"Lina, tell what that ans," Kai pleaded as they walked through the hotel lobby, but Lina kept her mouth shut.
"Lina, please! You can't leave hanging after choosing that guy! How good is he that you chose him over ?"
A small smile made its way to Lina's lips.
"Baby," he tried.
Lina stopped for a mont, her cheeks warming up. But then, she shook her head. "You're not going to get with that one."
Kai sighed. "He's better than ?" he asked. "You're saying he's a better player than , right?"
"Well," Lina said, placing her fingers under her chin. "I've already told you the answer. I don't want to repeat myself."
Kai pursed his lips, appearing frustrated. He was sure that Lina would have picked him without any doubts. However, what was this? Just who was this Caishen Guy?
They finally arrived at the buffet for dinner, and Lina went straight to the dessert section. Her eyes widened when she saw it was filled with banana muffins.
She jogged to where it was and held one up. "I thought you said these were hard to find. There's so many on here," she smiled.
Kai looked at the spread and pursed his lips. At this ti, it would have been gone! Did they start making bigger batches?
Just then, the woman who tried to save him so muffins before his ga with Team Germany ca out to greet them.
"Oh, there you are!" she exclaid. "You ca for the banana muffins again?"
Kai nodded before gesturing to Lina. "I have my girlfriend with , too."
"I see," she smiled. "What a cute couple you make."
"You have a lot of muffins today," Kai comnted.
She chuckled, throwing her head slightly back. "Well, we actually decided to bake a lot more banana muffins starting today because I told the baking team that you liked them very much. They all loved your performance during the past ga and have beco big fans."
Kai's eyebrows raised in surprise. "Is that so?"
He thought that they would have thought differently about him because of the rumors going around.
"Anyway," she continued. "We're all rooting for you. The entire country wants to see you win! So please, eat the banana muffins to your heart's content."
Kai smiled gratefully while Lina bowed her head. She was happy that a lot of people believed in Kai despite what Julian Barker had told the press.
***
After their dinner, Kai continued to pester Lina about what she ant about Caishen being a better player. However, she remained silent.
"Co on. Just show your room," she chuckled, finding the situation amusing.
Kai clicked his tongue and shook his head, realizing he wouldn't get an answer out of Lina no matter how hard he tried.
With that, they exited the food hall. He was still a bit sulky when suddenly, he collided with soone standing directly in his path.
He stopped abruptly, his gaze lifting to et a face he knew all too well.
Julian Barker.
Julian was talking with soone on his phone, not paying attention to his surroundings. He was about to tell Kai off, but he smirked when he realized it was Kai standing in front of him.
Kai stiffened, his eyes narrowing briefly before he stepped to the side, intending to walk past him without a word.
But Julian had other plans.
"Ah, the infamous Kai Guo," Julian said with mockery.
Kai paused mid-step. Lina held onto his arm and gave it a gentle squeeze.
Then, slowly, Kai turned back to face Julian, his frown deepening. "What do you want?"
Julian feigned surprise, a hand pressing against his chest. "Is that how you talk to soone older than you?"
Kai's expression didn't change. "I respect people based on how they treat , not based on age."
For a split second, Julian's smug smirk fell, but he quickly recovered, his grin widening. "Fair enough," he said with a shrug. "I just wanted to check-in. Big ga tomorrow, right?"
Kai crossed his arms. "What about it?"
Julian chuckled. "You must be excited."
"I am," Kai said flatly.
"Excited to lose?" Julian shot back with a taunting grin.
Kai's eyes narrowed further. "Excited to beat you."
Julian's smirk didn't waver, but his eyes darkened slightly, revealing his annoyance.
"We'll see about that," Julian muttered before his gaze shifted to Lina, who had been silently observing the exchange.
His smirk turned sly as he looked at her.
"And who's this?" Julian asked.
Lina's posture stiffened, her eyes narrowing in suspicion.
Julian tilted his head slightly, his grin widening. "Is she your girlfriend?"
Kai didn't respond. Instead, he took a small step forward, subtly shielding Lina from Julian's scrutinizing gaze.
"Cute," he remarked. " She must have co here to support you. But does she know about all your other girls?"
Kai's fists clenched at his sides, but before he could respond, Lina stepped forward.
"I know him better than you do," she firmly said. "Now, if you excuse us."
Julian raised his hands in mock surrender, a laugh escaping him. Then, he turned to cover their path when they attempted to leave.
"The younger generation is scary," he said with exaggerated amusent.
Kai's patience was wearing thin. His voice dropped. "Are we done here?"
Julian ignored him, his smirk fading as his expression turned contemplative.
"You know, I've been thinking about you," Julian said, crossing his arms in front of his chest. "And I don't get it."
"Don't get what?" Kai asked.
"How does soone like you get so much attention," Julian said. "It's unfair, really."
"Nobody this young should be able to reach heights as great as you," he continued, confusing Kai.
Did he do sothing to this guy before? As far as he knew, this was the first ti they were eting. They've never even played a ga before!
Julian stepped closer, and Kai's eyes darkened. He leaned closer to Kai until his mouth was in front of his ear.
Then, he whispered.
"Especially when you have a system helping you, huh?"
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