Chapter 34: Preparation for Joining the Team
Father Shen and Mother Shen were driven nearly mad.
That night, Shen Yanjin got his wish. Carrying his injuries and his luggage, he rolled out the front door.
After buying a bus ticket, he had only four hundred yuan left on him.
In Cloud City, this amount of money wouldn’t last a single day for food and lodging.
Having just left home, Shen Yanjin still possessed the temperament of a young master. He checked directly into a hotel, stayed in a room with a large bed, ate a buffet meal, and then very casually sold himself to the HG Team.
At that time, HG was a very small team. Even the majority of WL players and fans had never heard its name.
But Shen Yanjin didn’t care. He took it for granted that he would sooner or later join the KW Team.
Therefore, even though HG’s environment was atrociously bad, lacking even a qualified coach, Shen Yanjin lived there happily.
But he never expected that such days would last for five whole years.
He would never forget the first time he met Duan Mingyue on the competition stage.
Separated by a sea of thousands of people, that man bathed in the lights and camera flashes, smiling and waving to the fans.
So close.
Compared to being separated by a screen and a network cable back then, being in the same arena was naturally much closer.
Yet, Shen Yanjin had never felt that Duan Mingyue was so far away from him.
He was absent-minded during that match and lost miserably.
The WL League rules stated that the winning team must stand up and walk over to the losing team to shake hands, demonstrating the spirit of “friendship first, competition second.”
Duan Mingyue’s palm was large, dry, and warm. When Shen Yanjin shook it, his entire body trembled slightly.
This contact lasted no more than two seconds.
Yet, what Shen Yanjin thought in his heart was—it was worth it.
Was he stupid? Giving up so much, only to get a single handshake.
But Shen Yanjin was willing.
So, he struggled and fought in the professional circle for five full years, dragging the HG Team from a nameless small team with no sponsors to a household name in the WL.
During this period, he gained countless opportunities to shake hands with Duan Mingyue. Occasionally, when they met in the corridor during preparation, they could even nod and greet each other.
Shen Yanjin didn’t feel pitiful, nor did he regret it.
He only felt lost.
It didn’t matter what he paid.
However, this affection had hurt the people who loved him the most.
Shen Yanjin knew better than anyone how old-fashioned his parents were in their bones.
According to the “correct” path, he should have taken the college entrance exam the following year, attended a decent university, studied a major he was interested in, found a proper job, and then had a happy family.
That way, his originally happy and complete family wouldn’t have reached this state.
But was that the life he wanted?
Absolutely not.
Guilt certainly existed, but existing alongside it was the painful disappointment that his closest kin could not understand him.
Shen Yanjin took a deep breath. “Dad.”
Hearing the voice, Father Shen put down the newspaper in his hand. He wanted to come over but let out a cold snort instead. “So you still know to come back!”
“…” Shen Yanjin didn’t know what to say, so he remained silent.
Mother Shen hurriedly tried to smooth things over. “Oh my, Yanjin rarely comes home. Can’t you soften your attitude a bit?” Seeing the father and son fall into silence again, she sighed and said helplessly, “Yanjin, do you want to go to your room and rest for a while? We’ll eat soon. Whatever matters there are, it’s not too late to talk after the meal… You’ll stay at home this afternoon, right?”
Shen Yanjin avoided the expectation in Mother Shen’s eyes.
He had to go for physical therapy every afternoon now. Otherwise, even if he didn’t use his wrist, there was a high probability the inflammation would flare up, hurting so much he wouldn’t be able to sleep all night.
If his parents knew about this, would they agree to let him continue playing professionally?
Or would they, like back then, restrict his personal freedom, lock him in his room, and forbid him from going anywhere?
So Shen Yanjin didn’t plan to mention the injury on his hand. He only said vaguely, “No, I have things to do this afternoon.”
Bang!
Father Shen slammed the table without warning, startling both the mother and son standing nearby.
He roared, “Since you want to leave so much, why did you come back? Get out—”
“Old Shen!!”
Mother Shen’s voice suddenly rose. Her almond eyes widened as she glared fiercely at Father Shen.
This father and son pair, one was more stubborn than the other. Both had the temper of a donkey that could be coaxed but not coerced.
Their son had finally come home; were they going to chase him away in anger again?
Father Shen’s expression froze. Seeming to realize his loss of composure, he huffed and somewhat awkwardly picked up the newspaper he had just put down.
After scolding him, Mother Shen turned back to coax her son. “Don’t mind him, your dad is just like that…”
“En.”
Shen Yanjin didn’t get angry or flare up as Mother Shen expected. He responded calmly and smiled. “I know, Mom. Are you going to cook? I’ll help you.”
Mother Shen was stunned, then hurriedly smiled. “Okay, okay.”
She paused, unable to hold back, and looked at her son’s profile, sighing with emotion. “Yanjin… you’ve grown up.”
Hearing this, a look of guilt appeared on Shen Yanjin’s face. “Mom, I’m sorry.”
Mother Shen was surprised. “What’s wrong?”
Shen Yanjin bit his lower lip. “I… am unfilial.”
“I forbid you to say that!” Mother Shen suddenly raised her tone. “For these five years, I’ve been thinking, if only I could have understood you a little bit back then. After all, in this world, if you can’t rely on your parents, who else can you rely on?”
“You were so young back then, running off alone to such a faraway place, with no money and knowing no one… Mom really can’t imagine how you survived these past few years…”
Mother Shen raised her hand to wipe the corner of her eye and smiled again. “Alright, alright, let’s not talk about those unhappy things today. Our family of three is going to have a happy meal this noon.”
Shen Yanjin tried hard to suppress the sourness in his throat and nodded.
Lunch indeed passed peacefully.
After eating, it was almost time for physical therapy.
Just as Shen Yanjin stood up, Father Shen, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke.
He frowned, his voice serious. “Shen Yanjin, wait a moment. I’m asking you, now that you’re back in Bincheng, what are your plans?”
Even if beaten to death, Shen Yanjin couldn’t say right now that he pretended to be a woman to deceive people, got a substitute qualification, and planned to go back to pro gaming. He lowered his eyes. “No plans.”
“How old are you! Still no plans!” Father Shen had been an academic for a long time and had mentored many graduate students, so he was accustomed to using a didactic tone.
Shen Yanjin used to be very annoyed by this, but hearing it now, he didn’t care as much.
However, Father Shen seemed to realize his attitude was poor and coughed twice as if to make amends. “Since you have no plans, I’ll give you a number. It’s my old friend’s company. Go there for an interview and accumulate some work experience. When spring comes next year, you resume your studies and repeat the third year of high school. There’s still time!”
Shen Yanjin froze, then smiled bitterly. “Dad, I’m twenty-two…”
“So what if you’re twenty-two! Studying knows no age!” Father Shen glared at him. “If you were a bit more obedient, how would there be so much trouble!”
“…”
It was like this again.
Going against his wishes, never asking about his preferences, and arranging his future path on their own accord.
A trace of fatigue flashed across Shen Yanjin’s brow. Not wanting to argue, he only said, “We’ll see,” and walked toward the door.
Listening to Father Shen’s roar of “What is this attitude!” behind him, he walked out the gate as if fleeing.
He looked back once.
This used to be his fortress, the safest place in his heart.
But it had also been the cage that bound him.
Father Shen and Mother Shen were both intellectuals; they wouldn’t do anything drastic like threatening suicide just because their son played esports or liked men.
But at the same time, they were both people with strong opinions and very stubborn; neither could persuade the other.
There was no way.
Shen Yanjin exhaled, took out his phone, and wanted to call his therapist to confirm the time.
Unexpectedly, as soon as he unlocked the screen, he saw five unread messages and a missed voice call.
Before going to his parents’ house, Shen Yanjin was afraid of being disturbed by calls, so he had silenced his phone.
Looking closely, they were actually messages from Duan Mingyue.
Moon God… initiated a voice call with me?
Did something extremely urgent happen?
Over a dozen bad guesses flashed through Shen Yanjin’s mind instantly. He hurriedly unlocked the phone and tapped in.
[RedMoon: [File: WPL S7 Spring Season Schedule]]
[RedMoon: The new schedule is out.]
[RedMoon: Joining the team? Food, accommodation, and plane tickets included.]
[RedMoon: By the way, duo queue tonight?]
[RedMoon: Not replying to me…]
[RedMoon: [Voice Call Missed]]
Shen Yanjin was stunned.
His heartbeat suddenly accelerated.
[UOOW: Moon God means, I can join the team?]
[UOOW: Really?]
[RedMoon: En, wait until you come to the base, we’ll discuss the contract details in person.]
[RedMoon: Why didn’t you reply to my messages?]
Shen Yanjin had an impulse to ask: I didn’t reply to you, do you care that much? Why? Aren’t we just duo queue partners? Asking like this, do you… care about me a little, or even like me?
Thinking of such a possibility, he felt both joy and loss.
You see, Duan Mingyue could fall for him.
Unfortunately, the one he liked wasn’t the real him, but UOOW.
However, Duan Mingyue had explicitly stated he wouldn’t like men. It seemed this was the only way Shen Yanjin had left to get close to him.
He pulled the corners of his mouth bitterly and typed a reply.
[UOOW: (＞_＜) Sorry Moon God, my phone was on silent just now, so I didn’t see it!]
[UOOW: I’m very willing to join the team.]
[UOOW: But can you give me a little time? I still have some other matters to deal with.]
Duan Mingyue raised an eyebrow.
[RedMoon: Sure. How long?]
[UOOW: Half a month.]
That was a bit long. There was exactly one month left of prep time before the season. Dragging it out for half a month, plus the trivial matters after joining the team, would leave practically no time for training.
Duan Mingyue was a bit curious. What did the little support plan to do with this half month?
Surely he wasn’t going to find a woman to join the team in his place.
He asked: Is it a very urgent matter?
Shen Yanjin said: Yes.
He thought for a moment, then added.
[UOOW: Moon God.]
[UOOW: If I can successfully go find you, I have something I want to confess to you. I hope you won’t get angry, and won’t hate me…]
Reading this, Duan Mingyue couldn’t help but laugh. Something to confess, hope I won’t get angry?
He couldn’t imagine “this thing” being anything other than the fact that UOOW was actually YanGold.
Feeling a rare streak of mischief, he wanted to tease the little support, so he deliberately said: “Then what if I don’t forgive you?”
Shen Yanjin was terrified. He gritted his teeth and said: “If you don’t forgive, then don’t! Anyway, by then you won’t be able to shake me off!”
After saying that, he closed the dialog box and went to call Dr. Li.
Duan Mingyue was stunned by the sudden surge in the little support’s momentum. He let out a smiling “Wow” and said, “Impressive.”
Then, turning around, he met Kai’s suspicious and gossipy eyes.
“Captain!” Kai looked betrayed. “You still say you’re not in an online romance! You were smiling at your phone like that, and you still say you’re not in an online romance! Confess honestly now and I can still forgive you. Is it UOOW on the other side?”
Duan Mingyue patted Kai’s shoulder. Neither confirming nor denying, he simply said airily, “It hasn’t succeeded yet.”
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