“Oh,” Lin Linya said, completely uninterested after hearing his words. His tone was flat. “Well, aren’t you just the most amazing.”
It was Qiao Yu who finally couldn’t stand the atmosphere. He cut in with an awkward laugh, “Yaya Baby, aren’t you at your 25-Star Promotion Match? Want to try a Trio Queue?”
Lin Linya really disliked Picky. He’d scolded him before, and earlier, he’d kept ganking him. If it weren’t for his Promotion Match, he wouldn’t want to play with him at all. But remembering that Picky had indeed played quite well in that last match, he stayed silent.
Pride or climbing ranks. Such a tough choice.
Seeing him silent, Qiao Yu took it as a tacit agreement. He turned to ask Picky, “What do you say, little bro?”
Song Yu was somewhat distracted.
He should’ve apologized the moment he joined. Now, having missed the best opportunity, he felt a bit regretful.
His lips were pressed almost into a thin line, lost in his own thoughts. So when Qiao Yu called his name a few times, he only just realized what Qiao Yu was asking.
His slightly upturned, fox-like eyes swept over, his gaze landing on the little grass avatar in the team room.
In the past, if he saw an avatar like that in a game, he’d definitely mock it savagely—what old man from a bygone era still uses a default avatar? But now, that tender green, two-leaf little sprout looked adorable no matter how he looked at it.
Promotion Match… If he wins, would he be a little happier?
Qiao Yu finally heard Picky grunt an “Mm” in agreement. Relieved, he started the game and spoke in a joking manner, “Little bro, your Kiki was really good earlier. You actually blew up Little Yang’s Rapidfire. He’s fuming right now.”
Little Yang was their Shooter Bro from the last game. Rapidfire was his signature hero, boasting a Combat Power of 16,000. He bragged every day about being a one-trick.
As soon as Qiao Yu mentioned it, Song Yu remembered how that Rapidfire had shown off right in his face earlier, with the Spirit Cat attached to him. At that time, Song Yu’s anger had flared up; he was practically grinding his teeth to dust.
Spitefully, he said, “He’s not that great either. Needs another couple years of practice. Besides, for a hero like Rapidfire, if you scatter a handful of rice on the keyboard, even a chicken could play him.”
Lin Linya, who could only play Support, suddenly perked up his ears. Taking the provoking words at face value, he puffed up completely round in anger. “…”
What the hell! Why is he hinting at me again!
Qiao Yu burst into loud laughter. Hearing his best friend being belittled to worthlessness—by a high school kid, no less—his mouth was about to split with laughter. “I should’ve recorded that. Did anyone get a screen recording? Remember to send it to Little Yang.”
Knowing Little Yang’s explosive temper, wouldn’t he challenge Picky to a 1v1 for three days and three nights straight?
Back in Little Yang’s stream, the normally normal game discussion suddenly veered off wildly.
【Streamer, Streamer, Picky just said you need to practice for a couple more years.】
【HAHAHAHAHA the sisters passing on the message are so fast. Oh right, he also said Rapidfire is a hero you can scatter rice for and even a chicken could play.】
Little Yang, who was playing a game, saw the danmaku. “???”
Lin Linya noticed Qiao Yu kept calling Picky ‘little bro.’ He turned off his mic and asked his danmaku, “Why do you all call Picky ‘little bro’? Is he really young?”
Soon, a fan informed him: 【Because Picky Bro is still in high school! I heard he’s a senior this year. Grew up in Russia, came back to China with his grandpa in freshman year. He played on the International Server before.】
【I know this! A long time ago, a pro player ran into Picky on the International Server and was shocked to hear Picky was just a kid. But that was a few years back.】
【Domestic Youth Training teams have been wanting him to go pro. But seems like family reasons, so he’s turned them all down. His Chinese really improved a lot over these three years.】
【Wow, didn’t expect red-haired high school bro to be this amazing. Someone else’s 18 years old.】
Lin Linya didn’t quite register everything else; he only saw the line saying Picky was just 18. His eyelashes trembled fiercely, and he guiltily lowered his eyes.
Thinking about how he’d been holding a grudge against a boy several years younger than himself, he suddenly felt a little embarrassed. He pressed a cold cup on his table against his burning cheek, and some of the anger in his heart dissipated.
During hero select, because their team composition was all relatively squishy heroes, Lin Linya filled the gap with a Support who had a lot of HP: Master Roshi.
Qiao Yu saw Picky lock in a Jungler. Before the match even started, he began encouraging Lin Linya, “Picky’s Jungling is super fierce. In team fights later, you just bravely frontline and soak damage, wait for me and Picky to Clean up.”
Lin Linya had been stuck on his 25-Star Promotion Match for several days. Always win one, lose one. His KDA was like a sit-up: up, down, up, down. Finally maxed out his star protection points, then lost two in a row. Completely arranged by the ELO System, he was numb from playing.
Now that he wanted to rank up, of course, whatever Qiao Yu said, he’d agree to. “Okay.”
After the game loaded in, Qiao Yu clicked his tongue. He asked Picky, “Isn’t that Clash Laner on the enemy team CCG’s Antidote? Looks really familiar.”
Song Yu opened the Hero Scoreboard, looked at the ID, and confirmed his guess. “It’s him. End of the month, they probably need to make up their streaming hours.”
Lin Linya asked, totally lost, “What does that mean?”
Qiao Yu said, “Nothing, nothing. We just matched against a pro player. Didn’t expect that coincidence.”
Although he said it lightly, in his heart, he was already complaining. If they matched against anyone else, it might be a bit easier. CCG was a rising star team in the Glory Professional League. They had burst onto the scene as D.K. declined, winning the Spring Championship in Season 12. Now they were one of the more popular teams.
The kind of thing only someone like Lin Linya, who didn’t follow the pro scene, wouldn’t know.
Lin Linya also reflected on himself. He really seemed too lacking in knowledge about this area; he had to study up properly later.
The enemy player, Antidote, was also an old friend of theirs. They’d met before in All-Star Matches and had even queued together. He greeted them actively, 【Hallo there, didn’t expect such a coincidence. Picky Bro, finished your homework yet?】
The thing Song Yu hated most was people mentioning how young he was. He sent back a single period as a greeting. Qiao Yu, on the other hand, was very enthusiastic: 【Hey, hey. Mister Pro, I’m a fan. Wanna gift me a Legendary Skin?】
Antidote laughed and scolded, 【You better watch out. The Coach is standing right next to me. I won’t go easy on you.】
Picky snorted coldly. 【Don’t need you to.】
Lin Linya watched them chat, unable to chime in. He just silently followed behind the Marksman. He didn’t understand these things, but he felt that being a pro player must mean being very, very good.
As expected, their Clash Laner didn’t gain any advantage over Antidote in the Early Game. Though he didn’t give up First Blood, he was basically stuck under the tower, eating scraps.
But Qiao Yu consoled him, “Don’t worry, play slow. Our comp is stronger in the Late Game.”
Lin Linya quietly refuted, “That’s what everyone says when they’re losing.”
Qiao Yu: “…” Damn, the little doll is getting harder and harder to fool.
Song Yu’s personality couldn’t stand even a hint of provocation. Right after clearing his jungle, he gave a fake vision cue toward Mid Lane for Backup. Turning around, he secretly slipped into the brush on the left side of the Clash Lane. The best ambush spot.
Unexpectedly, Antidote was also wily. As soon as he cleared a minion wave, he turtled up under his tower, not coming out. Even called out, 【Little Picky, come on out. Big Bro sees you. Knows you’re there.】
【Picky: .】
【Picky: I’m in the bottom lane.】
He knew Antidote was bluffing, so he deliberately typed that to confuse him. Too bad Antidote, young but cunning like an old fox in the game, didn’t fall for it at all. 【Oh, Marksman, hear that? Be careful, Picky’s in your bottom lane.】
Though he said that, he still tossed out his Skill 1 to check the brush on the sidelane. No one came out, but his sixth sense told him Picky was definitely there.
He panned the Minimap. The moment the enemy red buff jungle camp refreshed, Antidote came out to clear the wave. From the very brush he’d just checked, a black-coated figure burst out.
Antidote’s Heavy Sword lay dead on the ground. Furious, he typed, 【Weren’t you in the Farm Lane?】
Unhurriedly, Song Yu returned to his jungle to collect resources. He found time to reply: 【Is this not the Farm Lane? Oh, sorry. Accidentally got lost.】
People watching this game were laughing to death. One after another said they’d never realized Picky Bro was such a comedian before. Got lost from the Farm Lane all the way to the Clash Lane?
Even Lin Linya couldn’t help but press his lips together, the corners curving up.
This match was very evenly matched. Three team fights back and forth, neither side gained an advantage. When the Shadow Tyrant spawned at 20 minutes, everyone tacitly converged toward the Dragon Pit.
Whichever team secured the Shadow Tyrant would summon Dragon Minions with massive HP pools, hugely advantageous for tower pushing. Neither side wanted to give up this objective.
Lin Linya was so nervous he could die. Hidden in the brush, he watched Picky start the dragon.
The enemy Jungler didn’t dare approach, but he had Smite ready in his grasp, prepared to steal at any moment.
When the Shadow Tyrant’s HP dropped to half, the enemy Mid Laner couldn’t hold back anymore and initiated the team fight. Their side, forced to fight to secure the dragon, had to engage. Qiao Yu called out to Picky, “We fight, we fight. Keep hitting the dragon. Prioritize securing it.”
Song Yu saw the enemy Dual Carry literally bouncing on his face. Twitching his eye, he said, “We can fight this. Pull the dragon out of its pit. Target the carries first.”
“No, Antidote’s vision hasn’t shown yet,” Qiao Yu furrowed his brow. His playstyle differed from Song Yu’s; he was more conservative. Song Yu was the type to dive in the moment he saw an opening.
Lin Linya also checked the Minimap. “Maybe just finish the dragon first? Our minion waves aren’t that great either…”
But before he could finish, Song Yu had already dashed over the Dragon Pit wall, straight into the faces of the enemy Dual Carry.
Lin Linya’s heart nearly leaped out of his chest in fright. He hurriedly followed, throwing a shield onto Picky’s Warp Drifter. The enemy Support blocked desperately but couldn’t stop all five of them. The Dual Carry fell one after another.
Right then, the Heavy Sword, who had been missing in action, finally showed his face. He appeared in their Top Lane, leading a minion wave that was close to Lin Linya’s team’s Nexus.
Qiao Yu’s heart stopped. “This damn Rat! He’s Backdooring us! Recall! Recall now!”
But Recall took six seconds. It was far too late. As Antidote finished off their Nexus, he even typed a very taunting message: 【886.】
The huge word “DEFEAT” popped onto the screen. Lin Linya was so angry he was nearly crying. “My Promotion Match!”
