INSIDE the waiting area for the players participating in the final tournament of Rookie Carnival, all 16 players were already present inside. With the exception of one standing near the entrance and talking to a figure standing just outside of the said entrance.

Of course, the two were none other than Luo Yan and Shen Ji Yun.

Contrary to what Bai Ze thought, Shen Ji Yun did not 'abuse' his power as the CEO's nephew. The other insisted that he wanted to send Luo Yan and Luo Jin (this one was doubtful) to the waiting area, so he went along with the two despite knowing that he wouldn't be able to go inside.

That's why he's standing just outside the door of the waiting area while talking to Luo Yan. Looking like a lovelorn suitor pining for the person beyond the door.

He's probably the only one who thought of doing that. Because it was understood by everyone that only those who were participating at the Rookie Carnival were allowed to be in the waiting area. Which was true, but it didn't mean that the surrounding area was also off-limits.

Shen Ji Yun used that loophole so he could send Luo Yan here. How could he not when this was such a big event in his rabbit's gaming experience? Of course, he should give the other his full support.

"Do you have everything you need? If there's something you've forgotten, just tell me, I'll get it for you," Shen Ji Yun said.

Luo Yan smiled helplessly. He couldn't remember how much the other had already asked this question since they met earlier. It might not show on his appearance, but Luo Yan could tell how nervous Shen Ji Yun was. In fact, he literally could feel the other's nervous energy. It was radiating so much that he even felt like it would prick his skin.

He was the one who's about to fight in a tournament and yet Shen Ji Yun was the one who's nervous.

"I didn't forget anything, Brother Ji Yun," he said. "You should go to the team's royal box. They're probably wondering why you're still not there."

Shen Ji Yun actually wanted to stay until the start of the tournament. But he knew that that would be too much. He could feel the other participants already giving Luo Yan a weird look. If he continued to remain here, it might only have a negative effect on Luo Yan.

So, he could only reluctantly say at the end, "Okay."

But he couldn't just leave like this. He should at least do something to cheer him on. So, after much deliberation, which felt like forever in his head but really only a few seconds in reality, he put both hands on top of his head in a heart shape manner and said;

"Jiayou!"

Then, he quickly teleported out of there.

Luo Yan looked blankly at the spot where Shen Ji Yun was standing and then an uncontrollable chuckle escaped his lips. What was that? He remembered Shen Ji Yun's face being expressionless while doing that set of action and then the same face turning into a cooked shrimp in a matter of seconds.

How could someone be so adorable? He probably had asked the same question a couple of times already. But what could he do? Even now, he couldn't find the answer to it. It would probably remain one of the greatest mysteries of the world.

He shook his head and turned around to walk to where Luo Jin and Eclipse were. But the moment he did, he noticed that most of the gazes of the other players in the room were looking at his direction. Many of them had an unbelieving look in their faces.

He already had an idea what caused this. They had probably seen the little 'heart' sign that Shen Ji Yun did and couldn't believe that the other would do something like that. After all, in the eyes of most players in Arcadia, YUN was like a flower of gaoling. Standing at a high place, out of reach of anyone. So, seeing him doing something like that was probably a shock.

One of the players who saw what YUN did was Xia Lei. But unlike others here, his thoughts were just a tad bit different from theirs. Because of his sister's influence, the first thing he thought when he saw what YUN did was 'is he and Noctis really in that kind of relationship?'.

He suddenly had goosebumps. Not because of the thought per se but because of the fact that it was the first thing that came to his mind. It just proved just how much his sister's fangirling was affecting him. He shook his head sharply and decided to no longer think about that.

Luo Yan, on the other hand, didn't care what the other players thought and just continued to walk to where Luo Jin and Eclipse were.

Eclipse, who was currently in his fox form, jumped to his master's arms. Although Eclipse's fox form was a bit bigger compared to before, Luo Yan could still hold him with ease.

[Mashter, Eclipse saw what Captain did just now! That's a heart sign, right? Was Captain telling Mashter that he loves you before the tournament starts?] the little fox asked.

Luo Yan almost laughed when he heard that. But come to thing of it, that sign was indeed usually accompanied by the words 'I love you'. Instead, Shen Ji Yun said 'jiayou'. He ruffled Eclipse's fluffy head.

[Maybe.] he said as an answer to the other's question.

When he gazed down, he happened to see Luo Jin looking at him. The other looked like he just ate something unpalatable and wanted to immediately spit it out. Knowing his brother, Luo Yan had no doubt that this 'unpalatable' thing in the other's eyes was what Shen Ji Yun did earlier.

He was about to tease the other when he heard someone say;

"Must be great to have someone like that wrapped around your finger."

The voice was full of sarcasm and mockery. Luo Yan turned and looked for the source of that voice.