Chapter 114 – Photo of Lovers

That night, the mahjong table set up downstairs by Ling Xuefeng’s parents, uncle and cousin played until dawn. Upstairs, Li Cangyu and Ling Xuefeng hugged each other until three in the morning before reluctantly going to sleep.

Li Cangyu was placed in the guest room and it would be bad if he was suddenly seen in Ling Xuefeng’s room the next morning by the elders. So even if they couldn’t bear to be separated, Li Cangyu went to sleep in the next room.

Once they got up in the morning, Yuan Shaozhe’s eyes were swollen while Li Cangyu’s mouth was swollen.

Yuan Shaozhe was surprised. “What happened to your mouth?”

Li Cangyu replied with a straight expression, “Last night, I ate too many peppers and it was on fire.”

He didn’t dare tell Yuan Shaozhe that it was due to Ling Xuefeng’s kisses. Don’t look at Ling Xuefeng’s usual indifference and seriousness and how he was called the ‘abstinent god’ by fans. In the face of the person he liked, this man’s enthusiasm wasn’t reduced.

Li Cangyu washed up and turned on his phone. He found that there were countless unread text messages that were almost all New Year’s greetings.

Cheng Wei: [Your brainless fan coming to report at exactly 12 o’clock. I wish Cat God a happy new year, good luck! I am the first, I am definitely the first. If I’m not first, please delete all previous New Year’s greetings. Thank you!]

Bai Xuan: [Old Cat, be happy on the Spring Festival. I plan to return on the 2nd.]

Zhang Jueming: [I wish all team members of Canglan a happy new year. All the best and I hope your dreams come true. This is a mass thank you message!]

Xie Shurong: [Cat God, I hope you have a happy Spring Festival. I haven’t spent the holiday in China for a long time. It is so lively!]

Zhuo Hang: [Cat God, happy Spring Festival. I have been practicing the arena on my own and have become more powerful. Please give me a test when we come back!]

Xiao Han: [Master, have a happy new year. I heard from Qin Mo that masters will give their apprentices a red envelope for the new year. Will I get one?]

Gu Siming: [Cat God, happy new year. Our Canglan team must win the championship in the new season. Sweep the league, come on!]

Li Xiaojiang: [Captain, happy Spring Festival.]

He looked at the different styles of text messages and couldn’t help smiling.

The new year was a new beginning for him, whether it was feelings or his career.

This was the happiest Spring Festival from childhood to the present.

God gave him a lover who understood him the best and many lovely and excellent teammates.  This was his greatest blessing in the new year. He would certain grasp and cherish it.

***

After breakfast, Ling Xuefeng’s parents and relatives packed their bags to go to their grandmother’s house to celebrate the new year. Mother Ling considerately said, “Xuefeng, you don’t have to go this year. Stay home with Xiao Li.”

Li Cangyu was a bit embarrassed. “Is this okay? Won’t Grandmother be angry?”

Ling Xuefeng replied, “It’s fine. In previous years, I have been busy and haven’t gone to celebrate.”

Li Cangyu put down his worries.

Ling Xuefeng sent away his parents and turned to Li Cangyu. “Staying home is boring. Do you want to go for a walk?”

“Yes, this is the first time I’ve been to Suzhou so you should take me around.”

The two men went out in thick clothes. Li Cangyu was afraid of the cold and wore a hat.

Suzhou’s tourist attractions were very famous in China, especially Suzhou Gardens. However, there were too many people during the Spring Festival. Ling Xuefeng didn’t recommend looking at the scenery in such a crowded place. Instead he took Li Cangyu to a place he often played at when he was a child.

The surrounding villages weren’t as famous but there were beautiful mountains and scenery. There weren’t many people, making it like a rare quiet paradise.

The two men were walking next to each other when Ling Xuefeng suddenly extended his right hand, gently holding Li Cangyu’s left hand.

Li Cangyu was startled and actively held his hand.

They had hugged each other a long time last night but now that they were holding hands in the daytime, Li Cangyu was particularly excited. His heartbeat was faster than when they kissed last night.

“Hey, what if a paparazzi takes photos of us?” Li Cangyu asked as he looked around.

“It won’t happen.” Ling Xuefeng’s mouth lifted slightly. “Paparazzi also have to celebrate the New Year. Besides, there is no e-sports club in Suzhou. There won’t be as many e-sports reporters as there are in Shanghai.”

Li Cangyu let go of his worries and held Ling Xuefeng’s hands, their 10 fingers interlocking. His mood was great.

Wasn’t this a date?

Walking hand in hand, it was very simple but warm.

It felt more romantic than a TV show.

Of course, unlike the TV dramas… the wife wasn’t a beautiful woman but a handsome man.

Li Cangyu couldn’t help smiling at this thought and looked over at Ling Xuefeng. “If your fans know that I am holding hands with you, will they collectively drown me with saliva?”

Ling Xuefeng came close to him and asked, “Are you afraid?”

Li Cangyu waved his hand in a chic manner. “What am I afraid of? I will tell them that the first male god in the league belongs to Old Cat alone. After watching the live broadcasts, they can’t lick the screen. Captain Ling can only be licked by me. Let them be jealous.”

As he spoke, he moved up and kiss Ling Xuefeng on the side of the face, like a seal of confirmation. His eyes were full of pride.

Ling Xuefeng was amused by him and couldn’t help pulling Li Cangyu into his arms.

“Yes, I will be yours alone in the future.” Ling Xuefeng declared.

“That’s right!” Li Cangyu smiled in a particularly pleased manner.

The two people hugged for a moment on the scenic street. The winter sun shone on their bodies. They listened to the other person’s heartbeat and felt warm.

After a while, Ling Xuefeng opened his arms and asked softly, “Do you want to stay at my house for a few days?”

Li Cangyu said, “I booked a flight back to Changsha tonight.”

Ling Xuefeng was a bit surprised. “You are going back so early?”

“Yes.” Li Cangyu asked curiously, “When will the Wind Colour team gather?”

“We will gather after the Lantern Festival. The first division starts in May so we have a lot of time.”

Li Cangyu nodded with understanding. “I have juniors so I have to go back and prepare in advance.”

He felt very reluctant because he wanted to stay with Ling Xuefeng a few more days. But as the captain, Li Cangyu had a responsibility to bear. He couldn’t set aside his teammates and dreams because he fell in love.

Fortunately, Ling Xuefeng understood him and didn’t ask much. Instead, he said thoughtfully, “You should go back early to prepare. The second division will start on March 1st. The Canglan team only has 30 days of training time left.”

Li Cangyu was moved and held him tighter. “You truly understand.”

Ling Xuefeng who was once again actively hugged, “…”

Sure enough, after the confession he needed to be prepared to be caught by the big cat at any time!

Ling Xuefeng smiled and said, “The opening ceremony of the seventh season in May, will you attend with Bai Xuan?”

Li Cangyu asked, “Are you so sure that the Canglan team can make it there?”

“I have complete confidence in you.” Ling Xuefeng declared. “What is the second division? Aren’t you aiming for the World Competition?”

Li Cangyu nodded. “You truly know me the best. It is great that I have you.”

Ling Xuefeng found that Li Cangyu wasn’t embarrassed when speaking such loving words. The strong and courageous person turned soft in front of his lover.

Just then, there was a sudden ‘click’ sound. It was obviously the sound of a camera’s shutter being pressed. The two of them immediately separated and looked back, seeing an approximately 20 year old girl who was panicking.

“Ah, sorry, I’m sorry. I originally wanted to shoot the house and accidentally photographed you.”

She was alone and carrying a travel bag with a SLR around her neck. Apparently she had come out to play.

Li Cangyu was relieved that it wasn’t a paparazzi and smiled. “It’s okay. Can you delete this photo?”

The girl immediately replied, “I will delete it right now.”

She turned the camera around because she wanted to delete it in front of them. However, Li Cangyu looked at it and found that the scene was too beautiful—sunshine, green trees, long streets and two people hugging together. The whole photo was like a soft watercolor painting, soaked in a quiet and calm atmosphere.

Li Cangyu suddenly felt reluctant to delete it. He saw that the girl’s finger was about to press the delete button and cried out, “Wait, don’t delete this photo. Can you send it to me after you go back? I will leave you my email address.”

The girl was stunned and promised to send it as she carefully wrote down the email address.

***

Not long after the two of them arrived home, Li Cangyu received an email with the photo from the girl, along with a message: [Sir, I sent you the photo. Rest assured, the negatives on the camera have been deleted and it won’t be used for other purposes.  I wish you happiness.]

She was just a passing stranger but she was clearly kind and didn’t make a fuss when she saw two men hugging. She left them alone and didn’t pry into their private matters.

This goodwill placed Li Cangyu in a pleased mood. He saved the photo and directly set it as his phone background.

Ling Xuefeng copied the photo and also set it as his phone background.

Li Cangyu told him, “You should take care of your phone. Don’t let it be seen by people in your team!”

Ling Xuefeng nodded. “Yes, you too.”

The two of them smiled at each other, as if they shared a secret only they knew.

***

In the evening, Ling Xuefeng took the initiative to drive Li Cangyu to the airport.

They arrived at the airport together. Once the security checks were passed, Li Cangyu took a few steps with his luggage. Then he suddenly turned back and gave Ling Xuefeng a hard hug. “I will miss you.”

Ling Xuefeng’s heart was really warm when he heard this.

Once Li Cangyu made up his mind, he would express himself directly. He wasn’t shy like many girls or introverted like some boys.

He had a frank and straightforward character, treating his loved ones with the greatest sincerity.

‘I will miss you.’

This was what he most wanted to say to Ling Xuefeng when saying goodbye and he didn’t hesitate.

Ling Xuefeng held this person in his arms and his mood was great. He particularly liked Li Cangyu’s sincerity and honesty. It was very relaxing and warm to fall in love with such a person.

Ling Xuefeng couldn’t help tightening his arms as he whispered, “I will also miss you. Contact me often.”

“Yes, then I’m going!” Li Cangyu let go and waved. Then he turned around and left.

***

There were too many parting scenes between them but this time was different.

The two of then weren’t in the same city but their hearts were closely connected.

Ling Xuefeng opened his phone and looked at the beautiful photo of the two people hugging, lips slightly raising.

‘In the new year, we must continue to work hard. Li Cangyu, my strongest opponent, my favourite lover, I will wait for you on the stage of the World Competition.’