Chapter 45

With gossip like this, how could the busybodies possibly let it go without endlessly chewing it over? There were supporters, detractors, those with good intentions, and plenty with malicious ones. All kinds of voices intermingled, creating a buzz louder than any festival.

The forums were flooded with thread after thread.

[How is this not ‘sleeping with a fan’?! Didn’t 103 just come out and admit it himself? And what about that whole SF crew? Fans, stop trying to cover this up. Doesn’t your face hurt from defending him? Where are all those people who said others were just making up stories from pictures?]

[Even if we take a step back and say they’re dating now, wasn’t his girlfriend still a fan before? A professional player who doesn’t focus on competitions and instead gets involved with a fan? I think neither of them are innocent—just a couple of drama queens!]

[He’s just a support player; I don’t even know why he’s so popular. Isn’t it just a bunch of brain-dead fans attracted to his looks? If we’re talking real skill, where does he even rank? The whole SF team doesn’t even make the cut, let’s be honest!]

[Just won a summer championship and already getting cocky. Looks like SF’s only capable of this much!]

…

—These were the views of those who disliked Yu Linran or SF, but for the SF team and the two people involved, there was no need to take these comments to heart. Even sparing a glance at them felt like a waste of time.

After all, they were using the derogatory nickname “Comfort Team.”(舒服队 = Shū Fu Team) This term was coined by Yu Linran’s anti-fans, mocking SF for supposedly gaining all its popularity from female fans attracted solely to Yu Linran’s looks.

[Looking decent is enough to get you worshipped. SF is really living up to its name, enjoying the comfort of fame in the professional scene,]—this phrase had practically become the blueprint for haters’ attacks.

However, some people believed it wasn’t as serious as it seemed.

[Just because she’s a fan, they can’t be together? 103 never deceived or toyed with his fans’ feelings, and he didn’t mess around with any of them. He just happens to like someone who’s also his fan. Why shouldn’t they be allowed to be together? Who made that rule?!]

[Some people are going too far. Does the ‘Dragon King’ have any black marks in his competitive career? In which match didn’t he give it his all? In less than three years, SF has come this far, and that’s no small feat. In esports, skill is what counts, and SF has performed well throughout the entire season this year. I don’t see any reason to hate on them!]

[So what if he’s dating? Esports players are human too, and apart from being his fan, what else is there to criticize about his girlfriend? She’s not an escort or a random model. In fact, she seems like a well-off and beautiful woman who’s been genuinely devoted to the Dragon King, supporting SF from its reformation until now. You can’t just condemn her because she’s a fan.]

…

Whether supportive or critical, the matter was already settled.

Amid the storm of public opinion, the long-awaited response from Ying Nian finally came as she logged in and reposted Yu Linran’s Weibo.

Her reply read:

【There are many things I never expected, but anything related to you—I think they’re all good.】

…

Ying Nian’s apartment was a two-bedroom unit. One of the rooms was set up as a study, but it could easily accommodate an air mattress if guests stayed over. The large balcony welcomed plenty of sunlight into the space, creating a bright and airy environment that lifted both body and mind.

Every evening, as nightfall approached, she would curl up in the corner of her sofa with a warm drink in hand, reading under the soft glow of the lights in her cozy, warmly lit living room. The kitchen, of course, was fully equipped, with all the appliances she needed. Even the tableware was newly purchased, and her soup-making skills, learned at home, finally had their moment to shine.

In the afternoon, the sunshine poured in, and the early autumn chill was kept at bay by the transparent glass doors.

Yu Linran sat leaning against the armrest of the sofa, while Ying Nian rested her head on his lap, chatting with friends and fretting over what to have for dinner.

“Isn’t it still early?” Yu Linran, unable to focus due to her sighing and grumbling, paused the match video he had been watching on his phone and playfully ruffled her hair. “How about I cook for you?”

Ying Nian looked up in surprise. “You can cook?”

“No,” he replied.

“…Then you’ll cook for me?” Ying Nian asked, a bit skeptical.

Yu Linran, completely unbothered, responded without a hint of embarrassment, “I’ll give it a try, maybe it’ll turn out delicious.”

Ying Nian still didn’t trust his cooking skills. “Let’s just eat out; washing dishes is a hassle.”

This year’s World Championship was being held domestically, and they were currently in the group stage, meaning he rarely had any free time.

Just as they were talking, a new WeChat message popped up.

Ying Nian’s gaze shifted to her phone as she typed out a string of messages. Yu Linran, who could only see the back of her phone from his position, couldn’t help but ask, “Who are you chatting with?”

“Zhou Yao,” Ying Nian replied without looking up from her screen.

Yu Linran had heard her mention Zhou Yao and a few other close friends before.

Noticing her level of focus, Yu Linran’s curiosity grew. “What are you talking about?” he asked.

Ying Nian didn’t answer him immediately. She first sent a voice message to Zhou Yao: “I’m at the apartment, you can send it over. But what exactly are you sending?”

Then she turned to Yu Linran. “Yaoyao said she’s sending us something.”

“Us?”

“She said it’s for you, a meeting gift.” Ying Nian was puzzled. “I wonder what she’s sending?”

She had no idea, and Yu Linran certainly didn’t know either.

About half an hour later, as Ying Nian fidgeted in curiosity, the delivery finally arrived. After signing for it, she couldn’t wait to tear it open. She had ripped halfway through the packaging before remembering it was meant for Yu Linran, so she pushed it in front of him. “You open it.”

He responded, “If you want to open it, go ahead.”

“Are you sure? I’ll really open it.”

Yu Linran nodded without a word.

Ying Nian excitedly continued unwrapping the package. Once opened, she found a set of premium chrysanthemum tea. Inside the gift box were several bottles, each containing different varieties of chrysanthemum tea.

“Tea?!” 

Ying Nian was utterly confused. She then noticed a card inside the box and picked it up. Zhou Yao’s neat yet strong handwriting had written a few lines.

【To Nian Nian:

Chrysanthemum tea helps reduce internal heat. When Mr. Yu is feeling agitated, make sure he drinks more tea. If he makes you cry again, next time Jiang Jiashu’s temper flares up, I might just let Xuze step aside and not stop him!】

Ying Nian was stunned at first, then warmth spread through her heart. When she casually mentioned at the café that Yu Linran had once made her cry while talking to Zhou Yao and Zheng Yinyin, Zhou Yao had held her hand in solidarity. Ying Nian hadn’t expected her to remember it so well.

“In your friend’s eyes, am I just a hot-tempered brute?” Yu Linran raised his eyebrow.

Ying Nian, reminded of that memory, glared at him. “Oh, really? You think you have a great temper?”

Yu Linran pouted, choosing to remain silent.

He gently patted her hair and, after a brief pause, said, “Next time something bothers you, don’t keep it inside. Just tell me directly.”

As Ying Nian opened her mouth to respond, he added, “And if you’re going to cry, let me know in advance so I can cover your mouth.”

“You—!”

Ying Nian, fuming, put the gift down and pounced on him, biting his shoulder through his clothes.

“I said you were like a dog, and you still won’t admit it…”

“You’re the one who’s like a dog! You!”

Of course, Ying Nian didn’t actually bite down hard, and Yu Linran let her have her fun. The two of them ended up tangled together on the sofa.

Ying Nian’s hair got all messy, and she stood up, huffing angrily. “I’m not playing with you anymore!”

Ying Nian turned around and sat on the floor between the coffee table and the sofa, where a soft, warm carpet was laid out. She opened WeChat and sent a video call invitation to Zhou Yao, who must have been holding her phone, as she answered within three seconds.

“Yaoyao!” Ying Nian beamed at the familiar face on the screen, her smile blooming like a flower. “I got the gift you sent! It’s perfect! I’ll make sure to supervise him so he drinks the tea properly!”

Zhou Yao, who was so pale she almost seemed out of focus on the camera, chuckled softly, “Good.”

“When are you coming to hang out?” Ying Nian leaned back, resting her head against Yu Linran’s leg. He sat quietly in the corner of the sofa, waiting patiently for her to finish her chat. After a quick glance at the phone, his gaze remained fixed on Ying Nian.

Zhou Yao said, “I’ll come when I have some free time. The first year of university is pretty busy. Let’s meet up when I go back for the New Year. Yinyin will also be back for winter break.”

Ying Nian wasn’t too happy about waiting, but she could only agree with a “fine.”

As they chatted, the camera’s focus drifted slightly, and Ying Nian suddenly noticed suspicious marks on Zhou Yao’s neck. She gasped dramatically and pointed at the screen, exclaiming, “Yaoyao, your neck! Well, well, well… you’ve been hiding this from me!”

Zhou Yao froze for a moment, but before the blush could rise to her cheeks or before Ying Nian could finish her sentence, a hand appeared from behind her, pulling up a thin blanket to cover her completely.

Chen Xuze’s world-weary face suddenly appeared on the screen.

“If you’re going to date, do it properly, and be serious about it,” he said as he pulled Zhou Yao into his arms. Then, looking at Ying Nian, he added, “For Yaoyao’s sake, I’ll congratulate you on finding a boyfriend. But honestly, friendships are overrated. I suggest you consider giving them up, especially friends like our dear Yaoyao…”

“Xuze!” 

Zhou Yao, realizing he was once again targeting Ying Nian, immediately started hitting him in frustration.

Ying Nian secretly hoped Zhou Yao would beat him senseless. Seeing Chen Xuze about to end the video call, she quickly spat out, “Chen Xuze, you big idiot—”

The video call ended, cutting off with her rather impolite remark.

Just as she put her phone down, Yu Linran pulled her up onto the sofa.

“What are you doing?”

“Interrupting someone else’s relationship will get you kicked by a donkey.”

“You’re the one who’ll get kicked by a donkey!” Ying Nian retorted.

Yu Linran smiled slightly and wrapped his arm tightly around her waist, pulling her close. The two of them lay face-to-face on the not-so-spacious sofa.

“I’m going to fall off…!”

“You won’t,” he said calmly. “Just don’t move, and you won’t.”

Ying Nian froze. His face was so close, too close, and suddenly she felt a bit nervous.

“What are you doing?”

“I’ve been thinking about something the past couple of days.”

“What is it?”

“People online keep saying I’m ‘sleeping with a fan,’ and it’s been bothering me.”

She frowned, trying to comfort him. “Why let what those people say get to you…”

Yu Linran’s next words caught her off guard. “Well, it’s just… I haven’t done anything yet, so I feel like I’m missing out.”

Ying Nian froze for two seconds, her face instantly turning bright red. She glared at him, trying to act fierce. “Stop talking nonsense!” In an attempt to ease the awkwardness, she changed the subject, stammering, “You… you… Yi Shen, oh right, Yi Shen told me that you once said you weren’t interested in sleeping with fans or having any interest in them. Looks like you’re eating your words now.”

She squinted, mocking him. Yu Linran didn’t care at all. “What I actually said was, ‘I’m not interested in sleeping with fans.'”

Ying Nian smirked. “What’s the difference?”

“No difference?” He raised an eyebrow, shrugging lightly. “Whatever. Either way, I take that back now.”

“Not approved, rejected!”

Yu Linran stared at her for two seconds before pretending to sigh. “Then I guess you’ll have to quit being a fan.”

“Why should I stop being a fan? No way!”

“I hereby officially declare that Ying Nian is expelled from fan status. Starting today, you’re no longer allowed to like esports player 103…”

“I won’t, I won’t, I won’t!” Ying Nian pinched his waist, bit his shoulder, and playfully “fought” him while cursing, “Yu Linran, you’re so bad! I’m going to keep liking 103! 103 is the best! Dragon King is super handsome! I want to have Dragon King’s babies—”

Before she realized it, she had blurted out what fans usually joked about. She froze.

This was exactly what Yu Linran had been waiting for. He nodded seriously with a light smile. “Alright, Dragon King approves.”

Ying Nian’s face flushed as she quickly retorted, “That doesn’t count! I said you’d get kicked by a donkey, but you didn’t go find one, did you? Some things are just meant to be heard and forgotten!”

With a playful smile, Yu Linran said, “That won’t do. I have to give you some fan service, especially since I’m good-looking and kind-hearted.”

“I—”

Before Ying Nian could finish her sentence, Yu Linran gently grasped her chin, leaned down, and captured the rest of her words between his lips.

A sudden heat exploded in her ears. Ying Nian was already resting on his arm, and as he tightened his hold, she was enveloped securely in his embrace.

Yu Linran shifted slightly, pressing her beneath him. The sweet scent of mint washed over her, his lips and tongue warm and soft, sending an electrifying, tingling sensation that left her breathless.