WCG Chapter 69

Xie Xu closed the bedroom door with his phone in hand, went to the tea room on the second floor to make coffee, placed his phone on the table, and turned the speaker volume down to the lowest setting while listening to Yuan Yang rant on the other end.  

“Xie Xu! Explain yourself properly! How did you two end up sleeping together again?”  

“Don’t tell me it’s another case of Jiang Shi being drunk and going into the wrong room!”  

The tea room was filled with the aroma of coffee and Yuan Yang’s exasperated questioning.  

Compared to Yuan Yang’s agitation, Xie Xu’s tone was calm. “Jiang Shi said Xiao Hei peed on his bed, so he came to squeeze in with me.”  

“Nonsense! That excuse wouldn’t fool a three-year-old!” Yuan Yang instinctively retorted. “Even if that were true, Jiang Shi could have gone to Jiang Lele’s room. Why did he have to squeeze in with you, you sly old fox?”  

Xie Xu sipped his coffee and said lightly, “So, what are you trying to say?”  

Yuan Yang hesitated, then snapped, “And you think you’re in the right? Time is only 19 years old!”  

“So what if he’s 19?” Xie Xu responded nonchalantly. “He’s an adult.”  

Yuan Yang: “?”  

“So, you actually slept together?”  

At that moment, Yuan Yang felt like his soul left his body.  

Same-sex romance, intra-team relationships, the star support of TLG preying on a rookie ADC who’s been with the team for less than six months. Any one of these would be enough to crush him to death.  

Faced with the question of whether they had slept together, Xie Xu didn’t give a direct answer. “You don’t need to know all the details. I know what I’m doing.”  

Yuan Yang nearly choked on his frustration. “You know what you’re doing? Last time you two slept together, I trusted you too much. If I’d known back then, I definitely wouldn’t have let Jiang Shi fall into your clutches!”  

In his view, Jiang Shi was just an innocent kid, too naive to understand anything. It had to be Xie Xu who seduced him.  

Xie Xu listened to Yuan Yang’s accusations and, unusually, didn’t refute them. He only said, “I told you before — your trust doesn’t really matter.” 

Yuan Yang: “…”  

At the time, he thought Xie Xu was just being humble. He hadn’t realized Xie Xu had been planning this all along!  

Pacing anxiously back and forth in his hometown, Yuan Yang finally came to terms with the situation after a long while. “So, are you two dating now?”  

Xie Xu: “Not at the moment.”  

Yuan Yang was stunned. He wanted to ask more, but Xie Xu cut him off. “I understand your concerns—you’re worried it will affect our performance in matches. I’ll find a balance.”  

“And don’t ask Time about this anymore.”  

Miraculously, Jiang Shi had a thin skin regarding this matter.  

Yuan Yang could only swallow all his pent-up words.

Xie Xu was right. If they weren’t officially dating yet, questioning Jiang Shi would only make him nervous and anxious. It was better to pretend not to notice, just like before.  

“Fine. Do whatever you want, as long as it doesn’t affect the matches,” Yuan Yang said through gritted teeth. “I called you today to remind you to go for a hand therapy session before the holiday ends.”  

“Has your right hand been feeling uncomfortable recently?”  

What was supposed to be a caring inquiry came out sounding stiff.  

Why was he always worrying about something!

Xie Xu extended his right hand, clenched and unclenched it. “A little.”  

Yuan Yang’s stern tone cracked under concern. “What? You haven’t been training these past few days during the New Year. Did you lift something heavy? I specifically reminded you before the break—”  

Xie Xu interrupted his nagging. “It wasn’t from lifting anything.”  

He recalled Jiang Shi’s octopus-like sleeping posture last night and explained, “Jiang Shi pressed on it last night.”  

Yuan Yang: “…”  

“Get lost!”  

—  

When Jiang Shi woke up, the sun was already high in the sky.  

He groped under his pillow for his phone, only to find it powered off.  

Still groggy, he remembered that last night, to ensure no one interrupted his “one-on-one time” with Xie Xu, he had deliberately turned off his phone.  

So, what was that phone call from Yuan Yang this morning?  

Jiang Shi immediately sat up, turned on his phone, and checked the call log. The most recent call was with the pet shop.  

He scratched his head.  

Did he answer a call on Xie Xu’s behalf this morning?  

He could already imagine Yuan Yang’s meltdown.  

Just then, as the data synced, he received a WeChat message from Xie Xu.  

[Xu: I’ve headed back. The nearby restaurants are open again—order whatever you like. It’s on the team. Don’t eat instant noodles.]  

[Xu: I explained everything to Yuan Yang over the phone this morning. Don’t worry.]  

Seeing this, Jiang Shi breathed a sigh of relief.  

He had no idea how to explain to Yuan Yang that he had slept with Xie Xu.  

This was TLG’s star player, and he, an unknown rookie ADC, had somehow managed to seduce him. 

No. He hadn’t even succeeded yet.  

The thought of Xie Xu still needing to “think it over” dampened Jiang Shi’s spirits.  

He was about to get out of bed when he noticed the gray blanket covering him.  

He rubbed his eyes. Wasn’t he using a blue blanket last night?  

Looking around the bed yielded no answers, so he leaned over and saw his original blanket lying on the floor.  

[Obedient Jiangjiang: Captain, did I sleep in your bed with you last night?]  

[Xu: Mm. I couldn’t stop you.]  

From that reply, Jiang Shi could imagine how chaotic last night had been.  

He was indeed quite strong.  

[Obedient Jiangjiang: I’m usually very well-behaved when I sleep.]  

Staring at the blanket he had mercilessly kicked to the floor, Jiang Shi rubbed his ears in embarrassment. After thinking for a while, he still couldn’t figure out how a simple plan to hold hands and sleep together had turned into him rolling into Xie Xu’s bed.  

Could his dream of hugging Xie Xu last night have been real?  

His ears reddened further. Seeing that Xie Xu hadn’t replied, he continued typing.  

[Obedient Jiangjiang: Captain, don’t worry.]  

[Obedient Jiangjiang: At most, I’ll just kick the blanket. I promise I won’t kick you.]  

He ended the message with a serious cat reaction meme, its paw raised in a solemn oath.  

Xie Xu, who was playing chess with his father, glanced at his phone and couldn’t help but laugh softly.  

[Xu: Mm. I trust you.]  

Hearing his son chuckle, Xie Xu’s father grew curious. “Talking to the person you mentioned last time?”  

The last time Xie Xu had returned home with an injured leg, his mother had coaxed him into admitting that there was someone special.  

It seemed like Xie Xu cared a lot about this person.  

Xie Xu set down his phone, glanced at the chessboard, and made his move without saying anything.  

His father, understanding his son well, took Xie Xu’s silence as confirmation. “Bring them home to meet us next time.”  

Then, casually, he asked, “What do their parents do?”  

Xie Xu’s smile faded slightly. “He’s an orphan.”  

His mother passed away early, and his father abandoned him. Jiang Shi had no family.  

Hearing this, Xie Xu’s father’s expression grew serious. “That poor child has had a tough life.”  

“No matter. Your mother and I will take good care of them.”  

Xie Xu hummed in acknowledgment.  

Knowing Jiang Shi’s personality, his parents would likely grow fond of him.  

---

The annual leave ended quickly, and the members of TLG returned to the base one after another. In the evening, Yang-ge organized a hotpot dinner to welcome everyone back. 

Jiang Lele was the last to arrive. As soon as he caught the steaming aroma of hotpot in the living room, he dropped his luggage on the floor and sat next to Yu Hui, ready to grab a pair of chopsticks and start eating. 

However, just as his hand reached the chopsticks, Yu Hui smacked it away.  

“Go wash your hands first.” 

But he was okay with the dirt accumulated after sitting in the car for a whole day.

Jiang Lele pouted with grievance. Then, while Yu Hui was momentarily distracted, he suddenly hugged him and pinched his cheek.  

“Back, we haven’t seen each other for a week, and you’re already treating me like this?”

“You heartless guy.” 

Before Yu Hui could get angry, Jiang Lele quickly let go and cheerfully went to wash his hands. But as soon as he stood up, he bumped into someone behind him.  

Jiang Shi, quick on his feet, managed to steady the plate of vegetables that almost flew out. After setting it on the table, he looked down at the stunned Jiang Lele.  

When Jiang Lele realized he had run into Jiang Shi and saw the water stains on the latter’s clothes, his initial confusion turned into sheer panic.  

Why was it that as soon as he returned to the base, he offended this ticking time bomb?  

Jiang Lele discreetly stepped back, leaning against Yu Hui. “Little White Hair, I didn’t do it on purpose. Don’t lose your temper.”  

Jiang Shi placed the vegetables on the table. Before he could speak, a tissue was handed to him.  

Xie Xu: “Wipe it down.” 

Jiang Shi restrained his annoyance and glared at the careless Jiang Lele. “How many times have I told you not to sit next to me?”  

Every time they sat together, they fought over the same bowl of food.  

Moreover, how could Yu Hui and Jiang Lele’s interactions seem more intimate than his with Xu?  

Hugs and cheek pinches—he hadn’t even achieved that with Xu.  

Thinking of this, Jiang Shi became even more unwilling to sit next to Jiang Lele.  

Jiang Lele felt wronged. “Your seat was the only one left when I got here.”  

At the TLG base, dining table spots were practically fixed, as everyone followed their routines. Jiang Shi was the only one who always complained about his seating arrangements.  

Still, Jiang Lele, being magnanimous, didn’t hold it against him. Not only that, he even scooted his chair closer to Jiang Shi and smiled mischievously.  

“T Bao, I heard you live-streamed yourself biting into a frozen pear during the New Year holiday. Is that true?”  

He’d been dying to ask about this and knew Jiang Shi wouldn’t respond if he asked in the group chat.  

Zhao Jiu, overhearing this, exclaimed, “Huh? Biting a frozen pear?”  

Jiang Lele nodded enthusiastically. “Yeah! It’s gone viral in the fan groups.”  

“I even saved a screenshot.”  

He pulled out his phone and shared the photo in the team’s group chat.  

Jiang Shi, who had left his phone on the table, glanced down and was greeted with an image of himself gnawing on a half-eaten frozen pear, his face wrinkled in concentration, cheeks puffed out.  

Jiang Shi: “…”  

Damn, this stupid little winter melon! 

What was worse, out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Xie Xu opening the group chat and saving the photo.  

Sensing Jiang Shi’s gaze, Xu turned his head and calmly said, “It’s cute.”  

The simmering anger Jiang Shi had just felt was instantly extinguished.  

However, when he glanced at Jiang Lele, who was happily wiping his hands with a wet tissue, he coldly remarked, “You joined that group again?”  

Jiang Lele stiffened and quickly denied it. “Of course not!”  

He definitely didn’t want to be interrogated by Jiang Shi again.  

But as soon as he spoke, Yu Hui, seated next to him, chimed in indifferently, “He did. He even sent me a screenshot, bragging about guessing the password again.”  

Jiang Lele’s eyes widened. “Back, how could you betray me!”  

Yu Hui glanced at his dirty hands and said nothing.  

Before Jiang Lele could settle the score with him, Jiang Shi grabbed him by the collar and dragged him into the kitchen. “I’ll go with Lele to grab the remaining dishes.”  

Three minutes later, the two returned with plates in hand.  

Jiang Shi led the way while Jiang Lele trailed behind, looking dejected.  

It seemed he was kicked out of the group once again.

Jiang Shi had once again taken revenge.  

Not only that, but Jiang Shi retaliated by posting a photo of Jiang Lele in the group.  

In it, Jiang Lele looked young and naive, wearing a basketball jersey, his hair soaked with sweat as he sat on the ground rubbing his eyes.  

Jiang Shi had discovered this photo while verifying the authenticity of a TLG basketball game. He had saved it, and now it had come in handy.  

Seeing the embarrassing picture, Jiang Lele shouted, “Ahhhh! Little White Hair, delete it! That’s such an old photo!”  

He looked so awkward and lacking in dignity.  

Jiang Shi, noticing that Jiang Lele was about to grab his phone, swiftly handed it to Xu.  

Jiang Lele’s arms weren’t long enough to reach.  

Yu Hui, who had also seen the picture, frowned. “Did you cry after losing a basketball game?”  

Yu Hui had joined the team after Jiang Lele, so he wasn’t at that match.  

Jiang Lele was utterly defeated. “I didn’t cry! I was wiping sweat!”  

During dinner, Jiang Lele grew increasingly dissatisfied. After eating a piece of beef tripe, he leaned closer to Jiang Shi and whispered, “Let’s make a deal. You delete that picture, and I’ll give you a photo of the captain’s eight-pack abs.”  

He glanced at Xie Xu’s direction and lowered his voice. “I took it back then.”  

There was no other reason; Xie Xu was just too handsome. The photo had gone viral at the time, though few people remembered it now.  

But as an insider, Jiang Lele still had the goods.  

“How about it? A good deal, right?”  

Jiang Shi definitely wouldn’t resist the temptation.  

But Jiang Shi didn’t even lift his head. “Not interested.”  

He had already touched them. Why would he care about some blurry photo?  

Jiang Shi looked at the freshly cooked beef tripe Xu had placed into his bowl and obediently said, “Thank you, Captain.”  

Jiang Lele was utterly confused.  

Since when did the Little White Hair become a vegetarian[mfn]pacifist/not lewd[/mfn] after the New Year? Even ignoring abs photos? 

Or had something happened between those two? Could it be that Xie Xu had already shown off his abs?  

Before he could figure it out, the piece of beef in his bowl was swiped away by Yu Hui’s chopsticks.  

“Fuck, Back, you stole my meat!”  

With Jiang Lele, this lively treasure around, the hotpot dinner was unusually cheerful.  

Yuan Yang suddenly remembered something and reminded them, “Oh, right, there are dumplings in the kitchen. It’s about time. Who wants some?”  

Jiang Shi raised his hand.  

The dumplings were brought from Xie Xu’s home and were filled with an incredible stuffing. Xu had given Jiang Shi a few to try before, and they were excellent.  

When Jiang Shi got up, Xie Xu followed him.  

Just as Xie Xu was about to warn him to be careful, Jiang Shi impulsively reached out to lift the pot lid. The steam scalded him, and he sucked in a breath but didn’t let go. Instead, he quickly moved the lid to the far side, away from Xu.  

“Captain, stay back. It’s hot.”  

In his flurry, Jiang Shi tried to turn off the heat. The lid lifted, releasing a rush of steam. Startled, he instinctively turned his head. But the next moment, Xu pulled him into his arms, shielding him from the steam and turning off the heat himself.  

Jiang Shi wriggled out of Xie Xu’s embrace. “Captain, it’s hot!”  

Xie Xu looked at the frantic Jiang Shi, who was trying to see if he was okay, and replied calmly, “I’m wearing a jacket. It’s fine.”  

Seeing Xie Xu’s jacket, Jiang Shi awkwardly muttered an “oh.”  

He had seen reports about how high-temperature steam could cause burns, so the sight of such a large amount of steam had made him panic.  

After the steam dissipated, Jiang Shi went to check on the dumplings, but Xie Xu grabbed his hand.  

Jiang Shi’s fingertips were slightly red.  

“I’m fine, Captain. I’ve got thick skin. It just stung for a moment,” Jiang Shi quickly explained.  

The calluses on his hands proved his words.  

Xie Xu didn’t say anything, but he didn’t let Jiang Shi touch the pot again. Instead, he scooped out the dumplings himself.  

“If you get burned, pinch your earlobe. It helps,” Xie Xu said as he handed a dumpling to Jiang Shi.  

“My mom told me that when I was a kid.”  

Jiang Shi, standing behind Xie Xu, blinked in confusion.  

He quietly pinched his earlobe, feeling its coolness, and found that it did seem to ease the sting.  

Just then, Xieu turned around, holding out a dumpling. “Try it.”  

Jiang Shi leaned in to take a bite, but Xu pulled back slightly. “Blow on it first.”  

In his eagerness, Jiang Shi half-heartedly blew on it a couple of times before biting in. The heat made him yelp and fan his mouth, while his other hand reflexively covered his ear.  

But it didn’t help.  

Seeing Jiang Shi’s reddened eyes from the heat, Xie Xu couldn’t help but laugh. He handed Jiang Shi a glass of cold water. “Pinching your ear doesn’t help if your mouth is burned.”  

After saying that, he couldn’t resist pinching Jiang Shi’s cheek. “I’ll cool it down for you next time.”