Chapter 185

The regular season had been fiercely contested for two months, and the final points standings were released.

Unsurprisingly, DSG once again topped the regular season standings, with the most promising dark horse, REAL, coming in second, ADT in third, and KU in fourth. The top four from the spring season were once again the top four in the regular season.

Looking at the win-loss records, DSG was the most intimidating, losing only a single minor match to REAL. Although it was unfortunate that they didn’t remain undefeated like in the spring season, their performance was still remarkable. After all, this was DSG’s third year dominating the competition. Reaching the pinnacle is strong, but maintaining that peak is even more challenging, with many teams being mere flashes in the pan.

The most anticipated dark horse, REAL, didn’t have as overwhelmingly dominant a performance in the minor matches, losing six of them. However, in the major matches, aside from losing to DSG, they won all the others.

There is no doubt that the two hot favorites to win the summer championship are DSG and REAL.

The best lineup of the summer season was almost entirely dominated by these two teams.

DSG secured the first-team positions for mid-laner, top-laner, and support, while the remaining positions of jungler and bottom-laner were taken by REAL’s players.

The best lineup was almost undisputed.

Comments flooded the announcement section, calling it “terrifying.”

“I can’t see how this lineup could lose.”

“Man, if DSG uses their money power to buy REAL’s jungler and AD, I can’t see how any other team could compete. Galaxy Battleship, let’s take off!”

“You don’t have to worry about that. REAL is all about brotherhood and teamwork.”

“Don’t speak too soon. Who can refuse money?”

“It’s funny how DSG thinks they can just buy their way out of losses.”

“Losses? Does DSG lack championships? And sorry, too much money, it might blind you.”

Since the regular season ended, DSG and REAL’s fans have been at each other’s throats. DSG’s fan base is large, while REAL’s fans are fearless, leading to frequent and heated exchanges.

With fans already at each other’s throats, the league wasn’t going to miss this perfect selling point. The promotional video for the playoffs was highly provocative, featuring a scene where the entire DSG team stands at the peak with an expressionless Mo Yin looking down, while REAL’s players look up. This scene drew criticism from both fan bases.

REAL’s fans were unhappy with their team being portrayed as inferior, while DSG’s fans were upset that their team was depicted as villains.

The playoffs began amid a barrage of insults and tension.

The top two teams waited for the lower-ranked teams to come up and challenge them. Early matches didn’t concern DSG and REAL as they were in separate brackets and wouldn’t meet until the semifinals. While waiting for other teams to challenge them, both teams played daily practice matches to maintain their competitive form.

REAL’s team was no longer what it used to be. They had gained significant recognition in the summer season because they showed they could compete with DSG. They ranked high in global team strength rankings, allowing them to arrange high-quality cross-region practice matches and often practiced with DSG.

“Captain,” Chen Dong sipped his cola, “why do I feel like you’re especially happy when we play practice matches with DSG?”

He couldn’t stop smiling, looking like a masochist.

After all, their win rate against DSG in practice matches was still frighteningly low.

“Aren’t you happy playing matches against strong teams?”

“Happy, yes…”

But not as weirdly happy as you, Chen Dong thought, noticing Ye Chi smiling indulgently at the computer screen. It’s just practice matches, not a date with your girlfriend…

Almost every night after practice matches and routine training, Ye Chi would go out.

His teammates asked him what he was doing outside, and Ye Chi said he was exercising.

“Exercising? Driving to exercise?”

“Isn’t running around the area exercise? Have you ever seen the captain running around here?”

“We used to, not recently.”

“Now that you mention it, it does seem strange.”

Everyone was speculating.

Relationship expert and the only non-single member, top-laner Lian Cheng, gave his opinion, “Maybe he’s seeing his girlfriend.”

Teammates: “…” The relationship brain is so dirty, everything looks dirty to him.

Chen Dong threw off his headset and suddenly said, “Hey, captain, be honest, are you dating?”

Ye Chi remained unmoved, acting as if he hadn’t heard.

Chen Dong pursed his lips sullenly, “Fine, if you don’t want to talk, I guess it’s normal for a second-string mid-laner not to speak with a first-string AD.”

Ye Chi smiled and turned his head, “Well said. When your value goes up next year, just don’t forget your little brother.”

“Oh, no, my bad.”

Chen Dong hastily cupped his hands, then looked back at his computer, “Oh, my first-string ex-wife is online.”

Chen Dong quickly started typing.

“Dear, you’re here! I can’t wait for you to crush me hard in the lane.”

“…That’s enough.”

Chen Dong chuckled lewdly.

Ye Chi watched the two exchanging messages like “love you, babe” in the chat history, his eyebrows unconsciously raising slightly.

When there’s nothing to hide, you can openly and sweetly “show off your love.”

As for him and Mo Yin…

Ye Chi lowered his head and smiled, picking up his phone.

—[Are you online?]

—[Yes]

—[Shall I come find you after the game?]

—[Whatever]

Ye Chi put away his phone, satisfied.

Isn’t this just as sweet?

The practice match was intense on both sides. After the final team fight, Chen Dong, frustrated, initiated a surrender, “I’m done, I’m done, damn it, got beaten up by my ex-wife again.”

Amidst laughter, his teammates all clicked surrender.

“DSG’s practice matches are really fierce. I feel they’re even tougher than their official games.”

“That’s normal. There’s no pressure in practice matches, so they play more aggressively.”

Although the outside world had high hopes for them to dethrone the old champions this year, the REAL players never thought about it that way. It wasn’t that they lacked confidence; they just knew their own team’s strength. They had a realistic sense of their abilities.

Besides, this was their first year in the league. How many miracles could there be? This isn’t some hot-blooded manga.

After two practice matches, both of which REAL lost, the players still maintained a stable mindset. They reviewed the games seriously, without getting disheartened. If they couldn’t win this year, there was always next year, and the year after that. What’s the rush?

After the review, Ye Chi remained seated, continuing his game training.

While queuing, Chen Dong noticed the familiar smile on Ye Chi’s face and couldn’t resist sneaking a peek at his screen.

He’s just logging in, what’s so funny? Could their captain’s love for the game really be that deep?

Chen Dong stared at the screen, puzzled. When both mid-laners logged in, he saw the opponent’s ID and almost spat out his drink, “Damn, we matched with them again right after practice?” He glanced at Ye Chi, whose face was brimming with a smile. Silently, Chen Dong withdrew, thinking he understood. Their captain really is a masochist, a true glutton for punishment.

Ye Chi made an emoji.

Mo Yin responded with an emoji.

Ye Chi changed his emoji.

Mo Yin changed his emoji as well.

Then, Ye Chi’s smile grew even more indulgent.

Since the night Mo Yin initiated the kiss, Ye Chi assumed they were now in a relationship.

That night, he had no idea how he got back to the base. He felt light on his feet, like he was floating. When he lay down, the bed felt especially soft, like a thick cloud he was about to float away on.

His lips retained the warmth.

The burning breath.

Ye Chi’s lips curved up in a silent smile.

The next evening when they met, Ye Chi became particularly shy. He didn’t kiss Mo Yin as he had before but instead tentatively reached for Mo Yin’s hand.

Mo Yin’s hand was warm, sweaty from running, soft and damp in his grip.

Ye Chi held Mo Yin’s hand and kissed him.

A light peck, like Mo Yin’s kiss the previous night.

Mo Yin didn’t pull away, his expression still indifferent, but Ye Chi felt Mo Yin was indulging him.

They kissed in a secluded spot under the night sky, fingers tightly intertwined.

After the game ended, Ye Chi looked at the results screen, and four words popped into his mind.

I want to go on a date.

He wanted to go to a quiet, secluded place where it was just the two of them, without having to sneak around, afraid of being discovered.

Of course, this idea was too indulgent.

It was playoff season, a crucial period for every team, with World Championship spots at stake.

If both teams made it to the World Championship, they’d face even more intense training. So, until the World Championship ended, they’d be very busy and shouldn’t, and couldn’t, be distracted.

Meeting up occasionally in the evenings was already quite indulgent.

For now, he should be content.

Ye Chi was very confident that they could make it to the World Championship this year. The World Championship would be held abroad, and after it ended, maybe they could stay there for a few days for a vacation. Being abroad would greatly reduce the chances of being recognized. By then, going on a date would be a natural thing to do.

Ye Chi continued his game training with a faint smile on his face and left after finishing his session for the day.

Chen Dong stared at Ye Chi’s departing figure and said, “I’m really curious if he’s actually going to see his girlfriend.”

“Don’t be curious,” Zhang Hanyu, the support player, reminded him, “Remember the cost of curiosity last time?”

Chen Dong: “…” Yes, I do.

Better to take a break.

After going upstairs, Chen Dong chatted with Tang Qi on WeChat about Ye Chi often leaving the base at night, wondering if he was seeing his girlfriend.

Tang Qi was playing his last game and only replied when he died or returned to base, so his response was slow.

“Dating is normal. Crazy Brother looks quite handsome.”

Chen Dong was indignant.

“What do you mean? Am I not dating because I’m not handsome?”

“You get the idea.”

“Damn, you don’t love me anymore.”

“I did.”

Chen Dong was not satisfied.

“Mabo is so handsome, and he’s not dating either!”

Tang Qi was about to reply when Mo Yin stood up next to him. He asked, “MY, going for a run?”

“Yeah.”

Tang Qi then replied to Chen Dong.

“Mabo only cares about games. He trains or works out every day. He’s a self-disciplined god. Why would he date?”

Ye Chi drove to the park and, after parking, eagerly ran towards the lake.

He was very familiar with the lake, and upon entering, he skillfully looked left and right.

No one was there.

Ye Chi paused, hesitated, and took a few steps forward, searching among the tall, dense trees, but still found no one.

Ye Chi frowned slightly.

Mo Yin didn’t come out?

Could he be feeling unwell today?

He took out his phone and made a voice call.

No answer.

Ye Chi felt a moment of panic.

—[What’s wrong?]

Still no reply.

Ye Chi stared at his phone, and suddenly, an impulse struck him. He rushed to the lakeside railing and peered intensely at the deep water. Just as he was about to take off his shoes, his phone finally vibrated.

—[At ADT]

ADT training room.

ADT’s five players sat around, waiting for Mo Yin to finish his message.

“MY, sorry to bother you,” said Dong Jianguo, the jungler and team captain.

“Mm.”

“……”

Mo Yin was stopped while he was out running. The other side’s poor pretense of a chance encounter after clearly waiting for him for a long time left him silent for a while.

“Wow, running this late? MY, I really admire you…”

Dong Jianguo awkwardly smiled, racking his brain to make small talk.

“What’s the matter?” Mo Yin interrupted him.

Dong Jianguo’s face slowly turned red, “Uh, actually, our mid-laner, Kiki—you know him, right? Even if not, it’s fine—has some game-related questions he’d like to ask you. If you’re available, that is.”

Mo Yin quietly stared at Dong Jianguo.

Under his gaze, Dong Jianguo gradually couldn’t hold it together, “We’re about to play against REAL and really wanted to ask you some questions.”

Mo Yin walked over, and the ADT players respectfully welcomed him to the training room, where they had prepared tea, snacks, and notebooks.

Usually, teams wouldn’t share tactics, but players privately exchanging builds and practices was common. Mo Yin and Ye Chi would also solo together in private.

ADT’s mid-laner Kiki had some questions about builds and laning, while the jungler and support had doubts about in-game shot-calling. Mo Yin was known for his exceptional ability to lane and macro-manage the game simultaneously.

Facing their various questions, Mo Yin said, “I’ll reply to a message first.”

After sending the message, he returned and said, “I’ll play a game; that should clear up everything.”

“Okay, okay, thank you so much.”

Dong Jianguo hurriedly pulled his chair closer. Just then, his phone rang. Seeing the caller ID “Crazy Brother,” he calmly ended the call and turned off his phone.

“Sorry, they’re in special training right now. Enemy troops, please stay away. Brotherhood can wait,” Chen Dong quipped.

Mo Yin logged into his account, but since the IP address differed from his usual login, he needed to verify his identity with his phone. He picked up his phone, which was face down on the table, and then set it back down after entering the verification code. As he did this, he said, “Ye Chi is outside, go and fetch him.”