Happy New Year

"Brother Mu really splurged to treat us to Kuixing Tower today. It's usually so hard to get a reservation, but I never thought I, Wantonly, would finally get to eat there!"

Wantonly's eyes were full of longing for the food. Kuixing Tower was famous in Jiangcheng, and he had been drooling over it for ages.

Once the dishes were served, Brother Qian delivered an opening speech with great ceremony, and everyone raised their glasses and cheered.

"Happy New Year!"

Brother Qian didn't stop the players from having a drink now and then, especially on a festive occasion like this, when it added to the cheer and good fortune.

But everyone was drinking red wine mixed with half a bottle of Sprite, since they still had to livestream that night.

Wu Jin's little face turned a little rosy after just one sip. Shi Mu noticed, his eyes curving with laughter as he teased her on purpose.

"Getting all shy just from a drink?"

Then he asked the waiter to bring her a glass of milk. In Shi Mu's subconscious, he still thought of Wu Jin as a growing child.

Children naturally needed to drink more milk to get their calcium, although he himself had only just turned twenty and was only a little older than Wu Jin and Clear on the team.

The others noticed Wu Jin's rosy face and all laughed.

"A-Jin, you can't hold your liquor! Watch this young master drink a whole case without falling over!"

Brother Qian rolled his eyes in exasperation and swung another punch at the back of Clear's head. "Stop leading our little A-Jin astray!"

Wantonly held up his phone and stood at the front. "Come on, everyone, make a V!"

Wu Jin obediently made a V sign, her face cool and aloof. Sitting beside her, Clear raised her hand high and made a V with her, grinning with unrestrained exuberance.

Shi Mu folded his arms and chuckled helplessly, flecks of starlight hidden in his peach blossom eyes. Even bin wore a rare smile, while the two heads of the family, Coach Ming and Brother Qian, smiled decorously at the camera.

With a click, GOD's first casual group photo was born.

After the meal, Wantonly and Clear took Wu Jin running to the riverside and placed the sparklers they had prepared in her hands.

"Hehe, these are really pretty. I looked up a guide."

Wantonly proudly took out a lighter and lit the sparklers in their hands.

In an instant, dazzling sparks bloomed. They twirled the fireworks in their hands, weaving golden threads that shimmered with flowing light. The light and their laughter were reflected in their eyes, and they were like magicians in a fairy tale, waving their magic wands.

Wantonly was having the time of his life when he accidentally touched Clear's hand with his sparkler.

"Ah! Si Yicheng, how dare you attack me on the sly!"

"Oh, I didn't mean to! Little A-Jin, save me!"

Holding his sparkler, Wantonly darted back and forth in front of and behind Wu Jin, trying to escape Clear's pursuit.

Brother Qian watched them fool around, feeling somewhat gratified, and took out his phone to capture the moment. Only at times like this did he feel they were like ordinary teenagers, full of life and passion.

Professional players entered closed training at such a young age and rarely got to enjoy their youth like others their age. All they could do was repeat the same tedious practice and training day after day.

How could the road to glory be easy? Sweat and tears were hidden in their dream, in that golden rain.

As he thought about it, his eyes reddened too.

Shi Mu buried his chin in his scarf and grinned as he took out his phone and snapped a picture of Brother Qian. "Old Qian, you're getting sentimental too."

Brother Qian immediately dropped his smile. "You brat! I'll teach you a lesson!"

Shi Mu burst out laughing and ran toward Wu Jin and the others.

Every New Year's Eve, the space in front of the People's Monument was packed with people, because the bell would ring at the stroke of midnight, and everyone would look forward to the new year together.

Relying on his strength (his massive build), Wantonly led the GOD group through five passes and past six generals, squeezing their way to a spot relatively close to the front.

A pink balloon was tied around Wu Jin's wrist by Shi Mu, who said that way she wouldn't get lost.

Coach Ming took out the markers he had prepared and handed them out so everyone could write their New Year's wishes on their balloons.

"Wow, Coach Ming, I didn't know you were so trendy!"

"What, do you think I'm a caveman? Hmph!"

Wu Jin held her balloon without putting pen to it for a long time. Shi Mu leaned his head over. "The balloon can carry a wish of any size. No need to worry about it."

"I'm going to wish to slim down into a super handsome guy next year!"

"It'd be easier to just wish to be reincarnated."

"Zhouzhou (Clear), how did you learn to talk so sharply from the captain?"

Clear snorted and turned his face away, not bothering to pay him any attention.

The captain who had been called out blinked innocently. "I just love telling the truth~"

Everyone went "Eww" together.

Wu Jin thought for a while, then picked up her pen and began to write. Seeing that she was taking a long time, Clear leaned over for a look.

Wu Jin turned slightly, completely blocking Clear's view.

"Tch, as if this young master cares to look."

The New Year's bell rang, and everyone released their balloons. Their New Year's wishes floated skyward with the wind as they shouted:

"Happy New Year!!!"

"Happy New Year."

Wu Jin murmured softly, raising her little face and following the drifting balloons with her eyes. At last, a faint smile appeared on her face.

The crowd surged amid the bustle and noise. Shi Mu saw Wu Jin's smile, and the throng gradually blurred.

Wu Jin stood before him so clearly, her eyes full of hope. He didn't want to miss even a second, feeling his heartbeat skip.

The wishes written on the balloons:

Wu Jin: I hope Grandma gets better, that everyone in GOD stays free from illness and misfortune and lives happily and healthily, and that Huahua gets her wish to make the most delicious little desserts in the world.

Shi Mu: Peace and joy ^-^

Clear: This young master stays handsome forever, and GOD wins the world championship!

Wantonly: Eat every day without getting fat, get rich get rich, win win win our matches

Bin: Better and better

Brother Qian: I hope everything goes as everyone in GOD wishes

Coach Ming: Please let me stop being single

Back at the base, everyone played rock-paper-scissors to divide up the roles in the stage play.

Wu Jin's luck was through the roof. She beat everyone with a single pair of scissors and chose the King Zhou outfit without hesitation.

Of the performance costumes delivered, King Zhou's was the only men's outfit. That meant the four remaining grown men would be wearing skirts no matter what they chose.

Everyone clenched their back teeth. At the very least, they couldn't end up with Daji's outfit!

Shi Mu breezed to victory in the second round and chose Empress Jiang.

"Ahhhhhh, no!"

In the final round, Clear suffered a crushing defeat at Wantonly's hands and won himself the Daji outfit.

No matter how unwilling he was, there was no room to maneuver. Under Brother Qian's watchful gaze, he took the clothes and went to change like a hero marching to his death.

At one in the morning, each team's livestream started on time. Dressed in imperial robes, Wu Jin sat lazily on the dragon throne specially prepared for the stream.

With her expressionless face and indifferent gaze, she really looked the part at first glance. As soon as fans entered the stream, they screamed wildly and flooded the chat.

Even if the sky fell, their Jin's peerless beauty would hold it up!!

"Help, my precious Jin is so handsome she's giving me a nosebleed. How can someone be both handsome and beautiful? (holds forehead with a wry smile)"

"Jin got to wear the only men's outfit, I'm dying laughing. Who's going to wear the Daji outfit? I can't wait!!"

"Wahahaha! Husband, you're so beautiful, ahhhhhh!!"

"Holy shit, holy shit, that's my husband??"

The bullet comments scrolled wildly. Shi Mu had entered the livestream frame from the side, wearing an empress's robes and a phoenix crown.

Shi Mu's features were exquisite, and every frown and smile captivated all who saw him. His commanding presence was hard to conceal, and sitting beside Wu Jin, he looked like the one who truly held power.

Wu Jin glanced at Shi Mu.

Mm, he made her look like a puppet emperor.

"This young master is here. Hurry up and welcome Lady Daji~"

The bullet comments exploded again.

"??? Who is this? Why can't I recognize them??"

"From the way he talks, I think it's my Clear... I'm seeing things..."

"Did GOD recruit another female player besides Jin??? This one's so pretty too."

"I don't dare open my eyes. I hope I'm hallucinating."

"Oh my god, he's way too gorgeous. Take a screenshot, you useless hands!"