Upon hearing the words “partner,” Zong Xinjue’s eyes subtly widened, and the calm demeanor he had maintained began to show slight cracks.
While he didn’t have much reaction to the coach’s words, listening to Chu Qianze’s defense brought forth some indescribable emotions. It was as if he were soaking in a hot spring, a warm sensation sweeping through his entire body, and there was even a slight tingling at the tip of his nose.
It had been a long time since someone spoke to him in such a way.
He turned his gaze towards Chu Qianze, momentarily finding himself at a loss for words.
Chu Qianze sensed Zong Xinjue’s gaze, maintaining a stoic expression on the surface. However, he subtly shifted his eyes, making brief eye contact with someone else. He winked at them, conveying a reassuring gesture.
Why does this guy look like he’s about to cry? Was he really stirred up by the coach’s words?
As the hand extended towards him, the coach was initially taken aback, then quickly responded by reaching out for a handshake. “So, you’re Zong’s partner. Nice to meet you.”
Chu Qianze maintained his unchanged smile and returned the handshake with a couple of firm shakes. “The pleasure is mine. It’s an honor to meet you.”
“Oh, do you know me?” The coach became intrigued.
Can’t you tell? It’s just a formality.
“The coach of the XYZ team,” Chu Qianze glanced at the logo on the coach’s attire, his expression seamless and composed.
So, this person does know him. The coach was delighted, and his entire demeanor brightened. “It seems you’re quite interested in esports too. Xiao Zong has a discerning eye. As his partner, your skills must be outstanding!”
“Well said. I also think Zong… Xiao Zong is excellent.” Chu Qianze withdrew his hand and tucked it into his pocket. “In this competition, we’ll give it our all and strive for a good ranking. If it’s the first place, that would be the best.”
Zong Xinjue, who had been keeping his head down, silently suppressed the surging emotions inside. Suddenly, his ears caught the mention of “Xiao Zong.”
The just-contained emotions surged uncontrollably, breaking down the dams, and Zong Xinjue found himself with no resistance left.
Although this nickname had been used by quite a few people, hearing it from Chu Qianze’s mouth brought about a strange feeling—an indescribable sense of discomfort. Yet, oddly, no one else seemed to react, making it appear as if he were the one overreacting.
Upon hearing this, the coach shook his head first. “It’s easier said than done. You’re simplifying things too much. Do you think the competition field is a child’s play? It’s about skill, and not everyone can clinch the first position. Not to mention the number of teams in the league, and the professional teams are numerous and powerful. Claiming the first spot? We can’t guarantee that.”
“I agree with the first part of your viewpoint. In a competition, it’s all about skill, so the outcome will speak for itself. Our goal is the championship.”
Chu Qianze’s words were bold, but his tone remained remarkably calm. His expression was natural, as if he had just remarked on the weather.
The coach’s smirk softened. “A bit of confidence in a young person is a good thing, but you seem a bit arrogant.”
“It’s not arrogance,” Chu Qianze chuckled, elbowing Zong Xinjue’s arm. “It’s confidence in our Xiao Zong. Coach, you’ve known him for a long time. You should know what kind of person he is. When he’s determined, he’ll surely achieve it.”
Stubborn as a bull, once he sets his mind on something, he won’t turn back, even if he crashes into a wall.
Despite being cued unexpectedly, Zong Xinjue maintained an unchanged expression, but inside, he felt like a pot boiling over. The phrase “confidence in our Xiao Zong” kept replaying in his mind like a rapid-fire message.
The coach had always been straightforward, speaking without reservation, not bothering to sugarcoat anything. His temper had offended quite a few people.
But Zong Xinjue knew the coach genuinely had his best interests at heart. The coach wouldn’t deliberately hold a grudge, and regardless of what was said, it was taken in stride. Disliking verbal disputes was just one of the reasons.
Most importantly, Zong Xinjue indeed had confidence in his own abilities. No matter how many words were spoken, it was the facts that proved resolute and clear.
The coach, upon hearing Chu Qianze’s words, paused for a moment, then chuckled a few times. “Of course, I understand him, but that’s a different matter. I have experience in these things, something you young folks don’t grasp.”
Chu Qianze chuckled in response. “Don’t understand what? Don’t speak with the air of someone with experience. Experience and practice are two different things. We’re here to achieve rankings. If the goal isn’t set at first place, is it really about participation? That’s ridiculous.”
If Chu Qianze applies the same educational philosophy to his teammates as he does to himself, there’s definitely reason for concern. Zong Xinjue took a step forward, standing beside Chu Qianze. “We may not understand as much as you do, just like you said, in the competition, it’s all about skill. We’ll see how things unfold on the field.”
The coach seemed momentarily at a loss for words. Somehow, he felt that Zong Xinjue had changed. He wasn’t one to speak like this before.
Sensing the tension in the atmosphere, An Jueluo quickly spoke up to change the topic, “It’s almost mealtime now. We have a dinner gathering. Would you two like to join us?”
Heavens, this atmosphere is too terrifying. I can’t even speak.
Chu Qianze shrugged, leaving the decision to Zong Xinjue. After all, he was just a bystander in this matter.
Zong Xinjue replied, “No need for dinner; we have plans later…”
“Come along with us,”
The coach spoke up, “You might not feel it now, but after experiencing more, you’ll understand the wisdom behind those words. Consider what I said earlier inappropriate; let’s have a meal as a compensation. It’s livelier with more people.”
Not anticipating this reaction from the coach, Zong Xinjue hesitated for a moment, then turned to ask, “What do you think?”
Chu Qianze replied, “It doesn’t matter.”
“Then, thank you, coach,” Zong Xinjue accepted.
The coach nodded, “Found someone willing to speak up for you. You’ve chosen a good partner.”
A smile spread in Zong Xinjue’s eyes as he hummed in agreement, “He’s great.”
“You, young man, have quite the personality,” the coach remarked, still feeling a bit uneasy and decided to mention it to Chu Qianze.
“You have a straightforward personality too,” Chu Qianze replied, not denying the coach’s words.
Well, that’s just how he is. With a good self-perception, he had no plans to change his temperament.
The coach turned and walked ahead, waving his hand, “Alright, let’s go together.”
An Jueluo acknowledged and, before leaving, turned back to give Chu Qianze a thumbs-up.
To be able to banter with our coach, impressive!
The coach and An Jueluo walked ahead, while Zong Xinjue intentionally lagged a few steps behind.
There were many things he wanted to say to Chu Qianze now, perhaps even steal a kiss and take things to the bedroom. However, the current situation wasn’t suitable for any of that.
It felt disheartening.
Chu Qianze cast a sidelong glance, noticing Zong Xinjue seemed a bit gloomy, and leaned in to ask, “What are you thinking? You seem so captivated.”
Zong Xinjue blurted out, “Thinking about you.”
“Hmm?”
“It was supposed to be a dinner for two, but now it has turned into a group dinner.” Zong Xinjue sounded a bit melancholic. He had considered many possibilities, but he hadn’t anticipated it turning out like this.
“Can’t refuse hospitality, can you? Besides, when you meet old acquaintances after a long time, don’t you want to chat?”
Zong Xinjue didn’t respond to that, as he actually wanted to chat with Chu Qianze and strengthen their connection.
“You agreed to partner with me and participate in the competition together?”
“Well,” Chu Qianze pondered for a moment, raising a hand to rest on his neck, “more or less.”
“I thought you weren’t interested in those things.”
“With your persistence, I thought I’d give it a try. It seems like it could be interesting,” Chu Qianze said leisurely.
There wasn’t much else to do at the moment.
“Hmm.”
The person beside him felt like a constant temptation, and Zong Xinjue thought his own heart was about to melt.
Maybe, just take him and run away.
“Hurry up, we’re falling behind,” Chu Qianze walked a bit faster as the people ahead moved further away.
The disrupted thoughts made Zong Xinjue sigh, and he caught up, saying, “I’m here.”
Since they came together, it was natural for them to sit together.
It was a four-seater arrangement. Chu Qianze sat by the window, and Zong Xinjue sat a bit further out, across from An Jueluo and the coach.
It turned out that the team had planned to have a gathering today, and a significant portion of the buffet area was essentially reserved for them, with barbecue and hot pot stations bustling with activity.
“Cheers! Senior, and our big brother Chu, let’s drink together!” An Jueluo shouted, lifting his glass and downing it in one go.
Chu Qianze followed suit, taking a sip of the drink, but his movement suddenly paused.
Underneath the table, his idle hand was being hooked by someone.
Zong Xinjue happened to turn his head, meeting Chu Qianze’s gaze.
His glass was already empty, but he didn’t seem intoxicated.
“Not bad with alcohol.”
Zong Xinjue bit his lip, continuing to eat with his head bowed. Underneath the table, however, he continued to play with the hand he was holding. From fingertips to palm, and then to the wrist, he didn’t miss any details, teasing in a provocative manner.
Zong Xinjue had initially intended to play around a bit, not expecting the other person not only not to dodge but to grab on and not let go. Chu Qianze remaining still was one thing, but in a situation like this…
At the dining table, the four of them were eating, occasionally exchanging a few words or glancing at the light brain. The atmosphere seemed harmonious.
Under the dining table, the two hands were entwined, entangled and intimate in an unusually affectionate manner.
Hands, as one of the sensitive areas for touch, are often used to perceive the shape and temperature of objects. And at this moment, their role was being pushed to the extreme.
Zong Xinjue’s movements became more pronounced, his fingers trailing up Chu Qianze’s wrist, directly slipping into his sleeve. He continued to hook and tease, showing a clear tendency to take it a step further.
Chu Qianze placed some cabbage from the hot pot into his own bowl, and with his left hand, he reached the base of Zong Xinjue’s thigh and pinched.
Zong Xinjue’s movements came to a halt, his chopsticks almost slipping from his grip. Surprisingly, after that pinch just now, he found himself lifting his head slightly.
He decisively retracted his hand, picked up his plate, and feigned a casual tone, “What do you want to eat? I’ll go get it.”
“There are quite a few things I want to eat. Let’s go together,” Chu Qianze stood up, signaling that it was time to get up.
Attempting to calmly plan alone. Failure.
Zong Xinjue stood up, and after the others came out, the two of them went to the serving area together.
Chu Qianze grabbed a piece of steak first, followed by squid tentacles, enoki mushrooms, crab… In no time, his plate was nearly full.
Meanwhile, Zong Xinjue, standing beside him, had only picked up two or three items at this point.
“Is this enough?” Chu Qianze reached over with the tongs, trying to grab some duck blood from the side.
Zong Xinjue leaned to the side, making it easier for him to pick up the dish. “Still deciding.”
“Hey, is that Senior Zong?” A guy walked over, scratching his head.
“I’m Zong Xinjue.”
“Hello, Senior! I’m a member of XYZ, and I’m your fan!”
The guy smiled, his face a bit flushed, clearly excited. “Can I get your autograph?”
As he spoke, the guy opened his light brain.
Surprised that this person actually recognized him, Zong Xinjue raised an eyebrow but remained composed. He took the light brain and wrote his name.
“Your performance in the finals was really cool. I got into esports because of you! I bow to the trophies in our team every day. I want to become someone like you in the future.”
Chu Qianze, who had been standing casually to the side, showed a subtle change in his expression upon hearing these words.
Zong Xinjue handed back the light brain. “You guys are more excellent than me.”
“Uh, can we get your autograph?”
Two more people stepped forward.
Watching Zong Xinjue being surrounded by his juniors, Chu Qianze simply walked over to the dessert area, scooping out some ice cream for himself. Seeing the other glance his way, he raised the cone in his hand.
After signing their names, Zong Xinjue walked over.
Chu Qianze: “Have you won any trophies?”
Zong Xinjue chuckled and also grabbed an ice cream cone for himself. “Those are all in the past, back when I was into keyboard competitions. If you want to hear, I’ll tell you about it sometime.”
“Sure, I’ll prepare some snacks in advance.”
Zong Xinjue agreed, “Good idea, it can be a good way to fight off boredom by having some snacks.”
At 10 PM, the dinner came to an end.
People dispersed, and the surroundings were mostly empty.
“Senior, Brother Chu, I’ll take the coach back first. How are you guys getting back?” An Jueluo asked.
“We’ll go together,” Zong Xinjue said after taking a sip of his drink.
“Okay, see you next time,” An Jueluo said.
Zong Xinjue nodded and filled his glass.
Chu Qianze, seeing that the person next to him was still preparing to drink, said, “That’s enough, let’s go.”
Zong Xinjue ignored him, finished his drink, and placed the empty glass on the table. “I’ve had some alcohol, so I can’t drive.”
Chu Qianze raised an eyebrow. “Should I get a taxi for you?”
“No need.”
Zong Xinjue leaned his elbow on the adjacent table, blocking Chu Qianze’s path. Due to the alcohol, his cheeks and nose were tinged with red. The originally cold and tough features now displayed a hint of ambiguous sensuality, distant yet enticing.
He grabbed Chu Qianze’s collar, leaning forward to reveal most of his chest. The alcohol gave his voice a husky, magnetic quality.
“I’ve booked a hotel room. Are you coming?”
Author’s note:
Zong Xinjue: Drunk courage, you know.
