“How is PINK doing? Is he doing alright?”
It was eight in the evening. Jiang Ming leaned against the island in the break room, speaking with Song Shihan, unease obvious in his tone.
“The police said that the current situation doesn’t warrant charges, so we have to gather more evidence. If it gets worse in the future, we can call the police for further action.”
Calm down for now, the answer they were expecting.
It was just two phone calls and a package. Except for the fact that the clothes sent to the base were strange, there was no harm done to anyone in any way.1I am just as frustrated that cases of stalking are usually not taken seriously until someone is already hurt.
Song Shihan nodded, sipping on his coffee as he said, “Then we’ll have to strengthen security at the base. We will have to return all unfamiliar deliveries.”
“Don’t worry,” Jiang Ming answered, “I’ve already informed the staff. We will take this matter seriously. I’ve told Shi Ling2Reminder: Team Wildfire’s manager that we will be arranging more surveillance cameras to be installed tomorrow.”
Having it mentioned, Song Shihan remembered: “Did you find out who delivered that package?”
Jiang Ming froze.
Song Shihan furrowed. “What’s wrong?”
“We saw who did it,” Jiang Ming answered, clearing his throat, “but the face wasn’t seen clearly. They were wrapped from head to toe, but judging from the body shape, it’s someone approximately in their thirties and, um… a man.” Jiang Ming looked like his head was aching, whispering, “The man apparently repeatedly asked the guard that the package be handed directly to PINK.”
Song Shihan didn’t answer, his eyebrows furrowing deeper.
“It might not necessarily be him, he might have just been an errand for hire,” Jiang Ming clarified, although when he thought of the man with a lewd vibe throughout his body, he himself felt that it wasn’t convincing. After all, he had never seen anyone in the errand-running business cover up so much. “I haven’t told PINK anything yet.” Jiang Ming couldn’t help but sigh, recalling Zuo Tao’s appearance in the training room that morning. “It might scare him.”
Being targeted by a strange man was indeed eerie and chilling.
Song Shihan rubbed his fingers against each other, saying coldly, “Don’t tell him anything for now.”
Jiang Ming raised his eyebrow, not expecting Song Shihan’s response. “Don’t tell him?” He smiled. “That’s amazing. It must have been hard for you, being so considerate of others. What, now you understand the importance of a support?”
Song Shihan glanced at him. “I’m just afraid it might affect his gameplay tomorrow.”
“…indeed, you’re still you,” Jiang Ming said, lips twitching, before he sighed again. “But I didn’t intend to tell him anything either. It might really affect his mentality.” He paused, and then continued: “Also, keep an eye on him tomorrow, don’t let him run around alone. He listens more to you than anyone else. The venue will be crowded and we won’t know who will be there. Although we aren’t fully certain, we should keep an eye out and ensure not to endanger the child.”
Song Shihan left the break room.
Meanwhile, on the other side —
As the one involved, Zuo Tao yawned lazily. He had just finished showering, sitting at his desk in his slippers.
It was impossible to be truly afraid, and it was exhausting maintaining an image of fear. Before the end of the day, Zuo Tao could feel his mental state collapsing.
Pretending he was tired, he left to find a way to relieve his emotions.
Opening his laptop, Zuo Tao planned to clear some orders on his companion business account. He had basically stopped accepting orders, but there were still some that he had confirmed before he came to the base, and it wasn’t too late yet.
Entering his account, he leaned back against his chair in surprise; FG’s WIZARD was unexpectedly first on his list. It seemed that right after his game with WIND, WIZARD made an appointment with him through the site.
Seeing that the other player was online, Zuo Tao quickly sent a private message.
【ZZ: Hi boss, want to play?】
The other party replied after a few seconds.
【FG-WIZARD: Wait a moment.】
【FG-WIZARD: Can I bring a friend? Don’t worry, he’s pretty good. We’ll play for entertainment, so there’s no pressure.】
Zuo Tao didn’t really care.
【ZZ: Whatever.】
Since he agreed, WIZARD immediately opened a lobby and invited Zuo Tao.
【FG-WIZARD: Let’s wait a moment. You’re still awake so late?】
Zuo Tao glanced at the time.
【ZZ: It’s only 8:30.】
【FG-WIZARD: That isn’t too early.】
【ZZ: I have no choice, how can I earn money if I sleep?】
【FG-WIZARD: …you are really quite funny ^^】
The friend WIZARD mentions finally entered the lobby. Glancing at the ID, Zuo Tao was once more surprised to find that it was actually STAR.
【GGF-STAR: What the fuck, you actually got ZZ to play?】
【GGF-STAR: I’m very fragile today, please don’t scold me ahhhhhh!】
It’s been almost an entire day, and he was still screaming with every message. It was evident that his mental state had yet to recover, but he was still persistent in playing.
【ZZ: ==】
【ZZ: Can we start now?】
【GGF-STAR: Wait, ah!】
【GGF-STAR: Can I invite two more people? They’re both in the industry, and it’ll be more lively to play! Ah!】
Sitting at the table and feeling a little impatient, Zuo Tao wanted to say something when STAR’s message stopped him.
【GGF-STAR: It’s Han-ge, I think he’s still online. I’ll try to invite him, let’s play together, okay?】
【FG-WIZARD: FIRE?】
【GGF-STAR: En, is that okay? 🥺】
Zuo Tao’s furrowed brows relaxed, and he sent another message.
【ZZ: Sure, invite him.】
A few seconds later, Song Shihan and Si Zheng appeared in the lobby one after another.
【GGF-STAR: Hehe, I saw Zheng-ge online, let’s five-man queue?】
【GGF-STAR: By the way, you guys are playing tomorrow, right?】
【Wildfire-SZ: 1】
【FG-WIZARD: 1】
【Wildfire-FIRE: 1】
【ZZ: 1】
【GGF-STAR: ZZ, watchu answering for?】
Zuo Tao, stunned, quickly added —
【ZZ: Got carried away, sorry.】
Fortunately, no one suspected anything. While they were waiting for a match, probably because he found typing troublesome, STAR opened his microphone and spoke with a slightly nasal voice: “Before we start, there’s something I must say. The reason we are gathered in this lobby today is because I, your Xingbao3Literally, “treasure star” or “star babe”, encountered something terrifying, which greatly traumatized me. Therefore I would like everyone to temporarily let go of the competition and hostility between teams. The only thing you need to do is carry me up the ranks.”
After he spoke, they finally found a match, and the banning/picking stage began. As Song Shihan was also in the team, he chose to play a squishy support without thinking, announcing: “I don’t care, I want to lie down. I’ll be your support today.”
Zuo Tao, who was already used to picking support heroes: …
Very good, I’ll bear it.
When STAR said he was going to lay down, he actually did, clinging on to Song Shihan the entire game and not even inflicting a single point of damage.
Ten minutes later, with Zuo Tao playing midlane mage on his way to the bottom lane for a gank, STAR repeated tearily: “Being support seems quite fun. I didn’t know when I didn’t play, but I feel the joy of lying down when I do play support.”
STAR: “Ge, why don’t I join Wildfire?”
Song Shihan replied without opening his mic.
【Wildfire-FIRE: No need, I already have a support.】
STAR: “Xiao Fenmao4”Little pink hair/fur” is still young, and I heard he only signed with you for three months, right?” He chuckled. “I’ll come when he leaves, and I’ll do what he does. Give me some time and I’m sure I’ll be even better than him.”
WIZARD was busy invading the enemy jungle, asking, “ZZ, want the blue buff?”
【ZZ: No need.】
Zuo Tao sneaked into the bushes. His W skill was an energy wave, which would displace those hit a short distance, whether enemy or ally. After STAR finished talking, Zuo Tao hit him with the skill, pushing him under the enemy tower. STAR’s health was already low in the first place, and a single hit from the tower killed him.
STAR: …?
“Ah, ah, ah, you’re too much, ZZ!” STAR howled. “Explain yourself! Did I offend you?!! Has today been easy for me?”
【ZZ: Sorry, my finger slipped.】
【GGF-STAR: …can you say something more comforting?】
【ZZ: Sure. You talk too much. I acted on behalf of the heavens.】
And then, he added a childish sentence.
【ZZ: PINK is a thousand times stronger than you.】
“Why do you all love Fenbao!” Star cried.
Si Zheng couldn’t help laughing, saying, “STAR, your condition is really off. Why did you act so crazy?”
STAR: “I don’t care! I want to be praised!”
Zuo Tao endured everything this whole time, and now he couldn’t help but add to Si Zheng’s words:
【ZZ: How can a dog not go crazy?】
This guy was so bold to openly covet his place. If he wasn’t corrected, he would become the pink tyrant who can’t hold a sword.
After a few seconds of silence, laughter burst out in the team chat. STAR sounded particularly aggrieved: “…didn’t you say you wouldn’t scold me?”
They only played two rounds, and STAR had already exhausted them. Song Shihan soon withdrew from the lobby.
As soon as he left, Zuo Tao also decided to stop playing. He left his seat, planning to browse Weibo for a while before he fell asleep. The phone rang, though, and it was still an unknown number.
“Hello?”
After two seconds of silence, Zuo Tao was irritated. He was about to hang up and block the number when electronic feedback sounded, followed by an unexpected response:
“Is this PINK?”
The sound was hidden behind feedback, sounding slightly mechanical, like those voice overs in clocks. It was clearly made by a low-quality voice changer.
Zuo Tao wanted to hang up, but he paused. “This is your father,” he said, clearing his throat as he walked to the restroom. “It’s me. Who are you?”
The other party didn’t answer, instead sounding more excited as they asked, “Did you receive what I sent you today? Your legs look so good, you must have looked good wearing those. Can you show me?”
Zuo Tao’s expression changed as if to say what in the lunacy is this? He grit his teeth and asked, “Where did you get my number from?”
The caller still didn’t answer, instead saying, “Can you show me yourself wearing the clothes?”
“Wait for me,” Zuo Tao said, seeing that the caller wasn’t answering any of his questions. He lazily walked to the bathroom. Time after time, one phone call after another. Although he wasn’t concerned, it was annoying.
First, Zuo Tao placed the phone on the ground, looking around his bathroom before he found the stainless steel iron basin he usually used to soak his feet. He bent down and said, “I have something to say. Can you raise the volume?”
“Of course, I… I’m wearing headphones!”
Zuo Tao hummed, a sinister smile playing on his lips. He carefully placed the basin over the phone. Great, you wearing headphones is even better.
With that, Zuo Tao clenched his right hand and sighed. The next second, a cold look on his face, he smashed his fist against the iron basin, punching it several times in a row. The basin dented with a few marks, and the entire bathroom was filled with the loud banging.
“I’ll wear your mother’s clothes. Go to hell, pervert!”
After punching twice more, he took the basin off and found that the call had hung up as expected.
Annoyed, Zuo Tao patted his head and blocked this number as well. After pocketing his phone, he took his box of cigarettes and planned to go out to the balcony for a smoke, but as he passed by the table, he paused and looked at the marshmallows that he had transferred into a glass bottle.
Through the transparent glass, the candy wrapped in paper seemed to emit pink light.
He remembered that Song Shihan was still banned from smoking.
When he pushed the door of the balcony open, he was biting on to a cotton candy, nose twitching at the scent of tobacco.
Stunned and getting hit by a bad premonition, he looked towards the balcony next door. Sure enough, Song Shihan was leaning against the railing, a cigarette stick dangling on one hand, plucking Mint Number 2 with the other.
Zuo Tao: ??
It was raining, and the trees and shadows danced non-stop in the light of the evening. There was a faint scent of mint and tobacco wafting in the wind.
After a moment of silence, Zuo Tao walked closer to Song Shihan. Through the partition, he stared at the cigarette Song Shihan had brought to his lips and whispered, “Captain, coach said you’re not allowed to smoke.”
Song Shihan raised an eyebrow at him, no sense of panic whatsoever at getting caught smoking in secret. He even took his time dusting off the ash against the ashtray.
Not getting any response, Zuo Tao hesitated for a moment before whispering, “Gege?”
Song Shihan glanced at him, the faint light catching on the cotton candy still in Zuo Tao’s hand. He took another puff of his cigarette before asking, “Does the sweet taste good?”
Zuo Tao nodded, hesitating before continuing, “It’s delicious.”
“En,” Song Shihan said, pressing his dying cigarette butt into the ashtray and finishing with, “Don’t tell Jiang-ge.”
