38 Chapter 38
◎ What If It Were Real ◎
Upon returning to the training room, since there were no scheduled practice matches, they all engaged in individual training. Lin Sumo dragged Pei Yun along to duo queue on stream.
In this match, the Support followed Lin Sumo, leaving Pei Yun to fight one-against-two in his lane.
After clearing his minion wave, Lin Sumo dragged his camera view over to Pei Yun’s lane and saw him being suppressed under the tower.
“Wait a second,” Lin Sumo told him. “I’m coming right over.”
“No need,” Pei Yun said.
“It’s fine.” Lin Sumo moved down from the river, hiding in the brush on the side to bide his time.
The opposing Marksman and Support were right at the edge of the tower, preparing to dive and kill Pei Yun. Lin Sumo timed it perfectly; just a split second before they released their skills, he flashed out of the grass, landed his crowd-control skill, and followed up with a combo to deal burst damage. He claimed the enemy Support’s head, leaving the enemy Marksman with only a sliver of health.
Pei Yun, having long range, helped Lin Sumo remotely stun the fleeing Marksman, allowing Lin Sumo to go straight up and secure a double kill.
“Pretty good teamwork,” Lin Sumo smiled. “I’m going back; won’t steal your farm.”
Pei Yun gave a hum of agreement. “Okay.”
Lin Sumo had just taken First Blood in his lane earlier. By now, the opponent had respawned and returned, engaging in a brawl with Trust’s Support.
Looking completely calm, Lin Sumo maneuvered his champion forward, unleashed a beating, and took the enemy’s head again.
However, Lin Sumo’s health bar was too low, so he channeled his recall to go home and heal.
Back in lane, the game had been running for two minutes. By convention, the enemy Jungler should be coming to gank around this time. Consequently, Lin Sumo didn’t push too far forward, staying under his tower to clear minions.
Just as he was halfway through clearing the wave, a figure suddenly leapt out of the brush, jumping directly in front of him and unleashing a skill.
Lin Sumo was immobilized for a moment. Looking at the Olaf that had suddenly popped up in his face, he cursed under his breath.
Two seconds later, the crowd-control effect wore off. Lin Sumo hurriedly threw out a control skill to trap the enemy under the tower. He then widened the distance, retreating while coordinating with the defense tower to deal damage.
His control skill didn’t last long—just a few seconds. Tanks had thick health bars, and Lin Sumo just couldn’t quite finish him off. Lin Sumo clicked his tongue, feeling like he was about to die at this guy’s hands.
“Killing Spree!”
Hearing the kill announcement, Lin Sumo looked confused.
He didn’t die?
Then he saw the Olaf lying on the ground and Miss Fortune standing beside him.
Pei Yun was playing Miss Fortune this round.
Subconsciously, he called out, “Pei Yun?”
“I’m here,” Pei Yun responded.
Lin Sumo’s heart raced. “Th-thanks.”
“No problem,” Pei Yun chuckled low in his throat. “Why are you being so polite with me?”
Thump, thump…
His heartbeat was like a timpani being struck continuously—once, then again, dense and intense. The sudden acceleration of his heart was like a storm arriving at sea, coming without warning, leaving him at a loss.
After the match ended, Lin Sumo took off his headphones. “Wait for me a bit.”
With that, he ran toward his dormitory.
Entering the ensuite bathroom, Lin Sumo turned on the faucet and splashed water repeatedly onto his face.
So pathetic.
Lin Sumo looked at the lingering flush on his face and his damp hair in the mirror, thinking to himself.
He just said a few words to you; is this really necessary?
Lin Sumo panted for a few breaths, wiped his face with a towel, and walked out.
Just as he reached the door, Lin Sumo froze. Someone was blocking his path.
He paused and looked up. “Pei Yun? Why are you here?”
“What’s wrong with you?” Pei Yun saw his damp hair but didn’t answer his question. “Everything was fine, why did you go wash your face?”
Lin Sumo unconsciously followed his lead: “Ah… nothing, I was just… a bit hot.”
“What if you catch a cold?” Pei Yun took his hand, took a step forward, then stepped back. He turned to ask Lin Sumo, “Can I come into your room?”
Lin Sumo was a bit dazed. “Ah, yes.”
Pei Yun pulled Lin Sumo into the room. “Where is your hairdryer?”
Lin Sumo fetched the hairdryer for him. “No, what are you do—”
The sound of the hairdryer whirring to life drowned out his voice.
Amidst the noise, Lin Sumo thought he heard Pei Yun call his name.
He raised his voice. “What did you say?!”
Pei Yun didn’t answer.
A moment later, Pei Yun turned off the dryer. “Done.”
Lin Sumo thanked him. “Um… what did you say just now?”
“Nothing,” Pei Yun brushed a hand over his hair. “Let’s go.”
They had only been gone for ten minutes, but the livestream chat was about to explode. The bullet comments were scrolling so fast they were unreadable.
[Hey, hey, they’re back, they’re back.]
[LMAO, the moment Little Mo-mo left, Yun-yun stopped playing too. There is definitely something going on between these two!]
[Ahhh, they actually came back together! Where are the YunSu girls?!]
[Can the person above stop shipping? As a team fan, I’d really appreciate it.]
[Exactly, I’ve wanted to say this for a while. Can’t they just play the game well? Why force a CP?]
Lin Sumo felt a bit helpless.
What could he do about this?
Unexpectedly, Pei Yun walked up to his computer and said, “What if this CP is real?”
Lin Sumo: “?!”
The microphone’s pickup quality was excellent; Pei Yun’s words were transmitted clearly into the livestream.
Like a thunderclap on a clear day, the chat instantly detonated.
[Holy shit, holy shit, holy shit, was that Print just now?!]
[No way, hey! What did these two do when they went out just now to suddenly come back with a line like that?]
[Ahhhhhhhhhh, I’m dying of shipping feels!]
Lin Sumo stood frozen in place.
What… does… that… mean…
Pei Yun… what is he thinking…
Pei Yun laughed. “Just joking, don’t take it too seriously.”
Seeing Lin Sumo still staring at him, he added, “What’s wrong? Don’t you have a girl you like?”
Pei Yun looked at Lin Sumo. His gaze was faint, yet it felt like it could burn right through him.
Lin Sumo: “No… I don’t…”
“Mn,” Pei Yun said. “Okay, then I’ll head back first.”
Lin Sumo stood there, his heart constantly churning over the meaning of that sentence.
“Okay”?
What did that mean?
Lin Sumo sat in his chair, his heart tormented.
He didn’t know why, but he felt his relationship with Pei Yun was becoming increasingly ambiguous.
He didn’t know what to do anymore.
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