The other team members filed into the lounge one after another to prepare for the review, and soon the room was full.

Just as Pei Ran started to feel uncomfortable, Yan Zhun spoke.

"You guys take your time with the review. It's not convenient for us to be here, so we're heading back."

"It's not inconvenient at all," the Coach said, trying to make him stay.

Yan Zhun said: "Let's go, Pei Ran."

"Hey, wait," Lin Xuhuan said quickly. "Baby Ran, I haven't given you the peripherals yet. Wait for me, I'll go to the warehouse to get them."

Pei Ran called out to Lin Xuhuan before he could go upstairs.

Lin Xuhuan said: "What's wrong? Don't be shy. The peripherals are from our sponsors. They send us several sets during holidays, we can't even use them all."

Pei Ran didn't want to expose his online activities, but it was even more impossible for him to falsely claim the passion and affection that fan had for Lin Xuhuan.

"Someone else sent me this photo," he explained. "It was one of your fans who commissioned me, wanting me to draw you."

Lin Xuhuan was stunned at first, then his expression turned to one of admiration for Pei Ran: "You're an art student? I knew it! The moment I saw you, I knew you must be studying something in that field. Have you taken many commissions? Do people often ask you to draw me?"

Pei Ran said: "Only this once."

Lin Xuhuan: "..."

The team members in the lounge all laughed, and someone even cursed him for being shameless.

"What the hell do you guys know? You can tell Baby Ran draws really well just by looking. One painting is expensive! Besides, the ones who like me are all little sisters, how would they have the money to commission something like this?" After speaking, Lin Xuhuan cleared his throat, leaned closer to Pei Ran and asked, "Baby Ran, we're so close now, you have to give my fan a discount... How much was the commission?"

Pei Ran opened his mouth, then hesitated.

Lin Xuhuan said: "Don't worry, just say it. It's fine even if it's high, I'm worth that price."

Pei Ran said: "Eight hundred."

Lin Xuhuan: "."

When the team assistant came in, Lin Xuhuan was arguing with someone, muttering things like, "You're the cheap one," "Are you fucking looking down on eight hundred yuan," and "Even if you paid your fans, they wouldn't want your drawing."

"What's so funny?" The assistant placed the box in his hands on the table. "The sponsors sent a gift."

Lin Xuhuan stopped what he was doing: "What is it?"

"Merchandise." The assistant opened the box and took out a merchandise keychain, dangling it from his hand.

The keychain was a pair of pink sneakers, thumb-sized. The style was the sponsor's new shoe model, and the details were exquisitely done.

"It's so small, and it's pink." Lin Xuhuan scrunched up his face. "I don't want to wear it."

"There are all sorts of colors, come pick one yourselves. They look great hanging on a peripheral bag, and you can also give them to your girlfriend." The assistant turned back and said, "Brother Zhun, leaving? I got one for you too. What color do you want?"

Lin Xuhuan laughed as he picked one out: "Forget it, my brother isn't interested in this stuff—"

"White," Yan Zhun asked in a low voice. "Do you have it?"

-

After the two left the Base, they walked a long way without anyone speaking.

Pei Ran didn't know what to say. Yan Zhun was walking very slowly, probably a bit tired from the training match, so he simply didn't speak either.

A cool breeze brushed against his cheek, and Pei Ran blankly raised his head.

At some point, a drizzle had started to fall from the sky, the raindrops fine and pattering.

This kind of rain didn't affect normal travel. The pedestrians on the street walked on with their usual expressions, at most quickening their pace.

Pei Ran was focused on watching the rain in the air when he suddenly felt something cover his head, and the brim of a cap blocked most of the view in front of him.

He subconsciously reached up and touched Yan Zhun's black baseball cap.

Yan Zhun's eyes were lowered. His gaze met Pei Ran's for only two seconds, then he reached out to adjust the position of the brim.

The baseball cap carried Yan Zhun's scent, like the drifting rain, cool yet gentle.

Pei Ran came back to his senses: "You don't have to, the rain isn't heavy."

Yan Zhun said: "Wear it properly."

Pei Ran: "..."

They walked in the rain. The brim of the cap blocked Pei Ran's upper field of vision, so to get a better view, he subconsciously tilted his chin up slightly.

He didn't notice at all that the person beside him had been looking down at him the whole time.

Just a few training matches wouldn't tire Yan Zhun out. He was silent because his heart was not at peace.

The moment he saw Lin Xuhuan's photo on Pei Ran's phone, he felt as if he had returned to a certain summer in high school.

That day, he came out of the supermarket with two bags of milk candy in his hand. As he passed a hidden corner, he saw Pei Ran leaning against the wall, head down, quietly letting Luo Qingshan hold his hand.

When they reached the intersection where they were supposed to part ways, Pei Ran stopped: "Thank you for taking me to the Base today..."

"Pei Ran," Yan Zhun interrupted him.

Pei Ran looked at him: "Hm?"

Yan Zhun was taller than Pei Ran. Because of the cap's brim, Pei Ran had to strain to look up when talking to him.

Yan Zhun raised a hand and slightly bent the brim upwards.

He said: "Do you still remember that I said I like you?"

Pei Ran instantly fell silent, his slowly widening eyes revealing his panic.

He even wanted to push the brim back down himself.

Realizing Yan Zhun was waiting for his answer, Pei Ran was quiet for a long time before saying: "I remember."

Yan Zhun hummed in acknowledgment.

Feelings weren't miscellaneous items that could be neatly packed into a suitcase and then thrown away. That's why he had always wanted to give Pei Ran time, but now, he suddenly didn't want to wait anymore.

If Pei Ran had trauma from his ex cheating, he would clean it up.

If Pei Ran still had feelings for Luo Qingshan, then he would destroy them.

"Hand."

Pei Ran was still a bit dazed and subconsciously held out his hand.

In his palm was a small white sneaker, the keychain the assistant had just mentioned was "something you can give to your girlfriend."

Yan Zhun said: "Pei Ran, I'm starting to pursue you."