Yan Ruanning drove for nearly twenty minutes, then turned into a quiet alley and stopped in front of a building that looked like a private residence.
There was no sign at the entrance, only a warm yellow light.
"This is it." Yan Ruanning turned off the engine and introduced, "It's very private, many people in the industry come here. The food is proper Chinese cuisine, not one of those trendy internet cafes."
Cheng Che nodded and followed her inside.
He's definitely not an ordinary person anymore. He glanced at his phone before getting off the bus, and it was flooded with missed calls and messages.
The parents, Guo Xin, Qin Lie, and even the grandparents all sent messages.
His name was at the top of Weibo's trending topics, followed closely by the hashtag " Federer presents award to Cheng Che ".
It would be truly distressing if he encountered someone who knew him.
It will also cause trouble for Yan Ruanning.
Yan Ruanning, carrying a plastic bag, led Cheng Che into the private room, which wasn't very big.
A small square table, two chairs, a landscape painting hanging on the wall, and the lighting was set to a warm tone.
The curtains were drawn, so people outside couldn't see into the alley, and vice versa.
Yan Ruanning placed the plastic bag on the chair next to her, sat down, called the waiter, picked up the menu, and began to order.
The waitress was very professional, keeping her eyes straight ahead; Cheng Che even suspected that she didn't recognize him at all.
Am I being narcissistic?
Cheng Che touched his face speechlessly.
Yan Ruanning was very familiar with the dishes here. She quickly named several dishes after glancing at them, and the waiter nodded, noted them down, and left.
Before the food was even served, Yan Ruanning's phone rang.
She glanced at the screen, frowned, and stood up. "I'm going out to take this call."
Cheng Che was the only one left in the private room.
He immediately opened the system panel.
He hasn't even had a chance to check the rewards for completing the Stamina Trial since the finals ended.
[ Stamina Trial: Conqueror. Ultimate Goal: Champion an official competition. Completed!]
[Congratulations, host, you have acquired the passive Self-Healing Instinct".]
[ Self-Healing Instinct: The body possesses an extremely strong self-repairing ability. Minor injuries heal instantly, and even serious injuries can heal completely in a short time without leaving any lasting problems. The probability of injury during exercise is significantly reduced.]
The moment Cheng Che saw the instructions, he let out a low groan.
A warm sensation surged through his limbs, especially his knees, wrists, and ankles.
It felt like someone had placed a warm wad of cotton on my joint.
It's not hot or itchy, it's very comfortable.
His body, aided by his Self-Healing Instinct, automatically repaired its hidden injuries.
Cheng Che was grateful that this talent came at the right time.
Although he had a [ Training Recovery Card ] before, that card was only effective during training.
It can't handle everyday bumps and knocks, wear and tear from matches, or minor injuries accumulated from long-term high-intensity competition.
There's a saying in the sports world:
The first thing athletes do after retiring is to go to a sanatorium for recuperation.
Some people retire in their twenties and start using crutches in their thirties because they pushed themselves too hard when they were young, leaving them with a host of hidden injuries.
Cheng Che had worried about this before.
He's only eighteen, but if he continues playing at that high intensity, what will happen in ten years? Twenty years?
Now he doesn't need to be afraid anymore.
He flexed his wrists and rotated his ankles.
Sure enough, the soreness and stiffness that I could vaguely feel after training had all disappeared.
His body is like a car that has just had a deep clean, with every part back to its best condition.
He won't even need to spend money on medical treatment anymore.
Cheng Che took a deep breath and looked at the second reward.
[Congratulations, host, on obtaining the title " Champion "!]
[ Champion: After equipping this item, you will possess a " Champion Aura " in official matches or competitive scenarios. Opponents facing you will experience an invisible sense of self-doubt and pressure, making them more prone to mistakes at crucial moments. Simultaneously, judges, spectators, and other third-party observers will naturally favor you in their judgments.]
Cheng Che stared at this line of text three times.
Then his mouth opened slightly, and he couldn't help but let out a very low "Holy crap."
The effect of this title is too powerful.
Opponents will doubt themselves when facing him, and referees will naturally be biased towards him.
what does that mean?
This means that he will no longer be subject to biased refereeing in future games, and may even be favored by the referees.
He wasn't unaware of what happened in the sports world.
Referees unfairly awarding points, coaches showing favoritism towards their own players, and audience jeering influencing the rulings.
These trivial matters are no longer his concern.
Cheng Che chuckled and equipped the title.
Just then, the door to the private room was pushed open, Yan Ruanning returned.
She covered her mouth with one hand, her shoulders trembling slightly, clearly trying to suppress a laugh.
"What's wrong?"
"My dad called again." Yan Ruanning sat down opposite, put her phone on the table, and laughed. "He said if you have time, go back to Spring City and film a promotional video for No. 13 Middle School."
Cheng Che was taken aback. "Shoot a promotional video?"
"Yes. It's a task assigned to him by his superior," Yan Ruanning said with a smile. "He was too embarrassed to tell you directly, afraid you'd think he was using you. So he called me and asked me to relay the message."
"Why didn't you call me?" Cheng Che, somewhat puzzled.
What, does graduating mean I'm no longer your good student, Old Xu?
That's going too far.
"I can't get through to you on the phone," Yan Ruanning pointed to his phone. "You've probably had hundreds of missed calls since the finals ended."
Cheng Che glanced at the screen.
Indeed, missed calls and messages are still popping up.
He realized his earlier thought and felt a little embarrassed, so he put his phone face down on the table.
"Then give him a call, I'll go find him when I get back to Spring City."
"Tell him yourself, I'm not going to pass on your message." Yan Ruanning turned her head away haughtily, but the corners of her mouth were upturned.
The food has arrived.
Four dishes and a soup; the portions weren't large, but the presentation was exquisite.
Yan Ruanning picked up her chopsticks, placed a piece of spare rib on his plate, and then said:
"Try this, I order it every time I come."
Cheng Che took a bite and nodded. "Not bad."
The cooking here is noticeably better than what I ate at recently. It's true what they say, the only downside to expensive food is the price.
I still have to get used to it.
The two ate their meal quietly for a while.
There were no cameras, no staff, and no fans.
The only sounds in the private room were the soft clinking of chopsticks against bowls and the occasional chewing noise.
Cheng Che discovered that his relationship with Yan Ruanning was completely different from what it had been a few months ago.
When he put food on her plate, she accepted it naturally.
As she drank her soup, he casually handed her a tissue. She took it, wiped her mouth, and didn't say thank you.
She reached for the food in the distance, and he simply pushed the plate in front of her.
These movements were so subtle that they themselves didn't even notice them.
But a few months ago, they wouldn't have been so natural.
A singer, a high school student.
There are age, status, and social circles separating them.
What about now?
Their relationship seemed to have grown closer, but there was still a distance between them, which made them talk much less during meals.
Yan Ruanning had almost finished eating, so she put down her chopsticks and picked up the plastic bag from the chair next to her.
"Oh, right, here's a celebratory gift for you." She put the bag on the table.
"Ding ding ding." She added her own sound effect.
Cheng Che looked surprised and took the bag. He opened it and found a shoebox inside.
He opened it and found a pair of black tennis shoes.
The design is clean, the sole is thick, the upper is made of breathable mesh, and there is a very subtle logo on the side.
"Sneakers?" He looked up at her and asked excitedly, "When did you buy them?"
"I went shopping with Xiao Zhou yesterday." Yan Ruanning rested her chin on her hand, looking at him gently. "As for the shoe size, you measured it when you were shooting the ad. I asked the makeup artist for it."
Cheng Che remembered.
When filming the music video for " Midsummer Reply," the makeup artist did take his measurements, saying it was to prepare for costumes.
"Try it on." Yan Ruanning clapped her hands. "If it's uncomfortable, we'll go change later."
Cheng Che nodded.
He wasn't embarrassed at all about changing his shoes in front of everyone.
His feet don't smell, so he's not worried about being embarrassed.
He pushed the chair back, bent down to untie his shoelaces, and took the new sneakers out of the box.
The shoe size is just right, not too tight or too loose. The moment you slip your foot in, you feel a snug fit, like it was custom-made for you.
He stomped his feet twice, grinding them back and forth with his forefoot and heel.
Comfortable.
The new soles have a slight bouncy feel when you step on the ground, as if you're being supported with every step.
He was looking down, adjusting the position of the shoe tongue...
There was an extra pair of feet under the table.
Cheng Che's gaze moved an inch upwards from the pair of white shoes.
White.
Same style.
The same logo in the same position, the same curve of the same line.
But it's a size too small.
His new shoes were size 44, while the pair in front of him were probably size 37.
The shoes have an elegant shape, with the laces tied into a neat bow, resting on the slender instep.
These are... matching couple shoes.
Cheng Che looked up.
Yan Ruanning was looking down at him.
The warm yellow light fell from above, casting a faint golden glow on her eyelashes.
The things in Yan Ruanning's eyes were like water sloshing in a cup, so full that they would overflow at the slightest touch.
That was her love, which she couldn't hide.