Chapter 4

4

【Onlyshow: Sister Ning, this order is done. Sister Qiqi’s. 10:17 PM to 3:12 AM, five hours, five orders.】

【Pineapple: Same!】

In Laifu Esports’ order settlement group, Sister Ning sent out two edited settlement sheets. One labeled “Pineapple-200”, the other “Show-500”.

The Excel sheet titled “Show” was densely packed with order records. Sister Ning looked at it for a while and asked: 【You’ve been taking so many orders lately, yesterday you even did 20 hours. Show, have you slept?】

【Pineapple: HOLY SHT, 20 HOURS! Trying to get yourself killed, God Show?!】

【Onlyshow: I slept five hours after that order, Sister Ning.】

【Sister Ning: Life is fundamental. You’ve already done another 10 hours of orders today. It’s past 3 AM already, no more orders for you for now.】

Before the computer, the young man in a baggy black short-sleeved tee was chatting on WeChat with another client. Switching to the settlement group page, he paused, then replied: 【I already arranged with Boss Ling. He planned to play for a while, Sister Ning.】

Sister Ning: 【Let me check with Boss Ling.】

Ultimately, the client’s word was law. Since Yan Xiu had already scheduled with the boss, Sister Ning couldn’t refuse.

He played for another five hours, until past 8 AM. Even as a night owl living on a Western timezone, Boss Ling should be heading to bed now. Yan Xiu was out of orders. He ordered takeout, squatting on his gaming chair, scrolling through messages in the order groups to see if any new bosses were offering big orders. Occasionally, he’d glance up at his computer and scroll through TikTok.

“Here it comes! Day three of the Saudi Cup! OLG’s top-tier pro teaches you how to 1v3 in Aerospace Base and complete a heaven-defying comeback for the win!”

Yan Xiu’s scrolling thumb stopped.

“I’m first-line Saudi EWC reporter Wang Xiaochui! Both top-tier pro players! Bringing you the ultimate 1v3 from the first-person perspective, God D’s heaven-defying comeback highlight play!”

With a high-octane BGM, the phone screen showed the chaotic CEO Office of the Aerospace Base map.

Wang Xiaochui was a famous entertainment streamer for Delta Force, known for editing match highlight clips. Rumor had it he’d already been officially recruited by the tournament organizers and become a staff member.

His takeout arrived and he opened it up.

“Recap!”

“Map: Aerospace Base. The match hits the 14-minute mark. OLG is in the CEO Office, starting a 3v3 against Weibo. Qingbao and Rose are down! Qingbao had already died once before; this time he was thirsted and immediately turned into a loot box. Danger 1v1, eliminates ‘WBG-OhCrap’, saving teammate Rose. But at this moment, BOX has arrived from the Buoyancy Room right outside the CEO Office! Danger decisively chooses to abandon the rescue and begins solo operation.”

“Next, watch from OLG-Danger’s first-person perspective as we learn how a solo Vyron achieves a heaven-defying comeback win!”

Wang Xiaochui switched the screen to Bai Wei’s first-person perspective.

Wang Xiaochui: “As fans who frequently witness 1v3 clutch plays against pro players know…”

The TikTok comments flooded in rapid-fire.

【Frequently 1v3? Me?】

【Clutch kill against pro players? Me???】

【Is this human language?????】

【This is the mouse, this is the keyboard, this is BOX. You. Go eliminate them.】

Wang Xiaochui: “Vyron, as a highly mobile Entry Fragger, utilizing the complex geometry of the Aerospace CEO Office’s obstacles, as long as you control information and effectively land precise kills on enemies, you can pull off a comeback win, even if the opponents are BOX pros.”

“Right here, the three BOX players have just reached the CEO Office living room. Danger throws a C4 Bomb, blocking their advance and buying time to use meds and heal back up.”

“BOX had already heard the gunfire from the CEO Office. They judged that the opponent was just a broken squad and decided to push aggressively with numbers advantage.”

“This was the first wrong decision they made.”

“BOX-Lemon Jump Peeks, playing right into Danger’s hands.”

“Using the M700 looted from Weibo’s dead body, with only 5 millimeters of in-game field of view… Danger’s inhuman reaction speed lets him one-shot snipe Lemon to death!”

Wang Xiaochui roared frantically: “This shot! How is it any different from cheating!!!”

On screen, from Bai Wei’s first-person perspective, there was literally only a black shadow that flashed by for one or two frames, at most.

But he took the shot.

[OLG-Danger eliminated BOX-Lemon using M700]

【????】

【??】

【There wasn’t even anyone fully visible and he just shot!】

【God of Aimbot, Commander Bai! God of Aimbot, Commander Bai! God of Aimbot, Commander Bai!!!】

Wang Xiaochui: “As we all know, dear fans, when facing this kind of 1v3 situation, you only need to snipe one dead first, creating a breach. Then, the rest is easy.”

【Only need to.】

【Only need to only need to only need to.】

【Highlight: Only need to.】

【Highlight: As we all know.】

“The Entry Fragger is down! BOX instantly panics. Lemon’s play had no issues whatsoever. Without a dedicated Recon Role on their team this match, as a Vyron, he could absolutely use a physical Jump Peek to scout for vision. If the enemy was sniper-scoped, one skill use of Jet Boost and he’d have been back instantly, no danger at all. However…”

“The very thing he faced was Danger itself!”

“That’s Danger!!!”

“Rip—” In the dim, lightless rental apartment, Yan Xiu tore open the rice ball wrapper. Chewing on the warm rice ball, sipping soy milk, he watched the Vyron on screen. It was a meal for the eyes as well.

A feast for the eyes, truly.

BOX had lost one Vyron, leaving only a Medic and the black operator.

Bai Wei played an extreme kiting game, repeatedly using utility. Taking advantage of the enemy Medic deploying smoke to try and save the Vyron, he successfully crippled the Medic with a C4 blast. Then, using the Tiger Crouching Cannon, he knocked down the black operator., finishing with three shots. By now, the Medic had reacted, firing three shots at Bai Wei. But Bai Wei spun, used his Jet Boost, and instantly repositioned.

At the entrance to the CEO Office, Bai Wei’s first-person POV.

Vyron was boosting through the air at high speed, but Bai Wei’s crosshair anchor point remained locked onto the Medic’s head.

Wang Xiaochui: “This is near-godlike, superhuman recoil control!”

The BOX pro playing the Medic was named “Cola,” also a fairly competent starting player in the league. So even though Vyron boosted, Cola reacted quickly, rapidly adjusting his aim towards Bai Wei.

He only needed two shots to kill Bai Wei. And for Bai Wei to kill him, unless he locked onto the head, he’d need at least four shots.

Wang Xiaochui: “But he! Activated! Aimbot!!!”

[OLG-Danger eliminated BOX-Vivo using M14]

[OLG-Danger eliminated BOX-Cola using M14]

[Team Wipe!]

【Danger!!!!!】

【DDDDDDDDDDDDDDD!!!】

【When there is no danger… he! Is the danger!】

Yan Xiu rewatched the in-game mechanics of the play again, analyzing what he would have done if it were him.

Chewing away, he finished the rice ball. It was almost 10 AM.

A new client appeared in the order group. Yan Xiu typed a “1”. Before the client could pick who they wanted, Brother Cai’s message came through first.

【Brother Cai: Little Xiu, Ningning told me you’ve been going crazy taking orders lately. Didn’t sleep all night yesterday?】

Yan Xiu straightened up, typing: 【Brother Cai, my sleep schedule’s just been flipped lately. I usually sleep in the afternoon.】

Ushering Wealth knew all too well—Yan Xiu hadn’t slept whenever there was a boss these past few days, only crashing when there were no orders. Of course his schedule was messed up.

【Brother Cai: What’s up, short on money? Going this hard on taking orders recently?】

Pausing, Yan Xiu replied: 【Just want to save up a bit more.】

【You’ve been with us over a year now, plus what you earned before, made quite a lot already, right? Why suddenly short on cash? Family trouble?】

【No, just want to save more, just in case.】

【Good to earn more while you’re young, but you gotta live to spend it. Listen to your bro, get proper rest. Health is the foundation.】

【Brother Cai, it’s fine.】

Ushering Wealth: 【Alright, it’s decided then. Your commission fee this month gets dropped to 5%. Get some good rest today, okay?】

Laifu Esports was the industry’s largest companion gaming club, with an absolute ton of clients. The standard commission was always 20%, meaning the club took 20% of the service fee.

Ushering Wealth: 【Little Xiu, it’s not that your bro wants to preach. I came from having no money too. Work hard, plenty of chances to make money in the future. If anything comes up, just tell your bro.】

Yan Xiu pressed his lips together. After a few seconds, he seriously typed out a few words.

【Thanks, bro.】

~

In early August, the annual Saudi EWC World Esports Championship finally concluded.

The internet was flooded with tournament info from all kinds of esports competitions.

Delta Force had two events at the EWC.

One was the standard Havoc Warfare mode tournament: 6 teams of 18 players, traditional format competing for their respective clubs.

The other was Nation War: grouped by nationality, a massive 32v32 battlefield mode.

In the Nation War battlefield mode, Team China defeated Team Japan by a narrow lead of 13 points, taking the championship.

In Havoc Warfare mode, the championship went to the veteran powerhouse ROC. OLG, by a razor-thin margin of 0.9M currency, regretfully missed out on the title.

【Old Jiu: OLG comes back to China tonight. Would you be free to go to Shanghai for tryouts tomorrow afternoon?】

Before his computer, the young man instantly typed: 【I’m in Suzhou, can just take the high-speed rail, very convenient.】

【Old Jiu: Alright, then tomorrow afternoon you can contact OLG’s people directly. Here’s her WeChat.】

Old Jiu forwarded a contact card.

【This is OLG’s Team Leader, Huarong. Just call her Sister Hua. The OLG base is near Hongqiao. More convenient if you take the high-speed rail to Hongqiao Railway Station.】 [T/N: Hua means Flower]

Yan Xiu added Huarong on WeChat, and both sides quickly settled on a meeting time.

Thinking it over, Yan Xiu asked: 【Sister Hua, for the tryouts, will I be with the First Team?】

【Flower: You’ll do tryouts with the Second Team. The First Team just got back and is still adjusting to time zones. But if the tryouts go well, the spot you’re trying out for is the First Team.】

With tryouts the next day, Yan Xiu turned down a companion gaming invite from a client and seriously warmed up doing solo-vs-trios. He needed to sleep early tonight too, but he couldn’t fall asleep no matter what. He simply opened TikTok and started rewatching the match from this June’s DFL Spring Split where OLG narrowly missed the championship.

A thought suddenly struck Yan Xiu.

– The Spring Split that had already passed, and the Saudi EWC just now, OLG were runners-up in both.

“Just a little bit more! Both God D and Rose are dead! Can Qingbao, amidst the chaos, manage to reach the smoke and successfully extract?!!… No! No! No miracle happened! Qingbao fell just two steps short of the extraction point! He’s been eliminated! He fell right before the final step to the championship!!!”

“AAAAHHHHHH THE MATCH IS OVER!!!”

…

“Regret is a constant companion in life. Some stand at the peak of the stage, while others are destined to exit into the curtain call.” The Caster’s powerful, resonant voice came through the phone’s speaker, accompanied by the thunderous cheers from the arena.

The broadcast director, showing a slight bias towards the star team OLG, gave the three an extra shot of them sitting before their computers.

Rose shook his head and sighed.

Qingbao seemed in disbelief. In the frame, the Fatty kept talking to the referee behind him, his face flushed red.

Bai Wei hadn’t even taken off his headphones. The black outer shell of his Hurricane headset contrasted with his crop of white hair, strikingly stark under the flashing lights. But the moment the match ended, the lights instantly dimmed. All the spotlights shifted away, focusing on the newly crowned champions, Team BOX.

Danger sat with his eyes lowered, expression unreadable.

The light that had shone on them was gone.

Caster: “The competition is boundless, bravery leads the charge! Let us congratulate Team Nanjing BOX, the champions of the 2029 DFL Spring Split Grand Finals!!!”

~

Following the address Huarong gave, after getting off the high-speed train, Yan Xiu got into a ride-share and quickly arrived at the community where the OLG clubhouse was located.

A typhoon had just brushed past Shanghai, making the heat stifling again. Yan Xiu tried as much as possible to stand in the shade of a tree, but still broke out in a sweat.

“Show?” A crisp female voice came from inside the community gate. Yan Xiu looked over.

Huarong had her hair in a ponytail, also covered in sweat. She told the security guard, “Shifu, let him through please.” As Yan Xiu approached, Huarong’s eyes immediately lit up. She stared at him with pleasant surprise for a few seconds.

Huarong: “You’re this good-looking?”

Yan Xiu felt a bit embarrassed and lowered his head: “No, not really.”

“This way.” Huarong led the way, unable to resist looking at him again. “Though your hair is a bit long. Why didn’t you get a haircut—oh, you gamer kids are like this, love staying indoors. When you pass the tryouts, I’ll take you to get a haircut at the entrance. It’s that Zhang Wei Barber right outside the community gate. Their skills are good, our whole team goes there to dye and cut hair.”

Yan Xiu thought of something: “Did Danger get his done there too?”

Huarong: “Him? No, he dyed his hair after losing a bet. Zhang Wei’s is fine for normal cuts and colors, but for dying it white, you really gotta go downtown. That hair of his cost over 6000.”

Yan Xiu’s eyes rounded in shock: “That expensive!”

Huarong stopped and looked at him again: “Why didn’t you say you looked like this earlier?!”

Yan Xiu: “…?”

Huarong continued muttering: “Just too skinny. Once you join the team, eat more. Auntie Wang’s cooking is really good, though she makes things a bit light on flavor. Not sure if you’re used to that… Here we are.”

Before the four-story villa, Yan Xiu wore a black shoulder bag, carrying his usual gaming peripherals like his mouse, keyboard, and headset. Huarong leaned her face towards the door for facial recognition to unlock it, but the door opened from the inside first, revealing a roundish head.

Yan Xiu froze, naming the person in his mind: Qingbao!

The Fatty, wearing flowery shorts, hadn’t expected anyone outside. He first saw Huarong standing by the door: “Sister Hua, just got back?” Only then did he notice Yan Xiu behind her. Qingbao’s small eyes, nearly squished by his chubby cheeks, instantly widened. His gaze froze. After staring for a couple seconds, he blurted out: “Show???”

Yan Xiu nodded: “God Qing.”

Huarong: “Where are you off to?”

Qin Baotian snapped out of it: “Picking up a delivery. Stupid courier left it at the Cainiao station and refused to deliver it to the door.”

“Then hurry up and go.”

Stepping inside, a blast of AC hit him. The sweat on Yan Xiu’s front and back instantly vanished.

Huarong: “The Second Team’s training room is in the basement. Take these stairs down.”

“Okay.”

The August sun was so scorching the entire community felt like a steam sauna.

While walking towards the Cainiao station, Qin Baotian rubbed his chin, unable to resist taking out his phone: 【Seriously, fucking good-looking! You gays do have an eye for this. Not the rugged handsome type, just genuinely nice-looking, like a little idol star. Super fair.】

【Just way too skinny. Looks even thinner than Little Gun.】

The OLG substitute, Little Gun, who had just left the team, was 18 years old, 172 cm, and weighed barely over 100 jin.

A pro player’s typing speed is astonishingly fast. Qin Baotian rapidly typed out another line: 【A bit taller than me, I’d guess 177-179. How can someone that skinny be that tall? Why doesn’t my food ever make me grow vertically?】

【Show?!】

On the WeChat chat page, a reply came from “WhiteDog.”