Chapter 144 A Sigh

Zhou Yi didn't think he would win the Ballon d'Or. That award focused more on reputation than actual performance, and there were too many unexpected factors.

He was still focused on his recovery training after returning from injury.

Although he had performed well in the Ruhr derby, he hadn't played the entire match.

As long as he couldn't play a full match, Zhou Yi didn't feel like he was fully recovered.

So, although all the players who participated in the Ruhr derby were given a day off the next day, Zhou Yi still went to the Brackel training base and found Kotana.

"Weren't you completely recovered?" Kotana was surprised to see him again.

"Post-match recovery. I wanted to get a massage from you," Zhou Yi said.

"How come you weren't this proactive about post-match recovery before?" Kotana pouted but still motioned for Zhou Yi to go to the massage bed.

"I value my health more after getting injured..." Zhou Yi said as he took off his clothes and lay down on the bed.

Seeing this, Kotana reached out and slapped his bare back. "Why are you taking off your clothes? Showing off your pathetic muscles?"

"What!"

"Put them back on. The recovery is mainly for your legs," Kotana ordered.

Only then did Zhou Yi react and quickly put on his clothes. "I'm used to it..." he explained.

Kotana gave a disdainful smile.

Then Zhou Yi sat sideways on the bed, stretched out his legs, and let Kotana massage his leg muscles.

Looking at Kotana's focused expression as she massaged, Zhou Yi suddenly thought of the days when he and Kotana lived together. Once, he had a slight muscle strain, and Kotana had massaged him so earnestly like this.

Although he often bickered with Kotana, he could still feel her concern for him.

Now that he was able to return to the field, his parents wouldn't be staying for much longer. They would always have to go back. When that time came, he would be alone again in the huge apartment. That feeling wasn't pleasant.

He suddenly had the impulse to move back in with Kotana again. Anyway, he had already bought that apartment, and he could go back whenever he wanted.

But when he thought about the trouble his return would bring to Kotana, he had a headache.

Being a celebrity had its troubles. At the very least, he couldn't do what he liked as freely as he wanted...

So many reporters and fans were watching. How would others think if a single man and woman were living under the same roof?

If the name isn't right, things won't go smoothly!

Thinking of this, Zhou Yi couldn't help but sigh with some annoyance.

Hearing Zhou Yi sigh, Kotana looked up and glanced at him. "Oh?"

Zhou Yi also realized that he had lost himself a bit, so he remained silent.

"It's rare to hear you sigh. Is there something you're unhappy about?" Kotana asked.

"No..." Zhou Yi shook his head in denial. Of course, he had to deny it.

"Tell me, tell me so I don't get bored either."

Zhou Yi said angrily, "You really have no sympathy!"

"I'm just curious about what could make you sigh..." Kotana said with a grin, truly lacking sympathy...

"It's nothing, private matter." Zhou Yi continued to shake his head, trying to brush it off.

Unexpectedly, Kotana suddenly became very gossipy. Perhaps she was just too bored being alone in the physical therapy room, so she continued to pry. "Did you have a falling out with your parents after living together for so long?"

Zhou Yi rolled his eyes at her. "Do you think I'm you?"

"Then are you worried about the Ballon d'Or selection at the end of the year?"

"I know I can't get that, I haven't even thought about it."

"That's somewhat self-aware... Then what is it?" Kotana simply stopped massaging, pointed her finger at her chin, and frowned in thought.

"Hey!" Zhou Yi protested. "Can you not be so gossipy!"

"It's just that you're too abnormal! You even sighed! Oh my, I lived with you for so long before, and I never heard you sigh..."

Before Kotana could finish speaking, she saw Zhou Yi turn his head to look at the door and say somewhat awkwardly, "Kevin, what are you doing here?"

Kotana turned her head sharply and saw Grosskreutz standing at the door with a strange expression.

"I originally wanted to come for a massage, to relax my muscles. I didn't expect you to be here too, Zhou Yi... Haha, then I won't disturb you. I'll come back tomorrow!"

After saying that, Grosskreutz turned and ran away. Zhou Yi hadn't even fully extended his hand before the man was out of sight.

Leaving only the two people in the room looking at each other.

※※※

Grosskreutz ran all the way outside the building before slowing down, then covered his mouth with his hand, his eyes wide.

He had accidentally stumbled upon a big piece of gossip! Big news!

Zhou Yi and the team's goddess Kotana had an extraordinary relationship! Oh my God!

"No wonder that kid has been coming to Kotana for massages lately..." Grosskreutz muttered to himself, a look of sudden realization on his face.

If Zhou Yi had seen Grosskreutz's smile, he would have definitely cried out in alarm.

But unfortunately, Zhou Yi and Kotana were currently in a mysteriously awkward silence and couldn't stop Grosskreutz.

Then Grosskreutz ran away with a sly smile.

He couldn't wait to share such a big piece of gossip with others!

This was definitely the hottest news gossip at the Brackel training base!

The goddess that so many people coveted had actually gotten together with Zhou Yi, and listen to what Kotana said—"lived with you for so long"!

oh_my_god!!

Too explosive!

They had been living together without anyone knowing!

Two adult men and women, living together, what did that mean? It didn't need to be explained, right?

Grosskreutz thought carefully. He and Zhou Yi had known each other for quite some time. He was the one who brought Zhou Yi to the first team's training base on his first day. With his good relationship with Zhou Yi, he had never been to Zhou Yi's residence before Zhou Yi bought a house.

He didn't even know where Zhou Yi lived. Zhou Yi always said that he was renting a small and old house, and he couldn't invite his teammates to have parties. Hosting teammates in an old house would be embarrassing for him—Zhou Yi even explained to Grosskreutz what "mianzi" was and why "mianzi" was especially important to Chinese people.

So Grosskreutz believed Zhou Yi at the time. For the same reason, Zhou Yi didn't even let his teammates know where he lived.

Where he lived wasn't important to his teammates, and no one would be nosy enough to ask about it.

And out of respect for Zhou Yi, since Zhou Yi felt that living in a broken house was embarrassing, then everyone shouldn't ask about where his broken house was. Didn't Zhou Yi say that Chinese people value "face more than life itself"?

But now, thinking about it, Grosskreutz understood everything.

What renting a small and broken house and not wanting to invite him over, what face more than life itself... Those were all excuses!

Why didn't he want him to go to his residence?

It was simple, because there was a beauty living with him!

This was a typical underground romance!

Grosskreutz stroked his chin.

He never expected that Zhou Yi, who looked honest and kind on the outside, would also play the trick of hiding a beauty in a golden house!

You can't judge a book by its cover!

※※※

"Not going to explain?" After hesitating for a while, Kotana asked Zhou Yi.

"Explain what..." Zhou Yi said with a mournful face. "Haven't you heard the saying: 'Explaining is justifying'? The more I explain at this time, the more people will think I'm justifying."

Kotana didn't say anything. She didn't know what to say.

So, the physical therapy room fell into another awkward silence.

In the end, Zhou Yi couldn't stand the awkward atmosphere any longer. He said, "Uh, I'm leaving..."

After saying that, Zhou Yi left the physical therapy room as if he were fleeing.

Leaving Kotana alone in her office, she sat at her desk, her hands supporting her forehead.

How could Grosskreutz have appeared at the door just when she was talking?

Although he didn't say anything, judging from his expression, he should have heard her conversation with Zhou Yi.

In other words, her relationship with Zhou Yi was exposed...

Wait, what was her relationship with Zhou Yi?

Of course, it was a normal relationship. She and Zhou Yi were just tenants who shared an apartment.

But if she said that, would anyone believe it?

What would others think?

A single man and woman living under the same roof for so long, and they were just ordinary tenants? Who would believe that?

If this happened between a professional player and another woman, and it was exposed by the media, Kotana's first reaction would probably be not to believe that they were just in a pure co-rental relationship...

Kotana couldn't help but sigh.