Chapter 62 These past two months, Zhao Zhinian has been dealing with all sorts of things…
Over the past two months, Zhao Zhinian has had a lot of miscellaneous tasks, plus the added "shackle" of live streaming hours, but she has always prioritized her offline hosting work for the Glory Challenge. After all, only with a solid foundation in her main profession can she go further.
Therefore, even during her rare, brief encounter with Zhou Zekai, she was engrossed in preparing interview questions for the Glory players. Zhou Zekai wanted to help, but it was clearly a bit of a stretch for him: asking someone known for his incredibly precise and meticulous interviewing skills to review whether Zhao Zhinian's painstakingly crafted questions were "appropriate"...
If other hosts or reporters knew about this, they would probably be collectively shocked: the usually taciturn Zhou was actually helping his girlfriend meticulously review interview scripts in private. Compared to his usual "uh-huh," "ah," and "okay" manner during interviews, they would definitely ask: are we not worthy?
Through the accumulation of details over time, the relationship between the two was gradually "confirmed" by fans, becoming a "secret" that, although not officially announced, was widely known.
The most striking thing is the unwritten rule in Zhao Zhinian's live stream. Every time Zhao Zhinian is about to end her broadcast, as long as there are no matches in the game, Zhou Zekai will always appear on time, like a quiet period. Zhou Zekai's account will appear at the top of the live stream, and Zhao Zhinian will smile and wave to the camera and say goodnight. The screen will then go dark. This has almost become a tacitly understood routine for fans.
While they maintain proper decorum and avoid suspicion in formal settings, everything is normal in the online world. They like and comment without hesitation, interacting freely and relaxedly. In the past, it was mostly Zhou Zekai who appeared unilaterally in Zhao Zhinian's comment section, but now when Zhao Zhinian occasionally sees posts related to him, she will naturally like and comment. Their back-and-forth exchanges are full of familiar closeness, completely disregarding the teasing from netizens.
Over time, more and more details leaked from Honor's internal staff, occasionally interspersed with a few candid photos taken from a "passerby's perspective," each of which became "solid evidence" that netizens tacitly agreed upon.
Even after that away game against Royal Wind, there was an even more vivid "Reuters" report.
That evening, a fan who had traveled from out of town to Beijing specifically to watch the game had a delightful surprise encounter with Zhou Zekai while dining at a restaurant near the stadium. At that moment, Zhao Zhinian had gone to the restroom, and Zhou Zekai, wearing a mask, was sitting alone in a corner by the window, where he was quickly recognized by her sharp eyes.
She took a deep breath, mustered her courage, stepped forward, and quietly explained that she was a fan who had come specifically to watch the match, expressing her love and support for Samsara. She then handed over the Samsara team banner and pen she had prepared and asked for an autograph.
Although Zhou Zekai is not a man of many words, he is always patient with his fans. He nodded, took the pen, and neatly signed his name on the banner.
After signing the autograph, she hesitated for a moment, then tentatively asked if she could take a photo with him. She knew Zhou Zekai's personality; he rarely took photos alone with fans, so this request might be a bit abrupt.
Unexpectedly, as soon as she finished speaking, she saw Zhou Zekai's eyes suddenly light up, and his gaze went past her to look behind her.
Before she could react to the meaning behind that change in expression, a gentle, smiling female voice came from behind her: "Want to take a photo? I'll take it for you."
She turned around and froze instantly: It was Zhao Zhinian!
Countless thoughts exploded in her mind: the rumors online were true! Captain Zhou is really in love!
She couldn't help but secretly observe the two: standing together, they were indeed a good match. She wanted to say "a perfect couple," but then she thought about Zhou Zekai's educational background and compared it with Zhao Zhinian's fluent English. When she first learned about Zhou's rumored relationship, she also looked into Zhao Zhinian and had seen her bilingual interviews and translations on StarCraft... Although Zhou's Glory skills were top-notch, the e-sports circle was truly a low point in terms of academic qualifications. In terms of "talent" in the conventional sense, it seemed that Zhao Zhinian was still superior.
As Zhao Zhinian naturally took her phone, she couldn't help but feel excited: having her idol's girlfriend take pictures of her and her idol—this experience was probably one of a kind!
Zhao Zhinian even jokingly reminded Zhou Zekai, "Brother Kai, take off your mask. Stand up, the light is better here." Zhou Zekai obediently cooperated, and although his expression remained calm, his eyes softened considerably. Zhao Zhinian patiently took several photos of her, letting her choose the ones she wanted. The composition and lighting were just right, and Zhao Zhinian made her look exceptionally beautiful.
As she took the phone, the young woman gazed at Zhao Zhinian's bright, smiling eyes, and her heart stirred once more: she really was a complete sucker for good looks! While Zhou Zekai's talent was undoubtedly the primary attraction, his impeccable face played a significant role; now, facing Zhao Zhinian's vivid and radiant face up close, she felt her heart skip a beat again: beauty is a curse! Sorry, Captain Zhou, I also like beautiful women!
Suppressing her excitement, she sincerely thanked them and offered her blessings to the two of them, then tactfully refrained from disturbing them further. Zhou Zekai stood quietly to the side the whole time, without uttering a word, while Zhao Zhinian was exceptionally considerate and warm, smiling and wishing her a pleasant meal. Upon learning that she was alone and had come all the way from out of town specifically to watch the Samsara competition, she thoughtfully reminded her, "Be careful on your way back."
As she turned to leave, she was filled with emotion: This must be the demeanor of a "sister-in-law." Zhou Zekai is usually a man of few words, and fans rarely receive such care; today's experience was truly unique.
Faintly, she could also hear Zhao Zhinian's laughing voice drifting over: "...Of course it's to please your fans, because you love everything about them, understand?"
She didn't hear Zhou Zekai's response clearly, but based on her understanding of Zhou, he probably couldn't say anything sweet. Well, the two were indeed evenly matched in terms of looks, and their personalities complemented each other.
Feeling bad about troubling the two, she suppressed her curiosity and didn't look back again. They had ordered quite a lot of food and didn't want to waste any, so they ate for a long time. When they finished and were about to pay the bill, the waiter smiled and told them, "The guests at the table by the window have already paid for you."
She froze, then looked at the deserted corner. She guessed that the two probably felt sorry for her coming to the game alone, and that she had been considerate enough not to bother her too much. But she was still filled with a feeling of being flattered and touched.
That evening, after sharing her extraordinary experience in detail on her WeChat Moments, she couldn't resist posting it on Weibo, and of course, she didn't forget to put a cute cat sticker on her face.
The entire blog post was almost entirely filled with heartfelt praise for Zhao Zhinian: "She looks even better in person than on camera! Her skin is amazing, her eyes are sparkling, and her smile is incredibly sweet. Her voice is also sweet and gentle, and she's kind and considerate. She proactively took photos for me and patiently took several for me to choose from. Even her photography skills are super professional; the lighting and angles are amazing, and the composition is fantastic! She was also very thoughtful, making sure I stood in a well-lit spot and reminding me that my hair was messy and I could fix it..." I wonder if she was just taking advantage of someone else's shortcomings.
As for Zhou Zekai, it was only mentioned subtly: "Team Leader Zhou is a very nice person. He signed an autograph for me. He was also very cooperative. He took off his mask when asked to do so and stood still for the photo when asked to do so. He was very obedient."
This Weibo post quickly attracted attention. Netizens joked, "Are you really a fan of Captain Zhou? Hilarious, praising his wife the whole time, it feels like you're betraying him!"
"Key points: 'Extra cooperative', 'Extra obedient', I'll take this dog food."
"So Chinen took the photos? She's so kind, and she even paid for them. I'm so envious."
"I hope my partner will treat me like this in my next life! Inviting me to dinner and taking pictures of me!"
"Does Chinen call Kai-ge (older brother Kai) in private? It's a nickname used by couples!"
All of this has made it difficult for even fans who previously insisted that they were "just friends" and "having normal interactions" to maintain their stance.
The onlookers are still puzzled: Now that things have come to this point, when are you two planning to make an official announcement?
However, some netizens pointed out: Actually, whether it's officially announced or not makes no difference now.
The whole internet knows about it, and they haven't tried to hide it; they just chose not to bring their personal relationships into formal work settings.
The Qingming Festival was fast approaching, and Zhao Zhinian still had work to do in Beijing.
This day held mixed meaning for her. During the years she was abroad, she hadn't made a special effort to commemorate her mother. The Zhao family had some unusual customs; her father didn't want to remind his daughter of her grief on such a sorrowful day as the anniversary of her mother's death. Instead, he would prepare an exceptionally lavish meal on his wife's birthday, setting out three sets of chopsticks and bowls, just as if his wife were still alive.
“Your mother likes lively days,” her father once explained. “Birthdays are great, good days, and worth celebrating.”
So, although her mother's grave is in Shanghai, the cemetery handles all the tomb-sweeping arrangements, and relatives occasionally visit the grave on her behalf. But Zhao Zhinian herself rarely wants to look at that cold stone tablet. In her memory, her mother is always warm and vibrant, smiling and inviting her to blow out the candles on her birthday, and stroking her hair and saying "Our Nian Nian is so great" when she does well on a test.
Last year on her mother's birthday, Zhao Zhinian cooked a meal for herself and set out three sets of chopsticks and bowls. But living alone in her old home, the emptiness she felt was especially acute.
Zhou Zekai was unaware of the Zhao family's peculiar custom. As Qingming Festival approached, he hesitated for a long time, wanting to ask her if she was returning to Shanghai, but afraid of touching on her painful memories. In the end, he only stammered out a question about her recent work schedule.
At first, Zhao Zhinian thought he was just concerned about her schedule, and even teased him with a smile, "What, you miss me?"
There was a moment of silence on the other end of the screen. For the first time, Zhou Zekai was acutely aware of his own inadequacy with words. He even felt a pang of envy for Jiang Botao's ability to always express concern so tactfully. After much hesitation, he could only manage to ask the most direct question: "Qingming... are you coming back?"
Zhao Zhinian suddenly realized that it was Qingming Festival. The warmth of being carefully remembered and the longing for her mother made her eyes well up with tears.
When Zhao Zhinian said she couldn't leave work, Zhou Zekai quickly replied, "I can take your place."
Zhao Zhinian was stunned for a long time after hearing this. She felt both touched and helpless. This person always wanted to be good to her in the simplest and most direct way.
“Although you meant well,” Zhao Zhinian said, deliberately adding a touch of teasing to her tone, trying to lighten the emotions that were quietly creeping in at the moment: “But Brother Kai… she probably doesn’t recognize you yet.”
Zhou Zekai looked at her intently, then took something out of the camera and held it up to the screen: it was the jade pendant with cloud patterns.
“I have a jade token,” he said matter-of-factly, as if it were a universal pass.
Zhao Zhinian was amused by his earnest appearance, but looking at the cloud-patterned plaque and thinking of her mother, she felt a pang of sadness. She didn't doubt Zhou Zekai's sincerity; if she nodded, she believed he would definitely go. However, their family was indeed a bit special, so she patiently explained, "Our family's custom... these past few years, we've only celebrated Mom's birthday." She paused, her voice softening, "And... I haven't visited her for several years either. I haven't had a chance to properly talk to her about you."
Zhou Zekai nodded upon hearing this.
“There will be another chance.” Zhao Zhinian looked at him, a gentle smile curving her lips. “I’ll take you there. Let’s be more formal and talk to her properly.”
"Okay, sure," Zhou Zekai replied, his eyes focused.
After the video call ended, Zhao Zhinian looked out the window at the Beijing night sky, and the emptiness in her heart seemed to be filled a little.
Some people, though clumsy, are willing to share every heavy corner of your life in the most sincere way.
In mid-to-late April, the offline finals of the Glory Challenge will finally begin. For Happy, a team that originated in internet cafes, the trip to Beijing is of great significance. If they can break through the Challenge, they will be able to step onto a broader league stage; every step will be hard-won.
As the host, Lou Guanning showed great sincerity, not only personally picking up the Happy team from the airport, but also booking a private room at a well-regarded private restaurant near his club that evening.
In addition to Sun Zheping, who was traveling with him, he also specially invited Zhao Zhinian.
Lou Guanning's considerations were practical: Sun Zheping would be representing Team Happy in the upcoming matches; and Zhao Zhinian, as the tournament host, would inevitably have to deal with Team Happy sooner or later. Although he had heard that the two sides might have met in the online game, they had never formally introduced each other. He had heard about the "style" of the top players when dealing with the media, and considering the considerable online pressure Team Happy was currently under, he thought it would be better to make connections privately first, leave a good impression on each other, and make things smoother in the future.
Inside the private room, everyone exchanged polite greetings. With Bao Rongxing and Wei Chen, the two "atmosphere-maker" figures, it was hard for the dinner table to be quiet.
Ye Xiu remained as lazy as ever, casually chatting with Lou Guanning and Sun Zheping while munching on an unlit cigarette. Bao Rongxing, on the other hand, was full of curiosity, asking about everything from the decor of the private room to Beijing's specialty snacks. He was incredibly energetic and insisted on introducing Zhao Zhinian and Luo Ji, saying they were kindred spirits. Wei Chen, meanwhile, kept rambling on about how he used to be, with Baozi cheering him on, leaving the young members of Happy Stars bewildered.
What surprised Zhao Zhinian the most was Qiao Yifan. She only knew that he was a former member of Tiny Herb, so she naturally mentioned Gao Yingjie, whom she was more familiar with. She didn't expect that the two were close friends, and they chatted very warmly.
Chen Guo had previously dealt with Zhao Zhinian because of the lottery, and had a very good impression of her, so she was particularly warm towards her at this moment.
"Zhinian! Long time no see!" She pulled Zhao Zhinian along and turned to introduce a girl with a cool temperament and outstanding appearance to her side: "Xiao Tang, this is Zhao Zhinian, whom I mentioned to you. She is the host of this challenge. She is very capable and a really nice person."
Tang Rou smiled slightly at Zhao Zhinian and gracefully extended her hand: "Hello, I am Tang Rou."
"Hello, Zhao Zhinian." Zhao Zhinian grasped her hand, her eyes brightening slightly.
She had long admired this girl: partly because of the unspoken "little thoughts" and persistent "persistence" of a certain player surnamed Du in the game; and partly because of the extremely concise yet weighty evaluation of Tang Rou she had heard from Zhou Zekai: "Good skills. Rare."
In her heart, Zhou Zekai was the pinnacle of Glory. The fact that Zhou Zekai described someone as "rare" naturally piqued Zhao Zhinian's curiosity. People are always drawn to the strong, especially when the other person is such a beautiful and exceptionally capable young woman. In this male-dominated field, such a unique presence is particularly admirable.
The three girls quickly left the table of men and chatted animatedly in a corner of the private room. Their conversation ranged from the online game Honor of Kings and their overseas experiences to recent popular TV dramas. Chen Guo, as the boss and "patriarch" of Happy Esports, spoke with pride and emotion about the team's journey, both interesting and challenging. Tang Rou didn't talk much, but every word she spoke was meaningful, exuding a strong sense of confidence beneath her calm demeanor. Zhao Zhinian shared many behind-the-scenes anecdotes about hosting and her experience in handling unexpected situations on stage.
As the conversation got more interesting, Chen Guo suggested, "Let's take a picture? It's rare for us to get together like this."
“Okay.” Zhao Zhinian and Tang Rou readily agreed.
The three girls huddled together affectionately, Chen Guo in the center, Zhao Zhinian on the left, and Tang Rou on the right, smiling at the phone camera. Zhao Zhinian had deliberately found the right angle to ensure everyone looked good in the photo.
"These photos are really good!" Chen Guo took the phone and examined it, her face full of surprise. "Chinen, your skills are amazing! You've made me look several years younger!"
Tang Rou also leaned closer to take a look and said softly, "It is indeed very well shot."
"That's an exaggeration. We're not that old. It's mainly because we're good-looking," Zhao Zhinian laughed, sending the photos to Chen Guo and Tang Rou respectively.
As the dinner party drew to a close, Zhao Zhinian took the opportunity to go to the restroom to send this group photo to Zhou Zekai, with the caption: "Reporting today, just took a photo with two beautiful women. Met Du Ming's 'goddess' in person tonight, she's such a nice girl, no wonder someone can't forget her."
After meeting Tang Rou today, Zhao Zhinian felt even more that this girl was outstanding. In her heart, she felt that Du Ming's "unrequited love" that remained in his own world was probably doomed to fail, but she naturally couldn't say this directly. She only had casual acquaintances with both of them, and it was the least appropriate for outsiders to comment on matters of the heart.
Meanwhile, in the Reincarnation Training Room.
Zhou Zekai, who had just finished a round of team coordination training, picked up his phone and saw the message. He clicked on the picture, and three smiling girls came into view. His gaze lingered on Zhao Zhinian's face for a moment, and the corners of his mouth slightly turned up.
Just then, Du Ming strolled over, holding a water glass in his hand, and casually asked, "Captain, what are you looking at? Why are you smiling so... um?" He wanted to tease him by saying "Smiling so gently," but when he met his captain's gaze, he swallowed the rest of his words.
Seeing that he was teasing him again, Zhou Zekai didn't say anything. He just silently turned the phone screen towards him, let him see the photo for a few seconds, and after making sure he saw it clearly, he simply locked the screen and put the phone back in his pocket.
Du Ming's eyes widened instantly, and he almost dropped the water glass in his hand: "Tang...Tang Rou?!"
“Training.” Zhou Zekai looked at Du Ming, his tone calm.
Du Ming: "..." The huge surprise that surged up in that instant was abruptly cut off, turning into a heart full of unsettled excitement and disappointment. He stared longingly at the pocket where Zhou Zekai had put his phone, as if he could see right through it with his gaze.
Zhou Zekai stopped looking at him and turned to his computer screen. He tapped the keyboard lightly twice, but a clear thought flashed through his mind: the photos were sent by Zhi Nian for reporting, and showing them to Du Ming was already the limit. It would definitely be inappropriate to send them out casually.
However, in the corner of his eye, Du Ming was still standing there, his face displaying a complex mix of emotions that were almost tangible: shock, elation, and disappointment, all mixed together, making him look like a sapling that had just been wilted by the sun for a long time and then caught off guard by a downpour, its branches and leaves soaked and still not recovered.
As someone who has been through it all, Zhou Zekai did feel a pang of sympathy.
However, there was only a sliver of hope, after all, Du Ming was not the same as him back then; this was entirely his own one-man show.
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