34. If he can't get OT (overtime/work), he'll leave.
Shenju had a nightmare.
He dreamt that he was surrounded by monsters wearing white masks, each with a mouth that was smiling at him.
The sharp, piercing noise gave him a splitting headache.
Shenju wanted them to get lost, but it felt like his throat was being choked, and he couldn't make a sound.
The monsters grew human hands and feet and walked towards him, their white masks merging with their faces, turning them into emotionless puppets.
Overwhelming fear made it hard for him to breathe, and he could only curl up into a ball.
It's so cold, my body is so cold.
Until a hand covered his forehead, "Is it still hot?"
The nightmare miraculously disappeared, and the white became soft, like a sun-dried quilt, with a faint minty scent.
Shenju fell into a deep sleep.
I don't know how long I slept, but I slightly opened my eyes.
Before me were white curtains, gently swaying in the breeze, carrying the unpleasant smell of disinfectant.
Mixed with—
A hint of clean mint.
Shen Ju slowly opened his eyes, and Lin Jiang was sleeping by his bedside, his body slightly turned to the side, in a accommodating posture.
Has Lin Jiang been with him the whole time?
He carefully reached out and touched his drooping eyelashes.
I really want to take him home and hide him away.
Before his fingers even touched his eyelashes, Lin Jiang opened his eyes.
Those clear eyes, still hazy and confused, blinked twice before slowly clearing. "You're awake?"
Shen Ju grunted in response, his voice nasal like a puppy's.
Has the fever subsided?
She covered his forehead with her palm. "Much better."
Lin Jiang tried to pull his hand back, but numbness instantly overwhelmed him.
Shen Ju gently rubbed him, being very careful so that Lin Jiang wouldn't feel uncomfortable.
As the tingling sensation subsided, the warm fingertips remained on his skin, and Lin Jiang felt a strange sensation arise in his heart.
Shen Ju rubbed his hands, his collarbone showing as he turned his shirt to the side.
He was clearly a pampered young master, with delicate skin and tender flesh, like a flower protected in a greenhouse.
Lin Jiang suddenly didn't know where to look. He withdrew his hand and said, "You, take a rest. I'll go buy you something to eat."
Shen Ju grabbed him, looking pitiful, "Captain, I don't like the smell of the hospital, I can't eat, let's go back."
Lin Jiang disliked hospitals because his hand injury from his previous life was getting worse and he couldn't compete. He Gu kept forcing him to go to the hospital, and the smell of disinfectant in the hospital made him feel nauseous under the double pressure.
He didn't ask why, packed his things, completed the discharge procedures, and took Shenju home.
After falling ill, Shenju became somewhat dependent on him; when the vehicle shook slightly, their legs would touch.
After the sudden stop, Shenju instinctively grabbed his hand, but quickly let go.
Lin Jiang felt that something was wrong.
Before I could think about it, my phone rang. It was Durren calling.
Lin Jiang gave him a brief report on the situation, and then Du Lun had Shen Ju answer the phone.
The other end said a lot, but Shen Ju only responded with "hmm," looking absent-minded, just like a rebellious child.
Lin Jiang couldn't help but want to laugh.
Because Shen Ju reminds him of his younger days.
Back then, he was defiant of everyone, but eventually he had to bow his head to the demands of life.
Back at the base, Lin Jiang told Shen Ju to rest.
While I was changing clothes upstairs, I came downstairs and saw Shen Ju joining the team and starting training.
There are seven days left until the start of the playoffs, and there are still a few games left in the overtime, which means there are still more than ten days to prepare.
He reminded Shen Ju, "You don't need to push yourself so hard. Take a couple of days off."
Shenju's mouth agreed, but his hands did not.
As Lin Jiang received his coffee, he marveled at how hard-working Shen Ju was in the entire team. He went over to check on Shen Ju's condition, and he was still in great shape, as if being sick had no effect on him at all.
Being young is truly wonderful.
Lin Jiang sighed and put down the cup, paused for a moment, then suddenly grabbed his hand, "You're bleeding."
The wound after the IV drip wasn't big, but I don't know if it was because Shenju trained too hard, because there was blood seeping through the tape.
At this moment, Shen Ju's ranked match had entered the hero selection countdown. He wanted to use his other hand to select a hero, but Lin Jiang grabbed him and held him down.
"rest."
Lin Jiang was somewhat angry.
The countdown ends and the game exits automatically.
Shenju wanted to drive again.
Lin Jiang was genuinely angry. "I told you to rest, why didn't you listen? Getting sick will affect the progress, go and rest right now."
The atmosphere suddenly became tense.
Shen Ju was the most unruly member of the group, and no one had ever dared to order him around like that.
Ateng and Zhou Wen stopped what they were doing at the same time. Song Zhixu, like a worried old mother, kept an eye on the operation while trying to calm them down: "Chenju, stop messing around. If you're sick, go and rest. The captain is doing this for your own good."
Shen Ju gripped the mouse tightly, protesting in a low voice, "I'm not going."
This was the first time Shen Ju had ever been so disobedient. Lin Jiang reflected on whether he had done something wrong, but in the end, he still didn't understand him.
"Chen Ju, tell me honestly, why are you training so excessively?"
He gripped the mouse tighter and finally revealed the truth: "Because if we lose OT, you'll leave."
These words were as devastating as a deep-sea torpedo, causing everyone present to change their expressions to varying degrees.
They had thought about this issue, but they always held onto a glimmer of hope, thinking that if they achieved better results in the OT (Overtime Training) exam, Lin Jiang would consider staying.
But Chenju's words startled them.
If it's just about reaching the World Championship level, Lin Jiang could do it with any team.
Lin Jiang wants a world championship, which OT simply cannot give him.
A-Deng grabbed Zhou Wen's sleeve in fear, and Zhou Wen was also worried. The two of them stared at Lin Jiang with concern.
Song Zhixu was also flustered. He had gained a great advantage in this game, but made a mistake at a crucial moment and was killed.
Looking at the black and white screen.
He couldn't continue, so he pushed back his chair and got up.
"Stop messing around, Shenju. It's the captain's freedom to go wherever he wants." He had just grabbed Shenju when he was shaken off.
Song Zhixu fell silent, his eyes stinging with tears.
He wasn't much better than Shen Ju; he just kept enduring.
Lin Jiang hadn't originally planned to discuss such a heavy topic with them, fearing it would affect morale. Now it seemed that trying to hide things would only have a greater impact on them.
He bluntly stated his thoughts: "I want that championship, and if OT can't give it to me, I'll leave."
Yes, Lin Jiang and they were not even in the same league.
He's not here to help the poor. A professional player's peak only lasts a few years, and he can't possibly gamble a slim chance with them for such a short period.
The gap between reality and ideals is painful for everyone.
They were reluctant to part with Lin Jiang and didn't want him to leave, but they just couldn't bring themselves to say the words to keep him here.
They may like Lin Jiang, but who cares what Lin Jiang wants?
Lin Jiang didn't explain further. He put down what he was holding and left, giving them time to process what he had to say.
As soon as he left, things started to get tense.
Ah Deng was starting to lose her composure. "I...I don't think I can do it. How about we let Xiao Yu go up and give it a try?"
Zheng Yu waved his hand in fright, "I'm even worse, I don't even know why the captain is giving me instructions..."
Everyone began to sigh, their hearts heavy with indescribable sorrow.
Song Zhixu sat back in his seat and continued the game he hadn't finished. Even after losing his advantage, he still boldly initiated team fights and achieved results.
Although he always warned Shenju not to be delusional, he himself was actually indulging in delusional fantasies.
If he can truly keep Lin Jiang by working hard, he will work harder than anyone else present.
After all, hard work is the least valuable thing to him.
Chen Ju, on the other side, didn't join the discussion either. He switched to a new account and started a new game.
Then, to Zhou Wen's astonishment, he took out a hero that was extremely difficult to play: Vengeful Spear.
"Chen Ju, are you serious? You still have a hand injury, and you're playing such a difficult hero?"
Even so, Shenju still felt it wasn't enough.
If Lin Jiang really leaves OT in the future because of his performance, he will definitely regret not working harder now.
Lin Jiang then ignored Shen Ju for two days, but Shen Ju still refused to apologize and insisted on doing things his own way.
When Song Zhixu was changing clothes that night, he joked with him: "Why don't you just give in first? How can you stand not being with the captain for two days? If it were me, I would have given up long ago."
Shen Ju turned to face the wall, not wanting to talk to him.
He is not Song Zhixu.
There's nothing we can't handle.
The excessive training load continued, and he repeatedly used the Spear of Revenge in training matches. Fang Luxing tried to stop him: "It's just a training match, there's no need to take it so seriously, right?"
The steed, with a "smack," locked up the hero.
His opponents are not only the three strongest teams in the LPL, but also the top teams in the World Championship.
Only through the tempering of a strong team can we deliver a perfect blow to the enemy in the near future.
Shen Ju's spear of revenge did indeed achieve different results, Lin Jiang also gained the advantage, and even if Song Zhixu was not good enough, he could still hold on.
Only jungle.
They got completely thrashed by the other side.
After losing two dragons in a row, Ah Deng was so remorseful that she was about to cry. "I'm sorry, I made another mistake. How about letting Xiao Yu try?"
Lin Jiang noticed that since he made things clear to them that day, everyone had been working hard to improve, except for A Deng, whose condition was declining rapidly.
The results of the scrimmages were disastrous, and many teams realized that their performance in OT was even worse than in the regular season.
In the end, TG withdrew from their training program, followed by YIG, leaving only SNG and a few lower-ranked teams still giving them face.
Being underestimated by the enemy is a very ominous sign.
Lin Jiang meticulously analyzed every match, and while he didn't fully understand the jungle rhythm, he could spot the mechanics at a glance.
A-Deng's skills are not bad; sometimes he can even pull off some impressive plays.
But after losing the dragon, he makes mistakes even with ordinary plays, let alone flashy ones.
His phone beeped, and it was Zeng Yuan replying: I haven't seen the video, so I can't say for sure, but based on what you said, I think it's most likely a problem with A Deng's mindset.
Lin Jiang: Which one specifically? He didn't do this when he was playing from behind before.
Zeng Yuan: Actually, I noticed it a long time ago. He has a built-in bad luck buff. Every time he touches this buff, his mentality will seriously decline. I asked him why, and he said that he encountered something unclean when he was a child, which affected his luck. He said a lot of superstitious things, which I couldn't understand.
Lin Jiang's thoughts turned slightly heavy.
My fingers tapped the keyboard, then paused at the dragon pit.
The moment Ah Deng pressed Smite, Baron suddenly leveled up, causing its health to increase and preventing him from Smite it.
The enemy jungler flashed down and stole it immediately.
I don't know if he remembered it wrong, but it seems like he was robbed three times in that game, all for this reason.
Lin Jiang's heartbeat quickened, and he was unsure: Do you think it's real or fake?
Zeng Yuan sent him a voice message: "I think it's definitely fake. I've been playing jungle for so long, how could I not know why? It's a matter of probability. The Baron is leveling up every minute, and he was too anxious to do it and ignored it. Of course, he was really unlucky, but I think it's because he hasn't played enough games. Once he plays more, the probability will naturally be balanced."
Lin Jiang breathed a sigh of relief.
He genuinely believed that some kind of mystical force was controlling the game, which terrified him.
Lin Jiang: So it's a matter of mindset?
Zeng Yuan: I think so. Whenever he's unlucky, he'll start thinking about that, and his mentality will naturally collapse. And since you've told them you're leaving, the pressure on him will definitely be even greater.
So, that's why he kept trying to get Zheng Yu to go?
Fearing that bad luck would affect the competition, fearing that Lin Jiang would leave because of it, tons of pressure piled up on him, slowly breaking him down.
Lin Jiang had considered replacing him, but he found that the unlucky Ah Deng was still bigger than Zheng Yu.
After figuring everything out, Lin Jiang sighed, "A Deng never tells me these things."
"You said he's a bit of a coward. You play so well, he feels like he's dragging you down every day. He'd be too busy begging you to say these things to you."
"Then why would he tell you?"
“I told him that I used to be a bit like him, and that you guided me step by step, and he immediately opened up to me. Lin Jiang, I think he really cares about you. Although he doesn’t seem close to you on the surface, you can see that every three sentences he sends me are about you.”
After a while, Zeng Yuan sent their chat history to Lin Jiang, in very fragmented format.
A-Deng: Zeng Yuan-ge, I think my Lee Sin today really annoyed the captain QAQ...
Zeng Yuan: Don't worry, Lin Jiang isn't the kind of person who's stingy.
Ah Deng: Really? He didn't yell at me! He must be the best captain in the world!
Ah Deng: Hey, Captain was right to let me choose Nightmare!
Zeng Yuan: I understand.
Ah Deng: Our captain has such a forward-thinking vision!
Zeng Yuan: I understand, I understand.
Ah Deng: Nightmare and cards are a perfect match! (Hands on hips) (Bravo)
Zeng Yuan: I'm tired of hearing about it.
Ah Deng: Just a daily sigh, my team has such good tempers!
Zeng Yuan: Wow, you haven't seen him lose his temper. During that final match when the team didn't coordinate well, he almost smashed the table afterward.
Ah Deng: You're slandering people. The captain isn't like that at all.
Zeng Yuan: ? ? ?
Ah Deng: I played duo queue with the captain again today.
Ah Deng: Say it out loud, I'm the one who has duo queued with the captain the longest in the team!
Zeng Yuan: ? You're a jungler, who else would he queue with if not you?
Ah Deng: Late at night, how can there be such a bad jungler like me? The captain must be devastated.
Zeng Yuan: No, you should practice hard.
Ah Deng: I think I'm no good, I'm so useless, I'm the most useless jungler in the world...
(Zeng Yuan wrote a short essay to comfort me for half an hour, but it was useless.)
Ah Deng: Yay! The captain just praised me for playing well! I can do it again!
Zeng Yuan: —?
Ah Deng: Brother Zeng Yuan...
Zeng Yuan: Say.
Ah Deng: Do you think the captain will replace me?
Zeng Yuan: No, no, no, I've said it eight hundred times. If he wanted to replace you, he wouldn't have asked me to give you pointers.
Ah Deng: As expected! No matter how many times I hear it, I'll still be moved!
Zeng Yuan: ………… (Please spare me, you dog!)
Lin Jiang flipped through the screenshots and couldn't help but laugh out loud. It seemed like there were two personalities inside Ah Deng's body.
On the surface, she is a lively, cheerful person who is quick to admit her mistakes.
Behind the scenes, she's an i person whose emotions fluctuate wildly and who gets emo late at night.
The contrast is simply too great.
Putting down his phone and watching the game on his computer, Lin Jiang had a new idea on his mind.
the next day.
The internal group chat exploded.
Durren: Good news, we're organizing a hiking trip this afternoon.
Zhou Wen: (Pupils tremble) Is this really good news?
Song Zhixu: What? Climbing mountains?
Song Zhixu: I can't! I don't want to! I'm not going!
Song Zhixu: Damn it, who organized such a vicious activity!
Lin Jiang replied: Me.
Song Zhixu retracted one message, then two more.
Then Zhou Wen also withdrew his own.
Durren: Since everyone agrees, let's go with this decision. ^^
As they prepared to depart in the afternoon, Song Zhixu and Zhou Wen huddled together and whispered, "The captain and Shen Ju had a falling out, and he's making fun of us. Hmph, good luck to everyone."
He had barely finished speaking when he saw Shen Ju carrying his backpack, straightening his shoelaces, and getting on the bus first.
No one wanted to offend Chen Ju, so they all obediently avoided his position.
Lin Jiang boarded the bus, glanced at the empty seats, casually placed his backpack in the front row, and counted the number of people. "Where's Ryan? Why isn't he here?"
Song Zhixu knew this and eagerly answered, "She didn't bring sunscreen; she went back to get it."
Lin Jiang raised an eyebrow. "You seem to know quite a lot."
A burst of laughter erupted in the car, and Song Zhixu immediately shut up, thinking he should have just rotted in his seat.
Once Ryan came up, everyone was there.
Lin Jiang casually found an empty seat and sat down, which happened to be across the aisle from Shen Ju.
Shen Ju was sleeping, and Lin Jiang was taking notes.
The pen accidentally fell to the ground, and he bent down to pick it up, and Shen Ju helped him pick it up as well.
When their hands touched, Lin Jiang realized that Shen Ju was pretending to be asleep.
Lin Jiang couldn't be bothered with this stubborn, unruly, and defiant dog.
He took the pen and continued writing.
Shen Ju buried his face in his hat again, and no one spoke a word the rest of the way.
Upon arrival at their destination, Duren gave some instructions, and then everyone began climbing on their own.
Shenju climbed the fastest, not waiting for anyone else.
Song Zhixu didn't want to fall behind, so he put all his effort into catching up.
Ryan couldn't climb at all, nor could Zhou Wen and Du Lun. The three of them formed an elderly group, leisurely strolling behind.
A-Deng and Zheng Yu were in the middle. They were good friends and their conversation eventually turned to Lin Jiang.
Zheng Yu asked him, "Do you not like this captain? It seems like you don't talk to him much."
A-Deng's pupils dilated in shock. "How is this possible? I..."
Before he could finish speaking, he saw Lin Jiang sitting up waiting for them. "I've been waiting for you for ages."
Ah Deng asked anxiously, "Captain, wait for me?"
Now, whenever Lin Jiang sees his face, he thinks of his various meme-worthy expressions and the phrase, "He must be the best captain in the world."
He coughed twice and looked at Zheng Yu, "Xiao Yu, go and take care of the new team leader, she climbs slowly."
"Okay." Zheng Yu turned back without hesitation.
Ah Deng was left behind. He looked at Shen Ju and the others who couldn't catch up ahead, and then at the slow-moving elderly group behind him. Even from two meters away, you could feel his unease.
Lin Jiang started to strike up a conversation, "Do you usually go hiking?"
Ah Deng quickly shook her head, "I don't climb much."
"Let's go this way." Lin Jiang led him along another path. "I haven't climbed in a long time, and I'm a little too tired to climb. I remember the last time I climbed here was with Zeng Yuan and the others."
Upon hearing "Zeng Yuan," A Deng relaxed a little. "Recently, Brother Zeng Yuan has taught me a lot of things."
He glanced at Lin Jiang furtively, then quickly looked away, afraid of being discovered. "I haven't thanked the captain yet for finding such a wonderful senior for me."
"I'm your captain, it's all I should do. Anyway, you can talk to me about anything you're thinking..."
The two chatted as they climbed, and soon exhausted their strength.
Halfway up the mountain, Ah Deng was a little tired, but he didn't dare to say anything and forced himself to climb up with Lin Jiang.
After the extreme exercise, the moment I climbed onto the platform, everything became clear and bright.
Before your eyes is a grandly decorated temple, surrounded by abundant incense smoke, emanating a sacred light of Buddhist nature.
Ah Deng never expected that Lin Jiang would bring him to a temple.
"This temple has a history of several hundred years, and its incense is very effective. Locals like to come here to pray for blessings."
Although he didn't know how it had to do with him, Ah Deng listened attentively.
He followed Lin Jiang inside, looking around curiously. The compassionate and majestic Buddha statue gave off a very solemn atmosphere, and no one dared to make a sound.
The air was filled with the scent of incense, and my mind gradually calmed down.
Ah Deng originally wanted to join in the prayers, but then he glanced at the price of the incense, which was at least 188 per bet.
I understand, Buddha doesn't save the poor.
Ah Deng quickly suppressed his thoughts and turned around to see that Lin Jiang had bought two tickets for "stupidity tax".
He whispered to him, "Captain, this price is outrageous."
Lin Jiang replied, "I think so too."
Then he added, "But Zeng Yuan said it was very effective. He used to trick me all the time, so I brought him here to pray, and then he helped me win two championships."
Ah Deng: !!!
Is this fragrance really that amazing?!
He quickly accepted the incense offered by Lin Jiang, his attitude instantly becoming devout, and he knelt down in obedience with a mixture of belief and doubt.
The existence of God depends on whether you believe in Him or not.
At this moment, Ah Deng still had some faith.
After finishing with Xiang Linjiang, he took him to draw lots. While drawing lots, A Deng kept thinking about the World Championship and whether Linjiang would leave.
When I looked at the result, it was the worst possible fortune.
Ah Deng's heart sank instantly.
The master was a Taoist priest over fifty years old. He squinted and looked at him for a long time. "When things reach their worst, they begin to turn around. This means that you are about to have a change of fortune."
The reversal was so sudden that Ah Deng stared at the fortune stick for a long time, but still couldn't figure it out.
Lin Jiang said mysteriously, "Fate is a very mysterious subject. Don't ask about it or study it. If you have any other questions, ask them now."
Ah Deng hesitated, "Then, is it possible for what I'm thinking of to come true?"
The old Taoist priest calculated with his fingers and said, "Fate is about cause and effect. You have already used up all your bad luck before, so from now on you will have smooth sailing and all your wishes will come true."
Whether it was true or not, Ah Deng believed it!
Unable to contain his excitement, he kept saying, "Captain, I think this temple is really effective!"
Lin Jiang smiled but remained silent.
When Lin Jiang brought Zeng Yuan here last time, he discovered that this Taoist priest had extra services.
He secretly slipped 200 yuan to the Taoist priest before the divination, believing that whatever the divination result was, it would ultimately be a good omen.
On the way back, Ah Deng shared this story with Zeng Yuan again.
Zeng Yuan was confused: Did Lin Jiang take me to worship Buddha? I can't remember.
Ah Deng: It was that time we went hiking! Didn't I take you hiking before?
Zeng Yuan vaguely remembered: "Oh, I think I climbed that mountain before. Let me tell you, there's an old swindler on that mountain, don't fall for his tricks..."
Ah Deng: (Blah blah blah, 200 words omitted) Anyway, it really works! No wonder you're my captain! You even managed to find such a remote temple that locals frequent!
Zeng Yuan was completely confused. He seemed to understand something and asked Lin Jiang uncertainly: You didn't take him to find that old swindler, did you?
Lin Jiang: Hmm. V200 solved all my troubles.
Zeng Yuan rubbed his forehead.
Lin Jiang, that old fox.
After climbing the mountain and returning to the base, everyone was exhausted, except for A-Deng, who fought alone in Summoner's Rift.
Lin Jiang pretended to accept the coffee, but secretly watched two rounds of games from behind.
Ah Deng's playing style has indeed become much more confident. Even if he can't out-steal from others, he will comfort himself: "It's okay, karma is a cycle. Once the bad luck is over, good luck will come when I play."
Lin Jiang left satisfied.
This was the most worthwhile $200 he had ever spent.
As I went upstairs to review the match, someone knocked on the door.
Lin Jiang got up and opened the door, only to see Shen Ju standing outside. "What's up?"
Shen Ju glanced at him, then put the milk tea in his hand on the windowsill and went downstairs to train.
—What does that mean?
Lin Jiang looked at the milk tea.
No ice, full sugar, and he even added his favorite milk jelly.
Lin Jiang really likes milk tea, but he doesn't usually show it. He only actively mentions his preference when Ryan asks him about it.
I didn’t expect Shen Ju to remember, and he even went downstairs to buy it for him.
Lin Jiang's anger subsided a little.
He sipped his milk tea and looked downstairs. Everyone was resting, but Shenju, that dog, was actually giving him extra training again.
Lin Jiang immediately decided to stay angry for two more days.
Ah Deng's performance has visibly improved. During the training matches, he made several bold attacks. As a newcomer, he has a unique and unconventional mindset, often catching his opponents off guard.
Sometimes, even with just a slight movement from Lin Jiang, Ah Deng would immediately understand his intention and follow up in an instant!
Before this, Lin Jiang and A Deng had played hundreds of duo matches, which unconsciously helped them develop a tacit understanding.
You should know that habits are a terrible thing.
Sometimes, before Ah Deng's mind could even process it, his hands were already on her.
After the scrim with WG, the opposing coach secretly probed Fang Luxing, asking him if they had changed their jungler.
Fang Luxing was also puzzled, "How did Ah Deng make such rapid progress?"
Lin Jiang smiled faintly, concealing his achievements and fame.
Back in the room for a second review, someone knocked on the door again.
Upon opening the door, it was Shen Ju again.
Without fail, he would place a cup of milk tea on the table and then go downstairs to train.
Lin Jiang held the milk tea, puzzled.
Why do you want to make up but won't say a word?
When Shen Ju brought milk tea for the third time, Lin Jiang couldn't help but call out to him, "Bringing milk tea every day, trying to make up?"
Shen Ju turned his head back briefly, then quickly looked away again, saying, "No." He then put his hat on and went downstairs to train.
Lin Jiang suddenly felt...
The netizens might be right.
Shen Ju is really not well-behaved at all!!
The training proceeded smoothly, during which Lin Jiang, accompanied by Lai An, went to the hospital once.
Dr. Cen praised him for taking good care of himself, and then casually asked, "Why didn't the other one come?"
Lin Jiang was also helpless. Once Shen Ju said he wouldn't listen, he really wouldn't listen, and not even nine oxen could pull him away.
He returned to the base and called Shen Ju to the rooftop for a heart-to-heart talk.
No matter what he said, Shen Ju never refuted it. But as soon as the topic of training volume came up, he immediately raised his head and said, "I think it's fine."
Lin Jiang looked at him.
He also looked at Lin Jiang.
The main character is someone who is unruly and defiant.
In the end, Lin Jiang gave in, saying, "I can leave the training to you, but you must make time to go to the hospital tomorrow."
Shen Ju was still hesitant, but seeing Lin Jiang's unfriendly look, he quickly nodded in agreement.
Lin Jiang's expression finally softened, and he gently patted his head. "Good boy, I'll be with you tomorrow."
Shen Ju nodded.
It turned into a well-behaved dog again.
Unfortunately, Lin Jiang received a notification the next day to reshoot the promotional video.
"Just me?"
"Yes, they said they'd send you over as their representative."
This reshoot is strange. Lin Jiang asked the captains of the other teams, and they had all received it too.
It's said that this reshoot was for the opening sequence, so each playoff team only invited one person, and the same goes for the other teams.
Lin Jiang arrived at the scene just in time, greeted all the familiar faces with practiced ease, and then saw Alike being filmed.
Suddenly feeling a bit unlucky (?)
After KUG lost last time, Alike quieted down for a while, and he didn't have that arrogant feeling when he met Lin Jiang this time.
Lin Jiang gets along well with people in the industry. After chatting for a bit, someone mentioned Alike: "He didn't originally want to come this time, but I heard it was KUG's boss who asked him to, so he obediently came."
What He Gu requested?
That's even stranger.
His family disagreed with him building KUG, and they communicated with him indirectly in many ways, creating a strange balance. It's very rare to see someone so blatant about it.
However, after seeing Alike, Lin Jiang understood a bit. He guessed that Alike was trying to salvage its reputation.
After Alike finished filming, it was Lin Jiang's turn.
As they brushed past each other, Alike glared at him fiercely, then, for some unknown reason, glanced behind her before quickly looking away.
Lin Jiang ignored him and went to film.
The movements were all pre-designed; he only needed to follow the photographer's instructions.
During the filming, he noticed that there were many more security guards around, who were moving around from time to time, creating an eerie and tense atmosphere.
Once filming was complete, the contestants were not allowed to linger and left one by one under the guidance of the staff.
After filming the first take, the second take required a change to a larger location.
Lin Jiang followed the photographer over; the lights dimmed, and the crowd became noisy.
As his eyes gradually adjusted to the darkness, Lin Jiang finally understood why Alike had been so well-behaved when he passed a corner.
Because He Gu sat there the whole time, watching them film.
Lin Jiang instantly felt a chill run down his spine.
A pampered young master who is also a clean freak and hates noise, and lives in a glass room, actually stepped into the scene himself and sat in a dirty and messy photography studio?
—He must be insane.
The surrounding area was full of equipment, and that road was the only way to get there.
Lin Jiang had no choice but to swallow his pride and go over, saying, "Excuse me, could you please move aside?"
He Gu changed his posture and made way for him.
Upon arriving at the second venue, the bright lights illuminated everything in the darkness once again.
Knowing that the other person is watching, but not knowing why they are watching, or what they are watching, makes the filming process a bit agonizing.
Many people outside the venue didn't recognize He Gu and were joking with Lin Jiang: "They say your girlfriend is very beautiful, but I don't believe it unless you show me a picture."
"Hahaha, I'm lucky enough to have seen her. She's a stunning beauty, but I didn't get a good look at her. Lin Jiang treasures her to death..."
Another brother came over and said, "Don't say that, or our Brother Yu will get upset."
All eyes were on Yu Ming. He had been forced to confess his feelings to Lin Jiang after losing a game, which gradually became a running joke in the circle.
Yu Ming nudged the person who spoke with his elbow and looked at Lin Jiang awkwardly, "They're just talking nonsense, don't take it to heart."
Lin Jiang smiled and said, "It's nothing, just a joke."
Yu Ming breathed a sigh of relief.
Actually, he lost the game that night, but he chose truth.
He was under the influence of alcohol at the time, and looking at Lin Jiang's quiet profile next to him, he suddenly found the courage from who-knows-where, put his hand on Lin Jiang's shoulder and confessed to him.
He still remembers the look of astonishment in Lin Jiang's eyes.
He held his hand, afraid that he would pounce on him.
Then someone laughed at him: "Yu Ming, you're a loser! Lin Jiang has a girlfriend! And he's straight!"
At that moment, Yu Ming's face turned red, and he really wished he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.
Everyone was laughing at him, and seeing that things were getting out of hand, Lin Jiang held his hand and said calmly, "He chose dare, why are you all getting so worked up?"
He casually tossed the card that read "Truth or Dare" back into the deck, and no one in the room doubted what Lin Jiang said. To this day, everyone still thinks it was a misunderstanding.
Thinking of all this, Yu Ming couldn't help but look at Lin Jiang again.
He was actually somewhat grateful to Lin Jiang and had never forgotten him.
Years have passed and Lin Jiang has grown even more attractive. Under the lights, no matter what pose he strikes, he exudes a unique and clean aura.
Two years later, seeing it again still makes my heart flutter.
Yu Ming clutched his wildly beating heart.
He felt like someone was watching him in the darkness. He turned around and saw that the person was wearing a black suit and had a wristwatch showing. He looked like a big shot who was not to be trifled with.
He looked away and waited for Lin Jiang to finish taking pictures. He couldn't help but step forward and ask him, "It's been a long time. Want to get together?"
Everyone else said, "Great, let's get together!"
Lin Jiang originally wanted to avoid suspicion, since Yu Ming was so eager to invite him, so he probably had some feelings for him.
Just as he was about to make an excuse, he caught a glimpse of someone standing up in the corner, and he quickly agreed, "Okay."
The person in the corner sat back down.
They changed to a more oppressive posture.
His expression was not visible in the darkness, but one could feel an overwhelming pressure looming over the studio.
After everyone finished filming, Lin Jiang packed up his things and left. Just as he got downstairs, he received another call: "Please come back up and film a few more scenes."
Why is he the only one who doesn't replenish his fluids?
Lin Jiang already suspected something was amiss with the reshoots, and now he's even more suspicious.
During this reshoot, He Gu was still sitting in the corner watching him.
Lin Jiang really didn't know what was wrong with him. After he finished shooting and packed up to leave, the photographer awkwardly came over to him again, "There are still a few more shots to be taken."
After he finished speaking, he glanced at the people in the corner, then looked at Lin Jiang with a troubled expression.
Lin Jiang finally understood.
He nodded politely, "I'm going to the restroom."
He calmly left, without taking his belongings, and just walked away.
I sent another message to the person in charge: I'm not feeling well and I'll go ahead. I'll notify the team leader to come and collect the items...
He typed away, only to find the only way out locked when he went downstairs.
To make such a big fuss just to talk to him, He Hu is indeed the same He Hu he knows who won't give up until he gets what he wants.
When he turned back, He Gu was already waiting for him.
Wearing a black suit, he naturally exudes an air of authority.
He simply looked at Lin Jiang quietly, and with a single word, "Let's talk," he had already locked away Lin Jiang's power as a superior.
The bodyguard took out the backpack he hadn't taken, and the staff pretended not to see it and left one after another.
Lin Jiang stared at He Gu for a long time, then glanced at the bodyguards behind him and realized that he really didn't have much of a chance of winning.
Having power and influence is great; you can talk to whomever you want.
Five minutes later, Lin Jiang got into He Gu's car.
He Gu raised the barrier to block the conversation.
Lin Jiang deliberately mocked him: "What important thing does Young Master He have to talk to me about? You've condescended to come to me four times already."
The back seats of the van were spacious and had a built-in refrigerator. He Gu slowly opened the wine bottle and poured him a glass of red wine.
"No, thank you."
He Gu didn't force him. He put down the wine bottle and sat down opposite him. "This is the way back for you. I'll only talk to you for 15 minutes."
Lin Jiang nodded, indicating that he was listening.
He discovered that He Gu could easily bring out the rebellious spirit deep within him.
He Gu opened the folder and put down a stack of documents. "I fired all the people who made decisions on their own, and I personally drafted all the contracts that made you unhappy. I signed Alike, I don't deny it, but I didn't think he was as good as you, nor did I think he would take your starting position. Of course, if you don't like him, I can find an opportunity to terminate your contract with him."
A brand new contract was laid out before Lin Jiang.
Lin Jiang believed that he had indeed revised the draft and had given him good treatment, but He Gu clearly did not understand what he cared about.
He threw the contract back at him, saying, "I know, I'm not interested."
He Gu was not in a hurry even though the negotiations failed.
He took a leisurely sip of his drink and continued the negotiation: "I know you want three championships, and OT doesn't meet your expectations. This is a data assessment I had many professionals do. OT is at best the third-best in the LPL, and at best, it will only reach the quarterfinals at Worlds. Even if you switch to another team, you'll need time to gel. You don't have many years to try and fail. KUG is the team you personally coached, and no team is more suitable for you."
Lin Jiang had also seen the data, but he didn't care. "I know."
He Gu looked at him, feeling for the first time so uncertain in front of Lin Jiang.
He lowered his gaze, slowly removed the gold-rimmed glasses from his nose, casually placed them on the table, and loosened his cuffs. "Lin Jiang, you're acting on emotion."
Lin Jiang felt that the person least qualified to say that was He Gu.
He smiled nonchalantly, the light reflecting off his head casting a cool glow on his pupils. "If I hadn't acted on my emotions, there wouldn't be a KUG now."
Back then, KUG faced a hostile takeover, and its stock was sold off in large quantities, causing its market value to almost fall below the critical point. Due to the pressure from his family, no one in the industry dared to lend a helping hand.
It was Lin Jiang's emotional decision that enabled him to complete an almost impossible gamble, and it was his strong leadership that led KUG to win two championships and achieve a comeback to first place.
He Gu knew.
He knows everything.
He simply wanted to downplay Lin Jiang's role so that he could get out of that unrealistic dream more quickly.
But the result was...
He simply can't get out of it.
He Gu's hands were clenched tightly, the veins on his wrists clearly visible. He suppressed his emotions and asked him humbly, "What will it take for you to come back?"
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