Chapter 38 – Freezing
At 2:30 in the morning, Lin Xingling tossed and turned, unable to sleep.
Room 506 was already neat and tidy, but because it hadn’t been occupied for a long time, there was still a dusty smell lingering.
It made people uncomfortable.
Moreover, he was worried about Cheng Che, causing his heart to ache… He couldn’t fall asleep peacefully.
In this lifetime, he thought he was already open-minded and understanding, accepting fate… but he didn’t expect to still be hindered by the struggles of life and love.
He couldn’t stop worrying about the future of the team and everyone, constantly anxious about Cheng Che’s every move.
He liked him, afraid that he wouldn’t like him back, afraid that he would fall in love with someone else.
It was even more heartbreaking than not being able to play the jungle role due to a wrist injury.
Who knows what a child is thinking in his heart, his obedient child.
Han Chuan, A Hua… and even various potential love interests that might appear in the future.
Lin Xingling sat up on the bed, wearing a worried expression.
It was 3 o’clock in the morning, the time when everyone was fast asleep.
… Cheng Che was no exception, sleeping soundly wrapped in a blanket.
The small night light that Lin Xingling turned on was still shining, guarding him like a deity by his side.
Suddenly, there was a strange sensation on his face, as if someone’s hand had touched him… Cheng Che frowned in his sleep and restlessly moved.
“Mmm…”
That hand happened to cover half of his face, not too big or too small… the palm was warm, giving a familiar feeling.
… Could it be you?
As soon as the palm left his cheek, Cheng Che opened his eyes and, in a daze, saw Lin Xingling. He reached out and grabbed his arm.
“Xingling… Mm, captain.”
After thinking for a long time at night, Cheng Che couldn’t figure out what could have made him angry.
He could only assume that Lin Xingling simply didn’t like him as a person.
If someone doesn’t like you, then everything you do will be detestable, right?
“I’m… I’m sorry… don’t, don’t be angry… and don’t, don’t dislike me.” Cheng Che struggled to sit up, still holding onto his arm, unwilling to let go. “I’ll change…”
You don’t like me cursing, I’ll change; you don’t like me livestreaming, I’ll change… just don’t hate me.
This feeling is strange, just like experiencing the thrill of overcoming a game and then replaying it to relish the sense of domination, but being held back by an important NPC who has grasped your heart.
Cheng Che didn’t understand why his e-sports career went smoothly, but his daily life was so difficult to handle.
Being with Lin Xingling was like going through a tribulation: sometimes clear and sunny, sometimes thunderous, sometimes affectionate, and sometimes painfully sour.
The sourness was a bitter taste for Cheng Che.
Finally, Lin Xingling couldn’t help but embrace him.
“I’m not angry, I don’t dislike you, don’t change… it’s all my fault, I’ve been acting out of character lately…”
Cheng Che was confused and asked, “You don’t dislike me?”
That was the result of his long contemplation.
But the result he had contemplated for a long time was negated by Lin Xingling in an instant. “Absolutely not.”
He won’t dislike me…
Cheng Che furrowed his brows, looking pensive. “Then, you’ve been… frequently in a… um, emotional state lately.”
“It’s not…” Lin Xingling decided to be frank and decided to express his love fully. “Do you… do you remember the night you arrived, when we talked about Hua Xin and Fu Cheng being together…”
“Guys… can, can be in a… relationship, right?” Cheng Che asked after a two-minute delay.
“Yes.”
In the dim light, Lin Xingling’s cheeks blushed.
“I… for you…” (Xing)
“Are you afraid that I’ll get into an early relationship… with Han Chuan?” (Che)
Both of them spoke at the same time.
Cheng Che looked up at him with a bewildered expression.
Lin Xingling timely stopped and coughed twice. “That’s right, just like that. In Brother Feng’s team rules, there’s a rule that prohibits dating… I’m afraid of Han Chuan, and I’m also afraid of A Hua.”
Forget it, let it be like this.
The hamster put away the broken jar in his hand.
“I… I don’t like them.”
The cat chuckled.
“Hmm?” Lin Xingling loosened his grip on Cheng Che’s arm.
Cheng Che’s eyes were bright, and he looked beautiful when he smiled.
“From childhood until now, the only person I’ve liked… besides my mom, is… is you.”
Lin Xingling felt instantly delighted in his heart.
Although he knew that the affection Cheng Che mentioned wasn’t the romantic kind, it at least proved that he held a high position in Cheng Che’s heart and was important to him.
Satisfied.
As long as I, the palace, don’t die for a day, you all will ultimately be my concubines.
…
On the second day, the two who had already made up were dragged by Brother Feng to the balcony to reconcile.
Cheng Che and Lin Xingling exchanged a smile.
“We’re all one family, we should love and support each other.” Brother Feng patted their shoulders. “You two make up with each other, especially Stars, don’t be moody all the time. You’re grown-ups…”
“The captain isn’t… isn’t old,” Cheng Che pouted and continued, “He’s… he’s just in his early twenties.”
Lin Xingling: A master of pausing sentences.
“Little brat, try to speak normally when you stutter next time.”
Cheng Che (bewildered): “Huh?”
Lin Xingling (patting his head): “It’s nothing, forget it.”
The two of them watched the scene unfold—
Wu You: (holding back a smirk)
Liu Ying: (adding to it)
Brother Feng, the king of mischief, clapped his hands twice and said, “Since you’ve made up… come, I brought your team uniforms for you. Good brothers, let’s exchange and wash the uniforms.”
Extremely absurd.
Cheng Che and Lin Xingling had no choice but to take each other’s uniform jackets and go to the bathroom together.
Brother Feng followed behind them with Wu You and Liu Ying, the three of them going together to watch.
Wu You waved his hand. “Xiao Pei, come together!”
“Not interested.”
Phantom sat quietly on the sofa, reading a book. The aloof blond youth had no intention of paying attention to them.
On the other hand, the braided Wu You liked to join in wherever it was lively.
He seemed out of place with the calm Phantom.
In the bathroom, Cheng Che pulled out a printed photo of himself from Lin Xingling’s uniform pocket… lying on the bed with half-closed eyes, his face blushing.
Didn’t remember taking this photo? It’s also so ugly.
“Hmm?… Why are there so many bottle caps?”
Cheng Che was still thinking about when this photo was taken, but he was startled when Lin Xingling mentioned the bottle caps.
“Ah?… Bottle, bottle caps?”
He quickly put the photo back into his pants pocket and leaned over to Lin Xingling’s side to take a look. He saw four red bottle caps in his hand and couldn’t say a word.
Lin Xingling raised an eyebrow and asked, “And they’re all ‘Another Bottle,’ where did you get so many ‘Another Bottle’?”
Wu You took them over to show Brother Feng and Liu Ying, and indeed, all the bottle caps said ‘Another Bottle.’
“That’s strange.”
“Hmm…” Cheng Che blinked at him, “Can I… not say?”
“You can’t.” Lin Xingling shook his head.
Cheng Che looked at Brother Feng with pleading eyes.
Brother Feng wagged his index finger. “It’s shameful to act cute.”
He looked at Liu Ying.
Liu Ying crossed his arms in front of his chest and made a gesture. “Dameimei!
Cheng Che rubbed his eyes and sighed, “Liu Ying is the one who… acts cute shamelessly…”
Wu You “assisted the tyrant” and urged him to speak quickly, “Brother Che, stop changing the subject. Tell us where all these bottle caps came from.”
“I… I bought them at the supermarket downstairs… When Captain… didn’t allow me to drink, I said… I won another bottle.”
At that time, he bought several iced tea bottles’ caps downstairs. As he drank, he didn’t want to drink anymore, so he left a few and forgot about them in his pocket… Since he didn’t often wear that jacket, they were left until today when Lin Xingling discovered them.
Brother Feng: Well done.
Wu You: You really have a way.
Liu Ying: Wow, this is too impressive.
“Why is the little brat so clever?”
Lin Xingling smiled.
Cheng Che: “Don’t tease me like that… I was wrong.”
“As for the next time…” (Che)
“In exchange for your recognition of your mistake…” (Xing)
They both spoke at the same time, causing everyone to burst into laughter.
The DCT team swept away the gloom of the past few days and finally returned to normal.
“Fathers are kind, and sons are filial; brothers are friendly, and younger ones are respectful.”
As time passed, the World Champion Cup also came to an end. After the quarterfinals, the DW team and SYG team successfully defeated their respective opponents and entered the finals.
The intense final battle lasted seven games, and in the twenty-eighth minute, DW was defeated in a team fight when SYG pulled off a 4-for-5 trade.
The shooter Charity was left lonely yet glorious as he single-handedly targeted the crystal.
When the SYG team went to lift the Golden Phoenix Cup, they were too excited. Someone accidentally tripped Chen Enci, and he fell face-first on the stage, losing half of his teeth.
The scene was chaotic.
On Weibo, SYG team dominated the trending topics:
No.1 [World Champions SYG]
No.2 [The Last Shooter Charity]
No.3 [Charity Falls and Loses Teeth]
Lin Xingling sent a message teasingly:
[DCT-Stars: At your age, you’re still losing teeth.]
[SYG-Charity: (39s voice message)]
[SYG-Charity: (54s voice message)]
[SYG-Charity: (voice call)]
[DCT-Stars: (rejected voice call)]
[SYG-Charity: Answer my call, I’ll tell you over the phone!]
Lin Xingling: Oh well!
Congratulations, you’ve unlocked the exclusive skin for Stars: Furious Player.
This person is very irritable. After getting angry, he runs away and refuses phone calls… This made Chen Enci call Brother Feng, holding the phone to his ear and scolding him.
Lin Xingling meekly took the phone back to the room to face the scolding.
It was the first time everyone saw someone being thoroughly put in place by Star Dad, and not even face-to-face.
Charity is truly an extraordinary man.
…
“If you dare laugh at my teeth, I’ll break all of yours.”
Chen Enci said fiercely, then whispered, “How are things going with you-know-who?”
When it came to Lin Xingling’s gossip, his attitude made a complete 180-degree turn.
Lin Xingling lowered his gaze and smiled softly, “No, I’m just his team captain, his good brother.”
“Tsk…” Without even thinking, it was clear that Chen Enci was rolling his eyes. “I think you should be a good father, right? I’m telling you, you’re terrible at dating. Who raises someone they like as if they’re a child…”
“You wouldn’t understand,” Lin Xingling simply smiled.
“In that case, put more effort into being his godfather,” Chen Enci sighed heavily.
“Got it, his godda
“…”
After finishing the call with Chen Enci and hanging up, Lin Xingling left the room and returned the phone to Brother Feng. Seeing Cheng Che looking at him eagerly, he sat down next to him.
“What’s wrong?”
Wu You was eating mango and saw something was happening, so he came over.
“Wu You, could you… give us some space? We… we want to talk privately.”
Cheng Che waved his hand to shoo him away.
“Pff~” Wu You went to bother Phantom again.
Liu Ying shifted his dragon fruit to the other side, indicating that he wasn’t eavesdropping.
“Um… Coach, he, he shouldn’t listen either.” Cheng Che pointed at Brother Feng.
Brother Feng waved his hand and obediently went aside. “Okay, I won’t listen.”
…After everyone moved away, Lin Xingling smiled and asked what he wanted to say. Cheng Che stuttered for a while before finally speaking up.
“Um… Captain, are you… really close to Charity?”
So that was it.
Lin Xingling nodded. “Yes, we have a good relationship, just like… like you and Liu Ying.”
“Then, do you… like him?”
Cheng Che asked in a low voice.
“I do,” Lin Xingling extended his index finger and booped Cheng Che’s nose, saying with a smile, “But not as much as I like you, and it’s not the same kind of liking as I like you.”
This statement was quite confusing, and Cheng Che didn’t fully understand.
But Cheng Che knew one thing: Lin Xingling liked him more than anyone else, and that he was important.
That was enough.
Author’s note:
【Mini Theater】 – The Slow Cat’s Reaction
Hamster Xingling: … (Jealous, fuming)
Cat Cat Cheche: What’s going on here???
After a while –
Hamster Xingling: Alright, I’m not jealous anymore.
Cat Cat Cheche: Were you jealous?
Hamster: Now I feel like I should be angry!!!
Cat Cat: Huh?
After a while –
Cat Cat: Are you angry now?
Hamster: (faints from anger)