Chapter 24
As the painkillers gradually took effect, Yu Sui felt somewhat better. He shooed the two of them back to the base. After discussing it with Puppy, Chen Huo decided to return to the base to sleep while Puppy stayed behind to keep him company.
Yu Sui sighed helplessly. "What are you staying here for? I'm going to sleep soon. Just have the manager send someone over tomorrow morning."
Puppy lay down on the attendant bed and said calmly, "Did you not hear what the nurse lady said? With large-area soft tissue contusions, you need... need... what was it?"
Yu Sui bit his pillow in pain. "Rest and immobilization."
"Right, no moving around." Puppy placed his hands folded over his stomach, serene. "If you need to use the bedpan later, don't be shy—just tell Puppy ge, and I'll whistle for you while fetching it."
Yu Sui gritted his teeth. "Thanks, but no thanks."
Puppy sighed, put on his earphones to listen to crosstalk, and ignored Yu Sui.
At the FS base, Chen Huo crept in through the front door and was about to head upstairs when he noticed something vaguely shaped in the darkness on the sofa. Chen Huo frowned, crouched forward and took a couple of steps toward the sofa. Right before he reached it, the shadowy mass rasped, "How's the captain?"
Chen Huo nearly died of fright.
"Can't you turn on a light?! Are you trying to kill someone?!" Chen Huo was so annoyed he wanted to hit someone. "Not sleeping at night and playing ghost to scare people?!"
It was the first time Shi Luo hadn't retaliated against Chen Huo's yelling. He fell silent for a moment, then asked again, "How's the captain?"
Listening to the thick congestion in Shi Luo's voice, Chen Huo couldn't help but laugh. "Oh hey, did you cry? No way, really? Let me turn on the light and have a look..."
In the darkness, Shi Luo snapped angrily, "I didn't! Answer my question!"
"What attitude is this?" Chen Huo protested. "Today's mess was caused by you. And you're the one with a grievance?"
Shi Luo fell silent again.
"Yu Sui... I don't know how he's doing right now either." Chen Huo lied with his eyes open. "The doctor didn't give a definite answer."
Shi Luo's heart tightened. "What do you mean, no definite answer?!"
Chen Huo fabricated carelessly. "It means... Oh, I remember now. The doctor said it like this—if Yu Sui can survive until next spring, then there's hope for the condition. He'll have made it through."
Shi Luo: "..."
Chen Huo spoke sarcastically. "Happy now? Yu Sui definitely can't play for a while. You successfully moved up, becoming our FS's main official lady. Count your blessings."
With that, Chen Huo walked toward the stairs. Passing by the sofa, he stumbled on the carpet and nearly fell. Cursing, he turned on the light. The sudden brightness made Shi Luo on the sofa flinch. Chen Huo looked over and froze.
Shi Luo was crouched in the corner of the sofa, his eyes and nose bright red. When he saw Chen Huo turn on the light, Shi Luo immediately turned his head away, back facing Chen Huo, crouched facing the wall.
Chen Huo sighed. Nobody could handle this.
Even this lifelong straight guy couldn't bring himself to be harsh. He walked back helplessly, sat on the sofa across from Shi Luo, and frowned. "Alright, stop hiding. I wasn't even saying anything to you. Come on, let's talk."
Shi Luo said hoarsely, "No need."
"Fine, I won't lie to you anymore." Chen Huo admitted honestly. "No bones were injured—just soft tissue contusions. He could have actually been discharged today. It's not a big deal. He'll probably be out tomorrow or the day after. We were lucky we sent him to the hospital when we did. Any later by a day or two and the injury would have already healed."
Shi Luo turned around, disbelieving. "Really?"
"Really. If something were wrong, would I be back here sleeping like a baby?" Chen Huo scratched his ear. "Though he definitely was in a lot of pain. His whole back was black and blue—terrifying."
Shi Luo hesitated, then asked quietly, "Can I go see him?"
"It's this late—why would you? He's definitely asleep already." Chen Huo was dying of exhaustion too. He leaned against the back of the sofa. "We'll talk tomorrow."
Shi Luo lowered his head. After a long moment, he said, "Thanks."
Chen Huo looked up, uncertain. "What did you just say to me?"
Shi Luo paused, then said again, "Thanks."
Chen Huo wished he could have recorded it! Shi Luo said thank you to him!
"So rare—you actually said thank you to me..."
Chen Huo fought back a laugh. Looking at Shi Luo's red-rimmed eyes, he said softly, "Regretting it?"
Shi Luo kept his head down, silent.
Of course he regretted it. He was already dying of regret.
Watching Shi Luo's expression, Chen Huo said pointedly, "I hope you're not regretting that you didn't fight well enough today and let Yu Sui get hurt instead."
Shi Luo's eyes darted away. Chen Huo had hit the nail on the head.
"Today's incident—the injury—is really the smallest problem." Chen Huo dropped the joking tone. "Do you have any idea what would happen if this got leaked, or if you two had fought in the backstage area during a competition, exposed to everyone's eyes?"
Shi Luo looked at Chen Huo.
"The lighter punishment... you and Baozaoshu would each be suspended for a season, then both be kicked from your respective teams." Chen Huo spoke calmly. "The serious one—you two would both be permanently banned."
For the first time, a flash of panic appeared in Shi Luo's eyes.
He couldn't be banned.
"Think the punishment's too harsh?"
"Lots of people..." Chen Huo drawled, "look down on our industry. They think we're poorly educated, low-quality, swearing all day long, just playing games, not doing honest work, dropping out of school young to gamble our entire futures..."
"But what's the reality?" Chen Huo looked at Shi Luo. "Let me ask you this."
"How many professions are there where one curse word costs you ten thousand yuan?"
"And how many professions will get you banned and blacklisted from the entire industry for getting into a single fight over personal matters?"
"We're all too young, prone to impulse, not thinking through consequences. The league's rules are getting stricter and stricter, trying to regulate our behavior... it's all to change how the public sees us, even though plenty of people still look down on us." Chen Huo stood up and looked at Shi Luo. "But someday, maybe they'll see us differently?"
After saying that, Chen Huo cringed and got goosebumps. "Fuck, from now on let Old Qiao give you these moral education lectures. I can't do this."
Shi Luo awkwardly wiped his nose.
"Yu Sui probably thinks it's too sappy and can't be bothered to say these things. Plus he doesn't need to—play professionally for a year, and you'll naturally figure it all out. But who could've predicted you'd step on a high-voltage line the moment you entered the industry?" Chen Huo pursed his lips. "Think you've got a temper? How big is mine? My first year as a pro, because of one major mistake I made, we lost an advantage round and the match. When I was walking out of the arena, a fan threw a half-finished milk tea at my head—tea all over me. I was so furious I could have exploded. That person was less than two meters away from me. I absolutely could have thrown hands. But could I?"
"If I actually hit them, what would happen to me? What about the team?" Chen Huo raised an eyebrow. "You get it now?"
Shi Luo nodded obediently.
"Good, as long as you get it. It was a close call, but this thing is settled—Yu Sui already smoothed it over. Even if the officials know, without evidence, they won't pursue it."
Shi Luo nodded again, then said quietly, "Then... can I send the captain a WeChat?"
"Why not?" Chen Huo shrugged. "But he definitely won't reply now—he's asleep. We can talk about it tomorrow."
Shi Luo couldn't help but ask, "Will he... ignore me?"
Chen Huo laughed. "Really? Worst case, he'll scold you a few times. Just listen obediently and apologize. He'll be fine. He's never been good at lecturing people, and he never holds grudges. It'll be fine."
Chen Huo looked at Shi Luo and smiled. "Just go apologize with the same puppy-dog energy you've got going right now. If Yu Sui doesn't soften up, I'll change my surname."
Shi Luo lowered his head and finally relaxed a little.
As Chen Huo watched Shi Luo, what worried him隐隐 was something else entirely.
Even if it wouldn't reach the officials and they wouldn't act on it, what about the boss? How could he possibly let this go?
Chen Huo's instinct was right. Ji Yanhuan simply couldn't let it go.
The next morning, Ji Yanhuan went to the hospital to check on Yu Sui's injuries. Confirming that everything was fine, he sat down and rubbed his temples. "恰好, before we signed this troublemaker, let's recommend him to another team."
Yu Sui acted as if he hadn't heard. Looking at Ji Yanhuan's bloodshot eyes, he asked, "Didn't sleep all night? What happened?"
"Minmin's dad's company had some issues. It's handled now." Ji Yanhuan said irritably, "Don't change the subject—I'm talking business with you. Hurry up and decide which team to send this kid to. I'll have someone negotiate today. How about Holy Trace?"
Yu Sui pretended not to hear. He asked Puppy, "Puppy ge, can you buy me some porridge? And remember to get a salted duck egg."
Puppy understood they were about to argue, so he wisely made an exit to avoid being caught in the crossfire.
Yu Sui said, "Mine."
"He's pretty much still an outsider in every way that matters. There are so many things he doesn't know." Yu Sui promised. "I'll explain things to him gradually."
"He already played a match and you're calling him an outsider?" Ji Yanhuan laughed despite himself. "This isn't a joke! I'm telling you, I don't have time to waste on this. I'm about to leave right now. You need to make a decision—which team should we send him to? I'm sending someone to negotiate today. How about Holy Trace?"
Ji Yanhuan tried to reason with Yu Sui. "Send him to Holy Trace. Their team's pretty good too, and they need a medic. He could start for them immediately. It's better than staying here, and he'd be put to better use."
Yu Sui laughed. "Holy Trace has already tanked their chances at Worlds this year. How is that better? And they have a team bully in there—who could stand that?"
Ji Yanhuan suggested, "Then how about Wild Bull? Their medic just got suspended anyway."
"What a perfect arrangement." Yu Sui laughed bitterly. "Next time this comes up in conversation, Shi Luo can brag that his spot as starting medic on Wild Bull was genuinely fought for with his own hands. Incredible."
Ji Yanhuan said impatiently, "Then where?!"
"I admit, I did consider sending him to sign with another team before. But I only ever considered NSN, and even about NSN I was hesitating." Yu Sui said without hesitation. "Other teams are even more out of the question. Impossible."
"NSN is absolutely out of the question!" Ji Yanhuan laid all his cards on the table. "They only need one medic! Send them another one and NSN will be able to compete with us right away. I absolutely cannot agree to that."
"Then there's nothing to discuss. I don't want to argue with you." Yu Sui said coldly. "Besides, there's no way I'm selling him."
Ji Yanhuan's expression shifted with anger. Yu Sui said, "You've seen his temper. If no one's watching him, what if he gets permanently banned someday?"
Ji Yanhuan lost his composure. "Is he your problem to solve or not? I know at first you were looking after him because of his cousin, but isn't that enough now?!"
"You brought him out of that internet cafe, didn't let him keep being some nobody streamer, got him registered as a pro player, went through so much trouble to arrange for him to take the college entrance exam, and now you're in the hospital for him!!" Ji Yanhuan regretted everything—back then he'd been carefree and helpful too. "Isn't that enough? Hasn't he gotten enough? Shouldn't it be over by now, Whisper?! What more do you want? Are you waiting to be nominated for 'Touching China' this year?! Will it ever end?!"
Yu Sui was completely riled up now. "It won't end! I want to take care of him. So what?!"
Ji Yanhuan was so angry he was shaking. "Are you sick?! Why are you being so utterly devoted to him? Are you—"
"You're right—you've guessed correctly." Yu Sui's voice rang out firmly. "I want him. I like him. Didn't you figure that out a long time ago? Why are you even asking?!"