Chapter 70 – No
Week 10, which is the last week of the regular season’s third round. The third-to-last game of the last week is DCT against SYG.
The moment that decides fate.
DCT team needs to win this game in order to surpass DW and become the third-place team. The chances of winning against the second-place team, playing against the second-ranked TG, are higher than playing against the first-ranked SYG.
The commentary duo, Jiang Li and the rookie Xiao Hua, along with the TG star player Lian Rong, had a perfect setup in the commentary booth.
In the first game, DCT took down one tower and secured the first dragon, and in the late game, they dominated the opposition.
They swiftly won the game in twelve minutes.
The post-match voice chat was quite funny:
Stars: “Triple kill! Triple kill!!!”
Clear: “This Gui Guzi is really something when he’s on a roll!”
[“Spread the word, Daddy Star can deliver.”]
[“Spread the word, Cub Che wants to interact with Daddy Star. [Silly face]”]
[“A person shouldn’t, at least they shouldn’t…”]
The situation in the second game was a bit troublesome. SYG defended their towers against the wind, and DCT couldn’t break through. Then, at the twenty-minute dragon pit fight, DCT lost the team fight and was overturned by SYG.
Lian Rong, in the commentary booth, pinpointed their problem succinctly: “Why does the top laner play like a lone orphan in the mist?”
Jiang Li, the commentator, asked a soul-searching question: “God Lian, have you read this book?”
Lian Rong: “I haven’t read it. No malice intended. I was just making a joke about the last two characters in the book title. I apologize if it was inappropriate.”
The mid-lane mage, Full of Desires to Survive.
The Black Lotus Flower sisters: Oh well~
God Lian said, “If something goes wrong, we’re responsible.”
Lian Rong knows his boundaries. His boundaries are not about protecting himself but about protecting others from being hurt by their own crazy fans.
Speaking of which, the “Lone Orphan in the Mist” hat can be put on Phantom.
After all, he doesn’t like team fights; he only enjoys solo carrying.
Every game is either about solo carrying or on the way to solo carrying.
Others come out of the fountain and say, “Let’s team fight.”
Phantom: “Solo carry.”
The fans also said something funny:
[“When a child is born in another family: Wah wah wah… When God Pei is born: Don’t bother me, I’m solo carrying!”]
The five players of the DCT team have varied understandings of their positions. Some are extremely insecure, while others are overly arrogant.
Insecure players like mid-laner 460: “Brother Che comes from the developmental route to take my lane, Xiao You comes from the jungle to take my lane, Xiao Pei comes from the opposing route to take my lane, and the captain takes my lane when I’m dead… They all take my lane. I’m the one being treated unfairly.”
Arrogant players like AD Carry Clear: “Liu Ying is a support who attracts hatred, Wu You is a support who can’t be seen, Phantom is a support who takes damage, Xing Ling is a support who buffs… They are all supports, I am the core character saving the world.”
And then there’s the jungler, UU: “Brother Che is my useless little brother who steals my red buff, Ying Mei is my little brother who steals my blue buff, Xiao Pei is my little brother who steals my river crab, and Dad Star is just a simple little brother… They are all little brothers, I am the god who kills the enemies.”
The most outrageous is the top laner, Phantom: “Wu You often comes to annoy me, Clear, Stars and 460 are both forgettable, I can only see them during team fights… Thanks for inviting me, I’m a fan of solo duels.”
The remaining support, Stars: “The silly child, Good boy, needs protection. Liu Ying, the silly child, needs to snatch the lane. Xiao You, the silly child, needs vision. Xiao Pei, the silly child, is the worry-free one.”
They are all silly children, and I am the god overseeing everything.
The thoughts of the five players come together to form DCT team’s unconventional playstyle.
It’s strange to say that even after playing in the KPL tournament for two and a half months, Sharp still hasn’t built a visualized system. They always respond to the opponent’s moves, observing and dismantling their rhythm.
That’s why they haven’t been figured out by strong teams like SYG.
In the third game, DCT attacked SYG’s mid lane high ground in just fourteen minutes but struggled to break it.
Cheng Che’s Marco Polo got into a fight and went too far. He used his second skill to jump through the wall and hit the enemy’s crystal. He successfully cleansed the crowd control and killed SYG’s mid-laner, Zhi Shi.
However, the top and bottom high grounds were still intact, and the minions couldn’t reach them for a while.
Seeing that Marco Polo was about to be killed by the tower, support Liu Chan didn’t hesitate for a second and immediately flashed through the wall to divert the aggro of two high ground towers. He even took deliberate steps and repeatedly hopped to bring the aggro of the crystal as well.
Liu Chan tanked the towers and saved the low HP Marco Polo.
[“Liu Chan knows how to handle towers. With a tower, he can really tank.”]
[“What Liu Chan, he’s like a real father! He’s their foster parent! Marco, hurry up and write Liu Chan into your family tree!”]
[“Just marry him, who cares if he’s male or female.”]
Lin Xing Ling: “Quick, quick, be careful not to get killed by the tower while I tank it for you.”
Cheng Che: “Love you~”
Wu You & Phantom: ???
Liu Ying: Uh…
Brother Che, don’t say those things at a time like this!
…After Clear safely walked out of the tower’s attack range, Stars, as if completing his own mission, was sent back to the fountain by the tower.
[“Stars is afraid of pulling aggro from one less tower.”]
[” Dad Star: What are you coming at me for? Don’t touch my child. [Tears flowing]”]
[“We can’t attack the tower under the defense anymore. We’re disqualified.”]
[“Clear: This tower, save me! Stars: This tower, is that all?”]
…The third game ended with DCT’s late-game base being invaded by super minions.
SYG tearfully reached match point.
In the fourth round, DCT took advantage of the three disrespectful strategies.
The three disrespectful strategies are: Luna roaming the side lanes, countering with support, and level 2 ganking the side lanes.
Phantom’s Luna roamed the side lanes with Punish. Both teams played mirrored side lanes in this match. Luna faced the enemy’s solo laner, Ma Chao, and was accompanied by Taiyi Zhenren as support. Zhao Yun cleared the Blue Buff and then came to gank.
They sent Beiyang back to the fountain, securing the first blood.
Beiyang: “Damn.”
[“Level 2 gank on the side lanes, irreconcilable differences.”]
[“Xiao You: I’m here, my Pei-peipei~”]
After the jungler cleared a round of monsters, they handed over the Blue Buff to Luna. Luna took her own Blue Buff and the enemy’s Red Buff.
If someone tried to restrict her, Luna could usually protect herself with her flexibility… Meanwhile, the ideal combination in the farming lane could comfortably develop.
If no one restricted her, Luna would soar.
This strategy was quite nasty.
…
But Beiyang just didn’t believe it.
Zhi Shi had already mentioned that the vision disappeared, indicating that they were going to the opposing side, possibly with Stars.
Yet, Beiyang said, “Be careful, that’s fake vision.”
DCT team often used fake vision during matches to catch their opponents off guard with ganks.
Charity: “Don’t be too confident, it’s just an illusion.”
The three illusions of boys:
I can get a kill in return, there’s no one in the bush, she likes me.
Ma Chao and Luna dueled, both of them had strong flexibility and mobility.
Both were low on health, and Luna pursued relentlessly.
Beiyang: “I can get a kill in return!”
Luna used her ultimate and entered the bush.
Beiyang: “There’s no one in the bush.”
Ma Chao entered the bush.
Zhao Yun and Taiyi Zhenren: Big surprise!
They beat Beiyang once again and sent him back to the fountain.
Beiyang: “Don’t they do anything productive?”
Charity: “I switched with a kid.”
[Sun Shangxiang kills Yi Renjie]
[Yi Renjie kills Sun Shangxiang]
Chengzi: “You even brought a support.”
Charity: “They’re too fierce.”
The kids from Stars are too fierce. One wonders how they are taught in private.
Dad Star: “Education of Love”
…
In this match, the camera occasionally focused on Cheng Che, who had no expression on his face.
Expressionless, he blocked the fountain and achieved a pentakill.
This time it wasn’t considered fountain bullying because the team fight started near SYG’s red crystal.
UU: “Pentakill! Cheng Che got a pentakill!”
460: “Pentakill!”
UU: “I’m ready to buy a skirt for Cheng Che. Huh, shouldn’t he wear a cosplay outfit and dance?!”
Charity’s body looked miserable as she died in the fountain.
2-2, tied on match point. Both teams’ players returned to the backstage, and Cheng Che still had no expression.
[“No emotions, only skills”]
[“It’s the coolest to have no expression while making incredible plays”]
[“Garlic-flavored pentakill! Remember, Clear had one in TG but postponed it due to the contract expiration. This time, he can’t postpone it anymore.”]
Cheng Che returned to the rest area with a serious expression. After a while, he glanced at Lin Xingling.
Lin Xingling lowered his eyes and smiled lightly, not looking at him.
The only person who had some understanding of the situation chose not to face it.
Liu Ying held a disposable cup, filled it with warm water, and sat on the side, picking at her fingers.
Wu You: “Coach, I want to drink water.”
Upon hearing this, Cheng Che’s ears perked up, “Wu You, you’re not allowed to mimic my speech!”
Then he continued to look at Lin Xingling and said, “Want to drink, drink water…”
Lin Xingling suppressed his laughter and handed him the thermos cup.
The child’s lips were rosy, wanting a kiss…
No, he had to wait until he turned eighteen…
What’s the point of pretending to be aloof after kissing?
…
“Hey?”
Cheng Che was about to drink water, but Liang Feng took the cup first.
Liang Feng handed him a disposable cup filled with warm water and placed Lin Xingling’s thermos cup on the table, saying, “The thermos cup is too hot, drink this instead.”
What are these two doing right in front of me?
Something’s not right…
The fifth game, the battle for victory.
The match reached fifteen minutes with both sides deadlocked, and SYG called for a pause.
Charity was having a nosebleed.
It wasn’t an ordinary nosebleed, but blood gushed out like a fountain.
SYG’s team uniform was black, and Chen Enci wiped his sleeve, which was soaked with blood.
It was quite scary.
The director tactfully avoided showing him on the camera.
…
After about fifteen minutes of simple treatment, Charity came on stage with a tissue stuffed in his nose.
SYG’s morale was greatly shaken, while DCT seemed somewhat hesitant.
First, Liu Ying was dodged by the enemy support Chengzi, and then Wu You’s counter-jungle was caught… In the end, Cheng Che, Lin Xingling, and Phantom defended their base against the enemy’s super minions.
But three against five, Charity destroyed their crystal in three attacks.
“Let’s congratulate SYG team for winning 3-2!”
The commentator Jiang Li announced with a smile, and the MVP of this game was awarded to support Chengzi.
SYG’s five players stood up and shook hands with DCT’s five players, and Charity even opened his arms and hugged Lin Xingling.
Amidst the noise, Lin Xingling asked if something was wrong, and Charity shook his head with a smile, saying it was just a nosebleed.
But when they bowed to the audience in the middle of the stage, he had another nosebleed.
[“Enci, why do you embarrass yourself like this?”]
[“Are you okay?”]
[“God gave him a face but forgot to include an instruction manual.”]
[“What did I become a fan of? How come I’m acting so cleverly?”]
After returning home, SYG quickly released a statement saying that Charity’s health was not at risk, he was just having excessive internal heat.
Then they took his to the hospital for an examination.
The result came out: a nasal tumor, but fortunately, it was a benign vascular tumor.
“No wonder my face has been swollen lately, I thought I wasn’t sleeping well.” Chen Enci patted his face, looked around at Xiao Nuo, Cheng Che, and the others surrounding him, and asked in confusion, “It’s not a big deal, why do you all have this expression?”
“…”
Did everyone worry to death, you know?
Lin Xingling and Lian Rong even came over with flowers as soon as they heard the news.
Lin Xingling held his own child, Cheng Che brought a bouquet of stars, and Lian Rong held a bunch of lilies.
All were wishing for a speedy recovery.
Chen Enci smiled and then had another nosebleed, so Xiao Nuo quickly brought him an ice pack to apply.
“I want to talk to Clear alone for a few minutes.”
…
Everyone, go out. Cheng Che stayed behind.
Looking at the sickly boy in front of him, Cheng Che couldn’t help but recall the spirited appearance of their past life when they were arch-rivals.
And then, he became a coach…
Devoting himself to his passion until he became powerless.
In this second life, all the memories and experiences had turned into something insignificant, only emotions and passion remained unchanged.
Cheng Che lowered his gaze.
Chen Enci was about to speak, but Cheng Che stopped him.
Cheng Che made a gesture to keep quiet, then tapped his nose with his fingertip and said, “The problem doesn’t… doesn’t come from here, but…”
He pointed to his heart: “Here.”
“Take care of yourself and protect yourself.”
It was a well-intentioned reminder.
Chen Enci understood: “Thank you.”
What Cheng Che wanted to tell him was about Lin Xingling. Since Lin Xingling hadn’t told him about the progress in their relationship, he was eager to help them break through that layer of paper waiting to be torn.
Mutual unrequited love was so foolish.
“Stars likes you, he liked you a long time ago.”
Cheng Che was taken aback and asked, “Really, really?”
“Yeah.”
“…Thank you.”
Cheng Che thanked him, bid farewell, and left.
On the way home, Lin Xingling asked Cheng Che what Chen Enci had said. Cheng Che smiled and whispered, asking if he really wanted to know.
Lin Xingling: ?
“He told me… he said that thing about you… won’t work.”
Lin Xingling: ?!
“Right, Captain… I didn’t understand that… what does it mean?”
…
Dad Star: Write down Chen Enci’s name in your little notebook.
Charity: …
Clear should change his name to Black Sesame Filling Tangyuan.
Author’s note:
[Mini Theater] – Not Working
Cat Che Che: He said that thing about you won’t work.
Hamster Xingling (hiding inside a giant hamster ball): Chen Enci, I’m going to kill you!!!
Otter Enci: ?????
Otter Enci: At a time like this, shouldn’t you prove to him that you can do it?
Charity: I finally understand that you’re trying to kill me!