Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
[MelonRind: ?]
[ManagerYuanWei: And Captain doted on you!]
[MelonRind: ?]
Ji Zhiyao typed “what exactly are you saying” halfway, when a thought suddenly formed astutely in his mind.
Hold on…
Did Mo Huaifeng suddenly stop earlier, because he heard the person in the audience cursing at him?
Ji Zhiyao stared dazedly at the screen and found that Yuan Wei had very quickly sent a long chain of texts, his exasperation at Ji Zhiyao not living up to expectations seemed like it was about to leak out of the screen in the next second.
[ManagerYuanWei: Don’t tell me you didn’t hear it! Earlier on there was an idiot in the audience who cursed at you very loudly, Captain caught it, if I hadn’t held him down, he definitely would’ve gone over and used a set of punches to send her to the West.]
[ManagerYuanWei: So do you have a little f*cking idea in your heart, what will happen if you soften your stance towards Captain first, will it kill you?]
[ManagerYuanWei: Quickly! Go hug! Your boyfriend!]
He was a little dumbfounded.
But wasn’t Captain angry at him?
Why would…
Ji Zhiyao couldn’t help but lean forward, only he didn’t see Mo Huaifeng, only catching waving his arm at him in a silly manner, cheering him on.
But Yuan Wei’s actions seemed to be too big as it caught Mo Huaifeng’s attention very quickly. Just as Ji Zhiyao was in a daze, Mo Huaifeng turned his gaze towards his direction.
Ji Zhiyao did not avoid this time, instead he met his eyes.
A flash of surprise and bewilderment clearly flashed across Mo Huaifeng’s eyes.
Both of them shared eye contact for a while and was suddenly interrupted by something like a scream of “impossible” from the commentator on stage, Ji Zhiyao looked towards the stage on reflex.
This competition was between Skitters and Stickers. Originally, Skitters had already pushed into Stickers’ base 25 minutes into the base, the gold of Stickers’ entire team was mercilessly pin down. Yet a second before the commentator screamed, Stickers’ ADC suddenly soared, wiping out Skitters’ entire team with a Penta Kill, a miraculous play of zero in exchange for five. This could be this season’s top 1 of the “impossible comebacks” brilliant play cuts.
No wonder the commentator was so agitated.
Ji Zhiyao inhaled deeply.
Although the competition was very exciting, but his chance of openly staring at Captain being interrupted… Truly regretful.
He began to stare at the stage and let his mind wander.
Before the last match of this morning, “Skitters vs Stickers”, Ji Zhiyao finally came back to his senses and applauded Skitters’ victory along with everyone who had been paying attention to the game.
Before the audience dispersed, the participating battleteam who were spectating the game all left the gymnasium through the participants’ passageway.
On the van, Heng suggested, “We haven’t had hotpot in a long time, let’s have that for lunch?”
This received unanimous approval from the whole team, hence the van drove directly into the city to the hotpot place that they went most often.
Entering the private room, everyone casually prepared to take their seats according to the sequence in which they entered the room. Ji Zhiyao was the last, once he stepped in, he coughed a few times and said to Xiao who was about to sit down. “Brother Xiao, I see that the geomancy on your side is rather good, the scenery is great too, let’s exchange seats?”
Xiao stared confusedly at him. “What?”
Yuan Wei looked towards Mo Huaifeng who was sitting between himself and Xiao with meaning and said, “Don’t you always call NoHomo your son, now that your son has a request, you just have to agree.”
Hence Xiao who was still confused was pulled by Nuo who revealed a look of understanding to his side as he said, “NoHomo take your seat, I happened to have some things that I want to talk to Xiao about.”
Ji Zhiyao replied, “Okay.” Then dropped his butt into the seat without the slightest hesitation.
Mo Huaifeng’s silent gaze on the cutlery before him froze, Ji Zhiyao pretended that he hadn’t noticed at all and bowed his head, silently looking at the phone that he was fiddling about with in his hands.
The atmosphere was slightly awkward. Only when the servers brought the food in and everyone started to move and voices grew louder, was the silence from earlier broken.
As they ate, Nuo suddenly expressed his deep emotion. “Why are all of you suddenly so quiet? We’re competing tomorrow, don’t let me suspect that this would be our last meal please?”
Xiaofei groaned, “… Brother, can you say something better?”
Nuo opened his hands wide. “Blame me?”
Heng joined in. “To be honest, I actually have such a feeling too. NoHomo, why aren’t you talking? The stand-up comedy act that I subscribed to is on leave today?”
Ji Zhiyao being off-guardedly called out lifted his head in surprise, yet after feeling a certain gaze from his left, he thought for a moment and shrugged. “I’m thinking about our battleteam’s competition tomorrow, whether I will be criticized or not.”
The others became silent. Yuan Wei understood Ji Zhiyao’s idea, darting a glance at Mo Huaifeng he sighed and said, “That is for sure, since you dare to fight on the streets you have to be mentally prepared, in the scene, with the exception of Captain, no brainless person in the public would think that anyone else is ‘right in whatever they do’.”
At this point, K chimed in, his words a godly assist, “NoHomo, I already felt that something was amiss when I saw your Weibo yesterday, ‘next time I encounter such problems, I will definitely first think of another solution’… So you certainly do have a reason for this matter.”
Ji Zhiyao instinctively glanced at Mo Huaifeng, then bowed his head.
In the eyes of the others, the helplessness of what was on his heart had been touched and he was so ashamed that his ears had turned red.
Yet in reality, Ji Zhiyao was infinitely excited at present, wishing that he could stand up and dance a yangko.
He must thank K properly later on! The grace of rebirth is virtually equivalent to that deserved by a biological father!
He kept silent for a few seconds, just as the others thought that Ji Zhiyao was still unwilling to say anything and was about to change the topic, Ji Zhiyao spluttered swiftly, “It’s nothing, just that person’s comments about Captain weren’t too pleasant…”
Everyone was stunned.
And Mo Huaifeng even lifted his head abruptly and stared right at Ji Zhiyao.
Ji Zhiyao turned his head and smiled widely at Mo Huaifeng, the bruise that was still on the corner of his lips looked to be especially laughable.
Mo Huaifeng’s expression instantly turned livid and said in a low voice, “Follow me outside.”
With that, he walked out.
Ji Zhiyao resignedly touched his ears and stood up too, then exchanged eye contact with Yuan Wei who had an expression of “you say it best when you say nothing at all” and walked out the door.
Mo Huaifeng stood waiting for him behind the door. Seeing him walk out, he reached out and shut the door.
Then asked, “What exactly happened?”
Ji Zhiyao lowered his head cowardly. “Just that person said you’re selling a fake personality, attracting a following and even that you forced an unspoken rule upon me, making me give something in exchange for joining the team and more.”
At the mention of “unspoken rule”, he lifted his head and after checking there wasn’t anyone else along the corridor, commented boldly, “I got my boyfriend based on my own capabilities, why say that I was given an unspoken rule?”
Was that the main point?
Mo Huaifeng was so enraged that he saw stars before his eyes, taking quite some time before he said exasperatedly, “You fought over this?”
Ji Zhiyao nodded honestly.
Mo Huaifeng’s face that was originally livid became even darker. “Why didn’t you say so previously?”
“There’s nothing to say. Such unpleasant words, why must I repeat it to you?”
Mo Huaifeng stared at him with mixed feelings.
Ji Zhiyao felt that Mo Huaifeng would continue to ask why he was willing to tell the reason now and hence added on quickly. “I didn’t say anything earlier because I felt that there wasn’t a need to, now if I still keep mum you’re going to be running away from me.”
Mo Huaifeng gripped his fingers tightly then relaxed, his gaze shifting towards the CCTV on the ceiling of the corridor, using a great deal of effort before he managed to restrain certain impulses deep in his heart.
Ji Zhiyao kept his mouth sealed and looked up at Mo Huaifeng, the look in his eyes earnest. If there was a tail behind him, right now it definitely would be wagging all the way into the skies.
Mo Huaifeng was aloof. “No need to look at me like that, do you not know where you were wrong?”
Ji Zhiyao continued to look at him unblinkingly, appearing pitiful no matter how one looked at him.
Both of them shared eye contact for a few seconds, Mo Huaifeng was finally discomfited.
He was seized by a sudden impulse to soften his attitude and reached out to rub Ji Zhiyao’s head. “Never mind.”
“Boohoo!”
The green vein at the corner of Mo Huaifeng’s forehead throbbed. “Shut up!”
“Hold on, let me ask one last question.” Ji Zhiyao with an imposing gaze, looked towards Mo Huaifeng. Mo Huaifeng frowned tightly because of how serious he was, yet he heard, “Captain, you’re not angry anymore right?”
“… Heh.”
So why did he think Ji Zhiyao this idiot had some proper business?
Mo Huaifeng tugged at the corner of his lips. “I am never angry.”
“Doesn’t your conscience hurt when you say this?”
Though he was stumped by Ji Zhiyao, Mo Huaifeng was surprised to find that his own mood had for some reason, became better. A light trace of a smile appeared as he opened the door. “Let’s eat first, we’ll talk about the rest when we return to the base.”
Ji Zhiyao followed behind him obediently into the room.
Seeing them return and even looking like they were in rather good moods, the others in the team evidently sighed in relief. Nuo exaggeratedly patted his chest. “NoHomo, I thought you’d been murdered, I kept hesitating whether to go out to save you.”
Ji Zhiyao rolled his eyes, and b*tched back in a super loud voice. “Not in the least bit sincere, but I really do thank you.”
“You’re welcome, you’re very welcome.”
Ji Zhiyao sat down, picked up a chopstick of bacon from the pot and stuffed it all right into his mouth. Seeing that, Mo Huaifeng picked up the ladle and scooped lots of cooked ingredients into his bowl.
Putting the ladle down, the moment Mo Huaifeng looked up, he realized that everyone with the exception of Ji Zhiyao was staring at him.
Mo Huaifeng asked with feigned composure, “What?”
Heng questioned, “Captain, you and NoHomo have reconciled and can walk the world all lovey-dovey together again? This is way too fast.”
Ji Zhiyao was happily eating a chili, when he choked on Heng’s “lovey-dovey” and began to cough. Yet Mo Huaifeng remained unmoved, even pouring Ji Zhiyao a glass of water and patted his back. “Yeah, aren’t all of you very happy?”
Heng did not expect that Mo Huaifeng would play along and laughed dryly, “I’m virtually so happy I can die without regrets.”
Yuan Wei ended the banter. “Alright, stop messing. Captain, since NoHomo has already made clear the reason, can we report it to the club and find some solution? Our battleteam will be competing tomorrow, he’d definitely feel kidnapped by morals and conscience.”
Ji Zhiyao’s eyes instantly widened and instinctively looked towards Mo Huaifeng whose expression had already faded off and swiftly threw meaningful glances at Yuan Wei, signaling him to stop talking and quickly shut his mouth.
Yet Yuan Wei seemed to be missing a marble or two. “NoHomo, what’s wrong with you, is your eye cramping?”
Ji Zhiyao glanced guiltily at Mo Huaifeng and found that he was staring blankly at him.
“Damn it!”
Had he been possessed by a pig earlier, why did he think that Yuan Wei this idiot was a godly wingman?
Earlier when he was alone with Mo Huaifeng outside, he kept trying to avoid the topic of the aftermath of the fight, just so that Mo Huaifeng wouldn’t blame himself or what. It was even better now, he hadn’t even said a single word, once Yuan Wei opened his mouth, everything was completely let out.
His heart felt so tired.
Ji Zhiyao cowered into a heap, meekly picking up a chopstick of chinese cabbage and chewed. “You guys talk, you guys talk.”
Yuan Wei stared at him.
What exactly had happened?
But Captain’s expression really didn’t look too pleasant.
It’s said that a woman’s face is akin to the weather June, changing whenever, yet his Captain didn’t seem to be far off from the ladies.
Yuan Wei was feeling puzzled when he heard Mo Huaifeng say indifferently, “You can stay out of this, I will handle this matter.”
Yuan Wei nodded firmly. “All the best Captain, after all the repercussions of this incident are really damaging, if not handled properly it would seen as an intentionally move to turn his image around, NoHomo’s reputation will go to the dooms right away. What talk about a professional player, he probably can only be a professional actor in the eyes of everyone paying attention to this incident.”
Ji Zhiyao exclaimed. “Big brother would you please just shut up!”
“Excuse me? I just put forward a very logical assumption that even has a 99% possibility of happening, why are you being like this to me?”
“If you don’t shut up now I’m calling the police!”
“You-”
Mo Huaifeng stepped in. “Both of you shut up, if you continue to quarrel you can get out!”
Not a single word came from Ji Zhiyao and Yuan Wei.
Once Captain spoke up, he very capably shut them up, both their faces were full of grievance.
Mo Huaifeng continued, “I will handle it and I will take things up with the club if there are any problems, you…” He pointed at Yuan Wei. “Concentrate on being the manager, prepare plane tickets for the whole team to go on holiday after the national qualifiers. And for you…” He then pointed to Ji Zhiyao. “Concentrate on preparing for the championship match, everything else has nothing to do with you.”
Yuan Wei shouted, “Okay daddy!”
Ji Zhiyao followed. “I got it daddy!”
The others stared on.
Mo Huaifeng nodded very satisfiedly.
…
Sunday was the runner-up match between Mix battleteam and Bug battleteam.
On Saturday, the fourth to eighth placings of the national qualifiers had emerged, leaving the top three placings that competition for had yet to begin. Because Mix and Bug had the same accumulated points, once today’s competition ended, one out of these two battleteams would emerge and battle Tall Boots for the championship title of the national qualifiers.
As there was only the final battle between two battleteams and there was ample time, after negotiations between the organizing committee representative and battleteams, the match was officially set to begin at 2 PM.
The entire Mix arrived at the gymnasium punctually at 1:30 PM.
This competition was of utmost importance, five matches of 5v5. Xiaofei requested vehemently not to go on, while Ji Zhiyao was banned from competing, the both of them naturally sat in the waiting room, being stay-at-home children.
Ji Zhiyao looked towards the electronic screen hanging on the wall and inhaled deeply.
He did not need to go on for this battle, he didn’t know where the intuition came from but he was oddly nervous.
Before they left the base, his right eyelid had twitched several times. Though according to science, eyelids twitching is due to over-exhaustion, it was hard for him to be non-superstitious and was still reminded of the saying “Twitching of the left eye indicates wealth and twitching of the right eye indicates disaster”…
Touch wood touch wood touch wood!
This was already the 21st century, he was a great young man born into a good family with proper upbringing, why did he keep thinking about such unreliable things?
