TCWSITD – Chapter 28.1

This chapter is divided into two parts, each to be uploaded tonight at 30-minute intervals. Enjoy! 🍓🍓🍓

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Chapter 28.1 – Shen Ju and Song Zhixu

After defeating XIG, Duren announced cheerfully, “Victory dinner tonight! My treat!”

Back in the Spring Split, OT had still been hovering at the edge of relegation. But now, they were temporarily ranked second in the league.

Moreover, XIG whom they had just defeated, was widely regarded as the litmus test for strong teams. OT’s victory over them proved they at least had the strength to make it to the playoffs.

On top of that, the traffic and buzz that Lin Jiang brought during this period had directly made OT the biggest winner of the Summer Split.

As for Duren, who had successfully signed Lin Jiang, he was naturally promised a generous bonus from the team’s owner.

But Duren felt a little embarrassed accepting the money—after all, he hadn’t really done much. So he simply decided to treat everyone to a celebration dinner!

When it came time to pick the restaurant, everyone unanimously voted for the most expensive buffet place. At first, Lin Jiang didn’t understand why they chose a buffet.

It wasn’t until they arrived that he finally realized why.

Song Zhixu tore through his food like a human bulldozer—forty plates of beef brisket, barely pausing to breathe. And somehow, he still had the nerve to argue, “That’s not even a lot! Each plate is just a mouthful!”

Shen Ju and A’Deng were also professional eaters, stacking their plates higher and higher until the restaurant manager circled their table five times, visibly distressed.

Lin Jiang and Zhou Wen ate with the no-nonsense appetite of grown men. And as for Ryan—she might’ve looked small, but her stamina was something else entirely.

At the other table, the vibe couldn’t have been more different. Duren sat like a retiree, deep in conversation with a few staff members about ideals, long-term plans, and the future. His plate was barely touched, but the floor beneath them was stacked with crates of booze.

Song Zhixu commented, “They shouldn’t have come to a buffet at all. They’re more suited to ordering two stir-fried dishes at the diner downstairs, asking the chef to add extra salt, and spending the whole night talking over a single plate of food and a bunch of empty bottles.”

Lin Jiang couldn’t help but laugh.

He’d had a bit too much to drink himself tonight.

The next match was still two days away, and they’d be facing weaker teams back-to-back, so a few drinks tonight wouldn’t hurt anything.

Slouched back on the sofa, Lin Jiang let out a quiet sigh. The warm haze of alcohol was oddly comforting—it numbed everything, emptied his mind, pushed away all the chaotic thoughts.

But too much drinking meant frequent trips to the restroom.

Lin Jiang staggered to his feet. After using the restroom, he stepped outside for some fresh air and, out of habit, lit a cigarette.

Smoke curled lazily around him as he leaned against the wall and tilted his head back to gaze at the night sky. It was clearer than what he remembered from before—he could even see stars.

Halfway through his cigarette, Shen Ju appeared.

He approached quietly, his voice low and careful. “Captain, you’re drunk.”

Lin Jiang wasn’t drunk. He’s just a little lightheaded but his mind was still perfectly clear.

He leaned back against the wall, his fair skin tinged with a faint blush. When his head tilted up like that, it stirred a kind of desire that was hard to resist.

Shen Ju turned his eyes away, just slightly. He didn’t dare keep looking.

The mere thought that Lin Jiang preferred women sent his mind spiraling into suffocating tangles of desire.

Ever since he was young, anything he wanted was placed in front of him by his parents. This shaped his personality—he was the type who would never give up. Once he set his sights on something, he had to have it.

Just like his path in esports. No matter how many obstacles, he had fought his way here.

But Lin Jiang… was the one thing that made Shen Ju feel powerless.

Just standing before him made him feel uneasy, as if no matter how good he became, he still might not be what Lin Jiang wanted.

A trace of melancholy flickered in Shen Ju’s downcast eyes, stretching endlessly into the quiet night.

Lin Jiang, standing beside him, stared at him for a long moment before suddenly reaching out to scratch Shen Ju’s chin. “Puppy Shen, why the long face again? I told you young people should smile more.”

His voice, blurred slightly by drink, carried a slow, languid tease—almost seductive.

That little scratch from him made Shen Ju’s heart hard to control. He turned his face away and asked hoarsely, “Captain… do you call me Puppy Shen’ because you don’t like me?”

Dog Shen[mfn]沈狗 (Shěn gǒu) – Shěn from SJ’s name and gǒu meaning dog[/mfn], Godly Horse[mfn]神驹 (shén jū) – a play on SJ’s name, but also references how you’re always charging forward like a wild horse; majestic but kinda dumb, driven by instinct not strategy.[/mfn], Howling Celestial Hound[mfn]哮天犬 (xiào tiān quǎn) – describes someone who is loud online, always trash-talking, barking, and fiercely aggressive — like a dog guarding turf.[/mfn]—these were all his derogatory nicknames online.

Because of his reckless playstyle, he often trash-talked and wouldn’t hide his frustration after losing matches. People online frequently mocked him: “He’s like a rabid dog.”

He hadn’t cared about these before, but the thought that Lin Jiang might see him the same way made his chest ache.

His lowered eyes darkened as emotions swirled within him.

Just then, a scruffy little dog scampered along the roadside. Lin Jiang crouched down, unfazed by its dirtiness, and scratched beneath its chin. “No, I actually like puppies,” he said softly. “You remind me of one—so calm and obedient, just like a good little dog…

Shen Ju looked up, disbelief written all over his face.

He had always thought Lin Jiang was teasing him. He never imagined that…

… Dog Shen was an insult, but Puppy Shen was a term of affection!

His heart surged uncontrollably, emotions flooding in like a tide.

He pressed a hand over the lower half of his face, desperate to keep his feelings from spilling over like a rising tide.

A soft breeze stirred between them, weaving a fragile thread of intimacy in the quiet night.

Lin Jiang squatted on the ground playing with the dog, a flickering flame held between his fingers. Shen Ju stood behind him, slightly turned but still couldn’t help sneaking glances at him.

Under the warm yellow streetlights, amidst the bustling, brightly lit street, their souls finally found a moment of respite.

A voice cut through the quiet: “Captain, Old Du says we should head back—he’s planning to keep drinking.”

Lin Jiang stubbed out his cigarette and saw Song Zhixu swaying as he walked. “How much did you drink?”

“Not much, just one bottle.”

Song Zhixu’s tolerance for alcohol wasn’t good; two bottles was his limit.

He saw Lin Jiang playing with a dirty little dog and couldn’t help but lean over. “Hey, where did this scruffy dog come from?”

Swaying, he squatted in front of Lin Jiang and scratched the dog’s neck a couple of times. The dog happily rubbed against his hand, wagging its tail energetically.

“Captain, you like puppies too?” Song Zhixu felt a bell on the dog’s collar. Song Zhixu noticed a bell on the dog’s neck.
“I used to have one too. I even put a bell on it. Later, I don’t know which damn dog thief stole it. I searched five miles back home and couldn’t find it. Luckily, the little white dog was smart and managed to escape from the dog meat shop and ran back.”

He pulled out a photo. “See, doesn’t it look a bit like this dog? It was tiny when I found it, but it grew pretty fierce later.”

Lin Jiang looked at the photo, a soft smile slipping onto his face without him even noticing.

When he was little, he also really liked dogs. But his family wouldn’t allow pets. One day, he worked up the courage to bring home an injured little white dog—only to be severely scolded. The dog was thrown out too.

Maybe it was from that moment that he started to push back against his family’s strict upbringing. Little by little, he became the most rebellious child in the household.

Thinking of all this, Lin Jiang suddenly felt a strong urge to smoke. His hand instinctively reached into his pocket but ultimately withdrew.

Song Zhixu was delighted to find a shared topic with Lin Jiang. Looking up and seeing that faint smile on his captain’s face, he suddenly got bold under the influence of alcohol. “Captain, why don’t we raise one too? We can talk Old Du into it.”

He was already daydreaming about walking a dog with Lin Jiang when Shen Ju kicked him in the butt.

Shen Ju maintained his usual deadpan expression, his gaze colder than a blade. “Are we going or not?”

Zhou Wen and the others were coming out too, along with substitute Xiao Yu and team leader Ryan. There were seven of them in total.

With that many people, they’d need at least two cars to get back.

Lin Jiang glanced at the time and saw it was a peak ride-hailing hour. After spending over ten minutes trying and getting repeatedly canceled, he made a quick decision. “Let’s take the bus.”

At that, Song Zhixu perked up like a kid on a field trip. “I haven’t been on a bus in forever! I want the window seat in the very back row!”

His enthusiasm deflated the moment they boarded.

Taking the bus during rush hour was a nightmare of crowds.

Song Zhixu looked utterly defeated. “I thought there’d be lots of empty seats…”

Lin Jiang couldn’t help but laugh and offered a suggestion. “Find someone who looks like they’re about to get off and wait near their seat. When they leave, you can take it.”

Song Zhixu followed the advice.

He picked an elderly woman and stubbornly hovered near her.

After ten stops, the woman finally turned to him. “Young man, no need to guard my seat. I’m riding to the last stop.”

Song Zhixu returned to Lin Jiang’s side, looking aggrieved. “Captain, I picked someone going all the way to the terminal…”

Lin Jiang couldn’t hold back his laughter this time. Fortunately, Song Zhixu had the advantage of height. Even in a crowd, he wouldn’t find himself too squeezed.

Suddenly, the bus braked sharply, and everyone lurched forward.

Lin Jiang lost his balance too, his body tipping backward, when a steadying force caught him around the waist.

It was Shen Ju.

He’d been standing behind Lin Jiang the entire ride without saying a word—so much so that Lin Jiang had almost forgotten he was there.

Lin Jiang turned around. “Thanks.”

Shen Ju didn’t respond, just stared straight at Lin Jiang.

The alcohol had brought a pink flush to Lin Jiang’s skin, and his slightly hazy eyes made him dangerously tempting.

Shen Ju had already noticed two girls nearby whispering about him.

He wondered which girl would be lucky enough to marry Lin Jiang in the future…

His grip on the overhead strap tightened.

At that moment, the driver hit the brakes again. This time, Lin Jiang, unable to keep his balance, fell directly into his arms.

Shen Ju instinctively wrapped his arms around Lin Jiang’s waist.

A wave of warmth brushed past the tip of his ear, and from there, it spread—like a current of electricity numbing his whole body.

Shen Ju’s eyes widened, his pupils trembling.

He stiffly held onto Lin Jiang, one arm still grasping the overhead strap. At the tip of his nose was the faint scent of alcohol mixed with mint, sending shivers down his spine.

Lin Jiang, drunk and low on strength, unintentionally brushed his leg against Shen Ju’s.

When he finally stood up straight again, he noticed Shen Ju looking at him with red ears, as if he was facing a great enemy.

He smiled apologetically. “Sorry, I lost my balance again.”

“Captain,” Song Zhixu squeezed over from behind, “You okay?”

Lin Jiang insisted he was fine, but Song Zhixu wasn’t having it. He practically dragged him into the seat he’d guarded so diligently.

On the crowded bus, Shen Ju coldly watched Song Zhixu’s overly attentive behavior.

He stood beside Lin Jiang, his tall body isolating him from the outside crowd. He lowered his head and looked at Lin Jiang intently, speaking subconsciously in a coquettish tone.

As the bus neared its final stop, the passengers gradually thinned out. Everyone found their own seats, and Lin Jiang leaned drowsily against the chair.

Song Zhixu and the auntie next to him engaged in a staring contest—until he lost and had to get off at the stop.

He helped Lin Jiang up. “Captain, we’re getting off.”

Ryan, Zhou Wen, and A’Deng[mfn]A’Deng was actually not mentioned in raw, but he’s the only one missing from the team so I added him. Otherwise, it would feel like they left him out lol[/mfn] followed suit.

Shen Ju walked at the very back. Pulling his cap low, he strode alone in the shadows, listening to the cheerful chatter ahead, still unable to blend in.

Song Zhixu escorted Lin Jiang back to his room and returned in high spirits.

He hummed while taking a shower, checked himself in the mirror while wiping his face, and just stared at his phone, smiling idiotically when idle.

“Song Zhixu,” Shen Ju suddenly called him, his voice calm as he rested his head on his arm. “Lin Jiang likes girls.”

Song Zhixu immediately stopped humming. He didn’t know why Shen Ju suddenly told him this and he felt a strange feeling spreading inside.

For some reason, after learning that Lin Jiang likes girls, he felt relieved.

This was fine. At least he wouldn’t be plagued by wild thoughts anymore.

With that in mind, Song Zhixu resumed his silly grin. “What, is the captain thinking of dating? Need me to introduce someone?”

Shen Ju studied him for a long moment but found no cracks in his facade.

Turning to face the wall, he brooded silently.

So, was he the only one troubled by the fact that Lin Jiang liked girls?

Shen Ju buried his head under the blanket.

After defeating XIG, OT’s following matches went smoothly. They faced three weaker teams in a row, securing a 7:0 record and temporarily ranking third.

Still holding first place was the undefeated TG team, currently at 8:0, having played one more match than OT, and not having lost a single game.

In second place was YIG, also at 8:0 but having lost two small games.

The most intriguing is the KUG team. Once sitting in fourth place, they faced off against powerhouse YIG. In a grueling showdown, Alike and Emperor F clashed for what felt like 300 rounds, ultimately losing narrowly 1:2 to the opponent.

Then they faced TG and were utterly dominated, getting swept 0:2. Their record now stood at an embarrassing 6:2, currently ranking fifth.

SNG ranked fourth with a score of 6:2, narrowly edging out KUG thanks to their slight advantage in small games.

This ranking surprised everyone.

First, TG is insanely strong this year. Second, the highly hyped Alike has not brought any positive benefits to KUG at all.

Third, and most shocking of all, Lin Jiang had actually led a bottom-tier team to third place!

Some argued that OT had always been mid-tier, having even competed in last year’s promotion battles; Lin Jiang’s arrival had merely elevated them further.

Others claimed OT hadn’t faced any strong teams yet, and the real challenge lay ahead in their upcoming matches.

While the online debates raged on, OT prepared for their eighth match—this time against WG.

WG is currently ranked sixth. Their level each year is basically around fifth or sixth, reliably making the playoffs, and they are recognized as one of the strong teams.

They might not be as insanely dominant as TG or YIG, but they boast a killer combo: a steady, high-impact AD carry and a support who expertly commands the battlefield.

Lin Jiang had analyzed countless teams but never saw a support who loved roaming as much as this guy. The wildest play was him showing up top at Level 3 to secure first blood for his teammate.

If a support roamed this much, wouldn’t their AD suffer in farm and development?

Not WG’s AD.

He’s the complete opposite of Shen Ju.

Calm, rational, steady, and composed.

Never tilting, with elite-tier farming skills. Calm and patient, he bided his time until his gear was ready—then stepped up to carry the team, steady and strong, in the late game.

“So it’s a battle of endurance?” Song Zhixu liked simplifying complex problems. “It’s just a BO3. I can handle it.”

But this was more than a test of endurance—it could turn into a battle of speed and strategy.

Lin Jiang turned to Zhou Wen. “Tomorrow, you’ve got to stay on the move. Only if your speed matches their support’s roaming can we stand a chance against WG.”

Zhou Wen nodded. He had watched almost all matches of WG’s support and analyzed hundreds of possible roaming paths. He was confident. His voice was steady, assured. “I can keep up.”

Lin Jiang nodded, then looked at Shen Ju. “With both supports roaming, bot lane will turn into a solo lane. Can you hold your ground?”

Shen Ju nodded without hesitation.

He loved playing solo the most—no distractions, no interference. When left to his own devices, he was like a fish in water: everything just flowed.

“And A-Deng,” Lin Jiang continued, “your job is to keep Shen Ju safe and maintain vision around the dragon pit. No need to force fights — just control the map.”

“No problem, Captain.”

Finally, Lin Jiang turned to Song Zhixu, who immediately straightened his back, sitting at attention, ready to receive his assignment.

But Lin Jiang just smiled. “You’re fine. Tomorrow, we’ll pick Ornn for you. Just play at your own pace.”

Song Zhixu deflated a little. “That’s it? No special tasks or missions for me? I think I can do more.”

Lin Jiang shook his head. “You don’t need to do more. Tomorrow, WG’s top laner will pressure you so hard you won’t even be able to leave your tower. Your job is to hold out—don’t let their jungle-support duo catch you. Just stay alive until Zhou Wen rotates up to help.”

Wait—so I was already being written off as the team’s punching bag before the match had even started?

Song Zhixu wilted. He felt like his Renekton had improved a lot, though.

After Lin Jiang finished speaking, it was Coach Fang’s turn.

The coach was a former data analyst. He went into extremely minute details that had everyone struggling to stay awake.

Lin Jiang noticed that Song Zhixu seemed a bit down. He patted him on the shoulder, called him outside, and asked what was going on.

Song Zhixu hung his head dejectedly. “Captain… I think I’ve gotten better.”

Lin Jiang nodded. “You have. So what’s the problem?”

“Then, then…” Song Zhixu hesitated, head bowed as he mumbled incoherently, “Captain still thinks I’m bad. Like, you don’t even believe I can win against WG’s top laner…”

Lin Jiang looked down at him. The boy was practically burying his head in the ground. Hearing his pitiful complaints, Lin Jiang couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Song Zhixu.”

“Yeah?”

“Stand up straight.”

He straightened up at once, chest puffed out.

Lin Jiang’s tone turned a shade more serious. “Top lane isn’t just about brute force. Their support loves roaming top to secure Rift Herald. You won’t gain anything from fighting head-on.” He continued. “And playing defensively isn’t shameful. I gave you Ornn because I trust you with him. If you can withstand Old Mao’s aggressive style, I know you can handle WG’s top laner.”

Patting Song Zhixu’s shoulder, he said earnestly, “You’re good. Don’t underestimate yourself.”

Song Zhixu’s eyes instantly welled up. Blinking back tears, he nodded fervently. “Captain, I understand. I won’t let you down!”

Lin Jiang patted him on the back in reassurance.

It was a close call—he’d nearly let Song Zhixu realize that, yeah… he kind of did think the kid was terrible.

WG’s top laner was a dominant force in the lane, unbeatable when split-pushing. Song Zhixu stood no chance against him. His survival hinged on playing defensively. This was the role Lin Jiang had just assigned him.

Bolstered by Lin Jiang’s encouragement, Song Zhixu brimmed with confidence.

Shen Ju shifted his gaze away and, in the cramped stairwell, fixed his eyes on Lin Jiang.

“Are you confident about tomorrow’s match?”

Lin Jiang leaned on the railing, smoking, and shook his head with brutal honesty. “What I said in the meeting was for their morale. Even if everyone performs their role perfectly, we’re still a step behind WG. Aside from their AD, their jungle-support synergy is their strongest point. This meta favors them, and it counters us hard.”

OT excelled in early-game, while WG thrived at dragging matches to late-game.

This cursed counterplay dynamic.

After a beat of silence, Shen Ju asked, “What if I pick Lucian?”

Lin Jiang chuckled and shook his head. “They won’t let you have Lucian. Jayce will be banned too. Without those two, no matter what we draft, it’s just… lacking.”

“But I do have an idea.” Lin Jiang began to ponder deeply. “What if… we play for the late-game and gamble on our damage output? Shen Ju, do you think it’s possible?”

He turned to Shen Ju, eagerly inviting him. “Want to try it with me? Let’s bet on whether our damage will surpass theirs.”

Shen Ju had never backed down from a gamble. The more intense the pressure, the more he thrived.

And besides—this time, it was Lin Jiang personally inviting him to join.

Adrenaline surged. Without a moment’s doubt, he nodded.

His mind was already painting vivid images of fighting side by side with Lin Jiang, annihilating the enemy team without leaving a single piece of armor intact.

He finally understood why Lin Jiang had such a powerful effect on him. Beyond the attraction in real life, the Lin Jiang in-game was dangerously, irresistibly magnetic.

Lin Jiang smiled again.

His smile was like a beautiful butterfly—so captivating that Shen Ju wanted to catch and hold it in his palm.

The rose hidden in the shadows crept back out, its vines stretching to the surface, unraveling all the emotions Shen Ju had painstakingly suppressed.

He stepped closer to Lin Jiang, his throat bobbing slightly. “Captain, can I take a drag of your cigarette?”

Lin Jiang flipped the cigarette and held it out to his lips. “Just one puff.”

Shen Ju parted his lips and took it between them.

When his lips brushed against Lin Jiang’s fingers, he couldn’t help but apply a little pressure.

He took a deep drag, the smoke choking into his lungs, and immediately burst into a fit of coughing.

Lin Jiang quickly pulled his hand back. “I told you not to try if you don’t know how to smoke…”

He slipped the cigarette back between his own lips.

Shen Ju watched, his cough getting even more violent.

If only… if only Lin Jiang didn’t prefer girls. How much better would things be?

Shen Ju’s expression darkened.

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