Chapter 412 - 'BROTHER REN'
SHEN JI YUN felt mortified. Luo Yan just caught him taking a sneak peak at him like some pervert. He thought he was being stealthy enough. But who knew that Luo Yan would just suddenly turn in his direction? This mortifying feeling was a hundred times magnified in real life compared when they were in the game.
He always wanted to appear his best in front of Luo Yan. But it seemed like, whether it's inside the game or in real life, he always showed his embarrassing side to Luo Yan instead.
He shook his head. He should probably just focus on how to make Luo Yan's family like him. Or at least leave them a good impression of himself. Okay, both seemed inapplicable to Luo Jin. That kid probably already labeled him as a 'bad guy'. But there was still Uncle Luo and Luo Ren. Although he's not entirely confident about Luo Ren, at least Uncle Luo seemed to like him a bit.
He clenched his fist. Determination filling him.
Then, all of a sudden, he found that there was someone walking beside him. Matching his steps. He was too focus in his thoughts that he didn't even notice. He glanced sideways and was a bit startled when he saw Luo Ren.
He remembered what he just thought a few seconds ago. To leave a good impression, he should be more likable. So, he smiled and made his voice as gentle as possible.
"Brother Ren," he greeted in a respectful tone.
But in Luo Ren's eyes and ears that was not the case at all.
Luo Ren felt a muscle on his face twitched when he heard the other shamelessly called him 'Brother Ren'. That's not all, his face was contorted into something like a weird grimace. Even the way he spoke sounded like he was forcing himself to call him that way. Luo Ren felt like the other was mocking him or something.
He was planning to show him a friendly attitude so he could glean more information from him. But now, he changed his mind.
"I don't think I ever said that you can call me 'brother'?" he said with a cold smile on his face. "Wasn't that a bit presumptuous of you?"
Shen Ji Yun felt like he had just been slapped. Shame crept up to his neck, then to his face. Yes, Luo Ren didn't say he could call him that. He just assumed that he could. Because he felt like he should be respectful to Luo Yan's older brother. Because he's older than him. That's why he just automatically called him that. He didn't think it would have a negative effect.
Then what should he call him?
He couldn't just directly call him 'Luo Ren'. Wouldn't that be more disrespectful? After all, they're not of the same age. He's also not younger than him. He started to panic. He couldn't believe that there would come a time when he would feel troubled on what to address someone. And it's all because the other was the older brother of the person he loved.
At the end, he could only bite the bullet and said, "Mr. Luo."
Another muscle on Luo Ren's face twitched when he heard that. What 'Mr. Luo'? Wasn't that how this guy called his father earlier? So, what was he, an uncle or something?
Then Luo Ren suddenly realized that he's actually being childish right now. He sighed. He's no longer at the age of Luo Jin where being a bit immature could still be forgivable. He's already a working adult. So, even if he didn't like this guy, he should take the higher ground and just let it be.
"Calling me 'Brother Luo' is fine," he could only say.
Although he still didn't like being called 'Brother', that's still better than being called a 'Mister'. But more than that, he didn't want the other to call him by his name. So, 'Brother Luo' was the most acceptable.
Maybe it could even make the other feel close to him. And thus, lowering his guard against him. Then, it would probably be easier for Shen Ji Yun to tell him the things he wanted to know.
Shen Ji Yun secretly let out a sigh of relief when Luo Ren told him that. "Yes, Brother Luo."
"I heard you are the leader - or was it a captain? – of the team he and Xiao Jin joined. Ah Ze is also part of that team, right?" Luo Ren asked, completely changing the subject.
Shen Ji Yun nodded, understanding that Ah Ze should be Bai Ze.
"How is Yan Yan in the game?" Luo Ren asked.
The panic that Shen Ji Yun initially felt earlier was already gone. Hearing Luo Ren's question, he answered it very honestly.
"He's a good player. He could easily control his game avatar as if it's an extension of his own body. He's even better than me when it comes to tasks that involved analyzing and observing. I have confidence that he would soon be one of the top players of Arcadia."
Luo Ren couldn't help but raised one of his brows. He might not be interested in computer or video games, but he knew that Arcadia was the most famous game right now in the country. Billions of people were playing it. And yet this guy was telling him with utmost confidence that Luo Yan would be a top player as if it was already a foregone conclusion.
He didn't think that it was just a simple lip service, Shen Ji Yun really believed that. Bai Ze told him that Shen Ji Yun was one of the best in the game. And yet he still openly admitted that Luo Yan was better than him in some aspect of the game.
More importantly, his expression while talking about Luo Yan was the complete opposite of when he greeted him. If he looked like some dried-up bitter gourd when talking to him, then he certainly turned into some blooming sunflower the moment he talked about Luo Yan.
Luo Ren narrowed his eyes at the person walking beside him. His initial guess was already starting to take form.
But the question was, how would he deal with it once he got a confirmation?
Well, it would all depend on the performance of this guy.
Shen Ji Yun felt inexplicable while being stared at by Luo Ren. He suddenly wondered if he did something wrong. "Ahm, Brother Luo?"
Luo Ren only smiled that cold smile of his which brought some kind of chill on Shen Ji Yun's back. Then the other walked forward towards Luo Yan's direction. Leaving Shen Ji Yun totally confused.