Chapter 29

Ying Nian felt that she had made another significant step forward on the path of “getting familiar with Yu Linran.” With this sense of satisfaction, she appeared at the SF competition venue.

It was now mid-October, just two days before the middle of the month, and the S tournament had already entered the group stage.

SF’s opponent was a team from Europe, and Ying Nian wasn’t familiar with them. She had crammed in some research before the match and gained a general understanding. Throughout the match, Ying Nian watched with great tension. Perhaps it had been too long since she had watched a live game, or maybe she understood that the significance of the S tournament was different. When SF’s early-game advantage was not obvious, Ying Nian nervously sweated for them.

The match started at 7:00 p.m. and ended at 8:13 p.m.

Seeing SF’s victory with her own eyes, Ying Nian finally let out a sigh of relief.

Ying Nian picked up the cake, and just like last time, she waited for the staff and followed them backstage. The backstage area was bustling with activity, having just won a match, and the atmosphere was great.

As soon as Ying Nian appeared, everyone greeted her.

“Hey, Ying Nian? It’s been a while since you were last here!”

“You brought cake again, come on over!”

Ying Nian bent down to greet everyone one by one, put down the items in her hand, and exchanged pleasantries with the coach.

“Has school started recently, so you haven’t had time to come by?” the coach asked with a cheerful smile.

She actually wanted to come, but someone didn’t allow it! Subconsciously, Ying Nian glanced at Yu Linran, then responded, “Yes! I’ve been busy with classes, but as soon as I had some free time this week, I came right over!”

Yu Linran, on the other hand, looked completely calm.

The strawberry-flavored cake hadn’t even been opened when Yu Linran said to her, “Let’s go.”

Wait… he’s already sending her away? Ying Nian was stunned, feeling a bit wronged as she pouted, “Oh.”

She obediently started walking out.

Suddenly remembering she hadn’t said her goodbyes yet, she quickly turned around to say farewell to the coach and the others.

No one tried to keep her.

As Ying Nian walked out of the lounge, she belatedly realized there was a figure following her. She turned around in surprise, “Captain, where are you… going?”

Yu Linran, with his hands in his pockets, casually replied, “Going to eat.”

Ying Nian glanced back a few times but didn’t see anyone else, “What about the others?”

“They’re not eating with us.”

She took a few steps forward, still in a daze, and walked with Yu Linran toward the entrance. Suddenly, she remembered to ask, “Captain, when did you change out of your team uniform?”

“I changed out of it after coming off the stage.” The team uniform was a full set, and after taking off the jacket and wearing his own casual clothes, he became much less conspicuous. Of course, for people not familiar with the esports scene, his face was even more attention-grabbing than SF’s team uniform.

Ying Nian slowly came to a stop, and Yu Linran stopped as well. She felt a bit uncertain and tentatively asked, “Captain, where are you going to eat…?”

He asked in return, “Where do you want to go?”

— It’s actually happening!

Ying Nian was so startled that she almost bit her tongue. “C-Captain, you’re going to have dinner with me?!”

Yu Linran glanced at her. “You’re not free?”

“Yes, yes, yes! Of course I’m free!” Ying Nian first shook her head, then quickly nodded.

Before coming to watch the match, she hadn’t expected this—what a surprise! Such an unexpected surprise!

Ying Nian would have to be foolish to turn down this opportunity. No matter what Yu Linran was thinking, since he had made the offer, she absolutely couldn’t miss this chance!

Even if he regretted it, she would make sure to keep him from backing out!

After the initial surprise, worry began to creep in. Ying Nian glanced around nervously. “But Captain, if someone sees us…”

“So what?” Yu Linran said indifferently, “What’s there to hide?”

“I’m worried it might affect you negatively.”

“Do you think everyone recognizes me?”

Ying Nian rubbed her neck, leaving the rest unsaid—what if they ran into esports fans?

This was the first time she had been alone with Yu Linran. The rainy day encounter in front of the convenience store didn’t count; at best, that was just a chance meeting. But this—this was real, proper one-on-one time. No other SF players or staff, just the two of them. After knowing him for so long, this was truly the first time.

Walking side by side with Yu Linran, who was much taller than her, there was a gap of several centimeters between their arms. Ying Nian didn’t dare get too close. After realizing that having dinner together was, in fact, reality and not a dream, she suddenly fell silent.

She didn’t dare speak—too nervous.

As they were walking, Ying Nian suddenly stopped.

Yu Linran stopped as well, glancing at her from the side, “What is it?”

Ying Nian stood still, lowering her head. Two seconds later, she lifted it again, her face showing an expression difficult to describe. After summoning her courage, she reached out and poked Yu Linran’s arm.

“Captain, is it really you?!”

“Who else could it be?”

Ying Nian felt like screaming to let out all her emotions. Her face scrunched up, but she gritted her teeth and held it in.

A few seconds later, she let out a long breath, barely regaining her composure. “Alright, let’s go.”

“…” Yu Linran remained silent. Suddenly, he wasn’t so sure he wanted to keep walking anymore.

Ying Nian’s elation was written all over her face, and her smile spread to her eyes and eyebrows, as if she had just hit the lottery. She was beaming the whole way.

In the taxi, Yu Linran couldn’t help but ask, “Is it really that funny?”

“I’m not laughing!” Ying Nian tried to press her lips flat, but the smile kept sneaking up to her eyes.

The car moved smoothly forward. Ying Nian sat on the right side of the back seat, constantly stealing glances at Yu Linran on her left. Every few seconds, she’d sneak a look, and then a few seconds later, she’d look again, the time between glances shortening visibly.

Yu Linran suddenly sighed softly.

Through her clothes, he gently grasped Ying Nian’s wrist. Her hand was suspended in the air, and he lightly tugged at her sleeve, placing her right wrist under her fingertips.

“Feel my pulse?” Yu Linran turned his head to meet her gaze, as if emphasizing helplessly, “I’m real, not fake.”

Ying Nian froze, their eyes locking, and her gaze sinking into his. In an instant, her face suddenly grew hot.

Her heart skipped a beat, not with the admiration of a fan toward her idol, but with a kind of indescribable, pure attraction—an undeniable flutter toward the opposite sex.

Startled, Ying Nian quickly withdrew her hand, her eyes darting away, trying to stay composed as she responded, “…Oh.”

Yu Linran adjusted his cuffs and looked away.

…

The Yunnan restaurant had a uniquely styled décor. After they placed their order, the soft golden light from the hanging lamp cast a warm glow, and blue transparent glasses filled with lemon water sat on the table. The booth they were sitting in was surrounded on three sides by sheer curtains, instantly creating a private, secluded atmosphere.

Ying Nian didn’t know what to say for a moment. Her hands were resting on her knees, nervously twisting together under the table.

It was Yu Linran who spoke first: “Has the scar on your face healed?”

He looked at the spot beneath her eye, and his gaze made her feel inexplicably nervous.

Ying Nian obediently nodded. “It’s healed.”

“Planning to fight again next time?”

“I wasn’t fighting…” Ying Nian straightened her back, trying to defend herself, but Yu Linran’s heavy gaze swept over her, and she shrank back, her voice lowering. “Someone else started it first. If I hadn’t stepped in, the other girl would have gotten hurt.”

“In the end, the girl didn’t get hurt, but you did.” Yu Linran smirked, “You’re really something.”

Ying Nian felt stuck, unsure whether to explain or stay silent—nothing she said seemed right. Frustrated, she muttered, “Captain, don’t be like that. I was helping someone. You even said before that I’m always willing to help others. Why are you suddenly mocking me?”

“Being helpful is one thing. Being foolish is another.” Yu Linran said, “Don’t mix them up.”

Ying Nian muttered, “If I’m so foolish, why are you still having dinner with me…”

“Are you suggesting I should leave?”

“No, no, no!” Ying Nian panicked, feeling trapped no matter what she said. She felt like just lying down on the ground and throwing a fit. “Ah—”

“If you get any louder, I’ll pull open the curtain and let the table next to us watch your performance,” Yu Linran said calmly, taking a small sip from his glass.

Ying Nian groaned and slumped onto the table, “Captain, did you invite me to dinner today just to lecture me?”

He shot back, “What do you think?”

“I think so!” Ying Nian said with a frown, “It was a matter of urgency, I didn’t get into a fight on purpose…” She played the pity card, raising her hand to touch the almost completely faded scar under her eye. “It took so much effort for my injury to heal, and now you’re scolding me again. It’s not easy for me…”

Ying Nian had figured it out. Yu Linran wasn’t just strict with himself; he didn’t go easy on his fans either. He wanted them to study hard and was also against them getting into fights… She realized that Yu Linran wouldn’t be satisfied until he’d turned his fans into model citizens!

Yu Linran gave her a sideways glance.

Ying Nian quickly changed the subject, chatting with him about something else. After a lot of effort, she finally managed to steer the conversation away from the awkward moment.

After talking for a while, Ying Nian started feeling a bit cold. She had brought an extra undershirt in her backpack. Feeling a little embarrassed, she picked up her bag and said, “Captain, I’m going to the restroom for a minute!”

Ying Nian left her phone on the table, not bothering to take it with her. She tossed out a quick remark, “If someone calls, just tell them to wait!”

She dashed off carelessly.

Yu Linran pulled out his phone to check the team group chat. Today, Cheng Run was the one representing the team in an interview, and as usual, the team was planning a dinner gathering. Cheng Run and a few others, including Lin Shan, were gossiping about how his dinner was going.

Yu Linran had no intention of replying to them. After reading the messages, he had just put down his phone when the phone across from him rang.

The caller ID showed three characters, seemingly a guy’s name: Jiang Jiashu.

Although Ying Nian had given him permission beforehand, Yu Linran initially didn’t plan to answer. But the caller was persistent—after ringing for a while without an answer, the call was immediately hung up, only to be redialed right away.

The phone rang for the third time. Though it wasn’t very loud, if it kept going, it would disturb others. Yu Linran had no choice but to pick up Ying Nian’s phone.

Pressing the answer button, he said, “Ying Nian is currently unavailable. Please call back in a little while.”

There was a pause on the other end. As expected, it was a guy. Hearing Yu Linran’s voice, he sounded quite surprised, “Who are you?!”

Yu Linran didn’t want to say much and was about to hang up when the guy suddenly had a realization and blurted out, “You—you—you! Are you Yu Linran??!”

Yu Linran didn’t mind that the other person recognized him, so he calmly responded, “I am.”

That one sentence immediately caused the other side to explode.

The guy on the other end was extremely agitated, “Yu Linran, you—you—you stay away from Ying Nian!”

After a silent two seconds, Yu Linran’s lips curled up into a faint, amused smile. “—Oh?”