Following his memory, Jiang Shi made a few turns and finally reached the backstage lounge.
As soon as he spotted a familiar figure, he started walking toward him, only to notice someone else standing in front of Xie Xu.
Xie Xu was talking to someone who looked timid but couldn’t hide their admiration when looking at Xie Xu.
Even from a distance, Jiang Shi could feel it. And this person looked a bit familiar.
Just then, Jiang Lele finally caught up. “Your sense of direction isn’t bad. You’re even better than me.”
He took a breath, looked ahead, and then muttered, “Is the captain here to meet the AD from the second team?”
Yuan Yang had brought the AD from the second team in case Jiang Shi couldn’t play due to illness.
“I didn’t see Chengcheng get on the bus earlier, so he probably went to the restroom and got lost.” (his name means “Chengcheng”)
Jiang Shi didn’t respond. Wasn’t Xie Xu supposed to pick him up?
His excitement from winning the game and putting the host in his place suddenly faded, replaced by irritation.
Jiang Lele, seeing Jiang Shi’s sour expression, chuckled and nudged him with his elbow. “Why are you jealous over everything?”
“Chengcheng was originally an AD brought up by the captain. Of course, they have a connection.”
To be honest, if it weren’t for Jiang Shi, that AD might have been the starting player.
“Who’s better, him or me?” Jiang Shi asked, turning to Jiang Lele.
Jiang Shi had never met anyone from the second team.
Jiang Lele rolled his eyes at Jiang Shi’s competitive streak but answered truthfully, “He’s not as good as you.”
Chengcheng, like An, was skilled in late-game play but lacked Jiang Shi’s deep hero pool and outstanding personal abilities. Besides, Jiang Shi’s late-game carry skills had improved significantly.
As they chatted, Chengcheng suddenly grabbed Xie Xu’s sleeve, though Xie Xu quickly pulled his arm away.
Jiang Lele was about to say something, but when he turned around, Jiang Shi had already walked over to stand between Xie Xu and the other person. “Captain, I’m here to get my gear.”
His tone was stiff.
Jiang Shi had never spoken to Xie Xu like that before.
Xie Xu paused and handed the equipment to Jiang Shi, who took it and started walking away. But after a few steps, he turned back and faced Xie Xu. “I don’t know the way.”
His tone was still tense, but there was a trace of barely noticeable grievance.
Xie Xu reached over and adjusted the strap on Jiang Shi’s shoulder bag. “I’ll go with you.”
Jiang Shi nodded, naturally moving to stand next to Xie Xu.
Jiang Lele watched the exchange, dumbfounded. Little white hair didn’t know the way? Who was the one who’d dashed off like a monkey earlier, nearly leaving him behind?
He was about to comment but stopped when he saw Jiang Shi’s meaningful glance, a silent warning: “Try ruining this moment, I dare you.”
Jiang Lele zipped his lips, signaling he would keep quiet.
As the four of them walked to the parking lot, Xie Xu ran into an acquaintance and chatted briefly.
The second-team AD, Chengcheng, naturally waited beside him, leaving Jiang Shi awkwardly without a spot.
Feeling a bit silly, Jiang Shi just got into the car with Jiang Lele.
There was a three-seat row in the back. Yu Hui was seated by the window, and Jiang Lele sat next to him. Lele was about to place his bag in the open seat when someone else quickly plopped down next to him.
Jiang Lele glanced at Jiang Shi, who was now sitting beside him with his team jacket zipped up to his chin, hat on, looking expressionless. “Not sitting with the captain?”
Since joining the team, Jiang Shi had always sat next to Xie Xu, whether for meetings, meals, or bus rides.
“Nope.” Jiang Shi pulled his hat down, covering his face as he closed his eyes. “Quiet. I’m sleepy.”
Right now, he didn’t want to sit with Xie Xu.
Jiang Shi had come to a realization. Xie Xu was his ideal type, but what was he to Xie Xu?
He thought Xie Xu liked this well-behaved version of him. He hadn’t considered that Xie Xu already had a second-team AD who was constantly by his side.
And wasn’t Xie Xu supposed to meet him, only to turn around and find someone else?
Ugh.
Jiang Lele listened to the few words Jiang Shi muttered between clenched teeth and wisely decided to keep quiet, lest he end up in the line of fire.
Then Yuan Yang called to Chengcheng, “The previous car already left, so Chengcheng, you’ll have to squeeze in with us.”
Chengcheng cheerfully replied, “Sure!”
Even though Jiang Shi had his eyes closed, he could hear the footsteps of the two boarding the car.
It was a seven-seater van with three seats in the back, where Jiang Shi, Lele, and Yu Hui were seated. There were two pairs of seats left, with Zhao Jiu and Yuan Yang taking one, and the other for Xie Xu and Chengcheng.
Jiang Shi’s expression soured further under his hat. He tried to adjust the seat to recline and pretend to sleep.
But no matter what he did, the seat wouldn’t move. Already low on patience, he could feel a spark of frustration igniting again.
Taking a deep breath, Jiang Shi lifted his hat to check the seat, only to meet Jiang Lele’s amused gaze.
Jiang Lele lifted himself up slightly and said dryly, “Bro, you’ve been adjusting my seat.”
Jiang Shi: “…”
Everyone in the car turned to look at the two of them, including the two who had just gotten on.
Jiang Shi quickly pulled his hat back down, pretending to be dead.
But a moment later, someone lifted the hat off his face.
“Jiang Lele—” Jiang Shi opened his eyes, pulling up his sleeves, only to freeze when he looked up and saw Xie Xu standing next to his seat.
Jiang Shi fell silent.
Xie Xu gazed down at Jiang Shi’s hair, which stuck up in a soft swirl, and said, “I noticed you kept coughing during the interview, and I suddenly remembered I left my thermos behind, so I went back for it.”
Jiang Shi blinked, a little dazed.
So Xie Xu had gone back for his thermos and not to meet the second-team AD?
What jealousy was he feeling, then? So stupid!
Jiang Shi instinctively reached for the thermos, but Xie Xu pulled it back, turned, and sat in the remaining seat. He gave Jiang Shi a look.
Without hesitation, Jiang Shi hugged his equipment bag and quickly claimed the seat beside Xie Xu before anyone else could react.
The sudden movement made Jiang Shi cough a few times. He looked up at Xie Xu with slightly red eyes and said, “Captain, I’d like some water.”
Chengcheng, watching from the side and unsure of what to make of it, offered his own thermos. “Time, this is what I brought from the base. The water is still hot. Do you want to drink it?”
After realizing that the previous incident was a mistake, Jiang Shi didn’t have much hostility towards the young AD of the second team.
Thinking that it would be bad to offend him, he was ready to reach out to take it.
But just as he raised his hand, there was a click of a bottle cap being unscrewed.
Xie Xu handed him his cup. “No, he can drink mine.”
