The phone buzzed, the familiar tone of the game's mobile app sounding to let him know he received a message as he followed behind V with a bag in one hand, a soda can in the other, and a piece of bread with butter hanging out of his mouth.
V turned to look back at him with a quizzical, yet amused gaze as he commented. "I don't suppose you'll be answering the message?"
Xiao Yi raised one eyebrow and motioned for V to call the elevator with his foot.
All of this was, unfortunately, caught on a livestream once more.
It's been a few days since he went full-blown nuclear online and the small reporters and live streamers were eager to get an interview with him to find out the full story from his mouth.
Who were the two young masters?
Why were they treated so differently?
Would he press charges against the Xiao couple or the whole Xiao family for their mistreatment?
While, all the esports reporters, live streamers, and fans wanted to know… When was Frost coming back?
Alas, they were blocked by the team of bodyguards V had hired at the parking lot entrance to the hospital once more, only able to catch a glimpse of the men.
Xiao Yi's eyes ran over them as he stepped into the elevator. 'Pests.'
He had nothing against reporters but… At a hospital, really?
They needed to have at least a little shame.
"Are you sure about moving out?"
Xiao Yi glanced over at his best friend and nodded softly.
He moved away, and his older brother got himself beaten up. If he wasn't around, wouldn't his brother be bullied once more?
However, instead of moving into the team building with Lee and them, he had planned to stay at the apartment on his own and visit every day or two to help take care of Xiao Qiu until he was better. Then, he'd buy his own apartment in the city to free up Lee's top floor.
He awkwardly pushed the bread further into his mouth with his wrist.
By the time the elevator opened again, Xiao Yi had a free mouth to use and he asked. "What, will you miss me?"
V snorted and looked away. "Of course not."
Both of them knew that his answer was false.
V's divorce was still dragging on with his ex trying to find loopholes in their prenuptial agreement, the only clause that she was able to try to dig her fingers into was the 'adultery' clause while painting Xiao Yi's relationship with V in a dirty light. Sadly, V had far too many text records with Xiao Yi to prove that they had a friendly relationship at best and a working relationship at worst.
That being said, V didn't have many friends other than himself.
His family was always on vacation somewhere and their family home was no longer in the city, but the suburbs instead.
His college friends were spread across China, some having gone abroad to chase opportunities.
His colleagues were only close to him because he paid them well.
As the two approached his older brother's room, Xiao Yi tilted his head and asked. "Why don't you move your headquarters here?"
V paused for just a moment before laughing, his eyes somewhat distant. "My employees wouldn't follow."
"Get more."
"We don't need that big of a team."
"Make more games."
"…"
Xiao Yi opened the door to his brother's room, only to be met with a laptop turned in his direction and Xiao Qiu's aggrieved voice. "This is the troublemaker!"
[Sleeping God's back!]
[You unfilial brother, why did it take you so long to visit?]
[Little Frost!]
[Isn't it a bit terrifying to think that this kid is the one who terrorized the circle for years?]
Xiao Yi turned to leave but he couldn't, because V's arm blocked the doorway. The elder leaned his entire body over the doorway and taunted. "Running away isn't your style."
'It literally is my style, though?' Xiao Yi glared at him before turning back and holding up a bag.
Xiao Qiu sighed, turned the laptop back toward him, and said. "I have to leave the hospital today, they're here to take me away."
After saying his goodbyes, Xiao Qiu looked over Xiao Yi for a moment before stating. "You seem different, more energetic… Healthier? V, what did you feed him?"
"Your brother drinks too much soda."
"He didn't have that habit before…"
"He definitely did."
"He didn't."
"The first thing he did when he settled into the apartment was buy a few packs of soda."
"…"