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The news happens on a Monday, just after a match weekend. Liu Hao doesn’t think much of why Ye Qiu is missing from post-match training originally, he thought that Ye Qiu is doing private training with Su Mucheng again, and that he’d show his face later. But when the post-match discussion happens everyone is left staring at each other. For all the years Liu Hao has known Ye Qiu, he never missed a post-match discussion, even when everyone had been playing their worst. He didn’t even know that Ye Qiu could miss a post-match discussion. Instead, Cui Li interrupts them with “important news”, and Liu Hao is almost grateful since he doesn’t even know where to start with the discussion since he didn’t prepare anything until he hears the news.
Somehow the words “Ye Qiu is dead” doesn’t register at first, nor the second time. The third time only makes Liu Hao numb as others in the room begin to ask questions. Ye Qiu couldn’t be dead though – he was a constant in the world; Ye Qiu would always be playing Glory, a simple fact of life, no matter how much Liu Hao tries to get rid of him.
Liu Hao bursts into hysterical laughter, interrupting Cui Li part way through what he was saying. “You’re joking, right? What a poor joke to make! Ye Qiu can’t be dead, he’s too stubborn to die!” he continues to laugh until Cui Li’s stern look makes him stop.
“Just be ready to make a press statement over how sad you all are about Ye Qiu’s death.” Cui Li says coldly.
“How did he die?” he asks fragilely like at any moment something is going to snap within him, ignoring what everyone else thought of him at the moment; a first really, but then again Ye Qiu always made him like this – just ignoring everyone else to focus on Ye Qiu, only him.
“A car crash if you can believe it, he was coming back from the cemetery with Mucheng when he pushed her out of the way.”
Just an entire world shatters to leave Liu Hao to stare at the pieces unsure of what to do next. The rest of what Cui Li says is gone from Liu Hao’s mind as he struggles to control himself. There’s phlegm at the back of his throat and his eyes are watering. He blinks a couple of times to remove the water but doesn’t touch his eyes least people think he’s crying over Ye Qiu.
He hated Ye Qiu – hated him so much because he never did anything with himself beyond play Glory. He didn’t care for the fame or fortune, or women since he had Su Mucheng as his girlfriend and now, he goes off to save her only for himself to die. It wasn’t fair. He hates Ye Qiu so much. He hates how he criticises Liu Hao over his matches, hates how he dresses, acts, talks, smirks, hates how when Liu Hao first met him that Liu Hao was in awe over his favourite player. Hates how much of a scam he is.
And now Liu Hao hates how he died. It was too noble for him.
“Liu Hao,” his name startles him out of his thoughts, “remember to be prepared in a few hours over how much Ye Qiu meant to the team.”
“Of course, who do you think I am?” Liu Hao says as Cui Li inspects him like he was a piece of meat found wanting.
Cui Li hums but doesn’t say anything until he walks out the room and stops by the door to say, “Oh, and congratulations, Captain Liu”.
The congratulations are half-hearted from the team. Just another victory that should have been his that Ye Qiu takes from him.