Chapter 8

What should you do in this situation? Of course, decisively ignore the message.

This match paired me with a couple. One picked Yao, the other picked Marksman.

Pei Jiyin was just about to say she’d jungle when Song Zhen swiftly locked in Nakoruru for the jungle role.

Pei Jiyin: Wow, just how little do you trust me?

Yueya chose Cheng Yaojin for the top lane, leaving mid to Pei Jiyin. Seeing the enemy pick Daji, Pei Jiyin thought for a moment before selecting Diao Chan. The fifth player picked Eastern Emperor.

Pei Jiyin sighed.

“I’m actually not very good at jungling,” Song Zhen admitted.

“It’s fine, you’ve already locked in,” Pei Jiyin said. “Ah, I originally wanted to play Mirror.”

Song Zhen didn’t want to respond.

After entering the game, it was a standard start. The enemy Daji was no match for Pei Jiyin, who secured first blood at level three.

The Marksman and Yao were indeed glued together, while Sun Shangxiang brought Xiao Ming. It was a duo versus duo, and Sun Shangxiang scored a double kill.

Pei Jiyin arrived a bit late and tearfully cleaned up Sun Shangxiang and Xiao Ming.

Song Zhen truly wasn’t skilled—just a tool for taking dragons. He went to the bot lane a few times but failed to secure any kills, instead feeding a triple kill. The only stable player was Yueya, trading blows with the enemy as Cheng Yaojin, with no kills occurring in the first five minutes.

[Tiny Qiaoqiao (Yao): Should’ve just remade this game.]

[Qiaoqiao’s Tiny (Marksman): Seriously, the jungler clearly doesn’t know how to play.]

Pei Jiyin noticed Song Zhen was unusually quiet this game, especially after being called out.

“Do you want the Blue Buff?” Song Zhen asked.

“Don’t you need it as Nakoruru?”

“Even if I take it, it’s useless…” Song Zhen sounded a bit aggrieved. “I’m already 0-3, just a Blue Buff delivery boy.”

Though she didn’t mean to laugh, Pei Jiyin couldn’t help but chuckle.

“You’re laughing?”

“Sorry, sometimes it’s just hard to hold back,” Pei Jiyin said as she took the Blue Buff.

Looking at the team’s performance, only Pei Jiyin was doing well. The enemy seemed to realize this too, as Eastern Emperor camped mid, and the enemy jungler frequently ganked. Pei Jiyin’s KDA dropped from 5-0 to 5-8—she could dodge Daji’s second skill but not Eastern Emperor’s Ultimate ability.

“Little sister, sticking with the Marksman won’t get you far,” Pei Jiyin said over voice chat. “If you tank one Ultimate from Eastern Emperor for me, I can get a pentakill.”

[Tiny Qiaoqiao (Yao): It’s nice to have dreams.]

Pei Jiyin: …

[Curved Yueya (Cheng Yaojin): Don’t worry, I’ll push the tower and come help you tank.]

Pei Jiyin sighed. Their first towers had already fallen, and the Marksman was now 2-8. Being bad was one thing, but now they were stealing farm from all three lanes.

Unsurprisingly, they lost.

“Sorry, it’s all my fault. I’m just terrible at jungling,” Song Zhen sighed. “I really shouldn’t have picked jungle.”

“Exactly. Should’ve let me jungle—National Server Rank Mirror,” Pei Jiyin said, her voice tinged with pride.

Song Zhen: …

“Could you at least make your bragging sound believable?” Song Zhen retorted irritably.

Pei Jiyin: What else can I even say?

“If we lose this next game, I’m going to bed,” Song Zhen said, starting another match and taking a deep breath.

“Sure thing. Early to bed, early to rise, keeps you healthy.”

Song Zhen: …

“Go wipe your mouth,” Song Zhen said. “Stop jinxing us.”

After entering the lobby, Song Zhen glanced at the first-pick Yao and second-pick Sun Wukong, sighing: “Either it’s a Jungle Carry boosting his girl, or it’s double feeding. You should just play marksman.”

“No way. Without a support, I won’t have fun,” Pei Jiyin refused. “The enemy team is all paired up while I’m alone—that’s no good. If I’m destined to be lonely, I’ll choose the solo lane.”

Song Zhen: …

Pei Jiyin locked in Ma Chao: “National Server Rank Ma Chao, don’t worry.”

“Oh, really?” Song Zhen picked Yu Ji. “Let me handle the split-pushing this game.”

“You should have a little more faith in me, sweetie,” Pei Jiyin said.

“Sure thing~”

“Can’t you say something nicer?” Pei Jiyin sounded dissatisfied.

After two seconds of silence, Song Zhen spoke: “Go, sis! You’re the best, sis! National Server Rank Ma Chao who can totally 1v5 and carry us!”

“Much better.”

[Yueya (Xiao Qiao): You guys are hilarious lol.]

[Yueya (Xiao Qiao): Do you know each other in real life?]

“Nope, who’d know her?” Song Zhen replied, her voice laced with three parts disdain.

“Tch.” Pei Jiyin chuckled. “The line of people chasing me could circle our school twice, but real-life recognition isn’t guaranteed. The queue would stretch into next year.”

“As expected of sis, you’re amazing~”

Pei Jiyin reached level two first and secured first blood.

“Impressive,” Song Zhen remarked.

“Obviously.” Pei Jiyin laughed. After hitting level four, she started roaming everywhere—stealing the enemy jungle before casually swinging by mid-lane.

By the time Pei Jiyin scored her third kill, Yao had already abandoned Sun Wukong and perched on her head.

“Big bro, you’re so good,” Yao said over voice chat, her voice sugary sweet.

“Little cutie, enemies incoming,” Pei Jiyin called out. “Watch and learn.”

Song Zhen: …

“Big bro, is the marksman your CP?” Yao asked.

[God Says No Blessing (Sun Wukong): ???]

“I think Ma Chao bro needs protection more,” Yao continued. “Bro, why aren’t you responding? Is my voice not nice enough?”

[Don’t Run Cutie (Ma Chao): True, my little cutie’s voice is sweeter.]

Song Zhen: …

Song Zhen wanted to ask if Pei Jiyin had lost her mind, but instead turned on her mic: “Oh? You saying that makes me so shy~”

[God Says No Blessing (Sun Wukong): Hmph.]

Yao also paused for two seconds before laughing: “Sis, you should relax your voice a bit—it’ll sound better. But mine’s naturally like this, so it sounds more effortless.”

“My voice is naturally like this too, and… I think mine sounds even more natural. Why don’t you ask Ma Chao?” Song Zhen countered.

“Of course it’s you, little cutie,” Pei Jiyin joined in on mic. “No other girl compares.”

[God Says No Blessing (Sun Wukong): Did you two bulk-order voice changers?]

“I don’t use voice changers, my voice is naturally like this,” Pei Jiyin laughed. “Wukong bro~”

“Oh, you’re a girl,” Yao sighed.

“What’s wrong with girls?” Pei Jiyin’s voice dropped, tinged with feigned hurt. “Then get off my head.”

“No, I can only get assists by following you,” Yao refused.  

“Your Monkey Brother won’t be happy,” Pei Jiyin said.  

“There are plenty of tools in the world. If this one doesn’t work, there’s always the next,” Yao replied.  

Pei Jiyin laughed.  

**[God Says No Blessing (Sun Wukong): …]**  

“Sis, can we play together next game?” Yao asked.  

“Nope,” Pei Jiyin said. “Because I want to play Yao too—we’d clash in roles.”  

“I can play other heroes too! Your Ma Chao is seriously amazing. I rarely see a sister who plays Ma Chao so well.”  

“Sis, I’m super good at flattery. Every time you get a kill, I’ll praise you once.”  

“Come on, sis, please?”  

Song Zhen: “…”  

**[Crescent Moon (Xiao Qiao): If we bring you, we’d have to go for a five-stack. Five-stacks are unstable.]**  

“Little cutie, switch lanes,” Pei Jiyin said helplessly as she watched Song Zhen being forced back to the second turret.  

“Ugh, why can’t I ever figure out how to play marksman?” Song Zhen sighed. “I haven’t even taken down a single turret. I should just stick to support and mid.”  

“A woman should never say she can’t do it. You just haven’t played enough,” Pei Jiyin said, landing a few shots to kill the enemy Mark. “You have to believe you’re the best.”  

Yet, they still lost that match. Even though they had pushed to the Nexus, defeat came in an instant. The moment Pei Jiyin died, the team got wiped, and the enemy charged straight through the turrets.  

“Why didn’t you focus the Nexus when we were pushing high ground?” Pei Jiyin sighed. “Monkey, I’m talking to you.”  

**[God Says No Blessing (Sun Wukong): I thought you could take it alone.]**  

“We were so close,” Song Zhen also sighed. “I died too early. If only I could’ve gotten one more hit in…”  

Watching the Nexus shatter, Song Zhen’s heart shattered too. “Is the heavens telling me to go to sleep?”  

“Probably,” Pei Jiyin said. “That Yao just sent me a friend request.”  

“Are you gonna accept?”  

“Nope. One sweet-voiced little sister is enough, don’t you think?”  

Song Zhen: “…”  

**[Crescent Moon: Hehehe.]**  

**[Crescent Moon: I’m heading off too. Let’s play together next time. I added you—accept it, little cutie. I couldn’t send you one.]**  

“Then I’ll add you,” Song Zhen said.  

After bidding farewell to the others, Pei Jiyin checked the time and squeezed in three more Peak Matches before finally heading to bed at midnight. A quick glance at King’s Camp confirmed it—those who say they’re going to sleep never actually do.  

Song Zhen had gone off to play on her own, winning one match and losing two.  

Pei Jiyin couldn’t help but chuckle.  

Thinking back, after playing with Song Zhen for several days, they’d only won a match or two. She checked her Smurf Account’s rank—looked like she was about to drop back to Diamond.  

This shouldn’t be happening.