Chapter 313: Popping Pills Is Not Cheating!
Zuo Cheng stood in front of Zhejiang University’s esports club members, leading the chants like a conductor. “Zhejiang!” he screamed at them. And they replied, “Champions!” The rest of the audience had stopped celebrating Zhejiang University’s second win over Team Shanghai and were now waiting for the third game, but Zuo Cheng wasn’t ready to stop yet. He glanced over his shoulder a couple of times and just smiled, proud. That’s the cap for you! Best player in the world! Such a shame he quit pro League… If he starts again, hell yeah! He’d win the LPL no problem!
Zuo Cheng leaned back against the railing that separated the normal stands from the player seating area and sighed loudly. He shook his head and said, “Guys, guys. What did I tell you guys? With cap on the team, we’re invincible! Team Shanghai? Team Guangzhou? Any of those other potential champions? Screw them all! We’ve got the cap!”
“Heck yeah! Shi Hang is gonna carry us to a win!”“We’re gonna have an invincibles run!”“If Sun Ruinian is the tiger, Shi Hang is the wings! He’ll lift us up and send us flying to victory!”“AyDeeCee gonna wreck Goalie! Hahaha!”“They might as well give us the trophy already! This is our competition!”“The return of the KING!”“Shi ‘AyDeeCee’ Hang carrying the shit out of these games!”
The section of the audience occupied by Zhejiang University students was loud and proud. Everyone else could clearly hear them blasting over all other conversations. Heads turned and whispers and murmurs rang out through the stands. Everyone agreed that Zhejiang University was putting on a great performance and that with the way they were playing, winning the championship seemed incredibly likely. Then they turned their heads to look at the section with Team Shanghai fans, who were slumped back in their seats and staring at their feet.
“It must suck to be them right about now.”“I just feel bad for them… Imagine getting this far and getting all hyped, and then having to play a pro player! It’s still stupid I think!”“Maybe the Shanghai Esports Association can give them a trophy for most effort, or something like that! They really deserve something with the show they’re putting on for us here!”“Here’s to hoping they take at least one game from Zhejiang!”“Fat chance with AyDeeCee playing…”
✹
Chu Fang sat in his private room backstage watching the large tv screen that showed the audience. He was biting on his lips and furrowing his brows. How did this happen…? Did I push Lin Feng too hard? He scratched the side of his head and looked at a different screen that showed a replay of Game 1. I knew Zhejiang was a strong team and was going to be a lot better with Shi Hang, but I also thought I knew how good Team Shanghai was! Did I make a mistake? They’re 2-0 behind after only an hour of playing. One more game and they’re out! Maple isn’t going to learn much from this! He won’t be back...
Chu Fang breathed out loudly and shook his head. Was I too impatient? Is that it? Am I pushing him too hard? Is Zhejiang going to kick him out early because I pushed him too hard? I thought he could still carry, that the added pressure from playing against Shi Hang would bring the best out of him! We need him better! We need him back to his old self! We need Maple! I only told Shi Hang that the Maple was back so that Lin Feng could get a real challenge! Why did I do that? He clenched his fist and hit himself on the knee. No! This isn’t too much! Is it…?
A staff member knocked on the door and another tried to reach Chu Fang through the walkie talkie, but he didn’t notice them. His full attention was locked on the screen that was now showing a replay of Lin Feng picking up a solo kill on Shi Hang. He’s good! He’s picking up solo kills on Shi Hang! But that’s… that’s not enough! It’s not enough. Team Shanghai is going to get knocked out and there’s nothing I can do about it! It’s already far too late to do something about it! I should’ve never allowed Shi Hang to play! He bit on his lips and stared at the playercam at the bottom of the screen. I need you to make a comeback! Turn this around! Please! We can’t have you dropping out now! We need you to win this and then quickly move on to the professional scene!