Chapter 44 – Date!
It was a date, but they weren’t really going anywhere.
Two gaming geeks with no dating experience stood at the entrance of their residential complex, debating for a long time before finally—quite conventionally—deciding to go to the movies.
Half an hour later, Ji Wei stood at the entrance of the theater, his index finger and thumb forming a seven, his chin resting on his chest, deep in thought.
What should they watch?
A family movie? Too heartbreaking.
An animated film? Too childish—and there might be quarreling children, which would ruin the atmosphere.
An action movie? Wouldn’t all the fighting ruin the mood?
A romance? Logically the perfect match, but shouldn’t they be a little more discreet when they’d just gotten together?
Yin Sijue, holding the couple’s set meal he’d just bought, asked, “Haven’t you decided yet?”
“Hmm.” Ji Wei hesitated. “Which one do you want to see?”
Yin Sijue gave him a half-smile, then said directly to the ticket agent, “Two tickets for Say I Love You Before Sunset, thank you.”
Ji Wei: …
A while later, the two of them sat inside the theater. Aside from two or three couples, there were no other spectators.
Everyone’s intentions seemed obvious.
The staff had thoughtfully arranged a couple’s seat for them. With no armrest in the middle but cushions on either side, it felt more like a semi-open private room.
The movie hadn’t started yet, and the silence was so heavy they could hear each other’s breathing. Ji Wei was just about to ask about the showtime when a strange noise came from not far away.
It sounded like sticky water—the mingling of breaths, short gasps, and the soft clacking of lips and teeth.
Seriously, teacher? Ji Wei’s face turned green. They were kissing before the movie even started?
Both of them were professional players with excellent hearing, and they fell silent for two seconds upon catching the sound.
Ji Wei shifted uneasily in his seat, glancing at Yin Sijue—only to find him looking back.
Their eyes met, someone’s lips quirked up first, and both of them couldn’t help but laugh.
Ji Wei quietly leaned closer to the man’s ear and whispered, “We’re the only two men here. Isn’t that strange?”
“No.” Yin Sijue leaned in too, his hot breath staining Ji Wei’s earlobe red. “They don’t have time to care about us.”
The movie turned out to be exactly what he expected: a painful story of youth.
What a terrible movie! After half an hour of watching intently, Ji Wei muttered inwardly, I don’t get how the heroine could fall for this jerk.
Wait—that wasn’t right. He suddenly realized he hadn’t come here to watch a movie at all.
The presence of the people around them suddenly felt sharper. The couple’s seat wasn’t very spacious; with their thighs pressed together, warmth passed between them until their temperatures matched.
Holding hands… that should be possible, right?
He sneaked a glance at Yin Sijue, hoping for an opening. But the man sat back in his chair, arms folded, watching seriously. There was no way to slip his hand in.
“…”
Ji Wei curled his fingers and tapped his thigh.
No response.
So engrossed? He was a little confused. Could this movie really be that good?
Just as he was about to start following the plot, his right hand was suddenly seized.
Yin Sijue sat upright, eyes fixed on the screen, but his hand had already slipped onto Ji Wei’s leg, catching his retreating hand.
Holding, holding! Ji Wei took a deep breath, his face flushing.
But…
Is this how normal couples hold hands? He glanced down at his clenched fist, completely enveloped in Yin Sijue’s large hand.
What’s the difference between this and holding a child’s hand? I’m not Doraemon.
So, after a slight struggle, he slowly turned his palm inward and interlocked their fingers.
The sensation of their fingers lacing together was piercingly sweet, almost painful. Ji Wei quickly licked his lips, his breathing uneven, his heartbeat pounding like a drum.
Yin Sijue’s hand paused for a moment, then tightened, firmly securing Ji Wei in his grasp.
After holding on for a while, Yin Sijue suddenly smiled and leaned in, whispering, “Look at that male lead—he’s also playing PUBG…”
What’s he playing? Ji Wei wasn’t paying attention to the plot at all. His eyes were fixed solely on the face leaning so close.
Yin Sijue’s good looks were undeniable. The dim light from the movie slid down his high nose, softening the sharpness of his profile with a touch of gentleness.
For some reason, Ji Wei leaned over and pressed his lips against the cheek before him.
Yin Sijue turned his head in surprise, only to see Ji Wei curled up in his seat like a shrimp, eyes locked on the screen as if his soul had fled his body.
“…”
Looking at the flustered boy, Yin Sijue felt a pang in his chest.
He exerted a little force, pulling Ji Wei toward him. Cupping his face, he leaned forward and kissed him on the lips.
…
Ji Wei was caught off guard, his breath burning in his throat. His eyes widened at the warm, wet touch on his lips.
Fireworks burst in his mind. The sudden kiss made him forget to breathe. Yin Sijue pinched his chin lightly, his voice low and hoarse as he whispered, “Ji Wei, breathe.”
That deep voice was suffocating, pulling him under. Ji Wei felt passive yet eager, clumsy in his attempts to draw air. Small gasps escaped him, and the corner of his mouth glistened with the clear trace of their kiss. Yin Sijue wiped it away with his fingertips before leaning down to claim his lips again.
At eighteen, his first kiss was awkward and unskilled. Ji Wei closed his eyes at some point, enduring the man’s irresistible, predatory kiss, as if he were being devoured little by little.
A tingling, electric current spread from their lips and teeth through every nerve. They parted and met again and again, the intoxicating rhythm lasting until the movie’s end.
When they finally left the mall, Ji Wei was still dazed, his lips unconsciously pursed, occasionally brushed by the tip of his tongue.
Walking beside him, Yin Sijue glanced at his embarrassed expression and swollen, reddened lips—and couldn’t help but chuckle.
Ji Wei’s face flushed, and he was furious. “What are you laughing at?”
“Sorry,” Yin Sijue said, his smile undimmed. He reached out and wiped the corners of Ji Wei’s eyes, feeling the dampness on his fingertips.
“Why are you crying again?”
“…It’s none of your business.”
“That’s too much of my business.” Yin Sijue took his hand and gave it a shake.
Ji Wei was silent for a moment, then asked awkwardly, “How… are you so skilled?”
“Hm?” Yin Sijue was momentarily confused. “What do you mean by skilled?”
Ji Wei said indignantly, “That kiss—it didn’t feel like your first time.”
Yin Sijue raised an eyebrow at him. “Then I’ve been wronged.”
He bent down, wiped the dark red mark from his thin lips with his fingertips, and said in a complaining tone:
“If I’d kissed you before, I wouldn’t be bleeding from your teeth. Ji Wei, I didn’t realize you actually have a little canine tooth.”
…
Since Xu Shaoqiu had ordered a birthday cake for Ji Wei that evening, the two didn’t stay out too late. After the movie, they went straight back to the base.
Inside the training room, Da Shu and Mi Li were playing video games on the projection screen.
Hearing the door, Dashu turned and called out, “Brother Qiu, they’re back!”
Thump, thump—Xu Shaoqiu came running down from upstairs, pointing at the two of them. “Where were you this afternoon?”
“We went out to play.” Yin Sijue, puzzled by his anxious expression, added, “I even sent a message in the group chat.”
“No, I mean—why did you go out to play alone?” Xu Shaoqiu asked, looking confused. “It’s like—”
Yin Sijue leaned against the wall, arms folded, waiting for him to finish.
“Forget it, that’s not the point.” Xu Shaoqiu shook away the ridiculous thought in his mind. “Did you two go to the movies?”
Ji Wei looked up in surprise. “How did you know?!”
“You two were photographed,” Dashu said, turning around with a grin. “Everyone on Weibo’s saying you had a private meeting without your teammates, hahaha!”
Ji Wei opened his mouth to retort, but before he could say anything, he realized the netizens weren’t exactly wrong.
Wait—they got photographed at the theater? But weren’t they kissing most of the time?!
“Where’s the photo? Let me see.” Ji Wei’s voice trembled. “It’s not trending, is it?”
Xu Shaoqiu was completely baffled. “Trending? The competition’s over—who even cares about you? We’re not that famous!”
He handed Ji Wei the phone. The picture showed the two of them buying tickets at the counter. Ji Wei let out a sigh of relief.
Xu Shaoqiu frowned. “You still need to wear a mask when you go out. Don’t let anyone snap indecent photos of you—it’ll hurt your commercial value.”
Ji Wei’s nerves, which had just relaxed, tensed again. “What do you mean, indecent photos?”
Xu Shaoqiu started listing: “Ugly ones. Crooked noses, squinting eyes, that sort of thing. There was a picture of Da Shu rolling his eyes once, and he lost a ton of girlfriend fans.”
“He still has girlfriend fans?” Mi Li turned around in shock.
Xu Shaoqiu: “They’ve all fallen off now.”
Da Shu: “Haha.”
Xu Shaoqiu went to the restaurant to get something. “What a coincidence you two came back! The cake I ordered is almost here. Let’s tidy up and get ready for dinner.”
Yin Sijue followed Ji Wei upstairs. Thinking back to the boy’s startled expression earlier, he found it truly amusing.
Once they were out of sight from downstairs, Yin Sijue leaned in and whispered, “Don’t you want to make it public?”
“Not really,” Ji Wei replied awkwardly. “I’m just worried you’ll get scolded because of me. I haven’t really achieved anything yet. If it goes public… they’ll definitely criticize you.”
Yin Sijue felt a pang of distress and sighed softly. Pulling Ji Wei into his room, he asked pointedly, “Why are you always so worried about causing trouble for others?”
Ji Wei hesitated, fidgeting with his fingers, but said nothing.
Yin Sijue took the boy’s hand, his fingertips gently rubbing the small mole near his palm until the skin there turned red. Then he whispered: “No one’s going to scold me because of you. Your joining has strengthened AVG as a whole—that’s undeniable.”
“Besides, baby, you won the summer championship. And you’re still saying you haven’t achieved anything?”
Ji Wei nearly lost it at the word baby.
His entire face flushed, and all his tangled worries vanished in an instant. In his eyes, there was only Yin Sijue.
I really like him.
Ji Wei leaned forward of his own accord, wrapped his arms around Yin Sijue’s neck, and buried his face in the warm crook of his shoulder, pressing his cheek close.
Yin Sijue rubbed the back of his head. “I got you a birthday present. Want to see it?”
Ji Wei lifted his head, eyes bright with excitement. “Of course!”
Yin Sijue picked up a square box from the table and handed it to him. “Open it here.”
Inside was a pair of gaming headphones from a well-known brand—sleek, stylish, with a futuristic design. On the ear cups, the word unique was engraved in English.
Ji Wei picked them up, testing the weight, his eyes full of delight. “They look amazing! Can this brand really engrave custom words too?”
Yin Sijue’s eyes curved in amusement. “If you spend enough, yes.”
“They’re so beautiful…” Ji Wei couldn’t stop praising. “I’m wearing them to training tomorrow.”
“Mm. Now let’s go downstairs and have some cake—the coach is already calling.”
Xu Shaoqiu had ordered a fondant cake shaped like an in-game helmet, with “Happy Birthday, Unique” written in white chocolate.
Dashu stared at the spherical cake, at a loss for words. “Why’d you make it look like a level-three helmet? Why does it feel kinda gory to me?”
“This is called fitting the theme.” Xu Shaoqiu snatched the plastic knife from his hand and passed it to Ji Wei. “Birthday boy cuts first. After PGC, may every match start with you landing on a level-three helmet.”
Ji Wei: “…Alright.”
Dashu took the slice Ji Wei cut and was just about to dig in when he suddenly thought aloud: “Wait, shouldn’t we be singing the birthday song?”
Mi Li set down her cake. “Hold on, he hasn’t even made a wish yet, has he?”
Only then did Xu Shaoqiu realize. “Damn, what do we do now? The cake’s already cut! All my fault for forgetting to remind him—I even bought candles!”
Ji Wei quickly waved his hands. “It’s fine, really.”
Xu Shaoqiu glanced at the half of the level-three helmet that was left. “How about we stick one candle on top?”
“Really, it’s fine.” Ji Wei sliced off the biggest piece and handed it to Yin Sijue. “This year, the wish I wanted most has already come true.”
They kissed, YS called him “baby” LWUDUA