Chapter 4: Sense of Belonging
Chi Jing’s thoughts plunged into chaos and trepidation, like being entangled in invisible silk threads. He stood by the window, trying hard to sort out what Qi Feng meant just now. Complex emotions were covered by joy. He looked down at his own hands.
He muttered to himself, “I can still play for a few more years. I can definitely win the next season’s championship with FM.”
Chi Jing rubbed his face, feeling listless. Every room in the FM base had an ensuite bathroom. He ran to the bathroom, turned on the tap, cupped his hands, and splashed water onto his face. The ice-cold water made the dazed emotions of the past few months gradually dissipate, replaced by clear thoughts unfolding in his mind.
He picked up a new towel from the rack to wipe his face and hands, then left the bathroom. He unwrapped the bedding set Qi Feng had left on the sofa and began to organize the bed, until Qi Feng’s voice sounded at the door.
Dong dong dong.
A muffled voice came through the door panel.
“Chi Jing? The delivery is here. Come down and eat something.”
He zipped up the duvet cover, stood up, and opened the door. Qi Feng had been standing outside the whole time. Seeing him come out, he gave a silent smile.
The two walked down the stairs one after the other, neither speaking to break the strange atmosphere. It was Chi Jing who couldn’t help but speak first.
“Why do you keep staring at me?”
That gaze from behind was glued tightly to him. Chi Jing didn’t feel uncomfortable, just puzzled why this person kept staring at him. Was there something dirty on his back?
Qi Feng seemingly hadn’t expected Chi Jing to ask this and said straightforwardly, “You’re good-looking. Seeing you makes me feel at ease.”
Chi Jing’s face was full of question marks, looking utterly speechless. Why did this guy act like an old pervert? And a face-judger at that. He didn’t reply and went straight to the dining room to find an empty seat. Looking down, the table was full of crawfish, the spicy aroma filling the entire room.
“Quick, thank your Brother Song! Otherwise, you wouldn’t get to eat such delicious crawfish! Tonight, the whole tab is paid for by Brother Song!”
Song Qi stood at the dining room entrance carrying a case of beer, shouting boisterously. Wu Cheng was so angry his face turned black.
“Why does a little kid have such a big addiction to alcohol? Eating spicy food late at night is one thing, but buying a huge case of beer? Did you buy cigarettes again?”
Wu Cheng reached directly into Song Qi’s pocket. Sure enough, a square box was in his pants pocket. Wu Cheng mercilessly took it out and opened his phone to bring up a payment code.
“Smoking one cigarette is a 10,000 fine. This pack is opened and missing two! Pay me 20,000 for the public fund.”
Song Qi put down the beer and roared at the sky.
“Why don’t you fine them, but you fine me? Why?! Daddy Wu, this isn’t fair! I’m an adult!”
Wu Cheng didn’t buy it, saying coldly with a dark face, “You just turned adult. I won’t say much about the drinking, but smoking is absolutely not allowed! Unless you call your mom right now. If your mom agrees, I won’t control you.”
Song Qi wilted upon hearing this. Shaking his head, he took out his phone and paid the fine.
Qi Feng looked at Wu Cheng, his eyes darkening slightly, hiding the surge of emotions within. He pressed his tongue against his cheek, laughed low, and said, “I remember, our new Mid Laner smokes too.”
Truly, speak of the devil. Chi Jing’s vision went black, nearly fainting from anger.
He let out a sharp, screeching protest: “Even if I smoke, I haven’t smoked in the base!”
Wu Cheng thought for a moment and asked carefully, “When did Little Chi start smoking?”
Chi Jing thought for a moment and replied, “After dropping out of school, around sixteen.”
Wu Cheng slammed the table on the spot—he was going to arrange a quit-smoking plan for Song Qi and Chi Jing! Chi Jing was so depressed he wanted to crawl away into the shadows. He glared at Qi Feng with eyes that clearly spelled out three words:
You! Are! Done!
Qi Feng looked at the bristling Chi Jing with playful eyes. So cute, like a cat. His hair looks very pettable.
Thinking it, he did it. When Qi Feng placed his hand on Chi Jing’s head, the room went silent. Chi Jing instantly turned ‘red-temperature’ (blushed furiously). Just as he was about to explode, Qi Feng chuckled lightly: “Looking so well-behaved, why smoke?”
Chi Jing retorted directly: “Didn’t you know I used to curse on stream before going pro? Just didn’t curse at you, right! I not only smoke, I curse people too! Sew my mouth shut then!”
Chi Jing was so angry he couldn’t breathe evenly. Mo Jingchun watched their interaction; it looked strange no matter how he looked at it.
“Smoking is indeed bad for the body. Little Chi, you two don’t fight.”
Song Qi burst into thunderous laughter on the spot; the entire base filled with his laughter.
“You’re so straight, hahaha.”
Yuan Jibai also got Song Qi’s point and started laughing too. Qi Feng’s face grew darker and darker.
“Are you guys trying to blow the roof off the base? Are we eating or not?”
Song Qi pressed Chi Jing into his seat and opened a bottle of beer, handing it to him.
“Good brother, brothers in hardship, let’s clink glasses!”
Chi Jing didn’t even give Qi Feng a look, picking up the beer and chugging it straight from the bottle. Yuan Jibai was stunned watching him.
“Little Chi, where are you from? Chugging beer like that?”
Chi Jing wiped the liquor from his lips with the back of his hand and replied, “Local, but after dropping out, I went back to my hometown to take care of my grandfather.”
The group fell silent for a moment. They didn’t know much about Chi Jing’s family situation yet and couldn’t say anything.
Qi Feng asked cautiously, “Is your grandfather’s health okay?”
Chi Jing’s eyes dimmed for a moment. “No, he left last year. His health was too poor, he didn’t make it.”
Sitting next to him, Song Qi patted his shoulder without saying a word, simply taking out all the beer and placing it on the table.
Wu Cheng said quietly, “Little Chi, take your time quitting smoking, don’t rush.”
Song Qi exploded again. “Brother Cheng, how can you be like this!”
Mo Jingchun slapped him directly.
“How old are you? Smoking? What Brother Cheng says is right!”
Song Qi stared pitifully at Mo Jingchun. “Ge ge ge ge ge (Brother), how can you be fierce to me?”
Mo Jingchun looked at him coldly without speaking. Song Qi shrunk his neck and fell silent. Just as he took a sip of beer, a peeled shrimp was thrown into his bowl. Then another, and another.
Chi Jing nudged Qi Feng with his elbow and whispered, “Do they always eat like this?”
Qi Feng smiled beamingly. “Guess.”
Chi Jing threw him a glorious eye-roll and buried his head in his food. Qi Feng hurriedly said, “Little Mo raises Song Qi like a younger brother. Don’t look at Little Mo speaking little; he’s very secretly affectionate!”
Chi Jing’s interest was piqued again. “Raises him like a brother?”
Qi Feng said, “Little Mo had a younger brother before who passed away in an accident. He was depressed for a long time. Later, when Song Qi joined the team, Mo Jingchun was stunned on the spot, saying Song Qi looked very much like his brother. After Song Qi found out, he would drag Little Mo out to play and relax from time to time.”
Chi Jing parsed this for a while. “So Little Mo and Song Qi’s current relationship is like family without blood ties?”
Qi Feng paused. “We are all family without blood ties. We are all one family.”
Chi Jing smiled. From the moment he entered the base, he had felt that sense of belonging. Everyone was enthusiastic; no one discriminated against or rejected him because of his past. Instead, everyone silently gave him warmth to let him integrate.
In a good mood, Chi Jing peeled a shrimp and threw it into Qi Feng’s bowl, mouthing the words with a smile:
“Thank you.”
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