Chapter 15

The final stop of this fan benefit trip was a hot pot restaurant, serving as the conclusion of the day. SF’s official team invited fans and SF members to dine at the same table, showing great sincerity.

Seven or eight tables were joined together to form a long table, with two rows of seats facing each other, perfectly accommodating everyone.

To avoid any awkwardness, there was no rule that required fans to sit in one row and SF members in another. Instead, everyone sat in random order, with staff members interspersed among them, making things less uncomfortable.

Ying Nian wanted to sit closer to Yu Linran, but unfortunately, there was no opportunity. Yi Shen clung to Yu Linran’s side and, when it was time to sit down, naturally took the spot right next to him. The other side was occupied by Bo Can. These two sat one on the left and the other on the right, sticking close to Yu Linran, calling him “brother” non-stop, as if they didn’t see anyone else.

Ying Nian: “…” What could she do? She was just a weak and helpless fan!

The seats directly across from Yu Linran were quickly taken by other male fans who moved swiftly, leaving Ying Nian reluctant to squeeze in next to strangers. So, she had no choice but to sit obediently with Xiaoxiao.

During the meal, the group of guys chatted quite harmoniously. Ying Nian perked up her ears, half-listening to their conversation, only regretting that she wasn’t a rabbit and didn’t have long enough ears.

While they were eating, a slight commotion came from the direction of the cash register.

Several people at their table turned their heads to look, and Ying Nian also couldn’t help but glance over.

An elderly couple, who seemed to be foreigners, had entered and were speaking with the waiter. Unfortunately, the waiter’s foreign language skills were lacking, and the conversation was completely out of sync, leaving both sides sweating in frustration.

“Are they trying to eat? To eat?”

“Two people?”

“Hot pot…”

“Our restaurant only serves hot pot…”

In the end, the flustered waitstaff had no choice but to call the manager over.

The elderly couple had hearing difficulties, which made communication already challenging, and with the language barrier added, the restaurant staff were completely stumped.

Ying Nian vaguely caught a few phrases. As she listened, she paused and put down her chopsticks.

Xiaoxiao asked, “Why aren’t you eating?”

Ying Nian waved her hand and kept listening intently.

After another round of mismatched dialogue, Ying Nian frowned and, after a brief moment of thought, made a decision.

“I’ll go over there for a bit,” she whispered to Xiaoxiao, and crouched slightly as she left her seat.

Ying Nian didn’t want to draw attention, but the restaurant had a wide-open view, and the counter wasn’t far from where they were sitting. Soon enough, as her voice was heard, almost everyone at the table, including Xiaoxiao, turned to look at her.

Ying Nian approached the counter and softly said “Excuse me” in Japanese to the elderly couple, then asked, “Are you Japanese?”

The elderly couple, having finally understood a sentence, nodded repeatedly and asked her, “Are you as well?”

Ying Nian replied, “No, I’m Chinese, but I can speak a little Japanese.”

Although the elderly couple seemed slightly disappointed, a hint of hope appeared on their faces.

Under the bewildered gazes of the staff at the counter, Ying Nian used her fairly fluent Japanese to find out what was going on.

“Are you looking to eat?”

“No, no. We’re trying to ask for directions.”

“Directions? Okay, where are you trying to go?”

The elderly man said, “We read in the hotel’s recommendation guide that there’s a sightseeing street nearby. We planned to go there, but we’ve been out for an hour and still haven’t found the correct way.”

After asking a few simple questions, Ying Nian learned that they were staying at a hotel not far from the hot pot restaurant. They had been searching since dusk until it was dark, unable to find the street, and had no choice but to come in and ask for directions.

Perhaps because of their age, they were unfamiliar with many modern things. During this trip to China, aside from exchanging currency and booking hotels, the elderly couple didn’t know how to use tools like translation apps at all.

Ying Nian used an electronic map to find the correct route, then borrowed paper and a pen from a waiter to draw a simple map. She carefully explained to the couple how to navigate once they left the restaurant, detailing which direction to go and where to turn at each intersection, leaving nothing out.

Worried that they might forget, she not only repeated the directions three times but also wrote out the entire walking route in Japanese on the paper.

For their destination, Ying Nian wrote the name in both Chinese and Japanese characters on the paper, and below the name, she added the specific address with “XX Road, XX Number” as coordinates.

“If you’re unsure about anything, you can show the paper to passersby,” Ying Nian said, then drew a small arrow below the place name and added five Chinese characters: “How to get here?”

Ying Nian handed the paper to the elderly woman and said, “If you really can’t find it, just show this to someone, and they’ll understand.”

The elderly couple thanked her repeatedly. Ying Nian reminded them, “The place closes at ten, so please keep an eye on the time. If communication is difficult, you can try downloading a translation app on your phone. If you’re not sure how to download it, you can ask the hotel staff for help when you return; the service at your hotel is very good, and they should be willing to teach you how to use it.”

The elderly couple took note of her words and thanked her repeatedly. Ying Nian, not wanting to accept their bows, quickly stepped aside. She escorted them to the door, and once they had walked far enough away, Ying Nian returned to her seat.

Everyone at the table was looking at her.

Ying Nian paused by the table, and Xiaoxiao tugged at her sleeve, pulling her down to sit.

“You can speak Japanese?” Xiaoxiao asked.

Ying Nian replied, “A little. My brother is studying in Japan. Before he went abroad, I learned with him.”

“Wow, how long did you study?”

“A little over six months.”

“Six months?!” Xiaoxiao’s eyes widened. “You became that fluent in just six months?”

Seeing her writing and drawing on the paper, it seemed like she could both speak and write Japanese—was it really possible to reach this level in just six months?

Others were still watching, especially Yu Linran, whose occasional glances, though not particularly enthusiastic, made Ying Nian increasingly nervous.

She modestly said, “Maybe it’s because the teacher my dad hired was very strict.”

Xiaoxiao looked at Ying Nian with a strong sense of admiration. Fluent in a foreign language and receiving scholarships—Ying Nian must be outstanding at school!

As their conversation paused, SF’s coach, who was sitting at the center of the opposite side, smiled and said, “Ying Nian, your Japanese is pretty good.”

Thanks to her poor gaming skills, out of the ten fans, the coach seemed to remember only her name.

Ying Nian was about to wave her hand and say something modest, but Xiaoxiao, proud as if sharing the honor, nodded and chimed in, “Ying Nian isn’t just good at Japanese; she’s also great at studying! The first time we watched a match together, she covered all the support expenses by herself with her scholarship money! She’s really amazing!”

The coach was slightly surprised when he heard this. “Really? That’s quite impressive!”

Xiaoxiao nodded enthusiastically.

The coach asked, “Have you two known each other for a long time?”

“No,” Xiaoxiao replied, “we met during the Spring Tournament this year. The first match we watched together was when SF advanced from the quarterfinals to the semifinals.”

“That match? Oh, I saw the support for that game. Thank you for your efforts.” The coach smiled appreciatively, expressing his gratitude. He stood up, raised his glass, and clinked it with Xiaoxiao’s, then clinked it with Ying Nian’s glass filled with cola. As he did so, he added specifically to Ying Nian, “Keep up the good work; your studies are important too.”

Ying Nian nodded, indicating that she understood.

After that, the dining table was filled with lively chatter and laughter. Ying Nian never got the chance to talk to Yu Linran, but just watching him eat calmly and unhurriedly brought her a growing sense of satisfaction.

From the chance encounter of watching his interview video and learning about him to now, as a fan who likes him, being able to dine at the same table with him—even though many people sat between them, and her gaze could only reach him from afar—was enough to make her feel happy.

Ying Nian picked up her cola and took a big gulp.

The overwhelming sense of happiness bubbled up like fizzy soda, filling her entire heart.

…

That night, Ying Nian posted a new bedtime selfie in Moments^[1]朋友圈 (péngyǒu quān) = Moments, it’s refers to a social networking feature in the WeChat app, similar to a timeline or news feed on other social media platforms. It allows users to share … Continue reading, which was open to friends.

In this city where he lives, she was breathing the same air and had even been in close proximity to him.

There was nothing better than this.

In the photo, she captioned:

[Happiness, satisfaction.]

…

After the fan event ended, Ying Nian returned home and completed all her summer homework in seven days, settling into a “two-point routine.” These “two points” didn’t refer to places but to two activities:

Practicing her gaming skills and watching SF’s live matches.

It was currently the regular season, with at least two matches each week. This meant that Ying Nian had to go out at least twice a week, making four flights in total for each round trip.

Though busy, her days were fulfilling.

“Y Shen” remained quietly in Ying Nian’s friend list. Since returning from the base, she hadn’t bothered him; after all, they had matches every week and were training right after, and Ying Nian didn’t want to disturb him.

Things didn’t go as she wished. As excellent as Ying Nian was, there were still moments when she had to seek help for things she couldn’t handle on her own.

For example, playing games.

Jiang Jiashu had gone on a trip to an ancient town with his friends, and no matter when she messaged him, it would take two hours to get a response. Ying Nian was too impatient to wait for him, so after some thought, she decided to turn to “Y Shen.”

The group chat members could indeed provide her with answers, but Ying Nian had always been competitive since she was young. Whatever she did, unless she didn’t start, once she did, she was determined to strive for the top and do her best.

No matter how well the group members played, their understanding of the game couldn’t compare to that of professional players.

Having toured the base and learned the SF players’ training schedules, Ying Nian carefully chose their break time to send a message to “Y Shen”:

[Sorry to bother you.]

[Can I ask you a question?]

[It’s about the game.]

After sending the three messages, Ying Nian anxiously waited for a reply. She waited and waited, and ten minutes passed in the blink of an eye.

Just when Ying Nian was feeling discouraged and thinking she wouldn’t get a response, a quick and concise reply came through:

[Go ahead.]

Ying Nian was overjoyed and immediately explained the issues she was facing with her gameplay.

“Y Shen” was quite generous and answered her questions in detail.

Ying Nian read his response several times, letting out a long “Oh.”

She typed a line and sent it over:

[Thank you! I won’t disturb your rest any longer! Good luck.]

Somehow, Yi Shen felt much colder on WeChat than in real life, and his tone was less lively.

Ying Nian followed his instructions while secretly marveling at the difference.

In reality, Ying Nian wasn’t someone who liked to trouble others, but she couldn’t help it—her gaming skills were really lacking. With the summer break just starting and not even half a month in, she had already watched two SF matches and asked “Y Shen” for help three times.

After the first time, Ying Nian asked her questions much more cautiously the next two times. Although “Y Shen” remained cold and indifferent in his tone, he always answered her questions thoroughly and accurately whenever she asked.

Thanks to the professional player’s guidance, Ying Nian finally achieved her first MVP in a match under “Y Shen’s” third round of pointers!

Ying Nian immediately opened “Y Shen’s” WeChat to express her gratitude:

[Wow! Your advice was really helpful!]

[For the first time, I feel like this hero is amazing!]

[We won in less than half an hour, and I even got MVP!]

[Thank you, thank you! It’s all thanks to you! Thank you so much!]

Five minutes later, “Y Shen” replied:

[Mm.]

Ying Nian hadn’t intended to take up too much of his time, so after expressing her gratitude, she set down her phone and continued to battle in the game.

After finishing another match, Xiaoxiao suddenly messaged her privately: [Nian Nian, are you there?]

Ying Nian stretched her sore neck and replied, [I’m here. What’s up?]

Xiaoxiao said, [I wanted to talk to you about the support plan for the next match.]

Ying Nian perked up and her fingers flew quickly over the keyboard.

[Go ahead.]

[This time, a lot of people from the group are planning to go. I discussed it with the moderators, and everyone attending will chip in for the support expenses. However, for the light signs, we want to design them with more detail, and we’re hoping for some brainstorming from everyone.]

]How are we doing it?]

[Well, each player will have a large personal light sign, and the cost for this will come from the pooled funds. For the smaller light signs, whoever wants one can pay for it individually, and we’ll order them together to get a lower price. For the team’s light sign, everyone will contribute a bit; we’ll first count how many people are going, then split the cost. Other things like banners will be the same as the small light signs—if you want one, you pay for it yourself.]

Ying Nian quickly replied, [I’ll cover the cost for Yu Linran’s large personal light sign! I want to hold it, so I want one just for myself!]

Xiaoxiao agreed, [Alright. The main issue we’re facing now is the design, especially for each person’s personal light sign. Other group members are hoping to customize them according to the players’ preferences.]

[Preferences?]

[Yes. For example, if someone’s zodiac sign is a horse or they like tigers, we’d design their light sign in the shape of a horse or a tiger.]

Ying Nian understood Xiaoxiao’s idea and had a sudden inspiration. She said, [Okay, Xiaoxiao, you guys go ahead and discuss it first. I’ll get back to you later!]

Xiaoxiao agreed, [Alright, I’ll message you in a bit.]

After closing the chat window, Ying Nian opened WeChat and sent a message to “Y Shen”:

[Sorry to bother you, but could you help me with something?]

After sending the message, she waited anxiously until she saw a response from the other side, finally breathing a sigh of relief.

“Y Shen” replied: [?]

She quickly explained, [It’s about the support event! For the next match, a lot of us fans are going together, and we want to make the support really good. But we’re stuck on how to design the light signs. We thought, maybe we could design them according to each of your preferences.]

She quickly added the next line: [But there’s too little information about you guys on the official website, so could you please help me ask around?]

Each moment of waiting felt like it was draining the life out of her.

Thankfully, there was a reply, making the anxious wait worthwhile.

It was unclear whether “Y Shen” had gone to ask his teammates or was simply considering whether to respond to her request.

After several minutes, he finally replied:

[Cheng Run likes cabbage.]

[Lin Shan likes unicorns.]

[Bo Can likes zebras.]

[Yi Shen likes cola.]

Ying Nian looked at the message, feeling that Yi Shen’s way of speaking was a bit odd—referring to himself by his own name? However, her attention was mostly on the last person.

What about Yu Linran?

She waited for over ten seconds but still didn’t see any message about what Yu Linran liked.

She couldn’t help but ask, [What about the captain? What does the captain like?]

The reply came: [He doesn’t have anything he particularly likes.]

Ying Nian responded, [Oh, what should I do then? I really wanted to hold the captain’s big light sign. If all the others are made according to their preferences and mine is the plainest, that would be so disappointing!]

“Y Shen”: [You’re holding it?]

Ying Nian: [Yeah.]

She explained the support plan to him, and also reminded, [Keep it a secret, okay? It’s not finalized yet; everyone is still discussing the best design.]

Then she returned to her previous concern, [If the captain really doesn’t have anything he likes, then… what’s his zodiac sign?]

After a long wait, the reply came: [Dragon.]

Ying Nian was delighted, [Wow! Then I’ll go with that! I’ll go discuss it with the others! Thank you!]

With that, she ran off.

There was no further response from “Y Shen.”

Ying Nian went to find Xiaoxiao, and they talked for twenty minutes before joining the group to communicate with the others. Ying Nian only mentioned that she had contacted SF’s staff and shared the information she received from them.

As a result, the proposal to customize the personal light signs according to the players’ preferences was unanimously approved.

Some players liked food, others liked animals. The light sign Ying Nian funded for her Yu Linran was based on his zodiac sign, and there were two design options: one was to draw a dragon on the border, and the other was to shape the light sign into a cartoon dragon head.

Ying Nian decided to wait for the design drafts before making a final decision.

With this, the problem was nearly solved.

Ying Nian didn’t forget to express her gratitude once more to “Y Shen”:

[Thank you!]

[You’re really a good person!]

A minute later, “Y Shen” replied: […]

Three dots. Half as long as a normal ellipsis.

Ying Nian frowned.

Hmm…

Why did it seem like he wasn’t too happy about receiving a “good person card”?

Looks like she’ll need to find a different way to compliment him next time!