Author's Note: Okay now that I have had time to do absolutely nothing, I am back. Despite all the time I had I still did a unit's worth of assignments the day before they were due so now I will attempt not to repeat that mistake. Anyways, I don't know I'll just start. I have so many ideas running through my brain the muse is unable to separate them so she's dealing with a tangled web of thoughts right now.

Additionally, thank you Meru x Ichiya! I hope you continue to enjoy :)

I don't want to give too much away so I'll just tell you to be aware. This should be set during episode 30ish except for the fact that they didn't actually show this match. We know that ZGDX defeats team Alpha before they head into the grand finals. So this is set in semifinals that I'm about to completely make up. This is one of my ideas that I thought of turning into a bigger story so it might be a little confusing as I'm going to pretend it's a cut from the big story that hasn't even been written yet.

So we also know that they defeat CK Gaming and then play against team Alpha and win again according to the first few seconds of episode 30. So think of this as between those two matches.

As you all know, I do not own these characters I just make up scenes with them in it.

Lu Si Cheng POV:

Something is off about Tong Yao. At first, I thought I was being delusional and the stress of the matches were getting to my head. Then, the others started noticing too.

Tong Yao looked the exact same before and after the match with CK Gaming. After we had left the arena though, she started behaving strangely. Perhaps a dog had bitten her and now it was time for a rabies shot. It was as if she had restarted her brain like a computer. At first glance, her playing style was what we were used to; however, Tong Yao seemed to be wandering off on her own in the game. She started playing like when she first entered the team. It was as if she had forgotten how to play on a team. All the talks with God Ming only resulted in slight improvement. In the end, I told him to let it go. My instincts were telling me I had bigger things to be worried about.

Additionally, her attitude had become hurtful. She often yelled at the team over minor mistakes which came as a shock since before she would never dwell this much over minuscule details and in fact would help her teammates correct what was wrong. Now, she would throw a fit and lock herself in her room for hours. She hated being in her room for that long, she'd get claustrophobic. At this point, I was making a mental comparison list. What was even more suspicious was she'd let Da Bing scratch at her door for hours. Everyone knew Da Bing was her emotional support animal and she cuddled with him even if she only had an ounce of sadness in her. The clear disregard for her pet was unlike her. Xiao Rui had to comfort the cat and despite my first impression of the beast, I felt quite pitiful to him right now. Those big doe eyes that he seemed to inherit from his owner were too sparkly to not give in and provide him the pets he asked for. Originally, we thought Tong Yao was on her period and that's why her emotions were all over the place. We all decided to tolerate it, but now it had been over a week and in four days was the match for our semifinals against team Alpha. Tong Yao seemed to grow more and more stressed and shut herself off from the team.

I don't know if the others picked up on her actions, but I was one hundred percent sure that this girl was not Tong Yao. The day after the match, she didn't wake up early. She came down last, even after Fatty, and claimed she was tired. Considering she went to her room at ten last night in front of us, it seemed like a lie, but her dark racoon eyes told a different story. Even more staggering, my Tong Yao would immediately give me a good morning kiss, but this person went into the kitchen and got tea before even greeting us. Tea? Tong Yao doesn't drink tea.

"Hey Shorty! My brother is going to sulk around if you don't give him his good morning kiss. Save us from his wrath please," Lu Yue exclaimed.

Clearly he wasn't seeing what I was. Tong Yao walked over, but rather than giving a usual kiss on the lips she pecked me on the cheek. Strange. I caught Lao K's gaze and realized he was picking up the same cues I was. Tong Yao blushed after the kiss, but it wasn't like normal. In fact, her cheeks were extra red and I knew she had packed her face with makeup today, especially as I felt a sticky substance on my cheek now. I assumed it was her lip gloss. Tong Yao doesn't wear makeup. What's going on? I think I'm going crazy. This is my girlfriend, but why does it not feel like her. Nothing was lining up: her touch, her gaze, her actions. Maybe I need to visit a psychiatrist.

In the past week, we'd done a few livestreams and Tong Yao's interactions with the fans were so off that her comments had to be turned off because the hate was tremendous. She was acting stuck up, boasting about beating CK Gaming. I would've never imagined her to be as arrogant as a peacock, but here we were. The team was in shock, as if we had all been electrocuted in the moment. God Ming and Xiao Rui tried to get her to understand, but rather than owning up to her mistake like we were used to her doing, she ignored them and stopped live streaming altogether. The club was rethinking the mid position again according to Xiao Rui, and I was starting to think that even my power over the club wouldn't stop her from getting kicked off this time. The last straw was when she actually yelled at Xiao Rui.

"I know what I'm doing, don't nag at me!" She was fuming and directed all her anger at the manager like a rocket.

Xiao Rui took a step back, unsure of her response. He was a kind guy and never got into arguments. In fact, I believe the guy didn't know how to even handle them having never been in one.

"Tong Yao that's enough!" She may be my girlfriend, but my teammates were important too.

They were all there when we lost the last Spring Playoffs; none of them abandoned the team. In every situation and at every chance they could, they always stuck up for the team. We were a family if not by blood then by souls. We sulked together through the days that were dark like an abyss and laughed together on bright starry nights. Stories of our younger years had echoed through the walls of this very base, sealing the cracks of the rocks thrown by the outsiders.

Tong Yao stared at me wide-eyed, clearly not expecting me to yell at her. I had had enough of her stomping around and acting pouty. This wasn't the girl I loved. This couldn't be. Luckily for us, Tong Yao muttered a small sorry and resigned herself to her room. We watched as she trailed up the stairs, shutting her door slightly too loud.

"She acting strange isn't she?" Lao Mao asked.

Looks like I'm not the only one paying attention.

"It's almost as if she's been replaced. I can't put my finger on it since she looks the exact same," Lao K pondered.

"Is she possessed?" Of course Xiao Pang would ask that.

"Fatty ghosts aren't real, be serious," Lao K replied.

I didn't say anything. I don't know what I could say to justify the situation. The ground was welcome to swallow me up right now. I was suffocating anyways between my girlfriend and teammates. The soil felt up to my neck. Insects tickled the hairs on my arms and pinched my skin like little needles. Maybe they could stitch up the scars of my anxiety. My mouth was dry and felt stuffed with grass preventing me from speaking. My hands were disintegrating, no longer attached to my body. My shoes succumbed to the Earth's pull along with my feet. Every body part was being eaten away by maggots. I smelled rotten bananas. Is this what Hell felt like?

"Lu Si Cheng!" God Ming shook my shoulder.

"Yes?"

"We've called your name like twenty times. Are you okay?" God Ming honey eyes filled with concern as his eyebrows furrowed in worry.

"I'm fine, just doing some thinking." I shook his arm off.

I am fine.

"Let's all go to the club? Maybe the nerves are getting to us. Let's cheer up!" Xiao Rui seemed to be the first to escape the cloud of thunder that was raining over our heads.

"Will the club pay?" Fatty asked eagerly.

"Yes Xiao Pang. The club will pay," Xiao Rui sighed.

"I'll go talk to Tong Yao." I stood up from my chair and went to go check on her, ignoring the stares from my teammates.

"Tong Yao?" I knocked thrice on her door.

A second later it opened as she flattened down her hair. Was this my girlfriend?

"Are you okay?" I asked.

She opened the door wider, allowing me to enter and then stared at me. She almost looked scared of me, but suddenly her demeanor shifted. Have I been dreaming? She sat close to me on the bed, grabbing my hands in hers.

"I'm sorry Cheng-ge. I got ahead of myself; I'm just stressed about the matches that's all. Please forgive me." Her Bambi eyes stared right into mine.

This is Tong Yao, right? I shook my head to get rid of those thoughts. My eyes caught hers, reminding myself these were the same ones I fell for, the eyes that shone as bright as the moon. This was the girl that had brought life to our dark endings. I had no proof and nothing besides my own brain could prove that the girl in front of me isn't Tong Yao. What if it is her and I ruin our relationship because I have trust issues? No. Lu Si Cheng pull yourself together.

"It's alright. Be careful next time." I ruffled her hair and she gave me a small smile, one I was yearning to see.

"We're going to the club in an hour you should get ready."

"I'll apologize to the others first, let's go." She led me out of her room, grabbing my hand to make sure I follow.

As we went down the stairs, the others eyed her as if she were an explosive bomb. She did apologize like she said, and was forgiven. I could tell though that Lao K was still suspicious. I'd talk to him later. We were definitely being crazy. We've been with Tong Yao the whole time; it's not like she was switched out. No one can be this exact in a clone, if that even existed.

We all headed to our rooms to get ready. I stared in the mirror as I examined my outfit. My signature black clothing that had been decorated with a single silver pendant. I wore it because Tong Yao said I should wear it more often. My mouth graced a smile at the memory of what I'd consider to be our first date. A chuckle escaped my lips as I remembered how she argued over the color of the fish we had gone out to buy. Adorable. I spritz a dab of perfume on my wrists, patting them together before rubbing the sides of my neck.

"Ready Cheng-ge?" Xiao Pang emerged from his side of his room.

I nodded and we headed downstairs together. A few minutes later, the whole team except for Tong Yao had gathered by the kitchen table.

"She's really taking her time today." Lao Mao glanced at his wrist watch.

"Girls need time to get ready, give her a break." Lao K nudged him with his shoulder.

I was about to go up to see how much longer she'd take, but the sound of a door opening and closing echoed through the base, stopping me in my tracks.

"Right on time," God Ming said.

I was having second thoughts as Tong Yao descended the stairs. There was no doubt, she looked absolutely beautiful. Except, this wasn't Tong Yao. I scanned the girl's body in front of me. A red satin bodycon dress hung to her figure, the fabric riding up her thighs as she came to a stop in front of us. Sparkling gold stilettos adorned her feet, and it seemed she had walked in heels a million times with the perfect catwalk she just did. Tong Yao couldn't handle two inch heels. This was a good five inches. I would've laughed at the fact the she was still the shortest out of us if my eye hadn't caught another discrepancy.

"Nice necklace," Xiao Pang snickered.

That wasn't what I was focused on. Although the necklace was perfect, my favorite Shikigami pendant hanging at the center of her collarbone, something was still missing. I glanced at her right clavicle multiple times, making sure my eyes weren't under a magician's trick. My Tong Yao had a mole there, I was sure of it. That doesn't disappear overnight. I was more than certain now this wasn't Tong Yao, but I had no way of revealing that information without sending whoever this was into a panic. The others would have no clue about the mole because Tong Yao only ever wore oversized sweaters. This outfit she decorated herself with today was a complete one-eighty. Only her face seemed to be hers. She was dressed in excessive jewelry that I didn't even think she owned. My appreciation for her beauty would've been evident if this actually was hers. There was no way.

I couldn't do anything yet. I'd have to wait until later to discuss with the team, preferably when she was asleep. Right now, I couldn't let the girl know I was onto her. I grabbed her hand and gave it a kiss.

"You look amazing." Her eyes genuinely lit up from the compliment, but my heart was splitting apart knowing it wasn't her.

"If you two are done with your daily PDA, shall we go?" Xiao Rui gestured for the entrance.

We filed out of the base and boarded the bus. Tong Yao seemed to act normal, but I made sure my eye was on her at all times. There was no telling what this girl would do.

"Cheng-ge is everything alright?" Lao K whispered from behind my seat.

I nodded. The others thought I was just glancing at my girlfriend because of her new change, but Lao K was too smart to not understand my glances. He probably had the same suspicions I did and was just as eager to solve the mystery of your mid.

"Keep and eye on her," I whispered back, making sure the back row couldn't overhear my voice.

Lao Mao was asleep in his seat thankfully, so our gestures were private for now.

As we entered the club, Tong Yao immediately ordered a drink. She can't handle alcohol? I watched as she downed her first glass as if she'd spent years in clubs like this. She didn't throw up. She didn't look dazed. Instead, she asked the bartender for an even stronger drink. I sat down next to her at the bar, ordering a simple whiskey. I'd have to not get drunk tonight. This girl seemed out of control.

The others scattered throughout the club. We came here often, admittedly a bit too much to drink away the pain of the last Spring Playoffs. We were basically regulars and the team had found plenty of old friends to converse with. Lao K seated himself on the other side of Tong Yao. He was more reserved than the others and often limited his drinking. For the tough guy look he sported, I knew he was a big softie underneath those tattoos and piercings. Whenever we came here to drink, he would limit his alcohol intake to make sure the rest of us were safe. Though he hadn't said anything, he didn't seem too fond of drinking and I could tell there was a story behind his longing gaze.

Tong Yao had drunk herself away and slumped in her stool, head resting on the counter in front of us. I wasn't going to stop her from drinking. The fact that she drank was only more reason to claim this wasn't Tong Yao. My Tong Yao despised alcoholic drinks, especially after the last incident with the Long Island Iced Teas. The girl in front of me was no where near that naive. I felt it in my guts that this wasn't my girlfriend. My heart was ready to grow legs and crawl out of my throat. This can't be the woman I love. I'm certain.

I glanced at Lao K and he gave a silent nod, as if he had read my thoughts and agreed with what I thought. As we all returned to the base, Tong Yao struggled to steady her footing. With the help of Lao K, we escorted her to her room, tucking her into the blankets and carefully closing the bedroom door on our way out. We climbed down the stairs where the rest of the team was. I told everyone to wait here and without question they did. They definitely all noticed by now.

We stared at each other for a little as we got ourselves seated in the review room.

"That's not Tong Yao," Lao K spoke first.

"She's being strange isn't she?" Lao Mao asked.

"Yes." I leaned forward in my seat. "Because it's not her. That is not Tong Yao."

"Cheng-ge no offense, but do you hear yourself right now?" Xiao Pang questioned hesitantly.

"I know what I'm saying."

"How do you know?" God Ming spoke.

"Everything about her. Nothing lines up."

"Specifically Captain," God Ming pressured for more details.

"Tong Yao never acts like this. Did you guys see what she's wearing? There's nothing wrong with the outfit itself, but Tong Yao would never wear that!" Lao K exclaimed.

"More importantly, her collarbone doesn't have a mole," I added.

The others stared at me in confusion.

"He's right, look." Lu Yue brought out his phone.

I was wondering why he hadn't said anything yet. Unsurprisingly, he pulled up a clip of one of her livestreams where Tong Yao's sweater had slid to the side. A mole was clearly visible under her right clavicle and the team's eyes widened as the realization hit them.

"You guys can't be this oblivious. Of course I know every square inch of my girlfriend's body," I grumbled.

Despite the seriousness of the situation, the rest found my statement funny and were unable to hold back laughter.

"Alright alright. Back on topic," God Ming waved his hands in the air exasperated. "We've established that the girl in our base isn't Tong Yao, correct?"

We all nodded.

"So then what? Do we confront her?" Xiao Pang asked.

"If that's not her, then where is our Tong Yao?" Lao Mao had finally caught on.

Unfortunately, in the fixation on revealing the culprit in Tong Yao's skin, we hadn't considered where the real Tong Yao is.

"She'll be okay, she's a strong fighter." God Ming came to stand behind me, hands on my shoulder.

"We have to gather more evidence. I think it's too soon for a direct confrontation." The rest agreed with my statement.

That night, we all went to bed with a newfound purpose. We had decided to let the show go on, playing along with the tricks of this stranger. She was probably satisfied with the game she had us all playing unknowingly, but had no clue that the game had ended before it even began. The cards were in my hands now and I was an experienced magician. I'll get you back Tong Yao, I swear on my life.

The End.

So, what theories do you guys have? Hopefully the idea is understandable, if you have any questions let me know! I'll try clearing them up without too much spoiling. I know this one is a bit short, but this was harder to write than I expected. As a reminder, my updates are a lot less frequent and rare because life. Thank you all angels and I'll see you next time!❤️❤️❤️

Oh by the way, I hope you understand the title now and what type of dummy I'm referring to :)