Assassin, Don't Be Too Arrogant [E-sports] - Chapter 9

“Wen Zhe? He just woke up too, probably also thinking about what to eat.”

[How do you know that?!]

[Are you two living together?]

[Any fanfic writers! Please start writing!!]

“What are you talking about? No way, don’t make things up.”

Jian Yao shot back, but even as he said it, he figured he might as well ask. It could help break the ice between them.

What he didn’t expect was that Wen Zhe had already been watching his livestream on his computer, with their chat window open on his phone the whole time.

[LoveApology: Wen Zhe, are you hungry?]

[Wzhe: ?]

Something’s off!

Jian Yao’s internal radar seemed to detect something, and he immediately straightened up.

[LoveApology: I want to see what you’re having.]

[Wzhe: I feel like eating soft-shelled turtle.]

“Soft-shelled turtle?” Jian Yao exclaimed in surprise, completely absorbed in replying to the message and ignoring the barrage of comments.

[LoveApology: Soft-shelled turtle??]

[Wzhe: What about it?]

[LoveApology: That’s quite health-conscious.]

Wen Zhe let out a soft tsk and tapped the voice message button: “Indeed, especially eating the kind of soft-shelled turtle that has no idea why it’s being eaten. That’s the best.”

Hearing the emphasized tone on the last two words, Jian Yao felt an inexplicable chill run down his spine, but he still found Wen Zhe’s words strange and continued to argue.

[LoveApology: Would a soft-shelled turtle even know it’s being eaten?]

[Wzhe: You’ll find out later.]

“Why do I have to wait until later to know? You’re just teasing me.” Jian Yao felt a bit annoyed, pouting as he looked at the barrage.

[What’s going on? We’re all waiting anxiously!]

[Soft-shelled turtle? Is YAO going to eat soft-shelled turtle?!]

[That’s oddly health-conscious.]

“It’s not me who’s eating,” Jian Yao paused, deciding not to mention Wen Zhe. He changed the subject: “Let me ask you guys, do animals know they’re about to be eaten?”

[What kind of question is that?]

[I vote no.]

[I think they might, like a strange premonition?]

[But only humans have premonitions, right?]

“Alright, alright, never mind,” Jian Yao quickly cut in. “Let’s just drop it.”

He scratched his head and took a deep breath. What’s with all this nonsense every day?

Turning to look at his phone, he noticed Wen Zhe had sent another message.

[Wzhe: Come out to eat.]

[LoveApology: I just started my livestream.]

[Wzhe: Do a mukbang. Spice up your content.]

Jian Yao blurted out, “That actually makes sense… but we’re not going to eat soft-shelled turtle, are we?”

Listening to the confusion in the livestream, Wen Zhe replied with a hint of amusement:

[Wzhe: Don’t worry, no soft-shelled turtle.]

Jian Yao was startled. He glanced up at the camera and quickly moved his mouse to the guest list. The golden username of the top supporter appeared in his view.

Well, well… now he’s really being “monitored”…

He cleared his throat and put on a serious tone as he asked, “Do you guys want to watch a mukbang? I’ll take you guys along to find food.”

After all, he’d just started the stream. He had to be responsible to his viewers.

[Yes!!]

[Mukbang?! What a treat!]

[Is YAO going alone?]

“No, I’m going with someone else…” Before Jian Yao could finish, a prominent comment dominated his screen.

[[Supreme Comment] AFG.Wzhe: He’s coming with me.]

[Wen Zhe!!]

[You little rascal! And you told us it was someone else!]

[Hiding it from us, huh?!]

[Mom, Dad, I’m eating well today!!]

Jian Yao felt a headache coming on as he watched the barrage of comments flying by…

Indeed, I’m not suited to being responsible for the audience.

Seeing that Jian Yao hadn’t replied to his message and was chatting enthusiastically with viewers on the livestream, Wen Zhe simply grabbed his jacket and car keys and headed out the door.

After putting on his helmet, he thought he should notify the person himself, so he took out his phone and sent a voice message: “Get ready, I’m on my way to your place.”

On the other end, Jian Yao was engrossed in lively banter with the chat until the sudden ring of a phone call interrupted.

“Hello,” Jian Yao answered without checking the caller ID, holding the phone to his ear.

“Didn’t you see my message?”

“You sent me a message?” Jian Yao jolted, quickly switching to the background to see a red “1” in the chat window. “Sorry, sorry, it didn’t show up. Let me check the text now.”

Jian Yao hadn’t seen the message at all and was wondering why Wen Zhe had gone silent after sending it.

“No need to check. Come down quickly.”

“Come down? Are you downstairs at my place?” Jian Yao said as he hurried toward the window, where a familiar figure came into view.

Sensing the gaze, Wen Zhe looked up slightly, and the two locked eyes.

He broke the silence first: “Come down when you’re ready.”

“Ah, okay,” Jian Yao replied, turning back to his computer desk. “I’ll be right there!”

After hanging up, Jian Yao reminded his viewers that he was switching the livestream to his phone before hastily shutting down his computer.

Switching devices as he headed downstairs, he watched the viewer count grow and asked, “Can you hear me? Can you see the video?”

[Yes, yes!]

[YAO is in such a hurry, haha!]

“Of course, I can’t keep someone waiting.”

[Wow, this is a different perspective from the computer livestream!]

[Seeing YAO up close makes him even more handsome!]

[Run, child! Run toward love!]

[Hey, don’t bring up unrelated stuff, okay? They’re just good friends.]

[Who are you to tell me what to do? If there are girlfriend fans, there are CP fans too.]

Jian Yao had no time to pay attention to the chat as he dashed toward the entrance.

“Wen Zhe!”

Wen Zhe watched as Jian Yao stopped beside him, slightly bent over and panting, yet his gaze never left him.

A smile tugged at Wen Zhe’s lips as he leaned closer to Jian Yao. “This time, you remembered to look at me when you speak?”

A projection flashed through Jian Yao’s mind—he had indeed been in the habit of not looking at Wen Zhe when speaking before. This time, for some reason…

It suddenly gave him the illusion that the distance between him and Wen Zhe had narrowed.

Had he kept Wen Zhe at arm’s length before?

And now, was he integrating Wen Zhe into his life?

Hearing the slight delight in Wen Zhe’s tone, he dismissed his earlier uneasy thoughts. “Yeah, I’ll keep looking at you from now on.”

“Good,” Wen Zhe said, ruffling Jian Yao’s hair. “Even though I don’t know if there’s a next life, in this one, your gaze can’t wander elsewhere.”

“Got it, got it. I don’t have a wandering eye, so why would I look elsewhere?”

Besides—

My gaze has always been fixed on you, never changing.

Wen Zhe’s smile didn’t fade as he shook his head and handed the helmet to Jian Yao. “Put it on.”

“Okay, but can you hold my phone for me? I’m still livestreaming.”

Wen Zhe took it, trying to find a good angle to film Jian Yao, only to realize his own face had entered the frame. “Front camera? Let me switch the angle.”

[Wen Zhe, my husband!]

[So sweet, so sweet!]

[My smile is reaching the sun right now!]

[Hahaha, YAO’s helmet is so cute! It even has a little duck on it!]

【Wait! Was that a little duck that just flashed over Wen Zhe’s head too?!】

【Ahhhhh, I’m going crazy.】

“These comments…” Wen Zhe frowned slightly, organizing his words.

“They’re just talking nonsense, don’t take it to heart,” Jian Yao quickly took back the phone and switched to the front camera.

“No, I just think it’s a shame they don’t become paparazzi,” Wen Zhe adjusted his posture and gestured for Jian Yao to get on the bike. “They’d instantly outdo last night’s gossip accounts.”

【Hahahahahaha.】

【Is he complimenting us?】

Jian Yao listened while watching the comments, unable to hold back a laugh. “You make a good point.”

【!!! The viper smiled?!】

【Baby, smile more!】

【Wuwu, he looks so good when he smiles.】

Oh no, time to rein it in!

Jian Yao turned his head away, changing the subject. “Where are we going to eat?”

“You’ll know when we get there.”

Wen Zhe didn’t elaborate, focusing on driving.

Jian Yao understood and quickly fell silent, pressing the phone close to his chest. After all, in this day and age, even professional players have obsessive fans.

After a few traffic lights, when Jian Yao saw Wen Zhe take off his helmet, he knew they had arrived.

He swung his leg off the bike and looked around at the shop in front of them. It didn’t look like a restaurant at all.

Wen Zhe put on his cap, waited for Jian Yao to set down his helmet, then walked to his side and leaned over to look at the live-streaming phone screen. He expertly tapped the mute button. “Turn it back on when we get to the private room. Let’s go.”

The transparent glass door sensed the two of them and slid open. The noise inside was worlds apart from the quiet outside.

“Go, go!”

“Can’t any of you play? Go back and restart the tutorial!”

Are these people all playing The Chaser?

Before Jian Yao could get a closer look, the person at the front desk blocked his view.

“Do you two have a reservation?”

Wen Zhe didn’t respond. Before he could even take off his cap, the person in front of him gasped in surprise, quickly rummaged through a drawer, and handed a card to Wen Zhe. “Sorry to bother you. Please come in.”

“Is this an internet café? It feels heavily guarded,” Jian Yao dared to ask only after they had passed the front desk. “And everyone seems to be playing The Chaser.”

“Yeah, this is actually a small talent scouting center.”

“To find talented players?”

“Mm. See that person in the right corner wearing a mask? That’s WFG’s coach.”

Jian Yao followed his gaze. It really was!

Wen Zhe watched as WFG’s coach approached the young man and handed him a business card. “Looks like they’ve taken an interest in him.”

The two stopped, silently enjoying this covert observation.

Seeing the young man shake his head firmly, Jian Yao spoke up. “Looks like he turned them down.”

Before Wen Zhe could respond, the young man they were talking about happened to glance in their direction.

Wen Zhe met his gaze and naturally reached out to pull Jian Yao closer. “Let’s go. We’ve been spotted.”

【Why is he touching him?!】

【They seem so close they could share the same pair of underwear.】

【Stop telling the truth like that.】

Jian Yao stiffened slightly, gripping his phone tighter… This is weird. How do I usually walk again?

“We’re here.” Wen Zhe inserted a card into the slot on the left side of the room, and the lights inside brightened.

It was a small private room, very simple—no, very luxurious!

This… this equipment is top-tier!

Jian Yao’s eyes widened. He quickly set his phone aside, pulled out the gaming chair, and sat down. This keyboard, this monitor, this feel, this…

While Jian Yao was fully immersed, Wen Zhe picked up his phone, turned off the mute, and tested, “Can you hear me?”

[Yes, hubby!]

[Yes, yes, yes!]

[Where’s my YAO?]

“Yao?” Wen Zhe flipped the camera toward Jian Yao’s direction. “He’s enjoying himself.”

[Forgive my kid for never having seen the world before. Wait… that setup!]

[Wow! That’s an amazing setup!]

[Sorry, the kid takes after me. I haven’t seen the world either.]

[This guy has all this stuff and just leaves us hanging?]

“Yao.” Wen Zhe gently patted Jian Yao’s shoulder.

“Huh, what’s up?” Jian Yao glanced back for a second before being drawn back by the “protagonist” aura.

“Your livestream.” Wen Zhe switched the camera back to the front and waved the phone in front of Jian Yao.

“Livestream? What livestream…?”

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