After being released by Han Mo, Yan Yibing adjusted his collar and approached the mirror.
He stretched his neck and lowered his eyes to look in the mirror.
Near the base of his neck, there was a small, clearly visible red mark that looked distinctive.
It had been lightly grazed by teeth and then firmly pinched by lips.
He used his fingertips to rub it; damp and warm, he didn’t know when it would fade.
“Han Mo, you’re dead!”
Yan Yibing loosened his collar, turned around, his expression dark, and stared coldly at Han Mo.
Han Mo, with a smile in his eyes, casually pulled his collar, revealing his neck, expressing deep remorse, “My mistake. Master, do you want to bite me too?”
He didn’t use much force, just miscalculated the tenderness of the skin in that area.
In the bright light, seeing the shiny red mark, even Han Mo felt a bit guilty.
Yan Yibing ground his teeth.
Of course, he couldn’t let Han Mo get away with it. He walked over with a stern face, forcefully pushed Han Mo onto the sofa, leaned in, and ruthlessly bit on the upper part of Han Mo’s neck.
It was a bite, not a kiss.
The teeth grazed the thin skin, feeling the momentary sharp pain and tension from Han Mo, Yan Yibing was satisfied, released him, and wiped his lips.
Han Mo didn’t cry out in pain. Instead, he tilted his neck and lightly touched it.
There was a bit of a tingling sensation when his fingertips touched it.
Unable to see it himself, he looked up and asked Yan Yibing, “Master, is it severe?”
Yan Yibing, proudly and coldly, sneered, intentionally teasing Han Mo, “If it doesn’t fade in five days, take it with you to the competition in Busan.”
Han Mo remained calm.
His Adam’s apple rolled, propped his elbow on the sofa, sat up straight, and calmly said, “Hmm, I’m shameless. I’ll have interviews in Busan, so I can tell the truth.”
Yan Yibing: “???”
Yan Yibing: “…”
Half-kneeling on the sofa, Yan Yibing pushed aside Han Mo’s clothes, re-examining the bite marks.
He had bitten a bit hard.
His marks might be less visible tomorrow, but Han Mo’s would last for at least four days.
Yan Yibing said seriously, “Wear a high-necked shirt under your sports uniform.”
Han Mo innocently shook his head, “It’s summer.”
Yan Yibing insisted, “Doesn’t matter.”
Han Mo, looking troubled, furrowed his brow, then used his fingers to hook Yan Yibing’s cuff, “Is there any benefit to that?”
Yan Yibing, frustrated, laughed, “Can’t you focus your mind on studying opponents rather than scheming against me?”
Han Mo said calmly, “I have a lot on my mind; it’s enough.”
Yan Yibing, helpless, lazily sat next to Han Mo, one leg pressed under the other, looking a bit serious.
“To be honest, NNTC is a bit tricky. Their coach knows too much about the three of us.”
Han Mo knew Yan Yibing was getting down to business.
Playing with Yan Yibing’s soft, slightly long hair, Han Mo said softly, “Well, all opponents are tough. We’ve been through the World Championship, and didn’t Yu Yan win a championship?”
Yan Yibing nodded thoughtfully, “The time Yu Gou won, NNTC was unlucky. They collided with the strong European and American team, Break, in advance. Later, Break’s internal players had a falling out, causing chaos on the field. No matter how you look at it, there’s a bit of emptiness in their hearts.”
Han Mo was indifferent, “Competition is a combination of luck and skill.”
Yan Yibing agreed, “Indeed, but the overlapping of drop points…”
Even though they shouted “Why” in the training room, once on the competition stage, they feared a situation where two parties quarreled and a third party benefited.
Yan Yibing turned to look at Han Mo, silent for a moment, and suddenly said, “You are the only one the NNTC doesn’t understand.”
When Han Mo played, that coach had retired for over a year.
Also, because of Han Mo’s impetuousness and Prince team’s immature tactics, their results fluctuated throughout the year.
It wasn’t until this PCL Spring Tournament that they finally adjusted properly.
So that coach definitely wouldn’t pay much attention to Han Mo.
As a five-year opponent of that person, Yan Yibing was the main target of the opponent’s control.
Han Mo squinted his eyes, fingers winding around Yan Yibing’s hair, making his somewhat curly hair even more curly.
“Well, after all, I am not as famous as my master on the international stage.”
Yan Yibing pushed away Han Mo’s fingers and lazily leaned back on the sofa. “I hope NNTC takes it easy.”
He didn’t stay at Han Mo’s place for too long, returning to his own home just before midnight.
He didn’t forget to lazily sway his neck and casually cover his collarbone with his hand.
Mama Yan found it strange, “You’ve been coming home more often recently.”
Yan Yibing, tiredly heading upstairs, replied, “Because I’ve been practicing with the league lately. I come home with Han Mo at night.”
Mama Yan was pleased, “Your relationship with Han Mo seems to be getting better.”
Yan Yibing nodded with a guilty conscience, “It’s okay, just getting along.”
Mama Yan asked, “Why do you always cover your neck?”
Nervously, Yan Yibing’s fingers tightened, and he subconsciously pursed his lips. “Training is too exhausting, and my neck can’t handle it.”
In three quick steps, he rushed upstairs. In an angle where Mama Yan couldn’t see, he released his hand.
Mama Yan always felt guilty for leaving Yan Yibing alone at home on Valentine’s Day. Upon hearing this, she immediately asked, “Shall I give you a massage?”
Yan Yibing quickly declined, “No need, no need. The club has professional therapists. I’ll take a nap first.”
The next morning, the spot where Han Mo had bitten was already quite faint. If you didn’t look closely, you wouldn’t notice it at all.
Yan Yibing first breathed a sigh of relief. As a precaution, he still wore a low-collar sweatshirt to cover his collarbone.
When he arrived at the league building, he found that Han Mo was indeed wearing a high-necked long-sleeved shirt, covering the area on his neck.
Yan Yibing slightly relaxed his tense heart and couldn’t help but chuckle.
Although Han Mo could say all kinds of suggestive words in front of him, he still appeared cool and indifferent when they were out.
He didn’t want Yu Yan and others to see this kind of privacy.
Yan Yibing deliberately brought up a topic, “Isn’t the weather still warm? Captain Han is already wearing long sleeves?”
Han Mo lifted an eyelid, glanced at Yan Yibing, and casually replied, “The air conditioning indoors is cold.”
Yu Yan raised his hand to feel it, “Cold? Well, it’s okay. Maybe you’re too close to the air conditioner.”
In the training room with multiple computers, the game console would heat up during intense gaming sessions. So, the air conditioning temperature wasn’t set too high, and no one suspected Han Mo.
Yan Yibing didn’t push further. He nodded thoughtfully and took a seat.
Han Mo continued to wear the high-necked long sleeves until the day they went to Busan.
Even Yu Yan, who had a thick-skinned nature, couldn’t help but mutter, “Is autumn really this exaggerated?”
As Yan Yibing estimated, after four days, the marks still hadn’t completely disappeared.
Finally finding it amusing and pitiful, he couldn’t help but hand a box of Häagen-Dazs to Han Mo on the plane. “Have this matcha-flavored one.”
Han Mo took the small box and turned it around, asking, “Isn’t matcha your favorite?”
Yan Yibing nodded confidently, “Yes, I like it, so I’m giving it to you.”
Han Mo, with a meaningful look, said, “I don’t like sweets. If Master feels guilty, why not give me something I like?”
On the plane, everyone fell into a state of self-isolation, busy with their own tasks. The first-class seats were spacious and angled, making it impossible to see what others were doing without deliberately turning their heads.
Yan Yibing asked, “What do you like?”
Han Mo glanced at Yu Yan and Ding Luo across the aisle with his peripheral vision.
The two of them were completely engrossed in watching a movie, their eyes fixed on the screen in front of them.
Using the gesture of putting earphones on Yan Yibing, Han Mo leaned in, quickly bit Yan Yibing’s earlobe, and with soft, cool earlobe texture, the teeth easily left two small tooth marks. Then, under the bright and dazzling sunlight above the atmosphere, he saw Yan Yibing’s earlobe visibly redden at a visible speed.
Satisfied, Han Mo placed the earphones on Yan Yibing’s ears.
In his headphones, the famous folk song adaptation “Scarborough Fair” was playing.
“Are you going to Scarborough Fair.
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme.
Remember me to one who lives there……”
The air seemed to be infused with rosemary, and the fragrance, illuminated by golden threads, emitted a tranquil and gentle atmosphere. This, along with the crisp taste of clear wine, flowed down his throat.
Yan Yibing listened to the song with his headphones, suddenly feeling a kind of distant, secretive, yet impulsive romance.
This was something he had never felt in the first twenty-five years of his life, a taste of love that he could clearly sense without experiencing.
He suddenly understood that, contrary to what his mother said, he didn’t need to learn how to date someone.
Some things, you learn on your own.
The key was who it was with.
After a two-hour journey, they landed in Busan. As soon as they stepped out of the airport, they could smell the rich and humid scent.
Busan, being by the sea, offered plump and beautiful seafood. The tour bus drove past numerous restaurants with water tanks at the entrance.
Enormous octopuses, king crabs wielding heavy pincers, and superior-sized eagle claw shrimps crawling at the bottom of the tanks.
In the evening, they checked into the five-star hotel booked by the organizers.
Players from different countries stayed in the same hotel on different floors, but in the evenings, the hotel provided a free teppanyaki buffet.
To ensure the absolute safety of the food, most players chose to stay in the hotel for meals.
The Chinese team did the same.
Sun Tianjiao followed Yan Yibing all the time, advising as they walked, “Now is not the time to indulge. Eat less seafood and don’t upset your stomach. After the competition, you can eat whatever you want.”
As he spoke, Sun Tianjiao patted the shoulder of the waiter and kindly said in Korean, “Grill me four snow crab legs, thank you.”
Yan Yibing: “…”
Sun Tianjiao confidently said, “I’m not competing, so I can eat whatever I want.”
Just as Yan Yibing and the others sat down, the Korean team NNTC came down from upstairs.
NNTC coach Park Il-li raised his chin, surveyed the Chinese team, then smiled and waved.
“Yan, long time no see.”
Yan Yibing knows some basic Korean. Upon hearing this, he tugged at his lips and replied, “Hello.”
Park Il-li’s gaze then shifted to Yu Yan and Chen Chi. He then dramatically slapped his thighs, “I really didn’t expect it to be you three. It’s truly fate. I still remember the showdown in the World Championship.”
Sun Tianjiao gritted his teeth, and said with a forced smile, “Stop pretending. Didn’t we know who the participating players were a long time ago?”
Ding Luo used to watch Korean dramas and understood Korean, so she whispered a few words in Yu Yan’s ear.
Yu Yan sneered, “This guy used to be so arrogant, almost getting praised to the heavens over snatching two championships from us. Korea is really exaggerating.”
Park Il-li walked over, warmly hooking Yan Yibing’s shoulder, facing Yu Yan and Chen Chi, “I hope your tactics have changed a bit, or else we might have studied you thoroughly.”
Yan Yibing side-eyed him and pushed away Park Il-li’s hand, “After so many years, can you speak English?”
Park Il-li’s face stiffened, showing a bit of awkwardness.
His English was not good, not good at all. Even after participating in so many international events, he still needed a translator.
When it came to Korean, he could talk eloquently and proudly, but as soon as Yan Yibing switched to English, he couldn’t understand.
He didn’t even know if Yan Yibing was cursing at him just now.
He straightened his back, and the muscles on his face twitched, “Anyway, see you on the battlefield. Hope you three can show some dazzling moves.”
He completely ignored Han Mo.
Because in his eyes, this young man was just filling the numbers for Yan Yibing and Yu Yan.
Park Il-li, with his splendid achievements and a leading position in the Korean esports circle, had, for a long time, not accepted any newcomers in his eyes.
The speed of turnover among esports players was too fast. Many established players subconsciously rejected these newcomers.
They were young, competitive, and unwilling to be surpassed by reckless juniors.
The strict senior-junior etiquette in Korea made Park Il-li feel a sense of unquestionable superiority over Yan Yibing.
Yan Yibing sincerely smiled, his almond-shaped eyes soft, and greeted in English, “Also, hope your team doesn’t go beyond the top four.” After saying this, he subtly switched to Korean, “May our friendship last forever.”
Park Il-li didn’t understand the first sentence, but didn’t want to appear inferior to Yan Yibing. Seeing Yan Yibing’s sincere expression, he also generously extended his hand and shook hands firmly.
“May our friendship last forever.”
Sun Tianjiao, who understood both, and Ding Luo, barely holding back laughter, and the NNTC players across, their faces alternating between green and white. Only Park Il-li, seemingly oblivious, squinted his small eyes, smiling broadly.
After Park Il-li left, Yan Yibing looked at Han Mo with interest, “That guy doesn’t take our PCL championship seriously.”
Han Mo glanced at him, indifferent, “Doesn’t matter.”
He didn’t care about Park Il-li’s attitude at all.
He and Park Il-li were not of the same generation. Just as Park Il-li ignored him, for Han Mo, Park Il-li was already a thing of the past.
Yu Yan snorted, “Good, what we want is for him to underestimate us. This guy has studied the three of us thoroughly, but he doesn’t seem to care much about Han Mo. He’s sure to suffer on the competition stage.”
Chen Chi earnestly said, “Don’t be so absolute. Maybe they’ll get wiped out by NPCs before encountering us.”
Yan Yibing said, “Then I wish them that kind of good luck.”
Yu Yan, “Good luck.”
Chen Chi, “Good luck.”
Han Mo, “Hmm.”
After dinner, Sun Tianjiao urged them to return to their rooms and rest quickly, not to visit each other’s rooms, not to stay up late, and to face tomorrow’s match in the best condition.
They were assigned double rooms in the hotel.
To avoid any mutual influence, Yu Yan and Ding Luo were separated, Sun Tianjiao and Yan Yibing were separated, Ding Jun and Han Mo were separated.
They thought it would be better if unfamiliar people lived together, at least to avoid getting too chatty.
So, that night, Ding Luo and the female manager from AXE stayed together. Yu Yan and Ding Jun, Chen Chi and Yu Le, and Lu Jianghe, torn between Sun Tianjiao and Yan Yibing, ultimately chose Sun Tianjiao.
Lu Jianghe: “I’m talkative, originally wanted to choose Captain Han, but we have to separate Zero’s people, so I can only choose Manager Sun to fight fire with fire.”
Yan Yibing looked at Han Mo and touched the tip of his nose uncomfortably, “Isn’t this arrangement… inappropriate?”
Weren’t they supposed to avoid disturbing each other and focus on resting?
Him and Han Mo not disturbing each other?
What a joke!
Han Mo leaned against the wall and raised his eyes when he heard the words, slightly curling his lips.
Yu Yan, curious: “Is it possible that you two will fight if you stay together?”
Yan Yibing, with a cold face, replied, “No.”
They could get along too well.
Yu Yan advised him, “Don’t be so bad-tempered. Sleep more and talk less. What’s so hard about a few days?”
Yan Yibing’s mouth twitched, “Heh.”
He was really afraid that if he slept too much, he might end up sleeping in the same bed.
Finally, Han Mo put down his phone, spoke, and with a meaningful tone, said, “Hmm, it’s not suitable. I’ll stay with Manager Sun, and Lu Jianghe with Bing Shen. For a few days, I’m afraid I won’t be able to endure it.”
Yan Yibing cleared his throat lightly, involuntarily lowered his head, and raised his eyes, focusing on running his fingers through his hair.
Ding Luo raised an eyebrow, assessing Yan Yibing with shining eyes.
Is he being shy?
Yes, he is! A friend six years younger charging so fiercely?
Lu Jianghe: “Tsk, since you said that, then it’s fine.”
Author’s Message:
Yan Yibing: A nineteen-year-old kid really can’t endure it ╥﹏╥
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