The person in front of him wore a black T-shirt, and his soft, dark hair made him look very gentle.
But because he was so pale, the redness of his ears and neck stood out even more.
"Really?"
Shen Kuangye let out a soft laugh. "You're actually the first person to say that."
Lu Xiangyang's reply made Shen Kuangye relax a little.
He had been walking alone for too long and had long forgotten how to treat others well, always fearing he might make them uncomfortable.
"How could that be?"
Lu Xiangyang didn't quite believe it. He thought about Shen Kuangye's previously cold and reserved demeanor and suddenly felt this explanation made sense.
If it weren't for Shen Kuangye being kind, and if he didn't resemble his own younger brother in some ways, there probably wouldn't be any connection between him and Shen Kuangye.
Shen Kuangye didn't know why Lu Xiangyang suddenly seemed a little down.
He propped his hand on his knee and slightly turned his head. "What's wrong?"
Lu Xiangyang lifted his eyes abruptly and mumbled, "It's nothing… I just thought… about the trial later."
His attempt to change the subject was stiff, but Shen Kuangye didn't notice.
He raised an eyebrow. "Nervous?"
Lu Xiangyang touched his nose, thinking to himself that he wasn't really nervous. After all, his talent and skills were evident.
He had confidence in his technique, and his results in the youth training camp were exceptional.
Moreover, he was already familiar with the EAR players from the Identity V peak league; sometimes he even managed to send them to a basement. He knew each of their controlling habits, so the pressure wasn't too great.
Yet when he spoke, his voice carried a hint of hesitation: "Maybe a little."
It seemed like he really was nervous.
Shen Kuangye was experienced in competitions and fearless.
Even though he used to play as a hunter, he knew his own abilities well and was confident that he could rank first in the league even as a survivor.
For him, it was just a matter of spending a bit more time adjusting.
But thinking about Lu Xiangyang, a rookie facing a trial, he realized the boy must be uncertain inside.
He took out his phone, tilted his head toward Lu Xiangyang, and said flatly, "Want to practice a round alone?"
Lu Xiangyang pulled out his phone quickly, as if afraid Shen Kuangye would change his mind.
He swiftly opened the game and looked up at the surroundings, casually saying, "But, Kuangye-ge, I don't think I'm your game friend yet."
Shen Kuangye tapped a few times on the screen and lowly acknowledged with a "Hmm."
Lu Xiangyang couldn't help but glance at him, adding casually, "In that case, we wouldn't be able to practice one-on-one."
"I know,"
Shen Kuangye said, pointing at a spot on the phone screen close enough that Lu Xiangyang could smell the pleasant scent on his clothes. "So I need your approval."
Lu Xiangyang instinctively looked at the screen, and his face immediately heated up.
He hadn't noticed that a friend request was already pending!
"Oh, o-okay."
When people feel awkward, they tend to pretend to be chatty. Lu Xiangyang awkwardly asked, "Where did you add me from?"
He immediately wanted to smack his own mouth after asking.
Fortunately, Shen Kuangye seemed unaware. He showed the screen: "Not sure, maybe because you're number one?"
On it was the Identity V hunter ranking.
His teenage, slightly edgy ID: supersun
It hung prominently at first place.
This honor was something Lu Xiangyang would casually check whenever he had free time, he loved seeing how much he was ahead of second place.
But now, for the first time, he felt embarrassed.
Too flashy.
Would Shen Kuangye think he was showing off?
Lu Xiangyang's thoughts were in a mess.
After Shen Kuangye finished joking, he saw Lu Xiangyang quickly lower his head and approve the friend request.
His ears were a little red.
Had he always been this pale?
Shen Kuangye couldn't remember.
He couldn't help but chuckle inwardly. Wearing a mask for so long, he had even forgotten his original self.
Shen Kuangye's friend list had only one person now: the just-added Lu Xiangyang.
Nothing else.
This made it seem even more like he had been forcibly dropped into this world.
Shen Kuangye sent the invitation.
The trial mainly tested players' character pools, adaptability, and weaknesses.
Lu Xiangyang's character pool was very deep.
He excelled with the Opera, Eve, Hermit, Red Twins, and Photographer, and had a special skill with Joseph.
However, the last three didn't suit the current version very well.
Practice started.
Shen Kuangye used the Patient first, while Lu Xiangyang chose the Opera; they picked the Red Church map.
Lu Xiangyang's gameplay was highly skilled, and the Opera was naturally fast with knives. He could almost always hit the survivor; at worst, it was a bleed knife swap. But Shen Kuangye knew him even better.
He knew all of Lu Xiangyang's small habits.
In the second round, Shen Kuangye used the Acrobat, Lu Xiangyang chose Red Butterfly, and they picked the Lakeview Village map.
Many survivor skills required repeated study and familiarity, and Shen Kuangye aimed to test basic skills by controlling his characters.
While practicing one-on-one, Shen Kuangye planned on helping Lu Xiangyang improve his strategy.
Though Lu Xiangyang's mind games were strong, facing someone like Shen Kuangye, who knew all his weaknesses, made it clear where he fell short.
Shen Kuangye just wanted to use his remaining time in this world to help Lu Xiangyang reach the top.
They practiced ten rounds; assuming 60 seconds of control time counted, Shen Kuangye won six rounds.
Lu Xiangyang thought to himself how strong Shen Kuangye was—solid fundamentals and seemingly able to predict his next move. Practicing with him was thrilling.
With Shen Kuangye's ten rounds, the afternoon trial went smoothly.
Lu Xiangyang went first, Shen Kuangye watching.
First round: Lakeview Village, against the four veteran players, Lu Xiangyang used the current meta Opera. The survivor lineup was standard, and he ended with three captures.
Second round: Red Church, he chose Photographer, but misjudged survivor escape direction, ending in a draw.
Third round: Moon River, he picked Eve, securing another three-capture game.
Rounds four and five…
EAR coach Yishui, watching with Xing, was full of admiration and relief at Lu Xiangyang's skill.
When Shen Kuangye's trial came, since the current EAR hunters were injured, Lu Xiangyang played first.
They practiced a few rounds, Shen Kuangye's control was excellent. Later, they simulated real matches.
Shen Kuangye's control, rescue, and observer skills were outstanding.
Yishui increasingly satisfied, approached them after the trial and hugged them hard. "Good kids—two such talented players in one go."
He looked at the club's chandelier, immersed in thought. "I feel like I'm standing on the edge of the league battlefield."
Shen Kuangye: "."
Li Shu deliberately teased him: "Coach, aren't your goals a bit too ambitious? Making the playoffs would already be great."
Yishui shot him a glare, frustrated at their lack of ambition. "Can't you dream bigger? Maybe we'll win the autumn finals this season!"
"Exactly," Xing chimed in.
The afternoon trial mainly tested skills and weaknesses.
Shen Kuangye's fundamentals were solid, control stable, and though Lu Xiangyang looked young, cheerful, and approachable, he was fierce when focused.
Yishui quietly observed, thinking EAR needed support and command roles.
Shen Kuangye's character pool perfectly filled this gap.
He was versatile: rescue, support, observer—all strong, with excellent game awareness.
Yishui had a premonition: maybe this time, their team could turn their luck around.
Other club members were excited about the newcomers. Li Shu was particularly anxious.
He had a tendency to spill secrets and almost revealed the newcomers' arrival online but quickly retracted.
Fans: ???
[Bro, I saw it!]
He replied, "Sorry, my account was hacked."
[Stop lying.]
[So they really joined EAR? Ahhh we're saved!!]
[Really? One of them has held first place in the hunter ranking almost a year and outpaced second by over 40 stars!]
[Are we getting a new twin star? Sniffle.]
[Please make it to playoffs—I want to experience having a home team in the playoffs!]
[When will they post official photos, BOOK? Can you tell me?]
Li Shu's vanity was satisfied.
He thought, I really just slipped my finger once... just once.
Trial ended as night fell.
Xing led the group out to eat.
EAR usually went to Haidilao, and some fans liked to wait nearby.
He knew this but still casually brought them there.
If "accidentally" photographed by fans, there was nothing he could do.
Shen Kuangye knew many IVL pros were introverted; EAR likely no exception.
He glanced at the people beside him, silently retracting that thought.
Cheng Rang propped his left hand on his face, his narrow, beautiful eyes scanning Lu Xiangyang's face.
Lu Xiangyang felt a bit strange, about to ask, Is something on my face?, when Shen Kuangye patted his shoulder.
"Let's switch seats."
He looked down at Cheng Rang.
Cheng Rang wasn't intimidated. "What? Not letting me see your good friend?"
Pei Xunan and others were busy elsewhere, not noticing this little trio.
Shen Kuangye's tone flat: "Just don't want him to have nightmares."
Cheng Rang raised an eyebrow. "Am I ugly?"
Shen Kuangye didn't reply.
Cheng Rang didn't press and changed the topic.
He looked at Lu Xiangyang with a particularly pitiful expression: "Baby, see, he separated us."
Lu Xiangyang, sipping sour plum juice to hide embarrassment, almost spat it out, laughing.
Not to mention, he and Cheng Rang had just met, not even that familiar—and still reacted this way.
A piece of paper was suddenly handed to him.
"Wipe it."
Shen Kuangye said.
Lu Xiangyang obediently took it.
"You two seem close; have you known each other long?"
Cheng Rang switched topics.
"No, no, we just met recently."
"Oh, I see," Cheng Rang smiled suddenly.
Pei Xunan, sitting next to him, noticed and realized Cheng Rang was scheming again.
He nudged Cheng Rang's leg: "Let's switch seats."
Cheng Rang looked at him. "I won't."
"Quickly." Pei Xunan urged.
Cheng Rang reluctantly said, "Fine."
He told Lu Xiangyang: "We'll chat on WeChat."
Shen Kuangye stared blankly.
Lu Xiangyang quietly sipped juice, head down, not daring to raise it.
Xing may have been too happy; tonight they were allowed a little alcohol.
Alcohol could affect reaction time, so normally the club strictly forbade it. Li Shu had tried sneaking some before and gotten scolded.
Lu Xiangyang smelled it and swallowed nervously.
Though he hadn't drunk before, it smelled sweet and fragrant.
Shen Kuangye went to the restroom briefly. When he returned, Lu Xiangyang had already drunk half a bottle, chatting with Cheng Rang and secretly telling him things, offering him his favorite dishes.
Shen Kuangye didn't notice what was said; he only cared about Lu Xiangyang's condition.
Seeing him, Lu Xiangyang's expression remained normal, not even flushed.
He stood steadily to give Shen Kuangye a seat.
Not drunk?
Shen Kuangye was slightly suspicious.
He knew Lu Xiangyang's tolerance was low and kept observing.
Lu Xiangyang never wavered, joking with others and whispering to Shen Kuangye, even picking up the big plush doll he won earlier.
When Shen Kuangye tried adjusting his feet comfortably, Lu Xiangyang grabbed his wrist.
The tipsy boy, recognizing Shen Kuangye through blurred vision, relaxed and smiled. "Gege."