Zuo Tao, feeling like he had almost lost his soul, made his way back to the private room. He gulped down a glass of cold orange juice, which sobered him up all the way.
God, what did he just do? He called himself ‘dad’ in front of Song Shihan!
“Zuo Tao, what’s wrong with you?” asked the entertainment committee member, walking over when they noticed that Zuo Tao’s complexion was a little off. “Did you have too much to drink? You’re pale.”
Zuo Tao knew that he wouldn’t have problems even if he drank more. He was just scared out of his wits. “Yeah, a little.” Zuo Tao took another sip of the juice, but he still felt discomfited. “Actually, I do feel a little uncomfortable. I’m leaving first.” He glanced at Ding Lei who had released the mic and was crying with their classmates. “Can you help me let them know?”
The committee member nodded, escorting Zuo Tao out the door. They were still worried, so they asked, “Do you need me to call you a car?”
Zuo Tao: “No thanks, I’ve already booked a ride.”
He just really wanted to escape. Song Shihan, after all, wasn’t known for his good temper. If he recovered and wanted to come after him, Zuo Tao would have no way to escape.
Before he officially joined Team Wildfire, he had to stick to his character and make no mistakes.
Song Shihan was, for sure, not as free or idle as Zuo Tao implied.
After he finished his cigarette and blew the smoke to the evening breeze, he went back to the private room they’d rented.
The summer split was approaching, but their team was still lacking a starting support. The kids in youth training camp couldn’t keep up with their pace; even after intense training, they showed no significant results, thus the whole team’s form was off.
The coach saw that the atmosphere in the base wasn’t good so he gave everyone today off to relax before going back to training.
Their coach, Jiang Ming, approached Song Shihan as soon as he noticed him come back. “Where did you even go?” he asked, frowning as he looked up and down the corridor, making sure that there were no strange people around. He breathed a sigh of relief and continued: “I’ve told you before that we’re in a special period. At least cover yourself up a little when you go out. Paparazzi are like crazy dogs, and if they catch you, you won’t even know how they’re going to spin the story about.” Finally, he asked: “You didn’t meet anyone when you were out?”
“No,” Song Shihan said plainly. He went to sit down on the sofa, before continuing: “Just a middle schooler.”
Jiang Ming was confused. “Middle school? They’re not allowed in here, are they?”
“Should be a high schooler, ge,” their midlaner, Wang Qiu, busy playing dice close by, interjected. “The room next door’s one rowdy group of seniors who just finished the college entrance exams. Even the thick soundproofing can’t stop the noise.”
“Probably,” Song Shihan agreed. Thinking of the self-proclaimed pink tyrant, Song Shihan’s eyes flickered and a small smile curved his lips. “He wasn’t that tall. Probably in middle school.”
“Alright, middle school, high school, whatever.” Jiang Ming turned off the music and sat down in front of his players, saying, “I have something to tell you.”
Seeing the serious look on his face, the group discerned that it was something important, and they all put down what they were doing to pay attention.
Jiang Ming continued, “After discussions with management about our missing support, we’ve found and already signed someone.”
Wang Qiu: “What? We already signed him? When? Why didn’t we ever hear about it?” He looked at Song Shihan beside him in bewilderment. “Ge, did you know about this?”
Song Shihan: “I only found out recently.”
According to the conventional process, the team would go through a rigorous period from releasing a recruitment notice to determining who could become their starting players. It was near impossible to achieve within half a month.
Except for the support, all four positions of Team Wildfire had been filled, with Song Shihan bringing the other three into the team.
Just a few days ago they were worrying about the lack of a support since the summer split was coming up. Who would have thought that just a few days later, Jiang Ming would actually reveal that not only have they found someone to take the spot, they’ve also already signed him? There could only be one possibility.
Under the gaze of the whole team, Jiang Ming could only admit, “Nepotism.”
It wasn’t that nepo babies weren’t any good. The esports industry was a game of survival of the fittest, and it was always the strongest who won. If they weren’t good enough, everyone would naturally let them feel the strength of two-handed greetings.
Seeing that Jiang Ming was being calm and Song Shihan wasn’t saying anything, the top laner, Si Zheng, brought up a situation: “Is it some awesome player? Was he poached from somewhere else?”
“Neither.” Jiang Ming shook his head. “He has never played professionally, his resume is blank, and his previous occupation was ‘student’.”
Hearing that, even the usually taciturn jungler, CAT, couldn’t help but scowl. Si Zheng hissed.
Wang Qiu was horrified. “Don’t tell me it’s some random young master who just wants life experience? Is our team short of money now??”
“You talk too much.” Jiang Ming rubbed his forehead. “He was recommended by Su Yueyao. She gave us some gaming data about the kid, and from video analysis alone, he’s a conscious and talented player.” He looked at Song Shihan and continued: “FIRE has also seen the video.”
The team all looked at Song Shihan. Wang Qiu asked, “Ge, what do you think?”
Song Shihan answered shortly: “Not bad.”
Those Song Shihan evaluated as ‘decent’ could be said to be good players.
Jiang Ming interrupted their thoughts. “Don’t worry, the team didn’t let nepotism win that good. He’s only signed a three-month substitute contract. If we can find a more suitable support in these three months, he will be replaced.
“This is our situation now. Any opinions?”
CAT was the first to speak up: “No, there shouldn’t be any problems if he was recommended by Master Su.”
Wang Qiu looked at this female jungler and said, “your fan filter is a little bit too thick.”
CAT was currently the only female player in the Chinese professional league, and she also played jungler. Her play style showed hints of Su Yueyao’s, and even her room was filled with Su Yueyao’s professional era competition posters. She was a loyal fan.
Glancing at his watch, Song Shihan stood up and said, “It’s getting late. It’s time to go.”
With Jiang Ming urging them from the back, the team cooperated, putting on their hats and masks. It was already late by the time they left the center and there weren’t many people outside.
Jiang Ming brought up the group’s rear with Song Shihan. Seeing that he wasn’t talking much, he thought that Song Shihan might be dissatisfied with the decision. “I know Su Yueyao. Any of her recommendations should be reliable.” He paused. “And because of what happened back then, it wasn’t like we could argue to her face.”
Not even a single trial game was played, and they had to rely solely on a few game recordings that didn’t really prove anything. To be honest, Jiang Ming wasn’t too optimistic about this nepo baby substitute support. He himself thought that the decision was audacious, but reality was that they couldn’t recruit a starting support to play for the team. If it continued and they couldn’t find one, the substitute would have to be in the starting position.
But they had no choice. A unanimous decision made by management wasn’t something they could easily change.
“It doesn’t matter,” Song Shihan answered, moving his wrists. “Whether or not there’s a support doesn’t matter to me.”
Jiang Ming: …
Although it sounded crazy, Song Shihan actually had the capital to be this arrogant.
Compared to a nepo baby substitute with nothing to his name, Song Shihan’s background could only be described as impressive. He started participating in competitions and became the individual even world champion. Even when FTU brought honor in the industry, Song Shihan’s contributions to their light was indispensable. A professional game analyst even came out to say that, without Song Shihan, FTU would not have been able to achieve such results.
Song Shihan deserved his title as the top ADC in the server.
But.
As someone worried about the harmony of the team, Jiang Ming still had to speak up: “I’ve gotten news that the kid’s coming to the base tomorrow morning. He’s young and is just coming out of high school. Don’t bully him.”
Song Shihan’s lips twitched. He didn’t respond.
__
The next day.
Zuo Tao woke up at 7 in the morning. He’d gotten home last night, washed up, and collapsed on the bed, but because he was so nervous, he didn’t sleep until way past midnight. He’d only slept four hours.
His appointment at Team Wildfire’s base was at 8:30. He didn’t dare waste time; he took a quick shower and changed his clothes, and then took a taxi to the base.
The base was located in the suburbs of Feng City, and it would take a bit of time to get there. During the ride, Zuo Tao repeatedly checked what he was wearing. To avoid revealing his true character, he made sure to wear a cute, white Kumamon t-shirt. If he’d had more time, he would have dyed his hair back to black to completely disperse the pink tyrant from last night.
At 8:10, he arrived at the base. He paid the fare and got off the car, staring at the imposing building in front of him. He was excited and nervous, and something weighed in his heart.
Standing there, he took out his phone to contact the base’s staff, muttering to himself, “quiet, well-behaved, doesn’t talk too much” over and over again.
After sending the message, the front door of the base was quickly opened from the inside, and a man who looked to be in his thirties walked out with a smile, waving at Zuo Tao.
“Hello, I am Jiang Ming. I am Wildfire’s coach.”
The first rule for any well-behaved child is be polite — call everyone ‘ge’ when you meet him.
He had read countless greetings and kept them in his heart. Zuo Tao bowed slightly and politely greeted, “Hello, Jiang-ge, I’m Zuo Tao, reporting to the base today.”
Everything else aside, Zuo Tao did give quite the impression of being a good boy, as long as his temper didn’t explode. He was pale, had round, bright eyes, gave off a refreshing aura, and looked to have a good temper.
Jiang Ming was surprised. He didn’t expect Su Yueyao’s nephew to be her complete opposite.
A well-behaved child was always likable. Jiang Ming patted the boy’s shoulder, something flashing in his eyes. “We’ve actually met when you were younger, and your aunt took you out to play. It should have been backstage at the venue of S3, do you remember?”
Zuo Tao shook his head and smiled awkwardly, saying: “Sorry, Jiang-ge. It’s been so long and I don’t recall too clearly.”
“That’s fine.” Jiang Ming wasn’t offended at all. Instead, he smiled: “Then again, you should call me Uncle Jiang. Your aunt and I are of the same generation, after all.”
They spoke as they walked towards the base.
After thinking for a moment, Zuo Tao said, “Then I’d better call you coach.”
When he watched Wildfire’s live broadcasts online, the members of the team called Jiang Ming ‘Jiang-ge’. If he came around calling him uncle, wouldn’t that make him another step lower in seniority? It would be strange.
He didn’t want to call Song Shihan ‘uncle’.
The base’s main building had a total of five floors. The first floor was the common area, while the second and third floors were entertainment and fitness. The fourth floor was the dormitory, and the fifth floor was where they would be spending most of their time: the training room.
As for the residence of substitutes and other youth camp trainees, it was located at the back of the second floor.
Jiang Ming stopped the tour on the third floor and said, “the team should still be asleep. I’ll introduce you later.” Seeing the unease on Zuo Tao, he added: “Don’t worry, they’re all good people. They’re easy to get along with.”
As he was speaking, there was movement on the stairs.
Jiang Ming, followed by Zuo Tao, walked over to take a look, and upon realizing who was there, he asked: “Why are you awake so early today?”
Following Jiang Ming’s gaze, Zuo Tao saw the midlaner, Wang Qiu, junger, CAT, and toplaner, Si Zheng, had arrived together wearing their uniforms, as if they’d coordinated their move beforehand. They were all looking at Zuo Tao.
“Hey, shouldn’t we be here to welcome our new support?” Wang Qiu reached out to Zuo Tao, already acting familiar. “Hello, I’m the midlaner, QIU.”
Zuo Tao reached out and shook his hand, subconsciously looking behind the group. He didn’t see the figure he was looking for and for a moment he couldn’t tell whether he was disappointed or grateful.
“Where’s FIRE?” Jiang Ming asked. “He didn’t come with you?”
Si Zheng: “He’s washing up. He’ll be down soon.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the sound of another set of footsteps was heard from upstairs, and Zuo Tao instinctively looked up. Probably because he was woken too early, Song Shihan’s brows were furrowed and he looked impatient. His uniform jacket was draped over his shoulders casually.
Jiang Ming said: “You’re here, let me introduce you. This is our new support, Zuo Tao.”
Zuo Tao straightened his back, and after glancing at Song Shihan, quickly lowered his head.
Song Shihan didn’t respond immediately. His eyes narrowed slightly, looking Zuo Tao up and down, and finally stared at his hair.
It looked somewhat familiar.
Zuo Tao’s scalp was tingling.
His heart was screaming: oh god, does he recognize me? I disguised myself so well, even wearing a Kumamoto shirt!!
Amid Zuo Tao’s internal panic, Song Shihan raised his eyebrows slightly and asked out of suspicion: “Pink tyrant?”
