Zhen Ning had always been calm and indifferent. He was the type of omega who could endure even during his heat, maintaining extreme restraint in showing his emotions and rarely letting others glimpse his true thoughts.
But now, it was different. They were lying on the bed, holding each other intimately, both in their most relaxed states.
Because of this, Yan Chengfeng was certain that the confusion evident on Zhen Ning’s face and in his tone just now came from his most instinctive reaction.
When someone is completely relaxed or exhausted, their natural state is unguarded. In other words, deep down, Zhen Ning seemed to feel bewildered about “differentiating in America.”
Why would he be confused?
Yan Chengfeng’s thoughts were a bit chaotic. He couldn’t shake the feeling that Zhen Ning’s bewildered, questioning tone just now sounded as if he had mentioned something… that had never happened.
However, when Yan Chengfeng continued to stare intently at his face, he couldn’t discern anything further because Zhen Ning’s gaze had already cleared up.
They silently locked eyes for a moment.
After a while, he heard Zhen Ning respond with a calm “Mm” and ask, “What’s wrong?”
In those brief seconds, the fatigue in Zhen Ning’s eyes had vanished. He met Yan Chengfeng’s gaze with composure, showing no trace of anything unusual.
Am I overthinking this?
Yan Chengfeng suppressed the subtle feeling in his heart. Maybe Zhen Ning hadn’t clearly heard the question just now. There was no need to overanalyze, right?
“…It’s nothing.”
Yan Chengfeng’s Adam’s apple moved slightly. He shifted closer to Zhen Ning and, after a moment, said, “Let’s sleep.”
–
The Summer Split was in full swing.
KYM’s early matches were packed, but the latter half of the schedule was relatively lighter. With KYM’s points and rankings fairly stable, they could finally breathe a little and focus on preparing for the playoffs.
After finishing the last match of the regular season, a special occasion followed—it was the Qixi Festival.[mfn]Qixi is Chinese Valentine’s Day[/mfn]
Li Feng practically worried himself sick, persuading everyone one by one until he finally got them to agree to another livestream on the evening of Qixi.
Given the special occasion and the slightly lighter schedule, there weren’t many restrictions on the content of the streams.
Tao Luo planned to showcase her cooking skills with a live demonstration of making pizza in the kitchen.
Xu Minghe streamed a night of board games—Go, chess, and Gomoku.
As for Xu Hao, he never streamed on Qixi. His fans were used to it, knowing he was probably off somewhere getting cozy with a new fling at some hotel.
Only Yan Chengfeng and Zhen Ning did a proper livestream of duo queue gaming.
Logically, with such a handsome alpha and beautiful omega pairing in the bottom lane, fans should have gone wild shipping them. But somehow, there was always something subtly off about the vibe these two gave off to the audience.
If one had to describe it… it was both sweet and sour.
Sour—because the streaming dynamic between these two was entirely different from any other active bottom lane duo in the pro league. The atmosphere was always strange, and they had even had a dramatic “on-stream quarrel and rage-quit” incident before.
Coupled with Tao Luo’s earlier slip-up during an interview, most people speculated that their private relationship wasn’t all that harmonious.
Sweet—because their looks were undeniably top-tier, and their synergy and coordination on the field earned everyone’s admiration. So, whenever they went live, viewers couldn’t help but tune in.
Tonight’s first match was particularly unusual, as Yan Chengfeng got autofilled to the top lane.
In ranked games, the matchmaking system occasionally assigns players to different roles when there’s overlap in preferences. For example, if two players both select support, the system might automatically assign one of them to another role—this is known as autofill.
Yan Chengfeng was actually decent at playing fighters. Before going pro, he had tried out every role, but since top lane required staying in lane early on, he eventually realized he was better suited for support, where he could roam and assist more freely.
However, at this moment, Yan Chengfeng was thoroughly annoyed.
On such a warm and festive day as Qixi, he was already frustrated that he couldn’t play bottom lane with Zhen Ning. To make matters worse, their team’s support for this match turned out to be a weirdo who started spamming the chat immediately upon entering.
[Delicious Premium Rice Porridge]: “AD!!! Did you buy the new Qixi couple skins for Velvet Willow?”
[Delicious Premium Rice Porridge]: “If you did, could you please use Velvet Willow this game and let me play Mianli bot? I really want to unlock an achievement QAQ…”
[Delicious Premium Rice Porridge]: “Wuwuwuwu please, please, I’ve been begging for three games straight. The ADs in the last two matches completely ignored me. Can you? Can you? Can you?”
Forest of the Full Moon released a pair of couple skins every Qixi Festival. This year, they featured the squirrel duo, Mianli and Velvet Willow.
Mianli carried a basket of chocolates, while Velvet Willow’s swinging branches had been replaced with roses—absolutely adorable.
To promote sales, the designers added achievements and Easter eggs, such as “Use the XX skin three times in ranked games” to unlock a custom avatar frame.
Generally speaking, aesthetic-driven players enjoyed collecting these little extras, but the achievements weren’t always easy to complete, especially for solo players without a duo partner.
And so, the current situation unfolded.
Since Yan Chengfeng was in the top lane, Zhen Ning, who usually coordinated his picks with him, didn’t particularly care what AD he played this game.
Moreover, since this player had been making such a fuss in public chat and seemed a bit unstable, Zhen Ning didn’t want any unnecessary trouble on stream. So, he simply replied, “Okay.”
As the game began, the couple-themed squirrel duo wiggled their tails and hopped out of the fountain together.
[Delicious Premium Rice Porridge]: “Wuwuwuwu, thank you so much! Happy Qixi～”
The viewers enjoyed watching these kinds of interactions with random players.
[Wielding Mianli in Yan’s Domain.]
[Neither’s kindness is unmatched, hahaha. But seriously, the Qixi skins this year are so cute. Seeing these two little fluffballs melts my heart～]
[Though, does anyone else notice how bloodthirsty Head Chef seems this game? 🚬]
Yan Chengfeng was undeniably in good form this match.
Despite playing an unfamiliar top lane role, he managed to dominate his opponent, securing a clean and stylish first blood within the first five minutes of the game.
However, viewers couldn’t help but notice the hint of inexplicable frustration in his expression.
He glanced at Zhen Ning sitting beside him, hesitated as if wanting to say something, but ultimately remained silent. Instead, he turned back to his screen and clicked heavily on his mouse, taking down the first turret.
Things weren’t going as smoothly in Zhen Ning’s bottom lane.
The Mianli and Velvet Willow pairing wasn’t a conventional bottom lane combo. Mianli, in particular, required a high level of skill, with demanding mechanics and precise positioning. Even seasoned pro players like Yan Chengfeng, known for his Mianli plays, rarely dared to pick it casually, let alone in a standard ranked game.
The opposing jungler repeatedly ganked the bot lane, putting them at a disadvantage. Controlling Velvet Willow, Zhen Ning struggled to fend off the aggression. Barely escaping with a sliver of health and managing to counter-kill the enemy support was already a remarkable feat.
Meanwhile, the random support player began crying in chat again.
[Delicious Premium Rice Porridge]: Wuwuwuwu.
[Delicious Premium Rice Porridge]: Wuwuwu AD, I’m so sorry! How about we duo queue next game? I actually main Huanlin with a 60-70% win rate. I promise I’ll support you properly as compensation, okay?
Zhen Ning didn’t respond this time, but the chat was already in shambles.
[This Mianli is a perfect representation of me. Playing like everything’s wrong except for my lightning-fast typing speed.]
[Laughing myself to death… The entire screen is just wuwuwu. Other players are carrying the game, and she’s apologizing the whole way.]
[Maybe no one cares, but can we talk about how Head Chef has completely obliterated the top lane?]
Yan Chengfeng had already steamrolled the top lane without breaking a sweat.
Just as Mianli typed in chat, “Wuwuwu, I didn’t think we could actually turn this around,” Yan Chengfeng’s expression finally twisted with irritation. He turned to look at Zhen Ning.
Yan Chengfeng took a deep breath. “I just don’t get it. Why on earth did you pick Velvet Willow this game? If you’d picked any standard AD, the lane wouldn’t have been this bad.”
Zhen Ning replied calmly, “We can still win. It’s not too much of a disadvantage.”
Yan Chengfeng: “…This isn’t a disadvantage?”
Yan Chengfeng: “Just tell me—did the bot lane collapse in the early game or not? What’s the point of picking Mianli and Velvet Willow? You can’t out-trade or outplay the enemy duo. If you’d chosen something like Mooncard, Star Lion, or even Noble Frog, this match would’ve been over ages ago.”
After a brief silence, Zhen Ning admitted, “You’re right. There were better hero options. It was my mistake.”
He openly acknowledged his error without hesitation.
The viewers were stunned, and even Yan Chengfeng seemed momentarily taken aback.
He looked at Zhen Ning, his mouth slightly open as if trying to say something, but in the end, he turned away, his voice rough as he muttered, “…You can pick whatever you want. It’s none of my business.”
They didn’t speak again for the rest of the game.
Meanwhile, the chat was in complete disarray.
[AAAAAHHHH STOP ARGUING! Why are you two fighting again??]
[Hahahahaha this feels way too familiar.]
[I’m getting worried. If they fight every time they stream, what’s going to happen during Worlds?]
Yan Chengfeng was beyond annoyed.
At first, he genuinely hadn’t thought much of it. He’d helped others unlock similar achievements before—just a small favor, nothing worth being petty about.
But as the Mianli player kept spamming “wuwuwuwu” in chat and even started inviting Zhen Ning to duo queue again, Yan Chengfeng felt an indescribable surge of irritation.
He knew his jealousy was irrational, but the annoyance gnawed at him. After stewing over it for a while, he decided the real problem was Zhen Ning.
His eyes remained locked on the minimap, watching those two little tails swaying back and forth in the bottom lane, his frustration growing. He was grinding his molars so hard he might as well turn them to dust.
Why did Zhen Ning always agree to whatever people asked of him? Why didn’t he know how to say no?
And what made it worse was that it was Qixi today. Mianli and Velvet Willow were supposed to be their signature pairing. Yan Chengfeng hadn’t even had the chance to try it out with Zhen Ning, and now some random stranger had swooped in and stolen the moment.
By the end of the match, with Yan Chengfeng’s dominant top-lane performance leading to an overwhelming victory, the game concluded smoothly, and they entered the results screen.
Zhen Ning said calmly to the camera, “I’m a bit tired. Let’s call it a night.”
Yan Chengfeng, his face still dark, shut off the game as well. “Not streaming anymore. Going to sleep.”
Seconds later, both their livestreams went black simultaneously, leaving hundreds of thousands of bewildered viewers in the dark.
[Huh?]
[Oh no, not again. Another rage-quit. Are they fighting offline like last time? I don’t even want to imagine how crazy the forum is going to be soon…]
[Does anyone in Grilled Corn notice their relationship? Someone needs to mediate already. Or maybe just stop them from duo queuing altogether. Why does every stream end in an argument?]
[Nothing we can do, fam. Guess we’re heading over to Carrot’s mukbang stream.]
While the bot lane duo’s situation simmered with tension, KYM’s jungler, Tao Luo, was having a great time in the base kitchen, livestreaming her attempt at making questionable dishes.
Her stream was filled with harmony and joy.
Tao Luo had started her broadcast on her phone, propping it up on a stand as she cheerfully introduced her ingredients. “Today, I’ll be teaching you how to make Luo’s signature pizza! Our main ingredients are pineapple and carrots, of course, plus cheese and ham slices…”
At first, the chat was filled with laughter, treating it as a joke. But in the next second, everyone suddenly realized something.
[What the hell, look behind Carrot!!!]
[Huh huh huh?]
Tao Luo was streaming from the dining area, with her phone stand capturing half of her body and the long hallway behind her in the KYM base.
The sharp-eyed viewers noticed that Zhen Ning and Yan Chengfeng, who had just ended their streams, were walking out of the training room at the far end of the corridor.
Tao Luo held up the dough. “All kneaded! Time to roll it out into the crust!”
She lowered her head, humming a song while kneading the dough with a rolling pin. Fully focused, she didn’t notice the increasingly heated discussion in the chat.
Meanwhile, the audience saw the bot lane duo stop halfway down the hallway, facing each other as if in an argument.
Yan Chengfeng was visibly agitated.
With a furrowed brow and a dark expression, Yan Chengfeng leaned in close to Zhen Ning as he spoke. However, the distance was too great for viewers to hear what he was saying.
Zhen Ning remained calm, meeting Yan Chengfeng’s gaze evenly. After a brief silence, he responded with something of his own.
[Oh no, I knew it! They stopped streaming because they’re fighting!]
[AAAAHHH someone, please record this! I hate that I wasn’t born with superhuman hearing!]
This development didn’t come as a surprise to most viewers.
They had argued fiercely during the livestream and abruptly cut it short. Now, after going offline, they were still quarreling—both looking visibly upset. This only added fuel to the rumors of discord between them. It fit perfectly into the narrative that—
And yet, in the very next moment, everyone saw Zhen Ning raise his hand and touch Yan Chengfeng’s hair.
Yan Chengfeng still looked unhappy.
But everyone clearly saw that the moment Zhen Ning reached out, Yan Chengfeng actually… lowered his head slightly on his own!
Tao Luo cheerfully held up her freshly rolled pizza dough to the camera. “Look at this! Isn’t it perfectly round?”
But at that point, no one cared about Tao Luo’s pizza anymore.
The viewers saw Yan Chengfeng’s expression soften slightly after being patted, though he still seemed somewhat dissatisfied. He continued to fixate on Zhen Ning, saying something else.
Zhen Ning looked back at him and appeared to let out a silent sigh.
“Oh, right! I almost forgot the cheese! This step is crucial!”
Tao Luo exclaimed, “Can’t believe I almost forgot!”
At the same time, the audience watched as Yan Chengfeng lowered his head further. His expression still carried a hint of displeasure as he leaned closer to Zhen Ning, seemingly waiting for something.
The two faced off for a moment, and Zhen Ning’s expression showed a bit of helplessness.
A moment later, in front of hundreds of thousands of livestream viewers, Zhen Ning finally gave in. He nodded slightly and tilted his face up—
”…Done!”
Tao Luo proudly placed her pizza onto a baking tray. She leaned toward the camera to check the chat. “Luo’s Pizza is officially ready for the oven! Did you all catch the steps? …Uh, what?”
Author’s note:
Yes, we caught it very clearly!
