Chapter 180: Unt.i.tled
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Ji Zhiyao was instantly overwhelmed by sadness, evidently unable to accept that he was to go from a “rising eSports new star” to a “has-been eSports player”… He touched his little tummy, suddenly feeling very moved. “Captain, come on, we’ll go play ranked matches together.”
Mo Huaifeng stood up and walked towards the training room with him, using his actions to express his support.
The three people behind them were very dumbfounded.
The computers that had been untouched for two months were covered with a thin layer of dust. Ji Zhiyao first wiped his computer clean, then switched it on. “Captain, I want to practice a few rounds of color blocks first, why don’t you start a match yourself then I’ll join you for the next.”
Mo Huaifeng nodded.
Hence Ji Zhiyao first launched the color blocks program on his desktop, preparing to do some practice.
As he had been on vacation for too long, it had essentially been two months since Ji Zhiyao last touched this program. Though his speed was still there, but he definitely wouldn’t be as good as the last time he trained. For the first round, Ji Zhiyao only hung out for slightly past 30 seconds.
He sighed.
One can’t slack off indeed, once he stopped adhering to a training schedule during his vacation, he became ruined.
Ji Zhiyao started another round, continuing to practice.
When Mo Huaifeng finished his match, Ji Zhiyao had already gone through more than ten rounds, his results recovered to about 34 seconds. Mo Huaifeng watched from the side and pushed his forehead with a finger. “What have you been doing during the break?”
“Everything but training.”
“You’re very proud of that?”
Ji Zhiyao quickly shook his head. “No, proud my a.s.s, can’t you see me sighing deeply here, hoping to genuinely repent and become a new person?”
Mo Huaifeng made a “tsk” sound. “Come play the ranked match first, you can slowly practice that next time.”
Ji Zhiyao quit the little program and launched Heroes.
After the implications of the previous incident, Ji Zhiyao had created a new alternate account, the type that had yet to be found out by others. He logged onto that account and invited Mo Huaifeng’s alternate account, both of them started a match stealthily.
As the ranks of their alternate accounts were only at Master rank, both teammates and opponents that they had matched up with weren’t of high rank. After two matches, Ji Zhiyao then vaguely found a slightly familiar pace and feeling.
Both of them continued their ranked matches, all the way till their ranks arrived to Challenger, before they finally stopped.
Ji Zhiyao went to the refrigerator for two bottles of yogurt and handed one to Mo Huaifeng. Mo Huaifeng twisted the cap open and drank a few mouthfuls.
Ji Zhiyao finished his yogurt and initiated a chat with Mo Huaifeng. “Captain, Skitters’ jungler has been banned from competing for sleeping with fans, did you know about that?”
Mo Huaifeng frowned. “Didn’t pay attention.”
“I heard the matter was blown up to quite an extent, their club was reported, the higher-ups had no choice and decided to handle him with a ban. But I reckon it’ll just be several months at the most. It’s off season period now, doesn’t matter whether he is banned from competing or not. When they begin their performance tournament tour, the fan-f*cking monster will be let out sooner or later. G.o.d’s will is virtually unfair.”
Mo Huaifeng stayed silent for a few seconds. “… What do you want to say?”
“He will suffer his retribution sooner or later!
“All the jerks in the world are the same.”
Ji Zhiyao was afire with n.o.ble indignation by himself for a long time, he then realized that Mo Huaifeng merely stared at him speechless, and did not continue the conversation… Hence he finally could not keep it in any longer and took the initiative to question, “So Captain, did you go for the blind date afterwards?”
Mo Huaifeng did not manage to suppress himself and laughed lowly.
Ji Zhiyao’s ears turned slightly red from being mocked at by him. “What are you laughing at, this is regular concern shown by a teammate. Could you please respect your teammate?”
Mo Huaifeng’s eyes were completely smiling as he dragged out his reply. “Ooookaaaay.”
Ji Zhiyao was aggravated by his flippant att.i.tude, pulling a long face, he shouted loudly, “You definitely did! Jerk!”
He felt slightly resigned and reached out to rub Ji Zhiyao’s hair, then suddenly lowered his head and gave him a peck.
Ji Zhiyao was a little dazed from his kiss and leaped up after coming back to his senses. “Captain, stop pulling cheesy acts all the time and causing my determination to waver won’t you?”
Mo Huaifeng gave him a cold smile. “Let’s give it a try?”
Ji Zhiyao chickened out for the 101st time, meekly settling back into his original spot, pretending as if nothing had happened. “Captain, let’s play another two matches, practice our jungler ADC team-up.”
He knew it would be like this.
Ji Zhiyao appeared to be monstrously bold, but he was actually an extreme coward.
The two continued with their matches, each with their own thoughts.
All the way till lunch time, Nuo entered the training room and called for them, “Captain, Noh.o.m.o, what are we having for lunch? Stop training both of you, you’re making this salted fish here feel very guilty.”
Ji Zhiyao lifted his head to glance at him, casually saying, “What right does a salted fish as fat as you have to eat?”
“… What have I done wrong that you have to diss me like this?”
“Stating facts.”
Nuo was very upset, yet he could not do anything to him and had to silently hold his tongue.
Mo Huaifeng said, “When we finish this match, I’ll buy lunch.”
Nuo’s eyes instantly lit up, “Sure sure!!! By the way, Xiaofei and Heng won’t be able to reach by noon, they said to go ahead with lunch without them.”
Mo Huaifeng nodded to express that he had heard him, Nuo then happily left the training room.
Ji Zhiyao was hungry and was slightly moved. “Captain, let’s end the match fast. I want to eat too, I’m so hungry.”
“Okay.”
Hence the original leisure and slow pace suddenly took on a change, Mo Huaifeng finally opened his eyes and began to play seriously.
Ten minutes later, the match ended.
Ji Zhiyao rotated his neck all around to stretch his muscles, mumbling “I’m starving” as he stood up. Mo Huaifeng also stood up, asking, “What do you want to eat?”
“Meat. Are you okay with lamb roasted whole? I know a place, the taste is very traditional and there isn’t the strong smell of mutton.”
Mo Huaifeng thought for a moment and felt that he could reluctantly accept that. “Sure, you can show the way.”
Ji Zhiyao nodded fervently, not forgetting to continue to endorse, “The food at that place is really good. I only went once and I remembered it till today. We must eat more for lunch today.”
Mo Huaifeng lowered his head and glanced at Ji Zhiyao’s tummy, giving him a small tight smile, “Are you not dieting anymore?”
Ji Zhiyao pushed the door open, instinctively looking down at his own tummy, thinking to himself that the flab that cannot be seen from his outer appearance simply does not exist. Hence he retorted confidently, “I’m much slimmer than Nuo alright, even he isn’t not dieting, why should I diet?”
Nuo heard himself suddenly being called upon and abruptly poked his head out confused from his spot on the sofa. “What?”
Ji Zhiyao quickly humored him. “Nothing. Just telling Captain that we’re bringing you to go have lamb for lunch.”
Nuo was instantly pleased. “Noh.o.m.o! Big brother, you’re the best!”
“You’re welcome.”
K also stood up too. “How is it going, have you guys decided what we’re having for lunch?”
Ji Zhiyao patted his chest, declaring valiantly and spiritedly, “Let’s go! I’ll take all of you out for a good time.”
Two hours later.
The few people from Mix who were there all rubbed their rounded bellies, feeling so stuffed that they kept burping, it was the same even for Mo Huaifeng who was only reluctantly embracing the taste at the beginning.
Ji Zhiyao drank a mouthful of water and exhaled comfortably. “This is simply wonderful.”
Nuo and K nodded in agreement. Yuan Wei said, “Wonderful? Keep the taste in your hearts. In the coming week, don’t even dream of getting any meat.”
All of the four others were completely dumbfounded, Yuan Wei had to remind them. “You’re going to film the advertis.e.m.e.nt for the endors.e.m.e.nt soon! On camera, your figures will be two to three times of your current ones, what would you be able to endorse?”
Mo Huaifeng stared at him contemplatively, then said, “I think I better give the club a call.”
Yuan Wei shot his idea down almost immediately. “It’s useless, I long guessed that you will pull this. Before eating I already made a call to the club and told them to hand the contract to the advertiser as soon as possible.”
“A new batch of treadmills will be delivered tomorrow. Everyone is to clock in at least an hour on the treadmill every day. How’s that, aren’t all of you looking forward to it?”
The others stared at him without a word.
Ji Zhiyao thought of something and started to chuckle loudly all of a sudden. Nuo was rueful as he questioned, “Noh.o.m.o, you can’t have meat too. So what are you feeling happy about?”
“At the thought that we managed to enjoy one meal more than Xiaofei and Heng I just can’t help it.”
“You’re right!”
Mo Huaifeng went out to settle the bill, everyone returned to the base together.
When they were out for lunch, Xiaofei and Heng had already arrived one after the other and were sitting on the sofa eating their takeaway together. The moment they entered the house, Heng said, “What is that aroma, smells amazing.”
Nuo could not help but brag, “Lamb roasted whole, Captain’s treat. You guys really picked the wrong time to come back.”
Heng completely forgot about the conversation when he saw Nuo. “Nuo, you’re really fat now!”
“I’m not fat, I’m merely bloated.”
“Okay…”
Ji Zhiyao surveyed Heng and Xiaofei from top to bottom, realizing that not only did Heng not gain weight, he even looked slightly slimmer and commented, envious, jealous and hating, “What have you been eating during the break? You’re so slim now, you don’t need to lose weight at all.”
Heng looked like he had experienced many vicissitudes of life as he sighed. “Don’t talk about it. Once I was home my mum brought different friends home every day, telling them “this is a dish made by my national champion”, “this is the gla.s.s washed by my national champion.” Don’t mention gaining weight, I’m so troubled that I’m almost losing all my hair.”
“And you still say I’m fat, you’re about to perish yourself.”
Heng was very aggrieved. “I don’t want that, who knew it would turn out this way.”
Ji Zhiyao saw the two of them bickering and was suddenly reminded of Xiao, this he secretly s.h.i.+fted towards Mo Huaifeng. “Captain, when is Brother Xiao coming back to us?”
Mo Huaifeng answered in a low voice. “Not sure. But he’ll definitely be back before we leave for our overseas training.”
That would be in about a week’s time. Ji Zhiyao now knew what to expect, nodding his head, he then moved back to his original spot.
Mo Huaifeng spoke up. “Such words, when others say them, just listen, but don’t it seriously. It’s not like we’ve never been national champions, this was never our ultimate goal.”
His voice was very matter-of-fact, the look in his eyes was rather cold too, appearing extremely solemn. Ji Zhiyao involuntarily straightened up and nodded fervently with the four.
Getting a placing in the international league was their final goal, how could they forget?
Mo Huaifeng was satisfied and nodded. “Let’s go, time to train.”
…
A week after.
Under the policy of dieting and exercise, every person in Mix lost at least 1.5kg and all appeared to be much more spirited than before.
Bright and early in the morning, Yuan Wei already arrived at the base and went to each room one by one to rush them out of bed. When everyone was done was.h.i.+ng up and came downstairs, the breakfast takeaway that Yuan Wei had ordered also arrived. They surrounded the dining table, enjoying deep-fried dough sticks and soya-bean milk together.
After breakfast, everyone brought their own belongings, the van shakily headed towards a film studio in the suburbs.
Once the door opened, cold wind rushed into the van, a whole vehicle of drowsy people sobered up very quickly. Ji Zhiyao yawned, asking with tears in his eyes, “Where is this? We’re here?”
Yuan Wei answered him. “We’re here, please alight quickly, the advertisers are waiting.”
They moved as quickly as possible into the studio.
The temperature in the studio was much higher. Ji Zhiyao felt slightly warm and removed his jacket, keeping it hanging on his arm.
An a.s.sistant took Yuan Wei to go greet the advertisers, while another brought them to the dressing room for makeup and gave them a simple description of the storyline that they would be filming.
The advertis.e.m.e.nt that they were filming today was for the gaming keyboard, by the brand Demon Speed. The storyline that was requested was very simple: All Mix members would be gaming; at the critical moment, they realize that their gaming keyboards had spoiled, resulting in them losing the match, then they swapped to several other unknown keyboards whereby the keys became stuck after each change, finally, they used Demon Speed’s keyboard and found there was no longer any lag and they easily achieved victory.
Though it sounded especially nonsensical, because no professional player would be so silly to use a keyboard with no brand, but a storyline with such requests were the simplest, with low demands for the models, they had to pretend to be gaming.
There were only two makeup artists in the dressing room, there were six members in Mix, each makeup artist was a.s.signed three people. As the studio was rented and charged at an hourly rate, the advertisers requested for the makeup to be done faster, both makeup artists picked up the various products and began to attack their faces.
Ji Zhiyao was the first to have his makeup done and he felt that his face had already gone numb from being patted this while time. His makeup was also especially thick, the feeling was like, being coated several layers of medicine on his face after receiving a beating.
He instantly wished for death.
Each person took about 20 minutes for their makeup, the a.s.sistant from the advertisers side found no problem with their makeup then brought them into the studio set for filming.
The studio had been briefly decorated, the style was very homely, with six computers in the middle, all the equipment were rather high end. The six of them sat into the seats, the a.s.sistant then distributed lines or actions.
Ji Zhiyao received his own sheet of instructions and realized that he had turned out to be the idiot using the keyboard with no brand.
d.a.m.n it.
“Everyone please take a good look at your own lines and actions, we start a test run at the end of the 10 second countdown.”
A moment of silence, everyone’s head was bowed as they looked at the screen before them, pretending to be gaming very seriously.
A few seconds later, Ji Zhiyao carried a heart full of shame and said expressionlessly, “My keyboard cannot move!”
“Cut! This portion cannot be done like this, you must show emotions, there must be expressions of surprise and anger on your face, your tone must also express this point, for example, “Oh d.a.m.n, oh my G.o.d! How could it lag at this point, what a useless keyboard!” something along these lines.”
“No questions? Let’s try another take!”