I Really Am Just a Substitute – CH38

Chapter 38

Knock knock!

Shao Qiu opened the door. “Assistant Coach Hou?”

“Here!” Assistant Coach Hou shoved a USB drive into his hand. “Your teammates’ rooms are all nearby, right? If they want to watch too, watch it together. Don’t let them say I’m giving you special treatment.”

“They should all be at the training ground doing extra practice right now.”

“Tsk, these overachievers…” Hou pointed at the USB. “Get on it yourself. This is the game footage against Team T. Figure out where your problems are and make sure you perform well in the next matches!”

“Got it.”

Shao Qiu was about to say goodbye when Hou stopped the door. “Oh, right. Did I leave a bag at your dorm before?”

“A bag? When I moved dorms, I did find an unfamiliar one…” Shao Qiu thought carefully.

“Was there a national flag on it?”

“Yeah, that one!” Assistant Coach Hou waved his hand dismissively. “Just give it back to me when we’re home. Now go watch the footage, but don’t stay up too late.”

“Thanks, Coach…”

Around the corner of the hallway.

Suppressing the ragged breaths from post-practice exhaustion, Ning Yang tugged down his jersey collar, eyes half-squinted.

“A bag with a national flag? So the rumors from the training camp about Zhou Zhou—did they start with Assistant Coach Hou or Shao Qiu…?”

If it was Hou, then most likely it wasn’t intentional. Deep down, he probably truly believed Zhou Zhou was just a “connections pick.”

In the temporary office of Team China.

Ning Zhou stared at his subpar vertical jump score, with Coach Luo standing in front of him and Ning Xu sitting behind as an observer.

He was an adult, yet right now he felt the helplessness of a kid being called to the principal’s office with his parent.

Coach Luo said meaningfully, “You’re special. You’ve got something that makes up for your height disadvantage.”

Ning Zhou thought for a moment, then pointed hesitantly to his eyes. “Wide vision?”

“Not your vision.” Couch Luo tapped a finger against his own chest, full of implication. “Here.”

Ning Zhou’s eyes flickered. “A big heart?”

“Smart boy!”

Coach Luo’s eyes narrowed slightly, hiding the admiration within them.

“Thrown into the game last minute, and you never panic. Not only can you play normally, you can lift the whole team’s morale. Just for that, no other setter from the training camp could replace you.”

Ning Zhou didn’t look happy. “Thank you, Coach…”

“I called you here for one thing: no matter when you’re subbed in, play like you did against Team T. Your only edge now is your mentality. Understand?”

Ning Zhou stretched his lips into a polite smile. “Yes, Coach!”

“Go rest early.”

Ning Zhou bowed slightly and turned away, the smile fading as he left.

He couldn’t tell if Luo was praising him—or warning him.

“Your only edge is your big heart” = if you ever break under pressure, there’s no place for you on the team.

Unlike starting players, substitutes have fewer chances to lose their composure than they do to even set foot on the court…

“Coach Luo, I’ll head out too. Thank you for your hard work,” Ning Xu said, following closely behind Ning Zhou.

“Zhou Zhou!”

Ning Zhou stopped, raising a questioning brow.

Ning Xu carefully led him a bit further from the office door. “Did you understand what Coach Luo meant?”

Ning Zhou hesitated. “That I should cherish my time on the court and keep a steady mindset?”

“Not just that!” Ning Xu pressed. “If it was only about mentality, why did he show you the test results?”

Failing the vertical jump…

Ning Zhou suddenly understood. “Coach Luo hinted that I only managed to contribute today because Team T’s offense wasn’t that strong?”

Ning Xu nodded gravely. “Zhou Zhou, you and Xiao Mie know I’m blunt… You need to be mentally prepared. Against offensive-heavy teams, your blocking height won’t be enough, and Coach Luo will probably keep you benched!”

The more Ning Xu spoke, the more anxious he got, even grabbing Ning Zhou’s arm. “Why isn’t your vertical improving? A setter with poor blocking doesn’t fit the volleyball association’s standards. Then what will you—”

“Coach Ning.”

Ning Zhou calmly stepped back, his expression detached, as if his forehead spelled out leave it to fate.

“I’ll play as long as my height lets me. I’m not going to force it. I’ll just cherish every chance I get to be on the court and do my best to improve.”

Ning Xu fell silent, awkwardly withdrawing his hand.

He could see it—Ning Zhou wasn’t trying to be cold; it was just how he had always been, a little distant.

“…” Ning Zhou’s lips moved slightly. “Thank you for your concern.”

With a polite nod, he quickly left the office area.

Only when he rounded a corner, out of Ning Xu’s line of sight, did his tense shoulders finally relax.

But peace didn’t last long.

On the way back to his room, he had to pass by the temporary training hall.

If anyone practicing there—especially Nie Feiang—spotted him, they’d drag him into extra drills, and there’d be no sleep tonight.

As he reached the entrance, he moved like a stealthy night cat, tiptoeing carefully. Just a few more steps and he’d be clear of the danger zone—

“…?” Yu Bai happened to step out of the training hall and instinctively called, “Zhou—mmph!”

Ning Zhou, suddenly explosive, clamped a hand over Yu Bai’s mouth and yanked him to the wall. “Shhh—”

Yu Bai didn’t resist at all, obediently nodding.

Their position looked almost like a wall slam, but Ning Zhou’s smaller frame couldn’t shield Yu Bai, making the situation look… odd.

Fresh off the court, Yu Bai’s breath was still warm as it brushed against Ning Zhou’s forehead when he tilted his head down.

Feeling awkward, Ning Zhou pulled back a little and mouthed silently, “Leaving?”

So, the number of people in the room increased to two.

“Sorry, I was worried that Nie Feiang or Xu Zichang might drag me off for extra training… Did you hit your head on the wall?”

“I’m fine.” Yu Bai’s hair had grown a little longer. He brushed it up, the slightly damp strands slicked back like he’d used gel, giving off an intimidating aura.

Ning Zhou stared at Yu Bai’s “new hairstyle” for a few seconds, his throat dry. He licked his lips slightly. “If you ever enter the entertainment industry, you’d definitely be popular…”

Yu Bai’s gaze shifted. “Like you?”

“Haha, I’ve only been on a few variety shows at best. I wouldn’t call that the entertainment industry.” Ning Zhou walked alongside him. “By the way, have you watched Sports Forward?”

“Mm.”

“I’m really grateful to your sister for looking after me. I was clueless about so many things, but Sister Yu Tong patiently taught me everything. Otherwise, I would’ve been a nervous wreck in front of the cameras… I heard it was you who asked her to help me, so thanks!”

“Is there a reward?” Yu Bai asked suddenly.

Ning Zhou was caught off guard. “After the competition, I…”

“No need for anything else.” Yu Bai stopped walking, lowered his gaze, and locked eyes with Ning Zhou. “There’s one thing I want to try. Can you cooperate with me?”

“…Sure. What is it?”

Yu Bai arched a sharp brow, his expression unreadable to Ning Zhou. “I heard that if two people’s height ratio is 1.12, they’re the most compatible for hugging…”

“Really?” Ning Zhou looked surprised. “There’s research like that?”

Yu Bai lowered his gaze, like a pet waiting for its owner to bring home a gift. “I want to know if it’s true.”

“?” Ning Zhou tilted his head, blinking. “Wait… is our height ratio 1.12?”

Yu Bai didn’t say anything. His eyelashes trembled slightly, and Ning Zhou realized his guess was right…

“But… doesn’t this feel a bit weird…”

Ning Zhou fiddled with the hem of his shirt. Just as he was about to refuse, he noticed Yu Bai was doing the same thing — fidgeting with the edge of the bandages on his knuckles.

“Ah, whatever! There’s nothing to be awkward about! We’re both guys. We’re half-naked all the time in the locker room, so what’s the big deal now?”

Ning Zhou rambled on, not sure if he was trying to convince Yu Bai or himself. He opened his arms and gave Yu Bai a loose, tentative hug.

As the distance closed, Yu Bai’s body heat, mixed with a faint scent of shower gel, drifted into Ning Zhou’s nose.

Ning Zhou wrinkled his nose, a little embarrassed, and tilted his head up, resting his chin on Yu Bai’s chest as he blinked up at him.

“So? Is it true?”

Yu Bai’s breath caught. Before more emotion could show on his face, he placed a hand on the back of Ning Zhou’s head and pressed him gently against his chest.

“Don’t move. I haven’t felt it yet…”

“…Fine, but hurry up!”

Ning Zhou leaned his head to the side, cheek pressed against Yu Bai, fitting perfectly into his arms. If Yu Bai’s chest had been any softer, Ning Zhou felt he could’ve fallen asleep standing there.

Maybe that research was true…

That thought lulled him into drowsiness.

“Hah!”

A sharp gasp came from the side. Ning Zhou’s head popped up—A man in the China men’s volleyball team jersey stood there, eyes wide, clutching a family-sized bucket of fried chicken in one hand and a burger in the other, so shocked he forgot to chew.

“You… you two…”

With every word, bits of burger threatened to tumble from his mouth.

Ning Zhou, worried for the burger’s safety, quickly pushed Yu Bai aside and reminded him, “Careful, you’re about to drop your food!”

Ning Zhou’s calm reaction made the man question reality.

He swallowed hard and forced the bite down. “Xiao Yu, Xiao Ning… good evening.”

The newcomer was Pang Tianze, 30 years old, from the same player batch as Du Jun and Shao Qiu.

There were four main attackers on the team roster — Du Jun and Yu Bai as starters, with Pang Tianze and Xu Zichang as substitutes.

“Good evening, Brother Pang!” Ning Zhou greeted naturally, his eyes darting between Pang Tianze’s chicken bucket and the burger. “What’s that?”

Pang Tianze was the team’s biggest eater — and the heaviest.

He and Du Jun had carried the previous generation’s main attack line, known for their raw power and explosive spikes, much like Yu Bai — heavy-hitter types.

A few years back, Coach Luo had high hopes for him, treating him as a core player. Pang Tianze didn’t disappoint, often topping the scoring charts.

With Pang Tianze and Du Jun, China’s main attack line was among the world’s best.

But good times didn’t last. His prime lasted barely a year or two—Excess weight affected his jumping ability. The constant stress on his ankles and knees caused serious wear and tear with every landing.

Coach Luo noticed and decisively removed him from the starting lineup to protect his health.

A top-tier heavy hitter, once a bright star on the international stage, quickly faded from memory.

Ning Zhou guessed that Coach Luo’s later insistence on “balanced player development” stemmed from Pang Tianze’s experience.

Since then, Pang Tianze rarely played in matches. But when the national team regrouped for intensive training, Coach Luo still kept him on the roster — and reminded the team clearly:

“Doctors say Pang Tianze must strictly control his weight. Everyone is to keep an eye on him. If anyone catches him eating against the nutritionist’s plan, there’s a reward for reporting it!”

“Uh… can we make a deal?”

With his chubby cheeks, Pang Tianze’s smile was almost festive. Trying to cover up, he shoved the burger into the bucket and hid it behind his back.

“Please don’t tell Coach Kong. Mutual secrecy, alright?”

“Mutual secrecy?” Ning Zhou blinked.

“Yeah!” Pang Tianze said earnestly. “You keep my takeout a secret, and I’ll keep your dating a secret!”

Ning Zhou’s eyes went wide. “Wait… Brother Pang, you…”

Yu Bai calmly clarified, “You misunderstood.”

Pang Tianze, round eyes widening further, “Huh? Then what were you two doing just now?”

Ning Zhou spread his hands. “We were just bored and testing a theory.”

“?” Pang Tianze stared at them for a long moment, then sighed. “Anyway, just cover for me this once! I swear it’s the last time!”

“…Alright.” Ning Zhou circled behind him and snatched the family bucket. “But that’s it for today… huh?”

He gave the bucket a little shake, feeling something was off. When he looked inside—Aside from a half-eaten burger, everything else was just empty wrappers…

Ning Zhou mentally calculated the distance from the hotel entrance to here, and his eyes nearly popped out. “You ate this much in just a few minutes!?”

Pang Tianze scratched his head sheepishly, grinning like a fool.

“Hehe, I was starving!”

When he smiled, he looked just like a cartoon character. Ning Zhou couldn’t help but smile too. “Fried chicken and burgers really are the source of happiness, but we can’t have such high-calorie midnight snacks next time.”

“Got it!”

Now, the number of people walking back to the room increased to three…

With the three walking side by side, Ning Zhou, sandwiched between two tall, broad figures, felt like a tiny chick.

“Have you guys been practicing until now?” Pang Tianze started a conversation.

Without waiting for an answer, he continued, “Makes sense. I’m the only one in the team with restricted training hours. For you guys, practicing this late is normal.”

Ning Zhou was at a loss for words and quickly changed the topic. “Brother Pang, why didn’t I see you in the match today?”

“I can only be on the bench if the team doctor confirms my ankle is fit to play.”

Pang Tianze sighed. “The weather was bad today, and the pain was unbearable. The doctor kept me off the court…”

Ning Zhou, who had suffered from chronic pain in his previous life, understood all too well, but he couldn’t find any comforting words to say.

No matter how flowery the words, a healthy athlete could never truly ease the pain of an injured one…

“But I watched the whole match!” Pang Tianze’s expression remained cheerful, his smile unwavering. “Xiao Yu, Xiao Ning, you two were incredible!”

Ning Zhou and Yu Bai both shook their heads modestly.

Pang Tianze’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “The national team’s been on a decline these past few years. Everyone started doubting themselves. But with you two joining, the team finally tasted victory again—it’s been so long since we felt this sweetness…”

Ning Zhou thought he was praising Yu Bai and just smiled quietly.

“Especially you—” Pang Tianze slung an arm over Ning Zhou’s shoulder, the smell of fried chicken and burgers still clinging to him. “Xiao Ning!”

Ning Zhou’s smile faltered with confusion. “Me?”

Pang Tianze nodded firmly. “Before, the fans barely paid attention to men’s volleyball. Thanks to you bringing in fans, our support base has grown tenfold—no, dozens of times!”

Leaning closer, Pang Tianze said warmly, “It’s all thanks to you and Xiao Yu that we’ve come this far!”

But just as he tilted his head closer to Ning Zhou, a cold, possessive hand intercepted him…

“Huh?”

That hand, veins standing out on the back, cupped Ning Zhou’s cheek with a clear sense of territorial warning…

Yu Bai’s ever-flat tone carried a subtle edge. “What are you doing?”

“!”

Terrified that Pang Tianze might take Yu Bai’s tone as a provocation, Ning Zhou quickly pried their arms off him and spoke loudly, “Uh, Brother Pang, what Yu Bai means is… why bring this up?”

Thankfully, Pang Tianze shifted his attention back to him.

For the sake of team harmony, Ning Zhou scrambled to smooth things over with a little impromptu speech, “I’ve been with the national team for a few months now, and I’ve never seen anyone skip practice for no reason. What makes us strong isn’t one person—it’s the team as a whole, together.”

Pang Tianze’s eyes shone with emotion. “You’re really good with words, Xiao Ning! Can I call you Zhou Zhou like the others?”

Crisis averted!

Ning Zhou wiped his brow. “Sure…”

“Zhou Zhou, if there’s ever another captain election, I’m voting for you!”

Ning Zhou froze, startled. “Huh?”

Pang Tianze scowled. “Captain Du Jun and that zombie face of his never say stuff like this. He just calls me fat and won’t even let me eat a single fry!”

“…Right.” Ning Zhou’s lips twitched. “By the way, I remember Captain Du also has an injury. Doesn’t the bad weather affect him too?”

“Of course it does!” Pang Tianze pointed to his own knee. “His is worse than mine—he had surgery. On rainy days, even walking hurts.”

Memories of his own past pain surfaced in Ning Zhou’s mind, making him unconsciously curl his fingers.

“What? Then how does he…” make it to every match?

“He just toughs it out with painkillers and spray…”

Pang Tianze mumbled that and refused to elaborate. “Anyway, here’s my room. Get some rest early!”

Ning Zhou swallowed his next question. “See you tomorrow.”

Pang Tianze shook the family bucket. “Remember, keep this a secret! Thanks!”

He waved goodbye and closed the door, leaving Ning Zhou and Yu Bai staring at each other in silence…

“Yu Bai, we… need to keep winning.”

“Yeah.”

..*

Meanwhile, in the temporary training hall—

“Strange, where’s Yu Bai?”

Nie Feiang looked around, spotting only Yu Bai’s bag left by the court.

“Didn’t he say he was stepping out for a smoke?” Xu Zichang pushed a cart, collecting volleyballs. “Still not back?”

Chen Wenyao yawned and waved dismissively. “Forget it! He’s a grown man. What could happen? It’s not like he’s gonna get kidnapped.”

“Hahaha, maybe some little vixen lured him away!”

“Stop, you’re killing me. I’ll just bring his bag back for him…”

The VNL men’s volleyball schedule was tight. The last rounds of the group stage had just ended yesterday, and today the knockout stage had already begun.

After reaching the Top 16, many strong teams made adjustments to their rosters—Returning their main players who had been benched during the group stage.

Team D was no exception.

“Coach Sara, I noticed that Team D has made several roster changes. Are you planning to deploy new strategies for your upcoming matches?”

After asking, the sports channel reporter handed the microphone toward Sara.

With a hair tie between her teeth, Sara calmly tied up her hair before meeting the reporter’s gaze, “You know this is a new tactic. Do you think I could reveal it on camera before the match?”

The reporter gave an awkward smile. Sara snapped her fingers at her. “Cut that part out. Ask something you can ask.”

The reporter, not daring to cross the line again, switched to a safer Plan B question, “In today’s round of sixteen, Team D will be facing Team China. Coach Sara, what are your thoughts on today’s match?”

“I’m looking forward to playing against Team China…” Sara smiled confidently. “But I don’t think they can stop Team D from entering the quarterfinals.”

The reporter, intrigued, pressed further. “Team China may not be ranked as high as Team D, but they just defeated Team T, known for their strong blocking. Their morale is high—aren’t you afraid of an upset?”

“Team T’s coaches underestimated them. I won’t make that mistake.”

Sara’s lipstick wasn’t flashy, but paired perfectly with her overall look, exuding a natural queen-like aura.

“I’m simply comparing both teams’ levels and drawing the conclusion that we can win.

And besides, Team T’s stumble was an accident. Their blocking didn’t perform well that day, and Team China doesn’t have the kind of strength that scares me.”

“Wow, look, a reporter’s interviewing the other side!”

Nie Feiang, like a country bumpkin for the first time leaving the countryside, grabbed Ning Zhou’s sleeve and shook it hard.

Ning Zhou wrestled his jacket free. “We’ve made it to the knockout stage. Media attention will only grow—calm down…”

Xu Zichang leaned in. “But why isn’t any media interviewing Coach Kong? All the attention’s on them. That’s so unfair!”

Ning Yang mused, “Maybe Coach Kong’s bangs just aren’t as photogenic as Team D’s pretty coach.”

“Hahaha!”

“Mie Mie, you…” Ning Zhou sneaked a glance at the coaching area to make sure the coaches didn’t hear. “That’s savage.”

Their laughter was cut short by the sound of approaching footsteps.

Team D’s players walked into the venue, passing right by them.

Team D’s men’s volleyball team was famously called the “model team.” Several of their players worked as models and played volleyball part-time.

They were all tall and long-legged, with striking, chiseled features and light golden hair. Even a casual glance from their deep eyes seemed loaded with emotion…

“Damn!” Nie Feiang sucked in a sharp breath, taking a few steps back from their overwhelming presence. “Their whole team looks like they were copy-pasted from a modeling catalog, and we’re just a collection of random types.”

Ning Yang shoved Ning Zhou to the front, as if offering him up, and gestured an “OK” sign.

“No worries. If the sky falls, Zhou Zhou’s face will hold it up…”

“Why are you pushing me forward?!”

“Hahaha! What’s the panic?” came Pang Tianze’s voice from behind. His solid build made everyone feel safer. “Being ‘ugly’ makes us memorable. Team D is so uniform, I can’t even tell them apart.”

“Brother Pang!” Ning Zhou called out in delight.

Ning Zhou and Yu Bai instinctively glanced over Pang Tianze—He was wearing his team uniform!

Pang Tianze struck a strongman pose. “That’s right! The team doctor cleared me for the bench today!”

The younger players erupted into chaotic cheers, like monkeys seeing their Monkey King.

“Well, well, since when did the big guy become the kids’ idol?”

Chen Wenyao threw an arm around Pang Tianze’s shoulders and waved his other hand grandly.

“Ready to take on the legendary serving powerhouse?”

“OHHHH—!”

Amid the lively cheers of Team China, one player sat quietly to the side, indifferent to the excitement, eyes closed as he conserved his energy.

In his palm, he clenched a USB drive. The dark circles under his eyes were impossible to miss.