During the morning training at the shooting range, Yuan Xiu was visibly distracted, missing several shots without hitting the target.

Even Gu Zhefeng, who usually kept to himself, noticed his unusual behavior. While reloading his gun, Yuan Xiu quietly asked Ah Heng, “Is the captain constipated today?”

Ah Heng pondered, “When he came out of the restroom this morning, he didn’t look well, so most likely.”

Ren Xiang sneered, “Yuan Xiu, you claim to be good at passing on information, but you didn’t even know we are soon adding a new member to the team.”

Ah Heng exclaimed, “A new member!”

Gu Zhefeng dropped his gun, holding his head in despair and howling, “No~~~!”

Ren Xiang remarked, “You don’t even know who it is, so why ‘no’?”

Ah Heng explained, “The addition of a new member will disrupt his routine life; he detests any form of change and would rather live a stagnant existence.”

Ren Xiang shrugged, “Whether he likes it or not, the captain is quite nervous about this.”

Ah Heng looked at Yuan Xiu, who was visibly restless in the rest area, and pondered, “Could this new member that’s making the captain so anxious be…”

Ren Xiang nodded, “Your wooden head finally got it, yes, it’s her.”

Ah Heng gasped, “Is it really her?!”

Gu Zhefeng was even more shocked, “What the heck, seriously?”

Ren Xiang: …

What a bunch of lunatics!

….

After enduring until the lunch break, Yuan Xiu walked to a secluded spot under the shade of a tree in the quiet garden and pulled out his phone to call Yang Chen.

“Yuan Xiu.”

“How did the interview go?”

There was a long pause on Yang Chen’s end before he said, “It didn’t work out.”

“Is it about the commission?” Yuan Xiu asked. “If she’s not satisfied with the salary offered, it’s okay. We can allocate from my salary. Coming from the U.S., where player salaries in the MLS are generally higher, we can discuss this further.”

“It’s not about the salary,” Yang Chen replied. “She also wants to bring another person into the team.”

“…”

“You know this is impossible. Even as a substitute player, there’s a rigorous selection process. You can’t just add someone casually, especially a female player. You’re aware that investors have always been against having female players in the team.”

“I understand. Thank you, Yang.”

Yuan Xiu hung up the phone, lit a cigarette, and walked alone to the lakeside.

The midday sun sprinkled on the shimmering lake, creating ripples of blue waves. The rare winter sunlight brought many people out to bask in its warmth.

However, despite the pleasant atmosphere, he wasn’t feeling cheerful. Before he could finish his cigarette, the phone rang, displaying the caller as the little lame donkey aiming for the championship.

The phone kept ringing until he finished his cigarette, then he swiped the screen to answer the call.

A slight exhale was heard from the caller’s end, followed by silence until he softly uttered, “Hmm.”

“Yuan Xiu, I’m sorry!” Lu Manman apologized as soon as she spoke. “You fought hard to get me this opportunity, and I wasted it.”

“So, I’d better have a convincing reason.”

“Cheng Yu helped me win the doubles match and clinch the championship. I can’t leave her at this moment to join X.”

“So Lu Manman easily gives up opportunities like this,” he thought to himself.

This was an opportunity he fought hard for her, and now she was giving it up for someone else, leaving him feeling a bit cold.

“I can’t afford to give hope and then disappointment,” Lu Manman explained. “When I signed up for the doubles match, no one wanted to team up with me. Without Cheng Yu, I might have embarrassed myself in front of Zhou Jialiang.”

“Giving hope and then disappointment…” Yuan Xiu’s voice was low. “What about me?”

“What?”

Yuan Xiu took a deep breath, trying hard to suppress the desire to scold her harshly.

“Do you know why I’m willing to help you?”

She couldn’t be in love with him, Lu Manman thought to herself, but replied, “I don’t know.”

“It has nothing to do with your stubbornness or stubbornness,” Yuan Xiu said. “I can’t bear to see her efforts go to waste.”

Without any mercy, he ended the call.

After sitting for a long time, Lu Manman finally realized that she had already… failed in front of Yuan Xiu.

No wonder he went to such lengths to help her. It was all for her, for his goddess.

Wait a minute, isn’t she his goddess?

Lu Manman couldn’t help but blush. Although she was considered a goddess in the eyes of many otaku, he was Yuan Xiu after all.

But why didn’t he treat her like a goddess during their interactions, often teasing her instead?

It seemed like being called a goddess was just lip service without any real value.

These days, being a god or goddess was so cheap.

Nevertheless, he had put in so much effort to help her, and Lu Manman felt grateful yet guilty. In the following days, she sent several messages to Yuan Xiu.

“Yuan Xiu, Yuan Xiu.”

He didn’t respond.

“Is our friendship about to sink? [Storm crying]”

Still no response.

“Yuan Xiu is angry. Qaq”

Yuan Xiu emerged from the gym, drenched in sweat, and pulled out his phone from his backpack. He saw a message from “The little lame donkey isn’t cute today.”

“Yuan Xiu, in the MLS Real-Life Gaming, there’s a saying that goes: First in the game, second in the game, third in the game. The competition is always the most important. Our ultimate goal is only one – to win. No matter how many sacrifices are made, as long as there is one person alive in the team at the end, that is victory.”

Yuan Xiu replied, “This is where we need to learn from you.”

Excitedly, Lu Manman sat on the bed with her phone, tapping her feet on the bed, and exclaimed, “He replied to me!”

Meanwhile, Cheng Yu casually applied night cream in front of the mirror, saying, “I said he wouldn’t last past midnight tonight.”

Lu Manman jumped off the bed, ran out of the dormitory to call back Yuan Xiu, and sent another message to ensure a prompt response.

As she stood at the balcony at the end of the corridor, watching the lively basketball court across the dormitory, her heart raced.

After two rings, the call connected.

“Yuan Xiu.”

“First in the game, second in the game, third in the game.”

In the darkness of the night, Yuan Xiu’s voice was deep and magnetic, “So the MLS can achieve the status of world number one.”

Lu Manman chuckled, “Yes, currently no other country’s Real-Life Gaming can rival the MLS, it’s truly outstanding.”

“Do you want to use this example to prove the correctness of your decision?” Yuan Xiu asked. “It might be difficult.”

Leaning against the wall, Lu Manman looked down at her furry slippers, “I’m not trying to prove anything. But since coming to China, I often hear that no matter the type of competition, the motto is ‘Friendship first, competition second.’ It’s quite different from our side, and I find it interesting.”

“Friendship first, competition second,” Yuan Xiu chuckled lightly. “In real competition, winning is definitely the ultimate goal. Under this premise, reducing hostility, avoiding unnecessary tension, is the Chinese way of harmony and moderation. Our only difference might be that we don’t display enmity so overtly.”

“Yuan Xiu, do you think prioritizing competition above all in the MLS is correct?”

“Of course.”

“Then, it’s reasonable for Queen to ask me to leave due to my leg injury,” she whispered. “After all, my speed has decreased, not performing as well as before. It would affect the team in international competitions. Following the principle of ‘competition first,’ it’s right for me to leave.”

“…”

Playing him like a fiddle, this girl.

So, would changing her stance now be a slap in the face?

“What do you think?” Yuan Xiu asked Lu Manman. “How do you feel about it?”

“If this had happened before, I would have thought Queen was not wrong – prioritizing competition, eliminating team members not conducive to the game for the benefit of the entire team,” Lu Manman spoke slowly. “But I never expected that one day, the person removed would be me.”

“…”

“During this period of competition, I’ve learned quite a lot from Miss Cheng Yu. Although she’s not a professional player and doesn’t have outstanding records, she made me start to rethink where the true meaning of Real-Life Gaming lies.”

“Did you gain anything from it?”

“Yes,” Lu Manman firmly stated. “In Real-Life Gaming, friendship comes first, competition second. Trusting teammates unconditionally, being able to confide sincerely with each other, that is the essence of competition. If everyone is solely focused on winning, disregarding their teammates’ lives, even refusing to help in dire situations, then the game becomes chilling. Like how Queen expelled me from the team and how Cheng Yu ultimately chose to shield me from harm.”

“So, in my view, the value of teammates outweighs the competition. That’s why I declined the invitation from X. Cheng Yu trusts me, and I can’t let her down.”

After a long silence, Yuan Xiu calmly stated, “Although it makes sense, it doesn’t convince me.”

Lu Manman sighed.

“However, I understand your choice.”

She lifted her head, eagerly responding with two “Mmhm”s.

“After experiencing betrayal, valuing and trusting teammates even more,” he said casually. “I hope she deserves your actions.”

“So… our friendship won’t falter, right?”

There was another moment of silence on the other end of the phone. Lu Manman anxiously called out to him, “Yuan Xiu?”

He smirked, “Captain Lu Manman’s sailing skills are steady, the little boat won’t capsize.”

….

In the evening, Lu Manman washed her clothes and carried the basin back to the dormitory. She saw Cheng Yu leaning on the balcony, completely focused on looking towards the playground.

“What are you so engrossed in?” Lu Manman applied hand cream. “It’s freezing cold, and you’re still out here in the wind.”

Cheng Yu quickly waved her hand, “Xia Tian and Zhou Yan are taking a walk on the playground. That little girl is so clueless.”

Lu Manman hurried over, but halfway there, she seemed to remember something and started rummaging through the cabinet.

As Cheng Yu turned around, she saw Lu Manman holding a black telescope.

“Your equipment… is really complete.”

“I’m preparing for my favorite idol’s concert.”

Lu Manman adjusted the focus of the telescope. Through the lens, Xia Tian and Zhou Yan were walking around the playground, circling repeatedly. Zhou Yan tried to hold her hand several times, but Xia Tian seemed oblivious, either playing with her phone or scratching her head. Lu Manman and Cheng Yu watched on anxiously.

“This girl, is her brain only filled with mathematical equations!”

“Send her a text, tell her to stop scratching her head, or the salad will get cold.”

Lu Manman took out her phone to compose a message while Cheng Yu grabbed the telescope to observe the situation.

Upon seeing the message Lu Manman sent her, Xia Tian hesitated, glanced towards the dormitory, her face turning crimson.

The two on the balcony waved at her, cheering her on.

After a few minutes, Zhou Yan finally held her hand, causing Xia Tian’s face to turn red with nervousness.

Lu Manman and Cheng Yu were even happier than winning a competition, high-fiving and cheering.

Wanting to continue watching, Cheng Yu was about to take back the telescope when Lu Manman tried to snatch it, saying, “Stop looking, single dogs will only feel more lonely.”

“As if you’re not one.”

“Wait, wait,” Cheng Yu adjusted the telescope, turning towards another direction. “It looks like there’s someone standing by the edge of the playground!”

Lu Manman looked over, seeing many students running around the playground.

“No, over there, under the tree in the southeast corner. That lady seems to be Xia Tian’s mom,” Cheng Yu pointed out.

Taking the telescope from Cheng Yu, Lu Manman peered in the direction indicated.

Under the streetlight stood a tall woman in a camel-colored coat, holding a bag and looking solemnly towards the playground.

“Are you sure?” Lu Manman asked Cheng Yu. “She looks quite young.”

“I’m a hundred percent sure. I saw her on the first day of school,” Cheng Yu nodded calmly. “Even if I don’t remember her face, that Hermes limited edition bag, only three in the world, and one of them is in her mom’s hands. That’s something you wouldn’t forget for a lifetime.”