Dessert Station

On the arena, the audience and referees were still excited.

This was not only the Chinese team’s first shutout victory, but also a truly highlight match.

The battle was intense, with dense points of engagement, and Xue Wei’s final 1v3 play could already be added to professional highlight reels.

“His Galil-AR is so stable, my goodness! Is it because he’s always been a practice squad member that he had time to practice such unconventional weapons?”

“Possibly. In a serious match, who would use a Galil? Fire ten shots at a point, and eleven of them will go flying everywhere. Only a practice squad probably has the energy to explore the practical viability of the Galil…”

“More than that, someone else tried using the Galil before.”

“Who?”

“Pretty used it. His Galil’s accuracy was terrifyingly high, but he’s a main sniper, so this gun was useless to him. Don’t know why he’d research it. It seems more suitable for assaulters or free agents.”

“Pretty, huh? Then it’s fine.”

“And this is an exhibition match, so perhaps neither side played very seriously.”

“Regardless! EGT was so cool! EGT is awesome!”

The camera finally cut to the young men in their seats.

Wen Man was leaning down, fiddling with something at Xue Wei’s position.

Xue Wei sat there, eyes lowered, staring at the desktop, his expression seeming a bit stiff.

Meanwhile, Wanshi, Zhao Xiaoyi, and Dangdang, who were initially cheering joyfully in their seats, immediately became constrained and tried their best to maintain serious expressions when they saw their faces appear on the big screen.

“Let’s listen to their in-team voice chat—” The commentator signaled the director, who immediately understood.

In-team voice chat was also a classic post-match segment, usually playing the winning team’s highlight moment voice chats, and also served as an individual bonus point for players.

During a few small team fights completed by Wanshi, Zhao Xiaoyi, and Dangdang, the in-team voice chat was too noisy to hear clearly.

“Brother, brother, we can push! I’m pushing! He’s there!”

“Quick, quick, shoot him! That’s God Knife! Quick, kill him! Good! He’s dead! Nice, brother!”

“I’m dead, brother. Hey, where are you guys? Ah, I’m dead…”

Commentator 1: “It seems the EGT team is playing very happily!”

Wanshi quietly leaned closer to the two of them: “Low emotional intelligence: no commander.”

“High emotional intelligence: playing happily.”

Their highlight moment was right there.

Commentator 2: “Now let’s review the spectacular plays of this match’s MVP player, Now! Let’s listen to his post-match voice chat.”

A replay of a team fight appeared on screen.

The audience and commentators listened in silence for twenty seconds.

“There’s… no sound, huh. Did the director play the wrong one?”

“Wrong one, or is there a problem with the player’s microphone?”

“No, he just didn’t speak, it seems.”

The headphones on stage were noise-canceling.

Only Xue Wei hadn’t taken off his headphones.

He didn’t speak, watching Wen Man operate on his page a few times, sending back a report.

Wen Man finished sending, then retracted his hand, but still stood behind him.

Xue Wei saw him retreating, seemingly saying something to him.

He subconsciously leaned in a bit, wanting to listen carefully, but forgot about the headphones.

Wen Man lowered his eyes.

Xue Wei saw him pause, then lean in closer.

The scent of lime wafted over, along with warm breath.

Xue Wei for a moment even forgot to dodge.

He only saw Wen Man’s eyes, peach blossom eyes, dark to their depths.

The stage lights were bright, bringing to mind those very cliché descriptions.

‘His eyes were filled with starlight.’

Wen Man extended both hands and took off his headphones for him.

The sound of wind and cheers rushed into his ears, drowning out words.

Xue Wei still didn’t hear him clearly, but he saw the shape of his mouth.

“Come a little closer, Naonao.”

Wen Man placed the headphones on the table.

The young man in front of him remained motionless.

Only when he moved slightly away did Xue Wei say in a low voice:

“Oh.”

His “Oh” was incredibly slow.

Wen Man said nothing, stood up, and said: “Go downstairs to rest. You played beautifully this match. Remember to go to dinner together tonight.”

“Really?” Zhao Xiaoyi was almost ecstatic. After several days of close contact with Wen Man, and now potentially having the chance to eat with him, he asked cheekily, “God Wen, are you treating us?”

“The league organizers are treating,” Wen Man said, “If you want, I’ll treat you separately once. What do you want to eat?”

“No, no, no… We wouldn’t dare, no.” The other three denied in unison, all a bit embarrassed, “No need, Captain Wen, we just… we were just joking.”

Wen Man, hands in his pockets, said casually and leisurely: “There’s a popular dessert shop nearby that’s quite good. I’ve seen those kids all love to check in there.”

Zhao Xiaoyi was still being polite: “Oh, that would be too much trouble…”

Wanshi and Dangdang rushed to say: “Go, go, we’re going. I heard their flame ice cream is pretty good. We’ve been stuck in the hotel for the past few days, no time to check it out.”

Only Xue Wei didn’t speak.

They looked at him.

Xue Wei pulled his mask further up, his eyes dark and silent: “I want to go back to sleep.”

“Why sleep in broad daylight? If you sleep now, your routine will be messed up, and we still have SSQ to play tomorrow,” Wanshi directly came over, putting an arm around his shoulder, “Come on, Brother Nao, let’s go, let’s go.”

“Let’s go, let’s go, Brother Nao, look how many pretty girls are in the venue. What a shame not to look. Hurry, look.”

“Brother Nao, boss, give us some face. Let’s go eat flame ice cream together.”

The three of them collectively dragged Xue Wei along.

Xue Wei, hands in his pockets, with a person dragging on each arm, was enveloped, his gaze indifferent, looking at them as if they were fools.

Wen Man lowered his head and chuckled.

The venue was large, originally a sports park.

To host the All-Star Game, the organizers specifically introduced permits for many vendors.

There were mobile food stalls on the roadside, pushing snack carts around, and people selling balloons.

It was mealtime, and the park, including the venue, was packed with people.

Alan and other national team students who had come to watch the matches were waiting for him: “Captain Wen! Come quickly, we’re so hungry. If we’re late, we’ll have to queue for the best fatty beef and foie gras rice at the buffet.”

“You guys go, I’ll take these little ones out to eat,” Wen Man said.

“Go out to eat?! We want to too! Are you treating?” A bolder Team Two member cheered excitedly, “Captain Wen is treating, right? Take us too!”

“Come on,” Wen Man said carelessly, “I’ll treat them; you pay for yourselves. After losing like that, you still have the nerve to ask me to treat you?”

“You’re such a cheapskate,” Alan grumbled at him. He shrugged, “But EGT really played well. Naonao’s contribution was immense; you should reward them.”

“Mm.”

Xue Wei looked up.

Wen Man’s lips curved into a smile, “Aren’t they here now?”

The four EGT members followed Wen Man.

The national team members, embarrassed, followed behind them.

They all knew that although Wen Man said that, he would treat everyone.

The Team One members, having lost on the first day, had been reviewing matches in the hotel.

At this moment, they finally came downstairs to eat.

They also saw the crowd of people outside, following behind Wen Man like little chicks.

“Come quickly!! Captain Wen is treating everyone to a meal!!” A Team Two member called out, “EGT beat the European team today!!!! Awesome! Come celebrate together!!”

A few people didn’t move.

They looked down on the practice squad and didn’t want to associate with them, but seeing Wen Man and Alan’s group all follow, they hesitated, unsure whether to join.

Knife’s group observed from the side.

After listening for a while, Knife, without asking for a translation, suddenly had a flash of inspiration: “They must be going to eat! How can I be left out?! I want to join too!”

So, one more person joined the group.

With so many people, they had to book a restaurant.

An owner of a private kitchen here had a very good personal relationship with Wen Man.

Wen Man made a call, and the other side immediately said they would clear the place for their private gathering in just half an hour.

A large group of people walked in a long, bustling line.

Other spectators in the esports park quickly noticed them, waving repeatedly from behind the security barriers.

Xue Wei pulled his mask further up.

With so many people, he walked a little slower, moving further back, and smoothly disappeared into the crowd.

Everyone else was warm and had taken off their jackets, but he still had his jacket wrapped tightly around himself, only his eyes visible.

Xue Wei disliked crowded places and wasn’t used to lively atmospheres, especially with too many strangers around him.

He walked slowly at the back, quietly listening to the conversations ahead, and casually scrolled on his phone.

He originally only wanted to browse the technical section of the 《FIRE》 forum but saw that [Micro] had sent him a few messages a few minutes ago.

[Micro]: [Image][Image]

[Micro]: “I’m at the esports park. Which day are you free? Let’s go out for a meal.”

[Micro]: “I watched your match; it was very impressive.”

Xue Wei clicked on the images to look.

The images showed bustling crowds, taken from inside the stadium looking out.

Coincidentally, it was the exact spot they had just exited.

Xue Wei thought for a moment, then typed: [I have another match tomorrow. After the match, we can go out to eat. Thank you for your support.]

He sent the reply, then continued scrolling on his phone.

The people ahead were still discussing what to eat.

“Originally, God Wen said he’d take us for dessert, but now it’s become a hundred-person team-building event…” Zhao Xiaoyi said sullenly from the front, “We haven’t tried that popular dessert shop yet.”

“Me neither,” others agreed.

Alan said: “Why bother? Just order takeout and have it delivered to the restaurant.”

Wen Man suddenly spoke: “I want to eat it now.”

He stopped walking, his voice leisurely: “Someone come with me to buy ice cream. Everyone else can order takeout to be delivered.”

Before anyone else could respond, his gaze swept over the crowd, landing on Xue Wei, who had self-marginalized at the end of the line: “Naonao, come with me.”

“Naonao? Who’s that?” Others whispered.

Xue Wei was still scrolling on his phone, not realizing, until Wen Man turned back and walked towards him.

He looked up, his gaze a bit bewildered.

He said: “I don’t eat sweets.”

“Accompany me. Captain’s orders.” Wen Man extended his hand, gently guiding him towards himself, then turned to the crowd, gesturing.

“You guys go first.”

Xue Wei seemed a bit unsure where to put his hands.

He put his phone down, tucked it into his pocket, and also put his hands in his pockets.

A pair of eyes looked up at him, round almond eyes, somewhat wary.

“Come over, it’s not far from here.” Wen Man searched for the location on the map, his deep voice sounding somewhat relaxed, “One hundred two meters. Let’s go.”

Xue Wei then followed him.

Just like that day in the security passage, the two walked in silence.

Wen Man walked, looking at his phone.

Gradually, people around them noticed them.

Not far away, some boys and girls excitedly called out: “Ahhh, God Wen! Is that God Wen? He’s still wearing his team uniform! Let’s go get an autograph!!!”

More and more people gathered, constantly asking Wen Man for autographs.

It was rumored that Wen Man was very good-tempered in this regard; if passersby met him outside, he would usually sign autographs.

About a dozen people were queuing in front of the dessert shop; it looked like they would have to wait for a while.

There was swept-aside, unmelted snow by the roadside.

Xue Wei, bored, stepped on the snow, hands in his pockets, gazing at the lights of the shop.

Wen Man said: “Sorry, it’s not convenient to sign now. Personal time.”

Xue Wei looked up.

Wen Man’s expression was indifferent, his tone also indifferent.

He exuded an aura that kept strangers at bay, yet his peach blossom eyes made him appear gentle and affectionate.

Others, who might not dare to say more, couldn’t help but continue chatting with him.

Others expressed understanding: “Oh, okay, we won’t disturb Captain Wen. Is Captain Wen here to buy dessert?”

“Mm, any recommendations?”

He seemed to have this magical ability to make people spontaneously approach him and talk to him.

His attitude wasn’t enthusiastic, nor could it be called cold; it was like bumping into an acquaintance on the street.

“Strawberry Oolong Jelly is delicious! Their cakes are pretty good too.”

“Too cold, for winter,” Wen Man said, “Any hot drink recommendations?”

“They recommend their milky peach blossom tea! It’s very fragrant, perfect to hold and drink in winter.”

“Understood,” Wen Man said, “Thanks.”

He walked forward a few steps, maintaining a two or three step distance from Xue Wei, and quietly joined the queue.

A few more mobile vendors appeared by the roadside, and an old man came by selling flashing lights and balloons.

They were quite pretty with their flashing lights. The old man was also skilled, spray-painting team names and logos onto the balloons, some without any text.

Many people bought them.

When it was Xue Wei’s turn, he shook his head, indicating he didn’t want any.

The old man then turned to Wen Man.

Wen Man looked around, then casually took a few balloon strings, his voice indifferent: “I’ll take these.”

He chose the blank ones; three flashing balloons arranged in a row looked cool.

Xue Wei glanced at them.

‘Presumably to take back for those national team members.’

Wen Man held the balloon strings in his hand, then put his hands in his pockets and continued queuing.

The two queued for a long time, finally reaching the counter.

Xue Wei ordered a hot strawberry eggette.

Wen Man ordered a milky peach blossom tea.

“We’re paying together, boss,” Wen Man indicated.

The boss quickly made out the order slip and handed it to them: “Please take a seat for a moment, it’ll be ready soon, you two.”

The dessert shop was warm with the heating on.

Xue Wei sat down.

Wen Man took the slip and sat opposite him.

The two still said nothing, like people sharing a table.

Xue Wei lowered his head, eyes cast down, looking at the patterns on the tabletop.

For some reason, he had resisted playing on his phone until now.

Others were still watching them.

Many people were taking pictures around them but dared not approach.

Wen Man lowered his head, twirling a free straw on the table, legs crossed, completely nonchalant.

Xue Wei’s hand fumbled in his pocket.

Just as he touched his phone, he suddenly heard him say: “Don’t like going out?”

He paused, taking a moment to realize he was being asked.

Xue Wei said: “It’s alright.”

He was a man of few words.

A few seconds after speaking, he added a bit stiffly: “Too many people here.”

“I don’t like crowds either,” Wen Man said, staring at the straw in his hand.

The pale plastic paper rotated between his fingertips.

The three flashing balloons were hung on his chair.

He showed no expression, his tone indifferent, “It could have been just us. Now there are too many people.”