Extra 2

Recently, the teams representing the domestic region at the upcoming PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds Global Invitational were finally officially announced. As the country's top team, TZG had successfully secured an invitation to next month's international tournament. The announcement of its roster immediately caused quite a stir.

PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds had always lagged behind MOBA games in esports popularity because its matches were less entertaining to watch, but discussion had remained high lately for one simple reason-

TZG had just won a major tournament last month. In the final round, TZG-GOD, the team's new captain who had held the position for less than a season, secured a Chicken Dinner with an incredible eleven kills. His first-person kill compilation circulated online, and every player who watched it had to give him a thumbs-up and say, "So satisfying."

While players enthusiastically discussed it everywhere, the members of TZG had arrived in Germany, the host country for the Global Invitational, last week and had already trained for six consecutive days.

TZG had just finished a scrim, and the members returned to the training room to rest.

Both large couches in the training room had people sleeping on them. Although their rooms were only a few steps away, no one wanted to get up and move. The young esports players already had irregular sleep schedules, and after arriving, they had spent several exhausting days cooperating with the organizers to shoot a promotional MV and photos. Some of them couldn't help yawning during practice.

The only player still awake in the room sat at his station, idly browsing his phone.

Yan Zhun was scrolling through his boyfriend's Weibo.

His coach had registered Yan Zhun's Weibo account. In just a few months, it had gained nearly a million followers, growing faster than those of minor celebrities. Yet he followed fewer than ten accounts. Apart from the team, his teammates, and sponsors, there was only one little artist with a few tens of thousands of followers.

Pei Ran had posted a drawing of him before Yan Zhun even returned to competition. After Yan Zhun shot to fame in a single tournament, plenty of curious onlookers had visited Pei Ran's Weibo. That drawing now had over seven thousand comments beneath it, full of every kind of speculation.

Over the phone last night, Pei Ran had asked, "What should I do?" and "How should I reply?" several times. His bewildered tone had made Yan Zhun laugh uncontrollably.

When he checked today, there was a new post on Pei Ran's page.

[Fei Yu Yi: I liked GOD a lot before he started competing. I drew him in a TZG uniform because I happened to be taking a private fan commission for a TZG player at the time. I don't know any team inside information. I'm just a fan, so please don't speculate. Thank you. GOD probably followed me by accident. Please stop @ing him in the comments. I'm a guy, not a fangirl... Thanks again. I'm not taking commissions anymore.]

"I saw that some fans made you a Weibo fan page. It has over a hundred thousand followers. How about following it?" Not wanting to disturb the others' rest, the coach lowered his voice beside him. "Pretty impressive. Not many players get this kind of treatment."

"No." Yan Zhun scrolled without looking up. "I just play games. What do I need fans for?"

"You don't know how good you have it." Wei laughed in exasperation, waving his phone. "A while ago, the fans were still standing up for me, saying no one could replace me and urging me to come back and play. Now... they're all fucking telling me to focus on recovering and wishing me a happy retirement."

The coach nodded. "Society is cruel like that."

Yan Zhun wasn't listening to their comedy routine. He read the first sentence of Pei Ran's post several times. He had intended to comment, but ultimately tapped repost instead.

[TZG-GOD: Thank you for liking me, Teacher Fei. I also really like your 　art.]

That evening, during their video call, Pei Ran frowned, looking conflicted. "You put in two extra spaces."

"My hand slipped." The captain who had just scored eleven kills in a single round offered a thoroughly perfunctory excuse. Yan Zhun dried his face and hung up the towel. "When are you coming?"

Pei Ran's passport had expired, and he had recently been getting it renewed.

"My ticket's for next Tuesday." Feeling guilty, Pei Ran turned off his Weibo notifications. "Delete that post."

The coach had talked to them. The team wasn't against relationships, but didn't approve of coming out publicly. After all, the consequences were unknown, and the team felt there was no need to take that risk.

Yan Zhun said, "I can't even promote an artist I like?"

Pei Ran wanted to laugh a little, but held his lips firm and called his name seriously. "Yan Zhun."

"I won't." Yan Zhun looked down at him, unable to resist taking a few screenshots. "When you come next week, take my phone and delete it yourself."

The day Pei Ran flew to Cologne, the PUBG Global Invitational officially began.

By the time Pei Ran reached the hotel, TZG's players had already left. He left his luggage with the staff member staying behind and hurried to the venue.

The coach had arranged a front-row seat for him, but he still couldn't make out the players' faces and had to rely on the big screen. Just as he sat down, the players began coming onstage.

The people sitting beside Pei Ran were Chinese too, a few Chinese girls. When the camera showed Yan Zhun, their screams startled him.

Only after the camera cut away did things around him finally quiet down a little. Pei Ran took out his phone and messaged the coach to let him know he had arrived, so he wouldn't worry.

"Aaah! I got GOD's WeChat!!"

Pei Ran's fingertips paused. He couldn't help turning his head slightly to look at the girl beside him.

There wasn't enough light over the audience seats for him to see her face clearly. He only knew that her every movement carried a light, feminine fragrance.

"Really?! How did you get it?!"

"Shh... I bought it from a TZG staff member."

"Holy shit!!! Have you added him?"

"I'll wait until this match is over." The girl couldn't help smiling. "I even specifically asked. GOD doesn't have a girlfriend."

"I believe in you, girl. Hurry and make your prettiest picture your profile photo."

Pei Ran silently slipped his phone into his pocket.

The girls chatted excitedly for a long time before stopping. Just before the match began, the person beside Pei Ran finally glanced at him.

"Oh, a fellow Chinese!" The girl's eyes curved in a smile. "Are you an international student too?"

Pei Ran shook his head. "I'm just here to watch the tournament."

"Wow, a real fan. You came all the way overseas to watch a PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds tournament?" the girl said. "Which team are you a fan of? TZG or WWP? Or are you a fan of a particular player?"

Pei Ran was quiet for a moment.

The girl understood. "You like a foreign team? My friend does too..."

"No." The stage lights came on, and Pei Ran instinctively looked ahead.

Sensing that Pei Ran wasn't very interested in chatting, the girl pressed her lips together and nodded, just about to look away.

"...I like GOD from TZG." Pei Ran turned and smiled at her. "I'm his fan."

TZG played beautifully in the opening match. Although they only got the chicken's butt-second place-the team had fourteen kills in total, allowing TZG to open a lead over the other teams on the kill leaderboard on the very first day.

TZG's players left the stage amid the uproar.

Lin Xuhuan stretched. "Tsk. When we reached the final circle, I'd already planned what to say in the winner's interview."

"Stop saying things like that," the coach said. "Haven't the people online cursed you out enough?"

"It's fine. They're used to my trash talk."

The coach rolled his eyes speechlessly. He turned, about to say something, only to see that Yan Zhun had already put on his down jacket and zipped it up, completely hiding his uniform.

The coach called him back. "There's no hurry to leave. They haven't decided where to eat dinner yet."

"I'm not coming. You guys eat." Yan Zhun lowered his cap, put on his mask, and shouldered his gear bag.

The coach understood immediately. "I'll have someone bring Pei Ran in. Let's eat together."

"I'm taking him back to the hotel," Yan Zhun said.

Everyone's expressions immediately turned nosy.

Although he knew Yan Zhun had a sense of restraint, the coach still patted his shoulder in reminder. "The tournament's still going on. Take it easy."

Lin Xuhuan, who sat nearby and had sharp ears, immediately said, "It's fine. The hotel has great soundproofing. I tested it."

Yan Zhun picked up a cushion and tossed it into Lin Xuhuan's face with moderate force. "I'm off."

March temperatures in Cologne approached freezing. Pei Ran stood in a corner of the venue lobby, looking down and fiddling with his phone.

Someone suddenly tugged gently on his backpack. Pei Ran turned and saw the familiar brim of a black cap.

Yan Zhun was thoroughly covered up. His voice came low and deep through the mask. "Been waiting long?"

"No, I just came out." Just as Pei Ran finished speaking, his phone rang.

He had originally planned to return to the hotel on his own, so he had booked a car in advance. It had arrived.

Pei Ran said, "...I didn't get a chance to cancel."

"Perfect." Yan Zhun pulled into place the mask hanging from Pei Ran's left ear. "Let's go back to the hotel."

On the ride back, Yan Zhun's phone kept ringing. He didn't move, letting it ring.

He had trained late into the night and gotten up to compete after only a few hours of sleep. From waking up until just now, he had been wound tight. Only after getting into the car with Pei Ran did his shoulders finally relax.

The back seat was spacious, but they still chose to sit shoulder to shoulder. Beneath their thick sleeves, they held hands naturally.

Before Pei Ran could ask anything, Yan Zhun shifted forward a little, slouching lower and resting his head on Pei Ran's shoulder.

"I didn't sleep well last night," he said softly.

Pei Ran instinctively tried to find a position that would be comfortable for Yan Zhun to lean against. "Then sleep for a bit. I'll wake you when we get there."

Once they reached the hotel, Yan Zhun fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow. Pei Ran collected his luggage from the staff, briefly unpacked, and went to shower. There were no direct flights from Mancheng to Cologne, and he had taken a two-hour train ride after his plane landed. He felt uncomfortable all over without washing.

Yan Zhun was still sleeping when he came out, so Pei Ran decided to wait until he woke before ordering room service. He had just pressed the "Do not disturb" button when a muffled voice came from the bed. "Still not done?"

"I'm done." Pei Ran paused. "I thought you were asleep. Do you want dinner?"

"Don't feel like eating." Yan Zhun opened his eyes. "Come here."

The moment Pei Ran lay down, he was hugged like a body pillow.

Yan Zhun said, "I haven't showered yet, but my uniform covered this shirt the whole time. It's not dirty. Do you mind?"

Pei Ran let him hold him. "I don't."

Yan Zhun took things further, lowering his head and burying his face in the crook of Pei Ran's neck to smell his body wash.

He hadn't seen Pei Ran in almost two weeks.

On the table, Yan Zhun's phone vibrated nonstop.

Pei Ran asked, "Should we tell the coach we're back at the hotel?"

"We're not children."

Pei Ran could only tell the truth. "...My neck tickles a little."

Yan Zhun paused for two seconds, then burst out laughing. His breath brushed Pei Ran's neck, making it tickle even more.

Yan Zhun slowly sat up, picked up his phone, and handed it to Pei Ran.

Pei Ran looked at him blankly. "?"

"Didn't you want to delete that Weibo post?"

Only then did Pei Ran remember the post. WeChat was open on Yan Zhun's phone, and the coach had already sent ten messages.

"Reply to your messages first." Pei Ran glanced at the bottom of the screen, then quickly looked away. "...Looks like there are friend requests too."

Yan Zhun lay back down, replied to his messages right in front of Pei Ran, then opened the friend requests.

[Baa requests to add you as a friend. Additional message: qaq!~]

[Baa requests to add you as a friend. Additional message: GOD, please accept me, I'm begging you~~]

Yan Zhun never casually gave out his private WeChat account. He stared at the verification messages for a few seconds before realizing it was a fan.

Yan Zhun frowned. Just as he was about to reject the request, he noticed the person beside him staring intently at his phone.

"I've never given a fan my WeChat."

Pei Ran paused, then said, "I know."

He briefly explained what had happened at the venue that day.

After finishing, Pei Ran hesitated for a moment, but still said, "Actually... you can add fans if you want."

Lin Xuhuan and the others had all added a few fans, more or less. They were die-hard fans, the kind who showered them with rocket gifts during livestreams.

As long as he doesn't get too carried away chatting, Pei Ran thought.

And doesn't add too many.

Yan Zhun interrupted his thoughts. "How did you answer?"

Pei Ran blinked. "What?"

"When she asked which player you liked, what did you say?"

Pei Ran said, "I said I liked GOD."

"..."

Yan Zhun had meant to tease him, but had forgotten that Pei Ran was always honest and answered whatever he was asked.

Yan Zhun rejected the friend request. "I won't add her. One fan is enough. I couldn't handle more."

Pei Ran blurted out, "You've already added one?"

Yan Zhun hummed in agreement. "An artist. He's pretty good at drawing, and he even confessed to me on Weibo."

Pei Ran: "..."

"But he won't let me repost his Weibo. Tell me, do you think he's about to stop being my fan?"

Pei Ran's ears reddened. Speechless for a long moment, he said, "He isn't."

Yan Zhun said, "You never know. He doesn't seem to want anything to do with me."

As soon as Yan Zhun finished speaking, he received a kiss on the lips.

Pei Ran said, "I told you he isn't."

The roleplay ended. Yan Zhun freed a hand to press against his forehead and kissed him back, gently and firmly.

With a lover he had been separated from for so many days, the slightest contact could spark a flame. After kissing him for a while, Yan Zhun restrained himself and lifted his head. "Don't steal kisses during this period. I won't be able to hold back."

Yan Zhun did have boundaries in this regard. He wouldn't go too far during a tournament, and he might still have to attend a meeting with the coach later.

Pei Ran pressed his lips together, clearing away the moisture, and said, "Okay."

A few seconds later, Pei Ran earnestly added, "But you can kiss me."

Yan Zhun: "."

Sometimes he really suspected Pei Ran was doing it on purpose.

After lying there for half an hour, Yan Zhun ordered room service, and the hotel soon sent dinner up.

Afraid Pei Ran would find them dirty, Yan Zhun rinsed the bowls and utensils supplied by the hotel. When he came out, Pei Ran was on the phone. He was peeling shrimp with gloves on, his phone on speaker.

"If you have time, you can visit Cathedral Square. There are lots of street artists there." The woman's voice on the other end was gentle and unhurried.

Realizing Pei Ran was speaking with family, Yan Zhun quietly sat to one side without interrupting.

Mother and son chatted for a while, finally seeming ready to hang up.

"Are you staying with Yan Zhun now?" Pei Ran's mother suddenly asked.

Yan Zhun froze and turned to look at him, his expression unusually dazed.

Pei Ran said, "Mm."

"He must be very busy during this period. You should book a separate room," Pei Ran's mother said.

Pei Ran said, "I'll discuss it with him."

After hanging up, Pei Ran turned and saw Yan Zhun's surprised expression. He explained, "A while ago, she noticed I was always watching your matches, so I told her. Do you mind?"

Of course Yan Zhun didn't mind. But after learning this, all his sleepiness vanished, and he even felt a little inexplicably nervous.

As a result, even after Pei Ran fell asleep, he was still staring at the ceiling.

A moment later, Yan Zhun quietly got up, casually threw on a jacket, and took his phone onto the balcony.

He pulled up the WeChat contact he had only recently added back.

[Zhunle: Dad, what are you doing?]

When he received no reply, he sent his mother a message too.

[Mom: We just woke up. Wait a bit. He types slowly.]

[Yan Yilüji: What is it?]

[Zhunle: I missed you. Thought I'd have a chat with you.]

[Zhunle: How has your health been lately?]

Yan Zhun's father pushed up his glasses and squinted at the words on his phone screen, feeling that all this flattery was full of traps.

[Yan Yilüji: Much better with you gone.]

[Zhunle: Mm, I've discovered something. I'd like to tell you about it in detail.]

[Yan Yilüji: Wait a moment.]

[Zhunle: I've discovered I like men.]

After sending that message, Yan Zhun muted notifications from his dad, then opened a travel app and booked a hotel for a full week, starting on the day the tournament ended. Once the app confirmed the booking, he turned and went back inside.

Yan Zhun had stood outside for so long that a little chill clung to him, so he simply lay down on top of the covers, planning to get underneath once he had warmed up a little.

A hand emerged from under the covers and touched the back of his hand. Startled awake by the cold, Pei Ran groggily half-opened his eyes.

Before Yan Zhun could say anything, Pei Ran nestled closer, then reached out to hold him and shared half his quilt with him.

"...Are you cold?" Pei Ran asked in a muffled voice, half asleep. "Come a little closer. I'm warm."

Yan Zhun said, "Okay." Less than half a minute after he spoke, Pei Ran's breathing steadied again.

Night shrouded the town. A few snowflakes drifted slowly down, melting as soon as they touched the earth.

Cologne sank into a romantic, snowy night. The city slumbered, and the lovers slept in each other's arms.