When Jiang Shi brought the candy close to Xie Xu’s lips, he could clearly hear the crowd below momentarily pausing their shouts of “husband,” followed quickly by a witty fan calling out, “Little White Hair, you’ve made it!”
This comment sparked a round of laughter.
It was only then that Jiang Shi belatedly realized his action might have been too intimate, especially given the public setting.
He was about to pull his hand back to place the candy in Xie Xu’s hand instead, but Xie Xu was quicker, leaning down and taking the candy straight from Jiang Shi’s fingers.
Jiang Shi felt a fleeting, soft sensation brush against his fingertip, gone in an instant.
He looked up dazedly, watching the pale yellow candy disappear between Xie Xu’s lips.
His heartbeat suddenly pounding crazily again.
Unlike Jiang Shi, who was visibly tense, Xie Xu’s expression remained unchanged, though his voice was slightly softer. “Alright, let’s head backstage to prepare for the interview.”
With the noise around them, Xie Xu had leaned closer to speak, his warm breath grazing Jiang Shi’s cheek, carrying a pleasant hint of lemon and mint.
Jiang Shi suddenly understood why Xie Xu had known the candy’s flavor beforehand. He licked his lips and, driven by a sudden impulse, asked, “Captain, does the candy taste good?”
Though he hadn’t spoken loudly, their proximity meant Xie Xu heard him clearly. Xie Xu’s gaze lingered for a moment on Jiang Shi’s throat as he swallowed nervously before slowly raising his eyes to meet Jiang Shi’s.
Jiang Shi, worried Xie Xu hadn’t heard, repeated a bit louder, “Is the candy good?”
Xie Xu looked into Jiang Shi’s eyes, which held a hint of expectation, and after a few seconds, he hummed.
Back in the backstage lounge, they learned that the team car was stuck in traffic due to the rain and would be delayed.
Yuan Yang, after hanging up the phone, turned to explain, “It won’t be long. You’ll likely be done with the interview in an hour, so let’s all rest here for a bit.”
Jiang Lele, looking somewhat hesitant, asked, “Yang-ge, I heard the interviewer this time is that guy surnamed Fang again. Should we cancel?”
Jiang Shi asked, “What’s up with that interviewer?”
Jiang Lele explained, “When Back first joined the team and played an impressive debut match, they had an interview. This interviewer, for some reason, asked some very leading questions, and as a result, Back got criticized for a long time.”
Yu Hui recalled this incident, frowning, “It was intentional.”
“Is it that guy?” Yuan Yang’s face darkened. “This interviewer has some odd hostility toward TLG and always speaks in a snide, sarcastic tone. Jiang Shi, if you’re not comfortable with this, I can call it off.”
Jiang Shi shrugged, “I don’t mind.”
Jiang Lele, seeing his casual attitude, smacked his own forehead, suddenly realizing something. “Fuck, why am I even worried about you!”
In terms of snide, nobody can compare to Time.
Just then, a staff member arrived to take Jiang Shi to the interview backstage.
“Little White Hair, the interview’s live-streamed! We’re rooting for you from here!” Jiang Lele gave him a thumbs-up, full of encouragement, as Jiang Shi walked out.
On his way, Jiang Shi took out his phone to look up some information, quickly getting a handle on what had happened. The interviewer had once asked Back, who’d just won his first MVP award, “Who are you most grateful for on the team?”
Back, looking a bit shy but without much hesitation, had answered, “Jiang Lele.”
The interviewer, seeming surprised, replied, “I thought you’d say God Xu, since I heard he fought hard to recruit you from a small team.”
Just as Yu Hui was about to clarify, the interviewer cut him off, chuckling, “Well, everyone’s entitled to their own views, so your thoughts are valid, of course.”
Afterward, the comments section was flooded with accusations that Back was ungrateful.
Jiang Shi scoffed, fingers twitching as he prepared to retort, but he was interrupted when the staff member paused. “We’re here, the interview room is just ahead.”
Through the transparent glass, Jiang Shi saw a man in formal attire holding a microphone—the same person from the video, standing right beside Back.
Jiang Shi narrowed his eyes, pocketed his phone, and stepped into the interview room.
The interview began with Fang, the host, smiling warmly. “First, congratulations to Time on a victorious debut! Those two games were incredible, especially with champions like Senna and Miller—truly eye-catching.”
“Actually, these heroes aren’t seen much in pro matches. Do you think your game today might bring them back into the spotlight?”
He’d heard that TLG’s new ADC was bold, and if Jiang Shi answered yes, it would imply that other players lacked the skill or courage to use these heores, which would certainly spark some resentment.
Jiang Shi replied slowly, “I don’t know. I just do what my coach tells me.” He maintained a look of innocence, as if he were just a compliant rookie.
The interviewer looked momentarily taken aback, clearly not expecting this response, but quickly recovered. “I thought it was you who insisted on playing those heroes, haha! Can I hear Time’s understanding of these heroes?”
The interview proceeded normally until it was almost over, when the interviewer, as if by accident, asked, “I noticed some close interactions between you and God Xu during the game. Your teamwork seemed seamless — your relationship must be goo–”
He didn’t even get to finish his sentence before Jiang Shi interrupted, “Of course.” Jiang Shi, previously expressionless, suddenly perked up. “Xu is amazing. Without his initiations, we wouldn’t have won as easily today.”
“I think Xu deserves the MVP for this match.”
The conversation veered off track as Jiang Shi, with rapid-fire compliments, barely left the interviewer a chance to interject. The audience watching the live stream burst out laughing.
[Is this an MVP interview or an Xu fan club session?]
[Haha, is Little White Hair trying to boost his favorability on purpose because he knows God Xu is watching?]
[I remember this interviewer used similar tricks on Back. What’s he trying to pull now?]
The interviewer adjusted his expression and, as if humoring Jiang Shi’s answer, said, “It seems Time admires Xu quite a bit. A lot of fans ship you two, saying you’re a perfect match. What’s your take on that?”
In the lounge, the others were watching the livestream and reacted strongly to this question. Yuan Yang’s face fell first. “Is this interviewer deliberately stirring things up?”
After all, Jiang Shi and Xie Xu were both men. Playing around in their private streams was one thing, but this was an official event, and here was the interviewer publicly broaching the subject. Besides, Xie Xu’s fans were mostly the “wife” type—they wouldn’t attack Xu but could definitely go after Time.
[Is this interviewer intentionally baiting drama?]
[Fck, he’s really sinister.]
[Trying to incite fan wars within TLG by turning fans against each other, right?]
[Silly son, there’s an assassin, run away!]
Under the worried eyes of everyone, Jiang Shi raised a hand to rub his ear, his gaze slightly distant as he softly murmured, “Thank you all for all the blessings and affirmations. Xu and I will keep working hard.”
The interviewer: “?”
Yuan Yang: “… …”
[6. I never expected he could be so flirty on the official livestream.]
[His ears turned red. Who’s he trying to act innocent for?]
[Ah? Is it because he’s young that he didn’t catch what the interviewer meant? He’s talking about being well-matched in skill and promising to keep working hard.]
[….]
[Look, a truly innocent person sneaked in here.]
[Time really fooled them.]
[Come on, upstairs, pay attention to the underlying meaning. I will send you 180 classic quotes from this little idiot.]
The interviewer, thinking Jiang Shi was evading with humor, laughed and said, “It seems Time is confident in his skills.”
Jiang Shi nodded, “Of course!”
He looked as if it were a silly question hardly worth asking.
Just then, he felt a sudden tickle in his throat and coughed, covering his mouth. As he composed himself, the interviewer quickly stepped in, chuckling, “This attitude reminds me of Back in his early days, bold and close with his teammates. He even said in an interview that he ‘likes Jiang Lele best.’”
The interviewer had subtly swapped “grateful” for “like.”
Jiang Shi didn’t notice. He only asked back with a “Really?”
Just as the interviewer about to say something, Jiang Shi tilted his head at him. “So what?”
Jiang Lele was just like that, a little sun of the team.
He knew how cold Yu Hui’s temper could be. Seeing their tacit cooperation this time, Jiang Shi could guess how Jiang Lele’s attitude back them when Yu Hui first joined the team.
And TLG was very proud of their mid-jungle linkage. Yuan Yang had said that if it weren’t for Jiang Lele, Yu Hui might not have grown up so quickly.
Jiang Lele was a central figure in holding the friendship of TLG players, and it also affected Jiang Shi.
Even though Jiang Lele could be annoying at times, Jiang has to admit – apart from Xie Xu, it was Jiang Lele who helped him integrate into the team.
The interviewer Fang wanted to say something, but Jiang Shi interrupted him.
“I like Xu too,” Jiang Shi said in a calm tone, with a hint of the same pressure that Xie Xu exuded. “Yang-ge, Nine, Back, and Lele are also great.”
“Is there a problem?”
The eloquent host suddenly stuttered.
What initially seemed like a suggestive topic was smoothly redirected by Jiang Shi, turning it into a conversation about the brotherhood within the team, making the host seem talkative and gossipy.
Jiang Shi stood up from the interview chair, glanced at the host, and said, “I’ve just started in pro gaming and haven’t done many interviews, but I think you’re quite gossipy.”
He then looked into the camera, with a serious expression replacing any hint of sarcasm. “I don’t know how outsiders view TLG or us, but I just want to say—”
“TLG and we will reach the top together.”
Today’s match was the best proof of that.
After the interview, Jiang Shi ignored the host’s disgruntled look and left the interview room.
As soon as he opened the door, a figure came rushing toward him, shouting, “Ahhh, Little White Hhaired, I love you too—”
Before Jiang Lele could give Jiang Shi a big, affectionate hug, Jiang Shi quickly reached out to stop him. “Stop—” Jiang Shi held Lele’s face, keeping him at arm’s length. “Jiang Lele, don’t make me punch you in public.”
Jiang Lele gave up on the hug, though still looking touched. “Ahhh, T Bao, you’re so cool!” He thought Jiang Shi’s words in the interview were so satisfying, leaving the host completely speechless.
“Alright, stop wailing,” Jiang Shi said, dropping his arm once he saw Lele wasn’t going to pounce on him. “Why are you here?”
“The team’s car arrived, and Yang-ge thought it’d be too noticeable if we all left together, so he let the others get in first,” Jiang Lele explained. “The captain and I were worried you’d get lost, so we came to get you.”
The match with Wind had left the crowd buzzing, and fans were gathered outside the venue, reluctant to leave. Yuan Yang, worried something might happen, had the team split up.
Jiang Shi glanced around but didn’t see Xie Xu.
“Looking for the captain?” Lele pointed toward the direction of the previous resting area. “He said he had something to do there.”
“But the captain’s holding your equipment bag! I don’t know if he finds it heavy, carrying it around like that.”
Without hesitation, Jiang Shi turned back. “You go to the car first. I’ll go meet up with the captain.”
Jiang Lele caught up. “I’ll go with you, I’m afraid you’ll get lost.”
