Read The King's Avatar: A Small Matter of Confession Mistaken for Account Theft

Chapter 64 Extra Extra Extra 01~10

The relationship between Zhao Zhinian and Zhou Zekai has always been a well-known "secret" within the entertainment industry, but it has never been officially announced.

Initially, they were concerned that Zhao Zhinian's career was just starting out, but later they felt that since they already understood each other, there was no need to go to such lengths, and avoiding suspicion in formal occasions became a habit.

Zhao Zhinian often collaborates with professional players from StarCraft Online to create short videos, and Zhou Zekai has never objected, given the different competitive ecosystems. He has always unconditionally supported Zhao Zhinian's work. However, after Team Tiny Herb won a match 10-0, Zhao Zhinian, who was hosting for Tiny Herb, collaborated with Tiny Herb player Yuan Baiqing on a simple hand gesture dance. Upon the video's release, Yuan Baiqing instantly became the "laughing point" among netizens and professional players, with the screen filled with "hahaha" and jokes like "how dare you steal the Gun King's man!" Besides these, there were also various "confused" or "secretly observing" emojis from Zhou Zekai.

Surprisingly, this sparked a trend of hand gesture dances among Glory professional players. Zhao Zhinian then took photos with several of the more lively Glory players.

However, given Zhou Zekai's personality, he naturally never participated.

Until one day during the off-season, Zhou Zekai saw Zhao Zhinian watching something with great interest. The screen showed a slightly awkward video of a StarCraft player dancing. The dance was so awkward, but the protagonist was confident. There were a few comments tagging Zhao Zhinian, asking her to save the terrible dance.

Zhou Zekai was silent for a moment, then said in a low voice, "We've never filmed this."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Zhinian immediately realized that he was secretly jealous again. She quickly pulled Zhou Zekai over and enthusiastically searched for videos suitable for the two of them.

She knew she couldn't force Zhou Zekai to "break through his limitations," after all, she didn't want her beloved boyfriend to be ridiculed by netizens or other professional players. In the end, she chose a "shadow gesture dance." Firstly, it was a collaborative video designed specifically for couples, so the two of them could film it without any external assistance. Secondly, only the silhouette of the shadow was needed, which could minimize the awkwardness of Zhou Zekai's facial expressions. Most importantly, only the girl had to dance, and the boy's movements were indeed pitifully few.

The two filmed the video while taking a walk downstairs after dinner.

After Zhao Zhinian posted the video, it sparked a wave of teasing from netizens. After all, the video clearly showed two figures, a man and a woman, and it was a couple's video; the man holding the phone appeared composed, while the woman dancing beside him was playful and cute. Fans playfully asked in the comments section: "Who's that next to her?", "@Zhou Zekai, do you know?"

However, shortly after, Zhou Zekai's account posted the exact same video.

Although the two did not use the "co-creation" function, this synchronized action from afar was more direct than any statement. Netizens aren't blind, and the comment section instantly erupted.

"Why don't you just join a co-creation project?"

"She posts it once, you post it once, exactly the same... Do you think we can't tell that these two videos are the same?"

"I downloaded and compared your videos, and they're exactly the same. What does that mean? You've figured it out and are finally planning to make it official?"

"Is this the new trend for official announcements? Everything is understood without being said, right?"

"Isn't the most shocking thing that Zhou Zekai actually danced?"

"You call this dancing? He was just holding up a phone! He was basically acting as a phone stand!"

"Team Leader Zhou: I participated, but it seems like I didn't participate completely."

Of course, this incident also had follow-up effects.

The atmosphere in the conference room at the national team training base was unusually relaxed. The league's latest "lively and approachable" publicity task—to shoot a 30-second group video—had plunged these top players, who usually dominate the court, into a rare, collective silence akin to "homework procrastination."

As the captain of the national team, Yu Wenzhou was responsible for hosting this brief pre-shoot meeting. He glanced at the requirements on the tablet, his gaze lingering for a moment on "highlighting the core memory points" and "suggesting a visually central figure." When he looked up again, his face had regained its usual gentle composure.

“First,” he said, his voice not loud, but clear enough to reach everyone’s ears, “we need to choose a center position.” He tapped lightly on the tablet, as if casually tracing a list, but his gaze, with a certain precise guidance, slowly swept across the conference table.

When Yu Wenzhou uttered "firstly," Zhou Zekai had a bad feeling. He subtly shifted his weight back, his back slightly sinking into the chair, his long eyelashes lowered, and his gaze fell on his hands clasped on the table, trying to minimize his presence. Being low-key, quiet, and avoiding being drafted were the core principles of his participation in this meeting.

However, Yu Wenzhou's gaze finally settled steadily on him, and the usual gentle smile on his lips seemed to deepen slightly at this moment: "I think," Yu Wenzhou said unhurriedly, each word clearly striking the "invisibility barrier" that Zhou Zekai was trying to build: "Captain Zhou is very suitable."

Before Zhou Zekai could even refuse, Yu Wenzhou had already given his reasons succinctly, his voice filled with convincing sincerity: "Whether it's the face of the team or the symbol of strength, Captain Zhou is the only choice. Most importantly..." He paused, his smile widening, "Even someone like me who doesn't watch short videos much has had the privilege of seeing Captain Zhou's 'personal works' in my feeds. In terms of experience, he's definitely more experienced than us novices."

"I support it too!" Huang Shaotian, who couldn't contain himself any longer, immediately took over the "speaking seat," speaking at lightning speed as if he had a burst of firepower: "Zhou Zekai! This task is tailor-made for you! What does the league want? Traffic, attention, and breaking into the mainstream! Your face is the best passport! Just stand in the center, you don't even need any lines, the camera will follow you! Although I'm also excellent, handsome, and powerful, thirty seconds isn't enough for me to perform, so you're more suitable. Oh right! I remember! Didn't you post that last time... uh, was it about dancing or drinking coffee? Anyway, it had a really great atmosphere! That shows you have talent! This kind of important publicity task representing the national team can only be done by a talented, experienced, good-looking, and capable young man like you! Don't you guys agree?!"

Huang Shaotian wrote his impromptu essay in one go, giving no one else a chance to interrupt. At the end, he patted Zhang Xinjie on the shoulder, seeking support.

Zhang Xinjie swayed slightly from the camera's lens, adjusted his glasses, and calmly uttered two words: "Seconded."

Wang Jiexi nodded and added calmly, "Captain Zhou, the capable should do more."

Chu Yunxiu rested her chin on one hand, her smile bright, adding fuel to the fire: "Captain Zhou, the important task of saving the national team's image is entrusted to you."

Su Mucheng and the other contestants smiled and nodded or chimed in agreement, filling the meeting room with a cheerful atmosphere and an unspoken understanding that the "important task" was naturally pushed onto others.

Everyone chimed in with their own reasons, some even tinged with a mocking sense of "sacrificing oneself for the country," leaving Zhou Zekai no room to refuse. He opened his mouth, but under the unanimous "eager" gaze of the crowd, he ultimately only let out a sigh, which could be considered tacit consent.

That evening, Zhou Zekai unusually sent a long voice message to Zhao Zhinian complaining. Zhao Zhinian chuckled after listening and pointed out the obvious: "Brother Kai, just admit it. Even if you haven't filmed any videos, you'd probably be the center. The league judges by appearance, and you're the face; it judges by ability, and you're the ace. Although there's Ye Shen, he's so shrewd, he'd definitely use the excuse that he's not a player to avoid it. This center position is written all over you, inside and out. Neither your looks nor your ability allow you to be low-key!"

Zhou Zekai was slightly pleased by the straightforward praise, but the memory of his stiffness in front of the camera during filming immediately dispelled his joy. He gave a sullen "helpless" expression and buried his face in the pillow.

Although his girlfriend thoroughly analyzed the unavoidable reality and comforted him, the unhappiness of being forced to perform didn't completely dissipate. This feeling persisted until the next day, when the short video, which he felt was full of awkwardness and stiffness, was officially released by the alliance's official account.

He glanced at it and quickly swiped away, refusing to revisit it or read the comments. He even messaged Zhao Zhinian, telling her not to look at it either. Zhao Zhinian reluctantly agreed, but could only promise not to actively search for it herself.

After the match ended, Zhou Zekai and his teammates entered the prepared interview room. As soon as they looked up, they saw Zhao Zhinian standing to the side, acting as the translator for the foreign media interviews. Today, she was wearing a white cheongsam, simple and neat, with her long hair elegantly tied up, revealing her smooth forehead and slender neck. She was slightly tilting her head to confirm the details of the upcoming interview with the staff.

Seemingly sensing his gaze, Zhao Zhinian turned her head.

Their eyes met.

The next second, Zhou Zekai clearly saw an undisguised mockery flash in Zhao Zhinian's beautiful eyes. Then, the corners of her mouth began to involuntarily turn upwards—an expression she desperately tried to suppress, but to no avail. She quickly raised her hand to cover her lips, attempting to conceal her smile, but the amusement in her eyes and the crescent-shaped curve of her gaze betrayed her completely.

The scene was almost identical to the reactions of the national team members after the video was filmed yesterday: Yu Wenzhou turned his head and coughed lightly; Huang Shaotian, who had been praising Zhou Zekai and coaxing him to stand in the center position during the process, couldn't directly "mock" him now and his face turned red; finally, Fang Rui slapped the table and laughed out loud first, and even argued righteously: "Little Zhou, I swear to God, we don't usually laugh... unless we can't help it!"

Zhao Zhinian had obviously watched that video! She probably not only watched it, but also repeatedly "appreciated" his focused yet slightly clumsy "unique style" as he stood in the center and tried his best to cooperate with the gestures. So much so that she was still savoring it at this moment, and even her usual professional facial expression management had failed her.

Zhou Zekai: "..."

The air seemed to freeze for a second. He stood there, feeling that urge to bury himself in his pillow that he had felt last night surge back up again, even more intensely.

At that moment, he didn't even have a pillow.

At the inaugural Glory World Invitational Tournament, Zhao Zhinian served as both an interview host and a team translator.

During the event, every time she interviewed Zhou Zekai, the clips would spark heated discussions online. Netizens joked that the way Zhou Zekai looked at her, so gentle and focused, was "exactly the same as how Li Xiang looks at Wang Shiling."

Despite the intense scrutiny, Zhao Zhinian maintained a high level of professionalism in front of the camera. Her questions were precise, her translations fluent, and her demeanor impeccable, leaving no room for criticism.

However, during an interview after a competition ended late one night, when she finished fluently translating a passage, she turned around and met a focused gaze from Zhou Zekai, who was staring intently at her, clearly unaware of what she had just said.

If it were any other contestant, Zhao Zhinian would have prioritized professionalism and patiently repeated the question. But this was Zhou Zekai, her beloved boyfriend, and he had actually spaced out during her interview!

She raised an eyebrow and said, "Didn't you hear what I said?"

Zhou Zekai then came to his senses, his ears turning slightly red, but he still maintained his composure and softly hummed in agreement.

A burst of laughter erupted in the interview area, and the other staff members watched the scene with great interest.

Looking at him like this, Zhao Zhinian chuckled helplessly, "Brother Kai, try to concentrate!"

The video quickly went viral online, with other professional players tagging Zhou Zekai and commenting, "Brother Kai, concentrate!" Netizens also chimed in with jokes: "I declare this the sweetest moment of this World Invitational Tournament!", "Ahhh, Zhi Nian's calling out 'Brother Kai' is so natural!", "What kind of play is this between young lovers!", "Zhao Zhi Nian: Diligently translating; Zhou Zekai: What is my wife babbling about? I want to kiss her!"

The World Invitational Tournament was intense and exciting. Zhao Zhinian, with her fluent foreign language skills and professional expertise, not only handled interviews with the Chinese team but also with players from other regions. Her poised demeanor and accurate translation and hosting attracted considerable attention from overseas Honor of Kings players.

However, no one expected that after an in-depth interview with a star player from a European or American region, this player, known for his enthusiasm and outgoing personality, would directly post a photo of himself with Zhao Zhinian on his personal social media account. The caption was straightforward and passionate, calling Zhao Zhinian his "Eastern Muse" and saying that every time he thought about being interviewed by Zhao Zhinian, he was filled with motivation and felt that he would definitely win the game.

This bold declaration of love was quickly shared back to China by netizens, instantly sparking a heated discussion. The comment section was filled with sarcastic remarks, clearly enjoying the drama.

"@Zhou Zekai, I told you not to make it official! My man is about to be poached!"

"Captain Zhou, how can we tolerate this? We have to win tomorrow! Losing the game is a small matter, but losing our wife's interview rights is a big deal!"

"Haha, is he treating the post-match interview like a date?"

"Zhou Zekai, remember this: if you fail on the field tomorrow, you'll fail in love too!"

After the tactical meeting that evening, Ye Xiu leisurely lit a cigarette, looked at Zhou Zekai who was packing up his peripherals, and said earnestly, "Comrades, the nature of tomorrow's match has changed."

Everyone was taken aback and looked at him with confusion. Su Mucheng immediately understood, smiled, and forwarded screenshots of the player's comments and netizens' comments to the national team's chat group.

Ye Xiu exhaled a smoke ring and said with a smile, "I don't think Xiao Zhou will be satisfied unless we beat them 10-0. Everyone mustn't let Xiao Zhou down tomorrow!"

After seeing this, everyone started teasing Zhou Zekai. Zhou Zekai didn't say anything, but just silently gripped the account card in his hand even tighter.

Seeing his reaction, Ye Xiu nodded in satisfaction and added fuel to the fire: "You have to win tomorrow, otherwise Xiao Zhao will have to interview your love rival."

Fang Rui slapped his thigh, eager to stir up trouble, and chimed in, "Alright! Tomorrow we'll confirm Zhou Zekai's status as the official wife!"

The following day, the match predictably ended in a one-sided affair.

Ye Xiu not only adjusted the routine arrangements to ensure that Zhou Zekai could face off against his "love rival" in the individual competition, but the team's tactical arrangements also clearly showed a tacit understanding of "supporting their own people".

After the match, as Ye Xiu had specially arranged, Zhou Zekai represented the team in an interview, and the person interviewing him was Zhao Zhinian.

While waiting for the interview, Huang Shaotian and Fang Rui flanked Zhou Zekai, pressing him into a chair with malicious smiles on their faces. Huang Shaotian solemnly presented a card covered in dense writing to Zhou Zekai, as if presenting a treasure.

"Zhou Zekai, take a good look! This is the 'Ultimate Perfect Version of the Empress's Declaration,' which Fang Rui and I poured our hearts and souls into, meticulously polished in collaboration with four tactical masters, and finally approved by Mu Cheng and Yun Xiu!" Huang Shaotian pointed at the card, his tone impassioned: "It guarantees that during today's interview, you can not only answer questions with official rigor but also subtly crush that arrogant guy, demonstrating your unshakeable status as the empress!"

Fang Rui nodded vigorously and added, "That's right! Every word has been carefully considered, maintaining elegance while subtly concealing meaning. It's guaranteed to make Chinen feel sweet inside, make the opponent feel sour, and make netizens exclaim that they know what they're talking about! It can also take care of Lao Feng's fragile little heart! So that he can't scold you! Quick, memorize it!"

Zhou Zekai stared at it expressionlessly for a few seconds, then looked up and uttered three words very decisively: "Can't memorize it."

"What?!" Huang Shaotian's eyes widened. "You can't even memorize such a concise and perfect script? How do you remember your skills when you're competing?"

Fang Rui was heartbroken: "Comrade Zhou Zekai! This is the secret to your lifelong happiness! Can't you pay a little more attention to it!"

Zhang Jiale tried to persuade him: "How about... we highlight the key points for you?"

Zhou Zekai pursed his lips and didn't refuse again, but he obviously didn't intend to use it. However, Fang Rui eventually stuffed the card into his pocket.

In the interview area, Zhao Zhinian maintained a professional smile and asked questions according to procedure: "First of all, congratulations to the Chinese team on their victory. Zhou Zekai performed exceptionally well in the individual competition today, quickly ending the match. I would like to ask, given the team's outstanding overall performance today, what special preparations did you make?"

This was originally a routine question, and according to convention, players would usually answer with official statements such as "well prepared before the competition", "executed the coach's and team leader's established tactics", and "teammates cooperated well".

Huang Shaotian and the others, who were peeking through the door in the backstage area, still clung to a sliver of hope. They winked and gave repeated hints, keeping a close eye on Zhou Zekai's hand, hoping he would reach for the "lifesaving card" in his pocket.

However, Zhou Zekai's hands remained firmly at his sides, without budging an inch. After a brief pause, he delivered a stunningly direct attack, completely shattering the meticulous plans of all the tactical masters.

“No.” He first denied the premise of “special preparation,” and then, before anyone could react, gave the shocking reason: “But I don’t want you to interview him.”

"..." After learning about this, Zhao Zhinian specifically messaged Zhou Zekai to explain, emphasizing that her relationship with the contestant was purely professional and they were not acquainted privately. At the time, Zhou Zekai acted very generously and politely, expressing his understanding. Who would have thought that in front of the camera, he would spout such nonsense! Had he caught Sun Xiang's quirks?!

For a moment, the entire interview area fell into an eerie silence, then exploded like cold water being poured into boiling oil! The reporters were stunned at first, then their faces lit up with disbelief and extreme excitement, and the sound of camera shutters went off in a cacophony, even more intense than when the match had just ended!

The backstage area was instantly filled with lamentations. Their carefully prepared cards had ultimately been wasted!

"He's completely hopeless! What's the difference between this and just saying 'I don't want my girlfriend to talk to other people?!'"

"What a waste of all our brain cells!"

"I knew it! Letting him do whatever he wanted was bound to cause trouble! This isn't just being calm; it's like flipping the table!"

"Has any brave soul called to offer their condolences to Lao Feng?"

Shouldn't we offer our condolences to the Reincarnation Manager?

"The reincarnation manager should be used to it by now."

Zhou Zekai proved with his actions that in the face of absolute strength and jealousy, all tricks are meaningless.

One of the most troublesome things between couples is giving gifts.

Besides traditional days like birthdays and Valentine's Day, businesses nowadays seem to want to package every special date as Valentine's Day. From February 14th to Qixi Festival, from "520" and "521" to "Women's Day," it seems that every holiday must be associated with love, and every number hides a consumer code.

Zhao Zhinian is naturally not as well-off as Zhou Zekai in terms of wealth. Although her family is not poor and her income is steadily increasing, the gap is still obvious compared to Zhou Zekai, a top player in the league who holds multiple endorsement contracts.

In the first year they were together, in addition to receiving a bracelet and necklace engraved with the initials of their names, Zhao Zhinian also received a set of expensive jewelry that left her somewhat bewildered on her birthday.

A row of exquisitely packaged velvet gift boxes lay out, containing necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and brooches. The designs were ingenious, and the fire of the gemstones shone brightly under the light, dazzling the eyes.

Although Zhao Zhinian felt it was impolite to search for the value of gifts given by others, the brilliance of that jewelry set was too dazzling, and the design was clearly from a high-end luxury brand, which made her feel inexplicably burdened.

After much hesitation, she couldn't resist and picked out the most "simple"-looking bracelet, then searched for its price online.

The numbers that popped up in the search box made her gasp.

It's really expensive!

This "burden" actually came about as a result of the combined efforts of many parties.

Zhou Zekai hadn't initially planned to give such an expensive gift. He started preparing quietly a month in advance, reading countless online guides and consulting with Fang Minghua, an "experienced" member of the team. In the end, he carefully selected a simple and elegant couple's necklace and bracelet, with the initials of their names engraved on the inside of the bracelet. He felt that this gift was both meaningful and not too extravagant.

However, unfortunately, my mother's internet speed is too fast.

Zhou's mother was not only a loyal fan of the couple, constantly "shipping" them online, but she also personally participated in creating "sweet moments." More than a month before Zhao Zhinian's birthday, she frequently called her son to remind him: "Xiao Kai, don't forget Zhinian's birthday! This is the first time you've given your girlfriend a birthday gift, it's very meaningful!"

When Zhou Zekai sent photos of the gifts he had carefully selected to his mother for "reference," his mother looked at them and uttered two words of dissatisfaction: "Is that all?"

Zhou Zekai tried to explain: He had previously given gifts in Zhao Zhinian's live stream, and he felt that Zhao Zhinian was under some pressure, so he didn't choose anything particularly expensive, and the one he chose wasn't cheap either.

Zhou's mother wouldn't listen and relentlessly tried to "brainwash" him: "Where the money is, there is love! Whether she wants it or not is her business, whether you give it to her or not is your business! Are you short of money? You work hard to earn money so that the people you care about can live better lives, right? Besides, you picked out a matching couple's item, so you'll wear it too. What Zhi Nian receives will only be half the value, won't it? This is the first time you've given her a birthday gift in over twenty years, and it's the first time since we started dating. It's different! This gift represents not only you, but also our whole family's regard for her. Logically speaking, you should make up for all the previous twenty years!"

She paused, then softened her tone: "The necklace you chose is too plain. Chinen is a host; she needs to wear a gown on stage, and sparkling jewelry would look much better... Don't you want to see her standing on stage wearing the jewelry you gave her?"

Actually, Zhou's mother had a thought she didn't voice: her son was quiet and reserved, and when he played a match, he was completely focused. The two of them rarely saw each other, and this was a rare opportunity to give a birthday gift; how could she not make a good "show"?

In her opinion, what woman doesn't like beautiful jewelry? If the gift is expensive and eye-catching, even if Zhi Nian finds her son boring or neglectful of the family in the future, at least she will remember the sentiment and be more tolerant of him.

Zhou Zekai thought about it and realized that his mother's words did make some sense. So he went to choose again, but he was still somewhat hesitant.

Not long after, Zhao Zhinian casually praised the jewelry design sponsored by a certain brand at an event, her tone light and her eyes shining.

Zhou Zekai remembered those words.

So, on Zhao Zhinian's birthday, she received a piece of jewelry from the same collection as the designer she had praised that day, but even more dazzling.

This immediately brought up the "price benchmark" of the gift.

Even though Zhou Zekai later explained that this was "making up for the birthday gifts of the past twenty years," Zhao Zhinian still felt immense pressure. After all, Zhou Zekai had "made up" for her, so shouldn't she do the same?

But by Zhou Zekai's standards, even if she took out all her savings, she wouldn't be able to give him gifts more than a few times.

Looking at her bank account balance, Zhao Zhinian realized for the first time with such clarity the economic gap between them. After agonizing over it for several days, she decided to confront the issue head-on.

During a video call, she earnestly proposed three rules: "Brother Kai, from now on, we won't be allowed to give each other overly expensive gifts for holidays, okay? Ordinary gifts are fine, the sentiment is the most important, but those that are too expensive... will put me under pressure."

Looking at her serious expression, Zhou Zekai nodded: "Okay."

However, for every policy, there's a countermeasure.

Can't give expensive gifts on holidays? Then give gifts on ordinary days.

As a result, Zhao Zhinian began to receive various "daily gifts" frequently... The prices were not particularly expensive, but they added up to a considerable expense.

What made her both amused and exasperated was that while Zhou Zekai did keep his promise during holidays and no longer gave her expensive gifts like jewelry, he would always make up for it with a relatively expensive gift the day after the holiday.

Zhao Zhinian finally couldn't help but ask, "Brother Kai, are you planning to keep me as a sugar daddy? Are you trying to overwhelm me with money?"

Zhou Zekai on the other end of the screen paused for a moment, his ears turning slightly red, but his eyes were very serious: "No."

Zhou Zekai was silent for a while before saying in a low voice, "I don't have time, and I can't do as much as you."

Zhao Zhinian can take time out of her busy schedule to knit a scarf for Zhou Zekai before Valentine's Day, she can stay up all night to make a travel journal for the two of them, and she can plan all the activities for the two of them before each trip... These are all gifts that require a lot of time and thought.

But what about Zhou Zekai? His time is completely filled with training, matches, and business activities. The off-season is already a rare break, and during the season he practically "lives" at the club, spending his time either training or reviewing games. In his mind, since the two of them got together, their relationship has never been as free as that of ordinary couples; it's almost always Zhao Zhinian accommodating his schedule and pace.

For his sake, Zhao Zhinian gradually shifted her work focus from Beijing back to Shanghai. During the off-season, she would turn down some offers and try to stay by his side as much as possible. She would also quietly adjust her own plans during his busy season, without disturbing him, just waiting.

He always felt that he owed her too much of the time they should have spent together.

Giving gifts is easy when you spend money, but difficult when you put thought into it.

The only thing he could offer that could truly quantify his feelings was material gifts and the quietly increasing frequency of his gifts, as if each additional gift could make up for the time he missed.

So, the two people, who both felt indebted to each other, tacitly started to "compete" over gifts: one used price and frequency to fill the void of companionship, while the other used time and ingenuity to make up for the economic gap.

The alliance planned a variety show called "Hi, Captains and Vice-Captains," which perfectly captured the psychology of Honor of Kings fans. Inviting the captains and vice-captains of various teams to gather together, the interactions between the players were inherently entertaining, and the host, Zhao Zhinian, with her professional yet approachable hosting style, effectively connected the entire program.

The officially broadcast episodes are fast-paced, with the team captains divided into different groups to participate in various games and tasks, including tests of teamwork, mental challenges, and physical competitions. The tactical masters on the field reveal completely different sides of themselves under the variety show rules: some display calm and strategic analysis, while others deliver hilarious mishaps, creating a mix of tension and laughs that keeps viewers thoroughly entertained.

However, no one expected that the real "trump card" was not the main feature, but a twenty-minute "uncut behind-the-scenes footage" that the official League account "generously" released a few days later.

What excited everyone the most was the first-ever exposure of Zhao Zhinian and Zhou Zekai's off-stage interactions. Usually, in what resembles Zhao Zhinian's own vlogs, to keep the focus and avoid being accused of using their relationship for publicity, Zhou Zekai's scenes are completely cut out. Even when they appear together, they are mostly in long shots or group shots, so stingy that CP fans can only rely on microscopes and their imaginations to find any sweet moments.

This behind-the-scenes footage is clearly the result of the official team releasing all the "daily life" footage, both those that could and couldn't be shown, just to generate buzz! It feels like the CP fans have successfully "possessed" the official editors.

Before going on stage, Zhao Zhinian noticed that Zhou Zekai's microphone cord was a bit tangled, so she naturally reached out to help him tidy it up. Zhou Zekai cooperated by slightly bending down and looking down, his eyes fixed on her focused profile the entire time.

During a break while waiting to record, the two sat side by side in a corner, their heads almost touching as they looked at the same phone screen. Zhou Zekai raised his hand very naturally and gently took her free hand in his.

During the long equipment setup session, Zhao Zhinian seemed a little bored. She stretched out her index finger and gently poked Zhou Zekai's face, like teasing a small animal. Zhou Zekai didn't flinch; instead, he indulgently tilted his head, offering his other cheek as well. Zhao Zhinian laughed even more happily and casually ruffled his soft hair. Zhou Zekai seemed quite pleased with the ruffle, so he lowered his head and gently rested his forehead on her shoulder. Zhao Zhinian naturally adjusted her position to make him more comfortable, her hand still idly combing through his hair.

The final clip appears to be a scene from after filming has finished. The director yells "Cut!" and a chorus of relaxed exhales and chatter fills the air. The camera pauses, and Zhao Zhinian, with a bright smile, runs from behind to Zhou Zekai, naturally opening her arms to hug him. Only when she catches a glimpse of Jiang Botao, still smiling beside her, does she realize the inappropriateness of the situation. Her cheeks flush slightly, and she quickly releases his arms, somewhat embarrassed.

Previously, even when exchanging glances in formal settings, the two always maintained a polite and "serious" demeanor. The sudden leak of so many intimate interactions in private seems to finally confirm the relationship. However, the comments section is unusually strange, with fans deliberately playing dumb, pretending to have just learned about their relationship, creating a highly ironic scene.

"Hiss~ Does Zhou Zekai like Zhao Zhinian?"

"Why did Captain Zhou act so indecently towards the host?"

"Their eyes are unfocused; something's definitely up."

"It's quite ambiguous; I hope they're not dating anymore."

"Unsure, let me check the dog head image again."

"How could Zhou Zekai do this! He's grabbing people's hands like that. How is Zhi Nian ever going to get married like this!"

"Someone tell Zhao Zhinian to be careful in the future; Zhou Zekai seems to like her."

"Didn't they say Zhao Zhinian was already in a relationship? Oh, our Captain Zhou is late!"

"Yeah! Zhou Zekai, why didn't you say so sooner? Zhi Nian is already in a relationship!"

"Yes, Zhao Zhinian is dating the boy who confessed to her in high school. Although she initially thought his confession was a hacked account, Zhou Zekai was too late."

"Zhou Zekai also has a girlfriend. He confessed his feelings to her in high school, but she mistook it for a hacked account. They broke up for many years but got back together."

"If they're so ambiguous with each other, not even turning their backs to the cameras, how can they be fair to their respective partners?"

"They don't shy away from people in front of the camera at all, I wonder what they're like in private!"

Amidst the chorus of feigning ignorance, some netizens, unwilling to continue the act, ruthlessly exposed the deception:

"What a peculiar comment section! Such 'playing dumb' netizens!"

"Serves you two right for not making it official! Now look what happened, you've driven the fans crazy! Look at this comment section, the fans are practically having a mental breakdown!"

"The authorities won't give them any official recognition, so the fans have to make their own judgments, resulting in a wrongful conviction of 'both cheating'. It's hilarious!"

The reincarnation manager, however, felt somewhat frustrated about this.

Team Samsara had actually prepared the official announcement video well in advance. He personally oversaw everything from the script to the editing, refining it repeatedly. He originally wanted to choose the most appropriate time, preferably when both of their careers were more stable. If they could add another championship trophy, that would be the icing on the cake, enough to give everyone a perfect and beautiful "surprise".

However, man proposes, God disposes.

Unexpectedly, the alliance released this behind-the-scenes footage first, completely disrupting his carefully planned strategy. The momentum he had been building up was stolen, and even if he immediately released the prepared video, most of the attention was diverted.

It felt like having carefully hidden your own fireworks for a long time, only to have the neighbor set them off with a bang before you even had a chance to light them.

What left him speechless was that this "neighbor" who was trying to steal the spotlight was his "boss," so he really couldn't get angry.

As Zhao Zhinian's popularity in the hosting industry continues to rise, a well-known beverage brand keenly sensed the buzz and extended an endorsement invitation to Zhao Zhinian and Zhou Zekai, hoping that they would jointly shoot an advertising short film with the theme of "Youthful Passion, Taste of First Love". The core of the creative script is a story about unrequited love and shy confession on campus.

After a comprehensive evaluation, the Reincarnation team believed that the advertising concept was fresh and wholesome and that the brand image was a good fit, so they took on the job.

For Zhou Zekai, this was a dream come true: he was able to recreate the scene of his failed confession back then under a legitimate name, and he readily agreed almost without hesitation.

Zhao Zhinian, although fully aware that the brand chose her because of the popularity of their relationship, felt that there was nothing wrong with the collaboration itself and that it was not worth turning down money, so she accepted the job.

The advertisement was filmed at a middle school in Shanghai and was shot very beautifully. Several scenes of daily interactions were filmed in one go: an "unintentional" brush of shoulders in the corridor, a brief touch when passing a workbook between fingers, during a break he leans slightly forward, points to an open exercise book and explains in a low voice, while Zhao Zhinian rests her chin on her hand and listens attentively. Occasionally she looks up, her eyes meet and then quickly look away, and the air is filled with a subtle ambiguity and sweetness.

The real climax is the confession scene. Zhou Zekai, dressed in a school uniform, perfectly embodies the image of a shy senior. He plays a boy who has a crush on someone but doesn't dare to speak up. He becomes even more silent because of nervousness. After several attempts to speak, he finally awkwardly and sincerely hands Zhao Zhinian a specially customized drink with the words "I like you" printed on it.

The camera zooms in, giving Zhao Zhinian a close-up. Zhao Zhinian portrays the slight surprise of being suddenly confessed to, which quickly transforms into a gentle, understanding expression. She takes the drink, gives Zhou Zekai a faint smile, and their eyes meet with a tender, youthful ambiguity.

The final product was indeed very good. The interaction between the two in front of the camera was real and natural, perfectly capturing the pure and innocent feelings of love during their school days.

However, after the advertisement was released on various platforms, the comment section went completely off track, staging a grand "collective nostalgia trip":

"Haha, I know! I know about that confession! Was it later mistaken for a hacked account?"

"The advertisement was well-made, but the ending was wrong. According to the real story, Chinen should have first questioned whether the account was hacked, then questioned whether it was really him, and finally just left the country and disappeared! Then they would reunite many years later!"

"The brand understands the meme; wouldn't you say this fulfills Zhou's dream from back then?"

"Is this really an advertisement?? This is clearly a documentary!!"

“Zhou Zekai: This time you're handing me the drink in person, so you can't mistake me for a hacker again, right?”

"The idea of the real person playing the role of 'the unsuccessful confession from back then' is brilliant!"

"I don't believe Zhou Zekai's acting skills; this is absolutely a genuine expression of emotion!"

"I suggest a second episode of the ad, where Zhao Zhinian takes out her phone and texts you asking if your account has been hacked."

"What a massive public execution and dream-fulfilling scene! I can't laugh myself to death!"

Amidst the frenzy of "we're totally shipping them," some netizens had rather peculiar concerns: "Seriously, am I the only one who thinks the scene in the ad where Zhou explains math problems to Chinen is a bit illogical? [doge emoji] I'm not trying to be cynical, but the educational level of our Keio 6 members... let's not even mention it! (No offense to all Keio 6 members, but those who know, know!) The plot is sweet, but isn't the genius character a bit out of character?"

This comment pinpoints a common, unspoken impression within the esports community: professional players reach their prime early, with many joining youth training camps at a young age, inevitably neglecting their academic studies, resulting in very few holding a university degree. The players who dominate on the field may, in private, be "cultural deserts" where even signing autographs and writing messages of blessing to fans can result in typos.

Therefore, the scene of "Zhou Zekai explaining math problems to Zhao Zhinian" seems to many casual viewers and even fans as a romanticized treatment by an advertising creative to create a perfect youthful memory, adding a touch of "dreamlike" color, but also carrying a "floating" feeling that is detached from reality.

This comment, with its sharp criticism and subtle sense of "truth," has sparked a lot of agreement and meme-making among netizens, who say things like, "Sister, you've spoken my mind," "It's just an advertisement, as long as it looks good, there's no need to delve into the logic," "The male lead's knowledge level: Glory is maxed out, but he fails Chinese and Math," "They should just focus on playing Glory; I have someone else to help with the math problems," and "I reasonably suspect the screenwriter is a big fan of the CP (couple pairing) and has crammed in every conceivable romantic element."

Just as the number of likes on that joking comment about "the cultural level of the contestants" was soaring and almost becoming the accepted "truth," a reply from Zhao Zhinian himself appeared below the comment: "Team Leader Zhou's high school math grades were really good. I often asked him for help with some problems. I swear on my honor as the high school math class representative, there is absolutely no fan filter involved!"

Upon seeing her reply, netizens jokingly commented that she was taking the initiative to "protect her husband." Soon after, a seasoned CP fan who was keen on research posted a screenshot of Zhou Zekai winning third prize in a math competition in high school. He said that he had taken the screenshot casually while researching the official websites of the two high schools before they went public with their relationship, and he didn't expect it to come in handy today.

The appearance of this screenshot has completely propelled the discussion about whether the setting is reasonable to its most hilarious peak:

"Hilarious! Real couples are definitely the most adorable; even their problem-solving sessions are like a documentary!"

"This generation of netizens is amazing! They can find everything except a partner!"

"So, Captain Zhou, did you participate in the competition back then because you really liked math, or did you just happen to get a third prize because you enjoyed explaining problems to the math class representative? [doge emoji for protection]"

"What a coincidence! You like math, and she's the math class representative. Let's arrange a marriage!"

"Team Leader Zhou, you don't really like math, you just like the math class representative!"

In Zhao Zhinian's initial impression, Zhou Zekai had some homebody traits: he spent his days surrounded by Glory, his exercise and fitness were entirely supervised by the club, and his greatest pleasure in private was for the two of them, who needed to control their weight, to get together and secretly enjoy delicious food behind their respective "companies'" backs. In addition, he was exceptionally obedient, and the two rarely saw each other. Although they were affectionate when they met, they always kept their feelings within the bounds of propriety. As long as Zhao Zhinian pushed him away slightly or gently told him to stop, he would immediately restrain himself, as obedient as a large dog that had been paused.

Zhou Zekai had already secretly prepared his ideal "wedding home," and he put a lot of thought into the decoration, subtly probing Zhao Zhinian's preferences. However, Zhao Zhinian remained oblivious to Zhou Zekai's hints, always preferring to live in her own home: in her view, they were still in a relationship, and staying in her familiar home was ultimately more comfortable and reassuring.

Zhou Zekai didn't seem to mind at all. If one mountain won't come to me, I'll go to another. Since he had a key to her house and Zhao Zhinian was alone at home, he would take the initiative to visit. Each time he came, he would bring her favorite desserts, watch her favorite variety shows or dramas with her, and remember to take her trash with him before leaving. Even when staying overnight during the off-season, he was extremely respectful, always sleeping properly in the guest room and never crossing the line.

The turning point came during the Qixi Festival (Chinese Valentine's Day) in the off-season. The two had been staying at Zhao Zhinian's house for the past few days. To surprise Zhao Zhinian, Zhou Zekai carefully decorated their future home, prepared a candlelight dinner, and then used the excuse of a leaky roof to "trick" Zhao Zhinian into coming over. The "property management" who notified him of the leak was, of course, Jiang Botao, who had been helping him out for years.

Zhou Zekai's dedication is evident in every detail: bright red roses spelling out words, flickering candlelight arranging hearts, and a complete set of anime-themed blind boxes—the very set Zhao Zhinian had previously mentioned liking. It's said this was the result of collective brainstorming from the "Love Classroom" team, with Zhou Zekai secretly leaving under the guise of an event to personally complete the setup.

After enjoying a cozy dinner, the two snuggled up on the sofa and watched a movie together.

Although the two often snuggled together to watch dramas and movies, Zhao Zhinian soon realized that this new house seemed to control some kind of switch for Zhou Zekai.

At her home, he was still that obedient "good boy" who could be easily stopped; but here, a strange aggression was quietly ignited. What startled her even more was the disparity in strength between men and women: when he leaned down and enveloped her, she truly realized that this man, who always said he "didn't want to work out," actually had such strong and powerful arms.

Zhou Zekai's hands suddenly began to explore restlessly, slowly moving up from the hem of her clothes. Zhao Zhinian's body stiffened abruptly. "Zhou..." The words she tried to say as she tried to stop him were cut off by his kiss, which he pressed down on her lips and kissed her deeply. Only when she couldn't help but bite him lightly did Zhou Zekai pull away slightly, his breath heavy.

Zhao Zhinian was completely sunken into the soft sofa, with nowhere to escape. Zhou Zekai didn't make any further advances, but simply wrapped his arms around her, trapping her between himself and the sofa, looking down at her at extremely close range. In the dim light, his eyes were deep and unfathomable, churning with an emotion she had never seen before, making her heart flutter with unease.

As Zhou Zekai leaned closer again, Zhao Zhinian instinctively raised her hand to block his chest. The next second, his deep, husky voice rang out from above: "Don't be afraid of me."

This person, despite making extremely aggressive moves, spoke in a tone of grievance like a large dog that had just shown its fangs and couldn't help but nuzzle its head against its owner's palm.

Zhao Zhinian pursed her lips and met his gaze: "I'm not afraid of you." She took a deep breath, paused for a moment, and softened her voice, "I was just... taken aback for a moment."

She wasn't afraid, but she suddenly realized that the gentle and obedient Zhou Zekai might only be one side of his personality. He always knew how to show appropriate restraint in different situations. But now, in this space that he considered his private territory, he finally shed all his shells and revealed a more possessive part of himself that he had never shown to anyone before.

Zhou Zekai gently lowered his head and placed a light kiss on her forehead, then affectionately nuzzled her cheek. His voice carried an unprecedented sense of belonging: "This is our home."

After a brief pause, Zhou Zekai suddenly raised his eyes and looked intently into hers: "Let's get married."

"Huh?" Zhao Zhinian blinked in surprise at the sudden turn of events. "Did the topic change so quickly?"

"You don't want to?" His voice suddenly lowered, tinged with nervousness.

"It's not that I'm unwilling, it's just... isn't it a bit early?" Zhao Zhinian hurriedly explained, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of his clothes.

“I’ll be 25 in another year.” He spoke with the seriousness of someone stating a crucial tactical juncture.

"What's wrong with 25? Besides, there's still a year and a half left, okay?"

Zhou Zekai didn't speak, he just stared at her.

Zhao Zhinian tried hard to recall information related to "25", and finally belatedly remembered something.

A while ago, she appeared on a variety show. As her popularity increased, her company occasionally arranged entertainment appearances for her, basically just to show her face and increase her exposure. In that episode, a veteran actress was choosing teammates during a competition segment and mentored a newcomer from her company. When asked why she didn't choose a longtime friend from the industry but instead chose a younger man, she humorously joked, "Because the next segment tests physical strength, and men over 25 are like 60." Her remark drew laughter from the entire audience.

"You didn't watch the latest episode of the variety show, did you?" She suddenly realized, then found it a little funny, and gently pinched his cheek to comfort him: "Those were just for the show, just kidding."

“You nodded in agreement.” Zhou Zekai’s tone was stubborn and obstinate.

Zhao Zhinian tried hard to recall, and she seemed to have indeed nodded and laughed along with everyone else. She couldn't help but chuckle, "Who gets married just to be 25?"

Zhou Zekai shook his head and explained, his eyes filled with a pure and captivating look: "It's because I like you."

"Okay, okay, I'll agree!" Zhao Zhinian agreed with a smile, then changed the subject and used the all-powerful delaying tactic: "When we're both free."

As soon as she finished speaking, she received a pitiful look from Zhou Zekai. Those usually beautiful and clear eyes were now filled with the message, "You're just giving me the runaround."

Zhao Zhinian was at her wits' end with his demeanor. To this day, she still felt that she usually indulged Zhou Zekai because she had fallen for his honey trap. Helpless, she could only deliberately divert his attention: "The main contradiction at 25 years old... isn't actually marriage, is it?"

Zhao Zhinian could only wrap her arms around his neck and whisper in his ear, her tone full of indulgence: "From now on... just say you want to take me home, no need to make excuses anymore."

Zhou Zekai understood her unspoken meaning, his ears burning slightly, but he still stubbornly insisted: "Then... at least... let's get the marriage certificate first."

Zhao Zhinian and Zhou Zekai's wedding was nothing short of an unofficial "all-star extravaganza" in the Glory esports scene. Judging from the seating chart leaked online, it was practically a disguised All-Star Weekend dinner: team managers, players, and official commentators all gathered together. Netizens joked, "The audience could form teams and compete on the spot, and the bride could immediately start hosting post-match interviews on stage; it's just that the groom might not be very good at public speaking."

When arranging the wedding procession, the Yizhan team was specially assigned to stand guard on the bride's side as the bride's family, while the Samsara team members naturally accompanied Zhou Zekai to pick up the bride.

On the eve of the wedding, the most nervous people were not the newlyweds, but the Yizhan esports team, who were entrusted with the important task of being the bride's family. Lin Shuang, who was both a bridesmaid and one of the key planners of the wedding procession, gathered all the members of Yizhan in her hotel suite and held a serious "pre-battle meeting": "There is an important part of tomorrow's wedding procession. We have prepared computers and account cards to conduct a Glory solo match on the spot."

Upon hearing this, the members of Yi Zhan exchanged bewildered glances, involuntarily recalling that "unforgettable" past: their very first match in the league was against Samsara, where they suffered a crushing 0-10 defeat. Before the match, Samsara members had even come to Yi Zhan's rest room, feigning a visit but actually looking for Zhao Zhinian. And tomorrow, Zhao Zhinian really would be taken away by Samsara—wasn't that a kind of destiny?

Thinking of the matches he had lost in the past, Wen Kebei immediately became excited and slammed his fist on the table, shouting, "Alright! This time I'm determined to avenge my defeat! I'll be the first one on the court tomorrow, and I guarantee a winning start!"

"Win what win!" Lin Shuang slapped him on the back: "If you win, how will Zhou Zekai take Zhi Nian away? Use your brain!"

Lin Shuang said earnestly, "Why did we, Yizhan, come to guard the pass? Of course, it's to lose! But we have to lose naturally, lose spectacularly, and lose in a way that allows the groom to both demonstrate his strength and take the bride away legitimately! If we really wanted to win, I would have called Tiny Herb long ago. Captain Wang might actually be able to stop Zhou Zekai!"

Lou Guanning couldn't help but chuckle, "Lin Shuang is right, this is Chinen's wedding, we need to be careful."

Wen Kebei suddenly realized, scratching his head and saying, "So we're going to put on a show of 'fighting with all our might, and still being glorious in defeat'?"

“If you were fighting Zhou Zekai, you probably wouldn’t need to act.” Sun Zheping, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke up, as straightforward as ever.

"Ah! Brother Sun, you bad guy!" Wen Kebei instantly understood that this meant he was not strong enough, and immediately wailed, which drew laughter from everyone.

The following day, as Zhou Zekai was being escorted by the Samsara Team to the "Glory Checkpoint" set up by Yi Zhan, the wedding procession proceeded. As expected, Wen Kebei was the first to step forward.

His fingers flew across the screen, unleashing a deluge of character skills that rained down like festive fireworks. He roamed the arena, meticulously aligning his skills with the Battle Mage's special effects. The deliberately elaborate spectacle was reminiscent of Zhang Jiale's "Hundred Flowers" style of play, so dazzling that it obscured the health bars.

After a fierce battle, Wen Kebei finally suffered a regrettable defeat. He took off his headphones, his face filled with resentment and admiration, demonstrating remarkable acting skills.

Jiang Botao, his shoulders trembling slightly from suppressing a laugh behind Zhou Zekai, leaned close to Fang Minghua and whispered, "Wen Kebei played very freely today! It was quite artistically captivating!"

Fang Minghua cleared his throat, suppressing a smile as he nodded: "It's a real pity that Yi Zhan, with his acting skills, isn't developing a career in film and television."

Zhou Zekai glanced at the faces of the Yizhan members, who were trying hard to suppress their smiles, and nodded earnestly: "Thank you."

The door opened slightly, and he finally saw Zhao Zhinian wearing a wedding dress.

She turned to look at me, a glimmer of light in her eyes. In that instant when our eyes met, the surrounding noise seemed to vanish. All the waiting and twists and turns of the past melted into a gentle hue in that single glance.

And glory, the bond that brought them together, made them understand each other, and ultimately connected them tightly, will continue to silently witness the future they walk hand in hand toward.

After their marriage, Richard Chow made a rare appearance on a slow-paced variety show focusing on the "daily life of celebrities at home." The production team was granted permission to film at their home in Shanghai, which undoubtedly made countless fans and viewers eagerly anticipate the event.

When the camera panned across the spacious walk-in closet, viewers were surprised to find it almost entirely filled with Zhao Zhinian's clothes. High heels and various accessories were displayed in layers along the wall, a dazzling array; while the hanging and folding areas were overflowing with clothing. As a host, clothes are naturally a necessity for her work: from elegant Hanfu and exquisite formal wear to casual clothes, and even cosplay costumes of various game characters…

In stark contrast to this bustling scene is Zhou Zekai's own little corner. His clothing area is remarkably "minimalist," with only casual clothes and several neatly hung team uniforms—some from the national team, others from the FIFA team—silently telling the story of his career trajectory.

However, sharp-eyed viewers immediately noticed an unexpected detail: next to these familiar team uniforms, there were quite a few well-tailored suits hanging quietly.

This discovery immediately sparked heated discussions among netizens: "I've never seen Captain Zhou wear a suit before?", "When would he ever need to wear a suit?", "Isn't the team uniform a semi-permanent feature for Captain Zhou?", "I really want to see Zhou Zekai in a suit!"

Many people were amazed by Zhao Zhinian's enormous wardrobe, jokingly saying that Zhou Zekai had "brought Barbie home," enjoying a daily fashion show without leaving the house.

However, real life off-camera is quite different from what people imagine.

Away from her celebrity status, Zhao Zhinian rarely touches the glamorous clothes and jewelry she uses for work when she's at home.

More than dressing herself up, her real pleasure lies in buying new clothes for Zhou Zekai. Especially when she sees a well-tailored and well-designed suit, she can't help but imagine what he would look like wearing it. Then, she often ends up with several shopping bags printed with brand logos.

"Give it a try," she would always say with a smile, pushing the gift box containing the suit in front of Zhou Zekai, her tone carrying an undeniable expectation and a touch of coquetry.

Although Zhou Zekai was a little embarrassed, he would always obediently accept the suit she chose, carefully put it on, let her straighten his collar and adjust his cuffs, and then stand in a cooperative manner so that she could take pictures of him from various angles with her phone.

After all, it was Zhou Zekai himself who promised back then that he could wear a suit and only show it to her.

Of course, Zhou Zekai's shyness didn't last long. This man, who could see through everything and control the overall situation on the field, quickly regained the initiative in this private "fashion game".

Wearing it is certainly possible. But the prerequisite is that Zhao Zhinian personally "assisted" him, taking off his clothes one by one and then putting on new ones.

This habit started when they first began living together. At first, it was just an occasional surprise, but it gradually became a tacit little pleasure between them.

Zhao Zhinian's phone album contains an encrypted folder full of photos of Zhou Zekai in various suits: some with a tie and looking serious, some with his collar unbuttoned and leaning lazily on the sofa, and even a few of him just woke up and was pulled up to try on new clothes, his hair slightly messy and his eyes dazed.

It wasn't until backstage at one All-Star Weekend that Zhao Zhinian was looking down at her messages when Chu Yunxiu, who had sharp eyes, inadvertently caught a glimpse of her phone's screen saver. It was a photo that had never been made public before: Zhou Zekai was wearing a black three-piece suit, leaning against the door of his study. His profile was clearly defined in the warm light, and he was looking at the camera with gentle eyes. After Zhao Zhinian's embellishment of his expression, he exuded an elegant temperament that was completely different from that on the court.

"My God!" Chu Yunxiu couldn't help but exclaim, "Zhou Zekai is like this at home?!"

The sound attracted the attention of others around. Su Mucheng came closer and was stunned: "This is... Zhou Zekai? I didn't expect him to dress like this at home!"

Zhao Zhinian quickly put her phone away and explained somewhat embarrassedly, "Well, it's just... occasionally when he's home, he'll try on the clothes I buy."

Chu Yunxiu raised an eyebrow: "That suit fits me like it was tailor-made. You must have bought more than just this one, right? Quick! Show us the other photos! Although your husband is yours alone, handsome men are the common wealth of the entire alliance... no, of all humanity! It's wrong to keep them to yourself!"

After several minutes of persistent pleading and enticing from Su Mucheng and Chu Yunxiu, coupled with the tempting offer of photos from other players in the league, Zhao Zhinian finally wavered. However, she still maintained her respect for Zhou Zekai, whispering "Wait for me," and then, like a thief cat, slipped away to Zhou Zekai, who was quietly listening to Jiang Botao speak nearby.

She tiptoed and whispered a few words quickly in his ear, her eyes filled with inquiry and a hint of shy coquetry. Zhou Zekai listened without any change in expression. He was silent for two seconds, his gaze sweeping over his two friends not far away, whose faces were full of "expectation," before returning to Zhao Zhinian's bright eyes. Finally, he nodded and reached out to tidy up a stray strand of hair at her temple.

Having received "official permission," Zhao Zhinian felt much more confident. Upon returning, she cautiously looked around to make sure no one else was near before carefully taking out her phone again and opening the encrypted folder in her photo album. Su Mucheng and Chu Yunxiu were immediately stunned by the dazzling array of "Zhou Zekai Suit Special" photos inside.

"This one! This one is amazing!" Chu Yunxiu pointed to a photo of Zhou Zekai wearing a dark blue deep-V suit and gold-rimmed glasses: "If this is released, the fans will go crazy, right? Do you believe that the League's ticket sales will double again? All the merchandise for the Samsara team will have to be turned into suit photo albums!"

Su Mucheng started to let her imagination run wild, imagining what other players would look like in suits: "I think Yu Wenzhou would look pretty good in a suit. I've seen Ye Xiu in a suit, but he looks too casual in it..."

"Don't you guys think Captain Han actually suits suits quite well? Captain Han's serious and powerful aura, wearing a classic black suit, standing there with a serious expression... wow, he's totally the Godfather! He gives off a boss vibe!"

"What about Captain Wang? The added mystery might require a special design. Tiny Herb wearing green?"

"Zhang Xinjie should also look good in a suit, the kind that's meticulous in every detail."

"As for Fang Rui..." Chu Yunxiu exchanged a glance with Su Mucheng and concluded, "He'll probably make any suit look like it's 'borrowed and about to participate in a comedy variety show'!"

The lively "League of Legends Male God Suit ...

Soon, the news that "Zhou Zekai is actually a suit enthusiast at home, and Zhao Zhinian has a private photo album that he never shares with anyone" spread like wildfire among the contestants' small circle.

Of course, the versions circulating are varied, and the details have been "artistically embellished" through word of mouth: some say the album contains thousands of photos, categorized like a fashion magazine; some say Zhou Zekai's style in the photos is diverse, ranging from ascetic to languid; there are even outrageous rumors that there are photos of him wearing cat ears or an apron, which was later firmly refuted by "insider" Chu Yunxiu: "No! Don't spread rumors!"

Only Chu Yunxiu and Su Mucheng were fortunate enough to see the photo album in the entire league. The "price" they paid for it was quite considerable. They handed over "historical images" of many league players that they had treasured on their phones for many years, commonly known as: ugly photos.

For the vast majority of contestants, the legendary encrypted photo album remained a mystery, known only by name and never seen in person. The only widely recognized and repeatedly "witnessed" evidence was Zhao Zhinian's phone wallpaper.

People from all walks of life went to great lengths to repeatedly verify the wallpaper, as if witnessing it with their own eyes would be equivalent to touching a corner of the legend. But this fleeting glimpse did not satisfy everyone's curiosity; instead, it ignited an even more intense and endless imagination about that photo album.

When Jiang Botao heard the news, he suddenly realized: "When I saw the row of suits hanging in the captain's dressing room before, I thought they were just brand sponsorships and were just for display... Turns out he really knows how to dress!"

After hearing the embellished version in the group, Fang Rui made a concise summary: "So, Zhou Zekai's daily routine at home is to wear various suits for his wife to admire and take pictures of? To please his wife? Well done, Zhou Zekai! I didn't expect you to be so promiscuous in private! You really can't judge a book by its cover! I won't watch the first Alliance Male Model Competition without you!"

The contestants shared their thoughts and imagined scenarios amidst a flurry of shocking comments, and somehow the news spread online. Combined with the fleeting glimpse of Zhao Zhinian's dressing room in a previous variety show, fans' curiosity was completely ignited, and everyone wanted to see Zhao Zhinian's phone photo album.

"So this is what Zhou Zekai is like in private?!"

"I thought Chinen was Zhou's personal cosplayer, but it turns out Zhou is Chinen's personal suit model!"

"What an adorable contrast! Dominating on the field, but obediently working as a suit model at home!"

"I suggest that Samsara change their team uniforms to suits next season, I guarantee I'll buy them all!"

"Chinen, please let me see your phone's photo album! I'd trade ten years of being single for just one look at your photos!"

"Is there anyone who wants to steal Zhao Zhinian's phone?!"

"Wait a minute, is the script upside down? I thought Chinen was the one who changed clothes at home every day, but it turns out it's Captain Zhou!"

On the surface: He married a Barbie princess. In reality: He is a real-life version of Miracle Nikki.

"I understand, we can't even imagine how happy Sister Nian is!"

As the league becomes increasingly commercialized, arranging for professional makeup artists to do the makeup and styling of the players before the competition has become a routine procedure. However, in this predominantly male circle, most players are not enthusiastic about it. Female players are more cooperative, and occasionally they will share photos of their favorite looks; male players, on the other hand, are mostly uninterested, only seeking a simplified process, and their cooperation is already a challenge, especially since some players who are not particular about details can't even guarantee that they will wash their hair before the competition.

Zhou Zekai was an exception among this group.

Although Zhou Zekai himself didn't quite understand these things, due to his numerous commercial endorsements, the Samsara Club had long considered his image management an important aspect. In addition, Zhao Zhinian, as a host, was relatively proficient in skincare and makeup due to her profession, and naturally, she had some influence on him through her daily exposure.

Unlike Zhou Zekai, who completely entrusts his makeup to a makeup artist, Zhao Zhinian's dressing table is practically a private aesthetic museum. When Zhou Zekai first seriously examined that dazzling "battlefield," he was quite shocked by its cultural impact.

His initial understanding was limited to the rudimentary stage of "identifying whether someone is wearing makeup by looking at whether they are wearing lipstick." When he was being made up, he only felt that his face was being coated with many different products. It was only after Zhao Zhinian's patient explanation that he truly stepped into this new world: eyeliner, blush, highlighter, and contouring were already quite complex, but what shocked him the most was discovering that her kit even included something like "hairline serum."

"There are many inventions in hair." He couldn't help but wonder.

Zhao Zhinian just smiled and shook his head, saying he didn't understand: "Sometimes the soul of a perfect makeup look is just missing that little bit of a natural hairline."

After a business event, Zhou Zekai experienced facial discomfort after using the cosmetics provided on-site. His face became dry, flaky, and itchy, and he didn't know if it was due to an allergic reaction to the ingredients or the poor quality of the product. Upon learning this, Zhao Zhinian quietly took over the responsibility of providing him with all his personal care products.

Zhao Zhinian carefully studied his skin type and, based on her own experience, prepared a complete set of skincare products for him. Each bottle and jar was labeled with a handwritten label, clearly indicating the order of use, method, and precautions. To prevent another allergic reaction, she also specially prepared a portable makeup bag, containing the base products she had personally tested and found effective, as well as some basic cosmetics, along with an instruction card, reminding him to carry it with him on occasions where he needed to wear makeup.

Zhao Zhinian was intently writing at her desk, marking the precautions for each of Zhou Zekai's skincare products. She was so absorbed in her writing that she completely ignored the increasingly restless little movements of the person beside her.

Perhaps to appease him, she finally raised her head, leaned in perfunctorily, and lightly kissed Zhou Zekai's lips. But just as she was about to pull away, Zhou Zekai's restless hand clung to her again. She raised her hand and lightly slapped away the mischievous hand, then glared at him reproachfully.

Seeing her so focused on arranging those bottles and jars, Zhou Zekai remained silent for a long time before finally unable to hold back and asking the question that had been lingering in his mind for so long: "Do you only care about my face?"

Ever since he developed an allergic reaction on his face, she has been paying extra attention to it. She has repeatedly forced him to do skincare for her at the vanity, and she has also held his face and examined it carefully, muttering to herself, "I must not ruin his face."

Both of them are busy with work and don't have much time to spend at home together. Although he knows that Zhao Zhinian is worried about him, they will be separated tomorrow afternoon. Why should these bottles and jars occupy all of her attention?

Isn't he himself far more important than these things? Right now, there are clearly more important things worth "wasting" their time on.

Zhao Zhinian's thoughts were interrupted several times, and she felt that Zhou Zekai was particularly clingy tonight. Upon hearing this, she looked up at him and deliberately said, "Yes, I am a shallow woman, greedy for money and lustful."

Zhou Zekai smiled upon hearing this, but his warm hand covered her wrist, the one not holding the pen, without warning. He gently guided her palm to his chest, leaned closer, and said with a hint of guidance, "Chinen... you're lustful... you can't just look at a face."

Zhao Zhinian instantly understood his unspoken meaning. She looked up at Zhou Zekai, whose gaze was intense, and blushed. She glared at him, both ashamed and angry, and tried to pull her hand back, but Zhou Zekai gripped it with even more force, making her unable to move.

Men have one appearance before being together, but after being together, they reveal a completely different, innate "appearance".

After all that fuss, Zhao Zhinian finally managed to finish her task while dealing with his "harassment." Zhou Zekai watched resentfully from the side, feeling that these trivial matters had stolen the time that was rightfully his.

Zhao Zhinian's thoughtful gesture deeply moved the Samsara manager, who exclaimed, "It's good to be married; you're so considerate!" In his view, this was not only taking care of Zhou Zekai personally, but also carefully maintaining the "face" of their Samsara team and even the entire league.

Although Zhou Zekai didn't care much about these things, he really wanted to show off Zhao Zhinian's thoughtfulness.

So, with his intentional or unintentional hints, the makeup artists and players in the league soon learned that Zhou Zekai's makeup products were complete and easy to use, specially prepared by his "family" for his personal needs, and there were also specially written heartwarming tips, which attracted many professional players to come and see.

However, when someone occasionally borrows it, he will imply with a pitiful look that it was specially prepared for him by Chinen, and that it might not be suitable for other people's skin types.

This incident was originally just an amusing anecdote within the Honor of Kings community, until a makeup artist from the League of Legends was invited to participate in the filming of a friend's (another game host's) personal vlog. In the vlog, the makeup artist shared some interesting stories from her work.

In the video, she scored the contestants' makeup coordination. When talking about Zhou Zekai, she said he was the most special one: "He's one of a kind in the entire league. Not only is he handsome, but he also brings his own skincare and makeup products. Even the female contestants aren't as meticulous as him. And his makeup bag even has detailed skincare instructions and precautions for Captain Zhou." She then added with a smile: "Of course, Captain Zhou himself doesn't know these things. They were all prepared by 'others.' Who are these 'others'... well, those who know, know."

As soon as the vlog was released, the comment section was instantly flooded with fans who "decoded" it. Everyone tagged Zhao Zhinian and Zhou Zekai, and in unison spammed the tacit message: "Those who know, know!"

Since the two confirmed their relationship, the drama of "jealousy and bringing up old grievances" has hardly appeared in their love story.

Zhou Zekai's work environment already had very few women, and coupled with his reticent demeanor of simply smiling and nodding to others, he almost never gave anyone a chance for in-depth conversation. On the other hand, Zhao Zhinian, although she came into contact with many men at work, always maintained a perfect sense of propriety.

As for netizens' random pairing of the two, Zhou Zekai might have been somewhat bothered before their relationship was confirmed; however, after it was confirmed, under the powerful "gossip radar" of netizens, their names were already inextricably linked. Zhou Zekai didn't even need to actively investigate; at the slightest hint of trouble, someone would tag him to "tip him in," posting his memes in the comments section, nipping any potential instability in the bud.

When the high school sent an invitation to its anniversary celebration, the school extended invitations to alumni. Although Zhou Zekai was the most well-known among his classmates, he only received a symbolic invitation due to the nature of his profession and his busy schedule.

The considerations behind this are quite complex: First, the e-sports industry he's in is rather unique. Truly gifted children are extremely rare, but influenced by success stories, many impulsively believe they are exceptionally talented and want to drop out of school to dedicate themselves to youth training. Second, the school planned to arrange alumni performances, and it wouldn't be appropriate for Zhou Zekai to carry his computer onto stage to demonstrate his Honor of Kings skills. Third, there's a more subtle reason: according to gossip circulating online, Zhou Zekai confessed his feelings to his high school classmate Zhao Zhinian, but was rejected. In a school environment focused on academics, this is inevitably seen as a negative example of "attempting early romance."

In contrast, Zhao Zhinian, the other protagonist, is a more suitable candidate. Although she dabbles in other fields, her primary profession is esports hosting, commentary, and translation. With the growing influence of the Glory League and her public connection with Zhou Zekai, she enjoys high popularity among students. More importantly, she possesses a certain level of artistic talent, perfectly meeting the performance requirements for the school anniversary stage.

After weighing the options, the school made a decision: to invite Zhao Zhinian as an alumni representative to participate in a choral performance at the celebration.

After confirming there were no work conflicts, Zhao Zhinian gladly accepted the invitation. Deep down, she also harbored a personal expectation: she wanted to return to her alma mater, which held the memories of her youth, and try to rediscover fragments of memories about Zhou Zekai from the dusty past.

Upon returning to school, she was greeted by Zhang Pei, her former high school sports committee member. After graduating from the sports academy, he returned to his alma mater to become a physical education teacher, thus maintaining a long-term connection with the school.

The gossip and archaeology craze sparked by Zhou Zekai and Zhao Zhinian naturally led his students to discover the young teacher's close relationship with the two. Because of their close bond, the students approached him without hesitation to inquire about the details.

However, they couldn't get any information from their beloved teacher, Mr. Zhang.

It wasn't that he intentionally kept it a secret, but rather that he had confessed his feelings to Zhao Zhinian back in high school and received a clear rejection. Therefore, when he witnessed this major revelation about "old classmates" spanning many years, his feelings were inevitably somewhat complicated, and he was reluctant to mention it. After all, it was a similar story of youth, but it was someone else's story that had reached a happy ending.

The school anniversary celebrations ended early, and Zhang Pei, as an old classmate and host, led Zhao Zhinian on a stroll around the campus. Although time had passed, Zhao Zhinian still felt a little uncomfortable facing this old classmate who had once confessed his feelings to her, especially since Zhang Pei's gaze was quite obvious. So, Zhang Pei did most of the talking, and she only occasionally chimed in with a few words.

As I passed by the bulletin board, I saw that Zhou Zekai's name and hers were listed side by side on the "Notable Alumni" display board because they were from the same year and worked in similar industries: one was a well-known e-sports player, and the other was a well-known e-sports host.

Zhao Zhinian subconsciously took out her phone, took a picture of the two names side by side, and sent it to Zhou Zekai, who was unable to attend today.

Zhang Pei watched silently from the side, without uttering a word, a faint hint of embarrassment flashing across his face.

At the alumni dinner that evening, Zhao Zhinian didn't want to stay long. Seeing that the table was starting to encourage drinking, she made an excuse to leave early. Zhang Pei quickly followed her out, insisting on seeing her off.

In fact, Zhou Zekai would arrive in a while, but she didn't want to stay at the dinner table any longer, so she could only wait. Therefore, the two stood on the roadside, speechless for a moment.

Silence lingered in the night for a moment before Zhang Pei finally made conversation: "You and Zhou Zekai... are doing well?" He finally asked the question he cared about most.

Zhao Zhinian was taken aback, and replied awkwardly, "Yeah, it's fine."

He smiled, his tone tinged with regret and helplessness: "Back then, when your rumors spread online, many people came to ask me about it. I never expected that you two would meet again after all these years, and both of you would be in the e-sports industry... It's really fate."

“Yes,” Zhao Zhinian smiled in response, “It really is fate.”

The awkward atmosphere was finally dispelled when Zhou Zekai's car headlights pierced the night and slowly pulled up to the side of the road. Zhang Pei politely said, "Let's get together again sometime." Zhou Zekai nodded slightly from the driver's seat, but he keenly sensed the awkwardness between the two and Zhang Pei's gaze.

On the way back, Zhao Zhinian enthusiastically shared her observations of the day with him: "The row of sycamore trees at school is much more lush than before," "The lawn on the playground doesn't seem as lush as it was back then," "Our names are right next to each other on the bulletin board"...

Because he was driving and had something on his mind, Zhou Zekai only responded occasionally.

When they got home, the warm yellow entryway light had just come on, and Zhao Zhinian was about to turn around to change her clothes when Zhou Zekai gently grabbed her wrist.

"The way Zhang Pei looked at you..." This question lingered in his mind the whole way.

"Huh? What kind of look is that?" Zhao Zhinian subconsciously turned around and met his deep gaze.

Zhou Zekai cut to the chase: "You're in an awkward situation."

He was all too familiar with every subtle change in her demeanor.

Zhao Zhinian was taken aback, not expecting him to be so observant. "Hmm..." She hesitated for a moment, then decided to be honest, "I haven't mentioned it before, but he confessed to me in high school... Of course, I didn't mention it before not because I was deliberately hiding it, but because it was all in the past, and I thought we would never see each other again, so I felt a little awkward meeting him today."

"Oh." Zhou Zekai's voice was muffled, as if he was lost in thought.

"I refused on the spot!" Zhao Zhinian immediately added, as if to take credit, gently tugging at his clothes to try to soothe his emotions.

"Oh." Zhou Zekai still couldn't muster any interest, his profile looking somewhat taut under the light.

He didn't want to dwell on the past, but what frightened him even more was that he suddenly glimpsed another possibility: what if the two of them didn't reunite.

“I told him I rejected him!” she emphasized again, gently shaking his arm.

Zhou Zekai gazed at her quietly under the warm yellow light in the entryway, his tone carrying a rare hint of grievance: "In high school... I didn't even receive a rejection."

Zhao Zhinian immediately understood the crux of his lingering resentment: the confession he had received years ago, which had been mistaken for a hacked account and never received a response. She understood immediately and quickly stepped forward, racking her brains to "argue" his feelings: "You don't understand, do you? A direct rejection means there's absolutely no chance, it's 0%; but no response means the outcome is still undecided, it's 50%, and there are endless possibilities in the future!"

"That's just sophistry," he said softly, his eyes softening.

“That makes perfect sense!” Zhao Zhinian took the opportunity to wrap her arms around his waist, looked up at him with a determined look in her eyes: “Look, didn’t we just rekindle that 50% of our fate by reuniting and make it 100%?”

These words finally brought a faint smile to Zhou Zekai's eyes. He lowered his head and touched her forehead, his voice deep and gentle: "100%?"

“Of course!” Zhao Zhinian tiptoed and gently kissed his lips: “Now, and in the future, it’s all 100%.”

-----------------------

Author's Note: The extra chapters are finished, and the story is nearing its end. Thank you all for your support! See you in the next chapter!

Continue read on readnovelmtl.com

Chapter 64 Extra Extra Extra 01~10

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