140: E-sports genius forced love 10

The sound of rain pattered outside the window. Wen Ci sat in the lounge of Lu Chen's esports training base, her fingertips unconsciously caressing the rim of her cup.

A week had passed since that day, but whenever she thought of the words Lu Chen had spoken, the tips of her ears would still uncontrollably flush.

"What are you looking at?"

A low voice suddenly sounded by her ear. Wen Ci's hand trembled, almost knocking over the cup, but a large, steady hand firmly held her cup.

Lu Chen had appeared behind her at some point, leaning slightly, his chin almost resting on her shoulder.

He had just finished training and taken a shower. He still carried the faint scent of mint shower gel, mixed with a hint of male hormones, which inexplicably made her heart race.

"N-nothing!" Wen Ci frantically pressed her phone screen off, forgetting that she had just been watching a highlight reel of Lu Chen's matches.

Lu Chen's gaze lingered on her flushed ear tips for a moment, a subtle smile playing on his lips.

He deliberately leaned closer, his warm breath brushing against her neck: "Really?"

Wen Ci stiffened, feeling all the blood rush to her face.

At this distance, she could clearly feel the warmth of his chest and hear his steady breathing.

"Lu Shen! The coach is looking for you!" A teammate's shout came from afar.

Lu Chen frowned but didn't immediately get up.

His long fingers gently pinched the back of Wen Ci's neck: "Wait for me to come back."

Only after his footsteps faded did Wen Ci let out a long breath, fanning her hot cheeks with her hand.

Ever since that day, Lu Chen seemed to have become even more… uninhibited.

Before, he would also get close, but he would always maintain a proper distance. Now, however, he always found various excuses to get close.

"Tsk tsk tsk, our Lu Shen has finally woken up," several of Lu Chen's teammates appeared at the door at some point, looking at her with mischievous expressions.

"Sister Wen Ci, you should know, Lu Shen never used to be interested in women. But after seeing you, he's truly fallen deeply in love. Speaking of which, when are you two planning to get married?"

"Our Lu Shen looks like he's afraid you'll run away every day, Sister Wen Ci. We can't help but laugh."

Wen Ci almost jumped: "Y-you all know?"

Someone shrugged, shaking the cola in his hand: "The whole base has figured it out, okay? Lu Shen used to go straight back to his room after training, but now the first thing he does is look for you."

He deliberately lowered his voice, "Yesterday when you weren't here, he stared at his phone for a long time and didn't even hear the coach call him."

Wen Ci's heart skipped another beat.

At ten o'clock in the evening, the bell signaling the end of training rang. Wen Ci packed her things, ready to leave, but found that it was raining heavily outside.

"I'll take you."

A black umbrella opened above her head. Lu Chen had already appeared beside her at some point.

He was wearing a black hoodie today, which made his skin appear even paler and colder. Under the lights at the base entrance, he seemed to glow.

"No need, I'll take a taxi..."

Before she could finish, Lu Chen had already naturally taken her bag: "The rain is too heavy, it's not safe."

His tone brooked no refusal, yet as they descended the steps, he instinctively reached out to support her waist, afraid she might slip.

This action was so natural that Wen Ci only reacted after several seconds, her face flushing again.

In the rain, the two shared one umbrella.

Lu Chen deliberately tilted the umbrella towards her, and his right shoulder quickly became soaked.

"You're getting wet..." Wen Ci tried to move a little to the side, but Lu Chen wrapped an arm around her shoulder.

"Don't move." His voice sounded particularly deep amidst the rain, "You'll get wet."

Wen Ci froze.

This posture practically had her leaning against Lu Chen, and through the thin fabric, she could clearly feel the muscle lines of his arm and his body temperature.

The sound of rain hitting the umbrella suddenly seemed very distant, and all she could hear was her own thundering heartbeat.

"Are you cold?" Lu Chen suddenly asked.

Wen Ci shook her head, but then noticed Lu Chen's gaze on her bare calves. The next second, a jacket still carrying his body heat was wrapped around her waist.

"Put it on." His tone was undeniable, yet his ear tips subtly reddened as she buttoned it up.

Under the bus stop sign, Lu Chen suddenly spoke: "Next week is my birthday."

Wen Ci was stunned for a moment: "I know..."

"Coming of age." Lu Chen looked into her eyes, enunciating each word, his gaze so fervent it almost burned her.

Wen Ci's face instantly flushed crimson.

She, of course, remembered what he had said that day—"When you come of age."

"I… I've prepared a gift for you..." she stammered, not daring to meet his eyes.

Lu Chen suddenly took a step closer, trapping her between himself and the sign.

The umbrella above them created a private space, isolating them from the outside noise.

"Ci Ci." He whispered her name, his fingers gently lifting her chin, "You know what gift I want."

Wen Ci's breath hitched.

His gaze was too aggressive, like a beast that had been dormant for too long finally tearing off its disguise.

Rainwater dripped from his hair, slid over his high nose bridge, and finally hung at his lips, inexplicably sexy.

"I..." She opened her mouth, but no sound came out.

Lu Chen's gaze fell on her lips, his Adam's apple bobbed, but in the end, he only lightly kissed her forehead: "No rush, we still have time."

The arrival of the taxi broke the ambiguous atmosphere.

Lu Chen put the umbrella in her hand: "Tell me when you get home."

Wen Ci sat by the car window, watching his tall figure disappear into the rain, her heart still unable to calm down.

She touched her kissed forehead, where the warmth of his lips seemed to linger.

Her phone suddenly vibrated. It was a message from Lu Chen:

【I'll miss you】

Four simple words, yet they made Wen Ci bury her face in her palms.

How could this esports god, who was as cold as ice in front of outsiders, be so… so good at flirting in private?

Meanwhile, in the base's training room, Lu Chen leaned back in his gaming chair, the faint light from his phone screen illuminating his sharply defined profile.

He stared at the message Wen Ci had just sent, a subtle curve playing on his lips, his fingertips gently caressing the screen, as if he could feel her warmth through the cold glass.

His teammates secretly exchanged glances, silently suppressing their smiles, knowing exactly what was happening.

Ever since Wen Ci appeared, their usually stern and indifferent captain had completely changed.

The old Lu Chen was famously known as the "Iceberg" in the esports circle.

Aside from training and competitions, he barely spoke an extra word to anyone. Even after winning the World Championship, he would only give a faint "Mm," as if emotions had nothing to do with him.

He was accustomed to being alone, even when surrounded by people, he seemed separated by a transparent barrier, so distant that no one dared to approach him easily.

But the current Lu Chen…

His teammates secretly glanced at their captain, inwardly marveling.

Now, the moment Lu Chen's phone vibrated, his eyes would immediately soften;

As soon as Wen Ci appeared at the base, he would unconsciously adjust his posture, his gaze subtly following her;

Even when they, his teammates, occasionally made a joke, he would no longer ignore them with a cold face, but would give a faint "Mm," as a response.

Although to outsiders, Lu Shen was still that aloof and distant "Lu Shen," his teammates, who spent every day with him, knew better than anyone else:

His entire being was becoming vibrant because of Wen Ci.

Even more absurdly, ever since Wen Ci started coming to the base frequently, Lu Chen even began to "rectify" the team's atmosphere.

One day after training, he suddenly called everyone together and announced expressionlessly,

"From now on, no swearing in front of Wen Ci."

Everyone: "…?"

"No inappropriate jokes."

Everyone: "…??"

"No mentioning any messy gossip."

Everyone: "…Lu Shen, are you asking us to be mute?"

Lu Chen gave them a faint glance, his tone calm: "Those who can't do it will have their bonuses deducted this month."

Everyone: "…"

Damn! This was blatant blackmail!

But soon, they discovered that Lu Chen wasn't just demanding it of them; he was the one who enforced it most strictly himself.

Before, he would occasionally blurt out a cold "trash" during games, but now it had changed to "operations need improvement";

Before, if a teammate messed up, he would stare at them expressionlessly for three seconds, but now he would actually frown and say, "Be careful next time"…

It was unbelievably gentle!

Of course, as "hush money," Lu Chen also treated them to many meals.

Over time, everyone even started to enjoy it. After all, seeing the high and mighty Lu Shen carefully change himself for one person was even more exciting than winning a championship.

And now, looking at the slight curve of Lu Chen's lips as he stared at his phone, someone couldn't help but lean over and ask with a grin: "Lu Shen, how are you planning to celebrate your birthday next week?"

Lu Chen put away his phone, his gaze slightly lowered, a rare softness flashing in his eyes.

"I have something important to do."

Very important.

More important than any match, any championship.

Because on that day, he would rightfully walk towards her.