Chapter 33 – If You Are Afraid
When Mercedes-Benz reached out and invited Sang Ye to collaborate, it was during the days when Yu Haotian was preparing to deal with the guild.
As the team manager, Yu Haotian was overjoyed, but soon fell into a state of worry—Sang Ye was resistant to the endorsement, and with Tan Mo having the final say, it was impossible to get through to him. It seemed like a great opportunity would slip away for no reason.
Yu Haotian felt like crying.
The well-off couple didn’t need to worry about making ends meet!
So, Yu Haotian played a little trick and approached Sang Ye directly, bypassing Tan Mo.
However, to his surprise…
—“Of course, I’ll do it.”
Yu Haotian looked at the boy on the other side who had readily agreed, his first reaction was to think he had misheard, and he took a while to recover.
He hadn’t even started to persuade him.
Sang Ye gulped down a bowl of wontons that had been half-drowned in vinegar and wiped his mouth with a napkin: “Zhu Tu offers five hundred thousand, and Mercedes-Benz offers fifty million. Only a fool wouldn’t accept.”
Yu Haotian’s expression brightened, and he gave a thumbs-up: “Clear-minded! Clear-minded!”
He quickly and happily finalized the deal.
Sang Ye’s willingness to take on the endorsement wasn’t just about the money; it was also sparked by Xiao Pai’s words—WLG was running out of sponsorship for the summer competition.
Sponsorship is a matter of face; as a fan, he didn’t want to see his favorite players take the field with bare chests on their jerseys, lacking any sponsorship logos.
Sang Ye would never allow that to happen to Talk.
His idol couldn’t be subjected to any grievances.
On the morning when everyone was leaving for the airport, WLG’s official Weibo account released the promotional poster of Sang Ye for the Mercedes-Benz S-Class.
—Under the shimmering night sky, a boy in a light biker jacket sat slightly turned, with one foot resting on the car’s hood. His messy, milk-white hair was styled effortlessly, and his piercing gaze was directed at the camera. Cyberpunk-style lighting softly highlighted the side of his fair face.
Next to the poster were two lines of text:
[Pure & Sensual]
[The World is Yours to Feel]
Whether in terms of quality or screen presence, it was on par with any celebrity endorsement.
Netizens finally understood: [The sponsor might not fully support WLG, but they’re definitely captivated by Song’s breathtaking looks.]
Before departure, while getting into the car, Yu Haotian was busy filming a vlog with his camera, which would later be uploaded to Weibo—fans loved it.
“Stop filming, stop filming,” Xiao Pai, holding a pillow, slumped in his seat and turned his head to the side. “Filming us now? No one can even keep their eyes open at this hour.”
If it weren’t for the flight, they’d still be asleep at this time.
For these game-addicted teenagers who stayed up late, waking up early was practically torture.
Yu Haotian zoomed in on Xiao Pai’s face, focusing on his swollen eyes. “It’s all about authenticity.”
“Ayy, do I not care about my image? You’re so annoying…”
Sang Ye hadn’t gotten into the car yet because he was being held up by Tan Chunshan.
The little golden retriever drooped its head, frowning, leaning pitifully against Sang Ye’s leg, as if all the light had drained from its world.
“Time to go,” Sang Ye nudged the dog with his leg, urging it, “Hurry and go eat breakfast.”
Tan Chunshan remained unmoved, stubbornly clinging to Sang Ye.
Sang Ye pursed his lips, squatted down, and grabbed the dog’s soft ears with both hands, facing its head: “I’m going to earn some money. When I come back, I’ll bring you sausages, chicken breasts, beef jerky, and goat’s milk powder. You behave and stay good at home, okay?”
Hearing those familiar names that made him drool, Tan Chunshan finally grinned, revealing a happy expression.
Tan Mo put Sang Ye’s luggage in the car trunk, walked over, and flicked Tan Chunshan’s forehead with his finger: “When I go out, I don’t see you being this reluctant. This morning you even stayed in bed and didn’t send me off, huh?”
Tan Chunshan whimpered twice and raised a paw toward Tan Mo.
Tan Mo squatted down.
Tan Chunshan turned his furry head and leaned into his arms.
Tan Mo lowered his eyes, gently rubbing the golden retriever’s head, and softly said, “Once you’ve seen 30 sunsets, I’ll bring him back.”
The gentle thud in Sang Ye’s heart made him glance up, just in time to catch the soft morning sunlight brushing across the man’s defined nose, slightly softening his sharp features.
This scene was left unedited in the first episode of the summer tournament vlog by Yu Haotian.
Fans replayed it over and over, causing the views to skyrocket.
[“OMG! Tan Shen is so gentle! Ever since Song came along, this man has been out of control!”]
[“Isn’t this a family of three???”]
[“Look at how reluctant Chunshan is to let Song go. Tsk… Tan Shen, your son already picked your wife for you.”]
[“The scene is beautiful, but it’s slightly ruined by Xiao Pai photobombing from the car in the background.”]
“D*mn it!” Xiao Pai shouted after landing and scrolling through the comments. “I’m extra, huh? I should’ve been under the car instead of in it, right? Can’t interfere with the singing and dancing CP, apparently. I’m just an eyesore.”
“Stop whining!”
As they neared the hotel and were about to check in, Yu Haotian scanned the group, mentally pairing them up.
“Miao Sen with Elan, Pai with Hu Fu, and Song with…”
His fingers paused as they reached Sang Ye.
——Divided this way, it would mean Sang Ye and Talk would be paired together.
Sang Ye sat upright in his seat, his mind racing, heart pounding. He was both nervous and a little excited, waiting for Yu Haotian’s next words.
But Yu Haotian seemed to have a change of heart, his eyes suddenly flashing. “Let’s switch things up. Pai with Song, Hu Fu with Elan…”
It felt like a bucket of cold water was dumped on Sang Ye. His brows furrowed, and he craned his neck, wanting to protest but held back, his face filled with dissatisfaction.
Yu Haotian, busy sorting through their IDs for check-in, ignored him completely.
Sang Ye couldn’t voice his objections publicly, so he kept his frustration to himself, stewing in it for a while. Feeling irritated, he kicked at the floor in frustration.
As the chair shook slightly, a soft, delicate whimper came from beside him.
“…”
Tan Mo had been resting. He opened his eyes and looked over.
He saw Sang Ye pulling the hood of his sweatshirt over his head, tightening the drawstrings so that it covered his entire face. He leaned his head against the car window and stayed still.
“…”
Although Tan Mo didn’t know what was going on, it was clear the kid had shut down.
Thanks to the sponsor’s generosity, they were staying in a five-star hotel this time.
While everyone was in the lobby corner collecting their luggage, Sang Ye, still feeling unsatisfied, refused to give up. He ran over to Yu Haotian, leaning against the reception desk. “I don’t want to share a room with Xiao Pai. We’re going to argue.”
Yu Haotian, who was registering the group, glanced over. Sang Ye still had his teal hood on, only his delicate features peeking out. Resting his head on the counter like a little milk bun, he was so cute it made Yu Haotian laugh. “Fine, then. You can room with Elan.”
“He never talks. I’ll suffocate.”
“How about Hu Fu?”
“He snores at night.”
“…” Yu Haotian gave Sang Ye a look, sighed, and continued filling out the paperwork. “Don’t be stubborn. I’m doing this for your own good.”
Sang Ye frowned, not understanding how this was supposed to be good for him.
——”Is everything going well?”
A deep, magnetic voice came from behind him.
Sang Ye shot up immediately, feeling guilty as he glanced at Tan Mo before quickly running off.
Tan Mo leaned against the counter, watching Sang Ye’s retreating figure. “What was that about?”
“The kid wanted to room with you,” Yu Haotian replied. “Should I arrange that?”
Sang Ye’s ID was still lying on the counter. Tan Mo stared at the slightly youthful photo for a moment, then patted Yu Haotian’s shoulder. “Let’s stick with the current arrangement.”
To keep the players in top form and get them some early practice, the PCL would be holding official scrimmages before the summer tournament began.
It would last four days, and the entire event would be streamed live.
The coach arranged a full day for Sang Ye, and it happened to be the very first day.
On the evening of the scrimmage, WLG arrived at the e-sports arena half an hour early. They entered through the back door and headed to the lounge, where they ran into a few members of FP in the hallway.
It was a classic case of enemies crossing paths.
Xiao Pai immediately put on a cold expression, his eyes burning with anger as if he intended to pierce the person in front of him with a deadly glare.
Dust, surrounded by his teammates, was chatting and laughing. Upon seeing the approaching group, he smiled even wider. “Hey, guys! You’re here…?”
Before he could finish, Tan Mo passed by him as if he didn’t exist, not glancing in his direction or breaking his stride.
Dust’s expression darkened.
At that moment, Sang Ye brushed past Dust, locking eyes with him and slightly curling his lips into a smirk.
“Just wait to die.”
Dust glared back, “You!”
The next second, Tan Mo raised his hand and placed it on Sang Ye’s shoulder, leading him forward.
Dust took his seat in FP’s esports section, becoming increasingly infuriated. “D*mn it, ‘wait to die’? Got quite the attitude, huh? Listen up today, don’t do anything else—just target WLG!”
His teammates exchanged glances.
Dust had already disliked that Song for a long time. Just the other day, during a live stream, he had said that WLG lacked commercial value. Then, Song immediately secured a shocking sponsorship that hit him right in the face.
“Whether we can beat them is one thing, but today WLG shouldn’t even think about getting away from us,” Dust said, adjusting his equipment with a sneer. “Let’s disrupt their rhythm; the other teams will take care of them. Since they don’t know how to behave, I’ll teach them.”
Meanwhile, in the WLG lounge…
Xiao Pai was changing into his team uniform, gritting his teeth in anger. “Bunch of noobs! When they see me, they better willingly dive into the poison circle; otherwise, I’ll knock their teeth out!”
“Hey! Hey! Hey!” The coach sensed that Xiao Pai’s mindset was dangerous and intervened, saying, “Focus on the match! What are you thinking? Everyone knows they’re not on our level, so why are you wasting time with them?”
Xiao Pai immediately dropped his evil grin and muttered, “Got it, got it. It’s not like it’s really going to delay things…”
Sang Ye pulled his team jacket out of his backpack, shook it open, and paused for a moment. He scanned it up and down, standing there frozen in place.
Yu Haotian noticed something was off. “What’s wrong?”
Sang Ye licked his lips nervously, his face gradually turning red. He said, “I… I brought the wrong team jacket.”
“Huh?” Yu Haotian was baffled as he went to check. “Didn’t I collect all the jackets you guys usually wear? How could…?”
Then he saw the jacket that was clearly too large for the boy, with [Talk] embroidered on the chest.
“Hey!” Xiao Pai exclaimed, “How do you have Tan Mo’s jacket? You’re not doing some kind of creepy art in the base, are you?”
“I’m not!” Sang Ye’s face turned even redder. He quickly glanced at Tan Mo, fearing he might misunderstand, and stammered, “I… I won it in the lottery at the Blue Whale tournament last time… I picked the wrong one from the wardrobe…”
“Well, there’s nothing to be done about it now.” Yu Haotian scratched his head. “But this one doesn’t have a sponsorship logo…”
“I have one.” By the time Tan Mo spoke, he had already pulled off his jacket and handed it to Sang Ye. “Wear mine.”
Sang Ye’s expression blanked for a few seconds as he slowly reached out and exchanged jackets with Tan Mo. “Th…thank you…”
Xiao Pai rolled his eyes and openly clicked his tongue, as if Sang Ye had just snagged a huge advantage.
Miao Sen sat silently on the sofa, staring at his hands, opening and closing his palms repeatedly.
The coach sat down next to him, lowering his voice. “Don’t be nervous; it’s just a scrimmage. Just play like you normally do.”
Miao Sen forced a slightly tense smile and nodded, hiding his hands.
Just as they were about to take the stage, Yu Haotian suddenly slapped his forehead and had a realization.
Since Song couldn’t wear his own jacket, why not wear Elan’s instead?
Elan wasn’t playing, and the two boys had similar builds.
Yu Haotian looked around, about to call out, “Song…”
Then he saw the white-haired boy huddled in a corner, wearing the oversized jacket. He had pulled the collar up to his nose, sniffing it. After a moment, he let the collar drop and looked at it with his long eyelashes, a faint smile appearing on his flushed face before he leaned in to smell it again, repeating the action.
Yu Haotian slapped his forehead in exasperation, unable to help but laugh.
He really was a hopeless romantic.
Well, let the kid be happy until the end of the match.
…
All the players took the stage, and as they settled into their transparent rooms and adjusted their equipment, the Day 1 scrimmage began.
The director focused the first few shots on the most popular players recently, and Sang Ye was the first on screen.
When his face appeared on the big screen, the audience erupted into enthusiastic applause and cheers.
The commentators were the same two from the online tournament, clearly familiar with the audience.
Commentator A: “Wow! Listen to the cheers from the crowd. In the previous online tournaments, everyone could only cheer from behind their screens, but now that we’re here offline, we can finally feel Song’s immense popularity… By the way, did Song wear the wrong jacket? It looks too big and ill-fitting. The name embroidered on the chest is…”
Commentator B chuckled: “Ah! So it’s Talk’s jacket! This is probably what people are calling the popular oversized boyfriend style. Even though the rap couples are on different teams, they’re always serving up sweetness. The fans must be celebrating right now. Hey, Song, can you hear us? Your face is all red, haha!”
The soundproof doors of the glass room weren’t closed yet, and the commentators’ voices filled the venue. Of course, Sang Ye could hear them. He tugged at the overly large sleeves, staring intently at his computer. His face was flushed, and he wore a tense expression, clearly shy but embarrassed to be exposed.
However, everyone could see through it.
Viewers in the live chat were calling him adorable!
The camera switched to a few more players, and finally landed on FP’s Dust.
Commentator A’s tone became more formal: “FP is a newly established team. Their captain, Dust, has been showcasing his skills during the live scrimmages. He has faced off against Song a few times, and the two seem evenly matched. I wonder if he can deliver an impressive performance today?”
As the banter continued, the first match on the island map began.
Once the official match started, everyone chose a familiar location as their initial jump point and continued to land there for the next few games unless they decided to change strategies.
WLG’s designated jump point was P City. They were sharing the drop with the XXY team, with all eight players landing in a courtyard surrounded by four buildings, creating a tightly contested situation.
Everyone was constantly probing for position and gathering information, and even at the fourth minute, there was no sign of an engagement.
Commentator A: “It seems like everyone is playing very cautiously today, but their strategy of probing for information is correct. The early game is critical; losing too many players too soon can greatly harm their confidence going forward.”
Commentator B: “Song is playing it safe today too. It’s a bit unusual to see him taking his time, but they really need to speed up since the next circle is east, and it will take some time to get there from P City.”
At four and a half minutes in, XXY threw a Molotov cocktail into the window of the room where Xiao Pai was. Sang Ye, nearby, heard the footsteps and precisely fired the first shot.
Even though they had been entangled for four minutes, it took only ten seconds after the fighting began to determine the outcome.
WLG achieved a 0-for-4 trade, wiping out XXY and securing P City.
After quickly gathering supplies, they immediately got into their vehicles and headed toward the eastern circle.
Commentator A: “Now everyone is rushing toward the center of the circle. NSN has already entered the zone… FP! Let’s see what’s going on with FP! They’ve arrived at the side of the hillside houses and seem to want to collect a toll from WLG! But why? Actually, taking up a position to shoot at this moment is quite unwise; it can easily lead to mutual destruction. The key is to hurry and avoid the poison!”
Commentator B: “Unless WLG is taken down by them, there’s no way they would get into a prolonged engagement. What are they thinking?”
At that moment, as WLG passed along the road at the foot of the mountain, FP, lying in ambush on the slope, opened automatic fire with their SMGs. However, all the bullets hit the car windows, and the vehicle carrying Miao Sen and Hu Fu passed through safely, although Sang Ye, seated by the window, lost a bit of health.
Xiao Pai suppressed his anger and murmured ominously while driving, “I won’t engage with trash, I won’t engage with trash. A good dog doesn’t block the way…”
They weren’t like that pack of rabid dogs from FP that could bite at will; every step had to be carefully calculated for gains and losses.
However, with this pack of rabid dogs chasing and biting, it was hard not to feel affected.
Sang Ye bit his lip, wrapped a bandage around his wound, and glanced out the window to see the blue poison circle closing in behind them.
Suddenly, he spoke up. “Pai.”
Xiao Pai asked, “What?”
“Do you have enough bandages?”
“Twelve rolls.”
“Let’s go back.”
Xiao Pai was taken aback for half a second before suddenly swerving the steering wheel. “Bai Mao, you’re my real brother! My only brother!”
Miao Sen, feeling nervous, said, “You two…”
Sang Ye assured Miao Sen, “We’ll catch up quickly.”
Commentator A exclaimed, “Look! WLG is back!”
A couple of cars sharply turned and drove up the slope.
FP’s group was preparing to get into their vehicles to relocate when they heard the sounds of cars approaching. They quickly grabbed their weapons and got ready to engage.
The car drifted around the corner and slid to a stop near a low building. As Sang Ye jumped out, he immediately knocked down one enemy and then turned to flank the building, shooting Dust down against the wall.
The remaining two members of FP were already in their car, and they stepped on the gas too hard, crashing into the wall.
Sang Ye and Xiao Pai each grabbed one of them and took them down with headshots, eliminating them.
In five seconds, the two wiped out an entire squad, and as they jumped back into their car, they began taking damage from the poison.
Sang Ye sat in the passenger seat, continuously wrapping bandages to recover health.
Commentator A said, “I take back what I said before! It’s not that they are evenly matched! Song is clearly superior in every way! FP, why did you provoke him? Wouldn’t it be better to keep your distance and ignore each other!”
Commentator B: “FP is really falling apart. Sigh, their operations are confusing; they jumped right into WLG’s face. They’re angry and won’t hesitate to take care of you, even if they have to endure some poison.”
At this moment, the director switched the camera to Sang Ye in the lower right corner. The young man was speaking into his earpiece, looking like he wanted to laugh but couldn’t quite manage it; his lips moved a few times.
Netizens with lip-reading skills quickly interpreted what he said and posted it in the comments.
[“Song said: You’re asking for trouble.”]
[“Ahhhhhhhhhhh! I’m rich and super A!”]
[“WLG has stood up!”]
[“Trash FP, still trying to interfere with WLG like before? They should know their place!”]
The coach backstage wanted to hit his head against a wall: “It must be that kid’s idea again! Miao Sen is already under a lot of pressure, and he’s still causing trouble!”
Tan Mo propped his head on his hand and glanced for a while before putting it down, saying, “If we don’t deal with this kind of team early, they could become a disaster if we’re not careful later.”
The coach’s head hurt: “Don’t speak for him!”
In the game, Xiao Pai was seeking revenge and feeling refreshed; he found his rhythm.
In the end, WLG secured second place, but their kill count was the highest in the entire match.
As the second match began, WLG was still in a standoff with XXY in P City. They were in the same yard and the same building area, but because XXY was extremely focused, the atmosphere was even tenser than in the previous match.
Suddenly, Sang Ye heard footsteps and frowned: “FP is here.”
Miao Sen asked, “How do you know?”
Sang Ye replied, “Only a brainless team that disregards strategy would dare to come in at this time.”
As expected.
Commentator A: “FP can’t be targeting WLG, right? After the last match, they should have a rough idea that WLG’s roll point is in P City.”
Commentator B: “This is getting a bit obvious; their joining now undoubtedly escalates the tense situation. Their positions are right across from WLG, making WLG more dangerous. Once a fight breaks out, XXY will be able to reap kills amidst the chaos. WLG is in trouble; they might have to repeat the fate of XXY from the previous match.”
Miao Sen remained still, his expression tightening: “Let’s not act hastily; let’s see which building they enter.”
Since neither team had scored any kills in P City so far, FP couldn’t know the exact positions of both teams.
Both teams hoped FP would engage with the other team first, and everyone was holding their breath in anticipation.
At this point, FP entered the building with all four members.
Unfortunately, they entered the very building where Sang Ye was located.
“D*mn! What luck!” Xiao Pai cursed loudly.
“Indeed, their luck isn’t great,” Sang Ye said calmly as he pulled the bolt back. “They’re all focused on me; leave the people inside to me.”
Hu Fu was shocked: “Are you planning to take on four by yourself?”
Before he could finish speaking, the gunfire erupted.
Sang Ye leaned against the railing, shooting down through the gaps in the stairs at a perfect downward angle, and blew one person’s head off.
As soon as he fired, everyone on XXY rushed out, but they were pinned down by WLG teammates in the other two buildings.
Commentator A spoke rapidly, clearly excited: “It seems the teammates don’t intend to support Song. Are they really going to let him take on four alone? That can’t be! Or are they using Song as bait? Oh my God! Song jumps down from the stairs and takes a shot in mid-air! Dust goes down! Song makes another quick shot up close! There’s still one last person downstairs; can he do it? Can he? He got it! Song wipes out FP with a one-on-four!”
The crowd erupted in loud applause.
Commentator B exclaimed, “Song’s shooting skills are unquestionable; ‘Little Talk’ truly lives up to its name.”
At this point, the coach was fuming, filled with righteous anger: “Crush them!”
On the other side, XXY had taken heavy damage from their teammates, and one person was fleeing from the backyard.
This FP ambush was purely a gift of free kills; within just three minutes of the game, WLG had already accumulated seven kills.
After that, they pressed on and advanced into the final circle, and with their advantageous position, they ultimately secured the victory.
Third Match.
As everyone was still expecting a showdown between WLG and XXY, they discovered that in this match, only XXY had landed in P City.
Commentator A asked in confusion, “They changed strategies so quickly? I didn’t notice earlier; can the director check where WLG went?”
The director’s camera followed the map and arrived at L Village, which was where FP had landed in the previous two matches.
As the camera focused, it showed WLG’s team fiercely attacking FP. Dust and the others didn’t even have time to pick up their guns before their heads exploded.
Haunted by the shadow of being wiped out by Sang Ye, FP had abandoned their plans for disruption this time and initially wanted to keep a low profile. However, WLG came to their doorstep, leading to their defeat before they even lasted a minute, ending the third match with a score of 0.
Commentator A couldn’t help but laugh: “Hahaha, WLG is so ruthless! If others don’t provoke me, I won’t provoke them. FP was so targeted before; it’s really unreasonable for WLG not to retaliate, especially on the first day of the training matches. They can’t lose their momentum.”
Commentator B forced an analysis: “FP’s performance… well, they might not be used to the PCL style yet. I had a bit of expectation for Dust before, but now… Let’s take a look at the next circle shape.”
Facing the dimming screen, Dust slumped back in his chair, his face grayer than the game visuals.
With the third match over, it was time for a break.
Sang Ye was the last to leave the glass room. When he looked up, he saw Tan Mo leaning against the wall on the side of the stage, waving at him.
Sang Ye felt a flower blooming in his heart as he walked over. “What are you doing here?”
Tan Mo’s gaze swept over the young man’s face. After each match, Sang Ye’s fair face would be flushed and sweaty, with his forehead slightly damp, a testament to how serious he took the games.
Tan Mo handed him a pack of tissues and a bottle of water, saying, “You guys changed your drop point last match; the coach is going to yell at them, so don’t go back.”
Sang Ye was taken aback and pointed in the direction his teammates had just left: “Didn’t you tell them? They all went back…”
Tan Mo seemed unburdened: “If they don’t go back, who will the coach yell at?”
Sang Ye: “…”
So, it was intentional not to tell the others.
With no one else around, the two stood still.
Sang Ye pretended to drink water, desperately thinking of a topic to discuss.
Suddenly.
With a “BOOM”
The intense lights above the stage went out, plunging the surroundings into complete darkness.
Sang Ye, holding a bottle of water, felt an inexplicable thump in his heart.
Tan Mo was still leaning there, glancing up and then looking in front of him.
It was too dark to see his expression; he could only vaguely make out the boy’s white hair and the flickering light in his eyes.
At that moment, a small voice came from the darkness: “Talk…”
Tan Mo didn’t have time to respond.
Sang Ye opened his soft, pale palm towards him, speaking softly and uncertainly: “My hand is here. If you’re scared… you can… you can hold it.”
Tan Mo looked down, recalling that rainy night when the power suddenly went out and the warm touch on the back of his hand.
Something in his heart began to peel away and fracture, revealing a glimmer of light.
Sang Ye waited for a moment, feeling a bit awkward, convinced he was overthinking things. He quickly tried to cover it up: “It’s fine; I was just saying it casually…”
Just as he was about to withdraw his hand, a large, cool hand grasped it.
With a calm, low voice, Tan Mo asked, “Is it any time?”
Sang Ye snapped back to reality, feeling the grip on his hand and sensing his heartbeat: “Huh?… What?”
“Anytime I feel scared,” Tan Mo looked at the boy in the darkness and asked, “Are you always there?”