Chapter 2777 The Online Game Master's "Straight Male" Roommate 1718

Cheng Lang was reluctant to spoil the atmosphere. His ears were burning, his heart was pounding, and unfamiliar, taboo emotions were surging in his chest.

The bell rang abruptly.

Cheng Lang frowned, still holding Jin Chen with one arm, and took out his phone to answer the call. It was from an unknown number.

"Senior Cheng..." Hua Yu's tone was a little nervous.

Upon hearing his voice, Cheng Lang's expression cooled, and his tone turned cold. "Hua Yu? Where did you get my number?"

Hua Yu avoided Cheng Lang's question and said to herself, "Senior Cheng, I have already made Xu Qian pay the price. What happened before was all a misunderstanding. It was my fault."

"But Senior Cheng, I really like you. Please let me pursue you."

Before Cheng Lang could say anything, Jin Chen, who had just released him, suddenly raised an eyebrow.

Then, it was applied again, heavily.

The teeth gripped it firmly, sinking into the flesh with force, even with a hint of ferocity.

Caught off guard, Cheng Lang's eyes widened in shock. He gasped in pain, his cry suppressed in his throat. He instinctively grabbed Jin Chen's hair at the back of his head, but fearing he might hurt him, he could only helplessly curl his fingers, lower his eyes, and look at the head buried in the crook of his neck.

"...Xiao Chen?"

What's wrong? Why did you bite so hard all of a sudden?

Jin Chen ignored him and continued to bite and grind hard, her nose sinking deep into his mouth, her breath hot.

Cheng Lang was in pain and numb from the bite, but he could only endure the pain and distract himself from the phone call: "Hua Yu, I don't agree. I've said it many times, I'm straight and I have no interest in you. If you make any more harassing calls, I will call the police."

Jinchen: "..."

"Senior Cheng!" Hua Yu's voice even cracked a little. "I'm downstairs at your place right now. It's so cold outside, and the snow is so heavy. I'm not feeling well, and I really can't take it... Can you just see me and let me finish what I have to say?"

Cheng Lang was annoyed. "I told you, I can't see you. You'd better leave immediately, or I'll call the police and let them handle it."

After saying that, he hung up the phone and blacklisted Hua Yu's number.

At that moment, Jin Chen slowly loosened his teeth.

He sat up straight, slowly lowered his eyes, and stared at the red marks that revealed the teeth marks for a few seconds before raising his eyes to look at Cheng Lang.

“Senior,” Jin Chen’s lips curved into a smile, his tone soft, “So are you truly a straight man, or… are you just rejecting him?”

The sudden departure of warmth and scent left Cheng Lang's skin exposed to the cold air, causing him to shiver.

His fingers felt weak, and he tried to zip up his down jacket to cover the marks; the fabric still stung from the friction.

Cheng Lang was not used to Jin Chen's gaze and questions at this moment.

“Of course I’m straight,” Cheng Lang said, still a little annoyed. “I don’t know why he thinks that way, and I can’t reason with him.”

Jin Chen let out an "oh," then suddenly chuckled softly, his deep gaze lingering on Cheng Lang's reddened ears and tightly pursed lips.

“Then…” He leaned slightly closer, closing the distance between them with a persuasive, dangerously gentle touch.

"When are you planning to find a girlfriend, senior?"

Cheng Lang was stunned.

It seems he has never considered this question.

I used to find it troublesome, but now...

Isn't it good as it is now? He and Jinchen eat together, play games together, keep each other warm when they're cold, and lean on each other when they're tired.

Why do I have to find a girlfriend?

"I don't know." Cheng Lang looked away. "I haven't thought about it. Okay, let's not talk about this anymore. Let's go home first."

“It’s terribly cold outside; your hands are freezing.”

Cheng Lang held Jin Chen's hand, and snowflakes fell on their clasped hands, as well as on Cheng Lang's chaotic thoughts.

Jin Chen let him lead her, her gaze falling on their clasped hands before slowly moving upwards. She blinked, her smile deepening.

No rush, he thought.

The snow continued to fall, gradually covering their footprints.

The way I came is clear, but the direction of my return seems somewhat blurry.

-

This belated first snow fell intermittently for three days.

Jin Chen finally got through the busiest period of the group project and took advantage of the weekend to rest and recuperate at home for two days.

Cheng Lang was pleased with this outcome, and even secretly delighted.

He liked seeing Jinchen so relaxed by his side, and he liked the feeling that their home was filled with traces of their lives together.

On Sunday afternoon, the two had just returned from grocery shopping, their refrigerator filled with bags of groceries.

Just as Cheng Lang finished sorting and putting things away, he heard Jin Chen's voice coming from the kitchen, "Senior, let me prepare lunch today. How about sukiyaki?"

He leaned against the kitchen door frame, watching Jin Chen roll up her sweater sleeves, revealing her fair wrists.

The warm winter sun shone through the glass window, making him look clean and warm.

“Sure,” Cheng Lang replied gently, “Do you need me to help?”

"No need, just wait to eat." Jin Chen turned around and smiled at him, her eyes crinkling.

Cheng Lang then comfortably became a hands-off manager, and the sense of pleasure in his heart continued to grow. The warm yellow kitchen light, the bubbling pot, and the busy figure in front of the kitchen counter made him feel at ease and satisfied.

Jin Chen suddenly remembered something, "Senior, could you save that project summary from my computer desktop to a USB drive for me?"

"Okay," Cheng Lang replied and went into Jin Chen's room.

The laptop was still open on the desk, its screen lit up.

He found the document, dragged it into the USB drive, and the task was complete.

Just as I was about to close my laptop, I suddenly saw the game icon for "Fengyue Jianghu" and grunted in surprise.

What a coincidence, Xiao Chen also plays this game, how come he's never mentioned it?

Cheng Lang felt a surge of joy, followed by a bit of annoyance. They had been living together for so long, eating and playing mobile games together, yet he had never asked Xiao Chen if she played Fengyue Jianghu.

Cheng Lang closed his laptop and walked briskly into the kitchen. "Xiao Chen, you have 'Fengyue Jianghu' installed on your computer. You play this too?"

Jin Chen spread butter on the bottom of the pot and replied, "Yes, I've been playing with it for a while now."

His hands moved non-stop as he placed several slices of fatty beef on the hot pot bottom, sizzling and releasing a fragrant aroma.

Jin Chen didn't make a move, so he smiled and turned his head to the side, "What, senior, do you want to come with me?"

"Sure, of course!" Cheng Lang immediately agreed, already planning which dungeon to take Jin Chen to run that night, and how he could show off his skills.

Cheng Lang silently apologized to the great god Xun Chen in his heart.

You're amazing! Although I'm a big fan of yours, taking care of Xiaochen is more important!

Jin Chen placed the pan-fried beef slices onto a plate, then added more to the pan. "However... I'm afraid it won't work tonight."

Cheng Lang, "What's wrong?"

“I made plans tonight,” Jin Chen said. “We agreed to play the newly released two-player dungeon together, so I can’t cancel.”

Cheng Lang's excitement vanished instantly.

"...Is it important?" he asked.

"Mm." Jin Chen responded, having just finished frying another slice of mushroom. He picked it up with his chopsticks and held it to Cheng Lang's lips, "Try it and see if it's salty enough."

Cheng Lang instinctively opened his mouth and ate it.

The mushrooms were tender and juicy, cooked to perfection, but when he chewed them, he found them somewhat bland and tasteless.

Cheng Lang returned to the living room sofa and sat down, somewhat absent-minded.

Xiao Chen has a regular gaming partner now, and it's even a two-player dungeon.

Tsk, is it a guy or a girl? Do you get along well? Is it more interesting than hanging out with him?

Cheng Lang wanted to ask Jin Chen, but when the words came to his lips, he felt that asking such a question seemed too presumptuous and too calculating.

-

After dinner, Cheng Lang volunteered to wash the dishes. The sound of running water couldn't wash away the inexplicable irritation in his heart. After tidying up, he returned to his room, scratched his hair in frustration, and logged into the game.

As soon as I logged on, a private chat popped up; it was Xun Chen.

[Private Chat] Xun Chen: The new Sword Tomb Seeking Mystery duo challenge dungeon is out. Interested in trying it? I heard it's very difficult, but there's a chance to get rare materials from the first clear and the hidden boss. ^^

Cheng Lang stared at the line of text for a moment, stunned.

It's another two-player dungeon. He's a bit allergic to the term "two-player dungeon" now.

[Private Chat] He Liangyue: Are you free today, Master?

[Private Chat] Xun Chen: Yeah, just finished working. Want to come over? The reward is pretty good.

Cheng Lang wasn't very interested in the rewards or anything like that, but... since Xiao Chen wasn't playing with him tonight, was he really going to just stare blankly at the computer all by himself?

[Private Chat] He Liangyue: Okay. I'm free anyway.

After agreeing on a time, Cheng Lang and Xun Chen teamed up and teleported into the instance.

The dungeon will open soon, and the scene is a gloomy and eerie ancient sword tomb, requiring a high degree of teamwork and skill.

Xun Chen's movements remained sharp and stylish. Cheng Lang focused his mind, suppressed his chaotic emotions, and matched Xun Chen's rhythm with the flashing swords.

However, at the part where both of them needed to solve the mechanism simultaneously to continue, Cheng Lang stared at the distorted light and shadow runes on the screen, and a thought flashed through his mind.

Xiao Chen... is he also playing this dungeon with that person right now?

How well did they cooperate?

This distraction slowed Cheng Lang's subordinate down by a beat, and he was almost struck by a bolt of lightning in the mirror image, causing his health bar to drop sharply.

At the same time, a soft white light fell on him, which was the timely treatment from Xun Chen.

The young man in purple landed beside him, waving his folding fan to block the subsequent attacks.

The two quickly resolved the problem and returned to the main scene.

Xun Chen turned around to face He Liangyue, with word bubbles appearing above his head.

[Team] Xun Chen: You seem a bit unstable tonight. Is something on your mind?

Cheng Lang looked at the words and hesitated for a moment. Since it was all online and the other person was a respected figure he trusted and admired, perhaps... he could confide in them.

[Team] He Liangyue: Hmm... yes, that's true. Master, I have a question for you.

[Team] Xun Chen: You say it.

Cheng Lang organized his thoughts, trying to obscure the real-world information.

[Team] He Liangyue: I have a roommate I get along with pretty well who also plays this game. He told me today that he made plans to play a duo dungeon with a friend in the game tonight, and that he absolutely couldn't stand him up. When he mentioned that friend... he laughed quite happily.

[Team] He Liangyue: You tell me, isn't this friend quite important to him?

After sending the message, Cheng Lang stared at the screen, feeling a little nervous but also hoping that Xun Chen would give a negative answer.

A few seconds later, Xun Chen's reply popped up.

[Party] Seeking Dust: Sounds true^^

[Team] Xun Chen: Moreover, this dungeon, because its mechanics particularly test teamwork and trust, is jokingly referred to by forum players as a map specifically for couples to train.

Cheng Lang: "…………"

A map specifically for CP training!

Xiao Chen is carrying him on her back. Is there such an important person in the game, so important that they can run CP-specific dungeons together?

He even stood him up for that person!

Cheng Lang seemed somewhat distracted in his subsequent actions, and it was only thanks to Xun Chen's timely intervention that things didn't go wrong.

He played the second half of the dungeon in a daze, and when he finally cleared it, the first-clear reward and rare items were automatically allocated to his inventory.

Cheng Lang, however, felt no joy.

Xun Chen casually replenished his health bar, which he had lost in the final boss battle.

On the screen, the young master in purple robes and a jade fan gently poked the warrior carrying a large sword, who looked somewhat dejected.

[Team] Xun Chen: Speaking of which, next Wednesday is the A City Comic Con. I'm really looking forward to seeing you! ^^

Cheng Lang roused himself and replied.

[Team] He Liangyue: I'm also really looking forward to meeting the pro player in person!

After exiting the game, Cheng Lang leaned back in his chair and let out a long sigh.

I feel really uneasy.

He glanced at the time and guessed that Jin Chen's "CP book" should be almost finished.

After thinking for a moment, Cheng Lang got up and went to the kitchen. With a cold face, he took out coffee beans and ground them with more force than usual, as if he had a grudge against those beans. He then brewed two cups.

She walked coldly toward Jin Chen's room.

I knocked on the door and went in without waiting for a response.

Hmph, Jin Chen said before that we don't need to be polite to him.

In the room, Jin Chen was playing an action game with a controller in front of the TV screen. The screen was filled with dazzling lights and shadows, and the character was fighting with great speed and power.

Hearing the noise, he turned around, paused the game, and put the controller aside.

"Finished the dungeon?" Cheng Lang placed the coffee on the table.

"Yes, it's over."

Jin Chen nodded, opened her arms to him, and leaned back slightly against the chair, indicating that she wanted to hug him; she had become increasingly adept at it recently.

Cheng Lang: "..."

Cheng felt a pang of sadness but remained outwardly cold. Lang stood there for two seconds before finally stepping over and sitting down beside him, the familiar scent of sandalwood filling his nostrils.

While holding him, he couldn't help but raise his hand and rub Jin Chen's earlobe forcefully, much harder than usual. He felt uneasy, as if he had carefully treasured a precious gem, only to discover that others might covet it, or even that it might have already been shared.

Cheng Lang felt that he had been treated very coldly tonight.

I got stood up in real life, and then I received the bad news in the game, so I had to personally deliver coffee to his door.

but……

On second thought, the guy on the other side of the screen, whose gender and shape he couldn't tell, couldn't hold Jin Chen in his arms anytime, anywhere, like he could, rub his ears, and feel his breath.

The bitterness and frustration in Cheng Lang's heart were only slightly relieved.

He is the one who actually spends every day with Xiaochen and lives under the same roof.

Seeing Cheng Lang's face and expression change repeatedly, Jin Chen smiled and snuggled into his arms, eagerly anticipating more exciting developments.

"Bro, let's go to the comic convention next Wednesday. Perfect timing, I want to meet my in-game partner in person."

Cheng Lang: "..."

Cheng Lang: ? ? ? !!!

My emotions, which had just begun to calm down, were shattered by those words.

Comic convention, meeting up in person, and that very important person, my partner!

Xiao Chen not only wants to be affectionate with that person in the game, but also wants to take it to real life!

Jin Chen: "Brother, do you think he might also be looking forward to meeting me?"