Chapter 1: The Transfer
The winter in Shanghai was piercingly cold. Chi Jing dragged his suitcase along the road, shivering in his thin clothes. His teammates had all been banned for match-fixing—he was the one who reported them. He knew clearly that his professional career might end right here. Which team would want a “heartless and ungrateful” player? A transfer required being listed on the official website, but he was already homeless. Chi Jing looked at the city, still bustling with life and noise into the night, feeling as if he were the only lonely soul in the world.
He was leaving. He would go back to where he came from; end it where he began. From this day on, the industry he loved so dearly would no longer see his silhouette. He hadn’t even had the chance to play a match to his heart’s content, nor the chance to tell the people who supported him that he could do it. But now, like a rat crossing the street, no team would accept his transfer. Even if they lacked a Mid Laner, they wouldn’t want him.
Drawing back his wandering thoughts, he reached out and hailed a taxi.
“Master, to the nearest airport, please.”
The taxi driver wore a warm, enthusiastic smile; he was a chatty middle-aged man.
“You got it, young man. Let me put that suitcase in the back for you. You hurry up and get in the car. You young folks always wear so little just to look good.”
Just as Chi Jing handed the suitcase to the driver, a call came in from an unfamiliar Shanghai number. He wasn’t as agitated as he had been when receiving the first few calls. Steeling himself to be cursed out, he answered the phone.
“Hello? Is this Chi Jing?”
A low, deep male voice poured into his ear, gradually becoming distinct.
“Mn, it’s me. May I ask who is calling?”
To call out his name so accurately meant either his personal information had been dug up by his former teammates’ fans, or it was a consolation call from a not-so-close friend.
“FM Esports Club Jungler and Captain, Qi Feng. On behalf of the team, I’m inviting you to join us. Come to the base to discuss the salary with the manager. Interested?”
Hearing this sentence, his body felt as though it had been struck by a massive current. Every nerve ending trembled, his mind went blank, and he softly said:
“Okay.”
The man on the other end seemed to chuckle, very lightly, but Chi Jing heard it.
“This number is my contact info, add me on WeChat. I’ll send you the base’s address.”
He didn’t remember how the call ended. He told the taxi driver he wasn’t going to the airport anymore and gave him a new address.
“Found a job, young man?” the taxi driver asked teasingly, seemingly trying to liven up the atmosphere.
“Mn.”
His heart was currently adrift, suspended in mid-air. He couldn’t believe it. Why would a team want to sign a pro player with a ruined reputation? And it was the veteran powerhouse, Team FM.
This team hadn’t participated in the S7 season because their Mid Laner retired. Throughout the S8 season, they had been trying to integrate new Mid Laners but never found a suitable one, resulting in a messy performance during matches. The inner circle was predicting the decline of this team, but he had watched their games carefully. their core was in the Mid Lane. If the Mid Lane held steady, the other lanes wouldn’t collapse. And he had the confidence to hold FM’s Mid Lane.
Throughout the ride, Chi Jing’s thoughts were chaotic, and he kept staring into space. It wasn’t until the taxi driver shouted a bit loudly that he snapped out of it.
“Young man, stop spacing out. I can’t drive in there.”
He slowly came to his senses and realized the security guards of the high-end residential area wouldn’t let the car enter. Only then did he suddenly remember that Qi Feng had messaged him to let him know when he arrived so he could come pick him up.
“Thank you, Master. Just drop me here. I’ll scan the code to pay you.”
The taxi driver took down his suitcase. After Chi Jing paid, he took his luggage and waited at the entrance of the base’s residential complex. He observed his surroundings slightly; this was a high-end Shanghai neighborhood. Inside were all standalone villas, looking incredibly luxurious. Truly the number one wealthy team.
He stood under a streetlamp, his head slightly lowered. His white hair glowed under the lamplight. At this moment, a light snow began to fall from the sky. He didn’t have an umbrella, and there was no place nearby to take shelter, so he simply stood in the most conspicuous spot waiting for Qi Feng. Whether the negotiations would work out or not, he no longer cared. Worst case scenario, he’d go back to being the number one “Magic Lord” streamer; at least he wouldn’t starve.
His thoughts drifted further and further away. Perhaps due to the pressure, he found himself constantly spacing out, lost in a trance.
A shadow suddenly blocked the light from the streetlamp. He looked up as if startled awake, his gaze locking with Qi Feng, who was looking down at him. He told himself internally: This is FM’s Captain. He had only ever seen this person on screen; even after entering the pro scene, they had never met in reality.
Qi Feng’s brow, originally slightly furrowed, tightened a few degrees more upon seeing Chi Jing’s thin clothing. He stared at him for two seconds before slowly speaking, “Cold?”
Chi Jing was dazed for a moment. recovering, he hurriedly said he wasn’t cold. But Qi Feng acted as if he hadn’t heard, taking off his own jacket and draping it over Chi Jing. He nodded with satisfaction, then suddenly noticed that Chi Jing was overly thin; it looked like a son secretly wearing his father’s clothes.
He fell silent for a moment, then said, “It’s pretty cold out. You must have been standing here for a while. Wear it for now. The base is at the very back of the complex, it’s a bit of a walk.”
Chi Jing was indeed a bit cold, so he didn’t decline. Instead, he asked back, “Aren’t you cold? You’re wearing very little.”
After taking off the jacket, Qi Feng was only wearing a black sweater underneath. It looked thick, but in Shanghai’s freezing weather, he could get sick.
Qi Feng raised an eyebrow and smiled. “That layer you’re wearing isn’t even as thick as my sweater, is it? Stop worrying so much. Walk faster.”
The two walked along the path in silence, the atmosphere somewhat stiff.
“Why are you carrying a suitcase?” Qi Feng spoke first, attempting to break the subtle tension.
Chi Jing didn’t hide it and said directly, “I was planning to go to the airport tonight.”
Qi Feng lowered his head and said softly, “Ticket already bought? Luckily, I made that call right before you left.”
Chi Jing felt it was a bit inexplicable but didn’t ask further. The two fell silent again. This strange atmosphere persisted until they reached the base entrance, where it was finally broken.
Chi Jing stopped dead in his tracks as soon as he reached the door, seemingly hesitating. Qi Feng didn’t rush him, only asking, “Why aren’t you going in?”
Chi Jing spoke with a hoarse voice, “It’s nothing. Let’s go in.”
Qi Feng rang the doorbell three times. The first person to rush out and open the door was Yuan Jibai.
“It’s Little Chi, right? It’s cold out, come in quick.”
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