Yi Ming and Jiang Wei were chatting on the phone when a sudden knock came at the hotel room door.
"Jiang Wei, wait a moment, let me get the door."
Yi Ming held the phone to his ear with one hand while shuffling in his slippers towards the door. "Who is it?" he asked gruffly, annoyed at being disturbed so late at night while talking to his Little Sweetheart.
"It's me," came a deep, resolute voice from outside.
It was Coach Wu.
Yi Ming's tone immediately softened. He opened the door and greeted him with an ingratiating smile, "Coach, what brings you here?"
Jiang Wei and Yi Ming's call hadn't ended. Realizing Coach Wu had arrived, Jiang Wei thought for a moment, then said softly into the phone, "Yi Ming, I'm going to hang up now."
As soon as Jiang Wei finished speaking, Yi Ming hurriedly said on the other end, "Hey, wait, don't..."
But Jiang Wei was too quick. By the time Yi Ming reacted, she had already hung up.
Yi Ming's ears drooped a little, reluctant as he put his phone back in his pocket.
"Coach, have some water."
Yi Ming brought Coach Wu a glass of hot water and set it on the table, seating himself nearby, obediently awaiting his lecture.
"You may begin," Yi Ming said, rubbing his hands together.
"Begin what?" Coach Wu smiled faintly, taking a sip of water. "Did you think I came here to give you pre-game guidance?"
"Isn't that...why you're here?"
Yi Ming was a bit taken aback.
"Silly boy, don't play dumb with me. Hand it over." Coach Wu made a gesture as if to kick him, then said calmly, "We agreed that all communication devices would be confiscated during pre-game training camp."
"Coach, can't I at least keep my phone? Let me hold onto it, please."
Yi Ming tried pleading, but Coach Wu was unmoved, coldly rejecting his request.
"Considering you might win me a championship, I'll give you a special chance. Hand over your phone to my room yourself within three minutes, and I'll keep it safe for you."
With that, Coach Wu left Yi Ming's room with steady strides.
Three minutes.
Not a long time, but not short either. But for Yi Ming, about to lose his phone, those three minutes felt infinitely precious.
Jiang Wei was a bit puzzled by Yi Ming's ringtone sounding so frantic. She pressed the answer button and heard Yi Ming's slightly dejected voice.
"Jiang Wei, Coach Wu is going to take my phone away. I won't be able to hear your voice for a whole week. Quick, sing me a song."
Jiang Wei paused, then smiled faintly, "I can't carry a tune. You still want me to sing?"
"It doesn't matter if you can't sing well. I've got a basin ready, if it's too much for me to listen to, I'll just throw up in it..."
Jiang Wei's eyebrows shot up, nearly fuming. "Yi Ming, you're teasing me again!"
There was silence on the other end for three seconds, then a burst of laughter.
"Jiang Wei."
"What is it now!"
"I'll miss you. Muah muah muah muah muah muah muah!"
"...I know, but why did you repeat it so many times?"
Jiang Wei was puzzled.
Yi Ming thought for a moment, then replied quite seriously:
"Those were blown kisses for you. You need to save them since we won't be able to contact each other for a while, so I had to repeat it a few times..."
Jiang Wei shook her head: "..."
You can store those too?
Look at this little guy, his wild imagination nearly rivals a novelist's...