The hallway was deathly quiet, their conversation safe from prying ears. Ziwu gazed down at that face. He didn’t know this person well and certainly hadn’t expected words like that from him. Surprise—or perhaps delight—flickered in his eyes.
Ziwu leaned in closer, their breaths colliding as he murmured, “Are you really willing?”
The wind was hot, whipping across their faces. Their proximity was far from safe. Yun Qi knew Ziwu was just toying with him, so he replied fearlessly, “I am.”
Ziwu lowered his head, studying Yun Qi’s eyes and brows.
This guy matched the online descriptions to a tee. Across the internet, stumbling upon him warranted no more than a passing glance—no deep impression. There were far too many good-looking faces out there. But up close and personal, everything changed.
So near, Ziwu could see the subtle ripples in Yun Qi’s eyes—gentle waves churning with hidden schemes. He’d never witnessed Yun Qi’s smile, had no idea what it looked like, but this bottled-up intensity was something else entirely.
Very intriguing.
Yun Qi pressed boldly, “Things have soured between him and me this badly. You said it yourself—even after the Grand Tournament, there’s no guarantee he’ll want me around. So what about you, Ziwu? Do you want me?”
He lobbed the question right back.
The roles had reversed, leaving someone else on the spot.
Even if Ziwu wasn’t merely teasing and harbored genuine feelings for Yun Qi, he wouldn’t dare act on them. Under Yu Jin’s nose, even if Ziwu loved Yun Qi desperately, what could he possibly do? He wouldn’t have the guts.
Toying around made it even less likely.
“I know what you’re after,” Yun Qi said, noting Ziwu’s prolonged silence. He shoved Ziwu hard—unexpectedly sending him stumbling back two steps. Yun Qi’s hanging chair swayed wildly, but he stayed lounging in it, a picture of smug satisfaction. “Captain Yu is the loyal type. Not like you or me. Whether you’re testing my resolve or truly trying to steal my heart, it works out for Captain Yu either way. As long as I’m over him, I won’t drag him down anymore.”
Ziwu regarded him with keen interest. Clearly, Yun Qi had nailed it.
With perfect self-awareness, Yun Qi continued, “Those two years he sat out suspended? That was on me—my mistake. The International Tournament kicks off soon. You want our personal drama shelved until after. I get it, and I’m playing along. But don’t push your luck.”
Ziwu arched a brow at the phrasing. “Push my luck?”
Yun Qi gripped the chains flanking his hanging chair, planting his feet on the floor to rock it gently. “What I promised was keeping my distance until after the Grand Tournament—no disruptions to his game. I’m honoring that, so you don’t need to keep probing. I’m not as devoted as he is, sure, but I’m not about to hook up with his teammate. Testing me is pointless.”
“Maybe I’m not testing you at all.”
“So you’re claiming you actually like me?”
“What’s wrong with that?”
“You’re no fun,” Yun Qi brushed it off. “You’ve got your little flirtation among the Trial Trainees already. What about him? And if you chase me, what about your precious Captain?”
The other man had clearly underestimated him.
After a long pause, Ziwu chuckled.
He turned away, draping himself over the balcony railing once more, drawling lazily, “Brother Jin’s got it all—everything a guy could want. So why fixate on you? Beats me. You know his background?”
Ziwu glanced back at the man in the hanging chair. Yun Qi offered no reply.
“Figured you did,” Ziwu said into the breeze. “A family like that—what’s missing? If he were more like me, he’d ditch the romance crap and just have fun when the mood strikes. Loyalty? Please. All it gets you is scars and setbacks. When world number one is on the line, love’s a sideshow. How does he not see that? No clue.”
He wasn’t the only one baffled—Yun Qi couldn’t make sense of it either.
The world brimmed with mysteries, especially matters of the heart.
Ziwu lifted his hand; the spot where he’d been grabbed days earlier began to itch. He pivoted, back against the railing, eyes on a fluffy toy tucked in the balcony corner. He shook his head. “Forget it. With the Little White-Eyed Wolf shipped off, things feel off. I’d brush its fur on the cabinet every morning. Haven’t seen it lately—kinda miss the little ingrate.”
He pressed a kiss to the scabbed back of his hand. “What a glutton for punishment I am.”
Yun Qi’s fingertips curled tight as the hot wind tousled his bangs. He found himself missing Tata.
~~~
The two Ziwei Stars from the Trial Trainees showed up on Thursday.
Yun Qi was duo-queuing with Chang Shu. He now sat directly across from Yu Jin’s station, able to spot anyone there with a quick glance up. Someone occupied Yu Jin’s seat, but it wasn’t him—it was his little disciple, Liu Ying.
Liu Ying kept the video call running while he worked on his computer, speaking into the mic. “Bro, found the file. Should I send it all over?”
Yu Jin hadn’t shown up in the training room for the past couple of days. It wasn’t unusual for him to be off somewhere, and anyway, he wasn’t one of the official players who needed to grind like the rest of them. Lao Xun’s plan was to dump all the business collaborations on him, freeing Yu Jin to handle sponsorships and deals while everyone else focused purely on training. Yu Jin’s achievements had already hit their peak; it was the newcomers who needed to scale those heights now.
The internet was ablaze with speculation about whether Yu Jin would play in the International Tournament. The team hadn’t given a straight answer one way or the other, and even Yun Qi didn’t know for sure—he hadn’t checked with Yu Jin yet.
But pulling him aside to ask right now would be awkward. Yun Qi had promised not to bother him before the Ziwu Tournament, letting him stay in his current groove. So the question would have to wait until a week before the event, when the starting roster dropped.
Yun Qi had just wrapped up a game with Chang Shu when Lao Xun strolled in with two newcomers in tow. He clapped his hands to get attention. “Yi Yang, Yun Qi—you guys free? Right now?”
Everyone in the training room twisted around to look. Two boys who barely looked old enough to drive stood beside Lao Xun, their faces tight with nerves as they scanned the room.
Yi Yang didn’t bother glancing up. “Nah, in Peak.”
Yun Qi stood and raised a hand. “I’ve got time.”
Lao Xun nodded one of the boys toward him. “Take this kid under your wing. Train with him a couple days, see what he’s got.”
The boy headed over to Yun Qi.
Yun Qi gave him a friendly smile.
Lao Xun scanned the room, then pointed at the other boy. “You… yeah, Liu Ying—can you handle him?”
Liu Ying glanced back over his shoulder. “Have him scrim Yangyang first. I’m in the middle of something for Brother Jin.”
Lao Xun moved behind Yi Yang and rested a hand on his shoulder, peering at the screen. Yi Yang was piloting Shang and absolutely shredding the enemy team. Lao Xun waited out the team fight before speaking up. “Come on, take him. You love dueling with new blood. Kid’s got skills.”
Yi Yang swung his leg idly under the desk, eyeing the trial trainee. “He looks underage.”
Lao Xun shoved his shoulder. “You’re barely legal yourself, you little shit.”
Yi Yang waved him off dismissively. The boy came over, and Yi Yang asked, “How long you been in trial training?”
“…Two months.”
“How many National Server accounts?”
“I can play any Jungler. Average combat power’s thirteen thousand.”
“Not bad,” Yi Yang said. “Up for a scrim right now?”
The boy shrugged. “No reason not to.”
Yi Yang motioned for him to grab a chair.
Satisfied that Yi Yang had it under control, Lao Xun sidled up behind Ziwu and murmured, “Keep tabs on Yi Yang over there. Don’t let him trash the newbie.”
Ziwu chuckled. “Like I can rein in the young master? He even rags on me.”
Yi Yang’s ears were sharp. “Ziwu, I already apologized for that. Why drag it up now? I don’t wanna get exiled by Brother Jin again. Don’t start trouble.”
Lao Xun wagged a finger at him. “Pipe down with that mouth. Strutting around like you own the place—who else am I gonna bench?”
Yi Yang unwrapped a piece of gum and popped it in. “Don’t piss me off, old man.”
Lao Xun smacked the back of his head. “Who’s giving you the attitude? Train him right, or I’ll rat you out to your bro for bullying newbies.”
Yi Yang leaned back with exaggerated swagger. “Then hope the newbie puts me in my place. I’m not holding back.”
Lao Xun turned to the rookie. “Crush this clown, and the seat’s yours.”
The newbie had heard of Yi Yang’s reputation, of course. He swallowed hard. “…I’ll do my best.”
Lao Xun rattled off a few more instructions—all of them directed at Yi Yang, the only one he didn’t trust. Before heading out, he pulled Chang Shu and Ziwu aside. “Watch him close. No bullying.” Only then did he leave, satisfied.
Things went much smoother on Yun Qi’s side. The trial trainee he’d been assigned was on the shy side, calling him “bro” after every sentence. Yun Qi didn’t dive straight into the grinder. Instead, he asked, “How old are you?”
“Seventeen.”
Yun Qi eyed him—he did look young for it. “Not quite legal, huh.”
“Getting there.”
“What do I call you?”
“Surname’s Yuan—like the word for hospital. Yuan Lele.”
Yun Qi paused. “That’s a rare one.”
“Yeah, only me in the family. Never run into another in my life.”
“I’m Yun Qi. You know how things work here?”
Yuan Lele nodded. “They laid it out when I arrived. Two days. Win or pack up.”
“You got it.”
Yuan Lele frowned, puzzled. “But isn’t Jiu Ke the starting Jungler for KRO? Don’t I scrim him?”
Yun Qi didn’t sugarcoat it. “You might have to beat me first before you get to Jiu Ke. Same as your buddy over there—he’s gotta take down Yi Yang before facing Liu Ying.”
Yuan Lele glanced in that direction. “Oh, I see. I thought I’d get to play against Jiu Ke right away. Was that how it went for you back then?”
“Not for me,” Yun Qi said. “I went straight up against Jiu Ke. He sought me out himself, and after I beat him, I stuck around.”
“Oh,” Yuan Lele said.
Yun Qi left the room and sent a message to Chang Shu.
【Silk Scarf: Taking the newbie for now, sitting this one out.】
【Chang Shu: Heard you. Go ahead.】
Yuan Lele looked around and whispered, “Hey, bro, I don’t see E God anywhere.”
Yun Qi replied, “He’s not here. Pretty busy these days.”
Yuan Lele looked a little disappointed. “I figured coming here would mean I’d get to see him.”
“You a big fan?”
“Yeah,” Yuan Lele said. “Everyone next door says E God is super handsome. I wanted to see what he looks like in person.”
Yun Qi smiled. “You’ll get your chance.”
