This chapter is brought to you by Fatima, thanks for the ko-fi! (ﾉ´ヮ`)ﾉ*: ･
Chapter 84
Sang Ye finished changing and followed Tan Mo downstairs. The moment they entered the living room, the room fell silent.
A dozen pairs of eyes locked onto him all at once. Standing still, Sang Ye subtly turned his wrist and gripped his sleeve with his fingers, scanning the unfamiliar faces but unsure where to rest his gaze.
Tan Mo placed a hand on Sang Ye’s shoulder, pulling him closer as he was about to speak.
Before he could, Tan Zhengfeng took a step forward, standing beside Sang Ye and addressing the group, “Let me introduce you—this is Sang Ye, the champion of the recently concluded PUBG Global Championship and A’Mo’s boyfriend. He’s here to celebrate the festival with us today.”
The initial sense of distance vanished in an instant.
A few aunts and uncles immediately gathered around Sang Ye, their faces full of smiles as they sized up the fair-haired boy from head to toe, nodding approvingly.
“He looks so refined.”
“Really handsome.”
None of the relatives showed any surprise or disapproval that Tan Mo’s partner was a boy. Instead, they seemed genuinely pleased with Sang Ye’s appearance—many of them, after all, had a soft spot for good looks.
A little elementary schooler holding a balloon had been staring at Sang Ye for a long time. Suddenly, he straightened his posture, puffed out his tiny belly, and pointed directly at Sang Ye, exclaiming in a crisp voice, “I’ve seen you on TV! You look even better in person!”
Laughter erupted from the group.
One of the aunts playfully scolded him, “Don’t point at people like that!”
Tan Mo ruffled the little boy’s hair and teased, “Tan Mian, your words are getting smoother, but don’t go pestering him later.”
Tan Mian pouted, mumbling, “I don’t pester people…”
Later, when Sang Ye was sitting on the sofa with Tan Chunshan, watching TV, Tan Mian didn’t go off to play with the other kids. Instead, he ran over, flopped onto the cushion next to Sang Ye, and stared at him intently without blinking.
Sang Ye glanced at him briefly before continuing to watch TV.
Being the youngest in his family’s generation, he had always been taken care of by his older siblings. He had no younger cousins, so he lacked experience in looking after younger kids. However, he did have experience dealing with elementary schoolers—he had encountered them in online games before. They were terrible at playing, yet somehow convinced they were invincible.
At this age, even dogs wouldn’t want to entertain them.
In short, even though Tan Mian had immediately activated his sweet talk skill upon meeting him, Sang Ye had no interest in entertaining him.
But Tan Mian was the first to break the silence. “Are you Brother Tan Mo’s wife?”
“……”
Sang Ye’s lazy expression stiffened slightly. He sat up a little straighter, leaning against the back of the sofa.
He had to admit—this elementary schooler had something in him.
Without shifting his gaze from the TV, Sang Ye replied, “No.”
“Brother Tan Mo never brings people home,” Tan Mian muttered, fiddling with his fingers. “During festivals, the aunties always try to introduce him to someone, but he never agrees.”
Sang Ye idly stroked Tan Chunshan’s soft fur, fingers combing through it. After a couple of seconds, he asked, “Why aren’t you playing with your siblings?”
His intent to dismiss the kid was obvious.
“But you’re my brother too, Brother Ye,” Tan Mian said, tilting his head. His dark, shiny eyes stared at Sang Ye seriously. “From now on, we’re family.”
“……”
Kids these days had layers upon layers of tricks.
Sang Ye released the golden retriever and finally turned to look at Tan Mian. His husky, teenage voice was anything but enthusiastic. “What do you want?”
Tan Mian grinned mischievously and pulled out a phone from his pocket, holding it up in front of Sang Ye. “Brother Ye, help me out with something.”
Sang Ye looked down. The kid had already opened Peace Elite (PUBG Mobile) on the screen.
“……”
Holding the phone horizontally, Sang Ye skillfully maneuvered through the interface. Before starting, he made things clear. “I’m only ranking you up one tier. I’m not your booster.”
“Got it, got it!” Tan Mian nestled beside Sang Ye, eyes glued to the screen. But he didn’t forget to keep sweet-talking. “Brother Tan Mo is so stingy. He never helps me play. But you’re so nice, Brother Ye. The moment I saw you, I liked you. It’s like I’ve met you somewhere before.”
Sang Ye remained ruthless. “Sh*t up.”
Tan Mian obediently shut his mouth.
At first, the elementary schooler managed to hold back from speaking, but after witnessing Sang Ye’s impressive gameplay, he simply couldn’t contain himself.
“Wow! That’s amazing! Brother Ye, teach me!”
“So this is the power of a world champion? I’m totally blown away!”
“No wonder Brother Tan Mo likes you so much. Who could possibly resist a guy who’s this good at gaming?”
“……”
Sang Ye didn’t let the endless praise get to his head. Mobile games were nothing more than a max-level player going back to a beginner village to bully newbies.
However, Tan Mian kept bringing up Tan Mo—intentionally or not—and Sang Ye didn’t exactly mind it.
After just a few rounds, he had already ranked Tan Mian up by one tier. Tossing the phone aside, he said, “I’m watching TV now.”
Tan Mian, seeing the extra stars on his ranking, beamed with joy. “Thanks, Brother Ye!”
At that moment—
A hand suddenly reached from behind and lightly scratched Sang Ye’s chin.
Sang Ye tilted his head back, only to see that Tan Mo had somehow appeared behind the sofa without him noticing.
Tan Mian eagerly flipped his phone screen to show Tan Mo, boasting, “Brother Ye helped me rank up!”
Tan Mo glanced at Sang Ye and said, “If you don’t want to play, you don’t have to entertain him.”
Tan Mian frowned. “Brother Ye and I get along just fine. Don’t ruin our bond.”
“Oh?” Tan Mo looked at Sang Ye, raising a brow. “How close are you two?”
Sang Ye leaned back against the sofa, looking up at Tan Mo. The cold indifference he had just shown toward the elementary schooler was nowhere to be seen. Instead, his dark eyes shimmered with an unintentional hint of amusement.
Tan Mo’s heart stirred at the sight.
Leaning down, he smoothly reached out a hand—covering Tan Mian’s eyes with perfect precision.
…
Sang Ye spent a carefree three-day holiday at Tan Mo’s house.
On the last night—
Tan Mo’s phone rang. Sang Ye glanced at the caller ID—it was Yu Haotian.
Picking up the phone, he climbed out of bed barefoot, tiptoed over Tan Chunshan, and in just a few steps, reached the bathroom door. He knocked lightly.
The sound of running water stopped.
“It’s your manager,” Sang Ye called from outside.
Tan Mo’s voice came through the door. “Answer it for me.”
Before Sang Ye could respond, the water started running again.
Shrugging, Sang Ye swiped to answer the call.
Tan Mo had told him before that Yu Haotian was the first to notice their relationship, so there was no need to hide it from him.
As soon as the call connected, Yu Haotian began, “A Mo, I’ve discussed your official announcement with the PR team. We’ll address previous signs of your relationship when the time comes. Before that, you two should—”
Sang Ye climbed back into bed and interrupted, “He’s in the shower.”
“……” There was a long silence before Yu Haotian hesitantly asked, “Song?”
“Yeah.”
After a brief moment of confusion, Yu Haotian took a deep breath and said, “Forget it… Song, don’t hang up. I’ll tell you instead—it concerns both of you, so you should know.”
Sang Ye asked, “When did he talk to you about the announcement?”
“Just a couple of days ago. He suddenly messaged me saying he wanted to go public and asked me to handle it.” Yu Haotian sounded curious. “Are you still at the base? Talk didn’t go home for the holidays?”
Lowering his gaze, Sang Ye traced the patterns on the blanket with his fingers. “I’m at his house.”
“……” Yu Haotian let out a deep breath and continued, “Alright, back to the topic—before the annual awards ceremony, keep a low profile online. Avoid any behavior that might give it away. Once the ceremony is over, we’ll make it official. The time between then and the Spring Tournament should be enough for public opinion to settle.”
Sang Ye casually responded with an “Oh.” He had no objections.
“There’s one more thing I need to remind you both of.” Yu Haotian’s tone became more serious. “We don’t prohibit relationships within the team, but during training at the base, there can be no displays of affection. That includes, but is not limited to, kissing in public and staying overnight in each other’s rooms. Exceptions are only allowed on weekends or during official breaks—outside of those times, we won’t turn a blind eye.”
Sang Ye raised his eyes and blurted out, “Why?” Then, realizing his reaction, he quickly added, “W-why can’t we stay over?”
“You think about it,” Yu Haotian sighed. “If you were just regular teammates, occasionally sharing a room wouldn’t be an issue. But once your relationship is public, everyone will know you’re together. If we allow it for you two, what’s stopping others from bringing their girlfriends to the base? What would that turn the base into?”
“……”
As Yu Haotian pointed out, the dorms at the base were meant for players to rest, with their focus still primarily on training. Frequently bringing partners over wasn’t appropriate, especially in an all-male dorm. If one person started inviting their girlfriend over, it would create disturbances for the others and make management difficult.
And just because they were both men didn’t mean they should get special treatment.
Sang Ye quickly understood the reasoning and said, “Got it.”
Yu Haotian added, “Make sure to explain this to Talk too.”
“You tell him yourself.”
“…Alright. I won’t disturb your rest any longer.”
After hanging up, Sang Ye went back to sketching on his tablet.
Talented as ever, Master Sang decided to draw himself an avatar to match Tan Mo’s Weibo profile picture.
It was a bit disappointing that he wouldn’t be able to sleep with Tan Mo once they returned to the base, but Sang Ye knew he was a professional player. Discipline was necessary—training and relationships had to be kept separate. He accepted the situation quickly.
Some time passed, and the bathroom door opened. Tan Mo stepped out.
Hearing the sound, Sang Ye looked up—only to see Tan Mo emerging without a pajama top, wearing nothing but a towel around his waist, drying his damp hair with another towel.
Sang Ye’s gaze lingered for two seconds on the man’s well-defined, muscular body before his instincts kicked in—like a small animal sensing imminent danger, he abruptly shut his tablet with a snap, slid down under the blanket, and said, “I’m tired. Going to sleep.”
Tan Mo glanced at the raised blanket on the bed and said indifferently, “Turn off your light.”
Sang Ye pulled the blanket up to just above his eyes, reached out one slender, pale hand, fumbled for the bedside switch, and pressed it.
The wall lamp above flickered off.
After a while, he felt the mattress dip beside him—Tan Mo had gotten into bed and was lying down.
Sang Ye slowly exhaled, realizing he had overreacted.
See? He knew it. Every couple of days would be way too frequent…
But was Tan Mo really going to sleep without drying his hair?
Just as Sang Ye’s thoughts started wandering, the man beside him suddenly turned over and pinned him down without warning.
“……”
The blanket dimmed the light slightly, and Sang Ye lay there, eyes wide open, staring up at the person above him.
Tan Mo propped himself up slightly, loosening the towel around his waist. His deep, magnetic voice dropped lower. “Go to sleep. I’ll be gentle.”
“……”
A long, slender hand reached out from beneath the blanket, and the towel slipped silently onto the carpet.
The little golden retriever sleeping soundly beside the bed stirred in the middle of the night. It blinked awake once, only to have its head pressed against the rapidly trembling bed frame, making it ache. The dog yawned, turned its head in the opposite direction, and went right back to sleep
…
With the new year, everyone returned to the base.
When Xiao Pai walked into the practice room and saw Sang Ye, he called out, “Bai Mao, what were you so busy with during the break? You didn’t reply in the group chat, and when I messaged you, you ignored me too.”
Sang Ye was indifferent. “It was a holiday. Why would I bother with coworkers?”
“Oof, harsh! You’ve broken my heart.” Xiao Pai threw his breakfast onto the table and turned to look at him. “Is your heart made of stone? I thought we were best friends.”
Sang Ye ate a wonton and replied, “Too busy.”
Busy being happily in love, barely checking his phone.
“Did you at least see the big New Year’s Eve confession? Someone rented out the entire facade of the Citigroup Tower in the Bund to propose to my brother.” Xiao Pai slid over in his chair, excited to gossip. “Hey! Be honest—do you feel threatened? Like your spot as the number one ‘wife fan’ is at risk?”
Sang Ye finished his wontons, closed the lid, and said coolly, “I’ve never known what ‘threatened’ feels like.”
If it weren’t for Yu Haotian telling them to keep a low profile before the official announcement, he might have just told Xiao Pai outright.
“For real, though.” Xiao Pai had long suspected that Sang Ye’s ‘wife fan’ title was just for show. He sighed, “If it really was a fan who did that… I have a gut feeling… the day we welcome our sister-in-law isn’t far off.”
Sang Ye glanced at him.
Xiao Pai asked, “What?”
Sang Ye wiped his mouth with a napkin and opened his laptop. “Didn’t take you for someone with intuition.”
“D*mn!” Xiao Pai smacked the table. “What did I say before? Nothing in WLG escapes my eyes! You think my eyesight is just that good? No way—it’s all instinct! Some people are just born with an extraordinary sixth sense.”
Sang Ye stared at the screen, typing in his password. “I see that now.”
Xiao Pai suddenly felt that something was different about Sang Ye after the break. He stroked his chin, scrutinizing him. “Bai Mao, what did you do over New Year’s? It’s only been three days, and your face looks… refreshed.”
It was a visible kind of radiance—his skin fair and glowing with a hint of rosy warmth, like…
Xiao Pai tensed up. “Wait, you don’t actually have a boyfriend, do you? Why do you look like you’ve been nourished and pampered by love?”
Sang Ye nearly fell off his chair. His face flushed red, and he finally snapped. “Get lost!”
Xiao Pai let out a sigh of relief.
As long as there was no boyfriend, that was fine. Otherwise, he’d really have to perform a headstand with diarrhea.
Satisfied, he rolled away.
Training match in the afternoon.
Maybe it was the lingering relaxation from New Year’s, or perhaps the festive atmosphere of the upcoming Spring Festival, but every team was playing pretty sloppily on their first day back.
Still, everyone had to review their games afterward, and a few days of scolding from their coaches would whip them back into shape.
Dinner at the Cafeteria
During dinner, Xiao Pai was furiously typing on his phone, grinning so widely that he could barely close his mouth.
Hu Fu asked, “What’s got you so happy? You win the lottery?”
“Nah!” Xiao Pai set down his chopsticks and cradled his phone with both hands. “Sister Nuo Nuo broke up with her boyfriend.”
Everyone: “……”
Why was he this happy about someone else’s breakup?
“She’s been coming to me for advice ever since they started having problems.” Xiao Pai chuckled smugly. “We’ve been talking for over half a month now. I have a feeling… my chance is coming.”
Hu Fu smirked. “You didn’t persuade her to break up, did you?”
“Do I look like that kind of person?” Xiao Pai straightened his back indignantly. “I’d never be a homewrecker.”
Hu Fu laughed. “Relax, I was just messing with you.”
Xiao Pai continued chatting on his phone for a while before suddenly stopping and frowning. “Sister Nuo Nuo says she’s feeling down and wants to queue up for four-man squad tonight…” He looked up. “Anyone free?”
Hu Fu clicked his tongue. “Bad timing. I’ve got a match scheduled with some other team tonight.”
Xiao Pai turned to Tan Mo, but before he could even ask, Tan Mo lowered his gaze and said flatly, “I don’t play games with girls. You know that.”
Sang Ye kept his head down, shoveling food into his mouth, but the corners of his lips couldn’t stop curling upward.
He knew.
It wasn’t that Tan Mo had anything against women—it was just that he avoided anything that could give rise to rumors. That was also why, despite his immense popularity over the years, he had never been caught up in any dating scandals.
…Except with him.
Xiao Pai immediately turned his pleading gaze toward Sang Ye. “Bai Mao! Help a brother out this time! If I can get two world champions to squad up, Sister Nuo Nuo will definitely see me in a different light!”
Sang Ye was in a good mood and drawled lazily, “I don’t mind.”
“Yes!” Xiao Pai pumped his fist and quickly turned to Tan Mo.
Tan Mo tilted his head, glanced at Sang Ye, raised an eyebrow, and spoke before Xiao Pai could even open his mouth. “Count me in.”
Xiao Pai: “Huh?”
That was a change of heart way too fast.
That Evening
The entire first team’s practice room went live on stream.
When it came to streaming hours, every second counted.
It had been nearly a month since Sang Ye last streamed, and the moment he went live, his viewer count skyrocketed. Meanwhile, Tan Mo’s numbers were climbing even faster.
[“Ahhhhh! What do I do?! My big hubby and little hubby are streaming at the same time—I can’t switch between them fast enough!”]
[“Is this a rap duo queue today?!”]
[“Song, do you really have a boyfriend? I’m going crazy here! Just spill already!”]
[“Is your boyfriend Talk?!”]
“We’re doing four-man squads today.” Sang Ye closed the chat window, his gaze flickering slightly. With a lazy yet sweetly aloof expression, he said, “Stop guessing. I’ve got nothing to say.”
Tan Mo was getting just as many chat questions. His deep, magnetic voice came through. “If there’s anything to announce, the club’s official account will post it. Keep an eye on official updates.”
His answer was smooth yet unassailable.
The club would choose the right time to release the news, and by then, everyone would understand.
A moment later, the two of them accepted Xiao Pai’s squad invite and entered the game lobby.
Nuo Nuo’s gentle voice held a trace of surprise. “God Tan! Why is it you…? And Song, hello to both of you.”
Sang Ye and Tan Mo both responded with a simple, simultaneous “Mm,” as their version of a greeting.
Xiao Pai laughed. “Sister Nuo Nuo, don’t be sad!”
“Actually, the breakup happened a while ago,” Nuo Nuo said with a bitter smile. “I’m single again now.”
“Being single is great! Total freedom!” Xiao Pai declared. “Forget about all the bad stuff—tonight, you’re the queen, and the three of us are here to carry you!”
Sang Ye and Tan Mo remained silent.
Xiao Pai was willing to say anything to cheer up a girl.
He was used to it.
Since it was just a casual match, the game started quickly.
On the plane, Nuo Nuo took the initiative to speak. “God Tan, are you leading the team? By the way, you never squad with girls. I don’t think I’ve ever played with you before.”
“Song,” Tan Mo suddenly called out.
Sang Ye: “What?”
Tan Mo: “You take the lead.”
Sang Ye gave a casual “Oh” and marked a drop point on the map—G Harbor, seaside villas.
He and his teammates were well-coordinated. When they landed at G Harbor, there was no need for extra reminders; everyone instinctively knew which buildings to go into.
Sang Ye entered a house with Tan Mo following closely behind. Footsteps sounded from behind them, and a glance at the minimap revealed it was Nuonuo coming in.
Xiao Pai, who had landed in a different house, called out, “Sister Nuo Nuo, come over here! I’ll protect you!”
“It’s the same either way,” Nuo Nuo said with a sweet laugh. “You’ll all protect me, won’t you?”
Xiao Pai: “Of course!”
Since Nuo Nuo was a streamer rather than a professional player, Sang Ye had no particular expectations for her. She could stand wherever she wanted.
Upstairs, Sang Ye and Tan Mo were about to split up to loot.
Nuo Nuo followed closely behind Tan Mo, her voice syrupy. “God Tan, I’ll stick with you. I can cover you, and I just feel safer around a pro~”
Tan Mo’s character had already reached the doorway but suddenly turned back and followed Sang Ye into another room instead. “I’m used to covering Song. Be careful on your own.”
Sang Ye: “?”
Nuo Nuo fell silent and entered a different building.
[“Hahahaha, I thought Talk had mastered the art of CP baiting. When he’s with Song, he’s so flirty, it’s like he’s totally enlightened. But as it turns out, when he’s with anyone else, he’s still the same deadpan self. No offense—by ‘anyone else,’ I mean literally everyone except Song.”]
[“Can I interpret this as a survival instinct?”]
[“Hope the lady streamer knows her place and moves accordingly.”]
[“This isn’t even a “carrying a girl” game, okay? God Tan can’t go three sentences without mentioning Song—where’s the interaction with the girl?”]
Sang Ye quickly looted a row of items, finding Tan Mo’s behavior today a bit odd. “Don’t follow me. Go search somewhere else.”
There were only so many supplies in one room—having two people loot the same place was a complete waste of time and resources. Tan Mo, as a professional player, should definitely know that.
But instead, Tan Mo asked him, “Are you rejecting me?”
“…” Sang Ye pressed his lips together. “No… Just stand by the wall.”
He sped up his looting while Tan Mo simply followed behind him, doing absolutely nothing.
In the last room, Sang Ye dumped an assembled gun, matching ammo, and various throwables onto the floor for Tan Mo.
As Tan Mo picked up the gear, he asked, “Don’t I look like a kept man?”
Sang Ye: “What?”
Tan Mo replied, “A kept man who follows his wife around and lives off her.”
Sang Ye: “…”
Xiao Pai sounded confused. “What are you two doing over there?”
Nuo Nuo let out a soft laugh. “Didn’t know God Tan had a sense of humor.”
Meanwhile, the chat had erupted into chaos.
[“AHHHHHH official CP is the sweetest! Official CP is unbeatable!”]
At the five-minute mark, an enemy team approached.
Sang Ye focused on target switching, while Tan Mo repositioned to cover fire.
Nuo Nuo suddenly screamed from another room, startled: “Help! Help! There’s another squad! They’re coming upstairs! God Tan, save me!”
Tan Mo heard the approaching footsteps and gave instructions remotely: “Jump out the window. Song and I can’t get to you.”
He wasn’t lying—judging by the sounds, the enemy team had already reached the hallway. Peeking out would mean instant elimination.
Before Nu Nnuo could jump, she was caught by the enemy team and eliminated.
Her stream chat exploded: [“??? What happened to fighting around the queen?”]
The four enemies proceeded toward the last room in the hallway, but the moment they stormed through the doorway, they were wiped out by Sang Ye and Tan Mo’s seamless teamwork and precise shooting.
Watching from her observer mode, Nuo Nuo sighed. “I should probably stick with you guys next round. It’s too dangerous alone.”
Neither Sang Ye nor Tan Mo responded.
Xiao Pai chimed in, “Yeah, Nuo Nuo, don’t go off alone. Stick with me next round.”
Nuo Nuo let out a forced laugh. “Alright.”
The remaining players only started rotating when the third circle began to shrink.
With no need to focus on playing, Nuo Nuo started making conversation: “I saw a news article on New Year’s Eve—someone put up a giant screen confession for God Tan at the Bund.”
Sang Ye, who was driving, finally noticed how much attention that grand confession was getting—people kept bringing it up.
Xiao Pai joined in, “That was seriously next-level impressive.”
Nuo Nuo got straight to the point: “God Tan, do you know which fan did it?”
Tan Mo replied calmly, “I do.”
“……”
Sang Ye lost control of the steering wheel for a moment. The car veered onto a hillside slope and nearly flipped into the sea.
“Hey, slow down, slow down.” Tan Mo sounded a little nervous. “Are you planning to take me for a romantic su*cide dive into the ocean?”
Sang Ye, flustered by Tan Mo’s teasing, turned red but stubbornly complained, “Y-you… talk less.”
Nuo Nuo wasn’t about to let go of the topic. She quickly asked, “Was it a female fan?”
“Sorry,” Tan Mo replied casually. “Song told me to talk less.”
“……”
The chat exploded with laughter.
[“He’s always been a bit henpecked.”]
In the second match, Nuo Nuo stuck with Xiao Pai, and they won the round with minimal effort.
For the third match, they used the same two-two split strategy—two people in each house looting together.
Nuo Nuo suggested, “This time, I’ll team up with Song?”
Sang Ye didn’t mind. “Suit yourself.”
Tan Mo stood in front of Sang Ye for a few seconds, then turned and walked away.
Xiao Pai pretended to be heartbroken. “Sister Nuo Nuo…”
Nuo Nuo playfully laughed. “It’s all the same~”
While looting on the same floor, Nuo Nuo casually started a conversation. “Song, won’t shipping CP with Tan God affect you in real life?”
“What kind of effect?” Sang Ye perched on a windowsill and fired two shots at a distant house.
A knockdown notification popped up on the system.
But from this position, he couldn’t finish the kill.
Nuo Nuo’s soft and delicate voice carried a hint of innocence. “After all, Tan God is a man too. The whole internet says you’re a couple with another guy—wouldn’t your real boyfriend get jealous?”
Sang Ye’s 6x scope crosshair wobbled slightly. He frowned. “Real boyfriend?”
“Wait, was that something I wasn’t supposed to say?” Nuo Nuo let out a small gasp, as if just realizing something, then continued, “I always thought that since you never denied it, it meant you actually had a boyfriend. If you didn’t, you could’ve just said so, right?”
Sang Ye’s live chat instantly flooded with [“???”]
[“Where’s this passive-aggressive nonsense coming from? The person involved never even responded, and she’s over here making assumptions. Is she trying to force a clarification? How is that polite?”]
At that moment, Sang Ye pulled the trigger, securing a clean kill.
“What does that have to do with you?” Tan Mo suddenly spoke up, his deep, magnetic voice tinged with coldness.
Nuo Nuo, skilled at reading tone, immediately softened her voice. “Aww, don’t be so mean to me~”
Sang Ye’s gaze darkened, his lower sclera showing slightly in an expression of sheer exasperation.
Once you notice something feels off, everything starts to feel off.
The way this woman was talking to Tan Mo right now—it was seriously starting to piss him off.
Nuo Nuo continued, “I just say whatever comes to mind, I’m straightforward like that. I’m like this with Xiao Pai all the time too, right?”
“Uh… yeah…” Xiao Pai responded dumbly. “I have a med kit here, anyone need it?”
Ignoring him, Nuo Nuo pushed her point. “But I’m not wrong, am I? Besides, if Tan God ever gets a girlfriend, she definitely wouldn’t want her boyfriend acting all sweet with another guy—”
“The hell are you talking about?”
Sang Ye suddenly let go of the mouse, ripped off his headset, and slammed it onto the table. Without another word, he got up and walked straight out.
Nuo Nuo froze awkwardly.
Tan Mo watched Sang Ye’s confident stride as he left the room. He raised an eyebrow, suppressing the curve of his lips, then casually removed his own headset as well.
For a brief moment, Sang Ye’s stream screen turned into a vast sea of blankness. It seemed like everyone in the chat was still processing this sudden turn of events.
Xiao Pai was stunned for a long time before he finally found his voice. He shouted toward the door, “Bai Mao? Bai Mao! You’re seriously just leaving like that?” Frustration turned his face red. “It’s just a game, is this really necessary? You can’t even take a joke? That’s so lame! Who do you think you are?!”
Just as he finished speaking, a large hand pressed down on the back of his neck, forcing his face into the keyboard once again.
“……”
Xiao Pai’s in-game character twisted around erratically on the spot.
Standing beside him, Tan Mo looked down at him from above. His deep, magnetic voice was calm as he said, “He’s your sister-in-law. Stop setting up these kinds of games.”
“……………”
After leaving that sentence behind, Tan Mo also walked away.
For a few seconds, every livestream involved seemed to crash in silence.
Hu Fu, who had been playing League of Legends, slowly removed his headset. He glanced at the door, then at Xiao Pai, who sat there in a daze.
To be honest, his ability to process this information wasn’t much better than Xiao Pai’s.
A long moment passed.
Xiao Pai turned to Hu Fu, his eyes brimming with unshed tears. His voice trembled as he asked, “So Bai Mao is my sister-in-law… meaning my brother is Bai Mao’s boyfriend?!”
Hu Fu hurriedly pulled out a box of tissues. “Pai, calm down. Take a deep breath.”
“How am I supposed to calm down?!”
Xiao Pai sniffled, his lips quivering.
Suddenly, he hunched over, buried his face in his hands, and let out a wailing cry.
“I CAN’T BELIEVE THESE TWO SNAKES! When did they even get together?! Why didn’t I know?!—Wait, wait, who was it that told me my brother didn’t like men? That Bai Mao liked hot girls?! I KNEW there was something going on between them! I REFUSE TO ACCEPT THIS BETRAYAL!! I’M NOT GONNA DO A HANDSTAND AND SHIT WATER!!!”
Hu Fu panicked and shoved more tissues into his hands. “Life is unpredictable, life is unpredictable.”
“WAIT A SECOND!” Xiao Pai’s head suddenly snapped up, his tears drying instantly as his gaze turned razor-sharp. “NO WONDER my brother only brought Bai Mao durian that day! That’s so cruel—AAAHHH! They were already messing around back then! BETRAYAL! A blatant, undeniable betrayal! I KNEW something was off when I didn’t get any durian!!”
“……”
Seeing Xiao Pai cry even harder, Hu Fu felt strangely conflicted.
It seemed like the durian issue upset him more than the whole handstand-and-diarrhea thing.
Meanwhile, in the livestream chat, the audience flooded the screen with “WTF!!!” as their collective shock exploded. CP fans, on the other hand, were sobbing with joy.
[“THE SHIP IS REAL!! I CAN DIE HAPPY NOW!!”]
…
That night, at exactly 10 PM, Tan Mo and Sang Ye posted on Weibo together.
wlg-Talk V: [Successfully turned a wife fan into my actual wife.]
wlg-Song V: [Successfully became a fan who caught my star.]
No extra words, no extra pictures.
However, netizens quickly noticed that Sang Ye had changed his profile picture. The new image matched the style of Tan Mo’s—exaggerated facial proportions, bold colors—clearly both drawn by Sang Ye himself.
The internet found it hilarious. Tan Mo and Sang Ye, both known for their stunning visuals, had previously provided countless aesthetic couple profile pictures. Yet, their own chosen avatars were so ridiculously goofy that they were almost meme-worthy. But the more people looked at them, the more strangely endearing they seemed.
The next morning, WLG Club’s official Weibo account updated with a post featuring screenshots of Tan Mo and Sang Ye’s announcements:
[As long as players follow club regulations, we do not interfere with in-team relationships. We kindly ask everyone not to excessively focus on players’ personal lives and to continue supporting their performance in upcoming tournaments. Lastly, congratulations to the newlyweds! 👏👏👏]
Meanwhile, beauty streamer Nuo Nuo found herself at the center of unwanted attention. Netizens started digging up every single word she had said during that infamous squad match, analyzing them line by line, and ultimately concluded—she was a drama-stirring green tea girl.
Her carefully crafted image of pure elegance collapsed overnight, and her public reputation took a nosedive. Even the platform quietly removed her from its homepage promotions.
Xiao Pai, too, finally realized that he had been manipulated by Nuo Nuo. Essentially, he had been nothing more than a loyal simp. This realization left him a bit heartbroken for two whole days.
Fortunately, he had plenty of other “big sisters” to simp for. By the third day, he was back to his usual lively self.
The news that two of the biggest esports stars were a couple continued to dominate discussions for days. The deeper fans dug, the more past moments they found, leading many to suspect that Tan Mo had been interested in Sang Ye ever since their very first team-up.
Finally, the day arrived for the Annual Gaming Awards, co-hosted by multiple major domestic platforms.
At 2 PM, a long, sleek Rolls-Royce pulled up in front of the red carpet.
The door opened, and WLG’s members stepped out one by one.
Dressed in sharp suits, they exuded confidence and charisma.
Even E Lan had styled his hair in a more mature fashion, revealing a smooth, unblemished forehead.
Tan Mo and Sang Ye walked in the center, their hands clasped together without the slightest hesitation. Matching jade rings adorned their fingers, a bold and unmistakable statement.
Along the way, fans screamed with such excitement it seemed they might faint, their voices echoing with chants of “Rap Couple!” Flashing cameras captured their every step, leaving afterimages of overexposed light in their wake.
The team paused for group photos in front of the signature wall.
Afterward, a staff member hurried over, slightly bent forward as they whispered instructions, “Excuse me, but could the Rap Couple proceed to the interview area first?”
The interviews were scheduled in batches, and at the journalists’ request, Tan Mo and Sang Ye had been grouped together.
Sang Ye’s milky-white hair was messily styled to perfection. Dressed in a well-tailored suit, his frame carried the lean, youthful sharpness of a teenage prodigy. Standing beside him, Tan Mo, with his model-like physique, created an effortlessly striking visual contrast—the two of them together were both eye-catching and perfectly matched.
In the flurry of reporters vying for attention, one voice managed to rise above the rest: “Has making your relationship public affected your daily lives?”
Tan Mo glanced at Sang Ye, silently signaling for him to answer.
“No impact,” Sang Ye replied into the microphone. “Our families are very supportive, and our teammates are already used to it.”
Laughter rippled through the press crowd.
Another reporter followed up, “If you were to break up, would it affect your careers?”
Sang Ye scoffed, “Bad omen. Next question.”
The laughter grew even louder.
Lowering his lashes slightly, Sang Ye then gave a serious response: “We won’t break up.”
Tan Mo’s lips curved into a soft smile.
The reporter chuckled. “Then I wish you both a long and happy future together.”
Yet another journalist quickly followed up, “Song, as the most talented young player in esports history, do you see yourself continuing down this path for the long run?”
Sang Ye answered without hesitation, “I love my profession. It has given me confidence, achievements, friendships, and even love. I hope the road ahead continues to expand.”
The reporter smiled warmly. “It will. Without a doubt.”
Someone turned to Tan Mo and asked, “Talk, as both a mentor and a partner, is there anything you’d like to say to Song?”
Tan Mo looked at Sang Ye.
Sang Ye met his gaze, dark pupils shimmering with anticipation.
Two seconds passed.
Tan Mo turned to the reporter and said, “No.”
“……”
The interview concluded, and under the staff’s guidance, Tan Mo and Sang Ye continued walking forward.
Once the staff had left, the two kept walking. Sang Ye gave Tan Mo’s hand a shake.
It didn’t come loose.
Frowning, Sang Ye muttered, “So you really had nothing to say to me?”
He had been fantasizing about that moment just now.
A flicker of amusement flashed in Tan Mo’s eyes, but he didn’t respond. Instead, he bent his head down.
Sang Ye was still sulking, but as if conditioned by muscle memory, he instinctively rose onto his toes, his lips meeting Tan Mo’s.
—Because there was too much to say.
Keep going.
You look stunning today.
Let’s stay together forever.
I love you.
I love you deeply.
I want to spend every shining moment of my life with you.
…
There was too much to say, so much that he didn’t know where to begin.
The kiss lasted only for a fleeting moment before they parted, but the cameras on site still managed to capture it.
Netizens frantically took screenshots in front of their screens.
The image froze—of a man and a young man kissing, sunlight solidified within the jade of their rings.
Among the scrolling comments, one message passed by:
[“I see courage and admiration, sincerity and eternity. Talk and Song must keep walking forward, hand in hand.”]