Little Fish and Mint - Chapter 11

Xu Yitong was startled by her own ridiculous thoughts.

She took a step back.

Kissing a drunk Yu Ge in front of the restaurant would definitely make the news, she thought. If I were to kiss him, I’d have to lure him somewhere private. Wait… we’re not even close. Why am I thinking about this? And he’s so tall, I’d have to be on my tiptoes…

She banished the thought, a tiny figure in her mind screaming in horror.

Xu Yitong, you’re insane!

A customer exited the restaurant, a blast of cool air making her shiver. She stepped aside, and when she looked again, Yu Ge was gone.

She spotted him by a tree, leaning against it, hunched over.

Her inappropriate thoughts vanished. She rushed to his side.

His head hung low, his lips pressed together, fighting nausea. Sweat beaded on his forehead; his face was pale.

“Are you okay? Need to throw up?” She sounded worried.

He looked up, his face drawn.

Seeing him sway, she steadied him, chattering, “Just throw up. You’ll feel better. Does your stomach hurt? We can get some yogurt.”

Her arm pressed against his waist, her body half leaning on his. The thin fabric of their shirts offered little barrier. He tried to pull away, but she persisted.

He was pressed against the tree.

The warmth of the alcohol and her closeness made him restless.

He clenched his fists, his head buzzing.

He took a shallow breath. “Let go. Don’t touch me.”

“But…” she looked up hesitantly.

“Let go,” he repeated, his voice husky.

“Okay, okay. Just… stand still,” she stepped back.

As she moved away, he closed his eyes, trying to control his breathing.

“Feeling better?” she whispered.

No response.

“Yu Ge, are you okay?”

He finally looked at her.

Her hair, disheveled, fell across her face, a few strands clinging to her lips. Her eyes flickered nervously.

Her warm brown eyes were sparkling.

He thought of his grandmother’s little black dog, always at his heels, impossible to shoo away.

After a few minutes, his head cleared. “I’m fine.”

“Thank goodness!” She sighed in relief. “You looked awful!”

As he straightened up, she wanted to help, but hesitated, fearing a rebuke. “Be careful…”

She glanced at the restaurant.

Why weren’t they finished?

She considered getting someone to help Yu Ge when she saw a young couple nearby.

The tall boy leaned against the wall, flirting with the girl.

Xu Yitong gasped.

What was Chen Yuzheng doing here? Did Yu Ge know about him and Yu Nuo? He’d be furious!

She grabbed Yu Ge’s arm. “Wait!”

Before he could react, she covered his eyes.

Darkness.

Her hands were cool and soft, trembling slightly. He caught a faint whiff of mint.

The scent faded quickly.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

“There’s a homeless man… naked… don’t look,” she blurted out, thinking fast.

Why was Chen Yuzheng here?! Did Yu Ge know about him and Yu Nuo?!

Yu Ge reached up.

They both froze as his hand grasped her wrist.

He paused, then gently pulled her hand away.

Xu Yitong, dazed, realized what she’d done. “Xu Yitong?!” a familiar voice called out.

They both turned.

“Well, well,” Chen Yuzheng stood a few meters away, his tone challenging.

Yu Nuo hurried over, surprised. “Bro? What are you doing here?”

Yu Ge released Xu Yitong’s hand.

“Since when is Fish my uncle?” Chen Yuzheng said sarcastically.

Xu Yitong forced a smile, glaring at him. That jerk…

Before Yu Ge could respond, Chen Yuzheng asked, “And Fish, why are you with my sister?”

“…” Xu Yitong’s head throbbed. How can he be so shameless?

Yu Ge ignored him, looking at Yu Nuo. “Come here.”

…

“I knew you were a heartless wretch, Chen Yuzheng,” Xu Yitong said sweetly, pinching him hard.

“Ow! Trying to kill me?”

“That’s how you repay me for helping you?” She kicked him lightly.

He chuckled. “You’re bold, going after Fish. No wonder—you really were my sister..”

“Not as bold as you, dating Yu Ge’s sister right under his nose,” she retorted.

“Keep your voice down!” he hissed, covering her mouth.

“Mmmpphh!” she mumbled, struggling. “Get your filthy hands off my face!”

They continued bickering.

Yu Nuo glanced at them, then realized her brother was watching.

She looked at him nervously.

“Bro…” she said softly.

He frowned. “Stay away from that idiot.”

“We were just… buying things,” she defended Chen Yuzheng. “He’s actually… nice.”

Changing the subject, she asked, “Why were you drinking?”

“Just a little. I’m fine.”

“Are you guys eating here too? Why are you with Tongtong-jie?”

“What are you buying?” he asked, ignoring her questions.

“Some of the guys want soy milk.”

“Let’s go.”

They walked to the nearby supermarket.

Yu Nuo quickly grabbed drinks, her arms full. Yu Ge got a yogurt and paid for everything.

Outside, he took the drinks from her. “Have they called you lately?”

“Dad called…” she mumbled.

“Block him.”

She sighed. “They’ll just bother you.”

“Block him.”

Walking back, Yu Nuo spotted them.

Xu Yitong sat on a red plastic chair, scratching her legs, looking miserable. Chen Yuzheng stood beside her, showing her something on his phone.

She swatted his hand away.

Yu Ge easily spotted her under the bright lights.

His stomach tightened. He could still smell that faint mint.

He stopped, opened his yogurt, and took a long swig.

…

That annoying Chen Yuzheng… Xu Yitong sulked in the taxi.

It had been a good day, a pleasant evening with Yu Ge, until Chen Yuzheng appeared.

Yu Ge hadn’t spoken to her since.

She opened her sketchbook, her mood lifting slightly at the drawing.

She held it up to the light, tracing the name he’d signed with her thumb.

Taking her pen, she carefully wrote her own name beneath SpongeBob.

—zhenzhen.

✧✧✧

Xu Yitong had little appetite during the summer.

She ate small meals and rarely left her air-conditioned apartment.

After two weeks of being a hermit, CC called.

“Hello?” Xu Yitong answered listlessly.

“How’s the designer?”

She perked up. “We met. Her studio works with a renovation company. We’re checking out the location soon. Design plans should be ready by the end of the month. Renovations will take about three months.”

“Good. You handle it. You can manage this, right?”

“Of course,” she scoffed.

“Coming out tonight? Cai Cai met some hot influencers in Hangzhou.”

“Nah, you guys have fun,” Xu Yitong declined.

“What have you been up to? Living like a cavewoman?”

“Just leave me alone,” she said, looking at her computer.

After hanging up, she sighed dramatically.

League of Legends is so hard, she thought, looking at her terrible match history.

She contacted the gaming companion service Yiyi had recommended.

It was supposedly reputable, with LPL connections. They had pro players, boosters, even streamers.

She’d tried it, but the male companions were too flirtatious.

She messaged customer service: [Are you there?]

Yaw Gaming Companion – Yueyue: [Hello! How can I help?~]

Zhenzhen: [Who’s available?]

Yaw…Yueyue: [Many! Boosting, duo queue, ARAM… What’s your budget?]

A price list followed: Diamond to Challenger, with pros and streamers starting at 300 yuan.

Zhenzhen: [You have pro players?]

Yaw…Yueyue: [Yes! Which role?]

Excited, she replied: [ADC.]

Yaw…Yueyue: [One moment.]

A few minutes later: [Former WR Academy player available. Interested?]

“Any OG players? Like Fish…?” she asked. [Price is no object!]

After a silence: [Sorry, LPL players rarely do this. Someone like Fish is even less likely. (Crying)]

…

Xu Yitong gave up.

Exhausted from League, she messaged the designer, then opened Meituan for milk tea. Her computer chimed.

A game invite.

She recognized the ID “milk”—Yiyi.

She accepted.

milk: [Playing alone?]

She typed: [Bored.]

milk: [Join voice chat?]

She plugged in her headset. “Hello?”

“Quiet,” Yiyi said.

“My headset’s broken. I’ll get a new one,” Xu Yitong said, also struggling to hear.

“I’ll increase your volume.”

They started a match, Yiyi supporting her.

“Yueyue said you were playing alone,” Yiyi said while waiting.

“The customer service rep?”

“Yeah, we’re friends. She boosted my account.”

“Why hire a booster when you have Roy?”

“He’s busy. No time to play,” Yiyi chuckled. “Yueyue said you asked for Fish. Ambitious.”

“Was she judging me?”

“No! They get Fish requests all the time. She just thought you weren’t satisfied with the Challenger players you hired before.”

“I was just tired.”

They entered the game.

Yiyi picked Seraphine ADC, asking Xu Yitong to play Yuumi. A teammate typed a question mark.

“Yuumi’s like Yao. Attach and heal,” Yiyi explained.

“I know.”

“But most ADC’s hate Yuumi players who just afk. Jump off to last-hit sometimes. In fights, auto to proc your passive for the shield.”

Xu Yitong, struggling with her headset, only caught bits and pieces. Don’t afk on the ADC.

They chatted and laughed for the first half, Yiyi teaching her. But then, they were repeatedly killed bot lane.

Kill notifications filled the screen.

Their teammates started flaming them.

Then came the surrender votes.

Silence.

“Another game?” Xu Yitong asked.

“Do you want to?”

“I’m fine with it,” she sighed. “But I’m so bad… I’ll just play alone.”

“It’s not your fault.”

“Should I hire a companion?”

“Don’t waste money,” Yiyi paused. “Wait, I’ll call someone.”

…

Someone named “Ruo Yiyi” joined.

“Who’s that?”

“My boyfriend.”

Roy joined the voice chat.

Yiyi complained about their last game.

“Your friend’s quiet. Traumatized?” Roy asked.

“My mic’s bad,” Xu Yitong said.

“Hey, you’re the girl from the hot pot dinner, right?” Roy recognized her voice.

“Yep, that’s me.”

“Haha, you play too?” he chuckled. “I’ll carry you guys.”

Yiyi went top as Malphite. Xu Yitong played Yuumi, and Roy joined her bot.

He dominated the game, carrying Xu Yitong to an easy victory.

After two games, Xu Yitong was bored.

They started another.

Listening to Yiyi and Roy flirt, she felt like a third wheel.

A teammate typed: [Damn, the SM boost team again.]

“Already facing boosters?” Roy was surprised.

“Your MMR is too high,” Yiyi shrugged.

“What should I play? Samira? Tristana? Jinx,” he mused.

Suddenly, “Ugh, my stomach!”

“Want to dodge?” Xu Yitong asked, also ready for a break.

“It’s okay. Just this one game.”

The game loaded.

Xu Yitong bought items.

“I can’t hold it. Go ahead and lane,” Roy said, his voice fading as he moved away from his microphone. “Fish, cover me! Bathroom break!”

Xu Yitong froze.

She paused by their second tier turret and maximized the volume for Ruo Yiyi.

She heard rapid mouse clicks.

The Jinx started moving.

Excited, she unmuted her mic. “Hello?”

No response.

She maxed her own volume, staring at the Jinx. “Hi! I’m Xu Yitong!”

Ruo Yiyi’s microphone flickered.

A familiar, deep voice: “I know.”

…

Overwhelmed, Xu Yitong was so flustered she didn’t even notice Jinx stopping beside her.

Yu Ge waited. The Yuumi was still dazed.

“Attach,” he commanded.

Snapping out of it, she charged towards the enemy bot lane.

Yu Ge was stunned. The enemy ADC was equally confused.

First bl00d. The Yuumi was instantly killed.

Yu Ge’s lips twitched. “What are you doing?”

Mortified, she scurried back to lane.

“Didn’t you tell me to go in?” she whispered, remembering Yiyi’s instructions.

Jinx, farming, pinged under Yuumi’s feet.

Through the static of her headset, she heard him say—

—”I told you to attach to me.”