Chapter 44: Joining the Team
Duan Mingyue was a rather conventional man at his core. Yesterday, Shen Yanjin was indeed drunk, but he wasn’t. “Alcohol doesn’t intoxicate people; people intoxicate themselves.” He feigned confusion, unwilling to be sober, guiding the young man to the peak of bliss over the phone.
Having done such intimate things, in Duan Mingyue’s heart, his relationship with the little support was already set in stone.
Who knew the other party held too many surprises, like a maze? Just as he managed to navigate out, thinking everything was under control, he pushed open the exit only to findāgreat, a bigger maze.
Duan Mingyue walked silently. Getting into the car and holding the steering wheel, he couldn’t help rubbing his brow.
Shen Yanjin followed behind him apprehensively, but his eyes wandered, tracing the man’s broad shoulders and narrow waist.
The two were silent all the way. Once inside the car, the door closed, and the surroundings instantly fell quietāso quiet that Shen Yanjin almost felt creeped out.
He licked his lips and whispered an attempt at an apology: “I’m sorry.”
Duan Mingyue’s mind was in chaos right now. Numerous emotions were mixed together, so messy that his brain wasn’t enough to process them. So, emotion went offline temporarily, replaced by reason.
He turned his head with a complicated expression, glancing at the young man hugging his backpack with eyes full of unease in the passenger seat. Trying to stay calm, he decided to handle business first: “…Let’s go to the base to sign the contract first. I prepared a rookie contract for you. There’s still time to go to the Legal Department to change it now. You’ll officially join the team tomorrow so the coach can report your info to the league.”
Shen Yanjin couldn’t figure out Duan Mingyue’s intentions and muttered, “No need to be so troublesome. Just… count it as a rookie contract.”
Duan Mingyue didn’t speak. He released the handbrake, clearly not planning to converse with Shen Yanjin anymore.
The atmosphere inside the car was stiff and heavy. If it were anyone else sitting there, they would surely feel incredibly awkward, sitting on pins and needles.
But not Shen Yanjin.
He was now alone with the person he had secretly loved for a long time. The space was small, and the distance between them was so closeāso close it almost made him tremble.
Online, Duan Mingyue was so gentle and indulgent to him that Shen Yanjin felt like he was floating in a dream.
But he didn’t expect that such joy couldn’t compare to even one-tenth of Duan Mingyue truly being by his side right now.
So, not only did he not feel awkward, but he even tasted traces of sweetness from it.
The main reason was that Duan Mingyue didn’t show disgust or anger. So Shen Yanjin, given an inch, wanted a mile. He regained the confidence that “there must be a way when the car reaches the mountain” and concentrated on stealing glances at the man’s profile with his peripheral vision.
Duan Mingyue was truly good-looking. Straight nose, thin lips, clean and sharp jawline. When smiling, ice and snow melted, making one feel like bathing in spring breeze; when not smiling, he exuded a coolness that was also heart-palpitating and intoxicating, making one willing to surrender.
Don’t know what the heavens were thinking, giving him such an attractive appearance. Simply… a crime!
The more Shen Yanjin looked, the more joyful he felt. The heat in his heart rushed all the way to the tips of his ears. He hurriedly looked away, staring straight ahead, daring not to look anymore.
However, how could these small movements escape Duan Mingyue’s eyes?
There were many good-looking women, but few good-looking men. Growing up, thanks to his superior family background, interested people couldn’t make a move on Duan Mingyue, but looking was allowed, right? Thus, wherever he went, he always attracted large swaths of overt or covert gazes.
So he was particularly sensitive to others’ gazes. He didn’t like turning on the camera for photos and, aside from competitions, never showed his face in public.
Feeling the young man’s unconcealably hot gaze, he sighed lightly in his heart: Fool.
But it was unknown whether he was talking about Shen Yanjin or himself.
Regarding YanGold’s disappearance for these five years, Duan Mingyue had thought of countless possibilities, but the only thing he hadn’t thought of was that he would become an esports player in the same region as himself, while he remained completely unaware from start to finish.
Why did he do this? What did he want to gain by doing this? If he really wanted to be an esports player, wouldn’t waiting obediently for his invitation be enough?
YanGold liked him. Then… when did he start liking him?
How many five years can a person have?
Duan Mingyue had previously rejoiced that their feelings were mutual, but now he was somewhat unwilling to think deeper.
Thinking back to the little support’s sudden account deletion and departure five years ago, Duan Mingyue finally sensed something wrong within. His brows furrowed slightly, and the aura around him became increasingly cold.
Shen Yanjin noticed his mood plummeting. Thinking he was unhappy about his identity, he couldn’t help but tighten his arms around his bag.
Seeing they were about to arrive at the base building, Duan Mingyue suddenly spoke up: “Bincheng is quite far from Cloud City.”
Shen Yanjin didn’t know what his intention was in bringing this up at this time: “It is… quite far.”
Duan Mingyue glanced sideways at the backpack in his hands: “You only brought this much luggage?”
Then he saw the young man in the passenger seat stare blankly first, then realize, and immediately look heartbroken.
“…” Duan Mingyue understood. “You forgot to take your luggage.”
Shen Yanjin felt extremely embarrassed to have such a mishap on his first real-life meeting with his crush: “…I forgot. I… Moon God, I’ll take a taxi back to get it myself.”
Seeing him so embarrassed that even his ear tips were red through, Duan Mingyue’s brow relaxed, and he said with some amusement, “Alright, it’s fine. It’s also my fault for not noticing just now. I’ll find someone to help you pick it up later. Let’s go back to the base first.”
Shen Yanjin naturally wouldn’t have any objections. He thanked him: “Okay…”
With the conversation started, continuing was easier.
Duan Mingyue had a lot on his mind and didn’t know what should or shouldn’t be mentioned, so he chose the most foolproof topic to continue: “You play control supports very well.”
Shen Yanjin curled his lips into a smile: “Pity I was still beaten into retirement.”
“…”
Duan Mingyue fell silent.
Realizing his words indeed made it impossible for others to continue, Shen Yanjin hurriedly salvaged: “They say thousand-mile horses are common but Bo Les (talent scouts) are rare. Thanks to Moon God, I could have this opportunity to join the team.”
“You sure know how to talk,” Duan Mingyue chuckled lightly. “Thousand-mile horse, get out of the car. We’ve arrived.”
Hearing him tease, Shen Yanjin’s face flushed, and he finally let out the breath he had been holding. Duan Mingyue just had this magic; as long as he was willing, he could always make people feel warm and comfortable, wanting to get close.
He got out of the car as told and followed Duan Mingyue into the building.
With the major overhaul inside KW Team, Mi Yonghui had lost two whole sizes from being disturbed by various messy matters these past few days. He looked haggard; he didn’t even have the energy to care about the things Duan Mingyue was up to recently. Today, it was Duan Mingyue who called him actively, asking him to prepare the joining contract.
Early in the morning, Mi Yonghui ran around for this matter. Having finally finished and resting on the sofa in the lobby for a bit, he saw Duan Mingyue leading someone up.
Although he didn’t have the energy to manage Duan Mingyue, he had still heard about the matters.
Like UOOW being a fairy descending to earth whom Duan Mingyue fell for at first sight, UOOW winning big while Lu Yuan lost everything, and so on. So he was prepared for Duan Mingyue to bring up a girl, and likely start an intra-team romance with potential dramatic plotlines.
But now, he stood up and looked behind Duan Mingyue: Holy sht? Why is it a man!*
Looking closer: Damn, it’s actually Sliver himself whom I cursed some time ago!
Mi Yonghui looked at Sliver, then at Duan Mingyue, suddenly feeling a bit numb in his heart.
Just asking, if I cursed the boss’s wife in front of the future boss, can I still keep this job?
š Advance Access: Complete Novel
- Option 1: Note your email on PayPal/Ko-fi.
- Option 2: Email proof to beezzzreads@gmail.com.
- Option 3: Comment below.
Recommended Reads
![Does A Broken Mirror Reunion Exist in Esports? [Esports]](https://beereads.space/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/esports-225x300.png)
