"Been a Long Time"

Chapter 3: Yao Tong

I stood next to Rui in the waiting area of the airport waiting for the new Mid. I am going to pick her up then go to the game with my friends, after the game I'll head back with her to the base camp. Hopefully, nothing will go wrong. Hopefully.

A cute, rather short, young looking girl with blondish hair walked up to us.

"Ah, you must be Yao Tong," Rui said, looking at the girl.

"Xiao Rui?" She asked.

"Yes, I am the one who contacted you, Manager of ZGDX." Rui replied. "Oh, this is Lu Y/n, she will help you settle in if you decide to join us."

"Hi, Mr. Rui, Ms. Y/n." she said, bowing slightly. I nod in greeting. (Don't yell at me if that isn't proper in China, I'm a young American so don't yell at me.)

"Don't. No need, just call me Rui and her Y/n. You'll see her a lot around base camp." Rui said, stopping her from the formal speech. "Here's your key card."

"Thank you," Yao Tong said, accepting the card from Rui's outstretched hand.

"Are you going to the Spring Playoffs this afternoon?" I asked. She nodded. "Would you like a ride? I'll have to go with some friends, but I'll take you then bring you to the base camp if you decide to join. I have some errands to run after I drop you off at the base camp, but I can still give you a ride."

"Yeah, thank you," she said, bowing again.

"Oh, no need to bow, I am hardly worthy of that." I said, gently pulling her back into a standing position. She nods. She's still a little shy, but we can work with that. I grinned. I like this little woman.

"By the way," she said, turning to Rui. "Do Brother Cheng and the others live here too?"

"They do, but they are not here at the moment. They are out training." Rui said, understandingly. She bobbed her head in understanding. "Do you want to meet them?"

"No, no, no, no," she said, nervously. It was kinda cute. "Not at all."

"Why not?" I asked. "When trainees come to the base, they couldn't wait a second to meet Cheng."

"I want to meet him too," Little Tao said. "But I didn't wash my hair today."

I laughed. That was a fair reason, but I wasn't expecting that. She looked at me both offended and puzzled.

"Sorry, that's a fair reason. I just wasn't expecting that answer." I said, regaining my composure. "Sorry, I tend to be a little on the crazy side. You'll have to ignore me."

A crowd suddenly headed for the entrance, shouting about somebody being here. We looked up in curiosity. Rui and I realized that it was just the boys finally deciding to show up for work.

"What are they doing?" Little Tao asked. Rui shook his head and I chuckled.

"I don't know," Rui sighed. "How did the media know that God Ming is going to retire? They all went crazy these days, trying to make some big news."

"God Ming is going to retire?! Because of his hand injuries?" Tao asked. "Oh my, that is God Ming."

Laughing a little, Rui replied. "That is why we need you. What do you say? Have you decided? Do you want to join ZGDX?"

Yao Tong stayed quiet in indecision. 

"It's ok. Take your time, no need to rush. But, if you join them, it'll be the biggest news of the year. Keep that in mind." I said, warning her about what would happen.

"What? No, no, no. I didn't wash my hair. I can't be on the news right now!" Yao Tong said, panicking slightly. I laughed again. I love this girl. Now, cue the boys' ✨epic✨ entrance to the scene. I wanna laugh at how stupid the look. Lao Mao gave an air kiss to the fans, making me snort. K was stone faced as always, Fatty was being his adorable self, then Ming came out all serious and effortlessly cool, then, finally, Mr. Stone Wall. Nah, I ain't letting him have a cool moment in my brain. I know everything about him, there ain't nothing cool about all his dirty diapers as a child. Nah. Sorry, little brother, you were nasty. I laugh at the thought, causing Tao Yong to look at me, confused. Rui just ignored me like normal. I shook my head, telling her that it was nothing.