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

Rusty stormed into Costa Coffee with his gang, looking like a pack of wild beasts on the hunt.

The once cozy and peaceful café instantly fell into silence.

Customers turned their heads cautiously, afraid to attract unnecessary trouble.

Only Gu Ran remained completely oblivious to the approaching "love rival."

He was too busy studying his bubble system with a satisfied grin.

By now, he had mostly figured out how the system worked. The key was exploiting negative emotions to collect as many free skills as possible—especially professional skills.

But Southampton was a small place. Were there even any talented people around to farm skills from?

Well, at least there was a certain famous football club in Southampton…

Just as Gu Ran was daydreaming, a large, claw-like hand suddenly clamped down on his shoulder.

"Shit!" Gu Ran almost cursed out loud in his native tongue.

Frowning, he turned around—only to be met with Rusty's menacing face.

The moment Rusty saw Gu Ran's delicate, clean-cut features, his anger flared up even more.

"So this is the guy? Some weak-ass nerd? And he dares to call himself Sophie's boyfriend?"

Gu Ran instantly remembered who this guy was.

Rusty's real name was Chris Dick, a center-back for Southampton Private High School's football team, the Stag Ironhorns.

The guy was a walking tank—1.88 meters tall, 93 kilograms, packed with both muscle and fat, basically a high school version of Harry Maguire.

More importantly, Rusty had serious anger issues. He once slide-tackled a referee and chased an opposing striker all the way into the locker room during a school match.

The gang behind him? Just as bad. The school's biggest troublemakers. Even teachers avoided them.

In his past life, Gu Ran never had any interaction with these guys.

Back then, he had just quietly finished his lunch with Sophie and left peacefully—no drama.

But now, things were different.

"Sophie! What are you doing?!" Sophie rushed back inside, pushing Rusty's hand off Gu Ran's shoulder.

Seeing Sophie so flustered, Rusty's jealousy exploded.

"Sophie, why are you so nervous over this loser? Tsk, tsk… what kind of man lets a girl protect him?"

His goons immediately whistled and jeered, adding to the humiliation.

Gu Ran's eyebrow twitched.

At first, he wasn't planning to waste time with idiots. He was more focused on hunting useful skill bubbles.

But now that Rusty started trash-talking?

Yeah, that wasn't gonna fly.

Just as Gu Ran was about to speak, Sophie grabbed his arm and whispered,

"Gu, don't argue with them. Let's just go."

She even gently pinched his arm, signaling him not to act rashly.

But Gu Ran simply smiled at her reassuringly.

He had no intention of leaving.

"Trying to leave?"

Rusty blocked their path with his massive frame and smirked.

"Our school's beauty can't just end up with some weak-ass Asian dude. Unless you break up with Sophie right here and now, you're not walking out of this café in one piece."

Saying that, he cracked his knuckles loudly.

His massive muscles tensed under his jersey, making his threat crystal clear.

Behind him, his gang also got into fighting stances, standing with their legs apart, chins raised, staring at Gu Ran through their nostrils.

Twelve years ago, this scene would have scared Gu Ran shitless.

He would have been trembling, struggling to even speak.

But now?

He had twelve extra years of experience.

This was nothing.

Instead of panicking, Gu Ran felt excitement bubbling up.

This is a great chance to farm a high-level skill bubble!

"So, you're Rusty?" Gu Ran said casually. "I've heard about how reckless you are. Seeing you now, I gotta say… the rumors were spot on."

Rusty grinned.

"That supposed to be a compliment? I'm still beating your ass either way."

…Wait, what?

This idiot took "reckless" as a compliment?!

Gu Ran's face went blank.

Alright. If this guy's too dumb to get angry over words, then Gu Ran had to hit him where it hurts.

"Rusty, you're wondering why Sophie chose me, right?"

As he spoke, Gu Ran suddenly turned to Sophie and gazed deeply into her eyes.

His expression softened with tender affection, his gaze full of emotion—completely natural and genuine.

Sophie shuddered involuntarily.

For the first time, she felt like she was experiencing real romance.

Rusty, on the other hand?

His face twisted into a furious scowl.

Gu Ran gently took Sophie's hand, intertwining their fingers.

"The answer's simple," he said with a confident smile. "I'm just too handsome."

The entire café fell silent.

Then, surprisingly, some customers started nodding.

At 1.8 meters, with sharp eyebrows, deep-set eyes, and a naturally elegant presence, Gu Ran was indeed a damn good-looking guy.

Even Rusty's own gang members secretly nodded in agreement.

Rusty, enraged, barked,

"The hell does being handsome matter?! Sophie, look at my muscles!"

He rolled up his sleeves, revealing biceps as thick as thighs, flexing them until his muscles practically vibrated.

Sophie, however, was too busy blushing.

Gu Ran had squeezed her hand slightly, making her heart race.

Now this… this was a real man.

She glanced at Rusty's muscle-fat hybrid physique and immediately rolled her eyes.

Then, in a playful, slightly shy voice, she pouted,

"Ugh, Gu… I didn't fall for you just because you're handsome."

Gu Ran smiled warmly, his gaze overflowing with affection.

"I know. That's why I was just about to tell Rusty about my other talents."

The way he said it—his tone, expression, even his body language—was so naturally charming, Sophie almost fell for him on the spot.

Wait.

Was this really the same Gu Ran?

How did he suddenly become so charismatic?

Could it be… he actually liked her?

How come she never noticed before?

No, no! I'm not ready for a relationship!

Sophie clutched her flat chest, struggling to calm her erratic heartbeat, while her other hand remained reluctantly wrapped around Gu Ran's arm.

It was just a simple conversation, but their expressions, gestures, and micro-reactions turned it into a full-blown romantic scene.

The entire café was drowning in second-hand embarrassment.

Everyone was force-fed so much PDA, they felt stuffed.

Gu Ran, meanwhile, breathed an internal sigh of relief.

Damn. So this is what "Stanislavski Acting System: Realism" feels like.

It was amazing.

(End of Chapter)