Even now, Yan Chengfeng couldn’t figure out why he had asked the cafeteria auntie to make that extra serving of fried rice without chili that day.
Somewhere deep inside, he vaguely recognized that a small part of him couldn’t let go of the past he had shared with Zhen Ning.
After all, that was his youth—undeniably the most important and happiest period of his life.
Back then, they trained together, lived together, and snuck in late-night meals after practice. Before eating, Yan Chengfeng would check Zhen Ning’s dishes for chili, and Zhen Ning would quietly organize Yan Chengfeng’s rune pages, which were always a chaotic mess after a long day of training.
They had agreed to step onto the stage together, reach the world championship, and lift the trophy side by side.
In Yan Chengfeng’s world back then, every decision he made was built on the premise of “being with Zhen Ning.”
That was why, after reuniting with Zhen Ning, he simply couldn’t accept the idea of pretending they didn’t know each other—of just playing their roles as long as they won the match.
He couldn’t let it go.
Even if every meeting between them ended in hurtful words, even if they became enemies, at least that would mean some form of connection still existed between them. Yan Chengfeng wanted to take revenge on Zhen Ning, to make his life difficult. Yet deep down, he realized he couldn’t accept the possibility of them becoming complete strangers.
Of course, he would absolutely never let Zhen Ning know this.
“What fried rice?”
Lost in his chaotic thoughts, Yan Chengfeng, as if giving in to despair, blurted out, “…I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Zhen Ning looked at him quietly, saying nothing more.
Yet his silence made Yan Chengfeng feel as though he had seen right through him, which only unsettled his already flustered mind even more.
“Fine, let’s say I did ask Auntie to make that fried rice.”
Yan Chengfeng tried to steady his breathing. “But did I ever say it was specifically for you? I just wasn’t full and ordered an extra serving. After it was made, I decided I didn’t want to eat it. What’s the problem with that?”
It was pure nonsense.
Yan Chengfeng realized that the more he spoke, the more holes there were in his story. He paused, turning his head away in near embarrassment. “…I can’t be bothered to argue with you anymore.”
“Do whatever you want. Sit… sit wherever you like when you go back. The farther away from me, the better.”
His mind was a mess, but after a moment’s hesitation, he added hoarsely, “Don’t worry. Starting today, I’ll do as you wish. Outside of training and matches, I damn well won’t have anything to do with you.”
Yan Chengfeng assumed Zhen Ning would be satisfied with that outcome.
But as he looked at Zhen Ning’s face, he saw no reaction whatsoever. Her expression remained pale and composed. Perhaps it was just his imagination, but he thought Zhen Ning seemed… even a little dazed.
After a long silence, Zhen Ning averted his gaze.
“Alright,” he said softly. “I hope you can keep your word.”
Yan Chengfeng stared at him silently. After a moment, he sneered and nodded. “I will.”
They entered a cold war.
Not that they had ever gotten along peacefully—not even for a second.
Though Yan Chengfeng and Zhen Ning were locked in their standoff, the buzz online about their performance after the spring season’s opening match never stopped.
Particularly their breathtaking coordination in the dragon pit, which took the visual spectacle to the next level. After the match, fans immediately created slow-motion GIFs, analyzing and discussing every frame.
[Top Comment 1]: This is so weird. In the first half, they had zero synergy, but in the second half, they managed to pull off such amazing teamwork. It feels like they’re both strangers and familiar with each other at the same time. I don’t even know if I’m explaining this right, but they give off this “divorced couple reunited” vibe—distant on the surface, but still weirdly in sync. Who gets it… 🚬
[Top Comment 2]: After all, Neither is a new player, so their synergy probably hasn’t developed much yet. But that dragon pit play was stunning. It’s definitely going to secure a spot in my top 3 highlights across all games.
[Top Comment 3]: I know it’s too early to draw conclusions after just one match, but this omega is no joke. His card-playing skills, both in precision and speed, are absolutely top-tier among domestic players. Why is someone at this level only debuting now?!
[Top Comment 4]: I feel like the chemistry between Head Chef and this AD is going to be incredible in the future. Their skills match, their faces are amazing, and oh my gosh, they’re such a perfect pair… 🤭🤭
[Top Comment 5]: No way, are you serious? Shipping them after just one game? Let’s tone it down a bit. Did you forget Head Chef said a few years ago that there’s no way he’d get into a relationship anytime soon? He even famously declared, “Dating would only distract me from my warding.” Classic straight alpha cancer mindset.
Yan Chengfeng had always known that with Zhen Ning’s face and his talent, the moment he officially stepped onto the stage, even for one game, he would undoubtedly stir up discussion among the audience.
It was funny to think about. During their youth training days, Yan Chengfeng had secretly imagined how the public would react if he and Zhen Ning played together. Back then, he envisioned trending searches like “The Genius Double-Alpha Bot Lane.”
Now, they had indeed become a hot topic, but the angle of discussion… was something Yan Chengfeng had never anticipated.
Seeing phrases like “divorced couple” and “perfect match,” he momentarily questioned if there was something wrong with his eyes.
Are these people out of their minds? Yan Chengfeng thought, incredulous. Or am I the one losing it? What on earth are they even talking about?
Thinking back to Zhen Ning’s pointed questions on the bus, then seeing the chatter in those posts, Yan Chengfeng froze for a moment before a belated realization dawned on him—something about this situation didn’t seem right.
In Yan Chengfeng’s straight alpha cancer world, he had rarely encountered omegas. The few he could name were either omega players on other teams or commentators and hosts involved in Forest of the Full Moon competitions.
His understanding of omegas was very limited, and his basic knowledge of their physiology was minimal. He only knew that alpha and omega pheromones could attract each other, omegas had heat cycles, alphas and omegas could form bonds, and alphas could mark omegas. But that was about it.
After all, Yan Chengfeng had never imagined himself falling for an omega. His heart had always been dedicated to games and competitions.
Back then, with Zhen Ning as his closest friend, Yan Chengfeng felt his life was already complete. In his mind, the perfect life was winning the world championship with Zhen Ning, retiring in glory together, streaming or doing commentary side by side, and continuing until the game’s servers shut down.
So even though Yan Chengfeng now knew that Zhen Ning was an omega, he still saw him as “the friend who once abandoned me” rather than through the lens of an alpha considering an omega.
But he suddenly realized that in today’s society, the first things that came to people’s minds when discussing alphas and omegas were inevitably words like “love,” “partner,” “mark,” or “bond.”
Suddenly, his brain couldn’t process everything.
Yan Chengfeng froze, his mind flashing back to the words Zhen Ning had spoken to him that night on the bus.
At the time, it had all seemed utterly absurd to him. But now, as he reflected on it again, he suddenly realized how his act of releasing pheromones toward Zhen Ning in the training room must have seemed to Zhen Ning—now that he was an omega…
Wasn’t it pretty much the same as acting like a creep?
As he lost himself in thought, he heard Tao Luo beside him ask, “Yan Kitchen, want to queue for a couple of ranked games together?”
There were still over ten days before the next match, and since it was a weekend morning, the training room wasn’t very crowded. It was just Yan Chengfeng and Tao Luo.
Distracted, Yan Chengfeng responded offhandedly, “Invite me.”
Tao Luo agreed.
While adjusting his rune pages, Yan Chengfeng suddenly heard Tao Luo exclaim, “Hey, Zhen Ning, you’re here too! Want to queue with us later?”
The sound of footsteps approached from behind, and Yan Chengfeng stiffened. Nearly panicked, he blurted out, “I’m not queuing anymore.”
“Huh?” Tao Luo was momentarily stunned. “What do you mean, not queuing? Even though the next match is more than half a month away, we can’t just slack off, right?”
Yan Chengfeng’s voice was dry. “I… suddenly feel like solo-queuing.”
Tao Luo, still confused, let out another “Huh?” and asked, “Why?”
“No need, you guys go ahead.”
The next moment, Yan Chengfeng heard Zhen Ning’s voice softly behind him. “I’ll solo queue.”
Tao Luo was completely baffled. “Why? Is solo-queuing the new trend now? Fine, fine, I’ll solo queue too…”
Yan Chengfeng’s jaw tightened slightly.
“I won’t have anything to do with you.”
“The farther away from me, the better.”
These were the things Yan Chengfeng had said to Zhen Ning just yesterday.
He tried his best not to turn around, but his peripheral vision betrayed him as it drifted toward the seat beside him.
He saw Zhen Ning walk over to the desk next to his.
Would he stay and sit here? Or…
Yan Chengfeng’s Adam’s apple bobbed, but the next second, a loud voice suddenly interrupted, “Ah, so this is where you guys are!”
Everyone turned toward the doorway in surprise.
Coach Joe stood there, grinning brightly.
Although Joe was American, his years of coaching in China had made his Chinese nearly on par with a native speaker.
However, his mindset remained distinctly American, which meant he spoke very directly. He wasn’t one for pleasantries or beating around the bush.
Back when Zhen Ning was still with KYM, Joe hadn’t yet been promoted to head coach, but he had taught both of them extensively, designing unique lineups and systems for them.
If Xu Minghe was the only one in KYM who understood Yan Chengfeng and Zhen Ning’s past friendship, then Joe was the only person who understood their previous synergy and playstyle.
“Since you’re all here, I’ll cut straight to the point.”
Joe said, “First, I want to say that in the last game of that BO3, your performance was fairly decent.”
Yan Chengfeng barely had time to process this before Joe turned his gaze directly toward him and Zhen Ning.
Then Joe continued, “But the way you two handled the laning phase early on wasn’t as good as some bot lane duos from secondary leagues.”
Joe thought for a moment, then added very earnestly, “It was crap.”
Yan Chengfeng: “…”
Zhen Ning: “…”
Tao Luo immediately averted her eyes, pretending to focus on her screen as though she hadn’t heard anything, while struggling to keep her expression neutral.
Truthfully, Yan Chengfeng wasn’t surprised that Joe would say something like this. Calling their performance “crap” was practically a compliment, given how bad they’d been that day.
After all, it had been years since he and Zhen Ning last played together. With both of them holding back in their own ways, it was no surprise that their coordination at the start felt awkward and disjointed.
Though their late-game teamfight synergy was remarkable, it was only because the fight had happened so quickly that they briefly forgot their personal rift and rediscovered their old rhythm and connection.
As for how the two of them played during the rest of that match, particularly during the early laning phase, it could truly be described as… each playing their own game.
“So, I’m here to inform you about a decision,” Joe said. “Starting next Monday, which is tomorrow, you two are going to be bound together for intensive training.”
“I don’t care if others queue with you or not, but the two of you—”
Joe held up six fingers.
Yan Chengfeng and Zhen Ning both stiffened at the same time.
“This month, excluding training matches, you two must play at least sixty hours together, and you’re not allowed to solo queue—only duo queue with each other.”
Joe patted both their shoulders and cheerfully waved. “Talk more, communicate more, rebuild your synergy. That’s it. Work hard, okay?”
Author’s note:
“The farther away from me, the better.”
“I won’t have anything to do with you.”
“I hope you can keep your word?”
“I will!”
