Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Mo Huaifeng: “Such dreams would best be left till after you retire. For a day that you are Mix, you will stay away from my red buff.”
Nuo: “Do you see that! What inhumane treatment I am usually subjected to! Oh yes, another reason why I want to be an ADC, I won’t have to bait opponents!”
Reporter: “… I forgot to inform everyone before the start of the interview, although ‘eSports If I’d Known’ reports mainly through newspapers, but we’re livestreaming online at the same time too.”
Everyone was speechless.
Ji Zhiyao blankly looked behind the reporter. There was really a camera there, but he had always thought that it was meant to take a few photographs for their publication’s use. Yet now… It seems that the camera had been switched on the whole time.
So what did Mo Huaifeng do earlier?
Would he get battered to death by Mo Huaifeng’s fans?
Ji Zhiyao stared blankly, appearing like he no longer had anything to live for.
The one who was in greater despair than him was Nuo, both his hands covered his mouth with a panic-stricken expression on his face. “I did not say anything! The team dictator is still Captain daddy! Have mercy on me!”
Mo Huaifeng: “Shut up.”
Hence Nuo very aggrievedly stole a glance at Tall Boots’ top-laner beside him. The top-laner was on pretty good terms with him and came forward to answer, “Never thought of this question, it’s something that’s rather distant from us for now.”
Xiaoye: “Firstly, we really hope that Mix would achieve a good result. As everyone knows, Tall Boots and Mix are brother battleteams, our capabilities very well-matched, if our brothers achieve a good placing, we definitely won’t be far off.”
Mo Huaifeng: “It would be better if you just say ‘want to be carried to a win’.”
Xiaoye: “Don’t be so straightforward. Though I do mean it that way.”
Actually he need not appear at all, these eSports players who could spout suggestive remarks were better at holding an interview than he was.
Lan Guang: “Our Captain is too arrogant, we’d better be down-to-earth.”
Support: “Agreed.”
With the exception of Xiaoye, everyone in Tall Boots was very humble.
The reporters then asked a few more questions and the interview formally ended.
Ji Zhiyao secretly peeped at the camera that was finally switched off and breathed a sigh of relief, rotating his already stiff neck before leaving the room with everyone else.
They returned to their original waiting room to grab their belongings and boarded the van to return to the base, planning to put their things down before coming out again for dinner.
While on the way, Ji Zhiyao couldn’t stop himself from searching up “eSports If I’d Known” in Weibo, then found a post of a livestream that just ended 10 minutes ago.
[eSports If I’d KnownV: Today eSports event Heroes’ National Qualifiers has officially ended, Xiaozhi managed to interview champion battleteam Mix battleteam @Mix Battleteam OfficialV and second placing Tall Boots battleteam @Tall Boots Battleteam OfficialV at the earliest moment, want to know what new obscenities the gods of the eSports scene have? Check out the for more. ]
Ji Zhiyao blurted, “… Damn! It’s really here?”
Mo Huaifeng shifted his body and leaned over. “What?”
“The interview earlier.”
Mo Huaifeng instantly lost all interest and leaned back into the seat lazily, giving a snicker, “Could it still be fake?”
Ji Zhiyao had no time to wrangle with Mo Huaifeng, he was only concerned about whether Mo Huaifeng’s suggestive remarks had unintentionally implicated the both of them. Hence he put in his ear piece and began to watch the replay of the livestream.
The video began from Tall Boots battleteam entering the “little quiet room”, on the screen, the comments were everywhere.
[Oh my god, why is Ye-god so cute!]
[PUAHAHAHA the expressions with which these bunch of people are watching Mix enter the room is a living emotive, the look of admiring the big brother LOL]
[What demons are they, aren’t they too adorable!]
[Mix! Mix! Mix!]
[Congratulations Mix battleteam for winning the championship of the national qualifiers!]
[Congratulations Mix battleteam for winning the championship of the national qualifiers!]
[Congratulations Mix battleteam for winning the championship of the national qualifiers!]
This comment filled the entire screen very quickly, with words everywhere. Other than this comment, Ji Zhiyao couldn’t even see everyone’s faces on the screen anymore.
Ji Zhiyao was resigned and dragged the progress bar towards the back slightly.
“… suddenly had a scary thought: Would it be that my hand would be shook by Mix in this manner all the way till I retire?” Xiaoye’s entire expression distinctly showed that he’d yet to recover from the shock, Ji Zhiyao chuckled, then read the comments again.
[Since Fi was created, why create Ye?]
[Xiaoye: I’ve got a ton of curses in my heart but I still have to sit here and act with the rest of you, damn so infuriating!]
[That comment in front ‘why create Ye’ are you a demon HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!]
[Small eyes filled with the eagerness towards life.]
[Xiaoye: If I do this could you guys let me off already? The others: We will not!]
Ji Zhiyao snorted out loud.
Mo Huaifeng was playing with his phone, upon hearing this sound he sat again and directly pulled out his ear piece on the left side and plugged it into his own ear.
Ji Zhiyao thus shifted his phone towards the middle, both of them continued to watch on together.
“Fi-god has a lot to say at the mention of Yao-god. Seems like, our Fi-god really dotes on Yao-god a lot.”
Ji Zhiyao commented, “Why does this reporter keep spouting nonsense trying to start some rumors?”
Mo Huaifeng countered, “What has he said wrong?”
Ji Zhiyao pointed to himself. “Big brother, could you have some conscience, I merely took your red buff and you acted like you wanted to kill me, may I know how that is doting on me?”
“You’re still alive right now, isn’t this sufficient proof?”
Ji Zhiyao gave him an overly-sweet smile. “Then I’m really feeling rather overwhelmed by your special love.”
“You’re welcome.”
Ji Zhiyao had nothing much to say this thick-skinned mutt and could only silently rolled his eyes. Then he heard Yuan Wei who was seated at the very first row of the van shout, “That’s enough from the both of you! Do you still have any damn limits at heart?”
Mo Huaifeng replied calmly, “Did you receive too much salary last month?”
Yuan Wei gritted his teeth. “Daddy please do as you please!”
He silently expressed his contempt towards Yuan Wei, the idiot with no integrity, then feigned a professional smile. “Captain let us continue watching.”
After one to two minutes later, Ji Zhiyao made a “hmm” sound. “What’s going on, when it came to talking about why Brother Xiao did not compete, no one cursed at me?”
Xiao who was in the row in front was confused. “What names do you want people to call you?”
“Manipulative b*tch, need-for-carry b*tch [1. Female gamers who try to get carried by other (male) gamers to victory.], cancer of the eSports scene, intentionally schemed to stop Brother Xiao from competing and whatnot. Yet no one is criticizing me, I’m very not used to it.”
Xiao coughed. “… Son, have you been watching too many palace drama television series?”
Ji Zhiyao pursed his lips and continued to watch the livestream.
Towards the back, where he himself spouted wildly, saying he wanted to be the ‘Most famous crosstalk actor in the eSports scene’, eighth-grade syndrome was written all over his face as he appeared sillier by the minute… Ji Zhiyao’s expression instantly looked worse than having swallowed a fly whole.
Mo Huaifeng raised a brow at him. “Do you know how we felt at that time now?”
“… please watch the video quietly thank you!”
Yet as they continued to watch on, Mo Huaifeng’s famous scene of “watching Yao-god’s solo crosstalks everyday” appeared, the entire screen was spammed with [Windy Couple is the best], but there wasn’t any “exposed gay relationship” in Ji Zhiyao’s imagination. Hence Ji Zhiyao sighed in relief and after making a “tsk” sound, questioned from the bottom of his heart. “Captain, honestly speaking, did you do that on purpose?”
Mo Huaifeng’s expression went blank for a moment. “No. I didn’t know that the camera was switched on.”
“Heh, man.”
Since he still doubted him then why ask in the first place? Asking for a beating?
There wasn’t anything much in the rest of the interview. Ji Zhiyao hastily took a few glances and just in time, the van had already arrived at the base, hence he tugged off the earpiece that was in Mo Huaifeng’s ear and put it into his pocket together with his phone.
Everyone carried their own belongings, after putting them down, they boarded the van again.
30 minutes later, the van stopped outside one of the most well-known barbecue places in the city center.
All of Mix, with the addition of the stats analyzer, coach and Yuan Wei, streamed into the restaurant in one large group. The server hurriedly led them to the quietest spot in the restaurant and combined two tables before they sat down.
Nuo held the menu, skimming it as he said to the server. “Give us a serving each of all meats you have, and a few side dishes, you can just help us pick whatever goes well together. Oh yes, another two bundles of beer, normal temperature. Anything else you guys want to add on?”
Ji Zhiyao rolled his eyes. “You have already ordered the full ensemble, add on my ass.”
Nuo snickered. “It’s been very long since we feasted on Captain’s treat. Now that we’ve finally have this chance after waiting for so long, we must eat more to feel more settled.”
After sending away the evidently shocked server, they began to chat. Ji Zhiyao finally remembered a question that had been troubling him for days, poking Mo Huaifeng’s elbow, he asked, “Captain, Bug’s Qiang is going to retire now?”
Mo Huaifeng glanced at him and frowned lightly. “Hasn’t been set for now.”
“What does hasn’t been set means? Qiang himself has not decided?”
“No, Qiang does not want to retire.” Mo Huaifeng said, “The shareholders of their club are in two camps. Once is not letting Qiang go on the basis of the results, the other wants to force Qiang to retire. One of the shareholders who wants Qiang to retire is allegedly said to have a lot of shares, he was also the one who poached Big Fish.
Ji Zhiyao understood then.
Turns out that the rumor online about Qiang offending someone, was not a groundless one.
He was slightly upset. “Isn’t Summer the season for contract extensions? Qiang should have just renewed his contract?”
The corner of Mo Huaifeng’s lips turned up in a mocking angle. “The thing about extending contracts, it’s more favorable for the club. If the club breaches the contract, they only need to pay a small sum of compensation.”
So this means, it’s very possible that Qiang will be retired?
Was this still the eSports scene?
Before he entered this industry, Ji Zhiyao had always thought that because local eSports wasn’t well-developed, with the exception of competition periods, all the battleteams were as close as members of the same family, intending to work hard together to step onto the world stage… Yet now it seems like it wasn’t as he had imagined.
Just like what he was seeing, the condition of the eSports scene, was not as wonderful.
Mo Huaifeng bumped his shoulder. “A penny for your thoughts?”
Ji Zhiyao came back to his senses and said in a low voice, “DiamondJ, Qiang, all of them are very good players.”
Excellent character, don’t mess with fans, even after being in the eSports scene for so many years, there was never any negative news about them. Professional players with such upright conduct, whether locally or in foreign battleteams, were probably very rare.
It’s really…
Mo Huaifeng nodded with a “mm” and gave Ji Zhiyao a squeeze on his thigh to express his consolation.
“Those two over there, at any rate do take note of your image can you? Don’t think we didn’t see anything, it’s simply unbearable to watch!” Yuan Wei did not dare to make much noise, only resorting to glaring angrily to show his rage. “Did both of you hear what I just said?”
Ji Zhiyao stared blankly. “What did you say?”
“I knew it was like this” was stamped on Yuan Wei’s face. “I just said that the club had sent me a text, how is it that you didn’t hear anything, what were you doing?”
Ji Zhiyao’s ears became flushed, putting on a fierce expression as he threatened, “Are you going to tell me or not?”
“Tsk. The club said, at the start of next month we’ll go to Sanya for a holiday, then it’ll be off days all the way till the 15th of January next year and we’ll begin training in February.”
Ji Zhiyao exclaimed, “Damn, such a long vacation, it’s even longer than the vacations I have from school.”
“Yes yes, aren’t you very happy!”
Mo Huaifeng chimed in, “Have you forgotten something?”
Ji Zhiyao suddenly turned mournful. “Damn it, you’re right, I still have to attend school!”
The others stayed mum too.
Ji Zhiyao went mad. “Why the f*ck do I still have to attend school ahhhh!”
Ji Zhiyao continued. “I don’t even know how long it’s been since I opened my dorm room chat group. In other words, my teacher might have already noted my name down but I still don’t know about it… Just what have I done wrong? The heavens are envious of the talented!”
Mo Huaifeng finally said something. “The heavens are envious of the talented? Don’t misuse the phrase.”
“Boohoohoo!”
“I keep having an ill feeling, I might already be in deep trouble. Today I was thinking if I should buy some clothes for the Sanya holiday, I have finally have something to spend my 500 thousand yuan bonus on, now it seems… Can 500 thousand yuan buy a spot in university?”
Yuan Wei stepped up to console him. “Hey NoHomo, don’t be too worried, the teachers at university all are very open-minded now. You brought honor to the school and brought a championship back, I reckon they’d all be very pleased.”
“Would they be so open-minded as to accept a student who attended less than a week’s worth of lessons in a semester?”
“Um…”
Ji Zhiyao kept mumbling “I’m dead I’m dead I’m dead”, while opened the chatting app that he had not used for for quite some time in a frenzy, then he realized that Yang Bing had already @ him three days ago.
[TheMostGood-lookingLadInTheEntireSUni: You’re dead. @MelonInAMelon.]
[TheMostGood-lookingLadInTheEntireSUni: Our tutor said to get you to find him at the staff room when you’re back in school.]
[TheMostGood-lookingLadInTheEntireSUni: Oh yes, he even asked whether he needed to make an appointment with you, are you able to make time?]
[MelonInAMelon: Just saw this, can I still remedy this?]
[TheMostGood-lookingLadInTheEntireSUni: Oh my damn, Old Ji you’ve finally appeared! Congrats on the national championship! Remember to get a copy of autographs for me!]
[MelonInAMelon: I’m about to f*cking die and you’re talking to me about this!]
[Wen Heng: My condolences.]
[Chao: My condolences.]
[TheMostGood-lookingLadInTheEntireSUni: [candle] ]
[MelonInAMelon: _(:_」∠)_ So what exactly went on? Wasn’t it going great previously… Why was I suddenly caught?]
[TheMostGood-lookingLadInTheEntireSUni: Do you not have any awareness of the fact that you are a public figure? Our teachers aren’t living in an environment with communications cut off, they’re great at everything, phones, computers and TV games!]
[Chao: I heard, our tutor saw you on TV. Weren’t your results especially good when you first started school? The lecturer has a very good memory, he saw your photo in the past and that memory was still fresh in his mind.]
