Chapter 42: Extra Episode 2

Chapter 42: Extra Episode 2

Recently, the team that will represent the domestic region in the upcoming PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds Global Invitational has finally been officially announced. TZG, the top-ranking squad domestically, has successfully secured their invitation to the international competition next month. The revelation of their team roster immediately sparked considerable buzz.

"PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG) has long been overshadowed by MOBA games in the esports arena due to its relatively lower spectator appeal. However, it has lately sparked an unprecedented amount of discussion. The reason is straightforward –"

TZG recently clinched the championship in a major tournament. In the final match, their newly appointed captain, TZG-GOD, who had been with the team for less than a season, secured an impressive 11 kills, leading his squad to victory. Footage of his first-person perspective gameplay spread across the internet, leaving all players in awe, praising it as an exhilarating display of skill.

Amidst the animated discussions among the players, Team TZG had actually arrived at the location of the global tournament in Germany a week prior and had been training relentlessly for six consecutive days.

TZG had just finished a training match, and the members returned to the lounge to rest.

Both large sofas in the lounge were occupied by sleeping players. Despite the room being just a few steps away, nobody seemed willing to get up. E-sports teenagers typically had irregular schedules, and after several days of shooting promotional MVs and photos for the event organizers, some couldn't resist yawning during training.

The only team member who remained awake sat at his designated spot, leisurely scrolling through his phone.

Yan Zhun was browsing his boyfriend's Weibo.

His Weibo account had been registered by their coach, and within a few months, it had amassed nearly a million followers, growing faster than some minor celebrities. However, Yan Zhun followed less than ten people, consisting of the team, teammates, and sponsors, leaving only a small illustrator with a few thousand fans.

Before Yan Zhun returned to the competitive scene, Pei Ran had already posted his portrait. After Yan Zhun gained fame from that match, his Weibo attracted many spectators, and now there were over seven thousand comments under that drawing, filled with all sorts of speculations.

Last night, Pei Ran had repeatedly asked over the phone, "What should I do?" and "How should I respond?", sounding utterly perplexed, which made Yan Zhun burst into laughter.

Today, when he refreshed Pei Ran's Weibo, he noticed a new post.

"Fei Yi: I liked GOD even before he started competing, and I drew TZG's uniform because I happened to be commissioned by a fan for a private drawing of one of TZG's players. I don't know any inside information about the teams; I'm just a fan. Please don't jump to conclusions, thank you. Perhaps GOD followed me by accident; please stop tagging him in the comments. I'm a guy, not a female fan... Thanks again, but I won't be accepting any more drawing commissions."

"I saw that some fans created a Weibo fan page for you, and it already has over a hundred thousand followers. Would you like to follow them back?" The coach whispered beside Yan Zhun, not wanting to disturb others. "Sure, not many players get this kind of treatment."

"No," Yan Zhun replied without looking up from his screen. "I'm just a gamer. Why would I need fans?"

"Ungrateful," Brother Wei chuckled, shaking his phone. "Not long ago, fans were still voicing their dissatisfaction on my behalf, saying no one could replace me and urging me to return to competition. Now... they're all telling me to take good care of my injury and wishing me a happy retirement."

The coach nodded. "That's just how ruthless society can be."

Yan Zhun didn't bother listening to their banter. He read Pei Ran's first sentence on Weibo several times, contemplating leaving a comment, but eventually decided to simply retweet it.

"TZG-GOD: Thank you, Teacher Fei, for liking me. I also really love your drawings."

That night, during their video call, Pei Ran frowned and spoke with a conflicted expression, "You added two extra spaces."

"Our hands shook," was the captain's flippant explanation after securing an impressive 11 kills in a match. Yan Zhun wiped his face clean and hung up the towel. "When are you coming over?"

Pei Ran's passport had expired, and he was currently in the process of renewing it.

"I have tickets for next Tuesday." Feeling guilty, Pei Ran turned off the Weibo notification. "Delete that Weibo post."

The coach had spoken to them, stating that the team didn't object to relationships but didn't endorse public coming out, as the potential consequences were unpredictable. The team deemed it unnecessary to take such a risk.

Yan Zhun said, "I can't even promote my favorite artist?"

Pei Ran felt a urge to laugh but managed to maintain a stern expression as he called Yan Zhun by his name. "Yan Zhun."

"I won't." Yan Zhun looked down at him, unable to resist taking a few screenshots. "When you come next week, you can delete them yourself."

-

On the day Pei Ran flew to Cologne, the PUBG Global Invitational officially kicked off.

By the time Pei Ran arrived at the hotel, TZG's team had already departed. He left his luggage with the staff who stayed behind and hurried to the competition venue.

The coach had arranged for Pei Ran to sit in the front row, but he still couldn't see the contestants' faces clearly without relying on the big screen. As soon as he sat down, the competitors began to enter one after another.

Seated next to Pei Ran was also a Chinese person, a group of Chinese girls. When the camera panned to Yan Zhun, their shrill screams startled Pei Ran.

It wasn't until the camera moved away that the surroundings finally quieted down a bit. Pei Ran took out his phone and sent a message to his coach to let him know that he had arrived, so the coach could rest assured.

"Ahhhh! I got GOD's WeChat ID!!!"

Pei Ran paused in his typing, unable to resist glancing over at the girl beside him.

The lighting in the audience section wasn't bright enough for him to see her face clearly, but he could tell that she emanated a delicate fragrance that was uniquely feminine.

"Really?! How did you get it?!"

"Shh... I bought it from a TZG staff member."

"Wow!!! Have you added him yet?"

"I'll add him after this match is over." The girl couldn't help but laugh. "I even asked specifically, GOD doesn't have a girlfriend."

"I have high hopes for you, sis. Upload your most stunning photo as your profile picture."

Pei Ran silently slipped his phone into his pocket.

The girls chatted excitedly for quite a while before they finally turned their attention to him as the competition was about to begin.

"Ahh, fellow compatriot!" The girl's eyes crinkled in a smile. "Are you also an international student?"

Pei Ran shook his head. "I'm just here to watch the tournament."

"Wow, a true fan! You came all the way abroad just to watch the PUBG match?" the girl said. "Which team are you a fan of? TZG or WWP? Or perhaps a particular member?"

Pei Ran fell silent for a moment.

The girl caught on. "You like a foreign team? My friend is into them too..."

"No." The stage lights flickered on, and Pei Ran instinctively looked forward.

Noticing that Pei Ran wasn't in the mood for conversation, the girl pursed her lips, nodded, and was about to look away.

"… I'm a fan of TZG's GOD." Pei Ran turned his head and smiled at her. "I admire him."

TZG played magnificently in that opening match. Though they only secured the runner-up position (second place), their team collectively bagged fourteen kills, immediately setting them apart from other teams on the kill leaderboard on the first day.

Amidst the uproar, the TZG players stepped down from the stage.

Lin Xuhuan stretched and said, "Tsk, I was already imagining what to say in the victory interview when we were in the final circle."

"Stop talking like that," the coach advised. "Do you want more criticism from online users?"

"No worries, they're used to my trash talk by now."

The coach rolled his eyes wordlessly. As he turned to respond, he saw Yan Zhun had already donned his down jacket, zipped it up tightly, and concealed his team uniform completely.

The coach called out to him, "You're not in a hurry to leave yet. They haven't decided where to have dinner."

"I won't be joining you. You guys go ahead." Yan Zhun pulled down his cap, put on his mask, and slung his equipment bag over his shoulder.

The coach immediately understood, "I'll ask someone to pick up Pei Ran and invite him to join us for dinner."

"I'll take him back to the hotel," Yan Zhun said.

Everyone's expressions turned gossipy all at once.

Although they knew Yan Zhun had self-control, the coach still patted his shoulder as a reminder, "We're still in the middle of the competition, show some restraint."

Lin Xuhuan, sitting nearby with sharp ears, immediately responded, "It's fine, the hotel has great soundproofing, I've tested it out."

Yan Zhun casually picked up a cushion and tossed it playfully at Lin Xuhuan's face. "Let's go."

In Cologne in March, the temperature was close to freezing. Pei Ran stood in a corner of the venue's hall, engrossed in his phone.

Suddenly, someone gently tugged on his backpack. Pei Ran turned around to see the familiar black brim of a cap.

Yan Zhun was well-covered, his voice muffled by the mask yet still low and resonant, "Have you been waiting long?"

"No, I just came out," Pei Ran replied. As he spoke, his phone rang.

He had originally planned to return to the hotel alone, so he had ordered a car earlier. Now, it had arrived.

Pei Ran said, "… I didn't have time to cancel."

"Perfect," Yan Zhun adjusted the mask hanging on his left ear. "Back to the hotel."

In the car on the way back, Yan Zhun's phone rang incessantly, but he remained still, allowing it to ring.

He had trained late into the night and then woke up early to compete, remaining tense from the moment he woke up until he got in the car with Pei Ran. It was only then that his shoulders finally relaxed.

The backseat of the car was spacious, but they still chose to sit shoulder to shoulder. Under their thick sleeves, their hands intertwined naturally.

Before Pei Ran could ask, Yan Zhun shifted forward and sat lower, leaning his head on Pei Ran's shoulder.

"I didn't sleep well last night," he murmured.

Without thinking, Pei Ran instinctively adjusted his position to make it more comfortable for Yan Zhun to rest. "Then take a nap. I'll wake you when we arrive."

At the hotel, Yan Zhun fell asleep immediately. Pei Ran retrieved their luggage from the staff, tidied up briefly, and took a shower. There were no direct flights from Chengdu to Cologne, so he had taken a two-hour train ride after landing. He felt uneasy if he didn't freshen up.

When he came out, Yan Zhun was still sleeping. Pei Ran decided to wait until he woke up before requesting room service. Just as he pressed the 'Do Not Disturb' button, he heard a muffled question from the bed, "Not done packing yet?"

"Alright," Pei Ran froze for a moment. "I thought you were asleep. Do you want dinner?"

"I don't feel like it," Yan Zhun opened his eyes. "Come here."

The moment Pei Ran lay on the bed, he was embraced as if he were a pillow.

Yan Zhun said, "I haven't showered yet, but this inner shirt has been covered by my team uniform, so it's not dirty. Does it bother you?"

Pei Ran allowed himself to be held and replied, "Not at all."

Encouraged by the lack of protest, Yan Zhun intensified his actions, lowering his face into the crook of Pei Ran's neck to inhale the scent of his shower gel.

It had been almost two weeks since he last saw Pei Ran.

Yan Zhun's phone vibrated incessantly on the table.

Pei Ran asked, "Should we let the coach know that we've arrived at the hotel?"

"We're not children."

Pei Ran had no choice but to admit, "…My neck is a bit itchy."

Yan Zhun paused for two seconds before bursting into laughter, his breath tickling Pei Ran's neck even more.

Yan Zhun slowly sat up and handed the phone to Pei Ran.

Confused, Pei Ran looked at him. "?"

"Didn't you want to delete your Weibo?"

Only then did Pei Ran remember about the Weibo incident. Yan Zhun's phone was on the WeChat interface, and there were already ten messages from the coach.

"You should reply to those messages first," Pei Ran said, glancing at the bottom of the screen before quickly looking away. "…It seems there's also a friend request."

Yan Zhun lay back down and, under Pei Ran's watchful gaze, replied to the message and opened the friend request.

"Maa has sent you a friend request with a message: QAQ!~"

"Maa has sent you a friend request with a message: GOD, please approve it, pretty please~~"

Yan Zhun's personal WeChat was not given out casually. He stared at the verification message for a few seconds before realizing it was from a fan.

Frowning, he was just about to tap decline when he noticed the person sitting beside him staring intently at his phone.

"I've never given my WeChat to a fan before," Yan Zhun declared.

Pei Ran was taken aback for a moment before responding, "I know."

He briefly recounted what had happened at the competition earlier that day.

After finishing his story, Pei Ran hesitated but still said, "Actually... if you want to add a fan, you can."

Lin Xuhuan and the others had added a few fans, all of them die-hard supporters who would shower their live streams with virtual rockets.

In Pei Ran's mind, as long as the conversations didn't get too intimate, it should be fine.

And not too many fans, either.

Yan Zhun interrupted his thoughts, "How did you reply?"

Pei Ran froze. "What?"

Yan Zhun continued, "She asked which contestant you liked, and what did you say?"

"I said I liked GOD," Pei Ran replied.

"..."

Yan Zhun had intended to tease him but had forgotten that Pei Ran was always truthful and would answer any question asked of him.

Yan Zhun declined the friend request, stating, "No need, one fan is enough. I wouldn't be able to manage any more."

Pei Ran blurted out, "An extra one?"

Yan Zhun hummed in response, "An illustrator, quite skilled in drawing, and even declared their love for me on Weibo."

Pei Ran: "..."

"But he doesn't let me retweet his posts. Don't you think he might be losing his fans soon?"

Pei Ran's ears turned red, and he fell silent for a moment. "He didn't."

Yan Zhun replied, "Who knows? It seems like he doesn't want to be associated with me."

No sooner had Yan Zhun finished speaking than his lips were kissed.

Pei Ran: "I told you, he didn't."

After the role-playing ended, Yan Zhun released his grip and pressed his hand against Pei Ran's forehead, gently yet forcefully returning the kiss.

With their lovers separated for several days, even the slightest touch could ignite sparks. After a moment, Yan Zhun lifted his head with self-restraint and said, "Don't sneak kisses on me during this time. I won't be able to control myself."

Yan Zhun had some boundaries in this regard; he wouldn't do anything too excessive during competitions, especially since he might have to attend a meeting with the coach later.

Pei Ran wiped the moisture from his lips and hummed in response.

A few seconds later, Pei Ran added earnestly, "But you can kiss me."

Yan Zhun: "..."

At times, Yan Zhun truly doubted that Pei Ran was doing it on purpose.

After lying down for half an hour, Yan Zhun called room service, and the hotel promptly delivered their dinner.

To avoid making Pei Ran feel uncomfortable, Yan Zhun rinsed the hotel's cutlery and crockery. When he emerged, Pei Ran was on the phone, wearing gloves as he peeled shrimp with his phone on speaker.

"A stroll around the church square would be nice; there are many street painters there," a soothing female voice said from the other end.

Realizing that Pei Ran was on a call with his family, Yan Zhun quietly sat aside, not wanting to disturb them.

The mother and son chatted for a while before finally showing signs of ending the call.

"Are you staying with Yan Zhun now?" Pei Ran's mother suddenly asked.

Yan Zhun froze, turning to look at him with a rare, slightly dazed expression.

Pei Ran hummed in response.

"He must be busy lately, so you should probably book another room," his mother suggested.

Pei Ran: "I'll discuss it with him."

After hanging up the call, Pei Ran turned to see Yan Zhun's surprised expression. He explained, "A while back, she noticed that I was always watching your matches, so I told her about it. Do you mind?"

Of course, Yan Zhun didn't mind at all. However, after learning about this, his sleepiness vanished, replaced by an inexplicable sense of nervousness.

As a result, he found himself staring at the ceiling long after Pei Ran had fallen asleep.

Moments later, Yan Zhun quietly got out of bed, threw on a casual jacket, and took his phone to the balcony.

He searched for the WeChat ID he had recently added back.

"Zhun Approved: Dad, what are you doing?"

Not receiving a reply, he sent a message to his mother.

"Mother: We just woke up. Give us a moment, he types slowly."

"Self-Disciplined Yan: What do you want?"

"Yan Zhun: Missed you, wanted to chat."

"Yan Zhun: How's your health recently?"

Father Yan pushed up his glasses, squinting at the screen of his phone, sensing traps hidden within the flattery.

"Yan Yanlu: I'm much better without you around."

"Yan Zhun: Mmm, I've made a discovery and want to discuss it with you."

"Yan Yanlu: Hold on a moment."

"Yan Zhun: I've realized that I have feelings for men."

After sending this message, Yan Zhun set his father's chat to do-not-disturb mode and opened a travel app to book a hotel for the day the competition ended, reserving a room for an entire week. Once the booking was confirmed, he turned back to his room.

Having stood outside for too long, Yan Zhun had caught a chill. He decided to lie outside the covers for a while, waiting for his body to warm up before getting under them.

A hand reached out from under the blankets, touching the back of his hand. Pei Ran stirred awake, half-groggily opening his eyes due to the coldness.

Before Yan Zhun could utter a word, Pei Ran leaned closer to him and stretched out his arm to embrace him, sharing half of his blanket.

"...Are you cold?" Pei Ran mumbled, half-asleep, "Come closer, I'll keep you warm."

Yan Zhun replied with a simple "Okay". Within a minute, Pei Ran's breathing had returned to its steady rhythm.

As night enveloped the town, a few snowflakes gently descended, melting as they touched the earth.

Cologne was immersed in a romantic snowy night, with the city slumbering and lovers entwined in their dreams.

Author's Note:

The story has come to a conclusion. Thank you for reading.

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