You Said We Were Archrivals, So Why Are You Calling Me Wifey? [Esports]

[Esports] [Both Reborn] [Chasing His Lover After Losing Him] [Rivals to Lovers] [1v1, Happy Ending]

[Sharp-Tongued, Slow-to-Realize Genius Jungler Top × Clear-Headed, Cold Mage Mid Laner Bottom]

[Content Warning: In his past life, the top was mean and hurtful, and only started chasing the bottom after the bottom's heart had died. He wasn't a scumbag; there was another reason. Both are reborn, with a lover-chasing arc, and neither has been with anyone else.]

Blurb

In his past life, Pei Zhi loved Xia Yi for ten years.

For ten years, he gave up blue buffs, lane resources, and gold, turning his mid laner into a second support, all so he could help Xia Yi win championship after championship.

On camera, Xia Yi once smiled and said, "Of course, Pei Zhi and I will win our tenth title together."

Pei Zhi believed him.

But what happened?

On the night Xia Yi won his ninth title and the Finals MVP award, Pei Zhi stood outside the lounge and heard management ask, "Are we renewing the mid laner's contract? And are we signing Pei Zhi too?"

Xia Yi answered lazily, "There are plenty of mid laners like him on the market. I don't need him in particular."

"He's getting old, and his mechanics are nothing special. I just have a soft spot for the old days."

Pei Zhi was still clutching the painkillers he'd brought for Xia Yi.

Ten years, nine championships, and a body covered in injuries.

It turned out all of it was worth no more than "a soft spot for the old days."

When he opened his eyes again, he was back on the day the trainees were assigned to teams.

Young Xia Yi, sunlight on his face, held out a hand. "I'll give you all my blue buffs. Will you be my mid laner?"

Pei Zhi lowered his head and wrote on the team preference form:

"Anyone but Xia Yi."

·

Xia Yi had come back reborn too.

Born to be the center of attention, he was the best jungler around and had never failed to get what he wanted.

He thought Pei Zhi would always be waiting where he left him. All he had to do was reach out, and Pei Zhi would come back.

But Pei Zhi didn't even look at him.

Later, Pei Zhi became the leading mage mid laner of a new generation, using the sharpest mid-lane champions to pin Xia Yi down in the jungle and kill him again and again.

They were no longer inseparable teammates. They were each other's only rival on the battlefield.

The fans all said, "Rivals can only ever be rivals."

Until Pei Zhi lifted the championship trophy with someone else.

At the celebration banquet, Xia Yi got dead drunk, eyes red as he cornered Pei Zhi in the lounge.

"Pei Zhi, weren't we supposed to win our tenth title together?"

Pei Zhi said lightly, "But there are plenty of junglers like you on the market. How could you possibly win a championship?"

That night, Xia Yi went to tremendous effort. Just when he thought he'd finally made his wife feel good, the next morning came.

Pei Zhi got dressed and smiled. "Nice work. I transferred the money."

Reader's Guide

1. This is a MOBA game with no real-life model. The game setting and tournament format draw inspiration from traditional esports competitions.

2. ...

Theme: Don't be someone else's tool. Be the main character of your own story.