35. Apply medicine to him.

You shouldn't meet someone too amazing when you're young, otherwise you'll never forget them for the rest of your life.

Before meeting Lin Jiang, He Gu had never been moved by anyone, and after meeting Lin Jiang, he never met anyone who could move him like that.

She tried hard to control her emotions and suppress her feelings for him, deliberately avoiding him and looking for an opportunity to study abroad.

He tried everything to end this unrealistic dream, but little did he know that he was the only one who was trapped in it from beginning to end.

Lin Jiang can retreat to the position of ordinary friend without any scruples, or he can leave KUG and do well in other teams.

Even though it was she who ruthlessly severed ties with him, it was Lin Jiang who left first.

Their fingers were clasped tightly together, their pale skin showing through.

After a deathly silence, he finally gave in: "What will it take for you to come back?"

The lights outside the car flashed by, and time passed little by little. Lin Jiang did not answer his question, but gently picked up the contract that he had placed on the table.

The conditions described inside were really tempting, so tempting that He Gu seemed not to be a businessman, but an ordinary person driven by emotion.

To be defeated before the battle even begins is unlike He Hu at all.

Lin Jiang finished reading it and put it down.

He knew that if this conversation didn't continue, they would find him again next time.

Since that's the case, let's just make things clear once and for all.

Lin Jiang leaned back in his seat, relaxed. "I'm doing well at OT and I'm satisfied with my current situation. Even if they can't give me what I want, I'll try again before making a decision."

He Gu loosened his grip slightly, then clenched it again. "Where is the satisfaction?"

Lin Jiang didn't know how to explain it to He Gu, after all, he wasn't a professional player. He tried to describe it as: "OT can provide me with emotional value."

Emotional value is the least useful thing for business people.

He Gu finished the wine in his glass, looked at the streetlights outside the window, and his emotions flickered in his eyes. "It's because of Shen Ju, isn't it?"

These words made Lin Jiang pause. "What does it have to do with him?"

“You know what I’m talking about,” He Gu’s tone unconsciously became more forceful: “Lin Jiang, having a girlfriend is just a pretense; you don’t actually like women.”

In that instant, Lin Jiang really wanted to throw the wine on the table in his face. "Back then, it was your mother who found me and made me consider your reputation, which is why I was forced to have a girlfriend. And you're using that to attack me?"

He Gu didn't mean to attack him, he just...

He suppressed his emotions and said, "I know, let's both calm down."

Lin Jiang remained calm; he even considered calmly slapping He Gu across the face.

He wasn't the only one who crossed the line in their relationship back then; He Gu was involved too. However, Lin Jiang never used this incident to attack him, nor did he ever expect it to be used against him.

Young love is as fragile as a sheet of paper.

No matter how powerful Lin Jiang has become, mentioning him will still hurt her.

His rationality had also reached its limit: "I hope you won't bring that up again. I haven't done anything to wrong you all these years."

“I’m sorry,” He Gu knew this, so he lowered his head. “I’ve had a few drinks, so it’s not appropriate for me to talk to you about this.”

He wiped his glasses clean on the table, put them back on, and concealed his emotions.

He flicked his wristwatch and said, "I have five minutes left. I'll take you home."

Lin Jiang relaxed a little as he leaned back.

He heard He Gu bring this up again: "Lin Jiang, I still have to say, Shen Ju is not suitable for you, he's too childish..."

"Are you sick?" Lin Jiang jumped up. "Just because I liked you doesn't mean I get excited about every guy I see!"

He Gu looked up in a daze.

The angry Lin Jiang was more and more like the old Lin Jiang, as if he had come back to life from the depths of his memory.

His fingers were clasped tightly together, an uncontrollable emotion breaking through his reason. He never expected that the words that no one could say back then would be spoken in this way.

His eyes, which he was trying so hard to hold back, were slightly red, hidden behind his glasses.

The two fell silent.

The five-minute journey felt like an eternity.

The car stopped, and Lin Jiang opened the door and got out.

As he closed the door, He Gu said to him, "I'm sorry."

Lin Jiang found it quite ridiculous; in his previous life, he hadn't been able to get an apology from He Gu, but now he had.

Perhaps it was truly God's cruel joke that he was given a second chance, so that he could fulfill those unfulfilled regrets.

“At least you made one very good point,” Lin Jiang turned around and looked down at him, “I did have reasons for staying at OT.”

After saying that, he slammed the door and left.

It has to be said that He Hu really knows how to provoke the rebellious spirit in Lin Jiang's bones.

Whether it's revenge or resentment from youth, it's all part of the process.

Lin Jiang harbored resentment when He Gu refused to acknowledge him back then and forced him to revert to being just a friend.

If you refuse to admit it, then never admit it for the rest of your life.

Lin Jiang returned to the base in a terrible mood.

Song Zhixu proudly showed him his training results, and he said, "I'm tired," and turned to go upstairs to his room.

Zhou Wen and A Deng exchanged bewildered glances. "What's wrong with the captain...?"

"It's probably because Shen Ju didn't go to the hospital today."

When Lin Jiang returned upstairs and opened the door, he saw the milk tea on the windowsill, and his heavy mood suddenly improved a lot.

He picked it up and just then saw Shen Ju passing by the window. He called out to him, "Shen Ju, what did the doctor say at the hospital?"

Shen Ju stopped in his tracks, his eyes flashing slightly. "Not bad."

Lin Jiang didn't suspect anything. He picked up the milk tea on the table and said, "Thanks for the milk tea."

However, "Did you get the report back? Let me see it."

Lin Jiang was very concerned about Shen Ju's hand. He remembered that in his previous life, Shen Ju suddenly announced his departure from the racetrack because of a hand injury.

His training methods were fierce and ruthless, putting a heavy burden on the hands. Before the problem became serious, Lin Jiang felt it was his duty to supervise the matter.

Seeing that Chen Ju didn't move, Lin Jiang thought he hadn't heard him clearly, so he asked again, "Where's the report?"

Downstairs, Song Zhixu was still gossiping with Zhou Wen when he suddenly heard a loud banging on the table from upstairs. "Shen Ju'an! You've got some nerve, haven't you?! You dare to lie to me?!"

Ah Deng was so frightened that her heart skipped a beat. "Brother Zeng Yuan really didn't lie to me. When the captain gets angry, he can really smash the table."

The next day, Lin Jiang personally carried Shen Ju to the hospital.

Shen Ju sat obediently opposite him, not daring to move a hair.

After the X-ray was taken, the doctor's expression was not good. "How come your condition has gotten worse? Didn't the medication I prescribed work?"

Shen Ju: "It's too greasy, it affects the feel." After saying that, he shrank back, afraid that Lin Jiang would slap him to death.

Lin Jiang really slapped him to death.

How can there be such an unruly teammate?

After leaving the hospital, I finally couldn't hold back anymore: "A professional athlete's hand is their lifeblood. You're willing to risk your life, what else do you want?"

Shen Ju stared straight at him, saying nothing, yet it seemed as if he had said something.

Lin Jiang was taken aback, wondering if he had misunderstood, but he felt that Shen Ju's gaze was somewhat direct.

He shook off the strange feeling in his heart, "Your excessive training will only backfire. As the captain, I order you, you are not allowed to exceed the limit from now on!"

Shen Ju remained silent.

He knows he's wrong, but he doesn't change.

Lin Jiang hasn't been so angry for many years. He's been a captain for so many years, what kind of troublemakers haven't he encountered?

But Shen Ju was someone who wouldn't budge from either soft or hard tactics, something they had never encountered before.

"Fine, I can't control you."

He turned around, and Shen Ju suddenly grabbed his wrist again.

"team leader."

He held her tightly, his palms burning hot. "I don't want you to leave OT."

Lin Jiang looked at Shen Ju holding his hand and felt a sudden tenderness in his heart. Shen Ju had really grown up. His hands were wide, his strength was great, and he had his own ideas.

The next second, Chen Ju let go again. "Don't be angry. I'll buy you milk tea, okay?"

"Is this a problem that can be solved with a cup of milk tea?"

Fifteen minutes later, Lin Jiang, sipping his milk tea, advised him: "You're young now and don't feel it, but in a few years when you can't even hold a mouse properly, you'll know what fear is."

Shen Ju nodded obediently, and upon returning to the base, he intensified his training as always.

Lin Jiang couldn't control him, so he decided to ignore him.

Keep practicing, keep practicing until you ruin your hands, then get the hell out of here.

My phone rang. It was a message from Mao: "I found the person you asked me to find. He just returned to China and said we can talk if it's you."

Lin Jiang: Give me his contact information.

He asked Lao Mao to help him find a coach named Li Qian who had just retired from LCK. Li Qian had previously worked at KUG for a period of time and gave Lin Jiang a very good impression.

Unfortunately, KUG didn't keep him at the time. Upon hearing that he had returned to China, Lin Jiang immediately asked Lao Mao for help.

Mao's network of connections was incredibly powerful, and he had access to a vast amount of inside information. Sure enough, he quickly found the person when he took action.

Lin Jiang added the other party, still organizing his thoughts.

A reply came from the other end: Hi, Lin Jiang, long time no see.

Li Qian is very cheerful in private and usually dresses fashionably, unlike people of that age group.

Lin Jiang skipped the formalities and simply greeted him: "I heard you've returned to China. I'd like to invite you to dinner."

Li Qian: There's no need for dinner. I'll just come to the team to find you. We're already so familiar with each other, there's no need to go through formalities.

Lin Jiang took a deep breath: You're agreeing to this?

Li Qian: No, no, no, I'm just here to take a look, I might not agree. You know me, I'm retired now, I can't teach you anything.

Lin Jiang: Okay, then let's do it tomorrow.

Li Qian: No, no, no, I have an appointment tomorrow, let's do it today.

Lin Jiang: ?

Is there really such a rush?

Lin Jiang quickly contacted Du Lun to prepare for a meeting.

At three o'clock in the afternoon, Li Qian arrived wearing a leather jacket and black sunglasses, giving off a somewhat rustic vibe.

He was immediately spotted by Song Zhixu as soon as he entered. The two stared at each other for a while, and then Li Qian suddenly took off his glasses and smiled handsomely at him, "Hello, handsome young man."

Song Zhixu thought he looked gay, so he didn't dare shake hands and took the opportunity to run away.

Duren looked at Lin Jiang with a questioning gaze: Is this reliable?

Lin Jiang nodded in confirmation: It's reliable.

The three parties sat down in the office, and Durren tried his best to demonstrate the advantages of OT (Overtime Training), speaking so enthusiastically that his forehead was sweating.

Li Qian only cared about: "Is that Shen Ju really as volatile as the internet says? Does he really hit people?"

Lin Jiang said helplessly, "No."

Li Qian gave an "Oh," then immediately lost interest. "Boring."

Duren: ? ? ?

What exactly is this person here for?

Lin Jiang couldn't take it anymore. He called Li Qian out and said, "Brother Qian, if you don't like OT, just tell me directly. Don't do this. It's kind of scary."

Li Qian took off his sunglasses. "Fine, I'll tell you the truth. I really didn't like OT."

Lin Jiang's heart sank, "Then you..."

“However, I’ve taken a liking to you and Chenju, and I have some ideas that I want to implement on you.” Li Qian put on his flashy sunglasses again and smiled ostentatiously. “If the team doesn’t mind, I can be a behind-the-scenes consultant. I don’t care about the salary; you can let them decide how to pay it. Oh, by the way, I don’t sign LPL contracts, and you know why.”

Lin Jiang knew that he had been badly burned by KUG's contract and had to pay a lot of money to leave. Since then, Li Qian had no good feelings towards LPL and had been developing in LCK all these years.

"I will explain everything to Manager Du, don't worry."

Li Qian nodded, then looked at him thoughtfully, "Lin Jiang, I'm a little curious. How did you and KUG fall out? Was it really just because of the contract?"

Lin Jiang doesn't care about money. So many teams offered him high prices back then, but he didn't leave. It couldn't be because of money.

Li Qian took off his sunglasses and looked at him. "I guess it's because of the rotation."

For a moment, Lin Jiang felt as if his thoughts had been read by him. He stepped back to keep his distance and said, "Yes, I have both."

Li Qian smiled without saying a word and put on his sunglasses.

He waved goodbye and left, saying, "Contact me if there's any progress."

Lin Jiang nodded and breathed a sigh of relief.

He returned to his office and discussed his thoughts with Durren, who respected his opinions and basically agreed with them.

The news that the team was getting a coach quickly spread throughout the base, and Duren even prepared a lounge for him.

Song Zhixu tried various methods to inquire with Lin Jiang about "the new coach..."

"Not a coach, but a consultant."

"Oh right, that new consultant doesn't seem very reliable."

Lin Jiang smiled and said, "He used to be an advisor for SPG."

Song Zhixu: !!!

"SPG? Wait, didn't they win both the LCK Spring and Summer championships last year? Is that mediocre guy their consultant?"

“Yes.” Lin Jiang nodded seriously. “He’s not a showy person and doesn’t like to be in the spotlight. He mostly does behind-the-scenes work.”

Not flashy...?

Song Zhixu recalled that flashy leather jacket. Wasn't that ostentatious?

However, the captain must have his reasons for doing this.

Song Zhixu regained his enthusiasm, "Captain, let's start training."

Lin Jiang logged into his account and started his daily match against him.

Song Zhixu is making rapid progress, and Lin Jiang sometimes has to maintain a high level of concentration to avoid being tricked by Song Zhixu.

Then I played duo queue with Ah Deng for a while.

Perhaps due to a change in mindset, A-Deng's actions became much bolder, and they looked more and more professional.

Currently, Lin Jiang is quite satisfied with OT.

that is……

His gaze fell on Shen Ju next door.

He's been training excessively lately, practicing AD carries with tricky mechanics, and his arms are completely worn out. He unconsciously rubs his hands after each game.

Lin Jiang couldn't stand it anymore, so he packed up his things and turned off the computer. "Song Zhixu."

"Um?"

"Get some rest, take care of your hands, and don't let them become like some people who have deteriorated in their hands at a young age."

Shen Ju's hand paused, realizing that Lin Jiang was calling on him.

I only caught a glimpse of Lin Jiang's back when I looked up. He packed his things and left without trying to stop him. I won't be angry anymore no matter how long he plays...

My teammates left one after another, and the clock on the wall stopped at one o'clock in the morning.

Time flies.

Every day ends so quickly.

Time is running out for him.

As my body relaxed, I suddenly felt a wave of fatigue.

As he walked upstairs, he passed by Lin Jiang's door. The lights were still on inside, and Lin Jiang, wearing frameless glasses, was typing away.

The team leader works very hard every day.

Shen Ju wanted to talk to him, but didn't know how to start.

After thinking about it, he dejectedly returned to his room.

I really want to talk to Lin Jiang, but I'm afraid he'll start by talking about training.

The showerhead above him was spraying water all over his head, but he still wasn't awake enough. The water temperature was adjusted lower and lower until his body was shivering with cold before it felt just right.

He wiped the water vapor off the mirror with his palm and saw his face, which was white from the cold.

Water was still dripping down, into the pool.

He was enveloped in that white dream again, where faceless monsters crawled out of the walls, emitting piercing laughter, and reached out to drag him into hell.

He abruptly turned off the shower.

The monsters finally disappeared.

"Knock knock," Song Zhixu knocked on the door. "Chen Ju, why haven't you finished washing after an hour? I need to use the restroom."

Shen Ju opened the door, bringing with it a blast of cool air.

Song Zhixu felt a chill run down his spine and muttered, "It's not the middle of summer, why are you taking a cold shower?"

Shen Ju ignored him. He wasn't wearing a shirt, just a pair of shorts. He opened the balcony door and threw all his dirty clothes into the washing machine.

The door next door suddenly opened, and warm yellow light shone onto the balcony.

Lin Jiang immediately spotted Shen Ju, who was shirtless, with a lean waist and a red string around his neck with a transparent jade Guanyin pendant.

As he stood up, the jade Guanyin pendant rose and fell to his chest, the red and white colors creating a striking contrast.

No wonder he's a capitalist's child; he's been raised so well.

Lin Jiang coughed awkwardly.

Shen Ju realized what was happening and quickly grabbed a clean set of clothes and put them on haphazardly.

He wasn't dried off; he was still wet.

It carried a damp, cool air.

Lin Jiang felt that Shen Ju was a rather contradictory person.

I felt a chill emanating from my body, but my palms were burning hot.

Lin Jiang's gaze shifted to Shen Ju's chest, and his mind drifted back to the jade Guanyin pendant hanging around Shen Ju's neck.

Shen Ju's skin was so good that it made even jade pale in comparison. He usually didn't look very fleshy, but when he took off his clothes, he was quite a sight to behold.

Although Lin Jiang wasn't gay in the traditional sense, his feelings were still slightly stirred.

He coughed awkwardly again. "Chenju, come to my room."

Lin Jiang's room was originally Shen Ju's room. Stepping into this familiar place again, Shen Ju felt that something was wrong with everything.

The lighting was too dim, like a soft glow, and the room was small, so physical contact was inevitable when moving around.

Shen Ju didn't dare to move. He took a small stool and sat down at the table, looking at Lin Jiang, wondering what he was going to do.

Lin Jiang reached out and opened the cabinet above his head, slightly lifting the clothes around his waist. Before Chen Ju could even see clearly, Lin Jiang had already taken the box down.

“I asked Ryan to prepare a first-aid kit for me, so I can come to me for medicine when I’m sick.”

He took out ointment and gauze, gesturing to him: "Hand."

Shen Ju obediently reached out his hand.

Lin Jiang pulled his wrist up and placed it on the table, applied the ointment, and gently rubbed it in with his fingers.

The ointment needs to be heated to be effective. The doctor's advice was to either buy a heat lamp or gently massage it in with the warmth of your fingertips.

Lin Jiang clearly chose the latter.

As he rubbed the ointment, he teased him, "I told you not to train, but you wouldn't listen. You wouldn't go to the hospital either. You didn't even apply the ointment. Are you a bull? So stubborn."

It's been so long since I've felt this warm.

Those cold monsters would never appear at a time like this.

Shen Ju stayed quietly beside him, glancing at him from time to time. The warm light fell on Lin Jiang's profile, creating an indescribable hazy and gentle glow.

His throat bobbed involuntarily, and his wrist retracted slightly.

Lin Jiang tightened his grip, warning him, "If you keep doing this, I'll get angry."

Chenju was deflated and let him rub him.

The fingertips pressed against the veins, growing hotter and hotter, until the tips of Shenju's ears turned red from the heat.

Something seemed to be scratching at his heart; the more he tried to avoid it, the more it stirred his heart, and he could only clench his fists.

Lin Jiang stopped what he was doing. "Are you feeling unwell?"

Shen Ju shook his head. "It's too itchy."

Lin Jiang adjusted his position, moving closer.

Shen Ju blushed from the tips of his ears to his neck. Lin Jiang rubbed one ear, then the other.

Not knowing where to look, I could only look down at my shadow.

Lin Jiang was wearing slippers, and his toes were a little close to his own, so he pulled them back slightly, feeling a bit uncomfortable.

Suddenly Lin Jiang stepped forward and bumped into his toes.

Shenju suddenly pulled back.

His hand stopped again, and Lin Jiang was confused by his sudden outburst. "Am I making you uncomfortable? Or should I ask Song Zhixu to come?"

"No," Shen Ju said nervously, quickly grasping his hand. "Just the captain, not anyone else."

The obedient Shenju was like a little dog that depended on him.

Lin Jiang smiled and continued, head down.

The soft light fell on his face, and the gentle touch of fingertips massaged his veins, just like in the hospital, making him feel relaxed all over.

"Does it work?"

"Um."

"Then you must come to apply the medicine every day."

Lin Jiang looked up at him, thinking he was going to make another excuse.

As a result, Shen Ju's ears turned slightly red, "I'll listen to the captain."

After applying the medicine, Lin Jiang tossed it into the box and stood up to put it down. The chair under his feet was in the way, and he had to stand on tiptoe to barely put it down.

Shenju was worried that he would fall, so he reached out to protect him.

Then, Lin Jiang lifted his shirt, revealing a black tattoo, and Shen Ju froze.

As Lin Jiang pulled back, his elbow accidentally hit Shen Ju's head. Shen Ju hurriedly apologized, "Sorry." He then tripped over a chair while backing up.

Shen Ju was anxious and hugged his waist, "Captain, be careful!"

Lin Jiang felt a tightness around his waist, and then Shen Ju tackled him to the ground.

Lin Jiang: ?

He didn't have to fall so hard.

The burning hot palm contracted forcefully, touching the coolness at the waist; the spot on the palm was the rose pierced on Lin Jiang's waist.

Lin Jiang was a little dazed from the fall, and the lights above his head were flickering.

Because of the backlighting, Shen Ju's expression was not visible; only his soft breathing could be heard, and it seemed as if something touched his leg in the dim light.

Chen Ju straightened up and hurriedly said, "I'm sorry!"

Then he got up and ran away.

Lin Jiang slowly typed out: ?

The next day, Shenju would hide whenever he saw him.

Unaware of what was going on, Lin Jiang assumed he was trying to avoid applying the medicine, so that evening he personally took him to his room and asked, "Have you taken a shower?"

"It's been washed."

"sit down."

Shen Ju sat down, but when he saw Lin Jiang's waist, he felt the chair was too hot for his bottom and stood up again. "Captain, should I take it back and have Song Zhixu wipe it for me?"

Lin Jiang looked at him suspiciously, "Are you sure you can stick with him?"

Given Song Zhixu's incompetence, he'd probably just wipe it off a couple of times and run away.

Shen Ju didn't say anything and sat back down.

Lin Jiang applied the medicine to him according to the procedure, and his fingers became hotter and hotter as he applied it.

His neck was right in front of Shen Ju. Shen Ju appeared calm on the surface, but his heart was in turmoil.

What is Lin Jiang like in private?

Do he and his girlfriend do those intimate things when they're together?

His fingers gripped his thigh slightly, an indescribable emotion spreading through him. "Captain, what's it like being with your girlfriend?"

"Why did you suddenly ask that?"

Shen Ju awkwardly turned his face away, "We've never talked about it, I'm just curious."

Lin Jiang laughed, a laugh that made his heart tingle. "You'll understand when you get a girlfriend."

His smile is like a gentle breeze, making one's heart itch.

At the same time, she felt sad thinking, why does such a wonderful Lin Jiang belong to someone else...

Back in my room that night, I tossed and turned and couldn't fall asleep.

He dreamed of a beautiful woman wearing high heels, but he couldn't see her face clearly; he could only see her hands.

She sat on Lin Jiang's lap, her fingertips painted a vibrant red. She gently lifted Lin Jiang's clothes, and black roses slowly came to life on her fingertips, filling the air with a bewitching red.

In his dream, Lin Jiang was also a very good-tempered person. He looked up at the other person, and his movements were always so gentle that he would never make the other person feel uncomfortable.

Shen Ju's heart was gripped tightly by those hands. He wanted to see clearly what kind of person could win Lin Jiang's heart.

When he got closer, he froze on the spot. That person was none other than himself!

The desires in my heart were instantly magnified infinitely.

His hand moved uncontrollably to Lin Jiang's neck, his fingertips pressing hard, where there was a clean scent that drove him crazy.

He leaned down for a deep kiss, but Lin Jiang refused, so he forcefully pushed him down into the flower bushes.

Everything went wrong from there.

All reason and composure vanished at that moment.

He held Lin Jiang's fingers, their fingers intertwined.

Looking up at him, Lin Jiang resembled a blooming rose, even his fingertips were tinged with a delicate pink.

Shen Ju leaned down and kissed Lin Jiang's neck again and again, feeling as if his whole body was on fire.

This dream has been too long.

Even Shen Ju, who had grown up, was somewhat dazed.

Can he really get this close to Lin Jiang? Won't he be disliked?

He stroked his cheek uncertainly, it was so soft like a cloud, and he couldn't help but lean down and kiss it.

Something inside him seemed to be pulling him to become another person. His fingers involuntarily caressed Lin Jiang's lips, longing to be bitten and gnawed at by him.

But Lin Jiang was too gentle; even in his dreams, she only gently kissed his wrist, afraid that it would hurt him.

Shen Ju suddenly felt that he had been completely defeated in front of him.

How could this be...

Is she still so gentle even at a time like this?

An overwhelming loneliness swept over him. He longed for Lin Jiang's warmth, something he desperately wanted to keep.

Lin Jiang, please don't leave me.

Um.

He bent down and hugged him tightly, not caring whether it was a dream or not.

At the end of the dream, he held his hand and lingered in the dream, surrounded by rose vines that grew and entwined wildly, and he allowed his heart to be imprisoned in the rose manor.

If he could, he wished to stay with him forever in his dreams.

The next day, when the sunlight shone on his face, he gently opened his trembling eyelashes, his pupils still unfocused.

Lin Jiang's voice came from outside the door: "...Is Shen Ju still not up?"

Shen Ju suddenly woke up.

He suddenly realized something and covered his face deeply.

...

If a person does not restrain themselves and lets their thoughts run wild, they will truly become someone they don't even recognize.

Just like in my dream yesterday.

Shen Ju felt too ashamed to face Lin Jiang, so he spent half an hour upstairs doing his mental preparation before finally daring to come downstairs, wrapped up tightly in his clothes.

When I went downstairs, Lin Jiang wasn't there.

Shen Ju breathed a sigh of relief. He turned on his computer and logged into his account absentmindedly.

As he typed in the last digit of the password, he couldn't help but ask, "Where's Lin Jiang?"

Song Zhixu casually replied, "Probably in the office. I think they said they had to go out for a bit..."

Shen Ju didn't hear clearly; his mind was filled with that dream.

Although it was bizarre, he had to admit that the dream made him feel good.

My nose is itchy, so I reach out and touch it.

—It's blood.

Shen Ju had to tear off half a pack of paper to stop it.

Song Zhixu teased him, "Why are you so hot-tempered at such a young age? What's on your mind?"

She threw the remaining half-packet of tissues in his face, saying, "I'm going to get my medicine. Help me ask for leave."

Song Zhixu, who was innocently hit, said, "I know, I know, who are you trying to vent your anger on so early in the morning..."

Shen Ju went downstairs and bought a box of Sanhuang tablets, then sat alone at the supermarket entrance and bought a bottle of mineral water to cool down.

The locust trees on both sides of the street have finished blooming and are beginning to wither. Sanitation workers sweep away the fallen petals, leaving only lonely green leaves.

Shen Ju felt like that leaf, unnoticed by anyone, easily blown away by the wind.

He bent down, picked out two pills, and swallowed them with mineral water.

The more I thought about it, the angrier I got, so I picked out two more.

Just as I put the medicine on my tongue, a familiar nanny van pulled up by the roadside, and I suddenly stopped drinking water.

Lin Jiang ran downstairs, looking left and right. Then the woman got out of the car and the first thing she did was throw herself into his arms.

She had a beautiful figure, tall and thin, and warmly kissed Lin Jiang's cheek.

Lin Jiang was a little afraid of being discovered, so he helplessly supported her while pulling her sun hat down to cover her face completely.

He looked down as if he were talking to the other person, his expression extremely gentle. After coaxing them for a while, he put them in the car and got in himself.

Everything in that dream was fake.

Only that woman is real.

The medicine melted in his mouth, so bitter it made his tongue numb. Shen Ju felt like a clown, only daring to indulge in things that didn't belong to him in his dreams.

His body began to grow cold, and the faceless monsters started to harass him again.

Chen Ju gulped down the mineral water, crushed it, threw it into the trash can, and pretended not to know anything as he went downstairs to wait for the elevator.

The wait felt so long. I wonder if the two people in the car felt the same way?

His heart felt as if it were being nourished by a venomous snake. White shrouded his world, and just as the monster was about to devour him, Lin Jiang's voice suddenly rang out behind him: "Chen Ju?"

The faceless monster vanished instantly, and the white color began to fade.

Shen Ju looked back at Lin Jiang and suddenly thought happily that they hadn't stayed in the car for very long.

"team leader……"

The sound suddenly caught in his throat.

He saw a smear of lipstick on Lin Jiang's face, making his clean skin appear even more glamorous, and he was covered in that woman's pungent perfume.

Shen Ju almost couldn't hold back anymore.

The elevator doors opened with a "ding," and Lin Jiang entered first. Seeing that he didn't move, he asked, "What are you standing there for?"

Shen Ju followed him inside. The cramped space caused him to experience slight tinnitus. He didn't hear what Lin Jiang said.

He suddenly turned around and looked at Lin Jiang, his throat choked with words he wanted to say, "You, you have something on your face."

Lin Jiang rubbed it twice, but it didn't come off; instead, it spread even more.

Shen Ju reached out to wipe it for him, wiping it a little too hard. He hated that woman's things left on Lin Jiang, whether it was lipstick or perfume.

It's as if it's declaring sovereignty to someone, so blatantly arrogant.

She's just a girlfriend; marriage is not an option, and divorce is possible. It's not like you can have Lin Jiang forever...

The elevator doors opened with a soft "ding".

Reason returned instantly.

Chen Ju withdrew his hand somewhat awkwardly, turned around, and quickly returned to his seat.

Lin Jiang, who called him twice without getting a response: ?

What's this kid doing? I've been talking to him for ages, and he hasn't said a single word in response.

Lin Jiang arrived at his seat. Shen Ju had already entered the game. He observed him for a while and saw that the kid was completely absorbed in the game, playing like a piece of crap.

After a serious mistake during a tower dive, resulting in a triple kill for the enemy AD carry.

The support player complained: "You can't even keep up? What rank did you climb up from?"

The jungler yelled: "AD, are you out of your mind? I'm playing your ass, get lost!"

If this were the previous Shenju, he would definitely have argued with the opponent to the death. But he didn't say a word, used Flash to dodge the control, and then unleashed a burst of extreme damage, taking down two opponents in a 1v2 situation.

In the final team fight, they decisively wiped out the opponent, impressing their teammates.

Lin Jiang, who had been watching the whole thing, nodded in satisfaction.

He wasn't wrong; Shen Ju was indeed a big-game player, and the greater the pressure, the more potential he could unleash.

only……

Why are you rubbing your hands again?

After a day of training, everyone was a little tired. Recently, Lin Jiang had added more training content to their curriculum, pushing them to the brink of exhaustion.

At times like this, Song Zhixu would envy Shen Ju, saying, "What did you eat to grow up like this? After a day of training, you still have the energy to play ranked games."

Shen Ju glanced at him but ignored him.

Song Zhixu was too lazy to make a fool of himself. He looked at A Deng, who had finished training and was preparing to go back to rest, and then at Shen Ju, who was still training.

Although I was very tired, I gritted my teeth and sat back down.

He has already lost to Shen Ju in terms of talent, and he cannot lose to him in terms of effort, after all, that is the only thing he can be proud of.

The two fought until 2 a.m., when Shen Ju finally showed signs of wanting to go back.

Song Zhixu breathed a sigh of relief, picked up his phone and saw that his stepmother had sent him a bunch of messages. No matter how sentimental they were, they all boiled down to one sentence in the end: she wanted money.

The message was sent at 10 o'clock, but he didn't see it and didn't reply.

Before 11 o'clock, his dad sent him a bunch of messages, saying that his stepmother had a hard time and so on.

Song Zhixu didn't know how to reply. He typed for a long time, but in the end, he slowly deleted it.

I suddenly feel so tired.

Is there really no one in this world who cares whether he lives or dies?

My feet involuntarily stopped at Lin Jiang's door. The lights inside were still on. I peeked through the window and saw Lin Jiang wearing glasses under the light, his face softened by the lenses.

Lin Jiang looks good even when she's not smiling.

Song Zhixu couldn't help but sigh.

He leaned against the window, wanting to talk to Lin Jiang, when he heard Lin Jiang ask, "Has Chen Ju come up yet? Tell him to come to my room after he takes a shower."

The smile that had been on his face slowly faded. Song Zhixu nodded sullenly, withdrew his hand from the window, and went back to his room.

After taking a bath, Shen Ju obediently went to his room to apply the medicine.

Lin Jiang followed the procedure as usual.

Shen Ju was obedient at first, but then suddenly grabbed his hand, turned it over, and pressed it hard on the table.

Lin Jiang was stunned for a moment, not knowing what this meant.

Then Shen Ju asked, "Captain, may I ask you a few questions?"

"you say."

How often do you and your girlfriend see each other?

Lin Jiang opened his mouth as if to explain, but then felt it was unnecessary. "It depends on my mood."

He lowered his head, turned Shenju's hand over, and continued applying the ointment.

Shen Ju looked at his hand and couldn't help but grasp it. "Captain is so busy and doesn't have time for her. Will she be angry with you?"

"hiss--"

Lin Jiang pressed his hand down hard, his tone carrying a warning: "Don't ask questions you shouldn't ask."

Shen Ju quieted down, but only for half a minute before pressing for answers: "What does the captain do when he meets her? Does he kiss her?"

The hand applying the medicine suddenly stopped, and the atmosphere became somewhat ambiguous.

Lin Jiang looked up at him uncertainly, "Why are you asking these questions?"

Shen Ju stared at him without blinking. "Curious."

"Stop being curious."

Lin Jiang had no idea what strange things he was thinking about every day, and advised him: "If you're curious, go find a girlfriend yourself."

Shen Ju grasped his hand again, his gaze somewhat uncertain. "Captain, I'd like to ask you one more question, is that alright?"

"Don't ask."

"Truly the last one."

"explain."

Have you slept with them?

With a crash, the medicine boxes were all overturned. Even the usually composed Lin Jiang blushed upon hearing the question. "W-what are you asking?"

Shen Ju bent down to help him pick up the things on the ground, and accidentally touched Lin Jiang's hand. The other man pulled his hand back as if he had been electrocuted.

I clutched the ointment tightly in my palm, my heart felt cold.

"team leader."

"go out."

"..."

Shen Ju looked at the shadow on the ground, feeling somewhat sad.

He clutched the ointment, watching Lin Jiang coldly put away the medicine box, clearly indicating he had no intention of talking to him anymore.

Shen Ju silently placed the ointment on the table and prepared to leave.

Lin Jiang suddenly called out to him again: "There will indeed be many temptations in this industry, but Shenju, don't ruin your future. Unless you meet someone you really like, don't try it no matter how curious you are."

Shen Ju was stunned.

Did Lin Jiang think he...?

He couldn't help but laugh. "No, Captain."

He has already met someone he likes, and he only wants to try dating that person.

Back in his room, his mood suddenly improved. He lay down on the bed, and a sentence that made Lin Jiang blush instantly made him subconsciously feel that he definitely had no experience in that area.

Since he hasn't done it, how can he be sure whether he likes men or women?

Maybe it's just a trial, and they weren't really interested.

Moreover, the Lin Jiang he was attracted to shouldn't be like that. Although he had never met him, he was absolutely certain of it.

Thinking about this, Chen Ju tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

A sour voice came from above: "Why does Lin Jiang make you go to his room every day? To give you private tutoring?"

Chen Ju turned to the side. "Do you think I need tutoring?"

Song Zhixu scoffed and then fell asleep contentedly. "I was just trying to teach you a lesson. Who told you to be so disobedient all the time?"

Shen Ju was too lazy to explain to him.

He and Song Zhixu are now concerned with completely different things.

Shenju: I'm already on the highway, and you're still in Makka Pakka.