/
Lu Youshan didn’t know that Yu Zhaohan had looked for Alligator, and he still couldn’t forget about Alligator, so he urged Old Tan to contact ZC’s manager.
“This matter is easily manageable,” Old Tan said, “The owner of ZC is now all about making money. As long as the price we offer satisfies him, even the head coach of ZC would be sold.”
Yu Zhaohan said: “Alligator won’t come to R.H, at least not this season.”
Lu Youshan stared at him: “How do you know?”
Yu Zhaohan pretended to be coercive: “Intuition.”
“Ah?” Old Tan was somewhat puzzled, “Before when you asked me for ZC’s address, I thought you wanted to talk to them in person. Wasn’t that the case?”
Yu Zhaohan smoothly defused this little misunderstanding, “Meeting him was to validate my intuition.”
Old Tan pretended to understand, “Oh, I see.”
Old Tan thought to himself: It’s been a while since Shine got a haircut. His hair is almost covering his eyes. Shine looks really handsome.
Lu Youshan was still not giving up, thinking about seizing the opportunity to snatch Alligator. However, Old Tan took him back to his room to cool down by force.
With Alligator not able to come to R.H, Old Tan felt regretful, “Coaches like Alligator, who dare to innovate and have an optimistic mindset, are really hard to come by. Without him, we’ll have to continue with the players’ psychological work.”
Yu Zhaohan said, “That’s enough.”
The next match for R.H was against Cobra. One team was at the top of the Eastern Division, while the other was struggling on the edge of the playoffs. Theoretically, R.H should have no pressure winning the match. But the R.H players were still practicing intensively. In Cheese’s words, if they couldn’t even defeat Cobra 3-0, they would be so embarrassed to play practice matches with the ZC brothers, let alone post on Weibo.
A few days before the match, fans on Weibo were as anxious as fathers waiting outside the delivery room.
[Can’t wait, can’t wait. Why isn’t Saturday here yet?]
[The last game was against Guangzhou ZC, and the next game was against Shanghai R.H. Are you happy, Busan Cobra Esports Club?]
[Looking forward to R.H avenging their brother team!]
[Suggesting R.H to use the strategy “use the enemy’s strengths against them,” then Cobra will just capture points without killing anyone. Are you listening, R.H?]
[No way, why should R.H avenge ZC? If ZC still has some backbone, they should take a victory against the second-to-last team in the next match and come back with a win.]
In the evening, R.H had a practice match against ZC. ZC was out of the playoffs this season, so they were waiting until next year to face R.H in official matches. Alligator didn’t have to worry about revealing tactics. They played whatever they wanted against R.H. After three maps, R.H easily secured three points.
Lu Youshan showed them the data of everyone in the training match. Cheese looked at his healing amount every ten minutes, bit his nails, and said, “Strange, I remember not healing this much against ZC before.”
“It’s not surprising,” Shi Du said, “C’s new tactics against tanks make it a bit tough for Stone. He’s losing health quickly, so of course, you have to heal more.”
A sense of weariness filled Stone’s face, like someone who had just been released from jail. “My blood line today was as thrilling as a roller coaster. several times I almost lost blood.”
Yu Zhaohan said: “ZC’s focus fire was on point today.”
“More than just on point!” Cheese was like a proud mother, “Their long-range shots feel amazing too. A headshot rate of 50, which is above average in the league!”
Shi Du browsed through his friends’ list of in-game activities. “I have a friend who specializes in long-range shots for ZC. He’s been practicing for more than twelve hours a day these past few days.”
Stone took a sharp breath, “How can we compete with that?”
Qi Xian, who had been observing the match, curiously asked, “Did someone give them a shot of chicken blood1A slang term for boosting performance?”
Yu Zhaohan was secretly delighted.
There was no chicken blood, only the script. He knew that his script would not go wrong, and Shi Du had the nerve to criticize his script.
After the usual training session ended, everyone except Qi Xian voluntarily stayed in the training room for additional practice. Qi Xian had also intended to continue practicing but was driven away by a cold look from Yu Zhaohan.
Shi Du used an alternate account to solo-queue and practice the Ice Maiden hero. As Yu Zhaohan passed by his position, he paused for three minutes, pondering, “The tank on the opposite side’s positioning and movement resemble Qi Xian’s.”
Shi Du hadn’t paid much attention, but after Yu Zhaohan mentioned it, it did seem that way.
Yu Zhaohan asked, “What’s his ID?”
Shi Du: “
Qi.”
Yu Zhaohan smirked, “Go.”
“Go where?”
“I’ll play this match for you, you go scold him,” Yu Zhaohan lowered his voice, “and let the team physical therapist take a look at Qi Xian’s hand.”
Shi Du chuckled, “Why don’t you scold him yourself?”
Yu Zhaohan said in a voice that only Shi Du could hear: “Because I can’t bear it.”
Qi Xian trained while sick, Yu Zhaohan didn’t have the heart to talk to him coldly.
The door of Qi Xian’s room was locked, Shi Du used his voice to prove that he was himself, and Qi Xian opened the door for him while waiting for his resurrection.
Qi Xian knew Shi Du’s alternate account, so he was a little surprised to see him at this moment: “Aren’t you on the opposite team?”
Shi Du smiled: “What do you think brother?”
Qi Xian understood it after thinking about it, and said helplessly, “Captain can even recognize that, terrifying.”
“Yes,” Shi Du said with pride in his tone, “Are you surprised?”
Yu Zhaohan might be slow in some aspects of life, but in their professional domain, he was always the cleverest partner.
The awaited day came. On Saturday, R.H faced Cobra in a match held at the Seoul Olympic Park.
Having played many away games2A game played at an opponent’s ground in their home, R.H had experienced a fair number of away matches. No matter where they played, they had plenty of fans cheering for them, and the environment and language were familiar. However, when playing matches abroad, they didn’t receive the same treatment.
In the huge E-sports arena, only one-tenth of the audience supported R.H. They heard Korean, saw Korean, and sometimes, their eyes met with the gaze of Cobra’s fans. Being treated with indifference was considered lucky; some fans even added mocking gestures.
“Put on your headphones,” Yu Zhaohan emphasized before the match, “Stay focused on the game. Pretend Cobra’s fans don’t exist.”
Shi Du laughed: “Nah, causing trouble when no one’s watching is less fun.”
“Are you really going to make trouble?” Cheese said excitedly, “What are you going to do? Count me in!”
Yu Zhaohan hesitated.
As Yuyu, he especially wants to see Shi Du mess with Cobra; however, as a mature and responsible captain, he should probably stop such behavior promptly and educate Shi Du that he didn’t need to lower himself to gross out Cobra.
In the end, he just said in a warning tone: “Timeless, remember your limits.”
Shi Du: “Don’t worry, let’s win the match first.”
The gap in strength between Cobra and R.H couldn’t be bridged solely through home advantage. The throats of Cobra’s fans were nearly hoarse from shouting, but Cobra was still being pressed down by R.H.
Ten seconds into the game, Cobra’s Virus stealthily left the base. Despite having no vision at all, Shine predicted the Virus’s movement, and with a blind headshot from his sniper rifle, he secured First Kill.
During a 4v4 mid-game team fight, to evade Timeless’s ultimate, the four members of Cobra were forced to squeeze into a small room for refuge. At the doorway, Timeless dropped a mech bomb, achieving his first Quadrupal Kill of the season.
Half an hour into the match, Cobra’s assassin was counter-killed by Cheese, the support player. Cheese faced his corpse and furiously typed “Hello” and “I’m sorry.”
In the beginning, when R.H won team fights, Cobra’s fans would jeer and boo. However, towards the end, they seemed to lose the energy to jeer; they sat silently like chickens. R.H fans, outnumbered tenfold, successfully took over the job of setting the atmosphere in the venue, exuding the aura of a home crowd.
The fans in the live broadcast room were so excited that the barrage of comments flew by.
[Ah, I’m so excited! This is so satisfying!]
[Damn it, I want to watch R.H thrash the noobs again, but I don’t want the match to end so quickly. Who understands me?]
[Am I the only one who thinks Timeless is being too modest? He actually didn’t dance around the corpse!]
[Timeless has the last map left. If you don’t cause some trouble now, I’ll look down on you.]
[Even Jiang liked the commentators’ Weibo posts about this incident, Cheese used emojis to mock, but Timeless didn’t do anything]
[Little brother was not like this before. I watched the famous scene where he mocked TCO last season every day, which effectively increased my tolerance for idiots]
[Timeless seems to have changed after transferring to R.H, and he doesn’t make much trouble anymore]
[Nothing we can do, Captain’s rules are too strict ]
For the third map selection, Cobra chose their home map—Busan.
Cheese: “Captain, are we sticking with the old lineup for this round?”
Before Yu Zhaohan could answer, he saw Shi Du lock in Ice Maiden. This was the first time Shi Du brought out Ice Maiden in an official match this season.
Cheese: “Oh ho? Little brother, are you serious?”
Shi Du: “Divide and conquer, you guys do your thing, no need to worry about me.”
Qi Xian: “The Ice Maiden is just a functional assassin, your damage output won’t be too high.”
Shi Du: “That’s someone else’s Ice Maiden.”
So, it was time for Yu Zhaohan to make up his mind again.
Watching Shi Du practice Ice Maiden for a week, Yu Zhaohan was sure that Shi Du’s Ice Maiden could easily dominate Cobra.
Yu Zhaohan quickly decided, “Timeless, find your own healing packs, Cheese won’t give you resources.”
Shi Du grinned, “Sure thing.”
After two rounds, Cobra had been sticking to a four-man formation. Choosing to divide into a 3-1 split meant that they would face a 3v4 in the frontal team fight. But when the team fight truly erupted, Cobra had only three members.
It wasn’t strange for them to have fewer members in the frontal fight. What was strange was that the missing member wasn’t the off-lane responsible for flanking and taking high positions, but the tank that should be leading the charge. There were no kill notifications on the screen, indicating that Cobra’s tank was still alive.
Cheese: “Did Timeless see Cobra’s tank?”
Shi Du: “You guys take the point first.”
R.H didn’t play the trick of “kill without taking the point”; they won team fights and then took the point. With the target point secured, Yu Zhaohan directed his teammates to set up an ambush on the path that Cobra must pass through to reach the point. This was when they finally saw the missing Cobra tank from the team fights.
The tank was frozen into an ice sculpture by the Ice Maiden’s ice gun, let alone using skills, he couldn’t even move. The freeze effect lasted for a whole second. This time was more than enough for Shi Du to burst the tank’s head, but he performed a “freeze without killing” act.
He froze Cobra’s tank in place, making him helplessly watch his teammates die, unable to do anything. Cobra’s tank clenched his lips tightly, enduring until the freeze effect wore off, then immediately launched a counterattack.
Ice Maiden was a bit of a glass cannon, and she didn’t have any mobility skills. She was a close-range hero. One full combo followed by a few basic attacks was enough for the tank to counter-kill Ice Maiden.
Qi Xian: “Timeless, hold on, I’m coming to support.”
Shi Du: “I told you not to worry about me.”
The Ice Maiden, a hero without movement skills, was slipperier than a loach in Shi Du’s hands. He wielded her ice gun closely to the enemy, dancing around them, dodging left and right, jumping up and crouching down. With his agile movements, he perfectly dodged all the enemy’s attacks, freezing them once again.
Cheese burst into amazing laughter: “Damn, that’s so ruthless! Timeless is going to freeze all of Busan’s bamboo shoots! “
Qi Xian sighed: “My brother is too good at playing, I can’t compare.”
Shi Du was very modest: “You’re too kind, Brother Xian, you’re pretty skilled too.”
Yu Zhaohan suppressed the corners of his lips that were about to curl up: “Quiet.”
When the other three members of Cobra were about to be resurrected, Shi Du eliminated the tank with a single shot sending him back to the esurrection point to regroup with his teammates.
In the next few rounds of team battles, Shi Du sent cold blessings from the Ice Maiden to everyone in Cobra. Busan seemed to have turned into a massive ice sculpture exhibition for Cobra.
The progress of capturing point B reached 95, and Cobra was wiped out. The domestic commentators congratulated R.H for securing a 3:0 victory.
The four R.H members stood on the point, their mechs forming a heart shape. Cheese’s Mercy struck a selfie pose, and Shine’s sniper calmly closed his scope.
Timeless’s Mei unleashed her ultimate ability into thin air, while on the public screen typing in Korean: [You think you’re the only ones who can abuse?]
All four of Cobra’s mouths were pale with anger, and Tank’s lips were still peeling. Old Tan watched nervously from below the stage as the eight players took turns shaking hands, fearing they might start fighting.
The few R.H fans in the audience screamed Shi Du’s id.
Timeless, Timeless, Timeless
 Timeless, Timeless, Timeless
 The waves of cheers completely drowned out Cobra’s fans’ protests, almost lifting the roof with their fervor, heating up Yu Zhaohan’s heart.
Amidst the chanting of “Timeless,” Yu Zhaohan turned to look at Shi Du.
Shi Du, who had successfully shown off, was being arrogant and domineering, his eyes reflecting the glow of youth and inexperience. But it was strange; Yuyu just loved watching.
Someone shouted, “Everyone, go check out Timeless’s Weibo! Damn it—!”
Old Tan’s heart skipped a beat, hurriedly logged into Weibo, only to be met with a dark screen.
The R.H quartet came down from the stage with their merchandise in hand and saw Old Tan rushing toward them. “Timeless! You’re really either not stirring up trouble at all or stirring it up massively!”
Qi Xian smiled and said, “I think it’s not that big a deal. Just some ordinary newbie crushing.”
“Yeah, exactly,” Cheese firmly sided with Shi Du, “We didn’t stall time, and if Cobra’s skills had been a little more accurate, we wouldn’t have had a ‘Frozen Art Exhibition’ to enjoy.”
Old Tan laughed in exasperation, “Go check his Weibo!”
Yu Zhaohan opened Weibo and saw that Shi Du had posted a status at 19:0. At that time, the match had just started, so Shi Du couldn’t have posted it manually; it was scheduled in advance.
[R.H Timeless: Most players are aware that playing Ice Maiden in objective-based games is a strategy. In the match against Cobra, R.H players employed this strategy—freezing enemies to limit their movements as much as possible, allowing us to secure the objective point. However, due to our lack of familiarity with Mei’s playstyle, miscommunication led to errors. We thought our teammates would follow up with damage, hence the scene of “Freeze Without Killing.”
In this incident, R.H’s sole mistake was a miscommunication, for which our coach has criticized and educated me. We hope everyone watches the game rationally. As for those who spread false rumors, R.H Esports Club will pursue legal action against them.]
The comment area was full of applause.
[Oh my god, what’s with this posting time?]
[I’ve never seen anyone this arrogant in my life! And now I have!]
[Hubby, you’re so cool, I love you so much!]
[Facts have proved that no one can control the young master, not even Captain Beauty [Doge]]
“Damn—hahaha—” Cheese laughed until he could hardly stand, leaning against Qi Xian, “This format is so damn familiar! Little brother, I’ve decided to be your fan!”
Qi Xian asked Shi Du: “Aren’t you afraid that you won’t win?”
“Not really.” Shi Du stuffed the mouse and keyboard into Cheese’s arms, “Take care of the new fan, I’m going to wash my hands, I just touched something dirty.”
At that moment, a staff member approached them, asking one of them to do an interview. Old Tan hurriedly said, “Timeless, don’t go. You’re too flamboyant on the opponent’s turf. I’m afraid Cobra’s fans might beat you up. Qi Xian, you go.”
Qi Xian smiled: “Of course, it’s me again.”
Old Tan felt helpless, “Who else can speak like a human in the team if not you?”
On the way back to the base, everyone was surfing the internet like mad. The happier R.H fans were, the more frustrated Cobra fans became. Cheese kept switching between the internal network’s Weibo and the external network’s Twitter, venting and joking, “Cobra fans keep repeating the same insults—either ‘like a pile of dog shit’ or ‘AXiBa.’ They’re just weaklings with a combat power of five when faced with the witty remarks of our mighty R.H fans.”
Shi Du and Yu Zhaohan sat at the back. Yu Zhaohan had a lot to say, but his teammates were all in front, so he planned to go back to his room to talk to Shi Du.
But Shi Du had something to ask now, “Got a question for you, Fishy.”
Yu Zhaohan looked cautiously ahead, “Address me as ‘Captain’ outside.”
“Captain Yuyu,” Shi Du said slowly, “I messed up
 Do you want to deduct points?”
Shi Du could see that Yu Zhaohan’s kink was politeness, a well-behaved good-looking guy who wouldn’t use foul language. Based on his years of experience in school, good students don’t cause trouble.
But even if he was deducted points, he didn’t regret it. There’s no law that says you have to listen to your wife for everything; there were things he wants to do that no one can stop, and he can earn back the points he lost.
“No points will be deducted.” Yu Zhaohan said happily, “I like how you’re acting cool, and I want to give you extra points.”
Shi Du still exhaled a long sigh of relief, even if he didn’t regret losing points, “No need for extra points, just let me have a little fun.”
Hearing the word “fun,” Yu Zhaohan’s thoughts went to dominating in the game and using foul language to insult opponents. He thought Timeless wanted him to use profanity. He asked, “Sure. How do you want to have fun?”
Shi Du took off his baseball cap, blocking his teammates’ view. Leaning closer, he brushed his lips against Yu Zhaohan’s cheek under the cover of the cap.
Yu Zhaohan’s eyes widened slightly, not having quite registered what just happened. Before he could react, Shi Du sat back down.
Yu Zhaohan’s face started to tingle where he’d been kissed. Finally, Yu Zhaohan realized that Shi Du had kissed him on the cheek, and it happened in the car with their teammates around.
As he remembered that his teammates could look at them at any moment, Yu Zhaohan’s heart raced, and his brain felt starved of oxygen. The reaction was even stronger than when he was kissed on the forehead the last time.
Shi Du asked him in an unnatural tone: “How do you feel this time?”
Wanting to touch his cheek but afraid of their teammates seeing, Yu Zhaohan replied, feeling quite uncomfortable: “It’s still tingling and a little hot.”
“That’s bad,” Shi Du said with a straight face, “you can see that every time I kiss you, you have this kind of reaction. It proves you’re actually bent.”
Yu Zhaohan said in a daze, “Ah, I’m bent.”
It’s such a big thing; he should tell his mom when he gets the chance.
Yu Zhaohan then asked, “And how do you feel, Shi Du?”
Shi Du absently twirled the baseball cap on his fingertips. absentmindedly twirled his baseball cap between his fingers. He stared at the cap, not looking at Yu Zhaohan, so he could casually tell the truth, “Me? I’m feeling quite hot too.”