Mu Li was finally driven off in anger by Zhai Yi, leaving behind Zhai Yi who was laughing uncontrollably and Yu Lanting beside her, who was holding back her laughter until her whole body turned red.
: Who can tell me what Zhai Yi is going crazy about? How come I heard her laughing as soon as I entered the live stream? Her laugh is so terrifying.
: Huh? Did I just see Tingting’s figure?
: Right, why is Yu Lanting with Zhai Yi?
: Yu Lanting’s follow PD went to eat, but she’s unexpectedly in Zhai Yi’s live stream?
: What are these two laughing about?
: No idea. I was in the live stream the whole time and just heard stuff like “giving you a life” and “smile a bit” or whatever.
: Did the connection lag?
Zhai Yi let out a long breath, propping her hand against the wall as she looked at Yu Lanting, who was laughing until tears streamed down her face. Her big eyes glistened with water, looking just like sunlight shimmering on a lake surface.
She said, “I was really just passing by earlier.”
Yu Lanting composed herself and nodded. “Yeah, yeah, I believe you.”
She noticed the camera in Zhai Yi’s hand and her expression shifted slightly. “That camera of yours…?”
“It’s nothing. Don’t worry.”
Zhai Yi knew what Yu Lanting was worried about. Tuantuan checked the current online sentiment and her live stream situation. The connection had been bad earlier, so no one saw Yu Lanting with Mu Li together, and even that sentence had come through broken and intermittent, leaving people unable to guess what it was.
Yu Lanting didn’t know Zhai Yi well. If not for this variety show, she wouldn’t even know who she was. But at this moment, hearing her promise, Yu Lanting surprisingly believed her.
“Okay,” Yu Lanting asked. “Where are you headed?”
Zhai Yi said, “I’m going to the storage room to check the ingredients and make some lunch.”
“Can I come with you?”
Zhai Yi nodded. “Sure.”
The two arrived at the storage room. Yu Lanting scanned the vegetables and meats inside, then looked at Zhai Yi, who was selecting ingredients, and asked curiously, “What are you planning to make?”
Zhai Yi grabbed some flat noodles. “Planning to make some braised noodles. Want some?”
Yu Lanting paused. “Are you making them for me?”
“Making for one is making, making for two is making too. It’s all one pot anyway. Want some?”
Yu Lanting nodded. “Then thank you.”
Zhai Yi put the ingredients into a small bamboo basket. “No need to be polite. Let’s go, back to the kitchen.”
Yu Lanting followed behind Zhai Yi, hesitated for a moment, then said softly, “About earlier, can you…?”
Zhai Yi pretended not to understand. “What about earlier?”
Yu Lanting immediately got it. “Nothing.”
She murmured softly, “Thank you.”
Zhai Yi didn’t say anything.
The two returned to the kitchen and saw that everyone else had already left the meeting room and was sitting in the dining area, eating the boxed meals provided by the Program Group.
Fu Liang saw the ingredients in Zhai Yi’s basket and said in surprise, “Teacher Zhai Yi, are you making your own food?”
The members of the ING Team looked over upon hearing this, their expressions varied, while Mu Li’s face grew even darker.
Zhai Yi glanced at Mu Li, her lips curving slightly. “Yeah, I feel like having braised noodles.”
“Braised noodles?” Fu Liang had just finished a boxed meal and didn’t dare eat more, afraid it would affect his figure. “You’re so impressive. You can even make braised noodles.”
He looked at Yu Lanting and beckoned her over. “Lan Ting, I got you a boxed meal. Come eat.”
Yu Lanting waved her hand. “No need. I’m eating braised noodles with Teacher Zhai Yi.”
Fu Liang looked envious. “Ah, so jealous. Teacher Zhai Yi, what are you making for dinner? Can you make enough for me too?”
Zhai Yi thought about the ingredients in the storage room. “Sure.”
Fu Liang excitedly clapped. “Yay!”
“Tch, Fu Liang, don’t get too excited. Sometimes people’s cooking skills are just like their gaming level—nothing worth watching.” Zeng Ranran set down her chopsticks and tossed the remaining half of her boxed meal into the trash.
Fu Liang shot back, “People who can cook are always way better than those who can’t.”
Zeng Ranran rolled her eyes and headed upstairs.
Yu Lanting followed Zhai Yi into the kitchen and comforted her. “Whatever you make, I’ll eat it.”
Zhai Yi washed the pot. “Even if I make it really bad, you’ll eat it?”
Yu Lanting nodded. “Yeah.”
“There’s an old saying: People who don’t put in effort have no right to criticize.”
Zhai Yi smiled and lit the stove to boil water and cook the noodles.
: Tingting is such a sweet, warm, and kind little angel.
: Zhai Yi, make the food tasty for me. Don’t poison my Tingting.
: Tingting joining this variety show is such a disservice to her. Star Creation Entertainment is inhuman!!
: That look on Zeng Ranran’s face earlier—I really want to curse her out.
: Just because Zhai Yi is making food for my Tingting, I won’t curse her today.
: Zhai Yi seems good at cooking. So methodical, nice knife work. The kelp shreds are cut perfectly.
: Zhai Yi shouldn’t go pro in esports. She should be a chef.
Yu Lanting watched Zhai Yi chopping vegetables and felt bad just standing there. She offered, “Can I help with something?”
She didn’t dare touch anything casually, afraid of messing up Zhai Yi’s cooking rhythm.
Zhai Yi didn’t look up. “Peel some garlic.”
Yu Lanting said, “Okay.”
She took a head of garlic from the basket, squatted by the trash can, and started peeling the cloves.
Ning Yao finished his boxed meal and walked over. Watching Zhai Yi cook methodically, he asked curiously, “Zhai Yi, you can cook too?”
Zhai Yi said, “I know a lot of things.”
Ning Yao laughed. “Impressive.”
Zhai Yi took an apple from the basket and tossed it to Ning Yao.
Ning Yao caught it and said in surprise, “For me?”
Zhai Yi nodded, then grabbed another apple and tossed it to Luo Weizhi as he passed by.
Luo Weizhi caught it smoothly and paused. “For me?”
Zhai Yi said, “There’s tons of fruit in the storage room. You guys can go check it out.”
“You two like apples, so I grabbed some for you.”
Ning Yao said happily, “Zhai Yi, thanks.”
Luo Weizhi took a bite and mumbled, “Thanks.”
Weixing Yan sidled over with a grin. “What about mine? Zhai Yi, you can’t play favorites.”
Zhai Yi turned her head. “You don’t like apples anyway.”
Weixing Yan really didn’t like apples. He was just messing around.
“Yeah, I don’t like app—” Before Weixing Yan could finish, a yellow object flew toward him.
Weixing Yan caught it. It was a banana.
“You’re not missing out.”
Weixing Yan froze, then laughed. “Thanks.”
Mu Li didn’t even glance at the kitchen. Looking utterly cold, he stuffed his hands in his pockets and went upstairs.
Weixing Yan saw this, gave a wry smile, and followed.
Zhai Yi looked at Yu Lanting, who was still peeling garlic. After bustling for so long, she’d only managed three cloves.
“Give it to me.” Zhai Yi took the garlic, placed it on the cutting board, smashed it a few times with the knife blade, and handed it back. “This makes it way easier to peel.”
Yu Lanting watched as the skin separated from the cloves effortlessly. It really was much easier. “Wow, you’re so good at this.”
Zhai Yi said, “Peel two more cloves. That’ll be enough.”
“Okay.”
Yu Lanting finished peeling the garlic and set it by the cutting board.
Zhai Yi glanced at Yu Lanting’s hands. “Go wash up.”
Yu Lanting nodded. “Okay.”
She went to the first-floor bathroom to wash her hands.
By the time Yu Lanting returned, Zhai Yi had finished the braised noodles. Two large bowls of steaming, aromatic braised noodles sat on the dining table. Everyone still on the first floor caught the scent and started salivating.
“Wow, smells so good. I want to eat it so bad.” Fu Liang rubbed his belly and eyed the noodles eagerly.
Zhai Yi said, “Want me to grab you a bowl and share some?”
Fu Liang shook his head and swallowed hard. “Nah, I’m an idol. Gotta watch my figure. Never mind, maybe next time.”
“Fair enough. I get it.” Zhai Yi handed Yu Lanting chopsticks and a spoon. “Dig in.”
Yu Lanting took them. The aroma of the braised noodles filled her nose, and it looked absolutely delicious.
She took a big bite. The noodles were chewy, the broth rich, perfectly seasoned—not too salty or spicy—and the texture was perfect.
Yu Lanting closed her eyes, savoring it. “These noodles are incredible.”
Fu Liang heard this and couldn’t hold back his saliva anymore. He bolted upstairs.
Zhai Yi smiled amusedly. “Still good?”
Yu Lanting said solemnly, “Even if this bowl had gut-wrenching poison, I’d polish it off.”
Zhai Yi laughed. “High praise.”
“Well deserved.”
: Oh man, Yu Lanting made me crave braised noodles too.
: I just ordered takeout—I’m unbeatable.
: Looks so tasty?
: Aaaah, I’m on a diet. Can’t eat noodles. This is tempting me to commit a crime!
After lunch, the idols went to learn from the ING Team coaches. Zhai Yi, full and satisfied, returned to her room to take a nap.
At that moment, she got a WeChat message from Zhai He.
Zhai He: Xiaoyi, what’re you up to?
Zhai Yi: Recording the show.
Zhai He: Busy?
Zhai Yi: So idle I’m thinking of napping.
Zhai He: Wanna game?
Zhai Yi: Sure.
Zhai He: Zhou Zhu wants to play too. Trio queue?
Zhai Yi: Okay.
It was Sunday, so Zhai He and Zhou Zhu were off work and free.
: Oh ho, Zhai Yi trioing with her dad. Tsk tsk, this game’s about to get interesting. Prayers for their teammates.
: Whoever queues with the Zhai family is doomed for eight lifetimes.
: Heh, Zhai Yi’s dad on marksman, teammate on mid, Zhai Yi support. Dang, all their carries are noobs. I saw their teammate is Star Yao rank. They’re gonna get wrecked and drop out of Star Yao.
: Zhai Yi still playing Yaomei. Does she even know how to refresh shields? That Hou Yi’s probably gifting first blood to the red team’s Huang Zhong.
No sooner had the barrage said that than the first blood owner was announced.
: Wtf? Hou Yi got first blood?
: See that? Yaomei’s skill one bush check just scared off the Li Bai hiding in the grass. Otherwise, blue team’s marksman and support would’ve died under bot tower.
: Li Bai not giving up, squatting bot again.
: Oh no, bot lane’s gonna collapse.
: Hiss, Yaomei has moves! That shield timing—two shields in one second!
: Mid came at the perfect time. Zero-for-three trade. Enemy jungler’s probably breaking down? Yaomei spots them every time.
: This Yaomei has skill. Zhai Yi’s watching shield thickness, even jumping down to eat Huang Zhong’s skills to protect Hou Yi. Now Hou Yi’s farmed enough, geared up, unstoppable soon.
: Blue jungler hasn’t gapped bot once. It’s basically these three helping each other. Top’s already collapsed.
Zhai Yi glanced at the top lane Bai Qi. Enemy was Lü Bu, suppressed hard. Without dying, top tower was still gonna fall.
Zhai Yi hit voice-to-text: “Bai Qi, swap lanes. Come bot.”
Bai Qi: Okay.
Zhai Yi led Zhai He to top. Lü Bu ulted, and Li Bai dashed in from the Dragon Pit bush.
Zhai Yi jumped off Hou Yi, using her passive to tank Li Bai’s damage. Turning into a little deer, she then jumped onto Zhou Zhu’s Diao Chan, diving in for the kills. Hou Yi was in a comfy spot and unloaded damage. Even the red mid Angela’s support didn’t help. Diao Chan got a triple kill, wiping them all.
Zhou Zhu’s excited voice came through team voice: “Who’s next!? I want penta!”
Zhai He said helplessly, “You stole my kills.”
Zhou Zhu feigned bad connection: “What? Couldn’t hear you?”
Zhai He: “….”
Jerk!
: Red has no comeback now. Diao Chan can 1v5, Hou Yi’s online, Bai Qi and Kai are beastly frontliners. Blue wins.
: Look at Yaomei’s score: 0/0/25. What a dedicated support.
: Zhai Yi hasn’t died once?
: Not just Zhai Yi—any hero she’s possessed hasn’t died.
: Yeah, other heroes die once or twice solo or with others, but never with Zhai Yi.
: Zhai Yi plays Yaomei great. She should ditch marksman and go support. Even Ning Yao’s better at it than her.
: Facts.
: +1!
They won the game easily. Next was Zhou Zhu’s promo match.
Zhai Yi played Da Qiao this time, Zhai He still Hou Yi, Zhou Zhu went Wu Zetian, top was Zhong Wuyan, jungle Liu Bei.
The audience sized up red’s lineup and figured blue had a good shot, but this game was a total stomp.
: Who can tell me what gear and inscriptions this Da Qiao has? One ult chunks Sun Ce to sliver HP? Bug?
: Holy shit, this Da Qiao is so disgusting, that second skill was placed so sneakily. If I were Lanling King, I’d be puking blood from anger. I was one hit away from killing Wu Zetian, but Da Qiao teleported him home!?
: Da Qiao’s positioning—she’s kiting Sun Ce?
: Whoa, great awareness! First skill directly pushed Lanling King away! Hou Yi almost died under Lanling King’s blade.
: Hou Yi’s positioning and output is so satisfying, Da Qiao protected him like a precious grandson.
: Awesome! Ultimate dropped right in their fountain, rubbing the red team into the ground. Ruthless.
: Stomp game, total stomp! So tragic, so tragic!
: If I were on red team, I’d be so pissed I couldn’t sleep tonight.
Zhou Zhu advanced to Strongest King, and he still wanted to drag Zhai Yi to keep playing.
The three turned on their team voice chat.
Zhou Zhu excitedly said: “One more round, one more!”
Zhai He refused: “No, Xiaoyi needs to rest.”
Zhai Yi said: “It’s fine, I’m good for it.”
Zhou Zhu pleaded: “Come on, just one more. Xiaoyi’s support is making me feel so comfortable; I haven’t played this smoothly in ages.”
As soon as he said that, the barrage comments flooded with agreement.
They hadn’t seen such a comfortable support in a long time either—great at defense and offense.
The three played a total of five games, with Zhai Yi switching supports each time. Every support performance was amazing, leaving everyone stunned and impressed.
Zhai He also played comfortably, but they’d been at it for a while, and he didn’t want Xiaoyi to get too tired: “We’ll play more later; can’t let Xiaoyi get exhausted.”
Zhou Zhu whined pitifully: “Fine, Xiaoyi, we’ll play together later.”
Zhai Yi said: “Sure, I’m good.”
Zhai He asked: “At this time, aren’t you about to go play the game?”
Zhai He was also watching the stream and knew Zhai Yi’s situation at the event—no one had picked her, leaving her alone and lonely in her room. That’s why he specially called Zhou Zhu and Zhai Yi to play, letting the stream viewers see Zhai Yi’s skills up close.
Zhai He had originally wanted Zhai Yi to play marksman, but she refused and went straight to support with him in bot lane. Looking at the barrage, lots of people were praising how Zhai Yi’s support play was even better than marksman.
Zhai He thought to himself: You haven’t seen Xiaoyi’s marksman yet—that’ll knock your teeth out.
Zhai Yi glanced at the clock in the room; it was almost six: “Yeah, yep.”
Zhou Zhu was also watching the stream and naturally knew Zhai Yi’s situation, so he comforted her: “Xiaoyi, just treat it like you’re going to have fun. Cheer up—no one picking you means they’re blind and can’t see your excellence. It’s not your fault.”
Zhai Yi joked: “I’m having a pretty good time playing.”
“This is me earning money just by lying down.”
Zhou Zhu nodded approvingly: “Makes sense.”
: So mad! I can’t let her be this comfy. I’m gonna go find my brother and make him pick Zhai Yi—can’t let her stay this relaxed!
: Agreed, me too.
: Count me in.
: Me too!
: Race you there—
In an instant, other idols’ streams were going crazy with spam.
The comments were surprisingly unified.
: Brother (sister), hurry up and go get Zhai Yi!
: Peel a layer of skin off her—don’t let her off easy!
