Chapter 56
Chapter 56
TWG's first playoff game won't officially start until next month. Although there's plenty of time, the team's training and team cohesion haven't slackened at all.
On the 22nd, WOF attacked KW.
The match was scheduled for 7 p.m., but it was not even 5 p.m. yet, and Shen Xiao hurriedly changed into his casual clothes and rushed out the door.
After Jiang Yuxin returned, the task of driving for the team fell back on him. Seeing Shen Xiao's reaction, he glanced at his watch with a puzzled look: "...Going there so early?"
Jiang Yuxin was already surprised that Shen Xiao had taken the initiative to go watch the WOF match, but he didn't expect Shen Xiao to go even earlier.
He hesitated before walking to Xie Wei's side and asked in a low voice, "This... Seamy isn't going to fight in the WOF lounge, is she?"
Jiang Yuxin's thinking was still stuck in the era when Shen Xiao viewed Secret and WOF as blood enemies, so naturally he had such concerns.
Xie Wei chuckled: "What are you thinking? Did you see his ranked game records from the Chinese New Year period?"
As TWG's manager, Jiang Yuxin naturally keeps a close eye on the players' condition. Needless to say, he has seen these statistics: "I have seen them, but... I'm worried it's some kind of bear biscuit or gummy bear thing again."
Xie Wei said, "We've played so many matches against WOF, have you ever seen Seamy storm into their locker room and get beaten up?"
That's true.
Jiang Yuxin shook his head.
"That's settled then." Xie Wei scoffed. "He still has some sense of propriety."
Jiang Yuxin went downstairs to get his car, looking worried.
In fact, Jiang Yuxin's worries were not unfounded. Xie Wei changed her clothes and went downstairs. She immediately saw Shen Xiao standing downstairs waiting for the car.
The young Alpha wore a bright red coat, his short brown hair was simply styled, his profile was well-defined, and he was looking at his phone, seemingly chatting with someone, his brows slightly furrowed, his expression very focused.
Xie Wei stepped forward and patted his back lightly.
Shen Xiao seemed not to have heard the footsteps at all, and was startled. He turned around and said, "Captain Xie."
Xie Wei looked down, took out a cigarette from his pocket, shook it out, put it in his mouth, his eyes lowered, the flame of the lighter flickering in the wind, reflected in his eyes, making him seem somewhat nonchalant: "Tell me."
Shen Xiao's heart skipped a beat, his eyes darting around: "Say...say what?"
"How have you been lately?"
Shen Xiao smiled and said, "Recently? I've been doing quite well lately. My training hasn't been neglected, my form has been good, and my ranking score has been steadily increasing... It's true that it can't compare to Ice's increase, but it's been going quite smoothly."
He glanced at the cigarette in Xie Wei's hand, trying to change the subject: "Captain Xie, Ice didn't say anything about you smoking?"
Xie Wei lifted her eyelids and glanced at him: "That's not what I'm asking." He exhaled a puff of smoke, "WOF has already contacted you, right?"
Shen Xiao's face stiffened.
He looked at Xie Wei without saying a word.
If it were two years ago, no, even just six months ago, and another team came to poach him, he would have refused without hesitation and told others about it as a joke.
However, he failed this time.
It wasn't because of achievements, fame, money, or any of those other trivial things, but because the person who invited him was Secret.
The timing was perfect; Yuan Shaofeng was promoted to the first team's substitutes, and his ability was fully qualified.
he……
He was genuinely hesitant.
Shen Xiao looked at the indifferent man in front of him. Although there was no other extra emotion on his face, there was an indescribable sense of oppression.
He couldn't bring himself to lie, so he nodded and said, "Yes."
Xie Wei asked, "What do you think?"
Shen Xiao licked his dry lips and said honestly, "I...I haven't decided yet." He scratched his head. "The team's performance is pretty stable right now, and Yuan is more suited to this version than me. How should I put it..."
Xie Wei smiled and said, "Tell me when you've thought it through. My suggestion is that if you want to transfer, first see if WOF can get a spot in the Mid-Season Invitational during the playoffs. If not, then stay with TWG until the end of the Mid-Season Invitational."
Shen Xiao never expected that Xie Wei would make plans for him. He looked up, his eyes filled with surprise and gratitude.
In the performance-driven esports industry, it's common for teams to hold onto star players and prevent them from transferring. Some teams even refuse to let talented new players, who they don't need, transfer to other teams even though they can't give them a chance to play. They keep these players in their teams because they're afraid that if the players go to other teams, they might develop and become obstacles for their own teams.
Xie Wei, as the team captain and also the owner of TWG, not only did not stop him, but also expressed his support.
Shen Xiao suddenly thought of Qu Qingyue and couldn't help but ask, "When Clear wanted to transfer, did you say the same thing to her?"
Xie Wei didn't answer that question. He stubbed out his cigarette, smiled, and said, "Whether it's a transfer or whatever, it's your freedom. I have no right to interfere."
"And I am confident that even if you leave, TWG will continue to shine."
Shen Xiao was stunned for a moment, then angrily said, "Damn it, how come you're talking like I'm completely insignificant?"
Xie Wei said slowly, "I meant to tell you not to overthink it."
Shen Xiao's expression was complicated: "...I really wanted to play for TWG until I retired."
Xie Wei smiled upon hearing this, threw his cigarette butt into the trash can, and patted Shen Xiao on the shoulder: "It's just that the timing was right back then, and we met the right people and the right team, which is why TWG has always had the same few people over the years. But everything has an end, and you don't have to limit yourself to this. There are some burdens you don't have to carry, such as... the team's glory or something."
Shen Xiao was taken aback when his thoughts were exposed, and slowly became thoughtful.
“Of course, I hope you will stay,” Xie Wei said, “but I won’t force you.”
Shen Xiao nodded and said sincerely, "Thank you, Captain."
--
At 5:15, all team members arrived downstairs on time and boarded the nanny van.
Yu Guangzhou was worried, so he followed along.
Shen Xiao looked at Jiang Yuxin, then at Yu Guangzhou, and said pitifully, "Coach, Manager, you can't make me pay for your tickets too."
Yu Guangzhou glared at him, exasperated, and said, "Where's your...where's your IQ?"
Jiang Yuxin laughed as he drove, "The team will reimburse you for the ticket cost, so don't worry."
Shen Xiao was overjoyed: "Thank you, team, thank you, team."
Xu Ziyan was taking a nap by the window when she heard this and teased, "Xiao Shen earns tens of millions a year, how come he only has this much vision?"
Shen Xiao said matter-of-factly, "Even billionaires accumulate their wealth bit by bit. Don't you understand the power of saving?"
Xu Ziyan glanced at him: "Then you play a mobile game, watch a live stream and send gifts. You don't save any money, and you even lose money."
Shen Xiao blushed and said, "How can playing games be considered losing money?" The car was filled with a happy atmosphere.
Once Shen Xiao sat back down and picked up his phone again, he became much quieter.
When he goes out to watch a match, he always makes sure to tell you about the recent results of both teams, how the main players are doing, what they've done, who they've encountered in ranked matches, and if any player has any recent scandals or memes, then it's even more important. Shen Xiao will definitely tell you everything that the whole team knows.
But today, he just stared at his phone, his brow furrowed, occasionally typing out a few words.
Xu Ziyan wasn't completely oblivious. Seeing this, she didn't ask Shen Xiao, but instead leaned close to Xie Wei's ear and whispered, "I bet five cents that this guy is definitely chatting with Secret."
Xie Wei looked at him with some surprise: "You noticed too?"
Xu Ziyan said, "What did you see? Isn't it obvious?"
Xie Wei frowned: "No, WOF only contacted him in the last few days."
Xu Ziyan was stunned for a moment: "You...aren't you talking about the unusual relationship between him and Secret?"
Xie Wei was also stunned and asked, "Them?"
The two looked at each other.
Xu Ziyan then realized that he and Xie Wei were not on the same wavelength at all, and found it quite amusing: "Just pretend I didn't say anything."
Xie Wei wasn't particularly interested in gossip. He said, "Although he hasn't decided yet, if Seamy really transfers..."
Xu Ziyan smiled and said, "I will always be here."
Xie Wei's eyes softened instantly.
This was probably his only selfish motive.
When we arrived at the venue, it was just before six o'clock. But since it was the playoffs and both teams were popular teams, there were already quite a few spectators queuing up outside the venue early on.
Yu Guangzhou glanced at his phone and said, "KW's first player today is Pride, a rookie medic."
Xie Wei carefully searched his memory, confirming that he had no recollection of this ID: "Pride? Has this medical player participated in competitions before?"
“No, not at all. This guy was promoted directly from the youth training program to the starting lineup after the new version,” Jiang Yuxin interjected. “He must be really good.”
Xu Ziyan asked in surprise, "Directly promoted from youth training to the first team?"
Xie Wei crossed his arms and looked out the car window at the sea of people. He smiled and said, "It seems we're not the only team with a 'version' of talent."
Yu Guangzhou said, "After the match, I went to arrange a practice match with their coach."
Shen Xiao asked in a muffled voice, "Where's WOF? Who's attacking in this match?"
Yu Guangzhou glanced down at his phone and confirmed, "Secret and Jin."
Shen Xiao's face immediately darkened.
This Jin is the same Jin who made outrageous statements to the WOF management, openly demanding money or else threatening to fix the match.
Xu Ziyan was puzzled: This person is in such a state, why are they still being carried up to continue the game? And it's the playoffs, a knockout tournament.
Later, it became clear that WOF probably really had no usable attackers left on the team. With player transfers prohibited during the playoffs, they had no choice but to keep bringing Jin into the game.
No wonder they contacted Shen Xiao. No wonder this raid had the confidence to make such a request.
Apart from Shen Xiao and Xu Ziyan, no one else knew that this had happened within the WOF team. In particular, Jiang Yuxin, seeing Shen Xiao's pale face, thought that his old illness had relapsed and that he was going to the WOF lounge to have a real-life fight with Secret.
So, with a heavy heart, he warned, "Just a reminder, with the competition about to start, fighting off the field will result in a lifetime ban!"
This instruction, though seemingly innocuous, turned out to be a lucky one. Shen Xiao replied impatiently, "I know."
Xu Ziyan's lips twitched: Shen Xiao probably doesn't want to fight Secret right now, but rather that assault player named Jin.
Xie Wei said that Shen Xiao has not yet made up his mind to transfer, but in his opinion, if he could transfer now, Shen Xiao would be eager to sign the contract on the spot, then kick Jin off the stage and take over himself.
Yuan Shaofeng was fast asleep when the carriage stopped. He groggily opened his eyes and asked, "Have we arrived? Are we there yet?"
"We're here." Sitting next to him was Shen Xiao, who gritted his teeth and said, "Get out of the car now."
After saying that, he picked up his bag, put on sunglasses and a mask, and ran off the bus first.
Yuan Shaofeng was terrified: "What's wrong with Xiaoshen? He... he wouldn't be realizing now that I'm affecting his position and want to target me, would he?"
Xu Ziyan handed him his mask, amused, and said, "You're overthinking it. Let's go."
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