Chapter 48 Part 1

After days of relentless rain, the weather had turned a bit chillier. Autumn fashions were all the rage, and roadside shops were holding clearance sales with massive discounts. Sales clerks hawked their newest arrivals, and the street was packed with shoppers. Rows of clothing stores lined the sidewalks, and customers wandered arm in arm, browsing the latest styles.

Yun Qi and Yu Jin were strolling down this very street.

Yu Jin wore a baseball cap pulled low as he moved through the crowd. He might not have been a full-blown celebrity, but his height and looks always drew immediate glances from strangers. A second look was often enough for anyone in the know to recognize him. The cap hid half his face, and they slipped away before anyone could react, avoiding any real commotion.

Yun Qi made no effort to hide. He wasn’t some superstar player like Yu Jin, so he didn’t worry much about being spotted on the street. He trailed after Yu Jin, wandering aimlessly, already lugging two shopping bags from a brand-name store they’d just left.

Yun Qi wasn’t picky about food or clothes and hated dropping cash at fancy boutiques. But Yu Jin had insisted, saying he had a membership card and it would rack up points for him. Yun Qi had only agreed then. Even so, swiping that card didn’t make the clothes cheap—two sets of pajamas had nearly cost five figures. Ever since the sales clerk quoted the price, Yun Qi had been wondering if they were woven from gold thread. The fabric felt nice, sure, but five thousand bucks for a single set? That was outrageous.

And it was just pajamas, for crying out loud.

He wasn’t some spoiled rich kid; wearing something that pricey made him uncomfortable all over. Back in the store, he’d whispered to Yu Jin several times about skipping it, but Yu Jin wouldn’t hear of it. He’d picked out two outfits himself before they were done.

The moment they stepped outside, Yun Qi suggested heading to the pedestrian street, hoping Yu Jin would tag along. He knew the stuff there was more down-to-earth, without the insane markups. That’s how they ended up here.

“Too many people here,” Yu Jin said, eyeing the throng. “Why do you like shopping in a place like this?”

Yun Qi hefted his bags. “It’s lively. Feels more free.”

Yu Jin squinted up at the sun beating down. “Lively, sure. But is it fun getting jostled like this?”

He’d never been one for crowds and rarely ventured out shopping anyway. He bought what he needed online and called it a day—efficiency first.

As they brushed past someone, Yun Qi showed no sign of irritation. If anything, he looked thrilled, a smile lighting up his face. “You stare at a screen all day without getting bored. What about you? How long’s it been since you wandered through a crowd like this?”

Yu Jin thought for a moment. “Forgot. Probably not since I got back to the country.”

When did he have time for window-shopping? His schedule was jammed with business obligations. He’d begged Lao Xun to clear a few just to squeeze in some personal freedom.

“Perfect, then,” Yun Qi said. “I haven’t done this in ages either. We can head back to KRO Base once we stroll through here. Sound good?”

He made a compelling case, and with that attitude, Yu Jin couldn’t say no. He took the shopping bags from Yun Qi’s hands. “If you want to browse, go ahead. I’m in no rush.”

Yun Qi beamed. “Thanks, Captain Yu.”

Yu Jin gave him a look. Yun Qi had already stepped ahead. A new store was drawing a big crowd up front, but Yu Jin didn’t linger. He followed right after.

Yun Qi had barely reached the new store’s entrance when a sales clerk grabbed his arm. “Hey, handsome! Grand opening—everything’s seventy percent off. Tons of styles. Come check it out?”

Yun Qi glanced up. The place was already buzzing with customers. “Looks pretty crowded in there.”

The clerk grinned ear to ear. “Exactly! Our clothes are top-quality, great prices. You’ll see once you’re inside.”

She was dead set on dragging him in, like one step would seal the deal. Yun Qi tugged back politely and glanced over his shoulder at Yu Jin, who had just caught up. “Let’s take a look,” Yu Jin said.

The clerk’s eyes went wide at the sight of Yu Jin. “You’ve got good taste, sir! Come on in—you won’t regret it. Men’s section’s on the Second Floor!”

She hollered inside to get their attention.

Yun Qi climbed the steps, glancing back to make sure Yu Jin was following. Someone behind asked, “What’re you looking at?”

Yun Qi flushed, twisting back around in a hurry. “Nothing. Just follow me.”

They reached the Second Floor.

The men’s section was far less packed than the women’s. A cool, crisp cologne scent hit them as they arrived. A few guys lounged on the provided sofas, waiting.

Yun Qi took it all in. The styles were cutting-edge, and his eyes locked on a dark blue jacket hanging high up. He turned to point it out to Yu Jin. “What do you think of that one?”

Yu Jin looked up. “The white one?”

“No, the blue one next to it,” Yun Qi said.

Yu Jin gave it a once-over. “Not bad.”

Yun Qi’s taste ran along the same lines as Yu Jin’s. Back in the day, anything they bought was something they both liked. With Yu Jin’s approval, Yun Qi waved over the sales assistant to take down the shirt. The assistant was quick to hype it up. “You’ve got a great eye, handsome. This one’s our top seller—over a dozen gone today already. It looks killer on, and the fabric’s premium. Go ahead, feel it.”

Yun Qi gave it a token touch and nodded.

Once the assistant handed it over, Yu Jin glanced at it from the side. “Isn’t that a bit big?”

Yun Qi turned and held the shirt up against him. “Doesn’t look big to me.”

Yu Jin looked down. “For me?”

Yun Qi dodged the question. “You don’t like it?”

“I’ve got enough clothes.”

Yun Qi hugged the shirt to his chest, eyes downcast in a helpless, pitiable look.

Yu Jin lifted the sleeve. “Style’s solid, though. I wouldn’t mind one more in the closet.”

Yun Qi’s face lit up visibly as he passed it over. “Then go try it on.”

Yu Jin shook his head. “Size is right, and we’re good.”

Yun Qi checked the tag—perfect match for Yu Jin. What a coincidence. “I’ll have it boxed up then. Charge it to my account.”

Yu Jin didn’t protest. “My treat back someday.”

Yun Qi carried the bag.

They wandered a bit longer, but Yun Qi had no interest in trying on clothes himself. Too much hassle changing in and out, plus his mild germaphobia meant he hated wearing unwashed stuff. If it matched his style and size, that was enough.

Eventually, they hit the shoe section. Yun Qi had just eyed a pair of casual sneakers, his hand brushing them, when Yu Jin spoke up. “Those would suit you perfectly.”

Anti-slip soles, sleek lines from the side—they’d pair with anything. Yun Qi hesitated. “You think so?”

“Definitely,” Yu Jin said. “Hand over your stuff. Try them on over there. No clothes, but shoes are fine, right?”

Yun Qi didn’t own many pairs anyway; a couple extras wouldn’t hurt. He did as suggested, sitting on the nearby sofa to slip them on. Yu Jin settled beside him with the bags, watching as Yun Qi bent to untie his shoes.

Yun Qi’s feet were on the smaller side, in proportion to his frame. Even wrapped in long socks, their delicate shape was clear—slim, elegant, pretty. They slid right into the sneakers.

He laced them up and stepped to the mirror ahead, twisting left and right for a good look, completely missing the eyes fixed on him from behind.

Yu Jin’s gaze lingered, traveling from the shoes up Yun Qi’s calves, slim waist, straight back, to the pale nape of his neck. They’d shared plenty of tender moments before, cuddling close and stealing kisses. Right then, it hit Yu Jin that Yun Qi hadn’t changed a bit—the image merged seamlessly with the coquettish boy who’d once melted into his arms.

Three years?

The thought always stunned him. Three whole years, and he’d been gone that long.

Yun Qi glanced back just then, curiosity in his eyes. Yu Jin met it with a firm nod of approval. Yun Qi turned to the mirror again and smiled.

But the smile barely held two seconds before a testing voice cut in nearby. “Qiluo?”

Yun Qi’s expression froze solid.

Two guys from the direction of the voice stared at him, eyes complicated. Once they were sure, they closed in, voices pitched loud on purpose. “Isn’t this Qingmo’s boyfriend? What’s Luo Shen doing here?”

The noise drew sales staff and shoppers alike.

Not everyone knew the esports scene or recognized Yun Qi, but curiosity was universal. They picked up the whiff of drama from those raised voices and craned their necks to gawk.

A chill raced down Yun Qi’s spine. Online trolls he could tune out, but real-world venom was harder to ignore. He spun back to the sofa in a hurry, kicked off the sneakers, and hunched over, head bowed, his movements jerky and off-kilter.

Yu Jin watched every bit of it.

The pair edged closer, hovering. “Haven’t spotted you online lately, Luo Shen. So, that thing about Qingmo banging fans—is it legit? He harass you sexually too? Weren’t you two a thing? I swear I saw you own up to it on stream once, right in front of everyone. Now you’re pretending not to know him? What’s your gig these days?”

Yun Qi yanked his own shoes back on, lacing them tight, voice ice-cold. “What’s it got to do with you?”

The guy grinned. “Plenty. I’m a fan, remember? Cocky much off-camera? Careful, I might unfollow and trash you online. Oh, wait—you’re the expert at that. Nobody outs their boyfriend’s scandals like you.”