Chapter 139  : Untitled

When he entered Weibo, Ji Zhiyao automatically ignored the 99+ notifications. After scrolling the trending searches for a while, then looking through his followers posts and giving likes to the few gaming bloggers that he was familiar with.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to read comments under his posts, but considering that there had been too many haters on his Weibo lately, he didn’t want to upset himself and decided he might as well not read them at all.

Ji Zhiyao returned to WeChat, and found that they still weren’t done with their discussions and hence starting scrolling Tieba.

He uses an alternate account for Tieba, so it was very convenient for him to read everything including comments. The content that he was interested in also involved eSports. Hence, except for reading news about his own battleteam, Ji Zhiyao gathered several pieces of very interesting gossip.

First it was a revelation by a person who claimed to be an internal staff of Nx battleteam, the attitudes of the two Korean reinforcements that the club were very haughty, ordering the staff to serve only them and their needs everyday, and they don’t train properly either. If things were to go on like this, Nx battleteam would lose its popularity sooner or later.

Hence it was another scene of lamenting and deploring under the post.

Some said the original jungler and top laner were evidently very skilled at playing unfavorable matches, but was criticized till they quit the team by a bunch of illogical retards on Tieba; some said the club wasn’t perceptive, having bought two Korean reinforcements who didn’t even act like professional players, there were also people who said that the club was slack in management, allowing two Koreans to step on and lord over them... There were all sorts of comments that said all sorts of things, when there was a disagreement they would carelessly push the blame, Ji Zhiyao was a little tempted to laugh after reading them.

Hence, the saying that the success or failure of the affair is all due to the same person was completely true. Back then, the original members of Nx were forced to quit the team by Tieba and Weibo and now they were being redeemed here by a bunch of people.

Ji Zhiyao thought, even if they knew about this, they probably wouldn’t be happy.

Ji Zhiyao finished reading the post from top to bottom, then tapped to open the next one.

[Title: Have you guys heard that a certain mid-laner, eSports professional player who played for 8 years is gay?

(This news was something my friend saw personally, no hate if it’s wrong)

It was probably last week, my friend went to a Starbucks, then saw a man wearing a mask entering while holding the hands of another. Initially she felt that being gay wasn’t considered anything and at most only gave them several more glances. In the end she found that these two people left one after another, the man wearing the mask pulled off his mask and directly kissed the one behind...

After my friend had a clear look of the person’s appearance, she was instantly shocked!

What the f*ck isn’t that an eSports professional player?

Once part of the top four teams at the national qualifiers, a mid-laner with as long as 8 years of professional experience.

As a public figure...

OP shall not make any judgment.]

Ji Zhiyao’s eyes widened involuntarily.

The direction of this post was too explicit, 8 years of eSports professional experience, and a mid-laner for one of the top four teams of the national qualifiers...

Wasn’t this referring to Bug battleteam’s mid-laner DiamondJ?

Ji Zhiyao hurriedly scrolled downwards and realized that it wasn’t a small number of people who had guessed this.

[1st comment: Don’t tell me this is my idol DiamondJ? Besides, my idol is obviously a lovable fatty, how could it be possible?]

[2nd comment: What the f*ck? DiamondJ is gay? He actually lied to the audience and fans this way, how disgusting.]

[3rd comment: Things said by the comment above is rather interesting, DiamondJ has never mentioned that he wasn’t gay before the public yeah. What’s wrong with liking males? He plays eSports, it’s not like he’s part of the entertainment industry, sexual orientation can not prove any problems at all, results are everything.]

[4th comment: Only feeling disgusted that I was once a fan of such a battleteam, from today onwards I’ve become a hater, a hater forever, no explanation.]

[5th comment: Why are they keeping such a person in a battleteam? Quickly make him quit the team.]

[6th comment: Suddenly imagined the scene of the great Diamond kissing another fatty, feels oddly happy.]

[7th comment: Even the Qing dynasty has fallen, all you radical beings should stop with your conservative comments here? Was he eating rice from your house because he likes males? Beat DiamondJ before you say anything more.]

...

It was a rather intense conflict between the people who supported and the people who objected, Ji Zhiyao silently finished reading all the comments under this post, and following it was an endless silence.

He stared with a spaced out mind at the ceiling for a while, then sent a screenshot of the post and into the group chat.

The group chat that was originally chatting very merrily instantly sank into silence.

After a few minutes, the first message appeared.

[ManagerYuanWei: Unless DiamondJ steps out to refute the rumor and deny everything, his career is considered over.]

Ji Zhiyao frowned and typed: [He’s a founding member of Bug battleteam and played so many years of eSports, would the club really force him to retire?]

[ManagerYuanWei: It’s not that the club wants to force him, only because once this matter is confirmed to be true, most people definitely wouldn’t accept DiamondJ as Bug’s mid-laner anymore. If the club still wants this team, abandoning him is inevitable.]

[ManagerYuanWei: I know you guys might feel that the club is being too ruthless, but the aim of the club’s existence is to make money on the basis of maintaining he battleteam. If the battleteam is collapsing... You guys can think of the outcome.]

[ManagerYuanWei: Right now their club has yet to make any announcements, I reckon this matter has not spread that much, or they’re already having discussions to handle the outcome. It wouldn’t take long, just wait.]

[LittlePrinceDominatingTheNorth-East: Look how things have become. If I was DiamondJ, I would definitely deny it all the way. His lover may be very important, but it’s equally important to be able to compete too. He’ll be retiring in less than two years, can’t everything else wait till after he retires?]

Ji Zhiyao curled his lip tightly.

He also wasn’t sure what he was thinking about, perhaps... It was slight disappointment towards the possible attitude that the club might take up?

He stared at the ceiling for a while, then returned to look at his phone’s screen.

[DB.MHF: Don’t worry, such circumstances won’t happen to you all.]

[ManagerYuanWei: Speak of this I must really boast about our Captain, though he’s full of obscenities, but hey, he’s reliable. Our club is different from others; it’s meant to serve the battleteam.]

[DB.MHF: Get lost.]

[Xiao: Really, although Captain’s words made me very touched, I still feel like he’s persuading all of us to engage in gay acts.]

[Heng: You’re really something.]

[DB.MHF: However, if you have the intention of engaging in gay acts, I do not object.]

Ji Zhiyao stretched out a finger and poked the screen that was about to turn black and saw that the certain someone represented by five letters was still assiduously rebutting the whole world and his lips suddenly curved into a light smile.]

A few minutes later, IndefiniteFuture published a new post.

[IndefiniteFuture: Very thankful for everything that I have now. [sun] ]

...

The next day Ji Zhiyao slept till really late.

He had forgotten to draw his curtains before sleeping and was forcefully woken up by the sunlight outside.

Perhaps because he wasn’t very adapted to the weather here, the moment he woke up he realized his nose was partially blocked and his throat also slightly sore, like he was about to catch a cold. Hence he boiled a full kettle of water and downed two glasses at once before he felt slightly better.

After sitting around for a bit, Ji Zhiyao picked up his phone and found that Mo Huaifeng had sent him a WeChat text half an hour ago, asking if he was awake. Ji Zhiyao was afraid that Mo Huaifeng would be kept waiting, hence directly grabbed his room key and went next door to knock on the door.

Mo Huaifeng opened the door very quickly.

Ji Zhiyao leaned against the wall. “Captain, I just woke up, just saw your text.”

Mo Huaifeng saw his slightly flushed nose tip and asked with a frown, “You caught a cold?”

“Temporarily not yet. I’ll use a blanket when I sleep tonight and drink more hot water and I’ll be fine.” Ji Zhiyao rubbed his nose, pulling out his phone to check the time. “It’s almost noon, let’s quickly find a place for a meal?”

Mo Huaifeng nodded. “Okay.”

“Sure, give me a moment, I’ll go to my room to get my bag.”

Ji Zhiyao scanned his room key to open the door, entered and picked up his backpack that was already packed since dinner last night and went out again very quickly to go look for Mo Huaifeng.

Fast food restaurants could be seen everywhere on the American streets, either those or Western restaurants. Ji Zhiyao didn’t really feel like having those, hence he asked for Mo Huaifeng’s opinion and hailed a taxi at once to head to the nearest Chinese restaurant.

The taxi made many turns into another alley, as it drove all the way in, Ji Zhiyao saw a hotpot place with a red Chinese sign by the roadside and tears instantly welled up in his eyes.

He paid the taxi fare ahead of Mo Huaifeng, then pressed Mo Huaifeng to get out.

Ji Zhiyao exclaimed, “I can have hotpot! Really so blessed! I must eat more later.”

“Yet you also enjoyed the western food yesterday.”

“It’s different. Yesterday was because I was really too hungry. If you make me go there again today, I definitely won’t be able to eat anything.”

The servers at their eating place were also Chinese, speaking Chinese to them felt very warm. Upon seeing the familiar dishes on the menu, Ji Zhiyao worked up a big appetite at once and ordered according to the amount enough for three to four people at the base.

After they were done selecting their food, Mo Huaifeng and him played with their phones facing each other.

Not too long later, Ji Zhiyao saw Mo Huaifeng looking at his phone and frowning deeply.

He had thought that something troublesome had came up and hurriedly asked, “Captain, what’s wrong?”

Mo Huaifeng paused for a moment, seeming slightly hesitant, when Ji Zhiyao repeated his question, he then said, “Bug battleteam published a Weibo post just now.”

Ji Zhiyao froze.

When what Mo Huaifeng had said hit him, he quickly searched for Bug battleteam’s official account and tapped into the profile.

Right at the top was a post that looked like this.

[BugOfficialWeiboV: Due to personal reasons, Bug battleteam’s original mid-laner @Bug.DiamondJ has decided to retire. A career as long as 8 years as a eSports professional player, DiamondJ has brought uncountable glories to Bug battleteam. The club and battleteam as a whole, hereby sincerely wishes that everything goes well for DiamondJ in the future. Bug battleteam’s starting mid-laner position will temporarily be empty, should there be changes in members, we will inform all fans at the very first moment.]

DiamondJ... quit the team?

Ji Zhiyao instantly restrained his expression and repeatedly read this post several times.

Then with a brooding expression, he tapped into DiamondJ’s Weibo profile.

A few minutes ago, DiamondJ had also published a new post.

[Bug.DiamondJ: I don’t regret every decision that I’ve made, neither do I regret the past 8 years at Bug battleteam. Thank you for your love. Everyone, reputation lasts forever, farewell.]

He did not make any justifications for himself, and had in other words, admitted to the matter on Tieba.

Ji Zhiyao’s hand that was holding his phone gradually tightened.

“Hi, these are your dishes.”

“Thank you.”

Mo Huaifeng looked towards Ji Zhiyao, his chocolate brown eyes especially warm. “Weren’t you hungry, dig in.”

Ji Zhiyao only felt like there was a lump deep in his throat, how would he still be in the mood to eat. He moved his lips slightly, but did not know what to say.

Mo Huaifeng gazed deeply at him, then moved his hands to roll up his sleeves and put Ji Zhiyao’s favorite petite beef into the pot.

At the same time, he said slowly, in a soft and deep voice, “If you think of it in another way, it’s a good thing.”

Ji Zhiyao lifted his head abruptly and stared fixedly at Mo Huaifeng.

“Instead of staying in the team and wait till one day when the team performs abnormally to be pushed out to bear the public’s condemnation, why not leave at the most glorious time.” Mo Huaifeng said lightly.

He paused for a moment and raised his head to look at Ji Zhiyao.

In his eyes, Ji Zhiyao saw the words that he had yet to finish saying.

Since DiamondJ has chosen his relationship, under the influence of numerous factors at present, he could only give up eSports.

Mo Huaifeng picked up the straining ladle and scooped several pieces of meat onto Ji Zhiyao’s plate.

Ji Zhiyao dropped his eyes, looking towards his plate, he suddenly blurted out on impulse, “How about you, Captain?”

Mo Huaifeng’s froze in his actions. “Hmm?”

“If you were DiamondJ, wouldn’t you feel indignant?”

Mo Huaifeng gazed at him.

Ji Zhiyao stretched out his tongue and licked the corner of his lips. His scalp was numb was from his stare, but for some reason his heartbeat was a little fast.

After a few seconds, Mo Huaifeng did not speak. Only curved his lips slightly as he continued to put ingredients into the pot, appearing to be in a fairly good mood.

Ji Zhiyao frowned in confusion. “Captain, you haven’t answered me, what are you smiling about?”

“Nothing.”

Chopsticks halted, Mo Huaifeng said, “I will never be passive like this.”

So he was unable to imagine DiamondJ’s feelings right now.

Although Mo Huaifeng did not finish his words, Ji Zhiyao understood his implied meaning. After silently gazing at him for a while, Ji Zhiyao stopped talking but bowed his head and quietly dug into the meat on his plate.

...

Due to the incident caused by DiamondJ being forced to quit the team, Ji Zhiyao was in a very bad mood the entire day, unable to make himself interested in whatever they did. Up till the next day, when he remembered that he had promised to show Mo Huaifeng a good time, did his condition become better.

Ji Zhiyao finished tidying his belongings, carried his backpack and went to knock on the neighboring door.

Mo Huaifeng upon seeing him, lifted his brows in surprise. “I was just about to go look for you.”

Ji Zhiyao squeezed his way into the room and dropped onto the sofa, pointing at Mo Huaifeng’s disheveled hair he let his tongue loose. “Wanted to go look for me looking like this? Captain who’re you trying to lie to?”

Mo Huaifeng remained with a straight face. “Well just fooling you.”

Mo Huaifeng entered the bathroom, when he stepped out again, his hair had resumed its usual tidiness. He walked to the side of the bed and asked while taking off his top, “Why are you up so early today?”

Ji Zhiyao twisted his neck, his gaze drifting as he restrained himself from looking at the lines on Mo Huaifeng’s naked back. “Um, I slept a lot in the day yesterday, not very sleepy.”

After Mo Huaifeng put on his shirt, he then changed his bottoms, lazing knotting up the cord of his sweatpants. When everything was done, he picked up his wallet and phone from the table, saying, “Come on, let’s go.”

Ji Zhiyao felt that something was amiss and quickly got up to catch up with Mo Huaifeng. “Captain, you must speak with a conscience, it was obviously me bringing you out to play okay?”

“Aren’t you following behind me right now?”

Ji Zhiyao bowed his head to glance at his foot that was half a step behind Mo Huaifeng, slightly twitching the corner of his lips, his pace involuntarily quickening.