When Li Yan was at West High, he was famously a friend to all women. He was extremely gentlemanly towards girls, solving emotional problems, buying snacks on their behalf, and even climbing over the school wall to buy brown sugar water for them.
Faced with this emoticon, his gentlemanly spirit reignited: “I didn’t mean to force you to use the mic. Don’t cry, it’s okay if you don’t want to. I understand, the first time playing games with your boyfriend’s friend must be nerve-wracking.”
Li Yan: “Let’s play more games together in the future and stay in touch.”
[yx1120wzxhyc: Mm-hmm.]
[yx1120wzxhyc: You’re so nice.]
Yun Ci remained silent.
Li Yan: “Not bad.”
He didn’t forget the main point and spoke up more for his good friend: “My brother is in his first relationship. He’s really nice, just that his mouth, sometimes, he loves to speak ironically.”
“You two should have a good relationship. He’s really a good man.”
Yun Ci: “……….”
He wanted to leave the team.
Unable to listen any longer, Yun Ci coughed lightly and warned Li Yan: “Say less.”
Li Yan blinked innocently: “Did I say something wrong?”
Yun Ci sighed, not wanting to look at this scene: “Right, but I’m afraid you’ll regret it.”
“?
Li Yan didn’t understand.
What regret, just saying this much, what’s there to regret?
Feeling conflicted, Yun Ci sighed and said: “Just think of it as me wanting to keep some mystery in front of my partner.”
Li Yan clicked his tongue, completely missing any hidden meaning, even in the mood to joke: “Didn’t expect you to have such a man’s mindset.”
“…”
After that, Li Yan stopped speaking specifically for Yun Ci.
The few continued playing the game.
In the game, Li Yan would throw anything he picked up to Yu Xun’s side, regardless of whether they wanted it or not. Thinking that since his brother’s partner was introverted, they’d be too shy to ask for items directly, he threw them even more frequently.
Yun Ci followed the team, controlling his character.
He remembered back at West High, when their two teams were fighting in the game, he and Li Yan would find places to secretly hide unwanted guns.
Li Yan often hid while shouting: “I’m hiding here, on this rooftop, in this dead corner. Even if Yu Xun’s team comes up later, they won’t see it. I don’t want this gun, but I definitely won’t give it to him.”
…
While reminiscing, Yun Ci watched Li Yan pick up a limited event item in the game: a cute bunny with no attack effect, but when thrown, it turned into fireworks.
Li Yan collected a bunch of cute bunnies and dumped them all at Yu Xun’s feet.
Li Yan did speak less.
But the one who was too introverted to use the mic actively brought the topic back.
[yx1120wzxhyc: He is very nice.]
[yx1120wzxhyc: So what do you think of me?]
Li Yan, while sniping enemies, looked at the team chat box and didn’t react immediately: “Huh? What do you mean?”
[yx1120wzxhyc: As his partner]
[yx1120wzxhyc: What do you think of me]
Li Yan realized they were asking for his opinion.
Ah, such an introverted person, still timid, especially cares about others’ opinions.
Li Yan responded enthusiastically, boosting ‘her’ confidence: “I think you’re great!”
He used his limited literary skills to craft a small essay for Yu Xun on the spot: “I couldn’t imagine who he would be with before, but seeing you—not, although we haven’t met in person, through the experience of playing games together today, I think it should be an introverted girl like you!”
[yx1120wzxhyc: Thanks, as long as you’re satisfied.]
Yun Ci’s sniping went off.
He pressed the left mouse button, and the bullet not only missed the enemy but also hit the iron truck they used for escape.
Li Yan was shocked: “Damn, why’d you shoot the tire! That team will chase us later, how will we run without a car!”
Yun Ci: “Slipped.”
Li Yan: “We’re dead this round.”
He thought he still wanted to carry ‘her’ to victory. This round would be a wipeout.
However, in this moment of crisis, ‘she’ stepped up, sniping one by one, and Yun Ci, together with him, swept the opposing team.
The two cooperated seamlessly—this uncanny coordination didn’t come from playing games together often, but rather from knowing each other’s moves well, making it easier to coordinate when needed.
They played two more rounds.
The more Li Yan played, the more he felt that the gaming style of this ‘girl’ seemed oddly familiar.
But the internet cafe was too noisy, and the game pace was fast, so he didn’t have time to think further.
In the latter part of the game, Yu Xun stopped chatting with Li Yan.
He shifted his attention to Yun Ci.
[yx1120wzxhyc: I just sniped two.]
[yx1120wzxhyc: Boyfriend]
[yx1120wzxhyc: Compliment me.]
Yun Ci, expressionless, couldn’t bring himself to speak, turned off his mic, and typed in the chat.
[yc1293sdjkce: Awesome.]
Yu Xun’s reply was quick.
He seemed more interested in chatting than playing the game.
[yx1120wzxhyc: ?]
[yx1120wzxhyc: That’s it?]
Yun Ci, uncomfortable with saying anything too personal in front of Li Yan, typed another cold and emotionless three words.
【yc1293sdjkce: You’re amazing.】
Even so, Li Yan still looked “shocked”: “Wow, showing off your love, that’s too much.”
Yu Xun played a few more rounds and said he had to leave early because he had work at the store.
Li Yan reflexively asked, “Store?”
Yun Ci cautiously said, “The store where he works.”
Li Yan’s impression of his uncle’s wife improved greatly: “So hardworking.”
Yun Ci casually mentioned Yu Xun: “He works too.”
“Who? The guy named Yu?” Li Yan immediately changed his expression, his attitude doing a complete 180. “He’s just showing off!”
“…”
【yx1120wzxhyc: Logging off.】
【yx1120wzxhyc: Boyfriend kisses.】
【yc1293sdjkce: …】
【yc1293sdjkce: Hurry up and leave.】
Later, Li Yan sighed, “He’s actually a pretty good person.”
“…”
Yun Ci: “As long as you’re satisfied.”
Li Yan: “That sounds weird. Your girlfriend, why would I need to be satisfied? She also said it’s fine if I’m satisfied. Do you two really need my approval?”
After saying that, Li Yan happily added, “Because I’m your best friend, right? My feelings are particularly important to you two.”
Yun Ci was speechless.
Li Yan didn’t mind, thinking it was just an ordinary conversation.
It was almost time to log off, and the internet cafe’s computer system prompted: [Five minutes remaining.]
Before logging off, he checked his phone and saw an annoying ad again: Two people who can’t stand each other, kiss passionately!
“…”
Li Yan closed the page immediately and reported it.
After logging off, they went to the school cafeteria for a meal.
During the meal, Yun Ci thought it was time to gradually progress since they had played games together.
So when Li Yan brought up “your girlfriend” again, he interrupted him.
Li Yan: “Last time I passed by your classroom, I stopped to look. There aren’t many people in your class, not many girls. I guess your girlfriend might be the one sitting by the window, with a ponytail—”
Yun Ci interrupted him: “Dating someone doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a girl.”
Li Yan: “…?”
The cafeteria was crowded, but Li Yan felt their table suddenly became very quiet. For a moment, he couldn’t hear anything, only the phrase “doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a girl” kept repeating.
Doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a girl.
If not a girl, then what gender?
Oh.
A boy.
A guy.
“So,” Li Yan found his voice again, “you’re dating not a girlfriend, but a boyfriend?”
Yun Ci: “Yes.”
He added more detail, “A guy, very handsome.”
There were only two people in the law department who were constantly dominating the forums, him and Yu Xun.
It should be easy to figure out.
But after Yun Ci spoke, he observed for a long time and found that Li Yan had no intention of connecting the dots: “No wonder you were too shy to introduce him to me. Don’t worry, it’s no big deal.”
“Very handsome, from your department,” Li Yan thought seriously, “There seem to be a few popular guys. I’ll pay more attention next time.”
“…”
Does he still need to observe?
The most handsome one.
Has he already expelled Yu Xun from his mind?
Then he realized, maybe in his nephew’s eyes, Yu Xun wasn’t even considered a person.
Yun Ci thought, wanting to directly reveal his boyfriend’s name.
Li Yan was focused on eating, completely ignoring Yun Ci’s gaze. While eating, he pondered, based on the impression from gaming together, and gradually pictured a sensitive, delicate boy.
–
Yun Ci returned to his dorm from the cafeteria, and no one was there.
He checked the dorm group chat and found that Luo Sifang had taken the others to a movie.
Luo Sifang left a message: [Invincible Hero 3, heard it’s super awesome, we went without you guys.]
[Of course, the main reason we’re not waiting is because Peng Shao is treating. Might not get another chance.]
Yun Ci put down his phone and prepared to study.
But after reading only a few pages, the dorm door opened.
Before he looked up, he heard the door close and the sound of the lock.
No need to look up to know who came in.
“The door’s locked,” Yu Xun walked up to him and the first thing he did was bend down to hug him, “…Hold me for a while.”
In that hug, it was unclear who moved first. Initially, they were beside the desk, but soon, Yun Ci fell into the lower bunk, Yu Xun’s light gray quilt.
The dorm bed was hard, and the mattress was thin.
Falling into it, his back hurt a bit.
“Done with work?” Yun Ci asked.
“Liu Zi is watching the store.”
Yu Xun added, “Did Li Yan find out anything?”
Yun Ci: “No.”
Yu Xun said, “Neither did Liu Zi.”
Earlier at the store, Liu Zi, having nothing to do, chatted with him and was already planning something for their meeting: “First, I’ll gather all the guys in the group, then during break, we’ll line up in the corridor outside your classroom and shout ‘Hello, sister-in-law’ as soon as she comes out, giving her plenty of respect.”
“Let her walk around school like she owns the place.”
“…”
At that time, Yu Xun was lying on his stomach behind the computer and interrupted him: “Pick another one.”
Liu Zi: “Isn’t this good?”
Yu Xun: “Too high-profile.”
Liu Zi: “This is my first sister-in-law, it has to be high-profile.”
Yu Xun: “If you have to say it directly, it’s too stupid.”
Finally, he added, “What do you mean first? Mind your wording, there will only be this one.”
“…”
Hearing this high-profile plan, Yun Ci: “…”
The two of them chatted for a while, but due to their overly intimate posture, the normal conversation soon became impossible, and they suddenly fell silent, looking into each other’s eyes. Yun Ci pressed down on Yu Xun’s wrist, propped himself up a bit, and leaned in to kiss Yu Xun.
Since getting together, they have kissed many times.
But Yun Ci rarely initiated like this, suddenly kissing him.
Yu Xun was stunned: “?”
Yun Ci pressed his lips together and explained, “Just now, the game.”
Yu Xun realized he was referring to the casual remark he made before logging off, saying “kiss kiss.”
Yun Ci, being thin-skinned, didn’t respond in the game, but he remembered it, afraid Yu Xun would be disappointed without a response.
This kiss was like a switch, once pressed, it couldn’t stop, the temperature began to rise. Before it got completely out of control, Yu Xun used his last bit of rationality to hold Yun Ci’s hand, guiding it back to his neck: “…Don’t.”
“No need.” Yu Xun’s voice was hoarse.
He couldn’t bear it.
It shouldn’t be so rushed, in such a place.
They both regained some clarity.
After a while, Yu Xun’s phone buzzed.
Liu Zi: [Why aren’t you replying to messages.]
Liu Zi: [What are you doing?]
Suppressing his frustration, Yu Xun replied with three words.
yx: [On a date.]
Then he held Yun Ci’s hand, fingers interlocked, and took a photo to send over.
yx: [/photo]
On the other side.
Liu Zi, bored out of his mind, was watching the store, secretly browsing his phone.
He opened the photo Yu Xun sent, the background wasn’t clear, but the two interlocked hands were very clear, high resolution. Even when zoomed in, you could see the faint moles on the knuckles.
Besides these, there was another obvious feature.
No matter how slender the fingers, the knuckles were distinctly male.
Liu Zi zoomed in, looking several times: …a male sister-in-law?
