E-Sports Boss Wants To Post Messages With New Players Every Day Chapter 84

4.

Bai Ke’s noticeably low mood over the past few days made everyone on the YNG team realize something was wrong.

Qu Qingyue asked him with great concern if he was feeling unwell, emphasizing that health was paramount with the major competition imminent. Bai Ke understood her meaning, forced a smile, and said he was fine. In fact, the results of their recent scrimmages proved there was genuinely nothing to worry about. Emotion was one thing, and the game was another; Bai Ke knew how to separate them.

That night, provoked by the sight of Bai Chen with other women, he boldly sat on Bai Chen’s lap, forcefully kissed him, and even…

Although he was ultimately pushed away, Bai Ke was still happy after realizing his brother wasn’t completely indifferent to him.

However, this happiness didn’t last long: Bai Chen blocked him.

It was only after seeing that glaring red exclamation mark that Bai Ke belatedly realized he had truly angered Bai Chen this time.

Perhaps… Bai Chen never wanted to see him again.

Bai Chen’s birthday was in two days. Bai Ke had bought a gift long ago—a Starry Sky watch. It was very expensive, but Bai Ke didn’t care. The first time he saw the watch, he imagined Bai Chen in a suit, looking aloof, with the watch on his wrist, so he bought it without hesitation.

Now it seemed unlikely he would be able to give it to him personally.

Due to his background, Bai Ke held a certain pride regarding all people and things. More than the confidence derived from his status and family, it was like the instinctive sharp quills of a hedgehog, exposed to protect himself.

Although he was nominally the second young master of the Bai family, after differentiating into a Beta, he became a “discarded piece.” He had understood his mother’s intentions since childhood, and everything happening now was within expectations.

The only exception was Bai Chen.

That night, in the YNG dorm, Bai Ke looked at the watch sparkling under the desk lamp and let out a bitter laugh.

Ten years ago, he successfully left the orphanage following Mr. and Mrs. Bai and moved into a magnificent mansion. The worn-out T-shirts that needed mending dozens of times in the orphanage were replaced with custom shirts and jackets worth thousands, limited-edition sneakers, the latest smartwatches, computers, phones… almost every imaginable luxury and entertainment item was placed before Bai Ke for him to choose freely.

The extravagant life he had only dreamed of in the orphanage was now within reach.

Soon, Bai Ke was sent to a private aristocratic school. Having taught himself since childhood and possessing a sharp mind, he entered the advanced class directly after ranking first in the entrance exam.

Such schools had high thresholds, so few classmates came from merely well-off families; most were young masters from prestigious families, lacking neither money nor power. There, Bai Ke truly witnessed life in another world for the first time.

In the orphanage, his peers were simple-minded children who only dreamed of being adopted. Bai Ke was smart and handsome, and he knew how to highlight his advantages, naturally standing out from the crowd.

But after entering that class, the first thing he felt was—inferiority.

His childhood experiences and the pitying or disdainful looks from others were deeply ingrained. Looking at classmates who were born into wealthy families with happy parents, Bai Ke clearly felt the gap between them and himself.

Some people, upon seeing this gap, might resort to self-pity, becoming timid, gloomy, and trying to minimize their presence.

But Bai Ke chose to disguise himself. He deeply buried all his humility and timidity, putting on a cheerful mask.

They were still students, and being in the advanced class, they weren’t overly focused on fun. The Bai family belonged to the top tier of wealthy families, and Bai Ke’s grades were excellent. A person who was good-looking, academically successful, well-connected, and cheerful naturally became quite popular, and Bai Ke quickly thrived in the environment.

When puppy love bloomed, many in the class started dating. Many confessed to Bai Ke—some face-to-face, some suggesting they start as friends, and others secretly sending love letters…

However, in Bai Ke’s eyes, they didn’t like the real him, but the non-existent second young master of the Bai family he had fabricated.

Just as Mr. and Mrs. Bai didn’t truly like him, but the cute, well-behaved, and sensible Bai Ke.

Sometimes Bai Ke found it amusing and ironic: he had put on the mask himself, and now, when he wanted to take it off, he couldn’t.

When he first joined the esports team, Bai Ke was indeed driven by a playful desire to follow Bai Chen. But later, he genuinely became addicted to the thrill of no longer needing to pretend, of being able to freely display his truest self.

On the field, within the team, he didn’t need to act cheerful or sensible; everything was dictated by the gun in his hand. Therefore, he could fully expose his true nature: volatile, cold, cunning…

Yuan Shaofeng’s confession was perhaps the most unexpected event for Bai Ke.

Watching the usually boisterous, tall Alpha youth stand before him, eyes red and sincere as he confessed his feelings, Bai Ke would be lying if he said he wasn’t touched.

Perhaps because this confession was different from all the others—Yuan Shaofeng said he liked the real, undisguised him—Bai Ke was surprised to find himself wavering.

But soon, he thought of Bai Chen.

The man’s cold gaze seemed laced with ice, instantly freezing and steadying his wavering heart.

In that moment, Bai Ke realized with unprecedented clarity that he would probably never fall for anyone other than Bai Chen in this lifetime. At least, there would never be another person for whom he would pour out his heart so completely.

So he rejected Yuan Shaofeng without hesitation, leaving no room for hope.

Yet, he also admired Yuan Shaofeng. Heaven knew how many times he had fantasized about confessing his feelings to Bai Chen, but he couldn’t muster the courage to do it.

Perhaps it was also because he already knew the outcome was predetermined that he never dared to gather the courage.

Now, Bai Ke earned over ten million a month, had countless zeros in his bank account, countless fans, and a flourishing career. He was no longer the penniless child living in the orphanage.

However, under Bai Chen’s calm and indifferent gaze, all the scars and pain deep within Bai Ke, which he had carefully wrapped up, had nowhere to hide. Precisely because Bai Chen was always aloof, Bai Ke felt a sense of peace in his presence—a feeling no one else could give him.

Thus, he remained the child in the Bai family living room, looking up and striving to follow his brother’s retreating figure. Initially, he just wanted to call him brother; later, that longing changed its flavor and became love.

And love is always filled with ugly possessiveness.

Bai Ke asked himself honestly: if he were given another chance, knowing the current outcome, and returned to that night, would he still choose to confess to Bai Chen, to kiss and touch him?

The answer was yes. Even if he repeated it hundreds of times, he would still make the same choice.

It wasn’t that he didn’t regret it, but Bai Ke simply couldn’t tolerate the fact that Bai Chen was with other women.

He had even decided that if Bai Chen truly went through with an arranged marriage, he would leave the Bai family, cut off all ties, and never return.

After sitting for a while longer, Bai Ke finally made up his mind and sent a message to Xu Ziyan, asking him out for a meal.

No matter what, he wanted to give this gift to Bai Chen.

But to Bai Ke’s surprise, Xu Ziyan listened to his situation and explicitly refused to help, instead urging him to deliver the gift himself.

Bai Ke could only offer a bitter smile: “How could he be willing to see me?”

Xu Ziyan was insistent, promising him that on the day of the match between YNG and TWG, he would create an opportunity for him to meet and talk to Bai Chen.

Bai Ke looked at his friend, deeply moved. And… undeniably, deep down, he was hoping for the same thing.

He wanted to see Bai Chen.

On the day of the match, Xu Ziyan kept his promise and gave him a chance to meet Bai Chen alone. Although it was only five short minutes before the match, it was enough.

Bai Ke steadied himself and pushed open the door to the TWG lounge.

Inside the lounge, the screen on the wall was showing the live broadcast. Bai Chen was leaning on the sofa, not looking at his phone. Hearing the movement, he turned his head, his expression slightly surprised: “Why are you here?”

Bai Ke gripped the watch box, his palms nearly sweating. He forced a smile: “Brother…”

He closed his eyes, and before Bai Chen could speak, he continued: “I know you don’t want to see me, but isn’t it your birthday soon? I wanted to give you the gift myself. That’s all, truly.”

Saying this, he walked a few steps toward Bai Chen and carefully placed the watch box on the coffee table.

Bai Chen didn’t look at the box. His brow furrowed, and his eyes remained fixed on Bai Ke’s face. Bai Ke felt awkward under his scrutiny. Now that they had torn off the pretense, he couldn’t make those intimate gestures under the guise of being brothers as he usually did.

Lowering his head to avoid eye contact, Bai Ke said, “Well… I’ll be going now.”

Turning to the door, looking at the doorknob, a voice in his heart screamed: If you walk out that door, there will truly be no chance for them!

Bai Ke gritted his teeth and turned his head back.

He saw that Bai Chen had silently stood up at some point and walked up behind him.

Seeing him turn back, Bai Chen was also momentarily stunned, but then he said, “Bai Ke, let’s talk after the match later.”

Bai Ke had been tossing and turning for days, thinking he and Bai Chen were completely finished. Now, seeing Bai Chen actively call out to him, it was like a person deep in darkness suddenly seeing a ray of light. He suppressed his excitement and nodded vigorously: “Okay. Then… remember to unblock me.”

Speaking of that, Bai Chen felt a slight embarrassment. He had been so angry at the time that, for the first time, emotion had overridden his rationality, leading him to do something so unlike himself.

He softly hummed an “Mm”: “I’ll wait for you in the parking lot.”