This chapter is brought to you by Fatima, thanks for the ko-fi! (ﾉ´ヮ`)ﾉ*: ･
Chapter 79 – Hello, Auntie.
Sang Ye’s downward smile made the official live stream explode instantly, reaching a peak in bullet comments.
[“What? What’s going on?! When the host asked about a boyfriend, what was that ambiguous, knowing smile between Song and the host?!”]
[“OMG! That’s basically a confirmation, right?! When asked if he had a girlfriend, Song denied it outright, but when asked about a boyfriend, he just smiled without saying a word. I’m freaking out! Song baby has a boyfriend!!!”]
[“@Talk@Talk@Talk@Talk@Talk@Talk@Talk”]
[“Wuwuwu, he really is a little puppy—he can’t even lie with his eyes. Song probably doesn’t want to publicly announce having a boyfriend, but when the host asked, he also didn’t want to hide it, so he just stayed silent.”]
[“Did the “Talk x Song” ship sink? D*mn, Tan Mo is probably crying in the bathroom. I always felt he secretly liked Song; otherwise, he wouldn’t have acted so flirty that one time Song did a cross-dressing livestream.”]
[“Isn’t it possible that Tan Shen is the boyfriend? I just got chills.”]
[“So… that forum post Tan Mo replied to the other day, the one about a boyfriend being like a clingy poodle—was that about Song?”]
[“Please, Song baby, just make it official already! I’m still carrying the “Talk x Song” ship on my back!”]
Sang Ye’s Weibo, Tan Mo’s Weibo, and even WLG’s official account were all blowing up. Even the other team members were getting tagged non-stop, with fans trying to dig up clues about Sang Ye’s supposed boyfriend.
On the TV, Sang Ye’s interview had just ended.
Xiao Pai sat in the lounge scrolling through Weibo messages, looking speechless. “CP fans are way too intense. Just because Bai Mao smiled, now he has a boyfriend? How come I didn’t know he had a boyfriend? That host lady asked so boldly—if it were me, I’d be shy and giggle too.”
Tan Mo glanced at Xiao Pai, then cleared his throat again, a little too deliberately. He stretched out his long legs and shifted his sitting position.
However, Xiao Pai was too focused on his phone, busy interacting with Weibo users, completely missing the intense “PAY ATTENTION TO ME” signal radiating from Tan Mo.
“……”
Invincible Esports Auntie: [I will protect Song’s smile! The boy is so sweet! ❤️]
[Gif]
The GIF showed a slow-motion replay of the interview. The host’s eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at Sang Ye. Both of them gradually broke into a knowing smile before Sang Ye finally lowered his head, avoiding eye contact.
The Weibo post had only been up for three minutes, yet it already had over 6k likes, with numbers still skyrocketing. The comment section was buzzing with all sorts of discussions. One of the top comments even tagged Xiao Pai.
“RapTalk is Real”: [@WLGPi Pai, you always claim to be inseparable from Song. So, is it true that Song has a boyfriend? Is it Tan Shen? Please, if you know something, spill a little!]
WLGPi replied to @RapTalk is Real: [That’s fake. With such intense training, where would he find time for a relationship? What, is the other person supposed to be in a fully immersive widow-mode romance? Besides, White Hair and I are both straight guys who love watching female streamers, okay?]
The reply immediately ignited a massive thread of replies.
[If you don’t know, don’t speak. Someone else, come here—@WLG_hufu.]
[Exactly, he might not have time for a relationship with others, but when it comes to the captain, that’s a different story. However intense training is, that’s exactly how intense the romance can be.]
[Stop making Song sound like you!]
Xiao Pai let out a sharp “Hey!” getting a little riled up. He rolled up his sleeves, ready for a verbal battle, and furiously tapped at his phone screen.
WLGPi replied…: [We’re on the same team. Other than sleeping and going to the bathroom, we’re together all the time. Bai Mao has been on the team for nearly a year—how could I not know his situation?]
WLGPi replied…: [My seat is literally just an aisle away from the two of them. If they talk even a little loudly, I can hear everything. How could I not know their situation?]
WLGPi replied…: [No offense to CP fans, but since you insist on taking this so seriously, I’m putting my words down right here—if Tan Shen is really Bai Mao’s boyfriend, I’ll do a livestream where I stand on my head while having diarrhea!]
“……”
That last statement was brutal, and the online chatter instantly quieted down by more than half.
However, not far away, Yu Haotian lifted his gaze from his phone, looking at Xiao Pai with a complicated and troubled expression.
Honestly, he should have stopped Xiao Pai from speaking up.
Right now, it was best if no one said anything. After all, during the Global Championship, even the smallest mistake—like a misfire—could get a player dragged online and endlessly criticized. If a rumor about the captain and a teammate being in a relationship gained traction, the team’s reputation would take a massive hit. People would start thinking the players weren’t focused, weren’t giving their all, and expectations would skyrocket. By the time they reached the finals, the team would be under immense public pressure.
The official response should be to do nothing. After all, Sang Ye hadn’t actually said anything, and this was all just speculation. If they let the rumors run their course, they would die down on their own.
But now that Xiao Pai was so eager to clear things up…
Yu Haotian put his phone away and slowly shook his head.
From now on, they’d better keep an extra pair of pants ready for this kid during his livestreams.
The words were already out—what could they do now?
Sang Ye returned to the backstage lounge.
Xiao Pai shut off his phone and, along with Hu Fu, began chanting “Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh~.” Though he liked to think of himself as rational and level-headed, he was never one to miss out on the fun. If there was an opportunity to tease Sang Ye, he wouldn’t let it slip.
“What are you doing?” Sang Ye snapped at them, sounding a bit fierce, but his fair skin had already turned slightly red. He quickly stole a glance in Tan Mo’s direction, trying to be discreet.
“We’re going to eat.” Tan Mo, seemingly oblivious, stood up and said, “The place is in another district. We should head out early.”
“Let’s go! This is definitely going to be a feast. I handpicked this place!” Xiao Pai bounced up from the couch, announcing proudly, “The goddess of truffles, Safini! Lafite? Only drinking the ’82! Each person is gonna eat at least 20,000 worth, just like Tan Shen!”
Tan Mo, unfazed, shot him down coldly: “You picked it based on the price.”
“So what if I did?” Xiao Pai excitedly stuffed things into his backpack. “Don’t underestimate the power of price!”
“This place is ridiculously expensive, isn’t it?” The coach screwed the lid onto his thermos and said to Tan Mo, “I’m not going. The winners’ bracket just ended, and I still need to review today’s matches tonight. You guys go ahead—it’ll save you some money.”
“Everyone’s coming.” Tan Mo pulled the door open, then turned around and pointed at everyone in the room. “Not coming means you don’t respect me.”
“……”
Everyone stopped what they were doing.
Hu Fu looked confused. “Is this what being rich lets you do?”
“Didn’t he just complain about how expensive it was and tell me to pick another place?” Xiao Pai was even more baffled. “Now he’s insisting on treating everyone… Whatever, I’m not asking.”
Only Yu Haotian had a guess—it probably had to do with Tan Mo being in a good mood.
Under Tan Mo’s “warm hospitality,” the entire team piled into the business van sent by the restaurant. The service was top-notch, covering every detail.
Once they were seated, Sang Ye finally had time to check his phone and see how netizens were reacting on Weibo. The more he read, the more he shrank into the gap between the leather seat and the car door. Feeling hot, he pulled up the collar of his hoodie, burying half of his face, leaving only a pair of bright, watery eyes exposed.
Tan Mo was also on his phone, idly scrolling. After a moment, he lazily said, “What was that supposed to mean during your interview?”
Sang Ye’s hand trembled, and he turned to glance at the man beside him, heart racing. “It didn’t mean anything…”
Sitting in the back row, Xiao Pai was busy texting a female streamer, not even looking up as he fanned the flames. “That smile was way too suspicious. You sure you don’t actually have a boyfriend? Who is it? Since we’re all here, why don’t you tell us?”
Sang Ye grabbed a throw pillow and chucked it toward the back.
Tan Mo turned his face slightly to look at Sang Ye, flipping his phone screen toward him. “Everyone online thinks you and I have something going on. How do you expect me to respond?”
Sang Ye: “……”
From the back row: “Ohhhhhh~”
Tan Mo shifted his long legs and let them press lightly against Sang Ye’s. “I asked you a question.”
Feeling cornered, Sang Ye yanked his hoodie over his head, curled up, and turned toward the car window, mumbling, “Answer however you want…”
Tan Mo reached out and tugged on Sang Ye’s ear—just a little harder than necessary, with a hint of payback.
Sang Ye felt the pain, his mouth opening slightly, but no sound escaped.
Dinner was held at an estate, where the decorations, music, and atmosphere were perfectly set. The food was indeed excellent, made from top-tier ingredients. Still, he couldn’t see how it justified a 20,000-per-person price tag—until the wine was served. That was when Sang Ye realized that, no matter where you dined, alcohol was always the most expensive part of the bill.
The red wine had been taken directly from the cellar during the tour. When the main course arrived, the butler wrapped the bottle in a silk cloth and carefully poured just the right amount into each person’s glass. They opened two bottles in total.
Xiao Pai picked up his glass and downed half of it in one go. Smacking his lips, he frowned. “Eighty grand a bottle, and it’s just… this?”
“You have to sip it slowly.” Yu Haotian swirled his glass, looking pained. “This is like feeding fine grain to pigs.”
Xiao Pai didn’t bother arguing. “Elegant. You’re still the most elegant.”
Worried he’d be called a pig himself, Sang Ye held his glass but didn’t drink right away. Instead, he snuck a glance at Tan Mo.
Tan Mo swirled his glass twice with practiced ease before tilting his head slightly. Through the clear glass, Sang Ye could see the deep red wine slip past Tan Mo’s lips and tongue, his prominent Adam’s apple bobbing up and down in a steady rhythm.
Sang Ye had intended to study the technique, but as he watched, his gaze fixated on Tan Mo’s Adam’s apple, unable to look away. It reminded him of that morning in the bathroom—Tan Mo’s fingers buried in his hair, his head tilted back, Adam’s apple trembling, but in a much more urgent rhythm. At the time, Sang Ye had thought it looked incredibly sexy.
—“What are you looking at?”
Tan Mo set down his glass, snapping Sang Ye out of his daze.
Sang Ye forgot what he was supposed to do. To cover up, he quickly took two big gulps from his own glass, licked his lips, and answered calmly, “Nothing.”
Tan Mo shifted his gaze downward, adjusting his napkin. In a soft voice, he asked, “Are you thinking about something dirty?”
Sang Ye nearly choked. “No!”
Tan Mo studied him. “Then why is your face red before you’ve even had a full drink?”
“I…” Sang Ye met Tan Mo’s amused gaze and instantly knew he was messing with him. Flustered, he scooted his chair forward and focused on his meal, refusing to acknowledge him any further.
Sang Ye glanced at his wine glass again, feeling a bit frustrated. He had drunk too fast earlier, just like Xiao Pai, barely tasting the wine—only noticing how smooth it felt.
The extravagant dinner lasted nearly two hours.
Xiao Pai leaned back in his chair, patting his full stomach without a care for his image. Now that the meal was over, he finally dared to ask, “Brother, why are you being so generous today?”
“Am I usually not generous?” Tan Mo tossed his used wet napkin onto his plate.
“No, no, no.” Xiao Pai quickly clarified, “I just mean today, you’ve gone overboard.”
Tan Mo picked up his wine glass again. “Celebrating WLG making it to the final championship match.”
Everyone raised their glasses. “Come on, cheers!”
Xiao Pai was the fastest to react, seizing the moment to say, “Thanks, brother! Also, wishing you immense wealth!”
Tan Mo lowered his eyelashes, his gaze shifting slightly toward the spot next to Sang Ye’s wine glass. “I don’t need wealth—how about wishing me a speedy romance and a happy marriage instead?”
The table erupted in excitement.
Hu Fu laughed. “I knew it! You’re at that age where you’re desperate to find a mate!”
Xiao Pai smacked the table. “Brother! So, have you found our future sister-in-law yet? Hurry up and make a move!”
Yu Haotian joined in the teasing. “I knew it! This was a wedding banquet all along.”
Even E Lan found it amusing.
Only Sang Ye sat there with a face obviously flushed, somewhat awkwardly picking up his wine glass with his left hand.
—Because under the table, Tan Mo had been holding his right hand the entire time.
One, two, three.
Following Xiao Pai’s lead, everyone raised their glasses and shouted in unison, “Wishing you a happy marriage and a baby on the way soon!”
Sang Ye almost choked on his wine.
…
After finishing dinner, Sang Ye went to the restroom.
Tan Mo helped him tidy up his backpack.
Just then, Sang Ye’s phone, which was resting on the table, vibrated.
Tan Mo followed the sound with his gaze.
A message notification popped up.
Qing Feng: [Hey, handsome, when are we meeting?]
Tan Mo paused for a moment, reaching for the phone—but just as he was about to pick it up, he stopped.
Sang Ye had given him the phone password, but that didn’t mean he could freely check his messages.
His expression remained neutral for a moment before he averted his gaze.
Sang Ye returned, drying his hands, and picked up his phone.
As the screen lit up, his eyebrows lifted slightly at the message, and a natural smile surfaced in his eyes.
Sang Ye said, “I’m making a call.”
Just as he was about to step out, Tan Mo called after him, “Your coat.”
Sang Ye responded with an “Oh,” then turned back.
Tan Mo draped a coat over his shoulders and wrapped a scarf around his neck.
While Tan Mo was adjusting the scarf, Sang Ye tilted his face slightly to glance at his phone.
With his lashes lowered, Tan Mo smoothed out a crease in the hanging end of the scarf and asked casually, “What’s it about?”
Sang Ye instantly turned off the phone screen, looked up at Tan Mo, and smiled with slightly curved eyes. “Nothing.”
Tan Mo’s gaze darkened as he looked at him. His fingers clenched slightly, wrinkling the scarf he had just straightened.
Outside the villa, everyone was waiting for the car to arrive.
Sang Ye stood near the fence a little farther away, one hand tucked into his coat pocket, tapping his foot lightly on the brick pavement.
The lighting there was dim, but Tan Mo could still see him bowing his head while listening to the phone call. The soft glow highlighted a sliver of his pale neck, and when he grinned, his face was so dazzlingly beautiful it was almost piercing.
Tan Mo turned to Yu Haotian beside him and asked, “Got a cigarette?”
“You don’t even smoke,” Yu Haotian remarked, but still handed over a cigarette. “Don’t waste my smokes, okay? These have cream-flavored beads—importing them from the States isn’t easy.”
Tan Mo couldn’t be bothered to respond. He placed the cigarette between his lips but didn’t light it, just idly holding it there while continuing to watch Sang Ye.
The cold wind tousled Tan Mo’s hair slightly, strands falling over his eyes, making his gaze appear deep and unreadable.
Until today, Sang Ye had never taken a call behind his back.
The business car pulled up at the entrance. Sang Ye glanced over, hurriedly said a few more words, then ended the call and jogged toward them.
Inside the car, now full from dinner and with it being late, everyone had grown sluggish, no longer as lively as before.
Xiao Pai was glued to his phone, busy typing messages.
In the back row, Hu Fu asked quietly, “Who’s got you so hooked?”
Xiao Pai replied, “Nuo Nuo. She had a fight with her boyfriend.”
Hu Fu chuckled. “Backup plan.”
In the front row, Tan Mo leaned against his seat with his eyes closed, resting.
Sang Ye glanced at him several times. Seeing Tan Mo’s exhausted expression, he lowered his gaze and, appearing a little bored, quietly reached over to play with Tan Mo’s left hand.
But Tan Mo pulled his fingers away.
Sang Ye blinked in confusion.
A second later—
Tan Mo’s hand looped under Sang Ye’s wrist and interlocked their fingers.
The warm touch spread through his palm again. Sang Ye suppressed the smile threatening to curl his lips and, in the dim car interior, continued fiddling with Tan Mo’s hand.
Since they had all rested at least a little in the car, by the time they arrived back at the village and stepped out, everyone seemed refreshed again.
As they walked down the corridor toward their rooms, Xiao Pai suddenly looked up from his phone, as if remembering something. “Bai Mao, wanna come to my room and watch the game?”
Sang Ye turned to Tan Mo and asked, “Are you going?”
Tan Mo pulled out his room key card. “I’m not.”
Sang Ye turned to Xiao Pai and said, “Not going. We’ll watch in our room.”
“You two…” Xiao Pai glanced between them. “Shutting the door to enjoy your own little world, huh?”
Sang Ye told him to get lost.
Back in the room, Sang Ye flopped onto the bed, finally relaxing. The thought of their team securing a spot in the finals filled him with joy for quite a while.
Snapping back to reality, he reached for the remote by the bed, half-sitting up to turn on the TV—at the same time, he noticed Tan Mo taking a foldable stand out of his suitcase and setting it up.
“…What are you doing?” Sang Ye asked.
Tan Mo positioned the stand near the foot of the bed, adjusting it without even looking up. “Haven’t tested out my new camera yet.”
“…?”
“Welcome back, viewers. Up next, we continue with the quarter-finals…” The TV turned on to a sports channel.
Seeing Tan Mo pull out his Leica camera, Sang Ye grew uneasy and slowly sat up. “Why do you have to test it today?”
Tan Mo mounted the camera onto the stand, his long fingers twisting the knobs with precision. “Does it make a difference which day I test it?”
Sang Ye clutched the remote tightly, hesitating for a long time, then stammered, “It’s… it’s so late already. What are you even filming?”
Tan Mo bent slightly, looking through the viewfinder. He adjusted the lens to aim at the bed and said, “Filming myself sleeping.”
Sang Ye glanced at Tan Mo’s bed, then at the camera, then back at the bed. His breathing quickened, and suddenly, he shot up from the bed. “You’re lying!”
Tan Mo finished adjusting the angle to his satisfaction and looked at him, his usually indifferent expression carrying a hint of innocence. “Told you, but you don’t believe me.”
“You—” Sang Ye threw the remote down, his face flushed in frustration. “I’m going to Xiao Pai’s to watch. You enjoy yourself!”
But before he could leave, Tan Mo blocked his way. With a gentle push, he sent Sang Ye back onto the bed.
——”The game is at a standstill… The ball is deep in the opponent’s half—let’s see if they can find an opportunity!”
Looking down at Sang Ye from above, Tan Mo asked, “Why go somewhere else? There’s a TV here too.”
Sang Ye glanced at the camera stand beside him, growing more flustered. “Then move the camera away!”
Tan Mo asked, “Why?”
Sang Ye bit his lip and looked up at him. “You’re definitely planning to film something else… something bad.”
Tan Mo stroked the boy’s flushed cheek and said, “I can’t help it. You’re drunk—I need to be on guard.”
“…” Sang Ye was momentarily at a loss for words, then burst out angrily, “I am not drunk!”
This time, Tan Mo pushed Sang Ye onto the bed and climbed on top of him, straddling his legs. He insisted, “You’re drunk.”
Sang Ye stubbornly propped himself up. “I am not!”
He had barely drunk two glasses of wine. No one on the team had gotten drunk.
Besides, wouldn’t he know whether he was drunk or not?
Tan Mo pressed him down again, pinning him beneath his weight. “That’s exactly what drunk people say.”
“I’m not drunk!” Sang Ye snapped, then suddenly had an idea. “Test me, then! Ask me a math question—I’ll answer it!” Then, after a brief pause, he quickly added, “Within ten!”
If the numbers were too big, he’d need scratch paper to work them out.
Tan Mo took a deep breath, holding back his amusement, and sat up slightly, lowering his head in thought.
Sang Ye hurried to sit up as well.
Tan Mo lifted his gaze and asked, “What’s the extreme value of 2−x−(1)2/32 – x – (1)^{2/3}?”
Sang Ye blinked in confusion. “Huh?”
Tan Mo kept it short. “You’re drunk.”
Sang Ye panicked. “Wait—no—”
Tan Mo loosened his shirt collar slightly and said coolly, “The God wants to save you tonight.”
“……”
Sang Ye stretched out his pale, slender hands, still trying to struggle, but Tan Mo clasped his wrist and pressed it back onto the pillow.
Sang Ye was on the verge of tears. The camera sitting beside them made him incredibly uneasy—it felt like that round lens was a watchful eye, observing their every move.
But Tan Mo, on the other hand, showed no discomfort at all. In fact, he seemed even more at ease than before.
Gradually, Sang Ye’s mind blurred into a haze, unable to think any further.
The red wine they had last night was said to have been aged for thirty years. Sang Ye hadn’t taken the time to savor it properly at the dinner table, but now, through Tan Mo, he was starting to understand why that bottle was so expensive—smooth texture, rich aroma… another sip, and he might actually get drunk.
…
The next morning, Sang Ye woke up late. He rubbed his eyes, blinked a few times, glanced out the window, then turned to the pillow beside him.
The first time was unfamiliar, the second time, less so.
Besides, the key point was—d*mn it, he hadn’t even been drunk last night.
So this time, waking up next to Tan Mo didn’t bring the same shock and confusion as the first time.
Tan Mo was still asleep.
Sang Ye rolled over, freshly awake, and like a ruffled little white puppy, he crawled over to Tan Mo’s pillow and reached out to touch the man’s eyelashes with his fingertips.
Tan Mo’s lashes twitched slightly at the sensation, but he didn’t wake up.
Sang Ye lowered his gaze, lips curving into a faint smile, and continued to play.
Just then—
The phone on the bedside table near Sang Ye’s side vibrated.
Sang Ye turned his head to look.
Almost instantly, Tan Mo’s eyes opened.
Sang Ye stretched out his arm to reach for the phone, his bare upper body emerging from beneath the covers. Though the room was air-conditioned, he still felt the temperature difference and quickly retrieved the phone before shrinking back under the blanket.
Pulling the covers up to shield his ear pressed against the phone, he gave a soft “Mm” in response to the caller.
Tan Mo’s eyes were still sore with sleep as he turned his head to look.
Sang Ye lay with his back to him, a sliver of his fair, delicate nape exposed through the gap in the blanket. The sunlight cast a faint glow on his skin, highlighting the subtle curve of his spine—lean and youthful.
But Tan Mo had no interest in admiring the view.
His mind was consumed by two words—Qing Feng.
The association between that name and the sound of the phone vibrating was enough to give him PTSD.
Sang Ye murmured another two “Mm”s into the phone, his fluffy white hair rubbing against the pillow as he buried his face into it. Then, in a soft, coquettish voice, he whispered, “No.”
Tan Mo was instantly wide awake, his dark eyes clouded with a stormy intensity, as if they were on the verge of spilling over. He flipped over abruptly, his movements so forceful that the sturdy bed creaked loudly in protest.
Sang Ye tensed at the sudden disturbance behind him, his back stiffening instinctively. But before he could react, a warm arm wrapped around him, pulling him close against a firm chest.
Without hesitation, Tan Mo tightened his hold and pressed two deliberate, smacking kisses right behind Sang Ye’s ear, where his phone rested. Then, in a deep, husky voice that sent a shiver down to the bones, he murmured: “Up so early? Why not sleep a little longer, hmm?”
Sang Ye completely froze. He couldn’t turn around, couldn’t hang up, and definitely couldn’t just continue the conversation as if nothing had happened. He was awkwardly stuck in place.
It took him a long while to finally find his voice again. Barely above a whisper, he said into the phone, “Yes… Mm, he’s… Mom, don’t panic just yet…”
“……”
The moment Sang Ye said Mom, Tan Mo stiffened as well.
Whatever was being said on the other end made Sang Ye’s face turn completely red. Unable to bear it, he raised his phone, buried his face into the pillow, and—without another choice—pressed the speaker button.
On the screen, the contact name was clearly displayed: Mom.
Tan Mo cleared his throat, quickly retracting his deep, sultry voice and adopting a more well-behaved tone. “Hello, Auntie.”