The harsh morning light filtered through dusty blinds as a sharp voice pierced through Hu Yetao's gaming-induced coma.
"Taotao... wake up. It's practice time."
Yetao groaned, burrowing deeper under his blankets. His head throbbed from the all-night gaming session, his body begging for just a few more minutes of peace.
"Why would you play games all night? It's not like you're gonna be an esports player," the voice continued, each word hammering against his skull.
He attempted to sit up, only for his body to betray him as he slumped back onto the mattress, consciousness slipping away once more.
"Hu Yetao."
The familiar voice, tinged with that special blend of irritation and concern that only Whylucas could manage, dragged him reluctantly toward wakefulness.
"Lu..." Yetao croaked, his voice a gravelly whisper. "Can't you just give me five more minutes? My ears are vibrating. They're gonna fall off any second."
Whylucas scoffed, yanking the blanket away with practiced efficiency. "Like hell I'd give you five more minutes. You're just gonna sleep in again." A pause. "Do you even remember that it's assessment day today?"
Yetao's eyes remained stubbornly shut.
"You might get a negative score if you dilly-dally anymore." Whylucas's patience visibly thinned. "So for heaven's sake, WAKE UP!"
SMACK!
The sharp sting on his backside jolted Yetao fully into consciousness, reality crashing down on him like a bucket of ice water.
"Huh? It's assessment day?" Panic flooded his system as he scrambled out of bed, frantically searching through the chaotic pile of clothes in the corner of their shared dorm room.
Whylucas cleared his throat, gesturing toward the neatly folded training outfit already laid out on the desk chair.
"Just get ready," Whylucas said, softer now. "The hot water's ready too. I'll give you ten minutes. If you don't come out by then, I'm gonna bury you alive and report you as missing." His tone was deadly serious, but Yetao caught the flicker of concern in his eyes before Whylucas turned and left the room.
Alone, Yetao allowed himself a small, knowing smile. "Tch, he always spouts this and that but takes care of me anyway." He shook his head, affection warming his chest. "How is he going to live without me?"
Seven years together. Seven years of Whylucas picking up his messes, covering for him, pushing him forward. Seven years of becoming something closer than friends—something like family.
The training center buzzed with activity as trainees moved through their assessments, the air thick with nervous energy, ambition, and the distinct scent of desperation. Yetao, despite his late night and rough morning, moved through the routine with fluid grace, his body remembering what his sleep-deprived mind struggled to recall.
"Perfect score again," his mentor announced, scribbling notes on a clipboard. "You're so flexible, but make sure not to overdo it, alright? It's not like you're going to be in a national gymnastics team."
Before Yetao could respond, a snide voice cut across the practice room.
"Actually, why don't you consider being in a gymnastics team? There will be more girls like you there." The trainee's lips curled into a cruel smirk. "You can do well there rather than debuting as part of a boy group."
Laughter rippled through the group of trainees clustered nearby, their eyes gleaming with malice thinly veiled as humor.
Yetao clenched his jaw. His style was unique—fluid, graceful, with an emotional expressiveness that set him apart. He knew it had its own charm, a rare quality that was difficult for others to replicate. But in this hyper-competitive environment, being different wasn't always an advantage.
As he opened his mouth to retort, a familiar voice thundered across the room.
"Who said men can't be flexible?"
Whylucas stood with his arms crossed, eyes narrowed into dangerous slits as he glared at the group of trainees.
"You people are just jealous of him getting good scores since you can't pull off that style." He took a step forward, his presence suddenly filling the space. "While bullying him, why don't you put some energy into making yourself climb a few stairs on the scoreboard?"
The smirk that spread across Whylucas's face sent a clear message: back off or regret it. The trainees dispersed in silent retreat, throwing dark glances over their shoulders as they went.
Yetao burst into laughter, the tension draining from his shoulders as he playfully smacked Whylucas's arm.
"Are you trying to be cool or something?"
"Cut it out, it's funny," he continued laughing, only to find himself caught in a headlock.
"Why don't you let me act cool for once?" Whylucas growled, tightening his hold just enough to make a point. "Do you have to break the feel?"
Their eyes locked in mock-intensity before they both collapsed into laughter.
But as the laughter faded, something stirred in the recesses of Yetao's mind. A memory. A voice from the past echoed through him, bringing with it a wave of emotions he'd tried so hard to bury.
"Taotao, who decides how a man should dance? You're you."
The voice was as clear as if its owner were standing right beside him.
"There's no definition for a man's personality or behavior in any records. Let go of your tears unless you want all your hair to fall out."
Oscar Wang.
His first crush. His former best friend. The third piece of their once-inseparable trio. Until Oscar debuted a year ago and left without looking back, severing ties as cleanly as if they'd never existed.
"Don't see the world with pink glasses, Taotao. You know this isn't going to be good for both of us. Let's see the big picture and go on our own paths. Don't contact me again in the future. I wish we don't see each other again, Taotao."
The memory constricted his throat, making it hard to breathe.
"Why should I remember him of all things right now?" Yetao mumbled, forcing the thoughts back into their carefully constructed prison.
But Whylucas had already noticed the shadow crossing his face. He knew that look—had seen it too many times in the aftermath of Oscar's departure. He wouldn't mention it directly; bringing up Oscar's name would only deepen the wound. Instead...
"Taotao, let's go for barbecue tonight," he suggested brightly. "Since I lost yesterday's game bet, it's my treat."
Yetao seized the distraction gratefully. "Fine, it's only fair that it's your treat. You haven't beaten me even once in your entire lifetime." A smirk tugged at his lips as the heaviness in his chest began to dissolve. "You should consider it an honor to buy me food."
Whylucas gave an exaggerated bow. "Yes, yes, Your Majesty. It's my honor to serve you, Mr. Game King."
The ceremonious gesture earned him a smack on the head, but it was worth it to see Yetao smile again.
Few knew Hu Yetao's secret. By day, he was a dedicated trainee, pouring his heart into dancing and singing, dreaming of standing on the grand stage. But by night, he transformed into something else entirely—a gaming legend, dominating leaderboards across every popular game in China.
From cute bubble-popping simulators to brutal first-person shooters, there wasn't a game Yetao couldn't master. He'd even received scouting offers from professional e-sports teams, which he'd politely declined. His passion lay elsewhere, but gaming... gaming gave him what he craved: new challenges, different scenarios, worlds where he could exercise complete control.
The savory aroma of grilling meat filled the barbecue restaurant as Yetao and Whylucas settled into their usual routine of banter and laughter. Yetao was in the middle of recounting his latest gaming conquest when a heated conversation from the next table caught his attention.
"What if you're good at battle royale? You could never win in this game," a voice insisted, frustration evident in every syllable.
"What's so special about this game?" another voice countered dismissively. "You just have to obtain the demon's heart. What's difficult about that? Don't bicker over silly things."
Yetao's ears perked up at the mention of a challenge he hadn't conquered. He subtly angled his body to better eavesdrop on the neighboring table.
"It's not just about acquiring the heart, you dumbo. You don't even know the story," the first voice retorted. "It's not like other story games. One person can only get one ending once they login. If you fail once, you're automatically logged out and you can't login again."
Whylucas, noticing Yetao's sudden interest, inserted himself into the conversation. "If you just have one ending, then what's the use of developing this game?" he asked, turning toward the other table.
"Is the CEO filthy rich or something? Games are meant to make players want more, and he just lets them play once? Even exams give you a second chance."
One of the strangers—a young man with dyed blonde hair—leaned in eagerly. "I know, right? But that's what makes this game interesting. People are curious to see what the true ending is by logging into different accounts. Even though it's just been two months, 200 million people have logged in, and none of them got to the true ending." He shrugged. "The CEO said in an interview that he created it because he was bored."
Lucas's expression darkened. "Some people just have it all, and they won't shut up about it. Why waste human resources if he's bored? What a strange man..." He rolled his eyes dramatically.
"But," the blonde continued, lowering his voice conspiratorially, "my friend within the company said he's searching for someone."
His companion, a girl with short black hair, clasped her hands together dreamily. "Maybe only the fated one could complete the game? Isn't it kind of romantic?"
"Romantic, my butt," Lucas scoffed. "He just says whatever to waste resources since he's bored. Why not find the person with a detective agency? People like this make my hair fall out for real."
Throughout the exchange, Yetao remained silent, his mind racing. A game no one could beat? A mysterious CEO searching for someone through a virtual world?
"What's in that game to create so much hype and suspense?" he finally murmured, more to himself than anyone else.
Whylucas, catching his thoughtful expression, quickly intervened. "It's all just a rich man's show-off. The game probably doesn't even have an ending—they're lying to increase hype. Nothing for you to be curious about."
Yetao nodded, seemingly dismissing the topic as they returned to their meal. But the seed had been planted.
Later that night, alone in their dorm while Whylucas showered, Yetao found himself searching for the mysterious game. It didn't take long to find—it was trending across every gaming platform.
LOVE BEYOND TIME
"Even the name sounds cringey," he muttered as he hit the download button. "Why are people losing their senses playing this stupid game?"
The irony that he was now one of those "senseless people" wasn't lost on him. But Hu Yetao never could resist a challenge, and a game no one had beaten yet? That was the ultimate temptation.
As the download bar filled, an inexplicable shiver ran down his spine. Something about this felt different. Important, even.
Little did he know, his life was about to change forever.