WCG Chapter 82

After that barbecue, the gloom in Jiang Shi’s heart eased significantly.  

However, he still remained vigilant against Jiang Youcai. Before heading out for matches, he would always ask the security guards if there had been any suspicious individuals around.  

The security guard knew what Jiang Shi was asking about. “That person came around three times, trying to sneak into the base, but my colleagues or I chased him off each time. He hasn’t been seen since.”  

Only then did Jiang Shi feel at ease. With the matches getting increasingly intense, he decided to stop worrying about Jiang Youcai.  

The points between TLG and the ST team were neck and neck. Yesterday, ST played against the Lion team but still didn’t field their Korean mid-laner. They ended up winning 2-1.  

In three days, TLG and ST would face off in their first regular season match. Whoever won would secure the top spot in the points bracket and ensure a spot in the winners’ bracket for the playoffs.  

In the conference room, Yuan Yang was analyzing last night’s match between ST and Lion. “Although ST didn’t field their Korean mid-laner, their playstyle has undergone some subtle changes,” he said.  

He pointed out ST’s mid-lane pick of an assassin mage in the second game. “ST has always been known for their steady gameplay, with their mid-laner excelling at control mage picks. But this time, they went for an assassin mage, teaming up with the jungler to target the side lanes, catching Lion off guard multiple times.”  

Yuan Yang tapped the table. “I think this is setting the stage for that Korean player’s debut.”  

Judging by ST’s coordination, this playstyle had already become very polished.  

Zhao Jiu nodded. “I remember that Korean mid-laner’s assassin mage is quite famous, one of the best in the Korean server.”  

Even Jiang Lele set aside his usual joking demeanor, saying seriously, “ST had a wave of operations last night—a flash followed by a 2132 combo. That chain of moves is Smile’s signature killer move. It must be something he taught them.”  

Smile was the ID of that Korean player.  

Having joined the team later, Jiang Shi wasn’t as familiar with other teams as the others were. He frowned and asked, “If that Korean mid-laner is so good, why isn’t he playing in the matches?”  

Wouldn’t it be better to beat Lion 3-0 and secure an even better record?  

Xie Xu provided the answer: “ST is treating him as the team’s trump card.”  

Yuan Yang added, “If no domestic team poses a threat to ST, they might save Smile for the world championship.”  

These words were harsh but true.  

Although TLG had won three consecutive championships, their poor performance at the last world championship had caused everyone to underestimate them. Coupled with Jiang Shi being a newcomer, even with his stellar record, he was still a rookie with no established reputation—unlike Smile, who was already renowned.  

Moreover, Smile’s playstyle of targeting the bot lane with an assassin mage was infamous, and no one seemed able to stop it.  

Before TLG and ST even faced off, the online chatter was already intense. People speculated whether TLG could force ST to field their Korean mid-laner or if Time would be completely dominated by Smile.  

The training room fell into a heavy silence, with everyone looking tense. But in the next second, Jiang Shi broke the solemn atmosphere by asking, puzzled, “No matter who the opponent is, can’t we just play and win?”  

His words dispelled the gloom in everyone’s hearts. Especially Jiang Lele, who was under the most pressure. He laughed and playfully punched Jiang Shi’s shoulder. “T Bao, can you stop being so cocky?”  

Jiang Shi turned to him. “Aren’t you an assassin mage player too? Can’t you beat him?”  

Those words instantly ignited Jiang Lele’s fighting spirit. “Damn it! Who do you think you’re underestimating? Just wait—if he dares to show up, I’ll solo kill him at level 4!”  

Yuan Yang also relaxed. “Xiao Shi is right. We shouldn’t overthink this Korean player. Let’s just play our game.!  

“I’ve scheduled a scrim with MR tonight. Let’s adjust our state and give it our best shot.”  

After finishing the analysis, Yuan Yang prepared to send everyone off for the scrim. But just as he closed his laptop, Xie Xu’s phone rang.  

“Mom, what’s up?” Xie Xu stepped out of the room to take the call.  

Jiang Lele guessed, “Is Auntie bringing us more delicious food again? Looks like we’re in for a feast tonight.”  

Jiang Shi had tasted Xie Xu’s mom’s rib soup and the dumplings he brought to the base during the New Year. They were all delicious.  

Just as Jiang Shi started to anticipate a treat, Xie Xu returned and said to Yuan Yang, “Something urgent came up at my house tonight. I have to go back and take care of it. I might not make it to the scrim.”  

Yuan Yang immediately replied, “No worries, I’ll let MR know. Nothing too serious at home, I hope?”  

Xie Xu hesitated. “It’s manageable.”  

Then he looked at Jiang Shi. “Can I bring Jiang Shi home with me?”  

Sitting in the car, the bewildered Jiang Shi gradually pieced things together. He turned to Xie Xu. “Captain, is that idiot Jiang Youcai causing trouble at your place?”  

He could guess how Jiang Youcai had found his way to TLG.  

Bamboo had mentioned during the New Year that Jiang Youcai had shown up again, but Jiang Shi had moved out, leaving Jiang Youcai with no way to find him. His sudden appearance was likely due to that keyboard endorsement deal.  

Unable to enter the base, Jiang Youcai must have turned his sights on Xie Xu, who appeared alongside Jiang Shi in the endorsement.  

Xie Xu was already famous, and it wouldn’t have been hard for someone to dig up information about his parents.  

But Jiang Shi hadn’t expected Jiang Youcai to stoop to such shamelessness.  

He gritted his teeth. “What did he do? He didn’t lay hands on Uncle and Auntie, did he?”  

He searched the car for a weapon but didn’t find anything handy. Instinctively, he began unbuckling his seatbelt to grab a stick from the security booth. But Xie Xu stopped him.  

“I said it’s manageable,” Xie Xu said calmly. “Honestly, I didn’t need to bring you along today, but I felt you had the right to know. If you keep acting so aggressive and even grab a weapon—”  

He reached out and pinched Jiang Shi’s cheek. “My parents will definitely have a strong impression of you.”  

While Jiang Shi was momentarily stunned, Xie Xu stepped on the gas and drove out of the base.  

On the road, seeing the endless traffic lights and cameras, Jiang Shi reluctantly buckled his seatbelt again. 

He couldn’t let Xie Xu lose points on his driver’s license.  

When they arrived at Xie Xu’s house, Jiang Shi instinctively checked himself in the rearview mirror and adjusted his arrogant white hair.  

He probably should’ve worn a hat.  

Thanks to Xie Xu’s earlier comment, Jiang Shi hadn’t spent much of the ride dwelling on Jiang Youcai. He even considered bringing a gift as a gesture.  

But all those thoughts vanished when he followed Xie Xu to the door and heard the conversation inside.  

Jiang Youcai’s voice was loud and arrogant. “Have you called your son yet? Why hasn’t he shown up? You’re not trying to stall for time, are you? Anyway, I’ve already found your address. I’m an unemployed man with plenty of time to spare.”  

A tense, middle-aged woman’s voice responded, “If you’re truly his teammate’s father, you shouldn’t be pushing them into the fire like this.”  

“Fire? What fire? So now you’re saying they can’t be criticized for their filthy same-sex behavior?” Jiang Youcai sneered. “You’ve seen the endorsement ad, haven’t you? Flirting openly in public, pulling and tugging at each other at the base entrance. I even showed you photos, and you didn’t deny it.”  

When Jiang Youcai had been driven away by Jiang Shi that day, he’d secretly returned and happened to see Xie Xu patting Jiang Shi’s head.  

He’d snapped a photo on the spot and, after some digging online, discovered that Xie Xu was quite well-known and came from a wealthy family.  

Unable to get into TLG, he’d spent money to find out Xie Xu’s parents’ address. After several days of staking out the place to confirm their identities, he finally dared to show up.  

“When I came in, several neighbors saw me. If you don’t want this to blow up, just pay me to keep quiet.” Jiang Youcai laughed slyly. “From the looks of it, you’ve already figured out these two aren’t innocent, haven’t you?”  

Xie Xu’s parents remained silent.  

They had also seen the endorsement ad. Something had seemed off at the time.  

Xie Xu had done countless endorsements, but never had his gaze been so gentle—especially when looking at the cold-faced boy beside him.  

Adding to that the head-patting photo Jiang Youcai had shown, it was hard not to notice the doting look in Xie Xu’s eyes.  

Their son had never treated anyone else this way before.  

Moreover, during the New Year, Xie Xu had explicitly mentioned that he liked someone, so the parents had already pieced things together.  

Seeing their silence, Jiang Youcai leaned back on the sofa, crossed his legs, and smirked. “I’m not asking for much. One million, and you can think of it as buying Jiang Shi to be part of your family — whether as a wife or a laborer, that’s up to you.”  

Hearing this, Jiang Shi could no longer hold back. He pushed the door open and stormed in, grabbing Jiang Youcai by the collar and dragging him from the living room to the front door. “If you’ve got a problem, take it up with me. Don’t cause trouble here.”  

Jiang Youcai had somehow acquired an ill-fitting suit, and his shirt collar was now pulled tight by Jiang Shi, making his face turn red. He struggled to pry Jiang Shi’s hands off and clung to the doorframe. “You little brat, how dare you lay hands on your old man?”  

“Only this family would be blind enough to take in trash like you.”  

As he spoke, Jiang Youcai raised a leg, intending to kick Jiang Shi. “You should consider yourself lucky I didn’t manage to sell you off years ago.”

Jiang Youcai had just made a move when the door, left ajar, was slammed shut with force, trapping his hand on the door frame.  

“Ah!” Jiang Youcai let out a wail, his face pale as he clutched his hand.  

Before he could figure out who was responsible, a fist came flying toward him.  

His pupils dilated in fear, but the fist abruptly stopped less than an inch from his nose.  

Xie Xu grabbed Jiang Shi around the waist, holding him back.  

Jiang Shi’s eyes were red with fury as he kicked and struggled, trying to land a hit, but Xie Xu held him tightly. “Jiang Shi, calm down.”  

After struggling for a while, Jiang Shi realized he couldn’t overpower Xie Xu. He glared at Jiang Youcai with a venomous look. “You’d better be glad I didn’t cripple you before you tried to escape.”  

If Jiang Youcai hadn’t disappeared and caused trouble, leading Jiang Shi to join TLG, their relationship would’ve ended in a fight to the death.  

Jiang Youcai saw Jiang Shi being restrained but still daring to talk tough. He wanted to retaliate, but as soon as he moved, the tall young man standing behind Jiang Shi shot him a sharp glance.  

Xie Xu’s commanding presence was enough to intimidate Jiang Youcai with just a look.  

At this moment, Xie Xu’s father spoke up, “A million isn’t a small amount. We don’t want to see the two kids end up ruined. Let me talk to Xie Xu and see how we can come up with the money.”  

“That’s more like it!” Jiang Youcai, emboldened, flexed his fingers, still aching from being slammed in the door. He returned to the sofa, smirking coldly at Jiang Shi. “You’re lucky, kid. For the sake of your partner’s family, I’ll let this slide.”  

Money was what mattered most.  

After saying this, Jiang Youcai glanced at Xie Xu, who was still holding Jiang Shi. His expression turned to one of disgust as he muttered under his breath, “Disgusting.”  

Xie Xu’s father led everyone into the side room. Jiang Shi originally wanted to use this opportunity to forcefully drag Jiang Youcai away, but Xie Xu held his hand and, under his parents’ watchful eyes, led Jiang Shi into the side room as well.  

Xie Xu’s mother glanced at their intertwined hands but said nothing.  

Xie Xu’s father looked at Xie Xu and asked, “How do you plan to handle this?”  

Jiang Shi thought they were genuinely going to give the money and immediately spoke up, “You can’t give him money. I’ll take him away and ensure he doesn’t bother you again.”  

Xie Xu lowered his gaze, looking at Jiang Shi briefly.  

Even in his anger, Jiang Shi still remembered to be polite.  

Jiang Shi didn’t notice Xie Xu’s gaze and continued, “Uncle, Auntie, this is entirely my responsibility. I will handle it properly, so you don’t need to worry.”  

Even if money had to be paid, it shouldn’t come from Xie Xu’s family.  

Xie Xu’s father looked at Jiang Shi’s serious expression and paused before saying, “Actually, this is indeed something you should resolve.”  

He took out his phone and showed Jiang Shi an audio file that was over ten minutes long. “I recorded it. There’s also a camera in the living room. If we call the police, your father will go to jail.”  

A million counts as extortion, which carries a minimum sentence of ten years.  

The only reason he had called Xie Xu back was that this was, after all, his teammate’s father.  

Although the audio wasn’t played, Jiang Shi stared at the recording for a full minute, only looking up when Jiang Youcai’s impatient voice came from outside.  

“What’s taking so long? Are you stalling so the whole neighborhood finds out about this scandal?”  

Jiang Shi finally raised his head. His face was expressionless, but his voice was clear: “Call the police.”  

When the police arrived, Jiang Youcai was extremely uncooperative, cursing loudly. In the struggle, he even knocked a vase off the cabinet, shattering it.  

The shards scattered across the floor.  

In the end, the police forcibly dragged Jiang Youcai away.  

After finishing the procedures at the police station, it was already past 11 PM. Everyone was physically and emotionally exhausted, except for Jiang Shi, who remained composed as he cooperated with the police to give his statement.  

Finally, the police handed Jiang Shi a document. “Please have the suspect’s family member sign here.”  

Jiang Shi picked up the pen and signed his name.  

After signing, he said, “I want to say something to him one last time.”  

The police nodded. “Go ahead.”  

---

The police station was far from the TLG base. After informing Yuan Yang, Xie Xu brought Jiang Shi back to his own home.  

After hours of chaos, Xie Xu’s mother put on an apron and went to the kitchen. “Are you hungry? Let me cook something for you.”  

She looked at Jiang Shi and asked gently, “Xiao Shi, do you have anything you particularly like to eat?”  

Jiang Shi walked toward the kitchen. “Auntie, I’m not picky. Let me help you out.”  

Xie Xu’s mother was about to refuse but saw Xie Xu shake his head slightly behind Jiang Shi. She quickly changed her tone. “I could use some help — cooking for four people is tricky!”  

Once the meal was ready, Xie Xu’s father took out a bottle of fine liquor from the cabinet, pouring a glass for both Xie Xu and Jiang Shi. “Young man, no obstacle is insurmountable.”  

Jiang Shi let out a deep breath, then tilted his head back and drank the liquor in one go.  

Jiang Shi and Xie Xu’s father quickly matched each other drink for drink, and Jiang Shi soon became tipsy. His eyes glazed over as he looked at Xie Xu. “Captain, aren’t we supposed to have a scrim with MR?”  

Xie Xu replaced the liquor in Jiang Shi’s glass with water and replied, “We already played it. Finish this glass, and then go to bed.”  

Jiang Shi’s eyes were red as he tilted his head. “What was the score?”  

“Three to zero.”  

Jiang Shi seemed satisfied, finishing the “liquor” in his glass. He then looked at Xie Xu’s father and said, “Sorry, Uncle, I can’t drink anymore. Our coach doesn’t allow us to drink much during the competition season.”  

Xie Xu’s father nodded. “That’s fine. You two head upstairs to rest. Your Auntie has already tidied up the guest room.”  

Jiang Shi wanted to help Xie Xu’s mother clear the table, but Xie Xu stopped him. “I’ll do it.”  

He placed his jacket, which had been draped over the back of his chair, into Jiang Shi’s arms. “Hold this for me.”  

Jiang Shi immediately sat down and obediently held the jacket, murmuring, “Okay.”  

The table was quickly cleared, and Xie Xu’s parents went upstairs, leaving only Jiang Shi and Xie Xu downstairs.  

Jiang Shi wasn’t completely drunk and followed behind Xie Xu.  

As they reached the stairs, something hard pressed against Jiang Shi’s foot.  

He bent down and picked it up—a small shard of porcelain. It must have been a remnant from when Jiang Youcai smashed the vase. In the rush to get to the police station, it hadn’t been cleaned up.  

Jiang Shi held the shard tightly in his hand.  

He murmured softly, “Captain, I’m sorry.”  

“For a lot of things, I’m sorry.”  

Xie Xu gently pulled him into an embrace, prying open Jiang Shi’s hand and taking the shard. He threw it into a nearby trash can and said, “This isn’t your fault, and no one blames you.”  

Jiang Shi’s palm stung slightly as he leaned his head on Xie Xu’s shoulder without speaking.  

He knew no one blamed him. Even after everything that happened, Xie Xu’s parents were still comforting him.  

Jiang Shi, usually so resilient, suddenly felt a wave of grievance rise in his chest.  

Breathing in the familiar scent near his nose, he felt the bitterness in his heart well up. “Do you know what I said to him at the police station?”  

Xie Xu asked softly, “What did you say?”  

“I showed him the electronic contract I signed with TLG and told him—”  

Jiang Shi imitated his tone from earlier, full of mocking disdain. “Jiang Shi is worth far more than a million now. Jiang Youcai, you’ve made a huge loss.”