After completing their training for the day, members of the national team returned to their locker room, where half went to take their shower.
Gu Man reached his locker and questioned Liu Wei who was standing three lockers away, "Is the shoot for sport magazine this week? Didn't they ask you for a shoot?"
When he didn't get any reply, he turned sideways towards Liu Wei who was applying lotion on his naked chest.
"Liu Wei, are you doing the shoot or not?"
"I already declined them." Liu Wei finally glanced at him and replied.
"Why did you decline? Even I am doing it." Gu Man asked.
"You have been improving on your record lately, but I am still stuck on my record. I need to train more. That's why." Liu Wei explained.
"Don't make it sound like you're on the second spot and I am leading the charts. And if you do that, then what makes the others?"
Gu Man continued, "Are you trying to be humble or what?"
Liu Wei looked at him while making his hair with his hands, "Is that a compliment? Isn't it a weird way to compliment people?"
"Huh, why would I compliment you? Are you on drugs? Are you high?" Gu Man retorted.
"Gu Man sure knows how to speak his mind. A very straight forward attitude. I am sure the reporters would love to see that attitude. Keep it up." Liu Wei continued, "Good luck with your shoot. Enjoy."
After saying his piece, he moved in the direction of the door to leave the room.
"Gosh, that annoying brat. He always thinks he is smart and unique." Gu Man mumbled loud enough for Liu Wei to hear who had yet to leave the room.
After both of them left, Hao Mei and Zhen Shao Xiang started to comment on Liu Wei. Xiao Nai who was standing in front of his locker heard them and left the room.
Zhao Lusi was looking at the books in front of her arranged neatly on the shelves. She was inside a book store on the main street. She had already selected one book and was searching for something new.
She was aware of the gazes people were stealing from time to time in her direction. Both men and women. She knew that she was beautiful and people would usually stare at her from childhood.
Many years ago she was very uncomfortable about it, but now she was used to it. But that still doesn't mean that she was comfortable in it.
She was wearing blue denim jeans and a white t-shirt. Her hair was tied in a loose ponytail and she was not wearing any makeup as usual. It's not that she found makeup to be very fake. She likes makeup. But she was just too lazy to apply it, then remove it on a daily basis. And also her face was extremely sensitive. She was in sneakers.
She was having a bad premotion. Her stomach was empty. Her mind was reminding her to get out of here and get some food, but she stubbornly wanted to go through just the last single book.
Soon she reached the counter and bought the books. Now she could feel it coming. Was getting stronger.
As soon as she walked out of the book store, it started. Painful Hunger Pangs. It had been more than five hours, that she had eaten something. She could not stay without eating for more than four hours. She needs to eat even a single granola bar.
She was going to be in a hell of trouble. She regretted it. In fact terribly.
Just as she was trying to walk away from the store while having scrunched-up eyebrows and hands pressing on her stomach, she felt a hand on her shoulder.
"Are you alright?" She heard a slightly familiar deep voice.