Chapter Text
The graduation was approaching, and the faculty was getting noisier and noisier. Shiny dresses, dance rehearsals, endless conversations about dates, outfits, and – of course – boyfriends.
Discussing guys in general was one of the favourite topics in the faculty. Especially when Su Mucheng - 'the gamer girl' - was present. The girls never missed an opportunity to tease her 'no plus one' status, which she at first parried easily with a short answer, full of restrained sarcasm. But the closer the ball got, the sharper their teeth became.
"Well, you're one of us, of course, but it's kind of weird…" one of them said, as if deep in thought. "Tons of boy-friends, but no boyfriend. How come?"
"Maybe she's the problem?" whispered another, loud enough for everyone to hear. "I mean, she is pretty. But her temper…"
Su Mucheng, as usual, did not remain silent.
"Or maybe I just have different priorities?" She said calmly. "Boyfriends come and go, but Glory is forever."
That didn't go well.
"Oh, sure!" laughed one of them. "Don't cry, Mucheng. Maybe at least one of your gamer friends will take pity on you and go to the dance! If, you know, they actually exist, and you don't just try to compensate for not having a boyfriend – ever."
It was at times like this that she realised wholly how much she craved company. Someone supportive, so that just once she didn't have to defend herself alone.
The next morning, everything was the same. After the lecture, the students went to the square in front of the building. The girls, as if on cue, gathered a little further away, giggling loudly. Mucheng was about to walk past, when…
"Hey, Su Mucheng!"
She turned around – and froze.
He was standing at the foot of the stairway, leaning against the railing as if he were in no hurry to get anywhere. Black leather boots, tight jeans, white T-shirt under an unbuttoned jacket. Sleeves rolled up; hair slightly mussed by the wind. Black and white style, so simple and so… deadly.
It felt like even the air was holding its breath.
Ye Xiu.
He didn't look like an e-sports player or a captain. More like a guy from a film – confident, relaxed, and… amazing.
"Hi," he said with a slight smile, without looking at the astonished group of girls behind her. Mucheng took a step toward him, feeling her breath shaking, but not from fear or cold.
He put his arm over her shoulders, as easily as if he was doing it every day, and after a moment of hesitation, she pressed herself against him, one arm around his waist and another on the palm that rested on her shoulder.
"Are you ready?" he asked.
"Ready for what?"
"For the ice cream. We talked about it, remember? I waited all morning." He looked at her pointedly, as if trying to make her catch on to hidden meaning in his words – and then it clicked.
"Ah! Yes… Of course," she smiled broadly, playing along. There was nothing as sweet as the sight of shock in her classmates' eyes.
Speaking of the latter…
"Nice to meet you," Ye Xiu said to them with a perfectly friendly smile, but judging from the look on the girls' faces, 'friendliness' wasn't going to be enough.
One of them exhaled quietly, clutching her bag:
"So handsome…"
"What's your name?" the other asked so sweetly that Mucheng almost shuddered.
Realising what the girl said, she tensed for a moment. If Ye Xiu tells his name…
"I'm afraid I can't," Ye Xiu said with his friendliest smile. "To avoid... misunderstanding. I'm sure you understand."
He winked and slowly walked Mucheng away from the stairway, followed by confused mutterings. Only when they left the square, the girl exhaled quietly:
"You're just in time."
"I'm always on time," he replied, without slowing down. "Don't you know that?"
She smiled despite herself. Of course, he was. Ye Xiu always appeared at the right moment in-game, saving the team in critical situations. Impeccable timing was one of the greatest traits of the 'Invincible Master'.
Mucheng breathed in the clear spring air, feeling the weight of the past few days lifted off her.
"I want a double portion!" She suddenly exclaimed, smiling widely.
She was just Mucheng now – with just Ye Xiu by her side.
"Okay," he laughed.
"No… a triple portion!"
"Won't you get sick?"
With that, they left, unaware of the stares, following them.
The cafe was cosy. Warm brickwork, large windows and a nice view of the flowering chestnut trees outside. Ye Xiu suggested a table outside under the awning. Light breeze caressed the skin, the sun slid towards the horizon, colouring the streets in soft amber hues.
Mucheng stayed waiting outside.
She settled down on a bench, propping her cheek with the palm of her hand. Through the large panoramic window, she could see his silhouette – relaxed, confident. He smiled at the shop assistant, nodded in response to something. Completely at ease.
Completely himself.
Ye Xiu always knew how to be like that. No matter what was going on around him, he had a compass inside him that always pointed to 'everything was going to be okay'. And the strangest thing was, next to him, it actually became true.
She hadn't even realised she had stopped breathing until her chest began to hurt. And only now she allowed herself to exhale – deeply, truly. All the hurt, the sarcastic remarks and snide voices behind her were… gone. It was like they'd been wiped away in one motion, just because he walked up and said, 'Let's go.'
Mucheng smirked to herself. That sounds like him: no explanation. Just action.
A minute later, the door opened, and Ye Xiu came out, holding two neat cups of ice cream. One was with strawberries and nuts - her favourite. Of course, he knew.
"Here, enjoy," he said, placing her portion in front of her. "But eat slowly. We don't want you to get sick, do we?"
"Aye, Captain," she saluted him and took a spoon.
He laughed softly.
They ate in silence for a couple of minutes. The ice cream was cold but delicious, and the wind made his cheeks pink. Mucheng glanced at him from time to time, and the longer she stared, the more a warm gratitude rose in her chest.
"Ye Xiu," she called softly.
He hummed in response, keeping his eyes on the ice cream.
"Thank you."
He froze with the spoon in his hand for a few seconds, then looked at her with a soft, curious look in his eyes.
"You saved me today," she shrugged. And then, remembering, frowned slightly. "But… how did you know?"
He busied himself with the ice cream again, as if it were the most important thing at the moment, but didn't stay silent for long.
"I was going to come to your place," he said quietly. "The door was ajar. I heard you talking to your friend."
Mucheng flinched. A recent evening immediately came to mind – a call from a friend, who had recently transferred to another university because her parents had changed cities and jobs. They rarely spoke face-to-face, so that was an opportunity for them to catch up. Mucheng was alone in her room, sitting by the open window, eating noodles and not holding back. She had a lot to complain about.
Her friend listened sympathetically, but at times asked pointed questions that made Mucheng even more irritated. Especially when it came to graduation. She was literally shaking as she yelled, "Why does everyone give a damn about boyfriends? I'm not worthless just because I don't have one!" Her words sounded harsh at the time, angry. She remembered pacing around the room, fuming as she spoke. Now it was clear: this was when Ye Xiu had entered their dormitory. And heard everything.
She blinked, coming back to the present, and noticed him looking at her.
"Why didn't you say something?"
It was a simple question, but she still heard the reproachful note in it, even if his voice was even.
"I didn't want to worry you," she said, looking down. "You have so much on your plate. New players, Tao Xuan nagging you for interviews, constant training, and schedules. I know how hard it is for you right now."
Ye Xiu set the ice cream down and leaned slightly towards her.
"From what I understand, this was going on for days. Why didn't you tell me before?"
"What was I supposed to say?" Her voice rose slightly, but when she saw how attentive he was looking, she softened. "I was managing. I know how to respond. I need neither them nor their opinion. I went there to learn. I got great grades. I have a couple of good friends. It was okay."
Silence.
"It's just… they nailed it this time. Yeah, I don't have a boyfriend. So what? It's not the end of the world. But for them, it's a competition. As if your worth depends on who meets you on the porch on graduation day."
"Couldn't you have asked someone to play along?" He asked. "You're Su Mucheng, for crying out loud. You could have picked anyone you wanted."
"That's exactly why I couldn't," she smiled weakly. "Everyone knows me. A single post about a 'fake boyfriend' online and I'm doomed. You'd be caught in the act, too, if you were recognised right now, by the way."
He nodded. Slowly. Understandingly. He knew the price of scandal, and he knew how it worked. But suddenly a smirk appeared on his face.
"Then it's a good thing not many people know my face, right?"
She grinned back.
"You came when I needed you most. Thank you."
He covered her hand with his.
"I'm always here for you. You know that. If you need help, call me. Your problems are my problems. Remember?"
Muchen blinked. His words triggered a flash of memory that came over her so abruptly that she could almost smell the dust of the school corridors and the hum of voices in the locker room.
She was still in middle school then. A group of guys – seniors – were often picking at her. Innocently at first, then rougher. Her brother wasn't around: he was away at the training camp. So Mucheng, clenching her teeth, told Ye Xiu about everything.
The next day, he came to see her at school.
Calm, nonchalant. He waited until the break, when those guys shouted something to her again, and came up to them. He said bluntly: "Stop wasting breath. Better show us what you can do in the game." He challenged them to play Glory, a game everyone knew even then. Mucheng still remembered how they sneaked into the computer lab after school, how she trembled, sitting next to him while Ye Xiu silently and cold-bloodedly destroyed them one by one.
He didn't even brag. Just stood up, turned off the monitor, gave her one last soft smile and left. Since then, those guys hadn't even approached her.
Mucheng remembered how, after that, she became very enthusiastic about the game and the effect it had in reality and was determined to become a player like Ye Xiu. He said the same words:
"Remember, your problems are my problems too. No matter the issue, always talk to me, okay? And I'll always come to the rescue."
This is when she first felt that he was a wall, impenetrable and solid. That he was always there for her, and she was protected.
She smiled – for real this time – and squeezed his fingers in return.
"I remember. I'll tell you next time. It's just… I thought I could handle it by myself."
"By yourself? Look at her! When did you grow up?" He joked with a raised eyebrow.
She snorted and tried to slap him lightly on the shoulder. Which he dodged, chuckling.
"You're one to talk. With the way you act, sometimes I seem older than you."
"That's true," he agreed calmly, looking at the empty cups. "How about seconds?"
"Won't you get sick?"
"Counter question: do you want the damn ice-cream or not?"
"Yes!"
"Then wait here, my strong and independent friend," he grinned, stood up and headed inside.
Mucheng stayed at the table. Her fingers still felt the warmth of his hand. There was a lightness in her chest, a smile on her face.
He had always been her medicine. The only one, the reliable one.
And something she hadn't dared to name for a long time was now growing warmer inside of her.