Xue Lan was so frightened that he quickly put away his computer, put on his slippers, and ran to open the door.
Duan Wenzheng leaned against the door, tilted his head and looked at him: "Why did you leave in such a hurry just now? Did you give birth?"
"No." Xue Lan explained hurriedly: "I'm just a little sleepy."
Duan Wenzheng looked behind him in the dim light: "Why are you running back to look at the computer when you're sleepy?"
"..." Xue Lan's body froze: "No, just... just check the information."
"oh."
Duan Wenzheng's eyes fell thoughtfully on the laptop computer with the lid closed beside the bed: "What kind of information is it? I'll take a look with you?"
As he spoke, he paced sideways across the room. Xue Lan was so shocked that he trembled all over and quickly grabbed Duan Wenzheng's wrist.
"Nothing much, just some competition information!"
"Competition information?" Duan Wenzheng smiled harmlessly: "Then we should study it carefully together."
"!!!" Xue Lan never expected that he would be discovered by the owner the first time he did such a guilty thing! He hurriedly held Duan Wenzheng's wrist tighter: "It's very late, and we have training tomorrow, tomorrow. I won't watch it anymore, and you should go to bed early..."
"Don't." Duan Wenzheng laughed softly, "Of course this kind of information should be shared with everyone. How can you read it secretly by yourself?"
“…?” Although it is true that good tactics should be shared with teammates, but…
Although he felt something was a little wrong, Xue Lan still held him tightly.
Duan Wen Zheng didn't really seem to want to look at the computer. Instead, he was being pulled by him, and he looked at the person in front of him with a blushing face, who was lowering his head and pulling him.
"Don't be shy." Duan Wenzheng used the force of his grip on his wrist to pull him back to his side: "There's nothing difficult about this kind of thing."
"..." It seems... that's right? After all, he really tried hard to support his and Wen Yan's great love.
Seeing that his face was still red, Duan Wenzheng couldn't help but lean closer and whisper in his ear in a low voice: "Next time you have this kind of video... oh no, information, you can also share it with me, and we can discuss and learn together?"
"…" What are you learning? How to run a business relationship? Oh, no… He can't be misled by Duan Wenzheng, he is just watching the game video, he can't panic!
"Which one do you like?" Duan Wenzhengshen reached out and held the hand that was holding his wrist tightly. He rubbed the back of his hand unconsciously: "Japanese? Korean? Or... European and American?"
Xue Lan didn't expect Duan Wenzheng to actually mention the team to him. He was confused as to whether he had escaped a disaster or not. He knew too little about the teams in the global competition. He mumbled, "Korea, South Korea. Europe seems to be pretty strong too."
"Awesome?" Duan Wenzheng raised his eyebrows: "I'm also awesome, if you like..."
Duan Wenzheng leaned over and whispered in his ear, his voice hoarse and bewitching: "I can record one for you."
His tone was light and Xue Lan instinctively felt that he seemed to have something else in mind, but after thinking for a long time, he didn't feel that there was anything wrong.
Seeing that Xue Lan was unmoved by his "sales pitch", Duan Wenzheng raised his eyebrows and moved closer again, his eyes intertwined with hiss: "My videos are what millions of boys and girls want to see but can't, so... you don't want to see them?"
"… "
Xue Lan couldn't avoid him, and completely forgot that she was the one who didn't dare to let go and let him look at the computer.
Xue Lan couldn't break free from him, so he could only nod randomly, hoping that he would let him go after making enough trouble.
Duan Wenzheng carefully looked at Xue Lan's cheek, which was red as if it was about to bleed, and let go of his wrist: "I owe you for now, and I'll take a picture of it for you when I have the chance later."
Xue Lan finally pulled his hand back, rubbed his wrist and breathed a sigh of relief.
Duan Wenzheng was relieved to see that he was really not angry with him.
He glanced at the closed notebook beside the bed. Although he realized that Xue Lan was not watching that kind of video, he still said happily:
"Watch less, I'll teach you slowly later."
After he said that, he rubbed the little head in front of him that was nodding timidly, then turned and walked out of the room.
Xue Lan sent Duan Wenzheng away, and heaved a sigh of relief. He stopped caring about the CP super topic, turned off the computer and went to bed.
In the following days, everyone in the team concentrated on practicing, and Xue Lan gradually put the matter behind him.
In the blink of an eye, it was the day of the second team points competition.
Xue Lan arrived at the competition venue on time that day. This points competition was the same as the previous one, except that they were now the team with the most points and did not need to choose a team to challenge or draw lots first.
Xue Lan arrived at the competition venue, and before he could find Qi Siyu and the others among the crowd, he was stopped by a voice.
"Are you Xue Lan?"
Xue Lan was sure that he had never heard this person's voice before. He turned his head in confusion and looked in the direction of the voice.
He saw a man in his early thirties, dressed in a neat suit, standing outside the training room that was used as the competition venue, looking at him in the light coming in through the glass window. However, this man's eyes were full of criticism and measurement, which made Xue Lan subconsciously feel a little uncomfortable.
The man then retracted his gaze and revealed a gentle smile: "The attacker played well."
"Thank you." Xue Lan didn't know who the person in front of him was. Although he was confused, he still nodded slightly.
The management of the youth training camp had not yet arrived, and the waiting youth trainees gathered together and chattered about the upcoming games. Xue Lan vaguely remembered that he had heard Qi Siyu mention -
Today in the points match, the manager of LGW and the manager of Thunder team will both be here.
The man in front of him exuded an air of putting a price tag on everything, which made Xue Lan guess his identity at once.
"Let me introduce myself. I'm Huo Ran, the manager of the Thunder Team."
really.
The manager of the Thunder team has always regarded LGW as a thorn in his side. Now that LGW's Sun Haoshan has retired, he plans to take this opportunity to defeat LGW in one fell swoop and drive them out of the annual world championship candidates.
Their team has the support of a financial group behind them, who spend a lot of money on players they value and do a lot of poaching.
Xue Lan frowned slightly, but still greeted politely.
"We have been paying attention to your previous games and training. You should know that our Thunder team is currently in need of an attacker..."
"I'm sorry." Xue Lan said politely, "I can't join the Thunder Team, but you will definitely find someone more suitable than me."
"If you are willing to come to Thunder, you can name your price..."
"It's not about money." Xue Lan waved his hands: "It's me... I already have a team I want to join."
"Which team do you want to join?" Huo Ran raised his eyebrows: "You don't really want to join LGW for Wind, do you? LGW doesn't lack attackers."
"No." Xue Lan waved his hands awkwardly: "Don't get me wrong, I am not interested in Wind..."
"Little girl, you have to think more about your future." Huo Ran didn't listen to his explanation, and continued to advise: "There are only a handful of teams that are short of attackers now, and only our Thunder team is the best choice. Besides, Wind is nothing... As long as you come to our team, I guarantee that you can settle all the previous accounts with him on the court..."
Xue Lan had never thought of settling any scores with Wen Yan, not to mention... The Thunder Team was too utilitarian and always regarded Wen Yan as their first target. In the original text, after Deng Ruiqiu joined the Thunder Team, he was required to train with a fighting style that specifically restrained Wen Yan, which completely smoothed out all his original personal characteristics... and was eventually abandoned by the Thunder Team.
In fact, after playing against Deng Ruiqiu so many times, Xue Lan could see that Deng Ruiqiu was also a talented, very strong-willed and hardworking player. Thinking that his pride and edges would be smoothed out in that way in the future, it was hard for Xue Lan, who also regarded playing professionally as his dream, not to empathize with him.
But before Xue Lan could say anything, someone interrupted Huo Ran.
"What does Manager Huo mean?"
Xue Lan had never known that someone could be so "quick". Just as he was thinking about Deng Ruiqiu, he appeared behind him.
Deng Ruiqiu seemed not to notice him, staring at Huo Ran coldly: "Manager Huo said a few days ago that I was the only one you wanted to sign among the newcomers this year. How come you changed people in the blink of an eye?"
"I have always been a person who cherishes talent. If you are willing to come, we at Thunder will naturally welcome you... After all, only when there is competition can talents achieve breakthroughs."
Huo Ran spoke in a high-sounding manner, but even Xue Lan, who always had difficulty distinguishing people's voice-overs, could easily hear that his words did not contain much sincerity, and the look he gave Deng Ruiqiu seemed a little contemptuous.
Deng Ruiqiu's expression became even uglier when he heard this.
"Okay, let's wait and see."
After he finished speaking, he gritted his teeth and glanced at Xue Lan unwillingly, then walked straight into the training room with a dark face.
Xue Lan looked at his leaving back awkwardly, not knowing what else to say for a moment.
There was a bustling sound coming from the waiting area, and Manager Ke was seen leading Wen Yan, Zhou Kanqing and two unfamiliar faces towards the area.
Huo Ran seemed to be unaware of this. Instead, he said to Xue Lan with a cheerful smile, "Don't worry about answering me. You can think about it slowly, but you will understand in the end that Lei Ting is your best and only choice."
After he finished speaking, he adjusted his tie out of habit, looked past him with a determined gaze and walked into the training room.
Wen Yan walked to the corner outside the training room and glanced thoughtfully at Xue Lan's position through the glass wall.
Xue Lan quickly came to his senses and ran to the training room.
After the first round of the points competition, everyone had a good understanding of the rules. Manager Ke walked to the front of the stage and introduced everyone with a smile: "Let me introduce you to Xie Zhinian, the manager of LGW, and Huo Ran, the manager of Thunder Team. You all have to perform well in this points competition!"
One of the people who came with Wen Yan was Xie Zhinian, who was introduced to everyone by Manager Ke. He was in his early thirties and looked gentle and refined... totally different from the image of a "chatty" person described in the original text.
Xue Lan's gaze quickly passed over him, but fell on the man standing behind Xie Zhinian and Wen Yan—the man was about 25 or 26 years old, looked easy-going and calm, the kind of appearance that was difficult to recognize in a crowd.
Xue Lan's heartbeat also quickened.
If he guessed correctly, this person was LGW's attacker - Meng Qi.
"The format of this points tournament is the same as last time, so we will first invite the team ranked last in points to draw lots or choose a designated team to challenge!" Manager Ke said, and everyone turned their eyes to Deng Ruiqiu.
Deng Ruiqiu raised his head under the gaze of everyone, but his sight happened to fall on Xue Lan.
Xue Lan's breathing stagnated.
Wait a minute, Deng Ruiqiu wouldn't...
Deng Ruiqiu raised his chin slightly and said, "Do you... dare to accept the challenge?"
Xue Lan and several teammates subconsciously turned their eyes to Duan Wenzheng, who was sitting on the side and yawning. Duan Wenzheng raised his eyes slightly, as if he had just discovered that Deng Ruiqiu had pointed out that it was his team that was to be challenged.
His sight fell on Xue Lan without leaving any trace, and the corners of his smiling eyes were slightly raised, but he said to Deng Ruiqiu: "I don't like to fight with the defeated opponent."
"You don't dare?!"
Deng Ruiqiu growled with a red face.
Perhaps everyone would have thought that Duan Wenzheng and the others would reject Deng Ruiqiu's challenge, but no one expected that Duan Wenzheng would be so arrogant as to say such words in front of everyone.
Including Xue Lan.
But at this moment, facing the anger of Deng Ruiqiu and several members of his team, Duan Wenzheng's eyes were always fixed on them.
His eyes were always on Xue Lan.
There was still a hint of smile in his eyes, which made Xue Lan, who didn't understand why, feel his face getting hot unconsciously.
Xue Lan lowered his head, wondering why Duan Wenzheng rejected Deng Ruiqiu's challenge. Xue Lan was confused, but Deng Ruiqiu's annoyance at the door and his provocative look at him flashed through his mind...
Xue Lan's heart moved.
"Don't dare?" Duan Wenzheng retracted his gaze, and when he finally looked at Deng Ruiqiu, the smile in his eyes disappeared, leaving only an unconscious smile on his lips: "I don't dare, I'm afraid you will cry if you lose."
"… "
"Alright, provoking you is useless." Duan Wenzheng said calmly: "Our team will not accept the challenge."
Faced with Duan Wenzheng's indifference, even if Deng Ruiqiu was very annoyed, he could only walk to the side to the drawing group to blindly draw his opponent.
Xue Lan saw that everyone's eyes had turned away, so he carefully tugged at the corner of Duan Wenzheng's clothes and said, "Will he hate you for what you said just now?"
Duan Wen Zheng glanced at the hand that was secretly pulling at the corner of his clothes, and then glanced at the person next to him who didn't dare to look at him and was pretending to be calm.
"No." Duan Wenzheng said lightly: "As long as they don't draw us, it would be a good draw for them to draw any other team."
"… "
Duan Wenzheng's words were a bit frivolous, but Xue Lan thought about it for a long time and couldn't find any words to refute. Instead, he felt that... there was some truth in it.
After all, Deng Ruiqiu and his team were indeed the most outstanding in the youth training camp. If Deng Ruiqiu hadn't wanted to compete with them, as long as they weren't the ones drawn... then it would basically be a sure win.
But who would have thought that just as Xue Lan was thinking this, he saw Deng Ruiqiu, who had opened the lot, was stunned. Then he revealed a weird smile and spread the lot in his hand towards the two of them.
What was written on the signature was the team with Xue Lan and Duan Wenzheng's IDs listed.