Tong Sui’s cheeks turned red upon seeing the barrage of comments, but at that moment, Chi Xingyu wasn’t around to help him manage the rhythm of the livestream. He could only admonish, “If you keep saying that, I’m going to kick someone out.”
The words lacked any impact coming from him, and someone jokingly teased that he had become such a diva that he would dare kick out even his own husband. Tong Sui felt helpless against this group. He could only blush and ignore the comments, opening the game to start playing.
This situation felt quite uncomfortable—it’s not just the viewers in the comments, but the gazes from those around him that made Tong Sui anxious, bringing him back to yesterday’s embarrassment when he was eliminated so easily.
At that moment, Chi Xingyu had just returned to the team base to gather his things. He had little to be sentimental about; he simply tossed his frequently worn clothes into a suitcase along with some miscellaneous items, quickly filling it up to carry it out.
When Chi Xingyu stepped out, everyone at the base couldn’t help but crane their necks, gazing at him either intentionally or unintentionally. A teammate asked, “Bro, what are you up to?”
Normally, Chi Xingyu would probably ignore such a query, but right now, feeling a desire to show off, he replied, “Can’t you tell? I’m moving out to live with my boyfriend.”
“Oh…” The teammate didn’t show any sign of envy; instead, he asked a rather confusing question, “How many people are you moving in with?”
“Is that even a question?” Chi Xingyu shot back, “Do you date several boyfriends at the same time?”
The teammate’s expression shifted again before hesitantly pulling out his phone, saying, “…Do you want to take a look at this?”
On the screen was Tong Sui’s livestream. It was still the same room from yesterday, but now it had a few unwelcome guests sitting right at his previous spot. Tong Sui was caught in the middle, looking like he was being held captive, his eyes red as he forgot everything he had diligently taught himself the day before.
Chi Xingyu’s face visibly darkened, and he felt a muscle twitch at his temple, making the teammate almost drop their phone in fright. He hadn’t expected these people to be so persistent, shamelessly coming to his place while he was away.
On the way back, Chi Xingyu was more than just angry; he was also overwhelmingly anxious. What if Tong Sui was swayed by their words and regretted his decisions? What should he do to retain him?
As he pushed open the door, Chi Xingyu’s mind was a whirl of confusion; his expression was naturally colder than usual, radiating a low-pressure aura.
A loud bang echoed as Tong Sui jumped at the sound of the door slamming open, his grip on the mouse faltering. Turning around, he was met with Chi Xingyu’s scowl.
They were merely sharing the same room and hadn’t done anything inappropriate—not even during their shows, but there was a discernibly different atmosphere now.
Under Chi Xingyu’s gaze, Tong Sui felt an inexplicable sense of guilt wash over him, bringing forth ridiculous thoughts from the barrage of comments in his mind. Was Chi Xingyu misunderstanding something?
Was he already angry? Tong Sui didn’t know how to calm him down, but his instincts told him he needed to say something—an explanation or to soothe his ‘grumpy’ younger partner.
But before he could speak, Chi Xingyu’s tense demeanor suddenly relaxed; the dark expression evaporated, replaced by a fake smile that was easy to see through.
“We haven’t seen each other in days. Why didn’t you greet me when you got here?” Chi Xingyu stepped forward, possessively ruffling Tong Sui’s hair, “It’s unnecessary for you to just sit here idly.”
The atmosphere undeniably tightened with Chi Xingyu’s presence. Specifically, his demeanor—though cordial—conveyed that he wanted to assert his position.
He was different; his relationship with Tong Sui was the closest, and these other people had no right to compete with him.
Tong Sui spoke softly, “Chi Xingyu…”
This side of Chi Xingyu intimidated him, making it difficult to gauge whether he was genuinely angry. Chi Xingyu responded with a low grunt, leaning down to whisper in his ear, “How could you forget everything I taught you yesterday?”
Though it sounded like a reproach, it carried only a sense of indulgence. Tong Sui let out a confused “ah.”
Chi Xingyu looked at the computer screen from behind Tong Sui, naturally resting his hands on the keyboard and mouse, in a posture that almost enveloped Tong Sui in his embrace.
“How come, the moment I’m away, you get bullied?”
At first, it sounded like he was referring to the game, but it felt as though there was a deeper implication behind it.
Tong Sui felt pressure from Chi Xingyu’s aura, not daring to move, obediently watching as Chi Xingyu managed to demolish the game like cutting vegetables.
When the screen proudly displayed “Victory, delicious dinner tonight,” Tong Sui’s eyes sparkled as he genuinely praised, “So impressive!”
No one dislikes a win. It was the first victory after playing for so long today.
“Next time, wait for me to play, I’ll guide you to win.” Chi Xingyu straightened up and turned to the remaining three in the room, “Since we’re colleagues, it’s quite neglectful to leave you sitting here. Let Tong Sui and I treat you to dinner.”
Colleagues. His word choice struck a nerve, firmly plastering their relationship onto this distant note, barely qualifying as pursuers.
Comments from the livestream read:
— “Chi Xingyu looks so intimidating. When he’s not angry, he’s even scarier.”
— “Is he really an 18-year-old younger brother?”
— “I feel like Sui Bao can’t handle it anymore, but strangely, I want to see him suffer.”
— “Didn’t expect the real chaos to be outside the show. Chi is speaking like the legitimate partner, I hope this dinner isn’t a farewell feast.”
Regardless, Tong Sui obediently bid farewell to the audience, hastily ending the stream.
Tong Sui thought Chi Xingyu meant they would just find a simple restaurant nearby, but to his surprise, upon getting out of the car, they were at a high-end restaurant in H City’s most bustling area.