Dominate the Super Bowl

"What if it's me?"

Gently but firmly, Talia mustered up the courage and finally spoke out.

Those beautiful blue eyes shimmered like the stars and sea, yet stared at Li Wei with such openness and bravery, as if she could feel the raging wind coming from all directions but remained unfazed, her vigor rushes forward.

Under the gaze of those eyes, Li Wei was the one caught off guard instead.

Li Wei chuckled lightly, easing the awkwardness, "Haha, this joke surely deserves some credit. You've caught me, Talia, ten points to Gryffindor."

Talia took a deep breath, her eyes bright as she gazed at Li Wei, "I wasn't joking."

Li Wei: ...

Li Wei sighed softly, raising both hands in a gesture of surrender, "Talia, you're still young..."

No need to listen further, Talia knew exactly what Li Wei was about to say, and she interrupted him first, "Professor, just because everyone calls you professor doesn't mean you should think of yourself as old. You've just reached legal drinking age not long ago, right?"

"Believe me, if you went to a bar now, you would definitely be asked to show your driver's license."

Asians, from this perspective, generally look young, all sporting baby faces; even at thirty, they look like college students, hard to distinguish their age.

"You're not that old, so there's no need to always bring up age."

Talia looked at Li Wei confidently, emphasizing with her gaze.

"Do you like Ariana?"

"No, I told you, we're just friends."

"Then do you like me?"

"...No."

In the back-and-forth exchange, like a rapid-fire Q&A, no time for thought, the conversation already slipped out, Li Wei hesitated for a moment instinctively.

Talia took a deep breath, "You come to support my drama, you stay with me on adventures until dawn, you remember my birthday, you're willing to talk honestly with me until the sun comes up."

"Haven't you ever felt attracted to me for even a second?"

Li Wei was caught off guard, instinctively avoiding her gaze, but as he turned away, he immediately realized his hesitation and looked back at Talia—

Despite knowing Talia for some time, Li Wei hadn't asked about her birth date; but from everyday conversation, it was clear Talia wasn't yet an adult.

Some lines are drawn there, cannot be crossed.

Li Wei also took a deep breath, "Talia, we're just friends."

Talia felt a lump in her throat, hearing the sound of a breaking heart, her eyes slightly reddened, "You're not even my type because you're not honest enough."

"I thought you were brave and honest enough to face yourself, but obviously, you lack the courage."

Disappointment, bitterness, pain, heartbreak.

Talia nearly lost her breath.

But worse, looking at the man before her, she still couldn't hate him.

On the contrary, the once vague feelings of jealousy, envy, and longing suddenly became clearer, that yearning hitting her chest hard, nearly causing her heart to explode.

This, it turns out, is what it feels to like someone, that even dislike still burns uncontrollably.

"Ah, ah, ah! You're so annoying, don't look at me like that."

Talia, unable to control her irritation, started complaining.

Li Wei: ???

Li Wei, "If I were talking to the air, wouldn't that make me look crazy?"

Talia couldn't help but laugh out loud but felt annoyed for breaking character, ended up crying and laughing at the same time, unable to control herself.

"I'm going to tell everyone you bullied me."

Li Wei exhaled deeply, shrugged lightly, "I can't argue that, it's the truth."

Talia didn't expect such a response, her jaw dropped.

Li Wei glanced over, "Before we board, should we grab some sugar and fluids, see if there's any hot cocoa available."

Talia widened her eyes, "Oh God, you actually have hot cocoa on your mind now?"

Li Wei, "...If not, hot milk?"

Talia looked up to the sky, but a smile still tugged at the corners of her mouth—

She still couldn't hate Li Wei.

No, she couldn't do it.

Then she lowered her gaze back to Li Wei, "How about some hot mulled wine, Christmas isn't far away."

Li Wei blinked, "I didn't bring my driver's license, the bartender probably won't believe I'm twenty-one."

Was this a response using Talia's own teasing against her mischief?

Talia stood there stunned, unable to hold back a chuckle, watching Li Wei's calm demeanor, the more she laughed, the happier she became.

Beside them, Kelsey and the others had just noticed the tense atmosphere, each worried about a potential crisis, anxious to think of ways to help; but the situation turned around, and the tension lifted in a blink of an eye.

Mahomes couldn't understand.

Mahomes, "Travis, do we still need to help?"

Kelsey, "...Looks like...we don't...need to?"

What is this all about?

Li Wei looked at the red-eyed Talia, those unaware would truly think he had abandoned her, "What role are you auditioning for in Los Angeles?"

Talia glanced at Li Wei, instantly knowing he was trying to comfort her.

So, is this a friend zone card?

Talia pursed her lips stubbornly, but quickly loosened up, "An eighteen-year-old girl, eighteen!" Gritting her teeth while staring at Li Wei, "Still a girl, but already an adult."

Li Wei pretended not to understand, "Perfect, from the looks of it, you're the ideal choice for this role."

Talia felt instantly deflated, "Do you know how many eighteen-year-old girls there are in Hollywood?"

Li Wei, "No, do you?"

Talia, "Yeah, I don't know either because there's no way to count them all!"

Li Wei, "Maybe there are countless eighteen-year-old girls, but there's only one Talia Reed."

Talia paused, her heart skipped a beat once more.

Li Wei commented lightly, "I believe you're the perfect choice for the role."

Talia quietly stared at Li Wei, just about to speak when a voice interrupted.

"What are you two sitting here for? We need to get ready to board."

Running back assistant coach Ronnie Clark.

"Rookie, we need to board!"

Li Wei gestured to Clark, then looked at Talia, extending his right hand, "Sorry, we have to board now, good luck with the audition."

Talia also took Li Wei's right hand, "Good luck at the London Bowl."

Talia looked at Li Wei, Li Wei looked at Talia, their gazes entwined, and time seemed to pause here for a brief moment. Talia held Li Wei's wide, sturdy palm, silent, seemingly searching for something in Li Wei's eyes.

Eventually, it was Li Wei who let go of his right hand and simply bid farewell to Talia.

Then, he signaled the group of eager eavesdroppers to move, delivering a solid Iron Sand Palm to their backs amidst a chorus of complaints, urging this crowd to hurry to customs.

The group scattered in a rush, exchanging glances and whispering to each other, the atmosphere particularly lively.

Talia, who had been standing at the back, watched the scene, a silent smile creeping onto her lips, her mood seemed to blossom anew.

"Li Wei!"

Talia called out loud, watching Li Wei stop in his tracks and turn to face her, she flashed a big smile.

"I like you."