AFM Ch 1

 [Ash has not been online for five years.]

Suddenly such a post appeared in the forum.

As soon as this post was published, it quickly became popular on the homepage. Although the content was short and without exaggeration, just a few words, it aroused enthusiastic responses from many netizens:

1L: [Holy shit, it’s been five years?]

2L: [Time flies so fast.]

3L: [Five years, old fans are crying. Still don’t know what Ash looks like in real life.]

4L: [Great God, we miss you [tears] [tears]]

5L: [Old players are saying that after Ash left the web, ‘Radiance’ has never been as splendid and glorious as it used to be.]

……

‘Radiance’ is the hottest game at the moment. Now it has become the mainstream event of all kinds of E-sports competitions. Its popularity has not diminished since its release eight years ago, and it has become the top stream.

Jing Mian flipped through the posts, and the content of the reply was basically the same.

Some people shared recorded videos of Ash’s brilliant plays, some sighed with emotion, some shed tears, and there were even persistent ones who were eagerly waiting for the return of the great god, willing to remain single for thirty years.

Jing Mian pursed his lips and continued to slide the mouse, looking a little lost in thought.

……

196L: [By the way, does anyone know where Ash’s Shadow Guard went? ]

As soon as this comment appeared, the replies kept pouring in:

201L: [Brother, got internet access in your village? Ash’s Shadow Guardian has found a new master.]

202L: [Exactly! About a year ago, a new streamer took over.]

204L: [If I remember correctly, that streamer seems to be called…Jing Mian?]

“……”

Jing Mian’s heart skipped a beat as he was caught off guard by the comment, and his fingertips froze.

It seemed like they had triggered something, and the floodgates of player comments burst open instantly, conveying a sense of ‘I won’t feel sleepy if we’re talking about this.’

206L: [Jing Mian? The streamer who never showed his face?!]

207L: [Yes, it is Mianmian in our house.]

210L: [I can answer this question! Jing Mian is a popular streamer this year. He wears a hoodie and a mask during every livestream, only revealing his eyes. I’m really curious about what Jing Mian actually looks like.]

211L: [As for upstairs? Is it necessary to be so excited about a faceless streamer? There are many of them.]

215L: [See for yourself [picture] [picture]]

216L: [……]

217L: [……］

218L: [Damn, those eyes… are so fucking beautiful.]

219L: [I’m in love.]

226L: [This longtime fan will tell you, Jing Mian has an amazing voice, solid skills, and the broadcasts are punctual. I want to tie myself to the little dark room just to watch his livestream every day.]

…

Suddenly caught in the center of the storm of the topic, Jing Mian pursed his lips in bewilderment, even the tips of his ears were blushed, he hesitated for two seconds, and reached out to close the forum.

The brightness of the screen gradually faded from the young man’s face.

…

That’s right, Jing Mian is a game streamer.

While staying low-key, and relying on his skills, he had also accumulated a considerable number of fans over the past year. But the most audacious thing he had ever done… was to snatch Ash’s Shadow Guardian.

‘Shadow Guard’ – in simple terms, it’s a unique feature in the Radiance game.

After the old players quit the circle, the game characters of the great gods will not be silent but will be recycled, transformed by the system into almost identical powerful ‘ghosts.’ Players will engage in rounds of PK battles to compete for them, eventually making them their own exclusive Shadow Guard.

In simple words…

It’s like having a knight.

Who wouldn’t want the legendary great god Ash to become their personal bodyguard?

Jing Mian gripped the pen and stared blankly at the half-written high math paper on the table.

Even after observing him for a long time, he didn’t notice when his father opened the door and had a cup of warm milk in his hand.

“Mianmian, do you still play games?”

The slightly heavy voice sounded near the doorway, causing Jing Mian’s pen to pause on the complex equation.

This seemingly random question was indeed a bit perplexing.

But his father quickly explained the reason, reminding him:

“You’re someone who’s about to get married. Don’t let the other person think you’re not serious about your responsibilities.”

Jing Mian was stunned for two seconds, but then showed a smile: “No more, Dad.”

“The game will only affect the speed at which I solve the questions.”

“…”

Jing Guozhen nodded.

It seemed that his son’s sweet smile had a reassuring effect. He put down the milk, told him not to be too tired, and closed the door.

His father had once sternly reprimanded him for playing games. The older generation’s mindset was deeply ingrained – esports games were considered distractions from normal studying and life, something that could lead to a loss of ambition. Jing Guozhen’s son, Jing Mian, was absolutely not allowed to become immersed in those things.

“… ” Jing Mian turned the pen in his hand and stared at the clock not far away, lost in thought.

The hands on the wall clock moved swiftly.

Two hours later.

Jing Mian set down his pen, stacking three sets of fully written exam papers together. He glanced at the time, 4:40 PM.

—It was time to leave.

Jing Mian quickly changed his clothes, put on his hoodie, and went to the entrance to put on his shoes, his movements were neat and smooth.

However, just as he was about to put on the second shoe, his clothing was suddenly tugged by a small hand.

Looking down, the beautiful young boy’s hair was slightly curly from sleep, and he gazed at Jing Mian with a dazed expression, whispering softly, “Big brother.”

“The place you’re going to, can you take me there too?”

Jing Mian paused, then stooped down to embrace the little bundle. He planted a gentle kiss on Jing Luo’s cheek and said softly, “Not this time.”

Jing Luo: “…”

“I’ll bring him back the day we meet our parents, okay?”

Jing Luo was stunned for a few seconds, his cheeks puffed out, and his fair face flushed with anger.

It turned out to be to see his sister-in-law!?

*

The rain in Lincheng continued for two or three days, and the glass windows were covered with fog, reflecting the streets of the entire city.

It was nearly five o’clock, and it was getting dark.

Jing Mian was wearing a blue hoodie, his figure was slender. The white shirt clung to his neck, a small section of his collarbone catching droplets of water.

It seemed that the temperature drop was quite severe; even his lips were adorned with a bit of mist. With each slightly trembling breath, they turned an even deeper shade of red.

——The most difficult thing to ignore was his stunning beautiful eyes.

Jing Mian didn’t linger for long because he was short on time.

As soon as he left the house, he reached out to hail a taxi, and the car started quickly.

After a day of being in a daze, Jing Mian didn’t really get nervous until this moment. The person he was about to meet was the arranged marriage partner chosen by his family.

The meeting was scheduled at six o’clock in the evening.

And the most important point… the other party is a man just like himself.

In today’s society, same-sex marriage was legal, and even using technology to have children was not unheard of. Strictly speaking, it wasn’t that unusual. However, Jing Mian, who had been following rules and conventions since childhood, still found it a bit unreal.

Jing Mian let out a sigh and looked at the passing street scenes outside the window. He took up his phone and logged back into the forum almost unconsciously.

As expected, that post was still at the top of the hot list, and it had already accumulated thousands of replies.

Returning to the page where he had left off, Jing Mian scrolled down and found that the topic had gradually gone off on a tangent. Some people had started analyzing why Ash left the web, as well as Ash’s real-life profession and identity.

1226L: [I suspect Ash is married, so he stopped playing.]

1227L: [Agreed. People are guessing too complicatedly. Haven’t many veteran gaming experts retired from gaming because they got married and had children?]

1230L: [Whoa, I’m eating lemons. Who is so lucky to marry Ash?]

……

The topic gradually shifted towards “marriage.”

As a result, a few players started new threads, sharing their own love stories that had blossomed within Radiance, taking the opportunity to flaunt their happiness.

Soon, one particular post caught Jing Mian’s attention:

——”So everyone is online dating? Am I the only one who married my childhood sweetheart?”

Clicking into the main post, the OP vividly narrated her love story with her childhood friend. They had been separated for two years at one point, but luckily, they reunited as adults and now their child was three years old.

This left netizens envious, and they all offered their well wishes, wishing the OP eternal happiness.

Jing Mian’s heart began beating inexplicably.

Jing Mian typed carefully:

[When meeting a childhood friend you haven’t seen in over a decade, is there anything specific to keep in mind?]

He left the comment, initially thinking it might go unnoticed, but he didn’t expect to receive a reply from the OP so soon:

[Your time span is a bit long, does the other party good-looking?]

Jing Mian thought about it, and answered objectively:

[They were very beautiful when they were young.]

OP: [Then that’s settled. You can compliment her, saying she’s still as beautiful as she was when she was young. Be a gentleman, and don’t shy away from conversation topics! Avoid being too aloof; after all, you’re childhood friends.]

Jing Mian stared at the word “she” for a while, and finally did not deny it:

[Okay, thank you, I will remember it.]

On the other end of the conversation, the OP was charmed through the screen. Jing Mian’s politeness was truly remarkable.

So the guidance continued:

OP: [Also, don’t rush to pursue her.]

OP: [This is your first meeting; romance should progress gradually.]

“…”

This time it was Jing Mian’s turn to be silent.

This gradual progression… well, even though they’re about to have a flash marriage, at least they haven’t had a child before getting married. Does this count as a gradual progression?

Jing Mian sighed silently, realizing that this marriage situation was even more absurd than it seemed.

Even so, there was no resistance deep down in his heart.

There was even a trace of anticipation.

After all, the person he was marrying wasn’t just anyone,

It was his childhood friend.

In his impression, that fair and beautiful young man was gentle and handsome, a perfect embodiment of the boy-next-door type.

Married to such a perfect and gentle beauty brother,

Jing Mian couldn’t think of any reason to refuse.

So even after so many years, he still clearly remembered the other party’s name.

“Ren Xingwan.”

Jing Mian sat in the passenger seat and whispered the name.

Back when he was still young and naive, he didn’t seem to have ever called Ren Xingwan by name… he always called him ‘big brother.’

Jing Mian, who was slightly embarrassed, softly propped up his chin and gazed out the window, trying to wash away those embarrassing memories from the past.

The taxi slowly entered the main road.

Not far ahead was a tunnel, and one could vaguely glimpse the congested and slow-moving traffic. The driver turned the steering wheel and changed lanes with a sigh, saying, “Damn… more traffic?”

“Young man, this road is always congested. We’re right in the midst of the rush hour. Why don’t you just get off here? The restaurant you mentioned is just 200 meters ahead.”

Jing Mian glanced out the window and found that the rain was light, almost drizzle, and it was a good time to get out of the car.

Therefore, Jing Mian decisively paid the money, this time without even holding an umbrella.

He hastily put on his hoodie and followed the navigation to arrive in front of a grand and bustling building.

“…”

Jing Mian raised his head, his pupils constricted slightly.

In fact, it seemed that there was no need for navigation.

Such a luxurious and towering building stood at the center of the commercial street. Even if it was several hundred meters away, it would be the first thing to catch anyone’s eye.

To think they chose such an upscale place to meet…

Jing Mian’s Adam’s apple rolled down.

The stressed-out young man walked slowly into the main hall, only to see that the waiters were upright and respectful, and they had already stood aside, bowing to Jing Mian: “Hi.”

Jing Mian was surprised.

The one in the lead, wearing a deep blue uniform, took a step forward and respectfully said, “Mr. Jing, Jing Mian?”

Jing Mian: “It’s me.”

Waiter: “The restaurant is on the top floor. Please follow me.”

Jing Mian followed behind, completely taken aback by the gesture. He asked in a low voice, “Do they do this for everyone who comes up?”

The waiter couldn’t help but suppress a laugh, “No, it’s because Mr. Ren reserved the entire floor.”

Jing Mian: “…”

That’s a bit too much.

Really, it’s a bit too much.

After all, the two of them weren’t complete strangers meeting for the first time. A grand reception like this… there was really no need for it!

Jing Mian followed the waiter to the elevator area and noticed someone else waiting there. Wanting to keep a low profile, he nodded slightly to the young man beside him and said, “Thank you, but no need to escort me upstairs. You can go back to your work.”

The waiter did not insist, and said, “I wish you a pleasant meal.”

The man waiting for the elevator next to him couldn’t help laughing: “These waiters are usually very negligent, why are they so enthusiastic today?”

Jing Mian was taken aback, not knowing how to answer, so he shook her head, “It’s my first time here too.”

Perhaps his voice had caught the man’s attention. The man fell silent and his gaze seemed to land on Jing Mian.

—After a few seconds, the elevator doors opened.

Just about to go in, surprisingly, a tall man stood in the elevator.

To their surprise, there was a tall man already inside the elevator, even though they were on the ground floor. He showed no intention of leaving the elevator. Jing Mian and the person next to him hesitated for a moment before entering the elevator with some confusion.

Jing Mian stood still.

He couldn’t help but recall that just now when the elevator door opened, his eyes seemed to meet the other party unexpectedly.

The man was tall, with a high and distinguished nose, and long eyelashes. He wore a deep, ink-colored shirt that concealed his collarbones, exuding an elegant and restrained allure. He didn’t have a coat draped over him, and the sharp contours of his legs were accentuated by his straight pants. His thin lips were slightly pursed, and even though he hadn’t spoken, an inexplicable aura of coldness seemed to emanate from him.

He was so good-looking that no matter where he stood, he couldn’t be ignored by anyone.

And… he looked somewhat familiar?

Jing Mian looked through his memories but couldn’t find anything, so he thought the man was probably a celebrity.

However, before Jing Mian could delve deeper into his thoughts, a voice suddenly rang in his ears:

“Are you Jing Mian?”

His heart jolted.

This sentence seemed unusually abrupt in the closed and quiet environment, which caught Jing Mian off guard.

The one who spoke was the man who chatted with him at the elevator entrance just now.

He seemed eager to confirm, and asked: “The streamer whose ID is Sheep in Qingfeng District, right?”

Jing Mian felt a storm in his head.

Could he have been so easily recognized?

Before his real name was revealed, he had always used the ID “Sheep.” Only true fans would know this nickname.

For the first time in his life, he had been recognized in real life. While Jing Mian was surprised, his quick thinking allowed him to quickly compose himself and deny, “I’m sorry, I’m not a streamer. You must have mistaken me for someone else.”

“No, I absolutely couldn’t be wrong.”

Seeming to suppress his excitement, the man took a deep breath and continued explaining passionately, “It might sound exaggerated, but I’ve been following you since your very first livestream.”

To prove his point, he opened his phone’s photo album, revealing a plethora of screenshots and video clips that almost filled the entire screen. The screenshots ranged from Jing Mian’s first broadcast all the way to his most recent one yesterday.

But every single image was of Jing Mian.

The man’s excited expression was almost palpable as he spoke, “Every single one, your voice, your eyes, I would never mistake them.”

Jing Mian: “…”

In other words, do ordinary people watch live broadcasts and take thousands of screenshots?

And it lasted for two years?

Brother… pursuing live streams to this extent, aren’t you a bit too fanatical?

Jing Mian swallowed: “If you want an autograph…”

“Could I add you on WeChat?”

Being interrupted abruptly, Jing Mian was startled. The man had already lowered his gaze and was on the QR code scanning screen. He leaned in towards Jing Mian and said, “I’m the eldest son of the Huarun Group’s president. We can take our time getting to know each other. I know you don’t have a boyfriend, I can wait…”

As he spoke, his hand was about to rest on Jing Mian’s shoulder.

However, in the next moment,

—“Slap” sounded.

The man’s hand was suddenly pushed away. In the confined and quiet space, the sound was unusually crisp and precise.

At that very moment, Jing Mian felt a slight weight on his head. The brim of a cap pressed down, instantly covering half of his face.

“…”

Jing Mian’s heart skipped a beat.

Only then did he realize that it seemed that the silent man beside him had actually put on a black baseball cap for him.

At some point, he had been forcibly positioned at his side, with his hair barely exposed from the angle of the man.

Jing Mian’s eyelashes trembled.

His heart was pounding uncontrollably.

The voice was extremely low and unfamiliar, but frighteningly cold. The tone was extremely indifferent and casual, like a cold wave that had invaded after dispersing the dense fog:

“Did he let you touch him?”