Wei Xiao’s previous interactions with Moonlit had always been through Bai Cai. As the ‘grandmaster’, he’d just been responsible for playing.

Brother Cai would contact the players, then he would go, play, and earn money when he was done. Their relationship was simple and clear––

Oh, this was Wei Xiao’s one-sided perspective. All the players that he’d ‘played’ with would always think of him and never forget him. They would chase after Brother Cai, wanting to get his contact information.

Brother Cai would think about it for a while, then answer, “Trade secret.”

He couldn’t give it out. It wasn’t because he was worried that he wouldn’t be able to make his commission as a middleman, but because he was afraid that the grandmaster would end up surrounded and beaten up offline.

Brother Cai didn’t have many friends. If he lost this one, he wouldn’t have another one to replace him with.

Later on, Wei Xiao’s identity was revealed, and the winter training camp had started immediately afterwards.

Out of the entire China competition zone, only 3U and FTW were grouped up together. Asleep had gotten Wei Xiao’s contact information a long time ago, but the Moonlit who’d been assigned to Group B naturally didn’t have it.

That was why Moonlit had gone through Weibo and shouted out to Wei Xiao.

He’d originally thought that Wei Xiao would agree, but unexpectedly, he was refused again and again.

Moonlit wasn’t very talkative, and his Weibo situation was comparable to Asleep’s. The fans from both sides competed daily––

[ Did you see? My family’s Moon only said two words! ]

[ Tch, my Sleep only sent out a single letter! ]

The fans were even able to start up a battle over such a thing; it was unknown which group of fans everyone should feel distressed for.

A player who was so ‘handicapped with words’ went on to say a long segment of words to Wei Xiao, “Why aren’t you soloing anymore? Why give it up?”

Two sentences, two question marks, it was enough for Moonlit fans to celebrate like it was the New Year!

Wei Xiao wanted to answer without mincing his words, “Don’t ask, if you ask, then it’s because I only want to solo with my boyfriend.”

Ah, unfortunately, he couldn’t say ‘boyfriend’!

Wei Xiao’s heart quivered. He forwarded Moonlit’s Weibo post.

His words were simple, direct, and to the point, cutting off his own path of retreat. He didn’t want to solo with anyone!

In the future, he would become the captain’s exclusive ‘sandbag’, one that could only be used by the captain.

[ FTW.Quiet: Solo, what solo? In the future, I’ll be focusing on the team competition and won’t be soloing anymore. @RR.Moonlit ]

After sending out this Weibo message, Wei Xiao’s heart felt empty and hollow.

Forget it, nobody could compare with his captain, even the Moonlit who’d grown at the speed of light and won against God Xie couldn’t compare to a single hair on his captain’s head!

Wei Xiao clearly didn’t know how to smoke, but he somehow still experienced the feeling of quitting smoking.

It was hard; it made him want to scratch at his heart and lungs.

His Weibo post instantly drew a large amount of traffic and attention.

The winter training camp was over, and there was still a few days before the regular season began. Everyone was idle and bored, and they were immediately amused when they saw this post.

“What’s wrong with the grandmaster?”

“The man who’d hammered half of the Glory circle into exploding is now trying to wash himself clean?”

“??? Is the grandmaster cowering?”

“If you’re afraid, just say it straight. Why use the team competition as an excuse?”

“Tsk, tsk, tsk. Quiet, what happened to your momentum and aura during the live broadcast? Don’t cower.”

“My Moon God won against God Xie, what about you, Grandmaster? Oh, you were hammered into seclusion by Daddy Hyun.”

“Backing down when faced with difficulties, not bad, Grandmaster.”

These remarks couldn’t shake Wei Xiao’s resolve.

It was all on the internet, and there were fans and haters. In any case, it was just a matter of knocking out words on the keyboard, they could say whatever they want to say, and whoever took it seriously would be the loser.

Wei Xiao wasn’t angry at all and leisurely sipped at his watermelon juice.

Then, a ‘question mark party’ began to appear on his Weibo.

First came 3U’s Asleep, “?”

Then came TPT’s Eurostar, “??”

Then came the new generation who hadn’t yet made a name for themselves, BLUE and Xia Dan and the others, “???????”

Professional players all had their accounts certified on Weibo. As soon as they showed up, the netizens who’d already been flustered all exploded into noise again.

“F*ck, the grandmaster is really capable.”

“The white moonlight of Glory, locked in.”

“About that… is soloing with him so amazing? Why are they all unable to stop thinking about it.”

“Previous poster, how do you feel when you lose mahjong?”

“Of course I would want to win it back!”

“So…”

Indeed, this was how much the players couldn’t forget about the grandmaster, it was really like playing mahjong.

If they lost a game, then they had to win it back!

Dispersing after losing a game, how could they not feel anxious?

Wei Xiao had already said everything that should be said, and he’d already started giving up on the things that needed to be given up on. He simply exited out of Weibo.

He finished the watermelon juice in one go, then decided that he should go and get his official business dealt with.

Go home, see Wei Quan, and finish the school suspension process.

Perhaps the conversation he’d had with Lu Feng last night had stimulated Wei Xiao, because he didn’t feel so much resistance towards going home anymore.

Sure enough, all sorts of feelings would arise from being indulged by someone else. It was just going home, what was so hard about it?

Wei Xiao wasn’t polite as he mentally disdained himself: It was still the captain that was too good to him, causing him to become so delicate and finicky.

Wei Xiao thought about Lu Feng on the way back home. Thinking about him filled his heart with warmth, and even the cold feeling that rose up from his fear of going home gradually faded away.

When he arrived at the door to the house, Wei Xiao rang the doorbell.

Li Su was the one to open the door. She was stunned when she saw Wei Xiao, “Little Xiao!”

Wei Xiao called out a polite greeting, “Mom.”

This should be the most familiar, closest, and warmest form of address, but it was instead as cold as addressing a stranger.

Li Su was pleasantly surprised, but she was also somewhat at a loss, “You’re back, um, did you eat yet? I…”

Wei Xiao got straight to the point, “I’ve eaten. I came back because there’s something I need to ask you for help with.”

Polite, formulaic, and undisguised alienation.

Li Su’s expression dimmed, “What’s the matter? Your father’s gone to work and hasn’t come back yet.”

The word ‘work’ sounded particularly harsh in Wei Xiao’s ears.

Before he turned 17, he’d dreamed that his parents would live a normal life and work from nine to five like other people’s parents.

But… they hadn’t seen his parents all year around.

Now, when he was already thoroughly disappointed, Wei Quan had started going to work.

How ironic.

Wei Xiao closed his eyes briefly, then quickly pulled out the document, “I’m applying for a school suspension. It requires a parent’s signature.”

Li Su was stunned. She could read and could understand what was on the document, but it was such a big matter, “How about waiting for your father to come back and have him…”

Wei Xiao didn’t make a sound, his pair of black eyes looking at her silently.

Li Su’s heart clenched and she quickly said, “I… I’ll do it.”

Wei Xiao: “Yeah.”

After signing the document, Wei Xiao dropped his gaze, “I’m leaving.”

Li Su’s mouth opened, her eyes filled with appeal, but she couldn’t say anything.

Wei Xiao didn’t look at her again.

When the door closed, Li Su sat down abruptly, covering her eyes with her hands, “I’m sorry, I”m really sorry.”

FTW Base, fifth floor.

The midday sun shone brightly outside the window, sprinkling over the carpet like a layer of dazzling gold.

The room was bright, but the atmosphere inside was heavy and depressing.

Chen Feng’s left hand tapped lightly on the sofa, his eyebrows drawn tightly together, “You want to have Wei Xiao sign up for the singles competition?”

There was a single person sofa on the other side of the black-brown coffee table.

Lu Feng looked as tall and long-legged as usual as he sat on the sofa. His clean shaven face held a calm and steadiness that was inconsistent with his age, “Yes.”

A ray of sunlight just happened to fall on his shoulder, outlining the fit lines of his body that the dark shirt couldn’t hide.

Chen Feng was very worried, “I acknowledge Wei Xiao’s ability, but he really lacks experience.”

Lu Feng replied calmly, “Experience is accumulated constantly over time.”

Chen Feng: “That’s the theory, but he just joined the team this year, and you want him to play in the team competition, the singles competition, and the doubles competition. Can he hold up?”

Lu Feng paused, “The doubles competition can be optional.”

Chen Feng did have some ideas in mind. He said, “I suggest that you still take part in the singles competition. If Wei Xiao has excess capacity, he can sign up for the doubles competition with Bai Cai.”

This was the most secure solution for the current FTW.

There was no need to mention the team competition, where FTW wanted to be first even in their dreams.

As long as Close took part in the singles competition, the singles championship was stable.

As for the doubles competition, the players could sign up and give it a try if they were interested. It would be a pretty good experience for them.

However, the proposal that Lu Feng had given today had completely overturned Chen Feng’s plan––

Have Wei Xiao participate in the singles competition?

Wasn’t this the same as giving up the global singles competition?

Why!

Chen Feng sighed softly and asked Lu Feng, “Have you asked Wei Xiao about what he wants?”

Lu Feng’s gaze dropped slightly. Staring at the thoroughly cold cup of white tea on the coffee table.

Chen Feng had followed him for so many years. How could he not understand? “He doesn’t agree, right?!”

He just knew it!

Little Lunatic Wei might be crazy obsessed with solo, but even a matter as big as the sky couldn’t compare to Close.

If Lu Feng gave him his spot in the singles competition, he definitely wouldn’t accept it.

To tell the truth, Chen Feng himself couldn’t accept it.

This year was too different.

Yuan Ze and Kim Sung-hyun had both signed up for the singles competition, and it was rumored that Xie He also planned to participate.

The Team of Gods had gathered together, but Close was giving it up. What was this!

Was the Close who’d won the championship for three years afraid?

Would Close, who’d held up the collapsing building all by himself, shrink back?

After waiting for such a long time, they’d finally ushered in the opportunity to determine the world’s number one player, but he was running away!

If Close wasn’t in this year’s singles competition, how could FTW come to terms with it?

It wasn’t just the present FTW, but also the past FTW.

Not only the FTW players, but also the FTW fans.

So many people, so many hearts, such heavy expectations. Other than Close, who else could live up to it?!

“That’s it.” Lu Feng ended the topic, speaking in a tone that didn’t invite any questions. He leaned back in his chair, avoiding the sunshine, and his manner was even heavier than before, “I’ll talk with Wei Xiao.”

Chen Feng: “……”

Lu Feng was calm, “He’ll agree.”

He couldn’t tell everyone, but he would tell Wei Xiao.

The things that he couldn’t let anyone else know, he had to let Wei Xiao know.

No matter how hard it was to speak up, he still had to say it.

Fortunately, there was still time.

He could take things slowly.

Chen Feng sighed again, then stood up and went out.

Lu Feng sat alone in the huge office, his dark eyes staring at the ceiling.

He knew about all the unfinished words that Chen Feng wanted to say, but––

He was the one who least wanted to give up.

He was the one who least wanted to disappoint everyone.

He was also the one who was the most afraid of making Wei Xiao cry.

After Wei Xiao got into the taxi, the breath that seemed stuck in his chest reluctantly loosened up somewhat.

The document was signed, and all that was left was to go to the school and go through the procedures.

These things would have to wait until the work week started again, so it would be the day after tomorrow before they could be processed.

The hardest part was over, and the rest was very simple.

Wei Xiao leaned back in the back seat of the car. He really missed the captain.

He missed him particularly and wanted to see him right now.

Wei Xiao took out his cell phone, and his slender fingers stopped just before they landed on the surface of his phone…

“Be a little more promising!”

Wei Xiao scolded himself, then exited out of the call interface.

Ding––

The cell phone he’d tossed onto the back seat rang.

Wei Xiao picked up the cell phone and saw the message he’d received.

Lu Feng: “You went out?”

It was a simple three words, but the high wall that Wei Xiao had forcibly erected disintegrated, “Captain…”

Lu Feng called him.

Wei Xiao immediately connected the call. Lu Feng’s voice seemed to carry an electric current that went through the microphone and poked straight at his heart, “What’s the matter?”

Wei Xiao was silent.

Lu Feng sat up straight, “You went home?”

The mood that Wei Xiao had propped up collapsed into a mess, “Yeah.”

Lu Feng’s voice that had always been calm now held a trace of anxiousness, “Why didn’t you wait for me?”

Wei Xiao’s voice trembled, “Captain…”

He didn’t say anything, didn’t mention a single word, only called out ‘captain’, and only uttered a single ‘yeah’, but the Lu Feng who was dozens of miles away understood.

He knew that he’d gone home, knew that he was miserable, knew that he wanted to cry.

Lu Feng had already gone downstairs, “Send me your location.”

Wei Xiao: “I’m in a taxi.”

Lu Feng: “Location.”

Wei Xiao: “I’ll be at the base soon.”

Lu Feng: “Be obedient.”

These two words were very gentle, like a bonfire in the ice and snow, so warm that it made the tip of his nose grow sour.

Wei Xiao sent him his location.

This was the most willful thing that Wei Xiao had ever done in his life.

It was just a little more than an hour’s drive, and it was just a few tens of kilometers, and he was even already on a taxi on the way back…

But he’d been willful and had sent his position to Lu Feng.

Wei Xiao suddenly recalled a memory from his childhood.

At the time, he’d only been five years old and had only just learned to make phone calls. He’d dialed the number he’d memorized in his heart and heard his mother’s voice, “Be good, Little Xiao, when the new year comes, father and mother will come back and pick you up.”

Wei Xiao was really looking forward to it; he was looking forward to it so much to the point where he was counting on his fingers as he waited every day.

Waiting for his father to come back, waiting for his mother to come back, waiting for his family to celebrate the new year together.

However, they’d put up the new year couplets, hung up the lanterns, and released the firecrackers, but his parents still hadn’t come back.

From then on, Wei Xiao never thought of having someone come pick him up.

Now…

Lu Feng came to pick him up, and he’d compressed an hour’s journey into 20 minutes, shortening a road that spanned dozens of kilometers by two thirds.

Just to get to him early.

The author has something to say:

Let’s give some brief spoilers!

1 – He’ll definitely tell Wei Xiao, but Captain Lu’s personality isn’t the type where he can say it as soon as he opens his mouth, and he needs to take it slowly.

2 – Close won’t have any lasting regrets, I’m his genuine mother [crazy hinting]

xiin: *cuddles them both*