They were all young guys, so the moment they heard they were being taken on a trip, they naturally lit up with excitement. The most obvious of them all was Chen Che—once he got the news, he even started taking training more seriously that day. At night, he was too wired to sleep and constantly pestered Wen An.
Out of the five of them, the calmest was Qi Song. Unlike the others who couldn’t contain their excitement, his daily routine remained unchanged. He trained when it was time to train, and slept when it was time to sleep.
“Captain Qi, could you at least pretend to look excited? Just fake it a little,” Chen Che said. “Coach really went all out this time, you know. A day trip to a hot spring!”
Qi Song’s long fingers clicked crisply on the mouse buttons. He gave Chen Che a sidelong glance, then looked back at the screen.
“You haven’t finished today’s training. Planning to make up for it tomorrow with double sessions?”
“Oh crap, I totally forgot—ahhhhhh!”
Chen Che bolted like his pants were on fire.
On the bus, the group chatted enthusiastically. Qi Song, however, sat alone, bundled up in a scarf as he gazed at the snowy scenery outside. The resort Coach had picked was a bit far from their training base but conveniently close to Province A. After the holiday, they could just head straight to A Province for the tournament.
Everyone on the team knew Qi Song didn’t like winter. He was especially sensitive to the cold, always wrapping himself up tight. But ironically, he had the kind of build that made anything he wore look like a fashion ad, something that made Chen Che endlessly jealous.
When they arrived at the resort, it was snowing steadily. The owner greeted them with a smile and introduced a nearby sightseeing town.
“You can take a stroll this afternoon, then soak in the hot springs tonight to relax your muscles.”
The group happily agreed.
Chen Che roamed around the courtyard snapping photos for his WeChat Moments. But then he noticed Qi Song had stopped in his tracks, staring at something with a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips. The next moment, Qi Song did something that caught Chen Che completely off guard—
He pulled out his phone and snapped a few pictures of a little snowman in the courtyard.
“…??”
Chen Che was stunned.
If Chen Che was a bold trendsetter who lived for the limelight—posting every meal, every new item, and every random thought on Moments—then Qi Song was the exact opposite. He was a human announcement board for internal team notices, never took photos, and probably didn’t even have childhood pictures saved anywhere.
This was the first time Chen Che had seen Qi Song take a picture of anything.
After Qi Song walked away, Chen Che stroked his chin and studied the snowman intently.
Sure, it was adorably goofy—but that alone couldn’t be the reason. What exactly had caught Captain Qi’s attention?
“It’s ‘cause he’s in love,” Wen An said knowingly, looking wise and serene. “When you’re dating, you start wanting to share cute things with your partner. It’s normal.”
Chen Che looked like he’d seen a ghost.
“I almost forgot Captain Qi has a boyfriend…”
Normal people in relationships were glued to their phones, constantly FaceTiming and cooing sweet nothings. Qi Song’s routine, on the other hand, was just: game, game, eat, sleep, game, game…
No one had ever seen him make a call to his boyfriend. And it was long-distance, too.
“Who is his boyfriend anyway? I’m dying of curiosity!”
Chen Che clawed at his own head in frustration.
Wen An gave him a look like he was an idiot.
***
In the café—
Chi Zhan had gone completely still.
The group that had just walked in hadn’t noticed anything strange. One of them was dusting snow off his coat as he looked around.
“Man, it’s really coming down out there. Streets are practically empty—huh? Secretary Chi, you’re here too? What a coincidence!”
Both sides fell silent, staring at each other from across the room.
The café owner, seeing the way they looked at one another, offered, “You know each other? Feel free to share a table.”
“You’re from WT, right? I’m a huge fan!” someone gushed, and the rest quickly chimed in. They ended up pushing two tables together into one large one.
Whether by coincidence or tacit agreement, the seat beside Chi Zhan was left empty.
Perhaps it was the long time they’d been apart, but Chi Zhan hesitated for a few seconds.
“What a coincidence.”
Qi Song sat down beside him. His scarf covered most of his face, leaving only his calm, quiet eyes visible as he looked at Chi Zhan.
“Yeah,” Qi Song replied. “What a coincidence.”
Maybe it was just his imagination, but Chi Zhan thought he saw the faintest hint of a smile in those eyes.
With WT joining in, the once-empty café was suddenly packed. The new arrivals were outgoing and easy to talk to, so it didn’t take long for the room to grow lively.
“Isn’t your match coming up in a few days? I’ll come watch.”
Chen Che’s ears perked up instantly. He grinned.
“Secretary Chi, you should’ve told us sooner. Captain Qi could’ve gotten you a few tickets! We each get a family pass—it’s the best seat in the house.”
Family pass.
How could Chi Zhan dare to accept that?
Qi Song kept his head down, eyes on his phone. His ears had turned red from the cold, his skin pale and frosty like the lingering snow atop a mountain. Chi Zhan thought for a moment, then asked the owner for a small portable heater and handed it to him.
He’d already noticed last time—Qi Song was afraid of the cold.
Qi Song blinked in surprise and studied the heater.
“Thanks.”
It was shaped like a little white cat with pointy triangle ears and light spots on its back, like a splash of milk. When wrapped in Qi Song’s fingers, it added an unexpected touch of cuteness—a striking contrast to his cool demeanor.
The group started a ten-player match, splitting into two teams. Everyone scrambled to get on Seven’s team.
“What, no one wants to play with me?” Chen Che clutched his chest in mock heartbreak. Someone shouted, “I love your style! Super aggressive!”
Chi Zhan really wanted to be on Seven’s team, but with everyone eyeing them so expectantly, he ended up choosing the team with fewer people.
Getting to face off against Seven… actually felt kind of special too.
After all, how many people could say they’d gone head-to-head with him?
Qi Song’s expression remained hidden behind his scarf, but when Chi Zhan switched teams, he lifted his gaze. His dark eyes locked onto Chi Zhan.
It made Chi Zhan a little nervous. But Qi Song only looked at him once—then turned away.
WT’s lineup had been scattered. Chi Zhan teamed up with Chen Che and Wen An, while the rest were placed on the opposing team.
