Chapter 62

Rong Yi looked down at the notebook in his hand, gently poking it with a borrowed pen.

The light under the stage was dim, making it hard to read the words. Occasionally, he would lift his eyes to stretch them, only to realize that the people around him were all looking his way.

Rong Yi blinked a few times to confirm.

As his moist, almond-shaped eyes scanned around, others quickly averted their gazes. A few people further away were staring at him in a daze, subdued discussions of excitement barely contained.

He didn’t understand why and instinctively looked towards the stage, but saw nothing unusual.

Is there a new segment?

It didn’t seem like it.

Maybe they weren’t looking at him?

On stage, an exhibition match was being played, featuring this season’s Rising Star players from the secondary league, playing alongside real celebrities.

Most of the audience was focused on the intense game. Several celebrities had high levels of attention, and the fans’ cheers were waves of continuous noise.

Rong Yi casually took out his phone to check.

In the sponsor’s section, phones weren’t required to be handed in. However, it wasn’t appropriate to openly play with it.

Rong Yi just lowered his head to see if there were any new messages.

[Latest Message: Mom] “Are you coming back for the Mid Autumn Festival? Should I have your younger brother pick you up?”

Scrolling up the chat history, he saw that three days ago, he had sent his mom a picture of his flight ticket and arrival time.

Rong Yi quickly replied, “No need to pick me up.”

There was no immediate response from the other side; either she hadn’t seen it or didn’t think to reply right away. Rong Yi scrolled further up.

Looking back a bit more, their chat history showed messages every two or three months.

The previous message was [Click the link to vote for Li Jian, number 23 in the elementary school group!]

With a note: “Vote for your younger brother. You’re famous from playing games; you should be able to get a lot of votes, right?”

Rong Yi’s reply was particularly brief.

He said, “No time.”

Turning off the phone screen, Rong Yi looked up again, sensing that someone was indeed watching him.

It was Xiao Yin.

Xiao Yin was watching him.

Rong Yi knew where VIT was seated. He put down his phone and looked up, meeting Xiao Yin’s gaze directly.

The stage lights were dazzling, with starry blue beams interspersed with starlike spotlights that fell on Xiao Yin’s shoulders and cheeks.

His overly handsome face appeared even more stern and aloof.

With no other indication, Rong Yi was sure he was looking at him.

He glanced behind him, then turned back, lifting his eyes.

Xiao Yin then curved his eyes into a smile, tapping his fingers lightly on the table.

At that moment, Rong Yi realized there was a live high-definition screen at the guest seat on the other side, and the camera was currently focused on Xiao Yin.

Today, Yin was the most popular Star Player in the entire venue, so naturally, the camera lingered on him more.

Although there were quite a few hot celebrities from the entertainment industry present, the esports audience wasn’t particularly interested in that.

They just loved watching Xiao Yin.

At this moment, Xiao Yin’s high-definition close-up was displayed on the big screen, and everyone saw his stern face and his faint smile directed somewhere off-camera.

This sent the netizens into a frenzy.

“Who the hell is he smiling at?”

“Holy crap, Yin-Ge is smiling—so handsome—who is he looking at?”

“That spot is in the audience area!”

“It’s like a secret office romance where the two people are exchanging glances during a meeting!”

The audience was nearly going crazy too.

“Look over there, the spot where Yin-Ge was just looking, behind the broadcast team.”

“There’s a guy in a white shirt, wearing a black mask and a baseball cap. Yin was definitely looking at him!”

“I noticed him! Besides the coach team, this section is for sponsors, but he’s the only one taking notes.”

“Is it him? I thought he was some small celebrity! Never considered he could be the captain!!”

“And the hat and mask! That’s definitely Easy’s signature look, right?”

The answer seemed obvious.

Xiao Yin hadn’t concealed his gaze too much, and a bunch of fans gathered to watch. They saw the young man in the baseball cap look up in response. Though his expression was hidden, it seemed like he looked back and even smiled faintly.

“It must be him!!”

In the VIT fan group, a few girls were gathered, almost screaming, “I saw him standing up and clapping for VIT just now! Oh my gosh! That guy is definitely the captain!!”

“Is that the Captain?”

Even though everyone had been mentally prepared, it was still hard to believe when they looked from afar.

Even in the dim light under the stage, the person across from them was stunning.

The kind of stunning that catches people’s eyes.

His posture was excellent, half-turned towards the audience area, showing the fine white of his neck and his jet-black, tousled hair.

Those closer to him could occasionally see him turn his head or lower it. Though the mask and hat covered most of his face, his profile revealed a pair of strikingly beautiful and very bright eyes. At the same time, his demeanor carried a bit of somberness and coldness.

It made people instinctively hold their breath.

Rong Yi didn’t have a strong sense of his own attractiveness.

He knew he looked good, but not like some celestial being descended to Earth. Even with a hat and mask, he often drew attention.

Today, the number of people looking at him was noticeably higher than usual.

Feeling somewhat prickly from the attention, Rong Yi lowered his head to check his phone.

There were no new messages in the group chat; all the esports players were on stage, even Lin Yi.

It didn’t seem like anything had happened.

The audience inside the venue had turned off their phones, so if something were going on, it shouldn’t be an issue inside.

As Rong Yi was still pondering, the host announced the end of the first half, signaling the start of the intermission.

“Please keep your ticket stubs safe to watch the second half of the program. Please refrain from loud noises and running around, and do not obstruct the players and staff.”

“We have provided player merchandise, free snacks, tea, and an autograph area in the lounge. Please look forward to it.”

People around him stood up and started moving.

The sponsors were mostly outsiders, many of whom didn’t play esports. Most of the big shots in this row had stood up and left; those who stayed were discussing business matters.

After the intermission and events, the teams were supposed to stay for autographs.

But VIT wasn’t part of that.

Xiao Yin had previously decided not to do autographs for this Mid Autumn Special Event, opting instead to offer pre-signed limited editions at the All-Star Game later. Everyone else had agreed.

The reason for not signing was simple.

Their hands would get tired.

It’s no secret that all esports players suffer from tenosynovitis. After a signing event, they could easily sign thousands of autographs, leaving their hands sore if not outright damaged.

When it comes to their hands, it’s a matter of principle. Xiao Yin decisively closed off any autograph sessions.

The other team members exited backstage in an orderly fashion. The more lively ones walked through the audience area, immediately followed by excited fans.

Naturally, many people were waiting for Xiao Yin.

Many audience members stayed even after the lights in the venue came on. A group of fans gathered together and shouted towards the stage: “Yin-Ge Yin-Ge, are you not coming down to sign autographs?”

“Yin-Ge, you’re awesome! VIT, go for the championship this year!”

Rong Yi sat in the front row of the audience area, leaning back slightly with his arms crossed, looking at him with raised eyebrows.

Xiao Yin truly had a presence. Despite his popularity over the years, he stood there looking effortlessly handsome, composed, and poised. He slightly raised his chin and smiled at the audience before waving.

This gesture triggered a wave of screams.

“Ahhh—Yin-Ge, you’re so handsome—”

Rong Yi thought Xiao Yin would leave from the side after greeting the audience. To his surprise, Xiao Yin walked directly down the steps on one side of the stage.

The stage and the edge of the audience area were only separated by two safety barriers.

Because of the ground mics, Xiao Yin’s voice was clearly amplified.

“Thank you all for coming today. We have some things to take care of with the team. See you next time.”

Xiao Yin left the stage and headed towards the guest area. Rong Yi tilted his head, straightened his back slightly, and looked at him.

Looking for me?

Xiao Yin, with his usual calm demeanor, nodded and, under everyone’s watchful eyes, walked up to him and sat down.

Rong Yi could vaguely hear a few restrained, joyful screams coming from behind him.

Now, truly, everyone was watching them.

The entire stage, the upper and lower levels, all the remaining audience members were watching them.

He lifted his eyes and looked into Xiao Yin’s eyes, a slight smile playing on his lips: “… What’s up?”

“I noticed you were writing something up there.” Xiao Yin asked in a low voice, “Anyone you want to sign for?”

“Well… I looked at a few, and I think…”

Rong Yi instinctively pointed them out to him, then quietly shared his analysis.

From the audience’s perspective, Xiao Yin leaned closer to the young man, their posture intimately close, almost head-to-head.

The fans of VIT were already going wild.

The fans of Yin and Easy were just as ecstatic.

No one dared speak or interrupt until, after a brief conversation, Xiao Yin stood up and said, “Let’s go to the lounge for a bit. You must be tired from sitting for so long.”

He extended his hand to Rong Yi.

His expression was calm and natural.

Rong Yi tried to ignore the stares and the suppressed screams of the fans but found it impossible.

He had never been a public figure and felt a bit embarrassed.

He didn’t move, so Xiao Yin came closer and took his hand.

“Oh my god”

Screams erupted from the back rows.

“Yin-God”

The air conditioning blew directly on the front row, making Rong Yi’s hand a bit cold.

Xiao Yin held his hand and started walking towards the lounge. After taking a step, Rong Yi heard him ask in a low voice.

“Cold?”

Xiao Yin’s deep, indifferent voice was as pleasant as ever.

Rong Yi replied, “Actually, it’s not too bad.”

He mainly forgot that the venue’s air conditioning was usually set low; if he had known, he would have brought a jacket.

Though it was cold, it was bearable.

Xiao Yin stopped and looked at him.

Rong Yi stood still obediently, tilting his head to look at him, “Hmm?”

Suddenly, Xiao Yin let go of his fingertips.

He casually took off his suit jacket and draped it over Rong Yi’s shoulders.

The pure black suit was warm with his body heat.

It wasn’t the first time Rong Yi had been given Xiao Yin’s jacket. Xiao Yin did it with ease, and then naturally took his hand again.

The venue was very bright, and the spotlights seemed to bring a scorching heat, accompanied by the laughter and shouts of the audience, which felt like they were boiling over.

Rong Yi spoke softly after a moment’s thought, “You know… they’re all watching us, right?”

Xiao Yin gently tightened his grip.

Rong Yi was drawn closer to him and then heard Xiao Yin’s voice.

“I know.”

“Even if they are, I still have to put a jacket on my wife.”