Chapter 2794: The Online Game Master's 'Straight Male' Roommate 40

The early summer wind in North City already carried a sense of dryness, the phoenix tree leaves shifting from tender green to deep shade.

In the blink of an eye it was June, cicadas chirping, graduation season arrived as scheduled.

Cheng Lang returned to school to take graduation photos and attend the graduation ceremony.

And how could Jin Chen miss such an important moment?

On the playground, after the group photo ended, classmates and friends who usually got along gathered together, each taking their own photos to leave a memory.

Xu Can hooked his arm around Cheng Lang's neck, grinning at the camera, his peripheral vision catching the entrance on the other side of the playground; he nudged Cheng Lang, 'Langzi, quick look! Family members have come to visit!'

Cheng Lang felt a sudden thought and followed his gaze.

At a slight distance in the crowd, Jin Chen walked toward them holding flowers, his posture clear and handsome, neat and refreshing, walking over in the afternoon's slightly scorching sunlight, utterly a campus male god.

As he walked, he drew many covert, astonished glances from other departments' seniors and seniors who were taking photos.

Cheng Lang watched the flower-bearer make his way through the crowd toward his boyfriend; the complex feelings of graduation were replaced by satisfied joy, and he stepped forward a few paces to meet him.

"Aren't you supposed to have class now?" Cheng Lang stopped in front of Jin Chen and asked.

Jin Chen handed the flowers to him, using the bouquet as a shield, he leaned in slightly, and amidst the surrounding noise, brushed a kiss at the corner of his lips.

A brief, secret kiss — summer's heat and the bouquet's fresh fragrance.

"Celebrating your graduation, brother, is the top priority." Jin Chen stepped back a little, justified and confident. "I asked the professor for leave."

Cheng Lang took the flowers, lowered his head to sniff; they felt weighty in his arms, and his heart felt weighty too, as he raised a hand to stroke Jin Chen's back.

"Happy graduation, brother." Jin Chen looked into his eyes; sunlight fell into his pupils, dyeing them molten amber.

Cheng Lang felt joy in his heart, took Jin Chen's hand, "Come on, let's take a photo too."

Xu Can had already raised his camera sensibly, "Come on, come on, family's here — let me take you a few stunning graduation photos!"

Under the lens, Cheng Lang wore his graduation gown, held the flowers, draped an arm around Jin Chen's shoulders, and leaned slightly toward him.

"Look here! One, two, three, eggplant!"

The lens froze this early summer.

In the photo, two equally outstanding young people stood side by side, the background a lush green lawn and summer's deep blue sky.

Cheng Lang's smile was radiant, his eyes bright, the vigor of one about to spread wings and soar.

After the photo, Cheng Lang looked at the preview on the camera, and a sudden wistfulness rose in his heart.

In the first three years of college, he lived by the book, unremarkable — attending classes, playing ball, working out, gaming, no different from most guys.

Who would have thought that in this final year he would meet Jin Chen, thus turning onto a life he never expected but found sweet as candy.

Cheng Lang turned his head, looking at Jin Chen beside him, head down checking the photo, "I'll keep this photo safe; when two years from now you wear this outfit," he pointed to his own graduation gown, "we'll stand here again and take another."

Jin Chen lifted his eyes, met his hopeful gaze, and smiled, "Okay."

On graduation day, Cheng Lang naturally had many things to do: a class dinner, bidding farewell to his instructor, a final heartfelt chat with friends…

Jin Chen didn't follow; he returned to the apartment first, leaving a light on for Cheng Lang.

That evening, after finishing the farewell meal, Cheng Lang found a designated driver and returned home.

The bedroom door was ajar; Cheng Lang changed his shoes and stepped in lightly.

Jin Chen was already asleep, lying on his side; Cheng Lang turned to the bathroom, washed up quickly, then climbed into bed with a lazy buzz, lying beside Jin Chen.

Cheng Lang turned off the light, rolled onto his side toward Jin Chen, his arm lightly encircling his waist, and recalled the flower-scented kiss from earlier; soft affection surged again.

He kissed Jin Chen's forehead, lingered to the tip of his nose, then settled at the corner of his mouth.

The motion was gentle — a cherished, overflowing affection, also a physiological, uncontrollable closeness.

Jin Chen was stirred awake by the movement, nestled into Cheng Lang's embrace, arm around his waist, voice sleepy and muffled: "Brother, when did you get home?"

"Just got back not long ago." Cheng Lang replied softly, his hand intermittently stroking Jin Chen's nape, "Did I wake you?"

"Not sleeping soundly," Jin Chen sniffed in his embrace, "Did you drink, brother?"

"Mm." Cheng Lang didn't hide it; the post-wash slight buzz hadn't faded, making him especially reluctant to part from his boyfriend's closeness.

Jin Chen lifted his head, looking at him a while in the dim light.

"Are you drunk?" Jin Chen asked again, his finger brushing Cheng Lang's brow bone.

"No." Cheng Lang took his hand, brought it to his lips for a kiss, then hooked his sleepwear collar and pulled it down, exposing his chest.

Jin Chen's lips pressed onto that skin, leaving a warm, moist trace.

Cheng Lang closed his eyes, raining fine kisses onto Jin Chen's crown, gently patting his back, soothing him tenderly.

"Today the counselor asked us at the dinner," Cheng Lang's voice soft, "now that we've graduated, what do you most want to do?"

Jin Chen's lips and teeth paused slightly, but the motion didn't stop; his breath sprayed onto Cheng Lang's chest skin, bringing a warm, moist itch.

He mumbled, "What?"

Cheng Lang's fingers slid from Jin Chen's occipital to his cheek, eyes down, he said slowly, "Back then I sat, had a drink, watched them each say they'd go to the big city to make their way, start a business, fulfill their dreams…"

Cheng Lang's voice grew softer, "In my mind, there's only one idea."

Jin Chen stopped his motion, lifted his head.

In the darkness, the two locked eyes.

"What idea?" Jin Chen asked.

Cheng Lang: "I want to buy this place."

The apartment they currently live in is rented, yet it holds their meeting, their love, countless moments of warmth and intimacy.

"Let's make this our home." Cheng Lang said.

Outside of work, he has always sought stability and steadiness; grand gestures are moving, but being able to share three meals and four seasons with his lover is already the best.

Jin Chen stroked Cheng Lang's cheek, pressed his lips to his, "All right."

"I'll follow whatever you say, brother."

Cheng Lang felt happy enough to almost tremble, his heart pumped full of emotion, thumping wildly.

He was enamored with returning the kiss, transmitting the surging affection.

"Good boy..." Cheng Lang, panting in the throes of passion, softly called Jin Chen.

"Hmm?"

Cheng Lang kissed Jin Chen's sweat-dampened forehead, his affection as heavy as a thousand jin.

"I love you."

……

Another two years passed.

Cheng Lang, thanks to his outstanding professional ability, smoothly rose to management of the company's IT technology department, beginning to handle things independently.

Jin Chen also smoothly graduated, ended his internship at the company, and formally took over Rui Feng Technology as the new Chief Executive Officer.

"Wind and Moon Jianghu" remains lively, with version updates iterating, carrying the Jianghu dreams of batch after batch of players.

Players come and go; some veteran players gradually fade away due to the hustle of real life, while many fresh bloods enter with curiosity and passion.

Instances push out the old and bring in the new; the names on the leaderboard shift with the winds.

But Xunchen and He Liangyue's IDs, as well as the Leisure Quarters Guild they belong to, remain widely recognized legends in the server.

They no longer frequently rush for the top spot as before; even when they occasionally go online, they cooperate tacitly.

In the guild forum, Leisure Quarters' instance strategy post remains pinned to the homepage, becoming a clearance guide for countless players.

Moreover, attentive players discovered that in the life-sharing forum, there is a private post with considerable popularity.

The original poster records playing games with their lover, the fun of doing instances, shares cooking insights from work breaks, and travel experiences.

The text is plain; the accompanying pictures are mostly food, scenery, or clasped hands, never showing a full face.

"Today I researched a new dish with my boyfriend, almost blew up the kitchen, but the taste was still not bad."

"The temperature dropped, but a certain youngster insisted on going out in a thin jacket, caught a cold, very disobedient. Still, I had to make him ginger tea."

"The new sofa we picked out together arrived; lounging on it to play games is very comfortable."

But keen-eyed veteran players can still match the account from those fragmentary remarks.

This is definitely the famed husband-protecting maniac He Liangyue warrior from the server, and the protected great god Xunchen hasn't escaped!

Under the post, comments often come from fellow gamers who heard the news; half envy the immortal love, ideal life.

The other half is teasing: the moon warrior truly exudes husband material, and the great god is actually like this in private!

The original poster rarely replies, but the record never stops, like a warm love diary, recording the happiness of a long-lasting, gentle flow.

Games, work, life.

Perhaps, in many people's eyes, even the most intimate lover should have independent personal space.

But for Cheng Lang, being able to connect with Jin Chen in every aspect, mutually permeating, is a great sense of security.

At breakfast they discuss the mechanics of the new instance; at work they are on different floors of the company, striving for their respective careers; after work they go to the supermarket together, research new recipes, remember each other's preferences, and tolerate each other's occasional tempers and bad habits.

Thus, year after year.

Why would they need vows to never part?

Just like this, staying together until old age is fine.

——

【Congratulations, Host, mission completed, Blackening Value cleared to zero, reward points accumulated!】

【Transferring to the next world……Transfer successful!】