Chapter 168

“The entire esports professional circle has embarked on a new team-building exercise — adding Mo Yin as a friend.

The process is similar to multi-level marketing.

First, get to know an esports player who is friends with Mo Yin, then have that player seize the opportunity to privately message Mo Yin in-game, respectfully requesting Mo Yin to accept the friend request from that esports player.

Usually, Mo Yin responds with a ‘1’, indicating receipt, and all that’s needed is to patiently wait a few hours to secure a friend spot with Mo Yin.

Chen Dong was among the first to benefit, quickly developing his downline, enabling teammates to hop on the ‘add MY as a friend’ bandwagon.

The atmosphere within Team REAL has always been open and united. Teammates happily sent friend requests to Mo Yin while expressing disdain and mockery towards their captain.

Hah! Hogging all to yourself! Not a good thing!

Ye Chi’s expression ranged between helpless and speechless. He could only console himself that he wasn’t the only one, but at least he was the first.

This trend continued, and almost all professional esports players in the circle added Mo Yin as a friend. Normally composed professional players dropped their reserved facades and began flaunting their friend slots in livestreams. This prompted fans to flood the chatrooms with insults towards the broadcasters.

Ye Chi, the first to add Mo Yin as a friend, instantly blended into the crowd. There was a hint of sourness in Ye Chi’s heart, but he also knew this feeling was somewhat unreasonable.

If Mo Yin could add him as a friend, then of course he could add others too.

Perhaps it was precisely because Mo Yin added so many friends that he didn’t want anyone to feel special, hence the ‘pardon’ for everyone to be added.

Ye Chi collapsed onto his bed after showering. His arms were slender, his back broad enough to almost cover the entire single bed.

He had liked Mo Yin for so long, experiencing firsthand how bitter it was to secretly admire someone, especially someone shining so brightly. The dim bitterness couldn’t be shared with anyone, only savored alone.

On the eve of Mo Yin leaving for overseas to participate in the mid-season championship, Ye Chi received a private message from him in-game.

Although Mo Yin’s friends list was already full, those people hardly chatted with him, contacting him only to recommend new friends. When adding friends, they would say things like ‘really like your gameplay style.’

– [Lost to MY’s Vegetables: Good luck in the mid-season championship]

– [Lost to MY’s Vegetables: Supporting you from China]

– [Lost to MY’s Vegetables: You’ll definitely win the championship]

Mo Yin wasn’t livestreaming, and Ye Chi had timed his message for after Mo Yin had finished streaming. He didn’t want their interaction to become gossip fodder for many.

In the game, Ye Chi repeatedly glanced at the lower left corner, then checked the friends list after the game ended.

He was waiting for Mo Yin’s reply.

Rather than waiting, it was more like anticipating.

A strange kind of anticipation.

Considering Mo Yin’s personality, he probably wouldn’t reply.

When sending the message, Ye Chi also thought Mo Yin probably wouldn’t reply, but besides probability, wasn’t there also possibility?

Because of this small possibility, Ye Chi waited until after 1 a.m.

Esports players stayed up late, so 1 a.m. wasn’t considered late. According to Mo Yin’s usual schedule, though, he should have been asleep. Esports AI discipline was widely known in the esports circle. Ye Chi admired Mo Yin greatly upon entering this circle.

Looks like there won’t be a response.

Ye Chi canceled the queue, leaned back in his esports chair, opened the chat box, and waited for Mo Yin’s ID to darken.

– [MY: Nonsense]

When this line flashed on the screen, Ye Chi thought he was dreaming or seeing things. After a few seconds of daze, he suddenly sat up straight, mouse moving frantically. Mo Yin had already gone offline in the chat box.

Chen Dong yawned, then looked at Ye Chi next to him as he yawned, instantly wide awake upon seeing Ye Chi’s expression.

“Boss, what are you looking at?” Chen Dong pushed his chair towards Ye Chi. “You’re smiling so disgustingly.”

By the time he leaned over, Ye Chi had swiftly closed the game interface, leaving only the computer screensaver of blue sky and white clouds.

Chen Dong: “……”

It reminded him of the scene during his adolescence when his mom caught him watching porn on the computer.

Ye Chi cleared his throat and stood up. “It’s time to rest.”

“Chen Dong watched as Ye Chi dashed out, then turned to his teammates and said, ‘Hey, don’t you guys think our captain has been acting a bit strange lately?’

‘How so?’ Sun Yuanyang replied without looking back.

‘I don’t know, can’t put my finger on it,’ Chen Dong said. ‘He’s been smiling for no reason, and it’s a bit creepy.’

‘I’ve noticed it too,’ Zhang Hanyu added.

Chen Dong turned around. ‘See? It’s really weird. At first, I thought he was just happy about adding Mai Bao as a friend, but it’s been a week already, and everyone has friends now, but none of us are floating around like he is.’

‘Now that you mention it, yeah.’

‘What do you think’s up with him?’

Lian Cheng, who had been playing solo games the whole time, said slowly, ‘Could he be in love?’

‘Huh?’

As the only non-single person in the entire team, Lian Cheng felt he had a right to speak up. ‘He’s been smiling for no reason. Was he holding his phone at the time?’

‘…Yeah.’

‘Maybe he was chatting with a girl.’

‘…’

Chen Dong pondered for a moment. ‘No, he wouldn’t. Our captain isn’t the type to chat with girls in-game.’ He shook his head firmly. ‘No way.’

Suddenly, Zhang Hanyu exclaimed, ‘Hey, the captain’s back online.’

Chen Dong hurried over.

Zhang Hanyu pointed at the friends list.

The ID ‘Lost to MY’s Vegetables’, which had just gone offline, lit up again.

Zhang Hanyu said, ‘Is the captain gaming in the dorm? Why isn’t he coming down to play?’

Chen Dong hesitated. Maybe he’s secretly chatting with a girl and doesn’t want us to find out.

Ye Chi logged onto his laptop in his room, staring at the words ‘Nonsense’. Just those two words alone set his mind racing. He could almost imagine Mo Yin saying those words — coldly, arrogantly.

With his hands clasped behind his head, Ye Chi’s face bore a faint, almost helpless smile that slowly turned wistful.

Humans are truly greedy creatures. When someone is so far away, you think if only you could get a little closer. But once you’re close, you wish you could be even closer. He entertained thoughts of being able to contact Mo Yin outside of the game, but such thoughts were too far-fetched, and Ye Chi couldn’t help but feel disheartened.

He sighed and rolled over.

Forget it. Too much thinking. Better to focus on tomorrow’s training match.

…I wonder if DSG will still invite them for practice.

Forget it! Stop thinking!

As the plane landed, DSG posted a few photos to reassure their fans.

The weather in the landing country was a bit chilly. Mo Yin, unusually not wearing his team uniform, had on a black windbreaker. His headphones hung conspicuously around his neck, and his hair was a bit messy from sleeping on the plane. The hesitant expressions of his teammates beside him in the photos baffled their fans.

– [Saw it but dare not say]

– [Our Mai Bao’s hair looks like a bird’s nest but still handsome]

– [Dare not say it to his face, but can say it in game chat, right? (doge.jpg)]

The typically cold atmosphere of DSG was somewhat diluted after the ‘add friend’ team-building activity.

In reality, Mo Yin was just a bit aloof and quiet. Their fear of him was exaggerated, combined with some unrealistic expectations.

They found Mo Yin hard to approach yet hoped he would communicate more with them to ease their pressure. Wasn’t that contradictory?

Moreover, Mo Yin had already achieved so much. Shouldn’t they be the ones to actively support him, rather than expecting him to placate them?

Tang Qi adjusted his mindset, dragging his suitcase to catch up with Mo Yin at the front. He whispered, ‘MY, your hair’s a mess.’

‘Yeah.’

After a brief reply, Mo Yin casually adjusted his hair.

Tang Qi thought to himself, …better not have said anything.

The team settled into the hotel arranged by the league, sitting on the lobby sofas waiting for their team leader to complete the formalities. Suddenly, a suited foreigner ran up to Mo Yin, who was sitting alone on a sofa, and excitedly rattled off a long string of words.

DSG had brought two translators with them, one of whom went to handle check-in while the other stayed behind. After hearing the foreigner out, the remaining translator hastily turned to Mo Yin and said, ‘This person is…’ Before he could finish, Mo Yin replied fluently and naturally in the local language.

Mo Yin calmly conversed with the person.

Their teammates stared straight at the translator, wondering what was being said. They couldn’t understand.

The translator said, “Um, this gentleman said he is the head of this hotel group. He met MY at an auction last year and asked if MY remembers…”

Tang Qi asked dumbfoundedly, “Huh? MY went to an auction?”

Ding Wenquan casually remarked, “Fun fact, besides being a esports player, MY is also the son of a jewelry tycoon. His family owns mines, gemstone mines.”

Tang Qi: “…”

Mo Yin was usually very low-key, completely forgetting the other person’s family background.

Mo Yin finally ended the conversation with the other person. They shook hands, and the foreigner left satisfied.

The teammates continued to listen to the translator.

The translator twitched at the corner of his mouth and said, “The gentleman asked if MY is here for tourism, if we are MY’s friends, he can arrange for us to stay in the presidential suite out of goodwill.”

The teammates: “…”

Esports players earn well, but the presidential suite in this hotel costs two hundred thousand a night. To be honest, staying here for over twenty days adds up to a substantial sum, this favor is quite generous.

The translator continued, “MY declined his offer of goodwill.”

The teammates nodded understandingly.

With a complex expression, the translator said in a complicated tone, “MY said he’s used to paying for his needs with money, not emotions.”

The teammates collectively froze.

So… what does that mean?

The manager and translator handling the front desk suddenly found themselves surrounded by a group of smiling gentlemen in suits.

The translator was flustered and quickly communicated with them, “What’s wrong? Have we violated any rules?”

“Oh, of course not, esteemed guests, please follow me. Mr. Samons has just informed us to welcome our esteemed guests to the presidential suite. We apologize for the short notice and any inadequate service. Please, follow me.”

Even for a top-tier team, the experience of staying in the presidential suite abroad for a competition is rare. There’s only one presidential suite on the top floor of the hotel, the entire floor is made up of suites, swiping the card to the floor, with a strong privacy, pushing open the door, the clear blue sea.

The butler of the suite with a large number of servants for everyone’s luggage, because it was near dinner time, the chef also came up, greeted everyone, presented the dinner menu, and asked if there were any special requirements, now they could communicate, he was a Michelin three-star chef who liked to listen.

The teammates: “…”

The manager of the team communicated with Mo Yin, “Wouldn’t this be inappropriate?”

“What’s not good?” Mo Yin said, “Isn’t this convenient? There’s no need to run around for training matches.”

Mo Yin beckoned to the butler, who ran over. Mo Yin gave a few instructions and the butler nodded continuously.

Mo Yin said to the manager who did not understand what the two people said, “Go to the restaurant for dinner, and when you come back, they will arrange things here.”

The manager said, “We normally leave to play games, you use your own money… MY, I’m afraid other players may feel uncomfortable.”

Mo Yin nodded his head, “If you’re uncomfortable, go downstairs to live, I’ll stay here.”

The manager said, “…”

Mo Yin went over to a few teammates who were a little silly and said, “If you’re uncomfortable staying here, you can go downstairs.”

Stepping on the soft carpet, Tang Qi said cautiously, “… isn’t it too expensive here?”

“I don’t care,” Mo Yin said flatly, “I have money.”

Sorry, the villain with money is like this, and can do whatever he wants