February 4th, Shanghai Zhengda Square.
Lin Yan walked into the entrance. On both sides of the entrance were the flags of the two teams — YM and FPX.
FPX's team logo was quite stylish. The phoenix spread its wings and took the team name 'FUNPLUSX' into its chest.
Today was YM's last match before the New Year. They had just won at LGD's home ground in Hangzhou last week.
Although their opponent, FPX, was not strong and did not have any star players, the tickets were still sold out.
After all, if they did not watch this match, they would have to wait more than 20 days before YM's match.
Many people had already expected the outcome of this match when they bought the tickets. The outcome of this match would definitely be decided very quickly.
FPX was destined to be last in the league this spring. They had played three matches and had not won the first round. Their numbers were quite miserable. They were at the bottom of the league.
However, FPX had a number that looked down on the league. Even YM was below them — average game time.
24 minutes and 23 seconds. Coupled with their record of not winning a single match, it only took them 50 minutes to defeat a BO3.
Teams like IG and YM were fake off-duty teams. FPX was the real off-duty gods!
Their process was to take a bus to the city center in the afternoon, spend an hour putting on makeup and testing equipment for the players and coaches, and then stay in the lounge to listen to tactical replays for an hour. After that, they played for 50 minutes.
The total work time was no more than three hours.
The team was not popular. Teng Jing specially arranged their matches at 5 pm on weekdays because many office workers were still at work and students were still at school. It was the time when the popularity of the matches was at its lowest.
FPX finished their matches at 6 pm. Since they kept losing, they did not have to prepare for post-match interviews. They did not have any star players and did not even have any filming arrangements. After the match, they could pack up and leave.
If the team bus drove faster, they could avoid the evening rush hour in Shanghai. It would be exactly 7 pm when they returned to the suburban base. They might even be able to catch the opening music of the news broadcast.
This was the drawback of the league. Weak teams were ridiculously weak just to buy a spot.
Anyway, there was no risk of relegation. They used rookies to fill the spots. Once they found a good seedling, they could sell it. In terms of economic benefits, it was not as good as the most profitable clubs, but it was definitely not a loss.
…
"Next, let's welcome FunPlus Phoenix!" The host, Luo Xin, appeared to be two sizes smaller than Aftershock, and her voice was also lower.
"Top laner New, jungler Xinyi, mid laner Bing, bottom laner QiuQiu, and support Cat!"
Among this group, Lin Yan only knew of the Cat and Ball duo. Last season, they were rotations in SN. At that time, their skill level was a little green. Who would have thought that after coming to FPX, they would become the team's leader.
The audience was filled with YM fans, but they still applauded for FPX. The five contestants on the stage were overwhelmed by the attention.
The other teams only knew how to f * ck them up. The fans did not even give them any applause out of courtesy. Only the big brothers of the competition zone were more polite.
However, in the FPX Fifth Centaur, the moment of gentleness just now was just a prelude. On the field, YM's methods were extremely cruel.
"19 minutes 45 seconds!"
The commentator's roar reverberated throughout the stadium. "This is the shortest match in the new LPL season. YM and FPX have made history!"
Cat wanted to take a sip of the Coke he had just received. In less than 20 minutes of the match, the ice in the Coke had not melted yet. It was the best time to drink it.
He had just taken off his headphones when he heard the commentator's words. He almost choked.
Who would want to make history with YM?
On the score screen, the headcount ratio of the two teams was unusually dazzling — 0: 22.
Zero headcount, zero tower, zero dragon. Cat was dizzy.
He had left Suning because he wanted to find a stable starting team. After all, he had some self-awareness. He knew that with his talent, he would not be able to achieve much in the professional circle.
Finding a noob team to play in a few more matches and accumulate some popularity with the audience. After retiring, becoming a commentator or streamer would be a good way out.
However, after being slaughtered like a pig, when he retired, Cat suspected that the most memorable moment of his career was being shaved bald by YM.
However, he was still in a good mood. After all, he had lost a year ago, so he had some expectations.
However, the mid laner Bing could not take it. His hands were trembling as he drank from the paper cup. It was as if he had not received any feedback from his teammates.
In this match, he had used Yellow Chicken to get 0: 80. In a match that was less than 20 minutes long, eight deaths meant that he had wasted almost half of his time on reviving and returning.
Among them, he had been solo-killed four times by Lin Yan's Jayce. By the end of the match, he was completely numb.
It was only when the BP of the second match started that he came back to his senses.
"Still using Tsar?"
Abing was a little dissatisfied when he heard the coach's arrangement. Before he became a professional player, he was known as the number one Tsar in the country. His proficiency was ridiculously high.
However, Unique Bro only had high proficiency. He might not be able to adapt to the rhythm of the professional scene. In the previous match, he had been slaughtered.
"Then tell me, what can we use to stabilize the situation?" the coach said in annoyance.
He had been coaching in a secondary league last year. He did not expect an LPL club to invite him for the new season. Humans strive for greater heights, and water flows downward. He had packed his luggage and came to FPX directly, thinking that it would be a good job.
However, he had felt that things were going to go south during the mock competition. After the first two weeks of the competition, he had been studying his opponents for the summer competition in advance.
With these five players, it was useless no matter how strong the coach was. Even if Kkoma, Edgar, and Red Rice formed a team, this team would not be able to improve much.
Among the mid laner Abing, only Ryze and Yellow Chicken had sufficient proficiency. Furthermore, the team did not have enough ban slots to deal with Snake Lady.
He had no other choice.
Abing's hands were still trembling when he picked the runes. Jayce's Enhanced Cannon and Electric Surge from the previous match were like a nightmare that haunted his heart.
The iced cola flowed down his throat, and the coldness spread to his limbs. Even his fingertips were a little stiff from the cold.
Abing could only put down the cola and move his fingers, hoping to get a kill in this round.
…
"Abing!
Godfiend Li Zaigan? "
Oxygen Tank Hao Kai blurted out. He had not mastered the breathing technique, and his hoarse voice was very uncomfortable to listen to.
However, at this moment, not many people cared about the commentator's question.
Just now, Xiao Tian had controlled Princes' EQ Company to charge out of the FPX Red Zone camp's wall and send Abing, who was in the Sharp Beak Birds' camp, flying!
Amidst the audience's cries of disbelief, Abing and Tsar had pushed out their Wall of Forbidden Army in an attempt to push their opponent out. However, Xiao Tian had just taken a step behind Abing when he was sent flying.
This step caused Tsar's Wall of Forbidden Army to miss!
At this moment, Lin Yan had rushed to the battlefield with an airplane. Abing was obviously panicking. He tried to run from the Sharp Beak Birds' camp to his own defense tower.
He raised his Sand Soldier and wanted to use his EQ Company to cross the wall and escape.
However, in his nervousness, Abing made a mistake. His Quicksand Movement had moved to his Sand Soldier before it could cross the wall!
This caused Abing to remain in the Sharp Beak Birds' camp!
In his panic, he had no choice but to use Flash to escape.
However, Lin Yan was stunned for a moment after witnessing Tsar's maneuvers. He quickly regained his composure and sent the special delivery into the defense tower!
"Mongoose, Heaven Falls and Earth Rends, Keep the Yellow Chicken!"
Abing, who had used all his skills, could only wait for his death.
After killing his opponent, Phyllostachys Pubescens finally had the time to reflect on the details of Tsar's last attack.
His originally thin and flat eyes were now wide open. He looked like the famous emoji of a frog.
The bullet screen instantly exploded.
[Is this something that a carbon-based creature can do?]
[F * ck, Bing!]
[F * ck, I'm an idiot. I'm really good at this maneuver.]
[Don't. A normal Tsar has Flash and big moves. How can he do something like this?
What if you run away?]
Young Abing was so nervous that his palms were sweating. His mouse was sticky. Fortunately, he had brought a tissue before he went on stage. He quickly wiped his sweat.
His Adam's apple bobbed as he listened to the laughter of the audience. He knew that this group of people was definitely laughing at his maneuver just now. His body trembled slightly as cold sweat formed on his forehead. His bangs stuck to his skin as his breathing became heavier.
This was not Abing's first year as a professional player. Last spring, he had joined a secondary league team called SAT.
The previous mid laner of this team was called Otto, nicknamed Big Faker.
Young Abing's results in the secondary league were not ideal. He had no choice but to return to live streaming.
However, SAT's mid laners seemed to be chasing their dreams. Abing's passion had not been extinguished. At the end of 2017, he took the initiative to ask for the salary of the LPL's minimum wage and looked for teams everywhere.
FPX accepted him and Abing even posted a Weibo message in high spirits — LPL, I'm here.
This might be LPL's first male player, but reality would not treat him kindly. Instead, it gave Abing a fatal blow.
Holding his own signature hero and playing the most ridiculous maneuver against the world's strongest team, Abing's remaining self-confidence was completely destroyed.
He shut himself off.
Cat was eccentric, but he still wanted to win. He commanded his team to launch wave after wave of counterattacks.
However, the strength of both sides was not equal at all. The economic gap between them would only widen.
20 minutes later, the economic gap between the two sides reached 10,000.
However, YM had taken two mid and late game carries in this round. Their speed of advancement was much slower than the previous round. As a result, FPX's high ground had not been taken down.
"Come, come, come. Dragon, take on this wave of attacks!" Cat Emperor urged his teammates to return to the city to restock.
If they won this wave of attacks, they could still drag it on. If they lost, the entire game would come to an end.
However, from Cat Emperor's point of view, YM was rather arrogant. It was nearing Dragon's respawn time, but their ADC was still farming in the bottom half of the map.
"Princes, Princes!"
At the crucial moment, Cat Emperor saw that Xiao Tian was alone. He controlled Hammer Stone to throw a lantern behind him. He wanted to bring his teammate over and kill Phyllostachys Pubescens!
"Hammer Stone, hand over Blink …" Hao Kai did not shout himself hoarse this time. Instead, he broke his voice. "Pendulum of Misfortune missed!"
After handing over Blink, Phyllostachys Pubescens was less than 300 yards away from Cat Emperor. However, Hammer Stone's E's Pendulum of Misfortune had completely deviated from Princes's position!
The R's Netherworld Prison and Q's Death Sentence were both missed!
The audience was in an uproar!
"Yellow Star Triple Combo!" Hao Kai said subconsciously. "Cat made a mistake …"
As soon as he finished speaking, Xiao Tian had already moved forward with his EQ combo. His big move covered FPX's backline with his own obstacles!
The next moment, Lin Yan handed over his special delivery. A flame belt that symbolized death and destruction appeared in the air, enveloping FPX's weak defense!
Cat Emperor had already used up all his skills. When he handed over the remaining Ignite to Airplane, he became a long-range soldier.
Their sneak attack had failed and they had been kicked away. With such a huge economic gap, FPX could only face defeat!
"Jack has arrived to clean up the mess. None of them can escape YM's pursuit!"
An emotionless female voice announced in the Summoner's Canyon. YM had successfully wiped out their opponents!
With Dragon's steady operation, YM managed to finish the match in less than 24 minutes. They did not exceed FPX's average game time.
Until the base was destroyed, the audience was still discussing Cat Emperor's maneuvers.
[I'm impressed by FPX's trash team. What kind of trash did they find to compete with?]
[Hammer Stone's triple combo all missed. He's really dead. This is ridiculous.]
[Tsar's triple combo, Hammer Stone's triple combo … Compared to this weirdo, that top laner New looks a lot more normal.]
[Who would've thought that the most normal player in a team would be Qiuqiu?
(dog head)]
[Don't embarrass him. He's just a contrast to his peers.]
[It's really good. I'll drink three big bowls. Where's Momo?]
Cat sat on the chair and stared blankly at the screen.
He never thought that he would one day be able to perform such ridiculous maneuvers. At this moment, Cat Emperor finally understood Abing's feelings.
My career …
Just as he thought of this, Qiuqiu was still urging him. Cat Emperor finally realized that he had to get up and shake hands.
As soon as he turned his head, he saw an extremely handsome face.
Cat Emperor's mood instantly brightened.
"Come on, come on. The season is still long."
Lin Yan was not familiar with them. However, seeing that they were in a daze, he still gave them a few words of encouragement.
However, the five FPX members felt that something was wrong.
The season is still long?
How long are we going to be tortured?
Since none of us are capable, why don't we just go our separate ways?
It's good for you and me too. Why are the five of us together? Can we form a dark mage?
"Um …" Abing looked at Lin Yan. He hesitated for a moment before asking, "Can I take a picture with you later?"
With the help of his glasses, Lin Yan glanced at the time on Abing's monitor. It was only a quarter past six. The high-speed train that Su Cheng booked would only depart in two hours.
"Sure, no problem."
After receiving his affirmation, Abing smiled bitterly.
He heard cheers and screams from the audience. However, none of the cheers belonged to him.
Abing rolled his keyboard and mouse together with a mouse pad and left the stage without looking back.
LPL, I'm leaving.
The post-match interview was with Jin Gong. After Lin Yan took a picture with Abing, he went back to the lounge to pack his backpack.
When he left the base today, he took his suitcase with him. He was going to go to the station after the match.
"Remember to bring your ID …" Guo Hao was still nagging Lin Yan. "Remember to rest more during the New Year. This is one of the rare holidays before the mid-season competition."
"Hao, you're already studying the MSI opponents?" Lin Yan was surprised. "The regular season isn't even over yet."
"I don't even know how you're going to lose with this lineup." Guo Hao spread his hands and looked proud.
Although he didn't spend any transfer fees on this lineup, the salary was not small at all. The entire team's annual salary was more than forty Lin Weixiang's, which was around fifty million RMB.
It was one of a kind in the world. It was even more expensive than the North American Nursing Home.
Guo Hao could only sigh at how good it was to be rich.
"I'm leaving first." Lin Yan passed his backpack to Phyllostachys Pubescens. "Mongoose, help me put it on my desk when you go back."
The backpack was filled with keyboard and mouse peripherals. He had them all at home in Suzhou, so he didn't need to bring them back.
"It's nice to be close to home." Mongoose took the backpack and grumbled unhappily. "This high-speed train takes half an hour to get home. It's faster than us going back to the base."
"Help me say Happy New Year to your family." Guo Hao said before he left. "I'll give Chengzi a New Year's greeting on the first day of the New Year."
"Okay." Lin Yan said goodbye to his teammates. "See you guys after the New Year!"
"See you after the New Year!" Shiba Inu waved his paw.
He put on a thin jacket to cover his team uniform. Once he put on his cap, no one liked him. He dragged his suitcase and left the stadium through the backstage passageway.
The cold winter night in Shanghai quietly fell. There were still a few rays of the setting sun on the horizon. They intertwined with the darkness and didn't seem out of place.
Lin Yan saw Su Cheng in a white down jacket waving at him from afar.
Seeing his girlfriend's white and soft face, the string in his heart suddenly relaxed.
"You're out so early?"
Lin Yan quickly walked forward until he could smell the gentle fragrance coming from Su Cheng's body.
"I didn't watch Jin Gong's interview." Su Cheng didn't bring her suitcase. There were only a few professional books in her backpack. "You guys played too fast … I didn't even get to feel it and it was already over."
Lin Yan:???
"Okay, play slower next time." He wrapped his arms around his girlfriend's waist and walked to the side of the road.
Su Cheng was dressed very warmly today. The weather in Shanghai was a few degrees above zero. She also wore a black sweater under her down jacket. There was probably another layer of clothes underneath, but Lin Yan didn't dare to look.
She was like a small stove. Lin Yan put his hands on her waist and warmed it up in a short while. He was like a heating pad.
"I've called a taxi." Su Cheng glanced at the time on her phone's screen saver. "Let's go eat first?"
They originally planned to go back to Suzhou for dinner, but they didn't expect to win the game so quickly that there was still a lot of time left.
The two of them took the taxi to the train station first and found a local restaurant nearby.
"What do you want?" Lin Yan sat by the window and flipped through the menu. "Hey, there's crab here. Do you want to eat it?"
"No, no." Su Cheng shook her head repeatedly.
"How about bamboo shoots?"
"It's too cold … How about shredded oiled eel?" Su Cheng flipped through two pages of the menu and picked a dish.
Lin Yan wasn't a picky eater. He just ate with his girlfriend.
But after Su Cheng rejected the canned Coca-Cola, he finally noticed something was wrong.
He ran to the front desk and asked for a red date and lotus seed porridge.
"Ah, this …" Su Cheng looked at the steaming porridge and froze for a moment.
"Just tell me." Lin Yan also noticed that something was wrong with Su Cheng from various details. "… Sometimes I don't understand."
His mother had passed away since he was a teenager. He and Lin Mingdong couldn't talk about a woman's period unless they had a big hole in their heads.
"Once a month. I'm used to it." Su Cheng didn't take it to heart. "Just be careful these few days. Don't make a fuss about it. You're making me look like a patient."
Although she said that, she still had a smile on her face. She picked up the spoon and tasted a mouthful of the red date and lotus seed porridge.
"Did I put too much sugar?" she said with a smile. "Can I share some for you to try?"
Lin Yan saw that Su Cheng couldn't eat anymore, so he put down the porridge and scooped two spoonfuls.
"How is it?"
"It's so sweet that my teeth are falling out." Lin Yan frowned.
It was already ten o 'clock at night when the two returned to Suzhou. Su Cheng's mother was finally free from work because it was close to Chinese New Year. She specially ran to the station to pick them up.
The car model was exactly the same as the one that Su Cheng's father went to the YM base for inspection. Lin Yan suspected that it was an internal price.
Su Cheng's mother helped Lin Yan put the luggage in the trunk. As soon as she got into the driver's seat, she asked, "Your dad will probably be back on Chinese New Year's Eve. Why don't you come over and eat with us?"
Ever since Lin Yan bought the Four Seasons Lakeside villa, the two families became neighbors and weren't far from each other.
"… Are you ordering takeout?" Lin Yan pondered for two seconds.
Originally, he thought that Su Cheng's mother was just bad at cooking. However, when Lin Yan learned from his girlfriend that she and Cucumber had been together for three days and nights, he didn't dare to casually eat Su Cheng's mother's cooking anymore.
He might as well do it himself.
Su Cheng's mother was speechless for a moment. His girlfriend, who was resting in the seat, gently elbowed Lin Yan.
"Ah, sure," Lin Yan immediately changed the topic, "Cheng Zi, I haven't asked you yet. Did you get the final results?"
Sure enough, as soon as he mentioned the results, Su Cheng's mother immediately changed her target. Her eyes glanced at her daughter.
"The results are okay, okay …" Su Cheng glared at Lin Yan, "It's not a big problem."
The three of them chatted as the car drove on the main road. The trees on both sides of the road quickly passed by.
The night scene here wasn't as prosperous as Shanghai. Although the night was also filled with lights, it lacked the driving force to keep moving forward.
When the humid smell of Jinji Lake hit their faces, the car finally drove into the neighborhood.
Before getting out of the car, Su Cheng leaned over and stuck her body close to Lin Yan.
"I'll find you tomorrow morning."
"Eight or nine."
Lin Yan looked at the time and estimated that it would be early in the morning by the time he went to bed. He was afraid that he wouldn't get enough sleep if he woke up early.
"How about watching a movie?" They could talk about this on WeChat, but Su Cheng didn't want him to get out of the car yet.
She followed the topic and talked about the recent reviews of several movies, wanting Lin Yan to pick one.
"You choose, I'm fine with anything … except domestic horror movies." Lin Yan felt that it was unappetizing. Who would really watch a movie on a date?
"Oh, and let's eat grilled fish at noon tomorrow, okay?" Su Cheng shook Lin Yan's arm.
"You two," Su Cheng's mother was a little annoyed, "That's enough."
"You really don't treat me as a human being?"