The stadium in Hailan City hummed with a nervous energy that crackled like static before a storm. The floodlights blazed down on the pitch, casting long shadows across the empty north and south stands, but the east and west sides were packed. On the east, three hundred young Chinese fans waved red flags and chanted, their faces bright with hope and pride. Among them stood Li Gui, his hands clenched around a banner that read “China Forever.” He was ordinary, unremarkable in every way—average height, average build, a mop of black hair that fell into his eyes. But his eyes were fixed on one person: his girlfriend, Yi Fei’er.
She stood at the front of the cheerleading squad, a towering figure at 175 centimeters, her long black straight hair cascading down her back. Her glasses caught the stadium lights as she turned to lead the first cheer. Behind her, 299 other girls moved in perfect unison, each one a mirror of beauty—full chests, flawless faces, legs that seemed to stretch forever. They were the girlfriends of the east-side fans, and they were a statement. Li Gui’s heart swelled with love and a quiet, fierce pride. Fei’er was intelligent, kind, and stronger than she looked. But when she smiled at him from the pitch, he saw the tension in her jaw.
On the west side, three hundred Korean middle-aged men sat in a dense, murmuring mass. They wore tracksuits and branded caps, their faces weathered from years of drinking and shouting. Park Dae-geun sat in the center, a greasy film of sweat on his forehead. His hair was unwashed, plastered to his scalp, and his eyes were small and cruel. He watched the cheerleaders with a hunger that was more than admiration. Every bounce, every sway of their hips made his pulse quicken. He leaned to the man beside him.
“Look at them,” Park hissed, his voice thick with envy. “Chinese dogs with goddesses. They don’t deserve them.”
The man next to him nodded, licking his lips. “What would we give to have one of those on our side for a night?”
Park’s mind worked fast. He had seen the way the Chinese fans jeered at him, the way they mocked his broken Mandarin. He had a score to settle, and a plan. He stood up, cupping his hands around his mouth.
“Hey! Chinese friends!” he shouted across the field. His voice carried, slurred but loud. “Your women are beautiful! But do they know how to cheer for real, or just for losers?”
The east side went quiet. Li Gui’s grip tightened on the banner. A wave of murmurs rippled through the crowd. Then a roar of anger. “Shut up, you ugly bastard!” someone yelled.
Park grinned, revealing yellowed teeth. He motioned for the Korean fans to quiet down. “I make a bet! A friendly bet! If Korea scores a goal, your cheerleaders come to our side. Just three minutes. Sing for us, dance for us. Then they go back.”
The stadium fell into a stunned silence. Li Gui felt his blood boil. He vaulted over the low barrier and started walking onto the pitch. The security guard hesitated, but Li Gui was already striding toward the Korean section. He stopped at the halfway line, his face pale with cold anger.
“That’s our women you’re talking about,” Li Gui said, his voice shaking. “You don’t bet on people.”
Park laughed, a gravelly sound. “Then don’t accept! Stay scared! What are you, men or mice?”
From behind Li Gui, footsteps approached. Yi Fei’er stepped up beside him, her head high. She placed a hand on his arm. “Don’t,” she whispered. “He’s trying to provoke us.”
“He’s insulting you,” Li Gui said through gritted teeth.
“I know.” Fei’er turned to face Park. Her voice carried, clear and sharp. “Fine. We accept. But if China scores, your men come to our side. And you stay silent for the rest of the game.”
Park’s eyes lit up. He had wanted her specifically. The tall one with the glasses. The leader. He imagined her forced to dance for him, her cold dignity shattered. “Deal!” he shouted. “Deal!”
The Chinese fans erupted in protest. “No way! Don’t do it!” A few cheerleaders cried out, but Fei’er raised her hand. She looked back at her team. Their eyes met. They were all girlfriends, sisters, friends. They were not going to be intimidated.
“We won’t lose,” Fei’er said to them. “And if we do, it’s three minutes. We can endure three minutes of anything for our team.”
Li Gui stood beside her, his heart pounding. He hated the bet, hated the way Park’s eyes crawled over Fei’er’s body. But he would not back down. Not when she was so brave.
The referee blew the whistle. The game began.
The first half was a brutal exchange. The Chinese team pressed hard, but the Korean defense held. Park Dae-geun watched from the west side, his legs spread wide, feeling the familiar bulge in his pants. He had always gotten aroused by power. And now, he imagined the tall cheerleader kneeling before him, her glasses askew, her dignity in shreds. He whispered to himself, “Three minutes is just the beginning.”
On the pitch, Fei’er led the cheers, her voice cracking with emotion. Li Gui watched her from the stands, his hands trembling. He had promised to protect her. But how could he protect her from a bet she had chosen to accept? How could he stop the upcoming humiliation if the Korean team scored?
The ball flew. Goalkeepers dove. The clock ticked.
And somewhere in the noise, the fans of both sides held their breath, waiting for the first goal.