Chapter Text
Ye Xiu blinked when he found himself in a familiar room that he hadn't been in for years, but had lived in for almost eight years before.
That wasn't right. This room should have been destroyed along with the entire building.
He slowly sat up and blinked again when he saw the calendar by his desk. Big red numbers stood out by the month, telling the year.
And then, he suddenly felt tired. Even more tired than before.
Damn.
It was Season 5.
If his suspicions were correct, then he had time travelled.
He hadn't wanted to time travel.
He wanted to go home.
Ye Xiu groaned as he rubbed his eyes. Had this happened anytime before Season 10, he would have been happy. But it happened after the World Tournament while he had been on a plane flying from Zurich to China.
It had happened after he had wanted to retire after the enormous work, pressure, and strain involved in creating, raising, training, and leading a new team to the championship in Season 10 at his not so young and energetic age. 6.5 seconds and 764 APM, it was certainly a glorious miracle, but his hands felt weak afterwards.
He had planned to retire and rest a little before picking up his family responsibilities, but then he got kicked out before he could even touch the bed and was given the team leader position of yet another new team to train and lead to victory on a much larger scale against many high level unknowns. He took it seriously, of course, and did his job to his best, but that month had been even more work and pressure, stress and strain. Training the national team who were used to being opponents of each other, studying hundreds of videos of 225 unfamiliar but top of the top players from scattered teams in other countries, coming up with new strategies and tactics to maximize the national team's strengths and target opponents' weaknesses, dealing with laymen and higher ups and important but ostentatious directors from the government, scheduling and taking care of national team promotional material and press conferences, babysitting a chaotic team of 14, sometimes substituting for Zhang Xinjie who was their only cleric in this intense back to back demanding competition and got sick from jet lag and environmental differences in the beginning, sometimes substituting for others when they fell sick for other reasons, staying up all night, working hard during the day, reading and signing countless papers, compiling more research and videos of their opponents as the competition went on...
Ye Xiu was happy that they won a championship and glory for China, and it was fun, extremely fun, but he couldn't ignore his mind and body. He wasn't young anymore and he was done and tired. As soon as he set foot in China, he planned to send in a retirement announcement again because his previous retirement had been revoked by the Alliance so that he could be the team leader and substitute player in the national team and he wanted to retire.
He hoped to stay retired and this time make it home, but after falling asleep on the plane ride to China, he found himself in his old room in Excellent Era in the last few weeks of Season 5.
Not even his 'deaged' body could make him feel revitalized. He still felt like he hadn't slept well or decompressed in ages.
Damn.
He never thought he wanted to say this, but he wanted to quit and go home.
But Mucheng. And responsibilities. And Mucheng. Mucheng still depended on him at this time and wanted and expected the championship. Season 5 Mucheng wanted a championship and to make up for what happened in Season 4, and he couldn't abandon her, especially not when she was in the middle of her first contract and the team still relied on him as a core and pillar. If he left, where would they all be? What would Mucheng do?
Ye Xiu couldn't just abandon them and retire suddenly at the last lap of Season 5. Even if thinking of playing with Season 5 Excellent Era gave him a few headaches just thinking about it after Happy's family and diligent atmosphere and also the national team's cohesive and hard-working same interests and same mind atmosphere. Season 5 Excellent Era wasn't as bad as Season 6 Excellent Era where the rebellion truly started, but still, even with future knowledge, he wasn't sure if he could do anything about their inner quality and mentality enough to bring them all to glory.
And after being spoiled with good teams that listened to him and trained hard, he wasn't sure if he wanted to try...
But Mucheng. He didn't want to and couldn't disappoint or hurt or worry Mucheng-
As if summoned by his thoughts, a knock resounded on his door and Ye Xiu sat up and pretended that he was normal Season 5 Ye Xiu with no real problems.
"Mucheng" He greeted just as Su Mucheng walked in and began, "Ye Xiu"
And then they both stopped and stared at each other.
In novels, when people transmigrated, they might need to ask a question or do some other test to see if other people had traveled with them, but Ye Xiu and Su Mucheng weren't best partners for years for nothing.
"You're here too...-" Su Mucheng began startled before she beamed at the realization, a great light scattering all the darkness of her expression, and she hurriedly ran to his bed and jumped on it to hug him. "Ye Xiu, I can't!" She happily chirped as she bounced on his bed, her cheery voice not matching the content of her words at all.
But Ye Xiu understood. Even as he slowly said, "Well... that's bad", he understood and felt a little uncontrollable relief and joy within as well.
If Mucheng had time travelled with him, then there was a lot less to think about.
Su Mucheng laughed happily, nuzzling into his shoulder as she likely heard the hidden thoughts of his mind.
"Ye Xiu, I really can't. I really can't work with a team that I know is going to ignore you and even, in the future, bully you." Trying to put on a serious face despite her bubbling joy, she added. "I'm also the captain of Happy. I'm obligated to be loyal to my team across space and time."
Ye Xiu couldn't help but laugh as he placed a hand to pat her head. "Before Happy, you were Excellent Era."
Su Mucheng grinned under his head pat and argued pompously. "Well, I'm Happy now. A person shouldn't make so many betrayals in their life. If the world wanted me to stay, they should have made Season 7 Su Mucheng regress and not me."
Ye Xiu continued chuckling, his body wracking up with joy. His fatigue faded a little under amusement and joy and he asked a little rhetorically, "Well, what are we going to do? Season 5 has yet to end and my launcher is on a strike."
Before Su Mucheng could launch out a cheeky retort and answer, another person opened the door and ran into Ye Xiu's room.
"Ye Xiu! You have to come home! Our parents are sick!"
Both Su Mucheng and Ye Xiu looked at Ye Qiu's random appearance incredulously, even uncomprehendingly. Ye Qiu fiddled impatiently for a response, a little awkward by their stares, but repeated with just as much boldness and urgency.
"Ye Xiu. You really have to come home." Ye Qiu urged, climbing onto the bed to grab hold of Ye Xiu's shoulders. "Our parents are sick."
Although Ye Xiu was surprised, a hypothesis slowly formed in his mind and he couldn't help but also be amused by the words. It was the same excuse Ye Qiu always used every year, but this time, Ye Xiu was finding himself going along with it.
"They're sick?" He asked.
Amusingly, his going along with it this time seemed to have alerted Ye Qiu that something was wrong and horror flashed through his younger twin's eyes, a realization that Ye Xiu might have time travelled too.
"They're really sick!!" Ye Qiu still attempted, his frantic hands gripping onto Ye Xiu's shirt tighter. "You have to go home!"
"I have to go home." Ye Xiu repeated in amusement.
"Yes!!! You have to go home!"
"I guess it can't be helped."
"You have to believe me! They're really sick!! You really have to go home!" Ye Qiu shouted before his older brother's words finally hit and his eyes widened with excitement and he shook his brother's shoulders with renewed strength, "You're really coming home this time? You really said that? You're really coming home?"
Ye Xiu laughed as he nodded. "I'm really coming home." The words felt so good in his mouth. It struck him how much he wanted to go home, having never felt so homesick until now.
His younger brother nearly squealed with delight as he wrapped his brother in a big hug.
Su Mucheng watched delightedly the brotherly affection the two had for each other. Had they been puppies, she could see them rolling on the floor, tackling and clinging onto each other in such giddiness and unbound joy. Excitement filled her as she thought that they would really be able to go with this. Ye Xiu was rather responsible for a person who ran away from home as a child and he wouldn't leave Excellent Era without a good reason. He was the captain, after all, the captain with a weighty job and pro players who relied on him. But if Ye Qiu came with such an excuse... well...
Ye Qiu gleefully hugged his brother, rubbing his face against Ye Xiu and breathing in his scent. Who knows how long it had been since he could do this? He thought he would be able to after his brother retired after finally winning his game, but before he could go home after work and see him again, his father had kicked him out of the house again and then when Ye Xiu was finally returning home a third time, they all time travelled!! Nearly back to the very beginning! Ye Qiu really thought he wouldn't be able to see his brother at home for years again!!
But his brother agreed!
His brother wanted to come back home too!
Ye Qiu bubbled with happiness, snuggling a little longer against his brother, before he excitedly pushed himself up from Ye Xiu's chest to tell him the plan and get him home as fast as possible.
"Mother and father are back too." Ye Qiu shared. "Father is trying to get sick now so it isn't a lie. You have to come home."
"Really?" Ye Xiu asked, eyes a little wide. Their father was a former military man and always boasted about his body and impeccable health. That man was trying to catch some illness just for some dishonest scheme to get his son to return home?
"Yeah," Ye Qiu easily said. His fingers sometimes flexed like little claws, alternating between pressing flat against Ye Xiu's chest and curling to cling onto his shirt and never let go. His arms sometimes fidgeted as well as if he wanted to hug Ye Xiu again, but he continued pinning his brother against the soft bed. He could just as easily get off, but he wanted to keep staying in contact and making sure his brother stayed. But mostly just keep touching his elusive brother.
"We were thinking about buying Excellent Era and finding people to replace the bad while finding someone to succeed you after we take you away, but Excellent Era can just bankrupt and run themselves to the ground. None of them are getting a yuan of our money or ounce of our efforts."
Ye Qiu sniffed, just remembering the articles he read on what Excellent Era had done to his brother in the now former timeline. Clearly, father and mother had cared enough to read the papers about their son back then and were angered too, though they let Ye Xiu choose how he wanted to handle it. Although Ye Xiu got revenge by defeating them in the Challengers and proving his strength with the Season 10 championship, it wasn't enough to sate all of their desire for violence and so they all still had very uncharitable thoughts about the club, regardless of whether the bad things were done to Ye Xiu yet or not. The former timeline might have disappeared and the treatment of their family might change with the future, but none of them were going to forgive and forget no matter how much Ye Xiu had loved the team.
But...
"...But if you really want to stay in Excellent Era and continue, we also thought about buying the club and moving it to B City." They didn't want to, wanting Ye Xiu to fully be with them after so long of being out, but if he did want to continue to play Glory, at least be in the same city, somewhere within a short drive to visit and see every day and night. And they didn't want to support Excellent Era after hearing of the things they done, but it was Ye Xiu's team and hard work. If he wanted to continue supporting it, then they could only choose to support him. After replacing all the bad management and team players, of course.
Ye Xiu heard these underlying things and was touched. His lips quirked. His family really did love him.
"No..." Ye Xiu began, placing a hand on Ye Qiu's arm and smiling up at his brother. "I'll retire." Ye Qiu's arm trembled again. "I promised I'd come home anyways."
Ye Qiu nodded fiercely, eyes a little wet, as he nodded very very much. "That's right! Don't think you can get out of your promise! It's time for you to come home and for me to run away!"
Ye Xiu burst into laughter, "You still want to run away? What reason do you have?"
"I'm going to do it! I'm still going to do it!" Ye Qiu childishly declared, a little annoyed at his brother but also unable to think of a reason strong enough to use to refute his brother more strongly. But he was still going to run away! After staying at home with his brother, of course. It's been forever since his brother was home!
"Okay, okay," Ye Xiu laughed, "Then let's go tell my boss." Ye Qiu beamed and eagerly, finally got off Ye Xiu, though he still grabbed Ye Xiu's hand as if scared that he'll run away and break his promise to return home. "But I'll still have to play for two months."
Ye Qiu threw Ye Xiu's hand away in anger.
"You said you'll come back home!" He accused angrily.
Ye Xiu gave him a helpless look. "I have to finish the season, little brother. You can't expect me to abandon the team now, do you?"
Ye Qiu gave him a look that he had and he still did, and Ye Xiu looked a little more helpless at how eager his brother and also Mucheng, who was still besides them, was to just ditch the team now and leave Excellent Era forever.
"We can't, but there's only a few weeks left." Ye Xiu attempted to reason and appease them. "Finish the last three matches of the regular season and play until we can't in playoffs, and then return home after it's over. Less than two months, I promise. But it's not good for the club or fans if we go now without warning."
Ye Qiu would have retorted that he didn't care about anyone else, but he did care about his brother's image and reputation and it was true that his brother would be slandered if he left now at the final spurt before the end of the season. His brother may be many things, but only family had the right to think of Ye Xiu as them! No one else should be allowed to curse at his brother!
Su Mucheng pouted, but also conceded. Ye Xiu would have never allowed her to do it anyways. He cared a lot about her well-being so even if he left first, he would have made her stay at least until the very end of the season. If it was like that, she would rather have him stay a little longer so that they could finish and retire together. She didn't like being in Excellent Era without her brother. Not since Season 3 ended and all the old members left.
"Fine." Ye Qiu huffed, giving up, but he placed his hands on his brother's shoulders and looked sincerely into his brother's eyes. "I hope you lose and don't make it to playoffs." He blessed his brother and Ye Xiu snorted.
Behind him, Su Mucheng's eyes lit up and Ye Xiu couldn't help but shake his head at his two younger siblings' antics.
"We are not throwing any matches to retire faster." He said to preemptively stop Mucheng in her tracks. He knew she wouldn't actually do it. She also was a professional, but it was good to say somethings out loud. Just in case.
Su Mucheng pouted again and Ye Qiu also sulked after giving a short tsk.
These two...
Ye Xiu was really powerless with these two. He patted their heads in a quiet ask to behave and gave a little rub for comfort and they glowed at his pleasing touch.
Ye Xiu smiled. He liked seeing these two happy. He hadn't gotten to see it last timeline yet, but he was sure that these two would be good siblings to each other. In the comforting lull of silence, he yawned though, feeling the fatigue of the past timeline return.
Ye Qiu had wanted to go talk to Ye Xiu's boss right away, but seeing Ye Xiu's yawn and eyes strain a little to keep awake, he pulled his brother back onto the bed. "We can talk to him later."
"Are you sure?" Ye Xiu asked, resisting Ye Qiu's attempt to cover him with a blanket. "Aren't you busy? We can go now."
Technically, Ye Qiu should be busy. Even if it was a Sunday, there were always things to do and people to meet for a person of his stature. But he canceled all his plans and flew to H City. After all, this was a family emergency. His father was 'sick' and he, a boss, was planning to disappear and run away, and he needed to convince his brother to save the family and take over his position.
What could be more emergency and important than this?
The important business and social meetings were thus canceled.
"It doesn't matter." Ye Qiu happily dismissed, even getting under the blanket with his brother in show that he wasn't busy. Su Mucheng giggled at his antics and Ye Xiu's exasperated expression. "I'm on vacation for the time being!" And if everything worked out as intended, he would soon be on vacation for as long as he wanted. He had no plans, but he was sure he could figure something out once he left the house and was free to do whatever he wanted. "We can talk tomorrow."
Ye Xiu gave him a look, but his eyelids won and he dozed in Ye Qiu's arms. His little brother's embrace brought too many memories of the old days when they used to sleep together all the time. Ye Qiu beamed and snuggled closer, also feeling the nostalgia of such peaceful slumbers, but poked his head out of the blanket and addressed the girl who was still there, but hadn't minded watching brotherly love and Ye Xiu finally being able to rest after everything. Not at all.
"My parents have already prepared a room for you at the estate. If you want, formal adoption papers can also be arranged."
Su Mucheng's eyes widened, a little wet, before she beamed and nodded, "Thanks!"
Actually, Ye Xiu had once told her that his family would accept her because he had accepted her as a sibling. He said it with confidence so she believed him, but hearing it from someone else was something else and to also hear that the things were already prepared for her by his parents too... Su Mucheng really loved Ye Xiu and now his family.
Ye Qiu smiled and they both offered each other a good night. Su Mucheng wanted to watch Ye Xiu sleep a little more, still a little stunned that they had time travelled and feeling like this was a dream, but she decided to let things be and go to her room for some rest of her own.
She couldn't wait for tomorrow though! Hehe, she had always wanted to tell it to Tao Xuan's face! Last timeline, Ye Xiu didn't allow her to terminate her contract or anything, but this timeline, hahaha-
---
When they walked out of Tao Xuan's office the next day, Ye Xiu was silent for a moment longer before he finally commented.
"You are evil."
Ye Qiu and Su Mucheng laughed.
Ye Xiu shook his head in exasperation.
He had wanted to be nicer to Tao Xuan since he hadn't done anything too bad yet and they hadn't been on bad terms the last time they parted and left, but apparently the two besides him had different ideas.
An hour ago, they had walked into the office.
Ye Xiu was going to let Tao Xuan know that he was going to retire after the playoffs this season, but before he could say anything, Ye Qiu activated his domineering CEO demeanor and walked straight up to Tao Xuan's desk and demanded what was the meaning of paying his older brother the salary he had.
Tao Xuan was a little shocked and scared, especially when Ye Qiu slammed the table and the table creaked under the force of his hands. His brother had clearly not stopped exercising like his older brother. Tao Xuan was already shocked at the appearance of a twin, but his horror only increased when he took into account Ye Qiu's high quality suit and watch and the charisma and presence he had that was more frightening than any of the sponsors he had ever ate dinner with and met.
It had probably only increased from there when Ye Qiu began demanding again about 'the poor treatment of a Ye' and then when he began talking about the 'Ye family history and influence' and then yet again when Ye Qiu made up a story of evil relatives and family factions trying to divide the twins and how his loving, self-sacrificing older brother had chosen to take his name, run away, and hide himself so that the family would stop arguing and so that his little brother could become the heir and take the inheritance with the full support of the family as long as he hid that he was not the real Ye Xiu from those who supported his older brother.
Pitiful Ye Xiu who gave his little brother his spot and hid himself so that he would have no trouble. But Ye Qiu didn't agree and so never took the name his older brother had offered and after taking the spot by being the only available heir at the time, he got rid of all of the dissidents and people who dared to try to divide him and his brother to control and conquer and take benefit, and made a place for his brother to come back and retake his rightful position and inheritance.
But what did Ye Qiu find when he finally found his dear older brother?
More scum trying to take advantage of him!
Tao Xuan cowered under Ye Qiu's shout and glare.
Ye Xiu was still standing next to the door and he wondered if he should just leave and come back another day. Maybe if he pretended this didn't happen, the dramatic sob story that he had just heard of his supposed 'past' would also have disappeared.
How long had Ye Qiu and Su Mucheng been talking to each other for before he had woke up? This sounded like one of Su Mucheng's favorite dramas in the future.
He unfortunately had no way to interject. As inaccurate and embarrassing as it was, if he said that one of the things his brother had so emotionally and seriously said was false, then he would cause his little brother to lose a lot of face. He, unfortunately, as the older brother had the obligation to protect his little brother so he didn't want his little brother to lose face. At least not because of any reason besides him.
So he blankly watched as his little brother terrorized his boss into giving him compensation for his mediocre salary for the past few years and into agreeing to secretly change the contract so that it seemed that Ye Xiu had been using a stage name all this time instead of the wrong ID. Apparently, his parents had already taken care of the Alliance side of things so the wrong ID problem wouldn't be challenged there either.
So scared, Tao Xuan hadn't made any reaction to his wrong ID except to tremble in fright and meekly nod at each of his brother's aggressive demands.
Ye Xiu was dissociating himself from the situation so hard. That had not been what he was imagining that morning of how things were going to go. Ye Xiu barely listened to the other demands that Ye Qiu was making as he separated himself from the situation as anyone would when their friend made a ruckus in public and there was an urgent need to pretend not to know that friend or see what they were doing to salvage their sanity.
He only snapped back to attention when Ye Qiu said that he was going to take Ye Xiu and Su Mucheng with him and terminate their contracts now.
By now, Tao Xuan was already crying. Hearing this, his old friend only cried harder and begged at his little brother's feet to have mercy because they still had the rest of the regular season and playoffs to go through. If they left now, how will Excellent Era carry on? They could only use the reserves until summer transfer window. How will they explain to the fans? The captain and dual core leaving with their flagship accounts? There would be a great discord among them, arguments, speculations, theories, and official investigations to figure out the why that would ruin the club! When nothing could persuade his brother however, Tao Xuan finally turned and crawled to Ye Xiu, begging him to persuade his brother.
When Ye Xiu saw this, Ye Xiu wanted to clap his hands on Tao Xuan's shoulder and tell him sympathetically that this had always been his plan. Just as it had apparently always been Ye Qiu's plan to see Tao Xuan beg at his older brother's feet. Ye Xiu had enormous pity for his old friend and unfortunately went with the kind older brother script his little brother had prepared for him, reminding his brother that they needed to stay for two months.
Ye Qiu sneered at Tao Xuan and let him know that it was only because of his older brother's mercy and kindness that he will let his older brother work for him for yet another two months. After that, he shouldn't expect anything more.
Tao Xuan cried in relief and nodded, promising to send Ye Xiu and Su Mucheng off with well wishes after the playoffs. Only good PR. Nothing bad would appear, nothing about Ye Xiu's family, all people would know is that they are sad for their dual core's leave and wish that their father's health would get better. Or whatever other excuse Ye Qiu wanted them to use. Tao Xuan would make anything happen to not get sued or tarnished, destroyed or secretly eliminated.
Ye Qiu smiled at the groveling man who dared not raise his head like a pleased cat that had sufficiently toyed with a naughty mouse. Su Mucheng giggled like she had just watched a good play and the only thing missing was popcorn. Ye Xiu sighed and asked for the renewed contract so that he could sign and get these two away from the pitiful man and out of the office.
And that was how everything Tao Xuan related was taken care of.
"My brother is so evil." Ye Xiu repeated, shaking his head and muttering to himself. Though he couldn't help the little smile he had at their happiness and at his own loosening tension now that the hardest part was over without any bit of effort needed on his part.
"Thank you." Ye Qiu said pleasantly at his brother's comment. Although Ye Xiu didn't include her into 'evil' because she was his sister, Su Mucheng giggled, knowing that she also was categorized as such after the earlier debacle in Tao Xuan's office. She didn't mind. Half of the plot was her idea and she was happy that Ye Qiu had carried it out so well. Those who were unkind to her brother deserved such evil!
Ye Xiu gave them a helpless expression, knowing all too well that they were unrepentant.
"It wasn't a compliment."
"I know." Ye Qiu smiled proudly anyways.
Ye Xiu sighed and shook his head, smiling helplessly. Well, at least that was taken care of. Now, they just had to play the game and in two months, he'll be able to see the rest of his family at home!
"It's really too bad that you can't come home earlier though." Ye Qiu commented.
Ye Xiu gave him a helpless look, "Again? I really can't, little brother."
"I know, but last time, you nearly came home but was kicked out to play in Worlds, mother sentenced father to the couch for the entire month and a half you were gone. She was excited when you were finally going to come home after the tournament.... and, well... After we time travelled and realized that you might not return home for another five years, father's sentence extended to one year and however longer you stay out."
Ye Xiu was silent. Then, he looked up even more helplessly. "Little brother, I'm really not able to throw a match. At least our family couches are of extremely good quality so that he won't feel a difference from a normal bed and hurt his back?"
Ye Qiu huffed and crossed his arms looking away. "I know. ....Take care and come back."
Ye Xiu smiled. Finally getting his brother's blessing to do well in the game, was he?
"Thank you, little brother."