Lu Manman didn’t sleep well on the plane, so as soon as she hit the bed, she drifted off into a deep sleep.

She didn’t even notice the door being twisted slightly.

**

Today is Yuan Xiu’s father’s fiftieth birthday. Yuan Xiu went home for the meal, but it didn’t turn out to be very pleasant.

His parents and relatives had some reservations about his joining a professional esports team, considering it as “not a proper job,” while the family business required someone to take over.

At the harmonious banquet, family members and company colleagues were dressed in elegant suits and formal attire, but Yuan Xiu stood out in casual baseball attire, giving off a uniquely different vibe. His father looked at him coldly, not even standing up to toast or respond.

Later, father and son had another dispute over the team, and Yuan Xiu left early.

Alone by the shimmering riverbank, he smoked a few cigarettes, feeling the cold wind, pondering about dreams, sentiments, and national honor in a meandering manner.

As the cigarette butts extinguished, he walked back to the club, already deep into the night.

After a hasty shower, he returned to his room naked.

The door was locked from the inside, probably the work of Ren Xiang and his group. He took the key from the shelf, unlocked the door, and entered the room.

Upon entering, he noticed the window slightly ajar, letting in a breeze.

With no moonlight tonight, the room was dimly lit.

With a faint and elusive sensation, Yuan Xiu seemed to catch a trace of unfamiliar scent, furrowing his brows slightly as he sniffed again, detecting a hint of fruity fragrance mixed with a touch of shower gel.

However, without dwelling on it further, he was too exhausted. He went straight to bed and fell asleep, pulling the quilt over himself. He hugged the full-body plush pillow beside him, his legs tucked up.

Hmm?

Within reach, there was warmth, soft…

“Umm.”

A light panting sound of a girl reached him.

Yuan Xiu abruptly opened his eyes, his mind feeling as if it had been struck by the bell of a Shaolin monk.

In an instant, he was stunned.

The next second, as Yuan Xiu bounced up from the bed, he hadn’t forgotten to grab the thin quilt, wrapping it around his lower body.

In a daze, Lu Manman felt a scorching hot body pressing against her, pulling her into an embrace. Despite not knowing who it was, the warmth and faint fragrance made her unwilling to wake from her dream.

As the quilt was pulled away from her, she groggily sat up and reached out to turn on the light.

“Don’t turn on the light,” a deep voice said.

Lu Manman shivered, fully awake now. She hurriedly got out of bed, barefoot on the floor, her back against the wall, clutching her chest in shock.

“Who… who are you!”

In the darkness, Yuan Xiu walked to the cabinet, grabbed a pair of pants and put them on casually. In a low voice, he said, “I should be asking you. Who are you, staying in my room, sleeping in my bed?”

“Oh, Yuan Xiu,” Lu Manman said.

“Hmm?”

“I…” Lu Manman found the switch and with a click, turned on the light.

Warm yellow light instantly filled every corner of the room. Across from her, Yuan Xiu stood by the window, wearing white sweatpants that revealed his wheat-colored skin above.

Usually dressed, he appeared slender, but with his bare upper body, it was evident his muscles were quite well-developed. His forearms looked strong, his chest slightly puffed but not overly bulky or barbaric—just powerful enough. His lower body showcased six-pack abs, flowing smoothly into defined lines that extended down to the seam of his pants.

Even the muscular Americans in the gym couldn’t match his sleek and attractive muscle definition.

“Seen enough?” he asked.

“No, uh, I mean, yes, enough!” Lu Manman blurted out, telling the truth inadvertently!

Her face flushed with embarrassment, she quickly averted her gaze.

Yuan Xiu took the opportunity to scrutinize her in the light.

“So, it’s you, the W…”

“I’m a fan of W…” Lu Manman quickly clarified, “My name is Lu Manman.”

Raising an eyebrow, Yuan Xiu stopped himself from calling her ‘W’, and instead asked, “Are you here in China to start a gossip career?”

“I came here to study,” Lu Manman pointed to her luggage nearby and quickly explained, “I just landed, my sister who was supposed to pick me up didn’t come, and I couldn’t get into the dorm. So, I ran into Ren Xiang, and he brought me here to stay for the night.”

Yuan Xiu furrowed his brows. “What’s your relationship with him? Would he break club rules by bringing a girl to the base?”

Lu Manman was equally puzzled. “It seems it’s because we had a fun chat in the men’s restroom. By the way, what does ‘fun chat’ mean?”

“Well…” Yuan Xiu pondered for a moment and said seriously, “It probably means chatting and having a good time.”

“Oh, I see. I’ve learned something new,” Lu Manman nodded. “So, next time we have time, we can have another ‘fun chat’.”

Yuan Xiu: “…”

Lu Manman glanced at the bed and the half-dragged quilt on the floor, then said, “I didn’t expect you to come back suddenly. I’ll sleep in the living room then, sorry for the trouble.”

She picked up her jacket, grabbed her luggage, and was about to leave when she heard Yuan Xiu say, “For a girl, sleeping in a villa living room with three guys and two male dogs, you’ve got quite the nerve.”

Lu Manman turned back. “I only see one dog.”

“One German Shepherd and one robotic Teddy Xiang,” Yuan Xiu clarified.

Lu Manman didn’t quite get his humor but felt he was saying something witty, so she politely played along and smiled, “Hehe.”

Yuan Xiu: “…”

“It’s really cold,” he muttered.

He said no more, retrieved a blanket from the cabinet, and left the room, heading for the sofa to make do for the night.

As he was leaving, he advised her, “Make sure to lock the door.”

“Uh-huh,” Lu Manman replied softly after he slowly descended the stairs. “Thank you.”

She turned off the lights again and climbed into bed.

The surroundings quieted down once more. The commotion from earlier had dissipated her drowsiness. Involuntarily, she reached out and touched her left chest.

Just now…

Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah!

She buried her face in the pillow. Oh gosh, how embarrassing!

Though it seemed like she was taken advantage of, she couldn’t blame him entirely. After all, she had been the one who got into his bed first, causing this awkward situation. Yet… deep down, she didn’t seem to mind.

The sensation that shot up from her feet to her head was truly electrifying.

It was an unprecedentedly strange and wonderful feeling.

Under the dark night, Yuan Xiu lay stretched out on the sofa, his feet hanging over the edge. Propping his head with one arm, he extended his other hand and glanced at it in the dim light.

His hand was long and slender. Instinctively, he closed it slightly.

A faint, enigmatic smile tugged at the corner of his handsome eyes.

***

The next morning, Lu Manman was awakened by Ren Xiang’s wailing screams that sounded like slaughtering pigs.

She stretched lazily and walked out of her room in a daze. Yuan Xiu and Ah Heng were calmly sitting at the dining table having breakfast.

Meanwhile, Ren Xiang looked like a child caught misbehaving, leaning against the wall with sweat pouring down his face.

“Captain, weren’t you supposed to be home? Why did you suddenly return without notifying us? I would have knelt ten miles to welcome you,” Ah Heng remarked.

Yuan Xiu replied coolly, “Rules are rules. Violating them results in punishment.”

Pointing at Ah Heng, Ren Xiang protested, “Ah! You were the one who suggested letting the girl sleep in Yuan Xiu’s room.”

Yuan Xiu interjected calmly, “Rules are rules. Violating them results in punishment.”

Lu Manman quickly interjected, “Ah, it was me who begged Ren Xiang to bring me back. If there’s punishment, I’ll take it on his behalf.”

Ah Heng chuckled, “What an honest girl, but this punishment isn’t quite suitable for a girl.”

“Huh?” Lu Manman looked confused.

Yuan Xiu casually peeled a boiled egg and said leisurely, “Run three laps around the entire villa area while shouting: ‘I am a seven-time motor machine overnight, the teddy of day and night’.”

Ah Heng and Gu Zhefeng burst into hearty laughter together.

Ren Xiang pleaded with a solemn face, “Captain, spare me! If I really go out and shout that, my reputation and integrity in the circle will be ruined.”

After all, most of the professional sports clubs in the capital were located in the villa area under Mingyang Mountain.

Yuan Xiu raised an eyebrow calmly. “What made you think you still have a reputation and integrity in the circle?”

Ren Xiang remained speechless.

Following the rules, Ren Xiang was still punished with a run outside but was spared from shouting slogans.

Lu Manman nervously and guiltily sat at the dining table with everyone, having breakfast. The table was set with high-protein nutritious meals: eggs, milk, vegetables, and beans. Although Lu Manman had almost vomited from eating such meals during her queen days, she ate it reluctantly to adapt.

During the meal, Lu Manman asked the group, “What procedures are required to join a professional club in China?”

At her question, Ah Heng and Gu Zhefeng both set down their chopsticks and turned to look at Lu Manman, except for Yuan Xiu.

“You want to join a club and play professionally?” Ah Heng asked incredulously. “Are you kidding?”

“I’m not kidding,” Lu Manman said seriously. “I’m planning to join a competitive professional club in China, but I haven’t decided which organization yet. I’m mainly looking at the club’s atmosphere, structure, and compensation.”

Ah Heng chuckled, “Little sister, do you think you can just join a club as you wish? Do you know how many people apply online for substitute positions in our league X? If you’re queuing up for interviews, seeing ten a day would probably take you until next year. Although the entry barrier isn’t high in this field, the requirements are definitely not low. Can you handle it?”

Lu Manman smiled confidently, “I should be able to.”

Yuan Xiu added, “There are very few female players in China competing in real-life athletics. Clubs usually recruit based on physical fitness and stress response qualities, among others.”

Lu Manman countered, “What’s wrong with being female? Many female players compete professionally in the US, like W.”

“W is legendary,” Yuan Xiu observed her, raising an eyebrow. “But in such a large country like America, there’s only one W. Beyond that, how many female players with recognizable names are there?”

“Well…”

Lu Manman hesitated to mention Judy’s name, but upon closer thought, there weren’t many.

She felt a bit indignant, saying, “Don’t underestimate girls. Just one W is enough to prove that girls can play professionally too!”

“Girls can indeed play professionally, but currently, there are very few girls in China’s professional scene,” Yuan Xiu calmly replied. “Do you have any achievements if you want to join a professional team?”

Lu Manman thought for a moment and shook her head. “Although I’m not a complete rookie, my achievements are average. I’ve played in the American League, but not for long.”

“Then I can assure you, chances are slim. Professional teams don’t spend money on nurturing rookies unless you bring in past glory records, like someone as legendary as W. Every team would extend an olive branch to you then,” Yuan Xiu remarked.

Lu Manman’s voice faltered for a moment before she murmured, “W has already retired.”

Yuan Xiu raised an eyebrow but remained silent.Ah Heng added, “The captain is right. Nowadays, few professional teams invest in cultivating new talent because of the high time costs involved. Most teams would rather spend money to poach players from other teams or hire foreign talents.”

Lu Manman continued, “This development model exists in the American League too, like with the Lion Tigers or the Falcon teams. Apart from a few veteran players, they mostly recruit from other teams.”

Ah Heng asked, “Wow, you seem quite knowledgeable about competitive sports. How do you know all this?”

Lu Manman cleared her throat lightly and said, “Well, I do follow these things. But I think this development model is akin to draining the pond to catch fish. If teams don’t cultivate new talents but instead spend heavily competing for already famous players, without new blood entering the industry, it’s inevitable that the industry will decline. This was the path the American league took in the past, but gradually investors in the industry recognized this issue and began to value the development of new talents.”

She glanced at Yuan Xiu and added quietly, “The reason why the American League is so strong isn’t without reason.”

In other words, there were reasons why Chinese teams were weak too.

Yuan Xiu kept his gaze low, deep and quiet, saying nothing.

Ah Heng commented, “But that’s not something we need to worry about. Our job is to win every game. Let the investors and managers handle these matters.”

Lu Manman added, “The overall environment is also crucial.”

“But we can’t change the minds of investors and directors. They think the cost and time of nurturing new talent are too high, and they’d rather spend that money on poaching from other teams,” Lu Manman said, looking at Yuan Xiu who remained silent.

She murmured, “X is indeed strong, but there’s still a long road ahead to clinch the championship in the S Series World Championship.”

…

When they were leaving, Ah Heng originally offered to drive Lu Manman home, but Lu Manman didn’t want to disturb their training, so she simply declined.

At the door, she waved her hat to Yuan Xiu, saying, “Yuan Xiu, thanks for the bed last night. Next time, let’s have another round.”

Doujiang sprayed out uncontrollably from Gu Zhefeng’s mouth, splashing Ah Heng’s face.

Yuan Xiu swallowed hard, his voice heavy as he murmured, “Alright…”