Chapter 11

For the first Chinese Dance Club training session on Monday, Pei Jiyin had prepared thoroughly. Unfortunately, Song Zhen wasn’t there, which left her somewhat disinterested throughout the entire session. As someone with a slightly stiff body, the warm-up exercises alone were torture.

By the time she got home after the session, Pei Jiyin just wanted to lie in bed and not move a muscle.

[Pei Jiyin: This is agony.]

[Cheng Yu: You chose this path. Hang in there.]

Pei Jiyin rubbed her legs and sighed. Honestly, it was a miracle she had managed to dance during the audition.

[Pei Jiyin: Senior, why weren’t you there tonight?]

[Song Zhen: There was a last-minute student council matter.]

[Pei Jiyin: I see.]

[Song Zhen: How was your first day?]

Pei Jiyin sent a crying emoji.

[Pei Jiyin: My flexibility is terrible.]

[Song Zhen: Take it slow. There’s no need to push yourself too hard if it’s really not working.]

Pei Jiyin raised an eyebrow. That casual, huh?

[Pei Jiyin: Got it. I feel better hearing that from you, Senior.]

After her shower, Pei Jiyin opened her game as usual.

Perfect, her little sweetheart was online too.

Pei Jiyin sent an invite, and the other person joined the room after a short delay.

“Long time no see.”

“Has it been that long?” Song Zhen asked.

“Feels like it to me,” Pei Jiyin replied, her voice laced with amusement.

“Let’s play a casual match today. I’m a bit tired of Ranked lately.”

“Sure.”

Pei Jiyin created the room and pulled Song Zhen in. Song Zhen picked Yao, while Pei Jiyin chose Marco Polo. The moment she locked in, she heard someone sigh.

“Don’t be so scared, little one.”

“I’m not scared,” Song Zhen said.

“Trust me, this time I’ll land a full ultimate,” Pei Jiyin declared.

“Go, sis! You’re amazing, sis! You’re the best!”

As it turned out, the match was a disaster—nothing but dying and respawning, with little else in between. Still, Song Zhen could tell Pei Jiyin was gradually getting the hang of it.

Her retreats were always stylish, never looking back even once.

So, the only ugly stat on the board was Yao’s.

“If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were deliberately sacrificing me,” Song Zhen said.

“I’d love to come back for you, but I just don’t have the skills,” Pei Jiyin sighed. “You’re so understanding—you won’t hold it against me, right?”

“Of course not, sis! Even if you abandon me in a crowd a hundred times, I won’t mind at all.”

“Yao, come with me,” the Jungler said over voice chat. His voice wasn’t bad, sounding like a young teenager. “Sticking with the marksman isn’t doing much.”

“But if I leave, the marksman sis will get upset,” Song Zhen replied.

Pei Jiyin nearly laughed at the pitiful tone.

The Jungler paused for two seconds. “But following her is just feeding. You’re already 1-10.”

“It’s fine… I’m not worth much anymore…” Song Zhen whimpered.

“Little one, if you really want to go with him, it’s okay. I’ll manage,” Pei Jiyin said.

“But I’d worry about leaving you all alone,” Song Zhen sighed.

Pei Jiyin also sighed, her voice even more pitiful and softer: “Little sister, it’s okay. I feel really guilty that you’ve died so many times.”

[Li Li Yuan Shang Cao (Dharma): Wow, this is a showdown between tea masters.]

[Li Li Yuan Shang Cao (Dharma): Can I hear you call me ‘big brother’ once?]

“I’m already eighty-eight this year, and you want me to call you ‘big brother’? Dream on,” Pei Jiyin said with a laugh. “How about you call me ‘grandma’ first? My little sister here is sixty-one.”

“That’s right.”

The Jungler had completely stopped talking.

The game was a thorough loss, but it seemed everyone had a good time chatting.

After returning to the room, there were still people requesting invites, but Pei Jiyin rejected them all.

“This season is almost over.”

“Yeah, and I’m still stuck in Diamond,” Song Zhen sighed. “You always bring up such sad things.”

“That’s tragic,” Pei Jiyin remarked.

“Hmph,” Song Zhen snorted lightly. “You haven’t reached Kings of Glory either.”

“If it weren’t for playing Ranked Matches with you, I could’ve reached Kings of Glory today,” Pei Jiyin said.

Song Zhen: …

“Then why do we keep dropping tiers when we play together?”

“True, it seems our luck is terrible when we play together,” Pei Jiyin pondered. “Such is life, I guess. Wait a minute, little sister, are you trying to abandon me?”

Song Zhen: …

“Oh no, little sister, you can’t treat me like this. You can’t be so cruel to me,” Pei Jiyin said dramatically.

Song Zhen: …

“Big sister, you’re so extra,” Song Zhen sighed.

The two entered another game, and Song Zhen picked Yao again.

Honestly, when Song Zhen played Yao, it meant she wanted to experience being carried. But the truth was, with Pei Jiyin, that was simply impossible.

“Big sister, can you Carry me just once? Let me have some fun.”

“Li Bai, Sima Yi, or Gongsun Li—pick one to make you fly.”

“Forget it. Just shut up,” Song Zhen snapped.

“What’s wrong, little sister? I’m being serious here.”

Song Zhen scoffed twice and completely gave up on responding.

Pei Jiyin still picked Gongsun Li, but Song Zhen had already switched off Yao. That match ended quickly, and the random Yao player riding on Pei Jiyin’s head had a blast.

“You really can Carry. I thought you were lying to me…”

“Tsk, opportunity knocks but once,” Pei Jiyin said. “It’s getting late. I’m going to sleep.”

“Mm,” Song Zhen hummed and exited the game. She stood on the balcony, lost in thought for a few minutes.

Why was she always led around by Pei Jiyin? She should turn the tables and mess with her. Unfortunately, she hadn’t found any leverage yet.

Song Zhen rubbed her chin and returned to the dorm.

“Song Zhen, want something to eat?”

“Song Zhen?”

Song Zhen snapped out of her daze and turned to look at the speaker.

“What are you thinking about?”

Song Zhen paused for two seconds. “Just someone I met in-game who keeps teasing me.”

“Guy or girl?”

“Girl,” Song Zhen said.

“How old? Haha, I can’t believe you’re the one being teased!” Her roommate laughed.

Song Zhen shot her an annoyed look and sat down at her desk.

“So, what are you gonna do about it?”

“I also want to make her feel uncomfortable,” Song Zhen said. “But she seems to have a pretty thick skin. No matter how I think about it, this seems a bit difficult to pull off.”

“Song Zhen.”

“Hmm?”

“I never realized you could be a bit childish before.”