By Zephyria 
Jing Mian’s breath hitched for a few seconds.
His lashes fluttered helplessly as the young man froze for a long moment before gently raising his slender hand to grasp the hem of his husband’s coat.
He returned the embrace.
The familiar scent of the man filled his senses, as if he had buried himself in the crook of his neck. Moreover, with the other’s hands firmly holding the back of his neck and waist, Jing Mian didn’t say anything, but deep down, he secretly wished this hug could last a little longer.
Outside, the crowd roared.
But behind these walls,
his guardian was quietly celebrating his little player’s victory.
After that night by the sea, Jing Mian seemed to grow fond of his husband’s embraces.
Perhaps it was a habit from childhood—even at an age where he shouldn’t crave such indulgence, he still secretly longed for warmth and security.
It wasn’t until ME. realized their player had gone missing for a while that someone started asking where Sheep had gone. He had been standing right there moments ago, yet now he was nowhere to be seen.
Another player scratched his head. “Maybe he went to the restroom?”
“But the restroom isn’t in that direction?”
“I didn’t see anyone go that way.”
…
“Bro, I’m here.”
The young man’s voice was soft, slightly nasal, coming from behind them.
When the two turned around, they saw Jing Mian, his face flushed red.
The boy wore a black mask, his eyes lowered, but the faint pink tint on his exposed neck was still vaguely visible.
“What’s wrong, MianMian?”
A senior reached out and touched the boy’s forehead.
“Do you have a fever?”
Jing Mian shook his head, hesitating. “…No.”
He couldn’t very well say he hadn’t yet recovered from the hug his husband had given him in that little room earlier.
Another teammate leaned in, raising a hand to touch Jing Mian’s cheek and ear, exposed beyond the edge of his mask. “He really is a bit warm. Are you feeling unwell?”
Just then,
his wrist was suddenly caught by a hand.
That hand was broad and pale, with distinct knuckles and faint blue veins, tendons slightly tensed from exertion.
Jing Mian’s gaze fell on that hand, his heart skipping a beat.
At the same time, another hand wrapped around his waist.
Jing Mian’s lips felt inexplicably dry.
He turned to look at the owner of that hand.
The boy’s pupils contracted slightly.
His brain completely short-circuited in that instant.
—His husband stood right behind him.
Xuan Cheng and a few key players had already followed the staff member to the end of the hallway. Since this was the backstage of the player passageway, the crowd had mostly dispersed, preparing for the upcoming interview.
At this end, only the players at the tail end of the line and a few substitutes remained, none of them moving.
It was as if someone had pressed pause—the moment they recognized the man standing behind Sheep, their jaws slowly dropped.
The air grew somewhat stiff.
Though Ren Xingwan stood there, he offered no explanation for his actions. His voice was deep as he spoke calmly, “Go for the interview.”
“I’ll wait for you outside.”
Under the flashing lights, the sound of camera shutters clicking echoed.
Though they hadn’t dared hope to advance past the qualifiers, fortunately, Team ME. had discussed before the match what they might say if they won the first round. While the players improvised on the spot, they weren’t completely at a loss for words.
A microphone bearing the sponsor’s logo was extended toward them. After answering a few questions, Jing Mian left the venue alongside the captain and the other members.
But his legs still felt a bit weak.
Although Xuan Cheng appeared composed and steady before the interview, inwardly he was already overjoyed.
While this wasn’t their first time appearing in the Esports Weekly, as the victorious Team of the national competition, it was truly their first time being featured this way.
The Teams participating in the national competition consisted of twenty squads from twelve regional divisions across the country. They first had to compete in the qualifiers to earn the right to advance to the group stage.
Not only had they secured their spot in the group stage, but they had also avoided the elimination rounds of the qualifiers. With some luck in the draw, if their first opponents weren’t last year’s champions AUB, they might even face Shock in the finals a month and a half later.
With a week’s wait until their next match,
ME. could finally take a brief moment to celebrate this hard-won victory.
Jing Mian, however, found himself in a slight predicament.
Before and after the interview, nearly half an hour had passed with Mr. Ren waiting outside for him.
If he were to join his teammates for dinner, he’d have to ask Mr. Ren to go home first.
Feeling guilty, Jing Mian quietly called his Husband, afraid others might misunderstand if they overheard. Clutching his dimly lit phone, he softly called out, “Brother.”
Mr. Ren’s voice was gentle: “Hmm.”
Jing Mian’s eardrums tingled slightly.
He pressed his lips together and said, “You should head back first, sorry. It seems we’re having a team dinner.”
Realizing something, the boy quickly corrected himself: “You.”
Faintly, he could hear the man on the other end chuckle softly.
The sound was deep and brief.
Almost inaudible.
The man asked something then.
Jing Mian replied, “No need to pick me up, Brother. There’s a bus to take us back.”
Unaware, the red-haired teammate suddenly appeared beside Jing Mian and asked innocently, “MianMian, is your brother here?”
“Why not invite him along?”
He persuaded, “The captain booked a private room. Even with all of us, there are plenty of empty seats. Bringing a family member isn’t a problem—don’t leave your brother waiting outside.”
Jing Mian swallowed hard.
Agreeing was out of the question.
If his Husband were to appear in such a setting as his family member, forget the possibility of being mistaken for his lover—just the idea of him being introduced as his brother was enough to cause a shocking uproar.
Jing Mian hurriedly declined, “Brother has other matters—”
“Hand me the phone. I’ll ask him directly,” the redhead said, taking Jing Mian’s phone. “Hello, Brother Mianmian?”
“We’re having a team dinner here, and players can bring family. If you don’t have anything urgent, why not stay and have dinner with MianMian before heading back?”
When Jing Mian retrieved his phone,
He found the call had already ended.
Redhead: “Your brother agreed.”
Jing Mian: “!”
Redhead: “He’ll be here soon.”
Jing Mian: “!??”
At the restaurant.
After the barbecue and most of the hot dishes were served, the waiter brought ice-cold beer, along with several bottles of cola and blueberry juice.
However, as he left the private room, the waiter couldn’t help but feel puzzled.
The room was eerily silent—even with the food served, no one had started eating. It was dead quiet.
The man sitting beside Jing Mian was Ren Congmian.
That Ren Congmian!!
Ever since the man entered the room, everyone’s jaws had practically hit the floor.
Unaware, Xuan Rui was the first to snap out of it, urging everyone to start eating while pouring beer and livening up the atmosphere.
Then, lowering her voice, she said to Xuan Cheng in astonishment, “MianMian’s brother is actually Ren Congmian!?”
Xuan Cheng broke into a cold sweat and took a sip of his ice-cold beer under pressure. “…More than just a brother.”
“What?”
The private room was noisy, and Xuan Rui didn’t catch the rest of Xuan Cheng’s words.
The red-haired guy handed Jing Mian a glass of ice-cold beer. Since they weren’t familiar and the other’s presence was too intimidating, he cautiously passed a bottle of blueberry juice to the man beside Jing Mian instead.
His voice even stuttered a little, “MianMian, so back then, when Mr. Ren mentioned a guardian, he meant your brother.”
No wonder the man had openly revealed his identity in the audience earlier, even standing up for the unrelated ME. Team.
Turns out, Ren Congmian wasn’t a fan of ME.
He was simply protecting his own younger brother.
Jing Mian’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly as he gave a small nod. “Mm.”
The young man lowered his gaze and was about to take a sip of beer to calm his nerves when the cool weight in his hand suddenly disappeared. Jing Mian blinked in surprise to find the beer had been taken by his husband.
In its place,
on the table before him,
was an opened bottle of blueberry juice.
Then, he heard Mr. Ren’s voice.
…
“He’s my brother.”
After a brief silence, Mr. Ren took a sip from the glass and spoke calmly:
“And my lover.”