Chapter 36

Chapter 36

Despite the two assaulters of TZG being generally carefree, losing the match and having such an incident happen to a teammate inevitably affected their mood. After exchanging a few casual words with Pei Ran, they laid silent once more.

Pei Ran sat on the sofa, engrossed in his phone.

He wasn't talkative by nature. If no one spoke, he wouldn't initiate conversation, and sitting silently could feel awkward, so he found something to do to pass the time.

Two topics related to TZG were trending on the hot search list. Pei Ran clicked in and read for a while, liking a few tweets that offered reasonable opinions.

His phone suddenly vibrated twice.

"Lin Kang: Pei Ran, are you free?"

"Pei Ran: What's up?"

"Lin Kang: I want to show you a post, my girlfriend insists on forwarding it to you..."

"Lin Kang: [Full City University Bar - Leak - Su Nian from Full City University's School of Electronic Information meets up with my boyfriend for hookups every weekend, there are pictures]"

【Lin Kang: She also asked me to pass on a message… saying "The scumbag had a car accident today, the mistress will get hers tomorrow. Don't shed a tear for any dog of a man."】

"Pei Ran: ..."

Pei Ran initially thought that "having proof" referred to chat records or something similar.

Never in his wildest dreams did he expect it to be a photo of Su Nian, naked except for a blanket covering his lower body, with a crude mosaic over his eyes that still betrayed his identity at a glance. The situation suggested he'd been caught in the act.

Seeing this picture, Pei Ran lost all interest and closed it.

Yan Zhun emerged from the review room. Hearing the sound, Lin Xuhuan immediately opened his eyes and looked up, stubbornly asking again, "Brother, wanna play two matches?"

"No," Yan Zhun replied. Just then, the sound of a door opening upstairs echoed through the room, drawing their attention upward.

Brother Wei, holding a cup, stepped out of his room and raised an eyebrow. "Why are you all looking at me? Little Zhun, you're here?"

Brother Wei was the oldest in the team, turning 25 soon. Only he and the coach called him "Little Zhun."

Yan Zhun nodded. "Making coffee?"

"No, just get me a glass of water." Brother Wei's tone was more relaxed than the others as he descended the stairs and headed for the pantry. "Got a moment to chat?"

The two of them weren't talkative, so their conversation was brief. Before Lin Xuhuan could even speculate about what they had discussed, Yan Zhun emerged from the pantry.

Lin Xuhuan inquired, "Brother, seriously not playing? I'm bored of duo and solo queueing."

"Not playing," Yan Zhun replied. He walked over to Pei Ran and picked up his backpack with one hand. "Let's go upstairs."

TZG was a renowned domestic esports team, a dream destination for all aspiring trainees and rookies. Just their base for the PUBG division was a five-story mansion, with an entire warehouse filled with gaming equipment. It boasted a gym, a movie room, a billiards room, and more.

Yan Zhun's room was next to Lin Xuhuan's, identical in size and decor to the other team members' rooms, complete with an en suite bathroom, a TV, and a computer.

Yan Zhun's window was open, and the curtains billowed like waves in the night breeze. His usual black cap was casually hung on a chair, while the bed was tidied up but not overly so, striking a balance between neatness and casualness.

Despite being clean and free of any distinct scent, Pei Ran sensed Yan Zhun's presence permeating every corner of the room.

Yan Zhun placed the backpack on the chair and turned to ask, "Heading back tonight?"

Pei Ran opened his mouth, momentarily stunned.

After a few seconds, he said, "Would it be inconvenient for me to stay?"

Yan Zhun replied, "Not at all. The bed is huge."

Pei Ran: "…"

Yan Zhun checked the time. "It's late now. I'm afraid the dorm supervisor won't let you in if you go back."

Pei Ran realized he might have overthought things. Yan Zhun looked completely relaxed, as if he were merely accommodating a friend.

So Pei Ran tried to appear casual as well and nodded. "…Alright then."

They had Sichuan cuisine for dinner, so their clothes carried the scent. Yan Zhun fetched one of his casual outfits for Pei Ran – something he'd bought for comfort and loose fit – which ended up being even looser on Pei Ran. The collar hung messily, revealing a large expanse of fair skin that glowed under the lamplight.

When Yan Zhun initially asked Pei Ran to stay, he hadn't thought much about it. But when Pei Ran emerged from the bathroom wearing his clothes, all sorts of thoughts, both good and bad, raced through his mind.

Yan Zhun asked, "Is the shirt too big?"

Pei Ran stood sideways, bending his elbow as he wiped the ends of his hair with a towel. "Just a bit, but it's very comfortable."

The T-shirt's sleeves hung loosely, revealing a glimpse of what lay beneath.

Yan Zhun casually glanced over and then suddenly stood up, grabbing a set of clothes at random. "I'm going to shower."

The bathroom had just been used, and it was filled with steam. Yan Zhun stood under the showerhead with his eyes closed for a while before lifting his hand to adjust the water temperature to a cooler setting.

Exiting the bathroom, Pei Ran was found lying on his side on the right side of the bed, his eyes closed, seemingly asleep since an unknown time.

Yan Zhun exhaled deeply. He approached quietly, pulled a corner of the blanket to cover Pei Ran's stomach. With the room heated, the temperature was adequate, and too much coverage would make it uncomfortably warm.

Yan Zhun, out of habit, shampooed his hair while bathing, making the use of a hairdryer impossible. His phone beeped, signaling a message from his coach, who informed him that a few physiotherapists arranged by the team were on their way and asked if Yan Zhun wanted them to attend to his hand as well.

Yan Zhun replied with a simple "not necessary," then opened a drawer to retrieve an unopened pack of cigarettes. He planned to head to the balcony and let the natural wind dry his hair. Before leaving, he switched off the room lights.

The night breeze had a soothing effect, calming him significantly.

It had been a long time since Yan Zhun had touched a cigarette. After taking a puff, he held it between his fingers without drawing more. Leaning against the railing, he gazed absentmindedly at the street lamp downstairs.

In the tea room, Brother Wei hadn't actually said much.

He mentioned that he started competitive gaming at fifteen, initially with CS, and now with PUBG. Rounded off, he'd been playing for nearly a decade. In those ten years, he'd experienced both adoration and vilification, the depths of despair and the heights of triumph. He had no regrets; he was content.

Then he turned to Yan Zhun and asked, "What about you?"

Are you content?

It wasn't until the cigarette was almost burned down to its filter that Yan Zhun took a puff.

He lit another one.

When Pei Ran opened his eyes, he caught sight of the flame on the balcony.

He didn't even remember how he fell asleep, perhaps due to the late-night drawing session last night followed by a full day of classes today. He had almost dozed off in the living room earlier.

Regaining consciousness, Pei Ran threw back the covers and got out of bed.

Stepping barefoot, he made no sound until he slid open the balcony door. Only then did Yan Zhun turn around. Upon seeing him, Yan Zhun raised an eyebrow and extinguished the cigarette.

Assuming he had disturbed Pei Ran's sleep, Yan Zhun asked, "Did the smoke drift inside?"

"No," Pei Ran replied. "Why are you standing out here? Did I... take up the whole bed just now?"

Yan Zhun chuckled. "No, I just came out for some fresh air."

Pei Ran glanced at his hair. "You're blow-drying your hair with the wind like this?"

"Mm-hmm, setting my style." Yan Zhun moved the ashtray slightly away. "Go in first. It's cold out here."

"And you?"

"I'll wait until the smoke on me dissipates."

Pei Ran indeed disliked the smell of cigarettes; generally, non-smokers wouldn't tolerate secondhand smoke.

But strangely, Yan Zhun's brand didn't seem that unpleasant to him. The scent mingled with the night breeze, creating a unique aroma.

He stepped out onto the balcony and closed the sliding door behind him.

Yan Zhun was taken aback. Lowering his head, he noticed Pei Ran's bare feet on the dark balcony floor.

"Won't you put on your shoes?"

"It's too dark. I couldn't find them," Pei Ran explained.

Yan Zhun removed his slippers. "Step on mine."

Pei Ran obediently stepped onto Yan Zhun's feet. Suddenly, he recalled the time when Yan Zhun compared their shoe sizes with him. Without thinking, he took two steps forward and aligned one of his feet against Yan Zhun's.

Their soles touching, Pei Ran studied them intently for a moment. "Your feet aren't much bigger than mine."

As Pei Ran drew closer, Yan Zhun caught the scent of his body wash on him—his own, in fact. With it trapped under the covers, the aroma was even more potent.

Yan Zhun lowered his head, glimpsing the expanse of fair collarbone before him.

Yan Zhun averted his gaze, only to look back again. Pei Ran was still engrossed in comparing the size of their soles. After a few repetitions, Yan Zhun leaned his elbow on the railing and teased, "You're flirting with me."

Pei Ran paused, lifting his gaze to meet Yan Zhun's.

Yan Zhun's silhouette was obscured by the darkness. He seemed aloof when not smiling, with a crescent moon seemingly hidden in the depths of his downward cast eyes.

Pei Ran had just woken up and lacked the energy to think. With how close they were, he fell silent for a moment before asking, "Is that not allowed?"

Yan Zhun couldn't tell if Pei Ran was deliberately posing the question or genuinely uncertain.

But it didn't matter.

"Pei Ran." After a long while, Yan Zhun called his name in a low, resonant voice, "Come closer."

Pei Ran shifted forward, almost pressing their bodies together.

In a soothing tone, Yan Zhun said, "Kiss me."

Pei Ran was grateful for the darkness, as no one could see his flushed cheeks. He suppressed the thumping in his throat and calmly acknowledged with an "Mm," then tilted his head up, blindly seeking Yan Zhun's lips in the dark.

He caught a whiff of cigarette smoke, subtle yet alluring.

Pei Ran felt his way through the darkness to find the right spot on Yan Zhun's lips.

—Snap!

A sharp, abrupt sound of a door being pulled open rudely interrupted the lingering intimacy.

Both men froze for a moment before they separated and turned their heads in unison towards the source of the noise.

Each room in TZG had its own balcony, separated by only a short distance, allowing easy conversation across the gap.

Lin Xuhuan stood on the adjacent balcony, bare-chested with a loosely tied towel around his waist. In his hand, he held a pair of red underwear hanging from a clothes hanger, frozen in the posture of someone about to dry clothes, staring at them in stunned silence.

Under the deep night and dewy mist, his red underwear fluttered nervously in the cold breeze.

Silence fell upon them, and no one made any further movement.

Yan Zhun was the first to regain his composure. He raised his hand and covered Pei Ran's eyes.

Lin Xuhuan: "?"

Seeing that Yan Zhun didn't move, he coolly asked, "Are you planning to hold it till it dries in the wind?"

"..." Lin Xuhuan trembled as he hesitantly hung up the underwear.

The hanger was indeed in place, but the person was still standing there. The two of them locked eyes once more.

Yan Zhun asked, "Want to admire the view?"

Lin Xuhuan finally found his voice, "...No!"

Yan Zhun said, "Come in."

Lin Xuhuan replied, "Sure thing, big bro."