3
The July heat was oppressive. The DFL’s official esports TikTok account came to the OLG club to shoot a promotional video featuring star players.
After the Spring Split ended, the official account ran a popularity poll for players on TikTok. Danger ranked first by a huge margin, and the other two OLG First Team members also made the top fifteen.
It was 8 PM by the time the promotional shoot wrapped up.
Bai Wei was the last to finish; he had a solo interview. The photo studio and the First Team training room were both on the second floor, separated only by a bathroom. Rose was live streaming, his camera pointing toward the door. A flash of white hair zipped past the doorway.
The chat instantly exploded.
【Danger!!!】
【Did Brother Bai finally finish his interview!! When is Brother Bai going to live stream ahhhhhh!】
【God Bai last streamed a week ago! It’s already the end of the month! Stream, stream, please, dear brother!】
Rose read a few comments: “…He’ll stream. The club’s been a bit busy lately.” Saying this, he turned his head and called out to Bai Wei. “Little Bai, CatClaw told you to see him after your interview.”
Bai Wei had become famous too young, his body laden with trophies, yet returning at only 22 years old. Liu Jianfeng was 28 this year, even older than the team’s coach.
Bai Wei: “Okay.”
Without time to remove his makeup or wash out the hairspray, Bai Wei directly turned the corner and went up the stairs to the third floor.
CatClaw was one of OLG’s founders, formerly an Overwatch pro player, who later co-founded OLG with a few friends. As soon as OLG entered the DFL, they won that year’s Autumn Split championship. CatClaw capitalized on the momentum, selling the team for a high price to capital investors. Now, as OLG’s Manager, he was fully responsible for team management.
When Bai Wei walked into the manager’s office, Coach Jack was also there.
CatClaw: “Chaoge’s contract is almost finalized. How did your talk with Little Gun go last night?”
Jack looked quite old for his age, with a long horsey face and a slight beard. At only 26, he looked at least 35. “He’s fairly willing. He subbed for us the whole season last season without a single start. Over at Chaoge, he’ll start immediately, so no problem.”
“Then we’ll have him sign the contract later.”
CatClaw looked at Bai Wei with concern: “How many streaming hours do you have left this month?”
Bai Wei thought for a moment: “Less than 20 hours now.” During this period, although he hadn’t streamed games, he’d squeezed in outdoor streams whenever possible. Even this afternoon when the tournament officials came to shoot promos, he’d propped his phone to the side, padding his hours a bit.
“Any suggestions for the new substitute?”
Bai Wei was still wearing the OLG black-and-white team uniform from the promo shoot. Tall and long-limbed, he made the ordinary uniform look like a model’s outfit. “A few days ago, Qin Baotian and I ran into someone—from Laifu Esports, called Show. He started one match for BOX before. Played really well, coordinated well with me and Qin Baotian too.”
CatClaw: “Played for BOX? I’ll go ask Nestle.”
Bai Wei stopped him: “He has issues with Nestle.”
“Issues?”
Bai Wei: “I had Qin Baotian ask Lemon. The match Show started for BOX last year, he played well. But he was benched after just that one game and never played again. Nestle benched him.”
~
【Old Jiu: Weibo is a bit interested in you, but your contract with BOX still has a year and a half left. Weibo’s people asked BOX, but they put a high price, asking 2 million.】
【Old Jiu: Not gonna lie, Show, who exactly did you offend at BOX? Barely a rookie, with only a year and a half contract, and they set your transfer fee this high. Honestly, it’s gonna be hard for any team to pay 2 million for you, and with only a year and a half left. No matter how strong you are, you’re still a rookie. Personal advice, Show: why not try streaming? Got a big enough name, maybe a team would be willing to pay that price.】
Yan Xiu was in the middle of an order. He alt-tabbed to check Old Jiu’s message, his gaze flickering.
After painstakingly clearing the map and getting the teammate companion to help the boss organize loot, he immediately switched back to WeChat.
【Onlyshow: It’s 2 million now? Half a year ago they were asking 2.5 million.】
【Old Jiu: fuck, a two-year contract for 2.5 million? That’s the max rookie price the league even allows. What did you do, something criminal, for BOX to screw you over like this?】
Yan Xiu hesitated for a moment, then typed: 【I offended the coach.】
【Old Jiu: Nestle?!】
Yan Xiu didn’t want to elaborate. Old Jiu didn’t press further. He was just a headhunter, no special ties to BOX. Even if he had ties, he wouldn’t waste his own face negotiating for Yan Xiu.
【Old Jiu: Then you’re in a tough spot.】
An anxious feeling coiled in his heart. Yan Xiu glanced at his screen and spoke: “Sorry, bro, something came up, can’t play anymore.” If he kept playing, he couldn’t guarantee the next match’s performance, so it was better not to play.
Boss: “Oh, okay. Next time we have a chance, let’s play again.”
The WeChat interface remained frozen on Old Jiu’s last message. Soon, new messages in Laifu Esports’ dozen-plus order groups pushed Old Jiu’s name further down.
It was already dark out. Yan Xiu hadn’t noticed the room lights were off because he’d been constantly taking orders.
He rubbed his face and got up to turn on the light.
The rental apartment was small, about forty square meters. The most valuable things inside were a PC tower, a monitor, and a gaming chair worth 1000 CNY. Yan Xiu wore a black short-sleeved shirt, its cuffs and collar frayed to the point of curling. On the bottom were faded, loose jeans, and on his feet, a pair of gray plastic flip-flops.
His entire outfit wasn’t even worth 80 CNY total, but his mouse alone cost over 2000 — a Viper MINI SE.
He spent all his money on the game.
Leaning back in his gaming chair, the exhausted youth hung his head, opened Alipay, and counted the numbers in his Yu’ebao balance.
【Onlyshow: Brother Jiu, how much is Weibo actually willing to pay?】
Old Jiu seemed busy and didn’t reply for a while.
Yan Xiu messaged Sister Ning again: 【Sister, I finished that order early earlier. I’m free now, any new clients? I can take orders anytime.】
Sister Ning responded quickly: 【Not that many clients at your price point. I’ll notify you as soon as one comes.】
An hour later, a client booked an order—it was Pineapple’s client, Sister Qiqi, again.
Pineapple sent a private message: 【Heard from Sister Ning you were asking if there were any orders.】
Yan Xiu: 【Thank you!!】
It wasn’t his first order with Pineapple; they played very smoothly.
Sister Qiqi exclaimed in shock: “Show, you’re insanely cracked today. Holy sht, what’s with you tonight? Five games in a row, map cleared in ten minutes—are you crazy?!”
Pineapple was also doubly shocked: “Bro, you’re making me feel like a client too!”
Yan Xiu: “It’s fine, Sister Qi, let me swipe the keycard for you. You guys loot first.”
Sister Qiqi: “I’m definitely calling you next time!”
At 1 AM, Old Jiu finally replied.
【Old Jiu: Weibo is probably willing to pay around 500,000, but they want you to try out first to see. The price isn’t high, but considering your issues with BOX, Weibo is sort of snubbing BOX by doing this.】
500,000.
Starting players in the DFL typically had transfer fees in the millions. First-tier players could even reach eight figures. Star players like Bai Wei and Zhang Minjie had once commanded shocking signing fees of 24 million.
But right now, he was just an unnamed rookie.
Many ringer kings and talented streamers, before signing with a pro team, could casually dominate in public matches. But the moment they stepped onto the tournament stage, they often turned into complete pushovers. Offline tournaments tested not just player mechanics, but also mentality. Moreover, no matter how strong an individual’s skill was, Delta Force was a team game. If a player couldn’t coordinate with the team, or if they were only suited for solo glory and couldn’t fit team play, they held little value on the pro stage.
Yan Xiu opened Alipay again.
[Yu’ebao Balance: 1,033,471.7 CNY]
Adding the 500,000 Weibo was willing to pay, he was still 500,000 short.
Staring at the long string of numbers on his phone, Yan Xiu silently spaced out.
【Old Jiu: Whoa, what the hell, OLG also inquired about you. I didn’t even contact them.】
Yan Xiu instantly snapped back.
【OLG?】
【Yeah, OLG Manager CatClaw came to me personally. I know him. That substitute of theirs, Little Gun? I was the one who introduced him in last year.】
【Should I first tell OLG about your situation with BOX?】
【Don’t!】
The reply was typed out instinctively. When Old Jiu sent back a question mark, Yan Xiu slumped in his gaming chair, not even knowing why he’d typed that word just now.
【Old Jiu: If OLG wants you, they definitely have to go through BOX. Unless OLG goes to negotiate with BOX and forces your transfer fee down, they’re gonna have to buy you eventually.】 No matter how you hide it, OLG will find out sooner or later. It’s impossible to hide.
Behind his computer screen, Old Jiu, a cigarette dangling from his lips, sighed helplessly, as if seeing the stubborn young man sitting on the other side of the connection.
【Old Jiu: Everyone wants to go to OLG. That Little Gun last year too, even knowing he’d rarely get playtime, he still went. And indeed, he didn’t play a single match. I know you definitely want to go to OLG too, but your transfer fee is the issue.】
Yan Xiu thought about it.
【Onlyshow: OLG’s offer probably wouldn’t be less than Weibo’s, right.】
Old Jiu didn’t get his meaning: 【Probably not, worst case wouldn’t be lower than 400,000. Last year Little Gun was 800,000, signed for one year, but Little Gun had won a university tournament, had a name. So you’d definitely be lower than him.】
If OLG was willing to pay 400,000, then it was only 600,000 short.
…
Only 600,000.
【Old Jiu: For OLG, I gotta warn you. Might not get to play.】
Yan Xiu’s heart, which had just warmed up, suddenly chilled by a huge margin.
Sister Qiqi wasn’t playing anymore for now, so Yan Xiu settled his order with Sister Ning. He kept the game interface open, not moving, just spacing out.
The computer screen, left on too long, went dark and entered sleep mode. The black screen reflected a delicate, handsome face: large eyes, very fair skin. Just a bit too skinny. His frame was small, his face small, and without much flesh, he looked even younger, like a minor.
…
…
【Onlyshow: Brother Jiu, how should I contact OLG?】
