On the night when meteors streaked across the sky, Chen Yuzheng sat on a rock, looking incredibly serious as he made his peculiar wish to the night sky.
After making his wish, he turned to look at Yu Nuo.
She was completely stunned, her face alternating between red and white.
How could someone be so shameless… as if they had no concept of embarrassment at all.
Chen Yuzheng’s handsome face remained completely unabashed as he smiled and even asked her: “Do you think the heavens heard my wish?”
After struggling for a while, Yu Nuo shot back: “Go ask the meteor shower.”
After coming down from the mountain, Yu Nuo got into the car. She lowered her head to fasten the passenger seat belt when she suddenly remembered something she’d forgotten to ask earlier, “By the way, why did you suddenly change cars?”
After a pause, Chen Yuzheng replied: “I couldn’t drive the previous car anymore.” Wasn’t it fine just last night…
Yu Nuo: “Why? Did something break?”
“Every time I sat in it, all I could think about were things that would need to be censored,” Chen Yuzheng sighed. “I was afraid I’d get into an accident.”
Yu Nuo went quiet.
—
It was already 2-3 AM when they got home after watching the meteor shower. Yu Nuo quickly washed up and lay in bed, setting an alarm.
But she still overslept the next day.
Yu Ge knocked on her door several times calling her to come eat.
Yu Nuo was extremely tired, her eyelids feeling like they were glued shut with super glue. She dawdled in bed for five minutes before throwing off the covers and getting up. Walking to the dining room, she rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand to find takeout already laid out on the table.
Yu Nuo pulled out a chair and sat down, letting out a yawn. Her voice was heavy with sleepiness as she said, “Sorry, brother. I woke up late today and didn’t have time to cook.”
Yu Ge: “What time did you get back yesterday?”
She nodded sluggishly: “Mm.”
“What do you mean ‘mm’? I asked what time you got back.”
Yu Nuo took a moment to react, opening her eyes slightly: “I got back around 2-3 AM.”
As Yu Nuo was breaking apart her chopsticks, Yu Ge suddenly said: “What’s wrong with your neck?”
Yu Nuo’s movements froze as she belatedly raised her hand to touch her neck, now much more awake: “My neck? What’s wrong with it?”
Yu Ge frowned: “Did you have some kind of allergic reaction?”
Memories from last night suddenly flooded back and she stammered, trying to maintain a calm expression: “I went up the mountain to watch the meteor shower yesterday, right? Maybe I got bitten by mountain mosquitoes.”
Yu Ge made a sound of acknowledgment and lowered his eyes without asking further questions.
The two ate their meal quietly. Yu Nuo sat across from Yu Ge, occasionally stealing glances at his expression, unable to eat properly.
Yu Ge seemed to notice something and started to raise his head, causing her to quickly look down and pretend to be eating. At the same time, she was wavering internally about whether or not to come clean with Yu Ge.
She had been lying to him for so long, and her guilt was growing heavier. Each lie needed countless more lies to cover it up, and who knows when it would all be exposed. But Yu Nuo wasn’t sure what would happen if she revealed everything right now.
After struggling for a while, Yu Nuo decided to wait a bit longer and find a more appropriate time to talk to Yu Ge.
After all… he already knew that she liked Chen Yuzheng, which could serve as somewhat of a buffer.
After finishing their meal, they were cleaning up the takeout boxes together when the doorbell suddenly rang. Yu Nuo ran to answer it.
The delivery person checked the door number and pulled out a package: “Fish?”
Yu Nuo: “Yes, that’s right.”
“Please provide the last digits of your phone number.”
After Yu Nuo gave Yu Ge’s phone number digits, she took the package, which was flat and thin – she couldn’t tell what it was. She closed the door and called out, “Brother, you have a package. I got it for you.”
Yu Ge walked over.
Yu Nuo handed it to him: “What is it?”
Yu Ge stared at the package bag, first confused, then seeming to remember something as his expression became momentarily awkward. He coughed and said very unnaturally: “It’s for you, take it.”
Yu Nuo was curious: “For me?”
Yu Ge made an affirmative sound and quickly returned to his room.
Yu Nuo was bewildered but used some force to tear open the package. There was another layer of plastic wrap.
It seemed to be… a piece of clothing?
Yu Nuo casually threw the torn packaging into the trash and unfolded the clothing.
The front had a fish design, which was the logo designed by Yu Ge’s fans.
She turned the clothing around and saw a line of English letters on the back, freezing in place. Two seconds later, Yu Nuo looked at Yu Ge’s tightly closed door and silently started laughing.
…
…
After resting for a few days, the last promotion match was finished. Combined with the spring season points, the teams going to finals were determined. The LPL’s three teams’ departure ceremony was that afternoon, with a banquet in the evening.
Yu Ge replied to a few messages while changing into his team uniform in his room.
Yu Nuo sat cross-legged on the living room sofa, looking at study materials.
Yu Ge paused his steps, “Are you coming with me today?”
“You mean the departure ceremony? I’ll just watch the livestream on TV.”
“Will you be eating alone at home tonight?”
Yu Nuo thought for a moment – her exams were still far off and she didn’t have much going on recently, so she got up from the sofa: “Then I’ll go with you.”
Yu Nuo ran to the balcony, opened the glass door, and used the clothes pole to bring in the T-shirt she had washed yesterday.
Yu Ge noticed the shirt in her hands, “What are you doing?”
“I’m going to wear this today.” Yu Nuo smiled.
Yu Ge waited outside while she changed.
Yu Nuo tied her hair in a ponytail and deliberately coordinated her outfit, choosing a blue plaid skirt that matched the color scheme of the fish on the front of the T-shirt.
After putting her phone, perfume, and charger in her bag, Yu Nuo checked one more time to make sure she hadn’t forgotten anything before opening the door to leave.
Yu Ge’s gaze fell on her clothes.
Yu Nuo looked down at herself and asked happily: “How is it, brother? Does it look good?”
Yu Ge turned his gaze away awkwardly: “It’s alright.”
After meeting up with the OG team, A-Wen was the first to notice something off about Yu Nuo’s clothes. His eyes widened as he pointed at the English on her back, “Love Fish Forever?? What the heck is this?”
Yu Nuo answered seriously: “This is my brother’s support T-shirt.”
Will held back for a moment before breaking into laughter, “Little sister, you really are Yu Ge’s precious darling.”
Yu Ge completely ignored their teasing.
The rest area was a large room prepared by the officials, and OG’s people arrived first. While others were getting their makeup done, Will had nothing to do so he came to sit on the sofa and chat with Yu Nuo.
The members from the other two teams also pushed open the door and came in.
Chen Yuzheng was talking with Killer, wearing a baseball cap that partially blocked his vision. Killer had sharp eyes and after scanning the room, he nudged the person next to him: “Yu Nuo, look, it’s Yu Nuo!”
Chen Yuzheng glanced over.
Will was sitting next to Yu Nuo and following her line of sight, turned his head to meet a pair of dark eyes. He and Chen Yuzheng were barely acquaintances who had only exchanged nods, barely speaking a few words to each other.
They stared at each other across the crowd of people moving back and forth, with Will being the first to look away.
He felt somewhat puzzled and thought back – what had he done? Why did that person just look at him with such aggression?
Seeing Yu Nuo smile at Chen Yuzheng, Will asked, “Little sister, are you close with Conquer?”
Yu Nuo: “Mm, pretty much.”
Will made a sound of acknowledgment and asked again: “Then when you work at TG, has anyone given you a hard time?”
“No, why do you suddenly ask that?”
“Well, that Conquer…” Will hesitated for a moment, “He’s just… really hard to describe… you know what I mean? Before when I was at Standing Fish, I played an exhibition match with him. I didn’t provoke anyone, but he kept taunting me from the opposite side. Later I figured he probably really hates your brother, so he has a lot of hostility towards OG people.”
Yu Nuo: “……..”
She hesitated for a moment, “That shouldn’t be the case, right? Could it be that you two had some conflict before?”
Will dismissed it: “What conflict could I possibly have with him?”
At this moment, her phone received a message.
Conquer: “Why didn’t you tell me you came?”
Yu Nuo: “It was a last-minute decision, I didn’t have time to tell you”
Conquer: “You’re someone who has a boyfriend now, you should keep your distance from other men.”
After reading this message, Yu Nuo raised her head to look for Chen Yuzheng.
He was sitting in front of the makeup mirror, with staff bending over and styling his hair.
Through the mirror’s reflection, Chen Yuzheng lowered his eyes and slowly typed on his phone. Conquer: “Stop talking to that rooster head.”
Rooster head?
Yu Nuo didn’t understand at first, but suddenly noticed Will’s hairstyle beside her.
His hair was quite short, shaved flat on both sides, and today for some unknown reason, he had the styling assistant gel up all the hair in the middle, making it look somewhat like a rooster’s comb.
Yu Nuo was amused by Chen Yuzheng’s sharp tongue.
Conquer: “I’ve disliked him for a long time”
Yu Nuo had just heard Will speaking ill of him, and now received Chen Yuzheng’s “warning”. She was confused: “What’s wrong with him?”
Conquer: “On our first date, you brought him along. Were you deliberately trying to annoy me?”
First date?
When did they go on a date with Will?
Yu Nuo tried to recall in her mind.
After thinking for a long time, she finally identified the “first date” Chen Yuzheng was referring to.
It must have been that time at Starbucks.
A few days ago when she had hurt her foot, Chen Yuzheng took her to the hospital. She didn’t want to owe him a favor, so she treated him to a meal. Will happened to be the one who drove her there. But at that time, she and Chen Yuzheng weren’t very familiar with each other.
Yu Nuo wanted to laugh but held it back.
Chen Yuzheng could be quite petty sometimes… getting jealous over such old matters was really quite absurd.
…
…
The departure ceremony was routinely just a formality – the teams would appear on stage, create some ceremonial atmosphere, and give fans a chance to see their beloved players in person.
After it ended, it was around five or six in the evening.
As soon as OG’s people came out of the venue, they were immediately surrounded by fans who had been waiting for a long time. Yu Ge was wearing a mask and originally walking at the end of the team, quietly discussing with Yu Nuo about visiting their grandmother’s grave in a few days.
When excited female fans discovered him, they called out and surged towards his direction.
There were only a few security guards who couldn’t manage both front and back. After OG, TG’s people also came out, and the fans who were originally waiting on the other side also rushed over. The security guards were helpless, only able to shout from the side but completely unable to stop the chaotic scene.
Yu Nuo was standing next to Yu Ge when her foot was stepped on by several people. There were too many people, and when she tried to move to the edge to wait, she was unintentionally pushed by a female fan, making her body sway.
Yu Ge noticed her movement and quickly tried to reach through the crowd to grab Yu Nuo, but was a step too late.
TG’s people happened to be nearby.
Chen Yuzheng had noticed Yu Nuo early on and kept looking in her direction. While absent-mindedly dealing with fans, he picked up a pen and quickly signed autographs for several people.
The security guards struggled to separate the fans from TG’s team members.
As Yu Nuo stumbled out of the crowd, just as she was about to fall, someone caught her in their arms.
Chen Yuzheng said to the male fan next to him who wanted a photo, “Brother, make way, don’t step on her.”
Yu Nuo leaned against Chen Yuzheng for support and steadied herself.
Their posture was too intimate, and several female fans were stunned, exchanging glances with each other.
Just then, Yu Ge also pushed through the crowd of fans and checked on Yu Nuo: “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.”
His eyes drifted and noticed Chen Yuzheng’s hand still on her waist. Yu Ge impatiently met his gaze, “What do you want?”
After a moment of silence, Chen Yuzheng smiled and let go of Yu Nuo, shrugging, “Nothing now.”
Yu Ge pulled Yu Nuo’s arm and led her away.
Seeing them get into the car, Killer sighed and put his arm around Chen Yuzheng’s neck, whispering in his ear: “Zheng, look at your brother-in-law, he’s way too fierce. Can you handle it in the future? Although you got the girl, the road ahead is long! I’m afraid you won’t be able to enter the Yu family’s door!”
Ultraman stood nearby gloating: “Chen Yuzheng, try kneeling for three days and three nights in front of Yu Ge, see if he’ll let you in.”
Chen Yuzheng shook off both their hands, irritably saying: “Get lost.”
—
At the banquet hotel, Yu Nuo still sat at the same table as OG.
TG was at the next table, close enough that even Ultraman and Killer’s shouts while playing games could be heard clearly.
A-Wen sighed: “Ah, young people these days have such good energy.”
Yu Nuo had a small appetite and was almost full after just two bites. From the corner of her eye, she suddenly noticed someone getting up from the next table. She secretly glanced sideways, her gaze following Chen Yuzheng for a while.
After a while, her phone on the table vibrated. She secretly picked it up and looked at it. Chen Yuzheng had sent a photo.
Conquer: “Come over”
Yu Nuo: “?”
Conquer: “Come have a secret rendezvous”
Yu Nuo: “I’m with my brother right now……”
Conquer: “?”
He sent three or four confused emoji expressions to show his dissatisfaction.
Yu Nuo’s lips curled into a smile. She put away her phone and excused herself to Yu Ge, saying softly: “Brother, I’m going to the bathroom.”
Yu Ge made a sound of acknowledgment.
From a distance, she saw him standing at the corner of the corridor. The hotel’s carpet was soundproof, and she quietly walked up, stood still, and with a slight smile, suddenly slapped his shoulder hard, “Chen Yuzheng!”
Chen Yuzheng turned around.
Yu Nuo smiled brightly: “How was that, did I scare you?”
He stepped back two paces, leaning against the wall, his mood not very high: “No.”
Having been forced to drink half a glass of baijiu by Ultraman and Killer at the table earlier, the alcohol was now affecting him. Chen Yuzheng’s expression was relaxed, making him appear very docile. But his alcohol tolerance was good, so he wasn’t drunk, he just wanted to see her.
Chen Yuzheng looked at her for a while, “That shirt you’re wearing is quite eye-catching.”
Yu Nuo: “?”
“Turn around.”
Yu Nuo didn’t know what he wanted but obediently turned around, “What is it?”
He narrowed his eyes, reading the English words on her back: “Love, Fish, Forever?”
She turned back to face him, explaining: “This is my brother’s support T-shirt.”
“I’m a bit jealous.”
Yu Nuo: “Jealous of what?”
Chen Yuzheng just leaned against the wall, lifting his eyelids: “My girlfriend wearing another man’s support T-shirt and parading in front of me, how is that appropriate?”
Yu Nuo tried to reason with him: “This isn’t just any other man, this is my brother.”
“Your brother isn’t a man?”
Yu Nuo was left speechless by his twisted logic.
Chen Yuzheng continued finding fault: “I’m not just jealous, I’m also angry.”
Yu Nuo felt somewhat helpless.
He maintained an uncompromising expression: “Think of a way to make me feel better.”
Yu Nuo played along with his sulking. After thinking for a while, she suggested: “How about I treat you to a meal another day?”
Chen Yuzheng raised his eyebrows: “You think I’m a beggar, trying to appease me like this?”
Yu Nuo broke into laughter and poked his arm: “Then you suggest something.”
Chen Yuzheng looked down at her with half-lidded eyes, his chin slightly raised in an deliberately aloof manner, “Kiss me.”
Yu Nuo: “……”
Yu Nuo was a head shorter than him, and today she was wearing flat shoes. She stood on her tiptoes, barely managing to reach his shoulders. Chen Yuzheng seemed to deliberately make things difficult for her, not moving at all or accommodating her height.
She felt somewhat defeated: “You’re too tall, I can’t reach.”
Chen Yuzheng maintained his proud expression: “Figure it out yourself.”
Yu Nuo jumped a little, quickly kissing his chin before backing away: “There, I kissed you. Is that okay?”
“What do you think?”
Chen Yuzheng finally reached out, pulled Yu Nuo by the waist, and forcefully pressed her against the corner of the wall, lowering his head to seek her lips.
…
…
There were many people coming and going to the bathroom here, and afraid that someone might stumble upon this scene, Yu Nuo, though lost in his slightly alcoholic kiss, suddenly came to her senses and pushed him slightly: “What if someone sees us?”
Chen Yuzheng held her in his arms, resting his chin on her shoulder, his hot breath coming out: “Let them see, is it illegal for me to hug my girlfriend?”
Yu Nuo sensed that he was somewhat sulking, though she didn’t know why, so she could only soothingly pat his shoulder, “Are you unhappy?”
“Yeah, you’ve been with your brother all day, and earlier you were even laughing with that rooster head.”
“Even lottery winners haven’t been as happy as you were.”
Yu Nuo really couldn’t remember being that happy.
She also found it very funny how Chen Yuzheng referred to Will, but since he seemed to be genuinely accusing her now, Yu Nuo didn’t dare laugh and could only try to appease him: “I was probably happy because I saw you.”
Suddenly, a familiar ice-cold voice came from behind: “Yu Nuo?”
Yu Nuo’s whole body froze, her fuzzy consciousness splitting open like it had been struck by lightning.
She reflexively pushed Chen Yuzheng away, slipping out of his embrace and turning around.
This was possibly the most torturous moment in Yu Nuo’s entire life, without exception.
Yu Ge, A-Wen, and Will – all three of them were standing just two steps away, staring directly at them.
A-Wen, who had been hesitating, was startled when he confirmed that the girl in Chen Yuzheng’s arms was indeed Yu Nuo. The shock sobered him up considerably: “What are you two doing?”
Will stepped back two paces, muttering in horror: “Damn, the precious darling has strayed…”
Yu Ge took a deep breath, scanning the red marks on her neck before fixing his gaze firmly on Chen Yuzheng, enunciating each word: “Don’t tell me he was the mountain mosquito.”
Yu Nuo: “……”
She unconsciously gripped her skirt hem, unable to think at all, let alone know what to say.
Time passed silently, and after a three-minute wordless standoff.
Chen Yuzheng tugged at the corner of his mouth, calmly straightening his clothes before standing up straight. He stepped forward and casually put his arm around Yu Nuo’s shoulders.
Yu Ge stared at him, his temple twitching as he held back at the brink of explosion.
“I suppose this is awkward for everyone.” Chen Yuzheng cleared his throat, speaking casually, “But things are exactly as you see them.”
In front of everyone’s eyes, Chen Yuzheng very naturally called out to Yu Ge standing in the distance, “Brother.”
Leave a Reply