Lin Feng stepped out into the hallway and looked around for a quiet corner. School was out and there were students laughing and shouting everywhere. He pushed against the flow of students, glancing at his phone to make sure that it was still ringing. Why would Chu Fang call me anyway? The Shanghai 16 School Tournament has ended and doesn’t he have work to do? It’s a normal work day… He searched around for some privacy, but couldn’t really find it. His phone was still ringing, but wouldn’t for much longer. So he accepted the call and placed the phone next to his ear, using his free hand to plug his other ear. “Heya, Chu Fang! Why are you calling? What’s going on?” 

“Hey, Lin Feng,” Chu Fang said. “You should be done with school by now, right? Do you have a minute to chat?”

“Yeah, school is out. I was about to head home,” Lin Feng replied. “Why? What’s up? Are you calling to buy me dinner? If so, then yes! I’d really like some chicken cutlet!”

Chu Fang chuckled and said, “Oh, you can come over and I’ll treat you to some food. But I live pretty far away. It’s going to be way past dinnertime by the time you get here. Are you sure you can wait that long?”

“Oh. Yeah… Guess I can’t…” Lin Feng replied, dejected.

“But I called today about something else,” Chu Fang continued. “Have you heard about the Winter Collegiate Cup? It’s basically the big brother of the Shanghai 16 School Tournament. Or the Shanghai 16 School Tournament for universities. It’s a big tournament. Anyway, it’s taking place next month. Would you be interested in participating?”

“Me?” Lin Feng blurted out. The Winter Collegiate Cup? I was talking with Fatty about that just the other day! He grinned and said, “Fatty made the same mistake the other day. I can’t play in the Winter Collegiate Cup! I’m still in high school, remember?” He paused for a brief moment, then added, “But you knew that. We spoke at the Shanghai 16 School Tournament! Wait, is this one of those hypothetical questions? Then my answer is yes! It sounds like a really cool tournament with so many great players! Of course I want to play in it!”

Chu Fang laughed and said, “Never change, Lin Feng. Never change. And yes, I know you’re still in high school. But no, this isn’t some hypothetical situation. The Collegiate Cup used to be exclusive to university teams. But there were some changes made to the format of the tournament this year. One of those changes is that we’re inviting three high school teams to join. One from each of the three big esports associations: Beijing, Guangzhou and Shanghai. It’s basically an opportunity for our most talented players to get some early experience at the university level. So, are you interested?”

“Are you asking me if I want to play in the Collegiate Cup?” Lin Feng asked, ecstatic. “Yes! YES! I’ll be the best at the university level too! This is going to be awesome! We’re going to beat everyone and become the best high school team and the best university team too!”

“WaitWaitWait!” Chu Fang interrupted. He waited for Lin Feng to stop talking and then explained, “Yes, I want you to participate. Just you. This isn’t High School 13 participating, but the best high schoolers from Shanghai playing. I’ve been put in charge of drafting the Shanghai team. The team I have in mind right now consists of you in the mid lane and BunBun in the Jungle. And…” He paused and shuffled some documents before continuing, “…Tang Bingyao? The ad-carry on your team? I want her as the team’s ad-carry. As fo—”

“Oh. That makes sense! I’ll play in the mid lane!” Lin Feng interrupted. “I’ll go and tell BunBun and Tang Tang right now about it! I’m sure they’ll want to play too! Talk to y—”

“Wait! WAIT!” Chu Fang said. “Don’t hang up! Wait a second!”

Lin Feng had already moved the phone away from his ear and was about to end the call when he heard Chu Fang cry out. He placed the phone back to his ear and asked, “Huh? Did you say something? Is there something else? Didn’t you call about the Winter Collegiate Cup? You told me about it already! I want to tell BunBun and Tang Tang the good news! They’ll be so happy!”

“Yes, I did say something and yes there is something else,” Chu Fang replied. “I wanted to let you know what the full line up will be for your team. I drafted the Support and Toplaner from Shanghai High School. I ho—”

Lin Feng laughed and said, “Oh, that’s fine! Is that all? I’m going to tell BunBun and Tang Tang then. By—”

“Wait! Please! One more thing!” Chu Fang shouted. Then when the call stayed connected, he quietly said, “I’m sorry. I couldn’t hide it any longer. The boss…”

Words entered Lin Feng’s ears, but he didn’t hear them. There was a loud banging sound that he couldn’t quite place. He stared at the last couple of students walking down the hallway. “I couldn’t hide it any longer.” He didn’t need to ask what Chu Fang couldn’t hide any longer. Fang Hao knows. I wanted to make a quiet return to the scene. I wanted to slowly work my way up. And then face everyone when I’m ready for it. On my terms. But I ran into Chu Fang at the Shanghai 16 School Tournament and now Fang Hao also found out… How much longer before the others find out? What if Rake finds out and sees me playing at a high school tournament? His heart slammed into his ribcage with every beat, his throat dried up, and he had to fight back the urge to run away. I can’t do that! I won’t do that again. I’m not going to abandon my friends! And I won’t let Fang Hao down again. But…

✹

Lin Feng walked back into his classroom a couple of minutes later. His friends were all still there, waiting for him. But he didn’t see them, not really anyway. He was still lost in his own mind, trying to come to terms with what Chu Fang had just told him. And every time that he had a new thought about the situation, his facial expression changed with it.

Ouyang had been barely able to contain himself for the last few minutes. Ren Rou had to almost physically restrain him from running after Lin Feng. But when he saw Lin Feng walking back into the classroom, he couldn’t stop himself any longer. He ran up to Lin Feng, threw an arm around his friend, and shouted, “Best bro! What did the vice president of the Shanghai Esports Association call you for? Tell me! You can’t keep secrets from me! That’s against the bro code! Tell me!”

An Xin looked past Ouyang’s excitement and at Lin Feng. He looks like he saw a ghost… What did Chu Fang say to him? She nodded at Lin Feng and probed, “Are you ok? Did Chu Fang call with bad news?”

Lin Feng shook his head and said, “No. He actually had some really good news, I suppose.” He scratched the back of his head and explained, “We’re invited to play at the Winter Collegiat—”

“THE WINTER COLLEGIATE CUP? NO WAY!” Ouyang cried out.

Lin Feng nodded and continued, “Yeah, BunBun, Tang Tang and I will be representing the high school team from Shanghai.”

“Really?” An Xin asked, surprised. “That’s… that’s really cool!”

Tang Bingyao’s mouth fell open a little, dollar signs in her eyes. After learning how much prize money the Shanghai 16 School Tournament offered, she’d done her research on other tournaments in Shanghai and China, including the university tournaments. The prize money increased exponentially at the university level! We don’t even have to win. A good performance will already get us so much money. I’ll have so much spare change! Mhm!

“Uhh…” Ren Rou interrupted. “Isn’t that great news? Why were you looking so out of it a moment ago?”

Lin Feng scratched the back of his head and said, “Oh, well, you see… That’s because…” He rubbed the deep creases on his brow and sighed. “It’s nothing. Nothing.”

An Xin had been watching Lin Feng since he walked back into the classroom, studying his constantly changing expressions. And she finally figured it out. Chu Fang told someone. But you don’t look mad, I think. So did you already expect it? Was Chu Fang forced to tell someone? Maybe his boss? It’d be hard to keep it a secret from Fang Hao after we won the Shanghai 16 School Tournament. That could be it…

Yang Fan adjusted his glasses and asked Lin Feng, “Right, so you, Tang Tang, and BunBun are playing. But that’s only three. A team consists of five players. Who are the other two players on the team?”

“The other two?” Lin Feng asked. “Oh, they’re those two from Shanghai High School. Their Toplaner and Support!”

✹

Chu Fang had also called Zeng Rui to invite him to represent the Shanghai Esports Association. Zeng Rui had accepted and informed Chu Fang that Zhang Hao, who was Shanghai High School’s Toplaner, would also accept. This was the kind of opportunity no one wanted to pass up on. Now he sat in the computer science lab at Shanghai High School, waiting for the rest of his team to come. When they did, he told them about his call with Chu Fang and that he and Zhang Hao were going to play at the Winter Collegiate Cup.

Zhang Hao pointed at himself and said, “Me? Sweet! Thanks for accepting the invite on my behalf!”

The other three players from Shanghai High School’s team were also very excited.

“That’s awesome! You guys are going to play in a university tournament! That’s almost at the professional level!”
“Cap and Hao Bro are going to play against university students! That’s so cool! I wish they’d also invited me…”
“Aghhhh! I’m so excited just thinking about it! I can’t imagine how exciting it must be for you guys! Just imagine! You’re going to be playing against university students! That’s, like, almost the professional level of League!”

Zeng Rui smiled and nodded at his teammates and he also felt some of their enthusiasm. But he wasn’t nearly as excited. He sat down behind a computer and lowered his head. It is really nice that we’re invited. You don’t get these kinds of opportunities often, so I had to accept it. That much is obvious. This tournament is going to be a lot more difficult too. That is a valuable experience. If I want to become a professional player at some point, I’m going to need experience like this. It’s just…

Zeng Rui frowned. He couldn’t help but feel the pressure. If he was going to play, he wanted to win. And he was well aware of how good the teams at the Collegiate Cup were. He’d watched them play before and recognized many name tags from the Challenger ladder on the Ionia server. There was one name in particular that stood out to him. Samsara. This player’s real name was Sun Ruinian, a student at Zhejiang University. And he was the best ad-carry Zeng Rui had ever played with in the solo queue. When I play with him, the games are always so easy. I don’t think we’ve lost a game playing together. But when I have to play against him, I suddenly have to try so hard. He knows just how to get me off my game. And he is only one of many. His team didn’t even make it to the Finals last year! There are so many really good players who can make my life difficult.

Zeng Rui pulled up a website on the computer in front of him and browsed through the list of players who’d participated in the previous Collegiate Cups. Know him, him, him, him, him, him… I’ve played against so many of them. And they are on Challenger grade teams! At the Shanghai 16 School Tournament, we still had so many teams with not even Diamond line ups. There were Platinum players and worse… But now we’re going to have to beat Challenger level teams. I don’t even think we can make it to the quarterfinals. It’s going to be really difficult. But I really don’t want to give up before we even start playing. It’s just really hard to stay optimistic knowing how good the opponents are going to be.

Zeng Rui leaned back in his seat. He closed his eyes and rubbed his temples. I’m playing to win. I won’t go there to become second, third, or anything like that. I’ll have to lead our team to victory! That’s what I’m going to do! He sat up straight and opened his eyes. They radiated with a blazing determination! I’m going to be the first high schooler to win a university tournament! It’s going to be difficult, but if anyone can do it, it’s me! I’ve been at the top of Challenger for a long time now. And that girl from High School 13 in the Jungle is also really good. Zhang Hao is a strong Toplaner. That ad-carry from High School 13 also seemed good enough in the final game of the finals. We just have to keep her at that level consistently. That just leaves… Zeng Rui gritted his teeth. He didn’t want to say it. Now he could still pretend it wasn’t true. But he also knew that wouldn’t change anything. If he wanted to win, he had to do it with the team that Chu Fang drafted. He picked the thundering dumbass for the mid lane. He could’ve picked anyone else. But no. He went with the thundering dumbass. I’m going to have a headache.

Lin Feng stopped a few steps short of the intersection and turned to look at Tang Bingyao. What’s got her all shivering? It’s not that cold… Well, it’s cold. It’s almost winter! Wait. No. Don’t tell me this is about the food. Does she want me to pay? I offered her half! I only ate it all when she said that she didn’t want any! He looked at Tang Bingyao and probed, “What’s up?”

Tang Bingyao stared at Lin Feng, clenching her fists in her mittens. Then she glanced at the stoplight at the intersection. Still red. I need to say it. It’ll turn green soon. If I keep making excuses, I won’t say it at all. Mhm! I’ll say it! She bit on her lips and looked down at her feet. “Uhm, Lin Feng?” she repeated. “Uhm…” She glanced up at the stoplight again, waiting for it to turn green. Turn green! Go! Now! … Now! It jumped to green a few seconds later, which was her cue. She looked up at Lin Feng and said, “It’s my birthday next month… Oh! The light is green. You can’t miss it, go! See you tomorrow! Bye!” Then she turned the corner and ran home.

Lin Feng stared after Tang Bingyao, dazed. What? Then he shook his head and shrugged. That was probably nothing. Oh, I should go home! He crossed the street at the intersection and then walked the last bit home. Su Xue called out to him from the kitchen when he opened the front door, saying something about dinner. He wasn’t entirely sure, his mind playing the scene with Tang Bingyao on repeat. I missed something. There was something there. Right? Was there? Maybe I’m just imagining things. But that was a hint, right? I think so… But what was she hinting at… Her birthday… Birthday… Then he shrugged. I don’t know. I’ll think about it later. He went to his room and played a game of League of Legends, waiting for Su Xue to call him for dinner. But still, something didn’t feel quite right. He just couldn’t put his finger on what that was.

✹

Su Xue looked at the feast she had prepared, proud of herself. That came out better than expected! Lin Feng is going to love it! Talking about that kid… “LIN FENG! DINNER’S READY!” she shouted through the apartment.

Lin Feng dashed out of his room and sat down at the dining table. His eyes went wide when he saw all the food and he said, “This looks delicious! Can I? Can I?” He didn’t even wait for Su Xue’s nod. He put a chicken cutlet in his bowl and grabbed it with his chopsticks. Then he paused. Tang Tang… What did she want? Birthday… He put his chopsticks down and mumbled, “I’m not really hungry. Tang Tang bought me some chicken cutlet on the way home…”

“WHAT? AGAIN?” Su Xue blurted out. Then she threw her own chopsticks on the table and shouted, “It’s the same thing every day lately! Wasn’t I clear to you about this just the other day? I spend hours in the kitchen preparing dinner for you! HOURS! What am I doing all this hard work for if you’re not even eating it? I could’ve spent that time streaming!” She clenched her fists and breathed in, trying to hold back the tears. She waved at the food and yelled, “IS MY FOOD NOT GOOD ENOUGH? DO YOU NOT LIKE IT? IS THAT IT?”

Lin Feng scratched the back of his head in embarrassment and explained, “Of course I like your food! It’s really good! But I can’t help it that Tang Tang bought me milk tea and chicken cutlet on the way home. It was really filling. Maybe I’ll be hungry again in a few hours. I’ll just eat your food then!”

Su Xue glowered at Lin Feng, a vein throbbing on her temple. “You knew I was making dinner. You could’ve told Tang Tang that I was making dinner. Or you could’ve called me and told me you were having chicken cutlet. OR YOU COULD’VE SAID SOMETHING WHEN YOU GOT HOME!”

“Well, you see, Tang Tang was treating me and I felt bad for not eating it. So it’s not really my fault…” Lin Feng argued.

Su Xue growled through gritted teeth, “It is your fault. Don’t try to blame Tang Tang! This was all you!” She took a deep breath. Calm down. He is helpless. He is helpless. He doesn’t understand it. He is an idiot. She forced a smile and asked, “Why is she treating you so often anyway?”

“I don’t know! She says she had some spare change! If I didn’t eat the chicken cutlet, it’d be a waste of food!” Lin Feng fired back. Then he grinned and continued, “Besides, I couldn’t say no! She was just trying to be nice!”

That hit the wrong snare. Su Xue exploded and yelled, “OH, IS THAT SO? THEN WHAT ABOUT ALL THE FOOD I MADE FOR YOU TONIGHT? HOW CAN YOU SAY NO TO THAT?” She took short, laboured breaths and closed her eyes. Deep breaths, Su Xue… Deep breaths. Calm down. You can’t hit him. That’d be child abuse. And getting angry is bad for your skin. Yes I won’t let him ruin my perfect skin. She took several deep, calming breaths and then asked, “You still didn’t answer me. Why does she keep buying you food?”

“How should I know? She just has a lot of spare change lately!” Lin Feng answered, finding nothing strange about it.

She just happens to have a lot of spare change lately…?  Su Xue shook her head. Oh, Tang Tang… She knew what Tang Bingyao was trying to do. She’d tried to do it herself too back in high school. It was so easy. Just find an excuse to get some alone time with your crush. Then offer him the food and smile cutely. He’ll melt and stumble over his words as he asks you out on a date. But I never crushed on a blockhead like Lin Feng… My god, how can he be so oblivious? I have to contact the Guinness Book of World Records one of these days. He deserves to be in—

“Oh, right!” Lin Feng suddenly shouted, interrupting Su Xue’s thoughts. “Tang Tang told me her birthday is next month!” Then he shook his head and added, “I was really scared when she brought it up. She looked so embarrassed that I thought she was going to ask me to pay for all the food she bought me. I don’t have that much money! Buying skins on League of Legends is expensive, you know! But…” He looked at Su Xue, uncertain. “…maybe I should pay for it sometime? She always pays… What do you think?”

Su Xue shook her head and said, “I swear, it’s a miracle you get any girls to talk to you at all! You’re an idiot. I’m done. I’m done. I can’t talk to you right now. I just can’t.” She gorged down the rest of the food in her bowl, shaking her head every few seconds, and then got up from her chair and walked to the kitchen to do the dishes.

✹

Lin Feng spent the hours after dinner on his homework and procrastinating. At 11 P.M. sharp he finished and glanced over at the alarm on his nightstand. I’m not tired yet… Maybe Su Xue is streaming? He got up and walked over to Su Xue’s room, where he poked his head around the door. She is streaming! I’ll just keep her some company! She’ll like that! He walked into the room and sat down next to Su Xue.

「OH SHIIIIIIIZ is that lil bro!?」
「who’s that guy?!?!?!?! does xuexue have a bf????」
「CREEP ALERT CREEP ALERT! THERE”S A CREEP IN SNOWFALL”S ROOM!!!!!!」
「Could someone kindly explain to me who that guy is and what is going on? Thank you in advance.」

Su Xue looked over at Lin Feng and asked, “You’re done with your homework?”

“Yep! All finished!” Lin Feng replied, grinning. He then leaned closer to Su Xue and waved at the camera. “Hey guys! Long time no see! How is everyone?”

「FENG FENG!!!! WELCOME BACK!!!!」
「ahhhhhhhhhh! haven’t seen you in so long! missed you so much!」
「How’s school, lil bro?」
「OUT WITH THE MAID! OUT WITH THE MAID!」
「the maid is tryna show off on korean server. But oh my lord she’s bad. Like, no joke, i wanna hang myself!!」

“What the… HEY! I’m not doing that badly!” Su Xue cried out just as her screen went grey again. She looked at the top right corner of the game client, which showed her KDA. Her Lucian was 2/5/4. She shook her head and mumbled, “Well, I might be doing a little bad… But that isn’t my fault! I just wanted to play at a higher rank for my second commentate video and since I’m Platinum on the Ionia server, I thought I could also play at Platinum on the Korean server! Who knew the skill level would be so much higher here! You really can’t blame me for this! And I still got two kills!”

「You can’t even rank your Korean Gold account to Play… Why did you think you could play in Plat? Lol」
「just let lil bro take over. hell carry this for yaaaa」
「DONT FORGET TO GET HIM SOME WATER!!!!!!」
「I wanna see Feng Feng carry DO IT」

Lin Feng turned to look at Su Xue and asked, “Want me to play the next game? This one looks about over…”

Su Xue pursed her lips but eventually relented. She said, “Fine fine! Play!” Then she glared at her camera and said to her viewers, “But I don’t want to hear any of you threaten to unfollow me again!” She focused back on the game. It’s lost. No point in continuing to push for it… She sighed and started a surrender vote, which was unanimously accepted by her team.

Lin Feng quickly pushed Su Xue out of her gaming chair and sat down in it. Then he looked at the account and flexed his fingers. He laughed and said, “Platinum on the Korean server? This is going to be so much fun! Watch me carry this game, guys!”

「CARRY WITH YOUR LEBLANC!!!!」
「godleeeee i wanna see your godleeeeeee」
「LIL BRO >>>>> KOREANS HARHARHARHARHAR」
「feng feng is playing. Ez gg」

Su Xue sat down in the chair next to Lin Feng and smiled as she watched him bantering around with her viewers. We’re the perfect duo. I’m the cute face that tries really hard and he is the pure talent many people want to see. And when we get together, there’s always something fun to see for the viewers. Jokes to make. He really helped me turn this one-person stream into a team-stream. And the viewers are loving it! She pretended to sulk when the viewers said something mean about her. And she got up and brought Lin Feng a glass of water as had become tradition. She didn’t mind doing it. It was all part of the game. And she was winning. She relaxed back in her chair and watched Lin Feng play. These are the days. I wish it could be like this for the rest of my life. That’d be perfect.

✹

Lin Feng woke up the next morning with Tang Bingyao’s message about her birthday still on his mind. He thought about it under the shower, while eating breakfast, and while walking to school. Why did she tell me that and then run away? She was just really embarrassed about it, but why? Does she normally not celebrate it or something? Maybe she didn’t have a lot of friends to celebrate it with? No, that’s ridiculous. She has so many friends! Guys keep approaching her! It wasn’t until he walked into the classroom and saw his friends that it started to make sense to her. Maybe she really wants to have a big birthday party but is too shy to tell everyone, so she confided in me! Right, so how do I go about this?

Lin Feng mulled on that thought for the rest of the day, until finally the dismissal bell rang. I should just tell the others. They’ll know what to do! He turned to Ouyang sitting next to him, then to Yang Fan sitting in front of him, and finally to An Xin sitting on the other side of him and said, “Yo, guys! Guys! I need to tell you for Tang Tang that it’s her birthday next month!”

Ouyang’s eyes went wide. It took him a moment to recover and then he shouted, “PARTYYYYY!”

Yang Fan adjusted his glasses and said, “Next month already? That’s pretty soon. We won’t have much time to organize it.”

An Xin leaned over from her desk and chimed in, “Let’s get started then. It’s for Tang Tang, so we have to do it properly. We’re going to throw her a big party!”

“YES! A PARTY! I’M THE KING OF PARTYING!” Ouyang shouted, grinning. Then he patted his chest and said, “All we need is 10 beer kegs and a ton of plastic cups! Oh oh! Chen Ze and Wei Dong can help out too!”

Lin Feng nodded and said, “Yeah! Let’s do that! That sounds great!” Then he turned to Tang Bingyao who’d just walked over and said, “See? That was really easy to say, right? You don’t have to be so shy, you can tell us! We’re all friends here! Of course we’ll celebrate your birthday! We’d love to!”

Tang Bingyao stared at Lin Feng, dazed. W-what… How? Uh? What is happening? Then she mumbled, “Uh, oh, uh… thanks.” But she didn’t look happy. She lowered her head and chewed on the inside of her cheeks. That’s not what I meant. It’s not at all why I told you. I could’ve told them. I’m not that shy. I wanted to tell you…

Ren Rou sat down on Yang Fan’s desk, quietly following the conversation. And while everyone else was excited about the prospect of a big party, she was the only one who noticed Tang Bingyao’s dejected response. She glanced at Lin Feng and then back at Tang Bingyao before shaking her head. You poor girl. He’s braindead, you know that. We talked about this. You need to spell it out for him, and even then he might not get it… He’s braindead. Don’t let him drag you down with hi—

RING-RING-RING! RING-RING-RING!

Ouyang turned to look at Lin Feng, confused. It took him a moment to gather his thoughts before asking, “Who’s calling you?”

Lin Feng rummaged through his pockets and located his phone in his coat. He grabbed it and checked the Caller ID before scrunching his eyebrows in surprise. “Eh? Chu Fang? Why is he calling me? Wait. How does he even have my phone number?”

Ren Rou stood at the door of the computer science lab, where the esports club held its meetings, with a large bowl in her hand. It was filled to the rim with small and carefully folded pieces of paper. She’d spent all day preparing them for today’s event. An exhibition match. The champions of Shanghai would play against the lucky few club members who won the raffle. Club members were in excited conversation with each other as they tested their luck. Most got an empty piece of paper. But exactly five times, someone waved a piece of paper over their head and shouted that they got a winning ticket!

Waiting inside the computer science lab were the players of the team. Tang Bingyao, Liu Yue, Chen Ze, and Wei Dong were already sitting behind their computers. They had opened their League of Legends clients and were now looking over their shoulders, welcoming the club members in various ways. Tang Bingyao just nodded at everyone who called out her name, and sometimes waved a little. She wasn’t sure what to do. Liu Yue was the complete opposite of her. He waved at everyone, shouted out some names, and told them to get closer so that they could watch the game.

But a League of Legends team has five members. The fifth player for this exhibition match was standing a few steps away from the computer, complaining. An Xin stood next to him. She was a beautiful and kind girl. And after the team’s performance at the Shanghai 16 School Tournament, every student in the school knew who she was. Guys crushed on her, girls wanted to be friends with her, and everyone would do whatever she asked of them, all because of her warm smile. There was, however, one exception. A lesson everyone quickly learned. Whenever Lin Feng said something asinine, her whole demeanor changed. The kindness morphed into a terrifying anger. And Lin Feng had clearly just said something stupid.

The steady stream of club members entering the computer science lab came to an abrupt stop. The room suddenly felt cold. Students started pushing back, frantic. They were shouting that it was happening again. “It’s the murder smile! THE MURDER SMILE!”

An Xin looked over at Lin Feng. She tilted her head slightly, smiling her trademark smile, and asked, “HMM? What did you say? Say it again, I dare you!”

Lin Feng was the only guy in the entire school who didn’t seem scared by An Xin’s murder smile. “Stop it, BunBun!” he complained. “You shouldn’t threaten me! It’s really unfair!”

An Xin glared at him and retorted, “Oh? Is it?”

“Yes! It totally is!” Lin Feng replied, grinning. “I knew you’d understand! I just said I didn’t want to play this exhibition match!”

“Sit down and play,” An Xin ordered, leaving no room for discussion.

Lin Feng grumbled and whined, but he also listened. He sat down behind the computer next to Tang Bingyao’s and opened the League of Legends client. Then he leaned closer to Tang Bingyao and said, “Can you believe her? She’s forcing me to play!”

Tang Bingyao tilted her head and asked, “Hm?” After which An Xin leaned over Lin Feng’s shoulder and added, “HMM?”

Lin Feng grumbled some more but still logged into his League of Legends account and joined the rest of the team in the lobby. All the while, Ren Rou had been trying to get everyone back into the computer science lab, which she finally succeeded at. The room was jam-packed with students a few minutes later. And the five lucky students took place behind the designated computers.

The esports club members started finding their confidence again when the warm smile returned to An Xin’s face. They dared to move a little closer to the 10 computers that were placed opposite each other in two rows of five. More specifically, they gathered behind Tang Bingyao and watched over her shoulder.

Lin Feng still wasn’t happy but stopped complaining when they got into Champion Select. He loved League of Legends and this was just another opportunity to play the game. Besides. He looked over his shoulder at the students gathered there. Everyone is here to watch me play! I should pick a good carry and show them how good I am! Hmm, yeah! Let’s go with Fizz! He flexed his mouse-hand and said to the student standing near him, “I’m really good at Fizz too!”

✹

Lin Feng’s Fizz was up against a Gold player’s Orianna. And Lin Feng was showing off. He picked up an early kill two minutes into the game, and then another one a minute later. There wasn’t a single opportunity for a kill that he missed out on. And after five kills in 10 minutes, the game was as good as over. He could hear the students cheering behind him. For me! Haha! They’re all here to watch me carry! An Xin was right! This is great!

At 10 minutes: Lin Feng’s Fizz destroyed the mid outer tower.

At 15 minutes: Lin Feng was roaming around the map, searching for more kills because the respawn time on the Orianna was too long. He got bored waiting for her.

At 20 minutes: Lin Feng finally became Legendary, with 9 kills to his name.

At 25 minutes: Lin Feng won his team the game by destroying the inhibitor in mid lane and then the nexus, while the rest of his team was still playing in their own lanes.

Lin Feng sat back in his seat, grinning. Yup! How do you like that? My Fizz carried this game! We never even got to the team fights or anything like that! I just pushed mid and won the game! Ha! I carried so hard that the rest of my team didn’t even need to be there! He turned around to look at the students gathered there, only now listening to what they were saying.

“Tang Tang is the best!”
“She carried this game!”
“I wish I was as good as Tang Tang!”
“Did you guys see her at the Finals? I saw her there! She was so amazing! It’s so cool we get to see her play from up close now!”
“I love your playstyle Tang Tang! You’re so aggressive! It’s perfect! I hope to one day be as good as you!”

“Wait, what?” Lin Feng only now noticed that the club members hadn’t gathered around him, but around Tang Bingyao. “Eh? Why are you guys not cheering for me?” he asked, baffled.

A few students briefly glanced at Lin Feng before turning back to Tang Bingyao, but most didn’t even seem to notice him. They were all focused on Tang Bingyao and talking to her about her Tristana. Her score at the end of the game was 7/0/5 and she’d pushed all the way to the bot lane inhibitor tower. That was enough for the students to be convinced that she had done all the carrying, in no small part because they liked her more than Lin Feng. Not just because she was a nice, beautiful girl that they wanted to get closer to, but also because they didn’t particularly like Lin Feng. He was the guy who first set An Xin off and then stomped on a Gold opponent.

There was also another reason why the club members were more impressed with Tang Bingyao than Lin Feng. This was a result from the Shanghai 16 School Tournament, especially the last game because that was the game everyone remembered. The club members believed that Tang Bingyao had won them the Shanghai 16 School Tournament with her Vayne. She became immensely popular on the back of this. Every student knew her name, and even League of Legends fans from other high schools in Shanghai knew who she was. She was the only female ad-carry who competed at the Shanghai 16 School Tournament. And many people also argued that she was the best ad-carry at the tournament.

Tang Bingyao didn’t care much for all the extra attention she was getting. But she couldn’t just sit and do nothing with everyone chanting her name. She looked over her shoulder at the crowd, smiling. This only invigorated the club members as they got louder and louder. Hm… What do they want? Should I get up and thank them? Uhh, hmm… She finally got up and nodded and waved, thanking everyone for coming to watch her play.

The club members couldn’t believe their luck. Tang Bingyao had heard them. And now she was speaking to them! They pushed their fellow students aside and crowded around her, asking her questions and telling her how much they admired her. There were girls asking how to get better at League of Legends and there were guys asking if she was going to do any more 1vs1 Love Confessions in the near future.

An Xin winked at Lin Feng, who had found his way to her, and said, “Wow, Tang Tang sure has gotten popular.”

Lin Feng kicked a pen away and sulked, “No one cheered for me…”

An Xin chuckled and asked, “Aren’t you worried? If you aren’t careful, someone might snatch her away from you!”

“Snatch her away?” Lin Feng asked, scratching the back of his head. Then he waved his hand and said, “That won’t happen! Tang Tang already promised to be our team’s ad-carry! She won’t join another team! You’re worrying about nothing!”

An Xin shook her head and rolled her eyes. “Nevermind. It’s pointless talking to you.” Then she turned to some of the club members that had gathered around her and were asking questions about League of Legends and her lovelife. She smiled and started answering them, ignoring Lin Feng.

Tang Bingyao received a lot of attention, but most of it was centered around League of Legends. This wasn’t the case with An Xin. There were many guys who came to her and straight up asked her out on a date. She turned all of them down. But rather than being disheartened by this, the guys left with a smile on their faces. An Xin had somehow convinced them that it was really for the best that they wouldn’t date, and that there was someone out there waiting for them. They just had to keep their eyes open for that special someone. But that didn’t stop them from daydreaming about An Xin and wishing they could spend more time together. The regular student envied the esports club members, who got to see An Xin twice a week during club activities. And the esports club members envied the students from Senior Class 7, who could stare at An Xin all day from Monday through Friday. The entire school was infatuated with her.

✹

The next day, Senior Class 7 started the morning with Mathematics, after which they had English Literature. When the period bell finally announced a break, they turned to their friends and started complaining about their grueling schedule. Ouyang was, as per usual, the loudest voice amongst them all. The students were usually annoyed by this. They’d glare at him or tell him to shut up. But this was one of those rare occasions in which everyone agreed with him.

Right then, a student from Senior Class 8 knocked on the door and poked his head through the door opening. The entire classroom became quiet. All eyes fell on him. His face turned red as he held up a postcard and said, “Uhh… An… An Xin? Uhh… You, uhm, I… I mean, you, me, and uhm…”

Ouyang’s eyes went wide and his jaw dropped to the floor. “What? Is that another love letter?” he exclaimed. “Hot damn! BunBun! Another one for you! Damn girl, they just keep coming for you! How do you do this!?”

Ren Rou glared at Ouyang and snapped, “Shut up.”

“But Rou Rou…” Ouyang started before closing his mouth again. An Xin had stood up from her desk and was smiling at the student from Senior Class 8. Oh my god! How does she do this! It’s that same smile every time! And then she’s going to turn him down! And then that poor bro is going to be happy about it. Every single time! He watched her walk over to the classroom door and mumbled, “Poor guy.”

Yang Fan adjusted his glasses and said, “You’re right if you mean that she’s going to turn him down. Just look at him. He clearly has a few too many pounds on his body and those zits on his face aren’t helping either.”

Ouyang watched carefully how An Xin dealt with the student from Senior Class 8. He suddenly whisper-shouted, “Look, look! She accepted his letter! Maybe she does like him?”

Yang Fan chuckled and shook his head. “No, Ouyang. That’s how she does it. She accepts the letter and then tells them the bad news. Did you already forget what happened yesterday?”

“Oh, oh, right. I forgot,” Ouyang replied. He turned back to see An Xin turn the guy down. He lowered his head and was clearly taking it hard. But then he looked back up at An Xin. Ouyang’s eyes went wide and he mumbled, “H-how does she do that? He looks happy!” Then he shot up from his seat and shouted, “BUNBUN! How did you do that? You turned him down, right? Right? Why is he so happy? He should be upset! He got turned down!”

“Ouyang!” Ren Rou shouted, glaring at him before An Xin could.

“But Rou Rou,” Ouyang said, looking to start an argument. But when he saw the look in Ren Rou’s eyes, he knew better than to keep talking. He closed his mouth and then zipped it with his hands. He followed up by locking it and finally he swallowed the key. Then he nodded at her, as if saying, “See? I can’t say a word!”

An Xin walked back to her desk and sat down. She put the love letter at the corner and then reached into her backpack to grab something. This was also the moment in which Lin Feng lost to his curiosity. He reached over from his desk to grab the love letter while asking, “BunBun, what did you two talk about? Can I read the lette— AI!”

An Xin had slapped Lin Feng’s hand away and said, “Keep your hands to yourself! He wrote this for me! Don’t be so nosy!” Then she giggled and added, “Or are you jealous? Is that it?”

Lin Feng pointed at himself and asked incredulously, “Me? Jealous? No way! I was just curious! You know, I wanted to know what kind of idiot would get fooled by your looks!”

An Xin stopped giggling. She clenched her fist and punched Lin Feng in the face. “YOU IDIOT! I knew nothing good would come out of your mouth! Jerk!”

✹

The dismissal bell rang at the end of the day. The students from Senior Class 7 packed their bags and streamed out of the classroom. But Tang Bingyao stayed in her seat. She rummaged through her backpack and grabbed her wallet. Then she counted out ¥25, enough to buy two milk teas and a chicken cutlet, and stuffed it in her pocket. Finally, she waited for Lin Feng to walk up to her desk. This was their daily routine when there were no club activities.

“Let’s go!” Lin Feng said, excited as always.

“Mhm,” Tang Bingyao replied with a nod. Then she got up and walked through the hallways and off the campus with Lin Feng. They walked down the streets of Shanghai until they arrived in front of a small little shop that served milk tea and chicken cutlet. She paused here and pulled the money from her pocket. “Hey, uh, Lin Feng? I’ve got some spare change… Do you want to stop for some milk tea and chicken cutlet?”

Lin Feng completely missed the expression on Tang Bingyao’s face. All he heard was the chicken cutlet, and from there that was all he could see and smell. He nodded and replied, “Yeah! I want some! Thanks, Tang Tang! By the way, you sure do have a lot of spare change these days. But that’s really good! More chicken cutlet for me! Haha!”

Tang Bingyao walked into the shop and placed the order, listening to Lin Feng giving her a lecture on chicken cutlet and how to correctly prepare it. Then, when their portion was delivered, he pointed at it and shouted that that was exactly how it was supposed to look and smell. A bite and yelp later, he also noted that this was how it was supposed to taste. She smiled.

The two friends left the shop and continued walking home, Tang Bingyao sipping on her milk tea and Lin Feng wolfing away the chicken cutlet. It wasn’t until he had eaten more than half of it that he realized Tang Bingyao was walking next to him, and she had paid for the food. He sheepishly offered it to her and said, “Uhh, Tang Tang, do you want some too?”

Tang Bingyao smiled and shook her head. “Mnh-mnh, I’m good. Thanks.”

“Oh, alright,” Lin Feng replied with a full mouth.

Tang Bingyao didn’t play her game of jump-the-cracks. She walked next to Lin Feng and looked up at him. How do I tell him? Do I just say it? Or am I supposed to hint at it? I don’t know. Maybe? Or… She glanced in the distance, towards a large intersection. That was as far as they walked together every day. She bit on her lips. I have to say it now, or I won’t say it at all. Mhm! She nodded at herself and then said, “Uhmm, Lin Feng?”

Lin Feng stared out the window of the train, though it wasn’t the scene of Shanghai that played before his eyes. It was Season 1 again. His team had made it to the Finals of Worlds. They were sitting behind their computers in a small room. He looked over to his left. Silent sat next to him and Autumn two seats over. They were focused but he could tell they were happy. Then he looked over at the two players sitting to his right. Eleven and Tian Tian, both nervous and both excited. Lin Feng turned back to look at his own screen as An Xin yelled at him from behind to not get distracted. We were so happy! He smiled, grabbing his mouse with one hand and placing the fingers of his other hand on the keyboard. It’s time to play! And win! This world title is ours!

The smile disappeared from Lin Feng’s face. We lost. We… we lost. He remembered how he walked away after that loss. Everything that happened to his team after that point was a blank. But now Tian Tian had filled in that blank. Lin Feng found himself watching the events unfold before his eyes. The team looked lost without him. They kept staring at the seat in the middle, his seat. It was empty. Their expressions turned sour. Tian Tian reverted back to his normal self, wrecked by his nerves. I wasn’t there to help him. I was the only one who knew how to help him. But I left him behind. I left him. And now… and now… Lin Feng quickly wiped away the tears from his face, and then blew his nose into his sleeve. Fatty would have achieved so much more if it wasn’t for me… He could’ve been an Emperor. He’d have multiple world titles under his belt! But I left him… Lin Feng watched as Tian Tian got up from his seat and walked towards a group of strangers. They welcomed him, but his shoulders were slumped. I abandoned him…

Lin Feng turned his attention back to the rest of the team. To Eleven. You were one of the best Junglers in the world. Screw that! You were the best Jungler in the world! Read XIII had nothing on you! You were supposed to stay! You were supposed to keep playing and helping the team with your great skills! No one could jungle like you! Lin Feng banged his head against the window in a slow, steady rhythm, quietly cursing himself. He closed his eyes, but the scene kept playing in his mind. Eleven got up from his gaming chair. He walked towards a team that was ecstatic to have him. A second-rate team in the LSPL. Of course they’re thrilled to have you! You’re the best in the world! They don’t deserve you… You’re so much better than this! And if I hadn’t left… If only I’d stuck around a little bit longer… Maybe you wouldn’t have left.

There were only two people left in Lin Feng’s vision. They were Autumn and Silent. Lin Feng turned around and desperately searched for An Xin, but she wasn’t there. She’d already left. I kept them all together. And when I left, it all fell apart. There was no team left for her to coach, so she left. Why would she stay? She was my friend. She was helping me! And I left her, just like I left the others. I left her too… Lin Feng knocked his head a little harder against the window of the train, cursing himself for leaving his friends behind. I should’ve been there for them!

Autumn and Silent stood up together. There were teams literally begging for the duo to join. But they ignored them. Lin Feng was gone. Their team was gone. The dream was gone. And so they walked away from the scene. Two of the best players, icons in their respective roles, disappeared. Lin Feng watched with bloodshot eyes as they strolled away, becoming shadows of a time past. You two were so good together. Your playstyles complemented each other and everyone knew they were watching something special when the two of you played… You should’ve never left! The game needs you! I… I want to see you two play together again… 

Autumn was the most unique Support player in the world. He had an aggressive playstyle, but combined that perfectly with a high level of unpredictability. It made it impossible for teams to prepare for him. But it was when he played together with his ad-carry Silent that he stepped up to another level. Silent was the pony to Autumn’s jockey. He played steady and firm, focusing on his creep score but engaging when Autumn presented the opening. They were perfect together and no one could stop them.

Lin Feng slumped back in his seat. We were so close to winning Worlds… Our big goal, the dream that brought us all together, the one thing we were going to achieve together! And then I screwed up. I lost that Finals. Game 5, my loss. We would’ve won if it wasn’t for me. He chewed on the inside of his cheeks and fidgeted with his fingers. Tian Tian had told him his old teammates had all found their footing in life. They were moving forward. And he was supposed to be happy for them. But he couldn’t get himself to feel happy. They were the best players in the world. And now, almost no one remembers their names… They should’ve won the world title! If only I didn’t hold them down! Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!

Lin Feng shook his head furiously and punched the side of the train. “AH!” He grimaced, rubbing his fist. Stop this. He forced himself to take a deep, calming breath. Why did they quit League? Did they just give up? We all had the same dream. We were going to win Worlds… together. That was the dream. They spoke about it at length at every opportunity they got. We’re going to win Worlds! We are going to win Worlds! A knot twisted in Lin Feng’s stomach. He reached for it and hunched over. D-do they regret joining my team? Do they hate me for ruining our dream? I… He chewed on his lip, but couldn’t get himself to even finish the thought. His mind went blank, until a couple minutes later a final thought hit him. Do they still want to win?

✹

Su Xue had spent much of the afternoon in the kitchen to prepare another delicious feast dish for Lin Feng. And it was delicious. She hummed happily as she sat across from him at the dining table, eager to see him dive in. He’s going to love this! I made it just how he likes it! And it came out so well! Huh, why… She first thought that he was looking at the food, but now she was starting to doubt that. He is looking down, but… Is he looking down at his lap? “Uhh, Lin Feng?” she asked, puzzled. “Are you… not hungry?”

Lin Feng mumbled without looking up, “Already ate.”

“What the…” Su Xue said, speechless. Then she glared and shouted, “You could’ve told me that before I spent several hours working my ass off in the kitchen! You know how much work this was?” She wanted to continue shouting, but he wasn’t reacting at all. Then she sighed and shook her head. “What’s with that glum look, Lin Feng? Are you okay?”

“Oh, yeah, yeah. Sorry, I’ll eat,” Lin Feng mumbled. He reached for his chopsticks with one hand and his bowl with the other. It was still empty, but he didn’t notice. He grabbed at the air in his bowl with his chopsticks and then took a bite. Chewing. Dazed.

Not this again… Su Xue looked at Lin Feng, annoyed. Then she wagged her finger at him and lectured, “If there’s something bothering you, say it already! Stop bottling it up all the time. You have friends around you who want to help you. But they can’t if you won’t tell them what’s going on! Now tell me, what’s got you down today!” Is this going to be a weekly thing? Why does he always have to bring the entire room down with his sulking? Did a girl say something mean to him or something… Maybe I should call BunBun and see if she knows what’s wrong this time.

Lin Feng looked up at Su Xue through watery eyes. Then he rubbed his face and slapped it a couple of times. The depression disappeared and he forced out his usual grin. “Don’t worry! I’m okay! If something’s bothering me, I’ll tell you! Really! I’m good!”

My ass! Su Xue shook her head, frustrated. She finally sighed and asked, “Really? Are you sure?”

“Really! I’m sure!” Lin Feng replied, laughing. “Oh! Oh!” he continued. “How are you? Did you stream today? Were the viewers nice to you?”

Su Xue’s stream was her achilles’ heel. She completely forgot about what they were talking about as her eyes lit up. “It’s going really well! I’m getting hundreds of new viewers every day! And so many of them stick around! I get so many new followers and subscribers today! Oh! Oh! And donations! Donations too!” Then she pursed her lips and added, “But the videos aren’t going that great…”

Su Xue had started making commentary videos a while ago. She initially tried to make them with gameplay provided to her by Lin Feng, but that didn’t work out so well. It proved very hard to sound excited and give good commentary when she didn’t even fully understand what was going on on the screen. Lin Feng could get a penta kill and she’d just sit there and stare, baffled by the moves that led up to the fight as well as the fight itself. So she ended up commentating on her own gameplay, which she then sent to editor-in-chief Zuo You.

Zuo You was incredibly talented at video editing. With a few simple touches, she increased the quality of Su Xue’s video to such a level that she barely recognized it as her own video. And Su Xue was in love with the result. She hugged and thanked Zuo You a thousand times and was convinced that this video would get her more viewers than she could dream of! So she uploaded it to PlayMoreLoL, which was a video streaming website specifically for League of Legends gameplay, and notified her stream followers to go and check it out.

The initial response to the video was just as Su Xue had expected it to be. There were tens of thousands of views and thousands of likes and positive comments. But after a few days, the video hit a plateau. The views stagnated and the positive comments were drowned out by negative ones.

「another shitty commentator joining on the bandwagon?」
「Who even uploads this crap…」
「at least add your facecam so we can look at your personalities………」
「FK THIS SHIT SUCKS!!1!!」
「Worst. Video. Ever. 」
「friggin bronze and silvers thinkin they can commentate vids of their own shitty gameplay lawl」

“See?” Su Xue said as she pushed her phone in Lin Feng’s face. “Look at all these messages! Stupid trolls have nothing better to do then make fun of my video!” She gritted her teeth, hesitating, but then finally added, “Most of the positive comments are from my stream fans. The negative ones are almost all from the people who watch on PlayMoreLol… They don’t seem to like it…”

Lin Feng took the phone from Su Xue and read through the comments. All the while, Su Xue kept complaining. First she argued that it was a lot more difficult to commentate videos than she expected. And then she said that most of the negative comments were probably trolls who were just trying to look cool and that her video really wasn’t as bad as some comments made it seem.

After a few minutes of this, Lin Feng shrugged and said, “Eh, this is normal, isn’t it? Everyone has something bad to say about new commentators. It’s just how it works. But you got your viewers helping with good comments. And the video is really nice too. I’m sure you’ll get there! You just have to keep trying!”

Su Xue pursed her lips, ready to argue. But she stopped herself from doing that and instead nodded. I know he’s right. I have to keep pushing. It’s just that… No, he’s right. She forced a smile and said, “Yeah, I guess you’re right. It just would’ve been nice if they all liked it. But yeah, I just have to make another one. Keep working hard and find the formula that works. Yeah! I’ll slowly get popular. I can do this!”

“I believe in you! You’ll get super popular!” Lin Feng cheered. Then he added, “Besides, nothing is perfect the first go. But this was really good. You’ll only get better and those negative commenters are going to come back next time and fall in love with your videos!”

Su Xue rolled her eyes and said, “Well, hello mister optimistic. Where were you a minute ago, when I was having dinner with this moping sack of depression?”

Lin Feng looked up and asked innocently, “What? Me? I didn’t look sad!”

Su Xu threw her arms in the air and shouted, “Whatever!”

Lin Feng smiled and said, “I’m telling you the truth! I don’t know what you’re talking about! I wasn’t sad!”

Su Xue jumped to her feet and kicked her chair back. Then she leaned over the table and wagged her finger in Lin Feng’s face. “Now you listen to me, you little shit!” she shouted.

Lin Feng looked at Su Xue and really smiled for the first time that evening. He nodded as Su Xue lectured him on how to be a good roommate, a good friend, and a good little brother. He listened to her at first, but when she started repeating herself, his mind drifted back to his old friends. Winter break is coming up in another month and a half. I’m going to visit the guys then. And I’m going to apologize to each of them! Maybe we can even have a team reunion then! But first they deserve a proper apology. I left them. Sorry, Eleven. Sorry, Autumn. Sorry, Silent. I mean it.

✹

The biggest event of the year for High School 13’s esports club had ended. They had won the first big prize for the school, and the winner’s cup was placed in the brand new trophy cabinet. But that also meant that the team members didn’t need to practice every day anymore. They suddenly found themselves with a lot of freetime. Or so they thought. They hadn’t had much time for their studies over the last few months and they’d fallen behind. More importantly, most players on the team were in their senior year. So they threw themselves at their study books in preparation for the college entrance exams that were coming up later in the year.

Ren Rou was the only member of the esports team who had more work to do than before. Every student in the school suddenly wanted to join the esports club after their victory at the Shanghai 16 School Tournament. And Ren Rou was determined to accept them all. So she welcomed them to the club, taught them the game, and organized all kinds of activities that were fun for players from all levels to participate in.

There were, of course, numerous activities centered around the team members who had won the Shanghai 16 School Tournament. There was the ‘play-a-game-with’ event, where new members could play a game of League with their favourite player on the team. Tang Bingyao was the one who played most of these matches by a long shot. Everyone wanted to Support her, and they all asked her to play Vayne. Then there was the ‘free coaching lessons by…” event. Ren Rou had explained to all the new members that the only reason the team won was because of the coaching they received from An Xin. The new club members hoped they could also quickly improve their skills by a few lessons from An Xin.

Everyone on the esport’s main team helped out, even Lin Feng. He grumbled and complained. He argued that he had better things to do with his time. And he tried to sneak away when he thought nobody was looking. But all it took was a single glare from An Xin for him to suddenly start volunteering to help organize activities or play with club members. And everyone understood why. There was something about the way An Xin smiled at Lin Feng that sent shivers down their spines. They unconsciously stepped away and held their breaths, terrified to get caught in the crossfire. All eyes would then turn to Lin Feng, begging him to do the smart thing. To do whatever An Xin wanted him to do. But he just never seemed to get it.

Chu Fang felt all the colour drain from his face. Potential candidates… Shit. He’s going to yell at me. Sweat prickled on his forehead and he felt a sudden chill in the air. He looked sheepishly at Fang Hao, who sat behind his desk calm as ever. Maybe he doesn’t know. Just a coincidence. A shiver ran up and down his spine as he desperately tried not to show fear in his eyes. I’ve done nothing wrong. I could’ve told him about Lin Feng, sure, but I didn’t have to. I didn’t do anything wrong!

Fang Hao ignored the sweat on Chu Fang’s forehead and the worry in his subordinate’s eyes. “So,” he started. “What do you think about inviting high schoolers to participate in the Winter Collegiate Cup?”

Chu Fang forced himself to take deep, long, calming breaths. He finally looked up at Fang Hao and smiled. “I think it’s a good idea. It’ll be a good chance for them to experience some higher level competition.” He paused for a moment, hesitating, then added, “Besides, the Shanghai 16 School Tournament just finished, and I’ve watched the final rounds myself. I know how strong all the high school teams are and which players can participate at the university level.”

“Right, the Shanghai 16 School Tournament…” Fang Hao dragged the words, smiling slightly. “Who won again this year? High School 13, was it?”

Chu Fang felt his heart knocking against his ribs in an increasingly violent rhythm. He knows. He knows! Does he? It took all his self control to give Fang Hao a calm answer. “Yes. They were the underdogs for a long time, but they suddenly looked very strong in the semifinals when they beat Shanghai International. Then they won 3-1 in the Finals against Shanghai High School. They have a few especially outstanding players.” He recalled a certain promise he made. I’m trying my best to keep it a secret, Lin Feng. But he’s going to find out. One more question from him and he knows, if he doesn’t already. He probably already knows. I sent him the information. I sent him the…

Fang Hao nodded repeatedly and said, “Yes, yes, so I’ve heard. Very outstanding. Oh, what was the name of their team captain again?”

Chu Fang gulped. “Ahem. Well, uh… You know, it’s… Did you read my repo—”

Fang Hao slammed his fist down on his desk with such force that Chu Fang jumped up in fright. Then he shouted, “YOU LITTLE SHIT! How long did you plan on keeping this from me!? Huh! I thought I could trust you!”

Chu Fang pushed himself back in his chair, as far away from Fang Hao as he could without offending his boss. He knows. Yep. He knows. I’m done for. He’s going to eat me alive. I’m going to be demoted and he’ll have me sweeping the floors. He knew this was coming the moment that Fang Hao had called him and asked for the information on High School 13. But somewhere deep down he’d hoped his boss would glance over the information and miss it. He said, “I can explain. Really! There’s a good reaso—”

Fang Hao didn’t care about an explanation. He cut Chu Fang off with a stare, then leaned forward and asked, “Tell me. Is it really him?”

Chu Fang froze for a moment. Then he slowly nodded and said, “Yeah. It is him.”

“Maple,” Fang Hao mumbled. “Maple…” He fell back in his chair and stared past Chu Fang at nothing. It’s him. He said he’d be back. But it’s been four years, and he was just a little kid back then. He did come back! Maple is back! His eyes started beaming and his mouth moved of its own volition. “He’s back. Maple. Maple…”

“He is,” Chu Fang said. Lin Feng will understand why I had to tell Fang Hao. And I haven’t really broken my promise. But I really don’t want to end up sweeping the floors… He took a deep breath and then explained, “I only found out myself during the semifinals. We spoke for a bit and he told me that he doesn’t want everyone to know that he’s back yet. So he asked me to keep his return a secret for a while longer…”

Fang Hao waved his hand and said, “It’s fine. It’s fine.” He then grinned and looked at his subordinate. It’s been four long years. We haven’t had any luck since he left… This… It feels unreal. But Chu Fang looks serious enough… “T-this isn’t some elaborate joke, is it? It’s really him? I swear I’m firing you if this is all some stupid joke! Tell me. Is he really back? Is this Lin Feng really the Lin Feng? Maple?”

Chu Fang nodded and confirmed once more, “Yes.”

Fang Hao was finally convinced. He looked at his subordinate and started laughing. Louder. Louder! “HE’S BACK! BACK! THIS IS GREAT!” He got up from his desk. He had the urge to throw up his hands and jump in the air. But he managed to stop himself. He lightly coughed and let himself fall back in his chair. Grinning from ear to ear, he looked at Chu Fang and said, “That little punk! It’s about time he showed himself again!”

Chu Fang smiled. He understood exactly how Fang Hao was feeling, because that was also how he’d felt when he found out. They’d both been part of the League of Legends scene since Season 1. They were there when the LPL still competed for the world title. More importantly, they’d both witnessed the raw talent and potential of Maple. He was far better than all the other talents they’d scouted over the years combined. And now he was back.

✹

A train came rolling into the station. Lin Feng and Tian Tian were watching it come to a stop. Then Lin Feng turned to his friend and said, “Fatty, you have to practice hard! And let me know when you’re free again! I’ll come hang out and I’ll bring BunBun and Tang Tang too!”

Tian Tian nodded and said, “I will! I’m going to train really hard! Uhm, you should also do your best!” Then he suddenly thought of something and asked, “The Winter Collegiate Cup is happening soon. Are you going to participate?”

“Huh?” Lin Feng blurted out. Then he grinned and shook his head. “I won’t. That’s a university tournament, right? I’m still in high school!”

“Oh… Right,” Tian Tian mumbled. He scratched his head in embarrassment and apologized, “I forgot you were still in high school…” He shook his head. W-why do I keep forgetting this? He’s a few years younger than me… 15 plus 4 is 19…

Tian Tian’s daytime job was being a professional League of Legends player as the Top Laner for KG. But he also attended university. There was a special arrangement in place for students playing professional sports. He was allowed to skip his classes and work on assignments on his own time. Then he had to report to his professor every couple of weeks. They’d discuss where he was at and what he should do next. The last time he’d spoken with his professor was just a couple of days ago. Tian Tian thought back to that meeting and mumbled, “I talked with my professor. He said I should join my university esports team… I was thinking it might be fun to do if you were also playing…”

Lin Feng chuckled and replied, “How could they let you play? You’re a professional player! And you’re the best in China too! The other teams might as well give up if you join!” Lin Feng took a deep breath and then added, “Though it would’ve been fun!”

The train conductor blew her whistle, interrupting the conversation between Lin Feng and Tian Tina. Lin Feng looked behind him and saw the doors closing. He hopped on the train and shouted through the closing gap, “Let’s meet up again soon, Fatty. See you!” Then the doors closed. He waved at Tian Tian as the train started moving, his friend waving back at him. He smiled until the train left the station. And not a second longer. He stumbled to the nearest seat and fell down in it, every last speck of joy disappearing from his face.

Back in the restaurant, Lin Feng had asked Tian Tian about his old teammates. Tian Tian had hesitated at first, but Lin Feng had pushed for an answer. That was how he learned about how their other three old teammates were doing.

Eleven was the only one still playing League of Legends competitively. But circumstances had forced him to join a second-rate LSPL team, where his talent was going to waste.

Lin Feng bit on his lips. Playing in the LSPL is as good as quitting… But at least he’s still playing… Autumn and Silent were the names of the Support and ad-carry of his old team. Both of them had quit the competitive scene shortly after him. I abandoned them, and then they left. They left because of me.

Autumn had returned to his hometown where he’d opened a small cybercafe. He hadn’t cut off contact, but he wasn’t trying to keep the friendships going either. Tian Tian had dropped by the cybercafe multiple times, and he’d chatted with Autumn over the phone. But he was always the one instigating, and friendship was a two way street. He eventually gave up and contact between them  slowly withered off.

Lin Feng banged his head against the side of the train in a slow but steady rhythm. I tore our friendships apart by leaving. They all stopped talking with each other after I stopped talking to them. After I left them… I didn’t even tell them that I was leaving. I was a terrible friend. The worst friend.

Tian Tian hadn’t had much to say about Silent, whose name fit him incredibly well. Silent never spoke much, even when the team was still together. But after Lin Feng left, Silent had mostly become a mute until he left through the backdoor just like Lin Feng had. Tian Tian had no clue what happened to Silent after that, except from little tidbits he heard from Autumn. Silent had apparently moved back in with his parents to help them with their family business.

I guess they all landed on their feet, in their own ways… I didn’t ruin their lives. Lin Feng didn’t believe it. He’d abandoned them and broken up their friendship. And from what he could see, none of them were really friends with each other either anymore. They’d come together with a shared dream. To become the best and win the world title! That dream was gone. There was nothing left of it. They’d given up, just like he had. All their long nights talking about becoming the best and every long session, it was all a thing of the past. They’d moved on, because he left them behind to fend for themselves. He was the glue that had kept everything together. And when he left, he tore the team apart. This group of brothers was now nothing more than strangers.

The first week of Worlds had been a big disappointment for KG and Tian Tian. And the second week was the complete opposite. Tian Tian had single-handedly carried his team to the knockout stage of the tournament. He’d gotten a 5-man ultimate with Hecarim, and he’d shown to the world just how good of a Riven player he was. His fans had appeared from everywhere, flooding the online landscape with messages about his skills. They told everyone who wanted to listen that KG RoundyRound deserved to be crowned a King, since he was the best Toplaner in the entire world!

Tian Tian was proud of his performance in the second half of the group stage. He only felt more confident when he read the messages on social media. It’d felt like the entire world, every last human being walking this planet, had lifted him up onto their shoulders. Like they were all chanting his name. And most importantly, Lin Feng was at the head of them. Lin Feng was back in his life! And Lin Feng believed in him.

KG made it all the way to the semifinals at Worlds. That was where they ran into SSK. Tian Tian knew this was going to be a far bigger challenge than any of the previous matches. But the fans were chanting his name, and he had Lin Feng by his side again. That sparked confidence. He’d spent an entire week mumbling to himself about how Lin Feng believed in him and how he couldn’t let his fans down. He hyped himself up and really started believing that his team stood a chance against SSK. But nothing could’ve prepared them for that series. SSK was far better than he’d ever imagined. KG got crushed and lost the series 0-3.

No one blamed Tian Tian for the loss against SSK. His fans were still posting on social media, talking about how good his performance at Worlds had been. Even Lin Feng called him multiple times, expressing just how proud he was. But Tian Tian didn’t feel proud. He felt guilty and responsible for the loss. I-if only I was better, like Lin Feng… I-I could’ve carried harder and won! Maybe then I wouldn’t have let them all down…

After returning to China, Tian Tian had barely gotten more than a couple hours of sleep each night. He kept tossing and turning in his bed, thinking back to the semifinals against SSK. Every mistake, no matter how big or small, played on repeat in his mind. After which an alternate scenario popped up. One in which he didn’t make that mistake. One where he ultimately won the series, and where his fans and Lin Feng were proud of him. Truly proud.

And when sleep did get him, it was always the same nightmare. Lin Feng stood in front of him, looking him up and down, and said, “Was that all you have in you? You couldn’t even beat SSK? I’m disappointed in you, Fatty. Maybe I should just leave again, just like last time. You weren’t worthy then either.” Then he’d wake up in a bed wet with sweat and tears, his stomach heaving and bile rushing up his throat. Lin Feng leaving him all those years ago was one of the worst days in his life, something he’d blamed himself for. And now that Lin Feng was back, he was terrified that it’d happen again.

Tian Tian lifted his face off the table at the hotpot restaurant and wiped away the snot and tears from his face. Then he looked up at Lin Feng through water-blurred eyes and sobbed, “L-Lin Feng, so-sor-sorry. I-I—”

Lin Feng knitted his brows and sternly said, “Stop crying.”

Tian Tian’s lips quivered. He covered his face with both his hands and tried to suck the tears back up into the tear glands. I-I’ll try to stop crying. Just don’t leave me again… His elbows fell on the table and he rested his face in his hands, shaking his head. I-I want to stop crying! I’m trying! P-please don’t go!

“Hey, Fatty, look at me,” Lin Feng said. He waited for his friend to look up and then continued, “Don’t apologize. There’s nothing to be sorry about. You didn’t let me or anyone else down. You were fantastic at Worlds.”

Tian Tian felt fresh tears pushing through the old. He rubbed his nose, trying to hide it, and mumbled, “B-but, but I and SSK…”

“You lost to SSK 0-3, right? I know,” Lin Feng cut Tian Tian off. He looked Fatty in the eyes and said slowly, “So what? That was one series, against the best team in the world. You think I could’ve done any better than you?” Lin Feng shook his head. “I couldn’t have. You were really good.”

Tian Tian shook his head, flustered, and argued, “N-no way! If you were playing, you’d have won! B-because you’re the best player in the world! I know you are! You’re better than Rake! Y-you would’ve won. A-and I lost! I let you down. Again!”

“No,” Lin Feng cut in. “You didn’t let me down. Not back then and not now. Rake is better than I am, for now anyway. I’d have lost. But you were there, and you put up a fight. Just for that, I’m proud of you.”

Tian Tian bit on his lips and continued to argue, “B-but didn’t you beat that Fizz earlier? You said he was probably a pro player… L-look what you did to him!”

Lin Feng waved his hand and countered, “I said he might be a pro. We don’t know for sure. Plus, he was being way too aggressive and I was playing on one of my best Champions. It was a combination of different things that got me snowballing so hard.” He took a deep breath and then continued, “And so what if he is a pro? At best, he’s playing for some random LSPL team. The fact that I beat him doesn’t mean anything.”

Tian Tian opened and closed his mouth. H-he’s right. He was the best Midlaner in the world. E-even if he isn’t as good as back then, beating some LSPL Midlaner should be easy for him… B-but he only just came back and is already beating a professional player! He looked away from Lin Feng and said, “B-but… but…”

Lin Feng smiled at his friend and said, “It’s fine. You don’t need to spare my feelings. I know I’m not as good as I was back in Season 1. I’ve got a long way to go.” He clenched his fist and added, “But I’m back. I’m only going to get better. And when we’re ready, we’re going to win Worlds. You and I, together. And I’ll finally beat Rake too!”

Tian Tian looked up at Lin Feng, confused. H-he looks so confident. He sounds so sure of himself… He suddenly felt a jolt of surprise when he met Lin Feng’s fiery gaze. H-he hasn’t given up on me. He’s still here! H-he hasn’t left me again! A smile broke through his face of tears and snot and he nodded. “Yeah! I believe in you! You can beat Rake! You’re going to win Worlds!”

Lin Feng laughed and said, “We, Fatty, we’re going to win Worlds! Anyway, I’m starving! Quick, tell me what you want already! I’ll go and order!”

✹

The waiter brought the hotpot and ingredients over to Lin Feng and Tian Tian’s table, carrying a delicious smell. The two friends grabbed their chopsticks, licking their lips in expectation. Food was good for their nerves. It was the same now as it was back in Season 1, when they’d clean out a whole kitchen the night before a big game. The waiter kept bringing more food, and the two friends wolfed it all down. In half an hour, they ate more than the average customer ate in an entire week.

Tian Tian burped loudly and rubbed his stomach, pushing his seventh empty bowl away. “Whew, I’m stuffed! That was so good!”

Lin Feng also rubbed his stomach in satisfaction, and replied, “Yeah. That’s what I call a feast!”

The two friends grinned and then leaned back, giving the food time to digest in their stomachs. Their eyes started feeling heavy, the early signs of the after dinner dip. They were looking at each other, smiling and letting the food coma take them. Tian Tian closed his eyes and allowed his head to process everything that happened. He’d seen Lin Feng in the flesh for the first time in four years. He’s still the same. I-I’m so happy! Ahhhh! And this food was so good!

“Hey, Fatty…” Lin Feng said, breaking the silence.

Tian Tian snapped out of his daze and looked at Lin Feng. “Hm-huh? What?”

Lin Feng looked up at the ceiling, counting the dirty dots and feeling a knot twisting in his stomach. I’ve been putting this off for too long. I can’t keep walking away from it. They were all my friends. And I walked away from them. They must hate me. But Fatty has been great… He felt his throat sore up and knew that if he postponed this question any longer, he would never ask it.

Tian Tian asked in confusion, “What’s wrong?”

I have to ask it now. Come on, Lin Feng. Put on your big boy pants. You’ve been pushing this off long enough as it is. The knot in his stomach twisted even harder. He felt the urge to puke, but forced it down. He moved his lips around, but kept them firmly pressed together. Then he scratched his forehead, hiding his shame behind his hand, and mumbled, “Tell me about Eleven, Autumn, and Silent. How are they?”

Eleven was the Jungler of Lin Feng’s Season 1 superteam, Autumn was the Support and Silent the ad-carry. But they weren’t just his teammates. Lin Feng loved them like brothers. And he hated himself so incredibly much for walking away from them four years ago. He wanted to punch something, preferably himself, in frustration every time he thought back to those days. He’d abandoned his brothers. And he’d left them without any ability to contact him. I abandoned them. I let them down. He suddenly felt incredibly nervous. What if something is wrong with them? What if… He spread his fingers just enough so he could see Tian Tian through them. I hope they’re doing well. I hope that they can forgive me… 

✹

Chu Fang walked through the hallways of the Shanghai Esports Association headquarters to the president’s office. He knocked twice on the door before inviting himself inside. This was the largest office in the building that gave a beautiful look over the center of Shanghai, large windows covering two of the four walls. The president had added a reading corner to one side, with a large bookshelf backed up against the far wall. On the other side stood a single desk. Fang Hao, president of the Shanghai Esports Association, sat behind it, looking through some documents. Chu Fang raised his hand to his mouth and lightly coughed. “Uh, sir? You were looking for me?”

Fang Hao glanced up from his work at Chu Fang. Then he nodded and said, “Ah, you’re here. Take a seat.”

Chu Fang sat down with a straight back in one of the two large chairs across the desk from Fang Hao. Then he waited for his boss to talk.

“The Beijing Esports Association sent an email earlier today. Did you see it?” Fang Hao asked. He searched through a large stack of papers and took one out from the middle of the pile. Glancing over its contents, he continued, “It’s about the Winter Collegiate Cup.”

Chu Fang nodded and replied, “Yes, I’ve read it.”

Fang Hao nodded and said, “Good. We’re in charge of the preliminaries and the Finals. I want you to get in touch with your contacts and start setting everything up. When you have the basic infrastructure in place, report back to me.”

“Understood, sir,” Chu Fang accepted. “I’ll have it ready for you by Thursday at the latest.”Fang Hao nodded in approval and then added, “Oh right, one more thing. The guys in Beijing pushed for a small change. They want to invite the strongest high school teams from Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou to participate in the Winter Collegiate Cup. Since you organized the Shanghai 16 School Tournament, I think you have a better idea of which players are potential candidates…”

Bloodsucker stared at his screen as it sprung back to life, vibrant colours replacing the dull tones of grey. He knew it was only temporary, though he refused to admit it. He stubbornly guided his Fizz back to mid lane. All I need are a couple of last hits. That’ll see me right back into the game! I just need a few more… a few more! He gritted his teeth. If it wasn’t for this damned LeBlanc, I’d be winning right now! LeBlanc was always there, cutting him off when he tried to last hit a minion or zoning him away from the lane entirely. Then he’d hide underneath his tower, the only place where he could at least get the experience from the dying minions. But LeBlanc didn’t even let him get experience. She baited him to use Playful Trickster, the only skill that could help him escape, and then killed him with a sudden burst of magic damage. And then it started all over again. And again.

At 17 minutes, Bloodsucker had completely given up on the mid lane. He didn’t even want to look at it anymore. He had his Fizz move into the Red team’s top side Jungle and attacked the Raptor Camp, which was adjacent to the mid lane. He could use Playful Trickster to land some splash damage and speed up killing the Raptors, but he didn’t. LeBlanc was somewhere, he didn’t know where. And if she came, he needed Playful Trickster to escape. I just need a bit more gold… a few more kills… then I’ll finally be relevant again! I’ll sh—

A silhouette dashed over the jungle wall into the middle of the Raptor Camp, just as Bloodsucker’s Fizz was about to kill the big one. Two Sigils of Malice slammed into Fizz, followed by LeBlanc’s Ethereal Chains. Bloodsucker’s screen flashed red for a brief moment before it turned grey again. He never even got to use Playful Trickster to escape. LeBlanc’s burst damage was too high.

《You have been slain!》

Bloodsucker pinched his mouse and lifted it up, searching for a wall to throw it at. Then he gritted his teeth and fought back that urge. “FUCK!” He slammed the mouse back down on its pad. “FUCK! FUCK! HE FUCKING DID IT AGAIN! HOW DID I NOT SEE HIM? FUCK!” He smashed down on the E key, his screen still grey, and shouted, “PLAYFUL TRICKSTER! PLAYFUL TRICKSTER! JUMP, YOU STUPID FISH!”

The game wasn’t even 20 minutes in and Bloodsucker found himself at the same score as in his previous game, 0/8/2. But in his Tryndamere game, he was playing against God Roundy in his secondary role. He didn’t like losing, but he could still accept that. But now he was playing his main role against some no-name Midlaner with his main Champion. He ground his teeth, glaring at the LeBlanc. FUCK THIS GAME! AND FUCK THIS STUPID LEBLANC!

Bloodsucker hurled a constant stream of abuse at his monitor, calling LeBlanc every bad word under the sun. But when his Fizz respawned, he didn’t chase after her. There was something else he felt beside humiliation. Fear. This was the first time in his still relatively short League of Legends career that he’d played against someone who made him feel utterly and completely helpless. I’ve scrimmed against LSPL teams and played against almost every big name on the Ionia server… I didn’t win every game, but that was never really my fault. They always come to gank me, and my Junglers usually help other lanes… Or my Junglers suck, like this one. He gave a fucking kill to the LeBlanc! But I should still be crushing her. How is she this good? Who is she? Where the fuck did she come from? God fucking dammit! He slammed his fist on his desk and shouted, “I’m supposed to be the most talented Midlaner in China! I’M SUPPOSED TO DEFEAT RAKE AND GET SOME HONOUR BACK FOR OUR REGION! ME! ME! ME! NOT SOME FUCKING RANDOM PLAYER IN SOLO QUEUE!” Then he slumped back into his seat, out of breath. He can’t be better than me! HE ISN’T BETTER THAN ME! I’m the best! I’m going to play at Worlds next year! I can’t lose to some fucking nobody! I WON’T!

✹

At 20 minutes, Lin Feng’s LeBlanc was still hunting down the Fizz. But it became harder and harder to find him as he started refusing to even leave the base. Lin Feng looked around the map to take stock of the game. Bot lane was minding their own business, having what looked like a fun skirmish that went back and forth. And Tian Tian was steamrolling the top lane after a slow start. Lin Feng smiled and shrugged. “Guess I’ll keep hunting the Fizz, all the way to the fountain if I have to. But maybe I can bait him out too…” 

[All] MapleInShrub (LeBlanc):「Sooooo boring. Guess I shouldn’t have expected more after seeing your top… lol」
[All] MapleInShrub (LeBlanc):「Maybe if you’d stop spending so much time shittalking people, you could actually get a little good at this game… Though I suppose you’re really not all that talented…」

Bloodsucker grimaced in humiliation. He wanted to yell at LeBlanc that he did have talent. And that he was going to become the best Midlaner in the world! But he couldn’t get himself to. It’d sound ridiculous right now. Even he could see that. He took a deep breath and growled as he exchaled. Then he suddenly started smiling. You want to act cute? Ok. Fuck you.

[All] Bloodsucker (Fizz)「Me? Talking shit? Loool… I haven’t said anything. Oh, you mean last game?? That wasn’t shit talking!」
[All] Bloodsucker (Fizz)「All I said was that KG lost 0-3 to SSK. And that that stupid fat pig was an embarrassment to all Chinese players!」
[All] Bloodsucker (Fizz)「That isn’t shit talking! I was only stating the facts! KG did lose! And Roundy did play like the fat pig he is! Is that not allowed anymore? You sensitive pussy! HAHAHAHAH!」

Lin Feng slowly nodded. Sure, keep at it. That’s going to ease the pain for you. But I can state some facts too. He smiled as his fingers started gliding over his keyboard again.

[All] MapleInShrub (LeBlanc):「Oh, well, let me state some facts for you then.」
[All] MapleInShrub (LeBlanc):「It’s a fact that you fed last game and showed that you have exactly 0 talent as a Toplaner.」
[All] MapleInShrub (LeBlanc):「And it’s a fact that you’re just as terrible in the mid lane.」
[All] MapleInShrub (LeBlanc):「Did you buy a boosted account to look cool to your friends or something?」

Bloodsucker read that last sentence, gnashing his teeth. Lin Feng had struck him where it hurt the most. He was proud of how good he was in the mid lane. And he liked how his friends looked up to him! I CLIMBED THE LADDER MYSELF! AND I AM A GOOD MIDLANER! It became harder to breathe as his nostrils flared. He grabbed at his hair and wanted to pull, but kept himself from doing that at the last moment. Then he smashed his fingers down on his keyboard.

[All] Bloodsucker (Fizz)「you wanna play it that way? Ok, go for it! Have fun! But that doesn’t change anything. KG IS STILL TRASH!!! THEY LOST 0-3! WHAT GOD ROUNDY???? HE’S JUST A FAT PIG! A DISGRACE TO THE LPL! THAT SHAME WILL FOLLOW HIM FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE! HE’LL NEVER MAKE UP FOR IT!!!!」
[All] MapleInShrub (LeBlanc):「You sure about that? Well…」

That message caught Bloodsucker off-guard, briefly replacing anger with confusion. He scrunched his eyebrows and mumbled, “Sure about that? Yes I am. What the fuck is he talking about?” He started typing a response, but then stopped as LeBlanc sent another two messages.

[All] MapleInShrub (LeBlanc):「Actually, nevermind! That’s got nothing to do with you anyway.」
[All] MapleInShrub (LeBlanc):「You’re just a boosted noob.」

“W-wha—” Bloodsucker erupted into a coughing fit. Lin Feng had dealt yet another stab to his already damaged ego. FUCK YOU! FUCK YOU! YOU FUCKING FUCK! His vision grew dark as the world in front of him started twisting and swirling until he couldn’t even see his monitor anymore. His head was buzzing and his entire body was trembling violently. He forced his eyes shut and bit down hard on his tongue. That brought back enough clarity to his mind to move his hands. They slammed down on his keyboard and pressed the keys in a practiced rhythm, writing out increasingly vile and disturbing messages that were sent to all chat.

✹

The Red Team voted to surrender in the 22nd minute of the game. Their nexus exploded and the energy inside morphed into a large victory emblem for the Blue team. Lin Feng looked at his screen and shook his head. “You know, Fatty? That Fizz was actually pretty skilled. Good awareness and great game senses.” He paused for a moment before adding, “Think he might even be a pro player.”

Tian Tian looked over at Lin Feng in surprise and asked, “A pro player? Y-you really think so?”

Lin Feng nodded and explained, “Yeah. It’s just the little things, you know? The warding, map movements, roaming attempts, and other little things. It’s the stuff you don’t really see from the best solo queue players, unless they’ve played professionally before.” He looked at Tian Tian and said in a serious tone, “If he really is a pro, that makes this so much worse. The fact that he’d say all those things? It’s a disgrace.”

Tian Tian let his gaze fall down to the ground. He was fidgeting with his fingers. I-if Lin Feng is right… Another pro player thinks about me like that? T-then what about the fans… M-maybe even Li—

“Well, it doesn’t matter,” Lin Feng said, interrupting Tian Tian’s thoughts. Then he rubbed his stomach that growled in response. “Man, I’m starving! We’ve played three games and won three games. That’s plenty, right? Yeah! Let’s go get something to eat!”

✹

Lin Feng and Tian Tian sat down in a hotpot restaurant across the street from the cybercafe. Lin Feng grabbed a menu and started flipping through it, mumbling, “Hmm, what to eat… what to eat…”

Tian Tian sat on the other side of the table. He was slouched back and fiddling his fingers underneath the table. L–lin Feng trusted me. He believed I could win against SSK. B-but I let him down. I let everyone down. I-I should apologize to him. Maybe… Maybe he’ll forgive me. I-if he doesn’t, I can understand that. I wouldn’t want a loser on my team either… He quickly wiped away a tear with his sleeve and then croaked, “L-Lin Feng, I’m sorry.”

Lin Feng looked up from his menu, confused, and blurted out, “What? What are you sorry for?”Tian Tian wiped away another tear with his sleeve and tried to hide behind the menu. “W-we lost 0-3…” he started with a hoarse voice. “At W-w-worlds! T-that guy was right. I couldn’t do anything for my team! I let everyone down! I… I’m a dissa… disha-poiintcheed jyuu gwaaaaaah!” He collapsed onto the table and buried his face in his arms. He lost all control over his emotions and broke down, begging for Lin Feng’s forgiveness through his sobs.

Bloodsucker was a troll. He loved to talk people down on the internet, just so he could feel better about himself. This rang especially true after having played a bad game of League of Legends. A loss stung so deeply into his ego that he needed a release. So, like a trained professional, he hurled abuse at his teammates throughout the game and in the endgame lobby. But then they talked back to him. All four of his teammates ganged up on him and told him it was his fault they lost the game and that he could piss right off. That stung even worse than losing the game, because somewhere deep down he knew they were right. But he’d never admit that. So he took the easy way out. Bully the fat kid.

Tian Tian was one of the biggest names in all of League of Legends. But unlike many of his fellow professional players, he didn’t walk with his chest raised, full of confidence. He was about as far away from that as possible. He slouched, bit his lips constantly, and looked like a nervous wreck more often than not. And on top of that, he was the quiet fat kid. That made him the perfect target for Bloodsucker. Someone who didn’t talk back, regardless of how much abuse was thrown at them. So Bloodsucker bullied Tian Tian until he left the endgame lobby. And then Bloodsucker sent Tian Tian a friend request, just so he could get a little more abuse in.

Lin Feng sat next to Tian Tian in the cybercafe. He watched over his friend’s shoulder as Bloodsucker sent the long string of messages, stewing. His eyes were wide open and bloodshot. He hadn’t blinked once after the bullying started, committing every message to memory. Then he muttered, “I’ll remember this. You’re going to regret this, Bloodsucker.” He spit out the last word. You crossed the line so far that you can’t even see it anymore! Bloodsucker. I’ll remember your name. And I’m going to find a way to pay you back for this! I’m going to make you feel how shitty you make others feel with your words! AND THEN MUCH, MUCH WORSE!

Tian Tian did what he always did when he got bullied. He tried to act like the words didn’t hurt him, even though they destroyed what little confidence he did have. He chewed on his lips, forcing back the tears, and invited Lin Feng to another game. When his friend didn’t accept the invite right away, he glanced over. And his eyes widened. L-Lin Feng! His lips quivered as he muttered, “L-Lin Feng, I’m okay. I really am! D-don’t get angry, please.” T-that guy was just a troll. There are so many of them… And they always go away eventually if you just ignore them. I-I would know… They always bully me. No, no. He shook his head and blinked a tear away. P-pretend it didn’t happen. It didn’t happen. Nothing happened. He looked back at Lin Feng, who looked like he was about to explode, his entire face red in rage. “P-please don’t get yourself in trouble for me…”

Lin Feng looked at Tian Tian and forced the anger off his face. Then he smiled weakly. I can’t ignore this. You’re my friend. Friends stand up for each other. I’m going to get Bloodsucker back for this. He’s going to regret ever having said anything about you! But I know you don’t like confrontation. So don’t worry, I’ll do it. You won’t have to do a thing. He nodded and said, “It’s okay. I won’t get myself in trouble. Anyway, let’s queue up for another game!” Now, how do I find this asshole? And how do I teach him a lesson he’ll never forget?

✹

Lin Feng and Tian Tian played their Top-Jungle combination again in the second game. Tian Tian was still visibly upset at the start, but quickly forgot about Bloodsucker the Bully after Lin Feng helped him get a kill. From there, the two friends found their rhythm from the first game again. They were joking and laughing and completely decimating the Blue team. Towers fell and they were knocking on Blue team’s base after only 15 minutes. Two minutes later, they destroyed the top inhibitor. And another two minutes later, they destroyed the Nexus and won the game.

Lin Feng invited Tian Tian to a third game and started the queue. Then  he looked over at his friend and said, “I think I’m going mid this game.”

“Oh, yeah! Ok, that sounds good,” Tian Tian replied.

The two friends accepted the queue and moved into Champion Select for the third time that day. They were on the Blue Team. Tian Tian chose to play Irelia in the top lane, and Lin Feng went with LeBlanc in the mid lane. Then they went into the loading screen and got a look at their opponents. One of them was the mid lane champion Fizz. His Summoner ID was Bloodsucker.

Tian Tian’s eyes widened and he asked in surprise, “That Fizz, isn’t he…?”

“The Tryndamere from the first game,” Lin Feng finished the sentence. Then he started grinning. This wasn’t his happy-go-lucky smile, but something terrifying. You’re going to regret what you did so badly. A fire blazed in his eyes and he clenched his fists. “What a coincidence that we see him again!” he said, laughing like a maniac. “This makes it so much easier!”

Tian Tian shivered, afraid to even look at Lin Feng. He felt a rage that was about to explode bubbling next to him. He uncomfortably moved in his seat, unconsciously inching away from Lin Feng. T-that Tryndamere has really done it. I’ve almost never seen Lin Feng this upset… He bit hard on his lips, fighting to find enough courage to look at his friend. But he couldn’t get himself to. He let his eyes fall to Lin Feng’s legs below the desk and mumbled, “Uh, L-Lin Feng? A-are you sure you’re okay? You sound and look… I mean…”

✹

Breezy was one of 16 professional League of Legends teams that competed in the LSPL, the second highest league in China. They were too small for a headquarters in Shanghai, the esports capital of the world, and instead had a small gaming house in Guangzhou. Their gaming room was little more than a bedroom refitted with six computers, one for each team member and the last one for the coach.

Bloodsucker sat in his gaming chair, chewing on some gum and playing with his red curls. Shit, what a shitty game that was. He took a deep breath and then blew all the air from his lungs. At least I finally got myself to calm down a bit. But damn that Lee Sin… Why do I always get these trolls? He shook his head and looked at his loading screen. Let’s see who I’m up against thi—

Bloodsucker’s eyes went wide. He shot up in his seat and took a double take, then exclaimed, “KG RoundyRound and… MapleInShrub!” The initial surprise quickly disappeared and a smile that turned into full blown laughter replaced it. “Haha! AWESOME! That fucking Rengar! Is he duoing with Roundy or something? Haha, whatever, I don’t care. But I found him again! I can make him pay for that shit he pulled on me!” He jabbed his finger at his monitor and shouted, “I’ll get you back for that, you hear me? Mid is my main role and my Fizz is the best in the LSPL! And probably the LPL! Maybe even at Worlds! I’ll show you! Hahaha!”

Bloodsucker was a relatively new face in League of Legends. He’d started playing not too long ago, and quickly found out he had some real talent for the game. He breezed through Gold, Platinum, and even Diamond. And when he finally reached Challenger, the professional team Breezy reached out to him and offered him a spot on their roster. They called him a big up and comer, and he knew they were right. There’s almost no one who can beat me when I really try! I always win! This is just one season in the LSPL. Then I’ll move to the LPL and qualify for Worlds in the summer. And then I’m going to show everyone that our region does have better talent than that fit fucking pig of a Roundy! 0-3… What a fucking disgrace for a player! The government should have him banished! He suddenly started smiling and mumbled to himself, “Good thing I’m playing on my second account. I can tell that fat pig exactly what I think of him and no one will know it was me. Haha!”

Bloodsucker focused on Tian Tian’s Irelia in the loading screen and said, “So what if you’re a good Toplaner? I’m a Midlaner! That’s the only reason I couldn’t carry the last game. And we only lost that game because my Midlaner was the single worst Syndra in Challenger I’ve ever seen! She belonged in Gold or something!” Then he shifted his attention to the LeBlanc and smirked. “But this game, I’m Mid. My main role. And I’m against this MapleInNoob LeBlanc. Haha, what a joke! I should be competing against the likes of Rake and Phoenix! But this is awesome. I’m going to show this camping bitch just how good my Fizz is. And how good I am!”

✹

《Welcome to Summoner’s Rift!》

Lin Feng’s LeBlanc walked from the blue fountain to the mid lane and Bloodsucker’s Fizz came from the red fountain. They taunted each other in the middle of the lane until the minion waves crashed into each other at 1:45 minutes. Both players were out for blood. They played with absolute focus, last hitting every minion while also finding openings to land some poke. This lasted for a little more than a minute when Lin Feng’s LeBlanc completely outplayed the Fizz to secure first blood.

《First Blood!》

Bloodsucker stared at his gray screen in disbelief. His hand trembled and he muttered, “D-did that just happen? I… Maybe if I…” He couldn’t comprehend how he’d just given away a solokill, so he just sat in his gaming chair, incredulous. Then his Fizz respawned as colour returned to his screen. He shook his head and had hiz Fizz run down the mid lane again. One mistake. No big deal. I got this!

Lin Feng didn’t follow his usual LeBlanc tactic of killing the opposing Midlaner and then looking for a gank in one of the other two lanes. He recalled back to the fountain, bought items, and then returned to the lane. He continued last hitting minions and waited for the Fizz to come back. Then he started looking for openings again. Every small and miniscule mistake by the Fizz was taken advantage of by Lin Feng’s LeBlanc. And two minutes later, he found the opening for a kill. Eat this!

《You have slain an enemy!》

Bloodsucker fell back in his gaming chair, stunned. What the fuck is happening? How is he… He bit on his lips and shook his head. No. NO! I can’t let this continue! Where is my fucking Jungler anyway? Why do I have another useless Lee? FUCKING HELL! He started pinging Lee Sin and furiously typed away at his keyboard.

Bloodsucker (Tryndamere):「Yo Lee! You could’ve had two kills already! This LeBlanc keeps overextending? What the fuck are you doing? Stop jerking off in your fucking jungle! Come and kill this LeBlanc. FUCK!」

Red Team’s Lee Sin came for a gank a minute later. He waited in the brush above the mid lane for Lin Feng’s LeBlanc to overextend. All the while, he was forced to listen to a cacophony of pings as Bloodsucker was pinging him to engage.

Lin Feng grinned. He had a ward in the brush that Lee Sin was hiding in. How nice of you to give me two kills! That’ll make it so much easier to toy with this bully! He then straightened his shoulders and leaned a little closer to his monitor. Let’s get this double kill.

Lin Feng’s LeBlanc moved forward, seemingly overextending. Red Team’s Lee Sin ran out of the brush and Bloodsucker’s Fizz threw his ultimate skill. But LeBlanc was one step ahead. She dodged the Fizz ultimate by sidestepping it, then locked the Lee Sin down with her Ethereal Chains. The Fizz jumped at her, but she jumped away, dragging him with her under her tower–Distortion!

Lin Feng’s LeBlanc didn’t wait underneath her outer tower. She activated Mirror Image, replicating the last skill she used. Then she jumped back out, firing a Sigil of Malice at Lee Sin before the splash damage from the jump killed him. Then she started auto attacking the Fizz, who’d taken two energy shots from the outer tower. Her Sigil of Malice came off cooldown and she threw that in between her auto attacks, shearing away Fizz’s health.

《Double Kill!》

Bloodsucker’s eyes were twitching as he stared at his grey screen. That was three deaths now. And this last one hurt so much that he temporarily forgot to take his anger out on his teammates. He just sat in his gaming chair, numb. When his Fizz respawned on the Red fountain, he rolled his shoulders and said through gritted teeth, “My Fizz is the best. Your stupid LeBlanc just got lucky. I’m going to kill you!”

At 8 minutes, Bloodsucker’s Fizz arrived back in lane. And thirty seconds later, he gave away another kill. It all happened so quickly. He didn’t even really know how it happened. The LeBlanc appeared out of nowhere, linked her skills together flawlessly, and his health just vanished. Then that grating voice from the game announcer echoed in his ears, taunting him with LeBlanc’s success. His eyes looked lifeless as his entire body started trembling and shaking violently.

《Unstoppable!》

“Unstoppable!”

“Unstoppable!”

“Unstoppable!”

Bloodsucker belonged to a specific subset of the League of Legends player base. He’d risen up to the top of the ranks and was a far better player than any of his friends. When they found out how good he was at the game, they started cozying up to him. They were suddenly his best friends and wanted to play with him whenever he had some free time. Then they’d tell him how good he was and how he was carrying them out of elohell. The compliments boosted Bloodsucker’s ego, until eventually he became convinced that he was the best player in the entire game. Whenever he won a game, he told his teammates that they sucked and that they should thank him for carrying them. And when he lost, then it was never his fault. His teammates were to blame.

In this game, Bloodsucker was too eager to kill God Roundy’s Riven. He failed to see the trap and walked his Tryndamere right into the brush where Rengar was waiting to kill him. Lee Sin had warned him, but he didn’t like to listen to his teammates. He was convinced they were bad players, and so they weren’t worth his time or energy. But now he was dead. He got baited. He, the best player in all of League of Legends! I DIDN’T GET BAITED! If only this Trashlee had come for back up, we would’ve gotten a double kill! And why is this Rengar so strong anyway? WHAT THE FUCK! HOW BAD IS THIS LEE SIN? How did he already give a kill away? THIS IS FUCKING STUPID! WHY AM I ALWAYS STUCK WITH THESE STUPID FUCKING TEAMMATES? I always have to do everything myself… This is going to be hard. I just gotta carry these trashplayers.

Bloodsucker (Tryndamere):「Would’ve gotten the double if your useless ass wouldn’t have been so busy being a whiny little bitch! Stop feeding that stupid Rengar!」

The Lee Sin player was pissed. He glared at his team chat and wanted nothing more than to respond to Bloodsucker. This fucking troll! I warned him! I WARNED HIM! He took a couple of deep breaths through gritted teeth. I can’t argue with him. Must not argue. That’s just going to get me more upset. Don’t stoop to his level. Just play the game. Ignore that fuckhead! He took one more breath and then exhaled loudly. Calm down. Just ignore top for a bit. He turned his attention to the other lanes as he went back to his jungle to farm his jungle camps.

✹

The game was 6 minutes in. Lin Feng had just cleared his top side jungle and was looking for a gank opportunity, when he saw Tian Tian’s Riven reaching Level 6. Trynd is still Level 5. Time to go top for another easy kill! He said to Tian Tian, who sat next to him in the cybercafe, “Fatty, I’m coming for a gank! Push the lane!” Then he had his Rengar sneak into the Blue team’s top side Jungle.

Tian Tian glanced at the minimap while he started pushing the minion wave into the Blue Team’s outer tower. “Ok! We’re going to dive him?”

“Yeah!” Lin Feng replied, grinning. He had his Rengar stop in the brush that opened into the Blue Team’s top lane right behind the outer tower. Then he flicked his screen and watched Tian Tian engage. Nice! Push him to me, Fatty! Lin Feng waited in the brush as Tian Tian’s Riven unleashed all her skills on the Tryndamere, hacking away at him with her reforged blade. Yes, yes. Push him my way. Haha! This Trynd is so predictable!

Bloodsucker’s Tryndamere got away from the Riven. He smiled as he stopped some distance behind his outer tower. Suck that, Fat Roundy! His Tryndamere had less than ten percent health remaining, but he’d survived a towerdive by RoundyRound! What a fucking noob! I should go play professionally, maybe China would finally wi—

Lin Feng had waited patiently for the Tryndamere to walk into range of Unseen Predator, Rengar’s passive skill that allowed him to leap at champions and minions from a brush. Too predictable. He clicked on the Tryndamere. His Rengar leaped from the brush and clawed down onto the Tryndamere. Then, just as he was about to deal the killing blow, a pure and powerful green ki cut through the Tryndamere, shearing away the last of his health. Tian Tian’s Riven had dealt the killing blow with Wind Slash!

《An enemy has been slain!》

Lin Feng laughed and exclaimed, “Sweet! Top lane is yours now!” He paused for a moment before adding, “Fatty, you want to take the tower too? Or…”

Tian Tian shook his head and said, “Eh, not yet. I think it’s better to keep it up a little longer.”

Lin Feng nodded and suggested, “Then how about I come gank him two more times? We’d tilt him off the face of the earth!”

“I don’t know. I think top is pretty much over,” Tian Tian said. He looked around the map and then asked, “Why don’t you farm the Jungle a bit?”

“Farm the Jungle?” Lin Feng rubbed his chin and scanned his own Jungle. Nah, too boring. Then he looked at Blue team’s Jungle and started grinning. “Sure! That could be fun too!”

Lin Feng had his Rengar go back into Blue team’s top side Jungle and attacked the Gromp, which was the nearest jungle camp. All the while, grinning like a child who’d gotten their hands on the cookie jar. This reminds me of Season 1… What did they always say? Shit, can’t think of the exact words… Something like ‘My jungle is mine and your jungle is mine too!’ Watch me Lee Sin. Your jungle is mine now!

The Gromp died. Lin Feng’s Rengar went to the Wolves Camp next, which was left of the Blue Buff Camp. Lin Feng attacked the two small wolves first before killing the big one, panning his camera around the map. Lee Sin is gonna come top for another gank. He has to if he wants his team to win! Or Fatty will just 1vs5 them. So I just have to be there waiting for him, hehe!

✹

There was a lull in the game for the next few minutes. Lin Feng farmed his own jungle and Blue Team’s jungle, while also searching for Lee Sin. But he seemed to have disappeared from the map. After the failed gank in top lane, he hadn’t shown himself in any lane.

Then at 9 minutes, Lee Sin made a gank in the mid lane and helped his Syndra kill the Ziggs. It was a fast kill in which both Blue team’s Champions used all their skills. Lin Feng was farming the Gromp in Blue team’s top side jungle, and was too far away to offer any help. But before he could complain about this, Lee Sin ventured into the top side’s jungle. Lin Feng’s Rengar hid in a brush and waited for Lee Sin to walk by. And then he killed Lee Sin. There was no suspense to it. Lin Feng’s Rengar was stronger right now and the Lee Sin’s skills were still on cooldown.

《You have slain an enemy!》

Tian Tian had also found an opening in the top lane. He pushed the minion wave into Blue team’s outer tower and then activated his Riven’s ultimate skill–Blade of the Exile! A resplendent green light lit up around her, reforging her broken blade! Then she lashed out with the first strike of Broken Wings! She followed up with the second and finally hacked down into the earth for the third, knocking the Tryndamere up into the air!

Bloodsucker’s Tryndamere only had a sliver of health remaining when he fell back to the ground. Undying Rage! His lust for battle reached new heights just as a lethal slash of runic energy cut through him. The attack didn’t kill him as red rage exploded from his body, turning him for a short period into a true immortal! Then he activated Ghost and used the bonus movement speed to run far away from Tian Tian’s Riven.

“Lin Feng!” Tian Tian shouted.

“I GOT THIS!” Lin Feng hollered in reply. He pressed down on the R key–Thrill of the Hunt! Rengar entered stealth as his eyes appeared above the Tryndamere who was now in between his outer and inner tower. Lin Feng’s Rengar prowled through Blue team’s top side jungle and then charged into the top lane. He leaped at the Tryndamere and slashed him down! SAVAGERY!

《Killing Spree!》

“Thanks!” Tian Tian smiled. “That was great!”

Lin Feng laughed happily and said, “That Trynd must be so mad! This is hilarious! Oh! And I’ve got 3 kills now too!”

Bloodsucker (Tryndamere):「Trash Rengar.. Get off Riven’s cock. Can you be any more in love with this trash player? Fucking cocksucker.」

Tian Tian’s smile evaporated when he read the message in all chat. He didn’t like to be insulted, but he hated it when his friends got insulted! “This Tryndamere! Seriously, this is a Challenger game. Not Bronze,” he complained. Then he hit the Enter key and started typing out a reply, until Lin Feng stopped him.

“Don’t,” Lin Feng said as he shook his head. Then he grinned and added, “Look how bad we made him tilt! And it was so easy too! How about we pay him back for that message by killing him again?” Then he stared at the Tryndamere. You’re such an idiot. So let me give you a special treatment. I’ll set up a tent in top lane and camp until you rage quit!

✹

Lin Feng kept true to his word. He never left top lane, except to buy items in the fountain. And the Tryndamere didn’t learn from his mistakes. He kept going in on Tian Tian’s Riven, and he kept getting killed by Lin Feng’s Rengar. The Syndra and Lee Sin tried to help Tryndamere a couple of times, but quickly gave up on that. They realized that Tryndamere was a lost cause. He had tilted so hard that he couldn’t distinguish right from left anymore. All he could do was feed another kill and then insult the entire team and their mothers.

At 20 minutes into the game, Tryndamere had died a total of 8 times. The last of which was by far the quickest and easiest death. He’d been trying to get some gold by killing Jungle camps, when a wild Rengar jumped on him. He was dead before he even knew what happened. A slur of insults followed in all chat, followed by his teammates begging for him to stop typing.

Lin Feng was having a great time in top lane. He was laughing and joking with Tian Tian as they killed anyone who came to their top lane. And whenever Tryndamere died, Lin Feng shouted, “Another point on the rage-o-meter! Let’s get another point! Rage more! Rage more!”

The Blue Team tried to fight back against Lin Feng’s Rengar and Tian Tian’s Riven. But they weren’t winning the other lanes either. Little by little, they found themselves being pushed back. Top lane lost its inhibitor after 23 minutes, and bot lane lost its inhibitor tower a minute later. There was no more winning and finally after 25 minutes, the Blue team surrendered.

The 10 players were transported to the end game lobby. There was a chat here that everyone could see. And they all got front row seats to the Tryndamere blowing up another storm of abuse.

Bloodsucker (Tryndamere):「Fucking trash shit ass teammates! All these fucks know how to do is kiss ass to pros!」
Bloodsucker (Tryndamere):「You dumb fuck retards might as well offer to suck his dick!」
Bloodsucker (Tryndamere):「Boosted fucks!!!!」
FishyCat12 (Nami):「r u on drugs or something!??!?!!?」
Moody Steer (Syndra):「bro, you got your ass beat by Roundy before the Regnar even started ganking you. Grow up already, please」
SpeedDemon (Lucian):「Why is it always the feeders who think they’re the best player in the world? Jesus, you’re such a flaming pile of shit, Tryndamere. Reportx9, pls」
LyricalRifle (Lee Sin):「I fucking warned you for your first death! You could’ve backed then and had a good game!」
LyricalRifle (Lee Sin):「But no. You had to go in. And then you got fucking owned!」
LyricalRifle (Lee Sin):「That’s on you. Not us. YOU> WE LOST BECAUSE OF YOU!」
LyricalRifle (Lee Sin):「My god. What are you? 12? Or just mentally unstable?」
Bloodsucker (Tryndamere):「Shut your ugly fat face lee… Or stuff it like your dear shitty noob roundy does!」
Bloodsucker (Tryndamere):「I bet you’re just as fat a pig as that disgusting fatass is!!」
Bloodsucker (Tryndamere):「What are you even sucking his balls for? he lost 0-3 to ssk like the fat noob he is..」
Bloodsucker (Tryndamere):「Your precious god of fast food is a fucking embarrassment to China!」
Bloodsucker (Tryndamere):「GOD OF FAST FOOD! GOD OF FEEDING! GOD OF EVERYTHING THAT”S WRONG WITH THIS SHITTY FUCKING GAME!」

Lin Feng looked at Tian Tian after that last comment. His face had turned pale and his upper lip was quivering. Lin Feng could see it quivering under the mask. Tian Tian’s eyes turned shiny and he blinked faster and faster as water pooled into them. Those last few comments had really hit home, and Lin Feng could visibly feel how much they’d upset Tian Tian. Lin Feng turned his head back to his monitor and narrowed his eyes. You can say whatever you want about me, I don’t care. But you went way too far with Fatty! You crossed the line there. I’m going to make you regret this! I don’t know how yet. Or when, or where. But no one touches Fatty! I’m gonna make you pay for this!

Lin Feng had lost his original account, the one that he used to get all the way to the Season 1 World Championships. It was locked out, and he didn’t feel ready to play on that account again. He had made a completely new account, a fresh one, on the Ionia server. Right around the time he started making commentary videos with Su Xue on the Korean server. 

Ever since he made that account though, he’d been playing a lot of games every single day. It started out with games he played for Su Xue’s stream and with her in training. Then he started playing games with his friends in the NetCow Cafe. And he’d put a lot of hours in during practice for the Shanghai 16 School Tournament. On top of that, he also played a ton of games by himself in solo queue. Especially after he saw how good Rake was in the Season 5 World Championships. 

Between all of these things that happened recently, Lin Feng had played so many games in the ranked queue on the Ionia server that his new account had reached Challenger! And Tian Tian sitting next to him was KG RoundyRound! They were two of the best players in the game about to wreak havoc on some unsuspecting players in the duo queue!

There were millions and millions of people playing League of Legends every day in China. Most of them were stuck in Bronze, Silver or Gold; sometimes called elo-hell. A term that bad players used as an excuse to explain why they couldn’t climb the ladder. But there were only 200 Challengers on each server, a hard cap put in place by Riot Games. Of those 200 Challengers, many played on professional teams and never went to an internet cafe. On the rare occasion they did, everyone at the cybercafe would crowd around them to ask for autographs or advice on league or burning personal questions. And beg them to play their main champion, the one they rose to prominence with. 

Lin Feng created a lobby and sent Tian Tian an invite, then entered the queue. There weren’t many players at a matchmaking rank this high, so it took a couple of minutes to find a game. Lin Feng looked over at Tian Tian and asked, “What roles do we want to play… Hmm… OH! I KNOW! How about you go Top and I’ll Jungle!?”

“Sure!” Tian Tian agreed. I’m just happy to play with you again. It’s been years since we last played a game together… Years! You could’ve said you wanted to go ad-carry, and I would have supported you! He smiled as old memories surfaced. But Top-Jungle is better. Just like the old days. No one could beat us when we played Top-Jungle. That was so much fun!

The queue popped. Lin Feng and Tian Tian clicked “Ready!” and entered Champion Select. Then both of them, like trained professionals, typed a quick message and slammed down on the ENTER key.

MapleInShrub:「Jgl!」
KG RoundyRound:「TOp pls!」
IllusoryFigLeaf: 「t」
IllusoryFigLeaf:「God Roundy!?!??」
Protector:「Holy shit! havent seen you in ranked in forever!!」
Zabuza445:「omg!!! Heyyyyyyy! pls add me as a friend after this game!」

The three random players on the team were all incredibly friendly towards Tian Tian. He was the puffy, friendly face in the Chinese League of Legends scene that everyone loved. Even his opponents cheered for him when he made a good play! There was just something about him that made it impossible to dislike him. So when the three random players saw one of their favourite players in the game in Champion Select, they briefly forgot that they were Challengers themselves. They swarmed over Tian Tian like teenage girls meeting their idol. Top lane was his. Jungle was for his friend. And they’d do everything in their might to make this game his game!

KG RoundyRound:「Let’s all just have fun!」

Lin Feng looked over at Tian Tian, who was smiling like a happy child, and grinned. They all love you, Fatty! Just look at the chat! You achieved so much after I left. Then he shook his head and turned his attention to the long list of Champions. Now, what to play, what to play… He scrolled through the alphabetical list.  Amumu? Nah, don’t feel like it. Maybe Nidalee? Could be fun. Hmm… He continued looking until he got to the r. Rengar. Yeah, let’s play him! I haven’t played with him in a while. When was the last time? Must’ve been all the way back against that Rose streamer. Wonder if I made her quit after that… He started grinning as he recalled how he’d stood up for Su Xue and helped catapult her stream that night more than a month ago.

It was Tian Tian’s turn to pick a Champion. He glanced through the champion list and clicked on the image of Riven. He didn’t lock her in yet, but his teammates could see that he had her highlighted.

Zabuza445: 「RIVEN!!!! Yes yes!1!! Play rivennn!!!」
IllusoryFigLeaf: 「his riven is the best!!! Did you guys see his riven at worlds? My god that was amazing~~~」
Zabuza445: 「IKR!!!! I bet that one game was enough for him to become a KING!!!!!」
Protector: 「i read somewhere that the new list isnt updated yet coz riot is gunna make the list」
Zabuza445: 「I READ THAT TOOO!!!! We just gotta wait a few more weeks. AND THEN. AND THEN! GOD ROUNDY IS GONNA BE CROWNED KING!!!!! WE”RE PLAYING WITH THE NEWEST KING GUYS!!!!」
IllusoryFigLeaf: 「so deserved~~~」
KG RoundyRound:「Uhh, thanks. But there’s many good players. I don’t think I’m that good..」
Zabuza445: 「DON”T BE SHY! YOU DESERVE IT!」
Protector: 「yeah, your heca and riven were crazy good. Ive been tryin for a 5man ultie… i dunno how you did that」

Tian Tian felt his face heat up. He never knew how to react to compliments, not four years ago and not now. He just felt incredibly awkward when he became the center of attention. The last few weeks, he hadn’t even dared to go on social media. Everyone was lauding him. They were calling him the best Riven in the world. The best Hecarim in the world. And they were discussing which player he was going to replace on the Seven Kings list. His go-to tactic in these situations was to look away and pretend his nose was bleeding.

Tian Tian looked away from the chat, squinting his eyes far enough so that he couldn’t see it anymore, and glanced at which Champions were being locked in. It was Lin Feng’s turn and he quickly locked in Rengar. Tian Tian frowned and turned to Lin Feng. “You’re going Rengar?”

Lin Feng chuckled and said, “Yeah! I wanna have some fun too!”

He always came with the most random champions… Tian Tian grinned and nodded. “Ok! Let’s carry this game together then!” Like we always did.

Blue Team vs. Red Team

Top lane: Tryndamere versus Riven
Jungle: Lee Sin versus Rengar
Mid lane: Syndra versus Ziggs
AD-carry: Lucian versus Jinx
Support: Nami versus Alistar

✹

《Welcome to Summoner’s Rift!》

[All] SpeedDemon (Lucian):「This is a challenge to SliceSpike! Let your wallet do the talking!」
[All] LyricleRifle (Lee Sin):「Good luck & have fun everyone!!!」
[All] Moody Steer (Syndra):「sup roundy! Long time no see, dude. How bout you go easy on me this game? I really don’t want to get my ass pounded like last time. That shit hurt for weeks! Haha!」
[All] KG RoundyRound (Riven):「Haha! What are you talking about, Moody? You played really well that game, it just wasn’t enough」

The 10 players had just spawned on the Rift, but the all chat was already blowing up. Lin Feng grinned as he read the messages. He pointed at the Lucian’s message on Tian Tian’s screen and said, “Read that message! What’s he even talking about? I love how every game always has that one guy who has to say something absolutely random!” Then he caught up to the exchange between Moody Steer and Tian Tian. Hmm, I know that name… Oh! Isn’t she the Midlaner for that LPL team… Ah crap, why can’t I think of their name? He pointed at the message and asked, “Isn’t that the one from that LPL team?”

Tian Tian nodded and replied, “Yeah. He’s a really nice guy. Their team has a lot of potential, I think.”

Lin Feng smiled as he looked at the happy expression on his friend’s face. Fatty really has been doing great! Then he turned his attention to the game. Minions had spawned and there were only a couple more seconds until the Jungle Camps would spawn. His Rengar was sitting next to the Gromp Camp, which was located in the Red Team’s bot side jungle. Waiting, Lin Feng panned his camera to the bot lane. Their Botlaners aren’t in lane, so they’re probably helping Lee Sin kill the Krugs. Then they go to the bot lane and Lee Sin goes for his Red Buff Camp. This should be fun!

The Jungle Camps spawned. Lin Feng’s Rengar attacked the Gromp, and killed it with the help of his Botlaners. Then he ran past his Blue Buff Camp and into the river. Past the Dragon pit and into Blue Team’s bot side jungle. Through the tall grass and around the backside of the Red Buff Camp. Then he stopped in the brush adjacent to the Red Brambleback.

The Blue Team’s Lee Sin was indeed fighting the Red Brambleback. Lin Feng’s Rengar waited, prowling in the brush. Lee Sin’s health bar dropped below half. And then down to a third. Now! Savagery! Lin Feng’s Rengar pounced on Lee Sin and brutally stabbed him!

Lee Sin didn’t try to fight. He flashed away! And then he ran! But no one could escape from Rengar in the jungle. Unseen Predator, Rengar’s passive skill, allowed him to leap at enemy champions every time he entered a brush or stealth. Lin Feng’s Rengar jumped after Lee Sin, then entered a brush before pouncing at his target again.

《First Blood!》

[All] LyricleRifle (Lee Sin):「Damn, I didn’t see that coming. Well played.」

One of the big differences between higher and lower elo games was the mentality of players. Most players who reached the higher ranks had learned that raging in chat only impaired their gameplay. From there it was a quick slope to losing the game. It was best to stay calm. To accept the screw up and to focus on the next play. But lower ranked players usually didn’t understand this logic. When they made a bad decision, they started searching for increasingly convoluted explanations as to why this wasn’t their mistake. Why their teammates were the real reason that they lost the play. And then the game.

Tian Tian laughed and said to Lin Feng, “That was a really nice invade!”

“Thanks!” Lin Feng replied. Then he looked over at Tian Tian’s screen and suggested, “You should kill that Tryndamere too! I’ll have your back!”

Tian Tian scratched the back of his head and finally mumbled, “Ok, I’ll try. But this Trynd is pretty good. I’m not sure I can kill him already.”

“It’s not just you. It’s us! I’m coming top for a gank!” Lin Feng explained, grinning.

Lin Feng recalled back to base to spend the gold for first blood and instructed Tian Tian to start pushing in the wave towards Blue team’s outer tower. He then had his Rengar walk into his top side jungle to clear the Red Buff Camp, after which he walked up to the top lane. Tian Tian had pushed the wave far enough, allowing him to walk into lane unseen. He snuck into the first brush along the top side of the lane. Then the second. And he finally stopped in the third. Fatty is pushing pretty hard right now. Lee Sin has to be coming for a gank soon. This is going to be fun! He grinned and said to Tian Tian, “Set up the bait!”

“Got it!” Tian Tian said. He had his Riven get a little bit too aggressive by walking past his minions to attack the Tryndamere underneath his own outer tower.

The bait worked flawlessly. Lee Sin appeared from the lane and hopped towards the Tryndamere with Safeguard. Then the Tryndamere sliced through the Riven, his blade spinning around and around.

Tian Tian’s Riven dashed away with Valor, opening his back to the Tryndamere. Mocking Shout! The Tryndamere bellowed out a deafening roar, slowing down the Riven! Then the Lee Sin fired off a Sonic Wave. But Tian Tian had seen this combination coming from a mile away. He was already doging the Lee Sin’s attack before it even came. Then he slashed out with Broken Wings, jumping into the brush Lin Feng’s Rengar was waiting in.

The Lee Sin player hesitated. His danger senses tingled. Something’s off. This is God Roundy’s Riven. He pinged the Tryndamere to retreat, but his warnings fell on deaf ears. Tryndamere charged head first into the brush, ready to finish off the Riven!

Lin Feng’s fingers glided over his keyboard. Savagery! His Rengar slashed down on Tryndamere with his daggers. Bola Strike! A bola wrapped around Tryndamere’s legs and slowed him down. All the while, Tian Tian did what Riven was best at. Firing of a Ki Burst and then hacking away with her blade until there was nothing left of her victim’s health!

《An enemy has been slain!》

The Lee Sin player shook his head and grumbled a quiet complaint, his hand hovering over the enter key. Do I say something? I shouldn’t, but… Dammit. He finally pressed down and wrote a message in his team’s chat.

LyricalRifle (Lee Sin):「Dude, I told you to back… 」
Bloodsucker (Tryndamere):「Fuck off.  Jungle better, 0/1 Trashlee!」