Chapter 22

Xiao Yin’s fingertip traced along the scratch on his cheek, the touch shifting to the back of his finger as he softly brushed it.

Retracting his hand, Xiao Yin nodded and said, “Alright, leave it to me. Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?”

Rong Yi shook his head, his steps unsteady as he leaned on Xiao Yin’s arm, relying on him to get back to the car.

The alcohol they drank tonight was not cheap, so it didn’t have the severe effects of some street-side liquors, just a slight dizziness and drowsiness.

Xiao Yin opened the passenger door, helped Rong Yi sit inside, and placed a warm bottle of water in his hand.

In his daze, Rong Yi only heard Xiao Yin say, “Wait for me.” His voice was steady and calm, like a cool breeze on a hot summer night, making one feel very at ease.

Then, Xiao Yin helped Cang Cui and Lin Yi into the car as well.

Xiao Yin had many connections within the League, and although these two were old friends of Rong Yi, he quickly found the contact information for the opposing team and the Tournament center. He then drove and dropped them off respectively.

Teammates from TET expressed their gratitude, “Thank you, Yin-Ge, for bringing our Captain back! This would have been a disaster if the media had caught it.”

Xiao Yin gave a slight nod, “You’re welcome.”

Lin Yi, barely maintaining some semblance of sobriety, shivered when he recognized Xiao Yin. Usually unruly, he managed to restrain himself a little.

Rong Yi leaned against the passenger window, almost falling asleep but still forcing himself to stay awake.

He knew Xiao Yin had rushed over at 2 AM. Xiao Yin and Rong Yi hadn’t been together for long, making Rong Yi feel embarrassed about the situation.

He didn’t want to fall asleep too quickly, so he occasionally mumbled a few words, his voice clearly tinged with sleepiness.

Lin Yi said, “Yin-Ge, you’re still up so late, haha.”

Xiao Yin replied, “Yeah, there’s still some work to do with the team.”

Lin Yi continued awkwardly, “Did Ah Yi tell you? We didn’t expect to chat this late when he came out to eat with us, haha.”

“He told me.”

Before Xiao Yin could respond, Rong Yi heard and mumbled something, shifting uncomfortably due to his dizziness. His voice was soft, with a sweet, raspy undertone, “I originally planned to sleep outside tonight.”

“But then I remembered and called you.”

Rong Yi tried to explain himself.

“It’s okay,” Xiao Yin said, his voice calm and indifferent. “I’m your boyfriend, remember?”

From the back seat, Lin Yi thought, “…”

He shouldn’t be in the car; he should be underneath it.

Rong Yi looked at Xiao Yin for a while.

Xiao Yin’s expression didn’t change much, remaining cold and focused. The empty streets at night reflected in his eyes, and his lips were pressed into a thin line.

From the side, Xiao Yin’s high nose bridge and unusually aloof demeanor stood out.

Rong Yi found himself staring.

When they arrived at their destination, Xiao Yin stopped the car and helped Lin Yi back to the hotel.

Lin Yi, having sobered up considerably, didn’t even say goodbye to Rong Yi. He only remembered to thank Xiao Yin with a mix of fear and gratitude.

“No need to thank me,” Xiao Yin said. “I should be thanking you for making introductions.”

Lin Yi nodded and only understood what Xiao Yin meant after he had gone upstairs.

“Introductions”?

Who calls recruitment “introductions”?

By the time Xiao Yin returned to the car, Rong Yi was nearly asleep.

When Xiao Yin, bringing the chill of the night air with him, sat back in the driver’s seat, Rong Yi barely managed to open his eyes, giving Xiao Yin a drowsy glance before his eyelashes drooped again.

“If you’re tired, just sleep,” Xiao Yin said.

He restarted the car, glanced at the GPS, and Rong Yi shook his head, saying, “I’d rather… sleep when we get back.”

Rong Yi had a bit of an obsessive-compulsive tendency when it came to sleep.

Part of it was because Xiao Yin had come to get him in the middle of the night, and he didn’t want to sleep alone; another part was something even Xiao Yin had noticed鈥”Rong Yi couldn’t fully fall asleep when he was alone outside.

No matter how exhausted, he would just close his eyes and lean back, but his nerves always seemed to be on edge, as if subconsciously afraid of something.

It was hard to say whether this was a habit from childhood or something he developed after becoming Captain. He was used to being thorough both on and off the field, used to being the one who thought of every contingency and handled the aftermath, never allowing himself a moment of relaxation.

Xiao Yin glanced at him a few times without speaking. He just pressed the gas pedal, the car smoothly accelerating to the speed limit, carrying them both steadily towards their place.

At this hour, the members of the VIT team were all asleep. The streets were empty, and outside the high-end hotel, only the security guards in their patrol uniforms were still wandering around.

Xiao Yin parked the car in the underground garage.

Rong Yi, eyes closed, seemed to be in a light sleep, his breathing slow and steady.

However, as soon as Xiao Yin got out and opened the door from the side, Rong Yi woke up again.

Rong Yi realized they had arrived somewhere and looked up to see Xiao Yin slightly bending over to unbuckle his seatbelt.

This scene had played out many times before.

Rong Yi couldn’t drive; Xiao Yin had gotten an international driver’s license early on and often drove him around. Rong Yi had a bad habit of not wearing his seatbelt, and Xiao Yin would always lean over to buckle it for him.

When getting out of the car, Xiao Yin would also open the door for him like this.

Rong Yi looked up at him, still a bit dazed, just like earlier.

The car’s air conditioning was on high, making him feel slightly warm. His hair, damp with sweat and messed up by his own fingers, clung to his forehead. His gaze wandered over Xiao Yin’s face with an unusual intensity.

His usual calm demeanor had been gently shattered, like the disarray that emerges when something is wrapped in hot steam.

Xiao Yin’s fingers paused.

“What are you looking at?” Xiao Yin asked, his voice very soft.

Well, obviously, I’m looking at you.

Perhaps Rong Yi’s disdain was too evident, as Xiao Yin suddenly chuckled—a relaxed kind of laugh, one that rarely showed in front of others.

Rong Yi felt Xiao Yin’s hand come over, fingers gently grasping his shoulder, pressing him more firmly into the passenger seat. Before he could react, Xiao Yin’s cool kiss invaded his senses.

Xiao Yin held Rong Yi’s chin lightly but steadily, kissing him with just the right amount of pressure.

Rong Yi, already dizzy, felt even more so when his breath was taken away. His shoulders tensed up as he instinctively tried to pull back, but he couldn’t avoid it. He let out a soft, muffled sound and then lifted his arm to wrap around Xiao Yin’s neck.

“Mm, slow down,” Rong Yi murmured.

He leaned in, kissing Xiao Yin back in a daze. When he pulled away, his breath brushed against Xiao Yin’s ear, lingering like a cat’s gentle nuzzle. “I’m dizzy, Xiao Yin.”

He used to call him by various names when he was in the mood—Xiao Yin, Yin Shen, boyfriend—switching it up because, although they were the same age, Xiao Yin was already considered a veteran by League standards. Rong Yi loved teasing him.

Rong Yi had just finished speaking when Xiao Yin grabbed his wrist, pressing him in deeper.

The cold indifference in Xiao Yin’s eyes finally showed a crack, like ice breaking to reveal a glimpse of chaos beneath.

Rong Yi was completely pinned in the passenger seat, their kiss lasting a long time.

When their lips finally parted, the temperature inside the car seemed to have risen a few degrees.

Rong Yi looked up slightly and saw a hint of the same loss of control in Xiao Yin’s eyes.

He reached out to tug at Xiao Yin’s shirt again. Xiao Yin lowered his head, his tone still steady but his voice slightly hoarse: “Ah Yi, we’re still outside.”

Rong Yi looked at him for a few seconds, wanting to respond, but he was too tired and closed his eyes again.

“Ah Yi, are you awake?” Xiao Yin’s voice was very low.

Rong Yi didn’t reply, once again succumbing to the comfortable drowsiness he had felt earlier.

Xiao Yin lifted him out of the car, carrying him in his arms, then closed and locked the car door.

Rong Yi didn’t remember much after that, only that Xiao Yin’s embrace was very steady. The cool night breeze mixed with Xiao Yin’s body warmth, creating a gentle and lingering sensation.

The next morning, Rong Yi found himself waking up in Xiao Yin’s bed.

The VIT team had come for a match, and Xiao Yin, being the wealthy boss, had booked the rooms. With his cleanliness fetish, Xiao Yin had a room to himself, while Hydralisk, Grey Cat, and Wu Daogu shared a room for their late-night solo sessions. Rong Yi also had a room to himself.

Rong Yi’s room key card had been tucked into his wallet’s inner pocket the night before, and Xiao Yin likely hadn’t bothered to look for it, instead bringing him straight to his own room.

The large white double bed’s other side was empty but still warm, with signs that someone had slept there. The covers were slightly disheveled.

Rong Yi glanced at himself and saw that his clothes had been changed into Xiao Yin’s, which were a size too large.

He remembered their kiss from the night before, and his face slowly turned red.

He knew nothing had happened because if it had, his waist and certain other parts wouldn’t feel so calm.

Xiao Yin always checked with him beforehand, and during the regular season, he was usually very restrained.

Both of them had their boundaries.

It was just a peaceful night of sharing the same bed, nothing more.

The sound of the shower was faintly audible from the bathroom.

Rong Yi got up, not in a hurry to change clothes, but instead, he began searching for his phone to check if Lin Yi and Cang Cui had gotten back safely.

His phone, neatly placed by Xiao Yin next to his pillow, was within easy reach. As soon as Rong Yi grabbed it and turned it on, he was bombarded with a torrent of messages.

Commentator Lin Yi: “What did you do? My E-God! Why are several small teams and commentators attacking you? Even RS fans are attacking you?”

Commentator Lin Yi: “Forwarding screenshots.”

Commentator Lin Yi: “Did you really say this?? Last night? That PA team isn’t even worthy of scrims with you???”

Seeing Lin Yi’s frantic messages, Rong Yi quickly scrolled to find the forwarded messages.

Last night, after getting a bit too drunk, he had passionately clashed with a few small commentators and team managers, who were now posting his replies, rallying their fans to attack VIT’s current captain.

“Easy leaves RS and now thinks he’s all that? Unbelievable. Does he really think he’s beyond falling just because he and Yin have won a world championship? Can VIT even match that?”

“No matter what their past issues were, Easy talking like this is just off-putting!”

“Easy has gone too far! VIT gives him a mid-laner role and now he thinks he’s invincible? He’s going to alienate everyone in the League at this rate!”

“Wow, Easy?”

Amidst the overwhelming criticism and attacks from the community and fans, there were also many voices speaking up in his defense.

“Wow, didn’t Easy roast that notoriously biased commentator? The one who praises his favorite team and players to the skies while blatantly showing his bias? Ask around, isn’t he just RS’s lapdog?”

“Even RS’s youth training team members get shaded by him. How does this commentator even have fans?”

“Easy’s roast was so satisfying. He never shows his face, and who would’ve thought he’s this handsome!”

“Easy is the only active World Champion in the National Region, and Yin is a three-time World Champion FMVP. What’s wrong with their team saying the other side isn’t worthy of scrims with them for now?”

“CH even scrimmed with VIT before. Note that CH is a Group A team and they got completely shut out! A team that can shut out CH should waste time scrimming with a team that can’t even qualify for the national tournament? Isn’t that just trying to ride on their fame?”

…

Rong Yi’s contact list was unsurprisingly flooded, with everyone asking what had happened.

He took a deep breath and buried his face in his hands, rubbing it.

Saying he had a knack for stirring up trouble wouldn’t be quite accurate. Past controversies might have been his doing, but this time it was purely because he got drunk and let loose.

He scrolled back through the messages he had sent, reading them over and over.

What’s done is done.

Reflecting now was pointless.

He did feel a sense of satisfaction from his responses.

But the fallout might not be good, and he might have to write an internal review.

This was part of the team rules back at RS: no letting loose in public, violators must apologize and write a review. He had always been strict with himself, and he wouldn’t escape this time either.

Still scrolling through his contacts, wondering if the VIT operations team was already in meltdown, he was interrupted by the sound of the shower stopping. Five seconds later, Xiao Yin emerged.

Rong Yi turned his head.

Xiao Yin, drying his hair with a towel, noticed he was awake only after closing the door. “Morning.”

Rong Yi’s gaze lingered for a few seconds on the droplets of water glistening on Xiao Yin’s abs before he moved his eyes upward. “Morning.”

Xiao Yin’s eyes were calm and dark. “Did you sleep well? You drank quite a bit last night.”

“Uh, pretty well,” Rong Yi coughed and then prepared to get out of bed. Seeing him looking around for clothes, Xiao Yin spoke while getting dressed, “Wait a bit and wear mine for now. I sent yours to be washed.”

Rong Yi responded with an “Oh” and sat at the bedside, hugging the quilt while watching Xiao Yin find clothes for him.

Xiao Yin preferred black, white, and gray clothes. He picked out a casual black T-shirt and handed it to Rong Yi. Rong Yi took off the oversized shirt he was wearing and put on the T-shirt.

Xiao Yin didn’t look away and just stood there, watching him change.

The curtains were half-drawn, casting the room in a half-light, half-shadow. Rong Yi’s fair waist was clearly visible.

He still felt a bit embarrassed and deliberately avoided Xiao Yin’s gaze. After changing, he got out of bed and tried to sneak back to his own room to freshen up.

Before he could get around Xiao Yin, Xiao Yin said, “I brought your luggage over. Hydralisk and the others went out to have fun. There’s nothing pressing today, so you can rest more.”

Rong Yi obediently headed to the bathroom to wash up.

The bathroom still carried the faint scent of Xiao Yin’s shower—a light mint fragrance mixed with the lemony smell of fabric sanitizer.

The air was moist and hazy.

Rong Yi washed his face and brushed his teeth before stepping out. He noticed Xiao Yin already seated on the sofa with a laptop in front of him. As soon as Rong Yi emerged, he heard Xiao Yin speaking softly into the phone, smiling: “Do they think VIT has no one?”

Seeing Xiao Yin on the phone, Rong Yi instinctively quieted his footsteps. He could vaguely see from Xiao Yin’s laptop screen that he was talking with the operations team.

Xiao Yin’s voice carried a casual yet chilly tone: “Just tell them this—whoever they want to please is none of my concern, but if they mess with us, I’ll take it personally.”