Shen Kuangye stopped walking and turned back to look at him.
Cheng Rang raised an eyebrow. "What's with that look? Want to punch me?"
He slowly walked over and stopped in front of Shen Kuangye. "Am I wrong? You like Lu Xiangyang, don't you? You're just too scared to admit it."
Shen Kuangye didn't answer. His mind was in complete chaos. One part of him kept telling himself that he couldn't possibly like Lu Xiangyang, yet Lu Xiangyang's figure kept appearing in his mind. Along with it came the anger and possessiveness that had flared up the moment that man appeared earlier.
Cheng Rang snorted coldly. "You act so arrogant all the time, but it turns out you're just a coward."
He had been observing Shen Kuangye's reactions. Cheng Rang wasn't someone who liked meddling in other people's business, but Lu Xiangyang made him feel a sense of sympathy.
After all, falling for a straight guy was a pretty troublesome situation.
"If you really don't like him, then you shouldn't have done all those things that made him misunderstand in the first place," Cheng Rang said.
"He's obviously very innocent. You know what? A while ago I saw him in the kitchen drinking traditional Chinese medicine. Do you know what it was for?"
Shen Kuangye frowned. He didn't answer, but an answer was already beginning to form faintly in his mind.
Sure enough, Cheng Rang gave a cold laugh. It was unclear whether he was laughing at Lu Xiangyang's foolishness or Shen Kuangye's cold-heartedness.
"It was the kind of Chinese medicine that those quack doctors online claim can cure homosexuality."
Cheng Rang had never been straight, so he was particularly sensitive about these things. From the very first time he saw Shen Kuangye and Lu Xiangyang together, he had noticed something strange between them. That was why he had acted that way the first time they met.
Shen Kuangye's hostility toward him had only confirmed his suspicions.
But since it was a matter between the two of them, Cheng Rang could only offer occasional hints. However, when he saw Lu Xiangyang secretly drinking that medicine at the staircase and later glanced at the name of the medicine in the trash after he left, he immediately understood.
Those two were definitely going to run into trouble.
He even felt sorry for the youngest member of the team. The first time he fell in love, it had to be with such a cold and stubborn straight guy.
Actually, calling Shen Kuangye straight might not even be accurate. Because based on Shen Kuangye's behavior, Cheng Rang felt he hadn't intentionally done those things to make Lu Xiangyang misunderstand.
Instead, it seemed like he himself didn't even realize it—liking someone without knowing it.
"I think he realized a long time ago that he liked you," Cheng Rang said. "But he was afraid you'd hate him, so he stupidly believed that drinking herbal medicine could 'fix' it."
Cheng Rang scoffed. "So stupid."
"Alright, I've said everything I needed to say. The rest is up to you."
Before leaving, Cheng Rang looked at him with a smile and added, "But I suggest you figure things out soon. Otherwise, just like Li Shu said—Lu Xiangyang is handsome and has a great personality. The number of people who like him will only increase. When someone better shows up, whatever advantage you had will be completely gone."
After saying that, he stuck his hands into his pockets, humming a tune as he walked away.
Shen Kuangye remained where he was, silent for a long time.
How could he possibly like Lu Xiangyang?
How could he fall for Lu Xiangyang?
He had only done those things to make Lu Xiangyang happy.
…Was that really the case, Shen Kuangye?
He let out an irritated sigh.
Cheng Rang was right. The appearance of that "Xiao Yang" guy earlier had completely triggered his sense of crisis.
Where exactly were they now?
---
"Doesn't it taste good?" Shen Luoyu asked.
Lu Xiangyang slowly snapped out of his thoughts. Looking at the fried cold noodles in his hand, he forced a small smile.
"It's okay."
"You don't seem very interested today. Is it because of the match?"
Shen Luoyu led him into a milk tea shop and gestured for him to sit down.
Lu Xiangyang lowered his head. "Sorry… maybe a little."
Shen Luoyu smiled. "That's normal. Everyone has days when they're in a bad mood."
He asked, "Then… how about we relax a bit? There's an amusement park nearby."
Amusement parks were actually Lu Xiangyang's favorite place.
He loved thrilling rides.
But when he glanced outside at the sky, which was already growing dark, something felt off.
The milk tea shop was warmly lit. Shen Luoyu's smile was gentle as he chatted casually.
Yet Lu Xiangyang suddenly felt his nose sting.
He missed Shen Kuangye.
He wanted to go back to the club and see Shen Kuangye.
"Sorry," Lu Xiangyang said. "I have something to do tonight. I can't stay."
Shen Luoyu was surprised for a moment, but he quickly responded kindly.
"That's okay. We'll go next time. Just consider it that you owe me a meal."
He stood up.
"Can I at least drive you back to the club?"
Lu Xiangyang couldn't refuse again and nodded.
---
When they arrived, Shen Luoyu even got out of the car and walked him to the entrance.
"I'll go in now," Lu Xiangyang said, waving.
Shen Luoyu smiled. "Okay."
Lu Xiangyang finally relaxed a little.
But when he entered the club, he noticed it was unusually lively.
Several unfamiliar voices were speaking in a language he didn't understand.
He looked up and saw several unfamiliar faces.
Well… not completely unfamiliar.
He had seen them before on the IJL professional stage.
It was the Japanese team Aurora.
They had arrived today.
"Hey Xiangyang, you're here! Perfect timing—we were just waiting for you," Yi Shui called him over. "Let me introduce you. These are the members of Aurora. They'll be training with us for the next few days."
"Hello, I'm Poem."
One of the Aurora players greeted him in clumsy Chinese while extending his hand.
Lu Xiangyang happened to know a little Japanese and shook his hand.
"Ohayou, watashi wa SUN."
Everyone burst out laughing at their awkward introductions, even the translator.
"Well, looks like I'm not needed here."
Only Shen Kuangye watched them silently, his gaze dark.
Why were they still holding hands?
Poem shyly let go.
Lu Xiangyang greeted the others one by one. Finally, it was Aurora's hunter player.
He was about the same age as Lu Xiangyang, with eyes full of pride and confidence.
He extended his hand and spoke fluent Chinese.
"Hello. I'm Tsuki."
His pronunciation was almost indistinguishable from a native speaker.
Lu Xiangyang smiled and shook his hand. "I'm SUN."
"Haven't you already introduced yourself?" Tsuki said with a faint smile. "I know you. You're quite famous."
Although they were in Japan, they closely followed the Chinese mainland league and analyzed every team weekly.
EAR's new hunter had already caught their attention.
For some reason, Lu Xiangyang felt that Tsuki seemed to harbor some hostility toward him.
He quietly withdrew his hand and said nothing more.
---
Soon the Aurora members left to settle into the house they had rented next door.
In the large club hall, only three people remained:
Lu Xiangyang, Shen Kuangye, and Tsuki.
Tsuki suddenly turned to Shen Kuangye and smiled.
"Sorry, I have quite a lot of luggage. Could you help me carry it?"
Lu Xiangyang lowered his head beside them, pretending he didn't exist.
He knew Shen Kuangye would definitely help.
Back in the youth training camp, when they had just met, Shen Kuangye had taken his heavy suitcase downstairs without even being asked.
"There should be enough people over there," Shen Kuangye said calmly.
"You can ask them."
He glanced at Lu Xiangyang.
"I have something else to deal with."
Lu Xiangyang looked up in surprise and unexpectedly met Shen Kuangye's deep, dark eyes.
Tsuki looked between the two of them before shrugging.
"Alright then. See you tomorrow, WILD."
Then he left.
Now only Lu Xiangyang and Shen Kuangye remained.
Lu Xiangyang could hear his own heartbeat pounding loudly.
He could also feel Shen Kuangye's gaze quietly fixed on him.
"Kuangye-ge… I'm a bit tired. I'll go upstairs first."
He tried to leave, but someone grabbed his wrist.
Instinctively, he shook it off.
Only afterward did Lu Xiangyang realize what he had done.
Shen Kuangye slowly lowered his hand.
"Did you have fun today?" he asked awkwardly.
Of course he didn't.
He had been distracted the entire time.
Career setbacks. Love setbacks.
How could he possibly be happy?
Yet Lu Xiangyang heard himself say:
"It was fun."
Shen Kuangye was silent for a moment.
"…That's good."
Their conversation now sounded like two strangers talking.
Lu Xiangyang turned his face away sadly.
"Kuangye-ge, I'll go upstairs first. You should sleep early too."
Just as he finished speaking, his wrist was grabbed again.
This time Shen Kuangye seemed to finally make up his mind.
"Can we talk?"
Lu Xiangyang avoided his gaze.
"Didn't we already talk?"
He added softly, "You already rejected me."
Shen Kuangye tightened his grip on Lu Xiangyang's wrist and pulled him back into the room.
Lu Xiangyang obediently followed him and sat down in the gaming chair.
Shen Kuangye closed the door.
The second floor was even quieter than the first, so quiet that Lu Xiangyang felt inexplicably anxious.
"Kuangye-ge… what did you want to tell me?"
He felt uneasy, afraid of hearing another rejection.
Being rejected once had already hurt enough.
Shen Kuangye slowly released his grip.
The thing he had struggled with for so long suddenly felt clear.
Lu Xiangyang deserved to know.
No matter what, he shouldn't keep hiding it anymore.
"Do you know why I suddenly stepped in to stop you that day at the youth training camp?"
Shen Kuangye pulled up a chair and sat in front of him.
Lu Xiangyang froze, completely caught off guard by the question.
"Why?"
Shen Kuangye took a deep breath.
"Because…"