, and Cristiano had never asked. It wasn't until tonight, when Cristiano visited, that he realized just how basic Su Dong's accommodation was.
"This place was rented for me by my former agent," Su Dong explained, noticing the expression on Cristiano's face. "I don't have high standards when it comes to living arrangements. As long as I can focus on football, it's enough for me, so I've never thought about moving."
Cristiano nodded quickly, knowing that this fit Su Dong's character perfectly.
As they entered the room, Cristiano saw floor mats, an iron bar for pull-ups, and some sandbags in the corner — all equipment they had bought together for Su Dong's physical training.
Without Cristiano noticing, Su Dong quietly retrieved two cans of energy drinks from the system and handed one to him.
"So, what brings you here?" Su Dong asked with a grin.
Cristiano glanced at his watch, knowing Su Dong needed to report to the team soon, so he didn't waste any time.
"You mentioned this morning that you're in the squad for the match in Madeira?"
"Yeah." Su Dong nodded.
"Well, did you know that Marítimo B's stadium is practically next door to my house?"
Su Dong looked puzzled. "Really?"
"I joined Andorinha when I was nine. Our training ground is just a few hundred meters north of Marítimo's training center, and my family's house is up on the hillside, away from the tourist areas."
Su Dong nodded, though a new question popped into his mind. "But I thought you trained with the Clube Desportivo Nacional youth academy?"
"I did." Cristiano smiled. "I almost joined Marítimo back then. I even bought one of their jerseys, but they didn't take me seriously during the negotiations. My family and I got frustrated, so I ended up joining Clube Desportivo Nacional, which was further away. That meant I could only train three times a week."
Su Dong finally understood the situation.
"Marítimo probably regrets that decision now," Su Dong said with a chuckle.
Cristiano shrugged, not seeming to care much. Even though he wasn't a star yet, it was hard to imagine that Marítimo wouldn't regret missing out on him.
"But who can they blame for that?" Cristiano added with a smirk.
Su Dong eyed the large bag Cristiano was carrying. "So, did you want me to take something with me?"
Cristiano nodded, handing the bag over. "It's some gifts I bought for my family, and a Sony game console. I was going to take time off to deliver it myself, but since you're heading to Madeira, you could drop it off for me. Is that okay?"
"Of course!" Su Dong agreed without hesitation.
This was the first time Cristiano had asked him for a favor, and there was no way he would say no. Besides, he knew that Funchal, where Marítimo was located, was a small place. The team's accommodations wouldn't be far from Cristiano's house, and a taxi ride would take him there in no time.
"Thanks, I appreciate it," Cristiano said gratefully.
"Don't mention it," Su Dong replied quickly.
Cristiano lingered for a few more moments, seeming like he wanted to say something, but in the end, he just told Su Dong that he would call home later that evening. He then scribbled down his family's address and told Su Dong that any taxi driver would know where to take him.
After receiving the address, Su Dong walked Cristiano downstairs, then went back to pack his things.
At 7:30 p.m., Clube Atlético de Portugal gathered at Lisbon Airport to catch the last TAP Portugal flight to the Madeira Islands, which also happened to be the cheapest discount flight available.
...
...
The Madeira Islands, often referred to as the island of eternal spring, truly live up to their name. With mild temperatures year-round, never exceeding 33 degrees Celsius, they offer a perfect escape for vacationers, providing warmth in winter and cool breezes in summer.
Every year, countless tourists flock from the European mainland to these scenic islands.
Clube Atlético de Portugal arrived late in the evening and headed straight from the airport to their hotel. It wasn't a high-end establishment, but it was conveniently located near the stadium where their match would be played.
The following day brought perfect weather — clear blue skies stretched across the horizon without a cloud in sight.
As usual, Su Dong woke up early and used the basic fitness equipment in the hotel to squeeze in some morning training. After breakfast with the team, he approached head coach Pereira and captain Matello, requesting a few hours off to deliver something to a friend.
Although the coaching staff generally discouraged players from leaving the hotel for non-team activities, they made an exception when they heard Su Dong's request. Pereira simply reminded him to stay safe and keep his phone close in case he needed to contact the coach or captain.
Following their instructions, Su Dong hopped into a taxi that the hotel had arranged for him.
Once inside, Su Dong handed the address that Cristiano had given him to the driver.
"Santo António, Funchal, I know the place," the driver said, glancing at the note. "It's right next to the São António Cemetery."
With that, the driver pulled away from the hotel and headed north.
The taxi had been organized through the hotel, so Su Dong felt at ease about his safety. He asked the driver to wait for him after he made the delivery.
"It's Cristiano that you're delivering something for, right?" the driver asked with a knowing smile.
Su Dong was surprised. "How did you know?"
"He's a bit of a local celebrity here. He shares the same name as Ronaldo, and he plays football pretty well too. Some reporters came from Lisbon to interview him. A lot of people around here know who he is."
Su Dong nodded with a smile. It wasn't shocking that Cristiano was becoming more well-known in his hometown.
"But something happened with his family recently," the driver added.
Su Dong's smile faded. "Something happened? What do you mean?"
"You don't know?" The driver seemed confused.
"Tell me what happened," Su Dong urged, now concerned.
"There are four kids in the family — two boys and two girls. The eldest, Hugo, also played football for a while, but he switched careers and became a painter's apprentice. Unfortunately, he started hanging out with the wrong crowd in the village. Not too long ago, the police caught him for drug use."
"Drugs?" Su Dong was visibly shocked.
In China, such an incident would be considered extremely serious, enough to ruin someone's reputation.
The driver noticed Su Dong's reaction and was taken aback. "It's not as bad as it sounds. Cristiano came back home and forced his brother into a rehabilitation center. He's doing his best to sort things out."
Even so, Su Dong couldn't help but feel uneasy.
Having grown up in China, he had been taught to avoid drugs at all costs. To him, someone involved with drugs was someone to be distanced from.
"Honestly, though," the driver continued, "the situation doesn't look good."
"Why not?"
"Well, the area around Santo António isn't exactly wealthy. Many families there live in government-subsidized housing, and while a lot of people work in the tourist sector, some fall into bad company. Hugo seems to have fallen in with those types, and it wouldn't be surprising if he ends up in trouble again."
The driver's face turned serious as he gave Su Dong a stern warning.
"Alcohol and drugs are pretty common in that neighborhood. You'll see drunkards and addicts wandering around, so when you get there, head straight to Cristiano's house. Don't linger."
Su Dong nodded, feeling even more troubled by the situation.
This was probably why Cristiano had taken a week off recently, disappearing from sight. Su Dong and their friend José Semedo had wondered what had happened, but they never would have guessed that it was because of Hugo's drug issues.
Apparently, such matters were more common in Madeira than Su Dong had imagined. From the driver's tone, it seemed that using drugs was hardly considered unusual here, as long as it didn't cause any major problems.
For Su Dong, who had been raised with a very different perspective, this was truly shocking.
Thinking of Cristiano again, Su Dong felt a deep sense of empathy. Everyone had their own burdens to bear, it seemed.
No wonder Cristiano saved up every bit of his pocket money, scraping together 50 euros each month, just to buy a Sony game console for his family. It wasn't just a simple gift; it was a way to help his brother pass the time and avoid falling back into bad habits.
...
As a small celebrity in Funchal, Cristiano's family often became the subject of local gossip.
According to the stories that circulated, his father, José Dinis Aveiro, had served in the Portuguese colonial wars in Africa. Although he returned physically unharmed, the emotional scars of the war lingered, and for years he numbed his pain with alcohol.
"People say that even when Ronaldo — his own son — was late for his baptism, José Dinis went off drinking instead," the taxi driver added.
Then there was Cristiano's mother, Maria Dolores dos Santos Aveiro. It was said that she had been sent to an orphanage as a child, enduring hardships throughout her upbringing. Later in life, she met José Dinis, fell in love, and started a family. But with her husband sent off to fight in the colonial wars at a young age, Maria Dolores was left to raise their children largely on her own after he returned and sought solace in alcohol.
It's said that she single-handedly brought up her four children.
Cristiano's eldest sister, Elma, and his older brother, Hugo, didn't pursue much education, while his other sister, Katia, had attended school but didn't continue far.
To say that the family was poor was no exaggeration.
Or rather, like most families living in the modest housing around Santo António, poverty was a daily reality.
Su Dong could feel that Cristiano carried the weight of his entire family's hopes and dreams.
If he didn't make it as a professional footballer, his parents and siblings would likely remain trapped in the same difficult circumstances. Their lives would follow the same path as so many others in the area — stuck in the cycle of hardship that dominated life in the lower-income parts of Funchal.
If it hadn't been for this taxi ride and the candid stories from the driver, Su Dong would never have known about Cristiano's difficult background. Cristiano, who always projected such confidence and self-assurance, had clearly kept this part of his life hidden.
Perhaps his outward arrogance and confidence were simply a shield, a way to protect himself from the vulnerability he felt deep down. It was his way of guarding his true feelings from the world, never letting anyone see the weight he carried.
This, too, was a form of self-preservation.
...
When Su Dong arrived at Santo António in a taxi, the driver parked at the intersection.
Just as he got out of the car, a young woman, likely in her twenties, standing by the side of the road, caught sight of him. After looking him over for a moment, she approached and asked, "Are you Su Dong?"
Su Dong nodded quickly, and after a brief conversation, he realized that this was Cristiano's second sister, Katia.
They retrieved the items from the taxi's trunk and began walking together along the narrow village road toward Cristiano's house.
The house was a simple two-story building, identical to the surrounding homes. Just as the driver had mentioned earlier, it was one of the government-subsidized welfare houses in the area.
As soon as they entered the front door, Su Dong was greeted by the strong smell of alcohol.
In the living room, Cristiano's father, José Dinis, was already drunk, even though it was still early in the morning.
Su Dong also met Cristiano's mother, Maria Dolores, and his older brother, Hugo, whose frail, skinny frame was eerily similar to the stereotypical image of a drug addict that Su Dong had often seen on TV.
Su Dong didn't stay long. He was mindful of the fact that he had been given permission to leave the team temporarily, so he politely declined the Aveiro family's offer to stay longer. After exchanging a few more words, he made his way back to the intersection and took the taxi back to the hotel.
Throughout the ride, Su Dong's mind was occupied with thoughts about Cristiano's family.
Everyone, it seemed, had a compelling reason to succeed.
José Semedo had his reasons, Cristiano had his, and so did Su Dong.
Su Dong vividly remembered when his father made the difficult decision to sacrifice everything, bankrupting their family to send him abroad. At the time, many people laughed at them, thinking it was a foolish dream. After all, they believed there could never be a football genius from China, much less Su Dong.
But his father had believed in him — believed enough to risk everything for his son's future.
Su Dong had never told anyone that his ultimate dream was to become a professional footballer. More than anything, he wanted to return to his hometown, stand in front of his father, and tell him that his belief had been justified — that the gamble had paid off.
He longed for the day when his father could proudly stand tall among relatives and friends, knowing that his choice had been the right one.
Of course, by now, Su Dong's ambitions had grown beyond just proving himself to his family.
He yearned to hear the roaring cheers of the fans, just like the legendary Jardel.
He was aware that he still had a long way to go to reach that level, but he was determined to work hard and chase that dream.
He wanted to keep pushing forward, just as Cristiano did. Not to falter like José Semedo, who seemed weighed down by his own struggles.
As these thoughts swirled in his mind, Su Dong's resolve grew stronger. His eyes sharpened with determination.
...
...
The match against Marítimo B was held at their training base, and it didn't draw a large crowd. Only three or four hundred spectators were scattered across the stands.
The game itself was fiercely competitive.
Playing at home, Marítimo B came out with aggressive energy from the opening whistle. They had a slight edge in terms of strength, and it wasn't long before they capitalized on a defensive error from Clube Atlético de Portugal, slotting home an early goal.
After conceding, the visiting side struggled to find their footing, scrambling to maintain their defensive shape.
Marítimo B kept up the pressure, controlling possession and crafting more chances as they aimed to extend their lead.
Pereira, the head coach, waited until the 60th minute to bring Su Dong off the bench. Instead of substituting for the team's center forward, Pereira decided to shift to a two-forward system, pairing Su Dong up front.
Although Su Dong entered the game later than usual, he immediately made his presence felt with his energy and work rate.
While the primary center forward stayed high, Su Dong dropped deeper, drifting into wider areas and helping link up play. His movement was intelligent, avoiding direct physical battles with the opposition's defenders — a smart choice, given that brute force wasn't his strong suit.
The chemistry between Su Dong and his teammates had also noticeably improved. Whether they were passing to him or receiving the ball back from him, their interplay felt much smoother and more coordinated.
Canelas, in particular, seemed to understand Su Dong's movements well.
As the clock ticked into the 73rd minute, the score remained 1-0 in favor of Marítimo B.
Su Dong, retreating from the front line, received a pass from a teammate. After controlling the ball, he quickly laid it off to Canelas, who was moving into an open space. While making the pass, Su Dong extended his left hand and gestured toward the right flank, signaling for a switch of play.
Canelas caught the signal immediately. Without hesitation, he shifted the ball toward the right wing, spotting an opening in Marítimo B's left-sided defense. Baru, the right winger, was already poised to make his run.
Seeing the gap, Canelas sent a perfectly weighted diagonal pass into space. Baru took off at full speed, bursting through the defensive line and reaching the ball just inside the right edge of the penalty area. Without breaking stride, he whipped a low cross into the box.
In the chaos that followed, Atlético de Portugal's center forward, Samuel, tried to meet the cross. However, he collided with Marítimo's center back, and neither player was able to make clean contact with the ball.
The ball bounced awkwardly into the center of the box.
Su Dong, who had withdrawn to help in the build-up, had already turned and sprinted into the box. Sensing that Samuel would contest the first ball, Su Dong anticipated a second-ball opportunity and adjusted his run.
As expected, the ball fell loose in the middle of the box.
Arriving perfectly on time, Su Dong struck the ball cleanly with his right foot, driving it low into the bottom left corner of the goal.
The referee's whistle blew — the goal was confirmed!
Su Dong erupted with excitement, immediately spinning away from the box and sprinting toward the sideline in celebration.
Even though it was an away game, and there were neither cheers from the fans nor boos from the opposition, it didn't matter. Su Dong was ecstatic. This was only his second official match, and he had scored once again!
...
"Yes!" Coach Pereira clenched his fist in excitement on the touchline.
Su Dong's positioning had been perfect. He hadn't fought for the initial cross but had instead intelligently positioned himself to pick up the second ball. It was an instinctual move, but also one born of awareness and game intelligence.
It may have seemed like luck, but Pereira knew better — it was a product of Su Dong's growing skill and maturity.
"That's two games in a row he's scored," Pereira said to himself with a mixture of pride and concern.
Su Dong's performances were becoming more and more impressive, but it also meant the day when the club would lose him was getting closer. Rumors were already swirling that Belenenses scouts had begun tracking Su Dong.
As Su Dong's teammates rushed over to celebrate the goal with him, the importance of his accomplishment began to sink in.
Scoring in two consecutive matches was no small feat, especially for a 16-year-old.
"You were brilliant!" Matello, the captain, ran over and embraced Su Dong with a smile of admiration. "Keep pushing, and maybe we'll grab another one!"
Su Dong grinned and nodded.
However, Marítimo B quickly regrouped, tightening up their defense and limiting Atlético de Portugal's attacking opportunities for the remainder of the match.
In the end, the game finished 1-1, a hard-fought draw.
But for Su Dong, the result felt like a victory. He had scored again, proving that his first game scoring wasn't a fluke.