Chapter 14: Qi Feng Gets Abstract
After leaving the shooting location and getting into the car, Chi Jing remained silent. No matter who spoke to him, his responses were always faint. In a trance, Qi Feng saw the cautious Chi Jing from the day they reunited.
His Chi Jing should be passionate, bright, and full of youthful spirit, not lifeless like this.
He nudged Chi Jing with his arm and said grinningly, “Duo queue with me when we get back? I’ll play Support and follow you.”
Song Qi wiped away tears in the back. What is love? Love is a Jungler playing Support. But Chi Jing seemed indifferent, not saying a word, not even nodding or shaking his head. Qi Feng remained unhurried, constantly muttering beside him, chattering endlessly even after they returned to the base.
Chi Jing found him a bit funny. He just wanted to slow down a bit; why was this guy acting like he was afraid he’d die?
“I’m fine. You talk too much.”
Qi Feng put on a pitiful expression and said with a face full of disbelief, “Is it that you find me annoying did I disturb you if so push your most handsome brother to me thank you thank you I quit smoking for you shaved off the Mohawk on my head but what I got in return is your kind deception I am afraid of ghosts but ghosts haven’t hurt me a bit I’m not afraid of people but people have hurt me all over I am a mandarin duck torn apart my world is already in despair family members old irons please give me a little strength.”
Mo Jingchun had a look like he’d eaten shit, and the other three also looked like they were having a breakdown. Wu Cheng left directly—out of sight, out of mind. In the entire living room, only Qi Feng was there chattering away with his abstract humor. As Chi Jing’s face grew darker and darker, Qi Feng’s volume gradually lowered towards the end, until finally, he didn’t even dare to open his mouth.
Chi Jing, having tolerated enough, spoke up directly: “You are truly a dumbass. I have never seen anyone as naggy as you in my life.”
Qi Feng grinned and leaned in again, saying, “Being a Top doesn’t last long, being a Bottom has no capability, being an S makes one laugh, being an M makes one fight back, being a mistress gets one beaten, but being a SB (dumbass) is just right!”
Mo Jingchun, with a look of banter, delivered the finishing blow: “Being a Top doesn’t last long?”
The smile froze on Qi Feng’s face, and he added weakly, “It lasts quite long. The first time doesn’t count.”
In the end, Chi Jing couldn’t stand being teased by him anymore and gave him a symbolic smile. The other team members really didn’t understand what was wrong with the two of them. Why did Chi Jing stop talking after coming back from recording an interview, and why was Qi Feng acting like he was having a seizure?
It wasn’t until the interview was released that they understood. One by one, they fell silent, their eyes full of anger. Wu Cheng was on the balcony arguing with the organizers on the phone. Seeing them like this, Chi Jing spoke up.
“I’m fine. What are you guys doing with those murderous expressions?”
Song Qi said gloomily, “We didn’t even say anything, yet they’re barking. We feel aggrieved for you. Clearly, you weren’t wrong. It’s just that water that is too clear has no fish.”
Yuan Jibai also said, “Match-fixing is against the rules to begin with. It’s unfair to any party. There must be insider info behind the match-fixing, but only your previous team was banned. It’s obvious the officials don’t want to dig too deep.”
Mo Jingchun concurred, “Because the officials didn’t want to dig deep, you were pushed out to be the target, the target that everyone shouts to beat.”
After piecing together the facts, the group felt indignant for him. Chi Jing felt an indescribable emotion—it felt very warm, very reassuring. Since living alone, he had shouldered everything by himself, bottling up his troubles. This feeling of being kept in someone’s heart was good; it gave him a sense of belonging.
Chi Jing calmed his emotions and pretended to joke, “What? You guys gonna give the officials a scolding?”
Hearing this, Qi Feng got excited and really wanted to call the official management. Chi Jing was stunned and had to signal the others to hold Qi Feng down so the call wasn’t made.
“Are you sick? You won’t be happy if we get banned!”
Qi Feng curled his lips. “Who asked them to not distinguish between black and white.”
After this commotion, the knot in Chi Jing’s heart vanished. The group chatted idly for a while until the auntie finished cooking and brought out the food.
Song Qi smelled the food, his eyes shining.
“Thank you, Auntie! This food smells so good.”
The base auntie smiled. She was a very kind middle-aged lady.
“If it smells good, eat more. And you, Little Chi! Look at you, you’re so thin you’re just skin and bones.”
Chi Jing pointed at himself in disbelief and said, “Me? Skin and bones? Auntie, don’t underestimate me! I have every bit of muscle I should have!”
Stifling a laugh, Qi Feng stood in front of him. Chi Jing instantly went autistic. Qi Feng was half a head taller than him, and his shoulders were broader. Looking at it this way, he was indeed frailer. But of course, Chi Jing wouldn’t admit his defense was broken. He gritted his teeth and agreed with a smile, shoveling rice into his mouth bite after bite, not forgetting to step on Qi Feng’s foot under the table. Qi Feng suffered unspeakably during this meal.
After eating, the group sat there like lords. Chi Jing helped the auntie clear the table. The auntie grinned so wide her teeth showed. “Little Chi is still the most likable. Look at those lazy ones who won’t even go out for a walk! Does the young man have a partner?”
Chi Jing’s eyelid twitched; he had a bad premonition.
“If you don’t have a partner, Auntie has a daughter. She’s 18 this year. Auntie thinks you, young man, look particularly upright. Auntie’s daughter isn’t ugly either. I’ll bring you to meet her someday.”
Chi Jing forced a smile. “Ah, haha, thank you, Auntie, but I have no plans to fall in love at the moment. Uh… we have to start training matches! I won’t chat with you anymore, Auntie. I’ll go practice my hand feel first!”
He ran away as if escaping. Qi Feng, who had been pricking up his ears to eavesdrop, breathed a sigh of relief only after hearing Chi Jing refuse. However, that sentence “no plans to fall in love at the moment” made Qi Feng feel a bit depressed. Was this an excuse, or did he really not have any?
Bored, Qi Feng opened his phone and saw a WeChat message from the person remarked “Mom.”
Ms. Qi: When are you coming home for a visit? Bring that new young lad from your team back for me to see. He’s too handsome! [Licking Screen] [Licking Screen]
WIND: Dream on.
After replying, he went to harass Chi Jing with messages. After thinking it over, he sent one.
WIND: Why don’t you have a partner yet? You wouldn’t happen to be waiting for me, would you? Not dating, thanks!
Chi: ?
WIND: Are you a medical student? Usually I drink Starbucks but today I accidentally drank Mixue Bingcheng, will I be okay!
Chi: ?
WIND: You thought I fell asleep but actually my Oppo A5 exploded.
Chi: 6, abstract nerve.
He sent Qi Feng directly to ‘Do Not Disturb,’ ignoring any further messages Qi Feng sent. Chi Jing rubbed his forehead. What to do? The captain was a mental patient and an abstract weirdo, the teammates were all abstract weirdos—was he the only normal person?
Chi Jing felt he couldn’t think about it anymore. He secretly took a pack of cigarettes from under the computer cabinet, stuffed it in his pocket, and ran to the balcony. Actually, the last question of today’s interview was within his expectations, but being asked like that still hurt. It was better to ignore it. Now, he had a group of like-minded teammates fighting alongside him.
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