Chapter 3

As the sun set and twilight descended, Li Xianghe helped put away the goods from the shelves outside the store and then said goodbye to Park Seokbeom at the counter, preparing to head home.

While changing clothes, Park Jiseong put down his pen and secretly came over to remind him, "Xianghe, don't forget about tomorrow!"

"Brat, what trouble are you trying to cause for your brother? Your brother is very busy with his studies. Gwangju Science High School, you know, it's the best high school in Gwangju!" Park Seokbeom said, seeing Park Jiseong's sneaky look.

"Ah, Dad, let me tell you, Xianghe is a genius," Park Jiseong said, somewhat excitedly.

"Nonsense, of course I know Xianghe is a genius. Only a genius could win first place in the national math competition, right?" Park Seokbeom, standing at the counter, said while calculating the day's accounts, without even looking up.

"It's not that, Dad. Just now, Xianghe helped me play a ranked match. Do you know who we encountered? Watch! The professional player who's been the hottest in the store these two days, the MVP of the OGN Summer Championship team. He was thoroughly defeated by Xianghe, hahaha." Park Jiseong quickly said.

"Hmm, Xianghe is busy with his studies, so he doesn't have much time to play games... Wait, what did you say? Xianghe beat Watch?" Park Seokbeom, still busy with the accounts, suddenly seemed to hear some shocking news and asked in surprise.

"Yes, that's right. So I said Watch is a genius. Also, Watch has already agreed to teach me how to play Riven. Just wait and see, when I reach Platinum, I will definitely become a trainee at the SKT club, hahaha." Park Jiseong started to fantasize.

"Wait, Xianghe, is what Jiseong said true?" Park Seokbeom asked Li Xianghe, who was about to leave with his backpack, with a hint of joy.

"Just luck, not as exaggerated as Jiseong said. Uncle, I'll go first. My dad is working late tonight, and Meier is waiting for me at home." Li Xianghe smiled, put on his backpack, and waved to Park Seokbeom.

When he got home, Meier was still watching TV on the sofa in the living room. Li Xianghe put down his bag, took the apron from behind the door, and went into the kitchen to prepare dinner.

"Brother, you came back late tonight. I'm so hungry!" Li Meier, seeing Li Xianghe enter the kitchen, swung her legs on the sofa and pouted.

"Oh, tonight Jiseong asked me to help him play a game, so I was a bit late. I just bought some ready-made food, it will be ready soon."

"Really? You play games too, brother?" Li Meier, who seemed to have heard something incredible, jumped up from the sofa and asked.

"Uh, what's so strange about that? Your brother is very capable, hahaha." Li Xianghe teased.

"Hehe, you're just boasting, brother."

At that moment, the SBS radio program "E-Sports Star News" suddenly broadcast, "Latest news: tonight, professional player Watch was sniped by a mysterious foreign player during a fan entertainment match on the AZUBU platform. Watch's most skilled hero, Lee Sin, was outplayed by a Riven with the ID 'Gwangju Jiseong Sound Store.' Let's watch the highlights of the game."

The TV screen switched to the League of Legends game footage. On the screen, a Riven with the ID "Gwangju Jiseong Sound Store" was 1v2, killing the Gnar and then, with one-third health, barely killed the Lee Sin who was flanking. The director gave a slow-motion replay, showing Lee Sin's kick sending the character flying. The Riven, who was trying to escape, suddenly turned around, her body emitting a brilliant green light, stunning the incoming Lee Sin with a W.

Q, click the ground, auto-attack, Q, click the ground again, and then auto-attack. After the final Q, Lee Sin finally woke up from the stun. In a panic, he kicked the Riven away, but was immediately swallowed by a green light. The Riven, without looking back, confidently returned to base. A second later, Watch's Lee Sin was burned to death, which indirectly reflected the Riven's precise health calculation.

"Wow, so cool, this Riven." Li Meier, sitting on the sofa, clapped her hands, her eyes full of stars.

Li Xianghe, carrying a plate from the kitchen, saw this scene on the TV. Seeing his sister's admiring face, he chuckled, "Really? It's okay."

"Brother, you don't understand. This is really impressive. Ah, forget it, you wouldn't understand anyway." Li Meier said, somewhat dissatisfied.

"Gwangju Jiseong Sound Store, Gwangju Jiseong... Ah, brother, isn't this Uncle Seokbeom's store?" Li Meier suddenly realized.

"Uh, it should be. Ha, maybe Uncle Seokbeom hired a professional player to endorse the store." Li Xianghe laughed it off.

"Professional player endorsement? Is this person trying to rank in the Korean Riven rankings? Wow, that's amazing. I wonder if he can push the current top-ranked Sumday down. I'm really looking forward to it!"

"Alright, go wash your hands and get ready to eat. Dad just called and said he might be back late, so we should eat first." Li Xianghe tapped Li Meier's head and said.

"Brother, that hurts." Li Meier, holding her head, said, somewhat dissatisfied.

During dinner, Li Meier suddenly said, somewhat embarrassed, "Brother, do you know where I can find part-time work? I want to buy a new winter school uniform. The old one, which I bought when I started middle school, doesn't fit anymore."

Li Xianghe paused, suddenly remembering that Meier was in her third year of middle school. Generally, girls would change their school uniforms each school year. Girls, after all, are beauty-conscious and fashion-loving. School uniforms in Korea come in many brands, and the better ones often feature endorsements from popular young idols, such as Smart and Elite, which are more expensive... Generally speaking, a decent school uniform in Korea costs between 50,000 and 100,000 won, which is a significant expense for a single-parent family.

Li Xianghe calculated in his mind and found that, even with his earnings, he could only gather about 40,000 won by the end of the month, which was still 10,000 won short of the cheapest uniform. Looking at the various rankings on the SBS e-sports channel, an idea suddenly came to him.

"Focus on your studies and prepare for the high school entrance exam, silly. I've been working part-time for so long, isn't it enough to buy you a school uniform? Don't think about these unnecessary things all day." Li Xianghe smiled and said.

"Wow, really? Brother, you're the best!" Li Meier, like a child, jumped up in joy and then said sensibly, "Brother, a 50,000 won one is fine. After all, third year will be over soon, and I'll need a new uniform for high school."

"That won't do. Our Meier is so pretty, we should get the one endorsed by Girls' Generation. You've been eyeing it for a long time, haven't you?" Li Xianghe laughed.

"Hehe." Li Meier blushed and lowered her head.

After dinner, Li Meier, unusually, volunteered to clear the table. Li Xianghe couldn't help but smile and shake his head. He packed the leftover food into a thermal pot for his father to eat when he returned.

The next day was the weekend, and Li Xianghe got up early to prepare breakfast. He called out to his sister, who was still sleeping, and said goodbye to his father before riding his bike to Jiseong Sound Store.

Jiseong Sound Store wasn't far from Li Xianghe's home. It took him about ten minutes to get there, where Uncle Seokbeom was already pushing up the roller shutter.

"Early, Xianghe. Have you had breakfast?"

"Yes, Uncle Seokbeom, I'll help you." Li Xianghe parked his bike, went over to help Park Seokbeom hang the roller shutter, and started moving the shelves outside.

"You don't need to come so early on weekends. Your schoolwork is heavy, and it's rare to have time to rest."

"It's fine, Uncle Seokbeom. It's okay, hehe."

"You, Jiseong is still sleeping. He played games all night. Sigh, I know he likes e-sports, but it also requires talent." Park Seokbeom sighed and continued, "When I was young and not married to your aunt, I wanted to be an entertainer. I even worked as a trainee at TPA for a while. Young people all dream of becoming stars, wanting to be noticed and admired. But look at me now, still running this small shop. Sigh!"

"Uh, I think Jiseong is quite talented." Li Xianghe couldn't help but comfort him.

"Don't comfort me. I know that brat. He's been practicing for so long but hasn't even made it to a professional club. Sigh."

"It's fine, Uncle. I played a bit yesterday. This game is actually quite simple. As long as Jiseong masters a few techniques, he can definitely reach the club's rank requirements."

"Um, I know you're talented, so I'll thank you in advance for Jiseong. But don't neglect your studies."

"It's fine, Uncle. By the way, do you know if any nearby stores want to use rankings for promotion?"

"Sigh, everyone wants to, but there are no big companies around here. You might not know, but e-sports stars' endorsement fees are higher than those of entertainment stars. They can easily reach hundreds of millions, and who can afford that?" Park Seokbeom sighed.

"What if it's very cheap, just 100,000 won? Would anyone be interested?" Li Xianghe asked tentatively.

"That's hard to say. Look, that kimchi store, yes, the one on the corner you passed on your way here." Park Seokbeom pointed and said, "The owner of that kimchi store is a young e-sports fan. He wants to expand his father's kimchi store. He has considered using rankings for promotion, but the e-sports stars' fees are too high, and he hasn't been able to negotiate a deal."

"I think I can try." Li Xianghe suddenly said.

"What's wrong, Xianghe? Is there something at home that needs money urgently?" Park Seokbeom asked.

"It's nothing, Uncle. Meier wants to buy a new winter school uniform. Her birthday is coming up, and since Mom left, she hasn't received any birthday gifts. I just want to help Meier have a happy birthday without troubling Dad." Li Xianghe explained.

"Good kid. Alright, I'll help you contact them. I know you're smart and talented. Keep it up, I believe in you." Park Seokbeom encouraged him and then added, "The last time I visited your dad, I noticed you didn't have a computer at home. If we can negotiate a deal, you can use the equipment here. It would be a waste to let Jiseong, that brat, ruin such good e-sports equipment. Jiseong said you beat Watch on your first try. You can also teach that brat a thing or two."

"Thank you, Uncle Seokbeom." Li Xianghe sincerely thanked him.

"It's nothing, but don't neglect your studies. You're so good at them, and you can definitely get into the best university in Korea." Park Seokbeom reminded him.

In this parallel world of Korea, similar to the previous life, e-sports and entertainment stars are popular, but university professors and scholars with high academic degrees are more respected in society.

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**End of Chapter**