Chapter 21

Rong Yi thought about it and realized this was probably a tricky situation to handle.

Given Lin Yi’s personality, he might end up getting drunk and not coming back.

Nodding, he said, “I might not come back. Don’t wait for me if you have plans for tomorrow.”

“Alright.” Xiao Yin nodded, then added, “I’ll drive you.”

Rong Yi initially wanted to decline, but then he thought about it. Xiao Yin was technically his boyfriend at the moment. Although he wasn’t sure how long this relationship would last, it seemed reasonable for a boyfriend to offer to drive him occasionally.

He couldn’t drive himself, and in B City, a place he was unfamiliar with, getting a taxi was a hassle. There was also the risk of being photographed by paparazzi.

Rong Yi obediently agreed, “Alright, I’ll trouble you then. You don’t need to worry about picking me up.”

When evening came, Rong Yi changed his clothes and set off with Xiao Yin as planned.

Usually, Rong Yi found picking out clothes troublesome and would just wear a T-shirt.

Today, with the temperature dropping in B City, he wore a white shirt over a Klein blue student cap and matching shoes, looking very fresh and radiant.

His black, tousled hair, freshly washed and air-dried, hung softly, highlighting the smooth skin of his nape.

When he stepped out, Hydralisk, Grey Cat, and Wu Daogu all glanced at themselves quietly.

They felt a bit too unkempt in comparison.

With two good-looking teammates around every day, they occasionally felt some pressure.

Wu Daogu reassured them, “It’s okay, even if we cleaned up, we wouldn’t look as good as Captain Rong.”

“How about we assassinate him tonight?” Hydralisk started to daydream. “Xiao Yin definitely won’t agree. Let’s just take out Yin-Ge too.”

Grey Cat gave him a pitying look. “Can’t beat them online, so you want to take them out offline?”

Rong Yi naturally didn’t hear their sneaky conversation. Before setting off, Xiao Yin handed him a mask. After watching him put it on, they left and headed to the underground parking lot.

The hotel garage they were staying at was very dark. Once night fell, the streetlights were dim, making it hard to see the way.

Rong Yi kept his head down, focused on checking his messages.

Rong Yi, Lin Yi, and Cang Cui had created a small group chat to celebrate their long-awaited reunion. Lin Yi, who couldn’t keep his mouth shut, had been talking non-stop in the group.

– “Let me tell you, your last match almost killed a few commentators. If I hadn’t been the host, who could have kept up? If VIT keeps playing like that, commentators are going to go extinct.”

“Where’s Easy Baby? Did he die on the way?”

“I’ll drink Captain Rong’s slow-cooked soup on his behalf.”

Rong Yi was furiously typing a reply. Just as he was about to send a “Shut up,” his foot slipped. He stumbled forward but was quickly steadied by a strong hand that pulled him aside.

“Careful.”

He heard Xiao Yin say.

Xiao Yin had dressed entirely in black today, blending into the darkness. He was almost invisible except for his indifferent phoenix eyes, which glimmered faintly like a distant candlelight when they lifted in the dark.

With that tug, Rong Yi found himself closer to Xiao Yin. Their elbows touched, and the warm summer night made their skin feel almost hot.

Rong Yi thought for a moment, then looked up and smiled at him. Happily, he slipped his hand entirely into Xiao Yin’s and leaned against him, focusing on his phone.

Xiao Yin stiffened briefly before curling his fingers around Rong Yi’s hand and guiding him through the night.

When they reached the garage, Xiao Yin got into the driver’s seat and waited quietly.

Rong Yi closed the car door. The passenger seat in Xiao Yin’s car was very comfortable, with great back support. Rong Yi stretched his legs and yawned.

He noticed Xiao Yin wasn’t moving and felt his gaze.

“Seatbelt,” Xiao Yin said after a pause.

Rong Yi had actually heard him but didn’t register it immediately. He responded with a soft “Huh?”

Xiao Yin leaned over to buckle the seatbelt for him.

Being taller than Rong Yi, Xiao Yin’s face was close to his as he leaned down.

Rong Yi pressed back against the seat, his breathing shallow, soft, and gentle.

The car’s air conditioning blew gently, failing to mask the warmth of the summer night.

Xiao Yin paused for a moment, his eyes deep and contemplative, but he did nothing.

After a few seconds, Xiao Yin straightened up and started the car.

Xiao Yin drove Rong Yi to the night market. Out of courtesy, Rong Yi extended an invitation, “Do you want to join us for dinner?”

Xiao Yin’s expression remained calm, “No, I still have some things to finish for the team. If you…” He paused briefly, “If you need a ride back, give me a call.”

“No problem,” Rong Yi replied.

He got out of the car and headed towards the night market.

Lin Yi and Cang Cui had chosen a private restaurant near a university, known for its raw marinated dishes and slow-cooked soup.

By the time Rong Yi arrived, the two were already seated.

“Quite a distance, huh?” Lin Yi handed him a drink. “It must’ve taken you a while to get here. I took the subway, and it’s rush hour, packed with people.”

Rong Yi popped open his soda with a click, “Not really, Yin-Ge gave me a ride.”

“Wow, high-class treatment, E-God,” Cang Cui teased, clinking his glass with Rong Yi’s. “I was hoping to see Yin-God. With you guys in VIT this season, we’re really struggling to keep up.”

Rong Yi smiled, “Not really.”

The three of them chatted away, covering all sorts of topics.

Lin Yi and Cang Cui swapped out their drinks for some high-alcohol fruit beer. After a few rounds, everyone was feeling a bit tipsy.

Cang Cui, who had the lowest tolerance, was the first to pass out. Lin Yi, still holding on, leaned against the table and ordered another round of skewers, clinking glasses with Rong Yi as he ate, “How’s it going at VIT? Not bad for a job referral, right?”

Rong Yi, a bit drunk himself, forced a smile, “Thanks, it’s been great.”

Lin Yi then leaned in, his voice dropping to a whisper, his eyes bleary from the alcohol, “So, how are things with Xiao Yin… have you sorted it out?”

Lin Yi knew all about Rong Yi’s relationship with Xiao Yin. When Rong Yi first started dating Xiao Yin, he would share all the details with Lin Yi, almost choking him with all the “dog food1.”

He never expected Rong Yi to mess things up.

But relationships weren’t something he could meddle in, especially with someone like Yin, at such a high level. He had no place to interfere.

“We’ve sorted it out. We’re back together,” Rong Yi said.

Rong Yi carefully transferred the squid tentacles into his bowl, his voice slightly hoarse and calm due to the alcohol, “But it’s not like before. He just thinks it’s convenient, and I think it’s good too. At least it doesn’t affect team cooperation.”

Under the lights, with the alcohol rising, his cheeks were slightly flushed. His demeanor, however, conveyed a quiet and steady calmness. His long eyelashes added to his serene beauty.

After several rounds of drinks, the three of them staggered to their feet.

Rong Yi, clinging to the last shred of his sobriety, settled the bill and even packed several portions of chilled raw marinated dishes to take back for his teammates.

Lin Yi and Cang Cui were nearly asleep, and Rong Yi couldn’t get a cab for a while. He glanced at the time—it was already 2 AM.

After a long hesitation, he tentatively called Xiao Yin.

As soon as he dialed, he realized he wasn’t thinking clearly. It was 2 AM, and Xiao Yin would definitely be asleep by now. This call was inappropriate no matter how he looked at it.

Half a second after the call started, Rong Yi hung up. He then focused on waiting for a response from the ride-hailing app.

However, three seconds later, Xiao Yin called back.

The deep blue call screen, adorned with hexagonal ice crystals, seemed to exude a cool, slightly oppressive aura.

Rong Yi stared at the incoming call screen for two seconds before answering.

“Hello?” Rong Yi pressed his fingertips to his temple, rubbing it heavily, then said, “Did I wake you?”

“No, I’m still up, going over some materials,” Xiao Yin’s voice was still casual. “Done eating? I’ll come pick you up.”

“It’s a bit far, I haven’t been able to get a cab,” Rong Yi explained. “But someone should accept the ride soon. I want to get these two back first.”

“It’s no problem, I’m on the way. Find a warm place to wait for me. I’ll be there in twenty minutes.”

Xiao Yin hung up.

Rong Yi, holding onto the two swaying individuals, sat down by the roadside, stretching out his legs.

After drinking beer, he felt a chill. The restaurant had already closed, and he huddled under the streetlamp, scrolling through his phone.

His social media feed was filled with messages from people congratulating him on VIT’s successful advancement from Group B and expressing their anticipation for their performance in Group A.

Rationally, Rong Yi knew he should reply politely, but today he had been drinking.

“Captain Rong playing mid lane is unexpectedly amazing! How about setting up a scrim someday for us to learn from you?”

This was from a team manager who was friendly but not too close, essentially a fair-weather friend who always sided with the hottest team.

Rong Yi replied, “It won’t help, you won’t learn anything.”

After sending the message, he mentally gave himself a triumphant “Yes!” and continued replying to messages.

“E-God is too strong! I live-streamed the entire match commentary today. Your synergy with Yin-God is incredible! When are you coming back to B City? Let’s have a meal together with some old friends!”

This was from a pro player who had transitioned to behind-the-scenes work and commentary, known for his opportunistic nature.

With him as a commentator, his bias was always evident, often bribed by the RS Team manager to push certain narratives during guest commentary sessions, frequently targeting Rong Yi.

Rong Yi’s almond-shaped eyes curved slightly, the alcohol bringing a sharp red tint to his eyes, making him look strikingly beautiful under the streetlamp.

He replied, “Do you even deserve to eat with me?”

After sending this, he gave another triumphant “Yes!” and looked for the next target.

Before he could find a third person, someone in the distance flashed bright headlights and gave a considerate honk.

Rong Yi looked up to see Xiao Yin dim the headlights and park by the roadside. He put down his phone and tried to stand up, using the ground for support.

Once he stood, he felt dizzy, losing his sense of direction.

Rong Yi groped in the air, managing to grab the cool streetlamp pole and the warm edge of a collar.

A strong arm encircled his waist. Xiao Yin bent down, first noticing his own collar being gripped tightly by Rong Yi’s fingertips—delicate, pale fingers with translucent pink nails, clinging lightly like a kitten.

“You’re here.”

Rong Yi’s thoughts were sluggish. The arm around his waist was steady, helping him find his footing. He then lowered his head and took a deep breath, “We’re all a bit drunk. Let’s get these two back to the club first.”

He kept his head down, trying hard to maintain a semblance of rationality, but the last traces of his sobriety had already vanished in the fruity aroma of the alcohol.

His eyes were very red, the corners drooping slightly as if exhausted, his dark lashes resembling raven feathers, glistening faintly in the light.

It was the remnant of his dissipated rationality and bewilderment.

Having leaned against the streetlamp for too long, a few unidentifiable marks had appeared on his pale face. Xiao Yin extended a fingertip, tracing along the mark on Rong Yi’s cheek, slowly sliding down.

Footnote:

1. Dog Food(狗粮): In Chinese internet slang, the term “狗粮” (gǒu liáng), which literally means “dog food,” has taken on a new, humorous meaning.   It is used to describe the feeling of being a single person who has to witness couples showing affection, making the single person feel a mix of envy and discomfort.   It’s like saying that the public display of affection is something the single person has to “consume,” much like a dog eats dog food.   For example, when a single person sees a couple being lovey-dovey, they might say they’ve been “fed dog food.”