【Zhou Xiang】The Tropic

1.

Fang Minghua was able to get Zhou Zekai's contact information by chance.

In the thirteenth season, the year after Zhou Zekai retired, he suddenly received a call.Because the number was unfamiliar, Fang Minghua's first reaction was that he was a new reporter, but immediately, the address and familiar tone on the other end of the radio wave made him almost yell out: "Xiao Zhou?!"

"Brother Fang, excuse me." Zhou Zekai's voice was a little hoarse, revealing an inexplicable emotion, "Do you still have the commemorative book of the fifth season?"

2.

"So he called you just for a souvenir book?" Sun Xiang was puzzled, "Is it a fancy thing that the PR department distributes every year?"

"Ah."

"What the hell does he want that for? It contains black history and black history. Only my mother likes it. She laughs wildly every time she flips it over, shit!"

"..." The corner of Fang Minghua's mouth twitched, "He said he lost it accidentally, so he asked me to make a copy."

Just as Sun Xiang was about to complain, "If you lose it, just lose it", Zhou Zekai's eyes suddenly flashed in his mind. As soon as the words came to his lips, he accidentally swallowed them back and turned them into three dry words: "That's it."

"Seat belt." Fang Minghua started the car, reminded someone who was absent-minded, and continued, "Later, I sent him messages during the holidays, and he replied to every message. When I came to you, I couldn't help talking to him alone. I raised my mouth. Cough, it happened that funds were tight at the time, and I jokingly asked him if he wanted to invest, of course, it must not be in his name, the kind that would get a hand from another family..."

"And this?" Sun Xiang's eyes widened, "You never told me!"

Fang Minghua was not guilty, and said frankly: "Oh, didn't Xiao Zhou refuse later, I forgot to tell you."

Sun Xiang stopped modifying the PPT, and rubbed his face involuntarily: "Fortunately! I feel weird when I think that there is a part of Zhou Zekai in the money I used." It's very strange, the kind of awkwardness for which I can't explain the reason.

Fang Minghua knew that he was talking to himself, so he just smiled and didn't answer.

Sun Xiang's emotions came and went quickly, and it didn't take long for him to concentrate on changing the plan again.

But when they were waiting for a long red light, Sun Xiang suddenly said: "No."

"Ok?"

"Since his mother..." He paused for a moment, and changed the phrase, "Since Mrs. Zhou's visit is not kind, and it's too late for us to hide, why do you suddenly dare to contact Zhou Zekai for a party again? Do you want to hit the gunpoint?"

Fang Minghua was confident: "So I sent a message to him first. I emphasized that if there is a party, he has to deal with Mrs. Zhou."

"Oh..." Sun Xiang nodded, vaguely feeling that something was wrong.

It was not until a long time later that Fang Minghua enthusiastically stepped forward to talk to the government personnel that Sun Xiang realized: "No, we invited him to the party secretly, so how did it become a good thing that requires him to submit his name on his own initiative? Zhou Zekai will be a ghost if he agrees!"

But he never expected.That night, Fang Minghua happily called him: "I agree!"

"W-what promise?" Sun Xiang was panting for three to ten minutes on the treadmill, and his thoughts were a little slow.

"Zhou Zekai agreed to the party!" Fang Minghua announced triumphantly.

Sun Xiang staggered and almost fell off the track.

3.

Time is like the leaves of early autumn, when no one notices, it has quietly fallen.After that day, Sun Xiang entered a very busy period: the first season of the new league started; the cross-border promotion of several peripheral devices led by him was in the implementation stage; the government funds were not so easy to get, so help out Finding resources is enough for him and Fang Minghua to become exhausted, and there are more temporary and trivial things to deal with. Sun Xiang sighs from time to time that life after retirement is simply not human.

Even so, he didn't regret or feel annoyed, but felt very fulfilled.Sometimes after finishing the work at hand, he would call on Zhao Yaoyao's team, who were also working hard, to have skewers for supper.Based on cost considerations, the Mercury Club chose the outer ring. The disadvantage is that occasionally going to the city to participate in activities is a bit congested, and you have to start early. The advantage is that it is close to the airport. When going out for games, the players can definitely sleep enough before leaving.Of course, for Sun Xiang, who is already a capitalist, there is also a bonus advantage - there are many restaurants in the surrounding area, various tastes, and cheap prices. The group building once in the city is comparable to the group building twice here.Therefore, he basically came to them for dinner whenever he was free. He didn't drink, just chatted, occasionally persuaded a fight, and finally paid the bill.

On this day, when he was resting his head and listening to the manager of the public relations department tell interesting stories about clients, a message suddenly came into his mobile phone.

Fang Minghua: Tomorrow at 10 o'clock in Yurong Village, don't oversleep!

"Fuck!" Sun Xiang hesitated for a moment, grabbed the car keys and wallet and got up, "I'm sorry guys, I have something to do first. Call me if you don't have enough food, and I'll ask you Mr. Zhao to ask me for reimbursement later!"

He hurried home, and immediately started spinning like a top as soon as he entered the door.First, find Zhou Zekai's shirt, put it in a clean bag, and put it in the porch, making sure not to forget it.Then I started rummaging through boxes and cabinets to pick out clothes.

After the bed was covered with various coats and jeans, Sun Xiang belatedly realized that his behavior was extremely abnormal—wasn't it just a gathering of acquaintances?Except for Zhou Zekai, who doesn't meet at least once every year?He didn't need to be so entangled, he was no different from Zhao Yaoyao before he went on a blind date!

Sun Xiang scratched his hair as if venting his anger, and sat down.Just for the sake of being handsome enough to overwhelm Lu Boyuan's self-proclaimed title of fashionable little prince!He quickly found an excuse to rationalize his stupid behavior.

So what to wear?

Sun Xiang's eyes wandered among the clothes on the bed, and finally felt that if he continued to choose, he would suffer from selective difficulty again, so he simply closed his eyes and drew lots.

Rock biker jacket, washed jeans.All right, turn around and put on a sweater casually, Sun Xiang thought about it for a while, put the rest back into the closet, heaved a sigh of relief as if he had completed a big event, washed up and went to sleep happily.

4.

The next day, Sun Xiang arrived at the agreed place 10 minutes early, parked the car under the guidance of the doorman, and thought about sending Fang Minghua a message.

"I'm here! Who's name to report?" While typing, he subconsciously reached for the bag of the passenger seat, and ended up touching air in his hand.

"...wtf." Sun Xiang turned his head suddenly, the passenger seat was empty, "I forgot to bring Zhou Zekai's clothes?"

So when he saw Zhou Zekai for the first time, he made an apologetic expression almost without thinking: "I'm sorry, I clearly said that I would bring it back to you, but in the end..."

"I didn't bring it either." Zhou Zekai interrupted him, "Even."

Sun Xiang was stunned, and said with a dry smile, "That's right, haha." This Zhou Zekai didn't seem to be cold when he saw him last time... On the contrary, he seemed to have been pierced by Du Ming's soul, and he looked like he deserved a beating!

But this is also a good sign, at least it means that the next chat will not be cold.

Sun Xiang looked Zhou Zekai up and down, "You look much better today."

Zhou Zekai: "Yes."

Sun Xiang blinked: "You came out this time, didn't you get followed?"

Zhou Zekai asked suspiciously, "Why follow?"

Sun Xiang was stunned: "Didn't you say that your family doesn't allow you to touch Glory?" It always felt awkward to directly say "I heard that your mother will be furious when she sees us in the same frame", so Sun Xiang wisely changed the term.

Zhou Zekai had no choice but to look at him: "I have grown up for a long time." It means that such trivial matters can be decided.

"That's right." Sun Xiang pulled his coat unconsciously, "It's been so many years, and you are so smart, even the hero of Les Miserables should defeat the boss and escape!"

What he could think of and hint at was too much information, once he uttered it, even himself was startled.Although Zhou Zekai's expression seemed calm and calm, Sun Xiang hurriedly explained: "I just said it casually, it's nothing special..."

"What boss! Are you talking about Glory? Add me!" Another familiar voice suddenly interjected.Immediately, an arm hooked Sun Xiang's shoulder.

Sun Xiang looked back in pain, Du Ming, whom he hadn't seen for half a year, was supporting him, and looked excitedly at Zhou Zekai: "Captain! Long time no see! You take good care of yourself, what brand of skin care products do you use? You don't seem to have changed at all! "

5.

As soon as Du Ming, a young master of active atmosphere, appeared on the stage, the whole style of painting inevitably changed.

Sun Xiang consciously retreated to the second line, while eating snacks, gloatingly watched Du Ming display eighteen martial arts and inquired about Zhou Zekai's work, marriage and relationship status in recent years.

Du Ming's skills are profound, and his face is also thick. Rao is such a calm and composed character like Zhou Zekai, who is asked by questions such as "are you tempted?" The question was hit in a row, and he was vaguely unable to resist.However, Zhou Zekai was Zhou Zekai after all, after realizing that perfunctory and silence were useless, he quickly found a new solution.

"What about you, are you married?" The former captain of Samsara seriously expressed concern about the emotional life of the former team members.

This trick might work!Sun Xiang looked at Zhou Zekai full of admiration.

As he expected, just as Zhou Zekai finished speaking, Du Ming's face swelled into a tomato, and his whole body instantly switched to another state, his eyes filled with sweetness and pride: "No, I'm not married, but I'm married." I have a girlfriend! She's cute and gentle... In short, it's great!"

Sun Xiang was shocked and curious: "Du Xiaoming, during the Spring Festival, you are still mourning in the circle of friends, this speed is okay! Bring the photos, let us see!"

6.

The next half hour was spent looking at photos of Du Ming's girlfriend and chatting with Lu Boyuan, Wu Qi, and Fang Minghua who came one after another.

Jiang Botao was the last one to appear on stage, which was quite depressing for him who was always punctual.In fact, he was the first to go out, but when he met a strange driver, he didn't know the way and wanted to save face. It was hard for him to find the right direction after going around.

"Why don't you get out of the car and change directly?" Du Ming was puzzled.

"Or it's not too late to complain now, have you kept the receipt?" Fang Minghua suggested.

"Forget it, I'm lazy." Jiang Botao shrugged indifferently, shaking hands or hugging everyone one by one.

Sun Xiang joked with a smile: "In the past, you would definitely complain. Now that you have been abroad for a long time, your thinking mode has changed a lot."

Jiang Botao, who settled in Northern Europe, stuck out his tongue: "Indeed. The environment will affect people subtly. If I hadn't returned to my country, I wouldn't have felt it in many aspects."

Everyone nodded.

"Speaking of which," Lu Boyuan raised his hand suddenly, "I haven't been able to figure out a personal change."

"Who?" Sun Xiang was curious.

"Who else are you asking, just you, Boss Sun!" Lu Boyuan put his shoulders on his shoulders, raised his eyebrows, "Being more and more calm, I don't believe it was influenced by Fang Minghua, you two have been teammates for how many years."

"It makes sense!" Du Ming didn't think it was a big deal after watching the excitement, and added with a smile, "And Sun Xiang's character is more and more like the captain than Brother Minghua! If you didn't know that you two haven't seen each other for five years, I haven’t even added WeChat, I absolutely suspect that after the captain retired, he moved into your house to live together!”

As soon as these words came out, several eyes turned to Zhou Zekai involuntarily.

There is no other, because this guy is so bold that he actually said in front of the righteous master what everyone has never dared to say.

7.

In fact, this is not too much.E-sports players have high training intensity, but it doesn't mean they keep their ears to the outside world.

Among other things, the official Weibo account is in their own hands.Even if there is no Internet addiction, I usually receive a request from the team, go up to send a message, and repost it on Weibo.At this time, all kinds of content such as comments, private messages, Aitri, etc. below will be seen by them naturally.

After the "Double One" became popular, everyone in Samsara has been harassed without exception.

Ordinary questions, such as "Are Zhou Zekai and Sun Xiang real?", they can bear it, and occasionally answer "I don't know" when they are in a good mood.But more often than not, the questions are not the weirdest, only weirder, "How many times a week do you roll the sheets?" "How about the soundproofing of the walls? Can you sleep at night?" Was it Sun Xiang who gnawed it?" Questions like this kind of mind-blowing questions appear endlessly.

There were too many times, and for a while, Du Ming and Lu Boyuan looked at Sun Xiang in the wrong way.Sun Xiang was so angry that he was speechless.

"I can't be more straight, what are you thinking!" Sun Xiang protested, "Go ahead, ask Zhou Zekai, his answer will definitely be the same!"

"I don't dare." The two of them confessed decisively, "Do you dare?"

Staring at them for a long time, Sun Xiang was discouraged: "Forget it."

That's right, at that time, he wasn't the only one who realized that Zhou Zekai and them were "not in the same world". In a sense, almost everyone couldn't help being cautious when they were paired with Zhou Zekai.Fortunately, this kind of subconscious caution only stays at the daily level. When encountering matters related to Glory, no matter Zhou Zekai or others, they can still communicate without hindrance.

Thinking of this, Sun Xiang, one of the protagonists of the gossip, couldn't help but look up at Zhou Zekai.

He had to admit that after hearing Du Ming's outspoken question, his first reaction was not to get angry or anxious to clarify, but to eagerly want to know what kind of expression Zhou Zekai would show.

Three seconds later, when their eyes met, the words "So it is" rolled across Sun Xiang's mind, with inexplicable discouragement.

It was still the same, quiet and calm, without waves, clearly close at hand, but seemed far away.After five years, he still couldn't understand the connotation in Zhou Zekai's eyes.The long-lost depression was like a transparent bubble, gently wrapping his heart.Sun Xiang couldn't help pursing his lips to distract himself.

In the past, he had been with this person for less than three years, and he had won two best partner trophies. He thought that his understanding of Zhou Zekai was far better than that of Jiang Botao.Then suddenly one day, because he couldn't remember something, in short, he suddenly discovered that his knowledge of Zhou Zekai was very poor, and it was limited to the scope of glory.

Indeed, when he is sitting in front of the computer, holding the mouse and keyboard, and facing a gun piercer on the screen, no matter what angle of view or distance, he has the confidence to maintain an unusually stable tacit understanding with this guy .He firmly believed that the direction of the evil spear's tip would be the target of the next second's attack by the wildfire and broken frost bullets.

However, once he leaves the computer, the competition seats, and the training room, Zhou Zekai's presence becomes low and mysterious.

He remembers that this guy was always the last one to leave the training room—a daily routine check as captain—often when he and the rest of his teammates had reached the corner before the door slammed softly.

Once Sun Xiang remembered that he had missed his room card, turned back in a hurry, and bumped into Zhou Zekai who had just locked the door.

"My room card," he gestured anxiously, "Did you see it?" He gestured anxiously.

Zhou Zekai nodded, took it out of his pocket, and handed it to him.

"Thank you!" Sun Xiang gratefully picked it up, but for some reason, the card fell to the ground during the handover process.

The next moment, the two of them squatted down almost at the same time, Zhou Zekai pressed the card with his hand, and his hand was stacked on top of Zhou Zekai's hand impartially.

"Did you hurt your finger?" Of course, the physical contact between boys would not embarrass Sun Xiang.On the contrary, at that time, Sun Xiang carefully noticed Zhou Zekai's middle finger wrapped with a very thin band-aid.

"It's okay, I accidentally scratched it just now." Zhou Zekai didn't look at him, and got up first.

Sun Xiang stood in the dual positions of teammate and partner, and expressed his concern without thinking: "Is the injury serious? If it is serious, go to the team doctor?"

"It's okay." Zhou Zekai raised his voice slightly, but interrupted suddenly.

Sun Xiang opened his mouth, and for a moment Zhou Zekai's aura blocked his desire to chat.

It was late at night, and the corridor lighting was almost turned off, only the side light strips cast some orange hazy light.Sun Xiang was a little aggrieved, he hesitated to speak, and couldn't help but look at Zhou Zekai.There was no expression on that profile face.The long eyelashes dyed a shadow along with his half-down eyes, as if they could hide all the emotions and thoughts in Zhou Zekai's heart.

These fragments of Sun Xiang had already been hidden in the corner of memory, but because of Zhou Zekai's almost identical eyes, they were turned to the top.

……

The atmosphere froze strangely. It turned out that for a while, not only Sun Xiang fell into deep thought, but others also had their own thoughts and kept silent.

"Cough," Jiang Botao couldn't help coughing, and complained in as brisk a tone as possible, "Everyone, don't stand around, order as soon as you're all here. Even if you're not hungry, feel sorry for the one that rarely returns to the country. , In order to have a good meal, the returnee goose who didn't order breakfast!"

"Oh yes yes yes! Love geese and protect geese," Fang Minghua was the first to come back to his senses, and quickly took over the conversation, "Xiao Jiang, if you don't say this word, I almost forgot our team's nickname back then! Hahaha!"

"Hahahahahaha! Don't starve the goose." Sun Xiang also reacted, walked to the round table in two steps, grabbed the menu and raised it, "Hurry up, choose what you want to eat, otherwise I will be free to play!"

8.

With the joint efforts of Fang Minghua and Jiang Botao and the active cooperation of Sun Xiang and others, the atmosphere returned to peace and joy in a short while.

During the meeting, everyone talked about Du Ming's girlfriend, Fang Minghua's daughter's recent exam results, Lu Boyuan and Wu Qi's entrepreneurial journey in the fashion industry, and Jiang Botao's chic study abroad life. Come back to glory.

When it comes to the handover of new and old glory and the change of dynasty, everyone can't help but sigh.Wu Qi said that he had created a new account in the game, but because he was not familiar with the use of the new skills, he was ridiculed by the elementary school students in the team.Lu Boyuan made a fuss, saying that one day we will build a guild, and we will have a lot of fun together.

During the period, the dishes ordered came one after another, and Du Ming was the first to express his surprise: "Who ordered this Kung Pao Chicken? So many peppers?"

"It's not me anyway."

"not me."

"It's so spicy, only Sun Xiang can eat it." Someone hit the nail on the head.

"I'm wronged," Sun Xiang waved his hands hastily, "I'm worried that Vice Jiang's stomach won't be able to adapt, so I didn't even order a spicy dish."

Everyone, you look at me, I look at you, and finally your eyes stop on Zhou Zekai.

Zhou Zekai was looking down at his phone at the time, and after a while, he sensed the silence around him, and he raised his head belatedly: "What's wrong?"

"Did you order Kung Pao Chicken?" Fang Minghua asked with a smile.

"Yes." Zhou Zekai nodded.

For a moment, Sun Xiang felt all kinds of eyes returning to him, which made him feel terrified.

He was really speechless. What kind of medicine did this group of people take today? Zhou Zekai, who was almost thirty, ordered a dish for his former teammates out of politeness. What was wrong with him?

Sun Xiang patted the table: "What are you doing? I also ordered Caotou circle. You can say that I ordered it for brother Minghua, or you can say that I added it specially for Zhou Zekai. It's almost done."

The table was quiet for a few seconds, and then——

"Ah, eat the vegetables!" "Wow, this fish head looks delicious!" "I'm starving to death!" Everyone seemed to have nothing happened, and started talking about themselves again.

Sun Xiang picked up a bone and poked it back and forth in the bowl, still a little unspeakably uncomfortable.

After poking it a few times, he almost subconsciously looked in Zhou Zekai's direction.Although it was very unnecessary, he somehow wanted to know if Zhou Zekai's expression changed after the quarrel just now.

As a result, the moment he raised his head, Zhou Zekai suddenly got up and left the table.Facing Sun Xiang's suspicious gaze, Zhou Zekai explained for the first time: "Home phone number."

9.

After eating for a while, Zhou Zekai never came back.

Sun Xiang drank some fruit juice and poured a few more bowls of soup, feeling heavy in his stomach, so he asked the waiter where the restroom was.

When he went there, he was in a hurry and didn't pay attention. He took two steps away from the bathroom, and suddenly saw Zhou Zekai on the phone near the safe passage not far away.

Although Zhou Zekai's voice was kept low, the environment was too quiet, Sun Xiang got closer and heard a sentence clearly.

—— "Well, it's not very important. I'll leave later."

leave later?Zhou Zekai was about to run away?

Thinking that he hadn't seen this person for five years, Fang Minghua made a special plan for him, but before he said a few words and didn't add his contact information, this guy actually planned to pat his ass and leave. These old teammates took it seriously, and strong anger and disappointment flooded their hearts uncontrollably.

Impulsively, Sun Xiang suddenly stopped in his tracks.Two meters away from Zhou Zekai, directly in front.

At this time, Zhou Zekai had just finished making a phone call, and Sun Xiang's figure was reflected in a pair of cool black pupils: "Sun Xiang?"

Sun Xiang squeezed his fist, he didn't know what to say next second, but the words he blurted out were extremely smooth, as if he had drafted them in advance: "You have to leave later, can you give me a ride? I have something to go home, but there is something wrong with the car, it is inconvenient to take a taxi in the wilderness..."

There are too many logical loopholes and common sense loopholes, Sun Xiang is already embarrassed to say it here.

To his surprise, Zhou Zekai hardly hesitated: "Okay."

So 1 minute later, he and Zhou Zekai returned to the box, and in front of everyone, bit the bullet and explained their decision to withdraw first.

Sun Xiang's most impulsive moment was over. After he calmed down, he felt that his performance was simply absurd, and Zhou Zekai could definitely see through that he was lying.But Zhou Zekai didn't puncture himself, but actually cooperated, which made him feel guilty and embarrassed.

Before getting into the car, Sun Xiang finally couldn't help but stop: "I'm sorry, I just thought about it again, if your matter is more urgent, just leave me alone and hurry up! If you can't get a taxi, I will call a special car at a higher price. .”

"Come up." Zhou Zekai lowered the car window, with a flash of a smile in his eyes, "I'm fine. I just called to lie to my family."

What? ? ?What did Zhou Zekai say?

Sun Xiang was stunned!

He really wanted a time machine, so that he could travel back to 10 minutes ago and slap his smart self.

TBC!