Chapter 4 (1/2)

The players’ break room.

Giggle, real name Zhao Mingwei, had been team captain of JC Kings for seven long years. He was the only player who stayed with the team despite one roster change after another, his ID ‘Giggle’ remaining throughout that period.

Now, after most of his former teammates had retired, he led the new JC Kings roster which only joined a year ago to the professional scene.

He was the last to reach the break room, but even before he entered, hysterical shouts could be heard from within.

“Why was I swapped out on round four? Didn’t that old bastard only leave us crushed?”

“Feng Yi! The White Blade’s pusher this year is too good. Your aggro playstyle is only playing into his hands!”

“And was it any better to let Old Smiley play? Wasn’t that just conceding the round? He is already International champion twice! He definitely wasn’t thinking about the third—”

The exchange promptly stopped when Zhao Mingwei entered, and everyone quickly turned towards him.

He adjusted his black-rimmed glasses and looked towards Feng Yi, the first team’s pusher. He was young and remarkably talented, although he was too eager in personality.

Zhao Mingwei could see that his eyes were a bursting red too—Feng Yi was clearly upset with their defeat.

“Feng Yi, there’ll always be winners and losers. You still have more chances to come.” Zhao Mingwei walked up to him and clapped his shoulder, but was abruptly shoved away.

“Of course you’ll be fine with that! You had already been champion twice! But this is my first time in the International, don’t you know—”

“Feng Yi!”

The coach cut Feng Yi short. Unable to control his emotions, the player sat down, buried his face in his hands and started bawling.

The defeat left a sullen atmosphere hanging over the team, with coach eventually ushering them to the team bus on their way back to the hotel.

Zhao Mingwei sat on the lost row, with his old friend and the only other veteran member Lin Xi seated beside him.

“Feeling weary, Old Smiley?” Lin Xi asked him quietly, watching his somber face. “The last four is actually a good result.”

“It has nothing to do with the result.” Zhao Mingwei stared at him in return. “Let me ask you something, Lin Xi…”

“But Old Smiley, I did not make a single mistake—fine, maybe one time!” Lin Xi quickly raised his hands in surrender. Although they were close, Zhao Mingwei was still team captain.

“I counted at least seven mistakes, but that’s not what I want to say…” Zhao Mingwei replied, pausing a moment before continuing, “How long has it been since you last smiled playing the game?”

“…”

Lin Xi stared blankly for a moment before forcing a grin.

“Old Smiley, we’re pros. It’s our job to play, and we play to win.”

“That’s not how it used to be.” Zhao Mingwei laid back into his seat tiredly, closing his eyes.

Lin Xi did not continue the conversation either since he was afraid that they would eventually reach the topic of ‘retirement’.

Even if Zhao Mingwei’s skill had degraded, his popularity remained at the pinnacle of the professional scene. As long as he stayed with JC Kings—even as a mascot—the team’s market value would only keep growing.