Xiao Shengjing raised his head, thinking he misheard. “Huh? What do you want to try?”
Lin Lan: “Mid lane.”
“Mid-lane?” Xiao Shengjing looked at him, suddenly rising from his chair with a loud “clatter”, catching the attention of all the teammates training around them. “Didn’t you say you don’t want to play mid-lane?”
The training room fell silent, everyone’s eyes on them, including Coach Zhang, who had just come out of the office, halted in his steps.
“Um…” Under everyone’s scrutiny, Lin Lan struggled for a reason, actually not clear about it himself. He just felt he should step up at this moment. “The team needs me, and I have a great top lane candidate to recommend to you, he…”
Xiao Shengjing put down what he was holding, grabbing his hand with a serious expression. “Come with me.”
He led Lin Lan to the tea room, turned on the light, and closed the door. He firmly held Lin Lan’s shoulder, making him sit down. Xiao Shengjing looked at him earnestly. “Lin Lan, calm down first. This decision isn’t trivial. Once you decide to play mid, it won’t be easy to leave if you change your mind.”
Lin Lan nodded. “I understand.”
Not only would the team disagree, but also DT’s fanbase. Once decided, it would be a lifelong commitment.
Xiao Shengjing lowered his body, almost kneeling as he looked at him. “Lin Lan, I know you’re doing this for the team, but you don’t have to make such sacrifices. I don’t want to see you unhappy. I hope for the remaining time, you do what you want. Even if you go back to that world, I won’t have any regrets.”
Xiao Shengjing’s voice was genuinely gentle, and the grip of his hand was soft. Lin Lan was deeply touched by this sincerity. His fingers gently clasped the other’s hand, feeling a sense of reassurance stronger than ever.
Xiao Shengjing didn’t know if Lin Lan would stay in this world forever. Lin Lan hadn’t told him yet because he wanted to test some things through time.
“I know,” Lin Lan held his hand. “Let me explain. There were two reasons why I didn’t want to play mid-lane before. One was because I had an accident while playing mid in the original world, and I suffered serious hand injuries. This incident also led to me being cyberbullied, so I had some resistance to this position. But in this world, everything is different. There’s no hand injury, and no cyberbullying.”
Lin Lan: “The second reason is that I always felt that I couldn’t make any more progress in the mid-lane position. I arrogantly thought I had reached the ceiling in this industry. But a few days ago, Coach Shi told me that my playstyle was flawed. My perceived ceiling was actually my bottleneck. So these days, I’ve been thinking about how to break through. I want to return to this position, not because of the team, but because I want to.”
At that moment, Xiao Shengjing saw a certain light in Lin Lan’s eyes, a passion for esports that had once disappeared but now returned.
Xiao Shengjing had never seen how dazzling Lin Lan was back then. Perhaps, he could witness how dazzling Lin Lan would be in the future.
He couldn’t help reaching out to touch Lin Lan’s cheek, looking up at him, half kneeling, and pulling him tightly into his arms, “Okay, I’ll accompany you.”
Lin Lan finally smiled. His smile was like a seabird flying in the sky, even the sun in the sky couldn’t compare to his brightness.
Next, Lin Lan expressed his thoughts: “IB once hid two genius players, one was Deng, who is now their starting player in the jungle position. At that time, you were also in IB. They didn’t need another jungler and were unwilling to let go of Deng, whom they had cultivated, so they decided to put him on ice.”
The decision to put him on ice was also made by a fool.
He believed that releasing such a sharp-styled jungler would inevitably threaten IB’s position, so they had to put him on ice.
“The second one is the substitute for the top lane.” Lin Lan’s expression turned serious, quickly recalling the events of the past, “This player was the most unfortunate. At that time, IB thought they might not be able to sign Wulen, so they decided to find a substitute as the transfer window was about to close. They chose Jiang Xu, who was still a rookie at the time with excellent talent. But unexpectedly, IB eventually signed Wulen, so Jiang Xu could only be benched as a substitute.”
“Jiang Xu?” Xiao Shengjing seemed to have some impression, “I think I’ve seen his games before.”
Xiao Shengjing: “If I remember correctly, he debuted in ASF. At that time, he was promoted from the second team to the main team and performed remarkably on the battlefield. He caught the eye of the IB manager and was subsequently signed by IB. However, in terms of fame and strength, he was far behind Wulen, so he was destined to be benched, and if he didn’t behave, he would be demoted to the second team.”
It was so cruel to finally climb up from the second team only to be demoted back again.
So Jiang Xu could only endure…
And wait for the right opportunity…
Lin Lan: “This year, IB’s finances will be in trouble. They will put Jiang Xu up for sale. This is Jiang Xu’s chance, and ours too.”
Xiao Shengjing: “And the price?”
Lin Lan: “If I remember correctly, it should be 30 million.”
Xiao Shengjing frowned, suddenly looking troubled, “What do you think of his abilities?”
Lin Lan: “I’ve always felt that Jiang Xu is the closest player to Wulen, but he’s just unlucky, never given the chance to prove himself. If DT can buy him, I believe he’ll be a perfect fit for our top lane.”
A player close to Wulen, combined with him and Lin Lan, wouldn’t that be like building another Galaxy Battleship similar to the original IB in another world?
This has been proven in another world, this is the makeover of a world champion.
Moreover, the combination of Jiang Jin and Xu Shengwei in the bottom lane is stronger individually than in IB’s bottom lane. If successful, DT might create history by forming an unprecedented cosmic team.
Looking at Lin Lan’s radiant eyes, Xiao Shengjing sighed, “30 million is also exaggerated. How can I convince Brother Mu to spend 30 million on a player who hasn’t even played a game?”
This 30 million is just the transfer fee, not including the player’s salary. In other words, if signed for three years, the cost could be around 40 million.
Not to mention that Jiang Xu has hardly played any games, and he has been benched for almost a year. Who can guarantee his form?
And transfers require the agreement of all three parties. IB obviously doesn’t genuinely want to sell Jiang Xu. They just want to continue to put him on ice under the guise of being unable to sell him, hence the sky-high price tag.
Even if Jiang Xu wants to leave, no one dares to take on this sky-high transfer fee, let alone guarantee that he can generate tens of millions in revenue.
It’s precisely because of this reason that Jiang Xu is put up for sale every year, yet never bought, and sits on the bench at IB year after year…
Lin Lan will never forget the look in Jiang Xu’s eyes when they took the field, a look of extreme longing for the arena hidden behind a smile.
“Lin Lan, do you want some water? Let me pour you a glass.”
“Oh, I’m already the water dispenser goalkeeper, haha…”
“It’s okay, I’m just as happy to see you guys win.”
“It’s nothing, just feeling a bit emotional.”
“Lin Lan, I really want to play…”
“Do you think my life is over?”
Drops of water make a sound as they fall onto the surface, but Jiang Xu’s tears are silent. He always smiles at everyone, but tears fill his eyes unnoticed.
A player’s peak period lasts only three years. So when that number approaches infinity, Jiang Xu’s smile gradually turns into confusion.
“Lin Lan, I really want to play.”
“Lin Lan, do you think my life is over…”
“Jiang Xu’s contract is signed for five years, and it’s only the second year now,” Lin Lan felt a headache. Many newcomers don’t understand the intricacies here and are tricked into signing many unfair clauses. At this point, the league has not yet introduced measures to protect players’ contracts. So even if they want to apply for arbitration, there’s no way. “What should we do?”
Xiao Shengjing calmly pondered for a long time, dissecting the problem layer by layer, “Transfers require the agreement of all three parties. Since IB is already preparing to put Jiang Xu up for sale, it’s like they’ve agreed. Then it’s Jiang Xu’s own problem, is he willing to come to DT? Or does he still want to stay at IB and wait for Wulen to leave?”
Lin Lan shook his head, “It’s impossible. In fact, he knew his chances were slim as soon as Wulen was signed. If someone is willing to lend him a hand, he’ll definitely agree.”
“Alright, let’s assume he agrees too. Now there’s only one party left, and that’s Brother Mu.” Xiao Shengjing stood up, “Let me handle this. I’ll go persuade him.”
“Captain,” Lin Lan suddenly grabbed him, “If the team is really in trouble, I can use all my earnings and bonuses this year to invest in the team. Please make sure to sign Jiang Xu, he’s really important.”
Xiao Shengjing didn’t expect Lin Lan, who seemed so money-minded, to make such a big sacrifice for a player. He looked at him intently, “You, are you close to Jiang Xu?”
Lin Lan: “It’s okay. I mainly feel that he’s a lot like another me. Every time I see him, I feel a special connection and really want to give him a chance like I had.”
Because he had been rained on before, he wanted to hold an umbrella for someone else.
Perhaps for Lin Lan, money beyond basic needs was truly just a symbol; he had something far more important than money, and that was belief.
Xiao Shengjing suddenly smiled. Why did he find Lin Lan more adorable the more he looked at him?
He pinched him lightly, “Don’t worry, Brother Mu’s main shareholder behind the scenes is my grandma, so you don’t need to worry about anything.”
Lin Lan’s cheek was pinched painfully, wrinkling his eyebrows and showing his canine teeth.
Ugh, Brother Mu complains about being broke every day, making him think the team is really poor. But it turns out he’s just worrying like a maid for the master.
Lin Lan and Xiao Shengjing came to the office together, intending to tell everyone about this matter. As soon as they arrived, they saw everyone in the office looking serious. The team leader, who had been hesitant to speak recently, asked him slightly nervously, “Lin Lan, did the IB manager approach you privately?”
Lin Lan: “Ah, what does he want with me?”
The team leader looked at the manager, the manager looked at Coach Zhang, and Coach Zhang looked at Brother Mu.
Brother Mu had a stern expression on his face, clearly infuriated. He slammed the book he was holding onto the table. “IB has gone too far!”
Lin Lan was taken aback and quickly asked the team leader, “What’s going on?”
The team leader looked a bit embarrassed, unsure whether to speak or not. “Just now, the boss of IB called Brother Mu and said that he feels good about contacting you privately and wants to spend some transfer fee to buy you. He also said he would fully respect your wishes and hopes Brother Mu can also respect that. Brother Mu is furious after hearing this.”
This kind of approach is somewhat disrespectful.
Lin Lan’s transfer is different from Jiang Xu’s. It doesn’t require the agreement of all three parties. His contract with DT is renewed annually, automatically extending each year. As long as Lin Lan initiates the termination of the contract, it will end.
In other words, Lin Lan is under contract protection. He can accept a higher offer at any time, so IB dares to be so arrogant, directly making provocative calls to Brother Mu’s phone.
This is clearly IB’s style of doing things. They want to provoke internal conflicts, causing them to fall apart, and then benefit from the situation. They might even use the ensuing media storm to their advantage.
Lin Lan saw through their tricks a long time ago and explained immediately, “They haven’t approached me. Even if they did, I wouldn’t meet with them privately.”
It’s also thanks to Lin Lan spending every day with Xiao Shengjing that Brother Mu trusts him. Otherwise, IB’s schemes might have succeeded.
Brother Mu was very angry at their behavior, “From now on, IB is our enemy! Poaching our players and spreading rumors about our players, they deserve condemnation! I firmly oppose such improper behavior!”
After he finished, everyone in the office joined in cursing IB. Lin Lan found it amusing and quietly asked Xiao Shengjing, “Has Brother Mu always been so righteous?”
Xiao Shengjing sighed, “He’s read too many martial arts novels.”
The book Brother Mu had slammed on the table was one of the recent popular martial arts novels. This reminded Lin Lan of Brother Mu’s earlier statement, “I, Mu Zhenghong, embody righteousness and integrity.” Yeah, he’s got that vibe.
The day after the IB boss expressed interest in contacting Lin Lan, industry insiders anonymously leaked information.
One of the revelations stated that the IB boss was planning to replace the mid-laner in their team at any cost to acquire Lin Lan, but DT refused to budge. Meanwhile, Lin Lan’s own stance was still unclear.
As soon as this leak came out, IB fans were instantly thrilled. They all believed that Lin Lan’s arrival would elevate IB to unimaginable heights. Moreover, whether in terms of fame or salary, Lin Lan would be hundreds of times better off at IB than at DT. It’s a win-win situation. If the DT boss is sensible, he should let him go quickly, and everyone can be happy together.
With this, the doomsday for DT fans seemed to have arrived. They rushed to the official account seeking the truth of the matter, fearing that Lin Lan would indeed be poached.
Most of Lin Lan’s fans supported his move to IB, believing it was the best for his development, while only a small fraction supported any decision he made.
This leak stirred the hearts of the entire league, even sparking discussions in Korea because this could potentially change the current situation of the LPL and give rise to a world-class powerhouse.
It’s important to note that after the summer split comes the World Championship, and the composition of the teams now will be the composition of the LPL facing the World Championship in the future. Lin Lan’s choice will impact the entire league’s situation.
For a while, the esports forums were in a frenzy, fiercely discussing this matter.
And Lin Lan remained silent throughout: No statement.
Regardless of how the barrage in the livestream exploded, he didn’t look, listen, or respond. He continued to stream as usual, unaffected by the chaos.
Sometimes Coach Zhang couldn’t help but mutter to Xiao Shengjing, “What does Xiao Lin really think? Is it because we gave him too little equity that he’s hesitating?”
Xiao Shengjing reassured him, “Lin Lan definitely wants to stay at DT. Don’t be fooled by the small stake DT offers; he’s attached to it.”
Lin Lan indeed hesitated to let go of his stake in DT. It’s something he had worked hard for five years and still hadn’t received. It held special significance for him. The reason he didn’t make a statement was because Xiao Shengjing said that once he did, it would be difficult for DT to acquire Jiang Xu. So these past few days, he remained tight-lipped. Even when Brother Mu asked, he just gave vague responses.
But Lin Lan was curious. While playing in Xiao Shengjing’s room, he suddenly asked, “How did you convince Brother Mu to buy Jiang Xu? That’s 30 million.”
Xiao Shengjing casually adjusted his sleeves and picked up his water glass. “I told him that if he couldn’t get Jiang Xu, you would go to IB. Brother My was so anxious that he was scrambling for money like ants on a hot pot.”
Lin Lan chuckled, “And then? Did he have enough money?”
Xiao Shengjing: “Not quite. So he went back to ask my grandma for investment. I also called my grandma to persuade her. If I’m not mistaken, Jiang Xu’s contract should be secured in these few days.”
Lin Lan: “IB is letting him go so easily?”
Xiao Shengjing: “Well, I have connections in IB. I gave them a hint, saying that you’re reluctant to leave DT because of sentimental reasons, not wanting to depart from your old team in times of crisis. Then, within two days, IB took the initiative to approach Brother Mu, asking if he wanted to buy Jiang Xu. They even offered a discount proactively. Brother Mu, being someone who loves a good deal, was afraid the other party might change their mind, so he immediately agreed to a verbal agreement.”
Lin Lan couldn’t help but admire him for this move. Xiao Shengjing truly lived up to his reputation; his mind was sharp.
It seemed that Jiang Xu wouldn’t be staying at IB for much longer. Lin Lan began rubbing his hands together eagerly, “That’s great.”
Xiao Shengjing’s hand, which was holding the coffee, paused slightly. He set down the cup, looking somewhat uneasy as he glanced at Lin Lan. “Lin Lan, can you come over here?”
Without hesitation, Lin Lan walked over. “What’s wrong?”
Xiao Shengjing looked up at him, reaching out to wrap his waist gently, guiding him closer to himself. There was a faint uncertainty in his eyes. “I want to hug you.”
Before he finished speaking, he had already hugged Lin Lan tightly, his large hand pressing against the small of his back, as if he wanted to envelop him completely. “Lin Lan, do you like me?”
“Mmm.” Lin Lan allowed himself to be embraced. From this angle, he could see the top of Xiao Shengjing’s head. He reached out and gently touched it, feeling the fluffy texture, like a big dog. “Why are you suddenly being so sentimental?”
Xiao Shengjing buried his face in Lin Lan’s waist, mumbling, “You want Jiang Xu to come so badly that I’m starting to feel a bit afraid of him coming.”
Lin Lan laughed aloud, vigorously rubbing Xiao Shengjing’s hair as if he were rubbing his own. “Are you getting jealous? Jiang Xu is a typical straight guy. He’ll have a girlfriend in the future.”
Xiao Shengjing: “Have you met his girlfriend?”
Lin Lan: “Yeah, it’s Qi Mo’s little cousin, Qi Rong. At that time, Qi Rong was also my fan, and Jiang Xu helped her get a signed photo from me. After some back and forth, they ended up together.”
Xiao Shengjing felt relieved now. He slightly loosened his grip, realizing he had been a bit melodramatic earlier. Knowing Lin Lan didn’t like melodramatic people, he quickly tried to make up for it. “I was just…”
“I know,” Lin Lan cradled his face, a bright smile playing at the corners of his lips. “You were just jealous.”
In Lin Lan’s eyes, Xiao Shengjing saw something akin to a constellation, once distant and unreachable, now within reach. His heart swelled with joy, unable to contain the tumultuous fluttering in his chest.
“Lin Lan,” Xiao Shengjing’s throat moved slightly, his grip on Lin Lan’s hand tightening ever so slightly, “Can I kiss you?”
Lin Lan: “Hmm?”
Before he could react, Xiao Shengjing stood up with a ‘whoosh’ and lightly touched his lips.
His heart was pounding so hard it felt like it might leap out of his chest. Lin Lan’s face flushed red in an instant. “You…”
Xiao Shengjing wasn’t any better off. His face turned red from his cheeks to the roots of his ears, and even his eyes seemed to be tinged with red.
He leaned in close, staring at Lin Lan intently. Sensing that Lin Lan wasn’t entirely opposed, he leaned in again and lightly brushed his soft lips.
This kiss crossed a line, sending a rush of soft sensation spreading through their limbs and bones.
It was like opening Pandora’s box; countless desires surged forth, consuming their rationality.
Xiao Shengjing’s breath was in chaos as he grabbed Lin Lan’s hand, wrapping it around his waist, while his other hand cradled the back of his head, kissing his lips once more.
The moist, soft touch exploded between their lips and teeth. Although it was their first kiss, it felt like some desire was guiding them to explore, each movement driven by its own will, no longer under the control of their brains.
Plus, neither of them knew how to kiss. So in the process of constant adjustment and collision, the unfamiliar sensations repeatedly stimulate their senses.
It was a satisfaction that couldn’t be obtained anywhere else or by doing anything else.
Xiao Shengjing felt like his head was about to explode. Finally, he released Lin Lan and looked at him, panting and blushing, then hugged him tightly.
Then, he laughed, laughing out loud.
As he laughed, he rubbed Lin Lan’s hair, not hiding his joy.
Perhaps his fondness for Lin Lan was simply uncontrollable. Even if he suppressed it, it would still find a way out.
Lin Lan’s face went from red to the roots of his ears. Now he was being hugged tightly like a doll by Xiao Shengjing, feeling a bit embarrassed. “What are you laughing at?”
Xiao Shengjing didn’t know what he was laughing at either. He affectionately rubbed Lin Lan’s head and hugged him, holding his precious one. “Laughing at how you don’t know how to kiss.”
Lin Lan retorted, “You act like you know, but you’re just randomly biting while hugging.”
Upon hearing this, Xiao Shengjing hugged him even tighter, leaving no gap between them. He lovingly strokes Lin Lan’s hair, unwilling to stop for a moment. How could he like him so much? He liked him to the extent that he wanted to squish him into a tiny ball and keep him in the palm of his hand.
Lin Lan was being hugged, with only his head sticking out.
The mirror on the wall clearly reflected his blushing face. Recalling the kiss just now, although he didn’t want to admit it, he had to admit that there was a shameful sense of pleasure surging in his head at that moment.
It was a feeling that couldn’t be obtained anywhere else.
Lin Lan: “Can I call you by your full name from now on?”
Xiao Shengjing: “Huh? Why are you suddenly asking this?”
Lin Lan: “Well… I just feel like calling you ‘captain’ feels like I’m kissing my own teammate, which I find a bit hard to accept.”
Xiao Shengjing laughed again. Half-sitting on the table, his long legs stretched out, trapping Lin Lan in front of him. He looked at Lin Lan as if he couldn’t get enough of him. “You can call me Ah Jing. That’s what my family calls me.”
Lin Lan turned his red face away. “Who said you’re my family?”
Xiao Shengjing: “You.”
Lin Lan blushed even more under his gaze. “Xiao Shengjing, do you have any shame?”
Xiao Shengjing laughed again. He took Lin Lan’s hand and pulled him into his embrace, quietly looking at him.
He liked him so much…
He really liked him…
With such a beloved, what else did he need to be ashamed of?
