Chapter 27 When Zhao Zhinian saw Zhou Zekai, her hand...
When Zhao Zhinian saw Zhou Zekai, her hand was still in the act of looking for the keys, and she froze on the spot.
"What are you doing here?" she blurted out, her gaze falling on the Samsara team uniform he hadn't had time to change out of.
Zhou Zekai leaned against the wall and looked up when he heard the sound. The light in the hallway wasn't bright, outlining his slightly tired expression. When he saw Zhao Zhinian, his eyes immediately lit up, and a smile of dependence and satisfaction appeared on his lips, like a large dog that had finally waited for its owner to come home, radiating joy.
"I'll be waiting for you." His voice was gentle, but perhaps because he had been waiting for so long, it was slightly hoarse.
Seeing him like this, Zhao Zhinian's initial frustration at not being selected and the distance from the competition venue instantly gave way to helplessness and a touch of heartache. Judging from his expression, he must have been waiting for quite some time. She quickly took out her keys, opened the door, and stepped aside to let him in.
"Aren't you having a get-together today?" she asked as she bent down to find him slippers from the shoe cabinet.
Zhou Zekai followed him in, obediently changed into slippers, and nodded: "Let's get together." He paused, as if recalling the scene of his teammates chattering away, his tone carrying a subtle honesty: "They said... I should come to find you."
Zhao Zhinian paused, then immediately understood.
This was probably the "dating advice" that the group of single men in the team had given Zhou Zekai. The thought that Zhou Zekai had actually listened to these "theoretical gurus" and waited foolishly at the door made her both angry and amused. Thinking about how long Zhou Zekai had waited, she also felt a strange resentment: apart from one married man, almost everyone in the team was single, and Zhou Zekai dared to listen to them!
Zhao Zhinian frowned, remembering the key she had given him before. "Then you shouldn't have waited at the door," she said, glancing at the faint weariness in his eyes. "Where's the key I gave you?"
Zhou Zekai looked at her: "I was afraid of losing it, so I put it at the base." Seeing that she was about to say something, he added in a low voice, his tone particularly serious: "You're not home, it wouldn't be good for me to go in..."
“Since I gave you the key, it means you can come in anytime! Even if I’m not home!” Zhao Zhinian couldn’t help but raise her voice slightly, with a hint of reproach. “Besides, why did you just wait at the door? You could have called me.” She imagined him waiting alone in the dimly lit stairwell, and her heart ached with a bittersweet feeling.
Zhou Zekai shrank back slightly at her slightly agitated tone, feeling that he was in the wrong. He lowered his voice even more, and tentatively said with a hint of caution, "I was afraid of interfering with your dinner party." He looked up at her, his eyes, which were sharp on the field, were now wet and filled with grievance. "You... seem to not want to see me today."
Zhao Zhinian's heart tightened, and she repeatedly retorted, "No... I just..." But the words caught in her throat, unsure how to explain the complex emotions in her heart. Should she confess that it was because seeing him so dazzling on the field, and feeling so insignificant in comparison to the thunderous cheers, that she felt those affected, unworthy feelings? Even she herself found it difficult to utter such words.
Seeing her silence, Zhou Zekai frowned slightly. He wasn't very good at handling such delicate and roundabout emotional issues, so he could only rely on his most direct instincts, asking with a hint of confusion and unease, "Did I do something wrong?"
"No!" Zhao Zhinian hurriedly interrupted him, her voice urgent. "It has nothing to do with you. It's my own fault." She took out her phone, found the notification in the work group, and handed it to him.
Zhou Zekai took the phone and looked down at the text on the screen carefully. Zhao Zhinian gave a brief explanation, trying to keep her tone calm: "I received a notification today that the challenge competition has added commentators to the schedule, four out of six, and I wasn't selected." She deliberately only mentioned her disappointment at work, subtly glossing over her feelings about the distance between them.
Zhou Zekai looked up, his eyes gentle, trying to comfort her: "Very few people win a championship right after their debut." He wanted to tell her that the path to glory requires time and experience.
"Ye Qiu, the great god, won three championships right after his debut." Zhao Zhinian almost subconsciously retorted, only realizing as soon as the words left her mouth that it sounded like she was being unreasonable and arguing for the sake of arguing.
Zhou Zekai fell silent. He opened his mouth, but he couldn't very well say that Ye Qiu was a bug-like existence in Glory. Besides, praising someone else in front of Zhao Zhinian made him feel a strange unease. In a flash, he remembered Fang Minghua's winking "secret": "Show weakness appropriately to arouse sympathy."
Although he felt this approach was a bit...unfair, seeing the lingering melancholy in her eyes, he decided to give it a try. He lowered his head slightly, his long eyelashes casting a small shadow of grievance under the light, and his voice lowered a few decibels: "So...your idol is him, not me."
Zhao Zhinian was taken aback by his sudden jealousy, then chuckled, instantly lightening the previously somber atmosphere: "Why are we back to this again? Didn't we already move on from this?"
“It can’t be turned over.” Zhou Zekai insisted, his gaze fixed on her stubbornly, like a large dog whose owner had praised another puppy and was determined to get an explanation.
"Your idol is you! Okay, okay!" Zhao Zhinian couldn't handle his gaze and had no choice but to smile and compromise, her tone carrying a hint of indulgence that she herself didn't realize.
However, Zhou Zekai didn't stop there. He keenly sensed that she was still avoiding a core issue, the real reason for her unusual attitude today. So he leaned in slightly, closing the distance, and spoke in a soft, gentle voice, as if veiled by a thin mist: "Then you're avoiding me." Her eyes were wet, filled with undisguised grievance, like a small animal that had been neglected for no reason and desperately needed comfort.
These words struck Zhao Zhinian's heart like a dagger. Seeing the undisguised grievance on Zhou Zekai's face, a strong sense of guilt welled up inside her. She suddenly realized that her own anxieties were hurting this person who had sincerely come to her. It was the last thing she wanted to see him so uneasy and troubled because of her emotional issues.
"There are so many people who idolize you..." She took a deep breath, finally mustered up the courage, looked up and looked directly into his eyes, her voice was soft, but she finally stopped avoiding the question, "The way you stand on the field is so far away from me."
Zhou Zekai was stunned, seemingly not quite understanding the meaning of those words.
“Those cheers, those adoring glances…” Zhao Zhinian’s voice was low, slowly revealing the deepest unease in her heart, “It made me feel like we were living in two different worlds.” After saying the last word, she almost used up all her courage, lowering her eyes and not daring to look at him.
Zhou Zekai gazed at her silently. After a moment, a look of understanding flashed in his eyes, and the corners of his lips lifted slightly.
Just as Zhao Zhinian was panicking, he suddenly stood up and took a step forward, instantly breaking the safe distance.
"And now?" he asked in a low voice, his warm breath almost brushing against her forehead.
Zhao Zhinian froze, her breath caught in her throat, and her cheeks flushed instantly. She hurriedly reached out to press against his chest, trying to push Zhou Zekai away: "Too...too close..."
Zhou Zekai stepped back slightly following her movement, but his gaze remained fixed on her. Seeing that even the roots of her ears were red, his tone became serious, still carrying a hint of grievance: "You said we should take it slow. I'm willing to wait, but..." He paused, his eyes burning, each word clear and forceful: "Don't let other people's opinions negate me."
These words struck Zhao Zhinian like a hammer blow, jolting her awake from her self-doubt. Yes, she had been worrying about whether she was good enough for him, forgetting to respect his choices and feelings. Her retreat, seemingly a form of self-protection, was in fact the cruelest questioning of his affections.
However, this ambiguous and touching atmosphere was instantly broken by an untimely "gurgling" sound, coming from Zhou Zekai's stomach. He immediately took a step back in embarrassment, his ears visibly turning red.
Zhao Zhinian instantly snapped out of her earlier emotions and asked with concern, "You haven't eaten?"
Zhou Zekai's eyes darted around as he tried to argue, "I ate a little."
This evasive answer made Zhao Zhinian feel both sorry for him and amused. She quickly got up, rummaged through the coffee table drawer and took out individually wrapped cookies and snacks, handing them over: "Have something to eat first."
Seeing him take the snacks, she couldn't help but gently scold him, "You really are... how could you wait for someone on an empty stomach?" Watching him lower his head to unpack the snacks, she hesitated for a moment before softly asking, "How about... I cook you some noodles?"
Zhou Zekai had intended to say snacks would be fine, but his anticipation for her cooking skills made him nod unconsciously.
Zhao Zhinian smiled as she watched him obediently nod, then got up and walked towards the kitchen: "Let me show you the cooking skills that we international students are forced to use."
Zhou Zekai followed her into the kitchen and stood quietly by the door.
“You can just wait in the living room,” Zhao Zhinian said, taking eggs and vegetables out of the refrigerator and turning to look at him. “It’ll be ready soon.”
"I want to see," Zhou Zekai said softly, his feet remaining still.
Zhao Zhinian turned around and saw him leaning against the door frame, his eyes as soft as a large dog waiting to be fed, looking at her intently. Her heart softened, and she didn't insist anymore: "My cooking skills are so-so, you're not allowed to laugh at me."
"No." Zhou Zekai shook his head seriously.
The aroma of food soon filled the kitchen. Zhao Zhinian skillfully cracked eggs, washed vegetables, boiled water, and cooked noodles, while Zhou Zekai quietly watched her every move, as if it were some extremely interesting performance.
“Actually…” Zhou Zekai suddenly spoke, his tone thoughtful, “They also said… they were going to play the victim,” he paused, as if confirming his choice of words, then looked at her, his eyes seeking confirmation, “It seems… they succeeded?”
Zhao Zhinian was turning off the stove when she heard this and turned around with amusement: "Playing the victim?"
Zhou Zekai thought for a moment and honestly replied, "Because I can't speak."
Zhao Zhinian was both amused and exasperated. As she scooped the noodles into her bowl, she complained, "Is this another one of your Reincarnation's Love Lessons? What on earth are they teaching you? Can't you learn something good?"
Zhou Zekai lowered his eyes shyly, his ears turning slightly red. His mind, however, involuntarily flashed back to the "teaching session" his teammates had given him before they left.
Wu Qi waved his arms, his emotions running high: "Captain! We have to go straight to the place where Yizhan is having a feast, and take her away in front of everyone! That's how it's portrayed in TV dramas, it's so cool!"
Du Ming quickly added, with absolute certainty, "Flowers! Roses are absolutely essential; they're a must-have for romance!"
Lu Boyuan remained relatively calm: "Going to her workplace would likely cause trouble for Miss Zhao. In my opinion, it would be better to wait for her downstairs at her home; that would show sincerity."
Fang Minghua, the only "married person" in the team, put his arm around his shoulder and said earnestly, "Xiao Zhou, listen to your brother. We're not good with words, so we have to know how to show weakness. If she kicks you out, just act pitiful and play the victim. This trick works best on soft-hearted girls."
Finally, Jiang Botao gently patted his shoulder, his voice as steady as ever: "Captain, don't let them lead you astray. No matter how many tricks you use, nothing beats a sincere heart. Sincerity is the most important thing."
Although he subconsciously attributed his "foolish waiting and playing the victim" to his teammates' "relationship advice," everything tonight—from the long wait in the hallway to the cautious unease, to the persistent questioning, and even the unintentional grievances—all stemmed from his truest feelings.
He only thought of making a slight excuse because he saw how worried and anxious Zhao Zhinian was about him.
He was afraid that his clumsy and straightforward feelings would make her think he was too immature.
Steaming hot noodles were served, the simple ingredients emitting an enticing aroma. Zhou Zekai ate with exceptional seriousness, at a considerable pace, yet his table manners remained impeccable.
"Is it good?" Zhao Zhinian sat opposite him, resting her chin on her hands as she looked at him.
"Yes." He looked up, his eyes warm and clear, his tone certain, "It tastes better than the victory celebration banquet."
"Come on," Zhao Zhinian laughed and exposed him, "You're just starving, everything tastes delicious to you."
Zhou Zekai looked at her seriously and retorted, "It's true."
Seeing him eat with such relish, and remembering how he had waited anxiously at the door earlier that day, Zhao Zhinian felt a pang of tenderness and bitterness in her heart. She couldn't help but sternly admonish him, "Don't do that again next time! If you have your key, just come in. If you don't, be sure to call me beforehand. Don't just stand there waiting like an idiot at the door!" Her tone was filled with unquestionable concern, but her eyes were brimming with heartache.
Zhou Zekai nodded obediently, "Mm." Then he looked up at her and added softly, "You too."
Zhao Zhinian was slightly taken aback, then realized that he was telling her she shouldn't overthink things and keep her worries bottled up inside. She met his earnest gaze and nodded solemnly, "Okay, I promise you."
After finishing their meal, Zhao Zhinian instinctively wanted to take the dishes and chopsticks to wash them, but Zhou Zekai beat her to it and took the dishes and chopsticks to the kitchen.
Zhao Zhinian was a little embarrassed: "I'll go wash up."
Zhou Zekai turned around and casually quoted his family rule: "The person who cooks doesn't wash the dishes."
Zhao Zhinian watched his slightly awkward yet exceptionally focused figure standing in front of the sink, the water gurgling and mingling with the soft clinking of dishes. This scene felt strangely familiar, vaguely reminding her of many years ago, when her parents were still alive, and how they often worked together in the kitchen in a similar warm and collaborative way. This long-empty home seemed to have suddenly regained some of its warmth and the feel of home because of his presence.
She glanced at the living room clock; the hour hand had quietly passed twelve. She walked to the kitchen doorway and asked softly, "Are you going back to the Reincarnation Base?"
Zhou Zekai was rinsing the foam off the bowl and didn't immediately understand the deeper meaning of her question, so he turned to look at her with a puzzled expression.
Zhao Zhinian thought he had misunderstood and was trying to get rid of him, so she quickly explained, "I didn't mean to get rid of you! It's just that it's getting late, and I don't know if your base dorms have a curfew. Yizhan dorms don't, but I heard that some teams are quite strict about it."
Zhou Zekai turned off the tap, dried his hands with a towel, and hesitated. Going back now was actually fine; the base wasn't strictly managed. But Zhao Zhinian's question... He couldn't help but recall Fang Minghua's winking and saying, "Opportunities must be created by oneself," and his ears burned slightly. However, he maintained his composure and replied, "It's okay. I can... go to the hotel."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Zhinian instinctively retorted, "Huh? It's so late, going to a hotel would be too much of a hassle... Why don't you just stay at my place for the night?" As soon as the words left her mouth, she realized how abrupt it was, her voice lowering and her cheeks burning. She quickly added, "What I meant was... we have a spare room at home, you can sleep there, I can find you some new sheets and blankets..."
The thought of someone offering to stay overnight, regardless of the reason, still filled her with a strong sense of shame. Her voice trailed off, almost disappearing into the air.
Zhou Zekai agreed almost immediately: "Okay."
His answer was so quick and decisive, without the slightest hesitation or refusal, that Zhao Zhinian was slightly taken aback, a hint of doubt flashing through her mind: Zhou Zekai, could it be... on purpose? Was he just waiting for her to ask him to stay?
She looked up at Zhou Zekai, trying to find any trace of "successful conspiracy" on his face. However, what met her eyes were still those clear, slightly tired but incredibly open eyes, like obsidian soaked in spring water, pure and unquestionable. He even blinked slightly shyly at her gaze, his long eyelashes fluttering like tiny brushes.
Zhao Zhinian immediately cursed himself in his heart: He must be overthinking it! He is Zhou Zekai, the famous "Silent Gun King" in the league. He plays games directly and has always been a straightforward player. He would never have such roundabout thoughts.
"Then...why don't you go wash up first? I'll prepare a toothbrush and towel for you." Zhao Zhinian shook off her inexplicable suspicion and pointed to the empty guest room: "I'll tidy up the guest room a bit, it'll be done soon."
"Mm." Zhou Zekai nodded, looking very obedient, and followed Zhao Zhinian's arrangements in everything.
Zhao Zhinian turned and walked into the guest room. No one usually lived there; although she cleaned it regularly and it was fairly clean, it lacked a sense of human presence. She took out clean sheets, duvet covers, and pillowcases from the closet and began to neatly make the bed.
After washing up and saying goodnight, Zhao Zhinian returned to her room, closed the door, leaned against it, and finally let out a soft sigh of relief. Today had been a rollercoaster of emotions, from the disappointment at work to the distance at the competition venue, then the shock of Zhou Zekai's sudden appearance and their subsequent heart-to-heart talk… Now that things were quiet, a wave of exhaustion washed over her, but the weight that had been pressing on her heart due to the distance seemed to have been lifted.
After all, Zhou Zekai, who shone brightly on the field, was sleeping right next to her. This realization gave her a strange sense of peace.
Zhou Zekai, in the guest room, was indeed still awake. He stared at the blurry light and shadow on the ceiling, recalling every detail of the evening. Zhao Zhinian's anxious worry that he was hungry, her focused profile as she cooked noodles for him, and her heartfelt words of advice at the end—all these images kept replaying in his mind.
He suddenly realized that his teammates' seemingly unreliable "relationship advice" and their recurring relationship lessons might not be entirely without merit. Besides "sincerity," "playing the victim" also seemed to have some effect.
Thinking of this, he gently curved the corners of his mouth in the darkness and slowly closed his eyes.
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