She was quite puzzled then why he was smiling, and now she finally understood.
He was happy because the class monitor was jealous for him.
No wonder he gave her a whole set of signed merchandise, no wonder he insisted on giving it to her at the start of the school year, and no wonder he specifically came over tonight to give her tickets…
So, he was trying to win her over.
He wanted her to help him.
Thinking back to the first day of school, Sheng Kuang’s insistence on seeing her off was probably because he thought he could coincidentally meet the class monitor at school.
She was too slow to realize his intentions sooner.
Fortunately, she understood now, and wouldn't waste the two tickets he gave her tonight.
After much thought, Lin Jing felt her understanding was completely sound.
Especially when he said he brought someone for her to use, and when she asked who he was bringing, he said, "Do I even need to ask? The one who looks most pleasing to the eye."
At the time, she thought it referred to who she found most pleasing to the eye. In the end, she overestimated herself. Sheng Kuang clearly meant who he found most pleasing to the eye.
Lin Jing flipped over and silently picked up her phone, tapped on WeChat, and found He Lin.
Xiao Jing Jiang: Are you asleep yet?
He Lin: No, what's up? Lin Jing.
Xiao Jing Jiang: Do you want to watch the match? The kPL Autumn Season, the yLs game. I have two tickets. If you want to go, shall we go together?
He Lin didn’t reply for a long time.
Just as Lin Jing thought He Lin had fallen asleep, he finally responded.
He Lin: Lin Jing, are you sure you didn't send the message to the wrong person? Did you send it to me?
Xiao Jing Jiang: Yes, I'm sure.
He Lin went silent again.
Lin Jing couldn't figure out what he meant and impatiently asked, "Are you going or not?"
He Lin: Yes, of course I'm going. Sudanshuwang.com
Xiao Jing Jiang: Ok
He Lin: What are you doing? Are you going to sleep? We're playing in our dorm. Do you want to join?
Xiao Jing Jiang: No, you guys go ahead and play.
Lin Jing was about to put down her phone when she suddenly seemed to remember something and picked it up again.
Xiao Jing Jiang: I have a question for you.
He Lin: Go ahead.
Xiao Jing Jiang: What do you think about two guys dating?
He Lin: I don't think much about it. All relationships deserve respect.
Xiao Jing Jiang: So, you don't dislike it?
He Lin: I don't dislike it, but why are you asking this?
Xiao Jing Jiang: It's nothing, just go play your game.
It seemed like there was still a chance for He Lin and Sheng Kuang.
It wouldn't do if He Lin turned out to be completely straight, that would be too awkward for Sheng Kuang.
Lin Jing put down her phone with a sense of relief and closed her eyes.
She was about to witness her idol of over four years fall in love.
She had actually thought about this day for a long time, but she hadn't expected it to arrive with her as a witness.
Idols are human too; they have private lives. As long as they don't break the law, as long as they live normal lives and love normally, they should be respected and supported. It's not right to try to control their lives and make them live the lives you imagine for them just because they are your idols and you like them.
So, according to her previous thoughts, she should give Sheng Kuang her greatest blessings and support.
And she truly meant it.
But for some reason, despite her thoughts, she felt an indescribable heaviness in her heart.
It felt like something was blocking her chest, making it difficult to breathe.
Was it because Sheng Kuang liked men?
Lin Jing thought about it, no, she had already accepted that possibility many years ago.
Moreover, to prove that it wasn't because he liked men that she felt this way, she imagined Sheng Kuang liking a girl and being with some girl. She found that compared to him being with the class monitor, the thought of him being with another girl was even harder for her to accept.
…
On the day the Autumn Season began, there was one match each for Group S, Group A, and Group B.
The yLs team was in Group B, and their match was scheduled for the last game of the day, starting at 7:30 PM.
Although Sheng Kuang had been absent from the competitive scene for two years, his reunion with Chen Jing, coupled with Lan Bowen as coach, brought the "Immortal Myth" team of the past back together in this form. For many followers of kPL, it was more about nostalgia. Therefore, even though it was an unremarkable group stage match, quite a few fans still showed up.
The yLs team was up against the tyy team. Firstly, the teams in Group B were not strong, and the tyy team had lost every single practice match they had with yLs.
Thus, for the yLs team, this match today was a sure win.
It was evident that all five players of the yLs team were quite relaxed. They sat on the stage, chatting and laughing. Chen Jing, in particular, was the most jovial, his mouth moving incessantly whenever the camera swept over him.
In contrast, the atmosphere for the tyy team was somber. The five players had grave expressions, clearly under a lot of pressure.
Indeed, there was a considerable gap between the two teams.
In the first game, the yLs team had a good lineup. They crushed the tyy team in the early stages, finishing the match in less than twelve minutes.
In the second game, the tyy team’s lineup had an advantage, and they did manage to gain some early momentum. However, they couldn't widen the economic gap. At the ten-minute mark, in a team fight, the tyy team was completely wiped out by the yLs team. From then on, the tyy team crumbled completely, becoming largely unable to recover. They managed to drag the game out to fifteen minutes before the yLs team destroyed their crystal.
In the third game, the lineups for both teams were evenly matched. Whether it was the tyy team's marksman losing their composure or making a crucial mistake, they gave up first blood at the start of the game. This kill fell to Sheng Kuang. The yLs team was playing a jungle-centric strategy, and with the early lead from Sheng Kuang, their economic advantage grew like a snowball. Within five minutes, tyy was in a dire situation across all three lanes.
As was the case in their practice matches, there was no suspense. The yLs team defeated the tyy team with a score of 3:0.
The MVP award, as expected, went to Sheng Kuang.
Although Lin Jing was almost certain they would win before the match, she was still very excited when they actually did.
She watched the players shake hands on stage, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
Behind her were all Sheng Kuang's fans. Listening to their excited cheers, she couldn't help but wave her cheering stick. Just as she was about to call out encouragement, her phone vibrated on her lap.
Jiang Xin: Jing Mei, the match is over. Don't leave yet, I'll come pick you up to go backstage.
Lin Jing pressed the screen and replied with "Oh." Then she saw Jiang Xin appear in the audience.
After the surrounding spectators had mostly dispersed, Jiang Xin waved to her. Lin Jing stood up, gathered her belongings, called out to He Lin, and followed Jiang Xin to the backstage lounge.
Sheng Kuang, as the MVP, had been taken for an interview. Chen Jing and the others were taking photos with fans outside. The lounge was empty.
Jiang Xin gestured for them to sit anywhere and then placed a few bottles of water in front of them before going out to check on the young players.
The TV in the lounge was showing the live broadcast, which happened to be Sheng Kuang's interview.
The host was a woman with a pleasant voice. "I'm now interviewing tonight's MVP, miracle from the yLs team. First, congratulations to yLs for winning their first match. We all know that Kuang Shen is a veteran player. Do you have any difficulties adjusting to returning to the competitive scene?"
Sheng Kuang replied expressionlessly, "No."
"What do you want to say about winning so easily tonight?"
"Nothing."
"There were quite a few fans here tonight. Do you have anything to say to your fans?"
The host thought, surely he wouldn't say "nothing" to this question too.
Sheng Kuang lifted his eyelids. "Thank you."
The host waited for a moment. "That's it?"
Sheng Kuang nodded as if it were obvious. "That's it."
The host paused for a moment and then smiled. "Thank you for the interview, miracle. We hope yLs continues to do their best."
There was a few minutes' delay in the live broadcast. As the host finished speaking, the lounge door opened, and Sheng Kuang walked in.
He paused when he saw the two people sitting in the lounge.
Lin Jing noticed the sound of the door and turned to look.
ps: The scene that follows is beyond my imagination…