FOG [e-sports]

Chapter 126

After Zhou Huo expressed his thoughts as manager, he said to the videographer Xiao Ge, “Come here and shoot my phone.”

The videographer was at a loss but he still approached.

Zhou Huo opened Twitter and let the camera show a close-up. He refreshed it and asked the videographer, “Is the time on my Twitter also captured clearly?”

The videographer was confused. He honestly said, “I got it.”

“You can’t fake the time settings on social apps.” Once Zhou Huo does these things he can never talk to Shi Luo about being slugging during discussions of competition systems. He dropped his mobile phone on the table. In a clear, methodical and logical manner, “It’s been less than two hours since our quarterfinal draw, right?”

The videographer nodded again.

Zhou Huo said again, “Get a shot of everyone in this room. Give everyone a close-ups.”

The videographer was completely muddled. He reminded him in a low voice, “Zhou Ge, the players don’t have any makeup on. They haven’t washed their hair…”

Zhou Huo has always paid particular importance on the players’ image when managing the affairs of the team. He usually didn’t allow any of the staff to take pictures of them when they were at the base. When the player’s image was not good, Zhou Huo never allowed any of the staff to take pictures of them.

The cameraman adjusted the lens and took shots of Yu Sui, Shi Luo, Chen Huo, Puppy, Old Qiao… He then turned the camera to Zhou Huo.

“The time and place serve as proof. This is the state of our club just after the draw.” Zhou Huo said calmly, “I don’t know when everyone will see this video and I don’t know if by the time you see this video, whether we have won or lost, whether we would have gotten past the quarterfinals. But I just want to keep a record and leave evidence to let everyone know that before the quarterfinals, no one in my club was afraid to fight.”

“Regarding our opponents in the quarterfinals, it did come as a bit of a surprise but our team was not scared. There was no worry about it, nor were we placed in dire straits because of it. Several of our players were even very excited and very satisfied with the result of the draw.”

“If we win in the quarterfinals, it’s because our players are amazing.”

“If we lose in the quarterfinals… then, to a certain team, know that your fancy tricks before the match did not scare us. We are also happy to have this match. To the sprayers, know that none of our players have ever been frightened. Despite the malicious controlling of points done by a certain team, our team has maintained grace and decentness, preserving the dignity of our region in a foreign country. The players have already done all they could.”

“Cut.” Zhou Huo signaled that the videographer to stop, “Keep this material for me. Make a backup. I can use it for PR after the game.”

The videographer turned off the camera. Only then did Zhou Huo take a deep breath and wipe the hard-to-detect fine sweat on the corner of his forehead.

Old Qiao looked at Zhou Huo’s professional handling of obtaining PR materials to pacifying the players. He was stunned and couldn’t help looking at Yu Sui, “You spent so much money to get Zhou Huo to be our manager. Looks like it was money well-spent… He paved both the front and back roads for you.”

“It’s not really for PR though.” Zhou Huo wiped his sweat, shook his head and couldn’t help laughing, “I’ll tell you even if you make fun of me. You guys have messed with my head so much that now I think I’ve regressed back into a teenager. No, even when I was a teenager, I wasn’t this chuuni. You guys have messed up my head and now it’s no longer just business…Alright, my work is done and the actual sword-swinging and gun-slinging, I’ll leave up to you all.”

The so-called actual sword-swinging and gun-slinging being training, training, and more non-stop training.

Both Free and NSN had reached the quarterfinals. Having just team Saint as their sparring team wasn’t going to be enough. He was afraid of leaking tactics when he was playing against other regions so Old Qiao temporarily got in touch with the domestic teams and scraped together two sparring teams. All of them were top players in active service. All of them endured the time difference to serve as training partners for the two teams. And none of them accept the two teams’ offer to pay them a training partner’s fee.

“For so many years, this person and I have been unable to reconcile…every time we encounter each other in a domestic competition, it’s upsetting for the both of us. Whenever we get matched up in a national server match, he never listens to my instructions and I never get any of his heals. We feel like we’re absolutely ill-matched and rely on ourselves to score on our own…”

Before the practice game the next day, Shi Luo looked at the ID of the medic of the opposite training team and said to himself, “Three years ago, we were both underage minors. We were both newcomers who had just entered the league. We ran into each other in the bathroom of a hot pot restaurant. He threw water on me, and I sprinkled pee on his face… We got into a really heated brawl. At that time, I thought it would be utterly impossible for me to reconcile with this grandson all my life. I thought he thought so too, but now…”

The practice match hasn’t started yet and the iron-boned, firm and unyielding Shi Shen stared at sparring team’s ID for a long time. He then pulled the keyboard open and as he usually did before each practice match, typed in the shared chat.

Only that this time, he typed a lot slower.

[Free-Evil]: [Thank you, brothers, for your hard work. ]

【Unruly BOok】：[……]

[Free-Evil]: [……Thank you. ]

[Unruly BOok]: [It’s… you don’t have to be polite. ]

[Free-Evil]: [It’s not being polite. We really have troubled you all… Thank you. ]

[Unruly BOok]: [……[Heart Emoji]]

Shi Luo closed his eyes a lengthy internal struggle, he also replied back with an emoticon.

【Free-Evil】：[[A little small flower]]

Chen Huo also entered the custom room. Looking at Shi Luo’s chat, he let out a snort of laughter, “Just incredible! Shi Zai thanking the enemy? You even gave a little rose, hahaha. I’m going to die from laughing&#k2026;The little whelp’s all grown up.”

Shi Luo blushed and said irritably, “What was I supposed to do?! They came to help with the practice, can’t I say thanks?”

“You can.” Puppy said with a smile, “Shi Zai is such a good boy who knows to do the right thing. Actually, yesterday, when Old Qiao told me that the medic for the sparring team was going to be Grumpy Shu, I was worried that you would storm off in anger and refuse to practice.”

Shi Luo frowned, “I’m not stupid.”

Old Qiao was very satisfied, “Look, didn’t I say it was going to be okay? It’s been three years. They say that many people have tried to help to make peace, but neither of these two have reconciled. Now, tsk…it’s done.”

Yu Sui looked at the chat log and smiled, “…what so many people weren’t able to do, Sacred Sword did so easily.”

Zhou Huo: “Pft!”

Under Sacred Sword’s continued provocation, the Chinese division has achieved unprecedented unity and friendship. While there was a war against outsiders, everyone was banded together against the outsiders. Regardless how they would be enemies once the new season starts after the World Championships, at least for now, everyone just wanted to stick it to Sacred Sword.

Some of the domestic teams even took the initiative to contact Zhou Huo, asking if they needed help forming a sparring team. Now NSN also needed a sparring team. To practice different styles of play, three sparring teams was barely enough. Free, as the left half’s first team, meant that they would also be the first team to play in the quarter-finals. There were only six days left before the game. Before that, they had to have a trash-talking recording, do the official interviews, do the rehearsal before the game…

There was not much time left.

Zhou Huo thanked their domestic brothers for their kindness and formed a fourth sparring team. Since the night of the draw, Free’s players had almost no time to rest apart from sleeping and eating. Zhou Huo’s management team was very reliable. They were very attentive in their handling of various activities. Whenever there was anything they needed to trouble the players about, it would only be brought up when everyone was in a relaxed mood after the game reviews.

Such as noon time on the second day after the draw.

“There’s something I need to ask everyone.”

Everyone was eating, Zhou Huo waited until everyone had almost finished eating before asking, “It’s from the league. Normally, you would need to fill in the application form yourself. Knowing that you’re busy, I took a look at it for you. If anyone needs it, just let me know. You don’t have to fill it in yourself. I’ll arrange it, no need to worry about it.”

Zhou Huo handed forms to the four of them.

Shi Luo put down his chopsticks and took the form——

“Application Form for Accompanying Family Members of Contestants”

Starting from the quarterfinals, the league was offering to reimburse the travel expenses of accompanying family members of the players. If players would like to avail, they needed to fill in their family information so that they could book the hotel and the tickets. Zhou Huo has already read the form carefully and he explained, “Actually, we don’t actually need to do it this early. Some teams wait before the semi-finals or the finals before letting their parents and family come over. Some invite their girlfriends…NSN’s manager told me that they wouldn’t be able to enjoy this benefit if they fail to pass the quarterfinals so he urged me to give you the forms too, just…”

Zhou Huo only knew that Shi Luo’s relationship with his family was not good. He wasn’t particularly clear on the others’ situations either. He hadn’t actually wanted to mention this. However, this was part of the formal process of the league and he still had to explain it. Zhou Huo smiled, “Just…does anyone need it?”

“I don’t.” Shi Luo crumpled the form into a ball and threw it into the disposable lunch box. “No one will come.”

Zhou Huo smiled, “… Actually, not all of NSN’s players have parents coming over either.”

“My parents are definitely not coming.” Chen Huo tossed the form aside and said, “They’ve just learned to accept my job in the past two years. Our relationship is just beginning to ease. Don’t even think about trying to get them here to show support. Don’t even bother.”

Puppy slowly said, “Well, my parents don’t scold me. They think I’m pretty amazing being able to earn this much. But they don’t watch the games at all and don’t understand it. To get them here means getting them to cooperate with the league’s emotional gimmicks. Boring.”

Zhou Huo smiled and looked at Yu Sui, “You…”

“They can’t come.” Yu Sui didn’t even read the form. He said while eating. “They’d have to get permission from the top if they want to go abroad. They need to go through the process step by step. They’ll get approval in maybe a month. Not to mention that they’re not interested, even if they really did want to come, they won’t even make it to see the finals.”

Zhou Huo gulped.

He had just called NSN’s manager. Almost all the players on NSN’s side have family members who will come; especially Xinran, even his girlfriend’s parents were going to fly over to watch NSN in the quarterfinals.

Looking at his team…

Not a single player’s parents will come over.

Puppy was right. The league will indeed arrange the process. Parents of the contestants would be asked to record a pre-match video giving their blessing and good luck wishes to the players. On the day of the match, the league will arrange for them to have the best spot in the arena.

Compared to other teams…the players on his team seemed like they were unloved by their parents.

All the players in the competition were boys in their twenties. How great would it be to have your parents here watching you place in such a big match?

Zhou Huo felt choked in his heart and couldn’t help feeling distressed. He apologized, “It’s okay if they don’t come, I, I… Sigh, I shouldn’t have mentioned it.”

The four people in the room looked at Zhou Huo, completely perplexed.

“He…” Chen Huo turned to look at Puppy and asked curiously, “Is he feeling sad for us?”

Puppy looked at Zhou Huo with interest and nodded, “It seems that like his eyes are about to turn red at any moment.”

Shi Luo frowned and looked at Zhou Huo, “What are you crying for?”

Yu Sui also looked at Zhou Huo, utterly confused.

Zhou Huo: “……”

Zhou Huo couldn’t get out of it so he had to admit, “Well, I feel sorry for you.”

“What are you being all fussy about?” Chen Huo said, unable to understand, “So what if my family doesn’t come? What if I make a mistake and my father scolds me for being an idiot after? Since we set down on this career path, none of our family members have ever watched a game. And no one’s sad about it either. So, what’s the matter?”

Puppy nodded, “They never have. And truth be told I wouldn’t be happy to have them come either. How is this any different from having your parents watch you take the college entrance examinations?”

Zhou Huo: “……”

Old Qiao watched the excitement and said leisurely, “How do you think all these villain came to be? Don’t be corny… They really don’t care.”

“My parents are not very supportive and don’t like watching the games. So what?” Chen Huo smiled, “If I don’t interfere with them, my parents still recognize me as their son and I recognize them as my parents.”

Puppy added, “And they won’t get in the way of us taking the championship.”

Zhou Huo was at a loss for word and didn’t know what to say for a while.

Zhou Huo said carefully, “Are you…really not sad?”

“Ge,” Chen Huo said sincerely, “We’re really not as delicate and sensitive as you think. You don’t have to insist on doing this. It’s good enough that our parents can now accept it calmly and shows us care and consideration by feeding us well when we visit for the holidays. We’re very happy as is.”

Zhou Huo had to say dryly, “Okay. If you don’t care about it then that’s good.”

When he thought about how the other teams would have videos of their family wishing them good luck before the game; how it would be warm and lively and about how his team wouldn’t have that, Zhou Huo still felt a little sad and distressed. He said, hesitantly, “The video…”

Yu Sui saw that Zhou Huo was really thinking about everyone, and kindly suggested, “If you really want our team to have this kind of emotional segment, I don’t mind if we each stand as fathers for each other in the team. Everyone can help record a few words for each other…”

Shi Luo didn’t even think about it and said, “Chen Huo can’t be my father, everyone else is fine.”

Chen Huo glared at Shi Luo.

Zhou Huo was completely fed up. He nodded, “Fine, you’re all ruthless… Continue your training, I’ll go refuse their offer.”

The chuuni and sensitive manager Zhou took the form and walked out of the training room. The villains left in the room couldn’t help laughing.

Ten minutes before the next practice match, everyone was slumped on their own gaming chairs to rest. Chen Huo and Puppy chatted about the trivial things they had had with their family members since the easing of their relationship over the past two years. Shi Luo pulled open the keyboard and built a custom room to be used later.

Not far away, Yu Sui looked at Shi Luo.

The three of them really didn’t care about this. Their relationship with their family has been getting better and better in the past few years. Everyone truly didn’t care about this trivial matter.

But Shi Luo wasn’t the same.

It’s not that he didn’t care, it’s had he really didn’t have the support of his parents.

Though he had laughed at Zhou Huo’s fussiness just now, looking at Shi Luo, Yu Sui did feel a little distressed.

This was the first year his boyfriend has gotten into the quarterfinals of the World Championships. It was the first time, he had found out that there was such a thing as part of the program.

Yu Sui pushed away from the table and slid his gaming chair to Shi Luo’s side.

Yu Sui seemed to be watching Shi Luo set up a room. Shi Luo didn’t care.

Yu Sui looked at Shi Luo’s computer screen and whispered softly, “…Would you like your boyfriend to record a video for you?”

The corners of Shi Luo’s lips ticked down slightly and he said nothing.

“That video they play before the trash-talking portion. They put it up on the big screen before the game. So, should I?” Yu Sui said in a low voice, “It will be a global live broadcast. Should I go public about our relationship there? Okay?”

“Not okay.” Shi Luo retorted seriously, “It’s just the quarterfinals. What do you mean ‘go public’? Sacred Sword isn’t worth it.”

Yu Sui smiled, “If the quarterfinals are not good, then when would be good? Shi Shen…When will you officially announce our relationship and give me a proper identity, huh?”

Shi Luo couldn’t help being teased into smiling by Yu Sui but he still didn’t answer.

Having let Yu Sui tease him, Shi Luo’s minor emotional discomfort completely dissipated. The two of them were very close. Shi Luo curiously asked while setting up the room, “You said your parents would need to apply to go abroad…what do you mean?”

Yu Sui has always been silent about his parents. After thinking about it, he said succinctly, “Academic personnel at their level can’t go abroad just whenever they feel like it. If they really want to go abroad, they would need to apply first. They’ll have to explain what they want to do there and when they’ll be coming back…it’s very troublesome.”

Shi Luo was surprised, “They… this level is quite high. Don’t academics who reach this level basically already belong to the state? It’s that strict?”

“Well, it’s very strict.” Yu Sui nodded and glanced at Shi Luo from out the corner of his eyes. To frighten him, he said, “Shi Shen, now that you’re dating me, if they find out, you might be subjected to political investigation.”

Shi Luo: “……”

Shi Luo held back for a long time and then whispered, “I have pierced ears and top of that, I even smoke…am I going to pass?”

Yu Sui smiled, “I can’t say for sure.”

“Is messing with me that fun?” Shi Luo pursed his lips but threw the cigarette between his lips onto the table. He rubbed his ears that had gone red from Yu Sui’s teasing and urged, “Let’s start training! “