Work Text:
Dancing Rain: I’m just so mad, Yunxiu! I can’t take this anymore!
Dancing Rain: Yes, Ye Qiu didn’t have any commercial value and he discouraged many sponsors because of his refusal to show his face.
Dancing Rain: But the way this forsaken team treated him is horrible!
Dancing Rain: Why didn’t they treat me like that too? I’m his mentee. I’m practically his little sister. I’m not going to be here if it’s not because of him.
Windy Rain: I understand your frustration, sister. You’re mad, I’m also mad. Really despicable, ah. Especially that manager of yours.
Dancing Rain: That greedy jerk still has the gall to smile when he talks to me.
Windy Rain: What a bastard.
Dancing Rain: Trash.
Windy Rain: Lowlife.
Windy Rain: Anyway, I didn’t realize the bts is this messy. My heart goes to you and Old Ye
Dancing Rain: Thank you. I honestly have no idea what to do anymore. I wanted to cancel his contract but he refused! I honestly don’t know what to do anymore. He’s always like that, always wanted to solve his problem by himself and didn’t want me to worry for him. But I’m really worried right now.
Dancing Rain: He left without bringing anything, Yunxiu, can you believe that?! He only brought what’s on his body. It’s winter!
Windy Rain: Where is Old Ye now?
Dancing Rain: He got a job as an internet cafe manager for the night shift just down the road. It’s a good thing, but he deserves better.
Dancing Rain: If only we’re able to do anything about it. I know he’s playing Glory there too.
Dancing Rain: If not for the scheme to trap him to retire, he would have gone to another team.
Dancing Rain: Which team would risk of signing a contract with a twenty-six-year-old man?
Windy Rain: Say no more, sister.
“And, that’s why I come here,” Chu Yunxiu gestured at the end of the story with a cute tilt of her head to the baffled banished god behind his counter.
“That’s that?” Ye Xiu asked. “You come here because Mucheng asked you to? And come behind the counter, don’t let anyone see you,” Ye Xiu added the last part as he pulled another chair beside him and urged her over.
“Not because of that, but more like Mucheng put ideas to my head and I like it,” Chu Yunxiu shrugged and obeyed, walking around the counter and sat down, effectively hiding her figure and head from any possible prying eyes. “You’ll be a good addition to Misty Rain.”
“Chu Yunxiu, I just retired,” Ye Xiu said incredulously.
“Yes, that’s, like, a year later until you can join any team, right? I’m fine with that,” Chu Yunxiu said as she pulled down her mask.
“You’re fine with that? How about your boss?” Ye Xiu said.
Chu Yunxiu sighed. “My boss said if I want to scout someone, I should do it. Preferably another girl, but they never mention I can’t scout a man,” she winked. “I didn’t want to do it at first, scouting someone is a responsibility, moreover, we have many trainees in the camp too, waiting to get picked. But, it’s you, so I’m sure you’re better than any trainees in the camp.”
“So you come here without even telling your boss?” Ye Xiu asked pointedly.
“Everyone knows I have an aunt in H City,” Chu Yunxiu smiled playfully.
“You know that’s not what I meant.”
Chu Yunxiu pouted. “I’m actually hoping of confronting him straight and trap him to say yes, you know?” she said.
Ye Xiu stared at her, unimpressed. “I’m not going to an uncertain possibility.”
Chu Yunxiu clicked her tongue. “Come on, Old Ye. I’ve been really stressed lately, my boss never give me my way too as of recent, so I can guilt-trip him to have you in the team by winter next season?” she asked hopefully. “We did need a breaker of enemy’s line, a direct offense to support me and Li Hua. Pleaseee?”
Ye Xiu looked away from her puppy dog eyes and rubbed his temple. He wouldn’t be deceived by those eyes, Su Mucheng had used it on him countless times in the span of a decade, but something about Chu Yunxiu’s eyes always made people feel soft-hearted and ended up indulging her.
“I come this far, wearing all of these to see you, how could you reject me flat out?” Chu Yunxiu pouted.
“Because I’m realistic,” Ye Xiu said.
“Ye Xiu, Little Tang brew some tea, here’s yours,” Chen Guo came in after that and immediately noticed a girl sitting beside Ye Xiu. “Who is this?” She couldn’t resist asking.
Chu Yunxiu was about to put up her mask again when Ye Xiu answered. “She’s a colleague, boss.”
Chu Yunxiu paused. “Oh? Boss?” She smiled and turned her head to look at Chen Guo.
Chen Guo saw her face and for a second didn’t react before it hit her like a truck. She blinked rapidly a few times and it was still a familiar face of someone she knew only from tv and Glory’s matches. “Ch-Chu--?!”
Chu Yunxiu stood up and nodded politely. “Hello, I’m Chu Yunxiu, Ye Qiu’s colleague,” she smirked at Ye Xiu who sighed exasperatedly.
Chen Guo turned blank as she robotically turned to Ye Xiu who stared back at her blankly. “Ye... Ye Qiu...?”
“GuoGuo, what’s wrong?” Tang Rou came in after that because Chen Guo took too long and simply glanced at the other girl, not recognizing her.
Chen Guo pointed at Ye Xiu. “You’re... You’re really Ye Qiu???” she gasped.
“Yes, boss. Didn’t I tell you that?” Ye Xiu said lightly without any guilty conscience.
“B-but... Your ID card...” Chen Guo protested weakly.
Ye Xiu slowly turned back to his computer and logged out of Glory. “Chu Yunxiu, boss, I think we need to talk about my name first before we can proceed.”
“YunYun!”
“MuMu!” Chu Yunxiu squealed when she saw her close friend and the two girls immediately skipped and hugged each other with giggles in the air.
Tang Rou closed the door and Chen Guo openly gawked at the sight of her idol. Meanwhile, Ye Xiu shook his head in exasperation.
“You came here out of nowhere, you should have told me first!” Su Mucheng said.
“It would ruin the surprise,” Chu Yunxiu winked.
Su Mucheng giggled and then turned to Chen Guo, bowing deeply. “I’m Su Mucheng, thank you for taking care of Ye Xiu, I can’t express enough of my gratitude.”
Chen Guo panicked. She didn’t want her goddess to be this polite to her! “No, no, no, I didn’t do anything much. Please don’t be too stiff. Ye Xiu is also very helpful around here.” She sighed in relief when Su Mucheng straightened up. “You can call me Chen Guo, I’m a big fan of you so I’m happy to help!” she declared.
Su Mucheng smiled softly and nodded. They talked briefly before she looked at Ye Xiu.
Ye Xiu crossed his arms, “You told Chu Yunxiu about your frustration again?”
“You’re not there to listen, who else should I talk with?” Su Mucheng pouted.
Ye Xiu sighed and patted her head, Su Mucheng grinned victoriously.
“You should think of going to Misty Rain, though.”
“Mucheng.”
“What?” Su Mucheng blinked innocently. “I’m not saying it only for your sake, okay? But if there’s any team I’ll willingly transfer over, it’s Misty Rain,” She smiled at Chu Yunxiu.
“You’re not deceiving me with that false selfish reason,” Ye Xiu arched an eyebrow.
“Fineee,” Su Mucheng rolled her eyes. “But Misty Rain is a rising power, you know? I will have no complaint if you go there,” she blinked innocently.
“While I can’t say my boss wouldn’t mind someone with no commercial value, no worries. I, the captain, also have a low commercial value,” Chu Yunxiu happily said.
“Chu Yunxiu...” Ye Xiu gazed at the female captain in worry.
“Oh, Yunxiu, you’re very valuable to me,” Su Mucheng hugged her friend. “Forget those greedy businessmen.”
“Hey...” Ye Xiu sighed helplessly.
“I don’t understand, MuMu, I look hot in Windy Rain’s outfit,” Chu Yunxiu sniffed as he wiped imaginary tears away. “And Windy Rain looks hot in Misty Rain’s uniform.”
“He’ll look hot wearing your skorts too,” Su Mucheng crooned as she patted her friend’s back.
“I know, right?” Chu Yunxiu said as they pulled away. “What do you think, Old Ye? He’ll look hot in my skorts, and summer crop-top, right?”
“He will,” Ye Xiu nodded absently. However, Windy Rain in crop-top and a skirt was not Ye Xiu’s priority right now. “Anyways, don’t just come here suddenly and try to kidnap me to Misty Rain without certainty.”
“Why would I come here if I’m not at least confident of getting you into the team?” Chu Yunxiu whined.
“Confidence does not equal certainty.”
"You have to come with me or else..." Chu Yunxiu tried to make her face look stern.
"Or else what?' Was Ye Xiu's deadpan response.
"Or... Nothing. I didn't actually think this through," Chu Yunxiu frowned. She was no good with threats.
“Ye Xiu,” Su Mucheng spoke up. “I trust Chu Yunxiu to take care of you.”
Ye Xiu looked at Su Mucheng in surprise. “Mucheng, Yunxiu came here on impulse.”
Su Mucheng scoffed. “Yunxiu never do anything on impulse.”
Chu Yunxiu nodded. “I take responsibility for everything I decide to do.” She crossed her arms and smirked, “I’ll take responsibility for you too if you come with me.”
Ye Xiu severely overestimated his ability to refuse women, he really did. Su Mucheng and Chu Yunxiu alone oftentimes always made him change his mind whenever they teamed up, however, with Chen Guo and Tang Rou there being so supportive for Ye Xiu to choose his future, he couldn’t do anything. After thinking about it, Ye Xiu decided to agree but didn’t say so until after Chu Yunxiu ran out of time to hang around and had to return to Suzhou.
After all, Ye Xiu needed to see how long she intended to stick around for him to measure her sincerity and seriousness first. Ye Xiu knew she was sincere when she rejected a few calls from her team and only answered Li Hua’s call, not to mention only planning to return after three days.
Ye Xiu did think he was being a jerk, but Chu Yunxiu stomped on his foot hard for it so it was fine now. Su Mucheng had only been available for the first two days before she had to return to Excellent Era for practice. On the other hand, Chen Guo and Tang Rou also grew closer with Chu Yunxiu.
Tang Rou, in particular, sighed in regret when Chu Yunxiu was going to return to S City, mainly because she couldn’t have touched Chu Yunxiu’s Elementalist no matter how hard she tried. Chu Yunxiu invited her to join her team too but the young lady gently refused.
That one would need a few more pushes to lit up her passion as a gamer. Ye Xiu promised to always meet up with Tang Rou in Glory and practice together, after all, he had a year of free time before he transferred into Misty Rain, if he ever transferred in at all.
“So, other than Mucheng, Huang Shaotian also knew you worked there?” Chu Yunxiu asked as they waited for their train.
“Yes, I kinda need him to break a record,” Ye Xiu said.
“Heh, did anything else happen?” Chu Yunxiu smirked.
Ye Xiu rolled his eyes. “We were breaking records, what else could happen?”
“Well, maybe you guys break some other records,” Chu Yunxiu wiggled her brows seductively. “And come on now, Huang Shaotian sacrificed his time and possibly life to visit you in an internet cafe when you asked? Who would believe it’s just to break a record?”
“Well, the reality is just that. Sorry to disappoint,” Ye Xiu mocked.
Chu Yunxiu tossed away her empty coffee cup to the nearby trashcan. “It’s not you who disappoint, it’s Huang Shaotian. That guy is a coward,” she snickered. “Well, let him regret it.”
Ye Xiu glanced at Chu Yunxiu and shook his head. “You know we aren’t like that, right?”
“Oh, Old Ye,” Chu Yunxiu turned to him. “I know but I can see what you can’t see.”
When they were in the compartment and chose their seats, Chu Yunxiu once again turned to look at him.
“Words came out that Samsara wants to invite you to be their special guest in All-Star weekend, Excellent Era has been avoiding to mention any of your contact information,” Chu Yunxiu snickered. “You want to go there?”
Ye Xiu’s face soured as he shivered. “No, thanks. I never have a fond memory in that event.”
Chu Yunxiu shrugged. “Up to you. But if you ever change your mind, I’ll help you push the price.” She paused, “That reminds me... Maybe I should send free All-Star tickets to GuoGuo and RouRou,” she took out her phone before Ye Xiu pushed it back down.
“We’re going to depart soon, turn it off,” Ye Xiu said. “Settle down, will you?”
Ye Xiu found himself in Misty Rain club building and freaked out the entire place. Li Hua had told them that the captain told him that she found a stray talent while visiting her aunt so they expected a new arrival, they didn’t expect the stray talent she meant was this wayward Battle God!
Ye Xiu was already used to people overreacting at the sight of him so he just stood there, smoking the cigarettes Chu Yunxiu had handed to him in the training room as Chu Yunxiu told their boss that she wanted Ye Xiu in the team next winter. After a lot of persuasion with Li Hua, what a good kid he was, joined in and supported his captain, the boss finally surrendered.
“But, God Ye, I have to give you a fair warning we can’t pay you your salary as much as Excellent Era had given you,” Boss Yun warned as he gazed at Ye Xiu seriously.
“Have we gotten that poor in the days I’m not here?” Chu Yunxiu crossed her arms and arched an eyebrow.
“Captain Chu, you have to understand, although God Ye is indeed a top-tier player, his age also won’t let him play for long. Not to mention, we’re not a big team ourselves,” Boss Yun reasoned.
“That’s why I say, are we really that poor?” Chu Yunxiu tilted her head. “We can’t even afford seven hundred thousand RMB a year for Old Ye?”
Everyone looked at her and blinked incredulously.
“Seven hundred, what?” Lu Yining squeaked.
“Seven hundred thousand RMB a year was Old Ye’s salary in Excellent Era for years before they kicked him out,” Chu Yunxiu shrugged. “That’s his contract. Which is canceled now. If we can’t even pay seven hundred thousand a year, what are we going to do? He’s an All-Star, you know?”
After that, the boss agreed to give him the same amount of salary Excellent Era had given and Ye Xiu was also given accommodation under Chu Yunxiu’s assurance.
Ye Xiu suddenly understand the feeling of eating soft rice, it was actually not bad at all, maybe it helped that Chu Yunxiu was not his little sister figure like Su Mucheng.
Ye Xiu glanced at Chu Yunxiu who was busy on her phone and he accidentally saw a glimpse of her chat with Su Mucheng.
Windy Rain: Got him a year-and-a-half contract with the same salary a year as he got in EE.
Dancing Rain: ^o^ You’re too nice. That amount is fine too, he’s not a spendthrift and he didn’t even let me help him when I said he deserved a renewal of the contract.
Windy Rain: Got it. I’ll take care of him here, you don’t have to be worried.
Dancing Rain: ;) I believe you~
Ye Xiu smiled and shook his head fondly. These girls...
“Mucheng!”
“Yunxiu~”
Everyone was already used to the two best friends greeting each other, but one had to admit Su Mucheng’s indifferent face with her team and the change of her face when she saw Misty Rain was really drastic.
They wondered if the girl would transfer out next summer because of Ye Qiu’s absence in the team. If she did, Misty Rain would be her first place to go.
The two teams left the two girls alone as Su Mucheng pulled Chu Yunxiu to an isolated corner. “Is he here?” Su Mucheng asked.
“I was worried that he’d be in his room all day, forgetting to eat and sleep, if I left him. Of course, I dragged him along,” Chu Yunxiu smiled leisurely.
Su Mucheng beamed. “Where is he, then? Staying behind at the hotel?”
Chu Yunxiu shook her head. “I sent free tickets to GuoGuo and RouRou, I got another ticket right beside them and gave it to him,” she shrugged. “I’m sure he’ll be happy to meet GuoGuo and RouRou again.”
“Which area?” Su Mucheng asked seriously.
“C area,” Chu Yunxiu looked at her critically before suspiciously said, “You’re not planning anything funny, right?”
Su Mucheng chuckled.
“Don’t shock him too much, I don't want him to think I’m the one who sics you on him,” Chu Yunxiu advised.
“Relax, sister. I know my boundary,” Su Mucheng giggled.
Chu Yunxiu’s eyes widened when the female Battle Mage onstage turned to Misty Rain’s seat area after doing The Dragon Turn Its Head (Ye Xiu, it was certainly that guy who pulled down Tang Rou). The female Battle Mage spread out her arms, spun her Battle Spear and stopped it behind her back before she promptly bowed down to Misty Rain.
Chu Yunxiu burst out laughing. The series of action was slightly subtle but it was very obvious to the people who knew the story behind the scene. Everyone from Misty Rain stifled their own amusement as they glanced at their captain.
“He knows how to flatter a lady, I’ll give him that,” Chu Yunxiu shook her head, mirth dancing in her eyes.
“It must be horrible to be treated that way by the team you helped to create,” Chu Yunxiu sighed at her smoking buddy, hand raised as she took another drag of her cigarette. “My condolences and congratulations.”
Ye Xiu chuckled as he puffed out a cloud of smoke, eyes looking into the distance ignoring the smoke dancing before his eyes. “You only say that now?”
“You know me,” Chu Yunxiu shrugged.
The only female captain in the alliance was always weak in direct confrontation. Be it in-game, or in real life. Chu Yunxiu didn’t like talking about an ugly wound.
“Why condolence and congratulations?” Ye Xiu asked.
“Well, my condolence because it must have been sad. Congratulations that you’ve finally got out of that toxic relationship,” Chu Yunxiu smiled sadly. “Even though it took you years to.”
Ye Xiu ashed his cigarette. “I’m still thankful to them, you know? I could play Glory and raise Su Mucheng, we have shelter and food too. I don’t have to worry about my days there...” He smiled in self-mockery.
“I still don’t understand how you wound up not only having no supporters from the higher-ups but also having your teammates, except Mucheng, turning against you...” Chu Yunxiu sighed. “If that happens to me... I’ll break like a stick.”
Ye Xiu sighed. “Your team loves you.” The management was dissatisfied with her, though. Ye Xiu could see it clearly after living here for an entire month.
“I was not the real successor of Windy Rain,” Chu Yunxiu tilted her head and sighed. They were initially happy that she turned out to be really talented, but that happiness turned into dissatisfaction quickly when not only she didn’t sell well, but also because of her soft personality who can’t handle pressure and always performed bad in the play-off.
She didn’t give them the maximum commercial value but also didn’t give them a hype victory. Luckily, her team understood her so they never turn against her or have any idea to cast her aside like what happened to Ye Xiu in Excellent Era.
Chu Yunxiu didn’t understand why, though. It seemed like most men who came to Misty Rain as players always have a soft heart. Even most of their guild members in-game were a bunch of soft-hearted people who can only wring their handkerchiefs when wronged—that was what Ye Xiu told her after his days of bullying the unsuspecting guilds- including Misty Castle.
“I wonder how long would it take for them to overrule my authority entirely of the team,” Chu Yunxiu said, a leisure but also wistful smile on her face.
“Lighten up,” Ye Xiu said as he plucked Chu Yunxiu’s short burning cigarette off of her grip before it could burn her hand and put it off on the ashtray. “You’re the charismatic female god of the alliance, have some confidence.”
Chu Yunxiu sighed helplessly and retrieved a new cigarette. “You’re the Battle God of Glory who dominated the first three seasons. What am I to that?”
“That’s in the past,” Ye Xiu smiled as he offered her his lighter. “The present is your era. As the previous generation, I have to fight to be in this era. You, on the other hand, have this era.”
Chu Yunxiu lit up her cigarette with the fire of the lighter Ye Xiu offered and she gazed at him through the flame. “I didn’t. Can you fight to have this era for me, instead?”
“Only if you fight for it too,” Ye Xiu swore.
“What is this?” Boss Yun blankly stared up at Ye Xiu who had slid him a few portraits of Chu Yunxiu in a few sets clothing.
“These are some examples that I, also the whole team-“ Ye Xiu gestured to everyone from Misty Rain, “thought would look good on Windy Rain.”
Boss Yun choked.
“I think the loose pink cardigans with white tank top underneath and black jeans will look trendy on Windy Rain,” Yu Chuan, a member of Misty Rain, said seriously.
“I like her autumn clothes, though. Honey brown blouse with a brown leather jacket and black pencil pants? Perfection,” Ming Tian blushed.
“Personally, I like the skorts,” Ye Xiu tapped on one particular picture- a post from Chu Yunxiu a few months ago that he took straight from Weibo and printed.
“Yeah, I like the skorts too.”
“It would look amazing on Windy Rain’s leg.”
“Glorious legs,” Ming Tian sobbed.
“The crop-top is amazing too.”
“Mm, Windy Rain in crop-top...”
Li Hua, the only sane one in the group, stepped up. “I think the standard uniform is great too. We can add a hair tie in it to pull up Windy Rain’s hair into a high ponytail.”
“What do you all mean about this?” Boss Yun gawked.
“Boss Yun, we don’t mean to say anything less about you or the other managements. But most of us think your choice of outfit for Windy Rain...” Ye Xiu trailed off.
“Sucks...”
It was unknown who said that, no one stepped up even when Ye Xiu glanced at them encouragingly.
Boss Yun sighed as he took off his spectacles. “So you think that’s the reason why Windy Rain/Chu Yunxiu’s merch doesn’t sell?” he shook his head. “It’s not as simple as that. The fans wanted to have a sensible pair. They don’t like it when the corresponding outfit didn’t suit the two figurines. It makes sense too since Windy Rain is a man and Chu Yunxiu is a woman. They just don’t look good in each other’s outfit and their aura also clashed with their different appearance.”
“Windy Rain feels like Chu Yunxiu to me,” Ye Xiu said bluntly. “I’m sure others can feel it.”
“Maybe to you, but the fans didn’t like it...” Boss Yun said bitterly. It wasn’t just once he longingly wished Chu Yunxiu was not a girl or that Windy Rain was not created as a man that the fans feel attached to.
“Then how do you explain the sell for Wu Yuce/Carving Ghost’s figurines outsell your team’s captain and her avatar?” Ye Xiu asked as Li Hua stepped beside him and showed him a graphic.
“That’s because Wu Yuce worked together with Li Xuan as dual-cores,” Boss Yun said bitterly.
“No, boss... I think it’s because Sis Wu looks hot in Carving Ghost’s outfit,” One meek member said softly. There were murmurs of agreement from the others and Ye Xiu stopped to wonder how Chu Yunxiu the way she was, with these teammates, of course they were all her enablers.
“Carving Ghost also looks manly in Wu Yuce’s outfit,” Another added.
“Everyone, I know you all feel somewhat miffed with this. But the fact is, the reason why Windy Rain’s figurines couldn’t sell much is not because of the fashion choice but also the fact the captain and her avatar clashed in appearance. Even if we want to create new figurines, we’ll have to lose money again when few people buy it.”
“I’ll buy it! If it’s not to see Captain Chu’s collarbones, then it’s to see Windy Rain’s legs!” Ming Tian declared and everyone began to support him.
“Boss, how about making a few hundreds first for the first batch?” Ye Xiu asked to the reluctant businessman. “Say, you can use three hundred thousand RMB first to make the first batch. If it doesn’t sell, you can take it from my salary later on when I play officially for the team.”
“God Ye...” Everyone looked at him in disbelief before feeling somber. A new person who had not even join officially yet actually placed such a big bet on their captain, but they couldn’t even do anything?
“Boss! You can take a hundred thousand from mine instead of God Ye’s future salary!”
“No,” Ye Xiu tried to say.
“Then, take another hundred thousand from mine!”
“I have a family, but I can offer fifty thousand.”
“Take a hundred from me as an additional fee!”
“Everyone... You don’t have to,” Ye Xiu furrowed his brows.
“But we want to,” Li Hua said. “We’re a team, aren’t we? We have our faith in our captain’s charm and God Ye’s judgment,” he smiled. “Boss, you can take five hundred thousand from my salary if it doesn’t sell, add another half a million if you need.”
Eventually, Boss Yun relented and promised that he’d have a meeting with their proposals until Ye Xiu once again stopped him.
“But,” Ye Xiu said sharply. “We have to be involved in the process of designing it or it won’t do,” he said. Everyone agreed with him and gazed hopefully at their boss.
“I’ll... mention this in the meeting,” Boss Yun sighed.
“You guys are crazy,” Chu Yunxiu blurted out when she finally got the news that her team had marched to the boss’ office and demanded re-design of her merch along with Windy Rain.
It was Summer Transfer. Samsara just won the championship and they were harvesting profit according to the data of how many people bought Samsara’s merchs, especially of Zhou Zekai and Cloud Piercer. He practically eclipsed everyone.
However, unnoticed by most people because of Zhou Zekai’s hype, Windy Rain and Chu Yunxiu’s merchs actually climbed up the ladder of favourite figurines to the top twenty when she was barely in the top thirty before.
“But it does look better now, isn’t it?” Li Hua smiled as he looked at the figurines’ picture with his tablet. “Windy Rain’s outfit is more feminized because of the difference in size but it didn’t change the design that much. And Windy Rain...”
“...Is fucking burning!” Ming Tian cheered as he held up his own pre-ordered figurines.
“Whoo, captain Chu’s collarbone can shine properly in this new design!” Pei Shan cheered.
“Modern Windy Rain in crop-top and skorts!”
Chu Yunxiu shook her head in exasperation at them and looked down on the figurines given to her by the club for free.
Ye Xiu stopped beside her, gazing at the team who were having the time of their lives. “It baffles me how much they’re in love with Windy Rain.”
Li Hua smiled sheepishly at him. “We do look up to Windy Rain a lot. He’s the number one Elementalist avatar after all.”
“I heard the people of Blue Rain also vaunted Swoksaar like no other,” Chu Yunxiu said.
“Yeah... That one, I know,” Ye Xiu nodded. Back in the days, Wei Chen had treated Swoksaar a lot like his own treasure and always made him his main objective. Eventually, the other members of Blue Rain began to get enamored too and... Well, things got weird after that. Ye Xiu remembered a half-drunk Fang Shijing sobbing into Ye Xiu’s shoulders, wailing that Swoksaar now no longer had his father, Wei Chen, and they had to raise him all by themselves now as a team and prepared the chosen successor well to take care of Swoksaar.
Ye Xiu can’t blame anyone else except for Wei Chen for that. Who told him to treat Glory’s avatar as a Tamagotchi? That old guy was helpless.
Ye Xiu shook his head and looked at Chu Yunxiu. “How’s it now? A better design, you should be happy.”
Chu Yunxiu smiled. “Well, Windy Rain does look hot in skorts, so I think I should thank you for that.” Her clear eyes caught Ye Xiu’s golden eyes.
Winter transfer of Season 9 came rolling in and Misty Rain announced a new transfer, no one cared enough because of Ye Xiu’s name. Chu Yunxiu fixed that, though.
Chu Yunxiu V: Welcome to the team?? @Ye Xiu V hoho, already changed your name now? [Chu Yunxiu sat on the long couch with cigarette raised, her legs stretched over a man’s lap lazily. Ye Xiu in Misty Rain jacket smiled at the camera also with a cigarette in hands.]
- Huang Shaotian V: WHAT THE FUCK???
- Zhang Jiale V: What the fuck?!
- Li Xuan V: What the FUCK!?
- Fang Rui V: WHAT THE HELL?!?!
- Su Mucheng V: Congrats~ ^^
- Song Xiao V: Holy shit balls!
- Zhou Zekai V: Senior is there?!?!
- Spontaneous Combustion: WHY ARE ALL THE TOP-TIER PLAYERS FREAKING OUT?!??!
- Misty Castle’s Little Flower: What’s wrong with my queen’s post?! Why are all the pro players shocked?!?!
- Friends With Benefits All Sucked Out: CAN SOMEONE TELL ME WHAT’S HAPPENING?!?!
- Han Wenqing V: What the hell?
- Yu Wenzhou V: What’s going on?
- Fortune Cookie: Holy shit! Even Han Wenqing cursed! What’s wrong with the pic? Is there anything wrong with the man?
- Fang Shiqian V: What the fuck?! Can any of you explain to me how the hell that guy winded up in Misty Rain??!
- Wang Jiexi V: From Hangzhou to Suzhou...
- Zhang Jiale V: And EVERYONE says I have the most shocking transfer!?
- Huang Shaotian V: HOW THE FUCK DID HE WOUND UP IN SUZHOU?!?! The last time I checked he’s in an internet cafe down the street in Hangzhou!!!!?!! The fuck!?
- Zhang Xinjie V: Crossing the river without the emperor’s knowing...
- Huang Shaotian V: @Chu Yunxiu V GG CHATROOM, NOW!!! I’m NOT even kidding, young lady! GG CHATROOM!!! OPEN YOUR DAMN QQ!!!
- Yang Cong V: Wait, what... his name is not even in the transfer details! Unless... Why is his name Ye Xiu?
- Windy Rain’s delicious legs: I don’t get it!? What’s wrong with the guy?!
- Beloved Concubine: Uhh, guys. I clicked on the guy’s account, didn’t you notice this... Oh my God... That’s GOD YE QIU’S ACCOUNT DOMAIN!!!
Windy Rain: What? Now I have to report every single of my activity to all of you including Old Ye’s?
Windy Rain: You’re not my mother.
Swoksaar: You’re right. I have to admit you hid him deeply, we couldn’t even find any news of him aligning with Misty Rain even in-game.
Windy Rain: Smokescreen, Yu Wenzhou. The surprise wouldn’t be fun if you guys find out easily.
Troubling Rain: Why Misty Rain, though?! There are other teams??? I visited him before and he didn’t even blink when I hinted for bringing him to Blue Rain!
Windy Rain: You didn’t hint hard enough!
Troubling Rain: HOW HARD CAN I GO FROM THAT?! I literally offered him a hand, telling him to come to me if he ever needs me and I’ll always be there, I hinted Blue Rain will welcome him, but he only cared for the damn rent money for the computer- that heartless bastard!
Vaccaria: So, how did he end up on your team?
Windy Rain: I picked him up.
Cloud Piercer: What?
Windy Rain: Yeah, I picked him up. Mucheng was complaining to me about how cold the weather was and the lack of self-care Ye Xiu could have, so I told her I’ll pick him up.
Dancing Rain: She told me “Say no more, sister.” The next thing I knew she’s in Hangzhou trying to pick Ye Xiu up.
Receding Tide: :O
Angelica: :O
Doubtful Demon: :O
Scene Killer: Holy shit, you’re straightforward.
Troubling Rain: And he agreed just like that?!
Windy Rain: I had to stick around for three days until he said he actually had agreed on day one and just wanted to see me try.
Dazzling Hundred Blossoms: Now, that sounds like Ye Qiu, alright.
Dazzling Hundred Blossoms: That’s right, how about the name?!
Windy Rain: Already settled down with EE and Chairman Feng earlier.
Immovable Rock: Settled?
Windy Rain: Yeah, Ye Xiu is his real name, Ye Qiu is actually just a stage name.
Desert Dust: Stage name but in his ID?
Dazzling Hundred Blossoms: Old Han meant to say, who the fuck are you deceiving?
Windy Rain: My drama has started, I’ll leave it at this.
Windy Rain: And just so you know, now he’s in my team, he’s my person. No one else could bully him without facing off against the whole Misty Rain. I’m looking at you, people, you know who you are.
Dancing Rain: Sister, you’re really charismatic. I’d also like to add that anyone who dared to bully Ye Xiu should just go burn in hell.
Windy Rain: Sis, you’re burning in the chatroom.
Dancing Rain: Sorry not sorry :p
Troubling Rain: Who?
Immovable Rock: That answers some of my questions, I guess...
Troubling Rain: Wait, Chu Yunxiu. I have another question. How long has Old Ye lived in Suzhou? From the way you talked, it sounded a long time ago.
Windy Rain: Almost a year ago, before All-Star for sure.
Sobbing Ghost: So I was right?! The girl Battle Mage did bow down to Misty Rain’s seat area! PAY UP, FUCKERS!! I WAS RIGHT!!!
Carving Ghost: You hid him well, Chu Yunxiu.
Windy Rain: Sis Wu is flattering me.
Windy Rain: I need to hide him well, or else the bugs would buzz around and force me to watch them dance around him.
Cloud Piercer: Huh?
Empty Waves: I’m sorry, Captain Chu. Zhou Zekai seems a bit confused about your words.
Windy Rain: What I meant to say, I’m done seeing you guys try. I’ll make him mine instead. *Yawn*
Chu Yunxiu watched as the ‘Without Old Ye’ chatroom fell into chaos and smiled as she tossed aside her phone and watched her drama.
Ye Xiu groaned as he turned in the bed.
“Oh, did I wake you up?” Chu Yunxiu asked from the other side of the bed. “I was going for a smoke,” she said.
Ye Xiu rubbed his eyes and glanced at her through the dark. “This seriously didn’t bother you at all?”
“What?” Chu Yunxiu muffled as she put her cigarette between her lips. “You mean, sleeping with you?”
Ye Xiu looked up the ceilings and lamented her bluntness. “I have to wonder if your nonchalance is trained or not.” For someone who broke under the pressure, she was sure really chill in real life, she didn’t look like the type who would decline before a pressure. “You didn’t seem all that surprised that we ended up like this?”
Chu Yunxiu lit up her cigarette. “Why should I? I have prepared for this from the start,” she said casually.
Ye Xiu blinked, wide-awake. “What?”
Chu Yunxiu puffed out a cloud of cigarette and looked at him. “Didn’t you remember what I said? I say I’ll take responsibility for anything I decide to do. If you came with me, I’ll take responsibility. You came with me,” she pointed out.
Ye Xiu gawked as the memory of that surfaced with Chu Yunxiu’s reminder
“Ye Xiu,” Su Mucheng spoke up. “I trust Chu Yunxiu to take care of you.”
Ye Xiu looked at Su Mucheng in surprise. “Mucheng, Yunxiu came here on impulse.”
Su Mucheng scoffed. “Yunxiu never do anything on impulse.”
Chu Yunxiu nodded. “I take responsibility for everything I decide to do.” She crossed her arms and smirked, “I’ll take responsibility for you too if you come with me.”
Ye Xiu’s eyes widened as he stared at the ceilings in shock before he slowly turned his gaze back to the woman beside him. “Touché, Captain Chu. Touché...” Ye Xiu shook his head in defeat. “So I take it Mucheng already knows about this?”
“That I’m chasing you, she knew. That we’ve already passed the fourth base? No,” Chu Yunxiu tilted her head. “She still seems under a strong impression that you’re gay.”
“She- what?” Ye Xiu’s eyes widened again.
Chu Yunxiu burst out into giggles as Ye Xiu sat up abruptly.
Life in Misty Rain club went on, happier than last year, livelier than ever. They sailed through the ninth season smoothly and transformed with Ye Xiu’s presence. The members of Misty Rain were content even though their beautiful captain was taken and Ye Xiu took the role perfectly to tank the fort when the pressure was too much for Chu Yunxiu.
Life was good.
They won Season 9 after beating Samsara in the semi-final and finally Tyranny in the final. When Su Mucheng transferred over in Summer Transfer right after Excellent Era finally returned to the Alliance after a year of relegation, the club became even livelier with the presence of another beautiful woman. Misty Rain’s fanbase celebrated whereas Excellent Era’s fanbase was absolutely clueless and disheartened with their goddess’ leave. Excellent Era’s fanbase still liked to attack Ye Xiu for leaving but that was unimportant.
Chu Yunxiu couldn’t ask anything more to make this better.
“Except for maybe turning Lord Grim into a girl,” Chu Yunxiu spoke up.
“For the last time, Yunxiu. We’re not being a gender-bender couple,” Ye Xiu’s eyes twitched.
“I know, I know. I’m just kidding, I know Lord Grim is a memento,” Chu Yunxiu chuckled. “It’s perfect like this right now.”