Chapter 37

Outside the arena, Little Sweet Joy was resting her chin on her interlocked hands, her smile sweet. “We can see there are three teams remaining on the field now, two of them full squads. Block, despite his young age, truly has some skill.”

Lin Lin nodded, a playful smirk on his face. “Block is only 15 this year. Who would’ve thought he’s already a three-year PUBG veteran? Maybe this is what they mean by talent that gets spoon-fed by the heavens.”

“Whether in terms of tactical decision-making or mechanics, he’s already a very mature player.”

Little Sweet Joy hadn’t expected him to give such a high appraisal. Smiling, she asked, “So our Little Brother is that impressive? Why hasn’t he gone pro then? Is it because he hasn’t met the age requirement yet?”

Lin Lin was always patient with pretty girls. “Age is one reason, but it’s not the main one. Block made it clear early on during his streams that he has no desire to go pro.”

“He once mentioned on stream that he has an older brother who plays in the Pro League, so their parents don’t approve of him going down the same path. He also said he just sees gaming as entertainment and would rather focus on his studies.”

Little Sweet Joy wasn’t very familiar with gaming scene gossip. She was far more interested in the brother Lin Lin mentioned. “Who is his brother? I imagine that with such an outstanding younger sibling, the brother must be just as impressive.”

Lin Lin knew some inside details, but he couldn’t just casually reveal someone’s privacy. He laughed it off. “I’m not really sure about that.”

Given Little Sweet Joy’s status as the Top Female Streamer in the Beauty Section, her emotional intelligence was naturally top-notch. She smoothly steered the topic away. “In Block’s squad, two members are streamers from other game categories. Getting into the top three is truly no easy feat.”

“Does Brother Lin know these two players?”

Lin Lin’s gaze returned to the game. “Little Yang is an old friend of mine. He’s a very steady player. We’ve queued together before; his close-quarters gunplay is quite good. The other one, I’m not too familiar with. A new streamer, perhaps?”

Little Sweet Joy smiled. “I’ve watched his stream. He’s a very unique gaming streamer, and he sings beautifully too. He’s also excellent at playing the Guitar.”

Both of their gazes unconsciously landed on the young man wearing the headphones.

The black Gaming Headset made his skin look a creamy white. Every emotion he felt was plainly written on his face. When he smiled, the corners of his mouth curved up like parentheses. When attacked, he’d panic, his mouth opening wide as if he could swallow an egg.

But even so, he was still incredibly Pretty. The light from the Computer screen reflected in his light brown eyes, making them sparkle. His cheeks flushed pink, a sight that could truly be described as a feast for the eyes.

[Hahaha, first time seeing a Female Streamer and an older Pro Player both smirking dotingly at another streamer like that.]

[My mouth outside the screen is almost grinning ear to ear.]

[Am I the only one who noticed Little Sweet Joy’s tone sounds like a Mom Fan? Could she be one of his family? (whispering bb)]

[It’s over. This fool of a streamer actually made it to the top three. Don’t tell me he’s actually gonna get a Chicken Dinner. When he gets back, won’t he just brag our ears off about it? Ugh, I can already imagine his smug face.]

[The user above, tone down the sarcasm. Acting all disgusted on the surface, but you’re secretly enjoying it, right?]

[But he’s seriously so funny to watch play. I didn’t expect a single game to have such a high density of laughs. I haven’t even finished laughing at the last moment, and you guys are already discussing the next one. My cheeks are so sore.]

Block’s squad’s car was no longer drivable. After finishing the squad in Mylta, they had no choice but to run into the circle. A team was already holding the bridge, so they moved along the underside of the bridge.

Luckily, while they were carefully sneaking in, the other two squads engaged each other, buying them some time. The last squad was from the Military Base and had been camping their way to the Final Circle.

Block instructed, “Let’s wait for them to finish fighting, then we’ll secure the high ground first.”

As soon as Lin Linya entered the circle, he found a patch of Brush and lay prone.

Gunshots rang out all around. He turned his head to look at his three teammates, all actively fighting, and silently opened his 6x Scope. Scanning around, he couldn’t see anyone. All he saw were trees and rocks.

When the gunfire paused, he quietly asked, “Where are you guys shooting? Where is anyone?”

Little Yang marked a point for him. “There’s still one at the bridgehead. See him?”

Lin Linya went “Oh, oh” a couple of times. Just as he was fumbling to pull out his High-Power Scope again, he heard Block say, “He’s dead. Just one squad left now.”

Lin Linya: “???”

He hadn’t even seen anyone. How was he dead already?

Little Yang didn’t forget to warn Lin Linya, “Be careful. There’s a Snake in this game. Might be right near us.”

His teammates were fighting, so Lin Linya felt too awkward to just sit idle and joined in by firing a few shots. He had no idea what he was shooting at. At a glance, his stance—crouching, peeking sideways, scoped in—looked quite professional. He fired a few rounds, then Reloaded.

“The last squad is a Lone Wolf. This is a guaranteed Chicken Dinner.”

Block had just spoken when he turned and saw Lin Linya shooting at thin air. After emptying his mag, Lin Linya even remembered to change his position. But the way he stood up and jogged those few steps looked exactly like a Bot, stopping and starting.

Mischievously, Block fired a few shots right at Lin Linya’s feet.

“Ahh! Who’s shooting me?” The game character in a Starter Outfit jumped up like a startled Rabbit, looking left and right but failing to find who had shot at him.

Block suppressed his laughter and comforted him, “It’s nothing, it’s nothing. Whoever was shooting you is dead now.”

Lin Linya drank a bottle of something to steady his nerves. Piteously, he poked his head out from behind a tree. “Really?”

Number One had already spotted the final player. He called out to Lin Linya, who had the lowest kill participation. “Over there. See him? Kill him and we win.”

Lin Linya put away his gun and pulled out his Pan. Holding the Pan high, he shuffled over with tiny steps and whacked the player on the head.

That player was probably dumbfounded. After lying prone for so long, he hadn’t figured out what was happening before a Pan clocked him dead.

Block had never played such an amusing exhibition match. He opened the Airdrop Crate. Little Yang was about to hold up the Trophy, but Block picked up the Pan Lin Linya had tossed aside and smacked Little Yang on the head with it. “Don’t you know any manners? Let the princess stand in the middle.”

Lin Linya sheepishly held up the Trophy, and the four of them took a group photo.

The prize for the morning’s exhibition match was a Mini Trophy. Lin Linya was quite happy to get a souvenir. Qiao Yu had finished his own match early and was waiting for him outside the arena.

Seeing Lin Linya had gotten a souvenir, Qiao Yu was even more excited than Lin Linya himself. “You’re amazing! This morning you said you didn’t even know how to play, and now you’ve gotten a Chicken Dinner.”

Lin Linya was a bit bashful from the praise. “No, it’s just that my teammates were really good. I was carried.”

Smiling, Qiao Yu slung an arm around his shoulders. “No, no, it’s skill. Do you know how terrifying my match was? All locals. Damn, I went over there and got completely slaughtered. They were inhuman. They just casually farmed me like I was a Minion Wave.”

“Don’t let me pull Glory for the afternoon session; I need some serious payback.”

Lin Linya was amused by his exaggerated description and laughed.

Qiao Yu stared, dumbfounded by the close-up view. “Damn, your laugh is so cute.”

It wasn’t the first time Lin Linya had been praised like that. Calm, composed, and completely unfazed, he kept a straight face. Little Yang, however, wore an indescribable expression at the side. “You, a Mid Laner, why are you always clinging to my Support? You aren’t Gay, are you?”

“Since when is he your Support?” Qiao Yu joked back with a grin. “Besides, could a Mid Laner who isn’t gay deal 30% Damage? Did you put all your skill points into Attack Speed, or what?”

Little Yang glanced at Lin Linya, who was nearby, and rolled his eyes. “You’ve got the nerve to crack dirty jokes right in front of him?”

Lin Linya didn’t have many friends, but back when he lived in the dorms, his roommates always talked casually, so he was used to it. Expressionless, he pushed Qiao Yu’s arm away. “Skinny guys always talk like that.”

Qiao Yu pinched his cheek, saying viciously, “Tonight, I’ll let you know your Big Bro’s power.”

Lin Linya, who had been looking down to reply to a message, lifted his gaze and glared at him.

Qiao Yu was instantly dazed by his coquettish glare, the upward curve of his lips never dropping.

In the afternoon exhibition match, Lin Linya finally drew Glory, just as he’d wished. Not only that, but he was also grouped with Qiao Yu. Three of the people in their group were Glory streamers, while the other two were from other game categories.

Seeing Lin Linya, Block’s eyes widened dramatically. The little kid wailed exaggeratedly, “What kind of rotten luck is this? Why am I stuck with you again? Was screwing me over once not enough?”

Lin Linya was brimming with confidence. “Don’t worry, I can actually play this one. I’ll carry you this game.”

Qiao Yu found playing normally too boring and suggested to Lin Linya, “How about you play Mid? I’ll be your Support for a game. Sound good?”

Lin Linya’s Mage pool wasn’t very deep, but three out of the five opponents they drew this game didn’t play Glory. Feeling confident again, he agreed. “Fine. I’ll play Armando, then.”

Block took the Jungle role, locking in Wanxiang. Lin Linya worried he wouldn’t know how to play the hero. “This one’s really hard. Want to switch?”

The kid felt slighted and said indignantly, “I’m a 10K-Power Wanxiang. And you’re telling me this?”

Lin Linya still thought he was bragging.

Lin Linya went Mid Lane alone. After clearing a Minion Wave, he took a quick peek at the enemy Jungler’s Jungle before heading to the Clash Lane, hoping to gank someone. He crouched in the Brush by the Clash Lane for ages, but no one came out.

Turning around, he saw the Mid Lane Minion Wave had already arrived.

He rushed back to farm the wave, but someone was faster. After clearing the Red Buff area, Wanxiang was passing through Mid on his way to the Blue Buff area and conveniently ate his entire Minion Wave, not leaving a single minion for him.

Feeling Helpless, Lin Linya returned to the Clash Lane to Help. But the Clash Laner player also told him to leave. “You being here will split my Experience.”

Lin Linya went back Mid and cleared another wave. The enemy Mage had faster wave clear than him. He immediately pinged the Farm Lane. “The enemies are heading down to gank you!”

Qiao Yu replied, “Okay, okay. But I feel like the Enemy Jungler is in your Mid Brush. Don’t get ganked.”

Lin Linya helped out at the Farm Lane to prevent their Marksman from getting caught out. Then, he headed back Mid. What he didn’t expect was that their Marksman and Support, failing to gain an advantage in their lane, also followed him to Mid to look for opportunities.

Just as his Mid Lane Minion Wave arrived, his own four teammates rushed out and devoured it completely. After finishing, they calmly returned to their own lanes, as if nothing had happened.

Lin Linya stared blankly at his empty Mid Lane, muttering to himself, “Playing this Mage right now feels just like my life. Looks incredibly busy, but I have no idea what I’m actually busy with.”

Opening the scoreboard, he saw his own Gold was the lowest. “…”

This Mid Laner thing wasn’t worth playing at all.