The tour
1097 Words
After that, Huo Yan didn’t say another word.
He turned and headed back upstairs, hands shoved into his pockets like the whole thing hadn’t mattered to him at all.
Mr. Han watched him go and shook his head slowly. “That’s your captain.”
Then he looked at Yu Chen. “Come with me.”
She nodded and followed as they climbed the stairs.
As she turned, she caught the three boys huddled together, whispering fast and low, eyes flicking in her direction like she was already the topic of debate.
The hallway was quiet.
Mr. Han walked ahead, hands clasped behind his back. “There’s a welcoming party tonight,” he said casually. “ONYX5 tradition.”
Yu Chen blinked. “A party?”
“Yes,” he replied. “New member arrives, we celebrate. Someone leaves…” He paused, then added dryly, “We still celebrate.”
That made her lips twitch.
They stopped in front of a blue door. Mr. Han pulled out a key and unlocked it, stepping aside.
“Go on.”
Yu Chen walked in.
The room was clean, simple, warm. A bed by the window. A desk. A chair. Everything neat, like it had been waiting for her.
“You’ll find everything you need,” Mr. Han said from behind her. “Make yourself comfortable.”
He turned to leave, then stopped.
“Ah..almost forgot.” He took out his phone. “I’ll add you to the ONYX5 group.”
A second later, her phone buzzed.
“Done,” he said, already walking away.
The door closed softly behind him.
Yu Chen locked it.
She dropped her backpack onto the chair, kicked off her shoes, and fell backward onto the bed, staring up at the ceiling.
The room was quiet. Her chest finally loosened.
She exhaled, a small smile creeping onto her face.
------
Later, Yu Chen stood and walked to the closet.
It was already filled.
Neatly arranged clothes. All male. Jerseys, hoodies, jackets. Even caps lined up on the top shelf.
Her fingers brushed the fabric.
Her body finally reminded her of something else. She needed a shower.
She slipped out of her hoodie and carefully unwrapped the tight binding around her chest. The pressure released slowly.
She faced the mirror, for a second, she just stood there.
Then she let out a long breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding.
“…That feels better.”
Knock.
Her heart jumped.
Another knock followed, louder.
Panic hit fast.
She grabbed her hoodie, pulled it on, adjusting it carefully, making sure nothing showed. Only then did she unlock the door and peek out.
Rong.
He leaned casually against the wall, two fingers raised in a lazy wave. “Tour guide’s here. ONYX5 edition.”
“Oh...” She swallowed. “I’ll be down soon. I just need to shower first.”
Rong nodded easily. “Cool. Don’t take forever.”
She shut the door quickly and locked it.
Her back rested against it as her heart raced.
Too close.
----------
After her bath, Yu Chen dressed simply.
She bound her chest tight again, pulled on a loose hoodie, long pants, and finished with a face cap pulled low.
She opened the door..
And almost jumped.
Rong was leaning against the wall right in front of it, scrolling through his phone like he’d been there forever.
“…You scared me,” she said before she could stop herself.
He looked up, slipped the phone into his pocket, and grinned. “You took long.”
She smiled back without thinking.
Was he always this friendly?
“Shall we?” Rong said, already turning.
She nodded and followed.
They headed downstairs, footsteps echoing softly. Instead of the main living area, Rong led her toward a long hallway lined with glass cases.
“Okay,” he said, tapping the glass. “This is the boring part. Also the part we’re not allowed to lose anymore.”
Inside were trophies. Medals. Framed photos.
“Regional Championship,” Rong said, pointing. “Four years in a row. This one?” He tapped another case. “We won it with a substitute jungler and zero sleep.”
Yu Chen leaned closer. “You’re serious?”
“Unfortunately.” He sighed. “That year aged us all.”
Her eyes moved from year to year, names etched into metal, moments frozen in photos. She felt small standing there.
“And this one,” Rong added quietly, “was the match that made people stop calling us lucky.”
She looked at him. “And start calling you scary?”
He smirked. “Exactly.”
They continued walking.
Screens along the wall played highlights, team fights, perfect rotations, clean finishes.
“That clip?” Rong said. “Captain didn’t say a word the whole game. Just typed ‘go’ once.”
Yu Chen glanced at him. “And that was enough?”
Rong laughed. “With Huo Yan? More than enough.”
They reached the end of the hall, where a massive ONYX5 logo was mounted on the wall.
Rong stopped and looked back at her. “You’re part of this now, you know.”
Her chest tightened.
“…Yeah,” she said softly. “I know.”
-------
They stopped at the gym next.
Rong pushed the door open and walked in like he owned the place. “This is where legends are built,” he said proudly. “And where we suffer every morning.”
Yu Chen stepped in, eyes roaming over the machines.
Rong glanced at her up and down. “You’re thin,” he said bluntly. “Do you even work out?”
She smiled awkwardly. “Enough.”
He scoffed. “Doesn’t look like it.”
Then, without thinking much of it, he reached out and pressed his hand flat against her chest, quick and firm, like checking muscle through fabric.
“Checking if you’ve got abs,” he said casually. “Mid-laners these days...”
Smack.
The slap echoed in the room.
Rong staggered back, hand flying to his cheek. “What the...?!”
Yu Chen froze.
Her heart was racing.
“I...I’m sorry!” she said quickly, bowing her head a little. “It wasn’t intentional. I just… reacted.”
She swallowed.
Rong stared at her, shocked, then let out a breath. “Ah. Yeah. That was sudden.”
He rubbed his cheek, wincing. “My bad though. I shouldn’t just touch people.”
The air between them stayed awkward
Then Rong cleared his throat. “Uh… gym tour officially over.”
- Writer
