Chapter 22 – Borrow
After eating, Cheng Che went to the balcony to answer a phone call.
The call was from Cheng Ming, who immediately said, “It’s been a year, aren’t you done causing trouble?”
Cheng Che remained silent and only listened to him speak.
“It just so happens that you also terminated your contract with the team you’ve always wanted to join… the K Jia team. Come back, come back and do whatever you want in the company. I’ll repay that five million for you.”
“No, no need. I have… twenty million.”
“…”
There was silence on Cheng Ming’s end.
Cheng Ming was Cheng Che’s father, and Qin Xiaowan was Cheng Che’s mother. The twenty million was the dowry Qin Xiaowan brought when she married the poor Cheng Ming.
After marriage, Cheng Ming used Qin Xiaowan’s twenty million dowry for real estate investment, and their business flourished, becoming very successful.
A year after their marriage, the couple had their child, the fruit of their love.
Cheng Che was three years old when Cheng Ming’s net worth reached billions. He was praised as an outstanding entrepreneur by the R Min Daily and made it onto the mainland’s rich list.
Cheng Che was six years old when Qin Xiaowan passed away due to terminal cancer.
Cheng Che was thirteen when Cheng Ming’s wealth reached hundreds of billions. Cheng Ming intended to remarry but was met with Cheng Che’s strong opposition.
Cheng Che was sixteen when Cheng Ming remarried against all obstacles. Cheng Che left home with the bank card his mother had left for him.
Afterward, he joined the TG team as a substitute… that’s basically the story.
There were exactly twenty million in his bank account, frozen by his father.
It could be said that Cheng Che hadn’t used a single penny from his family in the year he spent outside.
In his previous life, it was four years… and he hadn’t used a single penny until the accident.
Twenty million… this child still couldn’t come to terms with and forgive his father for remarrying.
Cheng Ming sighed and kindly advised, “I know you find it hard to accept her, but you don’t have to. I like her… but most importantly, you have to understand that I’m getting old, and our family’s business needs someone to inherit it!”
“Tsk…” Cheng Che frowned. “I don’t have the education or… the ability. You’d better quickly have… a second child.”
“You can just be a figurehead. The money will be in your name, and Dad will make sure to leave you a way out. If it really doesn’t work, then…”
Cheng Che coldly rejected his father’s words, saying clearly, “No, I won’t.”
Even though he couldn’t earn as much money as his family through esports, at least it was something he loved.
“You, this child…”
“Beep… Beep… Beep…”
The busy tone of the hung-up call broke the silence, and the world became quiet.
Cheng Che put his phone in his pocket and looked up. He could see the city lights of Shanghai in the distance.
Perhaps a few of the top floors belonged to his family.
Or maybe they were already turned off.
He bitterly smiled.
He checked the balance in his bank account—86,923 yuan.
It was the salary he saved from being a substitute and training partner for a year.
The other card held twenty million… his mother’s…
If his mother were still alive, she would never believe that her pampered and well-taken-care-of son was living like this outside…
Tears welled up in Cheng Che’s eyes, slowly moistening them.
Who would have thought that the stammering young master, who had always lived a privileged life, could become the shining star of the KPL arena through his hard work and defeat numerous talented players?
Even more unexpectedly, this star would suddenly fall from the pinnacle of his professional career.
Returning to three years ago…
Outside, a shooting star streaked across the dark sky, its destination unknown.
Cheng Che made a wish.
When he entered the house, he saw that everyone was already preparing to rest in their respective rooms… they said it was rest, but they would probably be playing peak matches or ranked games.
Although the DCT team was poor, their equipment was still up to standard. The training room had live streaming equipment, and each person’s room had their own set.
He followed Liu Ying back to his room and was almost scared to death by the adorable plush polar bear doll inside.
The bear was two meters tall, standing at the doorway like a utility pole. Opening the door, it was right there, as if it could pounce on you at any moment.
Knock…
Liu Ying enthusiastically introduced, “This is Arong, hahaha, my security guard. It just stands here and won’t move.”
Cheng Che nodded, saying, “Y-yes.”
“Arong, he is Clear, our new marksman player in the team, amazing!” Liu Ying hugged the polar bear intimately.
Doesn’t Big Brother need to introduce me to the bear again?
“Hello, Arong. I-I’m Clear.” Although he thought so, Cheng Che still properly introduced himself.
After glancing around Liu Ying’s room, which was mainly pink and cyan, Cheng Che found it dreamlike.
Elegant and not alluring, that phrase should describe Liu Ying… he was like a lotus flower, very delicate and fresh.
Later, he was even cuter than the champion mid-laner.
“Hello, Clear, I’m Arong!” Liu Ying intentionally deepened her voice and provided a voiceover for the polar bear. “We’re going to be good friends from now on, hehe~”
“Yeah, we… are good, good friends, and I want to be the best… best friend with Liu Ying,” Cheng Che said hesitantly.
Liu Ying, who was quite naive and straightforward, was touched by Cheng Che’s words for the entire evening.
“I want to be Clear’s number one best friend!”
Cheng Che solemnly replied, “Yes, Cheng Che…”
Liu Ying smiled gently. “Brother Che!”
“Yeah.”
Brother Che…
After taking a bath separately, the two of them played a few ranked games together. Except for the match where Liu Ying lost due to crashing into TG’s mid-laner Lian Rong, they completely dominated the other matches.
The synergy between the ADC and support was ingrained in their DNA, irreplaceable.
At half-past midnight, Brother Feng reminded everyone in the group chat to go to sleep.
Everyone replied with “received.”
“Do you guys usually… sleep this early?” Cheng Che didn’t quite understand.
Generally, professional players would sleep past 2 AM and wake up close to noon. Afternoon training matches, evening peak matches, or training sessions often involved staying up late.
After all, during the season, BO7 matches could go on until midnight, and they had to adjust their schedules accordingly.
Liu Ying shook his head. “We’ve been sleeping early during this period, but once the season starts, we’ll sleep late.”
“Oh.”
Cheng Che followed Liu Ying, took off his slippers, and got into bed. Suddenly, he realized that he was still wearing the TG team uniform and didn’t have pajamas.
“Just a moment!”
Next door to Room 505 was Room 506, and Room 508 was beside it.
Knock, knock…
Cheng Che knocked on the door.
In less than half a minute, he heard the sound of the lock turning.
The door opened, and Lin Xingling, wearing a white nightgown, rubbed his eyes and appeared in front of him. There were two cartoon melon seeds leaning against each other on his nightgown, super cute.
The nightgown was slightly oversized, covering his black shorts, revealing only a bit of them.
“Do you need something, Clear?”
“Ah… well…”
The words he wanted to say were a bit embarrassing. Cheng Che bit his lip, hesitated for more than ten seconds, and finally spoke, “Captain’s pajamas… Can I borrow them again?”
He couldn’t say it clearly…
Lin Xingling nodded, turned around, and went back to his room. He brought back neatly folded pajamas that looked like blocks of tender tofu. “Here you go.”
“Thank… thank you, Captain!”
Cheng Che quickly took the clothes and hurriedly escaped back to Liu Ying’s room.
Liu Ying obediently sat on the edge of the bed, swinging his feet. When he saw him return, he flipped the blanket onto the bed. “Brother Che, do you want to sleep inside or outside?”
“Outside, I guess.”
“…”
It turned out that sleeping on the outside was the wrong choice.
Cheng Che paid a painful price for it—he was squeezed off the bed by Liu Ying.
Liu Ying was used to hugging a stuffed doll while sleeping because he lacked a sense of security. If someone was beside him, he would naturally snuggle up to them.
He moved closer, and Cheng Che made room
for him, but he ended up falling off the bed.
Liu Ying said apologetically, “Um… sorry, Brother Che.”
Cheng Che rubbed his head. “I want to sleep somewhere else. Would you mind?”
“No, not at all…” Liu Ying assured him.
If it’s not comfortable here, it’s understandable to find a more comfortable place to sleep.
【Long Legs Club】
[Don’t have 460: Everyone is already asleep.]
[Don’t have 460: Brother Che couldn’t sleep well here. Can anyone let him stay for a night?]
Wu You actively replied.
[Xiao Pei, I’m level two: Brother Che, come to my room.]
[Phantom:…]
[Hua Xin Luobo: Hey, my room is available, it’s clean. Clear can stay there first.]
[DCT-cheng: The guest room is also clean, you can stay there directly.]
[DCT-cheng: If Clear wants, you can tidy up a bit. There are new bedsheets and blankets in the leftmost wardrobe.]
[Brother Feng: You all haven’t slept yet? Go to sleep quickly.]
[DCT-Clear: Thank you, everyone. I’ll go to Wu You’s room, thanks.]
…Upon entering Room 504, Wu You’s room looked like an ordinary boy’s room.
There were various items on the small table, posters of his favorite NBA basketball stars on the wall, and even a slightly old basketball in the corner.
Wu You: “Brother Cheng, do you want to sleep on the inside or outside?”
This time, Cheng Che was wise and insisted on sleeping on the inside.
…Then he was mercilessly cornered by Wu You’s unruly sleeping position.
Cheng Che sighed, “Can I… request to change again?”
[Brother Feng: Kids can’t be relied upon. Come and sleep in my room.]
This time, Brother Feng took him away.
Brother Feng’s room was normal, clean, and tidy, with a hint of a nostalgic smell.
Although he was only in his mid-twenties, it was the time of youth and passion.
Cheng Che stood awkwardly on the side, watching him straighten the blanket.
“Alright, come on, you sleep here, and I’ll sleep at the foot of the bed,” Brother Feng pointed to a spot beside the bed.
When in Rome… Cheng Che complied.
Brother Feng settled at the end of the bed and bid him goodnight.
“Goodnight, Coach.”
…
“Hoo… hoochi… hoo… snore… hoo…”
Half an hour later, Cheng Che lay on his side on the bed, wide-eyed, staring at the table in front of him.
Feng-ge, are you asleep?
I can’t sleep…
Your snoring is too loud!!!
“Snore… snore…”
Ah… Cheng Che couldn’t take it anymore and unlocked his phone to send a message to Lin Xingling:
[DCT-Clear: Are you asleep?]
Author’s note:
【Mini Theater】
Liu Ying: Brother Cheng, don’t run away, let me have a hug.
Wu You: Brother Cheng, don’t run away, let me kick a few more times.
Brother Feng: Clear, stop, what did you hear!
Cat-cat Cheng Cheng: Ah…
Hamster Xingling: Snore, snore, come to the captain’s place.
Cat-cat Cheng Cheng: Okay!