Honey Stewed Squid

On the day of the finals, Gun gave her an official staff badge as well as a K&K team uniform.

The meaning was very clear: “Do not wear clothes that are too Loli to sit in the players lounge.” She was thrilled that she finally owned a piece of his team’s apparel. And he was thinking, miniskirts were just too eye-catching. Just looking at them put him in a bad mood. Not suitable for wearing out in public, especially since… she had misunderstood that he liked those ear socks or whatever they were and had deliberately brought along a dozen or so pairs…

The two of them were the last to arrive at the stadium.

All the K&K players were in their rest area, some drinking water, some chatting casually, and some even quipping and joking with the event commentators. When they saw Tong Nian dressed in the team uniform, their eyes all lit up.

Dang! That was the difference between a pretty girl and a nobody[1].

How come when Little Sister-In-Law wore a jersey and tracksuit, she still looked so cute. Was Leader bringing a team mascot to the tournament with her like this? …

Gun surveyed the tournament site and saw that not far away in the SP rest area, the various leaders and executives of their China division had all made an appearance.

These were the national finals.

And that good friend and bro of his who had been drunk last night was now sitting in the front row on the far right.

Without uttering a word, he ambled indolently over and took a seat in the front row on the far left of K&K’s resting area.

His manner was unlike the deadpan properness of SP’s executives.

Once he sat down, he propped one leg up on the other knee, tugged the badge off his neck, and, wrapping the string around in a few loops, set it on his leg.

On the giant screen, the emcee was introducing the participating teams and players of this competition.

The camera was continually panning across each face, which brought about varying degrees of applause and excited exchanges between fans. The stadium was very large, and all the fans were in the back rows, relying on the broadcasts of these camera pans onto the big screen to identify their own idols and favourite players. Alas, the director very much knew how to keep people in anxious waiting and saved SP’s and K&K’s introductions for the very last.

Save the best for last.

Tong Nian followed him in and sat down.

It was not as if she had never watched a competition with him before, but this grand scene as well as the number of people in the audience all caused her to feel a little self-conscious.

Wearing K&K’s team jersey, sitting beside Gun—even just thinking about it felt inconceivable.

On their first meeting, behind the counter of that little cybercafé, she had been dozing while rather idly, with nothing to do, tapping away on the keyboard with one hand.

She, as someone who did not like video games, truly had not been able to muster up any interest for those little icons that were on the computer desktop.

Until a man had extended his hand forward.

Fingers, slender and well-defined, had casually rested on the counter.

Instinctively, she had lifted her head—

From that hand to its arm, and then continuing upward, it was the neckline of a black, cotton, short-sleeved t-shirt. In a somewhat sour mood, this man with a very large, black duffle bag slung diagonally across his back had leaned one arm on the glass top of the counter. “Overnights? Do you do them here?”

……

Countless times she had recalled that night in her mind.

And every time, it still felt unreal.

“Han Shangyan.” She spoke his name in a soft voice.

“Mm.” He answered her but did not turn his eyes to her, continuing only to watch the big screen.

“I… want to get married.”

Last night, he had asked her whether she wanted to.

At the time, she had been a little dazed, and as a result, she had ended up tossing and turning during the latter half of the night, unable to sleep and regretting why she had not told him “I want to.”

……

The emcee was ecstatically introducing all the accomplishments and honours K&K had achieved since its establishment…

Wordlessly, Gun returned her gaze and crooked a finger at her.

Huh? Tong Nian obediently leaned in closer.

His voice slid into her ear. “Look at the big screen.”

The big screen?

She abruptly twisted her head around. freℯ𝓌e𝚋𝐧𝘰vℯl.𝐜𝚘𝗺

Right this moment, the big screen was showing a close-up of K&K, a close-up of Gun and her…

Her back stiffened, and she dared not say much more as motionlessly, she sat there—beside him.

Gun straightened in his seat, giving an acknowledging nod to the camera, which could be considered his greeting to the audience members who were present at the site. His, Solo’s, appledog’s, as well as many of Team Solo’s other players’ fans from the past had come many miles to this place, and when the camera turned here in his direction, they all screamed with exhilaration.

Right now, right here, right this moment, he was not just her Han Shangyan.

Rather…

He belonged to everyone.

“No problem.” He smiled at the camera, a shallow dimple even showing on his face. “After the tournament, we’ll get married.”

Apart from her, no one knew what he was saying.

They only knew that he was speaking to the young girl beside him.

He, Han Shangyan, had never been one who wore his heart on his sleeve. His feelings were held in his heart. Being romantic or whatever was not required, not necessary.

A lifetime is so long, and I give it all to you.

Tong Nian.

[0:44] Many times have I faced cold glares and ridicule, yet never have I abandoned the hopes and ideals in my heart. In a dazed moment, I feel as if something is lost, missing. Imperceptibly, the love within my heart has faded away. Who understands me?

[1:09] Forgive me for, all my life, being unruly and indulging my passion for freedom. I, too, have fears that one day I will fall. To abandon one’s hopes and ideals is something anyone can do. I will not fear, even if one day there is only you and I.

—from Boundless Seas and Vast Skies