XIU was still singing the song that Jian Rong couldnt understand a single word of.

In order to respond to Ding-ges messages, Jian Rong had been holding his phone the entire time. If his grip was any stronger, his phone would probably explode from how hard he was squeezing it.

Ive been found out.

When that thought popped up, Jian Rong gave himself a scare.

XIU let out another slam dunking on your head, which was so loud the neighboring room could probably hear it and was about to come over waving a knife, dragging Jian Rong out of his thoughts.

Jian Rong questioned, why are you asking that.

His guilty conscience reached its peak, and he unconsciously kept blinking as he spoke.

Lu Boyuan didnt hear him. He tilted his head a bit towards Jian Rong, indicating for him to say it again.

Jian Rong could smell the scent of alcohol on Lu Boyuan. Together with the tobacco, it combined into a different sort of heart-throbbing fragrance.

Jian Rong froze completely and didnt move at all. I said why are you asking that, does Ding-ge need need to record it? Afraid that Im going to start dating early?

Then, he heard Lu Boyuan let out a muffled laugh, heavy and low, suppressing XIUs incongruous rapping.

Maintaining that same distance, Lu Boyuan lifted his chin and said in Jian Rongs ear, Im the one who wants to know.

A second later, he spoke again. Youre eighteen, it doesnt count as dating early.

Simultaneously as Jian Rongs brain crashed, he didnt forget to curse out his streams water friends in his mind. They were constantly brainwashing him with dont date early, itll affect your career, making it so that at a freaking critical moment like this, he was still preoccupied with BS about dating early or not.

Because of Jian Rongs appearance, he frequently received comments calling him effeminate or gay while he was streaming. Each time, he would unhesitatingly toss out an Im your dad.

But right now, not only was he unable to say a single word denying it, he also freaked out. The feeling of being caught peeking at Lu Boyuan back at the base when they were watching whatever butterflies-inducing video returned with a vengeance.

At the time, he had indeed been caught peeking.

Then what about this time? This time, he hadnt done anything at all, so how come he still had this misperception that Lu Boyuan had him seized by the collar

Lu Boyuan set down his glass. It was an extremely mundane gesture, but in Jian Rongs guilty eyes, it seemed like a prompt for him to hurry up.

As a result, Jian Rongs mind spun as he grew flustered, and he said, completely irrelevantly, Whats the reason for asking this? Do you discriminate against gay people?

Two seconds later, Jian Rong thought, What kind of nonsense question did I just ask, I might as well slap myself three times in punishment.

Seeing Lu Boyuans slightly startled expression, Jian Rong then felt like three slaps wouldnt be enough to settle this matter.

Lu Boyuan was indeed momentarily taken aback, but he quickly recovered.

He said, I discriminate against myself?

Jian Rong:

Oh no.

I think I couldnt quite hear him.

I definitely misheard him, or I missed something.

Jian Rong mumbled, whatd you say?

XIU overpowered Jian Rongs muttering, and Lu Boyuan furrowed his brows.

Consequently, Jian Rong increased the volume of his voice and asked again, What did you say

The moment before he spoke, the music cut off, and a woman sitting not too far from Jian Rong just happened to pick up and turn on a microphone

Did you say

You say

Say

Jian Rongs voice echoed around the private room for a long time.

Everyone in the room turned to look at him. Jian Rong stared at Lu Boyuans profile and decided that after he left this KTV, he was going to immediately take a taxi over to Huangpu River.

UU, who had turned off the song without permission, was the first to pull himself together. He swore at the person next to the microphone stand, Can you freaking sing something that other people can understand?

XIU gripped his microphone. what do you know, this is called hip hop!!

Whatre you so damn hyped about. When other people rap, its hip hop, but when you do it, youre just a readeryour pronunciation isnt even accurate.

XIU grumbled as he put down the microphone. A song with a soothing, light intro started playing soon after, and everyone abruptly discovered that their ears felt much more comfortable now.

Except for Jian Rong.

At that current moment, if someone were to place an unlit cigarette on his ear, perhaps it would be able to instantly ignite.

XIU walked straight towards them and also dragged over UU when he passed him. He kept grousing to himself, Ive noticed that when Im with you, bastard, I just cant have a good chat or sing a song, tonight if I dont drink you under the table I wont be able to focus on my upcoming match.

Right before XIU and UU reached them, Lu Boyuan repeated his words from earlier in greater detail.

I said, I like guys. He said, Right now.

Before Jian Rong could free himself from his stupefied state, XIU sat down on the stool next to Lu Boyuan.

XIU poured himself a glass of alcohol. Holy shit, when I glanced over just now, I thought that you two were kissing.

Jian Rong:

UU: ?

Lu Boyuan retreated back to his original position.

Even so, Jian Rong still felt like they were too close to each other. He tugged his disheveled coat over his chest, afraid that Lu Boyuan could hear the sound of his heartbeat.

UU joked, Are you crazy, why would two men be kissing?

Realizing that he had accidentally let something slip out, XIU cleared his throat. Why cant two men kiss? Are you some old-fashioned elder? How come that cake still isnt here yet, weve been waiting forever.

Its the weekend, theres a lot of guests, it even takes a long time for an attendant to come over. Wait a little longer, whats the rush? UU smiled at the person behind Lu Boyuan. Soft, dont hold back. If you cant drink, you can still sing. Go pick a song, you can queue it straight to the top.

Jian Rong was glad that the lighting in the room was dim.

He ducked his head and hid his face as he said vaguely, No need, I cant sing.

UU lifted an eyebrow. Werent you a streamer before? You dont know how to sing?

Its not like he was relying on singing to get more fans. XIU topped up UUs glass. Stop messing around, drink up.

More alcohol was poured into Lu Boyuans glass as well. He didnt say anything as he picked it up and bumped it against XIUs cup.

With his head lowered, Jian Rong swiftly calmed down.

If Lu Boyuan liked guys, which guy did he like.

At first, Jian Rong thought that it was himself.

But after Lu Boyuan leaned back and tacitly bumped glasses with XIU he felt like he was taking it too much for granted.

Nearly everyone in their industry was male. Newcomers, trainees, even their teams substitute jungler, they were all Lu Boyuans fanboys. The LPLs famous and renowned players were acquainted with Lu Boyuan too, and there were also quite a few male celebrities who wanted to team up with him.

Lu Boyuan could have possibly taken a liking to any one of them.

Whats more, Lu Boyuan had consumed alcohol and appeared to be a little drunk, so it wasnt weird for him to suddenly come out of the closet to Jian Rong either.

Jian Rongs pulse was still going fast, but his expression had already settled down entirely. Taking advantage of when Lu Boyuan was talking to XIU, he reached up and forcefully rubbed his face.

XIU changed the subject. Oh right. After we finished playing against you guys last week, Savior kept talking about your mid laner.

His voice wasnt loud, but because the music was currently relaxed, Jian Rong could still hear him.

Jian Rong was in a state of deep contemplation and wasnt listening too closely, so he didnt notice that XIU had worded it as your mid laner.

Lu Boyuan took a sip from his drink. Talking about what?

He said that hes definitely gonna win the lane next time.

XIU was already fully prepared to receive Jian Rongs ridicule, but he didnt expect the person in question to stare blankly off into the distance, zoning out, without even giving a sneer in reply.

Hes imagining things.

XIU was dumbfounded, and he looked at Lu Boyuan. What?

The door opened. A KTV employee entered, pushing a cake on a cart that had two balloons attached to it.

Just wait for the playoffs. Lu Boyuan patted his shoulder. Go blow out your candles.

XIU:

Fucking hell, Lu Boyuans pat gave him a type of finish this last meal so I can send you on your way feeling.

After the candles were blown out, Jian Rong was handed a slice of cake. He ate the cherry that was on top of the cream but didnt really touch the cake itself.

He listened to Lu Boyuan chat with UU and the rest about things that had happened in the past, slowly absorbing new information

The private room was filled with the LPLs early pro players; apart from Lu Boyuan and XIU, the rest had retired already. They all knew each other from way back when, and they used to game together every day in an illegal internet cafe. At the time, Lu Boyuan was fighting with his father, so he had basically lived at the internet cafe

Stunned, Jian Rong instantly snapped out of his thoughts.

UU was in the middle of a rousing retelling. Every day, when I went back home to sleep, he was playing ranked in the internet cafe. When I woke up, he was still playing ranked at the internet cafe. Whats the difference between you and those top students who study on the sly?

Lu Boyuan scoffed. If I wanted to practice in secret, as if youd be able to find out?

Speaking of which, back when his dad rushed over to the internet cafe, he also brought a few people in suits with him. That display of force really gave me a scare.

Damn, I remember that, there was a whole row of luxury cars parked outside that little rundown illegal internet cafe. Everyone on the street stopped to look!

If my familys financial situation was like that, like hell Id play games

Jian Rong grew more and more startled as he listened.

He knew that Lu Boyuans family was well-off. From one glance, it was clear that Papa and Mama Lu were both highly accomplished intellectuals, but Lu Boyuan had fallen out with his family before?

As he listened with his head lowered, a cherry stained with cream was placed onto his cake plate.

Lu Boyuan continued to chat with his close friends. After giving away his cherry, he put down his cake. Thats enough, is there nothing else to talk about?

Once they finished eating their cake, Lu Boyuan ignored UUs pleas to stay and left with Jian Rong.

There were many taxis outside of the KTV, and they randomly got in one. Fortunately, they encountered a driver who didnt want to speak.

Jian Rong stared out the window, the same question as before still spinning in circles around his mind.

Who exactly did Lu Boyuan like.

Lu Boyuan cracked open the window a bit. When the night wind blew inside, the scent of alcohol clinging to him floated over to Jian Rongs side.

Lu Boyuan was on a call with Ding-ge, who didnt understand how he had gradually heard less and less from Jian Rong after letting him go pick up Lu Boyuan. His texts remained unread, his calls were ignored, he was almost about to call the fucking police.

Lu Boyuan swept a glance at Jian Rong, who was sitting next to him, lost in thought. He started to wonder: of what he had said in the private room, just how much did this person actually hear.

Hes fine.

Why would I not be fine.

I didnt drink that much, Im not drunk, were on our way back now.

At the base, he scanned his QR code and paid the driver.

Right as Lu Boyuan placed one foot out of the car.

Who is it that you like

Jian Rong couldnt help himself.

He wanted to know much too badly. Since leaving the KTV, he had restrained himself until now, but he truly couldnt hold back any longer.

He kept getting the feeling that if he didnt get to the bottom of this matter in one go, then he wouldnt be able to freaking sleep tonight, tomorrow night, or any night from now on.

Jian Rong held the door open for Lu Boyuan with one hand, while he raised his other hand in a pledge. I definitely wont tell anyone. If I do, Ill lose all my games, I wont be able to out-flame the water friends, Ill be slaughtered when laning

Lu Boyuan got out of the car, closed the door, and then grabbed Jian Rongs wrist.

He pulled Jian Rong over to a shadow to the right of a street lamp.

Jian Rong thought that Lu Boyuan felt he was being too nosy. Of course, its also fine if you dont want to tell me.

Lu Boyuan laughed when he heard that, and he let go of Jian Rongs hand.

It seems like Im the one who asked you this question first, its only fair that I give an answer for an answer.

Jian Rong:

After a very long time, he abruptly replied, I didnt like anyone in kindergarten, or in primary school, or in junior high, or in senior high.

At this point, Jian Rong reached up and tousled his hair, sinking into a silence.

Lu Boyuan quietly waited for him to finish.

Jian Rong discovered that even if Lu Boyuan didnt do anything except stand in front of him and gaze down at him, he still felt like he was about to fucking explode from nervousness.

Right now Jian Rong shut his eyes. Right now, it seems that, theres someone that I like

Lu Boyuan asked, Who.

It was difficult for Jian Rong to even breathe, but he was never one to put himself at a disadvantage. Its only fair that I give an answer for an answer

From behind them, there was an ear-piercing creak

Damn! I was drying my underwear on the balcony, and when I glanced down from up there, I thought I saw you two! Xiao Bai poked his head out from the bases gate and asked with concern, Why arent you guys coming in? Its so cold out here.

Jian Rong:

Im going to murder a support.

Why did I have to flash and save this dumbass in our second to last ranked game tonight???

If youre gonna dry your underwear, then dry your underwear, what the hell are you looking all over the place for????

Youre already done with practice at this hour? Do you think you performed extremely well during todays match?????????

The lighting was too dim, so Xiao Bai couldnt clearly see the fury and anguish in their mid laners eyes. Receiving no response from either person, Xiao Bai pulled open the gate and asked, Are you not coming inside? Ding-ges been waiting for you two for a long time.

Jian Rongs fists clenched and then unclenched, unclenched and then clenched.

Until his hand was held by someone.

At an angle where Xiao Bai couldnt see, Lu Boyuan extended his hand, and their fingers tangled together for a few brief seconds.

You.

Lu Boyuans voice was very soft, and it contained a huskiness that came from drinking. I like you.

Yan: We finally made it to their confession scene >///< (lmao at Xiao Bai)

Also announcement I will be attempting to go back to 3 updates a week! I actually wanted to do this last week, but instead I lost power for four days straight so :))) If work/life gets busy, I cant guarantee therell be 3 chapters every week, nor do I want to make an announcement every time about it so if we havent updated after Wednesday, then just assume therell only be two updates for the week (M/Th). Get ready for some super cute chapters in the future~