WCG Chapter 63

The next day, Jiang Shi started preparing to move. 

Bamboo came in the morning to help him pack. 

As soon as he entered, he bent down to look under the bed. 

Seeing this, Jiang Shi responded, “Don’t bother looking. Xiao Hei was sent to the pet store for a bath.”

That morning, Jiang Shi had found an open pet store and successfully sent Xiao Hei there for a bath, nail trimming, deworming, and a basic health check. 

Yesterday, after Xiao Hei came out from the bushes, Jiang Shi had given him a simple check, squeezing his legs and arms. Everything seemed normal, although Xiao Hei was so unhappy that he kicked Jiang Shi several times.

“Is he okay?” Bamboo asked. “Did he take a long time to come out last night?” 

“Not really.” Jiang Shi replied as he rummaged through boxes and cleared things, “Xu coaxed him out.”

Jiang Shi was astonished when it happened. 

His first thought was, ‘Is this little guy going to compete for Xu’s affection in the future?’ 

Then again, it could have simply been that Xiao Hei got tired of staying in the bushes, felt cold, and coincidentally came out at that time.  

Bamboo teased, “Indeed, cats take after their owners.”  

The rental apartment was small, and there wasn’t much stuff. They quickly sorted everything. 

Jiang Shi sold his old computer for a low price at the electronics recycling center downstairs. There was a water-damaged microphone that even the recycler didn’t want. After some thought, Jiang Shi didn’t throw it away and instead packed it into his bag.  

It was the mic he had bought when he first started gaming. Although water had gotten into it, it was still usable, though the sound was muffled and often hard to hear. He had used it for streaming for a long time until last year, when fans protested strongly, prompting him to finally buy a proper mic. The old one had been left idle since then.

Before taking it to the recycler, Jiang Shi specifically tested it. It still worked.  

Once everything was packed, Jiang Shi started moving his belongings downstairs.  

Bamboo, noticing the luggage on the ground, suddenly remembered something. “Didn’t you set up a camera in Xiao Hei’s play area? Did you take it down?”

“I made that up,” Jiang Shi said as he tore tape with his teeth to seal a box. “Do you think I’d actually have the time for that?”  

He had only said that to scare the neighbors.  

Bamboo was speechless. 

At the time, Jiang Shi had sounded so natural that Bamboo really believed he had evidence in hand. 

This little liar.

Jiang Shi called for a car, and Bamboo helped load the items into the trunk.  

“Thanks.” Jiang Shi turned to Bamboo, punching him lightly on the shoulder. “I’ll pick up Xiao Hei on the way to the base. See you next year.”

Bamboo grinned. “Then, I wish you a Happy New Year in advance.”  

It was New Year’s Eve that night.  

Jiang Shi successfully picked Xiao Hei up from the pet store. The staff even took out a basket of bows, saying they were gifts for pets to celebrate the New Year, and let Jiang Shi choose a color.  

Without hesitation, Jiang Shi reached for the pink one and tied it around the neck of the freshly groomed, majestic-looking Xiao Hei.

Cats take after their owners. It made sense. 

Ignoring Xiao Hei’s struggles, Jiang Shi carried the cat away.  

When they arrived at the TLG base, it was already around 2 or 3 PM.  

The TLG base was large. Between the main building and the annex was a circular flower bed, with many lawns nearby. It’s perfect for Xiao Hei to roam around.  

Jiang Shi placed Xiao Hei’s usual items in his room and then followed the cat on a tour of the base.  

Earlier, the pet store staff had expressed concern that Xiao Hei might be stressed in a new environment. Watching the black cat run excitedly ahead of him, Jiang Shi felt exasperated.  

Is this what stress looks like?  

This little guy was clearly surveying his new territory. Several times, Jiang Shi nearly lost track of him.  

At one point, Jiang Shi even picked up Xiao Hei to show him to the security guard, confirming the cat’s identity.  

The guard smiled at Jiang Shi, saying, “Got it. I’ll make sure to let him through promptly.”

“Oh, by the way, my shift ends at 7 PM. If you need anything, just call me. I live nearby.”  

Most TLG players had returned home for the New Year, leaving Jiang Shi alone at the base. The security guard also planned to head home to celebrate with his family at 7 PM.  

After running around the base, Xiao Hei seemed tired. Jiang Shi set up a blanket in the training room for him, and Xiao Hei settled down comfortably. After eating, he started napping.  

Seeing Xiao Hei looking so relaxed and content, Jiang Shi squinted slightly and swiftly tied the pink bow he had picked up earlier around Xiao Hei’s neck.  

Xiao Hei snapped his eyes open, gave Jiang Shi a swat, and let out an angry “meow,” clearly cursing profusely.  

JIang Shi watched as Xiao Hei shook his head and clawed at the bow. He didn’t want to sleep anymore, feeling immensely satisfied. Smiling, he turned on his computer and began his “New Year’s Event”.  

A few hours later, the TLG team group chat came alive.  

[The Group’s Most Handsome Guy Jiang Lele]: @Obedient Jiangjiang, what are you doing?  

[The Group’s Most Handsome Guy Jiang Lele]: @Obedient Jiangjiang, where are you!

[Nine-ge]: Probably gaming? I saw Time in-game when I logged on earlier.  

[The Group’s Most Handsome Guy Jiang Lele]: That’s what I wanted to say! Several teams are asking me if TLG didn’t give Time a holiday because every time they try to play casually, they get destroyed by him…  

Jiang Lele sent a screenshot to the group:  

[ST-Huaxu]: Didn’t TLG give you a break? Time has been queuing for at least four hours. I was duoing with a girl playing marksman and matched against him twice. We got crushed both times.  

[ST-Huaxu]: In the second game, I told him I was duoing and asked him to go easy. He agreed, then proceeded to destroy the other two lanes.  

The group exploded with laughter.  

[Nine-ge]: What’s a mid-laner doing playing marksman? Isn’t that just giving Time free points?  

[Nine-ge]: Time: “Thank you for the gift from nature.”  

[Back]: Then I will try it later. 

[The Group’s Most Handsome Guy Jiang Lele]: You’re not going to try anything on New Year’s Eve. Show me what delicious food your family has made, and chat with me about the Spring Festival Gala. ] 

[The Group’s Most Handsome Guy Jiang Lele]: By the way, we don’t ban fireworks here this year, so I bought Gatling fireworks. It’s very lively, I’ll stream it for you later hehe! 

[The Group’s Most Handsome Guy Jiang Lele]: T Bao is too busy ranking to check this groupchat, but what about Captain and Yang-ge? 

[The Group’s Most Handsome Guy Jiang Lele]: @Xu @Yuan Yang 

Thanks to Jiang Lele’s efforts, these two people were tagged and appeared. 

[Yuan Yang]: I’m eating New Year’s Eve dinner, what’s wrong? I’ll backread this chat later. 

[Yuan Yang]: Xiao Shi practiced for so long today? He deserves to be the best ADC in our lineup! 

[Back]: Coach, he’s the only ADC in our lineup…

[Nine-ge]: Hahaha, is Yang-ge drunk? 

[Xu]: I’m reading my family’s fireworks list with my parents. 

Xie Xu looked at his parents bickering in front of him and felt a headache.

They didn’t know who was wrong – someone must’ve bought too many fireworks, and neither of his parents wanted to admit it. So, they counted the goods one by one, determined to find out who fucked up. 

Jiang Shi was concentrating on playing games, but the phone on the table kept vibrating. He took a look in the middle and found that it was Jiang Lele who was yapping, so he ignored it. 

After finishing a game, he took off his headphones and finally went into the groupchat, just in time to see Yuan Yang send a new message.

[Yuan Yang]: I did drink a little, but I wasn’t drunk. I just wanted to praise Xiao Shi. Lele said before that people from other teams came to complain about Xiao Shi? Why did they do that? Was Xiao Shi cursing someone again? 

Jiang Shi: “?”

[Obedient Jiangjiang]: Yang-ge, I didn’t curse anyone. I even wished them a happy new year. 

[The Group’s Most Handsome Guy Jiang Lele]: After that, you beat them up, right? I understand. This is called courtesy before force. 

[Obedient Jiangjiang: . ]

In a sense, Jiang Lele was not wrong.

Jiang Shi scrolled up the groupchat records and saw everyone talking about fireworks. He suddenly remembered something and asked Yuan Yang.

[Obedient Jiangjiang]: Yang-ge, A City also allowed fireworks this year. How come I didn’t hear any sound at the base? Is there any specific place to set them off? 

—Or did he not hear it because he was wearing headphones?

The community where he rented before started setting off fireworks very early.

[Yuan Yang]: Our base is located in a remote area. There are not many communities nearby. Even if there are, most of them are immigrants. Not many people stay to celebrate the New Year, so no one sets them off. 

He hadn’t returned home for a year. From the third floor, all he could see outside were the lights from the base and a few surrounding streetlights. Beyond that, it was pitch black and desolate. 

Jiang Shi glanced at Yuan Yang’s message and lightly pressed his lips together.  

Forget it, fireworks aren’t that great anyway.  

[Obedient Jiangjiang]: Thanks, Yang-ge, I got it.

[Obedient Jiangjiang]: This works out. I’ll get a good night’s sleep.

[The Group’s Most Handsome Guy Jiang Lele]: Stop pretending, T Bao, you want to see fireworks, don’t you? I’ll video call you later and light up some Gatling fireworks together!  

[Obedient Jiangjiang]: I refuse.

He didn’t want to hear Jiang Lele’s excited and frightened howls on the other end.  

The group chat soon shifted topics, from showing off local specialties to sharing New Year’s Eve feasts and massive fireworks displays.  

[Nine-ge]: Look at this authentic frozen pear from the northeast, it looks scrumptious, right? 

Even Yu Hui couldn’t resist posting a photo of the lavish New Year’s Eve spread at home.  

Jiang Shi thought for a moment and snapped a photo of a dozing Xiao Hei. 

[The Group’s Most Handsome Guy Jiang Lele]: Why did you tie a pink bow on him? He looks so majestic!

[Nine-ge]: And it’s crooked! Hahaha…

[Back]: The lace is already torn. Clearly, he resisted before. Looks like he hates it.  

[Xu]: Cute.  

When Jiang Shi saw Xie Xu’s comment, he immediately sent him a private message.  

[Obedient Jiangjiang]: Captain, happy Lunar New Year’s Eve! 

[Xu]: Happy Lunar New Year’s Eve.

Seeing Xie Xu’s reply, Jiang Shi’s lips curled into a smile. He kicked the table leg in front of him lightly, making his chair scoot back to create some space. He crossed his legs and began typing on his phone.  

[Obedient Jiangjiang[: Captain, what are you up to? I took Xiao Hei for a walk around the base today. He was so happy.

[Xu]: That’s good. I’m listening to my parents argue over the fireworks. They bought too many.

Xie Xu sent him a photo of the floor packed with red firework boxes.  

Jiang Shi zoomed in and counted: ten whole boxes of fireworks.  

[Obedient Jiangjiang]: Wow, that’s a lot! Remember to share photos when you light them up, Captain.

[Obedient Jiangjiang]: It would’ve been better if you can include a selfie~

He and Xie Xu had been apart for over 30 hours QAQ.  

[Xu]: Isn’t staying alone at the base boring?

[Obedient Jiangjiang]: It’s okay. I’ve spent New Year’s alone before, it’s just too quiet this year, not used to it.

In past years, even while gaming with headphones on, he could hear the firecrackers and fireworks outside and found them annoying for covering up the game’s audio cues.  

Thinking of something, he tentatively asked:  

[Obedient Jiangjiang]: Captain, how about a video call before midnight? Let’s ring in the New Year together. 

[Obedient Jiangjiang]: I’ll show you Xiao Hei!

[Xu]: You won’t appear on the camera? 

Seeing this, Jiang Shi suddenly felt his ears heat up. He reached up to rub them.  

[Obedient Jiangjiang]: I will.

Xiao Hei was just an excuse. Besides, if the moment felt right, he wanted to ask Xie Xu directly about what he had said in the game — [Xu likes his little AD.]  

[Obedient Jiangjiang]: Some things must be said face to face.

He wanted to gauge Xie Xu’s reaction.  

[Xu]: Got it.

Xie Xu glanced at his parents, who were still debating whether to return the excess fireworks. He spoke up: “I’ll handle these fireworks.”  

---

After finishing the chat with Xie Xu, Jiang Shi didn’t go back to ranked matches. Instead, he grabbed a few Spring Festival couplets and started sticking them on the base’s main entrance and the doors of several teammates.  

For Xie Xu, he chose one wishing for good health and prosperity.  

While he was busy sticking them, Xiao Hei stood at his feet, glancing at him now and then, trying to paw off the pink bow. The bow ended up spinning around to his back, and Xiao Hei twirled in place, chasing after it.  

Jiang Shi couldn’t stop laughing at the sight and snapped a photo to send to Xie Xu.  

[Obedient Jiangjiang]: Captain, look at this silly cat!

But Xie Xu was probably busy and didn’t reply.  

When the Spring Festival Gala began, Jiang Shi grabbed some snacks and watched it in the training room. But after a few acts, he quickly lost interest.  

It wasn’t entertaining at all. Watching it in the training room felt off—after turning on the speakers, the sound echoed in the overly empty room.  

Frowning, Jiang Shi turned off the computer and walked to the window for a look. As Yuan Yang said, it was dark outside, even the security booth was unlit.  

Suddenly, a firework burst in the distance. But because of the distance and his poor vantage point, the view was blocked by tree branches, leaving only a small spark visible.  

Jiang Shi rushed downstairs immediately. But by the time he found a good spot, the fireworks had ended.  

He stood there for a while, his eyes sore, but no second round came.  

After some hesitation, he asked in the group chat.  

[Obedient Jiangjiang]: Is there a spot near the base where I can see the moon?

[The Group’s Most Handsome Guy Jiang Lele]: Isn’t A City overcast tonight? A moon? Really?

[Back}: It’s cold outside, it’s supposed to snow later.

[Nine-ge}: There’s a nice spot not far from the base, but I don’t remember exactly where.

[X]u: Head out and turn right. There’s a flat platform there.

Jiang Shi’s eyes lit up.  

[Obedient Jiangjiang: OK! I’ll check it out and come right back!]  

He put on his down jacket, wrapped Xie Xu’s scarf around his neck, and took Xiao Hei outside.  

It was pitch dark, so Jiang Shi turned on his phone flashlight. After some searching, he found the platform Xie Xu mentioned.  

The spot had no obstructions, but it was pitch black. All he could see was the light from the base windows he had left on.  

Standing there for a few seconds, Jiang Shi felt ridiculous. It was late at night, and here he was, not gaming or sleeping, but standing outside in the cold wind.  

Just as he was about to leave, a loud bang came from behind, and the sky lit up.  

Jiang Shi spun around—  

A burst of colorful fireworks bloomed in the sky.  

Then, one after another, fiery reds ascended and fell like a cascade of lanterns, transforming into meteors streaking toward him.  

Wide-eyed, Jiang Shi spotted a car parked in the illuminated distance. A familiar figure stepped out and walked slowly toward him.  

The tall figure stood against the backdrop of exploding fireworks, making it hard for Jiang Shi to see Xie Xu’s face clearly.  

But his heart raced faster than ever before.  

Had Xie Xu returned just to light fireworks for him?  

Standing there, his heart thundering in his chest amidst the fireworks’ booms, Jiang Shi stared dumbfounded at the approaching figure.  

Xie Xu reached out, ruffling Jiang Shi’s wind-blown hair and gently cupping his red ears. “Too noisy?”  

Jiang Shi’s eyes sparkled with the reflection of fireworks as he replied earnestly, “Not noisy at all. They’re beautiful.”  

Xie Xu, seeing the surprise and brightness in Jiang Shi’s eyes, let a smile curve his lips. “Glad you like them.”  

Xiao Hei, who had initially been scared off, returned cautiously. Watching the fireworks, it alternated its gaze between the two men.  

When midnight struck, fireworks erupted in the distance as well.  

Xie Xu lowered his gaze, looking at the scarf-wrapped Jiang Shi, who was staring at him without blinking. He raised a hand and gently covered Jiang Shi’s eyes, his voice tinged with laughter. “Stop looking at me.”  

“Happy New Year, Jiang Shi.”