Chapter 21: Keeping Watch
As the holidays approached, the schedule for practice matches between teams became tighter by the day. After the opening match, NAVA specifically developed several sets of tactics against RSG, making the players practice them in rotation. After repeating them dozens of times, Shen Guanchao felt like he was going to throw up.
In the evening, after the training match ended, he threw aside his headphones and let out a long sigh. “I need Pear Flower Naâs tutorial on how to get diarrhea before a match.”
“Staring at these damn tactics every day, I really don’t want to practice anymore.”
Despite saying this, he was always the one with the best coordination in every match. If Pear Flower Na ever ran into trouble, he was also the first to stick his neck out for her.
RSG was a major rival for NAVA in the local region. Both their main and sub-attackers were exceptionally strong. Although the team had shortcomings, they made up for it with flexible tactics that often turned bad situations around.
On NAVA’s side, everyone could carry the game. The MVP title for each match was practically up for grabs among them. The team configuration was powerful, and the coaching staff behind them was very capable.
In matches between the two, NAVA usually won more often, but RSG couldn’t be underestimated. It wasn’t just about collective team honor; every match involved a dense web of interestsâsponsorships, endorsements, signing fees…
Today was the day before the holiday. There was no training at night. After finishing the practice match, everyone thought about lying down in the living room to relax. As soon as they walked out, they saw their Manager Cheng fully armed in a red apron and a chef’s hat, looking ridiculously unique.
Zoe leaned on Fox’s shoulder and rubbed his eyes. “Have I… trained until I’m hallucinating? Did I just see Manager Cheng cosplaying Nanny Wang?”
Pei Zhi raised his hand and knocked on his head twice. “What cosplaying Nanny Wang?”
“No training tonight. Manager Cheng thought he’d make a New Year’s Eve dinner for you guys to warm your stomachs. RSG is livestreaming a hotpot dinner over there, so we have to be lively too.”
Zoe rubbed his head and let out an “Ouch.” “Lively is good.”
Then he grumbled indignantly, “Why do you keep hitting my head? If you break it, how am I going to find a wife later…”
Hearing this, Fox glanced at him coolly and said, “Even if you weren’t stupid, no one would want you. Save your breath.”
Zoe: “You!!!”
Since someone was cooking, Shen Guanchao happily took the leisure time to walk up to the large garden on the top floor of the villa. He pushed open the door, and the comfortable evening breeze hit his face.
In the distant sky, fireworks occasionally streaked across, colorful and bright. Shen Guanchao leaned against the railing and lit a cigarette.
Just as he put it to his lips, as if suddenly remembering something, he annoyedly crushed the crimson spark on the cigarette. Instead, he fished out a lemon candy from his pocket and stared at the cartoon pattern on it in a daze.
After the opening match last time, he and Xie Jingchu had returned to a state of only chatting a few sentences a day.
Shen Guanchao would occasionally complain to Xie Jingchu about how tiring training was, or share things he liked.
Xie Jingchu seemed to be a serious listener, rarely bringing up anything on his own or making requests, completely handing the initiative over to Shen Guanchao.
Shen Guanchao could see what Xie Jingchu meant, and he knew what kind of thoughts he was developing.
When they first met, Xie Jingchu had gastroenteritis and a fever. He hadn’t thought about it in that way; only in hindsight did he feel the guy was very handsome.
Later, attracted by the contrast in the game, he thought this person was interesting, but it was limited to just interesting.
Then, in the dim movie theater, he was caught off guard when Xie Jingchu’s forehead bumped into his. The warm body pressing against him, seeing those usually cold, light-colored eyes panic for a momentâsomehow, an inexplicable feeling rose in his heart. Or rather, a feeling unique to Xie Jingchu.
And then, things spiraled out of control.
Eye contact made him feel at ease; a response from the other party made him happy. The feeling of having things under control, not worrying about loss, went to his head.
Perhaps in everyone’s youth, there is someone they can’t forgetâeither passionate and blazing, or warm and silent.
Shen Guanchao didn’t play the games of green youthsâbeing cautious, begging for affection from a receding figure in the dead of night. If he wanted something, he would reach out without hesitation.
Just like now.
Fireworks rose again in the night sky. Shen Guanchao snapped a few photos and sent them to Xie Jingchu.
When Xie Jingchu received the photos, he had just returned from the hospital. His stomach had been uncomfortable again recently. Receiving the message, he was silent for a moment before replying, “Very beautiful.”
A voice call immediately came through from the other side.
“Hello?” Shen Guanchao listened to the noise on the other end and asked, “Just got home?”
Xie Jingchu replied truthfully, “Just got back from the hospital. My stomach is acting up a bit, but I’m fine.”
Shen Guanchao’s mind instantly flashed back to the time Xie Jingchu was in so much pain his face was pale and his lips bloodless. He asked worriedly, “Is it the gastroenteritis again? Or something else…”
Xie Jingchu simply sent the medical report over.
Shen Guanchao stared at the words, reading them line by line seriously.
Later on, the reason he always held a thermos cup, wore flip-flops, and looked like he was casually taking care of his health was precisely because of this medical report.
For Xie Jingchu, Shen Guanchao took time out of training to study pharmacology. He asked his cousin-in-law, who worked in a related field, to help mix several kinds of health teas.
Truly liking someone is revealed in one’s words and deeds. Even if they went their separate ways later, Shen Guanchao would still hold that cup of tea, sipping it while joking around with others in his cavalier manner.
“I’m fine.” Xie Jingchu sensed his urgency and softened his tone. “Don’t worry.”
“Although, I am happy that you’re worried about me.”
Shen Guanchao: “What did you say?”
“Nothing.” Xie Jingchu tried to change the subject. “Happy New Year’s Eve.”
Shen Guanchao smiled. “Happy New Year’s Eve. Want to keep watch for the New Year together tonight?”
“My team made a New Year’s Eve dinner. I’ll come find you after I eat.”
Although he had been very busy and tired these past few days, and even if he went to find Xie Jingchu after eating, he would still have to wake up early the next day to go back to the base to pack and go homeâhe still wanted to obtain this fleeting joy. He had found someone he wanted to see even when exhausted.
“Okay…” Xie Jingchu agreed belatedly, a complex emotion slowly flowing through his heart.
When he was a child and his grandmother was still around, the New Year in his eyes was happy. His grandmother would give him red envelopes, toys, and love. Even in that kind of family, he had a unique preference shown to him.
After his grandmother passed away, he spent New Years at his stepfather’s place. There were no red envelopes, no love, and no toysâonly endless abuse and humiliation. He realized then that the only person who would keep watch for the New Year with him and accompany him as he grew up was his grandmother.
But now, Shen Guanchao’s words gave him a momentary sense of unreality.
Hanging up the phone and returning downstairs, the others had already set up the tables and chairs, and the food was on the table. Shen Guanchao joined the group in the steaming heat. This villa, this team, seemed to be a second home for all of them.
A beautiful group photo hung on the wallâtheir joining photo, which had been hanging there for years.
The TV was playing Happy Heroes, something only kids watched, but Zoe watched it with relish. In this wonderful atmosphere, Fox rarely didn’t roll his eyes at his taste.
Lu Wuxu sat beside Shen Guanchao, quietly watching the person next to him, a faint smile on his lips.
He had always played a gentle role, but inside, he yearned more than anyone else.
Across the table, a tipsy Pei Zhi had Manager Cheng Yisheng’s head in a headlock, his chopsticks reaching into Cheng’s bowl to steal food.
The coach getting drunk and daring to steal food from the manager’s bowlâCheng Yisheng stopped him helplessly.
Zoe leaned on Fox’s shoulder, watching the drama with a wicked grin. Shen Guanchao drank his low-alcohol wine, still having the leisure to heckle the two fighting over food.
Everyone was together, everyone was laughing.
Tonight, there was no separation.
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