Jiang Wan hadn’t expected that today was Wen Jin’s birthday.
Even more unexpected was that people had come to celebrate it with him—yet his face was full of disdain.
She was busy stir-frying in the kitchen, and those young men came over to help too: some washed vegetables, some washed dishes and scrubbed pots. They were all lively and talkative—completely the opposite of Wen Jin, like they belonged to two different worlds.
But somehow, they were actually his friends.
“We were all part of Team AY back then. Now we’re all retired—some became pro coaches, some became commentators, some stream. Honestly, we don’t keep in touch much anymore. These days we only really gather when it’s someone’s birthday. But Ah Jin never celebrates ours, so the only time we get to see him is on his birthday…” said Dorayaki[1], the one in black-rimmed glasses. He wasn’t tall, had a baby face, and his eyes behind the glasses were big and bright.
He stood beside Jiang Wan, washing vegetables while gossiping: “Ah Jin’s not easy to get along with, huh? When he first came to our team, he even fought our coach.”
“Why?” Jiang Wan was surprised.
That man, though strange, didn’t seem like the type to start fights.
“Our coach liked this… crushing style of teaching. He’d always berate you, even if you played really well. He’d still call you trash, hoping it would push you to improve. So when Ah Jin first came, he won a match, stood up—and our coach immediately said, ‘Don’t get cocky just because you won. To me, you’re still garbage—’ He didn’t even finish the word ‘garbage’ before Ah Jin punched him flat.”
“And after that?” Jiang Wan couldn’t help asking.
“After that, he just kept winning. He blew up in popularity. After one international tournament, when he came back, the entire airport terminal was packed with fans waiting for him, screaming his name, screaming until their voices broke.” Read the latest chapters at novelping.com.
“He probably didn’t react,” Jiang Wan said.
“Exactly! How’d you know?!” Dorayaki burst out laughing. “That’s Ah Jin for you. He’s just too cold. Other than gaming, he hardly interacts with people. And his personality… If you say he’s strange, he seems normal enough. If you say he’s normal, he’s not like ordinary people at all.”
Jiang Wan deeply agreed and was just about to nod when Wen Jin suddenly appeared.
He was taller than everyone there—and by far the most striking in appearance.
“I’m going out. You’re coming with me.” He looked at Jiang Wan, said this, and turned to leave.
“Hey? Ah Jin, where’re you going? Forget the birthday?” The others quickly gathered around. “And what’s the deal with taking this pretty sister along?”
“Literal meaning. If something happens to her while she’s here, I’d bear some responsibility,” Wen Jin said blankly.
“The hell! What are you implying? You think we’re that kind of people?!” Dorayaki shouted.
Wen Jin looked at him. “Don’t know. Could be.”
Jiang Wan awkwardly watched the ridiculous scene play out, then followed Wen Jin outside.
But the man only went downstairs to the security office to pick up a package.
Jiang Wan thought he wanted her help to carry it, but when she reached out, he refused.
She couldn’t hold back asking, “You didn’t seriously call me down just because you were worried they’d do something to me, right?”
“Yes.” Wen Jin picked up two shoebox-sized parcels and started walking back.
Jiang Wan was puzzled. “But they’re your friends. Why would you think that?”
“They’re them. I’m me. I don’t know them, and I don’t know what they might do. All I know is—” Wen Jin’s gaze shifted toward her. “That day, when I saw you unclothed, I felt—sexually aroused.”
“……”
[1] TongLuoShao in Chinese, a red bean paste pancake sandwich. It’s yummy. It’s more known as Dorayaki so I used this name instead of the Chinese one