The familiar hum of the café filled Ye Xiu's ears as he sat in his usual corner, his laptop open but forgotten, the screen dimmed. He wasn't playing Glory today. Instead, his thoughts were far from the game, far from the noise of the café. Huang Shaotian's announcement had rattled him more than he wanted to admit. The face of his once-trusted rival, now a powerful figure in the gaming industry, lingered in his mind like an unwanted echo.
How had things come to this?
The door to the café jingled as someone entered, but Ye Xiu didn't lift his head. It wasn't until a familiar voice broke through his thoughts that he was pulled back into the present.
"Ye Xiu, did you see the news?" Su Mucheng's voice was tinged with concern as she approached his table, her eyes already scanning his face for a reaction.
Ye Xiu didn't respond immediately. His fingers absently traced the edge of his coffee cup as he replayed the broadcast in his mind. He didn't need to ask which news she was referring to; of course, she was talking about Shaotian.
Su Mucheng sat down across from him, her bubbly energy dampened by the seriousness of the moment. She waited patiently, her eyes searching his face, but he could tell she was worried. She had always been able to read him better than most.
After a few moments of silence, Ye Xiu finally spoke, his voice low and distant. "Yeah. I saw it."
Su Mucheng sighed softly, leaning back in her chair as she crossed her arms. "I can't believe it. Huang Shaotian… the new owner of Glory? How did that even happen? I mean, after all these years?"
Ye Xiu didn't answer her question. Instead, his mind drifted back to a memory he had tried to bury—a memory from before everything fell apart.
*Flashback*
It was late, long after the internet café had emptied for the night. The hum of computers filled the dimly lit room, punctuated only by the rhythmic clacking of keys. Two figures sat at opposite ends of the café, their faces illuminated by the glow of their screens. The tension between them was palpable, even though they had never met before.
Ye Xiu and Huang Shaotian.
They had crossed paths in the game by chance, not knowing at first that the player on the other end was a rival from a different team. The argument, or rather the challenge, had started innocently enough—a few casual exchanges in the in-game chat about strategy, about who could execute a better move. But as the competition escalated, the words became sharper and more pointed, and soon it wasn't just about the game. It was about pride.
Shaotian had been the first to fire off a snide comment. "You think you've got it all figured out, don't you?" His in-game character, Troubling Rain, darted across the screen with the speed and precision that only a top-tier player could manage. "Let's see you keep up with me, old man."
Ye Xiu's response was calm, almost nonchalant. "Old man? You sure talk big for someone who's about to lose." His Battle Mage, One Autumn Leaf, blocked Shaotian's strike and countered with a devastating combo. The attacks landed flawlessly, but the match still wasn't over.
Hours had passed, and yet every battle between them ended the same way: a draw. No matter how many times they clashed, neither could land the final blow. Their skills were neck and neck, their strategies finely tuned to counter each other's every move. It was a stalemate, but neither was willing to back down.
"You're pretty good," Shaotian had said, his voice no longer sharp but grudgingly impressed. His fingers moved like lightning over the keyboard, issuing commands at a speed that would overwhelm most players. "But don't think for a second that means you're better than me."
Ye Xiu smirked, leaning back in his chair. "I never said I was better. But it seems like you're trying to prove something."
"Maybe I am," Shaotian shot back, his pride evident even through the screen. "It's just frustrating when someone like you shows up out of nowhere and acts like they've already won."
Ye Xiu raised an eyebrow, genuinely curious. "Someone like me? What's that supposed to mean?"
Shaotian's fingers paused for a fraction of a second—just long enough to let a sliver of honesty slip through. "You act like you're above it all. Like no matter what I do, it's not going to be enough to beat you."
Ye Xiu tilted his head, considering the words. It wasn't the first time he'd heard that accusation, but hearing it from Shaotian, a player known for his sharp tongue and relentless drive, carried a different weight.
"That's not it," Ye Xiu replied, his tone softer now, more thoughtful. "I'm just here to play. Same as you."
Shaotian's frustration simmered, but there was something else beneath it—something almost like respect. He had never met a player who could push him this hard, who could match him blow for blow, who could force him to give everything he had and still come up with nothing more than a draw. It was infuriating, but also… thrilling.
"You're not bad," Shaotian muttered grudgingly, his eyes fixed on the screen. "For an old man."
Ye Xiu chuckled, his hands never stopping as they executed another flawless combo. "You're not too bad yourself. For a kid."
The banter continued, the rivalry growing with each battle, but so did a subtle undercurrent of respect. They were from different teams, different worlds in a sense, but on the battlefield, they were equals. Neither would admit it aloud, but they both knew they had found something rare in each other—someone who could keep up.
Eventually, after what felt like an eternity of clashing swords and flashing spells, Ye Xiu leaned back in his chair, stretching his fingers. "It's getting late. How about we call it a night?"
Shaotian frowned, clearly unsatisfied with the lack of a definitive winner. "We still haven't settled this."
"Maybe we never will," Ye Xiu said with a slight smile, his gaze flicking toward Shaotian's side of the café. "But that's what makes it interesting, isn't it?"
Shaotian hesitated, his competitive spirit warring with the quiet acknowledgement that maybe, just maybe, Ye Xiu was right. He let out a sigh, standing up and grabbing his bag. "Next time, old man. I'm taking you down next time."
Ye Xiu nodded, watching as Shaotian walked toward the exit. "Looking forward to it."
As the door swung shut behind him, Ye Xiu couldn't help but smile. He knew they were rivals, destined to clash again and again, but beneath the competitive fire, there was a growing sense of camaraderie. Shaotian was a pain, no doubt about that, but he was also one of the few people who could push Ye Xiu to his limits.
And for that, Ye Xiu respected him.
Their rivalry had just begun, but so had an unspoken bond that would carry them through countless battles—both as enemies and, perhaps one day, as friends.
*Flashback Ends*
Back in the café, Ye Xiu blinked, the memory fading as Su Mucheng's voice brought him back to the present.
"You okay?" she asked gently, her eyes full of concern.
Ye Xiu gave her a small, tired smile. "Yeah. Just… thinking about the past."
Su Mucheng studied him for a moment before leaning forward. "You know, whatever happened between you and Shaotian… it doesn't change the fact that you guys were a great rival cum friends. He respected you, even if he didn't show it."
Ye Xiu's smile was bittersweet. "I don't know about that."
Su Mucheng hesitated before asking, "Did you two ever… make up? After you left?"
Ye Xiu shook his head, the weight of unfinished business settling over him like a heavy cloak. "No. We never talked about it again."
Su Mucheng sighed, her expression softening. "Well, maybe now's your chance. He's back in Glory, and so are you. Maybe it's time to put the past to rest."
Ye Xiu didn't respond right away, his mind still tangled in the memories of that final argument, of the cracks that had formed in his friendship with Shaotian. He wasn't sure if things could ever go back to the way they were. Too much had changed.
But as the headline on the café's TV continued to flash—"Glory Will Be Back!"—he knew one thing for certain.
The past wasn't done with him yet. And neither was Shaotian.