"...You."
Abu looked at Factory Director's stubborn expression. It was just like all these years, with his unwavering obsession and determination to win the Summoner's Cup.
He shook his head and sighed.
Half a month.
For half a month, the entire Esports Circle had failed to find even the slightest trace of Xu Cheng.
That could only mean he really had quit the game, and had done so completely, without leaving a trace.
Ming Kai, you're too attached to this.
"Get some rest. I'll play a few more games and, while I'm at it... wait a little longer."
Factory Director saw the look on Abu's face and didn't say anything more.
Deep down, he truly didn't believe Xu Cheng would leave so suddenly.
Even though the results had slapped him in the face, proving that his seventy-to-eighty-percent confidence had been a joke.
But after more than a month of spending time together, laughing and joking around...
He was sure there was a bond between them. He understood Xu Cheng.
Xu Cheng would definitely come online again, and he would definitely give him an answer.
Why had he prepared a hundred-thousand-yuan bonus? Why had he gone out of his way to help Xu Cheng secure a big contract with EDG, even though Xu Cheng hadn't shown his face once?
This was EDG!
Even after S6, though it hadn't lived up to its past glory, it was still a bona fide top-tier LPL powerhouse.
With its built-in popularity and fanbase, it was the dream debut team for countless rookies.
EDG had never offered a rookie a big contract since the team was founded!
And yet Factory Director had tried to secure one for Xu Cheng without any conditions—
He just wanted to show him that going pro had a future, and that he could make a lot of money!
He could tell that Xu Cheng had been tempted when he learned he'd receive a hundred-thousand-yuan reward for reaching National Server First. He could also tell that Xu Cheng had been happy during every game they played together.
Xu Cheng loved League of Legends. He loved playing the game even more.
Perhaps... all kinds of real-life reasons had forced Xu Cheng to make that difficult decision.
Whatever the case, Factory Director was confident that if he could find Xu Cheng, he'd be able to convince him!
"...I came here to tell you that since you don't plan to play in the Spring Split, and you've already been away for so long, the Official Commentator Cup organizers..."
"I can do it."
Factory Director nodded without turning around.
Outsiders thought he held a special position at EDG, but in truth, no club kept people around if they weren't doing anything.
Abu hesitated, then could only nod. "All right."
"Make sure you get some rest. He usually doesn't come online after midnight..."
"Got it."
"...!"
In the end, Factory Director was disappointed.
After another week passed, everyone who had been determined to find Xu Cheng, the Data Monster, was disappointed.
After such a long time, it was all but certain that he'd decided to "quit the game."
There was no point in continuing the search. It was a shame, and even frustrating, but life had to go on. They couldn't put the club's plans, or even the Spring Split, on hold for a talented player who'd never gone pro.
[Ah, the LPL lost a lot of its energy without him.]
Gulp, gulp, gulp!
Ah Shui posted the message in a despondent, lonely mood, then picked up the bottle of mineral water beside him and gulped it down!
[Don't be too upset. We did everything we could. If we can't find him, then we can't find him.]
[Yeah, hopefully, when we make it big, he won't be jealous of us. Haha.]
[That's enough. I haven't slept well lately. I even dream about him, but damn it, we just can't find the guy!]
[All right, all right, guys. The Commentator Cup starts tomorrow. Big Smart and I have to join our team's voice chat for a meeting. We're logging off.]
The many super-talented players in the King Rank group chat were feeling a little down, too.
They'd searched for so long, only to come up empty-handed. It left them feeling defeated.
And strangely bereft.
Ah Shui was right.
They hadn't noticed before Xu Cheng showed up, but during the time he'd been around, all the commotion he'd caused—including the daily antics—had brought a lot of people joy.
He'd left a deep impression on them.
"I'll always remember this happy time..."
Ah Shui took a deep breath, put those thoughts aside, and clicked on the event page to check out the upcoming Official Commentator Cup—
This was the first Commentator Cup organized by the officials, following the Spring Split's surge in popularity. They'd been building up to it for a while.
It was called the Commentator Cup, but besides the official commentators, streamers from major platforms and talented players like Ah Shui, who hoped to enter the LPL next year, as well as Passerby Kings, would also compete as teammates.
It was a chance to warm up early and build a little hype.
Since the event was such a big deal and was being held for the first time, the buzz around it was huge—enough to rival the attention Xu Cheng had drawn with his push for a top CN Server ranking.
With everyone's attention shifting to the tournament, Ah Shui and the others had to start thinking about their own futures.
"The teams are all led by official commentators and hosts. What's the point of playing with them? It all depends on who their teammates are..."
Ah Shui muttered to himself as he looked over the current list of potential official team captains—
[Ren Dong]
[Wa Wa]
[Miller]
[Guan Ze Yuan]
[Yu Shuang]
[Rita]
[Xiao Yu]
[A match? You want me to play in a match?]
In the classroom.
Xu Cheng stared at the message from Yu Shuang, who hadn't contacted him in ages. He'd even thought she'd deleted him long ago. He was momentarily stunned.
[Yes, that official event. Each host and commentator has to lead a team in the competition, though we can also join as players. We have to find our own teammates, and they're ideally King Rank players.]
Xu Cheng thought it over. The competition had just ended, and he'd placed well. He also hadn't played in a long time, and was itching to get back to it.
[You mean the account I registered for boosting? Its rank has dropped.]
[That's fine. You just need to be good enough. The requirements aren't that strict. We get to decide the selection criteria ourselves.]
[I see.]
Xu Cheng fell silent for a moment. [I can do it, but...]
He hadn't finished, but Yu Shuang understood.
The reason she'd reached out to Xu Cheng this time wasn't just because of the skill he'd shown before, or because he'd genuinely been Challenger when he joined their group. More importantly, she wanted him to meet Xiao Yu.
She wanted them to clear things up and put the matter behind them.
[Sigh, I know what you're worried about. Xiao Yu really was in a bad mood for a while after that incident. She's only just started feeling better recently.]
[But I can tell she still can't get over it. You know she really thought of you as her little sister... After all, you made yourself sound so miserable back then, and you acted the part so well...]
[...]
[That's why I want you on our team. Xiao Yu is the captain... It's been so long, so she probably won't refuse. You two can talk it out then. Even if you can't be friends, you shouldn't keep getting upset with each other like this.]
Getting upset with each other...
[Uh... I'm actually fine...]
[So you're saying yes? If you are, I won't look for a top laner!]
[Sure. Why wouldn't I?]
Xu Cheng rolled his wrists, eager to get started. [When does the event begin? Are the other teams strong? Oh, right... She deleted me from her friends list on that account. What should I do?]
[Don't you have another account? Any max-level account will do.]
[You don't need to prepare anything. The other teams are all pretty strong. We probably won't win, either. It's just for fun. Just show up.]
[The event is... tomorrow night at eight. Can you get online?]
Xu Cheng typed two words: [Sure.]
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Also, about the updates... I want to post a ton, too! I want to go completely wild!
But after posting extra chapters for three days before, I was helplessly crushed by a big shot. Sob, sob. o(╥﹏╥)o
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