Summary: On an otherwise quiet walk near the ZGDX base, Tong Yao finds herself unexpectedly thrown into the spotlight when she crosses paths with the entire team. Her quiet presence and piercing intelligence immediately draw the attention of Lu Sicheng, whose calculating gaze locks onto her with unsettling precision. Despite her discomfort, an offhand reveal by her friends Ai Jia and Jinyang exposes more than she ever intended—namely, that her final dissertation is built around studying Chessman's legendary strategies.
Chapter One
The late afternoon sun cast a golden glow over the winding road leading past the shared entrance of the ZGDX and YQCB bases, the warmth of the fading light stretching shadows long across the pavement. The air carried the distant hum of city life, but up here, along this quieter stretch of road, only the soft crunch of gravel underfoot and the murmured voices of three figures filled the space.
Tong Yao walked slightly behind Ai Jia and Jinyang, her platinum silver hair catching the sunlight with every step, the pale strands an almost ethereal contrast against her delicate frame. Her piercing hazel eyes remained downcast, focused on the worn path beneath her feet, her fingers toying absentmindedly with the sleeve of her oversized sweater. She had never been one for large groups or unnecessary attention, and while Ai Jia had assured her this was the fastest way back, she couldn't shake the faint unease curling in her stomach at the thought of passing by ZGDX's base.
Not that she had anything against them—far from it. She respected their skills, admired their teamwork, but unlike so many others who lingered around the area in hopes of catching a glimpse of the players, she held no particular fascination for their fame. She had no interest in clinging to people simply because they were well-known. It was a refreshing trait, Ai Jia had once told her, but at this moment, it did nothing to ease the anxiety that came with knowing they were walking straight past their main entrance.
Just as they reached the curve in the road, Ai Jia slowed his steps. Jinyang's chatter faltered slightly, her gaze shifting ahead, and before Yao could look up to see what had caught their attention, she felt it, the unmistakable weight of multiple gazes locking onto them.
The ZGDX team was outside.
Not just a few of them. All of them.
Lu Sicheng stood at the center of the group, tall and commanding, his posture effortlessly exuding the kind of quiet authority that had made him a legend in the e-sports world. Beside him, Yue, ever the more relaxed counterpart, arched a brow in mild curiosity, his sharp gaze flicking toward Ai Jia with easy recognition. Lao K, Lao Mao, Pang, and Ming stood nearby, their conversation momentarily paused, their collective attention drawn to the unfamiliar presence among them.
Yao, instinctively, took half a step back, fingers tightening around the hem of her sleeve as the weight of so many eyes settled onto her. It wasn't hostility—just curiosity, sharp and assessing, the way competitors naturally took note of new variables in their space. But even knowing that, the intensity of their gazes made her pulse flutter uncomfortably.
Then there was him.
Lu Sicheng's amber eyes found hers almost instantly, his focus shifting with the kind of precision that sent an immediate shiver down her spine. He wasn't just looking—he was seeing , as if trying to decipher something about her with nothing more than the sheer force of his gaze. And unlike so many before him, he was met with something entirely different. No excitement. No stammered greetings. No nervous admiration. Just wide, hesitant hazel eyes meeting his for the briefest of moments before flickering away, not out of disinterest but out of sheer, overwhelming shyness.
Ai Jia cleared his throat, breaking the silence. "Didn't think we'd run into you guys," he said, his voice easy, casual, though there was a flicker of something amused beneath his tone. "Didn't mean to interrupt."
Sicheng didn't answer right away. He was still watching her, his expression unreadable, his focus unwavering. Yao felt her breath catch, her grip tightening around the fabric of her sleeve, her heart hammering in her chest for reasons she couldn't quite name.
"Who's this?" Sicheng finally asked, his voice smooth but carrying the kind of quiet authority that left little room for anything but the truth.
Ai Jia hesitated for only a second before answering. "Tong Yao," he said simply. "She's a friend."
"A friend?" Sicheng echoed, the words rolling off his tongue with slow, deliberate weight. His gaze never left her, and the way he said it made something deep in Yao's chest tighten.
Jinyang, ever perceptive, smirked. "Not what you expected, is it?"
Sicheng didn't respond to that. Instead, he took a step forward, not aggressive, not imposing, just enough to close the distance ever so slightly, just enough that Yao felt the shift in the air between them. "You're not a fangirl." It wasn't a question. It was an observation. A realization.
Yao swallowed hard, forcing herself to meet his gaze again, though her voice was barely above a whisper when she answered. "No."
Sicheng's expression didn't change, but there was something in his eyes, something dark, something intrigued, something that sent a warmth curling low in her stomach in a way she didn't quite understand.
Yue, ever the one to break the tension, crossed his arms as he tilted his head slightly, his sharp gaze flicking between Ai Jia and Jinyang before settling on Yao with mild curiosity. "We've met Jinyang before," he said, his voice carrying the casual ease of someone making an offhand observation, "but we've never seen you around. Where've you been hiding?"
Yao, feeling the weight of too many eyes on her again, instinctively curled her fingers tighter around the fabric of her sleeve, her gaze briefly dropping to the ground before flickering back up. There was no malice in Yue's question, only curiosity, but that didn't make it any easier to answer. Her voice was barely above a whisper when she finally spoke.
"Tsinghua University." It was simple. Direct. But the moment the words left her lips, she felt the shift in the air—not dramatic, not overwhelming, but enough to make her want to shrink under their scrutiny.
Yue raised his brows slightly, visibly impressed. "Tsinghua, huh?" He let out a low whistle. "So, you're a genius, then?"
Yao immediately shook her head, her face warming. "No, just... I study a lot." she murmured, her voice almost lost in the space between them.
Ming, who had been quiet up until now, exchanged a glance with Sicheng, his lips twitching slightly in amusement. "Smart and shy," he mused. "That's new."
Sicheng, however, said nothing. He just continued watching her, his gaze dark, unreadable, as if turning over a thought in his mind that no one else could see.
And Yao, feeling that gaze like a tangible weight against her skin, wasn't sure whether she wanted to run or stay.
Jinyang, ever the one to revel in moments like these, let out a sharp laugh, shaking her head as she nudged Ai Jia. "Oh, you guys have no idea," she said, eyes dancing with amusement. "Not only is she at Tsinghua, but she's on her way to getting her Ph.D. in Data Analysis and Technology." There was a brief beat of silence, the weight of that statement settling in before Jinyang, with all the flair of someone dropping the ultimate punchline, smirked and added, "And she's tacking on Gaming Strategic Analysis for OPL because apparently being a regular genius wasn't enough."
Yue let out a low whistle again, this time genuinely impressed, while Lao K gave a skeptical huff. "A Ph.D. and gaming strategy? Who even does that?"
Ming, arms crossed, gave Yao an appraising look before glancing at Sicheng. "That's… dangerous." he muttered under his breath, though the amusement in his tone was clear.
Yao, for her part, felt the heat creep up her neck, her fingers pressing into the fabric of her sleeve as she ducked her head slightly. She had never been one to talk about her studies unless pressed, and now, under the scrutiny of some of the best players in OPL, she wished Jinyang had exercised even a fraction of restraint.
Sicheng, however, still hadn't spoken. His amber gaze remained locked onto her, something dark and calculating flickering beneath the surface, but there was no outright judgment, no disbelief, only quiet, piercing interest. "So, you're studying how to beat us?" he finally said, his voice slow, deliberate.
The question made something deep in Yao's stomach coil, but before she could stammer out a response, Jinyang, ever the menace, threw her arm around Yao's shoulders and grinned.
"She's studying how to beat everyone."
Yao immediately shook her head, her voice barely above a whisper as she muttered, "No..." Her gaze dropped, her fingers tightening around the hem of her sleeve, her face burning as she struggled to find the right words. "I just… I just want to understand the game more."
But before she could shrink further into herself, Ai Jia let out a loud, unrestrained snort, the sound carrying far too much amusement. He crossed his arms, glancing at her with a smirk before turning his attention directly to Sicheng. "I don't think ZGDX has anything to worry about," he said, his voice dripping with knowing amusement. "Considering that this one—" he tilted his head toward Yao, who was now visibly mortified, "—is using Chessman's plays and strategies for her Final Dissertation."
Yao went absolutely still, her entire face going scarlet as her nails dug into her sleeve, her heartbeat slamming against her ribs.
And then, Ai Jia—because he clearly lived for chaos—gave Sicheng a pointed look. "You know," he added, drawling out the words with exaggerated ease, "since that's the man's Gamer ID."
Silence.
A thick, weighted silence that stretched unbearably as every single person in the group processed what Ai Jia had just revealed.
Lao K let out a strangled cough, Pang's mouth parted slightly in surprise, and Yue, still standing with his arms crossed, slowly turned his head toward Sicheng, an unmistakable smirk creeping onto his face as if waiting for the inevitable reaction.
And Sicheng?
Sicheng's amber eyes, sharp and unreadable, settled on Yao with a weight so heavy she felt like it was pressing into her skin. There was no outward shift in his expression, no immediate response, but something in his gaze darkened, something calculating, something intrigued.
Yao, utterly unable to handle the intensity of it, looked away so fast she nearly gave herself whiplash, her entire body radiating heat from sheer embarrassment.
Jinyang, meanwhile, cackled, clearly reveling in the moment. "Oh, this just got so much better."
Yao had officially reached her limit. With her face burning and her entire body radiating embarrassment, she did the only thing that made sense in that moment, she backtracked, stepping away hurriedly, her voice barely above a whisper as she muttered, "Goodbye," before turning on her heel and bolting. She didn't even try to make it look graceful. She didn't care. She just darted down the road, her platinum-silver hair whipping behind her as she moved faster than anyone had probably ever seen her move, her oversized sweater sleeves flapping slightly with each hurried step. There was no chance in hell she was continuing this walk up toward Ai Jia's base. No chance in hell she was sticking around to deal with the fallout of that disastrous reveal.
Nope. She was done.
She didn't hear the way Ai Jia snorted, still clearly amused by the entire thing. She didn't see the way Jinyang smirked, utterly entertained by the chaos she had helped create. And most importantly, she didn't witness the exact moment Lu Sicheng's expression dropped from passive intrigue to something cold, sharp, and lethal.
But Ai Jia and Jinyang certainly did.
"You two," Sicheng's voice cut through the air like a knife, low and dangerously controlled, "need to learn when to shut the hell up." The amusement on Ai Jia's face flickered, but before he could even get a word out, Sicheng continued, his voice dropping further, his amber eyes burning into them with quiet fury. "That was not your information to give," he said, each word precise, slow, and terrifyingly steady. "You don't spill your friend's secrets like that. You don't expose something personal just because you think it's funny." His gaze flicked to Ai Jia first, sharp as a blade. "You especially," he added, his voice coated in ice, "should know better." Ai Jia opened his mouth, likely to defend himself, but Sicheng didn't give him the chance. "You embarrassed her," he stated, his tone cold enough to send a chill down everyone's spine. "And if you don't see the problem with that, then maybe you don't know her as well as you think you do."
Silence.
Ai Jia's jaw tensed, his usual easy-going demeanor flickering as he shifted on his feet, looking slightly uncomfortable for the first time. Jinyang, though still wearing the ghost of a smirk, exhaled quietly, clearly aware that Sicheng wasn't just pissed—he was warning them.
Meanwhile, the rest of ZGDX stood frozen, watching their captain unleash a level of quiet fury none of them had expected. Yue, who had been grinning moments before, sobered slightly, his expression unreadable. Lao K exchanged a wary glance with Pang. Even Ming, usually unfazed by anything, remained silent.
Sicheng's gaze flickered down the road where Yao had disappeared, his jaw tightening slightly. Then, without another word, he turned and walked back toward the base, his entire presence still radiating cold irritation.
And Ai Jia, watching him go, finally let out a slow breath, rubbing the back of his neck. "Well," he muttered, more to himself than anyone else. "That definitely hit a nerve."
Yue, arms still crossed, let out a slow, deliberate sigh, his gaze shifting toward Jinyang with something between amusement and disappointment. But then his next words had a far sharper impact than even Sicheng's cold anger. "I guess I'll be giving Chen Kazemi a call about this," he mused, his tone deceptively light, yet carrying a weight that made the air around them drop.
Jinyang, who had been smirking only moments ago, went utterly still. The color visibly drained from her face as she turned sharply toward Yue, eyes widening in something close to panic. "You wouldn't." she blurted out, her voice no longer carrying the amusement from earlier, the teasing edge completely gone.
Yue tilted his head slightly, his smirk returning—only now it was far more wicked. "Wouldn't I?" he countered smoothly. "I mean, I should, right? Since you apparently don't know how to keep your mouth shut about things that aren't yours to share."
Jinyang's hands clenched at her sides, her throat working as she tried to find an argument, but the second Yue had uttered her brother's name, all traces of humor had evaporated.
Ai Jia shifted slightly, clearly sensing the shift in dynamic, but wisely kept his mouth shut this time.
Jinyang knew what this meant. Chen Kazemi wasn't just her older brother, he was the older brother. Overprotective, no-nonsense, and entirely willing to make her life hell if he thought she had crossed a line. And this? Oh, this would absolutely qualify.
Yue watched as realization fully settled into her, his smirk widening just a fraction. "That's what I thought," he murmured, before turning on his heel and heading back toward the base, not bothering to look back as he added, "Better start preparing your excuses, Jinyang."
Jinyang just stood there, visibly tense, her eyes darting toward Ai Jia as if looking for an escape. But there was none. And for the first time all evening, she wasn't laughing.
~~~
Three days later, the consequences of their actions came crashing down harder than either Jinyang or Ai Jia had anticipated.
Jinyang sat on the couch in her family's living room, her arms crossed, her expression dark as she stared at the floor, clearly fuming. Across from her, Chen Kazemi leaned against the wall, his arms also crossed, his presence a silent but unrelenting force of judgment.
"So," he finally said, his voice deceptively calm, "you thought it would be funny to publicly humiliate someone you call a friend?"
Jinyang's jaw clenched. "It wasn't like that," she muttered, her tone defensive but lacking her usual confidence.
"Oh?" Chen Kazemi's tone sharpened slightly. "Then tell me what exactly it was like, because from what I heard, you threw your shy, introverted friend to the wolves and laughed while doing it."
Jinyang winced, guilt flickering in her eyes despite her frustration. "I didn't think it'd be that bad—"
"That's the problem," Chen Kazemi cut her off, his voice harder now. "You didn't think. And because of that, you're grounded. No outings, no meetups, and don't even think about stepping near the ZGDX base for the next two weeks. Maybe that'll give you enough time to think about how not to betray your friends next time."
Jinyang's shoulders slumped slightly, the weight of her punishment settling in. She knew arguing was pointless. When Chen Kazemi put his foot down, it stayed down.
But she wasn't the only one suffering.
At the same time, over at YQCB's base, Ai Jia was slumped on the team couch, his head tilted back, groaning loudly as Liang Sheng, his team captain, stood over him, arms crossed, his expression filled with pure disappointment.
"You absolute idiot." Liang Sheng sighed, shaking his head. "You got yourself grounded by me because Lu Sicheng personally called to inform me how much of a moron you were."
Ai Jia groaned again, throwing an arm over his eyes. "It's not that serious," he muttered.
"It is that serious," Liang Sheng shot back. "You embarrassed a girl so badly she ran away. A girl who, by the way, is studying Chessman's strategies. Do you have any idea how insane that is? And instead of respecting that, you outed her in front of him?"
Ai Jia mumbled something incoherent, but Liang Sheng wasn't having it.
"Enjoy your time indoors," the captain said firmly. "Because you're not going anywhere outside of mandatory practices and matches for the next two weeks. Maybe next time, you'll learn how to shut up when it matters."
Ai Jia let out a long, drawn-out sigh, muttering under his breath, "I swear, Sicheng is a menace."
"Yeah," Liang Sheng said, unimpressed. "And now you get to deal with the consequences of underestimating him and angering him."