TCWSITD – Chapter 46.2

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Chapter 46.2 – Post-Match Daily Life

Lin Jiang took a shower, changed into clean clothes and went downstairs. Most of the team was already up, taking full advantage of their rare day off.

Some were unboxing packages, some playing simple 3699 mini-games, some had bought piles of snacks and were mindlessly binge-eating, and someone was strumming a ukulele with deep focus.

The most outrageous one was Song Zhixu—he was playing a shooting game, and his voice echoed throughout the entire training room: “Big bro, wait, don’t kill me! I’ll give you my 8x scope!”

The big bro shot him dead with a bang, immediately looting his 8x scope. “Can’t I get it myself? Do I need you to give it to me?”

A’Deng, watching nearby, was thoroughly entertained. “Zhixu-ge, isn’t it possible you could’ve killed him if you’d used the vision properly?”

Song Zhixu, who rarely played this game, flushed with embarrassment. “Ahem, I know. I just wanted to study it a bit.”

Lin Jiang came downstairs after his shower, dressed in loose clothes. Looking at all kinds of teammates, he felt the training room was very crowded for the first time.

He nudged the delivery box at his feet aside with his foot, grabbed a bag of snacks Zhou Wen had bought, and stood behind Song Zhixu, watching his awkward gameplay.

Song Zhixu had always been the type who was terrible at games but got addicted to them. Normally, Lin Jiang wouldn’t let him play shooting games, fearing it would mess with his reflexes. Now that he was given a chance, Song Zhixu was gleefully diving straight into the airport.

The parachute snapped open with a whoosh, and the moment he landed, he was met with gunfire.

Song Zhixu was the perfect picture of chaos, scrambling to pick up items while dodging punches flying at him. A burst of gunfire later, the opponent remained unscathed.

In the end, it was someone holding a frying pan who sent him off in three hits.

Song Zhixu wailed again, “How did this guy get behind me?! Even with a perfect start, I still can’t win?!”

Only after his outburst did he notice Lin Jiang standing there. His eyes lit up. “Hey, Captain, you’re here?”

He quickly took off his headphones. “Want to play with me?”

Lin Jiang figured it had been a while since he last played, so he might as well join for a couple of rounds. He sat down and booted up his computer.

Shen Ju came downstairs too and naturally joined their match.

The three of them boarded the plane, and Lin Jiang asked, “Where are we dropping?”

“Airport.”

“Airport.”

Lin Jiang: ?

“Don’t do this,” he thought nervously[mfn]In PUBG, airports are often packed with some of the best loot in the game, drawing many players to the location to secure good gear early on. Because so many players land there, the competition is usually fierce, leading to frequent and aggressive early-game fights.[/mfn].

As the plane reached the airport, the three jumped out together. Seeing the swarm of enemies around them, Lin Jiang could sense that a fierce battle was coming.

Their randomly matched teammate mercilessly abandoned them and dropped elsewhere, only to die instantly upon landing.

Song Zhixu reassured, “Don’t worry, the three of us are enough.”

They landed and quickly scavenged for gear.

Lin Jiang had decent luck, picking up a rifle right away. He swiftly reloaded and took down an enemy, securing a strategic position in the warehouse.

Judging by the gunfire and kill notifications, Lin Jiang estimated there were at least thirteen squads at the airport. Six had already been wiped out, leaving roughly seven squads still active in the area.

While he was still counting heads, Song Zhixu had already turned into a loot box. Lin Jiang was stunned.

“How did you die so fast?”

Song Zhixu meekly replied, “I-I-I didn’t even really fight…”

He took off his headphones and leaned over to watch Lin Jiang’s gameplay. “Captain, can we still win?”

“Not sure. Let’s give it a try.”

Lin Jiang clearly looked like a seasoned veteran of this game, his hotkeys and camera movements were smooth and fast.

He quietly positioned himself at a corner and ruthlessly gunned down an enemy. He calmly reloaded while maintaining his angle. He shifted positions and waited for Shen Ju to arrive. Together, they pulled off a clutch play to eliminate the remaining enemies.

At this point, only three squads were left at the airport.

Outside, the sound of vehicles starting up was heard—someone was retreating first.

Lin Jiang and Shen Ju coordinated flawlessly, wiping out the stubborn squad that stayed behind, monopolizing the airport’s resources.

Ten minutes into the game, only thirty-four players remained.

“Wow.” Song Zhixu, now a starry-eyed fanboy, massaged Lin Jiang’s shoulders admiringly. “Watching a professional play games is so satisfying.”

Song Zhixu was a newbie, while Lin Jiang and Shen Ju hadn’t played in so long that their ranks had dropped significantly. This match had barely any skilled opponents, and they quickly reached the final circle.

Lin Jiang checked the player count. “Four squads left. Two full squads, one trio, and us.”

Shen Ju gave a quiet “Mm” and adjusted his position. “Let’s take the high ground.”

Song Zhixu’s head spun trying to follow their tactics, amazed at how they knew so much. Then, gunfire erupted near the mountain’s base. Two squads took heavy losses, and Shen Ju landed a long-range sniper shot to finish off a barely alive enemy.

At this point, only five players remained.

Lin Jiang noticed, “That trio on the other side is really skilled.”

No sooner had he spoken than they were ambushed and surrounded. He managed to take down the attacking enemy at close range before being instantly headshot by a distant 98K sniper rifle.

That gunshot finally revealed the sniper’s position to Lin Jiang. “Sniper up on the hill!”

What followed was a masterclass in high-level gameplay that left Song Zhixu in awe.

The moment the enemy sniper fired, Shen Ju pinpointed their exact location. In one fluid motion, he switched to an 8x scope and landed a blind snipe, eliminating the opponent.

Without missing a beat, he adjusted his assault rifle and stood up, spraying bullets into the grass to take out an enemy who’d been lying in wait beside him all along.

Victory!

Winner winner, chicken dinner![mfn]A celebratory message displayed on screen in BATTLEGROUNDS when you (and your team) wins a match.[/mfn]

Song Zhixu, who had no clue what was going on after dying early, was totally baffled. “How did Shen Ju know someone was hiding in the bushes?”

Lin Jiang explained, “My position was already exposed, meaning someone could see me and relay my coordinates to their team. Given the angles, only that patch of grass could hide someone.”

So the moment the sniper fired, Shen Ju instantly pinpointed where the last two enemies were hiding and took them down with surgical precision.

“Wow,” Song Zhixu breathed, sounding like someone seeing the world for the first time. “So this is how this game is played”

He hadn’t played this game much and had no one to guide him—he’d been figuring things out on his own. Witnessing Lin Jiang and Shen Ju’s coordination showed him what true mastery looked like.

As expected, the captain and Shen Ju were naturally gifted. No matter the game, they could achieve perfect synergy.

While admiring their skills, Song Zhixu couldn’t help lamenting his own inadequacies.

Lin Jiang opened the match summary page and noticed Shen Ju’s exceptional performance. He instinctively glanced at Shen Ju, finding the other already looking back at him.

That final play…

Lin Jiang didn’t expect Shen Ju to take down someone with a single blind sniper shot and then instantly switch to an assault rifle.

Honestly, even he wouldn’t have the confidence to pull that off from that position.

The moment the gunshot cracked, Lin Jiang felt like his own heart had been struck. The impact stayed with him long after.

Returning to the lobby, an enthusiastic Song Zhixu asked, “Another round, Captain?”

“No more.” Lin Jiang exited the game. “We’ve played enough. Time to rest.”

Shen Ju obediently exited the game as well, leaving Song Zhixu alone stubbornly playing as a “loot box” in the game.

Everyone had lunch together at noon, followed by a group meeting in the afternoon.

Although the competition was over, there were still many trivial matters left to be handled, especially for Lin Jiang and Shen Ju. They were officially requested to stay behind to film promotional videos. For now, it was best not to leave the city.

The others—Song Zhixu, A Deng, Zhou Wen, Zheng Yu, and Fang Luxing—were expected to be free to leave the day after tomorrow, barring any surprises.

“Ah, we have to part ways with the captain so soon?” Song Zhixu said, a hint of reluctance in his voice. “Can’t I stick around for a couple more days to play?”

Duren adjusted his glasses and told him, “The cooking aunt has taken leave. If you stay, you’ll have to manage your own meals. The base staff will also be on break.”

Song Zhixu thought it over, “Then I’ll just buy a ticket home.”

He pulled out his phone and started booking a ticket.

Lin Jiang closed the notebook in his hands and, seeing the expensive ticket prices, couldn’t help asking, “You’re going back even though it’s just a half-month break?”

It wasn’t off-season yet. The Summer Split was connected directly to Worlds, and players like them who had qualified weren’t supposed to get any breaks.

Lin Jiang had considered how exhausted everyone had been lately and managed to secure half a month off, never expecting Song Zhixu to actually fly home for the break.

Song Zhixu simply nodded. “I’ve got a few childhood buddies back home. If I don’t visit during the break, they’ll think I forgot them. Next time I come back, no one will want to hang out with me anymore.”

“Aren’t you afraid your stepmother will check your bank account when you go back?”

“It’s fine. My cousin’s covering for me.” Song Zhixu suddenly remembered something and quickly put down his phone, looking cautiously at Lin Jiang. “Captain, my cousin didn’t make any unreasonable requests, did he?”

“Not really.”

Lin Jiang had just said a few good words for him in front of Yu Ming. Cao Shenshan was incredibly grateful, but Yu Ming’s insistence on treating him to a meal was still a bit of a headache.

Lin Jiang glanced at Song Zhixu. “Which date did you book your ticket for?”

“The 25th. Why?”

“Come with me to a meal tomorrow. I’ll introduce you to a friend.”

Song Zhixu’s eyes instantly lit up, “Sure!”

Back in his room that night, Song Zhixu began picking out clothes for the next day. Feeling his choices were too casual, he tried on a hat but thought it looked too forced.

He turned to Shen Ju for advice. “Do you think I should wear this hat or skip it?”

Shen Ju barely looked up. “Doesn’t make a difference.”

“Come on, give me some real advice. The captain’s introducing me to a friend tomorrow. It’s fine if I embarrass myself, but I can’t let the captain down.”

Shen Ju paused just as he was about to get into bed. “What friend?”

“I don’t know! Hey, why are you already heading to bed? Get up and help me pick something…”

But Shen Ju wasn’t just getting into bed—he was getting fired up.

He burrowed under the covers, listening to Song Zhixu’s endless chatter, completely unable to sleep.

He grabbed his phone and opened the chat.

[Shen Ju: Are you going out to eat tomorrow?]

Lin Jiang replied quickly.

[Lin Jiang: Yeah. Did Song Zhixu tell you?]

So he really was taking Song Zhixu out to eat. Shen Ju’s expression dimmed, the pale light of the screen casting a soft glow in his eyes, filled with quiet sadness.

[Shen Ju: Mhm.]

[Shen Ju: He said you’re introducing him to a friend. What friend?]

[Lin Jiang: DT’s captain, Yu Ming.]

[Shen Ju: Can’t you take me too?]

When Lin Jiang saw the message, he could already picture the look on Shen Ju’s face as he asked that. He set down what he was working on and typed back.

[Lin Jiang: Nope.]

Even though Yu Ming’s confession had happened long ago, that history still lingered—and Lin Jiang didn’t want Shen Ju to know about it.

[Lin Jiang: Be good. We’ll just eat and come back.]

[Shen Ju: Okay.]

Although he had agreed, Shen Ju’s mind was still restless. He lay there with his head down, unable to fall asleep for a long time, then opened his phone again.

[Shen Ju: Captain… you don’t actually like someone like Song Zhixu, do you]

After waiting five minutes with no reply, he grew anxious. Another five minutes passed, and Shen Ju couldn’t hold back.

[Shen Ju: Captain, I’m getting anxious. Say something.]

Five more minutes crawled by before Lin Jiang finally responded.

[Lin Jiang: Come to my room.]

Shen Ju threw off the covers in an instant, pulled on his clothes, and rushed over.

He pushed the door open and happened to catch Lin Jiang putting on clothes—there was a rose tattoo faintly visible on his waist. He quickly pulled the door shut again.

Lin Jiang looked over casually, completely unbothered. “Come in and sit. I just got out of the shower. Didn’t mean to ignore your messages.”

So that’s what it was.

Shen Ju suddenly felt embarrassed.

He sat down beside Lin Jiang and saw the desk piled with documents about the World Championship teams. “Captain, you’re still working this late?”

“Mm.” Lin Jiang tidied up the documents and sat next to him. His collar was slightly loose, and the damp scent of shower gel lingered on his skin. “You’re still so energetic, might as well pull you in to help with the research.”

As he spoke, he casually put on his glasses. The transparent, frameless lenses shimmered with a kaleidoscope of colors under the blue light, like transparent candy wrappers placed in a glass jar.

Shen Ju found himself unable to look away. The more he stared, the more he wanted to see clearly. The clearer he saw, the deeper he fell.

Too close.

So close it felt almost criminal.

Shen Ju tore his gaze away with effort, letting his fingers glide over the edge of the page. “These… are all scouting reports for LCK teams?”

“Yeah. I got them from Coach Fang. He’s really skilled at data analysis, but it’s too scattered and needs organizing.”

Shen Ju rolled up his sleeves. “Let me help. Which team do you need? I’ll find it for you.”

“Start with SPG.”

“SPG? The team Consultant Li used to be with?”

“Yeah. I heard they did pretty well in the Summer Split and secured a spot in Worlds so I figured I’d look into them first.”

LCK’s season ended much later than LPL’s. By the time their matches were over, LCK hadn’t even started the semifinals yet.

Shen Ju helped Lin Jiang organize the materials, and before he knew it, it was already 2 AM. It suddenly struck him how much work Lin Jiang handled every day.

So this… was how OT got built—bit by bit, under his hands.

Shen Ju’s heartbeat began to quicken again. He felt himself growing fonder of Lin Jiang by the day. Just being in the same space as him filled him with happiness.

Once people got a taste of something, they became more and more demanding. If Lin Jiang didn’t accept his confession in the end… what then?

He set down the documents and couldn’t help calling out, “Captain.”

“Hmm?”

When Lin Jiang turned around, he saw Shen Ju looking at him somewhat dejectedly. “You really can’t take me tomorrow? I’ll eat less, won’t say a word. I’ll just sit next to you and watch.”

But Lin Jiang still shook his head. “Really, can’t.”

He reached forward and pinched Shen Ju’s ear, thinking to himself how satisfyingly soft it was. “It’s just a meal. You should rest at the base instead of going.”

Lin Jiang’s hands were so gentle…

Shen Ju’s gaze darkened slightly. He lowered his head and rested it on Lin Jiang’s shoulder like a puppy, hugging him. “Let me hug you… just once. Then I’ll go.”

Lin Jiang’s breath hitched for a moment.

Truth be told, Shen Ju might look young, but he was still an adult. Up close, the scent of his hormones was palpable, stirring thoughts one couldn’t help but entertain.

And Lin Jiang wasn’t exactly young either. Afraid things might escalate, he quickly pushed him away.

“It’s late. You should go back and get some sleep.”

Shen Ju, who was suddenly pushed away, froze for a second. He stared at Lin Jiang’s suddenly distant profile, lips slightly parted, but in the end, said nothing—and obediently left.

But when he lay in bed that night, he couldn’t stop wondering.

Why had Lin Jiang pushed him away? Was it because he’d gotten too close?

But…

He really, really liked him.

Just seeing Lin Jiang made him want to get closer and hold him.

It was something he simply couldn’t control.

Shen Ju buried his face in the blanket, curling up as those white monsters began to invade his dreams once more.

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