Chapter 48 - A Brand New Zhang Jun (1/2)
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
It was a fine Sunday. Many Luoyang citizens, not willing to let the day go to waste crowded the streets― especially the couples. They were either holding each other intimately or ignoring the oncoming stares as they bit into their partner’s ear.
A long time ago, a person once said that love belonged to the night and lovers, like vampires, were afraid of light. But now, it was an entirely different picture―those same lovers were publicly displaying affection as far as the eyes could see in broad daylight.
As people quietly admired the scenes and the infinite power of love, they forgot about the torturous sun, hurtful ultraviolet rays, vehicle emissions, noisy street and so forth. It was a private but immersive world.
However, there were exceptions.
“I really don’t understand why girls love to go out!” Zhang Jun wept. He had been dragged away from his soft bed by Su Fei, his plans to sleep until lunch hour foiled. “Hey! There are scars and bruises all over my feet. Won’t walking around like this aggravate it?”
“Hehe!” Su Fei smiled in response. “Those are just scratches, so stop being dramatic!”
Zhang Jun sighed. Her smile was well-known in the team; it was charmingly pure on occasion and chillingly devilish during others. He was really envying his teammates right now. They may not have the company of a beautiful girl, but at least they would enjoy long, peaceful naps.
Looking at Su Fei, who was leaping around and humming a tune, Zhang Jun was curious. “Why are you so happy today?”
Su Fei replied while she played hopscotch on the tiles of the street. “Because I found a brand new Zhang Jun!”
Zhang Jun froze. “A brand new me?”
“Yeah!” Not turning behind, Su Fei continued her leaping motion. “It’s been a year since our first high school year, but I’ve just discovered a whole new you… How do I say this… Before, you would surprise people on occasion, but also appear useless and annoying.”
She suddenly stopped and smiled at her the still-stunned neighbor. “But, I saw an entirely different you yesterday!”
“…Why?” Zhang Jun asked, finally reacting after some time and staring at her closely.
“Because you chose to take responsibility all by yourself!”
Su Fei turned her attention back to the tiles and focused on her prancing.
Amid the busy crowds under the brilliant sun, there Su Fei was in front of him; leaping around, her hair glinted a beautiful gold as it rose and fell; that beautiful back and unforgettable, tuning smile.
Zhang Jun thought that he was in dreamland again as everything else apart from Su Fei blurred. However, before he could bask more in the sensation, a voice rang, breaking the mood.
“Haha! Beauty and the beast!”
He sighed inwardly.
“Still not changing your bad habits even after becoming a national champion, Zhang Yang?” It was Zhang Lintao this time.
“Hmph! Would I still be Zhang Yang if I changed?”
Since they were both here, that meant…
And there Li Yongle was, smiling but not saying anything.
“You three are always together.”
“Heh, that’s for sure. We’re the three merry bachelors.” Li Yongle smiled.
Zhang Jun and Su Fei dared not say a thing out of a sudden sneaky pang of guilt.
“Although we’re single now, you won’t stop our right to pursue beauty!” Zhang Yang declared righteously. “We are the legendary ‘wife-hunting trio’!”
Li Yongle quickly waved it off and retreated, creating a line between him and his old friend. “I never said that!”
“I don’t know him!” Zhang Lintao added, ignoring Zhang Yang’s death glare.
After the jokes were over, Li Yongle went straight to the point. “I heard about your game yesterday.”
“How?”
“From a friend.” Li Yongle recalled the night before when he met Ah Yuan, who patted him on the back after summarizing the match for him.
The hoodlum said, “Flame Kid, I’ve never doubted your eyes. Even during your day of street fighting, you always picked the best opponent, and it’s the same for you now in soccer.”
Knowing that Ah Yuan was never one to be praiseful towards people he was not acquainted with, Yongle smiled.
“So? What do you think? It’s towards the end of both games that we’ve barely managed to―”
“I’m looking forward to our final now!” Li Yongle stopped him with a smile, and Zhang Jun was left speechless.
Typically, such a scene or atmosphere was fitting for the meeting between two frenemies. They would share meaningful smiles, meaningful conversation filled with arbitrary lines that would make the blood boil.
However, there was never a lack of mood-killing individuals on this planet.
“Aren’t those the Shu Guang cowards?” A stomach-churning voice immediately tarnished the chivalrous atmosphere.
Quite the number of acquaintances they were bumping into today! Zhang Jun did not need to turn to see who it was; both him and Su Fei did not reply to the obvious jab either, merely responding with a dirty look.
Still, Ma Ni was never a keen observer of human facial expressions. “Really! You guys actually made it to the final 16; that’s some bullsh*t luck right there. Kai Ta and Yang Guang are quite the thrash teams…”
Catching the smaller boy unaware, Zhang Jun grabbed his collar in a single move and spoke in his face chillingly, “Keep barking, while you still can! Our match will come after the next round, I hope you guys don’t get knocked out first! I won’t give you a chance to cry when the time comes!”
Releasing his grip after that, Zhang Jun left without so much as a glimpse behind. Su Fei glared at Ma Ni once before following in Zhang Jun’s wake.