My Soulmate is A Libero
Qin Chunxiao only found out later that the Dun vaccine wasn’t being distributed quickly, and getting vaccinated was as difficult as getting the HPV nine-valent vaccine. Moreover, the primary recipients of the nine-valent vaccine were females, while the Dun vaccine was in high demand for everyone. If it weren’t for Lao Niu’s efforts, they wouldn’t have had a chance.
But not getting this vaccine was not an option. The situation abroad was still quite serious, and many sports events had been suspended. Missing out on watching the Russian Premier League was disappointing for Qin Chunxiao. He even found himself reminiscing about the happy times when he used to hang out with his club buddies, Xiao Liu and Er Leng, doing street performances.
Er Leng, of course, also felt nostalgic, but this guy was not only good at avoiding any battles he couldn’t win (which accounted for 99% of the battles in his life), but he also excelled at staying away from diseases and other risks. Since Russia had an outbreak, he would absolutely not go there.
With his cautious nature, there was a good chance that he would see Qin Chunxiao participating in the senior citizens’ sports games when he turned ninety-nine.
The situation in the UK was no better, so Lu Xuandong didn’t go back to studying there. He could only attend online classes and communicate with his professors remotely. When Qin Chunxiao received the order to head to Hainan, Lu Xuandong came to help him pack his bags.
Qin Chunxiao was feeling helpless, “I can handle this myself; you don’t need to worry.”
Lu Xuandong replied, “I enjoy worrying about you. Just let me.” He handed Qin Chunxiao a glass of juice, pushed him onto the sofa, and began folding his clothes into the suitcase. To keep Qin Chunxiao from getting bored during the trip, he even asked if he wanted to bring a gaming console.
Qin Chunxiao said, “A tablet will do.”
He wasn’t particularly interested in gaming, and he only played the same game as Er Leng to pass the time. Carrying a gaming console was unnecessary, especially when Gao Depi would likely bring board games along.
Lu Xuandong continued to pack sunscreen into Qin Chunxiao’s suitcase, saying, “The UV radiation is strong there, so be sure to protect yourself. But it’s okay if you get a tan as long as you don’t get sunburned.”
Qin’s parents thought that Dong Zai was like a second father to Chunxiao.
Qin Chao handed Qin Chunxiao a card, saying, “Dong Zai has organized everything you need to bring. If you’re missing anything, you can buy it there.”
Qin Ling suddenly realized something, took out his wallet, and handed a stack of cash to Qin Chunxiao, saying, “Take this too. Just in case you end up in a place with poor internet, you’ll have money to spend.”
In that moment, Qin Chunxiao felt like a primary school student about to embark on a spring outing, with his entire family worrying about him.
Lu Xuandong also added some essential oils to his bag, saying, “Sometimes you talk in your sleep at night and have trouble sleeping. Aromatherapy can improve your sleep quality.”
Qin Chunxiao was surprised, “Do I talk in my sleep?”
Not only did he talk in his sleep, but he also threw dream punches.
Lu Xuandong recalled the nights when he and Qin Chunxiao slept together. Occasionally, he would be kicked awake or disturbed by sleep talk, usually when Chunxiao had been physically active before bed.
So, for the sake of Qin Chunxiao’s sleep quality and his own, Lu Xuandong bought essential oils and researched acupressure points. He would massage Qin Chunxiao when he talked in his sleep and even used herbal packs to apply heat.
Of course, there were also moments when Qin Chunxiao would come home exhausted from training and just lie on the bed, unable to move. During those times, Lu-style massage came to the rescue. In addition to that, there were face masks from the refrigerator, and he even helped clean Qin Chunxiao’s ears, creating a rustling sound that was quite hypnotic.
All those mornings when Qin Chunxiao woke up refreshed were thanks to Lu Xuandong’s sleepless nights.
Lu Xuandong packed Qin Chunxiao and his luggage together and drove him to the provincial team. Before parting ways, he heard his lover ask, “Will you miss me?”
Qin Chunxiao replied, “I probably will… Hmm.”
He tilted his head back and closed his eyes, smiling as they parted. “I’ll call you often.”
Watching his cheerful face, Lu Xuandong sighed inwardly. Well, Xiaozai was so cute, so what if he had to work a little harder for him?
After watching the two young men leave, Qin Ling remained silent for a while before asking, “Chao Chao, do you think our two children have a similar taste when it comes to finding partners?”
This similarity didn’t refer to their physical appearance but to their caring and nurturing nature. During the Chinese New Year, Qin Ling had witnessed Wen Lang cutting Qin Chunfeng’s hair with surprising skill. Furthermore, he had noticed that although his daughter could still wash her underwear herself, all her other clothes were taken care of by Wen Lang.
If it could be machine-washed, it was done in the machine, and if it was a delicate item like a silk dress, Wen Lang would hand-wash it. Qin Ling also learned that his daughter had become too lazy to shop for clothes, leaving that task to Wen Lang as well. Sometimes, she would even fall asleep on the couch after staying up late, and Wen Lang would gently remove her makeup and carry her to the bedroom.
Both of his children’s boyfriends were highly accomplished individuals in their respective fields, but in front of his family, they both had a nurturing, motherly aura that made one want to call them “Mom.”
Qin Chao cleared his throat and explained, “They just have a resemblance to Grandma in this aspect.”
The person Grandma had chosen as her partner, Qin Grandpa, was also a considerate and kind man. Since the siblings had spent so much time living with their grandparents, it was inevitable that they would be influenced in their criteria for choosing partners.
In the eyes of coaches like Chen Aiguo, Qin Chunxiao was the most reliable one. After listening to the coach’s instructions, he, along with Er Leng and Gao Depi, boarded the plane to Hainan.
Gao Depi’s poor sense of direction hadn’t improved over the years. Qin Chunxiao lost sight of him at the airport after a quick bathroom break but luckily found him at the convenience store.
Qin Chunxiao, carrying his suitcase, said, “Good thing Er Leng spotted you. Otherwise, you’d have been lost, Pi-ge!”
Gao Depi was apologetic, “Sorry about that.”
On the sandy beaches of Sanya, the national team gathered again. Newton held up his phone, asking Qiao Mingming to deliver a speech on camera, mainly about their commitment to intensive training and striving to improve their skills further before the Olympics to achieve good results.
“Xiao Zai, change your cartoon holey slippers to sports shoes. You’re already 19 years old! Why are you still relying on those cartoon holey slippers? You, Yuzi, put down those walnuts. Are you an old man taking a stroll in Hubei?” The video they were making for the leaders couldn’t show national team members wearing holey slippers or playing with walnuts.
The two of them protested.
“It’s hot in Hainan, so it’s normal to wear slippers. Guangdong guys wear slippers all the time.”
“These walnuts are pretty good. The doctor said I can play with them a bit once my finger injury heals.”
This training camp had a total of 30 participants, including not only the regular national team players but also many players from provincial teams, some of whom were born in the 2000s. For example, Huang Mi, who came from the Shandong provincial team like Qin Chunxiao, was born in 2001 and stood at a towering 2.05 meters. He showed great potential as a powerful main attacker and had a strong spike reminiscent of Qiao Mingming’s aggressive style.
Another example was Hu Da, a setter from the Hunan provincial team. Da Da, with his exquisite ball handling and spirited sets, seemed like a combination of Er Leng and Mao Xunfeng. Although he didn’t have the same experience as the two seasoned players, his potential earned praise from many coaches who believed he could become the new generation’s main setter for the national team after Er Leng.
However, the post-2000s setters were rising, and the veteran second setter, Ding Rong, remained as shrewd as ever. He was still highly respected by everyone as the deputy captain.
But in the end, only 18 players would be selected to go to Tokyo with Newton, and some of them might spend their time on the bench, with no guarantee of playing time.
Despite the harsh competition, everyone arrived with high hopes.
Qin Chunxiao and the others wore their sports gear to serve as a backdrop for Qiao Mingming’s speech in the video. After finishing the video, they heard someone greet them.
“Hey, cuties.”
Qin Chunxiao turned around and saw Tim, who was part of the beach volleyball super duo with Kristian. Tim was also Kristian’s partner. Then he noticed the person standing next to Tim.
This person was almost 2.1 meters tall, with slightly long curly hair that, if not properly managed, could resemble instant noodles. However, when groomed properly, he looked like the handsome male characters from Japanese manga. His face was handsome and well-defined, with sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes. He was dressed in a white windbreaker and exuded a particularly handsome aura.
Upon recognizing who this guy was, Er Leng expressed what was on Qin Chunxiao’s mind, “Messy King has changed.”
Kristian, you’ve really transformed your image too much!
Although the national team players trained and played in relatively casual sportswear, their off-duty fashion taste was impeccable thanks to the efforts of Chang Xiaole. Under his guidance, Kristian looked much neater.
Newton glanced at him and said, “This kid was also a famous young heartthrob in London during the Olympic cycle.”
It was quite odd. Even though Kristian was Italian, after Newton’s comment, Qin Chunxiao felt that Kristian’s image had shifted to that of a friendly cousin from a remote village in Shaanxi, instantly becoming extremely endearing.
The busy and fulfilling training camp began in this manner. Despite the pandemic raging abroad, with vaccines becoming widespread in China, life went on as usual. Lu Xuandong traveled extensively by plane, relying on phone calls and the internet to connect with Xiaozai and relieve his exhaustion.
The Hainan sun was as scorching as ever, the Hainanese chicken was as delicious as ever, and in line with the world’s current developments, the Olympics were sure to proceed as scheduled.
Under the brilliant sunlight, Qin Chunxiao ran on the beach, undergoing special training with the beach volleyball champions, Kristian and Tim. It was as if they had become a backup team in Hainan, unable to return home but training hard nonetheless.
Newton began calling teams he knew to arrange practice matches. Despite the fact that Newton mostly made foreign friends for language practice, the teams he invited included Iran, South Korea, Japan, Russia, and the United States. His extensive network surprised everyone.
The teams that came for the matches were quite serious, and after the games, they could go surfing, ride jet skis on the sea, and take banana boat rides for photos.
During training with Kristian and Tim, Qin Chunxiao’s skin tanned after a round of training but gradually returned to its original shade as they entered the training match period. All in all, he ended up being the only one in the team who didn’t get too dark.
By the time July came around, most of the athletes confirmed to participate in the Tokyo Olympics had already received their Dun vaccine shots and began their journeys to the Olympics.
Qin Chunxiao, as a Chinese team player who had been vaccinated early on, also started preparing to depart with the delegation.
One night, Lu Xuandong saw a photo posted by Qin Chunxiao.
In the picture, the young man with black hair and blue eyes was wearing the Chinese delegation’s attire, red on top and white below. He had a tall and slender figure, a brilliant smile, and stood on the hotel balcony with the Hainan sunset and the orange-tinted sea and sky in the background.
“Xuan Dong, will you come to the Olympics to watch my live matches?” Qin Chunxiao’s message read.
Lu Xuandong tapped on his phone a few times.
Just as Qin Chunxiao was putting away his clothes, he received a reply from Lu Xuandong, which included tickets to the Tokyo Olympics events.
He would come!
With his phone in hand, Qin Chunxiao happily flopped onto the bed and began messaging Lu Xuandong.
My Soulmate is A Libero
Qin Chunxiao only found out later that the Dun vaccine wasn’t being distributed quickly, and getting vaccinated was as difficult as getting the HPV nine-valent vaccine. Moreover, the primary recipients of the nine-valent vaccine were females, while the Dun vaccine was in high demand for everyone. If it weren’t for Lao Niu’s efforts, they wouldn’t have had a chance.
But not getting this vaccine was not an option. The situation abroad was still quite serious, and many sports events had been suspended. Missing out on watching the Russian Premier League was disappointing for Qin Chunxiao. He even found himself reminiscing about the happy times when he used to hang out with his club buddies, Xiao Liu and Er Leng, doing street performances.
Er Leng, of course, also felt nostalgic, but this guy was not only good at avoiding any battles he couldn’t win (which accounted for 99% of the battles in his life), but he also excelled at staying away from diseases and other risks. Since Russia had an outbreak, he would absolutely not go there.
With his cautious nature, there was a good chance that he would see Qin Chunxiao participating in the senior citizens’ sports games when he turned ninety-nine.
The situation in the UK was no better, so Lu Xuandong didn’t go back to studying there. He could only attend online classes and communicate with his professors remotely. When Qin Chunxiao received the order to head to Hainan, Lu Xuandong came to help him pack his bags.
Qin Chunxiao was feeling helpless, “I can handle this myself; you don’t need to worry.”
Lu Xuandong replied, “I enjoy worrying about you. Just let me.” He handed Qin Chunxiao a glass of juice, pushed him onto the sofa, and began folding his clothes into the suitcase. To keep Qin Chunxiao from getting bored during the trip, he even asked if he wanted to bring a gaming console.
Qin Chunxiao said, “A tablet will do.”
He wasn’t particularly interested in gaming, and he only played the same game as Er Leng to pass the time. Carrying a gaming console was unnecessary, especially when Gao Depi would likely bring board games along.
Lu Xuandong continued to pack sunscreen into Qin Chunxiao’s suitcase, saying, “The UV radiation is strong there, so be sure to protect yourself. But it’s okay if you get a tan as long as you don’t get sunburned.”
Qin’s parents thought that Dong Zai was like a second father to Chunxiao.
Qin Chao handed Qin Chunxiao a card, saying, “Dong Zai has organized everything you need to bring. If you’re missing anything, you can buy it there.”
Qin Ling suddenly realized something, took out his wallet, and handed a stack of cash to Qin Chunxiao, saying, “Take this too. Just in case you end up in a place with poor internet, you’ll have money to spend.”
In that moment, Qin Chunxiao felt like a primary school student about to embark on a spring outing, with his entire family worrying about him.
Lu Xuandong also added some essential oils to his bag, saying, “Sometimes you talk in your sleep at night and have trouble sleeping. Aromatherapy can improve your sleep quality.”
Qin Chunxiao was surprised, “Do I talk in my sleep?”
Not only did he talk in his sleep, but he also threw dream punches.
Lu Xuandong recalled the nights when he and Qin Chunxiao slept together. Occasionally, he would be kicked awake or disturbed by sleep talk, usually when Chunxiao had been physically active before bed.
So, for the sake of Qin Chunxiao’s sleep quality and his own, Lu Xuandong bought essential oils and researched acupressure points. He would massage Qin Chunxiao when he talked in his sleep and even used herbal packs to apply heat.
Of course, there were also moments when Qin Chunxiao would come home exhausted from training and just lie on the bed, unable to move. During those times, Lu-style massage came to the rescue. In addition to that, there were face masks from the refrigerator, and he even helped clean Qin Chunxiao’s ears, creating a rustling sound that was quite hypnotic.
All those mornings when Qin Chunxiao woke up refreshed were thanks to Lu Xuandong’s sleepless nights.
Lu Xuandong packed Qin Chunxiao and his luggage together and drove him to the provincial team. Before parting ways, he heard his lover ask, “Will you miss me?”
Qin Chunxiao replied, “I probably will… Hmm.”
He tilted his head back and closed his eyes, smiling as they parted. “I’ll call you often.”
Watching his cheerful face, Lu Xuandong sighed inwardly. Well, Xiaozai was so cute, so what if he had to work a little harder for him?
After watching the two young men leave, Qin Ling remained silent for a while before asking, “Chao Chao, do you think our two children have a similar taste when it comes to finding partners?”
This similarity didn’t refer to their physical appearance but to their caring and nurturing nature. During the Chinese New Year, Qin Ling had witnessed Wen Lang cutting Qin Chunfeng’s hair with surprising skill. Furthermore, he had noticed that although his daughter could still wash her underwear herself, all her other clothes were taken care of by Wen Lang.
If it could be machine-washed, it was done in the machine, and if it was a delicate item like a silk dress, Wen Lang would hand-wash it. Qin Ling also learned that his daughter had become too lazy to shop for clothes, leaving that task to Wen Lang as well. Sometimes, she would even fall asleep on the couch after staying up late, and Wen Lang would gently remove her makeup and carry her to the bedroom.
Both of his children’s boyfriends were highly accomplished individuals in their respective fields, but in front of his family, they both had a nurturing, motherly aura that made one want to call them “Mom.”
Qin Chao cleared his throat and explained, “They just have a resemblance to Grandma in this aspect.”
The person Grandma had chosen as her partner, Qin Grandpa, was also a considerate and kind man. Since the siblings had spent so much time living with their grandparents, it was inevitable that they would be influenced in their criteria for choosing partners.
In the eyes of coaches like Chen Aiguo, Qin Chunxiao was the most reliable one. After listening to the coach’s instructions, he, along with Er Leng and Gao Depi, boarded the plane to Hainan.
Gao Depi’s poor sense of direction hadn’t improved over the years. Qin Chunxiao lost sight of him at the airport after a quick bathroom break but luckily found him at the convenience store.
Qin Chunxiao, carrying his suitcase, said, “Good thing Er Leng spotted you. Otherwise, you’d have been lost, Pi-ge!”
Gao Depi was apologetic, “Sorry about that.”
On the sandy beaches of Sanya, the national team gathered again. Newton held up his phone, asking Qiao Mingming to deliver a speech on camera, mainly about their commitment to intensive training and striving to improve their skills further before the Olympics to achieve good results.
“Xiao Zai, change your cartoon holey slippers to sports shoes. You’re already 19 years old! Why are you still relying on those cartoon holey slippers? You, Yuzi, put down those walnuts. Are you an old man taking a stroll in Hubei?” The video they were making for the leaders couldn’t show national team members wearing holey slippers or playing with walnuts.
The two of them protested.
“It’s hot in Hainan, so it’s normal to wear slippers. Guangdong guys wear slippers all the time.”
“These walnuts are pretty good. The doctor said I can play with them a bit once my finger injury heals.”
This training camp had a total of 30 participants, including not only the regular national team players but also many players from provincial teams, some of whom were born in the 2000s. For example, Huang Mi, who came from the Shandong provincial team like Qin Chunxiao, was born in 2001 and stood at a towering 2.05 meters. He showed great potential as a powerful main attacker and had a strong spike reminiscent of Qiao Mingming’s aggressive style.
Another example was Hu Da, a setter from the Hunan provincial team. Da Da, with his exquisite ball handling and spirited sets, seemed like a combination of Er Leng and Mao Xunfeng. Although he didn’t have the same experience as the two seasoned players, his potential earned praise from many coaches who believed he could become the new generation’s main setter for the national team after Er Leng.
However, the post-2000s setters were rising, and the veteran second setter, Ding Rong, remained as shrewd as ever. He was still highly respected by everyone as the deputy captain.
But in the end, only 18 players would be selected to go to Tokyo with Newton, and some of them might spend their time on the bench, with no guarantee of playing time.
Despite the harsh competition, everyone arrived with high hopes.
Qin Chunxiao and the others wore their sports gear to serve as a backdrop for Qiao Mingming’s speech in the video. After finishing the video, they heard someone greet them.
“Hey, cuties.”
Qin Chunxiao turned around and saw Tim, who was part of the beach volleyball super duo with Kristian. Tim was also Kristian’s partner. Then he noticed the person standing next to Tim.
This person was almost 2.1 meters tall, with slightly long curly hair that, if not properly managed, could resemble instant noodles. However, when groomed properly, he looked like the handsome male characters from Japanese manga. His face was handsome and well-defined, with sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes. He was dressed in a white windbreaker and exuded a particularly handsome aura.
Upon recognizing who this guy was, Er Leng expressed what was on Qin Chunxiao’s mind, “Messy King has changed.”
Kristian, you’ve really transformed your image too much!
Although the national team players trained and played in relatively casual sportswear, their off-duty fashion taste was impeccable thanks to the efforts of Chang Xiaole. Under his guidance, Kristian looked much neater.
Newton glanced at him and said, “This kid was also a famous young heartthrob in London during the Olympic cycle.”
It was quite odd. Even though Kristian was Italian, after Newton’s comment, Qin Chunxiao felt that Kristian’s image had shifted to that of a friendly cousin from a remote village in Shaanxi, instantly becoming extremely endearing.
The busy and fulfilling training camp began in this manner. Despite the pandemic raging abroad, with vaccines becoming widespread in China, life went on as usual. Lu Xuandong traveled extensively by plane, relying on phone calls and the internet to connect with Xiaozai and relieve his exhaustion.
The Hainan sun was as scorching as ever, the Hainanese chicken was as delicious as ever, and in line with the world’s current developments, the Olympics were sure to proceed as scheduled.
Under the brilliant sunlight, Qin Chunxiao ran on the beach, undergoing special training with the beach volleyball champions, Kristian and Tim. It was as if they had become a backup team in Hainan, unable to return home but training hard nonetheless.
Newton began calling teams he knew to arrange practice matches. Despite the fact that Newton mostly made foreign friends for language practice, the teams he invited included Iran, South Korea, Japan, Russia, and the United States. His extensive network surprised everyone.
The teams that came for the matches were quite serious, and after the games, they could go surfing, ride jet skis on the sea, and take banana boat rides for photos.
During training with Kristian and Tim, Qin Chunxiao’s skin tanned after a round of training but gradually returned to its original shade as they entered the training match period. All in all, he ended up being the only one in the team who didn’t get too dark.
By the time July came around, most of the athletes confirmed to participate in the Tokyo Olympics had already received their Dun vaccine shots and began their journeys to the Olympics.
Qin Chunxiao, as a Chinese team player who had been vaccinated early on, also started preparing to depart with the delegation.
One night, Lu Xuandong saw a photo posted by Qin Chunxiao.
In the picture, the young man with black hair and blue eyes was wearing the Chinese delegation’s attire, red on top and white below. He had a tall and slender figure, a brilliant smile, and stood on the hotel balcony with the Hainan sunset and the orange-tinted sea and sky in the background.
“Xuan Dong, will you come to the Olympics to watch my live matches?” Qin Chunxiao’s message read.
Lu Xuandong tapped on his phone a few times.
Just as Qin Chunxiao was putting away his clothes, he received a reply from Lu Xuandong, which included tickets to the Tokyo Olympics events.
He would come!
With his phone in hand, Qin Chunxiao happily flopped onto the bed and began messaging Lu Xuandong.
