【107】How Can We Win?
By the time the match ended, the French guy’s score was 0-11-3. His rating was tragic to behold. Wen Ran even gave him a “Like” at the end.
[Hahahaha, this guy is truly miserable.]
[Tell me, why did you have to provoke him?]
[So pitiful. Bravely confessed his love only to be thrashed by his idol.]
[Thrashing is one thing, but getting caught poaching by the partner right in front of him, and then force-fed dog food!]
[Don’t worry everyone, I’ve already jumped the firewall to post an explanation thread. This is our Dawn’s way of showing hospitality.]
[Hahaha, you’re the most ridiculous one here. Does the little sprayer not need to save face?]
[Male God, V me 100 and I’ll keep your secret, otherwise I’m going to tell on you to Dawn right now.]
[Hahahaha, even if Dawn finds out, it’s too late.]
Wen Ran didn’t watch Jiang Yan’s stream because he was busy preparing for the competition. He hadn’t checked the Super Talk much these past few days, so he had no idea this had happened.
The holidays for professional players were different from regular workers or students, but they did get time off during the Lunar New Year.
The Spring Split playoffs would be postponed until after the New Year.
Team WK was at the peak of their synergy and secured their qualification without much effort. However, the shocking story of the season was the performance of Team Nifeng (Reverse Seal).
Nifeng encountered STE in the first match. Against a crushing opponent like STE, Nifeng stood no chance. On top of that, their Support player was in terrible form due to personal reasons—saying he played like he drank fake alcohol wouldn’t be an exaggeration. The group stage round-robin format became torture for them.
The coach had left because his mother needed major surgery. Nifeng relied entirely on Nan Xi and Jiang Nan holding on bitterly. Not only did they have to play, but they also had to plan the training schedule and handle the BP (Ban/Pick). With substitute players rotating in, their synergy was nonexistent, and they lacked stage experience.
Esports is cruel. No team stays at the peak forever, but if you aren’t careful, you can slide down from the heights in an instant.
Nifeng was beaten by everyone in their group, reduced to an experience pack for other teams to farm points. The “two carrying three” situation seemed impossible to reverse.
Fans were heartbroken. Was the team name too ominous? Nifeng, Nifeng… they played and played until they were truly in a nifeng (headwind/disadvantage).
Nan Xi, who was already a man of few words, became even more silent. Observant fans noticed he often practiced until dawn. But in a five-person game, how could the strength of one person turn the tide?
The last match before the Spring Festival break was Team Nifeng versus Team Xi Luo.
Team Xi Luo had almost no presence in previous competitions because they were simply too weak. They were perennial residents of Group B, unable to beat anyone. Yet Team Nifeng had been on a losing streak for half the season, failing to win even a single small game.
[If they can just win one small game tonight, that’s enough. I don’t dare to hope for more. Just let them have a good New Year!]
[I’m really heartbroken. Nan Xi Husband has lost so much weight, and Goddess too. Her dark circles are so huge, her smile looks so exhausted.]
[Goddess streamed last time for just ten minutes. She comforted us, saying they just hit a low valley and that victory and defeat are common in war, and asked us to live our real lives well.]
[Boohoo, I don’t believe it at all. Someone asked Goddess in the comments: Can you guys win one game?]
[Goddess was visibly downcast. She said she didn’t know.]
[Waaah, I’m dying of heartache. Goddess Jiang Nan has always been so confident. I’ve never seen her like this.]
[Later, Nan Xi Husband came over. Goddess asked him to say hi. Nan Xi really… looks so tired. His brows were furrowed the whole time. I saw the paper in his hand was full of notes.]
[Baby, you were the Rookie King! Now you can’t even confidently say you’ll win against a Group B team.]
[Having lost so many games in a row, will there be a miracle?]
The fans’ hopes were beautiful, but reality was cruel. Team Nifeng lost again.
Likewise, they didn’t win a single small game.
They were swept 3:0. In a disadvantaged situation, Nan Xi made a desperate gamble to backdoor the base. He swapped all his defensive items for attack speed gear, frantically auto-attacking the enemy Crystal. The Crystal’s health dropped rapidly.
Faster, just a little faster, and we can win!
Even if we win just this one small game, morale won’t be extinguished. We’ll still have hope to start over!
Everyone was watching his movements, holding their breath. At the same time, the five enemies had broken through the defense line. Jiang Nan sold her gear for a Guardian Angel and a Golden Body followed by a Famous Knife, but how could she alone withstand the damage of five people?
Jiang Nan fell, but she failed to clear the last minion wave.
A minion with a sliver of health left was protected as it charged toward Nifeng’s Crystal.
Meanwhile, the minions Nan Xi brought had fallen early, leaving him to tank the damage with his body while pushing.
One more hit. Just one more hit.
Bang!
A slightly dull sound resonated. The Crystal exploded.
But it didn’t explode in front of his eyes. It exploded behind him, across the canyon—his own team’s Crystal.
“Let us congratulate Team Xi Luo for winning the match!”
The commentator’s passionate voice rang out. The camera panned over the victors filled with cheers, while everyone on Team Nifeng wore faces heavy with despair.
Team Nifeng had the lowest points and was out of the playoffs.
[Ahhh, why does it have to be like this? Could they really not win even one game?]
[Nan Xi really tried his best. Just one hit away, fractions of a second. How sad must he be?]
[Beautiful, strong, and tragic. Nan Xi is truly strong, but truly miserable.]
[He worked so hard, but still lost in the end.]
[And Goddess Jiang Nan, she tried her best to defend.]
[They really won’t let them have a good New Year!]
[When will this cold winter pass? How can Nan Xi win?]
Orange watched this match in the official stream room. To be precise, as long as the time didn’t conflict, he watched every single one of Nan Xi’s matches.
Nan Xi was truly handsome, and his mechanics were incredibly strong. His objective control stats alone surpassed Wind’s, which was enough to brag about in the league. Orange understood the game; the more Nan Xi tried his best like this, the more Orange’s heart ached for him.
Moreover, Nifeng’s support was blood-pressure-inducing. If it were him, he wouldn’t have face-checked that bush so rashly.
There were some plays so bad they were “appetizing”—Orange felt terrible watching them, feeling like he could eat three extra bowls of rice out of frustration.
In the interview afterwards, it was Nan Xi and Jiang Nan. The host asked some irrelevant questions. Thankfully, they didn’t stab them in the heart again, which was a small relief.
Since that birthday, they hadn’t met again. However, Orange found that when he messaged Nan Xi, the other would reply. Sometimes when he asked to play games together, Nan Xi would come. He would even stand up for Orange when other players insulted him while he was playing Bell Support.
He didn’t have Wen Ran’s eloquence and couldn’t out-curse them, only ending up angry himself.
As a Support, Orange always viewed protecting the ADC as his primary job. That was how he usually protected Arrow. But that guy would specifically lead him into tower dives to feed.
At those times, Nan Xi would speak up: “Ignore him. Come here, follow me.”
“Not everyone is worthy of your protection.”
Orange said “Oh” and obediently attached himself to Nan Xi’s head.
Since they were in voice chat, the ADC couldn’t hear. Seeing the Red Buff Nan Xi stole from the enemy at his feet, the ADC sent a message: Our Red is mine, I’ll take it.
But Nan Xi directly led Orange over, beat the Red to a sliver of health, and let Orange take it.
When had Orange ever received such treatment? “Why give me the Red? I’m a Support, I don’t need it.”
Nan Xi’s voice was cold, but his words were incredibly flirtatious. He said, “It doesn’t matter. It looks pretty on you.”
Thump, thump. Orange could feel it—that was his heartbeat.
It was snowing outside again.
Snowflakes drifted down, and in no time, a layer of silver covered the ground.
Team WK was now on holiday, though the base hadn’t completely closed yet. It would stay open for two or three days since everyone’s ticket times were different.
Orange hadn’t bought a ticket home yet.
The Captain had taken Wen Ran and left on the afternoon the holiday started. Before leaving, Arrow had reluctantly said goodbye to Little Flower through the cat carrier. Brother Seven, Coach Tao—everyone had left. Only Orange, a single player, and a few aunties from the logistics department remained at the base.
He stayed because he wanted to wait for Nan Xi to finish his match.
He wanted to see the other win, even if it was just a small game.
But they didn’t.
Orange put on his coat and walked straight out of the base.
The logistics aunty was surprised. “Where are you going so late?”
“I’m going out to find a friend,” Orange said hurriedly. “You don’t need to wait up for me.”
He called a car and headed toward the sports center.
The snow was falling harder now, and the accumulation on the ground was getting thicker.
After getting out of the car, Orange searched around but couldn’t find anyone.
He called Nan Xi.
Nan Xi’s cold, exhausted voice came through. “Hello?”
“Jian Yu, where are you?”
Nan Xi was feeling very irritable. He was sad about losing the match, and suddenly hearing Orange’s anxious voice made him slightly uncomfortable. Yet, he still told him.
Otherwise, he didn’t want to hear more annoying words from Orange.
Hearing the address, Orange felt a bit happy in his heart. Jian Yu was finally willing to communicate with him frankly. “Then stay there and don’t move, I’m coming to find you!”
When Orange arrived, Nan Xi was standing under a streetlamp. Drifting snowflakes settled on the top of his head and shoulders.
The light from the streetlamp shone down, obscuring the team logo on his uniform.
Just like the team’s experience in this cold winter.
It was a place the light couldn’t reach.
“Are you cold?”
Orange walked up to him. Because he was a bit short, he had to look up at him.
Then, he took off his own scarf, stood on his tiptoes, and wrapped it around Nan Xi’s neck. “Your face is frozen red.”
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