WCG Chapter 65

On New Year’s Eve, Jiang Shi re-read all of [18 Years Old Pure Female College Student]’s jokes and fanfics from start to finish, rolling excitedly on his bed multiple times before gradually falling asleep.  

On the morning of the Lunar New Year, Jiang Shi woke up naturally. When he turned on his phone, he saw 99+ messages in the team group chat, most of which were from Jiang Lele excitedly chatting away.  

[The Group’s Most Handsome Guy Jiang Lele: Look at my bag of candies! I told them I didn’t need it, but they insisted on giving it to me.]  

[The Group’s Most Handsome Guy Jiang Lele: And the red envelopes too. I’ve been working for a few years now, and they’re still giving me these.]  

Jiang Shi looked at the bag of candies and the handful of festive red envelopes in Jiang Lele’s hands, feeling a bit envious.  

But it was just envy.  

He also had red envelopes—right under his pillow! In fact, judging by its thickness, one red envelope from Xie Xu was likely worth more than all five or six of Jiang Lele’s combined.  

Jiang Shi smiled contentedly and went to freshen up.  

While brushing his teeth, he scrolled through the chat history to grab the red envelopes.  

That morning, Xie Xu and Yuan Yang had sent out several large red envelopes in the group chat. He was extremely lucky, snatching more than 100 yuan.  

A good omen for the year.  

After finishing his routine, Jiang Shi checked the time—it was already past 11 AM., time for lunch.  

Being New Year’s, there wasn’t much in terms of food delivery nearby, so Jiang Shi decided to rummage through his bag for the “supplies” he’d left behind at the internet café.  

He dumped the contents of his bag onto the bed: assorted candies, instant noodles, and even that water-damaged microphone.  

Picking a random cup of noodles, he was about to tear open the plastic when his phone pinged.  

Xie Xu had tagged him in the team chat.  

[Xu: @Obedient Jiangjiang, awake?]  

Xie Xu had noticed that the red envelopes had been claimed.  

[Obedient Jiangjiang: Yep, good morning, Captain! Happy New Year!]  

[Xu: Happy New Year.]  

[Xu: There are dumplings, shumai, and noodles in the kitchen. There’s also vegetables and luncheon meat. Add an egg and cook yourself some proper noodles. Don’t just eat instant noodles.]  

[Xu: I’ll swing by the base tonight.]  

[The Group’s Most Handsome Guy Jiang Lele: Captain, are you specifically bringing food for T Bao?]  

[Xu: Yes.]  

Upon seeing this, Jiang Lele’s eyes widened. He was so startled that he didn’t even notice his mom giving him looks to check out a pretty girl nearby. His fingers flew across the phone screen:  

[The Group’s Most Handsome Guy Jiang Lele: Captain, did T Bao give you some exclusive New Year’s benefit? And you admitted it so easily!]  

Jiang Lele could sense that Xie Xu treated Jiang Shi differently. Outwardly, it always seemed like the captain was just looking after his teammate, but this deliberate act of “feeding” and his straightforward admission felt a little unusual.  

Xie Xu’s attitude had subtly changed.

Although Jiang Lele couldn’t quite put his finger on how.  

[Yuan Yang: When I stayed at the base alone, why didn’t anyone bring me food?]  

[Nine-ge: Hahaha, Captain, you’d better console Yang-ge.]  

[Xu: @Yuan Yang, next time you’re alone at the base, I’ll bring you food too.]  

[Yuan Yang: I appreciate it.]  

That time Yuan Yang stayed at the base alone was because TL.G’s former ADC, South, had transferred to Korea’s YB team. They struggled to find an ADC that matched South’s skill level and had no choice but to promote An from the second team.  

It was TL.G’s peak and also its most chaotic New Year.  

Thankfully, after many ups and downs, they got Time. 

Thinking of this, Yuan Yang no longer felt the need for any consolation.  

[Yuan Yang: @Obedient Jiangjiang, there’s fruit and milk in the kitchen, you can eat whatever you want.] 

[Yuan Yang: Also, I confiscated several bags of Jiang Lele’s snail noodles. They’re in the bottom right cupboard of the fridge. If you’re curious, give it a try, but don’t forget to ventilate the room after eating.]  

[The Group’s Most Handsome Guy Jiang Lele: ?]  

[Back: All of Jiang Lele’s snacks are in the drawer under his desk in the training room.]  

[The Group’s Most Handsome Guy Jiang Lele: !]  

[Nine-ge: Hahaha, all of Jiang Lele’s family fortunes are being exposed. I’ve got snacks too. I put some frozen pears in the freezer. They should be ready to eat now. Try one if you’re curious, though they probably won’t taste as good as the ones I freeze outside in the snow.]  

Jiang Shi glanced at the messages, then at the dry instant noodles in his hand. Resolutely abandoning them, he slipped on his slippers and went to the kitchen to find the food everyone had mentioned.  

By the time he emerged, Jiang Shi’s stomach was full. He even had a bottle of milk dangling from his mouth, his expression one of obvious satisfaction.  

In the kitchen, he’d even found some fresh pears in a foam box.  

Remembering Zhao Jiu’s mention of snow-frozen pears, Jiang Shi decided to give it a try.  

Opening the main building’s front door, he was greeted by a world of white.  

It had snowed all night in A City, leaving a thick layer on the ground. As he opened the door, the previously unseen Xiao Hei darted out behind him.  

But the snow was so deep that Xiao Hei’s paws sank into it, forcing him to hop forward like he was performing acrobatics.  

Jiang Shi laughed mercilessly. “Xiao Hei, your legs are really short.”  

Then, to demonstrate, Jiang Shi stepped into the snow—  

And immediately sank, his slippers vanishing, even covering his pants legs.  

Jiang Shi: “?”  

This was ridiculously deep.  

Not far away, a security guard greeted him, “Happy New Year! Enjoying the snow?”  

The guard’s gaze landed on Jiang Shi’s feet, half-buried in the snow.  

Jiang Shi, who was about to retract his legs, only to lose his slippers in the snow: “…”

After a brief moment of silence, he stiffly nodded. 

He was wearing slippers without socks. The snow poured directly into his ankles, making him shiver from the cold. Xiao Hei looked at him. 

“What are you looking at?” Jiang Shi gritted his teeth and whispered.

However, under the sight of the security guard not far away, Jiang Shi turned around, blocked the other party’s sight, endured the cold, and slowly and gracefully retracted his feet.

However, the slippers still fell into the snow.

Jiang Shi was so embarrassed that he didn’t dare to look at the security guard’s expression. He quickly leaned over to take out the slippers from the snow, shook off the snow on them, and then dug two holes with his hands next to them. He then buried the pears in the snow. 

When Xie Xu comes back in the evening, he’ll give one of the pears to Xie Xu.

He still remembered Zhao Jiu’s remarks about how good a frozen pear is. 

Looking down, he saw the footprint he had left behind. No need for a marker.  

After burying the pears, Jiang Shi headed to the training room and started his livestream.  

Every Lunar New Year’s Day, he would stream all day.  

Besides, he had nothing else to do, so might as well work to earn some money.

Even before the stream began, nearly a thousand people were already waiting in his chat.  

[Open the stream! If you don’t, I’ll kick the door down!]  

[T Bao is late this year! He used to be so punctual, awake by 11, noodles ready by 11:30, chatting with us while slurping noodles.]  

[Let’s guess whether T Bao will eat pickled cabbage or braised beef flavor this year.] 

[Since joining TLG, T Bao must’ve made decent money, right? Hope he’s doing better this year.]  

[Every time I see him eating instant noodles, I feel guilty. I can eat a lot of fish and meat at home.] 

[Upstairs, you’re not alone in this. I usually give him money, so he can use it to buy fruits or something.] 

Amidst the flood of sympathetic comments, Jiang Shi went live, holding a bag full of fruit and snacks, munching on a pear. He even pulled out cookies and candy from his pockets and placed them on the table.  

[?Did I join the wrong stream?]  

[Did this little idiot rob his neighbor’s Lunar New Year stash?]  

[The snacks are about to block the camera.]  

[Everyone, look at his background. T Bao didn’t go home, he’s still in the base!] 

[Why doesn’t he go back to his family for the New Year?]

[Does it matter? There’s only T Bao in his rental room, anyway.] 

At that moment, Xiao Hei entered. Jiang Shi grabbed him and showed him off to the camera: “Brought him back with me.”  

[Wow, it’s Xiao Hei! Aunties send kisses!]  

[Hahaha, did Xiao Hei go out in the snow? His paws look wet.]  

[Be gentler when you hold him, T Bao, or he’ll smack you again.]  

Jiang Shi smirked. “Does he even dare?” 

No sooner had he spoken than Xiao Hei slapped him, though without extending his claws.  

After swatting him, Xiao Hei jumped off his arm into the floor, then snuggled into the blankets he prepared for the cat.

[Hahaha, this time he was really slapped in the face.]

[Good luck for the new year!]

[Happy New Year, T Bao! ]

[Son, I want you to be happy every day. I wish you are able to sleep early with Xu!]

Amid the blessings on the screen, Jiang Shi generously sent out a red envelope of 100 yuan, which was shared by 1,000 people.

Fans have become accustomed to his stinginess, and they received the red envelopes as usual.

Jiang Shi then started his solo queue journey.

“Why don’t you queue with Xu? Well, he has to visit his relatives for the New Year, so he’s very busy.” Jiang Shi read a question aloud then immediately answered it. “But he’ll be back in the base by the evening. Let’s see if I can queue with him then.”

After saying that, he coughed. “He came back specifically to bring me delicious food.” 

[Nobody asked why Xu was coming back.] 

[Who is he trying to show off to?]

[Is Xu staying or leaving after coming back?]

[Should be? Jiang Lele mentioned TLG’s New Year break lasts until the fifth day of the Lunar New Year.]

[If he’s already back, staying one night seems normal, especially with the heavy snowfall in A City.]

[It all depends on T Bao’s skills now.]

[Time, do you realize that if Xu stays, it’ll just be the two of you at the base tonight?]

Jiang Shi’s eyes lit up as he read the suggestive comments in the live chat.  

Why hadn’t he thought of that!

The jokes he read last night could come into play now!  

To thank his fans, Jiang Shi generously sent out 1,000 red envelopes worth 50 yuan each.  

After all, it was New Year’s, and his fans deserved some love.  

At the base, Jiang Shi was completely at ease alone, lounging casually as he chatted with fans, snacked, and queued for ranked games.  

He even found a trash bag in Jiang Lele’s drawer, saving him the trip upstairs to his third-floor room.  

Before he knew it, night had fallen.  

After eating too many cookies and candies, Jiang Shi felt thirsty.  

But with Xu not around, his thermos was empty.  

[Tsk, Xu has really spoiled him. The moment he finishes his snacks, he instinctively grabs for Xu’s thermos.]  

[Look how relaxed he is now. I can’t even remember how T Bao used to spend New Year’s.]  

[Let me paint you a picture: a shabby rented apartment, T Bao’s camera pointed at his instant noodles, with his mouth occasionally peeking in as he slurps.]  

[Yes, yes, yes! That little bit of exposed face looked so young. I thought he was underaged.] 

[T Bao still looks young now. If his hair were black, you could mistake him for an elementary school brat.]  

Jiang Shi glared at the comment, retorting with a stern face. “You’re the elementary school brat.” 

Then, pettiness in full swing, he muted the commenter for five minutes.  

These days, he was ready to argue with anyone who dared to imply that he’s “small”. 

To quench his thirst, he fished out a bottle of yogurt drink from his snack bag. Then, rolling up the sleeves of his sweater, he proudly flexed his muscles for the audience.  

“See this? I could take out each of you weaklings with one punch.”  

Though Jiang Shi was slim, his arm muscles were clearly defined when he flexed, forming noticeable contours.  

But the audience’s attention drifted elsewhere.  

[Wow, T Bao is so pale!]  

[His arms are thinner than mine. So jealous.]  

[Those muscles are small but adorable.]  

[His skin is so smooth and fair, let this auntie take a bite.]  

[What’s your secret to being so white? Tell me! My dark skin is crying.]  

[Sister upstairs, sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen. I bet T Bao is so pale because he stays indoors and avoids the sun.]  

Jiang Shi: “?”  

Small muscles?  

He reached out to feel his own arm. It was definitely too thick for one hand to wrap around!  

Were these people in need of an eye exam?  

While Jiang Shi battled opponents in the game, his livestream chat erupted into a discussion about skincare and whitening products. The guys in the chat even started debating how to build muscle and recommended various supplements.  

To top it off, the livestream platform’s temporary admin issued multiple warnings, accusing Jiang Shi of attempting to sell products without authorization.  

Jiang Shi retorted back at the admin.  

[Time: Open your eyes. Where am I selling anything? They’re chatting on their own. If anyone’s out of line, mute them, okay?]  

The temporary admin, stunned, had never encountered a streamer actively asking for stricter moderation.  

Was the relationship between this streamer and his fans already this hostile?  

Yet the livestream still had impressive viewership numbers.  

Just in case, the admin reported the situation to Cheng Lei, the person in charge of Jiang Shi’s livestream platform, Little Bear TV. Cheng Lei deliberated for a moment before calling Xie Xu.  

After explaining the issue, Cheng Lei added, “Little Bear TV prohibits mentioning other platforms by name — it could be considered redirecting traffic. Could you talk to Time about it? He might not listen to me, but he’ll listen to you.”  

If this situation escalated and fans were muted or banned en masse during the holiday, it would leave a bad taste for everyone.  

It was better to address the problem early and sweep it under the rug.  

A car horn honked faintly in the background. Cheng Lei asked, “Are you driving?”  

“Yeah, I’m heading back to the base,” Xie Xu replied, his eyes catching the base’s silhouette in the distance. “I’m almost there. I’ll make sure he knows. Thanks for letting me know.”  

Xie Xu was aware that Jiang Shi was livestreaming but had only peeked briefly before leaving him to enjoy himself with his fans.  

Meanwhile, Jiang Shi, lounging carelessly in his chair, smirked at the comments doubting his strength.  

“You lot have no idea who you’re dealing with,” he said, patting his stomach. “Your Dad got six-pack abs.”  

[Who are you kidding?] 

[I’ve got sixty-six packs. Instant noodle packs, that is.]  

[T Bao looks like he’d crumble in a stiff breeze. Abs? Please.]  

[Show us right now if you can?] 

Jiang Shi sneered: “Trying to bait me?”  

Did they think he’d fall for the same trick twice?  

[18 Years Old Pure Female College Student: If you show us, I’ll trade you a photo of Xu’s eight-pack abs.]  

[18 Years Old Pure Female College Student: It’s from an entertainment basketball game. I’ve kept it as a treasured collection for years!]  

“You are… Pure Girl?” Jiang Shi mentioned her in full suspicion. “You actually have it?”  

Wait. Xie Xu has an eight-pack?  

Jiang Shi was tempted.  

[18 Years Old Pure Female College Student: Tons of people know about that basketball game. If you don’t believe me, ask the chat.]  

Jiang Shi didn’t bother asking.  

These people were all in cahoots.  

Instead, he searched for the event himself, finding information about the game online.  

However, he only managed to unearth a photo of Jiang Lele sprawled on the floor, gasping for air. In addition, there’s also a handsome Xie Xu standing on the court. 

Sharp-eyed and commanding, Xie Xu looked even more imposing than usual.  

Once again, Jiang Shi felt like he’d been reeled in.  

[T Bao, what are you hesitating about? You were so quick to show your arms earlier.]  

[Were you bluffing? C’mon, it’s just your belly, what’s there to hide?] 

[Forget it, we don’t care that much.]  

[Bet it’s just like his arm muscles, small and adorable.]  

[Alright, family members, move along. Back to discussing whitening creams and workout routines.]  

Jiang Shi chuckled darkly. “You think I don’t have it?”  

Fine. For the sake of Xie Xu’s eight-pack abs photo, he’d reluctantly show them.  

Standing up, Jiang Shi grabbed the hem of his sweater, lifting it halfway—  

But just then, the door behind him swung open.  

Startled, Jiang Shi froze, glancing over his shoulder—only to have a coat thrown over his head.  

Before darkness enveloped his vision, he heard Xie Xu’s low voice.  

“Jiang Shi, put your shirt down.”