Chapter 63

Hearing that there was a match, Xu Zhiyou and a few boys, after great effort, sneaked into Dongsen University. After watching two games, they loudly declared it was boring.

Chen Jian handed the money from the collection boxes during the school lockdown to the children. The children were a bit embarrassed to take it, but Bian Xuedao made them take it, and they finally accepted the money.

While watching the game, Bian Xuedao sat next to the children, listening to Xu Zhiyou and Cheng Daqi's on-site commentary. Gradually, he began to understand the game better, and his ability to read the match improved rapidly.

Bian Xuedao asked them, "For a match at this level, if you could only bring one foreign player, what position would be the most cost-effective?"

Xu Zhiyou said, "Of course, it would be a high-level goalkeeper."

Bian Xuedao asked, "Who among you can play as a goalkeeper?"

Xu Zhiyou and Duan Qifeng both looked at Cheng Daqi.

Duan Qifeng said, "As long as the defenders aren't too weak, Daqi can make forwards of this level feel hopeless."

Bian Xuedao asked, "What type of player scores well in such matches?"

Duan Qifeng, who played as a forward, said, "A target man forward is basically useless in such matches. The best type is one who can both dribble and shoot, with precise and tricky angles. A power forward, like Batistuta or Shearer, would also work."

Cheng Daqi asked Bian Xuedao, "Brother Bian, do you want to play?"

Bian Xuedao said, "Besides the 11 on the field, there are over 30 more waiting to play. It might not be my turn, but I'll be prepared."

Following the list of needs, Bian Xuedao delivered one or two items each day, at least getting a distant glimpse of Shan Rao. Since Bian Xuedao gave the security guards two good packs of cigarettes, their attitudes improved, but they still firmly refused to let him get within 3 meters of Shan Rao.

The two security guards had their own reasons. They were originally temporary workers, but this time they were given a critical task. The leadership promised to make them permanent employees if they could get through the SARS period, but with one condition: there must be no issues around the isolation building. If anything went wrong, they would not only lose the chance to become permanent employees but also lose their temporary positions.

Bian Xuedao delivered a large amount of food to Shan Rao every day, including fruits, canned goods, and chocolates. Whatever the school supermarket had, Shan Rao had it all.

Not only did the two security guards and the aunties benefit from the improved diet, but sometimes when there was too much fruit, they would pack it into food bags and send it to the isolated students. As a result, many people in the isolation building were puzzled by the sudden improvement in their meals, with a variety of items appearing each day without any pattern.

Shan Rao liked Sichuan cuisine, so Bian Xuedao ordered several dishes from the Sichuan restaurant owner every day. In the morning, it was buns, porridge, and eggs; at noon and night, it was a variety of stir-fried dishes, which he delivered to Shan Rao while they were still hot.

To help Shan Rao get along well inside, Bian Xuedao sent enough food for five people, making the two aunties envy Shan Rao, saying she had a boyfriend who not only cared for her but also seemed to be from a wealthy family.

In the days that followed, Bian Xuedao became the most anticipated person for the five people in the isolation building.

Shan Rao was very satisfied with Bian Xuedao's performance. At night, when she couldn't sleep, she would think, "Just a little more, and this ordeal will be worth it, having found a boy who is affectionate, capable, and principled."

During the group stage, the matches were interrupted for five days due to rain and field maintenance.

In the second group stage match, Bian Xuedao did not play. He watched the entire game from the stands with his dorm mates.

The result was a 2-3 loss to the Law School.

The college leadership was very dissatisfied with the result. The student council was called to the office, and the secretary's office echoed with angry shouts that could be heard from a floor away.

A draw against the Computer Science School and a loss to the Law School, with only one more seed team, the Mechanical and Electrical School, left to play, it seemed that the first "Dongsen Cup" for the Business School would end in the group stage.

The flower of the college, who had personally recruited the foreign forward, greeted Yu Heng, but the Foreign Language School, which was about to fight back in the group stage, took him away.

Yu Heng was a bit dissatisfied but couldn't say much.

For the next match against the Mechanical and Electrical School, the presence or absence of the foreign player made little difference.

As for who would play as the forward, Yu Heng was too lazy to think about it. He would let them volunteer, and whoever wanted to play could do so.

On May 26th, in response to the girls' requests and to prevent students from getting restless, the school contacted the nearby Leisong Shopping Mall to organize a special sale for Dongsen University students in the evening.

Starting at 3 PM, students from various departments queued to enter the mall.

Bian Xuedao bought a set of football protective gear at the mall and then wandered with Li Yu to the women's handbag section.

Some merchants in the mall had complaints about the special sale. After all, students' purchasing power was limited, and their focus was mainly on daily necessities. Sections like home appliances, jewelry, and luxury goods saw few students, let alone sales.

Bian Xuedao and Li Yu were originally browsing the jewelry section. Li Yu liked a platinum necklace and asked a few times, but the female salesperson ignored him. Li Yu, getting angry, reached for his wallet to buy it directly.

Bian Xuedao persuaded Li Yu, "She didn't even acknowledge us, why increase her sales? And if you're buying a necklace, it's best to bring Li Xun to pick one. Buying a necklace like Chen Jian did last time is not a good idea."

The two wandered to the women's handbag section, where Bian Xuedao liked a COACH handbag. The salesperson here was more dedicated, though she didn't believe the two boys would buy, she still smiled and came over to introduce the products.

The salesperson's dedication paid off. Bian Xuedao bought a 3200 RMB bag, and Li Yu bought a 2400 RMB one. On their way out, Bian Xuedao also picked a 400 RMB silk scarf.

After seeing Bian Xuedao and Li Yu off, the salesperson felt more spirited and decided to greet every student who came to look with the best attitude.

Years later, Bian Xuedao still remembered the look in Shan Rao's eyes when she saw that COACH handbag.

Bian Xuedao even felt that he didn't need to go to such lengths to send all kinds of food and items every day. If he had brought such a bag earlier, everything would have been settled.

That night on the phone, Shan Rao was especially gentle. They had a light phone-sex session, both being first-timers. Later, they stopped talking and listened to each other's breathing through the phone.

It was Shan Rao who broke the silence, "Don't flirt with young girls outside, wait for me to come out."

Bian Xuedao knew who Shan Rao meant by "young girls."

Since the car accident, Tao Qing had somewhat won back Xu Shangxiu's wavering heart.

Tao Qing realized the inappropriateness of his previous behavior and took the initiative to organize a get-together between his dorm and Xu Shangxiu's dorm. Tao Qing felt that letting more people know about his relationship with Xu Shangxiu was a form of protection for himself.

During the match between the Business School and the Law School, Xu Shangxiu accompanied Tao Qing in the stands.

Tao Qing was fully focused on the game, while Xu Shangxiu, from a distance, noticed Bian Xuedao.

That boy was also watching the game, dressed like a team member, but today, the boy who had waited in the cold and snow for over two months last year did not look in Xu Shangxiu's direction once.

Where was his rumored girlfriend, Minister Shan? Oh, right, the counselor said Minister Shan had volunteered to work in the isolation building. She was indeed a remarkable girl.

Xu Shangxiu looked at Tao Qing, who was waving and stomping like a child, and suddenly felt strange. Tao Qing was a few years older than Bian Xuedao, but why did he seem less mature?

Since their first phone-sex, the two talked on the phone for longer periods. Neither wanted to bring it up first, but they both clearly felt the other's anticipation.

Bian Xuedao indirectly mentioned teaching Shan Rao how to swim, then the topic turned to swimsuits, and then to some pool perverts he had heard about. Before Bian Xuedao could finish, Shan Rao said, "Pervert," and hung up.

Bian Xuedao knew Shan Rao's habits. After waiting a while, he indeed received a text message: "Take care of yourself. What's meant to be yours will eventually be yours."

The third group stage match for the Business School was about to start.

Before the match, the Mechanical and Electrical School had already started researching their 1/4 final opponent.

Indeed, the Mechanical and Electrical School, having won their first two matches, would not be affected in the group standings even if they played down, as they still had a goal difference advantage.

During the last pre-match practice, the main forward sprained his ankle, and the injury looked serious.

After having the injured player helped back to the dorm, Yu Heng realized he had no available forwards left.