Outside the door.
Factory Director and Abu walked up to Xu Cheng and looked him over. Ancestor Saiwen immediately flashed a smile that said, "The world is focused on you."
He was just about to speak.
Xu Cheng spoke first. "You're Xiao Kai?"
Almost on reflex, Factory Director bent forward slightly and blurted out, "Hey, big bro, it's me!"
Damn it!
The instant the words left his mouth, he wanted to slap himself. What the hell was wrong with him? Why had he answered so eagerly?
He was just about to pull himself together and give Xu Cheng a little taste of EDG's power.
But Xu Cheng had already glanced him up and down a few times, then shook his head and remarked, "You look a little old."
Pfft!
"Uh... Ahem. I think we should go inside and talk..."
Abu couldn't take it anymore.
For crying out loud, you had your chance, and you still blew it!
On the way over, Factory Director had kept saying that he'd establish his authority as soon as they met in person and get Xiao Xu to know his place.
And then he'd fallen flat on his face with his very first sentence?
"Wait!"
"Oh? What is it?"
Xu Cheng paused, looking at him in confusion.
Factory Director's cheeks burned. A simmering frustration was trapped inside him, and he clenched his teeth, ready to call him "Xiao Xu"—
Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted familiar faces from various clubs inside the baozi shop, eating and watching them.
He swallowed the words that had been on the tip of his tongue, changed course, and called out with a beaming smile, "Big bro, honestly, you've got to take better care of yourself!"
"It's so cold out here. What if you freeze your back?"
"Please, take care of that back of yours!"
Abu: "..."
Xu Cheng felt a warmth in his heart and walked over to pat Factory Director on the shoulder. "Xiao Kai, you really know how to show concern for me."
"Haha, of course, of course..."
Factory Director played along, all the while grinding his teeth in secret—
How the hell did these guys get here so fast?
Damn it, just you wait. Once I talk you into joining the team, you'll see what I do to you!
After making that "solemn vow" in his heart, Factory Director and Xu Cheng soon became familiar with each other.
They'd already spent so long "chatting online." The others had come to poach a player, but Factory Director had come to meet a damn internet friend in person!
This was Factory Director's second Midsummer Night's Dream!
Those were two completely different things, weren't they?!
So, once they learned the truth, Father Xu and Mother Xu were noticeably warmer toward Factory Director and Abu.
But, as before, they didn't make any promises.
After everyone finished eating, an entire legal team arrived in force that afternoon.
When the RNG representative saw the lawyers, all dressed alike in black suits and ties, his face went pale.
Damn it, I thought you'd hired one lawyer. Turns out you brought a whole crowd!
Were you prepared to go through three rounds of litigation?
Setting aside RNG's apprehension, once the legal team arrived, they carefully reviewed the contracts from the various clubs.
In the end, the lawyers responsibly informed Father Xu and Mother Xu that, apart from RNG's contract, the contracts from the other clubs had no major issues.
Hearing this, the RNG representative was so angry his nose nearly twisted out of shape.
He's slandering me! He's slandering me!
The Xu family members glanced at the RNG representative in surprise but said nothing. The other club representatives exchanged knowing smiles.
After reviewing the contracts, Father Xu and Mother Xu had also looked into the clubs through various channels. They knew these weren't scammers or some kind of pyramid scheme.
That put their biggest concern to rest.
But some matters still needed to be resolved, so everyone stayed nearby that night.
Father Xu and Mother Xu planned to discuss things with Xu Cheng himself.
They still wanted to make one last attempt to "persuade him to stay."
The night passed.
The next day.
Factory Director arrived at the baozi shop early in the morning. He generously booked the whole place to support the Xu family's business, then waited for Xu Cheng to show up.
After breakfast, Father Xu, Mother Xu, and Xu Cheng told everyone at the baozi shop what they'd decided after discussing it the night before—
Xu Cheng himself wanted to try going pro. They'd looked over the contracts yesterday, and before deciding which club to choose, there was one thing they had to make clear.
Xu Cheng would be in his final year of high school next year, and his grades were usually very good. After discussing it with him, Father Xu and Mother Xu had settled on a compromise.
Xu Cheng would study for six months, then take part in an academic competition. If he did well and earned a recommendation for university admission, he could choose to go pro.
In other words, signing Xu Cheng would have to wait six months.
As soon as they heard the condition, all the clubs that had been clamoring to sign Xu Cheng and treating him like a treasure fell silent.
"This is the best solution we can come up with. We can't accept it if Cheng Cheng drops out of school right now."
Mother Xu's tone was firm. This was the greatest concession a mother could make.
In fact, even this was already far more than many parents of kids his age would have allowed.
"We understand, but... I'll say something you may not want to hear. Cheng Cheng has talent, but a pro player's prime only lasts a few years. If he wastes half a year now, the terms of the contract won't be the same as before."
"Exactly. I suggest you think it over again... Honestly, we wouldn't be in such a hurry to sign him this year if the World Championship—that is, the world's biggest tournament, which I mentioned to you before—weren't being held in China."
The club representatives all shook their heads.
Those reasons were only part of it. More importantly, they'd originally planned to sign Xu Cheng and let him spend a Spring Split honing his skills—
After all, no matter how talented someone was, they still needed time to adapt and train once they entered the professional arena.
Six months was already a very short time.
After those six months, their highest expectation was that Xu Cheng could help the team compete in the S Tournament.
But now Xu Cheng wanted to put things off for six months. That didn't just mean losing precious training time; if he didn't touch LOL for half a year, even the best talent would probably go to waste!
Who'd even know who you were by then?
"Sorry... We can't make any concessions on this."
Mother Xu apologized, but there wasn't a trace of regret on her face.
As for Xu Cheng, he simply listened quietly. In his heart, this was already the perfect solution.
They were screwed!
The representatives mentally crossed Xu Cheng off their lists.
The RNG representative was even less willing to stick around—
Of course, he wasn't worried about Xu Cheng's legal team breaking RNG's "undefeated streak" and getting him out of the contract unscathed.
He simply felt there was no point wasting any more time on Xu Cheng.
After all, Xu Cheng hadn't even played a scrim. No matter how talented he was, he hadn't proven himself in a real match. Let him waste half a year, and who the hell would he be?
The others more or less thought the same way, though they chatted with Father Xu and Mother Xu for a few more minutes.
Only after realizing there really was no hope did they shake their heads in disappointment and take their leave.
In the end, only Factory Director and Abu remained in the shop, having stood quietly to one side the entire time.
"You two aren't leaving?"
Xu Cheng asked in surprise.
"Leaving? Why would I leave?"
Factory Director blinked. "I came here to sign you. I'm not leaving until I do!"
???
"You didn't hear what they just said?"
Xu Cheng was surprised. He really hadn't expected Factory Director to stay and try to sign him after hearing the conditions.
"I heard. But... there's just one thing I want to ask."
Factory Director grinned ingratiatingly. "While you were all talking, Abu already had someone revise the contract..."
"Big bro, when do you think you'll have time to sign it?"
"Sign it now?"
Xu Cheng froze.
"Sign it now!"
Factory Director looked completely serious.
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