Thoughts drifted back to the distant present.
Jing Mian had just come to his senses, holding a half-folded T-shirt in his hand, while Jing Luo was struggling with a baseball cap beside him.
Come to think of it.
Mr. Ren hadn’t contacted him yesterday.
Unconsciously, they had been out of touch for two days.
Jing Mian suddenly realized.
Perhaps, Jing Luo’s image in his eyes… was the same as his own in Mr. Ren’s eyes?
He did like him, of course… but it was a purer kind of affection. Just like how Jing Luo complained about the cap being mischievous, he couldn’t help but tease the other.
A younger brother was just that—a younger brother. He couldn’t become a fiancé, let alone a lifelong partner.
After all, they hadn’t reached the point of marriage yet.
…Fortunately, it seemed the other party wasn’t interested in him either.
This engagement would likely be canceled in the near future.
In a way, it felt like a relief. The fleeting sense of loss was quickly drowned out by Jing Mian’s strong self-awareness.
At this moment, Jing Luo finally managed to put on the cap and asked in a babyish voice, “Brother, whose cap is this?”
Jing Mian paused, then answered truthfully, “It belongs to someone I met the day before yesterday.”
“Your wife?”
Jing Luo quickly understood.
Enraged, he slammed the baseball cap to the ground with such force that it almost bounced back up.
Jing Mian: “…”
Good grief, what a temper.
Despite being his blood-related younger brother, Jing Luo’s personality was the exact opposite of his own when he was young.
Jing Mian bent down, picked up the cap, and looked at the puffed-up little ball of anger. “Luo Luo.”
“Don’t worry, Mr. Ren… he’s not interested in me.”
Jing Mian comforted, “So this engagement will likely be canceled.”
Jing Luo nodded.
His vocabulary was still limited, so he tried to remember every word his brother said.
Thus, he silently memorized the phrase “Mr. Ren is not interested.”
Jing Luo thought that if he ever met this unseen ex-wife, he would tell her what his brother thought of her.
To humiliate her!
However, the day he learned he wouldn’t have a sister-in-law, a huge and radiant smile spread across Jing Luo’s face, lasting the entire day.
At dinner, under the surprised gazes of the entire family, he even asked for a second bowl of rice for the first time.
【Hello, Mr. Jing Mian, this is me.Team.】
【We sincerely invite you to join our me. club.】
…
Jing Mian had just logged on when he saw this message.
Unlike the usual private messages, this one had a strikingly bright red background, was highly conspicuous, and had been pinned to the top by the system.
Jing Mian had heard that manually highlighting one’s own private message was done to ensure the recipient saw it at first glance.
And the cost was at least a thousand yuan.
“…” Jing Mian was shocked.
So this was what it felt like to be hit with money?
Jing Mian thought that with such a generous offer, he should be polite and serious when refusing. He would double the word count and perhaps even give the team a glowing review.
Jing Mian carefully typed out a response, but before he could send it, me.Team’s next message arrived:
【Mr. Jing, ash once signed with us at me.Team for a year.】
Jing Mian’s fingers froze.
His heart skipped a beat, and his gaze locked onto the short message.
The words he was about to send were deleted one by one with the backspace key until the message was empty.
This was a huge temptation.
More than any salary, benefits, or post-joining perks, it was what truly swayed Jing Mian.
After a five-minute silence, Jing Mian slowly typed:
“Okay.”
“Let’s talk.”
As the start of the semester approached, Jing Mian packed his luggage.
Jing Guozhen looked at his handsome son, whose collar and hair were so clean and fresh that he couldn’t find a single flaw, and fell silent for a moment before saying, “Don’t be too playful when you return. Try to contact home more often.”
Jing Mian nodded, “I understand.”
Jing Guozhen looked helplessly at the other son, who was tightly hugging the young man’s leg, his eyes brimming with tears and his nose red from crying, and sighed heavily.
“You’re four years old now. Always clinging to your brother, what kind of behavior is that?”
Jing Luo’s vision was blurry, but he couldn’t free his hands to wipe his tears. “Brother doesn’t come home much once he’s back at school, and he doesn’t call. I miss him.”
Jing Mian, feeling awkward, rubbed the little ball’s head and glanced at the speechless Jing Guozhen, saying softly, “I’ll contact home more often.”
“MianMian is growing up. Don’t always treat him like a child.”
A woman’s voice came from nearby, filled with a smile. She looked young and attractive, like she was only in her thirties: “These are some pastries I baked, MianMian. Take them with you to eat on your way back to school.”
It was his stepmother, Li Qiao.
Jing Mian took the pastries without meeting the woman’s eyes, his fingertips feeling a bit cold. “Thank you.”
Jing Guozhen straightened his back, slightly displeased, and said, “You always run off to school. It’s harder to talk to you than to climb to heaven.”
Jing Mian put the pastries in his backpack and wiped the tears from Jing Luo’s cheeks without a word.
“Let’s talk about your meeting with Mr. Ren.”
The young man’s figure froze.
It seemed he had finally been asked about the difficult topic. Jing Mian’s throat tightened, and he hesitated before saying, “We only met once.”
“The future… is uncertain.”
Jing Guozhen frowned slightly and said, “The Ren family has a very good background. Don’t act high and mighty just because you have a pretty face.”
“The Ren family is a prestigious lineage. For them to form an engagement with us is the best match we could find for you. You’ve known each other since childhood, and beyond the childhood sweethearts, he is seven years older than you, more experienced, and quite successful in his career.”
Jing Guozhen continued, “So don’t take us for granted. Even for your own sake, you should take this engagement seriously.”
Before Jing Mian could respond, Li Qiao quickly smiled and interrupted, “The child is about to return to school. Why bring this up now? Let them handle it themselves.”
“At MianMian’s age, he’s in the prime of his youth. Talking about marriage all the time might make him rebellious.”
Li Qiao said earnestly, “If they are meant to be, they will naturally come together. You can’t force it by pushing them to marry.”
Jing Guozhen seemed to soften at her words.
He sighed and waved his hand, “Forget it. Go back to school. We’ll talk about it next time.”
Jing Mian thought that in this way, his stepmother seemed more like a protector, always perfect and intelligent, even considering the future of a child who wasn’t hers.
The family’s core had long since fractured, but it was wrapped in a beautiful sugar coating, appearing bright and enviable to all.
Jing Mian said his goodbyes.
The driver helped carry his luggage and took Jing Mian to the school.
Although the university was in the same city, Jing Mian chose to live on campus and rarely returned home during breaks, except for unavoidable holidays.
When Jing Mian arrived at his dorm, he found he was the first one back.
The dorm had accumulated a layer of dust over the break. Jing Mian settled his luggage and rolled up his sleeves to clean. Seeing it was still early, he went to the new student reception area to recharge his campus card and water card.
After finishing all this, Jing Mian’s phone rang.
It was an unknown number.
Jing Mian answered, and a stranger’s voice came through the speaker:
“Hello, is this Mr. Jing?”
Jing Mian was taken aback by the formal address and tilted his head, bringing the phone closer to his ear. “Yes, it’s me. Who are you?”
“Ah, this is the captain of me.Team, my name is Xuan Cheng, and my ID is dawn.”
The voice on the other end was clear and bright. “Mr. Jing, I saw your reply and would like to discuss the details of joining the club.”
“Are you available at any time?”
Jing Mian was surprised.
He had left his number earlier, but he didn’t expect the other party to call so quickly.
Jing Mian glanced at his watch and saw it was still early. He had nothing to do, so he said, “How about… today?”
“Is that okay?”
The other end seemed to lose composure immediately, repeating, “Okay, okay, okay…”
Xuan Cheng asked, “Can you come at four this afternoon? We can meet at the club. I’ll send you the address… Let’s add each other on WeChat. Is your phone number the same as your WeChat ID?”
Jing Mian said, “Yes.”
He paused and added, “Your official account has the address, so you don’t need to send it to me.”
Xuan Cheng: “Okay, whatever you say.”
Jing Mian: “?”
He looked at his phone, lost in thought.
For some reason, he felt the captain on the other end was wavering between calm and excitement.
Jing Mian lowered his gaze, put down his suitcase, and held the phone. “See you at four. Thank you for contacting me.”
“You’re welcome.”
The call ended.
Xuan Cheng turned around, swallowed, and said, “He’s coming.”
In the club’s lounge, a loud cheer erupted from the group.
Following the address, Jing Mian arrived at a beautiful building.
The glass windows were clean and reflected the interior, while the edges of the glass were a cool blue, giving it a mysterious and cool vibe that complemented the sharp logo above.
—【me. Club】
Yes, this was the place.
Jing Mian took out his phone and sent a message to the captain:
【Hello, I’m here.】
【Can I come in?】
Less than a minute after sending the message, the club’s door opened, and a tall figure ran out, looking hurried.
The person seemed to be searching with his eyes but quickly found his target, stopping just in front of the young man.
Jing Mian was wearing a hoodie, just like in his live streams, with a pure black mask.
This time, it was even more real.
The pristine and delicate image on the screen seemed to merge with reality. Streamers in the live streaming industry often use beauty filters to boost their views and gift donations, so viewers are usually prepared for the difference between the online and real-life appearances.
Even before sheep appeared, he was certain Jing Mian would be no different.
But, unexpectedly…
The real person was even more handsome than in the live stream!?
Xuan Cheng cleared his throat and extended his hand. “Hello, I’m Xuan Cheng, the captain of me.Team.”
Jing Mian shook his hand. “Hello, I’m Jing Mian, ID is sheep.”
“Cough, I know.” Xuan Cheng scratched his hair. “You’re easy to recognize.”
Jing Mian: “?”
“Your hoodie and mask, and… your eyes.” Xuan Cheng said. “I’ve watched many of your live streams, and our club has been following you for a long time. We just never found the right opportunity to recruit you.”
Jing Mian thought, somewhat embarrassed, that they did find the opportunity, though it was through a financial offer.
Of course, the added temptation of ash was undeniable.
“Come in.”
Xuan Cheng quickly turned and led Jing Mian to the club’s entrance. The door, which had been left slightly ajar to eavesdrop, quickly closed as they approached.
Xuan Cheng cursed the team members under his breath as he pushed the door open and led Jing Mian inside.
The interior of the club was much cleaner than Jing Mian had imagined, with various sections like a lounge, changing rooms, and a reception desk. The most prominent was the gaming area.
Curved-screen computers were neatly arranged, larger than the one at Jing Mian’s home. The edges of the mice glowed a soft blue, and the black gaming chairs looked incredibly comfortable… Jing Mian could already picture the team members engaging in team battles.
Despite not being one of the top clubs in the country, it looked clean and comfortable, fitting Jing Mian’s dream club.
The nearby potted plants and flowers emitted a refreshing scent, making one feel relaxed.
The most noticeable were the team members who were trying to look at Jing Mian but restraining themselves.
After all, the captain had laid down the law before Jing Mian’s arrival, instructing them:
No staring.
No asking sheep to take off the mask.
…
He would think of more later.
Xuan Cheng himself didn’t know much about Jing Mian, only what he had learned from following his live streams and match records.
Jing Mian’s gaze fell on the team members gathered on the lounge chairs, and he nodded slightly.
Xuan Rui, who was in charge of logistics and also Xuan Cheng’s sister, noticed Jing Mian’s gaze and couldn’t help but wave and greet him.
A second later.
Jing Mian also raised his hand and waved back.
Xuan Rui felt her heart melt.
Despite looking like a cool guy, he was so polite.
Almost a bit too well-behaved?
The other team members followed suit.
Unfortunately, at that moment, Jing Mian was already being led by Xuan Cheng into another room to discuss the commercial contract for joining the club.
Jing Mian didn’t see their waves and missed the opportunity to respond.
The team members: “…”
.
Jing Mian sat down.
Xuan Cheng sat across from him, leaned forward, and took out the prepared contract from a drawer, handing it to Jing Mian.
Jing Mian took it, lowered his gaze, and began to read carefully.
The clock ticked.
The contract was similar to others he had seen before, with a conventional feel, detailing obligations, benefits, and procedures for various unexpected situations.
Jing Mian finished reading the last line and felt no particular emotion.
He thought, perhaps what he was looking for wasn’t in the contract.
Jing Mian sat up straight, hesitated for a moment, and then asked, “Xuan Cheng, what you mentioned about ash signing with me. before… is it true?”
Xuan Cheng was taken aback.
“So you came because of this?”
Xuan Cheng chuckled softly. “I guessed that many clubs had already approached you before my private message.”
“But you haven’t joined any of them, so I guessed you had turned them all down.”
“So I thought, either the money wasn’t enough.”
Xuan Cheng paused. “Or there wasn’t a condition that made you instantly interested.”
“So I threw money at you to get your attention.”
“Then, when I saw you were typing a response, it seemed to take a long time, not like you were about to agree…”
Xuan Cheng held his head and said slowly, “So I thought it was time to show our cards.”
Jing Mian: “…”
He was stunned.
The story was not only dramatic but also quite cunning.
Xuan Cheng continued, “I’m a veteran player of Glory, and I know the game well. Ash was the top-ranked player, so the Shadow Guard he left behind is impossible to obtain even if you spent all your money.”
“To get it, you’d have to go through round after round of battles, losing the life values and equipment you had accumulated, staying up all night, and engaging in prolonged battles. You’d have to defeat your own server and compete with dozens of other servers.”
“Those who make it to the end are the toughest of the tough, or ‘wolves.'”
Jing Mian: “…”
Cough.
Xuan Cheng smiled. “So, you must really like ash.”
Jing Mian held the small paper cup of hot milk tea Xuan Cheng had given him. The warmth seeped through the thin paper, and the steam rising from the cup, which contained a few pearls, burned his fingertips.
Jing Mian nodded. “Yes.”
He said softly, “I really like him.”
The air became momentarily silent.
Xuan Cheng’s knuckles rested on the table, and his expression was unreadable. He seemed to ponder for a moment before speaking. “Jing Mian, I’ve never actually met ash.”
The young man’s eyes showed surprise.
As if asking a question.
“Ah, of course, the private message I sent wasn’t a lie. Ash did sign with our club for a whole year.”
Xuan Cheng interlaced his fingers and said quietly, “But he never showed his face. We were just starting out, and many things weren’t smooth. It was just Xuan Rui and me running the club…”
“The contract wasn’t formal. He didn’t want to reveal his real name and never appeared at the club.” Xuan Cheng paused. “Although we only communicated online, he would appear in every match we had, so that experience was quite amazing.”
“Later, something happened, and he terminated his contract with us.” Xuan Cheng recalled, “Not long after, ash himself also quit the game.”
Jing Mian listened quietly.
He had never known these details before, only repeatedly watching the recordings, replays, and match highlights of ash.
But hearing about ash’s experiences outside the game… was a first for Jing Mian.
“me. Club and the ash you like only intersected in these ways.” Xuan Cheng’s Adam’s apple moved, as if observing Jing Mian’s expression. He paused and said sincerely:
“So, Jing Mian, are you still considering joining our club?”
…