Chapter 29: A Blindingly Obvious Secret Crush part 1

The atmosphere at the celebrity exhibition match was electric, every seat in the arena packed. It wasn’t just fans of the game Infinity Showdown who had gathered. Even supporters of A-list actor Yin Xian and powerhouse actress Qu Wan were there in droves too.

The cheers and screams were deafening, the energy in the venue explosive like never before.

The online livestream was just as intense. The live chat was flooded with excitement.

【Qu Wan is gorgeous, finally a face for the female lead in an esports romance!】

【Yin Xian is too handsome, he’s the male lead we needed!】

But then the camera captured a close-up of Sheng Cong’s sharp and commanding features in the VIP section, and the mood of the chat instantly changed:

【Cut it out, Qu Wan belongs to the CEO.】

【Keep saying stuff like that and President Sheng’s gonna get jealous again.】

【If President Sheng ever joined the game, no one else would stand a chance at being the male lead.】

Sheng Cong’s real-life ‘CEO chases wife’ story with Qu Wan on the reality show Extreme Partners had won him legions of fans. Even after their successful love confession, and despite Sheng withdrawing from the entertainment spotlight, his unwavering devotion remained unforgettable.

Though the stars on stage were only amateurs, they gave it their all and delivered a thrilling performance. But what truly set the arena ablaze wasn’t the game, it was the mini challenge at the end.

The rules were simple: the camera would pan around the audience, and the five viewers who received the loudest cheers would be invited onstage to battle the pros in a fun match.

The big screen flashed rapidly through audience members. When Lin Yuran’s face appeared for a second, the crowd absolutely erupted. Hearing the roar, the camera cut back to her and zoomed in. The cheers only got louder.

“Please welcome…” the host began.

In the VIP section, Lin Yuran turned dazedly to Chi Ye beside her. “What do I do? I suck at games.”

Chi Ye gently ruffled the top of her hair. “It’s just a little side game. Play casually, it’s fine.”

The camera stayed fixed on Lin Yuran, and the big screen displayed the scene for all to see. The audience chanted in unison: “Together! Together!”

The host looked toward Chi Ye, who gave a small nod.

“Let’s welcome the president of RanYe Entertainment, President Chi Ye!”

The moment the crowd heard ‘President,’ the cheers became even more feverish.

Chi Ye placed a light hand on Lin Yuran’s back. “Come on. Let’s go have some fun.”

Having him by her side gave Lin Yuran a sense of calm. With Chi Ye there, even if she played terribly, at least she wouldn’t be embarrassed alone.

She stood up and matched his pace, walking side by side with him.

A spotlight followed the two of them as they climbed the steps.

Lin Yuran had worn high heels to match her dress today. As they approached the stage, Chi Ye extended a hand toward her. It was a refined, gentlemanly gesture. Lin Yuran responded naturally, placing her hand lightly in his. Chi Ye gently tightened his grip and led her to center stage.

Their striking visuals as a couple were already eye-catching, but paired with the subtle intimacy of their gestures, they became an instant favorite among fans secretly shipping them.

Once on stage, Chi Ye whispered something to the host.

The host beamed and turned to the audience. “You might not know this yet, but the stunning girl standing beside me is the official designer of the limited-edition blind boxes for Infinity Showdown.”

He handed her the mic with a smile. “Designer Lin, would you say a few words to your fans?”

Lin Yuran showed no stage fright. She took the mic calmly and greeted everyone with a smile.

“Hello to all our amazing fans!”

“Thanks for cheering me on. I’ll be honest, I’m not great at gaming, so don’t be too disappointed, okay?”

She laughed sheepishly, then her tone grew more confident.

“But when it comes to design, I know my stuff. You’ve all seen it, our first wave of blind boxes completely sold out!”

She lifted her chin, fox-like eyes shimmering under the lights. “Thanks for the love. Future releases will be even cooler and flashier. RanYe and Ran·Ran Design, expect nothing but the best. Stay tuned!”

As she finished, Lin Yuran glanced over at Chi Ye.

He was looking down at her, the corner of his lips lifted in a gentle curve. His usually sharp eyes were softened by warmth, so full of tenderness that it practically shimmered like starlight in his dark irises.

Lin Yuran gave him a faint smile and whispered, “How was that? Pretty solid self-promo, right? Not a bad investment, right?”

Chi Ye nodded. “I’ve never made a wrong call.”

The audience, both in-person and online, went wild.

Lin Yuran’s few short lines were brimming with bold confidence, the kind that might’ve come off as arrogant from someone else. But with her record of success, it felt grounded and reassuring.

And with her silver hair and white dress today, she looked even more ethereal, like a character straight out of fantasy.

Fans were floored by her looks and energy. Even people who didn’t normally collect merch flocked to RanYe’s website and snapped up the newest pre-orders. Some even demanded restocks of the sold-out first batch.

Back in the seats, Lin Yuran and Chi Ye settled in again.

The camera swept across the VIP area once more, prompting another round of frenzied cheers.

The feed zoomed in on Qin Lang and Xu Jianwei on the big screen.

“That’s the captain of Lone Wolf Squad, Qin Lang!” the host announced.

“Let the captain join! Get someone who can actually play!”

With a grin, the host continued, “Let’s welcome Captain Qin and the beautiful lady beside him!”

Sheng Cong, seated nearby, was also captured on screen.

The crowd began to chant: “President Sheng! President Sheng!”

The host turned to him cautiously. “President Sheng, would you be willing to join?”

Sheng Cong gave a slight nod.

“Then let’s welcome President Sheng!”

On stage, Qin Lang casually took the host’s mic and grinned. “Since we’re all here, I’ve got something to announce. I’m in a relationship.” He took Xu Jianwei’s hand and added, “This is my girlfriend.”

The crowd screamed in delight.

Xu Jianwei frowned. “Why would you say that out loud?”

Qin Lang’s smile faltered. “Just… wanted to let our fans know.”

Seeing the sincerity in his eyes, her heart softened. “You’ve got so many fangirls. What if they stop supporting you?”

So that’s what she was worried about.

Qin Lang relaxed and grinned again, “No fangirl is more important than my girlfriend. I don’t want to hide it. I want everyone to know you’re mine.”

Xu Jianwei bit her lip, said nothing, and held his hand tighter.

Later, Chi Ye asked Sheng Cong, “Are you any good at games, brother?”

“Is there anything your brother can’t do?” Sheng Cong smirked. “Your sister-in-law joined this show, and I practiced with her nonstop.”

That sealed it, their team was solid. Qin Lang was a pro, Chi Ye (despite not competing professionally) designed the game himself, Xu Jianwei was a gaming enthusiast, and although Lin Yuran lacked experience, she was sharp and quick on her feet.

This was just a fun segment to boost the atmosphere, but everyone played with full effort. Between the looks and the gameplay, the match was an absolute spectacle.

The crowd roared: “What a visual feast! This is insane!”

Maybe the pros were holding back a bit against the CEOs, because Chi Ye’s team actually eked out a win. When the results were announced, the arena exploded with excitement.

The event closed on a high, with fans already begging for more.

The host hyped up the next stage: “Get ready for the official pro tournament!”