Strong leads, with the story told from the bottom's perspective. A clingy, stubborn, long-haired beauty top, an Eastern cyberpunk semi-immersive game, and romance along with a little esports.
Xi Qing.
Esports ID: Qing Qi Ri. Player number: JZ0000.
Joined the team at 14, won the championship at 15, retired at 16.
In two years as a pro, he etched the codename "Blade Dancer" into league history forever.
Six years after retiring, he returns to the arena. Only four or five old friends remain.
And one longtime enemy and friend: Tang Lian, esports ID Jing Hong.
On the first day of Xi Qing's return, the team captain showed him a video.
Second season. He retired.
Tang Lian won the championship, but didn't lift the trophy. He stared fixedly at the empty seat below the stage.
Third season. He wasn't there.
Tang Lian won the championship and refused the post-match interview.
Fourth season. He wasn't there.
Tang Lian won the championship, then, in front of tens of millions of viewers, sent a rookie who played the same class as Xi Qing to the respawn point 27 times.
Xi Qing: Has Han Guang really gotten this bad?
Captain: No. He beat them so badly that no one dares play Han Guang anymore.
Xi Qing seemed to have driven someone mad.
And that someone was the special referee for his return to the qualifying tournament.
In the arena, his blade didn't dare leave its sheath.
But Tang Lian stood up.
Tang Lian: That Han Guang. I'll fight him.
Xi Qing: ...
Red silk fluttered, and a turnabout strike came from behind. Xi Qing was forced to draw his blade to block it.
The exclusive opera sound effect for Qing Qi Ri's account rang out. Through the crossed shadows of blades and spears, Xi Qing thought he saw Jing Hong's eyes redden.
Beneath that gritted-teeth hatred, a roiling, intense love was about to burst forth.
Xi Qing: He's the enemy and friend of my life.
Tang Lian: And your lover.
Xi Qing: Warning: romance between opposing teams?
-- By the author of the main couple esports novel, The Esports Green Tea's Guide to Winning Everyone Over
Proud, aloof genius tsundere, jealous top x scheming green tea, heartthrob playboy bottom
Qing Yuan is the most popular player in all of DAL.
With his peerless green tea skills, he's won countless fans and friends.
Top-ranked junior teammate?
Junior: "Senior Qing Yuan is the best and most amazing person."
Team substitute?
Substitute: "My darling, if it weren't for you, I'd still be stuck as a perennial substitute."
Popular streamer?
Streamer: "Stop saying that. You're my fans, but I'm a Qing Yuan fan."
Famous shot-caller?
Shot-caller: "I... haven't even said I was leaving."
With these green tea skills, Qing Yuan has sailed smoothly through life, slapping down anyone who causes trouble.
Until one day, a former prodigy who had already retired suddenly came online.
The league's number-one ghost player, Check.
An immortal legend of DAL and the midnight nightmare of every investigator.
No one knows that he is also Qing Yuan's flirtation, his lover in bed.
Three years of feelings simmering, an intense game of flirtation and push-and-pull. Kisses after rejection, embraces followed by pushing away.
Check gritted his teeth. "How long are you going to keep stringing me along?"
Qing Yuan smiled. "Of course... until Check returns to the game."
Much later...
Qing Yuan accidentally opened someone's phone and saw his own contact name: My Willing Qing Yuan.
Check embraced him from behind, and a burning kiss landed on the tip of his ear.
"When I retired, I already knew that this golden rain of light was a dazzling firework display. It was spectacular but brief, and the price was everything the person on stage had."
"But I'm willing to burn once more for you to see."
Reading Guide:
1. A brain-off wish-fulfillment story. Don't overthink it. The team wins the championship later on.
2. At its heart, a romance, with plenty of flirting and push-and-pull. The bottom is adored by everyone, but he and his husband are mutually in love.
3. There are countless kinds of satisfying face-slapping, but the husband gets it first. The husband can't keep up his cool act for more than ten minutes.
4. The games in this story are inspired by asymmetric competitive games such as Dead by Daylight, Identity V, Soul at Stake, and Spirit Detective. The characters aren't based on real people.
Theme: No matter what difficulties you face, stay determined and work hard to achieve your dreams.
