Prologue 2: Stupid Li Xiang (Main Character)

Wu Zemen was lining up for food when suddenly someone clapped his shoulder. Turning, he saw a guy looking at him with a smile.

——It was the physic’s class monitor, Li Xiang, Wu Zewen’s closest friend.

Totally different from Wu Zewen’s calm face paralysis, Li Xiang was the typical handsome and cheerful kind of guy. He always wore a smile and constantly seemed to be in a very good mood. This kind of optimistic guy easily infected those around him. He often took charge of many activities and never once felt awkward.

He joined the Student Union in his first year, then joined the Club Department in his second year and joined a group committee1 in his third year…

In university, enthusiastic people like Li Xiang were the most popular amongst the students, but he was particularly loyal and would go out to eat with him, every time taking the initiative to pay the bill. As long as he saw any kind of hard work such as girls moving computers or lifting tables, he would gladly lend a hand to help. On top of being around 1.8 metres, he was also very handsome and was said to be very popular with friends north and south of the Yangtze River[1].

[1] Yangtze River: the longest river in the world to flow entirely within a country

Many didn’t expect that the two with such different personalities, would be able to become friends.

In fact, the two of them could become friends and they even had a memory that was part of their dark history.

According to “Memories of Li Xiang”: In the year of first-year military training, one afternoon the instructor gathered everyone to sit under the tree shade to discuss their lives and dreams. When the instructor asked, “What was everybody’s aspiration?”, Li Xiang[2], who was dozing off immediately, stood up in attention. “Here! Instructor, you called me?”

[2] 理想 (dreams/aspiration) and 李想 (Li Xiang) sounds the same so Li Xiang thought his name was called as he was half asleep

Everybody: “……”

The instructor glanced at the idiot once and then punished him with running ten thousand metres.

Panting exhaustingly, Li Xiang finished running the ten thousand metres. When he returned, he picked up a water bottle that was on the ground and poured water into his mouth. Just as he drank half the bottle, he suddenly felt someone’s gaze directed at him from the side. He turned and saw a guy with glasses calmly looking at him. Li Xiang gave a friendly smile and greeted, “Do you need something?”

The guy calmly said, “The water bottle you’re holding is mine.”

Li Xiang: “……”

Glancing at the water bottle, he saw the three words “Wu Zewen” written very largely in proper handwriting on the front and the back.

Li Xiang awkwardly handed back the water bottle. “Sorry, I didn’t see…”

Wu Zewen glanced at him and then carrying the water bottle, he calmly turned and left.

Flushed, Li Xiang was frozen on the spot——such big words and saying he didn’t see, wouldn’t he think I am a(n) *?

Years later, Li Xiang couldn’t help but send a post on his 22nd birthday: “It seems like all my closest friends are met through me doing something stupid? Was everyone’s first impression of me very ‘stupid[3]‘, eh?”

[3] 二 can be slang for meaning stupid, silly, careless etc. aside from meaning “2”

A group of people happily replied——

Stupid younger brother, hello!

Quite stupid!

Very stupid!

Extremely stupid!

You are very self-aware!

……Li Xiang wanted to cry.

Truth was, aside from being close friends with Wu Zewen, Li Xiang had urged Wu Zewen’s roommate to drag Wu Zewen into play games for a very important reason. He wanted to form a team to play in the arena but unfortunately, there weren’t enough people.

In this martial arts game, the arena had a strict points system. Team battles were played in 6V6 teams. You could be matched with random players or you could also form a team in advance to compete. Forming a fixed team with familiar people would naturally be easier to win. Players in teams that were formed randomly would often disconnect midway, leave to eat or send their heads from anger…

The most dreadful thing wasn’t having a god-like opponent but having a pig-like teammate!

Li Xiang had three people in their dorm and He Xuyang had two. Altogether, five physics people played the game. It wasn’t enough to make a team of six and needing a stranger every time was too much of a hassle. That was why Li Xiang wanted to get Wu Zewen to play. Having Wu Zewen play as the milk dad[4] to add blood to everyone would be the best…

[4] 奶妈: in Chinese, it is a slang for healers. Also, 奶=milk=healing for future references if it ever appears

It was a pity. Wu Zewen fought a total of 50 games with his Tangmen and then as if nothing had happened, he calmly went downstairs for food.

Li Xiang truly burst into tears!

Getting the xueba to play the game didn’t only require physical labour but also mental labour.

Wu Zewen concentrated on eating with his head lowered and quickly finished eating all the food on the tray.

Looking up, Wu Zewen saw Li Xiang lost in thoughts with his head tilted and couldn’t help asking, “What’s wrong?”

Li Xiang rubbed his nose and said, “Zewen, do you really have no interest in playing games? This game compared to the others isn’t the same. This game has an official professional league. There are many famous teams and players, high popularity and the balance of the game2 is excellent.”

Wu Zewen firmly said, “Not interested.”

“……” Li Xiang continued to encourage him, “It doesn’t matter if you don’t like to fight in arenas. The sceneries in the game are particularly beautiful, there are many instances[5] and daily events. There’s a new server opening in September, want to take a look?”

[5] Instances it usually means dungeons

Wu Zewen thought for a second and said, “No need.”

Li Xiang felt extremely helpless.

This xueba never played games, so being uninterested was normal. In fact, Wu Zewen was quite decisive. He generally wouldn’t change his mind once it was made. This was the same as that time they were doing an exam when they encountered a question they didn’t prepare for. Should they chose B or C? Hesitating for a long time while biting a pen…but, not We Zewen, he considered all the answers then chose B and filled it with his decisive personality. He chose B then it was B.

At this moment, Li Xiang’s phone suddenly rang. It was a call from the program advisor.

Li Xiang picked up the phone and heard Teacher Zhang mildly asked, “Li Xiang, are you free? Can you come to the school’s office for a moment? There’s something I need to talk with you about.”

Li Xiang hurriedly said, “Okay, Teacher Zhang, I will come over there immediately.”

When Li Xiang reached the school’s office, he saw two female teachers sitting while chatting inside. In universities, program advisors didn’t need to teach. Their main responsibilities were to help students with their lives and mental health. Many of them were alumni which were why they looked quite young.

Naturally, Li Xiang recognized Teacher Zhang since she was the physic department’s program advisor. On the other hand, he has never met the other young female teacher.

Li Xiang politely knocked on the door. Teacher Zhang turned and said, “Come in.”

Li Xiang entered the office and said with a smile, “Teacher, what did you need me for?”

Teacher Zhang said, “Li Xiang, I need to ask you something. I remember your dormitory has three people living in it, right?”

Li Xiang said, “Yes.”

Teacher Zhang said, “Your dormitory is a quadruple room and also have an empty bed, is it possible to clear it up in a few days?”

Li Xiang was surprised for a second.

The boys in the physics department all lived on the 4th floor, but because there were three extra people, Li Xiang’s group of three were moved to the 3rd floor. These few years in university, their 301 room had always been three people. The extra bed was naturally filled with everyone’s luggage, suitcases, clothes, cardboard boxes…

With things like luggage, if you weren’t organized, the mess would automatically grow bigger and bigger…

What was originally an empty bed has now piled up into a mountain.

However, since the teacher suddenly asked to clear the bed, it also wasn’t good to directly refuse so Li Xiang nodded and said, “Teacher, we have used the bed to put our stuff and over the few years, we had piled up quite a bit so it’s a bit messy. To clean it up we’ll need some time. Is there someone who needs to move in? Is it urgent?”

Teacher Zhang said, “You have three days to clean it up.” Paused for a bit, then said, “Originally, I didn’t want to trouble you, but the school’s residence availability is very limited. This year, there are many new students enrolled. The Logistics Department already checked and only your dormitory has space. There’s a student who needs to move in but doesn’t have a room. That’s why I want you guys to clean up and clear up the bed.”

——That was to say, there was someone out of nowhere who needed a room? What was this person’s background?

Li Xiang wondered, “Are they a graduate student?”

Teacher Zhang said, “No, it is a fourth-year history student. This student’s situation is rather unique. Previously, he had to suspend school for three years due to personal reasons. The history students in his year had all graduated and his bed had long been given away. The 4th floor over at the history department’s dormitory was already full, so it won’t be easy to arrange for him to move back. Since your dorm has a bed, it was convenient to let him stay with you guys for one year.”

Li Xiang smiled cheerfully and said, “Oh, I understand. No problem! I’ll go back and clear away the stuff!”

On the way back, Li Xiang couldn’t help but wonder.

The maximum years for suspending studies in C University was three years. Meaning, regardless of the reasons, once the suspension procedures are handled, the school would keep your status as a student for three years. If you were unable to return within three years, they would treat it as a dropout.

There were two common reasons for suspending studies: the first reason was having health problems and needing to suspend studying to treat it and recuperate before returning. The second reason was for mental health reasons. Some students with high academic pressure have depression. Rather than letting it get to the point of committing suicide, once the school discovers a student facing mental health problems, they would immediately encourage the student to suspend studies to improve their mental health before resuming.

Taking the suspension for three years, this history student was very courageous…

Was there something wrong with his health? Or was it a mental health problem?

Inside the office of the school.

Teacher Lin Fang of the history department watched Li Xiang leave, then turned and said, “Xiao Zhang, sorry to bother you. When this student suddenly returned, I was shocked. His situation is particularly special. Professor Liu personally talked with the dean and asked us to watch him carefully and not let him miss a class…the twenty-something-year-old son is looked after so strictly, even the computer needed to be confiscated.”

Teacher Zhang Yue was incredulous. “The computer is confiscated? That extreme? What’s going on with this student?”

Lin Fang coughed and said, “A first-class player in the gaming world.”

Surprised, Zhang Yue asked, “What’s wrong with university students playing games? Just now, Li Xiang, who’s the physic’s class monitor, also played games.”

Lin Fang rubbed her headache. “He isn’t the same.”

Zhang Yue wondered, “How is it different?”

Lin Fang said, “Have you heard of professional esports leagues?”

Zhang Yue nodded her head.

Lin Fang said, “Wulin is a game. A few years ago, they started an official professional league. This student had led a team to compete, winning many national championships. He is a first-class god in the field of esports.”

Teacher Zhang: “…….”

Playing games? This was common, many students around us played a lot of games.

However, professional leagues were different. Professional players who played esports were playing games as their profession. It was the same as professional basketball and soccer players who competed as their professions.

Esports was a brand new term that appeared in the 21st century. From the first World of Warcraft and StarCraft to Dota and League of Legends…in the digital age, many esport events had emerged one after another. WCG hosting international esports competitions took the esports community by storm. China’s esports community gradually followed the rest of the world. More and more rich and powerful teams and professional first-class players began to emerge. Teams representing China has had countless of amazing success during world competitions!

Nowadays, countries’ esports circles were becoming more and more formal. Popular esports players had countless fans and wherever they went, they would be treated like celebrities!

Teacher Zhang was surprised.

Was such an amazing person actually returning to university campus?

At the same time, at the capital’s airport.

A man pulling a suitcase walked out of the international flights, stopped by a corridor and pulled out a phone.

He wore a pair of jeans and a black vest revealing strong, beautiful muscles. Being taller than 1.85 metres made him very eye-catching. He wore a cap with the brims pulled low. His expression couldn’t be seen clearly, only the corners of the face peeked out from under the cap.

The outline of his side profile was very strong with a tall nose bridge, clean jawline and lips perked up with a smile.

As the man texted, people passing by had a clear view of his pair of hands. It was an extremely beautiful pair of hands with strong slender fingers, even joints and nails neatly trimmed.

Right now, his left hand was holding the phone while his right index finger was flying across the touchscreen, typing.

His hand was extremely quick, and within five seconds, a message was sent from his phone.

“I have returned. Are you in Beijing? Let’s meet up tomorrow?”

After texting, he lazily leaned against the window and closed his eyes in content, basking in the sunlight.

The phone’s ringtone rang right away and a familiar name appeared on the screen: Ye Se.

The other person’s tone appeared a bit cold: “Liu Chuan? What are you doing coming back?”

Liu Chuan said: “Going to school : )”

Ye Se: “……”

Liu Chuan continued: “Tell the team captains, brother won’t be there during this time, be sure not to miss me too much : )”

Ye Se replied: “Get lost.”

Liu Chuan smiled and replied: “Tomorrow at 7 o’clock, old place, my treat.”

Outside the window, the sun shined beautifully.

White clouds, which gathered like pieces of cotton, were spread across the sky and the azure sky was crystal clear as if it has been cleansed by freshwater. Occasionally, there would be aeroplanes flying across the sky, breaking through the horizon and gradually vanished from the people’s view.

A new semester, a new season.

Like what many people said, perhaps this could be a new start?

The corners of Liu Chuan’s mouth raised slightly. He shoved his phone into his pocket and quickly walked out of the airport with his suitcase in tow.