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Yize's footsteps echoed off the cold stone walls in the dim dungeons beneath the grand palace. The heavy scent of dampness and decay filled the air, and flickering energy balls cast long, eerie shadows across the corridors. His heart pounded as he stopped at a damaged iron door, its surface rusted and worn.
"It's here... This was Feng Deming's cell," he murmured.
Hesitating for a moment, he pushed it open with a creak. Darkness filled the large cell inside, but his keen eyes adjusted. Remnants of glyphs surrounded the center of the cell, scattered on the floor and glinting in the faint light.
Flashes of that dreadful day barged into his mind. The sight of Feng Deming deciphering the twenty seals and breaking those powerful chains, his golden eyes glowing red before he blew up most parts of the dungeon, haunted him to this day.
Yize scanned the room until his gaze landed on a stone slab in the corner, its surface worn down by years of use. "What's that?"
He approached the slab, his fingers brushing against something beneath it. With a grunt, he lifted the heavy stone, revealing a hidden compartment.
'What is this place?' Inside, he found a small chest in the corner. Running his hand against the rough surface, he opened it. "Did someone forget to secure this?" He discovered a bundle of letters and a small journal, the pages yellowed and brittle with age. He opened the journal with care, his eyes widening. "This handwriting... Lord Muchen?"
Leaning against the wall, he skimmed through the pages, each word adding to his unease.
"Starvation... thousand lashes... keeping him awake for days..."
His resolve hardened, his stomach knotting as a bitter taste crept up his throat, his mind circling back to Muchen.
A particular passage caught his eye: "Today, I tested the limits of the demon's endurance. The chains held him well, but he remains alive. I must try harsher methods."
Yize's stomach churned as he read the accounts of Muchen's involvement in every act of cruelty and the methods he used.
"Break him, bend him, make him obedient."
Yize's grip tightened on the journal, his knuckles tense. "Why? This isn't the behavior of a noble leader, but of a..." he whispered as a wave of nausea surfaced. "I should... make a replica of this."
He emanated a yellow light in his palm, forming a copy of the journal before placing the original back inside the chest. Just as he turned to leave, a hidden panel in the wall caught his eye.
"Is that...?" He pried it open to reveal an old, rusted dagger and a blood-stained cloth. "These..." Ache gripped his heart, telling him stories of the suffering endured in this sinister place. "I shouldn't stay here!"
He stepped back, his breath ragged. The clues in the cell painted a disturbing picture. He turned and left the dungeon, the door creaking shut behind him, the darkness of the cell now mirrored in his heart.
Hours had passed, and the team still practiced with intensity, keyboards tapping and mice clicking.
Ningshun chuckled, his gaze locked on the screen as he leaned back in his chair. "Just don't miss your skill shots, or I might have to find someone who can handle them."
"Replace me, I dare you," Meilin shot back, her fingers flying over the keys, turning an enemy ambush to her advantage.
"Nice gank, Meilin! You're amazing. That was perfect timing."
Flashing a warm smile, she exclaimed, "Thanks, Kaili! Couldn't have done it without you."
"Careful, Kaili. Don't let your admiration show too much."
"Shut up, Hooman," Kaili grinned.
"I'd rather not lose this match because of your... never mind." Hooman rolled his eyes. 'What a simp.'
Han interjected, "Can we focus on winning, please?"
"Yes, focus on the game, Kaili. Stop drooling," Ningshun muttered as he rolled his eyes. Taking a peek at Meilin's amused reaction to Kaili, his finger slipped onto a random key, using Flash to reposition. 'Dammit,' he thought, his ears picking up on her snickering.
Kaili laughed with mockery. "Nice moves. Did you mean to flash into the wall?"
Ningshun sighed, his smirk cutting like a blade. "Absolutely. I was... making sure it's still solid. Can't have those walls sneaking up on us."
"Good to know you're on wall duty, Ningshun. I'll handle the actual gameplay... Keep up the funny fails, though. Meilin's reactions are priceless!" Kaili chuckled.
Ningshun flashed a smile, sleazy and slick. "Hmph. Guess I'm just here for her entertainment."
Meanwhile, having just outplayed the enemy Jungler, Meilin continued navigating the jungle and headed toward the mid-lane.
"Uh, Meilin, did you just gank me?" Ningshun teased.
Giggling, she tossed a playful taunt, "Just testing to see if you're paying attention!"
Ningshun chuckled, his tone a steady anchor. "Stay focused on the objectives instead, rookie."
"At least I'm not flashing into walls."
Rotating his head, Ningshun glimpsed her sticking her tongue out like a daredevil. Scoffing, his eyes hinted at roguish secrets. "Better that than owning a half-naked body pillow of Zayn."
Kaili's laughter exploded like a firecracker. "Wait, you actually have one?"
'That... Ningshun!' Scoffing, she drew in a breath like a sigh of wind before a storm. "It's called dedication! Not like I cuddle with it every night or anything..."
"Are you sure it's just dedication and not an obsession?" Kaili questioned.
"Hey, it's all about comfort, okay? Plus, it's a limited edition!"
Ningshun shook his head, tutting. "I don't know whether to be impressed or worried."
With an impish grin, Hooman added, "Why do you seem to know more about her bed than any of us in the first place, Ningshun? Are you jealous of her body pillow?"
"Are you crazy?" Ningshun chuckled, a wry smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "I think you've been hit by too many of Kaili's pranks, Hooman."
Meilin laughed. "Hey, Ningshun, if you ever feel lonely, I'm sure my body pillow wouldn't mind some company."
'That's not... what Hooman meant.' Ningshun leaned back. "I prefer to keep my distance from that... thing," he replied with the ease of a maestro, earning chuckles from the team.
"Meilin, their Jungler is headed toward Dragon!" Han interrupted.
"On it." She adjusted her path.
Ningshun's eyes widened. "Meilin, watch out!"
"What's wrong?"
"It's a trap. They're after your bounty."
"But that doesn't make sense, I—" her voice cut off as enemies closed in, escaping with her life by a narrow margin. 'I should have predicted this... This hardly ever happens!'
"Forget about Dragon. Hooman and Kaili have their base covered. Meilin, wait for my signal to attack," Ningshun instructed, focusing on the map. "Han, stall their top laner."
"Got it," Han confirmed.
"Three... two... one. Go!"
Seizing the moment, she sprang into action and disabled the enemy ADC with a paralysis ability. Ningshun joined the fight, preventing the enemy team's escape until Hooman and Kaili breached the enemy base and initiated their final assault.
Inside the enemy base, Hooman and Kaili coordinated without error. "Almost there," Hooman encouraged as they attacked the enemy's core structure, dismantling it. "Keep it up, Kaili. We're nearly done!"
Kaili nodded. "Just a bit more. Almost there! It's impossible for them to win now."
'I can't believe how strong Ningshun is. It's like he has everything under control, no matter what. He's just... amazing,' Meilin thought as the large Victory sign emerged on the screen.
Kaili leaned back, basking in the glow of their teamwork. "Good game. We really pulled through."
Han turned to the newest member, his expression softening. "You did awesome out there, Meilin. Impressive teamwork." Catching her clenched jaws and tensed hands, he blinked. "You okay?"
She met his gaze, her dim eyes now lighting up with joy in an instant. "Thanks, Han. I appreciate the support."
"Sure..."
Her heart pounded as she let her smile dissolve, straightening her mouth. 'This should never happen again... I can't risk losing this career. I should be perfect at this game at all times... I must be perfect.'
After practice, the whole team gathered at the amusement park ticket booth, a towering building in the middle of a square with plants decorating every corner. Kaili, Hooman, and Meilin laughed at their jokes while Han conversed with Ningshun.
As the group waited, Kaili sighed and tapped on his arm. "It's been over fifteen minutes. She better be cute, or else I'll—"
"Meilin!"
Kaili turned around, his jaw dropping, eyes tracing the girl's delicate features. Short bobtail hair with an ash-brown undertone accentuated her amber eyes. A soft pink hue graced her lips, and light-brown eyeshadow rested above her innocent, round eyes.
Meilin's smile blossomed as she spotted her, and without a second thought, she sprinted toward her, arms spread wide. "Yuming!" She leaped into her friend's arms, squeezing her arms around her as if afraid to let go.
"I've missed you so, so much!" Yuming leaned closer, glancing over her shoulder, and whispered, "Are they...?"
"Yes!" Meilin pulled back and turned, waving toward the others. "Hey, boys! Come over here."
Ningshun and Han sauntered over, offering polite nods to Yuming.
Kaili sprinted toward the girls, shoving his hand forward before Yuming could grab Ningshun's, beating him to it. "I'm Kaili. The pleasure is all..." He turned to Ningshun's bewildered look. "...mine."
Ningshun rolled his eyes. 'Seriously, why's he stressing? She's not even my type! I thought he'd know that by now.' He released a sharp breath, his tone casual yet firm. "Yeeeah... I'm gonna go sit over there." Veering off as the group interacted with Yuming, he sank onto a bench.
Meilin glanced at Ningshun, noting the tightness in his facial muscles as he took out his phone. 'He keeps checking his phone. Could it be the same person who called him this morning? Ugh, I shouldn't meddle in this!'
But she could not tear her eyes from him. As time passed, he kept his distance from the rest of the group as they entered the park. Her pace slowed, her gaze fixed on him—only him. The screams of kids and sounds of cameras faded around her.
'So unlike him,' she thought, peering at Ningshun standing farther away. 'I was wrong about him.'
The tightness in his jaws.
'He isn't perfect.'
The tremble in his hands.
'He's... more than that.'
The unrhythmic pacing of his walk, more like wandering.
'Better... than that.'
His head in the clouds.
'He's human, just like the rest of us.'
Shaking her head to snap out of her thoughts, Meilin made her way to the group, joining in on the lively atmosphere as they stood in line for fries, chattering and laughing at jokes. Everyone was there except for the team leader, who sat away from the group.
"Isn't Ningshun getting any?" she asked.
"He said he isn't hungry," Han replied.
She recalled that Ningshun had gone the entire day without eating, suspecting it had something to do with the phone call earlier. She could not shake the memory of his fingers trembling as he held his phone, which might have left him not in the mood for snacks—or even for having fun—despite his earlier enthusiasm about going to the amusement park.
Meilin felt someone poke her shoulder. Turning around, she saw it was Yuming.
"Hey, we need to talk." Yuming tugged at Meilin's sleeve.
Kaili, unable to keep his eyes away from Yuming, tore his gaze from her and met Meilin's, a hint of anxiety in his expression.
"S-Sure..." Meilin murmured, slowly breaking eye contact with Kaili, now fixated on Yuming.
It did not take long for Yuming to spill the beans, though Meilin had a feeling about where their conversation would lead. It did not take a genius to see the amount of attention Kaili had devoted to Yuming, making the group—especially Hooman and Ningshun—to roll their eyes at them, calling them cheesy. Kaili, however, did not seem to mind at all.
"Oh, my God. I just have to ask!" Yuming exclaimed, her voice pitching high like a schoolgirl. She had to know more about Kaili.
So, Meilin answered all her lingering questions about him—from his favorite snacks to his daily activities, and, most importantly, whether Meilin thought he was a man worth investing her time and energy in.
"Kaili has always been a good friend of mine. He's always had my back." Meilin took Yuming's hand, offering a warm, comforting squeeze. "He's a good guy."
Yuming nodded with a smile, and they both returned to the line as their turn approached. Minutes passed, and everyone except Ningshun got their fries and drinks.
In the distance, Ningshun sat at the edge of a star-shaped fountain, his gaze drifting underfoot. Different shades of azure mosaics shone under the light, while gentle ripples flowed outward from the center, where a small jet sent a stream upward.
Though lost in his thoughts, he caught the uttered "Excuse me," "Coming through," and "Sorry"—a voice he would recognize anywhere, prompting him to turn his head a little and peer from the corner of his eye as a shadow edged into his view. Tensing his brows, he drew his gaze upward, staying quiet as Meilin stood before him, balancing two buckets of fries in each hand, barely managing to keep them steady with her chin for support.
"Hey," she murmured. "Why are you sitting here by yourself?"
"No reason." Raising an eyebrow, he just had to ask, "Are you that hungry?"
As she settled beside him, she turned to her left and grabbed one of the carton buckets.
Waiting for a reply that did not come, he added, "Never min—"
"Here!" She caught him off guard, placing the fries on his lap with a wide smile.
Lowering his gaze to the bucket, his eyes widened. "For me?"
"Of course, silly," she quipped.
"I said I'm not hungry."
"I... well, I just thought you'd like some anyway."
Ningshun's brows lifted, his stoic expression faltering as his mouth parted, as if he had something to say but held back. "Thanks, Meilin." He curled his lips.
Just as he parted his lips to continue speaking, his phone rang.
He closed his eyes, releasing a heavy sigh as a crease formed between his brows. "One sec," he breathed.
She nodded, her smile small and hesitant. "Sure."
She pierced the wooden fork into the fries. As she took a bite through the crispy surface, the warm, fluffy interior released a pleasant flavor in her mouth.
He pulled out his phone, a name glaring on the screen. 'Again with this,' he thought, tapping the green button.
"Where are you? I expected you to be here by now."
Listening in, her heart raced like a caged bird breaking free as she uncovered the truth he had kept to himself. 'He had somewhere else to be, yet he chose to be here... with me?' A sly fox's grin teased at the edges of her lips as the pieces fell into place.
Ningshun caught Meilin's smug look, the cocky tilt of her head.
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