Running Toward Her Light

GOD's official account immediately responded to the previous night's trending topic.

[GOD Club official account: We have looked into last night's trending topic concerning a team member, and there is no bullying whatsoever within the team. @GOD--Jin is an excellent player, so please rest assured. @GOD--bin has also stated that he was in a bad mood for personal reasons and that it had nothing to do with anyone else.]

To make the statement more credible, the official account posted a video of the GOD members' daily lives, a little over two minutes long. It showed Shi Mu laughing as he bantered with Clear and Wantonly.

It also showed Wu Jin polishing off three bowls of rice with her head down, shocking the big eater Wantonly; Clear giving Wu Jin a crystal ball and making a domineering declaration; and Wu Jin coming back from outside covered in grime and getting teased by Shi Mu.

With the lighthearted, funny background music and the editor's devilish touch, the video was both heartwarming and surreal.

The comments were enough to make people laugh their teeth out. A young fan who had run into Wu Jin before posted a long account that claimed a top spot in the comments, along with a photo of Wu Jin riding away on her bike.

"I ran into Jin before and wanted to take a photo with her, but Jin got knocked to the ground by a dog while protecting us. Then, not long after that, a fountain suddenly started spraying and soaked her. It was really both sad and hilarious."

"Miss Jin was so calm and still took a photo with us and signed autographs, and she's seriously super pretty in person!"

The photo of Wu Jin's grimy figure riding away on her bicycle tickled countless netizens, who turned it into memes.

"Her back really gives off such a hard-luck vibe. I'm dying of laughter."

"Baby Clear, that crystal ball you gave her made your mom's vision go black. How are you ever going to find a partner..."

"So was that why Jin was covered in grime later in the official video? I'm dying. Even the captain laughed at that clear, foolish look in her eyes."

"So they still didn't explain exactly what was bothering bin."

"GOD's daily life is hilarious! Official account, keep posting more just like this!"

"Support!!! They really feel like living, breathing people!"

Clear gritted his teeth and reposted the official account's post, trying to salvage his dignity.

[GOD--Clear: Jin said she liked it very much!!!! (Repost)]

Then, as expected, netizens and fans had another laugh at his expense.

Wu Jin, who had already become an internet comedian, knew nothing about it. She put toast in her mouth and chewed slowly without a trace of emotion, her eyes fixed intently on the game screen.

Wantonly was looking at the photo on Weibo, holding back a laugh. The next time he looked up, he saw the scene before him. He silently raised his camera and took a picture. He had a feeling this photo would definitely go viral.

Wantonly met Shi Mu's eyes. Shi Mu smiled meaningfully and waved the phone in his hand.

Wantonly nodded in understanding and sent him the photo in a private message.

So the captain wanted to snag a trending spot too.

Shi Mu looked at the girl in the photo, then at Wu Jin, who was playing her game intently beside him.

Mm, she really did look better in person.

With a dark expression, bin walked over to Wu Jin. "Jin."

Wu Jin turned to meet his gaze, her expression as cool as ever. Bin clenched his hands into fists at his sides, took a deep breath, and bowed to her.

"I'm sorry, Jin. I'm very sorry for causing you trouble."

Without waiting for Wu Jin to respond, he returned to his seat and put on his headphones, shutting himself off from everyone else.

Wu Jin: ( ? _ ? )

Winter always arrived in Jiangcheng faster than in other cities, and in the blink of an eye, it was New Year's Day.

At this time every year, each team prepared a themed evening livestream as a treat for their fans.

A few days earlier, FKL's official account had launched a poll featuring over a dozen stage performance videos. Some were cool, some were seductive, and some were absurd mashups.

The fans' votes would determine which dance each team performed, and so the star team GOD, with its huge fanbase, was very honored to be assigned King Zhou and Daji.

Wu Jin had gone to the hospital early that morning to keep Grandma Wu company. The girl's features were strikingly cool and beautiful, her brows distant as mountains, her slender eyes full of calm. In contrast, the absurd video on her phone was a complete riot.

Grandma Wu tilted her head and leaned over for a look, her eyes crinkling with laughter. Young people these days really were full of energy.

"Is this the dance you're doing tonight? It really is interesting."

Wu Jin gave her grandmother a helpless look, her voice carrying a wheedling note she hadn't noticed herself. "Grandma..."

Grandma Wu was something of an expert at surfing the internet now. She watched every one of Wu Jin's livestreams, introduced her granddaughter to the other patients and the young nurses, and pulled them in to watch with her.

The old lady had also become hooked on surfing the web. Some of the expressions she came out with even left Wu Jin puzzled, and Grandma Wu laughed at her for being so young yet living like an old person.

That said, ever since her granddaughter had gone off to play games, her whole demeanor had noticeably improved. Her brows had relaxed a great deal, and she had started taking more care with her appearance.

Other people might not have noticed, but she had raised Wu Jin from childhood and could see it clearly.

Her Xiao Jin... really was doing very well now.

Outside the window, the sky gradually darkened, and the warm yellow streetlights came on. Sounds of merriment drifted over from afar. The vibration of Wu Jin's phone drew her attention back. It was a message from the captain.

Rì Cùn (captain): The team's having dinner together tonight. Want to come?

Wu Jin looked up at her grandmother, who smiled and nodded.

WJ: Okay.

Rì Cùn (captain): Come on out. We're at the entrance.

Wu Jin walked over to the window and looked down. Wantonly stood in front of the car, waving up at her with a grin.

Clear struck a cool pose and nodded to Wu Jin. Brother Qian couldn't stand watching and gave him a punch. Clear clutched the back of his head, turned around, and started arguing with Brother Qian.

A little farther to the side, Shi Mu leaned against the car door and breathed out a puff of white air. Wearing a faint smile, he gestured for her to come down.

Wu Jin pressed her lips together.

"Grandma, I'm going now."

The girl's expression was as calm as ever, but she watched as the floor indicator on the elevator took its time reaching her floor.

Wu Jin turned and headed for the stairwell. Every footstep, every breath, failed to drown out the pounding of her heart.

The girl burst through the darkness and ran out of the hospital's main entrance. The GOD members were standing right there, waiting for her.

The falling snowflakes seemed to slow down, landing in the girl's sparkling eyes and melting.

"Why did you run so fast? Quick, put your scarf on, or you'll freeze!"

Like a doting father, Brother Qian wrapped a pink scarf around Wu Jin's neck, placing the part embroidered with a Hello Kitty design beneath her chin.

Mm, she really was his precious darling, so cute! He was just too good at picking scarves.

Wantonly opened the door with a cheerful smile. "Is Little A Jin hungry? I'm hungry too. Hop in, the captain's treating us today, so we're eating something good!"

Clear sat down beside Wu Jin in a sneaky manner and took two cartoon-wrapped boxes out of his backpack. He gave one to Wu Jin, and when she opened it, it was matcha mochi ice cream!

"Quick, eat it. I bought it in secret. Brother Mu doesn't know."

Wu Jin's eyes immediately lit up. Ever since she fell ill last time, the captain hadn't allowed the team to eat ice cream.

The two of them hid at the very back of the car, happily eating. Shi Mu watched their reflections in the car window, his smile stirring hearts.

It was New Year's Eve today, so he would indulge them this once.

The others also pretended not to know. Those two really were dimwits: they were all in the same car, so no matter how quietly they "conspired," everyone could hear them perfectly clearly. No one had exposed them, that was all. Even Coach Ming, who was driving, was chuckling to himself.