SITS Ch16

Chapter 16: Roaming

When Xu Zhouye returned that night, he brought Shen Man a large bag of late-night supper.

Knocking on Shen Man’s door, he looked like a puppy returning from foraging outside, his tail wagging happily behind him.

The moment Shen Man opened the door, he was greeted by this happy puppy of a person.

“Captain, brought you some supper.” Xu Zhouye grinned, revealing neat, white teeth.

“Thanks.” Shen Man took it and thanked him.

Shen Man hesitated for a moment: “By the way…”

Xu Zhouye: “?”

Shen Man said, “Never mind, it’s nothing.” He had originally wanted to tell Xu Zhouye not to check Weibo today, but felt that not saying anything was better—mentioning it might just tempt him to look.

Who knew that Xu Zhouye, just about to leave, would suddenly turn back: “Captain, did you check Weibo?”

Shen Man: “…” Great, bringing up the exact topic that shouldn’t be touched.

Xu Zhouye asked cautiously, “Is Captain unhappy?”

Shen Man: “Not really.” He paused. “Don’t take what they say online to heart.” He feared Xu Zhouye might misunderstand him.

Xu Zhouye said, “It’s fine, I only take Captain’s words to heart!” His tone and gaze were far too sincere, which conversely made Shen Man feel slightly self-conscious.

“Goodnight,” Xu Zhouye bid farewell.

Shen Man nodded.

Summer in City C was terrifyingly hot.

Weather hovering near forty degrees Celsius made people want nothing more than to stay holed up in air-conditioned rooms without going anywhere.

Once the weather turned sweltering, Shen Man’s already poor appetite made it even harder to eat. On top of that, his cough hadn’t fully recovered, and with the coach watching him like a hawk to keep him from touching chili peppers, every meal felt rather tasteless.

The supper Xu Zhouye brought was some seafood: light in flavor, but very refreshing, and the ingredients were remarkably fresh. God only knew where he managed to unearth these little hole-in-the-wall shops.

Shen Man ate comfortably, the gratitude in his heart toward Xu Zhouye deepening by a few degrees. The kid was genuinely nice—took gaming seriously, treated people thoughtfully, yet never crossed boundaries.

Shen Man thought that Xu Zhouye would make a good friend.

At six in the morning, the sun breached the horizon, casting light across the floor inside through curtains that hadn’t been drawn shut.

Shen Man pulled the covers over his head, rolled over, slept for another fifteen minutes, and only then reluctantly switched off the incessantly buzzing alarm.

After a quick wash, Shen Man headed to the dining room.

Breakfast was already prepared: dumplings, steamed stuffed buns, and plain buns were all laid out. Lacking an appetite, Shen Man carried a bowl of porridge and sipped it slowly.

Sporting a bird’s-nest head of bed hair, Zhao Rui said, “Hey, why did Xu Zhouye head out again?”

Shen Man: “Hm?”

Zhao Rui said, “I just saw him leave through the front gates…”

Shen Man said, “Don’t know.”

Zhao Rui remarked, “Why has this kid been acting so mysterious these past few days?”

While the two chatted, the manager came over, saying the afternoon scrim had been rescheduled to tomorrow.

“Where’s Xu Zhouye?” Zhao Rui asked, curious.

“He had an errand and took half a day off,” the manager said.

“Oh…” Zhao Rui drew out the syllable. “Could it be that he was affected by last night’s Weibo trending topic?”

As they spoke, both turned their gazes onto Shen Man.

Shen Man was deadpan: “Yeah, that’s right, I couch-casted him. What are you two planning to do about it?”

Manager: “…”

Zhao Rui: “…”

Zhao Rui said, “Nasty! Clearly I came first~”

Manager: “Hmph, this one came even earlier than Zhao Rui~”

Shen Man gave his evaluation of the two: “Disgusting.”

Zhao Rui: “You’re so cruel.”

Training intensity had been high lately, leaving everyone somewhat exhausted. After practice wrapped up in the afternoon, Zhao Rui mentioned a newly opened hotpot place nearby that was supposedly delicious, asking if they wanted to try it together tonight.

Shen Man hesitated. Hotpot was his absolute favorite, and due to his cold, he hadn’t touched it in nearly a month.

Noticing his wavering, Zhao Rui seized the opportunity to tempt him further: “The flavor is genuinely great, and there’s no queue!”

“Alright then,” Shen Man agreed.

Though the sun had set, the temperature hadn’t dropped in the slightest; baked by the sun all day, the ground was like a giant steamer.

A mere ten-minute walk, yet before they even reached halfway, everyone was drenched in sweat.

Shen Man kept both hands in his pockets, walking at the very tail of the group.

“Hey? Isn’t that Xu Zhouye?” Xu Xiaochong had sharp eyes and suddenly called out.

Following the direction he pointed, the group genuinely saw Xu Zhouye… along with a woman beside him.

“Good grief,” Zhao Rui’s eyes widened in astonishment. “Is that Xu Zhouye’s girlfriend?”

The woman was stunningly beautiful, likely over 1.7 meters tall, wearing high heels paired with a tailored long dress. Despite the sweltering heat, her exquisite makeup remained immaculate. She was currently chatting with Xu Zhouye with affectionate familiarity, the atmosphere between them extraordinarily intimate.

“So gorgeous,” Liu Shishi marveled. “This kid Xu Zhouye really keeps his cards close to his chest.”

“Should we head over and say hi?” Zhao Rui asked.

“No,” Shen Man said. His gaze fell upon the smiling face of Xu Zhouye. It was that brilliant smile he was so accustomed to seeing, dazzling like a blazing sun.

The sun was meant to shine down upon all living things anyway, wasn’t it? Shen Man carelessly pulled his gaze back: “Let’s go.”

He lengthened his stride, bypassed the others, and took the lead at the front.

Zhao Rui and the rest followed behind.

The red broth bubbled and gurgled, aromatic steam wafting against their faces. Fresh ingredients crowding the tabletop effortlessly stoked their appetites.

Shen Man lifted his glass and downed the beer inside in one gulp. The chilled liquid coursed into his stomach, dispelling the summer heat; he poured another glass.

“The flavor is really quite good.” Zhao Rui was already tucking in. Picking up a slice of beef tripe with his chopsticks, he gave it a hasty dip in the boiling red broth, looked at Shen Man, and asked, “Is it cooked yet?” Shen Man was a local and had precise control over cooking times and heat.

Shen Man said unhurriedly, “Eat it, you won’t die.” At most, diarrhea… he added inwardly.

Zhao Rui swirled the tripe through his dipping bowl piled with seasonings, stuffed it into his mouth with utter satisfaction, and mumbled around his food, “Why aren’t you eating?”

Shen Man said, “I am.” Picking up his chopsticks, he grabbed a bite of food.

The flavor was indeed wonderful—the broth rich with a sweet aftertaste, the ingredients exceptionally fresh. Shen Man ate with great satisfaction.

The rest of the team felt the same, digging in with gusto.

As prime dinner hour arrived, the restaurant grew increasingly bustling. Noisy diners laughed and chatted boisterously, glasses clinked amidst lively merrymaking, and the air was saturated with the rich aroma of food.

The broth grew spicier the longer it boiled. Shen Man’s lips and cheeks were flushed red by the heat and spice. Just as he popped a piece of freshly cooked beef into his mouth, his phone rang.

Shen Man glanced at the name on the screen and pressed decline.

Yet the person on the other end was persistent, and the ringtone chimed again.

“Whose call is that?” Zhao Rui, who loved joining any commotion, poked his head over and glanced at Shen Man’s phone. “Why aren’t you answering?”

Shen Man said, “None of your business. Even food can’t shut your mouth.”

Zhao Rui let out an “Oh” and pulled his head back.

Shen Man felt somewhat irritated. Hesitating between answering the call and powering off his phone, he ultimately stood up and walked outside the restaurant.

“Hello,” Shen Man said.

On the other end of the line was a woman’s voice. Having not heard it in over two years, it sounded thoroughly unfamiliar no matter how he listened. The woman said, “Man-man, my flight lands the afternoon after tomorrow.”

Shen Man said, “I have a match the afternoon after tomorrow.”

The woman said, “It’s fine, I’ll take a taxi over myself. Are you free in the evening? Let’s meet up.”

Shen Man stayed silent.

Sometimes silence was the answer to a question, yet the woman seemed entirely oblivious, carrying on of her own accord: “Then it’s settled.”

Shen Man: “…”

The woman said, “See you then.”

Shen Man hung up. His hand reached into his pocket, only to grasp empty air. He immediately remembered that having promised Xu Zhouye not to smoke for the time being, he had put his cigarettes away to prevent himself from breaking the vow. Feeling stifled in his chest, he coughed hard twice. Turning back to look at the clamorous hotpot restaurant, he found he had lost all energy to step back inside.

Shen Man, who had gone out to take a call, never returned. Zhao Rui stared toward the entrance for a long time without spotting him. Growing a bit worried, he sent him a message:

-Where are you?

-Something came up, left first, Shen Man replied.

-What happened? You going to see your girlfriend too?

Shen Man didn’t reply.

-Don’t wander around too late.

Still no response. Zhao Rui sighed at his phone.

Shen Man boarded a public bus, leaning against the window in a daze.

The city’s nightscape was beautiful. Being Friday, people who had been busy all week took advantage of the weekend leisure to come out and unwind. On the streets, streams of traffic flowed densely; the bustling nightlife had only just begun.

The air conditioning on the bus was blasted high, making Shen Man feel chilly. He crossed his arms around himself.

The bus came to a halt, a sweet female voice reminding passengers that they had arrived at the terminal stop.

Shen Man stepped off, lingered at the unfamiliar station for a few minutes, and then boarded another bus. He had nowhere he needed to go, no specific destination in mind—he simply wanted to wander around aimlessly.

The surrounding scenery grew increasingly foreign, yet tinged with familiarity; everything around was so uniformly repetitive. High-rises, chain stores, and traffic lights blurred together in the night. His restless mood gradually settled into quiet calm. Reaching yet another terminal station, he no longer knew where he was, feeling as though he had lost his bearings in a labyrinth of steel and concrete.

Wandering aimlessly like this until eleven o’clock, the pedestrian traffic on the streets had thinned out considerably, and the air was no longer sweltering.

Shen Man looked up at the sky. In the city’s night sky, even on clear days, not a single star was visible. He lowered his head and continued walking forward.

Life was always like this: certain things remained unattainable when you needed them most, yet when you no longer needed them, they arrived anyway. By then, however, they merely became burdensome nuisances that grated on the nerves.

From childhood, Shen Man had never liked dealing with people; reticence was his default state. It was precisely for this reason that he embarked on the path of becoming a pro player.

Because when playing matches, there was no need for you to speak—being good enough was all that mattered.

Yet some things in life remained fundamentally unavoidable.

His phone rang. Shen Man pulled it out to check, seeing Xu Zhouye’s name displayed.

“Hello,” Shen Man answered.

Xu Zhouye’s voice came from the other end: “Captain, it’s so late, why aren’t you at the base?”

Shen Man said, “Hm?”

Xu Zhouye said, “I brought you some supper…”

Shen Man thought to himself: Your girlfriend is already here, why aren’t you keeping her company instead of bringing me supper every day? People who didn’t know better would think I’m your girlfriend. The thought amused him, and he couldn’t help letting out a soft chuckle.

Xu Zhouye said, “Captain, what are you laughing at?”

Shen Man said, “Not laughing.”

Xu Zhouye said, “I clearly heard you laugh out loud. Where are you? What are you up to?”

Shen Man said, “Ate my fill, just wandered around outside for a bit.”

Xu Zhouye asked, “When are you coming back?” He grumbled in a gentle mutter, “The food from this place is delicious, I queued for ages. Hurry back, it won’t taste good if it gets cold.”

Shen Man asked, “What time is it?”

Xu Zhouye: “It’s almost midnight, time to come home.”

He hadn’t realized it was already this late. Time to head back, then. Shen Man said, “Alright, I’ll be back shortly.” Having said that, he paused: “You’re staying at the base tonight?”

Xu Zhouye found the question a bit odd: “Yeah, why?”

“Never mind, it’s nothing.” Shen Man felt that, in the end, it was someone else’s private business; prying too much wasn’t appropriate.

Xu Zhouye: “Hurry on back, okay?”

Shen Man said, “…Okay.”

Half an hour later, Shen Man returned to the base.

Everyone else had retired to sleep; only Xu Zhouye’s room had the light still on.

After a moment of thought, Shen Man walked up to his door and knocked.

“Coming right up—” a voice answered from inside, followed by rustling sounds.

Looking at the room number on Xu Zhouye’s door, Shen Man realized that after all this time, this was his first time visiting Xu Zhouye’s room; usually, Xu Zhouye was the one seeking him out.

Just as he was thinking this, the door creaked open. Xu Zhouye appeared behind it, toweling his damp hair. He seemed to have just finished showering, having hastily pulled on trousers upon hearing the knock. With broad shoulders and narrow hips, droplets of water still clung to the six sculpted abdominal muscles of his bare torso.

“Captain, you’re back.” Xu Zhouye took a step back, gesturing for Shen Man to come inside.

Shen Man hesitated for a second before stepping into Xu Zhouye’s room.

Xu Zhouye’s room had the base’s standard layout: an en-suite studio with a small balcony. Having arrived at the base not long ago, he had very few personal belongings; the room was rather bare, but looked neat and clean.

“Make yourself at home.” Xu Zhouye stepped aside and pulled a T-shirt over his head. Ruffling his hair, he picked up the supper he had brought for Shen Man and handed it over, “Here, eat while it’s hot.”

Taking it, Shen Man said, “Have you eaten? Want to join?”

He had originally asked out of mere courtesy, but to his surprise, Xu Zhouye smiled brightly and said, “Sure! Let’s just eat in my room; I can clean it up right after.”

Shen Man: “Alright.”

Xu Zhouye neatly arranged the takeout containers box by box on the table, snapped open a pair of chopsticks, and handed them to Shen Man.

Shen Man took a bite; the flavor was indeed wonderful. He asked, “Where do you even find these takeout spots?”

Xu Zhouye said, “Online, of course.” Snapping his own chopsticks apart, he sat down across from Shen Man.

The two ate in silence. Even without words, the atmosphere was surprisingly harmonious. Shen Man had initially worried whether things might be awkward, yet he hadn’t anticipated that being alone together in Xu Zhouye’s room for the first time would feel so effortless and comfortable for both of them.

Xu Zhouye didn’t force conversation; they merely made casual remarks about the food in front of them from time to time.

Having just showered, perhaps his body wash was orange-scented, because a refreshing citrus fragrance lingered around Xu Zhouye. Shen Man liked oranges; the fruit always carried a sense of vibrant vitality.

“Captain,” Xu Zhouye called out softly.

Shen Man was unhurriedly gnawing on a drumstick. Braised first and then roasted, the drumstick was crispy, savory, and aromatic. Hearing Xu Zhouye call him, he let out an “Mm.”

Xu Zhouye said, “Are you in a bad mood?”

Shen Man: “…”

Xu Zhouye said, “It’s fine, you don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to. I was just casually asking.”

Finishing the drumstick, Shen Man wiped his hands and said, “How did you tell I was in a bad mood?”

Xu Zhouye said, “Isn’t it pretty obvious…”

Shen Man pondered for a moment: “Not in a bad mood, really.” At least not right now.

Xu Zhouye let out an obedient “Oh.”

Shen Man said, “Thanks for the supper, it was delicious.” He hadn’t eaten much at hotpot earlier, leaving midway and never returning; he had indeed been hungry, and it was quite something that Xu Zhouye hadn’t forgotten to bring him food even while dating.

Xu Zhouye said, “Don’t mention it. You really don’t need to be so polite with me.”

Hearing this, Shen Man said, “You’re the more polite one.”

Xu Zhouye asked, “Hm?”

“Look,” Shen Man held out his hands. “You’ve been at the base for over a month and still call me Captain.”

Xu Zhouye: “…”

Amused by his stunned expression, Shen Man let out a faint laugh.

Scratching his head, Xu Zhouye seemed to think Shen Man made a lot of sense. He said, “Then can I call you ge?”

Hearing the word ge, Shen Man froze for a moment. He had assumed Xu Zhouye would call him Shen-ge; dropping the surname Shen made it sound inexplicably much more intimate.

With his mouth still enjoying the supper the kid had gone through such trouble to buy, he had no reason to refuse. So Shen Man nodded: “Of course you can.”

“Ge.” When uttering the word, Xu Zhouye’s eyes shone brightly. Looking at him, Shen Man felt as if he could see a big tail wagging furiously behind him.

Shen Man: “Mm.” Seeing how diligently Xu Zhouye brought him late-night supper every day, having a younger didi like this wasn’t bad at all.