Li Xun’s reaction to the news that Zhu Yun and Gao Jianhong wanted to enter a competition was one of profound, undisguised contempt.
According to Gao Jianhong, Li Xun’s original plan had been to use this trip as an opportunity to take the two of them on a proper tour of the surrounding area. He’d had no interest in the event to begin with and had treated the whole trip as a vacation — a chance to reward his people — but now…
The cafeteria.
Zhu Yun: “Where is he?”
Gao Jianhong: “He went out.”
Zhu Yun: “Where to?”
Gao Jianhong: “He left right after the event ended. Probably off having fun somewhere.”
Zhu Yun pursed her lips, picked up her tray, and sat down beside Gao Jianhong.
“Why did you suddenly change your mind?” Gao Jianhong asked.
Zhu Yun said, “No particular reason. I just felt like entering.”
Gao Jianhong said, “Since we’re entering, we should aim for a good result. When we get back, let’s sit down with Teacher Lin and talk through the specifics. And we’ll need to bring in one more person.”
“Find another person…” Zhu Yun was only half paying attention. She glanced up absentmindedly and caught Gao Jianhong’s eye — both of them instantly knew what the other was thinking.
Who to ask? Who better to ask than the top scorer himself — the one who never missed a shot, the ultimate guarantee.
“This is going to be rough,” Gao Jianhong said first. “I already asked him when we were heading back to the room just now, and there’s absolutely no hope. I think he’s dug his heels in specifically over this — after all, the two of us suddenly decided to enter a competition and threw the whole base’s plans into disarray.”
Zhu Yun puffed out her cheeks in agreement. Having spent so much time around him, she had yet to see anyone successfully persuade Li Xun of anything. If anything, Li Xun’s ability to persuade others was what was truly impressive.
“You go…”
“Hm?” Zhu Yun looked up, and Gao Jianhong continued: “You go talk to him. I think there might still be the tiniest sliver of hope.”
Zhu Yun let out a dry laugh. “You think too highly of me.”
Gao Jianhong: “Give it a try. Unless you have someone better in mind?”
After dinner, back at the hotel, Li Xun still hadn’t returned. Outside it was already dark. Zhu Yun lay on her bed thinking for a while, then sent him a text.
Where are you?
She waited a long time. No reply.
She called him. It rang a few times, then a woman picked up — the noise on the other end was deafening, unmistakably some kind of entertainment venue. Zhu Yun hollered a few times without knowing whether the other person could hear her, then took a deep breath and shouted at the top of her lungs: “Hello?! Can you hear me?! Is Li Xun there?! Tall guy, blond hair!!”
The student in the next bed nearly jumped out of her skin. Zhu Yun quickly turned and mouthed an apology.
From the phone came faint crackling sounds — something like a door closing — then sudden silence.
“What do you want?”
Zhu Yun was caught off guard by how clear his voice was. She’d assumed he’d be completely drunk by now.
“Speak.”
“…” Her instincts as a woman told her that blurting out the real reason for this call right now would result in swift and merciless rejection. “…Um, the teacher asked me to let you know — come back soon, there’s still stuff going on tomorrow.”
“Got it.”
The call ended. Zhu Yun narrowed her eyes and thought at top speed — exactly how was she supposed to get Li Xun in a good enough mood to drag him into this?
In the middle of the night, her phone buzzed. A text from Gao Jianhong: Li Xun was back.
I’ll hang out in the senior’s room for a bit. You go talk to him.
Zhu Yun set down her phone, went to the bathroom, bent and kicked her way through five minutes of warm-up stretches, and then set off with her prepared supplies.
Li Xun was staying one floor above her. The whole building was full of students from across the country who had come for the event — late as it was, faint voices still drifted through the corridors.
The computer science department: a breeding ground for natural-born night owls.
Zhu Yun arrived at Li Xun’s door, took a deep breath, and knocked.
“Who is it?”
“Li Xun, it’s me.”
A few seconds later, Li Xun opened the door. “What do you want?”
Zhu Yun held up what she was carrying.
“Have you been drinking? This is some yogurt I just bought.”
“I didn’t drink.”
Never mind.
Zhu Yun switched to something else.
“Want a late-night snack? The cafeteria’s late-night menu here is really good.”
“Already ate.”
That’s fine.
Zhu Yun rummaged in her bag and produced another item.
“Did you bring enough spare clothes?”