Chapter 6: Solo
Every month, every team had streaming performance requirements. FM was no different, so Chi Jing had to do a test stream before the end of the month. Wu Cheng also renegotiated the streaming revenue split with the platform “Xianyu” (Salted Fish).
“Take a look. If there are no issues, sign it.”
Wu Cheng handed a contract to Chi Jing. Chi Jing took it with doubt in his heart. The moment he opened it, he couldn’t help but be startled. He looked up at Wu Cheng, his eyes seemingly asking if this was really for him. Wu Cheng was amused by this silly child and nodded, meaning yes, it’s for you.
Chi Jing opened the contract and read carefully. Xianyu would promote him on the day of his debut show, and he would get an 80-20 split on gifts received. Aside from that day, future stream gifts would be a 70-30 split. Chi Jing could feel how much trouble Wu Cheng had gone through for this contract. He signed his name directly without looking further.
“Not going to look anymore?”
Qi Feng’s slightly smiling voice sounded behind him. Chi Jing turned his head to look, seeing the man holding a cup of coffee.
“Taste it? It’s not bitter.”
Chi Jing didn’t decline and accepted it.
Wu Cheng remembered his past streaming style and rushed back to add: “You are not allowed to curse the game official’s dog-shit mechanics, and you are not allowed to curse the viewers in the stream.”
Chi Jing’s mouth twitched. “Oh.”
Qi Feng pursed his lips on the side, suppressing a laugh that was about to erupt. Chi Jing looked at him and said righteously, “If you want to laugh, please roll out to laugh.”
Qi Feng held his fist to his lips and coughed twice, retracting his smile.
“I don’t want to laugh! How can they be like this? What’s wrong with cursing someone? Right…”
By the last sentence, he doubted himself, but it didn’t matter. Lying with his eyes open was what he excelled at!
“Cough, how about I help you set up the streaming equipment? You haven’t bought a webcam yet, right? Call me ‘Gege’ (Brother), and I’ll give you one.”
Even at a time like this, he didn’t forget to take advantage of Chi Jing. Truly a secretly affectionate old man. Chi Jing wasn’t angry; after all, he really didn’t have much money left on him. The signing bonus wouldn’t hit his card until next week. Being able to bend and stretch—this is the mark of a true man!
“Gege.”
The teenager’s unique cool voice—steady, with a bit of magnetism. Clearly two emotionless characters, yet coming from his mouth, it sounded incredibly good. It made Qi Feng’s ears burn red with shame.
“How about it, satisfied?”
Qi Feng bared his teeth, smiling with a look of utter worthlessness, and nodded hurriedly. “Satisfied, satisfied.”
Without needing a reminder, Qi Feng rolled away swiftly on his own. The base originally had a streaming camera, but they kept swapping Mid Laners while playing, and none had passed the trial period, so it had been sitting idle. It might not work well anymore. Since it needed replacing anyway, might as well take some advantage.
Qi Feng made a call.
“Master Li, do you still have that webcam, the same model as mine? For streaming.”
“I do. Do you want it now?”
“Yes, I want it now. See what colors you have.”
Rustling sounds came from the other side. After a while, Master Li’s voice came through the phone.
“There’s black, aqua blue, and pink.”
Qi Feng wondered if he would be cursed at if he bought a pink one for Chi Jing. To be safe, he chose an aqua blue one.
“Aqua blue. Deliver it to the base here. I’ll transfer you the money in a bit.”
“Sure, I’ll bring it over this afternoon. I’m busy right now.”
After hanging up, Qi Feng opened WeChat and transferred him 5000 yuan. He locked his phone and checked the time; it was past 11. The base auntie was cooking. Chi Jing was solo queuing in game. He leaned his head over to take a look. This match assigned him to the Jungle position, and he picked Lanling Wang. He was chasing the enemy Xiao Qiao down! Beating them until they scurried like a rat.
“Why are you always chasing Xiao Qiao?”
Chi Jing focused on playing and didn’t look up, replying directly, “Because in my eyes, he is an ATM.”
Qi Feng’s voice held a smile. “Play a solo match with me later? I’ll take Lanling Wang. I want to see if I’m your ATM.”
Chi Jing looked at him with disdain. That look seemed to say: Are you dreaming, buddy?
Although he thought that, for the sake of a man’s dignity, he agreed.
“This match is almost over. Log in.”
Qi Feng took out his phone, opened the game, and created a room to wait for him. After finishing that match, Chi Jing entered the room directly and started the game.
Qi Feng picked Lanling Wang. To prove his strength, Chi Jing picked Xiao Qiao.
“Peaceful farming until Level 4.”
Qi Feng’s voice was indifferent.
Chi Jing replied “Okay,” bought boots, and went out to level up to 1. Xiao Qiao leveled up faster than Lanling Wang in the early game. Only if Lanling Wang snatched neutral resources could he reach Level 4 faster than Xiao Qiao.
Chi Jing controlled Xiao Qiao to throw a fan to hit the minion wave. Lanling Wang’s Skill 1 was obviously slower than Xiao Qiao’s. After clearing the wave, Xiao Qiao went to take the River Spirit. Lanling Wang tried to steal the River Spirit with Smite, but was knocked up by Xiao Qiao’s Skill 2, losing a third of his health bar.
Playing against Chi Jing, he didn’t dare to be distracted. After all, he only knew the guy was strong; exactly where his strength lay, he didn’t know. Xiao Qiao reached Level 4 first and dealt a combo to wear down Lanling Wang’s health. Lanling Wang used Skill 2 to escape back under the tower.
The minion wave arrived. Xiao Qiao came out of the tower to clear it, realizing Lanling Wang was missing from the map. Chi Jing was ready to Flash at any time to dodge the Skill 2 knock-up. The warning indicator above his head flickered near and far. Chi Jing threw a fan first to whittle down the minions, then hid under the tower to last-hit.
Chi Jing calculated the health and economy. His economy should be fifty-five gold higher than Lanling Wang’s, so he had to take the River Spirit to widen the gap. The moment he stepped out of the tower, the indicator above his head went to maximum. Chi Jing Flashed back under the tower, used Skill 2 to accurately knock up the invisible Lanling Wang, and used his Ultimate combined with Skill 1 to take the head.
Their 1v1 defaulted to three kills or one tower. Either three kills or taking one layer of tower plating. clearly, Chi Jing wanted to play to three kills with him. Qi Feng was much more cautious this time. He didn’t activate invisibility directly but cleared the wave swaggeringly, then went back to replenish the health Xiao Qiao had knocked down. Chi Jing calculated that he shouldn’t have a health pack to recall, so he went directly out of the tower to clear minions. Unexpectedly, he got careless.
Lanling Wang was hiding in the bush. Skill 2 took half of Xiao Qiao’s health. Skill 1 followed by a basic attack, and he took Xiao Qiao’s head. This solo match lasted for 25 minutes, with Chi Jing winning by a fluke. By the later stages, teammates and the coach were watching behind them. Seeing Chi Jing’s mechanics, the Head Coach nodded, face full of relief—finally, no need to swap Mid Laners mid-game.
Qi Feng threw down his phone, turned, and hugged Chi Jing. Just as Chi Jing was about to explode, a gentle voice came from above his head.
“It is our honor that FM could find a Mid Laner like you.”
The once-peak team had fallen to today’s state; every member had some disappointment in their hearts. Until his arrival let them see hope.
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