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Sharpening The Knife Doesn't Delay The Cutting of Vegetables With The Bow

Sharpening The Knife Doesn’t Delay The Cutting of Vegetables With The Bow[eSports]: Chapter 113

113. Probe?

“Alright, we can see here that player Chen Xingran didn’t choose to engage directly but instead took a detour from the side.”  

On the phone screen, a well-known gaming analyst was breaking down the match frame by frame on a holographic display. This was one of the most renowned gaming programs in the country, boasting a massive fanbase and a high level of professionalism. As the host zoomed in on Chen Xingran’s maneuvers, many subtle details that were overlooked during the match gradually surfaced.  

“This is where you can see the gap between regular players and professional players. If it were an average player, they’d charge straight in at this point. But look at how Chen Xingran loops around, positioning himself right in the enemy’s blind spot—”  

“Tsk, tsk, tsk.”  

Wu Feiang took a sip of his milk tea, shaking his head. “We used to watch this show to analyze other players’ moves, but now the main character is you. Feels like the fourth wall just got shattered…”  

“Mm?”  

Chen Xingran’s mouth was stuffed with tapioca pearls, his cheeks puffed out as he chewed—looking exactly like a squirrel stockpiling food for the winter.  

Wu Feiang held up his phone next to Chen Xingran’s face, comparing the two. “Are you really the same person? You look so much more intimidating in-game than you do now.”  

The feeling was surreal—like sitting in class while the teacher analyzed a reading comprehension passage, only to realize the protagonist being dissected was himself.  

The analyst on-screen was dissecting Chen Xingran’s every move, frame by frame. Some of these actions were things he had done instinctively, without much thought, yet the commentator spoke as if they were meticulously planned strategies. Even Chen Xingran himself was starting to get confused.  

*Was that really what I was thinking back then?*  

“Look at this comment.”  

Wu Feiang shoved his phone in front of Chen Xingran, pointing at a bullet comment on the screen and reading it out loud: “Chen Xingran is literally still alive, just ask him directly! Hahahaha—”  

Chen Xingran: “…”  

“But seriously, you’re a full-blown celebrity now.” Wu Feiang shook his head in amazement. “Just a few months ago, you were completely unknown. If we weren’t sitting here drinking milk tea together, I’d start doubting whether our school days even happened.”  

He wasn’t exaggerating. Just walking from school to this milk tea shop, Wu Feiang had seen multiple posters of Chen Xingran—some featuring the ZMD team, others of him alone. When they passed by a gaming café, the massive screen at the entrance was playing highlights of Chen Xingran’s match, drawing a crowd of onlookers.  

On top of that, the commercial Chen Xingran had filmed with Yang Yunche for Yuntai Group had just been released alongside a new operating pod model. Riding on the Fate Cup’s hype, sales skyrocketed instantly. Fans who couldn’t get their hands on Chen Xingran’s merchandise swarmed in, wallets at the ready, pushing the new model to the top of the sales charts. Their purchasing power was downright terrifying.  

Although Chen Xingran himself didn’t feel much of a difference—his past few months had been a blur of training and matches, business as usual—the occasional outing made him aware of just how much had changed.  

For instance, now, even just grabbing a milk tea required him to wear a tightly secured mask to avoid being recognized and causing a scene.  

Back when he first met Yang Yunche, the latter had also been heavily disguised, his face almost entirely covered by a mask. At the time, Chen Xingran had thought, *Wow, this guy really knows how to act like a big shot.* But a few months later, here he was, joining the masked-outdoor-squad himself. Life was unpredictable—*big sausage wraps little sausage.*  

“When you head back later, sign this for me.”  

Wu Feiang pulled out an autograph card from his pocket. “My cousin asked me to get it.”  

“Your cousin?”  

“Luan Fúsheng.” Wu Feiang grinned. “Didn’t you spar with him once?” 

“Oh.”  

Chen Xingran remembered. Back when he had just arrived in this world and had no experience with Fate, it was Wu Feiang who had asked his cousin to give him a crash course. That was how he first got familiar with the game. In a way, his cousin could be considered his gaming guide.  

“Of course,” Chen Xingran agreed without hesitation.  

“That’s the spirit.”  

Wu Feiang said, “Didn’t you add him as a friend back when you were practicing blade techniques? Now my cousin acts all high and mighty, showing off to everyone that he’s got you on his friends list. He even brags about how he once trained you, but no one believes him, hahaha…”  

Wu Feiang’s cousin was a trainee in a youth academy, while Chen Xingran was now the brightest rising star in the league, standing shoulder to shoulder with players like Lu Mingyu and Yang Yunche. It was no surprise that people found it hard to believe.  

Chen Xingran chuckled. “Wanna grab a meal later?”  

“Sure, my treat.”  

Wu Feiang agreed, then asked, “By the way, how are you settling in at ZMD?”  

“It’s been great.” Chen Xingran nodded. “A pro team isn’t exactly how I imagined it. The atmosphere is pretty relaxed.”  

“That’s because you joined ZMD,” Wu Feiang waved his hand dismissively. “Other teams have way more drama. There’s fresh gossip every day, even juicier than celebrity scandals…”  

“Really?”  

Chen Xingran scratched his head. He never paid much attention to gossip from other teams. Yang Yunche occasionally shared interesting stories from the scene, but Chen Xingran just listened in passing.  

“Wasn’t there a rumor that Yun God is dating someone?”  

Wu Feiang’s curiosity was piqued. “Some gaming news outlet reported it… can’t remember which one. But they said Yang Yunche is acting completely different this season—he’s practically glowing, like he’s in love or something. Any truth to that?”  

“…”  

Chen Xingran hadn’t expected to be hearing rumors about his own captain. He thought about it and hesitated. “I don’t think so…”  

After all, he had been living at the ZMD base for a while now, and he’d never seen Yang Yunche act like he was in a relationship. If the guy was really dating someone, where would he even find the time? Every day, he was either training or hanging out with them.  

“What’s Yun God like in real life?”  

Wu Feiang was curious and pressed for gossip. “Tell me about him.”  

Chen Xingran shrugged. “He’s just like any regular person. It’s just that…”  

He started talking about Yang Yunche, sharing little anecdotes about their daily life—how Yang Yunche always acted carefree when they were together, how he had a habit of annoying him only to act all pitiful afterward, and even how, earlier today, when Chen Xingran was leaving to meet Wu Feiang, Yang Yunche had stood by the door, sadly watching him go…  

At first, Wu Feiang listened with interest, but the more he heard, the stranger his expression became.  

“What’s wrong?”  

Chen Xingran paused mid-sentence, noticing Wu Feiang’s odd look.  

“…Are you stupid?”  

Wu Feiang gave him a helpless stare. “Isn’t it obvious?”  

Chen Xingran was even more confused. “What’s obvious?”  

“Yun God likes you.”  

Wu Feiang stated bluntly, “It’s so obvious.”  

“…”  

Chen Xingran was stunned for a moment. “No way. What nonsense are you talking about?”

“I thought you were just adorably dumb, but I didn’t expect you to be this slow when it comes to stuff like this.”  

Wu Feiang shook his head and started analyzing the situation for Chen Xingran. “Let me put it this way—have you ever seen Yun God treat anyone else the same way he treats you?”  

Chen Xingran thought for a moment, then shook his head. “Doesn’t seem like it.”  

“What about Luo Baibai and the others? Does he chat with them all the time, trying to find new topics like he does with you?”  

“…No.”  

“He even insists on sitting next to you during matches and comes up with excuses to send Luo Baibai away.” Wu Feiang added, “Isn’t it obvious? He just wants to be close to you and find chances to spend time with you.”  

“…”  

“And remember when he pretended to interview you and asked, ‘So, Captain Yang Yunche—would he be your ideal type, Chen Xingran?'”  

Wu Feiang clicked his tongue. “Tsk tsk, his intentions couldn’t be more obvious. What kind of normal person asks a question like that? He was clearly testing you. If it were anyone else, a question like that would basically be a public confession.”  

Wu Feiang sounded so serious that as Chen Xingran listened, he actually started feeling confused.  

Yang Yunche… liked him?  

That couldn’t be right… When did that happen? He hadn’t noticed anything at all. Their interactions hadn’t changed from before, and Yang Yunche’s attitude toward him didn’t seem any different either.  

“You’re seriously dense.”  

Wu Feiang sighed. “Just from listening to you talk, I can already tell he treats you differently. And yet, as the person directly involved, you don’t feel anything at all?”  

Chen Xingran shook his head.  

Wu Feiang suddenly felt a little sorry for Yang Yunche.  

What a shame—to fall for a blockhead like this.  

“Then how do you feel about Yun God?” Wu Feiang asked. “Is he your type?”  

“Me?”  

Chen Xingran was briefly stunned. “It’s not about being my type or not… I’ve never dated a guy before… No, wait, you almost dragged me into this. Isn’t this just normal teammate behavior? This isn’t that strange, right?”  

…Do you have some kind of misunderstanding about what “normal teammates” are like?  

“Alright then.”  

Wu Feiang thought for a moment and decided to play wingman. “Since you can’t tell if he likes you, why not test him out yourself?”  

“What kind of nonsense is this…”  

Chen Xingran felt like Wu Feiang was getting more and more ridiculous. They were just supposed to grab bubble tea and a meal—how did the conversation suddenly turn into whether Yang Yunche liked him or not?  

He figured Wu Feiang must be mistaken, but the idea of testing it out did pique his interest. “How would I test it?”  

“Easy.”  

Wu Feiang smirked, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “Feelings for someone? Those are impossible to hide…”  

“Listen up, here’s what you should do…”

TN:

So! I found a proofreader for this novel but they’re busy with irl so progress on this project’s editing is a bit slow. Which is why I put it on hiatus waiting for them to catch up with the current chapters before continuing with the gaming chapters.

If you're enjoying the story don't forget to support the author! You can also support me on KOFI for site maintenance, raws purchase or as an energy boost~ 
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