“…” Xue Lan pressed his hand against his forehead, overwhelmed by a nauseating impulse, as if he might almost regurgitate the meal from the previous night.
“A child shouldn’t be exposed to such repulsive content,” Duan Wenzheng remarked as he effortlessly took the phone away and nonchalantly pressed the report button.
“…”
Xue Lan observed his smooth actions and the earlier outcry of “report” flooding the screen. He suddenly felt…
“Was your intention from the beginning to… report him?”
“Of course.” Duan Wenzheng looked at the stream that had been permanently stopped because of “vulgar erotism” after the floods of reports. He sneered as he threw his phone to one side. “Otherwise, let him stay for the new year?”
“…” Xue Lan was visibly startled as he glanced at the person beside him. At that moment, a realization dawned upon him. If he were the one who provoked Duan Wenzheng, especially if the reason involved Duan Wenzheng’s cherished Wen Yan — his fate might be even more dire than that of the current streamer!!
With this in mind, Xue Lan covered himself up with the blanket, trying his best to reduce his presence.
Duan Wenzheng looked at the child, who suddenly became a sushi roll. He pulled the corner of the blanket in amusement. “What are you doing?”
“I’m sleepy.” Xue Lan hugged the blanket tightly. “I’m sleeping again for a while.”
“Okay.” Duan Wenzheng casually reclined beside him. “Then spare me a bit of the blanket.”
Xue Lan shook his head.
“But I also caught the cold…”
Only then did Xue Lan awkwardly lift the ends of the blanket, and Duan Wenzheng squeezed under.
“Yesterday, you asked if I would kick you out of the club.”
Duan Wenzheng suddenly muttered, causing Xue Lan to look up in surprise. Yesterday, he — really asked that? His fever definitely had muddled him, and he had hoped that Duan Wenzheng would forget anything odd he uttered.
“In case you don’t remember,” Duan Wenzheng said, “I’ll tell you again.”
“…”
Duan Wenzheng stretched his hands out and felt the soft cheeks in front of him. And then, he pinched them with force!
“?!” In pain, Xue Lan pushed away his hands. “That hurt!”
“You little child, if you let me know such awful thoughts again…” Duan Wenzheng loosened his strength. “Even if you cry in pain, I won’t even care.”
Xue Lan rubbed his cheeks, which were pinched red. He covertly glared daggers at the capricious person before him.
But he remembered that he was the one who took care of him when he had a fever yesterday.
The frustration in his heart gradually disappeared.
“Wen Yan called a while ago.” Duan Wenzheng looked at the child whose mind had wandered off as he held his cheeks. Seeing him not responding, he continued, “He asked you to go to LGW.”
Xue Lan wanted to rise up to his feet. “What? Now?”
“Why are you in a rush?” Duan Wenzheng laughed. “Who was the one who said ‘I’m sleepy’ and wanted to sleep again for a while?”
Xue Lan paid no mind to his words and jumped off the bed, intending to change his clothes.
“I told him you’re sick and that you’ll go tomorrow.”
“No.” Xue Lan refused without the least bit of hesitation. “What if he changes his mind tomorrow?”
“… That’s not possible.” Duan Wenzheng leaned on the side of the bed, watching his frantic actions. “You haven’t recovered yet. Rest for the day, and leave tomorrow.”
It was at this moment that Xue Lan’s phone rang once again. He, occupied with tidying up, momentarily halted his actions.
Duan Wenzheng glanced at the phone.
“Su Yiyu.”
With excitement in the air, Xue Lan tidied up and inquired without any reservations, “What did he say?”
In a good mood, Duan Wenzheng opened his phone. A quick glance revealed that, prior to Su Yiyu’s message, numerous people had already congratulated Xue Lan on securing a spot in LGW.
Su Yiyu’s message was —
Su: LanLan! Congrats on joining LGW!! Also, have you seen the stream? That streamer has been permanently banned from the platform! It’s truly good news! He actually performed that strange dance in the live stream… and his attire was extremely peculiar! Do you want to see? Should I send it to you?
Duan Wenzheng read those words with an indifferent expression and wordlessly typed a reply.
After sending the message, he placed the phone back in its original place.
“He said congratulations and wanted to send the streamer’s video to you. I’ve refused him for you.”
Xue Lan lifted his head with a lackluster expression, recalling the streamer’s atrocious dance. He nodded his head. “Good, good, good.”
Duan Wenzheng sat at the bedside.
The phone he had placed on the table stayed eerily silent with no further replies.
A sense of contentment filled him as he gazed out of the window into the serene afternoon, anticipating the beginning of the club life that lay ahead.
……
It was almost evening when Xue Lan and Duan Wenzheng arrived at LGW. Xie Zhinian was responsible for receiving Xue Lan.
“You really surprised me.” Xie Zhinian spoke as if they were old friends. “Actually, Boss Xue called me and reminded me about your participation in the training camp, but back then, I thought you intended to play as a medic.”
“Don’t worry, playing as an assaulter is a decision I’ve carefully considered. I will approach each competition seriously and take responsibility for both LGW and my own career.”
“There is one other thing.” Xie Zhinian nodded and said with a grim expression, “It’s about your contract with the club. Wait until Boss Xue comes back. He will personally have you sign it.”
“All right.”
Xue Lan didn’t dwell on it too much. Currently, his father found it hard to believe that Xue Lan was genuinely interested in pursuing a professional gaming career. Moreover, as his father was currently overseas, any decisions would have to wait until his return, allowing him to assess Xue Lan’s commitment firsthand.
After all, his son, who had a penchant for pushing boundaries, had presented him with numerous “surprises” in the past. In the original narrative, “Xue Lan” was also expelled during a probationary period without an official contract.
And now, what he aimed to accomplish was to successfully navigate the test laid out by Mr. Xue.
Xie Zhinian was quite surprised by his response. He commended as he nodded, “Did you know that you were able to join LGW because of Wen Yan’s influence and support? It was also he who requested your public announcement to be expedited. Otherwise, we had planned to reveal it after some time. After all, Meng Qi has only recently announced his retirement.”
Xue Lan was startled.
Even if Wen Yan had agreed to let him join LGW and, even more unexpectedly, gained Wen Yan’s endorsement, Xue Lan had never anticipated that Wen Yan would advocate on his behalf to join LGW.
“I trust Wen Yan’s judgment, and I also hope you don’t let him down,” Xie Zhinian said with pertinence. “Additionally, Boss Xue has something to tell you.”
Xue Lan recollected the day he had asked his father if he could come and watch his match. He glanced at Xie Zhinian anxiously.
“He said, before he comes back, he hopes that you don’t speak of your relationship with him to anyone.”
Xue Lan clutched his cuffs and remained silent.
……
After their conversation concluded, Xue Lan noticed Wen Yan and Duan Wenzheng waiting in the hall. He waved his hand, but Wen Yan, seemingly oblivious, did not turn his gaze in Xue Lan’s direction.
Xie Zhinian ushered him over to where the two were standing. His gaze swept across the two pieces of luggage beside Duan Wenzheng.
“Due to Meng Qi’s retirement today, some related procedures haven’t been entirely sorted out. As a result, there are currently no available rooms for Exist,” Xie Zhinian explained, a hint of a smile in his eyes as he regarded the two before him. “So, for now, you two…”
“Easy.” Duan Wenzheng casually took Xue Lan’s shoulders in his arms. “I’ll room with him.”
Wen Yan, who didn’t look at him earlier, became rigid —
“No.”
——————–
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