Chapter 2: In Short

Lu Xue sent Jian Yanzhi a voice message but received no response, so she called her directly. At that moment, Jian Yanzhi was still leaning against the hallway wall, replaying her mortifying performance from earlier.

 

“Hello?”

 

“Sis, why didn’t you reply to my voice message?”

 

“What do you want? Still playing? No way, your Zhong Kui was terrible.” Jian Yanzhi’s mind was still a bit foggy.

 

“Ugh, I’m not talking about the game! I just saw DSG’s official Weibo announcement—do you know who their new support player is?”

 

Jian Yanzhi’s thoughts snapped back slightly. “Support player? Who?”

 

“Jian Boyi!”

 

“……”

 

“…………”

 

“Sis? Are you still there? It’s Jian Boyi! Can you believe it?!”

 

“You… you need to give me a minute to process this.”

 

“Process what? Sis, we’ve hit the jackpot! With Elder Brother joining DSG, we’ll finally get to hold Shen Yuan’s hand!”

 

While Lu Xue passionately launched into a speech about her future plans to “harass” He Yuan over the phone, Jian Yanzhi stared blankly at the stairwell above.

 

*He came down those stairs earlier… So, he’s here because DSG’s new member welcome party is also being held at this hotel?*

 

Wait, the real shocker was: why was DSG welcoming Jian Boyi?

 

Jian Yanzhi was completely caught off guard.

 

Because… Jian Boyi was her brother, her biological brother.

 

What was she supposed to do when the person she knew best had joined her favorite professional esports team? She felt a little flustered.

 

The Jian Family was something of an artistic dynasty. Her parents were actors, her grandfather a pianist, and her maternal grandmother a professor at the Shanghai Theatre Academy. From a young age, Jian Yanzhi had been immersed in the arts.

 

She had even made cameo appearances in films and gained some media exposure as a child. Her family had long anticipated her following an acting career and hadn’t kept her involvement a secret.

 

But Jian Boyi was different. He disliked acting and wasn’t suited for it. As a result, the family had revealed very little about their eldest son to the public. Most media and fans didn’t even know his name or what he did.

 

Over time, people forgot about him entirely, their attention focused solely on Jian Yanzhi, the Jian Family daughter who had become an actress.

 

Bo Yi had struggled academically in his youth. In his senior year of high school, he became obsessed with League of Legends and eventually entered the world of professional esports. This decision had led to fierce arguments with his parents.

 

Initially, their mother, Guan Min, vehemently opposed Jian Boyi’s entry into the gaming world. During their fiercest arguments, she even threatened to disown him. Jian Boyi, equally proud, retorted that he would never claim his Jian Family ties unless he made a name for himself.

 

“Not bad at all,” Jian Yanzhi mused, “managing to join DSG.”

 

She remembered when Jian Boyi was a sophomore in high school, just a teenager obsessed with MMORPGs. Her own love for gaming had stemmed from his influence.

 

Back then, she was a freshman. In games like *World of Warcraft*, *Counter-Strike*, and *Dungeon Fighter Online*, they were both renowned players—and notorious “pay-to-win” whales.

 

Initially, Jian Boyi played alongside her. But later, he became obsessed with *League of Legends* and gained fame on the Ionia server. Eventually, he was scouted by the HT Team for professional training.

 

Jian Yanzhi had initially found her brother’s journey to becoming a pro gamer rather impressive.

 

However, her admiration didn’t last long. After following the *League of Legends* professional scene, she discovered the DSG team and the legendary He Yuan—a godlike carry who could dominate any game at any moment.

 

From that moment on, Jian Yanzhi’s opinion of Jian Boyi shifted from initial praise like, “Not bad at all,” and “He’s the strongest player on my brother’s team,” to later comments like, “He’s still miles behind our God Yuan. Tsk, only two years older, yet the gap is enormous.”

 

“Xiao Xue, I have to hang up. I need to call him,” Jian Yanzhi said abruptly, ending the call before Lu Xue could react. She quickly found Jian Boyi’s number and dialed.

 

The phone rang for a long time, but no one answered.

 

“Not answering?” Jian Yanzhi snapped irritably, hanging up. “Damn Jian Boyi, ignoring my call!”

 

***

 

Midnight. The DSG team van pulled into their new training facility after returning from the hotel.

 

“My goddess is so beautiful, Ninth Brother! Look at her—isn’t she stunning?” Lin Mao, DSG’s mid-laner, shoved his phone screen in Jian Boyi’s face. Jian Boyi’s gaming ID was Alien No. 9, hence the nickname “Ninth Brother.”

 

Jian Boyi squinted blearily at the screen, swaying slightly from intoxication. “Ugly as hell. Get that thing out of my face!”

 

Lin Mao’s eyes widened. “Ugly? Ninth Brother, are you blind? What’s ugly about her?!”

 

Jian Boyi swayed unsteadily. “Looks decent enough now, but take off the makeup and she’s probably a fool.”

 

“Nonsense,” Lin Mao retorted. “Yan Zhi is absolutely stunning even without makeup.”

 

“Kids these days have no taste,” Jian Boyi said with a grin, sidling up to He Yuan. “If you’re going to admire someone, it should be a bombshell like Xu Wen, right, Boss?”

 

He Yuan, sprawled lazily in his seat, shoved Jian Boyi away with a disgusted expression. “Get lost. You stink.”

 

Jian Boyi sniffed the air. “Stink? Where?”

 

Lao Yao, who was sitting in the front, turned around. “I think Jian Yanzhi is pretty good. Young, pure, and gorgeous, with skin full of collagen. Tsk, and her figure rivals Xu Wen’s. Look at those—”

 

“Ouch!” Lao Yao stared in bewilderment at the drunken Jian Boyi, who had suddenly punched him. “Hey! Why did you hit me?”

 

Jian Boyi brandished his fist. “What are you staring at? Stop being so lewd!”

 

“But… but can’t I even look?”

 

“Ignore him, he’s drunk,” Lin Mao scoffed. “Lao Yao, you have good taste. Yan Zhi is indeed pure and beautiful. I bet she’s the type who’s well-behaved in real life—a refined girl who plays the piano at home, a true artist.”

 

Jian Boyi chuckled dryly. “How naive.”

 

“What do you know? You don’t even know her!” Lin Mao retorted, glaring at Jian Boyi with mock murderous intent.

 

Jian Boyi shook his head and slumped against He Yuan. He Yuan, who had been gazing out the window, now turned his attention to Lin Mao’s phone screen.

 

*A well-behaved, cultured girl who plays the piano?*

 

He Yuan recalled the woman he’d seen creatively cursing in the stairwell, and a slight smile tugged at his lips.

 

*Truly naive.*

 

Jian Yanzhi hadn’t been able to reach Jian Boyi all night. She figured he’d probably drunk himself into a stupor at the freshman welcome party.

 

When she got home, she logged into her anonymous Weibo account to check the latest DSG news.

 

Sure enough, the rumor of “Ninth Brother” Jian Boyi joining DSG had already spread like wildfire through the fan community. Fans were joking that DSG would become the most visually stunning team in esports history, gaining another visual representative.

 

Jian Yanzhi scoffed. *Jian Boyi is the least attractive member of our family! And how could that coward ever become a visual representative like Shen Yuan?!*

 

Lost in thought, Jian Yanzhi flopped onto her bed and posted a Weibo update: “Shen Yuan’s status as the most handsome is unshakeable! New support, focus on playing well. If you dare hold him back, you’ll face the family discipline!”

 

The post quickly drew a flood of comments from League of Legends fans. Her small account, “God Yuan’s Little Fox,” was well-known in the DSG fandom.

 

She had initially gained attention for showering Wei Heyuan with lavish virtual gifts during his streams. Later, her popularity soared thanks to her insightful and witty commentary on matches.

 

**Netizen Comments:**

 

“Hahaha! Of course Shen Yuan’s looks are untouchable!”

 

“Family discipline? Fox, what kind of ‘family discipline’ are you even talking about?”

 

“Ninth Brother is actually really good. Give him some time to synergize with Shen Yuan, and they’ll become an amazing bot lane duo!”

 

“Aww, just imagining them queuing together is so cute! A feast for the eyes!”

 

“Based on looks alone, the seme/uke dynamic is crystal clear (smirking).”

 

“Hey, you guys arguing about seme/uke! Don’t you have a conscience? Leave Shen Yuan for us girls, okay?!”

 

The next day at noon, Jian Boyi dragged himself out of bed, his head throbbing from the previous night’s hangover. He pressed his temples, pulled on a pair of baggy shorts, and opened his bedroom door.

 

His teammates were already awake. Some were rummaging through the kitchen for food, while others had booted up their computers and logged into the game. Jian Boyi glanced around, struck by a strange sense of familiarity.

 

“Hey, Lao Yao, is this our new base?” Jian Boyi leaned against the stairwell and called down to the others.

 

Lao Yao, busy turning on his computer, replied without looking up, “Yeah. You were too drunk to appreciate it last night. Lucky you—we just moved in after you joined. This place is way nicer than our old dump.”

 

Jian Boyi grunted in acknowledgement and walked downstairs.

 

He stopped at the window and gazed outside, muttering, “Why does this place look so familiar?”

 

“Familiar my ass! You think our old base was in a fancy neighborhood like this? Your broke-ass team could never afford to live here,” Lao Yao retorted mercilessly.

 

Jian Boyi ignored him, blinking. Suddenly, his gaze locked onto a car pulling up across the street.

 

A middle-aged couple stepped out. The man went to the trunk to retrieve their luggage, while the woman unlocked the door. Those two…

 

He would recognize them even if they were reduced to ashes.

 

Jian Boyi took a deep breath, finally losing his composure. “Fuck!”

 

“Gaming right up to my doorstep? My parents are going to kill me!”

 

He Yuan emerged from the kitchen with a glass of water and found Jian Boyi looking like he was facing certain doom. He paused, a puzzled expression on his face. “What are you doing? Planning to jump?”

 

Jian Boyi gritted his teeth. “This is… worse than jumping.”

 

A commotion erupted downstairs. Jian Yanzhi grabbed a jacket and hurried out of her room.

 

“Mom? Dad?!” she called, rushing down the stairs. “What are you doing back here?”

 

“My sweet daughter, aren’t you happy to see your father?” Jian Heshu asked with a smile. Jian Yanzhi immediately wrapped her arm around his, nuzzling against him like a kitten. “Of course I am, Dad! Did you bring me a gift this time?”

 

“Of course, of course. It’s in the suitcase. You’ll always be my little girl,” Jian Heshu said fondly.

 

Jian Yanzhi giggled and began rummaging through the suitcase.

 

“Yan Yan, have you heard from your brother lately?” Guan Min suddenly asked.

 

Jian Yanzhi’s hand froze. “Him? Not recently.”

 

“Not recently?” Guan Min’s voice hardened. “That rascal! I heard he’s back in Shanghai from Korea and joined some team.”

 

“DSG,” Jian Heshu supplied.

 

“Right, DSG,” Guan Min glanced at Jian Yanzhi. “Yan Yan, call your brother now. Let’s see if he’ll come home.”

 

“Huh?” Jian Yanzhi scratched her head. “Oh… Okay…”