TuxedoTranslations

Chapter 93

The large cold front predicted in the weather forecast had finally arrived. The temperature drop was not without reason. Crystalline hexagonal snowflakes quickly grew bigger and thicker, covering the night sky densely.

Xia Tong stared in awe, as if discovering a new world. He jumped off the sofa in excitement, forgetting to put on slippers, and ran to the window. He tiptoed and pressed against the glass, breathing onto it to make a fog, and exclaimed: “It’s so beautiful!!! It’s snowing!!!”

Shi Ya came out following the sound, closing the bedroom door, and smiled: “Seeing you like this reminds me of our family’s little Cupid.”

“Who’s Cupid?” Xia Tong asked.

“The Shiba Inu he keeps.” Zhou Yanjun ran down from upstairs, clicking his tongue. “It’s just snowing. Why are you acting like this? Clearly, you’re from the south and don’t get snow often.”

“But I’ve never seen it!” Xia Tong pouted.

At that moment, He Youjin came in from outside, talking on the phone: “Yeah, yeah, go straight in, then turn left. You’ll see the brightest sign—perfect.”

“What are you doing, Manager He?” Shi Ya asked.

“Tonight is Christmas Eve. I specially ordered you guys some Western food delivery. There’s roast turkey!!!” He Youjin said mysteriously.

“What? It’s Christmas Eve today?” Zhou Yanjun exclaimed. “How did I not even know?”

“Don’t even check our training intensity these past few days.” Lin Mingfei interjected irritably. “We’ve been eating, sleeping, everything practically in the arena.”

“Yeah, the official Wangling server even released holiday events.” Shi Ya flipped through the updates on Weibo. “Too bad we can only play arena. If it were normal days, I would have already gone with an omega to farm for ornaments.”

“I see you guys have been tense all day. No one dared to mention it. You’ll have to wait until after training to get the food.” He Youjin shook his head. “Truly comrades in hardship.”

“Manager He, why don’t you care at all about our match result?” Zhou Yanjun squinted.

He Youjin snorted: “The result? I can tell just by your faces. Lost two to three, right?”

Zhou Yanjun immediately gave a thumbs-up: “Damn, that’s amazing.”

“You lose and still order us a feast? Your priorities are messed up.” Shi Ya smirked.

“Do I look like Zhao Xin of the Saber-Tooth Tigers?” He Youjin rolled his eyes. “I’m way above that. I know the value of a training match isn’t in winning or losing—it’s in how much experience you gain from it.”

“Exactly! Manager He is right!” Xia Tong sniffled and clapped enthusiastically from the side.

“Right about what?” Lin Mingfei leaned over and ruffled his head. “Finish your ginger soup before talking! Look at that runny nose of yours!”

The delivery staff soon brought in the freshly prepared feast: pan-seared scallops with sturgeon roe, Australian baby lobster, Beef Wellington, oxtail consommé with wine, and a raspberry cake shaped like a fancy Christmas tree—so lifelike it looked almost edible. But the highlight was the roasted turkey, glistening all over with golden, crispy skin. Xia Tong pressed his little face to the table, lips pursed, swallowing hard: “Um… um… can I have a drumstick?”

“You might have to fight Zhou Yanjun for that first,” Shi Ya teased from the side, resting his chin on his hand, smiling.

Xia Tong looked at Zhou Yanjun pitifully, sending out a signal of surrender: “Fatty, I want a big drumstick…”

Zhou Yanjun, never one to back down when it came to food, immediately challenged: “…Bring it on!”

So the two of them—

“Rock-paper-scissors!”

“Rock-paper-scissors!”

“Rock-paper-scissors!!”

“Ah-ha! I won!” Zhou Yanjun cheered, spinning around to grab the drumstick… only to find both legs had vanished.

“Damn, where’s my leg?!” he roared.

“Isn’t it on you?” Bo Yu asked.

“I mean the chicken!!!” Zhou Yanjun stomped his feet.

“There it is.” Lin Mingfei’s lazy laugh sounded from behind. Zhou Yanjun turned to see their team captain holding a golden, crispy drumstick, twirling it for effect, then handing one over to the little omega beside him, who was drooling in anticipation.

“Ah, my leg!!!” Zhou Yanjun screamed as if he’d lost his own limb. “Lin Mingfei, I’m coming for you!! Give me back my drumstick!!”

He lunged at Lin Mingfei to snatch back the drumstick that symbolized his rock-paper-scissors honor, only to see the calm, composed alpha take a bite right off it.

Skin and meat, juicy and fragrant, disappeared into Lin Mingfei’s mouth.

Zhou Yanjun froze on the spot, eyes watering.

“I’ve touched it. Want it?” Lin Mingfei teased, brandishing the partially eaten drumstick.

“I… I won rock-paper-scissors…” Zhou Yanjun choked out.

Lin Mingfei’s smug reply: “So what?”

“….” Zhou Yanjun was speechless.

He took a deep breath and began yelling incoherently, no dignity whatsoever.

After two shouts, Xia Tong poked him in the small of his back.

“Fatty.” Xia Tong’s bright eyes shone as he handed the intact drumstick to Zhou Yanjun. “Here, you can have this one.”

Zhou Yanjun froze.

“But you—”

“I’m fine. Didn’t zero still have one?” Xia Tong smiled.

“Oh my god!” Zhou Yanjun looked at Xia Tong like he was some radiant little angel. “You’re too amazing, Xia Xiaotong.” He paused, half worried, half mocking: “But his drumstick’s already—”

“Oh, I don’t mind zero’s!” Xia Tong stuffed the drumstick into Zhou Yanjun’s hands, then took a bite off Lin Mingfei’s drumstick, munching happily and emphasizing: “This one I haven’t touched at all, Fatty!”

Lin Mingfei raised an eyebrow, the corners of his eyes smiling, and handed the drumstick over to Xia Tong: “Here, it’s all yours.”

Xia Tong grinned so wide his eyes disappeared. “I love you the most, zero!”

Zhou Yanjun: “!!!”

What was this blindingly adorable feeling??

“You’re not grossed out by him!” Zhou Yanjun stammered, pointing at Lin Mingfei.

“Why would I be?!” Xia Tong replied happily, munching the meat.

“Yeah, I don’t have a habit of not washing my underwear. I’m perfectly clean.” Lin Mingfei smirked.

“….” Zhou Yanjun was speechless.

Bo Yu sighed in admiration: “In ancient times, Kong Rong gave up pears; today, Xia Tong gives up chicken.”

Shi Ya’s remark was sharper: “Zhou won the drumstick but lost his dignity.”

He Youjin tutted: “Don’t even know what they’re aiming for.”

Zhou Yanjun angrily slammed the drumstick back onto the plate. “I’m not eating! Don’t I, Fire, deserve some face?” He paused, and under everyone’s incredulous gaze, reached for the Beef Wellington instead. “Might as well taste this legendary Wellington…”

“Pfft…” Everyone simultaneously expressed their disdain.

“You’re probably the only ones who can still be happy after losing a training match.” He Youjin shook his head and chuckled, then looked out the window. The snow fell like a dream, making the indoor warmth feel even cozier and brighter.

“But I think you’ll keep winning in the future.” He Youjin muttered to himself in a rare good mood.

“Can we go play in the snow later?” Xia Tong asked cheerfully.

“If you’re not afraid of catching a cold, go ahead,” Lin Mingfei said.

“I’m not afraid,” Xia Tong replied.

“You still can’t let it interfere with training if you get sick,” Lin Mingfei pretended to be serious.

“Emmm… but I still want to go. I want to build a snowman and have a snowball fight. Zero, please let me go, please.” He tugged Lin Mingfei’s sleeve, whining. Then, an idea struck him. Lowering his voice, he whispered mysteriously: “Zero, if you come play in the snow with me, I’ll tell you a little secret.”

“Hm?” Lin Mingfei raised an eyebrow. This little rascal had already started playing mind games with him. Lin Mingfei didn’t know whether to laugh or feel proud. “What kind of secret? I need to see if I’m even interested first.”

“Emmm, it’s about the details of today’s last training match! The details about the Sabretooth team!” Xia Tong’s “little secret” spilled out almost completely under Lin Mingfei’s gentle questioning.

Lin Mingfei suddenly straightened, his usually lazy gaze sharpening into focus.

That last training match, in his mind, had been a guaranteed loss. Even with Xia Tong’s exceptional skill, with the Sabretooth team at full strength, the chance of a comeback was nearly zero.

The wave where he went out to cover Xia Tong had been purely to give Xia Tong a chance to try something—he hadn’t even thought about the final result.

Yet Xia Tong had suddenly taken out Sabretooth’s healer Yoyo and the C-position Dylan, decisively turning the tide. To Lin Mingfei, calling it a miracle sounded generous; less generously, it looked highly suspicious.

Now that Xia Tong was bringing it up himself, Lin Mingfei’s curiosity only deepened.

“Go ahead,” he said softly.

“Then you have to agree to go play in the snow with me later,” Xia Tong said.

“Mm.”

Xia Tong tilted his head, thinking for a moment and organizing his words.

“I think Dylan’s last wave wasn’t really aimed at me. He lured away Yoyo’s big skills before dying… it was like he brought Yoyo to… to…” He wracked his brain for a moment, finally settling on a word he felt was accurate: “…to die for love!”

Feel free to buy me a coffee/show your support on ko-fi! Thank you ❤