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Saying goodbye to Gao Yingjie was trying enough, but Qiao Yifan would have preferred a thousand such goodbyes over whatever this was.
“Um, it was nice working with you and Tiny Herb for my first year as a—as a real pro, Captain Wang,” said Qiao Yifan with what he hoped was a smile. Internally, he despaired over the stiff recital of his please-don’t-be-mad-at-me script.
To his great fortune, Wang Jiexi was the mild-mannered sort of guy Qiao Yifan didn’t often worry about offending. It was only that Qiao Yifan hadn’t expected any parting words from him, and now he felt distinctly unprepared. He lamented his bad luck. Why did Wang Jiexi have to show up just as him and Gao Yingjie stepped into the hallway?
Well, politeness had never really failed him so far. And whatever Wang Jiexi had to say, Qiao Yifan was on his way out anyway. There was no need to think too much. Right?
He wondered if this was only happening because Ye Qiu was involved. More specifically, because Qiao Yifan had decided to try his luck with a grassroots team being run out of a net café. But how would Wang Jiexi have realized that? Not even Gao Yingjie knew about Qiao Yifan’s future plans.
“It was nice having you. We’ll miss you around here,” Wang Jiexi said, leaning against the closed door of Qiao Yifan’s (former) dorm.
“Ah,” was Qiao Yifan’s uncertain response.
“Of course, you still have to explore your options.”
Qiao Yifan nodded rapidly.
“Tiny Herb just wasn’t the right fit. But you have time to figure things out and grow into your potential.”
“Yes, I plan to.” Qiao Yifan did his best to perk up. “I’ve learned a lot.”
“That’s good,” Wang Jiexi said kindly. “We kept you benched too much, I fear.”
“Well, I was only a substitute.”
Wang Jiexi conceded the point. “Are you going to Hangzhou?”
Qiao Yifan blinked up at him.
“It’s not hard to guess. At least not for someone who knows Ye Qiu.”
At once, Qiao Yifan cast his eyes down. “Senior Ye made a big impression on me. He’s been a great help.”
“Probably more than Tiny Herb has been since training camp, I imagine.”
That was no way Qiao Yifan was going to answer that. He switched his suitcase to his other hand and looked everywhere but at Wang Jiexi’s face.
“I’m not angry,” Wang Jiexi said, still kind but very quiet. “Actually, I’m glad. He’s not a bad person to learn from. Just…be careful. Confidence convinces people, while arrogance misleads them.”
Was Wang Jiexi trying to imply that Qiao Yifan was being misled? But it wasn’t like that at all! He’d always known Ye Qiu to be confident, even arrogant, yet he was one of the most realistic people he’d ever met when it came to Glory’s pro scene. He had been of great assistance, and asked for very little in return.
“I trust Senior Ye,” Qiao Yifan said with as much firmness as he could muster. “I’ll be all right.”
“I hope so. But if something does happen, you can call me.”
“Um…”
Wang Jiexi held his hand out expectantly. “Let me make sure you have my contact.”
“Oh, there’s still QQ if—”
“This is important, too.”
Baffled, Qiao Yifan dug his phone out of his pocket, unlocked it, and turned it over. While Wang Jiexi fiddled, Qiao Yifan wondered if any other no-name sub had ever gotten this much attention after burning through their one-year contract with Tiny Herb. Or was he just special for being a friend of Gao Yingjie’s?
Either way, Wang Jiexi seemed sincere enough. It wasn’t as if he had crossed any boundaries; he was only a senior in the industry looking out for a rookie with a tough road ahead.
“Here you go.” Wang Jiexi returned his phone. “All done.”
“Okay, thank you. And, Senior…”
“Yeah?”
“I really do appreciate everything.” Qiao Yifan raised the phone in his hand. “This, too.”
Wang Jiexi studied him carefully. The smiles and softness were gone, and all that was left was a half-dismayed expression.
“It was a wasted year for you,” Wang Jiexi told him. “You shouldn’t appreciate it. I regret that we couldn’t give you the opportunities you needed.”
“It was definitely not wasted,” Qiao Yifan denied swiftly. “I understand Tiny Herb’s situation, Senior. My time here was valuable, and…and I’m glad it all began with this team. Really, I am.”
“Okay,” Wang Jiexi said after a while. “Do your best out there.”
“I will,” Qiao Yifan promised. “Um, you too. I mean, I’m wishing you the best.”
Wang Jiexi finally smiled again. “Thanks, Little Qiao.”