December 18th, LPL's winter transfer deadline.
Teng Jing finally remembered the transfer application that they had been holding back for more than half a month. The application was approved one by one, and the club's official announcement was like fireworks during Chinese New Year.
Liu Qingsong's contract renewal and Red Rice's joining. YM's announcement of these two transfer announcements caused an uproar on the major esports forums.
The original Centaur would be renewed for another year. With the addition of a top coach, YM's competitiveness in S8 was self-evident. Even before the start of the new season, ESPN had listed YM as the favorite to win S8.
[They're invincible. I can't even imagine how they'll lose.]
[The strongest team and a top coach. Congratulations to YM again next year.]
[Isn't this a little too ridiculous?
Aren't you going to take care of their fists?]
Such discussions filled the major forums. After SKT's three-star champion went to America to earn money, the strength of their two rivals had been weakened. Everyone felt that YM's dynasty was set in stone.
In the end, Guo Hao did not choose Casa. He felt that Xiao Tian was in a good condition.
Under such circumstances, it was not appropriate to sign a rotation contract for the Double Champion. It would make Phyllostachys Pubescens doubt whether he had the trust of the management and the team. This would affect his mentality and the team's atmosphere.
Xiao Tian, who had high attack and low defense, was fragile and could not withstand damage.
In the end, Lightning Wolf King went to find his backup, RNG, and signed a rotation contract that did not guarantee a starting lineup.
The new team, RW, also announced their S8 lineup. The top laner, Ah Guang, the jungler, Doinb, and the bottom laner, Asura, and the Prophet, who had left YM.
RW's lineup looked pretty good with four cost-effective players and a director.
WE had taken over White Crescent and Doom. These two champions, who had left YM, were very much in line with WE's plans.
IG was the team with the most variables. Since the start of the transfer period, all kinds of rumors and rumors had filled IGLOL's forums and forums.
One moment it was Red Rice, the next moment it was Jack. There was even news that Liu Qingsong and Lin Weixiang, the bottom laner duo, would sign for IG.
Not only were the fans confused, but Su Xiaoluo himself was as confused as Jack when he saw all the IG news on the internet.
His inaction in keeping the transfer information a secret had caused YM to suffer a backlash.
All kinds of real and fake news were flying all over the place. The fans' feelings were wasted by all kinds of fishing, and they frequently denounced the club's management.
However, Su Xiaoluo calmed himself down. In the end, he spent a lot of money and the results were good. Coach Jin Jingzhu, who was previously in Dragon Ball, was recruited to replace Hanyi, who went to RW as the head coach after her contract expired.
Coach Jin was obviously moved by IG's manic offense during the S7 World Championship. He liked this type of team that was full of strong men. It was easier to arrange early and mid-game tactics.
On the other side, Su Xiaoluo finally had a candidate for the ADC.
Slandering WE Ba Ba Hua, adding insult to injury Old Thief Sima.
Although he had become a professional player in 2012, he was still unable to enter the international scene. Paired with IG, who had tried to break into S7 last year but had failed, everyone was working hard for the same goal. They could be said to be a match made in heaven.
However, according to the LPL social butterfly and gossip peddler Shi Senming, Old Thief Sima looked down on Bao Lan during the first few rounds of the trial. However, Su Xiaoluo obviously had no intention of buying a support. Otherwise, he would have taken Brainless and Unhappy away.
In reality, Bao Lan's current ability wasn't bad. He just wasn't used to it.
His nickname was Pokémon, and he only had four skills. Once he learned one, he would forget the other.
Obviously, the drastic change in version wasn't good for Bao Lan.
During the international scene, it was still the soft support version of Censer. Bao Lan was like a fish in water. It was impossible for him to be kicked out of the team for picking up an ancient coin like Meiko. He wouldn't move forward.
However, Censer had been nerfed. It had become the hard support version of Bull's Head, Hammer Stone, and Sunshine Girl.
Bao Lan couldn't get used to it at all. He was still thinking of retreating.
Boulogne stood behind him!
Old Thief Sima had been betrayed twice. He felt that this support's positioning was ridiculous. However, he wanted to enter the international scene. He kept a straight face and endured it in the end.
He planned to wait until the Spring Competition was over. Manager Su Xiaoluo would naturally know how ridiculous the support was. When that time came, wouldn't he have to change people?
…
On December 24th, it was close to Christmas. YM Club in the suburbs of Shanghai was decorated with lanterns and streamers. There was even a big red banner hanging at the door.
Lin Yan stood in the training room upstairs. He looked down through the clean floor-to-ceiling window. BMW cars drove into the club's parking lot.
"What are you looking at?"
Jack stood behind him and looked around. Then, he couldn't help but praise, "Damn, this car is so cool …"
The 2017 M760 LixDrive in the front row was painted with black frosted paint. It looked very expensive.
This time, YM paid attention to the BMW inspection in China. All the players in the team were present.
At this moment, Liu Qingsong and Little Tian were playing a game of 'Father Recognition'. It was very lively.
Jack couldn't bear the silence. After watching for a while, he decided to participate in the competition.
Lin Yan saw a man in a suit coming out of the BMW in the front row. His back was a little familiar. He suddenly had a bad feeling.
Didn't they say that the marketing director wasn't coming?
Could it be …
He quickly sent a WeChat message to Guo Hao for confirmation. However, Manager Guo had already come forward to greet him. He didn't have time to look at his phone.
His heart was nervous for no reason. Lin Yan quickly returned to his seat and turned on the computer. He tried to start training mode to kill wild monsters to calm himself down.
After a quarter of an hour, the YM players upstairs heard the hustle and bustle downstairs, followed by the sound of disorderly footsteps.
The others quickly exited the game and stood up. Xiao Tian pressed down the strand of ahoge that had formed when he put on the headphones.
Two days ago, he went to Teacher Tony to take off the adaptive helmet. Xiao Tian was still a little uncomfortable and didn't feel safe.
If it wasn't for the fact that Astronaut Titan's helmet was too unique, he would have put it on a long time ago.
"This is the training room for our LPL team." Guo Hao's voice was heard before he arrived. "This is separated from the staff office area in the annex building. It ensures that the training environment will not be disturbed …"
The glass door was pushed open and Guo Hao led everyone in. Lin Yan saw a middle-aged man in a suit behind them. A chill ran down his spine and went straight to his brain!
Su Cheng's father!
Su Cheng's father didn't look as gentle as usual. He stood tall and straight with a bit of dignity. He took in the clean training room and looked at the players present.
When he glanced at Lin Yan, he nodded slightly.
"Not bad." Su Cheng's father walked in front of the players and asked Guo Hao, "Do the players usually broadcast here?"
Guo Hao gave an affirmative answer.
"Usually, for the sake of … the effect of the show, it's a bit noisy during the broadcast." Su Cheng's father had obviously done his homework and knew about the contradictions during the players' broadcast. "Don't you want to consider making a separate broadcast room?"
Guo Hao glanced at the table smasher. His hands and feet were cold in the winter and he was sweating all over … He forgot what he said next.
He pondered for two seconds and replied, "The main reason is that our players aren't particularly focused on the live broadcast industry. Usually, our goal is to complete the live broadcast contract, so we didn't make any special preparations. However, we can make this room during the off-season."
"Don't be nervous." Su Cheng's father saw through his feelings and his voice softened. "We're just walking around."
Guo Hao didn't believe him. How could he take such polite words seriously?
At this time, Su Cheng's father walked in front of the players and shook hands with them one by one. Guo Hao stood on the side and introduced them.
Lin Yan's heart was in turmoil, but he still looked calm on the outside. He reached out and shook Su Cheng's father's hand tightly.
"Keep it up." Su Cheng's father patted him on the shoulder and encouraged him.
The two didn't talk much. Su Cheng's father and the group of BMW employees behind him left the training room under Guo Hao's guidance.
"I'll go!" Jack's body, which had been standing upright, collapsed and collapsed on the chair.
"This person is called Su … Su something?" Lil 'Tian didn't catch Guo Hao's introduction just now.
"Su Hongmin." Lin Yan went to the fridge and took a bottle of soda water, then returned to his seat and started the ranking.
"His surname is Su too?
At first glance, he looks a bit like Sister Su, "Lin Weixiang said cheerfully.
"Yes, he has a daughter." Lin Yan felt bitter and resentful. He opened WeChat and communicated with Su Cheng.
"I thought he …" Jack subconsciously continued, then realized that something was wrong. "Ah?!"
"This is Sister Su's father?"
"Wow, Brother Ran, are you from Wuhu?"
Lin Weixiang couldn't help but touch his face. "What a pity. Why am I not as handsome?"
"If I could live off a woman, I would definitely not play professionally." He sighed heavily.
Liu Qingsong mocked him mercilessly. "You think you can live off a woman with that brain of yours?
You can even say something like I'm LWX. You're basically cut off from nine years of compulsory education. "
"You f * cking …" Lin Weixiang knew that he couldn't win an argument with Liu Qingsong, so he decisively used force to suppress him. The training room was in chaos.
At noon, a group of people rushed to the staff cafeteria in the annex building for lunch. Usually, players like Lin Yan wouldn't come here. After all, there were special trainers in the competition department.
Lin Yan shuttled through the cafeteria with a tray. He ordered a meat dish, a vegetable dish, and a box of juice. Just as he was about to find a seat, he saw Guo Hao waving at him.
Su Cheng's father, who was sitting opposite him, saw Lin Yan sit down. He greeted him and continued to talk with Guo Hao about the development of the club.
Lin Ran listened silently from the side.
BMW China witnessed YM's success in the LOL project this year. They wanted the club to continue to expand and set up multiple e-sports divisions, including Deadgame 2 and the recently popular PUBG.
Guo Hao felt a heavy responsibility. He was afraid that the steps would be too big. He only planned to set up PUBG next year.
"Also, the deposit for the seat will be in your account in a few days. You just have to pay before the deadline." Su Cheng's father slowly ate the rice on his plate.
Guo Hao let out a sigh of relief.
After a year of foreshadowing, Teng Jing and Fist China's plan to form an alliance finally kicked off with a bang.
The LSPL promotion competition was canceled and the secondary league teams' promotion channel to the LPL was blocked. Teng Jing would hold a seat bid in the LPL.
This year, RW and FPX, who had joined the alliance through the bidding, had a deposit of 90 million. It was twice as expensive as the top league spot that TOP had bought from YM in the summer!
The remaining 12 teams still had to pay 30 million to the alliance. Guo Hao had no choice but to ask BMW China for the money.
He was not the only one. The original 12 clubs in the alliance were unable to fork out that much money. They had to find their own backers.
With the formal development of the league, it was harder and harder for the small workshop clubs in ancient times to survive. This 30 million deposit could block the path of a large number of rich second-generation players. Now, almost half of the teams in the alliance had the backing of business tycoons.
When he got up to return the plate, Su Cheng's father finally found a chance to chat with Lin Yan.
"Are you going back to the city this afternoon?"
Lin Yan nodded. It was still a holiday today. Naturally, he had no reason to stay at the club.
"There's a fruit basket in the trunk. Bring it up. I have a meeting in Beijing this afternoon," Su Cheng's father whispered.
"You're not going up to see Chengzi?" Lin Yan was a little surprised.
"I'm not going. Don't let her come down to see me," Su Cheng's father said righteously. "She can't bear to leave after seeing me."
He swore to God that he was definitely not afraid of his daughter mumbling about how to cut cucumbers for three days.
But this reason successfully convinced Lin Yan.
"Uncle Su, you've been promoted quite quickly, haven't you?" Lin Yan poured the remaining food scraps on the plate and joked.
"It's so-so. It has a little to do with you guys winning the championship this time. This time, the investment and marketing department was rewarded by the headquarters." Su Cheng's father was full of smiles. "But your dad is about to be promoted."
"22C?"
Although Lin Yan was not very interested, he still asked casually. His father had worked in the telecommunications company in Shenzhen for almost 20 years. He could be considered a legitimate old employee.
In the current era where the elimination rate in the workplace was shocking, since someone of Lin Mingdong's age could still rush to the front line, it proved that there was still room for promotion.
Based on the company's hierarchy, 22A was the end of the normal promotion path. Lin Mingdong was still two levels away. If he went up, he would be the leader of a major business group and the vice president of a company.
With nearly 200,000 people in a company, he could definitely be considered a successful person.
Su Cheng's father nodded. "He's so busy right now. When he retires, spend more time with your dad."
He had to host a meeting in the afternoon to determine the specific areas of the club's business development next year. Lin Yan returned to the training room and played two rounds of ranked games to calm himself down.
When he received a WeChat message from Su Cheng's father, he took his bag and went downstairs.
After getting into the M760 LixDrive, Lin Yan greeted Su Cheng's father and the driver's secretary in the front seat. Then, he quietly looked at the interior.
"How much is this car?" He was a little tempted.
"200." Su Cheng's father saw through Lin Yan's thoughts. "If you want to buy it, I can give you a discount."
It was within his acceptable range.
Lin Yan did not want to buy some exaggerated sports car. He had seen photos of Ouze's Porsche 911 and was not interested in it. He preferred the more business-looking style.
"Unfortunately, I don't have a driver's license." He was slightly regretful.
"It won't take long to get one. It'll be easier to travel."
In the end, it was this BMW that made Lin Ran make up his mind. On the way back to the city, Lin Ran was looking for a reliable driving school so that he could get his driver's license before next summer.
…
"Hurry up and eat the fruits in this fruit basket." Su Hongmin handed the fruit basket in the trunk to Lin Yan. "Some things can't be stored."
He still had to catch a plane. After waving goodbye to Lin Yan, he hurriedly drove away.
Lin Yan was about to walk into the neighborhood when he received a WeChat message from Su Cheng. She asked him to bring two plates of yogurt to her.
There were not many customers in the supermarket on a weekday afternoon. Lin Yan took two plates of yogurt and a dozen eggs. He also planned to pick a few vegetables.
However, the quality of the food was worrying. The freshest batch in the morning had already been bought by the uncles and aunties living nearby.
Without food, he and Su Cheng could only go out for Christmas food or order takeout.
Lin Yan had an idea.
I Really Don't Drink Pepsi: [Hello?
Do you want to eat hotpot tonight?]
It's Cheng Zi, Not Tangerine: [Do you want to eat out or?]
Lin Yan typed nimbly: [You decide. I'm fine with anything. Do you want to go to the bungalow?]
Su Cheng replied quickly: [Let's order takeout at home. I'm too lazy to move ^ ^]
He replied with an OK emoticon.
Lin Yan put away his phone and pushed the shopping cart to the cashier. He looked sideways and saw the small boxes of products on the shelves.
He was too embarrassed to look at them carefully. For some reason, he threw a box into the shopping cart.
When he opened the door, Su Cheng was already sitting on the sofa, thinking about what to order for dinner.
"Do you want to ring the bell?" she asked in a louder voice.
"Yes. You can also order shrimp paste." Lin Yan took off his shoes and carried the shopping bag to the kitchen. "Don't forget to order noodles!"
While he was putting the eggs and yogurt into the freezer, Su Cheng opened the fruit basket and picked out two dragon fruits.
"My dad didn't say anything before he left." Su Cheng used a fruit knife to cut out the pulp and asked.
Lin Yan racked his brain and thought about what his father had said today. He answered honestly, "No."
"Huh?" Su Cheng was disappointed. She frowned and pretended to be sad. "He doesn't love his daughter anymore?"
Lin Yan, who lacked love since he was a child, found it hard to understand why Su Cheng often acted like a spoiled child when she was with her parents. However, that didn't stop him from feeling envious.
"It's okay. I love you." Lin Yan blurted out.
Su Cheng's hand trembled and she almost cut herself. She scooped all the dragon fruit pulp into the plate, then tiptoed and kissed her boyfriend.
"Try this dragon fruit. Is it sweet?" She picked up a small fork and fed it to Lin Yan.
"It's okay." Lin Yan was very enlightened. "It's not as sweet as yours."
"You're just being awkward, right?" Although she said that, Su Cheng couldn't help but smile.
…
The hot pot bubbled and the tomato soup bubbled, filling the room with a sweet and sour smell.
This time, Su Cheng learned her lesson and didn't broadcast Baulu Plains again. Instead, she found a shark-fighting platform.
Old lazy dog Jack was out of character this month. He was streaming quite diligently.
The main problem was with All Stars. Jack had spent 20 hours streaming in those four days, which was half of his mission for the month.
In that case, he had no choice but to brace himself and continue broadcasting.
After all, in the remaining 26 days, as long as he broadcast for 20 hours, he would receive the full amount of money for the month.
Although Jack had a lot of money and didn't care about a small amount like 70,000 yuan, his monthly salary plus gifts was 700,000 yuan before taxes.
Even if he had to take a cut, it wouldn't be a small number.
For the financial freedom after retirement, Jack started streaming again like a diligent old ox.
The two people who were eating steaming hot pot with Ji Beiyuan simply used Shiba Inu as background music.
"Don't shout, don't shout. It's time to eat, host, let's order takeout first." Jack rubbed his swollen face. "I'll let you guys eat later."
"What are you eating …" Jack lowered his head and played with his phone. "Braised pork belly, a lot."
"Sigh, I'm the only one in the base. Brother Siba took No Brains to eat Haidilao. Xiao Tian and Unhappy went to buy clothes … Think about it, where else can you find a hardworking host like me who broadcasts on Christmas Eve?"
Jack glanced at the bullet screen.
"Where's Brother Ran?" He read the bullet screen question. "He has a girlfriend. How can he accompany me?"
His tone was extremely sour.
Su Cheng even took a picture and posted it on her WeChat Moments. She even took a picture of Lin Yan's arm. Obviously, she wanted to show off.
After Jack ordered the takeout, he saw this post on his Moments.
"Are you two f * ckers watching my live stream?"
He looked at the rich tomato soup in the photo and almost couldn't suppress his inner hunger. "F * ck … If I post another picture, I'll break off my relationship with my c * * k!"
Su Cheng chuckled and watched Lin Yan roll the shrimp into small pieces and put them into the pot. She poured a drink for her boyfriend and fed him a mouthful of dragon fruit.
"When are you going to play the German Cup?" she asked casually as she scooped the floating shrimp into their bowls with a colander.
"On the 28th."
Lin Yan glanced at the schedule sent by Guo Hao. This year's German Cup was held in Tsingtao, a coastal city close to Phyllostachys Pubescens' hometown.
More importantly, this would be his first official meeting with the new coach, Lian Hongmi. Lin Yan was full of expectations.
"It's cold there. Remember to bring two more coats …" Su Cheng paused. "Forget it. I'll prepare them for you then."
Lin Yan answered happily. In fact, as an independent and self-reliant person, he knew that he had to prepare thick clothes for Tsingtao in winter. He also had to bring two more pairs of cotton socks. It was best to bring the kind of thick and velvety pants …
But sometimes it was quite interesting to pretend that he didn't understand. Lin Yan himself enjoyed Su Cheng's nagging and advice.
On the TV screen, Jack was still waiting for takeout. He took the time to talk to the audience about his plans for next month's live stream.
"Plans for next month's live stream?
Coming every day? What's the plan?
Shouldn't live streams be broadcast every day? "
[What if I really believe it?]
[Coming every day?
Isn't there a German Cup next month?
Are you going to open it outdoors?]
[Open an account?
Great!]
Lin Yan ate the shrimp in the bowl first. The crispness and deliciousness fully stimulated his taste buds. Then he ate the other half of the mutton. He watched the fresh and gorgeous meat patterns slowly soaked in the tomato soup and rolled on the surface.
The two of them chatted while eating. Jack on the TV screen whined from time to time to make them feel better.
The hot steam from the hot pot made their cheeks red. Su Cheng ran to get the remote control of the air conditioner to lower the temperature in the room.
Because it was too early for dinner, it was not even eight o 'clock when they cleaned up the table of food.
Lin Yan turned off the fire. The gurgling sound from the pot gradually disappeared. The color of the tomato soup base lightened a lot.
"Hoo hoo hoo …" Su Cheng fanned herself with her hand, trying to make her hot and rosy cheeks get a moment of freshness.
She sniffed her home clothes, which were still stained with the smell of the hot pot.
"You go to wash up first. I'll clean it up." Lin Yan hurriedly sent her out.
"I'll come back later," Su Cheng emphasized before leaving. "Help me take out the yogurt."
The girl opened the door and ran away. The first thing she did when she returned to her rented apartment was to find a change of clothes.
Unfortunately, the rest of her home clothes were piled up in the washbasin. She only had a nightgown that she hadn't worn since she bought it.
Su Cheng patted her forehead. Her face was full of regret.
Usually, she washed her thin undergarments after showering. Clothes like her coat would be washed in the washing machine or sent to the dry cleaner.
Home clothes were an exception. They were not as easy to wash as undergarments, but they were still clothes that fit the skin. Su Cheng naturally didn't use the washing machine. She could only wash them by hand.
However, she had to revise during exam week and was busy until late last night. She could only postpone the washing of clothes.
After all, she had just changed into her home clothes. Normally, it would be easy for her to wash them for a day.
Su Cheng comforted herself at that time. As a college student, wasn't it reasonable to wash clothes on a deadline?
Who knew that she would be eating hot pot tonight?
She looked at the only nightgown left in the closet. To be honest, it was not revealing. It was about the same length as a three-quarter skirt.
However, it was printed with little yellow ducks.
Su Cheng hesitated for a long time. She took off the dress and went into the bathroom.
…
Lin Yan washed the pots and pans and took the two boxes of yogurt out of the refrigerator. He couldn't stand the smell of hot pot on his body. He thought that Su Cheng had the key anyway, so he went to take a shower.
When he changed into his pajamas and dried his hair, Su Cheng was already sitting on the sofa in the living room drinking yogurt.
Her shoulder-length hair covered the fair skin on the back of her neck.
"You've never been beaten, right?
Huh? "
On the TV screen, Jack was aggressive. On Christmas Eve, he unscrupulously humiliated the single aristocrats like him.
As soon as Lin Yan sat down, he smelled a refreshing smell. His eyes followed the smell and saw a plate of cut Chengzi on the coffee table.
He tried to focus all his energy on the plate of Chengzi in front of him, but he still couldn't help but glance at the little yellow ducks on Su Cheng's body.
The exposed skin under the pale yellow nightgown looked even more tempting.
Su Cheng was in the Water University roommate group. She threw in a few red packets and fried fish. Seeing Lin Yan frozen there, she pushed the plate of fruit.
"Do you eat Chengzi?"
Lin Yan blurted out, "Which Chengzi?"
"The one on the table …" Su Cheng had just received an emoji pack. When she heard Lin Yan's words, she subconsciously answered.
Then she sensed the ambiguity. Her delicate cheeks, which had just taken a shower, flushed.
The heat of the hotpot in the room was still lingering. The slightly hot temperature seemed to give Su Cheng great courage.
"Which one do you want to eat?" She looked up at her boyfriend with a glimmer in her eyes.
"I want all of them." Lin Yan's Adam's apple moved. His answer was very honest.
Su Cheng could feel her heart beating violently in her chest.
The feelings that had sprouted since high school had already grown strong. Now this orange tree had finally blossomed and bore fruit.
She slowly reached out her hand and tightly grasped Lin Yan's hand.
…
"Don't tear the clothes. I spent more than a thousand yuan to buy them … Hey, don't tear them."
…
"Wait." Su Cheng was lying on her back. Her palm was pushing Lin Yan's chest. Her breathing was rapid.
"What's wrong?" Lin Yan's voice was hoarse.
On the TV screen in the living room, Shiba Inu was still celebrating with the audience that he got another thousand points account on Christmas Eve.
"How is it?
Huh?
Bro, are you awesome? "Jack's voice, asking for praise and rewards, clearly entered their ears.
Lin Yan pressed the remote control. The single Shiba Inu finally stopped being noisy.
"No, no such thing."
The temperature in the bedroom wasn't high, but it washed away Su Cheng's remaining courage. She was a bit scared now. Her face was red and looked like she was in a life and death situation with Ouze.
She was one step behind.
Lin Yan breathed a sigh of relief. He thought something had happened.
"Next time, we can talk about it after you come back from the German Cup …" Su Cheng buried her head like an ostrich. She already wanted to run away.
"I'll buy it." Just like the All-Star Game, Lin Yan was fully prepared.
He stopped her from saying the rest of her words.
"You've been planning this for a long time?" Su Cheng looked at him with her eyes wide open.
"Indeed." Lin Yan chuckled. "In fact, it was just a spur of the moment idea."
The living room was dark. The freshly cut Chengzi on the coffee table shone under the starlight outside the window.
The fragrance of Chengzi spread quietly in the room.