[Today’s Hot Topic on the Forum]:
I swear to God, this year’s Ji Ming Cup was the most, most, most exciting one I’ve seen in years.
Although the championship trophy ultimately, and unsurprisingly, ended up in DSN’s hands, does anyone else feel like… the final match between Frozen Yogurt and Grilled Corn was just too thrilling?
A bladder-busting 55-minute game, with late-game team fights that had me holding my breath every single time. Each of the ten players performed at their absolute peak. It was truly a feast for the eyes… an indisputable visual feast!
Although Grilled Corn unfortunately lost in the final team fight due to their strategic execution, to be honest, I feel like part of it was just horrendous luck. They got three consecutive Infernal Dragons! If they had gotten even one Ocean Dragon or Mountain Dragon, there might have been a real chance for a comeback. Wuwuwuwu…
So, this year… is it okay for me to dream of Grilled Corn lifting the Worlds trophy? (I know I’m dreaming) (runs away holding my head).
[Top Comment 1]: Uh, they lost, let’s admit it fair and square. Let’s not blame luck, okay? Ultimately, it’s because Admire’s Vine Witch was just too slick and experienced. And let’s be real—Worlds is leagues tougher than a small event like this. Grilled Corn should focus on getting through the Summer Split and securing a ticket before dreaming too big. Let’s keep our expectations realistic… 🚬
[Top Comment 2]: But weirdly enough, even though they lost this game, I feel like Grilled Corn’s bot lane duo didn’t really lose. During the laning phase, my eyes were glued to the four players in bot lane. Honestly, Chef’s mentality has improved so, so much compared to last year’s Worlds. Grilled Corn definitely made the right roster change.
[Top Comment 3]: Neither’s Mooncard was solid, and Chef capitalized on every opportunity during laning. But what can you do? Admire’s support barely has any weaknesses, and he’s been playing with Uno for four or five years. Their synergy is practically flawless. All in all, both sides were amazing. If I had to seriously evaluate… I’d call bot lane a draw.
[Top Comment 4]: But still, their opponent was Frozen Yogurt!
[Top Comment 5]: Their opponent was Frozen Yogurt +1. Let’s not forget how we got utterly crushed by them last year. They’re not just the best in North America—they’re arguably one of the best in the world. The fact that Grilled Corn managed to drag the game out this long and even go toe-to-toe with them is already insanely impressive.
The Ji Ming Cup’s BO1 format has a fast-paced schedule, wrapping up within a week. To put it plainly, it’s more of a small event for teams to test the waters. After all, every team still has to keep some of their key strategies hidden for future matchups in the World Championship.
So, when the game ended, the overall atmosphere within KYM wasn’t too heavy. Tao Luo scratched her head and sighed, “Ah, what a shame.”
Xu Minghe couldn’t help but shake his head. “It really was just a little bit off.”
Xu Hao clicked his tongue. “Damn, in that last fight, I should’ve stayed hidden a little longer. As soon as I saw Uno, I couldn’t hold back anymore. That’s on me, my bad.”
Tao Luo patted Xu Hao’s shoulder, offering comfort. “It’s fine. You absorbed a lot of pressure early game. You already did your best!”
She then turned around and immediately noticed Yan Chengfeng staring blankly at the screen. Her expression turned complicated. “Yan Kitchen… you okay? I know you’ve been hung up on losing to Frozen Yogurt since last year, but wins and losses are part of the game. We’ll have more chances in the future. You’ve got to pull yourself together—”
Yan Chengfeng didn’t respond.
Tao Luo grew even more worried and called his name again. “…Yan Kitchen?”
Only then did Yan Chengfeng raise his head, as if waking up. After a moment, he nodded and said, “It’s fine. We’ll win it back next time.”
With the Ji Ming Cup over, they were set to return to China and continue playing in the Summer Split against domestic teams. The next time they’d face DSN would be on the Worlds stage.
Although Yan Chengfeng’s words sounded casual, they carried an undeniable weight of ambition. Everyone froze for a moment. It took Tao Luo several seconds to stammer out a trembling, “Okay.”
In truth, Yan Chengfeng wasn’t agonizing over the loss. Of course, it was a shame, but his mentality wasn’t that fragile. He had given his all during the match. All that was left was to review their performance, identify their shortcomings, and improve for the next time.
However, once the intense focus of competition lifted, Yan Chengfeng found himself in a mental fog.
To put it simply, he was completely dazed, his brain utterly unable to process anything.
For the past couple of days, whenever he had a moment of downtime, his thoughts would loop endlessly around what Zhen Ning had said to him. He wished he could break down every word, scrutinizing them piece by piece, as if examining them under a magnifying glass.
At first, his reaction was sheer rage.
If Zhen Ning didn’t like Kong Xian, then who was this random A, B, or O that had popped up out of nowhere? And when had they even met?
But then, Yan Chengfeng froze.
Something felt off.
He might have been absurdly dense and clumsy when it came to emotions, but he wasn’t stupid.
After replaying Zhen Ning’s tone and how strangely calm he had looked, his eyes suddenly widened.
Wait.
Something wasn’t right.
Could it really be—
Could it? Could this really… be possible?
The idea was so ridiculous that Yan Chengfeng became flustered to the point where he couldn’t sit still. His first instinct was to dismiss the thought entirely. But then his heartbeat quickened uncontrollably, and his mind began racing.
What if… even if there was only a one-in-ten-million chance… Zhen Ning liked him?
The mere thought of that possibility sent his heart pounding so fast it felt unreal, like it might leap out of his chest at any moment.
His hands and feet turned ice-cold in an instant. It felt like he had forgotten how to breathe properly.
He held his head, feeling dizzy as his thoughts spiraled.
Could this really be true?
If it was… when had it started? And how had he failed to notice it at all?
Suddenly, two imaginary little figures appeared in Yan Chengfeng’s mind.
The first one jeered gleefully in his right ear, “Stupid, isn’t it obvious? It’s because of that reckless mouth of yours! Remember what you said back then? ‘I don’t care.’ ‘I’m not interested.’ Let me ask you: if someone you liked told you, ‘I don’t have time or energy to care about you,’ or, ‘The only thing I care about is the game,’ would you be able to smile after hearing that?”
Yan Chengfeng’s breath hitched.
But in the next second, the second little figure by his left ear spoke up, this time in a calm, analytical tone. “But what if, just what if, the person he likes really isn’t you? Don’t forget, he left you behind and went to America~ If you go charging in while you’re still all confused, only to find out he doesn’t even like you, wouldn’t that be the most embarrassing thing ever?”
Yan Chengfeng paused. For a moment, that actually made a lot of sense.
When it came to the game, to anything on the competitive stage, things were simple and straightforward for him. He never hesitated when making decisions and never regretted them afterward.
But when it came to Zhen Ning, every step felt impossibly hard. Yan Chengfeng wasn’t the type of person who could stay calm and composed, yet for the first time in his life, he was carefully tiptoeing around every move.
Now, though… he felt like he was about to explode from holding it in.
He wanted nothing more than to find Zhen Ning immediately and ask him outright. But he also knew that when it came to feelings, there was no room for error.
Once he asked, if the answer wasn’t what he hoped for, it wouldn’t just mean crushing disappointment. It might also mean that his current relationship with Zhen Ning… would be impossible to maintain.
Eventually, Yan Chengfeng nearly drove himself to collapse. His mind was overloaded, and with no better options, he resorted to desperate measures and sought help from that person—
“…Ge, it’s been almost a month.”
Xu Hao rubbed his temples. “And you still haven’t made any progress? You’re incredible. At this point, I’d almost rather do it myself and pierce that thin layer of paper for you two.”
Yan Chengfeng paced back and forth anxiously. “What should I do now? Maybe I should just ask him directly? I’ll go right now—”
“Wait.” Xu Hao grabbed his arm. After a moment of contemplation, he gave his answer, “Asking him directly might be a bit reckless. If nothing else works… why not try a push-and-pull strategy?”
Yan Chengfeng hesitated. “…Push and pull?”
Xu Hao: “Put simply, the reason you’re so tangled up right now is because, let’s be honest, he’s playing in a much higher league than you. He’s calmer, smarter, and—”
Yan Chengfeng cut him off. “…Alright, that’s enough.”
Xu Hao coughed. “So, here’s the idea: we come up with a way to make him lose his composure first. That way, your problem solves itself, doesn’t it?”
–
When Zhen Ning stepped out of the hotel elevator, he saw Yan Chengfeng standing in the hallway.
Their eyes met midair, and Yan Chengfeng pursed his lips.
His expression was extremely uneasy, and he looked flustered, as if nervous about something.
Zhen Ning heard Yan Chengfeng’s slightly hoarse voice as he spoke. “Zhen Ning, we need to talk.”
The past few days had been a blur of matches, and they hadn’t seen each other in private. Or perhaps, more accurately, their thoughts had been too chaotic. They had been deliberately, or inadvertently, avoiding one another.
Whenever Yan Chengfeng looked at him, his gaze flickered between avoidance and intensity. Zhen Ning knew he had been thinking this whole time, and that a conversation like this was inevitable.
Zhen Ning understood that being anxious wouldn’t help. He had to wait for Yan Chengfeng to figure things out on his own.
Still, over the past few days, even he hadn’t been able to completely… calm his mind.
Eventually, he brought Yan Chengfeng back to his hotel room.
Zhen Ning swiped his keycard, unlocking the door. But just as he stepped inside, Yan Chengfeng, who had been walking ahead of him, suddenly turned around. Step by step, he closed in, pressing Zhen Ning against the bar counter near the entrance.
The atmosphere between them was ambiguous. Zhen Ning could faintly smell the subtle yet assertive scent of white tea—Yan Chengfeng’s distinctive scent.
It had been a long time since they had been this close.
Whenever Yan Chengfeng lowered his head like this, his eyes smoldering as he leaned in like a large dog begging for a treat, it usually meant he wanted a kiss.
Zhen Ning briefly lowered his eyes before tilting his face up slightly.
But in the next second, he heard Yan Chengfeng take a deep breath. He felt Yan Chengfeng’s hands grip his shoulders, deliberately creating distance between them.
“No,” Yan Chengfeng said. “Zhen Ning, we can’t keep doing this.”
Zhen Ning was stunned.
“We shouldn’t be doing this.”
The alpha turned his face away, looking a little sad, a little pitiful. “I just realized… if I were to mark you now, or kiss you, it might not be appropriate anymore.”
Zhen Ning paused. “What?”
“It’s because… you already like someone else,” Yan Chengfeng said.
“I could pretend not to know before, but now… I don’t think I can keep doing this.”
He stole a quick glance at Zhen Ning’s expression before hurriedly looking away. He coughed lightly. “I don’t even know what kind of relationship we have right now. What role I play in your life.”
“In any case, my instincts are telling me that since you already have someone you like, the things we’ve been doing… don’t feel right anymore.”
It was ironic. He had been the one clinging to Zhen Ning during his rut. The one chasing after him, asking if he wanted to be marked. And now, he was also the one saying, “The things we’re doing are wrong.”
Zhen Ning didn’t respond. He simply gazed at Yan Chengfeng quietly.
That look made Yan Chengfeng falter, his composure crumbling.
In truth, the moment their eyes met, Yan Chengfeng almost couldn’t hold back. The person he liked was right in front of him, yet he had to restrain himself from kissing him and even force himself to pull away. Every word he spoke, every move he made, was a battle against his instincts.
But there was one thing he wasn’t lying about—he genuinely believed they couldn’t continue like this.
He remembered what Xu Hao had told him, clenched his teeth, and finally took a deep breath before forcing out the most disingenuous words he could possibly say—
“So, Zhen Ning, starting today…”
He locked eyes with Zhen Ning, his Adam’s apple bobbing slightly as he struggled to get the words out. “…I-I can’t keep being your temporary partner anymore.”
Author’s note:
Yan Kitchen (panicking): So hurry up and just say you like me! Then I can be your real partner!
Well, they’re about to officially get together. There’s only a little bit of story (like some plot points) left before they’re really, really together.
