(A preview from the new book [2025]. Originally, this introduced the protagonist's team's strength, but it was changed when it failed review.)
Cheng Ye walked down the street looking rather bedraggled and at a loss.
He had just received a dismissal text from the team manager.
:[Hikigaya], your demotion period is over.
:Really? Can I play matches now? Seriously, even the second team is fine.
:No, your contract has been terminated.
[Hikigaya], Cheng Ye, was one of China's CS2 esports players and the former entry fragger for the first roster of the domestic [B]-tier team [Shadows].
Seventeen-by rights, an age for striking out into the world. Since he had not taken the high school entrance exam, he could not attend high school, so Cheng Ye simply signed up for his city's youth training camp, all to fulfill his earlier dream.
To become a professional CS2 esports player!
Judging by the results, Cheng Ye's dream had briefly come true. His outstanding performance at the youth training camp successfully caught [Shadows]' attention, and after some consideration, they signed him to their second team as a substitute entry fragger.
During the week he was signed, Cheng Ye felt that the sky was especially bright, and his mood was especially good.
But he was only signed for a week.
Since it was only a trial period, and only a week long at that, he had not fulfilled all the various attendance requirements. His base pay was also pitifully low.
He did not fit in with anyone on the second team, and he was almost never included in their usual get-togethers.
Cheng Ye trained diligently every day as required, and even had to buy things for the others on the team, yet he never received a single cent in compensation for it.
That alone would