Ye Qiu leaned back in his chair, the soft glow of the computer screen illuminating his tired face. The room around him was dim and cluttered, littered with empty cans, wrappers, and piles of notes he hadn't looked at in weeks. His eyes scanned the latest thread on a popular fan forum dedicated to the Dragon Team, the most talked-about gaming team in China.
The comments flooded in, each more enthusiastic than the last.
"The Dragons are untouchable! No team can even come close to their level!" one comment read.
"I swear, if I get into the Avatar Epic Quest event, I'm going to train so hard. One day, I'll be good enough to face them—or maybe even join them!" another wrote.
"Somi's pink hair is the coolest thing ever. I'm dyeing mine pink tomorrow! If it helps me channel even 1% of her skills, it's worth it!"
Ye Qiu chuckled softly at that. His fingers scrolled further down until another comment caught his eye.
"Is it just me, or does Somi totally have a crush on Everstay? She always does what he asks without hesitation. Remember that match when she handed over her grenade just because he asked for it? No questions, no delay. It's suspicious!"
Others had chimed in beneath it.
"True! She's so loyal to him. It's like she'd do anything for Everstay."
"You guys are overthinking it. That's just teamwork. The Dragons trust each other completely—don't ruin it with dumb gossip."
"Yeah, but you've got to admit, they have amazing chemistry in-game. I mean, Somi didn't even hesitate to give up one of the rarest weapons in the game just because Everstay said he needed it. That's more than just trust—it's devotion!"
Ye Qiu's smirk widened as he read the back-and-forth. He knew better than anyone that fans loved to speculate. Somi, his teammate, was as mysterious to the world as he was. No one had ever seen her—or any of the Dragons, for that matter.
"If I meet Somi during the next event, I'll ask her out!" one particularly bold comment declared.
Ye Qiu rolled his eyes, finally logging out of the forum. The noise of the fans was entertaining, but it could also be exhausting. Stretching his arms above his head, he pushed himself out of his chair and shuffled toward the sofa. The wide cushions were messy, littered with crumbs and discarded wrappers, but it was still his favorite place in the apartment.
He flopped down and stared at the ceiling. Within moments, the day's exhaustion took over, and he drifted off to sleep.
When he woke up, the room was bathed in the golden hues of the late evening. His stomach growled loudly, pulling him from the haze of sleep. Ye Qiu sat up, rubbing his face, and shuffled over to the fridge. He opened the door, only to be met with the sight of emptiness. A few water bottles sat lonely on the shelves, taunting him with their uselessness as he sighted.
Just then, his phone buzzed on the counter. Picking it up, he saw the notification from Black Shadow, the enigmatic creator of the Avatar game and the one who paid the Dragons. His monthly payment had just come in. Without a second thought, Ye Qiu transferred a significant chunk of the money to a contact named Lin Yue.
For a moment, he stared at the confirmation message before locking his phone. Then, with a resigned sigh, he grabbed a hoodie and his face mask, throwing them on before heading out.
The cool evening air greeted him as he stepped out into the streets. The city buzzed around him, lights reflecting off the wet pavement from a recent rain. Ye Qiu kept his head low, his mask and hoodie ensuring no one would recognize him. Not that they were likely to—he was just another anonymous face in the crowd.
The convenience store was quiet when he arrived, the fluorescent lights casting a harsh glow over the aisles. He grabbed a basket and began loading it with instant noodles, snacks, and canned drinks. The ramen section took the hardest hit, with containers piling into his basket until it was nearly overflowing.
As he made his way to the counter, the other customers in the store couldn't help but stare. The sheer amount of junk food he was buying raised eyebrows, but Ye Qiu ignored them.
The cashier, a young woman in her twenties, greeted him with a familiar nod. She didn't flinch at the sight of his basket—it was a regular occurrence. Ye Qiu was one of her most consistent customers, and she'd long since stopped being surprised by his choices.
While she scanned his items, Ye Qiu's attention was drawn to the small TV behind her. The news was on, displaying a blurry image of a girl wearing a cap and face mask. A lock of pink hair peeked out from under the cap, catching his eye.
"Fans speculate that this is none other than Somi from the Dragon Team," the reporter said. "The sighting has sparked a frenzy online, with many hoping to catch another glimpse of the elusive player. Meanwhile, excitement builds for the upcoming Dragon Team Live Stream Match, scheduled to take place in two days. The match will be streamed globally, and for the first time, it will also be held at the Grand Stadium. Tickets are already on sale."
Ye Qiu's gaze lingered on the screen as the cashier continued to work. The news was always filled with rumors about the Dragons, but the live stream event was no rumor. It was real, and it was coming fast.
"That'll be 398 yuan," the cashier said, pulling him back to reality.
Ye Qiu handed over the money without a word, waiting patiently as she bagged his items. She worked quickly, and within minutes, he was out the door, stepping back into the chilly night with his bags in hand.
The city hummed around him as he made his way home, his thoughts already drifting to the upcoming match.