Chapter 44

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“…You’re saying that fan of yours is the captain of NL Club?” Wang Yuxi looked at Yao Sen in astonishment, his voice filled with shock.

Bai Yue was even more shocked. “You’re saying that he let you win in that fan competition?”

“What does this guy think he’s doing?” Song Mingzhe retorted in a rare annoyed tone. He was upset that his idol had been looked down upon. “Pretending to be the boss’s fan and throwing the game? Does the boss need him to do that?”

Bai Yue: “This may not be the case, that Cheng Rui guy might be a Yao Sen fan for real… It’s just—he’s a pro player who joined the fan competition, and also lost on purpose. This… it’s kinda weird.”

Zhou Ziyu couldn’t help voicing his doubts. “Why would he do something like this…”

Everyone in the training room began talking over each other. Yao Sen waved his hand, gesturing for them to leave it and saying, “He probably did it to prevent me from knowing his real skill level.”

Wang Yuxi’s eyes widened. “Damn, there’s no way this guy’s some master dark horse who’s been in hiding for years, right?”

“You think he let me win? Didn’t I not let him let me?” Yao Sen propped his head up. He rapped on the tabletop. “He might have other reasons for doing it, because when I played against him, I also sensed something off… but I couldn’t place what it was.”

Coupled with the abnormal behaviour of the NL youth training team members they’d met back at the Laser Cup in March, Yao Sen grew increasingly baffled.

Regardless, since the truth would reveal itself in the WCAD anyway, Yao Sen neither got mad nor anxious—what would come, would inevitably come.

Under Yao Sen’s efforts, the members of Noah’s Ark and Titans gradually grew close. They also got used to the Titans captain showing up to their training room every few days, occasionally bringing late-night snacks or milk tea for them, and sometimes just coming over to talk to Shao Han.

In the beginning, Shao Han slightly got embarrassed from the way Yao Sen always brought him his own specially prepared order, and the others often teased him for it, saying that Yao Sen was doting on him.

Eventually, Shao Han stopped caring, accepting everyone’s teasing graciously.

The intensity of their training was at its peak from early April to late May. Normally, the team members would have no other ways to entertain and amuse themselves. They could only rely on friendly matches to make up for their busy daily training.

Recently, Titans and Noah’s Ark had planned a public friendly match, which would be streamed in each respective team’s livestream platforms.

As their training was already tense and tiresome, there was no way the friendly match would be so serious—not to mention the fact that both Titans and Noah’s Ark members and fans were basically like family now. This friendly match was for entertainment purposes, so that the fans and viewers could have fun and the players could relax and loosen up.

Therefore, Titans and Noah’s Ark decided that for this match, they’d be swapping team members.

The two livestream platforms that most of the team members were signed onto, White Shark Live and Sea King Live, jointly promoted the friendly match, and news of the member swap made the fandoms explode. Everyone was gleefully acting like they’d become each other’s mother and father-in-laws.

And thus tonight, Team A consisted of Yao Sen, Shao Han, Bai Yue, Zhou Ziyu, and one other Noah’s Ark player, while Team B had Lin Lan, Wang Yuxi, Song Mingzhe, and two Noah’s Ark players.

The number of viewers on both livestreaming platforms set a new record in the gaming category within two minutes of the stream commencing. The joint livestream provided all the players’ video feeds, and the fans frantically spammed on-screen comments.

[It’s the No. 1 boyband!]

[Let me praise God Sen’s new hairstyle one more time!!!!]

[ This combi, seriously LOLOLOL ]

[It feels like Xi ge’s gonna push Lan ge and the others to their deaths]

[Xi ge is too naughty, only Sen ge can control him]

[Sen-stans in position!!]

[Zuo-stans in position!!!]

[Team-stans in position!!!!]

“Hold up, before we begin, shouldn’t we have a round of pre-game smack talk?” Wang Yuxi cleared his throat and cackled savagely. “Ha! Yao Sen! Today is the day you’ll meet your doom!”

Yao Sen: “……”

[HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA]

[Xi ge please stop talking]

[Everyone, let me introduce you to the most impulsive player in esports history: Wang Yuxi]

[Sen ge: I hereby announce that Wang Yuxi has officially been kicked out of Titans]

[C’mon, Xi ge, do you wanna die horizontally or vertically]

After the game started, Wang Yuxi let go completely and jumped to side, only to get narrowly sniped by Yao Sen. After almost getting his head blown off, he slightly controlled himself at long last and retreated to where most of his team was.

“Wang Yuxi is demonstrating how not to be a team player, please don’t learn from him, everyone,” Yao Sen addressed the viewers as he led his team forward. “Only us Titans won’t throw away this kind of team member.”

Bai Yue switched to the all chat: “Lao-Wang, Yao Sen and I have decided that we don’t need you.”

Wang Yuxi: “Who gives a shit about you guys! Hanging around Lan ge feels great!”

Lin Lan: “……”

Yao Sen laughed. “Captain Lin Lan, how about we exchange our Wang Yuxi for your Shao Han?”

[Lan ge: No way in hell]

[What a rotten business deal HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA]

[Sen ge actually mentioned Shao ge, tsk tsk tsk]

[No matter what team he’s in, Xiao Zuo is always the spoiled one lololol]

[Xiao Zuo: How dare you guys make this kind of deal right in front of me]

[If no one wants Xi ge then I’ll take him away!!!!]

[Up top! Slow down!! Who said no one wanted him!!!]

Shao Han focused all his attention on the computer screen, dismissing every other thought, as if none of the comments had anything to do with him.

Team A entered the perimeters of an air-raid shelter. The passage was so narrow that only one person could pass at a time. This kind of place was prone to sneak attacks launched from the end of the passage, and as there were no bunkers around, if you ran into someone, you had no choice but to stand there and take the beating.

Yao Sen: “Shao Han, get behind me.”

Shao Han: “…why don’t I protect you in front?”

Yao Sen: “You can also protect me from behind, alright? Be a good boy, get back.”

Normally, it would’ve been fine if Yao Sen said that in private, but with so many eyes watching, it felt like all the barrage comments that whizzed by merely served to fan the flames on Shao Han’s heated face, and he wanted nothing but to turn off his camera. He furtively kneed Yao Sen’s leg under the table, urging him to restrain himself a little, then obediently fell behind Yao Sen with his gun.

[Be a good boy??? BE A GOOD BOY?????]

[Sen ge, what on earth are you saying??]

[Heavens, is this still the God Sen we know and love]

[God Sen adores Xiao Zuo so muuuch AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!! He’s obviously doing it to protect Xiao Zuo!!!!]

[Why does it sound so natural coming from Sen ge’s mouth… How did that happen]

[Sen ge sounds very practiced +1]

[Guys, I have a bold idea]

[Friends, please drop your stashes in the comment area]

[Shao ge is so obedient lololol]

[SenZuo is so sweet! This year I’m shipping the realest CP]

[I’m dying I’m dying they’re so sweet I’m dying. I’m gonna pass out]

A dozen minutes later, Team A and Team B ran into each other. They had their first intense shoot off, and each team sustained two to three deaths. In the end, Team B withdrew first, and each team waited for another opportunity to attack.

The two teams were currently evenly matched. Team A only had Yao Sen, Shao Han, and Zhou Ziyu left, while only Lin Lan, Wang Yuxi, and another Noah’s Ark player remained in Team B.

The members of Team B reached the supply point first, while Team A hid outside. The location of the supply point was randomly generated on the map. It had a higher probability of dropping support items than the hospital and was often the first location players would choose to grab a head start.

Earlier, Yao Sen had picked up a grappling hook gun from an air drop. With a low drop probability, this single-use item allowed the user to scale the wall of any structure and had a launch range of two to six storeys.

Yao Sen knew that Wang Yuxi and the others were definitely scattered throughout the supply station. This building was suitable for sniping, and the Team B members were probably lying in wait for an offensive chance by the windows. Team A was no doubt at a disadvantage. Therefore, Yao Sen’s goal now was to get rid of the member of Team B with the highest hit rate—Wang Yuxi. The grappling hook gun he had on hand provided him with the opportunity to launch a surprise attack within seconds.

The question was—which of the four floors of the building was Wang Yuxi on?

If this was an official match, Yao Sen would perhaps analyse the opponent’s positioning and psychology from all angles, but as this was only a friendly, where fostering a friendship was the priority, neither winning or losing mattered much.

Yao Sen suddenly switched to the all chat and said, “Lao-Wang, losers treat the winners to crayfish tonight?”

Wang Yuxi replied in an instant, “My thoughts exactly!”

“I want half a kilo with garlic sauce and half a kilo with clam sauce.” Yao Sen glanced at Shao Han. “And mala and pickled garlic and pepper for Shao Han.”

“Why are you rattling off your orders?” Wang Yuxi said. “I want half a kilo with thirteen-spices and half with pickled cabbage, and an additional half a kilo of spiced mala!”

Yao Sen: “Captain Lin Lan, what do your guys wanna eat?”

[What’s happening right now????]

[Noah members: Who am I Where am I Why are people suddenly ordering food]

[I logged out and found myself watching the food channel]

[AAAAAAAAH I’m so hungry!!!!!!]

[Why does God Sen know Xiao Zuo’s preferences so well!!]

[They eat together a lot, right? [doge]]

[All real fans know that Shao ge won’t be satisfied if his food isn’t spicy]

Yao Sen and Wang Yuxi chatted about late-night snacks for a good while. Wang Yuxi’s thoughts were beginning to stray, wondering how much weight he’d be gaining tonight.

“Then why don’t we order it to go and eat here?” Yao Sen spoke as he secured the grappling hook. He then asked absently, “Hey, Lao-Wang, where are you now?”

Wang Yuxi’s brain was still offline, stuck in the image of rich and fragrant crayfish. Plus, as he’d been Yao Sen’s longtime teammate, his reflexes were conditioned to follow Yao Sen’s commands. The captain’s inquiries about his position would definitely be answered straight away—Wang Yuxi didn’t even stop to think before speaking.

“I’m on the third floor…” Wang Yuxi stopped dead upon realising that he’d divulged his position. His face flashed from red to green, as if he’d accidentally eaten a fly.

The second Wang Yuxi mentioned the third floor, Yao Sen decisively launched himself into a third floor window with the grappling hook. He smashed the glass, rolled on the ground, and deftly headshotted the stupefied Wang Yuxi in the corner. “Thanks bro.”

The match went silent for a few seconds. Even the ever steady Lin Lan couldn’t help but close his eyes, unable to watch any longer.

Half a minute later, Bai Yue’s deranged laughter was faintly audible through Yao Sen and Shao Han’s headphones. Everyone else’s shoulders shook, embarrassed to laugh out loud. Choking it down, they ran out one by one and swerved from left to right like a slithering snake.*

*to make it harder for their opponents to aim & take them down

[HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH OH MY GOOOD]

[HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA]

[HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA I’m gonna die of laughter]

[THIS?????]

[Xi ge don’t cry]

[Xi ge’s so miserable]

[This is my first time hearing Yue ge laugh like this]

[I saw Shao ge holding back laughter HAHAHAHAHAHA]

[First using the topics Xi ge knows and loves and then slowly diverting his attention to lower his defences, Sen ge has full marks in psychology!]

[Is this really a friendly match and not a friendship-ending one?]

The match ended in the midst of Wang Yuxi’s frantic complaints and deep misery. That night, he sent out a Weibo post filled with righteous indignation.

@Titans_Xi: Can everyone please help me crowdfund my contract termination with Titans? A big shot oppresses me everyday… I’m unilaterally announcing a half-hour friendship cancellation with said big shot!!!!

[Xi ge you poor thing, but I— HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAA]

[Don’t cry Xi ge. You’ve fallen into so many traps, you should be used to it]

[Xixi, you’re so dumb. How will you find a wife in the future]

Just as he hit send, Wang Yuxi was @-ed by Yao Sen in the group chat.

Yao Sen: @WangYuxi Shao Han wanted milk tea. I ordered one for you as well, come down and get it

Wang Yuxi: You think you can buy me off with a cup of milk tea?! Where’s the effort!!!

Yao Sen: Four Seasons Macchiato. With pudding and ice cream.

Wang Yuxi: Fuck! Wait up!!!!!

☆ ☆ ☆

⟵ Chapter 43 | TOC | Chapter 45 (NSFW) ⟶

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