Chapter 2: Courting One’s Own Doom

Ling Xue’er was in a terrible mood.

When she heard the doorbell earlier, she thought it was the food delivery. To her surprise, when she opened the door, she found a stranger standing before her—a man she had never seen before. Yang Hao knew her, but she did not know Yang Hao. At first, Ling Xue’er didn’t pay much attention, assuming he had the wrong door, and casually asked whom he was looking for.

Unexpectedly, the man blurted out, “I’m looking for my wife.”

A strange man had come here, claiming to look for his wife—clearly up to no good. At first, Ling Xue’er thought he was somewhat handsome and not unpleasant, but to her dismay, he turned out to be a shameless flirt. She couldn’t be bothered to respond and closed the door in his face.

“Xue, who was that?”

At that moment, a graceful woman in a light blue cheongsam emerged from the kitchen, carrying a glass of juice. She looked at Ling Xue’er, who was clearly upset, with curiosity. She recalled that Ling Xue’er had just gone to open the door—how had she returned in such a state so quickly?

“I don’t know him, just a filthy scoundrel,” Ling Xue’er replied, still fuming, as she sat down on the sofa, visibly displeased.

The woman in the cheongsam laughed softly and did not press further.

“Ha, who’s managed to upset our little Xue?”

Soon after, footsteps sounded on the stairs. Another beautiful woman appeared, her temperament entirely different yet just as striking. She teased Ling Xue’er, who was still sulking.

“Sister Ziqi, I don’t want to talk about it right now.” The memory of what happened at the door made Ling Xue’er feel too embarrassed to speak.

“Oh my, someone’s in a mood,” Lu Ziqi chuckled, unfazed. Her gaze shifted to the empty table, and she touched her stomach in frustration. “Is the food still not here? I’m starving.”

Her eyes then landed on the juice in the cheongsam woman’s hand, and she brightened. “Moxi, is there more juice?”

“Help yourself in the kitchen,” Shen Moxi replied coolly.

Ding dong!

Just as Lu Ziqi returned with a glass of juice from the kitchen, the doorbell sounded again. She immediately directed Ling Xue’er, “The food’s here, go get it!”

“I’m not going!” Ling Xue’er had been about to stand, but the thought of possibly running into Yang Hao again made her sit back down. If that guy was still lurking outside, she had no desire to meet him.

“Fine. Don’t come begging for food later,” Lu Ziqi sneered, glancing at Ling Xue’er. She took a sip of juice, set the glass on the table, and went to open the door herself.

“Hello, your delivery!”

Lu Ziqi opened the door and saw the deliveryman standing there. She took the food and was about to close the door when a hand suddenly slipped through, stopping the door just before it shut.

A miserable cry rang out.

As expected.

Yang Hao’s hand had been caught in the door.

He had only himself to blame—who told him to stick his hand there? The door was almost closed, and he reached in at that moment. Wasn’t he asking for trouble?

“Who are you?”

Sensing something odd behind her, Lu Ziqi, who had already turned away, spun around and stared coldly at Yang Hao.

“It’s a misunderstanding, I came here to see someone…” Yang Hao’s face flashed with embarrassment as he hurried to explain.

“You again?”

Hearing the commotion, Shen Moxi and Ling Xue’er came running. When Ling Xue’er saw Yang Hao once more, she could only scoff.

“You know him?” Lu Ziqi asked.

“No!”

Ling Xue’er, her face set, ignored Yang Hao and reached to close the door.

“Wait, please… have mercy…”

Noticing what she was about to do, Yang Hao quickly placed his other hand on the door, pleading desperately.

“I really am here to see someone…”

Yang Hao looked ready to cry.

“Sister Ziqi, don’t believe him. He’s just here to make trouble. Let’s call security,” Ling Xue’er interjected before Yang Hao could finish, making him grit his teeth in frustration.

This little girl, young as she was, was really something.

Yang Hao muttered inwardly.

“But we don’t know you,” Shen Moxi, who hadn’t spoken until now, observed Yang Hao and finally spoke.

“I’m here to find… Hey, darling, I’m here!” Yang Hao was about to explain further when he saw a figure descending the stairs. Instantly, he shouted with excitement.

To his annoyance, the three beautiful women were blocking the doorway, preventing him from entering. He could only stand outside, shouting like an idiot.

The moment Yang Hao called out “darling,” Ling Xue’er was speechless, while Lu Ziqi and Shen Moxi stared in shock.

“What are you doing here?”

Just as the three were about to call security, a cool, clear voice came from behind, making their expressions turn odd.

“Sister Zijin.”

The three looked from Lin Zijin, now at the door, to the exhilarated Yang Hao and were momentarily at a loss for words.

“Darling, I’ve searched so bitterly for you…”

Yang Hao reached up to wipe his eyes, realized there were no tears, then opened his arms, wanting to embrace her.

“Don’t move!”

At Lin Zijin’s command, Yang Hao’s hands froze mid-air, leaving him awkwardly suspended.

In that instant, Ling Xue’er, Lu Ziqi, and Shen Moxi all fixed their curious gazes on Yang Hao.

“Why are you here?”

Lin Zijin repeated her earlier question.

She didn’t bother asking how Yang Hao had found this place; she knew that would be no trouble for him. And if he couldn’t, there was always her family to help.

“I’m here for you! My mom told me to bring you home…”

Yang Hao looked at Lin Zijin with puppy-like longing.

Lin Zijin was no stranger to Yang Hao’s antics, but Ling Xue’er and the others were utterly dumbfounded.

“Go back,” Lin Zijin said, shaking her head, unmoved.

“Go back where?”

Yang Hao was taken aback.

“Wherever you came from.”

Lin Zijin’s beautiful face remained calm, her voice even.

Yang Hao gave a wry smile. “I can’t go back! My mom said if I don’t bring you home, she’ll disown me.” Seeing the three women’s confusion, Yang Hao explained.

It was a rather pitiful reason.

But for some reason, hearing it made Ling Xue’er and the others want to laugh. Out of respect for Lin Zijin, they held it in, struggling to keep straight faces.

At that moment, a hint of a smile flickered across Lin Zijin’s eyes.

She didn’t doubt Yang Hao’s story at all. Given her aunt’s personality, she could absolutely imagine such a thing.

“You know me,” Lin Zijin said at last, instead of insisting he leave.

Yang Hao fell silent.

Yes, he did know her.

Once she made a decision, she wouldn’t change her mind easily. No one could force her to do anything she didn’t want to do—not even Yang Hao.

Of course, Yang Hao would never do that.

He wasn’t that foolish.

“Forget it, I won’t force you,” Yang Hao said. He had never intended to use the elders’ wishes to pressure Lin Zijin into coming home with him—only an idiot would try that.

“I’ll go,”

Somewhat disheartened, Yang Hao no longer looked at Lin Zijin. He picked up his suitcase and turned to leave.

Watching him walk away alone, luggage in tow, his figure looked desolate and forlorn.

At that moment, Ling Xue’er and the others couldn’t help feeling a pang of sympathy.

At the same time—

Lin Zijin’s lips parted as if to say something, but she held back.

She couldn’t help recalling that night before she left.

At that time, there were still four days before the engagement.

Lin Zijin had just ended her contract with Legend Club, while Yang Hao had only recently graduated from university.

Yes, they were to be engaged!

Many people already knew the news; many had even received invitations.

But that day, Yang Hao suddenly sought out Lin Zijin. The first words out of his mouth left her stunned.

“You should go.”

“What?”

Lin Zijin was momentarily confused, unable to grasp Yang Hao’s meaning.

“I know you’re not ready yet.” Yang Hao lifted his head, gazing at her with deep affection, a gentle smile on his lips.

“You’re not ready to spend your whole life with me.”

He repeated himself, then looked into her eyes and spoke earnestly: “Your uncle decided you would leave Legend Club, but I bear some responsibility too.”

At Yang Hao’s attempt to shoulder the blame, Lin Zijin’s eyes flickered, but she replied quietly, “It’s not your fault.”

“Let me finish. If I don’t say it now, I might not have the courage later.”

After a brief pause, Yang Hao continued, “I know you love e-sports. In five years as a pro, you’ve made e-sports part of your life. Leaving the Legend team must be hard for you. Besides, you’ve always dreamed of having your own team since you were little. I want to give you time to pursue that dream, to continue your legendary journey—one year, two, even three, I’ll wait as long as it takes!”

“All I hope is that, when you come back into my life, you’ll have no regrets and never leave again.”

Hearing this, Lin Zijin was stunned.

She could sense the pressure Yang Hao bore in making this decision.

“But…”

“No, don’t say anything. I’m willing to give you time, and give myself time as well! I just hope we both think things through and take responsibility for each other.”

Lin Zijin had wanted to speak, but Yang Hao cut her off. Seeing his serious expression, she said nothing more.

The next day.

Three days before the engagement, Yang Hao took Lin Zijin to the airport.

As she went through security, Lin Zijin glanced back at Yang Hao. He gave her a warm smile.

In truth, he did not know that, at that moment, she was hoping he would ask her to stay.

Leaving Legend Club and the pro scene was not solely because of her family. If she had not wanted to, who could have forced her?

Just like when she left home originally, she had thrown herself into e-sports against her family’s wishes.

The moment she left the Legend Team, she was already prepared to marry him.

Five years as a pro, all the glory she had achieved was with him by her side. She had already become a legend in the arena.

Championships were no longer her goal!

She had already gained what she wanted.

Regret did not exist.

But he didn’t know that!

Perhaps she had done too little, and he too much. Lin Zijin sighed inwardly.

After so many years together, like him, her heart was already marked by the shadow of that boy—impossible to erase.

He had always loved her fiercely.

But she always kept her love hidden.

Even as Lin Zijin boarded the plane, she never heard Yang Hao ask her to stay.

Just like the saying goes:

Did the leaf leave because the wind chased it, or because the tree did not ask it to stay?

Because the tree understood the leaf’s departure, it let go, allowing the wind to take it away.

Did the leaf leave because the wind chased it, or because the tree did not ask it to stay?

Because the leaf understood the tree’s helplessness, it turned away, fulfilling the wind’s pursuit.

They both thought they understood each other, but in truth, they did not.

Moments before turning off her phone, Lin Zijin sent Yang Hao a message. It contained only two words.

“Wait for me.”

When Yang Hao saw the message, he seemed to understand.

As he watched the plane take off toward Tianhai City, he realized he had done something unbelievably foolish.

He had messed up again.