Although Li Ze's match-fixing revenge incident was finally properly handled, Team E still inevitably suffered a series of negative impacts.
The clarification statement is not enough to convince everyone. There are still people online questioning whether they colluded with Li Ze to fix the game, or whether Li Ze is actually just a scapegoat.
Team E, which couldn't enter the autumn competition, was like a has-been-outdated courtesan with few visitors. Then, an ironic thing happened: a peripheral brand came to Winter's base to discuss endorsement with Crystal. Lin Meng, who was upstairs, heard the person in charge smilingly assuring Crystal that they had terminated the contract with Team E and that there would be no legal disputes.
Lin Meng was lying on the railing outside the training room, listening, not knowing what to feel. Perhaps this was the norm in the business world, flattering the powerful and trampling on the weak in pursuit of traffic, and wherever there was money, there was heaven.
This was probably more than just the investment and sponsorship Team E had lost. Lin Meng rested her chin on one hand, flipping her phone with the other, thinking, "Isn't God Mo worth anything?" Even if God Mo's shot went astray, he still had his charm, right? Even for God Mo's sake, she shouldn't be so heartless!
But... Yu Mo has been elusive these days, and no one knows what he went home for.
Soon, she had no time to think about these things because the autumn season officially began.
The regular season schedule was packed, with group stage matches unfolding one after another, with each team taking turns competing, and wins and losses determined by points. Without the competition from Team E, SN remained firmly in first place in terms of total points. Winter, on the other hand, swept through the first round of group matches, securing a top-three cumulative point total within their group, becoming a true dark horse.
As Winter's C-position sniper, Lin Meng was the most dazzling MVP of the game. While she was in charge of Winter's command strategy, her command strategy was flexible and changeable, and her sniping was steady, accurate and ruthless. When playing against XQ, she ran and shot at the same time, and her three consecutive kills were astonishing. The commentator was speechless and said that he had never seen such a reckless sniper.
Later, when Lin Meng was interviewed, she was asked why she suddenly jumped out to fight someone. After thinking for a moment, she replied, "Because I made a bet with Yi Gang."
"What bet?" the host asked curiously.
Lin Meng coughed, hesitated for a moment, and finally answered honestly, "The aunt at our base is on annual leave, so there's no one cleaning the place. He drank milk tea and didn't take out the trash. Even after I scolded him, he still refused to accept it. Then he said that if his kill count was lower than mine, he would take on the entire base's duty."
Someone in the background said: "... Damn, she's telling the truth!"
The host, who was suddenly exposed, was overjoyed: "Hahahahahahaha God, I really can't imagine that the reason why the Lemon God was so angry was because of this. Then I can only say to Yigang, thank you for your hard work."
Lin Meng, a tough and quiet e-sports beauty, quickly became popular. Whether in appearance, business or gimmicks, she showed huge commercial value. Countless advertising endorsements and interview promotion activities extended olive branches to her, and Crystal was overwhelmed to handle them all.
"If you can make it to the semifinals this time, I'll raise your signing fee when we officially sign!" He had a serious talk with Lin Meng and said cheerfully, "From two million to eight million."
"What does eight million mean?" Lin Meng asked.
"The Peace Maze team's signing fee is five million." Crystal said, "Since you're a young girl, playing professionally isn't easy, so we'll give you a little more. If you perform well later, we'll give you more bonuses."
Lin Meng nodded without any extra comments.
In fact, she has no idea about the amount of money. When she was playing, she was not short of money. She did not pursue high-end consumption such as luxury goods. As long as she had enough food and clothing, there seemed to be no difference between 10,000 yuan and 100,000 yuan.
Crystal also likes her for not being petty. He says that he is not a harsh manager. As long as Lin Meng is obedient and plays well in the game, he will definitely give Lin Meng generous benefits in the future.
Lin Meng habitually shared this matter with Yu Mo.
Yu Mo replied quickly: [Congratulations, Mengshen. Although Crystal is a bit effeminate, he's a very kind person. You can trust him.]
Lin Meng would only be completely relieved when Yu Mo said yes to these things. At this time, she couldn't help but start to miss Yu Mo.
"What have you been doing lately? I see Panda and the others hanging out in the game all the time. Why haven't you been online?" she asked.
[I'm on a business trip recently and want to go overseas to see if there are any suitable talents to fill the gap.] Yu Mo's words were full of teasing: [What? Are you worried that I'll become a novice because I don't train you?]
[I didn't mean that.] Having her thoughts exposed, Lin Meng felt a little embarrassed: [If you are busy, I won't bother you.]
Yu Mo: [Good night.]
Lin Meng let out a long breath and fell back on the bed with his arms and legs spread out.
She looked at the ceiling, her mind a mess of thoughts.
Her career was flourishing, and she seemed to be on a path that she once thought was very ideal.
But she always felt lost, and felt that Yu Mo seemed to be getting further and further away from her...
He was very mysterious, as if he was hiding something and didn't want to tell her.
She rolled over in bed and sighed helplessly.
Yu Mo was several years older than her. While she was still biting a pen and doing some calculations, Yu Mo had already started handling a series of affairs such as interpersonal relationships and business in the team. There was a huge gap in life experience between her and Yu Mo, so...
Lin Meng thought that she had no way to deal with Yu Mo.
After the regular season, Team Winter successfully entered the quarterfinals and ranked very high. Crystal was overjoyed and called the entire team out that night and booked a table at a high-end Michelin restaurant for a celebratory banquet.
"We have to play well in the playoffs!" Crystal said with high morale, "Keep this up! We're going to make it to the finals!"
"Cheers, cheers!" Maze raised the champagne and was about to pour it for Lin Meng: "LEMON! Our Lemon God! Come on, come on, I have to toast you!"
Lin Meng: "I don't drink!" She looked around: "I want to drink milk."
"Hey Lemon, you can't always drink milk. You have to learn to drink some wine." Crystal said, "What adult doesn't know how to drink?"
Lin Meng took the wine glass hesitantly, took a sip, and immediately frowned: "Ugh, it doesn't taste good."
Crystal: "Try drinking a little. Champagne is just like a carbonated drink, not very strong."
"Yeah, yeah, sparkling wine is for fun!" Mr. Dan said, "Look, we haven't even served you the red wine yet."
Lin Meng had never been very enthusiastic about socializing, and she had even less of a fondness for drinking culture. Her phone rang at this moment, and she raised it, refusing it at the right moment, "I'm going to answer it. You guys drink first."
After saying that, she pushed the chair away and walked towards the bathroom.
The person who called was actually Guo Bo.
Lin Meng was a little surprised. Guo Bo hadn't contacted her for a long time.
She was busy, and Guo Bo was probably busy too, but their friendship was there, and they didn't need frequent contact to prove the existence of their friendship, so she didn't take it too seriously.
Walking to a quiet place, she answered the phone.
"Hello?"
"Brother Meng..." Guo Bo's voice sounded on the other end.
Lin Meng was stunned. Guo Bo's voice was hoarse and weak, and she almost didn't hear it.
"Boss Guo, you—" she blurted out, "What's wrong with your throat?"
"Oh, I've been up all night." Guo Bo said, "Brother Meng, are you free now? I want to see you... I have something to tell you..."
Lin Meng was stunned for a moment and turned to look at the bustling celebration party over there.
"I'm free." She said, "Where are you? I'll come find you."
Guo Bo reported a location, Lin Meng agreed, and then went to ask Crystal for leave.
Crystal was a little surprised that she would miss the celebration party, but she didn't care about her and just told her to "be careful".
Lin Meng turned around and left the restaurant, then took a taxi to the location Guo Bo gave her.
While driving, it started to rain outside.
It was late autumn and approaching winter, and the temperature in the air had begun to freeze people. Lin Meng left in a hurry without an umbrella. She looked at the raindrops winding down the car window glass and felt a gloom in her heart.
Guo Bo only gave her a landmark, but did not tell her where to stay nearby. You know, when Boss Guo met with people in the past, he would either go to a restaurant or a cafe.
The car stopped at the traffic light.
Lin Meng leaned against the car window, looking out bored. Suddenly, through the foggy window glass, she saw a person standing on the side of the road.
The man was wearing a dark hooded sweater with a hood, his hands in his pockets, his upper body hunched over, standing alone in the continuous cold rain.
The lights on the roadside flashed by, and Lin Meng almost thought she was seeing things.
She suddenly rolled down the car window, and the cold wind and rain poured in, like a razor blade, cutting her face painfully. However, she seemed not to feel it, and regardless of anything, she stuck her head out and yelled, "Guo Bo!"
Guo Bo, who was standing on the crosswalk, was stunned for a moment, then raised his head and looked over blankly.
Lin Meng's heart was in turmoil.
"Stop the car!" she shouted to the driver.
"But we haven't reached our destination yet..."
"I'll get off here!" Lin Meng said anxiously.
As soon as the car door opened, she plunged into the rain and ran to the roadside, stepping on the water.
Guo Bo stared at her blankly, his lips trembling violently.
"Boss Guo!" Lin Meng ran up to him, grabbed his arm, and said in disbelief: "Boss Guo, why are you here? What's wrong with you—"
"Brother Meng." When Guo Bo saw her, it was like he saw a life-saving straw. His eyes instantly turned red. He trembled and grabbed Lin Meng's wrist, holding it tightly: "Brother Meng, you are finally here! Save me, please save me!"
"What?"
"Our family is bankrupt." Guo Bo said incoherently: "They deceived my father and dragged my father into prison. All our family's money was spent, but he was still not rescued... Our family has no money left, Brother Meng, not a penny... I don't know what to do, Brother Meng, what should I do!" Guo Bo's tears came down as he spoke, and finally he slowly knelt down and cried loudly on the side of the road.
Lin Meng was speechless for a moment. She could only hold Guo Bo with all her strength. Only then did she realize that Guo Bo had lost a lot of weight. His cheeks were sunken, there were fine lines of fatigue around his eyes, and his chin was covered with stubble. This boy who had always been so arrogant had been playing with her for many years. Even if he failed the exams, he would always laugh and say, "Brother Meng, I will take you to fly when I become rich." He would indeed think of her whenever something good happened, and he even dreamed of forming a team for her.
The lawless Guo Bo was crying miserably and sloppily at this moment, like a helpless child.
"Brother Meng, you are the only one I have... You are the only one I have..." Guo Bo murmured and repeated these words.
Lin Meng hugged him tightly, trying her best to warm him with her body temperature.
On a rainy night, the streets were deserted. Occasionally someone hurried past, but they would just look at them twice with an umbrella in hand, without stopping. Such a lonely and desolate scene made Lin Meng recall the days after she was expelled from Kars.
She was lost and depressed, with nowhere to confide in. If Guo Bo hadn't taken her to start playing for her, she might have...
She didn't know what would happen to her.
Guo Bo helped me when I was at the lowest point in my life. Now that he has encountered difficulties, it is my turn to help him. There is no reason to stand by and watch him die.
"Come, let's not get wet in the rain." She pulled Guo Bo to the eaves of a closed store and wiped Guo Bo's face with her sleeves. She found that her clothes were almost wet as well, so this action was of no use.
"Well, Boss Guo, you go home first—"
"I have no home." Guo Bo murmured, "Our house has been mortgaged..."
Lin Meng was stunned: "So what have you been doing these days..."
"I slept in the subway station..." Guo Bo wiped his nose with his hand: "I wanted to contact you before, but it seemed like you were playing in the group stage..."
Lin Meng felt uncomfortable.
"If you have something, just call me earlier!" She stamped her feet and said, "Wait for me here! Don't go anywhere, okay?"
Lin Meng booked a hotel room for Guo Bo and bought him some daily necessities. The two of them quickly dried their clothes. Lin Meng ordered some takeout and watched Guo Bo wolf down the food.
After a short break, Lin Meng asked, "What exactly happened?"
Guo Bo sniffed. "Before... the company we signed a contract with was a shell company... They evaded taxes and asked my dad to form a joint venture, but they were actually looking for someone to take the blame..."
"All our relatives have stopped associating with us... Now I just want to pay off my debts and get my dad out of jail," Guo Bo said tearfully. "I don't want to do business anymore. I don't want to make a fortune. I just want to live a good life with my dad..."
Lin Meng bit her lip.
"How much money do you still need?" She said in a deep voice, "I'll help you find a solution."
"Still short..." Guo Bo muttered, "30 million short."
Lin Meng still had no concrete idea of the amount of 30 million.
She flipped through one of her previous bank cards, which contained the money she had saved while taking on the substitute job, and found that there was only about 200,000 yuan in it.
Lin Meng was shocked. She had thought she was rich enough to rival a country, but she only saved this little money!
By the way, didn’t Crystal say she wanted to increase her signing fee?
Eight million.
Lin Meng thought, although there is still a long way to go between eight million and thirty million, it seems... from this perspective, thirty million is still an achievable goal?
The next day, Lin Meng went to find Crystal.
"Do you want to increase the signing fee?" Crystal took a deep breath, raised her narrow fox eyes, and looked at Lin Meng inquiringly.
"Yes." Lin Meng's confidence was a little lacking.
"I mentioned eight million before, and you agreed." Crystal stood up to close the office door, then sat back down, crossed her legs, and said quietly, "I've already drafted the contract, and I'm just waiting for you to sign it."
"I... haven't I signed it yet?" Lin Meng tried to appear calm and composed. "I'm still considering it. I'm short of money lately, so I want to raise the price. I can sign a longer contract at once—"
"Long timer?" Crystal thought for a moment and frowned, "Did you borrow money from a loan shark?"
"No!" Lin Meng said, "Can't I just buy something I want?"
"Young girl, don't spend money lavishly like those prodigals." Crystal said earnestly, "Saving money is still necessary. When the time is right, buy a house—"
"Oh, I understand all this, you don't need to tell me!" Lin Meng was anxious.
"Then how much do you want to mention?" Crystal raised her eyebrows.
"Thirty million." Lin Meng said.
Crystal stared at her for two seconds.
"Thirty million." He repeated: "Thirty million?"
"Is there any problem?" Lin Meng asked.
"When Xingshen was poached from me, he was at the height of his career," Crystal said slowly. "At that time, he was a well-known support in the national server, and his signing fee was only 20 million."
Lin Meng's throat choked slightly.
"What makes you think you're worth 30 million?" Crystal sneered. "Lemon, you're a talented player. I'm more tolerant of you than I am of others, but don't challenge my authority." He tapped the edge of the table with his fingers. "Ten million, for a five-year contract. That's my bottom line. If you can accept that, then accept it."
Lin Meng lowered her eyes, thought for a moment, and whispered, "Brother C, I'd better think about it again."
Lin Meng returned to the training room absentmindedly.
Several teammates were chatting and training there. When they saw her walk into the training room, they greeted her one by one.
Lin Meng walked to his seat and sat down. He hesitated for a moment, then turned his head and said, "Peace."
"Hmm?" Heping, who was playing ranked, responded without turning around, "What's up?"
"Do you have 30 million?" Lin Meng said.
"No!" Heping said openly, "I sent half of my salary back to help my brother build a house. Now I only have about a million yuan left."
Lin Meng: "Oh..." She looked across again: "Yi Gang, do you have 30 million?"
"If I had 30 million, would I still be training here?" Yi Gang, who was on a losing streak, angrily replied, "Damn, these idiots."
Lin Meng: "...Maze."
"Maybe I'll have 30 million by the time I become a God of Devil." Maze sighed, "Brother Shi seems to have some, probably his wife's money, but he seems to have used it to buy funds?"
Xiao Shi rolled her eyes: "You don't understand financial management."
Lin Meng: "Brother Shi, can you please borrow——"
Xiao Shi said coldly, "My dear wife, I will chop anyone who touches me."
Lin Meng: “…”
Well, she seemed to have a more concrete understanding of the concept of 30 million.
Lin Meng took some time out at noon to visit Guo Bo, fearing that he might have an accident.
Guo Bo kept making phone calls. Although there was no result, he didn't seem to be going to give up. He was extremely anxious.
Lin Meng sighed and wondered where she could get the money in such a short time.
Yu Mo?
Yu Mo should be able to come up with 30 million...
When this thought came to mind, Lin Meng felt hesitant.
In fact, she didn't know much about Yu Mo's financial resources. Everyone said he was rich, but how rich was he? When he was the God of Mo, he was very rich. Now that he has fallen from the altar, can he still be so rich?
Besides, Team E’s recent situation must be a cold winter, right?
Borrowing money from him at this time...
Lin Meng shook her head.
Yu Mo wouldn't mind, she told herself.
Considering the relationship between Yu Mo and me, it has already surpassed that of ordinary people. They have been through so many things together. I think he shouldn't mind borrowing some money.
Besides, she will work hard, save money, and try to pay it back.
Thinking of this, Lin Meng made up his mind and prepared to call Yu Mo.
Lin Meng always felt that it would be bad if Crystal found out when she made this call in the base. She thought for a long time, then secretly left Winter's base with her phone in her pocket.
She was very nervous and went to the pedestrian street to buy a cup of hot egg milk. While drinking it, she was thinking about how to talk to Yu Mo later. She was so engrossed in her thoughts that she didn't notice a bright black car braked behind her.
The car window rolled down, and Lin Meng heard a man's deep voice coming from behind.
"MENG, I didn't expect to meet you here."
Lin Meng was slightly stunned.
MENG.
This name...
She turned around suddenly and saw a strange yet familiar face hanging by the car window.
He was a middle-aged man in his forties or fifties, with a hooked nose, shiny hair, and shrewd eyes. From his car to his people, he exuded the smell of money of a businessman.
"Tang...Tang..." Lin Meng's lips twitched slightly, and the paper cup of custard in her hand was wrinkled by her.
"No, I should call you Mengshen now." Tang Jinhai said cheerfully, "I never thought that MENG would have such a glorious day today. It's my fault for not having good vision and wasting precious time."
Lin Meng didn't want to say even one more word to this bastard businessman, so she turned around and left.
"Are you short of money?" Tang Jinhai asked calmly, "You look like you want to borrow money from someone. Who? Silence?"
This guy was the epitome of cunning and insidious. Lin Meng had guessed what he was thinking. Although she wanted to stay away from this beast, she couldn't help but pause.
"Are you so close to Silence?" Tang Jinhai smiled meaningfully.
"That's how close we are, and you have a problem with that?" Lin Meng was furious and turned around and scolded, "If you have a problem, keep it to yourself!"
"I have no objection." Tang Jinhai said, "I'm just worried that Silence might have an opinion about you, so I'm just giving you a kind reminder."
Lin Meng's pupils shrank.
"He won't have any problem with me." She said word by word, "He and I are family, unlike you."
Tang Jinhai shrugged.
"My relationship with him wasn't exactly close," he said, "but at least it was a stable relationship sustained by money. The term 'close friend' is too vague. Whether others believe it or not, I don't." Tang Jinhai shook his head. "For example, in some cases, he would tell me the person he was dealing with, but not the 'close friend'."
Lin Meng's pupils suddenly shrank.
"What's going on?" Her voice couldn't help but tremble. "I don't know what's going on with him."
"Let me think about it." Tang Jinhai sighed and said calmly, "For example, did he ever tell you about his hand injury?"
"Tang, get off my feet!" said my stepmother, holding the pot lid on her head. Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or provided me with nutrient solution between 2019-11-27 22:44:33 and 2019-11-28 22:30:14~
Thanks to the little angels who provided nutrient solution: Wen Xiaonuan 521 64 bottles; Jiuzi 2 bottles; Nanai 1 bottle;
Thank you very much for your support. I will continue to work hard!
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