The Jungler Keeps Sneaking Looks at Me [Esports]

[Next up: "The Villain Keeps Thinking of Me [Quick Transmigration]," blurb at the end, now updating! After that: "I Reincarnated as the Scum Son-in-Law and Ran Away Pregnant," please add it to your reading list!]

"GPL's strongest clash-laner," "TW's unstoppable clash-laner," "The pinnacle of the clash lane."

All of these titles once belonged to Yan Shu.

But after TW lost by a hair at the second World Championship, the media exposed the prodigy clash-laner with allegations of "questionable skill and attempting to bribe the opposing team to win."

Hounded by scandal, Yan Shu fell into a slump. He silently bore the accusations, left for parts unknown, and disappeared from the public eye.

Four years later, Yan Shu returned to the GPL and joined the rebuilt SR team. The oldest rookie on the team, he filled in as support.

SR's captain and the jungle role's undisputed champion, Zhuo Yue, lived up to his name: he was the GPL's dark horse.

The first thing Zhuo Yue said when he met the new recruit was, "You're not welcome on our team. Get lost."

Yan Shu fell strangely silent, but after his teammates left, he leaned against a wall and threw up, trembling all over.

It turned out the shadow of the past had never faded. He had returned to the league carrying not only a dream he couldn't let go of, but also severe aftereffects and psychological trauma.

After the GPL preseason ended, Yan Shu could no longer hide his condition. Meanwhile, the truth about the match-fixing scandal from years ago slowly came to light. A complete surveillance video surfaced, proving that the scandal had been fabricated.

That night, SR was in an uproar.

Marksman: "Anyone who can leave the clash lane to protect me can't be a bad guy!"

Mid-laner: "Brother Yan signals me every time he starts a team fight. I only learned crowd control because of him!"

Support: "With Brother Yan here, things are so much easier for me. He's such a nice guy!"

Only the jungler remained silent, drinking heavily.

*

SR has an unwritten rule: no one is allowed into Zhuo Yue's room except Zhuo Yue himself.

But on the day the truth came out, the captain, eyes red, pulled Yan Shu inside and pinned him against the wall. The room was plastered with posters of Yan Shu in his glory days.

The tipsy captain's breathing was heavy. "Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

Yan Shu awkwardly turned his head away. "Y-you, let go."

Zhuo Yue held those hands fast and drew Yan Shu into his arms. "If you won't tell me the truth, I'm not letting go..."

Yan Shu's ears turned bright red. "Don't try to humiliate me like this and force me to leave the team."

"During the livestream of that match, the camera happened to catch you, and your nimble hands." Zhuo Yue lowered his voice. "Yan Shu, I've been fantasizing about you for a long time."

[Reader's Guide]

1. A once sunny, cheerful, now frail and withdrawn bottom x an arrogant, domineering top who's devoted to his love.

2. The bottom will have a rough time early on. His skills are still there, but his psychological problems cause mistakes. He'll rise from the ashes later.

3. Both are virgins, happy ending, the top has to win back his love. The game is a minor element.

4. I'm a low-ranked player in peak rank, so please ignore any technical inaccuracies. The GPL (Glory Pro League) is a fictional league used to distinguish it from the real-life KPL. It has no connection to reality and is not based on real people.

[Check out my upcoming novels! Next up is "The Villain Keeps Thinking of Me [Quick Transmigration]." Here's the blurb.]

The game "Holy Mother Mary" has recently become a huge hit. Yu Shi, who works as a gaming companion, stayed up all night taking orders. After leading a client to ten straight losses, he accidentally died of exhaustion. But the next second, he got a chance to come back to life and was bound to a "Saint" System.

System: "Host, you'll need to visit each mission world and reform the villains. Complete seven missions, and you'll be able to come back to life."

Yu Shi put his hands on his hips, completely unbothered.

The System fretted. "They're genuine villains, Host. Take this seriously!"

World One

He's the kind-hearted real young master who was lost by a wealthy family. The villain is the vicious fake young master who swindles them out of their fortune.

When the villain does something bad, he stands nearby reciting the Tao Te Ching. When the villain wants to silence him, he picks up an electronic wooden fish: Virtue +1. When the villain gives him a strange look, he finds a comfortable position and lies down.

Reformation successful.

System: ?

World Two

He's an emperor in name only, controlled by others from birth. The villain is the ruthless regent, who can turn the world upside down with a wave of his hand.

When the villain takes control of the emperor's vermilion brush, he immediately stops dealing with the government and spends his days eating, drinking, and having fun. When the villain seizes the military seal, he hands over all his imperial seals and military tallies. When the villain wants the throne, he abdicates at once and retires to the harem.

Reformation successful.

System: ??

World Three

He's an immortal revered by the world but misunderstood and scorned by everyone. The villain is a hypocritical sect leader, secretly cultivating demonic arts.

When the villain wants to take his cultivation, he offers up his golden core. When the villain wants to slaughter his enemies, he offers up random schemes. When the villain wants to force a romance, he says, "Let her go and take me instead."

Reformation successful.

System: ???

... ...

The villains are being reformed in such a strange way that the System frowns. "You call that reforming them?"

Yu Shi looks at the villain lying beside him. "They look so much like my best bros. This is just brotherly love."

You call that brotherly love?

Yu Shi, getting closer and closer to the villains, doesn't care.

The System blows its top. "Y-you, get off him!"

[Reader's Guide]

1. Character dynamic: a faux saint, actually a laid-back bottom who plays dumb to catch the tiger x a faux villain, actually a devoted, purehearted and slightly scheming top.

2. The top is the same person in every world.

3. They have mutual unrequited crushes.

Theme: Youth is about working up a sweat and bravely chasing your dreams.