DSF Chapter 13

Across from the Zero Club, a new Xinjiang barbecue restaurant had opened.

According to a few well-informed youth training players, the taste was excellent. The lamb was tender and juicy, making you crave for more.

Sun Tianjiao personally invited Yan Yibing to go for a barbecue.

They reserved a private room and ordered two plates of lamb, a plate of grilled buns, two cups of yogurt, and a bowl of tea.

Sun Tianjiao used tongs to pick up pieces of lamb, evenly spreading them on the grill, and sprinkling cumin powder on top while grilling.

The lamb curled up at the edges, sizzling with oil, and a rich aroma wafted from the grill.

Yan Yibing quickly increased the power of the exhaust fan.

The chassis hummed, and the powerful suction almost lifted the charcoal ash from under the grill.

Sun Tianjiao said, “…”

Yan Yibing was a bit of a clean freak and hated the smell of oil and smoke.

This time, when Sun Tianjiao said he wanted to eat barbecue, he intentionally wore his least favorite clothes.

If it was beyond saving, he wouldn’t mind throwing them away.

Sun Tianjiao said, “Don’t be irritable; the window is open, and there’s no smell.”

Yan Yibing propped up his chin, his almond-shaped eyes drooping, and said, “Not irritable.”

Sun Tianjiao sighed and picked up a piece of grilled lamb, placing it on Yan Yibing’s plate.

“Lei Ming moved out of the base this afternoon. He greeted me but didn’t come to find you, afraid you’d scold him.”

Yan Yibing was listless, tapping his earbone with his slender fingers. “Okay.”

Sun Tianjiao continued, “It was a peaceful termination. He wanted to leave, and the club didn’t ask him for compensation. It’s generous enough; otherwise, just the termination fee would have made him wince.”

Yan Yibing reluctantly raised his thumb, using the hand supporting his chin, and said to Sun Tianjiao, “I’m asking who is this in front of me. It turns out to be a living Lei Feng.”¹Living lei feng: “活雷锋” (huó léi fēng), Lei Feng was a soldier in the Chinese People’s Liberation Army who became a symbol of selflessness and altruism. The idiom is often used to describe someone who is exceptionally helpful, generous, or altruistic, likening them to Lei Feng.

Sun Tianjiao rolled his eyes at him. “Oh, go away.”

After a while, he continued, “Guess where Lei Ming is going?”

Yan Yibing, unusually lifting his eyelids, asked, “He found a new team so quickly. Was it premeditated?”

Sun Tianjiao shook his head. “No, he joined a well-known underdog team, Pu Xin.”

Yan Yibing was momentarily stunned, then chuckled, “Oh, I see.”

Pu Xin was, at most, a third-tier small team. It was established late, had little investment, and its base was located in Jiangbei, not far from the Magic City. The location was remote, and the housing was cheap. Even so, the base size had just caught up with one hall of Zero.

Unable to afford transfer fees or buy star players, Pu Xin focused on picking up players behind the four major powerhouses.

For those players with similar skills but unable to break through in the top teams, Pu Xin enthusiastically sent out invitations.

It wasn’t about helping these players pursue their esports dreams.

Pu Xin was more like a training ground for esports streamers. When these professional players arrived at Pu Xin, they were arranged for streaming with hours surpassing physical limits.

Pu Xin’s main source of income was streaming. It eagerly squeezed out the remaining value of professional players. When the players were no longer popular in the streaming circle, Pu Xin would terminate their contracts.

Sun Tianjiao was surprised, “What’s this? You’re quite familiar with Pu Xin?”

Yan Yibing’s slightly curled eyelashes trembled as he poked the cooled lamb with the tip of his chopsticks. “Yeah, I had a friend who went to Pu Xin before.”

Sun Tianjiao was shocked. “Really? How bold, going to such a rundown place.”

Yan Yibing stuffed the lukewarm meat into his mouth. “He was in the Zero youth training with me back then.”

Sun Tianjiao paused. “Uh…” he sneakily glanced at Yan Yibing’s expression, then smoothly changed the topic without revealing her intentions. “Hmm, actually the team didn’t want Lei Ming back then. Since Han Mo wasn’t there, we only needed Song Tang. It was your recommendation that made him stay. And this is how he repays you. He’s really a white-eyed wolf.”²White-eyed wolf: 白眼狼” (báiyǎnláng) this term is colloquially used to describe someone who is ungrateful or disloyal, particularly to those who have helped or supported them.

Yan Yibing smiled bitterly. “Choosing two and keeping only one. Why do you guys always do this?”

Sun Tianjiao widened his eyes and said earnestly, “It’s perfectly normal, Zuzong. If all the youth training players in a batch turn out to be useless, we can’t keep any.”

Yan Yibing replied, “Youth trainees also receive invitations from the team. It’s impossible for all of them to be useless.”

Sun Tianjiao said seriously, “The invitation is just the first step into this field. Talent in esports is crucial. Back then, you were just accompanying a friend to have some fun, preparing to go back and prepare for the college entrance exam when winter vacation ended. But in that batch, the team decided to keep only you. If your peers knew about it, they’d feel quite uncomfortable. But there’s no way around it; everyone is born different. Someone might not be good at esports, but they might be better at drawing, singing, or have better self-management skills than you. But what we need is someone who is good at playing games.”

Yan Yibing fell silent for a moment and muttered, “I know.”

Sun Tianjiao patted his shoulder. “So, don’t be sad. If Lei Ming goes there and focuses on live streaming, he might earn more than he would here.”

Yan Yibing replied, “Yeah.”

Seeing that Yan Yibing’s mood had improved somewhat, Sun Tianjiao finally breathed a sigh of relief.

“Zuzong, you’re already so old and still so impulsive. The things from back then are in the past; there’s no need to bring them up in front of the whole team. Besides, you and Han Mo seemed quite harmonious in the exhibition match. He even gave you the scope. My goodness, what does that mean for professional players? It’s like a foodie giving you a fried chicken leg they just got. Simply earth-shattering. Honestly, I don’t think he hates you at all.”

Yan Yibing responded, “Han Mo is not a foodie.”

Sun Tianjiao explained, “Just an analogy, rough words but with a good meaning.”

Yan Yibing took a few bites, raised his sleeve, and sniffed.

The smell of smoke and grilling still clung to his clothes.

His appetite immediately waned.

Wiping his mouth, Yan Yibing stood up and grabbed his phone. “I’m done eating.”

Sun Tianjiao asked, “Heading back to the base?”

Yan Yibing said, “Going home. My mom is pretending to be sick again to coax me into blind dates.”

Sun Tianjiao commented, “Tsk, I think you’re not active in this matter. You’ve had at least eight blind dates; can’t you find one you like?”

Yan Yibing disdainfully said, “It’s not like picking team members, it’s not that easy.”

Sun Tianjiao questioned, “?”

Sun Tianjiao said, “Hello? Even us office workers find it difficult!”

Yan Yibing returned home late at night, carrying the refreshing aroma of lamb.

Mama Yan was applying a face mask, and Papa Yan was leaning on the sofa watching a football match.

Upon hearing the door, Mama Yan raised an eyebrow, “Oh, a rare visitor.”

Yan Yibing took off his shoes and flopped onto the sofa, “Mom, I’m tired.”

Mama Yan made a disapproving sound but still freed up a hand to peel an orange for him.

“Tell me, what do you want from me and your dad?”

“Nothing…”

“If it’s nothing, you wouldn’t have come back.”

“…”

Yan Yibing lay on the sofa for a while, leisurely finishing the entire orange.

His eyes lowered, his eyelashes soft, his chin sinking into the sofa, and two adorable blobs of flesh squeezed out on his face.

After a while, he opened his mouth in a muffled voice, “You said last time that I should apologize to Han Mo. Why should I apologize to him? He gambled, and it was right to dismiss him.”

Papa Yan’s gaze shifted away from the football game. He sneakily glanced at Mama Yan and said with emphasis, “Son, from a legal perspective, your actions are blameless. Gambling violates the contract, and according to the Contract Law, Party A has the right to demand…”

Mama Yan impatiently interrupted, “Shut up.”

Papa Yan swallowed the unsaid words, swiftly shifted his gaze back to the TV, and sat down obediently.

But he couldn’t help muttering quietly, “The law is not right. Listen to your mom; your mom is right.”

Mama Yan sighed, “I just stated my opinion. Your approach to this matter is fine, but from a friend’s perspective, it’s a bit too heartless. Han Mo treated you so well, but you seem to have turned a blind eye, treating him as a stranger. Even if you resent him, get angry with him, or scold him, it’s better than coldly telling him to leave, and blocking all his contacts. He doesn’t know your disappointment; he thinks you never cared about him. You don’t have to say sorry, but what you should say is, ‘I actually cherish you.'”

Papa Yan gave her a thumbs up, “Your mom’s famous saying. Our home is not a place for reasoning, it’s a place for me to cherish your mom.”

Yan Yibing chuckled, “Han Mo is not my wife.”

Mama Yan replied, “Of course not, but in my opinion, whether it’s family, romantic, or friendly relationships, it’s all the same. Being good to you, seeking your favor, isn’t that just a form of favoritism?”

Yan Yibing was stunned, his eyelashes drooping slightly, and his fingers unconsciously tightened around his pocket.

In the pocket was a nearly used-up scar removal cream.

Initially, it was casually thrown on the table, then placed by the pillow, and now, he carried it everywhere.

It seemed like he had always been favored by Han Mo. Did he ever think of favoring Han Mo in return?

In the early morning, the sky seemed dimly lit, dew carrying a chilly watery scent.

Yan Yibing leaned against the head of the bed and took out his phone.

Staying up late always made people do unusual things.

As if guided by some unseen force, he found Han Mo’s previous phone number in the contacts.

He composed a text message, his fingers swiftly tapping a few times, and the input method displayed the three words ‘I’m sorry.’

He stared at those three words for a very long time, so long that he felt the characters became a bit unfamiliar.

Yan Yibing took a deep breath, and as his fingers slid, he accidentally pressed send.

His heart instantly jumped to his throat, and his hazy consciousness quickly cleared up.

Frantically, he tried to retract the message, only to find a big cross marked before that text.

It dawned on Yan Yibing that he had long ago blocked Han Mo.

Author’s Message:

Of course, he’s not your wife, Bing Shen. At this moment, you might not know yet, but he’s your husband!

Thank you for reading! 

Hope you enjoy the rest of your day 🍀

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• 1
  Living lei feng: “活雷锋” (huó léi fēng), Lei Feng was a soldier in the Chinese People’s Liberation Army who became a symbol of selflessness and altruism. The idiom is often used to describe someone who is exceptionally helpful, generous, or altruistic, likening them to Lei Feng.
• 2
  White-eyed wolf: 白眼狼” (báiyǎnláng) this term is colloquially used to describe someone who is ungrateful or disloyal, particularly to those who have helped or supported them.