Once the two of them arrived at the birthday party, the players of the national team had already arranged the private room. Balloons and streamers were hung from the roof and balloons were used to spell out the words βHappy Birthday Coach Jiangβ on the background wall.
Jiang Shaoyu couldnβt help the corners of his mouth stiffening when he saw this scene… wasnβt it a bit pompous?
Seeing Jiang Shaoyu enter through the door, everyone shouted in unison, βHappy birthday!β
Jiang Shaoyu felt a bit helpless in his heart and walked quickly to the table.
Pei Feng immediately put the birthday cake on the table, opened the box and personally lit the two candles β2β and β4β for his master. He said with a smile, βMaster, happy birthday. Make a wish first.β
Jiang Shaoyu never believed in βbirthday wishes.β His wishes could only be fulfilled by hard work and making wishes was just psychological comfort.
Facing Pei Fengβs gentle eyes, Jiang Shaoyu couldnβt easily refute him. He closed his eyes and made a wish. Then he blew out the candle in one breath.
There was warm applause around him and Jiang Shaoyu handed the knife to Pei Feng. βYou cut it for me.β
Pei Feng was willing to help his master with work. He took the knife and carefully cut the double-layered cake according to the number of people present. He handed one to his master and then distributed it to the others.
Jiang Shaoyuβs eyes swept over the audience and he said, βEveryone, sit. There is no need to train tonight. Take advantage of this birthday dinner to relax.β
Everyone took their seats in turn and the waiter quickly brought the dishes.
Pei Feng picked up a large box with exquisite packaging and handed it to Jiang Shaoyu with both hands. βMaster, this is the birthday gift that we all prepared for you together.β
Jiang Shaoyu said, βThank you. What is inside?β
He moved to open it and Pei Feng hurriedly said, βGo back and open it.β
Jiang Shaoyu had to give up and put the gift next to him first.
Lao Lin sighed emotionally, βThis seems to be the first birthday we spent with Brother Yu, right?β
Zhou Yiran smiled and said, βYes. For his 18th birthday he just happened to retire after the finals and we didnβt have time to spend it together.β
The finals of the S3 season also ended in October. ACE won the championship and Jiang Shaoyuβs birthday was coming. Several people wanted to celebrate him, but he suddenly retired.
Hua Ran was heartless and asked bluntly, βWhy did Coach Jiang retire in the first place?β
This question made the box suddenly fall silent.
Mo Hantian, Xia Li and the others were also curious about the reason why Jiang Shaoyu retired that year. They wanted to listen carefully to Coach Jiangβs explanation…
In the end, Jiang Shaoyu just said, βPersonal reasons.β
This explanation, wasnβt it the same as not saying it?
The atmosphere in the room was suddenly a bit embarrassing. Hua Ran also realized that he asked a question that he shouldnβt have asked. He hurriedly lowered his head to reduce his presence.
Pei Feng smiled and took the initiative to give his master a dish and ease the atmosphere. βMaster, try these glutinous rice ribs. It is delicious.β
Jiang Shaoyu let out a βhmmβ and lowered his head to eat. The others let out a sigh of relief and continued to focus on the meal.
The dishes ordered by Pei Feng were indeed good and everyone was very satisfied when eating.
After the meal, Jiang Shaoyu took the initiative to pay the bill. He wasnβt interested in going to a KTV to sing, but he also saw that everyone wasnβt having fun. This made him whisper to Pei Feng, βIf they want to go out to play, you can organize it. I will reimburse the expenses.β
Pei Feng looked back at everyone. βDo you want to go out and play?β
Hua Ran excitedly suggested, βI know there is a store nearby where we can play board games, sing K and it also provides a self-service meal! My classmate recommended it to me before, but I havenβt had a chance to go. Do you want to try it?β
Xia Li immediately raised her hand in agreement. βOkay! I havenβt been out in a long time.β
Xiao Gui asked, βFor the board games, can we play werewolf kill?β
Hua Ran replied, βOf course!β
Jiang Shaoyu saw the elated looks of the little guys and said, βGo. There is a break tonight and you guys can have fun. Xiao Pei, lead the group and remember not to drink.β
Pei Feng asked softly, βAren’t you going?β
Jiang Shaoyu said, βIβm not going. They canβt relax if Iβm sitting there.β
Pei Feng knew that his master didnβt like occasions that were too noisy, so he didnβt force it.
Jiang Shaoyu, Old Chang, Sister Yu and the other staff members returned to the national teamβs base while Pei Feng took the players who wanted to go to the board game store together.
With Xiao Pei leading the team, Jiang Shaoyu was very relieved that this group of players wouldnβt cause any trouble. During this time, there were two practice matches a week and tactical cooperation every day. Everyone was very tired, so it was time to take the opportunity to let them relax.
After returning to the dormitory, Jiang Shaoyu sat on the sofa of the living room and opened the gift.
βIt was a beautifully crafted commemorative book.
The first page was a group photo of all the members of the national team wearing team uniforms. Jiang Shaoyu saw that his face in the photo was as serious as a meeting while Pei Feng, who was standing next to him, was smiling brightly.
Hua Ranβs purple hair was very eye-catching, Shi Xiaobin was a bit cute and Mo Hantianβs face was pale and he stared directly at the camera as if seeing a monster. Xia Li laughed so hard that her mouth cracked and Qin Xueyao seemed a bit nervous. Her expression was stiff. Shu Chen was blushing shyly. Yezi and Lao Lin had their shoulders together and had the posture of two brothers. Zhou Yiran and Liu Shaozhou were smiling and personable.
Jiang Shaoyu looked at the βgroup photo of the sixth national teamβ at the top and the corners of his lips raised slightly.
It was also fate that such a group of people could get together. Jiang Shaoyu usually scolded everyone and was strict with them, but in fact, they were all players he was very optimistic about and appreciated.
Then he turned the page and the second page was full of signatures. Everyone had their names signed on one page. Further on were the blessings written by the players.
Mo Hantian wrote a confession in dog crawling characters, βGod Wing has always been my idol and I am honored to be your student on the national team. I will definitely train hard and wonβt let you down! Happy birthday to you and may your dreams come true!β
Shi Xiaobinβs handwriting was neat like it was printed. βCoach Jiang, thank you very much for pulling me out of the quagmire and allowing me to regain my confidence. I hope you are happy and do well every day. Happy birthday!β
Hua Ran from the arts department directly drew a picture. The chibi version of Jiang Shaoyu was painted very cutely by him. He had a birthday cake in his hand and a birthday halo above his head. He wrote the words βHappy birthdayβ with colored pens next to him.
Ye Qingming drew a leaf and said, βHappy birthday, Brother Yu. I will strive to write fewer self-criticisms in the future οΌοΌ.β
Jiang Shaoyu turned it page by page and his heart was full of emotions.
Each player, with different handwriting and styles, were full of blessings for him. This gift was indeed quite meaningful. It was much more intentional than buying something directly.
Jiang Shaoyu turned to the last page and saw the words written by Pei Feng.
Pei Fengβs words were very good-looking, dashing and flamboyant. He also seriously wrote a small composition.
βAs a teenager, I watched an ACE match and became a fan of God Wing. I was determined to be a good sniper like you. I impulsively ran to ACE to see Master. Thank you very much for not disliking me back then and that you were willing to accept me as an apprentice and teach me everything possible.β
βI fell in love with e-sports because of you and became a professional player because of you. For me, you are my talent scout, my mentor, my idol and my role model. You are also the most important person in my life.β
βHappy birthday, Master. Your apprentice always loves you [heart].β
Jiang Shaoyuβs heart skipped a beat when he saw the end.
Pei Fengβs words were only about his apprenticeβs gratitude to his master but his inexplicably last βalways loves youβ made Jiang Shaoyuβs heartbeat a bit unstable.
Jiang Shaoyu closed the commemoration book and put it down. His phone suddenly rang. He glanced at the caller ID, picked up the phone and said, βBrother, whatβs wrong?β
Jiang Shaocheng asked in a low voice, βIs the birthday party over? Have you returned to the dormitory? Did you drink alcohol?β
Jiang Shaoyu was puzzled. βWhy do you suddenly care if I drink or not?β
Jiang Shaochengβs voice was serious. βYou are an omega. Donβt drink when you go out in case you get drunk and suffer.β
Jiang Shaoyu felt very amused. βBrother, after so many years, you finally know today that I am an omega?β
This inexplicable concern was very uncomfortable. He raised his eyebrow and said, βIβm the head coach of the national team. Even if they know I am an omega, they wonβt have any disrespectful thoughts about me.β
Jiang Shaocheng said coldly, βIs it? Including your apprentice?β
Jiang Shaoyu was startled. βWhat do you mean?β
Jiang Shaocheng said in a low voice, βThe look in his eyes when he looked at me today wasnβt very friendly. Didnβt you notice it?β
In fact, Jiang Shaoyu had also felt that Xiao Pei had a strong hostility toward his older brother. He just didnβt know the reason, so he had to explain, βXiao Pei is probably more protective. He thought you came to trouble me.β
Jiang Shaocheng said, βIt seems that you still lack understanding of alphas. Is that apprentice of yours really that simple?β
Jiang Shaoyu instinctively defended. βXiao Pei was brought up by me. Of course, I know him very well. He has a simple mind and only wants to win the championship. His goal had always been to become a world-class sniper. He was hostile to you just out of desire to protect his master. It is a misunderstanding. Donβt think too much.β
Jiang Shaocheng: β……β
There was silence on the other end of the phone.
Jiang Shaoyu was puzzled. βWhy arenβt you speaking?β
Jiang Shaocheng pressed a hand against his temples because he had a headache. βDo you have an omegaβs awareness?β
Jiang Shaoyu frowned. βI donβt think there is any difference between an omega and alpha when coaching.β
βIβm not talking about your business capabilities. It is your pheromones that will have an impact on an alpha.β Jiang Shaocheng frowned and he changed to a more direct statement. βDid you inject the inhibitors you brought back on time? Does Pei Feng know you are an omega?β
This time, Jiang Shaoyu fell silent.
He hadnβt taken an inhibitor in months. Pei Feng gave him a mark in July and his body seemed to have adapted to Pei Fengβs pheromones. This caused him to be stable for several months.
However, Jiang Shaoyu didnβt want to tell his brother about this.
He said casually, βMy pheromones are very stable, you donβt have to worry. I just want to lead the national team well now and play well in the World Series. I donβt want to focus on other things. I donβt have the energy.β
β…Okay.β Jiang Shaocheng sighed. βPay more attention to yourself.β
After hanging up the phone, Jiang Shaocheng frowned and fell into deep thought.
Perhaps it was an alphaβs intuition?
He always felt that the young manβs thoughts toward Ah Yu werenβt so pure.
Why was one alpha so hostile to another? Obviously, they were strangers and had never met before.
The only reason was Jiang Shaoyu.
An alphaβs sense of territory was very strong and Pei Feng had included Jiang Shaoyu in his territory. Therefore, he rejected all alphas who set foot in his territory. Simply put, it was a strong desire for possessiveness at work.
His brother was full of the competition and training, without any of an omegaβs self-awareness. He regarded Pei Feng as a simple apprentice but was he so sure that this apprentice didnβt have any βdisrespectfulβ thoughts toward him? This apprentice seemed to be an obedient puppy but perhaps one day, he might turn into a wolf and eat Jiang Shaoyu clean?
At this time, Jiang Shaoyu was sitting on a sofa and holding Jiang Doudou. His mind was suddenly a bit troubled.
If it wasnβt for the reminder from his older brother, he wouldβve almost forgotten that he was an omega and was marked twice by Pei Feng.
So Pei Fengβs hostility toward his older brother today was because an alpha had become possessive of his marked omega? This made him unhappy when seeing another alpha too close to Jiang Shaoyu.
No way. How could Xiao Pei be possessive of his master?
Jiang Shaoyu didnβt quite believe this speculation. In his eyes, Xiao Pei had always been a very obedient and hard-working apprentice and only respected and worshiped him.
…Is that so?
Jiang Shaoyu was originally very certain.
But now he was suddenly unsure.
Did Pei Feng care about him and took care of him more than an ordinary master and apprentice?
Last time, Jiang Shaoyu asked him to help with the injection but he put down the syringe and marked Jiang Shaoyu. It was because the injection would have side effects. During the Japanese competition, he specially ran to order food and ordered Jiang Shaoyuβs favorite dishes. He always used the excuse of buying canned food for Jiang Doudou to come to Jiang Shaoyuβs room to chat.
After getting the bonus, Pei Feng checked the information overnight to select financial products, took him to the bank to complete the procedures and personally arranged everything for him.
In addition, there was the blessing at midnight on his birthday. This commemorative book was very in line with Jiang Shaoyuβs heart and it was probably suggested by Pei Feng and made by everyone.
Xiao Pei was indeed very considerate to him.
Jiang Shaoyu had a headache and pressed against his temple. He always disliked people with complex minds. His principle was to directly say things when he encountered problems in order to find ways to deal with it and solve it, rather than hiding it in his heart.
Pei Feng was his general, the captain of the national team and the most important commander of the World Series. He couldnβt drop the ball.
He wanted them to be honest with each other and not hide everything in their hearts.
Why not test Xiao Peiβs true thoughts?
If Xiao Pei was really caught in tangled emotions, he could do some facilitation in advance as a master so as to avoid problems during the World Series.
Thinking of this, Jiang Shaoyu picked up his phone and sent a message to Pei Feng. βAfter you come back, come to my dormitory to find me. I have something to tell you.β
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Wuwuwu, I don’t know if I’ll be able to take their conversation. Whew, hold on, I’m preparing my heart.
2 words: Uh oh.
Hold on. I really hate when people go “i have something to tell you / we need to talk” the anxiety is going to kill me.
πππππ this isn’t looking good…