Chapter 20

After Ying Nian poured out her thoughts, there was no response from the other side. She waited and waited, but “Y Shen” didn’t reply. Tentatively, she sent two more messages:

[?]

[Did you get busy?]

Still, there was no answer.

Yi Shen was probably called away for training or something else. They weren’t exactly close, and he had already chatted with her for quite a while, which was pretty decent of him. Besides, looking back at the things she had just sent, it seemed like there really wasn’t much he could respond to…

Ying Nian decided to stop there and finally typed:

[I won’t bother you anymore! Thanks for chatting with me for so long!]

After sending the message, she put away her phone.

…

During the following week, Yi Shen hardly replied to Ying Nian’s messages. She reached out to him three times, and only on the last attempt did she carefully ask, [Did I say something wrong that upset you? If I accidentally offended you, I apologize.]

“Y Shen” replied, saying, [No. Just busy.]

Those four short words slightly eased Ying Nian’s worries. They hadn’t even started to really connect yet, and she certainly didn’t want to offend the captain’s teammate and friend before making any progress with her idol.

After receiving Yi Shen’s “just busy” reply, Ying Nian decided not to bother him further. With the upcoming matches growing more intense, their training schedule would undoubtedly become even more demanding.

Another match was approaching as scheduled. Ying Nian had already bought her ticket, packed her things, slung a small bag over her shoulder, and headed straight to the city where the match was being held. During this break, Ying Yaoxing and Guan Lanqiu had grown accustomed to her going out to watch matches every few days, and before she boarded the plane, they thoughtfully prepared some snacks for her in case she got hungry.

This time, Xiaoxiao couldn’t make it because she was busy with work. Without her usual companion, Ying Nian decided not to invite anyone else from the group and chose to go alone.

She had the team leader’s phone number saved in her phone, and as soon as the plane landed, she began to feel nervous, and silently wishing for SF to have a smooth match today.

Firstly, as a fan supporting them, she naturally hoped they would win. Secondly, if the match didn’t go as expected, she really didn’t want to ask for an autograph. Not for any particular reason, just because she didn’t want to approach Yu Linran to fulfill her personal desire when he might be in a low mood.

She hoped to see Yu Linran achieve his wishes so that she could happily stand before him and offer her congratulations.

Before the match started, Ying Nian secretly ordered a cake, and she listed the match venue as the delivery address. If SF won, she planned to bring the cake when she went to see Yu Linran.

Her wish was sincere enough, but her hopes couldn’t influence the outcome of the match; the only ones who could determine the result were the five players on the stage through their own efforts.

With an indescribable mix of nervousness and anticipation, the match concluded amidst a series of exciting plays.

As the audience began to leave, Ying Nian suppressed her excitement and first called the team leader.

The team leader confirmed her location, and asked, “Miss Ying, where are you?”

“I’m at the main entrance of the venue!”

“Alright, please wait a few minutes, I’ll come to get you.”

Ying Nian agreed, hung up the phone, and contacted the delivery person who had already arrived near the main gate to collect the cake. The cake was large, making it quite noticeable as she held it. Worried about damaging the delicate patterns, she found it more convenient to carry it in her arms rather than just by the handle.

A few minutes later, Ying Nian successfully met up with the team leader. Seeing the large cake in her hands, the team leader was slightly surprised. “What’s this?”

“I ordered a cake,” Ying Nian said, smiling a little sheepishly. She then asked, “It should be okay to bring it inside, right?”

The team leader reassured her, “Yes, yes, it’s fine!”

The two of them chatted as they headed to the backstage area. The team leader had a work badge hanging around his neck, allowing them to pass through without any issues. Although Ying Nian had seen a lot of things, this was her first time visiting a competition’s backstage, making everything seem new and exciting to her.

After several turns, they finally arrived at SF’s lounge. The team leader stood by the door, gesturing for her to enter. Ying Nian nodded slightly and carefully stepped inside.

The lounge was filled with SF members. The players and coaches looked slightly surprised to see Ying Nian, and the team leader explained, “Linran asked me to bring her here.”

Upon hearing this, the expressions of the few people became even more astonished.

Ying Nian nodded at them, smiling shyly, and extended the cake she was holding.

The coach quickly stood up to take it. “Oh wow, it’s so big! You really went all out!”

She said, “Everyone played exceptionally well today. Congratulations.”

Yi Shen leaned in to tease, “You said the same thing last time!”

“Huh?” Ying Nian paused, then laughed. “Well, that’s because you really did play well…”

“I’ve noticed, there’s never been a time when you’ve said we played badly!”

Cheng Run chimed in, teasing Yi Shen, “What’s the deal? Do you need someone to criticize you to feel satisfied?”

Hearing this, Yi Shen turned and lunged at Cheng Run, shouting “Run Bro!” as they playfully tussled with each other.

Ying Nian stood by the small round table, glancing around the room, but she didn’t see Yu Linran anywhere. So, she asked the coach, “Um, excuse me, where is Captain Yu?”

The coach replied, “He was called for an interview. Just wait a bit!” He then gestured for Ying Nian to sit down.

After messing around for a while, Yi Shen wandered over to Ying Nian. “Did you buy the cake?”

She confirmed that she did.

“What flavor is it?”

“Chocolate.”

“Can I have some?” Yi Shen rubbed his stomach, looking a bit embarrassed. “I’m kind of hungry.”

Ying Nian suppressed a smile. “Of course.”

Just as Yi Shen excitedly reached out to help himself, Lin Shan came over and gave him a knock on the head. “Old Yu isn’t back yet, what the heck are you in such a rush for? Sit down and behave!”

After getting smacked, Yi Shen pouted in grievance but didn’t go ahead and eat by himself. Instead, he obediently sat down and endured his hunger.

Ying Nian watched them interact with a smile, saying nothing. Without cameras and without any barriers, each of them felt as real as ordinary friends she could meet in her own life.

While Ying Nian was quietly soaking in the harmonious atmosphere of the SF team, the person she had been waiting for finally returned.

Yu Linran walked in wearing his team uniform. When he saw her sitting there, he glanced up, showing no sign of surprise.

“Bro!” Yi Shen was the first to rush over. “Why were you so slow today? We’ve been waiting for you for ages…”

Cheng Run teased, “I bet you were just waiting to eat.”

“Nonsense! I was clearly waiting for the captain!”

“I should’ve taken a picture of you almost drooling just now…”

With all the banter and noise, the team members, along with the other staff, gathered around the small round table at the coach’s invitation. “Come on, come on, everyone! Ying Nian brought us this cake, let’s all have some!”

Ying Nian stood with them, feeling at this moment as if she were part of their group.

The coach unwrapped the cake, revealing the large surface decorated with two lines of text.

The first line read: “Congratulations to SF on the victory!”

The second line was: “Keep up the good work and go forward bravely!”

“Go forward bravely… So good, so inspiring!”

The coach, caught up in the moment, seemed a little touched.

The next second, he asked Ying Nian to cut the cake. Ying Nian quickly declined, “No, I’m not good at cutting it. Coach, please do it!”

Amidst the laughter and chatter, the cake was divided into many pieces. Everyone had been busy all day and was hungry, so it served perfectly as a pre-meal snack.

Ying Nian held her piece of cake, but her gaze involuntarily drifted towards Yu Linran. He stood next to her, having just come off the competition stage not long ago, yet he didn’t seem tired. He caught her staring directly.

“What are you looking at?” he asked, glancing sideways at her.

Ying Nian’s face warmed up. She shook her head and quickly started eating her cake to ease the awkwardness.

Yu Linran picked up a small piece of cake, took about two-thirds of it, and then held it in his hand without eating further.

Ying Nian, like a little hamster, kept her head down, eating bite after bite, but she didn’t seem to be eating much.

Yu Linran watched her for a few seconds and then asked, “Did you bring any clothes?”

“Cough…!” Ying Nian suddenly choked, patting her chest several times before recovering. Her face turned red from holding back. “What did you say?”

Yu Linran raised the eyebrow slightly. “The autograph,” he said. “If you didn’t bring any clothes, should I just sign on what you’re wearing and you’ll go home in it?”

So that’s what he meant…

Ying Nian silently blamed herself for her mind wandering so far off track, as if it had rocketed off to who knows where, and in such a crooked direction too!

“No, I didn’t bring anything,” she said, pursing her lips and pretending to be serious. “Just sign on this outfit; I can wear it.”

Yu Linran had no objections. He glanced at her and responded coolly, “Okay.”

Ying Nian: “…”

Ying Nian’s face was burning as she held her small plate of cake, internally scolding herself. Then she heard Yu Linran beside her say in a calm tone, “That’s just a tiny piece. How much longer are you going to take to finish it?”

She paused, then hastily finished it in one bite, setting down the paper plate and the plastic fork.

“…All done.”

She didn’t dare to look at him.

In front of him, she kept her head down, like a student who had done something wrong standing before a teacher.

“Come over here.” Yu Linran turned around, motioning for her to follow.

Ying Nian, like a little tail, obediently trailed closely behind him.

Yu Linran didn’t walk far, leading her to the doorway, temporarily away from the others in the room. He had come prepared, and pulled out a thick marker from his pocket. His gaze swept over her briefly. “Where do you want it signed?”

Ying Nian, feeling a bit guilty, asked, “Can you… sign a few more?”

Yu Linran was silent for two seconds. “How many do you want?”

“One on the left sleeve, one on the right sleeve, and then one on the front!”

“How about on your face?”

She was stunned. “Huh?”

Yu Linran’s lips curled up slightly at the corners, but he quickly returned to his usual expression. Ignoring her stunned reaction after his tease, he uncapped the marker, ready to get started.

“Raise your arm.”

Ying Nian, realizing a bit late that he was teasing her, followed his instructions in a daze, still not quite processing it.

Was he really joking with her?

Yu Linran signed “103” on both her left and right sleeves. Seeing this, Ying Nian panicked, “No, you were supposed to sign your name!”

“103” was his in-game ID, a play on the pronunciation of his name.

Yu Linran wore an expression that seemed to say, “Why are you rushing? I haven’t finished signing yet.” He reached towards the hem of her shirt and signed three slightly wobbly characters due to the lack of a firm surface:

— “Yu Linran.”

“Wearing long sleeves, aren’t you feeling hot?” he added, capping the marker while throwing in a casual remark.

Ying Nian stared at him, dumbfounded. “…”

Was something off about Yu Linran today?? He actually talked to her this much?!

Her lips moved, just about to say something when Yu Linran’s gaze swept downward, and his brow twitching almost imperceptibly.

“Long sleeves with a short skirt. Quite a unique choice.”

There was no discernible emotion in his words, but Ying Nian knew one thing—he definitely wasn’t complimenting her.

She couldn’t help but mutter, “I’m wearing long sleeves because it’s a bit chilly when the wind picks up at night…”

Okay, the truth was she just had a high tolerance for heat!

And thank goodness she wore long sleeves, right? Otherwise, without any spare clothes, how could she let him sign all over with one autograph after another?

Yu Linran put away the pen just as Yi Shen came running out. Seeing them talking, he quickly turned his steps to join in the fun. He draped himself over Yu Linran, and leaned on half of Yu Linran’s shoulder. “What are you guys chatting about?” After spotting the new autographs on her clothes, he grinned, “Wow, the captain gave you his autograph?” As he rubbed his hands together eagerly, he added, “Then I’ll sign one for you too!”

Before Ying Nian could respond, Yu Linran gently interrupted, “There’s no space left.”

“Really?” Yi Shen paused, glancing around her clothes, trying to figure out where else he could fit his autograph.

Yu Linran reminded him, “What did you come out here for?”

“Oh right, I almost forgot!” Yi Shen smacked his forehead. “I have something to do over there…” He took a step to leave but suddenly stopped and looked at Ying Nian. “We’re going for a meal later. Want to join us?”

“I…” Ying Nian’s reply was cut off by her phone ringing.

She looked down and saw that the caller ID was Jiang Jiashu.