Chapter 72
Although SYG lost, as a new team, taking one win from the World Champions could be considered a great start. The upcoming schedule was relatively easy for them. On the nanny van back, several team members were laughing and chatting, and their social accounts even received encouragement and fans because of today’s match.
In stark contrast, KW clearly won the match, but the nanny van was dead silent.
No one spoke.
Shen Yanjin sat on the inner side of a double seat. Duan Mingyue naturally sat beside him, head resting on his shoulder, eyes closed tight, seemingly asleep like Tans in the very back.
But Shen Yanjin knew he wasn’t, because the hem of his clothes was lifted a small opening under the cover of the seat, and Duan Mingyue’s hand had quietly slipped in through this opening.
The soft flesh raised on his waist these days met the calluses on Duan Mingyue’s fingertips, provoking an unspeakable tingling under the man’s caress. He bit his lip and grabbed Duan Mingyue’s wrist. Why did this person like to act like a rogue when others were around?
What made Shen Yanjin even more shy wasn’t just this point, but himself, who was increasingly indulging in these intimate actions.
He gradually began to feel that, rather than hiding it, he wanted to stamp Duan Mingyue with his own mark more, telling everyone that this man was his boyfriend.
A bit crazy.
A light chuckle came from beside his ear. Immediately, Duan Mingyue obediently withdrew that hand from inside his clothes.
Shen Yanjin breathed a sigh of relief, inexplicably feeling a little lost in his heart.
However, before he could feel lost, the man’s hand hooked onto his waist again. This time it was hugging through the team jacket; not so ambiguous, but not reducing the intimacy by half a bit.
His face reddened, and he silently leaned towards Duan Mingyue as well.
Fine, he admitted it.
He also liked this feeling of sticking together all the time.
In the back seat, Kai and Song Yuan stared with cold indifference at the “dog couple” (male couple) in front of them.
Shen Yanjin didn’t know that while he was still trembling with fear thinking he and Duan Mingyue were still having an underground romance, basically the entire KW team had already discovered the clues with their piercing eyes.
The two typed face-to-face to communicate.
[Kai: Excuse me, do these two friends have even a little bit of intention to hide it?]
[Circle: Mouth says don’t disclose, body is very honest.]
[Kai: Still can’t believe Lucida and UOOW ultimately lost to a man.]
[Tans: Not necessarily.]
Kai paused.
He and Song Yuan were communicating in that previous three-person small group. It wasn’t strange for Tans to see it.
But what did this mean?
[Kai: Weren’t you asleep??]
[Tans: Woke up.]
[Circle: What do you mean not necessarily?]
Tans didn’t reply anymore. Kai twisted his neck to look and found that this friend, after acting as a Riddler, hugged his peripheral bag and entered sweet dreamland again.
“…”
Song Yuan was fine; he had the mindset of “if I know, I know; if I don’t, whatever” when asking. But Kai getting no answer felt a bit vexed.
Not necessarily? Why not necessarily? Could it be Lu Yuan still had a move reserved… Impossible. Even if she had a move, the Captain couldn’t possibly like her; this friend was already thoroughly out. Then it meant UOOW?
Eh? Could it really be UOOW? Kai had left messages for her before, but hadn’t received a reply to this day. Not only that, Kai had paid attention to her online status. In fact, it seemed that since a long time ago, her account hadn’t been online again.
Damn it, Tans, this Riddler. Clearly doesn’t love gossip, yet his eyes are so sharp.
Kai thought back and forth, completely confused. Turning his head, he saw Song Yuan had actually fallen asleep already. Helplessly, he had to give up thinking and continued scrolling through funny videos on the website.
Back at the base, it was already quite late. Everyone rubbed their eyes and yawned getting off the nanny van. Mao Qiude checked the time, waved his big hand, and moved the review meeting to tomorrow. Rest individually for today.
“Brother Moon.” Lu Yuan called out to Duan Mingyue, who was about to leave.
Shen Yanjin walked into the building with the main group and didn’t notice the situation here. Duan Mingyue stopped: “What is it?”
“The third game today.” Lu Yuan forced a smile. “You… you did the BP, right?”
Duan Mingyue didn’t answer, just looked at her.
Lu Yuan lowered her head: “What I want to ask is, that Vine pick, was it targeting me?”
Duan Mingyue said lightly: “You overthought it. Is that all you wanted to say?”
“No!”
Seeing he seemed about to go, Lu Yuan hurriedly stepped forward a few steps: “I, I, Brother Moon, you and Sliver—he forced you, right? You actually aren’t voluntary!”
Duan Mingyue frowned: “What are you talking about?”
“Just the matter of him kissing you before!” The continuous pressure these few days made Lu Yuan collapse completely. She shouted almost hysterically: “Brother Moon, tell me the truth. He caught something on you, right? Tell the truth, I can help you!”
Duan Mingyue said: “Lu Yuan.”
Lu Yuan was stunned for a moment: “…What?”
Duan Mingyue said: “Sliver and I are in a legitimate romantic relationship. He is my lover. I like him. And I think this matter has nothing to do with you or the team. I am not someone who mixes public and private, and neither is he. Lu Yuan, you should wake up. You think I’m targeting you, then why don’t you properly reflect on your own condition in the first game today?”
Unfortunately, Lu Yuan didn’t listen to a single word of the latter part. Her mind went completely blank the moment Duan Mingyue said the first sentence: “B-But he is a man.”
Duan Mingyue had long ceased to have any expectations for her. Too lazy to waste more breath, he turned and left.
Just walking into the base, he saw Shen Yanjin leaning against the wall at the entrance waiting.
Shen Yanjin was originally looking down at the ground, appearing lost in thought. Duan Mingyue stepped forward and patted his shoulder: “Come back.”
“Un?” Shen Yanjin looked up. “You finished talking with her?”
Duan Mingyue pressed the elevator button: “There wasn’t much to say anyway.”
Shen Yanjin walked into the elevator with him, looking like he wanted to say something but stopped.
Duan Mingyue was helpless: “Say what you want to say.”
“That Vine in the third game,” Shen Yanjin licked his lower lip, “did you do it on purpose?”
Why did everyone ask this question.
Only the two of them were in the elevator now. Duan Mingyue smiled lazily: “Venting anger for you. Very obvious?”
Shen Yanjin knew this “venting anger” referred to Lu Yuan’s various targeting and attempts to persuade him to quit before. He smiled embarrassedly: “Anger has already been vented. No need to do that.”
“…If only you had half of Lu Yuan’s temper.” Duan Mingyue said: “Weren’t you very formidable online?”
Shen Yanjin said: “In reality I am submissive; online I strike with heavy punches.”
Duan Mingyue gave him a thumbs up.
The elevator doors opened. The two walked out.
Duan Mingyue said: “You don’t hold grudges, but I do.”
Shen Yanjin’s action of opening the door paused.
Duan Mingyue said: “After you gave me the recording, I checked. In six years, four substitute supports. The reasons for breach of contract varied, supposedly everyone had their own aspirations, but the fact is, the Lu family had a hand in all of them.”
“Six years ago when I first joined the team, KW was still a very small team. The Duan family bought it and injected capital. Candidates for team members were few, but should I say lucky?” Duan Mingyue leaned forward, took the key from his hand, and opened the door. “Kai, Song Yuan, Tans, all joined the team at that time. Of course, Lu Yuan too.”
At that time, Lu Yuan’s support play couldn’t be considered outstanding, but the few supports who joined the team at the same time were too lackluster. Also, she was the most diligent one in the team. Training sixteen hours a day, it could be said that besides sleeping, it was training. Eating time was reduced whenever possible.
Duan Mingyue believed that Lu Yuan at that time genuinely liked the esports industry and came with a dream.
Precisely because of this, he detested the current Lu Yuan even more.
Everyone knew he was the next successor of the Duan family. Duan Mingyue couldn’t say he liked or disliked this point; he only felt it was an inevitable mission born of a wealthy family, and he happened to have talent in that area. Nothing good or bad about it.
Esports was different.
When in WL, as RedMoon, Duan Mingyue felt a pleasure of completely releasing himself. Here, there were no messy interpersonal relationships, no various interests to consider. He only needed to wholeheartedly enjoy the match before him. It was like a Peach Blossom Spring (utopia).
Precisely because of this, his separation of public and private came largely from this point rather than following rules. He couldn’t tolerate messy things in reality affecting his matches.
“Actually, I also feel I’m a bit pathological.” Duan Mingyue closed the room door backhanded, smiling at the young man in front of him. “So I always thought I wouldn’t date anyone in the circle.”
But liking someone really has no reason and no warning.
Shen Yanjin didn’t expect Duan Mingyue would choose this moment to bare his heart to him. He was a bit flustered yet a bit happy: “Brother…”
Duan Mingyue lowered his head, and he immediately offered his lips.
This kiss stopped at a light taste.
“Just now you asked me if the third game was intentional,” Duan Mingyue reached out and pinched Shen Yanjin’s nape, a bit of hostility appearing between his brows: “My answer is, yes, I did it on purpose. Lu Yuan has been secretly preparing various materials and even recordings recently, preparing to release them when the team removes her from the starter position, playing a public opinion war with the team. Shaping herself a persona of… giving her all but being miserably discarded.”
“Doesn’t she like playing with public opinion? Then let’s play with her. Guess what her reputation online will become after today’s match?” Duan Mingyue smiled. “Am I very bad.”
Shen Yanjin shook his head vigorously and reached out to hug him.
If Lu Yuan really had ability, this method couldn’t possibly affect her.
But the fact was, contrasting with Shen Yanjin today, she was unbearable, like a clown.
Past deeds, self-inflicted consequences, that’s all.
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