One ‘why’ represented the questions of everyone present.
Bai Cai, Ning Zhehan, and Yue Wenle didn’t dare to ask, but their hearts were also filled with this question.
If Close wasn’t the jungler, would FTW still be FTW?
Not to mention the fans, even they felt this way.
Or in other words, who here in this room wasn’t a Close fan?
The glorious FTW, the dispirited FTW, the fragmented FTW, and the FTW that had charged tenaciously into the global finals.
No matter which one it was, they all had Close’s shadow looming over it, and they all had his shadow thief.
And now, he was saying that he wasn’t going to play jungler anymore.
This destroyed the faith of countless people!
Chen Feng’s throat was dry and hoarse, “… Ever since Quiet joined the team, the coaching team has been observing and analyzing the situation, and we’ve come to the conclusion that Quiet is more suited for the jungler position…”
Wei Xiao interrupted forcefully, “Nobody is more suitable than Close is!”
He didn’t use the title of ‘captain’ and referred to Close by name.
Lu Feng’s eyebrows drew together in a slight frown, “Technique can be tempered, experience can be accumulated. Some geniuses are meant to be.”
Wei Xiao stared at him, and two clusters of fire burned in his eyes, “Genius? I…”
Lu Feng interrupted him, “In the evening, in the game against 3U, you were the one who eased the pressure on Ning Zhehan.”
Wei Xiao was stunned.
Lu Feng’s voice was quiet, gentle, and soothing, “I’ve always been unable to take care of my teammates’ emotions. In order to win in 5v5, five people are required, not one.”
Wei Xiao spoke impatiently, “I’ve already joined the team. I can do all that from the top lane.”
Lu Feng shook his head, “The top lane has its own limitations. You’re more suited to be a jungler.”
Wei Xiao: “But you’re the jungler, you’ve already been in this position for four years!”
What kind of concept was this?
Only professional players could experience it fully.
E-sports was a profession that relied on youth. How many years could a professional player play for? The tougher ones might last for six or seven years, but the weaker ones could collapse in just two or three years.
Lu Feng had already been playing for four years, and he was more than halfway through his career. No matter how talented he was, no matter how excellent he was, he couldn’t remain in his peak state forever.
His golden age would only last for two or three years at most.
At this time, in a situation where he hadn’t made any mistakes, hadn’t fallen behind, and showed no flaws, why should he give up playing the jungler position?
For what?!
He’d worked hard for four years and devoted his efforts towards this for four years. Why give it up!
Wei Xiao’s heart clenched into a ball, and his eyes were red.
Did he love playing jungler?
He loved it.
But why did he love playing jungler? It was because two years ago, Close had led an immature team, and the indomitable spirit and resolve he’d shown to find a chance to break out of a desperate situation had really encouraged him.
Was Wei Xiao staunch and strong? He was.
With a pair of parents like his, looking after his elderly grandmother on his own, he had to be strong.
However, couldn’t there be times when strong people were vulnerable?
When his classmate had come in second place in the class, his parents had been so happy that they’d run to the school to treat everyone to small cakes.
He’d looked at the middle-aged couple whose faces showed joy they couldn’t suppress, and he could only feel sad.
––He’d been first in his class in the exams, but his parents didn’t even know.
Wei Xiao had run out of school, hid in an ohinternet bar, and inadvertently seen Close’s game.
He looked at the shadow thief on the screen and saw the light.
A beam of light had pierced through cowardice and frailty, burrowing straight into his heart.
A losing game, desperate teammates, and a game that no longer held suspense.
From beginning to end, the shadow thief had held on, hadn’t given up, and had never stopped.
He used his scarlet red blade, pierced through the haze, broke the deadlock, and showed countless people the power of faith.
He wanted to fight, wanted to win, and even if he was the only one left, he still had to struggle all the way to the end!
At the end.
The shadow thief stood alone in the empty canyon, his cloak fluttering around him, looking resolute and determined.
This picture was engraved in Wei Xiao’s heart.
He’d never thought that he would be so shocked and moved by a video game character.
He’d never thought that he would cry over a video game.
Even more, he’d never thought that he’d be moved by someone who was on the other side of a screen, on the other side of a game, spanning immeasurable nothingness, whose name he didn’t even know.
Close won that game.
Wei Xiao had also rushed into Glory’s China competition zone’s training camp without any hesitation during that winter vacation.
Close was countless peoples’ faith.
And also Wei Xiao’s faith.
There were many people who were in desperate situations.
Even more people who struggled in pain.
And those on the thorny road of unremitting progress needed such a beam of light.
––It could light up the darkness up ahead and give them infinite courage so that they could keep going.
So, there was no way for him to accept it. Such a Close had actually chosen to give up.
Lu Feng spoke softly, “Wei Xiao, come outside with me.”
Wei Xiao didn’t move.
Lu Feng’s voice was gentle, “Come here.”
This arrogant youth had always been docile and well behaved with him.
But now, Wei Xiao finally acted like a 19 year old. He stood there, didn’t move, and spoke in a smoldering tone, “Tell me that you’ll still play jungler.”
Lu Feng: “…….”
Chen Feng frowned and spoke up, “Wei Xiao, this is something that the entire FTW has decided on. You…”
Lu Feng raised his hand and interrupted Chen Feng’s reprimand.
Chen Feng wasn’t happy inside either. He simply opened the door and left.
In the presence of so many people, there were many things that Lu Feng couldn’t easily say, and with Wei Xiao’s current attitude, he probably wouldn’t be able to hear it, either.
“Continue ranking. I’ll go back to the room first.” He said this to Wei Xiao and planned to leave.
Wei Xiao was unreconciled, and before Lu Feng could leave, he asked, “Is my top lane not good enough?”
Lu Feng’s heart stuttered.
Wei Xiao’s voice quivered, “Give me some time. I will become stronger, I’ll become stronger than Yuan Ze!”
Lu Feng hardened his heart and pushed open the door, “I’ll wait for you in the room.”
Wei Xiao stiffened, then sat down in his chair.
It was very quiet in the training room.
There was no clattering keyboard sound, no mouse clicks, and even the sound of breathing was extremely light.
It was unknown how long it took, perhaps it was only a few minutes, or even half an hour.
Wei Xiao sat up straight and silently entered the game.
He didn’t speak to anyone, and he didn’t look at anyone. He stared at the screen, and the corners of his mouth stretched out into a straight line.
He entered the game and started a match. He didn’t say a word as he picked the divine warrior.
At the start of the game, the divine warrior in the canyon was like a silent lone wolf that stuck to its lane.
It fought against the other top laner, exchanged hits, and took First Blood!
In a group battle, it circled around the back, Pentakill!
Bai Cai also entered the game. He didn’t start his own match and instead went to observe the match.
He looked at the silent Wei Xiao, looked at the divine warrior who was like a sword that had been drawn out of its scabbard, looked at his incredible maneuvers, and watched him win one match after another.
For a full four hours, Wei Xiao didn’t even drink any water.
He kept playing with the divine warrior, queued into games non-stop, and killed endlessly.
After getting used to seeing the happy and smiling Wei Xiao, Bai Cai had almost forgotten how scary Wei Xiao was when he was angry.
He was good-natured and very tolerant, but he also had untouchable bottom lines.
One of them was Close.
The period two years ago had been the most difficult time for FTW. Close had been very young when he bought the club, and it was something that many people found impossible.
All kinds of rumors floated around. At the time, someone in their youth training camp had said, “Close is really impressive. He can obtain an entire club just by selling his ass.”
Wei Xiao heard this sentence and punched him without another word.
That person had been muddled, “You’re f*cking crazy!”
Wei Xiao landed another punch, and blood began to ooze from the corner of that person’s mouth.
Bai Cai had been shocked silly back then. He’d already become familiar with Wei Xiao by then; this guy was playful and smiling all day long, and had a runaway mouth. He’d never thought that he would be so crazy when he started fighting!
Later, if it hadn’t been for Bai Cai going up to stop him, he suspected that Wei Xiao would’ve beaten the other person to death!
Even if he was being held down, Wei Xiao continued to stare at that person, “Apologize.”
That person had no idea what he had done wrong.
Wei Xiao enunciated each word clearly, “Apologize to Close.”
It was only then that Bai Cai learned of Wei Xiao’s reverse scale.
Someone who was so easy to get along with normally, was more terrible than anyone else when their reverse scale was touched.
The youth training camp’s management was much less strict than it was in the professional arena. Only a reprimand and demerit had been given over this incident.
That person hadn’t made any achievements. After being caught out, he hadn’t dared to kick up a fuss and had directly gone home.
There weren’t many people who knew about this incident, but Bai Cai was one of them.
So, he understood how much Close switching lanes affected Wei Xiao.
Three o’clock in the morning.
Ning Zhehan and Yue Wenle gradually stood up.
They glanced at Wei Xiao, then looked at Bai Cai.
Bai Cai shook his head.
Ning Zhehan and Yue Wenle nodded, and they both went out first.
Only Wei Xiao and Bai Cai were left in the room. Bai Cai thought about it for a while and was just about to open his mouth when Wei Xiao spoke first, “Go get some rest.”
Bai Cai: “……”
Wei Xiao stared unblinkingly at the screen. Despite having been focused on the game for four hours, his control over the divine warrior’s operations was still extremely precise.
Bai Cai took a light breath, “The captain is still waiting for you.”
Wei Xiao’s fingers shook, and he missed a soldier, “He went to sleep.”
Bai Cai gritted his teeth and said, “Don’t be like this. For the captain to make such a decision, it must be…”
Wei Xiao spoke coldly, “Go rest.”
Bai Cai: “……”
The one who caused the problem had to be the one to fix it; Bai Cai knew that it was useless for him to say anything else. He stood up, “You should go back and rest early too.”
Wei Xiao: “Mm.”
Bai Cai left the training room.
Wei Xiao was the only one left in the large training room.
He finished a game.
The word ‘Victory’ on the screen was both dazzling and boring
He didn’t continue to queue for the next game. Wei Xiao leaned back in his chair, and raised his elbow to cover his eyes.
Why did he have to give it up?
Was it because he wasn’t strong enough?
Had Close given up the jungler position because of him?
An indescribable pain surged up into his chest. It was so intense that it made Wei Xiao feel a long-lost sense of powerlessness.
––Why did mom and dad leave.
––Was it because he wasn’t an obedient child?
Wei Xiao took a light breath and tried to suppress his turbulent emotions.
He sat up straight and hit the match button.
If he wasn’t strong enough, he’d train.
He could do it.
“Ding.”
His cell phone rang.
This was a special chime tone.
Wei Xiao cancelled the match queue and picked up his cell phone.
LU: “Are you sleeping?”
Wei Xiao wasn’t in the mood to talk to anyone, including the boss.
However…
It was so late, yet the boss hadn’t gone to sleep. Maybe something had happened.
Wei Xiao was unwilling to harm others just because of his own emotions.
Wei Xiao typed, “Not yet.”
Then, he continued and asked, “What can I do for you, Brother Lu?”
At three o’clock in the morning, if things were normal, he should’ve already gone to sleep.
LU paused for a moment, then sent a sentence, “It’s so late, are you training?”
Wei Xiao: “……”
LU: “Am I interrupting you?”
Wei Xiao: “No.”
The two of them both paused for a moment. It was as though neither of them knew what to say for a while.
Wei Xiao tried to lift up his spirits, “It’s so late, but Brother Lu hasn’t slept yet, is it…”
The words he’d been typing hadn’t yet been sent out when LU sent over another message, “In a bad mood?”
It was four simple words, but Wei Xiao could feel the concern from this person whom he’d never met.
The tip of his nose felt sour, “Mm.”
LU: “Did something happen?”
Wei Xiao felt like the words that had pressed down on his chest for four hours, the words that he couldn’t even say to Bai Cai, could somehow be spoken to this stranger.
“My captain decided to change lanes.” Wei Xiao typed out these few words and felt as though his fingertips were being scalded.
He took a deep breath and sent out another sentence, “He’s going to give up the position he’s held on to for four years.”
Followed by another line, “Because I’m not strong enough.”
In the hotel room, Lu Feng sat in the dark and looked at these three messages.
––My captain decided to change lanes.
––He’s going to give up the position he’s held on to for four years.
––Because I’m not strong enough.
A thick stream of emotion overflowed in Lu Feng’s chest, making his fingers tremble under the moonlight coming in from the window.
LU: “Why don’t you talk to him.”
Wei Xiao was stunned.
LU: “Maybe it’s not what you think.”
Wei Xiao typed, “Brother Lu, you don’t understand. My captain, he’s been playing in the jungler position ever since he started playing professionally. His jungler is the best in the whole of Glory!”
LU: “But it’s not what he likes.”
Wei Xiao’s back felt like it was frozen, “How could that be!”
LU: “He didn’t give up, because what he’s held onto wasn’t the jungler position.”
Wei Xiao stood up abruptly.
xiin: *cuddles the shit out of wei xiao*
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