GTRSH Chapter 76

“I said, I’m here for an inspection. Just checking how happily my support’s been playing with someone else.”

Whether it was the words themselves or He Ci’s striking good looks today, Yu Xinche suddenly felt strange and inexplicably wanted to avoid his gaze.

He turned back to continue playing the game as if nothing had happened.

He first pretended to be very busy and glanced at He Ci, then turned off the voice chat in the game before feigning ignorance and saying to He Ci:

“I don’t understand what you’re saying.”

【???】

【I don’t understand why you’re blushing.】

【Mom asks you why you’re blushing!】

【It’s so obvious, hahaha, it’s really red!】

【Aren’t you blown away by his handsomeness?】

【So how handsome is he?!】

【I can’t even stand looking at that chin!】

【The shirt collar lies perfectly against the neck, giving off a strangely restrained, ascetic vibe.】

【Could you please adjust the camera upwards?】

“Haven’t you heard?” He Ci pretended to be clueless, looking puzzled. “They all say that everyone is appearing on BREEZE’s live stream except He Ci.”

“They even said that you’re playing support and always queuing with other people, so you’ve forgotten about me.”

“…”

Someone did say this in Xiao Ou’s post, but it sounded different coming from He Ci; it seemed to carry a hint of resentment.

Yu Xinche’s mind raced, and after a moment he calmly said, “As everyone in the chat knows, I always check your status first when I log on, and you’re never online, so I played with other people.”

【I really don’t know.】

【He can easily come up with flattering words】

【How could you even say that? Hahaha!】

【Survival instinct is off the charts】

Such a flattering tone was rarely sincere. He Ci chuckled, clearly knowing Yu Xinche was making things up.

Yu Xinche didn’t expect He Ci to believe him; he just wanted to say something nice and flatter him in front of the live chat to make him happy.

He continued in a slightly exaggerated tone, “As for forgetting, that’s utter nonsense.”

“The reason I gave Ah jiu the blue buff just now is because I remembered that you always give me the blue buff.” He couldn’t help but laugh out loud as he spoke, and after calming down, he continued, “I would be very happy if you gave me the blue buff, so I would give it to them based on my own experience.”

【Awesome】

【Please publish a book on flattering, I really want to buy it, please!】

【Such a skilled way of talking!】

【The decisive blow】

【It silenced me.】

【His face turned even redder.】

【I guess he’s still a little shy, hahaha】

【I almost wish I could be He Ci. If someone talked to me like that every day, I can’t imagine how cheerful I would be.】

【He’s so good at sweet-talking! If I was He Ci, my lips would be curled into a wide smile right now.】

He Ci didn’t exactly grin from ear to ear, but he couldn’t help but laugh at his antics.

“You have such a sweet tongue.”

“Absolutely.” Yu Xinche smiled and glanced at the camera. “Chat, you’ve learned how to flatter, right? He Ci is all talk and no action, but he actually loves this kind of mindless praise.”

“Tsk.” He Ci touched the back of his hand on Yu Xinche’s neck with a cold touch. He had just come in from outside and his hand was very cold. Yu Xinche quickly moved away, still “arguing” that he was “bullying” him.

【How dare you!】

【Those who are favored are fearless…】

【They’re really not together? I’m genuinely asking.】

After two rounds of arguing, Yu Xinche asked him again why he was back at the base.

“It’s nothing serious, you can finish the game first.”

Seeing his unhurried attitude, Yu Xinche thought for a moment and asked, “Aren’t you going home tonight?”

“It’s fine, I’ll sleep at the base tonight. You go ahead and live stream, we’ll talk when we go back.”

“oh oh.”

The two had already exchange all the info they needed. Yu Xinche continued playing, while He Ci left the training room, leaving a barrage of question marks in the chat.

【What does “we’ll talk about it when we go back” mean?

【Go back to where? Aren’t we at the base right now?]

【I also want to ask, why are they acting like they’re exchanging secret codes?

【they’re not sharing a room now, are they?]

【?!!!】

【Would you agree to this He Ci???】

【If it’s true, all I can say is that He Ci truly loves him.】

Yu Xinche didn’t read the chat. Soon after, new funny moments appeared in the game, and the viewers’ attention was drawn to them. This matter temporarily became an unsolved mystery.

He Ci went back to his room to change out of his formal attire, took a shower, changed into casual clothes, and returned to the training room. The computers weren’t turned on; he sat in his seat playing on his phone, waiting for Yu Xinche.

After the game ended, Yu Xinche asked He Ci if he wanted to play together, but He Ci declined. He even yawned as he spoke.

Judging from his attire when he arrived, Yu Xinche guessed that he had been socializing today and must be quite tired.

Yu Xinche then told Ah jiu that he wouldn’t continue to play, and then turned off the game and ended the stream.

“What’s wrong?” he asked He Ci after the live stream ended.

He Ci put down his phone, glanced at Yu Xinche’s computer, and only asked after confirming he was off live, said: “What are your plans for the New Year?”

“…” Yu Xinche was silent for a moment, then said, “Going home. But it will be a little late, there’s no point in going back too early.”

“Have you bought the tickets? How are you getting back?”

Yu Xinche’s heart skipped a beat, and he knew something was wrong.

He Ci was too shrewd. There’s only a week left until the Lunar New Year. People who want to go home must have already bought their tickets, and it’s the same for him.

But then, if he wanted to see the ticket, that would be bad.

“Yes, I bought a high-speed rail ticket,” Yu Xinche said, forcing a smile. “It’s only a little over an hour’s journey, more convenient than flying.”

He thought he was about to be exposed, so he lowered his head and didn’t look at He Ci. But He Ci just ended the conversation without asking any more questions.

“Brother CONTROL’s flight is tomorrow, and I… I’m heading back to my family’s place tomorrow too. I won’t be staying here for New Year.”

He Ci paused. What he really wanted to ask was: if going home made Yu Xinche unhappy… did he want to come with him?

But Yu Xinche’s evasive attitude clearly indicated that he did not want He Ci to pay too much attention to this matter.

That’s understandable; nobody liked having their wounds stared at.

Two days ago, when Xu Le said that Yu Xinche would be going back late, He Ci wanted to ask him about it, but he was worried about touching a sore spot and didn’t ask any deeper questions.

Today, He Ci accompanied his mother to a charity banquet. He was supposed to travel home with her tonight, and the whole family would go to his grandparents’ house tomorrow. However, He Ci was still a little worried and decided to go back to the base to ask him in person.

As far as he can remember, Yu Xinche’s parents were divorced, their family relationship wasn’t good, and they didn’t support him playing professionally.

He Ci’s family relations were relatively harmonious. Although he tried hard to consider things from Yu Xinche’s perspective, he still subconsciously felt that going home for the New Year was a tradition.

He hadn’t expected Yu Xinche to not go home. He was worried that if Yu Xinche went back, he would have a falling out with his family, and that he would have a bad start of the year.

But… on the other hand, he doesn’t have the right to directly tell Yu Xinche not to go home. That would be overstepping his bounds and not very respectful.

So he hesitated for a while before finally telling him to be careful on his way back.

“Okay,” Yu Xinche replied.

It was still early, so the two went back to the training room and played some other casual games to pass the time before going to sleep.

He Ci got up early the next morning to leave. His family was waiting for him, and he needed to go back early to set off with them.

He moved very quietly, but he still managed to wake Yu Xinche up.

“It’s okay, you go to sleep, I’m leaving,” He Ci said.

Yu Xinche was still half asleep and didn’t say anything. He turned over and went back to sleep.

Afterwards, He Ci quietly washed up, quietly opened and closed the door, and left.

It’s snowing again today, and the snowman’s heterochromatic eyes are covered by snow, so you couldn’t see them anymore. He reached out and brushed the snow off the two bottle caps, stood there for a while, and then went back.

When Yu Xinche woke up, he could vaguely hear He Ci’s movements, but he was too sleepy to open his eyes.

Hearing him close the door and leave, Yu Xinche sighed.

The base was even more deserted now. The day after tomorrow, the cafeteria lady would leave, and he’ll be all alone.

He pulled the blanket up a bit, turned over again, covered half his head, and continued to sleep.

Just as he was drifting off to sleep again, he heard someone calling him.

“BREEZE.” He Ci rubbed the horn of the plush lamb on his face to wake him up.

“Hmm?” Yu Xinche didn’t even open his eyes.

“I’m going to the suburbs for the Chinese New Year. There will be fireworks at night, and they also raise lambs and ducks, which should be quite interesting.”

Yu Xinche opened his eyes: “Mmm.”

“There’s also a Border Collie and a Husky.” He Ci saw Yu Xinche’s eyes light up and continued, “Do you want to see them?”

“Okay.” Yu Xinche cheered up for the dog. “We’ll video chat when you get there.”

“…” He Ci paused for a moment, “I mean, if you want to see it, you can go see it with me in person.”

Yu Xinche was truly awake now. He stared at the ceiling for a while before looking back at He Ci: “No, I won’t bother you. I’d better go back.”

He Ci was half-squatting beside the bed, not far from him. The two looked at each other silently for a few seconds, then He Ci looked away: “Then I’ll go first. If you’re unhappy at home during the New Year, or want to see the dog, just let me know.”

Yu Xinche remained silent for a while. He Ci patted him through the blanket: “Wake up. Did you understand what I just said?”

This time, Yu Xinche reacted quickly: “Okay. I understand. I’ll come to you if I don’t want to spend the New Year at home.”

“Very clever.” He Ci was satisfied. He put the lamb back, got up, opened the door, and left.

Yu Xinche looked in the direction of the door and sniffed.

In fact, Yu Xinche understood what He Ci really meant immediately when he said“Do you want to go see the dog?”

Yu Xinche knew that He Ci was sincere, but He Ci still had his family.

During the Chinese New Year, every family reunites. His role was euphemistically called a partner, but in other people’s eyes, he might just be a colleague.

It would be too abrupt and inappropriate for someone of this status to visit another person’s home for the Chinese New Year.

On the 27th of the twelfth lunar month, the cook left, an automatic feeder was put in the fish tank, and the two cats had long been taken away by Xiao Ou. Yu Xinche was truly the only one left in the base.

Before leaving, the aunt repeatedly confirmed that Yu Xinche would also be leaving that night before she felt at ease.

Yu Xinche opened the refrigerator, which contained a lunch left by the aunt. Apart from that, it was completely empty; the aunt had deliberately emptied it out, afraid it would spoil if left there for too long.

He sighed and ordered some fruits and vegetables from a food delivery platform to be delivered.

Luckily he could cook, otherwise he would have to eat instant noodles for a week.

That evening, after dinner, he pretended to send He Ci a message, saying that he had already gotten off the high-speed train.

He Ci replied with an “Mm,” and half an hour later asked him if he had arrived home. Yu Xinche said he had, and then He Ci sent him a video call, really wanting to show him the dog.

Yu Xinche wandered around the base until he found a wall with a pure white background. Only after confirming that he wouldn’t give himself away did he answer the phone.

The phone call didn’t last long; after hanging up, he exercised for a while as usual. He didn’t want to go to the training room tonight and went straight back to his room and laid on the bed.

On the other hand, He Ci always felt that Yu Xinche’s reaction was unnatural when he made the phone call.

After hanging up, he immediately opened the app to check today’s high-speed rail schedule.

He checked them one by one, and found that there were no trains arriving at Yu Xinche’s stop at the time the message was sent.

Things were worse than he expected; it seemed that Yu Xinche wasn’t just reluctant to go home, he didn’t go home at all.

He Ci turned on the base’s surveillance. The base had cats, so the surveillance was very comprehensive. During the Chinese New Year, he was afraid of thieves, so he left it on.

When He Ci saw that Yu Xinche had specially found a white wall to video chat with him, he felt a mix of emotions.

He was a little angry and felt a little regretful; He should have been more determined to bring him back.

Of course, he mostly felt heartache.

He Ci wasn’t completely oblivious to human suffering; he knew some people would spend the New Year alone, but he never imagined Yu Xinche would be among them.

Yu Xinche seemed understanding and easygoing, never fighting for anything, never competing for attention. He was gentle, quiet. But He Ci could tell he liked being around people.

Whenever school was out, he’d make dinner plans with all sorts of friends. And as the base grew emptier, he’d start streaming more, just to have someone to talk to.

Such a person wanted to spend the most lively and grandest festival of the year by himself…

He Ci breathed a sigh of relief, glad that he had discovered it now.

He Ci’s grandparents lived in a beautiful suburban villa, and the whole family usually came over for Chinese New Year. It’s about a three-hour drive from the city center, neither too far nor too close.

When He Ci arrived at the base the next day, it was already noon, and he didn’t see anyone in the training room or his room.

Just as He Ci was about to call Yu Xinche, he smelled the aroma of food.

Following the smell, he found Yu Xinche cooking in the kitchen.

He Ci watched silently from behind, only coughing lightly when Yu Xinche finished cooking, took the dish out of the pan, and was plating it.

Yu Xinche was startled to see someone and his eyes widened when he turned around and saw He Ci.

He blinked hard twice, and after confirming that he hadn’t seen wrong, he guiltily looked away.

He remembered the time his parents found the doll he had hidden when he was a child.

He was panicked, afraid they would be angry, afraid of being scolded, and afraid that they would think he was disobedient and dislike him even more.

He’s not as panicked as he was back then, but still felt a little lost. After all, He Ci cared about him so much, and even after leaving, he came back to look for him again.

Not only did he not go home, he also lied to him. He wondered if He Ci would be angry, or if he would feel that his good intentions have been betrayed.

The two remained silent for a moment, standing quietly a few meters apart.

Then He Ci walked over, took the plate from Yu Xinche’s hand, put it on the table, and smiled at him: “Your cooking skills are so good, you can film a cooking vlog next time.”

 

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