Being down four points right from the start was a bit embarrassing for Kaze and Jamyoung, both starters for Tianlu.
Still, they didn't boss their teammates around. They just called out positions and communicated as usual.
After all, if the demo got out and people found out the two of them had queued together on Ladder and still needed to use pro-level tactics, wouldn't that be even more embarrassing?
Once Kaze and Jamyoung started taking things seriously, they finally got their first point. But with three other unpredictable teammates on their side, there was only so much they could do.
As Su Zhe's attacking side found their rhythm, they naturally became the new breakthrough point.
By halftime, when the teams switched sides, the score had reached 8–4.
"Are we actually going to win?" Qiyue's excited voice came through the headset. "If we do, I can edit the demo and post it on Douyin."
"Just don't edit Xiao Zhe into yourself," Pang Hu said with "ill intent," making everyone on the team laugh.
Xiao Qi opened the Data Panel and looked at Su Zhe's 13–7 KD. He couldn't help but marvel at how hard Su Zhe was carrying.
After all, Su Zhe was playing entry. One wrong move and he could easily give himself away.
With a KD close to 2.0, he was already doing great. Even a 1:1 would have been enough to make him a major asset to the team.
He spoke up over voice chat. "Xiao Zhe, are you still thinking about going pro?"
Su Zhe replied, "Of course, but I haven't had any opportunities yet."
After hesitating for a moment, Xiao Qi spoke up. "Why don't you join our team? We're playing in the city tournament next month, so you'd get a chance to compete offline."
Su Zhe said, "I'll think about it..."
As his Ladder rating kept rising, quite a few people had invited him to join teams they'd formed themselves to compete in domestic tournaments. He'd turned them all down.
For one thing, he couldn't be sure the system would consider those teams professional.
For another, he was still in school. Until he had a clearer idea of his future, he didn't want to keep asking for time off just to play in small tournaments.
Hearing Su Zhe's answer, Xiao Qi knew he was being politely turned down, so he didn't bring it up again.
The second half's Pistol Round began, and they chose the standard 3A2B defense.
After buying light armor, Su Zhe headed straight for B bomb site. From CT Spawn, he kept peeking toward Close Point on Banana Path.
Standing on top of the first box, Xiao Qi heard a mass of footsteps on Banana Path and immediately called out a warning.
"Lots of them close! Someone from Connector can come help defend!"
Pang Hu, who was watching Connector, immediately rotated from CT Spawn.
Su Zhe focused up. He peeked again, spotted the attackers, and started spraying with a Pre-fire.
Miss...
Miss...
Hit!
"Pfft!"
[Cape First Entry Fragger used USP to score a headshot on Douyinluv]
After getting the kill, Su Zhe tried to repeat the same trick, but a Glock round had already anticipated his position. As soon as he peeked out, he took a bullet to the head.
With barely any health left, Su Zhe immediately backed off and held the angle, ready to bait for Xiao Qi on top of the first box.
But a CT Spawn smoke landed and ruined his plan, blocking his line of sight.
Su Zhe considered going around through Church to help his teammates at Bomb Site. But when he saw the CT Spawn smoke in front of him, he felt an inexplicable temptation.
By then, Pang Hu had also reached Connector to help defend.
Su Zhe spoke over voice chat. "Go into Church and make your footsteps loud..."
"No problem!" Pang Hu immediately understood what Su Zhe had in mind. He hopped into Church.
Xiao Qi, who was on top of the first box, had just collected a toll before dropping beneath it. The attackers were charging forward with Big Steps.
"Here's my chance!" Su Zhe charged straight through the smoke.
When he saw three attackers from behind and the side, he got playful and pulled out his Default Knife.
"Slash!"
[Cape First Entry Fragger used Knife to kill Kaze]
Economy +1500
"Holy shit! He came out of the smoke! Why wasn't anyone watching it?"
Kaze, who had been holding the Coffin angle to cover his teammate's side, was startled by the sudden kill.
Teammate: "Weren't you watching it?"
Kaze: "..."
After getting the kill, Su Zhe tried the same trick again, but the attackers reacted quickly. One high-sensitivity player spun around 180 degrees and took out Su Zhe, who was down to one health.
Still, it made no difference to the overall situation. Xiao Qi had stalled the attackers for too long at the first box.
Pang Hu had already secured a position with a gun in Church, and his teammates at A Site had gradually rotated over to help.
After losing the second half's Pistol Round, Kaze knew the game was all but over.
They'd already been trailing by a lot. How were they supposed to come back after losing the crucial Pistol Round, too?
He grumbled, "Why does this C+ player's style feel so slippery?"
Jamyong nearly choked when he heard that. "You're still calling him a C+ player? He's about to be number one on the platform. Is 'slippery' a compliment or an insult?"
Kaze shook his head, thought back over the earlier rounds, and said, "I don't know. He just makes me really uncomfortable. Some of his details are great, but in other places he's really rough."
Jamyong got it now. Wasn't that obviously a compliment?
"That's normal. He's probably been watching pro demos and studying them every day. Didn't we all start out that way?"
"I just wonder which team he'll join if he really goes pro someday. If nothing else, I could switch to Valorant and give him my spot."
Kaze punched him when he heard that. "If you really switch to Valorant, I'll take your last name!"
"Great job, guys! Thanks for all the effort!" came the celebration over team voice chat.
After an intense match, Su Zhe and the others finally won 13–9.
"Xiao Zhe, want to duo? I'll carry you next game!" Xiao Yu invited him.
Su Zhe's ability to break through sites made the game so much more comfortable for Xiao Yu. Even when Su Zhe gave himself away, he still managed to gather crucial information.
Su Zhe politely declined. "No, I'm going to rest. I've been playing all day."
"Sure. Let's queue together next time."
At Su Zhe's words, the comments in the Live Room filled with question marks.
[Bro, it's the weekend! You've only been streaming for ten hours and you're already going to rest?]
[Xiao Zhe has fallen! (choked sob) Are you going live again later? I won't be able to sleep tonight without you.]
[Bro, if you've been possessed, blink twice and we'll come save you!]
[You should get some rest. The streamer's been live for so long today that my eyes hurt just from watching. Take care of yourself.]
Su Zhe smiled, waved goodbye to his viewers, and clicked to end the stream.
He turned to his two stunned roommates and asked, puzzled, "What's with you two?"
Xiao Guang asked in surprise, "Do you know what time it is?"
"Yeah. Isn't it a little after nine at night?"
Fat Brother and Xiao Guang were even more surprised. "Are you ending your stream this early because you have something to do?"
Su Zhe: "..."
"Can't I end early if I don't have anything to do? I just want to rest..."
Fat Brother and Xiao Guang immediately helped Su Zhe to bed. "Of course you can! Get some good rest!"
The two exchanged a glance, both wearing blissful smiles.
As soon as Su Zhe got into bed, he summoned the system.
[Congratulations, Host, on completing the mission: Reach number one on any platform]
[Received Rise Points: 671]
[Received an A-rank reward.]
[Randomly drawing an A-rank reward...]
[Reward received: Exclusive Weapon]
[Exclusive Weapon: The host may designate any weapon in CSGO. When using that weapon in a match, overall performance +5%.]
"Exclusive Weapon? The or... start up??"
I posted early today because I wanted to ask everyone what they thought about the ID. It's in the book reviews. If you're interested, feel free to vote.