SITS Ch16

Chapter 16: Roaming

That evening, when Xu Zhouye returned, he brought a large bag of late-night snacks for Shen Man.

He knocked on Shen Man’s door, looking like a little dog that had just returned from foraging, its tail wagging happily behind him.

When Shen Man opened the door, he saw Xu Zhouye, looking like a joyful puppy.

“Captain, I brought you some late-night snacks,” Xu Zhouye grinned, showing his neat white teeth.

“Thanks,” Shen Man said as he took the food.

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

Xu Zhouye looked at him, puzzled. “Hm?”

Shen Man started, “Forget it, it’s nothing.” He had originally wanted to tell Xu Zhouye not to look at Weibo today, but the more he thought about it, the more he felt that mentioning it would only draw attention to it.

Just as Xu Zhouye was about to leave, he suddenly turned back. “Captain, did you check Weibo?”

Shen Man: “…” Great, just when he didn’t want to bring it up.

Xu Zhouye cautiously asked, “Captain, are you upset?”

Shen Man: “Not really.” He paused, “Don’t take those things online to heart.” He was worried Xu Zhouye might misunderstand him.

Xu Zhouye said, “It’s fine, I only take what the Captain says to heart!” His tone and gaze were so sincere that it made Shen Man feel a little uneasy.

“Good night,” Xu Zhouye said, bidding farewell.

Shen Man nodded.

The summer in City C was unbearably hot.

With temperatures nearing 40°C, all anyone wanted to do was stay in an air-conditioned room and not go anywhere.

The heat made Shen Man’s already poor appetite even worse. On top of that, he hadn’t fully recovered from his cough, and the coach was watching him closely, forbidding him from eating spicy food. Every meal seemed tasteless.

The late-night snacks Xu Zhouye brought were some small seafood dishes, light in flavor but refreshing, with fresh ingredients. Shen Man wasn’t sure where he had found these little shops.

He ate comfortably, feeling more grateful to Xu Zhouye. The kid was pretty nice—serious about gaming, thoughtful in his interactions with others, but never overstepping his boundaries.

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

At 6 a.m., the sun rose from the horizon, casting light through the loosely drawn curtains onto the floor.

Shen Man covered his head with the blanket, turned over, and reluctantly slept for another fifteen minutes before finally turning off the alarm that had been ringing incessantly.

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

Breakfast was ready—dumplings, buns, and steamed bread were all laid out. Shen Man wasn’t very hungry, so he just took a bowl of porridge and drank it slowly.

Zhao Rui, with his messy hair, said, “Hey, why did Xu Zhouye leave again?”

Shen Man: “Hm?”

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

Shen Man replied, “I don’t know.”

Zhao Rui added, “That guy’s been acting all mysterious these past few days.”

While they were talking, the manager also came in and said that the training match had been moved to tomorrow.

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

“He had something to do and took the afternoon off,” the manager replied.

“Oh…” Zhao Rui stretched out the word, then looked at Shen Man. “Could it be that he’s been affected by the Weibo trending topics from last night?”

The two of them looked at Shen Man.

Shen Man, expressionless, said, “Yeah, I’ve been secretly involved with him. What are you going to do about it?”

The manager: “…”

Zhao Rui: “…”

Zhao Rui said, “Ugh, he was the one who came first.”

The manager smirked. “He came before Zhao Rui, actually.”

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

Zhao Rui: “You’re so mean.”

The intensity of the training had been high lately, and everyone was feeling a bit tired. After the afternoon training, Zhao Rui mentioned that a new hotpot restaurant had opened nearby and was said to be really good. He asked if they wanted to try it that evening.

Shen Man hesitated; hotpot was his favorite, but because of his cold, he hadn’t had it for over a month.

Zhao Rui noticed his hesitation and quickly tried to persuade him. “The taste is really good, and there’s no waiting!”

“Alright, fine,” Shen Man agreed.

Even though the sun had set, the temperature hadn’t dropped at all. The ground, having been baked all day, felt like a giant steamer.

In just a short ten-minute walk, they were all sweating profusely before they had even reached halfway.

Shen Man kept his hands in his pockets, walking at the back of the group.

“Hey? Isn’t that Xu Zhouye?” Xu Xiaochong, with his sharp eyes, suddenly exclaimed.

Everyone followed his pointed direction and indeed saw Xu Zhouye… along with a woman by his side.

“My god,” Zhao Rui widened his eyes in surprise. “Is this Xu Zhouye’s girlfriend?”

The woman was extremely beautiful, probably around 1.7 meters tall, wearing high heels and a well-fitted long dress. Despite the scorching heat, her makeup remained flawless. She was talking to Xu Zhouye with a friendly expression, and the atmosphere between them was very intimate.

“So beautiful,” Liu Shishi sighed. “Xu Zhouye is hiding his true self.”

“Should we go say hi?” Zhao Rui asked.

“No need,” Shen Man replied. His gaze was fixed on Xu Zhouye’s smiling face. It was the radiant smile he was used to, like the blazing sun.

The sun was meant to shine on everything, wasn’t it? Shen Man lazily looked away. “Let’s go.”

He took a step forward, passing a few people and walking at the front.

Zhao Rui and the others followed.

The red hotpot broth bubbled vigorously, and the fragrant steam hit their faces, making the fresh ingredients on the table irresistible and whetting their appetites.

Shen Man picked up his glass, drank the beer in one go, and the cold drink cooled him down, dispelling the summer heat. He poured himself another glass.

“The taste is really good,” Zhao Rui had already started eating. He dipped a slice of tripe into the red broth for a quick dip and then looked at Shen Man, asking, “Is it cooked yet?” Shen Man, being a local, was quite precise about the cooking time.

Shen Man lazily replied, “Just eat, you won’t die.” He added in his mind, at most, a stomach ache…

Zhao Rui dipped the tripe into the oil dish filled with various seasonings and happily stuffed it into his mouth, mumbling, “Why aren’t you eating?”

Shen Man said, “Eat.” He picked up his chopsticks and grabbed a piece of food.

The taste was indeed good—the broth was rich with a lingering sweetness, and the ingredients were fresh. Shen Man ate contentedly.

The others on the team also thought the food was great and were eating heartily.

As mealtime passed, the restaurant became livelier. The sounds of noisy customers laughing, toasting, and chatting filled the air, creating a lively atmosphere. The air was thick with the smell of food.

As the broth became spicier, Shen Man’s lips and cheeks were flushed from the heat. He popped a freshly cooked piece of beef into his mouth just as his phone rang.

Shen Man glanced at the name on the screen and swiped to decline the call.

However, the caller was persistent, and the ringtone rang again.

“Whose call is that?” Zhao Rui, always eager to join in, peeked over at Shen Man’s phone. “Why aren’t you answering?”

Shen Man replied, “None of your business. You can’t even stop talking while eating.”

Zhao Rui mumbled and withdrew his head.

Shen Man, feeling a bit irritated, hesitated between answering the call or turning off his phone. In the end, he stood up and walked outside the restaurant.

“Hello,” Shen Man said.

On the other end, a woman’s voice came through, one he hadn’t heard in nearly two years. It sounded strangely unfamiliar. The woman said, “Man Man, my flight is the day after tomorrow afternoon.”

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

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

Shen Man fell silent.

Sometimes, silence is the answer to a question, but it seemed the woman didn’t notice, continuing to speak to herself. “Then it’s settled.”

Shen Man: “…”

The woman said, “See you then.”

Shen Man hung up the phone. He reached into his pocket, only to find it empty. He suddenly remembered that he had promised Xu Zhouye not to smoke for now, so he had put his cigarettes away. He felt a tightness in his chest and coughed forcefully. He turned back to look at the noisy hotpot restaurant but found he lacked the strength to go back inside.

Having been outside for the call, Shen Man didn’t return. Zhao Rui, after looking at the door for a while and not seeing him, grew a bit worried and sent him a message:

[Where are you?]

[Something came up, I left early.] Shen Man replied.

[What’s going on? Are you going to see your girlfriend?]

Shen Man didn’t reply.

[Don’t stay out too late.]

Still no reply. Zhao Rui sighed as he looked at his phone.

__

Shen Man got on a bus and sat by the window, staring blankly outside.

The city’s nightscape was beautiful. It was Friday, and after a busy week, people took the opportunity to go out and enjoy their free time. The streets were filled with cars, and the vibrant nightlife had just begun.

The air conditioning on the bus was strong, and Shen Man felt a little cold. He hugged his arms to himself.

The bus stopped, and a sweet female voice reminded passengers that they had arrived at the last stop.

Shen Man got off the bus and stood at the unfamiliar station for a few minutes before switching to another bus. He had no particular destination, just wandering aimlessly.

The surroundings became more unfamiliar, but there was something familiar about it all. The high-rise buildings, chain stores, and traffic lights connected in the night, and his restless mind slowly began to calm down. After another stop, he didn’t even know where he was anymore. It felt as though he had lost his way in a steel maze.

He wandered until it was nearly 11 p.m. The streets were much quieter, and the air was no longer hot.

Shen Man looked up at the sky. Even on a clear day, the city sky never showed any stars. He lowered his head and continued walking.

Life is always like this. Some things elude you when you need them, but when you no longer need them, they show up. But by then, they become burdens you don’t want.

Shen Man had never liked dealing with people. Silence and solitude were his norms. That was also why he chose the path of a professional player.

Because when you’re playing a match, you don’t need to talk. Being good enough is all that matters.

But some things can’t be avoided.

His phone rang again, and Shen Man took it out to check. It was Xu Zhouye’s name.

“Hello,” Shen Man answered the call.

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

Shen Man replied, “Hmm?”

Xu Zhouye said, “I brought you some late-night snacks…”

Shen Man thought to himself, Your girlfriend is here, and you’re still bringing me late-night snacks every day? If I didn’t know better, I’d think I’m your girlfriend. He found this thought a bit funny and couldn’t help but let out a small laugh.

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

Shen Man replied, “Nothing.”

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

Shen Man answered, “I’m full. Just wandered around for a bit.”

Xu Zhouye asked, “When are you coming back?” He muttered, “This takeout is really good. I waited in line for a long time. Hurry back, it’ll be cold if you don’t.”

Shen Man asked, “What time is it?”

Xu Zhouye replied, “It’s almost midnight. You should come back now.”

Shen Man hadn’t realized it was so late either, so he said, “Alright, I’ll be back soon.” After a pause, he added, “Are you staying at the base tonight?”

Xu Zhouye seemed a bit confused: “Yeah, what’s up?”

“Never mind, it’s nothing.” Shen Man felt it was personal, so he didn’t want to pry.

Xu Zhouye said, “Then hurry back.”

Shen Man replied, “…Okay.”

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

Everyone else was already resting, and only Xu Zhouye’s room light was still on.

Shen Man thought for a moment and knocked on his door.

“Coming!” came the response from inside, followed by the sound of rustling.

Shen Man looked at the room number and realized that despite knowing Xu Zhouye for so long, this was the first time he was at his room. Normally, it was Xu Zhouye who came to find him.

As he was thinking, the door creaked open, and Xu Zhouye appeared, his hair still damp from a shower. He seemed to have hurriedly put on his pants after hearing the knock. With broad shoulders and a narrow waist, his six-pack abs were still glistening with water droplets.

“Captain, you’re back,” Xu Zhouye stepped back and gestured for Shen Man to come in.

Shen Man hesitated for a moment but still entered the room.

Xu Zhouye’s room was a standard base room: a single room with a small balcony. He hadn’t been at the base long, so there wasn’t much in the room, but it was clean.

“Make yourself comfortable,” Xu Zhouye said, walking over to put on a T-shirt. He rubbed his hair dry, then picked up the late-night snacks he had brought and handed them to Shen Man. “Here, eat while it’s still hot.”

Shen Man took the food and asked, “Have you eaten? Want to eat together?”

He was just being polite, but Xu Zhouye smiled and said, “Sure, let’s eat here in my room. I’ll clean up afterward.”

Shen Man replied, “Alright.”

Xu Zhouye carefully arranged the boxes of food on the table, then handed Shen Man a pair of chopsticks.

Shen Man tried a bite, and it was indeed very good. He said, “Where did you find these takeout places?”

Xu Zhouye replied, “Online.” He broke open his chopsticks and sat down across from Shen Man.

They ate in silence, and the atmosphere was unexpectedly comfortable. Shen Man had been worried it might be awkward, but he was surprised to find that being alone in Xu Zhouye’s room for the first time felt so natural.

Xu Zhouye didn’t force a conversation, and the two occasionally talked about the food in front of them.

Having just showered, Xu Zhouye smelled faintly of orange, probably from his body wash. Shen Man liked oranges; they always gave him a lively feeling.

“Captain,” Xu Zhouye called softly.

Shen Man, slowly nibbling on a chicken leg, looked up. The chicken leg had been braised and then grilled, making it dry and particularly fragrant. Hearing Xu Zhouye call him, he hummed in response.

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

Shen Man was silent.

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

Shen Man finished his chicken leg, wiped his hands, and said, “I’m not in a bad mood.” At least, not right now.

Xu Zhouye responded with a simple, “Oh.”

Shen Man said, “Thanks for the late-night snacks. They’re really good.” He hadn’t eaten much at the hotpot earlier and had gone out, so now he was hungry. It was nice that Xu Zhouye, even while dating, still remembered to bring him snacks.

Xu Zhouye said, “No need to be so polite.”

Shen Man replied, “You’re the polite one.”

Xu Zhouye asked, “Hmm?”

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

Xu Zhouye was silent.

Shen Man chuckled at the speechless look on his face.

Xu Zhouye scratched his head, seemingly realizing Shen Man had a point. He said, “Then can I call you ‘ge’?”

Shen Man was stunned for a moment when he heard the word “ge.” He had expected Xu Zhouye to call him “Shen-ge,” but without the “Shen,” it sounded unexpectedly intimate.

Since he was still eating the snacks Xu Zhouye had worked hard to get, he had no reason to refuse, so Shen Man nodded, “Of course.”

“Ge,” Xu Zhouye said, his eyes shining brightly. Shen Man looked at him and could almost imagine a tail wagging behind him.

Shen Man replied, “Hmm.” Seeing how Xu Zhouye brought him snacks every day, having a younger brother like that wasn’t so bad.