A Strong Scent of Citrus

The overall MVP had to go backstage for an interview. Surrounded by a crowd of microphones and cameras, Wu Jin felt a little uncomfortable. She retreated half a step, only for her back to meet the wall. She truly had nowhere left to retreat.

Shi Mu stood outside the spotlight. Since this was Wu Jin's first interview, he had come along in case anyone made things difficult for her. His gaze lowered.

Seeing Wu Jin clutching her sleeve, he stepped forward and reached out, putting some distance between her and the microphones.

"Everyone, please step back a little. Sorry for the trouble."

The host caught on as well and immediately smoothed things over.

"Everyone's a little excited to interview Jin for the first time. Thanks for the reminder, Time. Your team members really do get along well."

Wu Jin turned to look at Shi Mu. He smiled at her and silently told her not to be nervous.

Seeing Jin's face up close, the host could hardly contain her delight.

"Jin, your performance today was outstanding. Is there anything you'd like to say to your fans?"

Wu Jin took the microphone and thought very seriously. "What's a CP?"

"Huh?"

The host froze, unable to process the question for a moment. Shi Mu covered his eyes, unable to watch.

Clear and Wantonly, who had just come over to check on Wu Jin, heard her question and slipped away again with their hands over their mouths. If they didn't leave now, they wouldn't be able to hold in their laughter.

That was their A-Jin, all right. The way her mind worked when answering questions was truly one of a kind.

The host worked hard to brace herself. Stay calm. I have to stay calm.

Although Jin's answer was very... very unusual, she could still work with it.

"Hahaha, Jin, that's a really interesting answer. Then is there anything you'd like to say to today's opponents, WSK?"

Wu Jin: "The captain said I wasn't allowed to say they were noobs."

Host: ...Someone save her.

Shi Mu covered his ears too, unable to listen.

Who would have thought Wu Jin would be the one "making things difficult" for the host?

"Oh my god, I'm dying. She's not allowed to call them noobs. Time just caught a stray."

"Jin, can you not be so honest? I'm seriously dying of laughter. Stop this farce."

"This little couple really likes copying each other, huh? Please give us a video of them kissing."

"The host is about to shatter. Someone help her, hahahaha!"

In the end, the biggest hit after the match was Wu Jin's post-match interview. The line "the captain said I wasn't allowed to say they were noobs" shot to the top of the trending searches.

It drew plenty of onlookers who didn't play the game, and they fell straight down the rabbit hole and became Wu Jin's fans.

Fans also made edits of the match footage. Notably, Clear and Wu Jin's interactions during the match won them a wave of CP fans, as did the steadily growing Ebony Meets Spring CP fandom.

"Jin just called out to Clear once and Clear's fire went out. If that's not love, what is?!"

"The bad-tempered puppy got his fur stroked smooth. A successful dog-training case. So sweet, so sweet!"

"When Jin got crowded up against the wall during the interview, God Mu stepped in to help. He stood by Jin's side protecting her the whole time!"

"The sugar in our Ebony Meets Spring is love expressed through metaphor! It's so great, boo-hoo-hoo. Time, don't love her too much."

Back at the base, Clear came across the fans' comments and sprang to his feet when he discovered that he and Wu Jin had a CP too.

"Hey, who said I don't have a CP? A-Jin and I have one too. It's called Quench Thirst CP."

Wu Jin looked at the phone Clear held out to her, utterly bewildered. She didn't understand.

Wantonly couldn't believe it. He opened the comments and tried to find his own CP. "What about mine?"

Shi Mu rolled his wrist and flashed a harmless smile. "The fans say you and the bushes are a CP."

Wantonly, FKL's support player who loved camping in the bushes most of all—he truly deserved the name.

Nobody wanted to be in a CP with grass, okay?!

When the time came for the shoot arranged with Spirit Snake, Brother Qian personally drove Wu Jin to the location early in the morning. As soon as they entered the dressing room, they spotted a familiar face.

"A-Jin! You're here!"

He Zhixiao's voice rang out sweet and clear. In the middle of having her makeup done, she twisted her head to smile at Wu Jin. If the makeup artist hadn't held her down, she would have rushed over to hug Little A Jin already.

"Huahua."

"Surprised? We're endorsing the brand together!"

As it turned out, Spirit Snake had hired two spokespeople in all: Wu Jin and He Zhixiao, the only two active female players in the esports scene.

Brother Qian rubbed his chin, seriously suspecting that the brand wanted to cash in on the pair's CP popularity.

After all, Flowers on Brocade had already grown into a relatively large fandom in the esports scene.

Spirit Snake: That's right, how did you know we shipped Flowers on Brocade~

Especially during the shoot, Wu Jin and He Zhixiao held hands and gazed into each other's eyes up close. It all looked extremely intimate.

A strong scent of citrus washed over him. The more Brother Qian watched, the more something seemed off.

Was this really a proper endorsement shoot?

When Wu Jin came out in her second look, the entire crew held their breath.

The girl's smooth, tender arms were covered in runes. Her hair was disheveled, and she held up a pure white gown. The gold ornaments adorning her body were ornate and elaborate, like exquisite shackles, and a pendant shaped like a keyboard keycap, made of solid gold, hung at her chest.

Brother Qian pulled out his phone and went kuku snapping pictures. His precious darling was simply too beautiful for words.

Flower's hair was entwined with vines and adorned with butterfly ornaments. A gardenia in full bloom rested on her shoulder, its pure white touched with a hint of red, making it both pure and alluring.

Her asymmetrical skirt was stained with grime, bleeding wounds were painted on her legs, and she held a wooden bow and arrow.

The moment the designer saw them, his heart surged with emotion. This was exactly the feeling he wanted!

He excitedly wiped his eyes, nearly bursting into tears.

He had finally found his muses.

In the script, Wu Jin played a divine maiden being offered as a sacrifice. On the road to the altar, a gardenia fell at her feet. The divine maiden picked up the flower and placed it in the pure River of Love.

Just as the high priest was about to cut out the divine maiden's heart with a knife, the gardenia took human form and shot an arrow. The high priest spat blood and fell to the ground, and the god's followers rushed forward as one, raising their swords and knives to stab the divine maiden.

The gardenia swept the divine maiden up around the waist and carried her away. Their gazes intertwined, the divine maiden's filled with confusion and the gardenia's with determination. Just then, a sword flew toward them and slashed the gardenia's leg.

Endless sorrow rippled in the divine maiden's eyes as countless swords and knives came flying toward them. The gardenia fought through the pain and stood up to shield the divine maiden.

Both their bodies were pierced, and the blood from their hearts spilled onto the pendant at the divine maiden's chest,

A great light enveloped them both, and the keycap transformed into a giant keyboard that floated on the River of Love.

The divine maiden and the gardenia lay on it, looking at each other's faces with lingering smiles.

The two women's acting exceeded everyone's expectations, bringing tears to many eyes.

The script seemed tailor-made for them: a divine maiden bound by fate, and a gardenia willing to do anything to change the divine maiden's ending.

Although Wu Jin and He Zhixiao were speechless at the idea of lying on a keyboard, at least the story was good.

After filming ended, He Zhixiao was so immersed in her role that she couldn't stop crying. She sobbed in Wu Jin's arms while Wu Jin's trembling lashes cast shadows.

A gentle air softened her cool face as she lightly patted He Zhixiao's back.

Quite a few crew members took out their phones and secretly photographed the scene.

Boo-hoo-hoo, Flowers on Brocade was a heavenly pairing!

After He Zhixiao calmed down, Wu Jin changed her clothes and looked everywhere for Brother Qian.

At last, the two of them found Brother Qian in a corner of the studio. Moved by the story but unwilling to cry in front of everyone, he was secretly weeping...

He Zhixiao: "Your manager's pretty sentimental, huh..."

Wu Jin: ...

"Click."

Wu Jin had forgotten to turn off the flash.

Brother Qian froze and turned around, his face full of disbelief. When had his precious darling learned to be naughty???