[Esports] I Started an Online Romance with a Big Shot After Retiring Chapter 63

Chapter 63

An extraordinary performance in a training match, while not enough to change the starting roster immediately, solidly rang a bell in the hearts of everyone present.

Sliver was really back, and not to slack off—he was back to carry.

Lu Yuan was upset, barely able to hide the irritability on her face. It was one thing for Sliver to be an ATM, but suddenly pulling off such god-tier mechanics, what did that mean? Was he playing the pig to eat the tiger all along?

She suddenly remembered the match-fixing mentality destruction thing HG’s Fever mentioned. Her brows knit together. She took out her phone, screenshotted the chat log, and then blocked the person. Idiot, fixing matches and advertising it everywhere. Brain problems.

But it wasn’t without benefits.

At least this fool gave her a handle on Sliver.

Lu Yuan now finally realized clearly that Sliver was legitimately here to replace her. Her contract was for three years, and this year was exactly the third. Duan Mingyue was determined to make her get lost.

This man… how could he be so ruthless!

Lu Yuan admitted Shen Yanjin’s mechanics and awareness were stronger than hers, and his style fit the meta perfectly—for KW, he was simply rain from the heavens.

And she was just an old person who, after being used for six years and deemed not handy anymore, was kicked away.

Newcomers replace old ones; one only hears the new ones laugh, who hears the old ones cry?

But Lu Yuan didn’t believe Duan Mingyue could really train and compete every day with a homosexual who liked him, or even sleep on the same floor!

Her family was considered open-minded, but she herself could never accept men liking men. Not only did she not accept or understand it, she felt it was disgusting.

And she took it for granted that others would feel equally disgusted.

But she absolutely never expected that Shen Yanjin, who had been called out by Duan Mingyue with an excuse after the scrim, was currently being pinned against the wall and kissed by the man she imagined couldn’t accept homosexuality.

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Shen Yanjin’s lips were so red they looked like they would bleed. He pushed Duan Mingyue gently. “There’s still the game review.”

Duan Mingyue hugged him, resting his forehead on Shen Yanjin’s shoulder. “No wonder they say people get especially excited after a match.”

Shen Yanjin paused. Soon, he felt a hot, hard object pressing against the root of his thigh. He was both shocked and shy. “Bro… Brother…”

He had also heard that some players wouldn’t return to base after matches, running off to find girlfriends and staying out all night. Excitement, hot blood, and adrenaline easily triggered desire.

“It’s fine, it’ll go down in a bit.” Duan Mingyue turned his head to kiss the side of his little boyfriend’s neck. “This is just a scrim. If it were an official match or the finals, do you think I’d be unable to hold back?”

Shen Yanjin’s breathing also became disordered. “…You won’t.”

“Why?”

“Because you wouldn’t bear to.” After saying it, Shen Yanjin felt he was too narcissistic. He bit his lip, an embarrassed look appearing on his face. “I need to go out.”

Duan Mingyue’s embrace tightened, not letting him leave. By his ear, his laughter was low and sounded a bit hoarse. “You’re right. How could I bear it? My heart aching for you isn’t even enough.”

Finished, he released Shen Yanjin. “Go out. I’ll come in a bit.”

Shen Yanjin felt his ears burning, so hot his heart panicked. “En.”

It was Shen Yanjin’s first time entering KW’s review room. Mao Qiude rarely took extra care, fearing he couldn’t find the way, and waited for him at the training room door.

Two minutes later, Duan Mingyue pushed the door open and entered, nodding at Mao Qiude to signal the review could begin.

Game review was undoubtedly a mountain that made all pro players cower at the thought. If the game went well, fine, but the first scrim was played too poorly. Every mistake, misjudgment, and positioning error was magnified countless times and then judged repeatedly. It couldn’t be said to not be a torture.

At such times, Duan Mingyue was usually “non-stick pan” (teflon/blameless). Logically speaking, he wasn’t young, having played professionally for six years, but his form was ridiculously good. Staying at the peak for six years without coming down angered a bunch of haters to death.

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But today, Mao Qiude was dissatisfied with his style and intentionally picked bones. Duan Mingyue knew he was in the wrong, so he obediently accepted it.

Kai and Tans, the two carries, were criticized the harshest. Mao Qiude nitpicked their team fight angles and positioning details endlessly. Song Yuan, playing one game as a slacker and one as a bulldozer, had no merits or faults. As for Lu Yuan, her condition and rank were the worst in KW due to long neglect—her account was stuck between Diamond and Master. Yet Mao Qiude didn’t say much to her, merely mentioning two major errors before skimming over lightly.

This was more uncomfortable than being scolded thoroughly.

Shen Yanjin made no mistakes, and his operations were basically all highlights, but Mao Qiude still had lingering fears about such a sharp personal style, telling him to pay attention to being steady. Winning or losing in the arena hung by a thread, which was why veteran powerhouse teams loved playing macro.

Shen Yanjin nodded and said okay. Others thought he was a rebellious thorn only because if he hadn’t been aggressive, relying on those trash teammates from before, winning would have been impossible. Now that he had RedMoon and reliable teammates, he could naturally play more steadily.

The review lasted over an hour, followed by training, eating, and more training. The profession of an esports player sounded novel and relaxed, but in reality, it was bitter and tiring. Facing the computer every day, getting injuries at a young age, plus a pile of restrictions from the Alliance—both body and mind were exhausted.

Shen Yanjin now trained for at least ten hours a day, occasionally adding extra training.

After another RANK game, feeling the fatigue in his wrist, he grabbed the cigarette pack from under the table and walked out to rest and get some air.

The night was deep. The cold wind blew against his face—cold, but not freezing. Outside the window was a wide river reflecting the streetlights and neon of the opposite bank. The river surface fluctuated, sparkling; above the water was reality, while in the water seemed like a swaying dream.

Shen Yanjin tapped the cigarette pack, shook one out, and bit it. He cupped the flame of the lighter in his palm, the flickering fire lighting the tip of the cigarette. Then he leaned on the windowsill, blowing smoke at the ink-black night sky.

He put away the cigarette pack and gently kneaded his right wrist. He was now very skilled at the massage movements.

Shen Yanjin was wondering: When would be the best time to tell Duan Mingyue about the surgery?

He said it himself, past matters didn’t count and wouldn’t be pursued, but this matter couldn’t be hidden easily. They were lovers now; honesty would come sooner or later. Now it was winter, wearing long sleeves, and during the season. But what about summer?

Shen Yanjin still had the surgery scar on his right forearm. It was a long one, the new flesh a different color, uneven, lying on his skin like a centipede.

He had promised Duan Mingyue not to hide anything anymore, but he wanted to speak yet didn’t know what timing to choose.

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Those messy things at HG, the pain in his wrist, the pressure and torture from all sides—Shen Yanjin didn’t want Duan Mingyue to know any of it. He didn’t want Duan Mingyue to feel guilty because of it. Once guilt was involved, devotion became a shackle.

The Duan family business was huge. As the only son of the Duan family, Duan Mingyue had a boundless future. He was born high above. Now he was still in the esports circle as a pro player, but once he left this cage, the distance between him and Shen Yanjin would immediately pull apart to the height of heaven and earth.

Would such a wealthy family agree to their only son dating a man?

Shen Yanjin had no support, no retreat, nothing. So he couldn’t speak of “coming out” and “meeting parents” as naturally as Duan Mingyue did.

He believed Duan Mingyue liked him, but could this liking really reach that extent? Shen Yanjin spat on his own suspicion, yet couldn’t avoid feeling uneasy.

Just as he was biting the cigarette and letting his thoughts run wild, someone approached from behind and silently held his waist.

Shen Yanjin was thin, his waist narrow with little muscle, fitting perfectly in the grip. Startled by the sudden movement, he choked on the smoke. While coughing, he saw the wristwatch on the person behind him from the corner of his eye.

It was Duan Mingyue.

His stiff body immediately softened.

“Where did you get the cigarettes?” Duan Mingyue took the half-smoked cigarette from his mouth, his thumb brushing over Shen Yanjin’s lips. “Quit it. It’s bad for your health.”

Shen Yanjin finished coughing and turned his head, seeing Duan Mingyue actually smoking the cigarette he had smoked. His eyes flickered. “…You stop smoking too. Didn’t you say it’s bad for health?”

“En, not smoking anymore.” Duan Mingyue took a drag, stubbed it out, and lowered his head to kiss Shen Yanjin.

The bitter taste of tobacco permeated between their lips and teeth. Duan Mingyue threw the cigarette butt into the trash can. “Let’s quit together.”

Although it was late enough and this place was relatively secluded, it was still a public area. Shen Yanjin responded to Duan Mingyue nervously and stiffly; the fear of being discovered prevented him from concentrating.

Duan Mingyue sensed it, released his lips, and laughed involuntarily. “So scared?”

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Scared? How could he not be? Shen Yanjin was someone who had been harmed before. Past fears were buried in his bones, not easily worn away. Only when the door was tightly locked, curtains drawn, in a private space, could he feel a little safety.

Shen Yanjin grabbed Duan Mingyue’s arm, his fingertips trembling slightly. “I don’t care if I’m discovered. I’m worried about you.”

Duan Mingyue laughed nonchalantly. “What’s there to worry about? If discovered, then discovered. It’s a matter of time.”

However, the youth wasn’t comforted by his words. He saw Shen Yanjin subconsciously reach for his uniform pocket, then as if remembering something, sheepishly drop his hand.

Duan Mingyue put his hand into that pocket and confiscated half a pack of cigarettes and a lighter.

Without changing his expression, he threw both the cigarette pack and lighter into the trash can. He closed the window, cutting off the cold wind blowing in. Without the sound of wind, silence completely descended.

The light in the corridor nearby wasn’t strong. Alone with Duan Mingyue, Shen Yanjin felt constrained for the first time.

Duan Mingyue sensed his unease and fear had reached a wrong level. He didn’t continue the intimate contact, but raised his hand to rub his little boyfriend’s hair, asking in a voice gentle enough to wring water from, “I want to help you. Are you willing to tell me what happened? It doesn’t matter if you don’t want to say it; I can wait.”

A sentence full of tolerance and indulgence, like a pool of warm spring water, a length of soft silk, gently and tenderly wrapping around his old scars.

Shen Yanjin felt his eyes stinging. Damn, don’t tell me I’m going to cry. He blinked. “I… let’s talk back in the dorm, okay?”

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