【Orange × Nan Xi】 The Chances Are Still Very Big
Until the end of a game, apart from the necessary pings within the match, Nan Xi did not have any communication with Orange.
The few sentences there were, were also mostly chatting with Wen Ran.
However, he had never been a very talkative person anyway, so Wen Ran didn’t notice anything wrong.
And Orange was very considerate of Wen Ran’s emotions. Even if he felt disappointed inside, he didn’t show it.
But he really couldn’t continue playing the following games. Orange used the excuse of needing to go out to tell Wen Ran they’d play next time.
“Alright then.” Wen Ran didn’t ask much more, going off to solo queue.
Actually, Orange was missing Nan Xi very much right now, but he didn’t dare go in front of the other person.
Ever since the fountain pen was returned last time, he and Nan Xi hadn’t been alone together for several days.
He was also worried that chasing too closely would make Nan Xi feel uncomfortable.
Orange could only sigh, put on a jacket, and planned to go outside to clear his mind.
He wandered aimlessly and took a stroll around a nearby small mall, seeing a jewelry store crowded with people.
Chinese people inherently loved watching a bustling scene. Out of curiosity, Orange walked over to take a look, discovering many beautiful pieces of jewelry displayed on the counters.
“Grand opening sale today, 200 off for every 1000 spent. If you like it, hurry and grab it!”
Many girls were looking at the rings and bracelets inside and trying them on, but Orange caught sight of a bracelet over there at a glance.
It was a simple red string, strung with a small, exquisite pure gold rose.
It was carved very meticulously. The brilliant gold matched with the vintage, simple red string looked especially like the lucky bead his grandma bought for him when he was young.
Orange’s first thought was that this rose would definitely look great on Wen Ran’s wrist. After all, the little rose wearing a “little rose”.
The shop assistant saw him looking at this accessory and immediately came over and said to him: “Sir, have you taken a fancy to this one? You can try it on.”
“This is our store’s explosive bestseller from last season. It’s the only one left selling up to now. Don’t miss it if you like it.”
Orange gave an “Mhm”: “Take it out for me to see.”
Once the rose was in his hand, it looked even more petite and cute. Moreover, the luster of the gold wasn’t the least bit inferior even away from the counter lights.
Seeing that the string was adjustable, Orange confidently asked the shop assistant to help check out.
“The total is three thousand five hundred.”
Orange walked out of the mall carrying the bag. There was no rush to mail an expensive item like gold; when Wen Ran came back to City B, he would definitely hang out with him, and it wouldn’t be too late to hand it to him personally then.
Today in the game, although he felt a bit uncomfortable that Nan Xi treated Wen Ran so well but turned a blind eye to him, this wasn’t Wen Ran’s fault. Those two had a prior relationship anyway, and no matter what, he couldn’t vent his anger on his friend.
What kind of person would that make him?
Plus, after coming out for a stroll, his mood was much better.
Orange had always been very generous to his friends. As Wen Ran’s former teammate, he knew about Wen Ran’s original family situation.
The missing family affection couldn’t be compensated for, but friendship could also make a person happy and blessed.
Actually, he originally wanted to give Nan Xi a gift too, but Nan Xi definitely wouldn’t accept it now. Rather than getting rejected and returned again, it was better to wait for this phase to pass.
The sky was getting a bit dark now. Orange randomly found a Malatang place, and after finishing his meal, he headed back toward the base.
But on the way, he heard a burst of miserable meowing from a kitten.
Orange could be sure it was a kitten, screaming its lungs out. His first reaction was whether the kitty was bitten by nearby stray dogs, so he walked toward the direction of the sound.
But as he walked further in, Orange also heard the laughter of a few boys.
Orange’s heart instantly leaped into his throat. He had heard of people using animal abuse, like torturing kittens, as a means of amusement, which was incredibly cruel.
Judging from the voices, he estimated there might be three or more people.
Orange wasn’t stupid either. This alleyway was desolate to begin with, and he had never walked this deep into it. Plus, if there were many people on the other side, rushing out rashly would highly likely mean he was no match for them.
He thought briefly and immediately dialed Nan Xi’s number.
This place was very close to the base, about three or four minutes away. If there were two of them, it would probably be much better.
Nan Xi’s mood had been a bit low all day today.
It wasn’t that he didn’t recognize Orange’s voice; it was just that their currently awkward relationship made him unsure of what to say.
Let alone in front of Wen Ran.
Actually, in the game, Nan Xi wasn’t unwilling to give Orange the blue buff. He even thought that if Orange took the initiative to ask for a buff, he could completely hit it for him. Giving it to Wen Ran was entirely out of habit.
He was used to taking care of his emotions and gaming experience, and asking that question was also unintentional.
But Nan Xi wasn’t good at talking and chatting to begin with, and it just so happened Orange didn’t speak to him, so the matter was left unsettled.
But why was his mood a bit low the entire day?
Nan Xi didn’t understand.
The sudden ringing of his phone pulled Nan Xi’s thoughts back to reality.
He looked at the contact on the screen; it was actually Orange.
Why is he calling me?
Nan Xi didn’t have time to think too much and picked up the call anyway.
“Jian Yu, are you at the base right now?” Orange’s voice sounded very anxious, as if he had encountered some situation.
“I’m here,” Hearing his tone, Nan Xi inevitably grew tense: “What’s wrong?”
Even though he didn’t agree to his confession, it didn’t mean they couldn’t be normal teammates.
“I’m right near the base now,” Orange covered the receiver, trying his best to describe the situation to him concisely: “There seems to be people abusing a cat here. I don’t dare go over alone.”
“Send me the location,” Nan Xi immediately stood up and walked outside: “Stand there and don’t move, wait for me to come find you.”
He didn’t even notice the concern in his own tone.
Nan Xi arrived very quickly. As soon as he got there, he saw Orange tightly gripping his phone, waving at him like he had seen a savior: “Here!”
“Listen, is that a kitten crying?”
Nan Xi indeed heard the miserable meowing of a cat. He gave an “Mhm”, actively stepping in front of Orange and walking forward.
Nan Xi held it in again and again, but ultimately couldn’t hold back from saying: “Don’t worry, we are going over right now.”
Orange gave a muffled response. For some reason, Nan Xi felt this voice was like a small hammer, gently tapping against his heart.
As they walked over, the sounds became clearer.
This alley was very narrow. Orange followed behind Nan Xi. When they walked inside the alley, they could only see three boys with their backs to them, seemingly forming a circle. And just as Orange wanted to walk forward to see more clearly, Nan Xi suddenly reached out, blocked his waist, and pushed him backward behind him: “An Chenxia, go outside first.”
“I’ll come find you in a bit.”
Orange was completely confused, but Nan Xi’s tone allowed no refusal, so Orange could only listen to him and obediently hide outside the alley.
Even though Nan Xi had mentally prepared himself, his heart still tightened when he saw the tragic sight on the ground. He held it in so he wouldn’t throw up.
These animals were simply devoid of conscience. A kitten’s eyes had been gouged out, blood flowing all over the ground. There were countless wounds on its tiny body, and its tail was cut into two pieces lying on the ground.
Its paws had also been viciously stomped on by shoes, and its spine was broken, bent into a twisted arc.
The kitten had already lost its breath.
He didn’t want Orange to see this.
Another kitten next to it was covered in dirt, a metal chain tied around its neck. It was still meowing, its eyes filled with terror.
And this group of things was actually taking photos!
“Bro, do you like watching this too?” The three boys jokingly looked at Nan Xi: “We have the full video, if you join the group we’ll sell it to you cheaper?”
Nan Xi’s fists were already clenched, cracking: “You are worse than animals!”
“What the hell are you to lecture us?” Seeing his uncooperative appearance, the boys directly swung their fists at Nan Xi.
Nan Xi was just worrying about lacking a reason to beat them up. Not cowering in the slightest, he dodged the opponent’s attack and kicked one person to the ground.
These three people were nothing but useless straw bags. They were beaten by Nan Xi until they were looking for their teeth all over the floor, begging for mercy repeatedly.
Nan Xi only felt disgusted, stepping a foot onto one person’s chest: “You know pain, so do they not know?”
“Leave the keys to the chain, and get lost immediately!”
If this kitten was sent to the hospital, it could still be saved. He didn’t want to delay any more time.
“Ah! Ah!”
After leaving the keys behind, the three people crawled away on all fours. Nan Xi took off his own jacket and, enduring the nausea, wrapped up the broken kitten’s corpse before calling Orange in.
Orange didn’t see those horrific scenes. He only saw the bloodstains on the ground and an overly terrified kitten with a chain tied around its neck.
He tightly clenched his fists: “These people, do they even deserve to be called human?”
Orange tried his best to soothe the kitten’s emotions. It was very afraid of his touch, stretching out its claws and scratching Orange.
But it didn’t hurt at all. In order to play with the kitten conveniently, these people had already clipped its nails off.
Orange’s heart ached as he helped the kitten unlock the chain around its neck. Anticipating its reaction, he grabbed its body in advance and went out with Nan Xi to hail a taxi, taking it to the pet hospital.
Nan Xi didn’t take the kitten’s corpse away, and from beginning to end, he didn’t dare let Orange take a single look at it. He was afraid of leaving the other with psychological trauma.
The kitten’s injuries weren’t particularly severe, but it had quite a few large and small wounds all over its body, as well as an infected wound.
It needed treatment for a period of time, but it could recover.
Only then did Orange breathe a sigh of relief.
He looked at Nan Xi beside him and opened his mouth to express his gratitude: “Thank you for today.”
Actually, Orange originally didn’t expect Nan Xi to answer the phone. After all, such an awkward thing had just happened between the two of them, but he still couldn’t help wanting to find him.
It seemed Nan Xi gave him a kind of inexplicable sense of security.
Fortunately, he came.
Then does that mean he doesn’t actually hate him, just hasn’t reached the point of romance?
Seeing Orange like this, Nan Xi thought he was still worried, so he spoke up to comfort him: “Don’t worry too much. The doctor said the kitten’s injuries aren’t severe and it can recover.”
“Stop thinking about it tonight, I’ll accompany you to see it tomorrow.”
Orange suddenly felt that his chances were still very big.
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it looks like you reposted chapter 3 as chapter 4
Edited it. Thank you.