Chapter 53

The next morning, the two packed their things and prepared to return home.

Chen Yuchuan glanced at Shen He: "Why are you in such a hurry to leave? It's rare for you to come back, why not stay a little longer?"

Shenhe leaned against the car without saying a word.

"Shall we go to some of the places we used to frequent?" Chen Yuchuan said again, "That arcade, and that barren mountain behind the school, didn't you like them?"

"Never mind," Shen He said indifferently. "There's nothing to go."

Chen Yuchuan stared at him for a few seconds, then stopped trying to persuade him.

After a moment of silence, Shen He suddenly spoke: "And you?"

"What?" Chen Yuchuan looked up at him.

"Aren't you going back to check on your family?" Shen He said.

Chen Yuchuan paused for a moment, then laughed: "Why are you suddenly bringing this up?"

"Just asking casually," Shen He said.

The two stared at each other for a few seconds, then Chen Yuchuan turned his head away and went around to the driver's seat: "Get in the car, we'll talk on the way."

"They should know you're back."

"Who cares about them?" Chen Yuchuan said casually.

Shen He stared at Chen Yuchuan, his gaze probing.

"Aren't you afraid of angering your two family members and getting kicked out?" Shen He asked. "Your messy relatives and brothers and sisters of dubious origin are all waiting for this."

Chen Yuchuan turned his head to look at him, a smirk playing on his lips, a hint of disdain in his eyes.

"What belongs to them will always be mine."

That innate arrogance, he didn't even bother to hide it.

Shen He didn't reply, but stared at him for a few seconds.

Chen Yuchuan noticed his silence and turned his head: "What, are you worried about me?"

"No."

"You're lying." Chen Yuchuan laughed, reaching out to hold Shen He's hand. "My darling is just stubborn on the outside but soft on the inside."

Shenhe let him hold her hand, looked down at their clasped hands, and told him, "Concentrate on driving."

"Understood." Chen Yuchuan replied casually, but his hand didn't loosen. His thumb rubbed against the back of Chen He's hand with a touch of nonchalant intimacy.

Not long after returning to City B, the official version of "Walking in the Fog" was released.

The game topped the charts in various countries on its launch day, and real-time discussion on the platforms remained high. Chen Yuchuan had someone edit and release a version of the screen recording of their previous online gameplay.

The video capitalized on the game's popularity and quickly went viral again. The comments section was filled with phrases like "They're back," "The original and most authentic Dog and Sister-in-law," and "Nostalgia for the days without artificial sweeteners." Even their first video of playing the beta version was dug up.

Shenhe suddenly received dozens of collaboration emails, mostly from game developers and peripheral brands, followed by lengthy quotes and cooperation proposals.

Chen Yuchuan pushed open the door to his dormitory, holding his phone in his hand. It seemed he had received quite a few random messages: "Reject them all."

"Hmm." Shen He hadn't planned to answer anyway.

Chen Yuchuan walked over to the sofa and sat down. Seeing that Shen He was still flipping through those proposals, he couldn't help but ask, "What, you want to take it?"

"No." Shen He tossed his phone aside. "It's just that the asking price was quite high."

Chen Yuchuan glanced at him and couldn't help but laugh: "Are you kidding me?"

"What joke?"

“What’s so expensive about that? Besides, someone like you is a high-class beauty, there’s no need for you to get involved in those things.” Chen Yuchuan said matter-of-factly, putting his hand on Chen He’s shoulder. “Those things are meaningless.”

Shen He was silent for a while, then said half-jokingly, "You young master never check your account balance when you spend money. If we don't earn more now, what will we do after we retire?"

Chen Yuchuan paused for a moment, then smiled.

He turned around, looking intently at Shen He: "Baby, why are you suddenly so concerned about money?"

"You didn't notice, did you?"

"Are you worried about me?" Chen Yuchuan leaned closer and cupped Shen He's face in his hands. "Or are you already starting to think about our future?"

Shen He didn't answer, he just looked at him.

Chen Yuchuan laughed even harder, rubbing his thumb on Shen He's cheek: "Your husband has plenty of money, enough for us to live on for several lifetimes."

Shen He shook his head inwardly and reached out to remove Chen Yuchuan's hand.

Chen Yuchuan clearly interpreted that sentence as some kind of hint, and had even begun to imagine the future. But Shen He was only stating a possibility: what would Chen Yuchuan do if he really lost those things for some reason?

"What are you thinking about?" Chen Yuchuan's voice pulled him back to reality.

"nothing."

Chen Yuchuan stared at him for a while, then suddenly sighed and leaned back on the sofa: "What's the use of having money? I can't even spend it on my wife."

Shen He still gets a headache when he hears these nicknames, but Chen Yuchuan keeps cursing him and doesn't change, so Shen He really can't do anything about it.

"You don't want any of the things I can think of," Chen Yuchuan said helplessly. "Besides, if I give you those meaningless things, I feel like you'll scold me." Although he really did prepare a lot of meaningless things for Shen He.

Chen Yuchuan turned his head to the side: "Baby, what can I possibly do for you?"

Looking at his serious yet somewhat troubled expression, Shen He couldn't help but laugh, then sighed, "You should first get rid of all this nonsensical nonsense you're spouting."

"What nonsense?"

"Don't you know what's going on?" Shen He glanced at him.

"You've accepted it all now, haven't you?" Chen Yuchuan leaned in and kissed him. "You were even smiling just now."

Chen Yuchuan sat there for a while, and seeing that Shen He was unwilling to talk to him, he spoke again: "You really don't want anything?"

"Hmm," Shen He replied calmly.

During my university years, aside from tuition, Shenhe spent very little money each month. He ate, slept, attended classes, went to internet cafes, and occasionally did part-time jobs when he wanted to buy something. He did everything from handing out flyers and tutoring to game boosting.

That's how game consoles and computers were assembled.

Shen He felt that since he had everything he wanted, there was no need to continue making money, because other things were meaningless to him. He even fantasized about finding a small city to live a simple life, doing some side jobs, or even picking up trash, as long as he could support himself and live comfortably, that would be enough.

He started playing professionally initially to prepare for his future. He never expected the money to come so quickly; his account balance has far exceeded his expectations. He has to thank Chen Yuchuan for those unconventional moves, but Shen He doesn't intend to go into detail about it with Chen Yuchuan.

Chen Yuchuan probably couldn't understand this "good enough is good enough" mentality. In his world, money is a tool for solving problems, a way to express feelings, and something he was born to use at will.

That's why when Chen Yuchuan realized that Shen He didn't want anything he could give her, he racked his brains to guess what Shen He liked, what he wanted to eat, and what he wanted to play.

"Then what can I do?" Chen Yuchuan asked again.

Shen He thought for a moment: "Instant noodles."

Chen Yuchuan was stunned.

"I'm a little hungry." Shenhe looked at him. "Go cook me a bowl of instant noodles, and add a few extra eggs."

Chen Yuchuan stared at him for a long time, as if he was stunned, or as if he was amused.

Finally, he stood up, bent down and kissed Shen He on the forehead: "Okay, then I'll have to take a chef's exam later. For now, you'll just have to make do with what you have."

Shen He watched his retreating figure, a slight smile playing on his lips.

The following matches were unremarkable.

The opponents were all mid-to-lower-ranked teams, with conservative playstyles and many mistakes, so VLG won with almost no effort. Shenhe played as usual, and Chen Yuchuan was also in top form. The team atmosphere was as relaxed as if they were playing a five-player premade game.

Ever since that day when the two helped each other, Chen Yuchuan's behavior became increasingly outrageous, often touching and groping in front of his teammates. Yi Yang and Lin Xiaoyu, never ones to stay quiet, even jokingly asked if the two had taken their on-screen romance into real life. Chen Yuchuan grinned smugly, while Shen He looked like a cunning monk.

Today's opponents were of average strength, and VLG won the match decisively. The team members walked backstage one by one. Shen He walked in front, with Chen Yuchuan following behind him, about half a body length apart.

The audience was still cheering, the lights were bright, and the red dot on the camera was still flashing.

In the midst of the noise and commotion, Chen Yuchuan suddenly leaned over, lifted the hem of his team uniform from behind, and touched his waist.

The fingers were icy cold as they rubbed against his waist. Shen He got goosebumps from the cold touch and almost jumped up on the spot.

"Stop messing around," Shen He warned in a low voice.

Chen Yuchuan laughed behind him, his hand still on his waist and abdomen, saying, "Baby, are you afraid of being seen by the audience?"

"Am I really that unpresentable as your boyfriend?" Chen Yuchuan leaned close to his ear, his voice low and smug.

Shen He took a deep breath, reached out and pulled his hand away, frowned and quickened his pace towards the backstage. Chen Yuchuan followed behind, looking quite pleased with himself.

Back in the locker room, his teammates were packing up their things, the coach was arranging the upcoming training plan, and staff members were coming and going. Shen He walked to his seat, sat down, and took a sip of water.

Chen Yuchuan sat down next to him, his arm draped over the back of Shen He's chair, their bodies very close. He pretended to whisper something and secretly kissed Shen He's ear.

Shen He turned to look at him and lowered his voice: "That's enough for you."

"What did I do wrong?" Chen Yuchuan still maintained his nonchalant attitude.

Shen He stared at him for a few seconds, then stood up and walked out. Chen Yuchuan was stunned for a moment, then immediately followed. The two of them left the lounge one after the other and walked to the emergency exit at the end of the corridor.

It was very quiet here, with only faint voices coming from afar.

"Do you really have to show your lust in front of so many people?"

"Sigh, are you so afraid of being discovered? I thought you didn't care about these things." Chen Yuchuan put his arm around Shen He's waist and pushed him against the wall. Their bodies were pressed too close together, and his breath hit Shen He's ear.

Shen He pushed him away, glancing at him indifferently: "I don't care about any of this."

Chen Yuchuan raised an eyebrow.

“Even if you admit it to everyone right now, what others say or how they see me won’t affect me,” Shen He said calmly. “But you have to consider the consequences yourself.”

Chen Yuchuan understood the implication in his words, but smiled nonchalantly: "My family? Honey, how many times have I told you, don't worry about me."

"They might not care about you, but what about the others? They might think you're joking now and not care." Shen He looked directly at him. "But if you really put all this out in the open, do you think they'll still be able to sit still?"

Chen Yuchuan's smile faded slightly.

“You need to think about yourself,” Shen He said. “Although we are together, we are still two independent individuals in essence. I have neither the ability nor the desire to interfere in your family’s affairs, but you cannot act so recklessly before you can take responsibility for your own future.”

“I can,” Chen Yuchuan said.

"You can't." Chen He's tone left no room for doubt.

Chen Yuchuan stared at him, his eyes turning somewhat dangerous.

“I’ve told you this many times before.” Shen He stared directly at him, his eyes icy. “You’ve never listened, never thought about it seriously.”

"What are you thinking about?" Chen Yuchuan's voice lowered.

"If we can't be together in the future..." Shen He said calmly.

“Impossible,” Chen Yuchuan interrupted him.

"If we have to separate due to unforeseen circumstances," Shen He continued, "what will you do?"

"I told you, it's impossible." Chen Yuchuan took a step forward, his eyes turning fierce. "Don't even think about it."

"Chen Yuchuan—"

Before Shen He could finish speaking, Chen Yuchuan grabbed his head and kissed him fiercely.

The kiss was excessively fierce, carrying a strong sense of possessiveness and unease. Chen Yuchuan bit Shen He's lower lip, his tongue forcefully prying open his teeth, almost predatoryly invading. Shen He leaned back against the wall, Chen Yuchuan's hands gripping the back of his head, the force so strong that it was impossible to break free.

Shenhe didn't push him away, letting him kiss her without responding.

After a long while, Chen Yuchuan loosened his grip, his forehead pressed against Chen He's, his breathing rapid: "Don't say things like that."

“I’m not joking with you.” Shen He looked into his eyes, his tone very serious.

Chen Yuchuan's hand was still around Shen He's waist. He stared at Shen He, his eyes filled with a kind of almost manic emotion: "What exactly do you want to say?"

Shen He remained calm: "You don't care about anything, you only think about how to be with me, you only consider my thoughts, you only care about my feelings, but that's not right, Chen Yuchuan."

Chen Yuchuan released his grip, took a step back, and looked at him with a complicated expression.

“Your things can only be yours, I know that,” Shen He said, “but it has nothing to do with me, it’s because those things should have been yours in the first place.”

Chen Yuchuan remained silent for a long time.

"Do you understand what I mean?" Shen He asked.

Chen Yuchuan's voice was a little hoarse: "Are you afraid that I will give up everything for you and end up with nothing?"

“More than that,” Shenhe said, “I’m afraid you’ll lose yourself too.”

Chen Yuchuan looked up at him.

“You should be Chen Yuchuan, not ‘Shen He’s boyfriend’.” Shen He spoke slowly and clearly, “You have your own life, your own things to do, and you should be responsible for yourself. We can be together, but I can’t be your everything.”

Chen Yuchuan's Adam's apple bobbed, and after a long pause, he finally spoke: "Are you finding me annoying?"

“No,” Shen He said. “I was just reminding you.”

“I know,” Chen Yuchuan stared at him, “but you’re all I have left.”

Shen He looked away: "You're putting a lot of pressure on me."

Chen Yuchuan stared at him for a long time, and finally smiled: "I thought you were concerned about me."

“I’m concerned about you, and I’m also trying to reason with you.” Shen He frowned, and his tone became more serious. “I’m just saying this; whether you listen or not is up to you.”

Seeing his expression, Chen Yuchuan put his arm around his shoulder and put on a repentant expression: "I know, I was wrong, I'll think about it, I'll take responsibility for myself."

As he spoke, he turned and kissed Chen He again: "Alright, don't be angry."