"I give you the loyalty of someone who has never had faith."
That was the social media status she changed during the summer break after the end of Season 6.
I have no faith, but I am loyal to you.
Zhang Jiale's sudden, unexplained retirement.
She was forced to switch roles and shoulder the burden of Team Hundred Blossoms.
She didn't dare ask questions or even check in. The last message in her chat with Zhang Jiale was the "Good night" she sent after getting home on the first day of summer break.
For most of her professional career, she was constantly compared to others and lived in their shadow.
Zhang Jiale, Chu Yunxiu, the Twin Stars of the Blossoming Blood Scene.
Unlike other players who grew depressed from living in someone else's shadow, she found comfort in it.
At least it proved that Zhang Jiale was still in the hearts of Hundred Blossoms fans and hadn't been forgotten.
She carried Hundred Blossoms from Season 7 through Season 11.
Her partners changed from Tang Hao to Yu Feng, and the way people addressed her changed from "that rookie" to "vice-captain" and then "captain." Winning the fans' approval and establishing a Hundred Blossoms distinct from the Zhang Jiale and Sun Zheping era was no easy feat.
She kept her chin up and pressed on, pretending nothing could break her. But when Zhang Jiale returned to the game, she came down with a high fever and was hospitalized.
She had only one weakness: Zhang Jiale.
Jiale retires, and he barely appears in the first half. The two lose touch because of his retirement, and the story mainly focuses on her leading Hundred Blossoms through its matches. There's much less romance, so it can be read as a BG story that's not entirely about their careers.
The focus is Hundred Blossoms.
About 35,000 words in total.
The story spans Seasons 7 through 11.
The whole story is complete. I'm not sure when I'll start posting it, and I might revise it again. The full draft has already been saved in my drafts.
I usually write for my own enjoyment, and this probably isn't a style that everyone will like. It's more like a diary of events. I just wanted to write a BG story about Hundred Blossoms and Zhang Jiale. I had this idea and wanted to write it, that's all.
Read it if you like it. If you don't, just scroll past. That's how I approach all my stories.
Theme: Taking on the guilt and responsibility Jiale left behind.
