Chapter 8 As everyone knows, Zhou Zekai's gaming style...
As is well known, Zhou Zekai's gaming style is aggressive, precise, and flashy. Fans describe him as "undisputedly powerful, with a perfect balance of offense and defense, leaving no room for error and making it impossible for the enemy to breathe."
Zhao Zhinian wholeheartedly agreed. Zhou Zekai's actions in matters of the heart were just like his gaming style—smooth and fluid, like a sudden, fierce storm that left no time to think and no room to defend himself.
However, that happened before our conversation tonight.
After she clearly expressed her unease and hinted at the gap between the two of them, the usually "assertive" Zhou Zekai told her, "Take it slow...at your own pace."
Whether it was the foundation of their relationship, the gap in their realities, or Zhao Zhinian's career development, reason told her that the two of them weren't a good match at this stage. She had originally planned to "reject" this dinner: if Zhou Zekai continued to act, even if it was just out of respect for his feelings, she should give him a clear answer.
However, Zhou Zekai seemed to have read her unfinished lines in advance and anticipated her "skill animation," suddenly changing his "attack rhythm." This unexpected retreat left Zhao Zhinian unable to utter her originally planned lines.
Being loved is a wonderful thing, but to have someone willing to love you in a way that makes you feel comfortable is even more touching. This "willingness" is a more sophisticated form of romance and pampering, transforming from a one-sided declaration and giving into a fitting restraint.
One can only marvel at his unparalleled talent in mastering distance and rhythm. His gaming style isn't just about overwhelming opponents; precise judgment, perfect timing, and timely retreats when necessary... this balanced approach is what truly makes him powerful.
And now, he's using that talent on her.
Zhao Zhinian had made up her mind, but she didn't know how to respond verbally. She simply nodded slightly and gave a soft "hmm," leaving the conclusion of their relationship to Zhou Zekai's "take it slow" approach in the future.
Zhou Zekai also understood that "relentless pursuit" might prematurely trigger the BOSS's red-blood berserk mode, and given their current situation, he probably wouldn't be able to handle it. Fortunately, he was never lacking in patience.
Then, both of them fell silent.
The two silent people turned their attention to the dining table. Everything from the glassware to the metal cutlery was particularly attractive, as if the white porcelain plate in front of them also held a secret, as if some "Emperor's New Clothes" was covering the table, making them unable to resist looking down for a closer look.
Before they knew it, all the dishes on the table had been devoured. Zhou Zekai thought Zhao Zhinian hadn't eaten enough and silently complained to himself: "Did the manager order too few dishes? He's a bit stingy."
Zhou Zekai was considering whether to ask the waiter for more food when Zhao Zhinian saw through his intention and quickly stopped him, saying that she was already full and that as a host, she needed to control her weight. If the company found out that she was eating so much, she would be criticized.
After eating in silence for so long, the conversation finally resumed. Zhao Zhinian, who had been harboring resentment about her weight for a long time, burst into tears, ranting about the company: not only were employees required to report their weight upon joining, but the company also had dedicated monitors, requiring monthly weigh-ins and uploads. Significant weight fluctuations would result in a talk, and the company even arranged weight-loss-related lectures, which were mandatory for those whose weight was below standard. Apparently, a former host was even barred from going on stage because of her excessive weight. However, because the food at all the counters in the company cafeteria was so unappetizing, resembling diet meals, her weight had remained relatively stable since joining the company.
Zhou Zekai resonated with this topic, given his busy schedule with business activities. Before returning home for the summer break, his manager not only reminded him not to cause trouble in his love life but also repeatedly urged him to exercise regularly, control his diet, and maintain his physique. Recalling the experience of his manager forcing him to eat boiled chicken breast for several days in order to look good on camera for a certain event, Zhou Zekai lamented, "I hate diet meals!"
"I didn't expect esports players to have to control their weight." Zhao Zhinian was still a little surprised. After all, esports players are primarily known for their skills, and there are many who are unkempt. There's even someone like Ye Qiu, who, despite having three championship titles, was never seen by anyone until his retirement. Players like Zhou Zekai, who possess both good looks and skill, and have extremely high commercial value, are indeed rare. In a way, he is the "face of the league."
Zhou Zekai explained, "Because of the event."
Seeing his mournful look, Zhao Zhinian felt much better: "I control my weight because it's for work, but you, you can only blame yourself for being too handsome."
After being flattered, Zhou Zekai thought for a while and finally chose to give him a taste of his own medicine: "Because you are too beautiful."
"Captain Zhou, do your fans know how nice you are to talk?"
"I'm only saying this to you." Although they agreed to "take it slow," Zhou Zekai's language style remained unchanged.
The palpitations that Zhao Zhinian had calmed down by eating voraciously quietly resurfaced.
When I left the restaurant, it was already late at night. Although it was the height of summer, the evening breeze carried just the right amount of coolness.
"Shall we take a walk?" Zhou Zekai suggested, seeing Zhao Zhinian rubbing her belly. There was a park nearby, which looked quite lively and full of life from a distance.
Zhao Zhinian glanced at Zhou Zekai's mask and hat; his outfit was far too eye-catching. Putting aside the possibility of running into fans, seeing someone so fully disguised at night could easily lead to speculation, just like how she was startled when she suddenly saw him downstairs during the live broadcast. So she shook her head: "It's a rare summer break, you should be nicer to your manager. Don't do anything risky. How about we call it a day?"
Zhou Zekai remembered her worries about her future work and their relationship, and felt that meeting her today was a bit presumptuous. He decided to be a good son who listened to his manager today, took out his phone from his pocket, opened a ride-hailing app, and handed it to Zhao Zhinian: "I'll take you home."
This was to ask her to enter her home address. Zhao Zhinian felt it was completely unnecessary; this kind of "ritual" was probably only for couples who were reluctant to part, so she quickly refused: "No need! No need! I can just take a taxi home myself."
"Is it on my way?" Zhou Zekai continued to try, pointing to his frequently used address on his phone.
Zhao Zhinian leaned closer to take a look and said that their destinations were not on the same route. Although they were not too far apart, they were in opposite directions from the restaurant. So she repeatedly said that there was no need to trouble them, as it was getting late and they should both go home early.
Zhou Zekai was happy about her sudden approach, but disappointed by the restaurant's location. He couldn't help but complain to the manager in his mind again: What kind of restaurant did you choose? Why is the location so awkward, right in the middle?
After being rejected twice, Zhou Zekai felt aggrieved and took the opportunity to make a new request: "Tomorrow... play Glory?"
Once is never enough. Zhou Zekai knew his advantage, so he put on a pitiful act with his handsome face and stared straight at her with his big eyes. Zhao Zhinian had no choice but to surrender and accept his invitation. The two agreed to play Glory together the next day.
Zhou Zekai returned home and had just finished reporting to Zhao Zhinian when his phone rang again. Unsurprisingly, it was his manager again. He couldn't help but suspect that his manager had secretly installed a surveillance device on him, always timing his calls perfectly. His manager seemed even more keen on "checking up" during the summer break than during the season. Zhou Zekai wanted to hang up immediately, but since his manager had helped him get tickets and booked a restaurant, he felt bad about ungrateful and reluctantly pressed the answer button.
"Xiao Zhou, are you home yet?" The manager's voice was tentative and cautious.
"Hmm." Zhou Zekai remained concise as he walked to the computer desk and sat down.
"How was your day?" the manager asked. "It's supposed to be summer break, and I'm on vacation too, but ever since I found out you and Ms. Zhao reunited, I haven't had a single good night's sleep. I was restless all afternoon, checking the trending topics every ten minutes, afraid that I'd see 'Zhou Zekai's relationship' on the list the next second. This summer break has been more mentally exhausting than playing in the playoffs."
Zhou Zekai hadn't expected his feelings to be so strongly correlated with his manager's sleep. He could imagine his manager's anxiety on the other end of the line, but he didn't think it warranted such worry. "Very good," he replied, pausing before adding the crucial reassurance, "She's very careful."
The manager visibly relaxed: "That's good. So... what's the situation now?"
Zhou Zekai was silent for a moment. He recalled the unease in Zhao Zhinian's eyes during dinner, the slight furrowing of her brow when she talked about work, and her plans and worries about her career development.
"Take it slow." He repeated his decision from dinner, his voice low but clear, "I don't want to put her in a difficult position."
The manager was clearly stunned and didn't respond for a long time. This was completely contrary to his expectation that his star player would "overwhelm" and "take him down in one fell swoop" in matters of the heart. After all, when the club asked him about his future, he had bluntly said that he wanted to "get married".
“…I see,” he said, digesting the information. His tone became complex, a mixture of surprise and a fatherly sense of relief. “That’s good, that’s good. It’s right that you two are working more reliably.”
The manager breathed a sigh of relief when Zhou Zekai thought this way. Taking it slow was not only more beneficial than harmful to the two parties involved, but also a good thing for him as the team manager—at least he had more time to prepare a public relations plan for Zhou Zekai's announcement of his relationship. He could also take a gradual approach, like boiling a frog in warm water, to prepare fans in advance, release some signals, and try to guide them in a positive direction to minimize the impact.
The reincarnation manager had the mindset of an overprotective father, overconfident in his own trump card, and completely failed to anticipate Zhou Zekai's failed confession. Instead, he confidently began to plan for the future.
So the manager went on and on about many things to keep in mind, and finally, to show his support for Zhou Zekai, he solemnly promised: "Xiao Zhou, if anything happens in the future, just let me know!"
Zhou Zekai hummed in agreement and promptly hung up the call. He opened the pinned chat window and, sure enough, received a message: "Arrived home, goodnight." Confirming that Zhao Zhinian had arrived home safely and knowing she had worked hard all day, Zhou Zekai didn't disturb her further and replied with a goodnight.
Bored, Zhou Zekai opened Honor of Kings and played a few rounds of Arena. Although it was a smurf account of the Gun King, he was matched with ordinary players, and the victories came very easily. He seemed to be focused on playing Arena, but his mind had already wandered far away. He was replaying dinner in his mind, replaying every detail of tonight, from her expression to his own response. Finally, he couldn't help but open the "Manager" chat box again.
[Zhou Zekai]: Restaurant, thank you.
[Zhou Zekai]: Next time, I'll decide for myself.
The manager had no idea that Zhou Zekai had already silently complained about the restaurant he had booked twice today: once for the limited selection of dishes, and once for the inconvenient location that made it difficult for him to take someone home.
He was simply pleased that his quiet son was becoming more and more independent, but he was also afraid that his independence might go too far and cause a big scandal.
Children always have to grow up, he sighed, and replied, "Okay! But you'd better send me the location before you book, I'll help you check it out, privacy is the most important thing!"
Zhou Zekai obediently agreed. He stopped dominating the weaker players and instead opened the Glory Forum with a serious expression, typing in: "Glory Early Game Guide", "Tips for Low-Level Dungeons", "How to Level Up Quickly in Low-Level Stages"...
If anyone from Honor of Kings could see the Gun King's computer screen at this moment, they would probably be astonished.
What's displayed on the screen isn't some sophisticated tactics or advanced dungeon walkthroughs, but rather the most basic, hands-on tutorials for beginners.
But Zhou Zekai's focused expression was no less than when he was studying the match video of his opponent in the finals. He slowly scrolled down with the mouse wheel, reading it word by word.
Even in the smallest matters, Zhou Zekai maintains the highest level of professionalism and an extremely strong competitive spirit.
Gun King's "taking it slow" is never "inaction," but rather precise judgment of the timing, choosing the most appropriate "skill" to start, and creating conditions for the next wave of "attack"... This is his style.
Whether on the field or elsewhere.
A note from the author:
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