SPNSB: Chapter 3.2

The players entered the rink. Then suddenly a slim figure in a read and black uniform appeared. A group of fans rushed to the sidelines , their bodies bending over the rails, shouting Mai Wei Zhe, Mai Wei Xhe…
As if affected by the shouts he slightly raised his head. Under the helmet, a pair of sharp eyes stared right at her.
She suddenly flushed. Had he seen Director Liang’s actions a moment ago ? Would he make fun of her the next time they met?
“ Ready…ready…” the announcements sounded and the players at the starting line were ready to go.
Everyone held their breath. There was the sound of the gun, and everyone shot out like arrows. The speed skating game focussed only in speed ,speed and speed.
In a short period of time , one needed to grab the initiative, take the correct position at the right time. Physical collisions were inevitable when they turned the bends at high speed. Often one tenth or one hundredth of a second determined who was the winner at the end
In the blink of an eye, maybe someone would lose his balance and slip. There were too many variables which made this competition an exciting and fascinating watch.
Li Yongxuan’s eyes were wide open. Her attention was completely seized by the game. At that moment, she forgot the sweetheart sitting right next to her, her crush for a long long time.

Mai Wei Zhe’s performance was completely different today compared to yesterday.
Usually, he concentrated on watching first, then he would storm out. This time he started strong,suddenly rushed to the front, getting into several dangerous collisions along the way.
Li Yongxuan was tense, she feared that the referee would raise a flag for violation of rules and disqualify him immediately.
As the audience cheered, he zoomed through like a meteor to the finish line.
The announcer excitedly announced that he had just beaten the world record by 0.02 seconds. The audience broke out in loud cheers ! It was at this point that she finally exhaled the breath she was holding back for so long. Her heart beat rapidly in her ribcage.
She was just not accustomed to the tension of the game, how did the players handle it, she wondered.
Her eyes followed the slim figure till it disappeared at the exit of the rink.

Just at that moment, someone gently touched her shoulder, then her hair.
Unknown to her, Liang Wen He had moved very close to her. Looking at her, he said with a smile ,” You look really cute, with your face so red.”
Li Yongxuan first instinct was to immediately break free from his hold. But that would be too rude. She restrained herself and calmly responded, “ This speed skating game is very exciting, very attractive. Combined with the advertising revenues that it generates, this is definitely a good avenue to invest. You may consider this.”

This was another secret assignment for her – she was supposed to put forward a proposal for the Yang group to sponsor the speed skating team.
For the Group to sponsor any sports team was not a small matter, there was a considerable amount of expense involved. Hence the benefits needed to be carefully assessed.
That is why the assignment could not be made public. That would attract the attention of other sponsors, even the team themself were likely to increase the cost of sponsorship if they figured out that the Yang Group was interested.
“ It seems I really have to assess this a little more.” Whether he was indicating her or the team, or was not clear.
Once he had finished speaking, Liang Wen He’s eyes drifted to her side . His assistant was waiting for him.After nodding towards his assistant, he bent over Li Yongxuan and gently spoke to her, “ I am looking forward to our date in the evening,”

The director immediately stood up. Excitement surged in her heart, no not for the evening date, but for the fact that the director was seriously considering her sponsorship proposal.
Although he had only considered it, it was still a big step forward.
Over the years, the Yang Group had only sponsored sports teams in highly popular sports like basketball, baseball. Speed skating, while a popular game, could still benefit from a stable sponsor. It would be great news to the players.
After having spent so much time with them, while on the surface, she was all business, but underneath it all, her heart had been won over by them.
The athletes may not be very smart, they were not part of a business group, but they were simple and direct folks. They wholeheartedly debited themselves to training, they focused only on the competition and could easily win over people’s heart.
She really, really hoped that this proposal would be considered, assessed and even approved. Else pleasing the director, making him watch the match and their training would be of little use.

Her heart was full of hope. But she was wary of declaring victory too quickly
This was the best time to watch a match. If they achieved success in the next World Series, if the media could be alerted in time, if more people would pay attention..
Li Yongxuan stood alone in the auditorium, unaware of the noise around her, lost in her own thoughts.
She was surely going to help them in this fight.

Under the moonlight, dressed in an elegant silk dress , her slim silhouette moved quietly, her silver earrings sparkling.
She was walking to the entrance of the hotel.
Earlier at dinner, she had spent nearly three hours with the director. Although she had jokingly said she favoured candlelit dinners in actuality, she had felt a bit restless and distracted, thinking of the many things she wanted for the team.
But the director did not seem to want to talk about work, he hardly paid any attention to her proposal and reports, so Li Yongxuan was unable to learn what his real thoughts in this matter were.

“ A lot of players in the team had huge potential to get a gold. Mai Wei Zhe….”
“ You seem to have a good deal of respect for him?” Liang Wenhe suddenly interrupted her.
Li Yongxuan was stunned for a moment, then said, “ Yes, because his performance has always been outstanding.”
Liang Wenhe smiled , then asked , “ Isn’t it also because he is very handsome ?”
“ I’m not a little girl who is only obsessed with looks.”
“ You are not a little girl, but you are only in your early twenties. Compared to me, you are very young.” He waved his hand with an exaggerated gesture, “ Don’t argue with me on this, ok ?”
“ Director, I am almost thirty.”
Liang Wenhe seemed really surprised. He looked at her carefully, “ You’re twenty nine ? You don’t look a day older than twenty two.”
Hearing this, Li Yongxuan suddenly felt very discouraged.
After all her efforts in their years, in his eyes, was she still a fledgling , just a small rookie analyst ?
Was this the reason why he wasn’t considering her report as important, why he was not listening to her seriously?

“ Mai Wei Zhe’s performance is one thing , but I heard that his attitude outside the game also draws a lot of attention”, Liang Wenhe said casually, “ such players, when the board considers, the possibilities…”
Although he didn’t finish the sentence, the implications were very clear.
Mai Wei Zhe was indeed the bad boy of the media, irritable,aggressive, arrogant. In the races, constantly clashed with his opponents and several times, he narrowly missed getting disqualified.
Though his performance was great, the sponsors would not necessarily like this type of player.

So Li Yongxuan reluctantly agreed, and rushed to the hotel where the players were staying right after dinner.
She wanted to take advantage of the break, and encourage the players while stressing on how important their behaviour was, both in and outside the skating rink.
When she reached the hotel though, she felt that the atmosphere was a it different,
Several guards looking like soldiers stood in the hall along with the head coach. Seeing Li Yongxuan, the coach only nodded his head,

“ What happened ?” She approached the head coach, a dread settling in her heart.
Probably looking at her serious face, the head coach smiled. In a calm tone he said, “ Miss Li , it’s nothing. Just some small security details to take care of. What brings you here ?”
“ I came to cheer the team.”
One of the security guards came forward to stop her as she came closer.
The coach waved his hand and said to the security personnel,” Don’t bother. She is one of our own.”
One of our own.
These four words inexplicably spread a warm feeling within her body. Even during the candlelit dinners her mood was practical.
But now, she felt like the warm and protected feeling of a child returning home.In her entire life, she had never felt like she belonged to a family.

Before she could say anything, there was a slight movement near the elevator.
The elevator doors opened, and a person surrounded by four security guards came out.
He was in a light coloured sportswear. From his demeanour, it was clear that Mai Wei Zhe was a little tired.
“ Get the car near the side entrance”, a security guard commanded on the Walkie talkie as soon as they got out of the elevator.
The head coach walked over to stand by her side as a cold fear gripped her heart.
“ What happened to Mai Wei Zhe ?”
“ He was a little angry today, his body movements were too much and he provoked an opponent. While he won, he managed to draw the hatred of some fans. In the afternoon, someone called the hotel to threaten him. They claimed to have planted some bombs..”
Li Yongxuan was dumbfounded, “ This is a joke,right ?”
“ Mai Wei Zhe is one of the high profile players in the team. We cannot take a risk on him, so we decided to change the hotel overnight.”
She had thought that only football, basketball and such games had rabid fans who were fanatical to this extent. She did not expect even speEd skating would have such fans..
Mai Wei Zhe was an old hand in this game, and still this happened !
Far from here , he walked forward, protected from all sides in a grim atmosphere.
But suddenly he stopped and looked at her.
He was too far away for her to read his expression.
He whispered something to the security personnel around him.
“ Why don’t you go talk to him ? Otherwise, to send him to a new hotel every day after the game, this isn’t sustainable for long.”
“ Huh? Me ?”
“ Yes. You.” The coach smiled at her mysteriously, then nodded like an old sage and said,” Please do as I say.”
Having been a coach for so long, he had highly developed skills. The reason why Mai Wei Zhe was particularly irritated today was right in front of him. The head coach could see this clearly.

As a result, Li YongXuan and walked up to the coterie of security guards.Even in this situation,Mai WeI Zhe acted in the same way. He inspected her from top to bottom. His handsome face showed a bit of tiredness, but there was now a faint roguish smile on his face.
“ Your date is over ? Did you enjoy the candlelit dinner ?” He opened his mouth with a question that was designed to anger her.
She resisted the urge to roll her eyes,
“ Shouldn’t you be worrying about yourself ? How could this happen ? How will you go to the next game ?”
“ It’s not like that”, he said, “ hiding in the dark is nothing more than cowardice.”
“ Shut up!” Li Yongxuan couldnot help but interior him,” this attitude is useless! You have to be more low key..”
“ I will tell you how to be low key. Yield to people, never fight , so that there will never be any threat of retribution”, he countered slightly excitedly.
“Don’t ever move as soon as you are born, till you are dead. Isn’t that safer ? If so, what is the difference between being alive and dying ?”
Although not appropriate, Li Yongxuan could not help but laugh, he was really funny, this arrogant and proud man !

Mai Wei Xhe stared at her laughing at him. His expression marginal,y softened,
“ Mr Mai..” the security guard next to him whispered.
“ Yes, ok.” He nodded. He said to her,” I need to go. Will you come to the game or will you go back?”
“ I will come.” She hesitated for a while before adding ,”CIE back fully recharged please. Our director has not seen the full potential of the skating team, so you must…”
Hearing her mention Liang Wen He , Mai Wei Zhe’s face became cold again.

“ This is what you meant when you said ‘special assignment’?Help you prove your point in front of the director ?” His voice as low, but cold and sharp like ice skates , as they directly assaulted her eardrums.
“ If he doesn’t want to sponsor us, as a spokesman, why are you so involved ?”
She felt anxious and wanted to explain everything to him , but there were too many people around and she couldn’t talk
Looking uneasily at the people surrounding him, she reluctantly explained,” This is all a bit complicated. I will find some find some other time to explain it to you. Which hotel are you going to now ?”
“Miss..”, the security guard stepped in again .
“ Sorry, even I don’t know that”, Mai Wei Zhe said coldly.
“ I’ll call you later.”
He didn’t respond but looked at her coldly. The he threw out a totally unrequited question, “ Aren’t you missing something ?”
Li Yongxuan blinked. She didn’t understand what he was saying.
Looking at her looking flummoxed, he suddenly sulked , and inserted his palm into the pocket of his ja keg, closing his fist around the ring..
Was she so fascinated by him ? That she didn’t even realise she had lost something precious to her ?
“ You don’t even know where your three souls are lost!” He scolded her unhappily.
“ Mr Mai, we really have to leave”, the security guard firmly said as he moved towards the side door.

“ Ah! My scarf!” Li Yongxuan suddenly exclaimed.
This was one of the first gifts she had bought for herself after getting her first job. Over the years she had wore it to many conference rooms. Tonight she had also worn it with get dress for the dinner with the director. But at the moment her neck was bare. It as gone !
She quickly found her phone and dialled. First, she tried the restaurant,but if course it was already closed.
And then she tried the hotel where the director was staying. Her call was transferred to his room.
The two of them had turned around d, each of them facing a different direction. Mai Wei Xhe stepped forward then looked back, and saw her holding the phone talking sweetly..
“ Thank you, thank you…I’ll be there tomorrow morning.. oh ok, the dye fur needs to leave early ? Then may I trouble you to leave it at the counter ? Now ?”
So late at night , was she not walking into the tiger’s lair if she went to the director’s room now ?
His hand in. His pocket tightened around the ring , and he felt a sudden burst of pain as the sharp edges of the ring dug in.
Tightening his lips, Mai Wei Zhe walked away with his escorts.