It was only ten o'clock when they got off the plane. Randy led the team to the Silla Hotel in a car sent by the sponsors. When they got off the car, Lord Top was exhausted. He didn't take his bag and wrapped himself with a blanket. At that time, he wore two down coats, with only his eyes and nose exposed to the air.
"Is it so cold?" Randy walked over and put his hand on Lord Top's forehead to take his temperature, "Are you having a fever?"
Lord Top's response was slow. He raised his eyebrows in displeasure and tilted his head to avoid Randy's hand.
Randy was probably used to Lord Top's behavior, so Randy didn't take that to heart. Instead, he took off his scarf and put it around Lord Top's neck. "Take it, you crabby boy." With that, he turned around and ordered other team members, "Attention please! Let's gather in the hall. One room for two men. Line up in order and go in."
When Randy dished out all cards, he found that Lord top had gone. After looking around, he discovered that Lord Top was lying on the sofa in the resting area, with his eyes narrowed. He seemed to be asleep.
Randy looked at the door card in his hand and sighed, "Forget it, since you are my team member, I will tolerate you one more time."
Other team members had already packed their luggage and left. They even brought Lord Top's and Captain Randy's suitcase with them.
Randy waited in the resting area for a while, but Lord Top still had no sign of waking up. Randy turned on his phone and confirmed the time with the host. Then, he ordered lunch and dinner, including drinks for the team contest.
Not far away, a few people walked over while chatting. Randy raised his head and signaled with his eyes that there was someone asleep.
However, they didn't take the hint or maybe didn't notice the Lord Top. Instead, they laughed loudly and chatted in Korean. Randy stood up and walked over to them. He said in Korean, "My friend is sleeping. Please go outside and chat, okay?"
Hearing Randy's voice, Lord Top opened his eyes slightly. He got up, but the scarf around his neck fell off. Therefore, he had to lower his head to pick it up. The blanket around him also slid down, revealing his bushy eyebrows. He had short hair, which many Korean adults would have too. Seeing his men's outfit, those South Koreans suddenly looked at each other and smiled. Then, they looked at Randy with gazes full of significance and then went away to chat.
"Damn it, what does that gaze mean?" Randy unfolded his fan in displeasure. The Koreans didn't go far. They turned around and saw the words on Randy's fan "Top of the Tops". Maybe they had some elementary knowledge about Chinese, so they all laughed. Even worse, they should point at Randy and laughed with their fellows. Besides, their glances at Lord Top were full of meaning.
There was all silence.
Lord Top was lowering his head to pick up the scarf. Because he was too sleepy, he narrowed his eyes to check the surroundings. After picking up the scarf, he was going to sleep again.
Randy rushed towards her and said, "Stop sleeping. Go sleep in the room."
Lord Toper answered in a drowsy voice, but he didn't have to strength to move an inch.
Randy raised his hand and helped him up, but he failed. He took a deep breath and gritted his teeth, "Remember this, I'll break your neck if you dare to act recklessly during the contest. Listen, I do it for the contest. If you don't know what's good for you, then you're finished!"
He gathered his strength and picked up Lord Top. Strangely, Lord Top was covered with a blanket and two down jackets, but Randy didn't feel he was heavy. He was pleased with the thought that it was because he was strong.
Lord Top opened his eyes. Though he knew he was hugged by Randy, yet he didn't have the strength to protest, so he just closed his eyes and continued to sleep.
Randy walked past the South Koreans with Lord Top in his arms. He saw the men looking at him in astonishment, and they seemed to be talking something.
When Randy arrived at the elevator, Randy was a little confused. He heard they say, "Chinese people are open." What did those men mean?
Were they talking about Randy?
He just hugged a man!
When Randy placed Lord Top at the door of the room on the seventh floor, he guessed something out from the eyes of customers who passed by. They watched him with horror and surprise. Until Randy opened the door and carried Lord Top to the bed, Randy finally realized what those people meant.
"Damn it! I am a straight man, OK?" Randy, who came to his senses at that point, rushed outside and shouted at the customers. He raised his index finger and said, "I am straight!"
However, the passengers did not get it. Instead, they gave him a thumb-up.
Randy felt helpless.
Cross-culture communication was really hard.
"Mr. Geller, I wish you will win in tomorrow's contest."
It was the second time that Randy came to Korea. This time, he came for the contest again. The owner of the hotel was a middle-aged man in his forties. He wasn't of his age and could spoke Chinese fluently. He raised his glass to Randy and then finished the glass of liquor in one gulp.
Randy poured himself a glass of lemonade and raised his glass to the hotel owner. "I can't drink any wine, because I have contest tomorrow. I'll drink a toast to you with water. When I win, we can have some liquor."
"Alright, wish you good luck."
"Thank you."
In the elevator, Wink couldn't help but say, "I think he was intentionally trying to get us drunk so that we can't continue our contest. He is so hypocritical with those smarmy words. Fortunately, you discovered his scheme and didn't take the drink."
"This is his territory. He thought I would take the drink to show respect, "What a joke! Who is he? Why should I show my respect to him?" Randy's eyebrows revealed a hint of youth's unruliness and arrogance.
Wink smiled and ingratiated himself to Randy, "Yes, my captain Randy is wise! Captain is cool!"
When they walked out of the elevator, they discovered that other team members were busy carrying their luggage. Randy asked, "What's wrong? Is the room leaking?"
For some reason, the team members didn't dare to speak. Only Urchin plucked up the courage to reply, "It's Lord Top ... He wants to live in a room by himself."
Randy nodded with a gloomy face. When he walked into his room, Lord Top had already moved away. The team members only came to help the Lord Top move his suitcase and sent back Randy's scarf. It was the scarf he gave to Lord Top when they were about to get off the bus.
When the team members all returned to their rooms, Randy knocked on Lord Top's door.
"What do you mean? I've endured you for a long time. You're the first one who dares to show your dislike towards me overtly or covertly. What's wrong? Are you feeling uncomfortable living with me? I don't kick you out, but you got a nerve to move out in secret? What right do you have to dislike me? Tell me!"
The anger burned in Randy's heart. One sarcastic word from Lord Top would add fuel to the fire. Surely, if so, Randy would punch Lord Top in the face.
However, Lord Top leaned against the door weakly with his furrowed brows. His eyes narrowed, and his voice was hoarse, "I have a cold. I'm afraid you will catch it."
"..."
Randy's anger dissipated instantly. Before he left, he asked with embarrassment, "Well, did you take the medicine?"
The team members, who were worried that they would fight, rushed over nervously, only to find they were cool again, "What had happened?"