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“This place isn’t too bad!”
Fang Rui looked around Team Happy’s residence with beaming eyes. After he inspected Happy’s situation a few days ago to test Boundless Sea, he didn’t have high expectations for his living space—as long as he could eat, sleep, and take a shit, he didn’t have any complaints. This housing clearly exceeded his expectation.
Ye Xiu walked past Fang Rui lazily. With the cigarette in his hand, he pointed at the stairs.
“Your room is on the second floor, the furthest one on your right.”
Fang Rui forced a smile. Hey, at least, say something to the compliment! Fang Rui sighed. He pulled his suitcase toward the stairs.
“Oh yeah, you’re going to share your room with someone else.” Ye Xiu said before he left the residence.
“Ah? Who?”
Ye Xiu waved his hand. “He’s in the room. Alright, make yourself at home.”
And then, Ye Xiu left.
Fang Rui creased his eyebrows. His roommate was in the room anyway, what was Ye Xiu trying to do, being so mysterious? Fang Rui looked around at the residence once more before he went to the second floor. The furthest one on the right… Fang Rui stopped at the door handle. Ye Xiu wasn’t playing with him about sharing a room with someone, right? Happy’s financial situation wasn’t as good as the other professional team, Fang Rui had come to terms with it—his contract was the proof. It didn’t shock him to hear he was going to have a roommate. It wasn’t like he’d never shared a room with someone. But then, why didn’t Ye Xiu tell him directly who his roommate was? Fang Rui gulped down. It wasn’t… a ghost, right?
Fang Rui shook his head. It was a ridiculous thought. However, Fang Rui still slowly turned the door handle and then took a peek through the door’s gap. The room’s light was on; Fang Rui could see someone lying on the bed. The someone in question quickly turned his head.
“... Who?”
It wasn’t a ghost!
Fang Rui opened the door widely. “It’s me.”
Fang Rui’s roommate, Mo Fan, squinted his eyes. He turned his head away as he pulled his hoodie further over his head. Fang Rui didn’t mind Mo Fan’s cold greeting as he invited himself into the room. The room was well-furnished. Somehow, it reminded him of his training camp days.
“It seems we’re going to be roommates now.” Fang Rui said as he sat on his bed.
Mo Fan didn’t answer—not even a peep. Fang Rui grimaced. Each member of Happy was truly an interesting character.
---
“Where did you meet Mo Fan?” Fang Rui asked Ye Xiu after practice one day.
Ye Xiu took a glance at Mo Fan. “He was a famous scrap-picker. We met him in-game.”
“Oh? No wonder he’s so patient. What did you do to poach him?”
Fang Rui’s interest in Mo Fan was understandable. After spending a few weeks in Happy, he could see Mo Fan had a rather… unusual relationship with the other Happy members. It wasn’t necessarily a bad relationship, everyone in Happy accepted Mo Fan the way he was. However, Mo Fan’s quietness still intrigued Fang Rui.
“PK.”
“Ah?”
“We PK-ed him until he joined us.”
Fang Rui’s mouth hung agape. “PK?? Was that really necessary? Couldn’t you guys have just talked to him like normal people?”
Ye Xiu looked at Fang Rui helplessly. “With that kind of personality, does talking even work?”
Shit, he was right.
“But you guys didn’t have to go that far! Mercilessly PKing him like that, I’m amazed he hasn’t killed you yet.”
“He had the intention.” Ye Xiu said nonchalantly.
Fang Rui didn’t know how to reply. He was starting to understand where all the oddities of Happy came from.
---
After a few months, Fang Rui believed he had started to understand his roommate. Yet…
“In a hurry.” Mo Fan said, plain and simple.
Fang Rui was crying. Apparently, he hadn’t understood Mo Fan yet.
---
“Mo Fan, are you busy?”
Mo Fan put down the glass in his hand. He stared at Fang Rui, but nothing came out from his mouth. Fang Rui had more or less predicted it, so he elaborated his intention. “If you’re not busy, then let’s have a spar? I want to train my dirty Qi Master.”
After hearing the word ‘spar’, Mo Fan’s eyes lit up. Fang Rui was amused. One thing that Fang Rui had noticed about Mo Fan was his competitiveness. He might be quiet and he didn’t even care about your presence, but if you were strong, he would take an interest in you. In terms of skill, Fang Rui was no doubt a strong player.
Mo Fan nodded. Without waiting for Fang Rui’s response, he already walked toward the practice room. Fang Rui followed obediently.
Asking Mo Fan to spar wasn’t a random choice. After all, if Fang Rui wanted to spar, asking Ye Xiu, Su Mucheng, Wei Chen, or even Qiao Yifan would be better—all of them had more experience in the pro scene. However, Mo Fan provided a unique challenge. He had tenacity and also wasn’t raised in a prototypical training camp; Fang Rui would like to see how well Boundless Sea would fare.
It was a fruitful spar. For a few hours, both of them went match after match without regard to time. Most of the battles Fang Rui won, but none of them were easy. Mo Fan truly tried his best, trying to whittle and figure out this weird Qi Master. Mo Fan had never encountered a Qi Master like Fang Rui. Not to mention Fang Rui’s dirty Qi Master was getting better and better by each match. Fortunately, it didn’t discourage Mo Fan. Instead he became more pumped.
“Hey, it’s getting too late. Both of you should rest.”
If Ye Xiu didn’t call out for them, Fang Rui and Mo Fan probably wouldn’t have left their seats for a few more hours. Fang Rui logged out from the game, and so did Mo Fan.
“You play well.” Fang Rui said as he stretched his body.
Mo Fan nodded quietly. The senior before him really was good. His impression of Fang Rui increased a bit.
Fang Rui shut down the computer station and then turned off the light. Both of them walked to their room. Fang Rui sneaked a glance at Mo Fan. After their countless spars, Fang Rui could conclude two things: first, his dirty Qi Master was very promising; second, Mo Fan would be an amazing player in the future. However, Mo Fan’s strength might be somewhat limited to the individual competition—teamwork wasn’t his strong suit. It was a pity, but everything needed to be taken one step at a time. Apart from that… the issue of communication had to be addressed as well.
“Um, Mo Fan. About last week’s match...”
The miscommunication’s incident still bothered Fang Rui. Although he had apologized to the team, he hadn’t found any chance to apologize personally to Mo Fan. After all, his careless words had cost Mo Fan his game.
“I’m sorry. I should have been clearer with my words.”
Mo Fan threw a quick glance. To tell the truth, after realizing it was a misunderstanding, Mo Fan wanted to forget about the incident.
Mo Fan muttered, “It doesn’t matter.”
Fang Rui smiled awkwardly. Well, what else could he expect from Mo Fan?
“Tell me whenever you want a free dinner. I’m going to treat you until you can’t eat.”
Mo Fan didn’t accept nor reject Fang Rui’s offer. Even if Mo Fan rejected it, Fang Rui had already planned to treat him to dinner the moment he had the chance.
Mo Fan opened their room. Fang Rui was about to enter, but his path was blocked by Mo Fan’s back.
“... again.”
Fang Rui was startled. “Did you say something?”
Mo Fan repeated his words. “... Let’s have a spar again.”
Ah, he wanted another spar, instead of dinner?
Fang Rui grinned. “Sure, any time.”
Each member of Happy was indeed an interesting character.
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