Honorable Sacrifice - FIYS

Chessman takes care of his Fire Kirin

The day of the ZGDX versus CK match dawned with a layer of tension hanging over the team, but it wasn't just because of the upcoming game. Lu Sicheng, their usually stoic and unflappable captain, had come down with a cold after being caught in the rain the previous evening. And while most people would become lethargic when sick, Lu Sicheng became even more intimidating. His mood was as dark as a storm cloud, and his already cold demeanor had turned downright dangerous.

No one dared to get too close. Even his younger brother, Lu Yue, kept his usual teasing in check, wisely choosing to stay out of his brother's way. Everyone could feel the weight of Lu Sicheng's foul mood—sharp glares, snappish responses, and an air of menace that made the team walk on eggshells around him.

Tong Yao, meanwhile, was dealing with her own problem. She had completely forgotten about her appointment to get the birth control shot, and now her period had arrived with brutal force. The cramps were nearly unbearable, but Tong Yao wasn't the type to let pain stop her. Years of professional figure skating had trained her to push through physical discomfort, and today was no exception. Still, she couldn't help the slight grimace that crossed her face every now and then, her hands occasionally pressing against her lower abdomen when no one was watching.

But Lu Sicheng noticed. He always noticed. Even in his snappish, cold state, he was aware that something was off with his girl. She was quieter than usual, her face paler, her movements a little stiffer. His concern simmered beneath the surface, but for now, he didn't press her about it.

As they gathered in the team room before the match, the tension in the air thickened. Lu Sicheng was already in a bad mood lazily spinning the cube in his hand eyes half lidded and cold. When Xiao Rui made a small mistake, Lu Sicheng's sharp retort had the poor coach stammering an apology, the rest of the team going dead silent. No one dared to speak up—not in front of that Lu Sicheng.

Except for one person.

Tong Yao, standing off to the side, watched her captain's irritation rise as he leaned back in his chair, his head tilted back in frustration. She rolled her eyes softly—this was no way to handle things. Without a word, she walked over to him, ignoring the sudden stillness from the rest of the team. They watched, wide-eyed, as she approached the dark and dangerous captain.

Gently, she pressed the back of her hand to his forehead. "You're burning up," she said, her voice matter-of-fact.

Lu Sicheng's eyes flickered open, ready to snap at whoever dared touch him, but when he saw it was Tong Yao, his expression softened slightly. He tried to pull away from her hand, muttering, "I'm fine."

But Tong Yao wasn't having it. "No, you're not." She pulled out the medicine she had taken from the team medic earlier. "Take this."

"I don't need it," he grumbled, already sounding irritated, his voice gruff and hoarse.

Tong Yao fixed him with a calm but firm look, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Darling," she said, her voice dangerously close to the tone she used when she was serious. "Take. The. Medicine."

The room fell into a stunned silence. Everyone in ZGDX knew how temperamental Lu Sicheng could be, especially when he was sick or under stress. No one had ever dared to force him into anything. Yet here was Tong Yao, holding out the medicine with a no-nonsense expression, completely unfazed by his grumpiness.

For a moment, Lu Sicheng looked like he was about to argue. But then, seeing the look in her eyes, he let out a resigned sigh and took the medicine from her hand without another word. He swallowed it, his lips pressing into a thin line, and leaned back again, closing his eyes in quiet defeat.