"Able."
Su Hang took a deep breath to calm his turbulent emotions, held the flowers in both hands, straightened his back and strode onto the stage, just as he was about to step into the area with the heart-shaped candles.
"Get out of the way!"
A sharp reprimand suddenly rang out, and Su Hang felt a large hand grab his shoulder and yank him hard, causing him to lean back uncontrollably and almost fall to the ground.
Once he regained his balance, Su Hang was stunned.
Luo Yan, dressed in a suit and tie, stepped into the area with the heart-shaped candles, one hand loosening his tie clip, and slightly turning his head to look back, his eyes carrying a hint of mockery. " Hangzi, what are you doing up there?"
Su Hang was somewhat at a loss, and stammered, "I... I accept Miaomiao's confession."
Luo Yan asked with interest, "Who told you that Miaomiao is going to confess her feelings to you?"
"Isn't that... the case?"
Su Hang was stunned. He suddenly felt that his good brother Luo Yan was very unfamiliar at this moment. He was not as humble and kind as usual, but rather had a sharp edge.
Luo Yan looked at the shy Bai Miaomiao and said with a smile, " Miaomiao, tell Hangzi, who are you going to confess to?"
Bai Miaomiao blushed shyly, handed over the flowers, and mustered her courage to say, "Senior Brother Luo, I like you. Be my boyfriend."
"Senior brother agrees." Luo Yan took the bouquet, pulled Bai Miaomiao into his arms, and said with a wicked smile, " Hangzi, did you hear that? Miaomiao is going to confess to me."
Su Hang stood frozen in place, staring at Bai Miaomiao, whose face was flushed, in Luo Yan's arms. Suddenly, something inside him shattered quietly. "This... you guys are kidding me, right?"
"What do you mean by 'joking'?" Luo Yan sneered. " Miaomiao had a crush on me for three years in high school, she loved me to death. Miaomiao joined the Yousu Team for me too. As for why Miaomiao is nice to you..."
"That was all because of my instigation, you brainless wretch, who mistakenly thought Miaomiao liked you."
Su Hang was pale and weak. "But... but Miaomiao sent me a confession message last night."
"You know what? Hangzi, I slept with Miaomiao last night." Luo Yan hugged Bai Miaomiao tighter and chuckled, "That confession text message, I had Miaomiao send it to you."
"We... slept together."
Su Hang trembled all over, forcing a smile as he said, " Luo Yan, you're my best brother. If you and Miaomiao like each other, I will wholeheartedly support you two getting together. Why are you playing me for a fool?"
"That's because of the ' Imperial Emperor ' account you have," Luo Yan sneered, glancing sideways. "You poor bumpkin, you may lack brains, but you're quite vigilant."
"I've been letting Miaomiao flirt with you for so long, yet you've kept your distance and been wary of her. Every time she tries to find out your Imperial Emperor account password, you give vague answers and change the subject."
Su Hang's eyes showed pain. He never imagined that Bai Miaomiao approached him only to obtain the password to the Imperial Emperor account.
"But it doesn't matter now," Luo Yan shrugged. "Today, the team management decided to expel you from the team and demand ten times the breach of contract penalty, which is one million RMB."
Su Hang's breathing trembled as he said, "You... you're not coming with me?"
"Go with you? Haha." Luo Yan laughed, teasing, " Hangzi, if I go with you, who will be the captain of the Yousu Team?"
"Captain?" Su Hang's eyes showed disbelief.
"The team management has decided that I, Luo Yan, will become the new captain of You Su." Luo Yan sneered, "As for you, you'll be burdened with a million-dollar breach of contract penalty, clinging to the Imperial Emperor account, and spending the rest of your miserable life."
Su Hang staggered back two steps, then turned around and asked for help, " Dapang Erpang, you'll come with me, right?"
"Will we even get enough to eat if we follow you?" the Dapang said with a shiver. "If you hadn't refused to commercialize, would we brothers have had to suffer like this?"
"It's obvious," Erpang sneered. "Only a rich kid like Captain Luo can make us rich and live a life where we can eat abalone and lobster every day."
Su Hang's heart ached slightly. Perhaps it was resentment, or perhaps it was a last-ditch effort, but he forced out an expression that was worse than crying. "This must be a prank by everyone working together, after all, you've all been loyal to me in private."
"Loyal to you?" Luo Yan laughed until tears streamed down his face. " Hangzi, look at yourself! Aside from being amazing at games, you're useless in every other way. You're insecure, sensitive, and suspicious. Loyal to you?"
Look in the mirror.
"You're just a clown who steals other people's clothes."
Su Hang felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave. He turned to look in the mirror. His loose-fitting suit and crooked tie, along with his sallow and emaciated face, revealed a look of despair and sorrow. Just as Luo Yan had said, he looked like a clown.
A chorus of mocking laughter erupted from the audience.
"Haha, Su Hang is so funny. I've always wanted to see that expression on his face, that desperate and helpless little face."
"Hilarious! A little kid from a poor county, who only became Captain You Su because of his amazing gaming skills. He's clearly dirt poor, but he acts all high and mighty, refusing to associate with the team."
"You're stunned, aren't you? The team kicked you out, and you're left with a million-dollar debt you'll never be able to pay off in your lifetime. I suggest you just jump off a building and kill yourself, end it all."
Head coach Piqiu laughed so hard he almost fell over. "The coach forgot to tell everyone, today is Su Hang's coming-of-age birthday! Come on, let's wish Su Hang a happy 18th birthday and congratulate him on becoming a millionaire debtor!"
Su Hang lowered his head, tears of humiliation welling up in his eyes, his lips bitten until they bled, his body trembling violently. The mocking voices from all directions pierced his ears. He wanted to escape, but his weak legs wouldn't obey him.
"Anyone will do, just have someone take me out of here."
Su Hang took out his phone and instinctively opened WeChat, then clicked on his closest family member [Aunt Su Guihua ].
"Auntie, could you come to Suzhou City?"
Su Hang typed this line and quickly deleted it. He remembered something from high school when he had a bad cold and was feeling unwell. He asked his aunt to ask his teacher for leave so she could pick him up from school and take him home.
However, he received a cold reply from his aunt Su Guihua: "Others can overcome a cold, but you can't. You're such a big boy, don't always bother the family. I don't have time. If you have a problem, overcome it yourself."
But he clearly remembered that his cousin Su Xiao, when he was in high school, would often pretend to be sick so that his aunt Su Guihua would take leave to pick him up. Every time, his aunt Su Guihua would feel extremely sorry for him and prepare a big feast in advance.
She added, "Son, if you want to come home in the future, you don't need to pretend to be sick. Just tell Mom, and no matter how busy Mom is, I'll pick you up from school."
Su Hang logged out of WeChat, choosing not to disturb his aunt Su Guihua, but he didn't even have the courage to run away. He really wanted someone to take him out, anyone would do.
A tear fell onto the phone screen, automatically redirecting to the text message interface.
"Respected Imperial Emperor, Captain of the Yousu Team."
Hello, I am Eve, the supercomputer of the Imperial Crown Team. After long-term observation and analysis of your game data, I have determined that your gaming talent and potential are unparalleled...
If you agree to join the Imperial Crown Team, please reply "I do," and our Imperial Crown Team's Imperial Crown vice-captain will personally pick you up.
When Su Hang saw the scam message from noon, tears blurred his vision. He tapped the virtual keyboard with both hands and typed three words.
I do.