FOG
Chapter 18

In the car, Yu Sui was holding Puppys phone.

On Puppys phone, Shi Luo was still saved as Luo.

Shi Luos first registered ID with the league.

Shi Luo didnt send a reply. Yu Sui returned the phone to Puppy, closed his eyes and continued to sleep.

Yu Sui... Puppy looked at his mobile phone and hesitated. Shi Luo himself knows that when its announced later that hes coming to our team, the forums are going to explode. You ...

With his eyes still closed, Yu Sui smiled, What do I do so the forums dont explode?

Puppy was helpless. He continued, Is this necessary? This game is overflowing with strikers. There are lots of good players out there, even if theyre not as good as he is.

If we replace one whos willing to cooperate with Chen Huo, thats also a suitable choice for us. When Shi Luo comes over later on, hes sure to get into a lot of fights with Chen Huo. But even putting that aside, theres still going to be a lot of trouble for sure.

Im even starting to suspect some of Shi Luos fans might come to our base and poison us. Are you sure you want to invite this trouble...

Puppy had come back late and didnt know about the gamble that occurred at the club that night. Yu Sui also didnt want to mention it again. He only said, Theres no trouble. And its not like Im baselessly looking to pick a quarrel.

If he didnt want to come back, I wouldnt be bothering him again.

Puppy shrugged, I dont understand you two ... whats so bad about being fated rivals? Tigers on different mountains? You two had such a terrible falling out but you still havent learned your lesson.

Im not trying to rake up old scores here. Back then, you really shouldnt have let Shi Luo join the team. He was such a good kid. Wouldnt it have been better for him to go to another team than just be your substitute?

In the first place, didnt I urge you to give him to Lao Gu? Gu Gan said it himself. If he went to their team he would have been part of their starting lineup. But you wouldnt listen......

Yu Sui didnt speak.

Puppy harped on and then sighed. He put on his headphones and continued listening to the comedy skit.

Back when Shi Luo had just moved into the FS base, Yu Sui really did consider sending him to NSN.

At the time, aside from their boss, Ji Yanhan, everyone in the team felt that Shi Luo should be sent away.

There really was no reason for Shi Luo to remain at FS back then.

But it was Yu Sui who arranged for him to come and the final decision on what to do with him fell to Yu Sui.

Yu Sui hesitated for a long time. During those few days, he definitely smoked way too much.

Are you trying to smoke out mosquitoes?

Seventeen-year-old Shi Luo shoved open the door to Yu Suis dorm room in the base. He frowned. Arent you afraid of choking on all this smoke?

Yu Sui looked anxiously at this teenager that hed picked up. He blow out some smoke.

Shi Luo opened the window for Yu Sui, puzzled. Youre not that old. Howd your addiction get so bad?

Yu Sui flicked off the ash from his cigarette. Im soon going to be a four-year veteran. Is that still not that old?

Youre just a bit older than me ... When Shi Luo sat, he didnt sit down properly. He squatted on the sofa opposite Yu Sui and looked around. Do you still play with Gundams?

Shi Luo took one of the model figures and fiddled with it. He muttered to himself, F*ck, isnt this that deadly expensive one...

Yu Sui said, Yeah, the one that if you break, you wont be able to afford.

Shi Luo hastily put it back in place, and he went back to staying on the sofa.

Yu Sui was too lazy to care about his image in front of Shi Luo. After sitting for a long time, his whole body hurt. He bent his left leg and stepped on the sofa, his left hand resting on top of his knee. With a serious expression on his face, he continued to blow out smoke.

The two teenagers stayed faced against each other like this.

Shi Luo put on an apathetic expression and said, Can you stop smoking?

Yu Sui put out the cigarette. Sorry, maam.

Shi Luo turned gloomy. He suddenly asked, Are you worrying about what to do with me?

Yu Sui never had any intention of discussing this with Shi Luo. Without batting an eyelid, he said, It has nothing to do with you.

Shi Luo was sure now. Then, it is about me.

Shi Luo tried to lighten his expression. So...what are you thinking?

Yu Sui hesitated and didnt speak.

Shi Luo said, Ke Hao really is too mean...

Yu Sui laughed. What does this have to do with him?

He threw me to you to become your problem. How is that not mean? Shi Luo narrowed his eyes. Did you owe him a debt of gratitude?

I did, Yu Sui said simply, but its not entirely because I owe him. Hes my friend.

Shi Luo nodded and asked, So why havent you contacted your good friend recently?

Yu Sui pursed his lips. He wanted to take out a cigarette. Not giving him a chance to move, Shi Luo snatched away the cigarette case first. Theres no need to hide it, is there?

Let me be the one to spell it out?

Yu Sui laughed in spite of himself. What do I even have to hide?

There was a flash of ridicule in Shi Luos eyes. Fine, I wont expose your good friend for you.

Ke Hao and I...these past few years, weve seen each other less than ten times and we havent exchanged more than twenty sentences.

To be honest, I might not even be able to recognize him if I came across him while walking down the street. Shi Luo held Yu Suis cigarette case and asked, Same goes for him, he wouldnt recognize me either. So why would he be so kind as to worry about my trivial matters?

Yu Sui paused. Without waiting for him to open his mouth Shi Luo added, Okay, even if he really does sincerely mean well for me, then shouldnt he want me to go back to school? My uncle and aunt are very resourceful. They could have forced me into a strictly supervised boarding school.

Is it difficult to replace a few people to bundle me up? Or they could have shut me up at home, replace a few tutors and bodyguards to monitor me 24 hours a day. They wouldnt even have to lock me up for that long, they just have to hold out until I pass the college entrance exam. Is it that difficult?

Yu Sui didnt speak because inwardly, it wasnt that hard for him to figure out.

Shi Luo laughed. Why didnt they do any of these? Because Ke Hao as well as my uncle and aunt, dont actually want me to return to school.

But letting me float around outside wont work, because they all know that playing at making live broadcasts wont last long and can be abandoned at any time. I might happily return to school someday or do something else.

It will be a constant worry and theyll never be able to rest assured. Shi Luo looked at Yu Sui, So, Ke Hao thought of you. Why did he look for you?

Because compared to making live broadcasts, being a professional gamer would last longer, and it can postpone my return to what they call the right path. And you ...

Shi Luo raised an eyebrow. You look good-tempered, but youre pretty intense when handling stuff. They know that once I come here, my dad would have no way to take me from you ... And thats really how things did play out.

Just a few days ago, Yu Suis obvious scorn and ridicule, successfully caused Ke Chunjie to not dare darken their door in the meantime.

As long as my dad cant take me back, everything in the family will be Ke Haos in the future. He, my uncle and my aunt wont have anything to worry about anymore. Shi Luo said easily. You understood that the day when my dad left.

You hated how Ke Hao used you but you cant really say anything to Ke Hao. After all, he really had been good to you. A favor for a favor. You feel conflicted so youre not taking the initiative to contact him.

Shi Luo calmly said, But you really dont have to feel all tangled up about this. Given all the atrocious stuff my dad has done over the years, my uncles family treating my like this can already be considered as pretty generous. Everyones just human.

Everyone having their own selfish motives is just normal.

Yu Sui looked at Shi Luo, and for a moment did not know what to say.

Shi Luo observed the subtle look on Yu Suis face. What? Youre not used to laying things out in the open like this? I like it though.

Shi Luo nastily brought up what Yu Sui least wanted to hear. He said, Your boss also has his own selfish motives, right?

Yu Sui smiled helplessly.

Chck out ltst vl on n/o/v/l/bin(.)c//m

Here ... disregarding you, except for your boss Ji Yanhan, no one wants me to stay. Everyone thinks my presence here is just troublesome and unnecessary. Shi Luo sat down properly on the sofa, his legs stretched out, Ive heard Ji Yanhan on the phone with you a few times ...

his business is too big now, and he cant attend to and even more, he doesnt want to manage this club anymore. He told you several times that he wants to give you this club, didnt he? As an aside though, looks like this old captain of yours still treats you pretty well. I saw it in the forums.

Before, when you terminated your contract with your old club, he paid for your penalty fee, right?

Yu Sui said lightly, And because of it, his girlfriend almost broke up with him.

In the beginning, I thought he really wanted you to join him in the business side of things and so he wants me to replace you. But youve rejected this time and again, so this was probably just Ji Yanhans original idea.

Hes given up on it and no longer mentions it. Shi Luo continued, Youve made it clear that you dont want a substitute, so why does he still want me to stay?

Shi Luo smugly said, Because he thinks Im impressive.

If I remember correctly, he only made it clear that he wanted to have me stay when he found out that several teams were after me.

Every team is on the lookout for a good medic. In order to keep his team firmly in the first place, Ji Yanhan would rather pay me a huge income to do nothing than let me play for any other team.

Your teammates dont have these messed-up schemes. They all think that instead of letting me be a benchwarmer here, better to let me go to other teams to make full use of my abilities. Your teammates actually have the purest thoughts out of everyone here.

Shi Luo stopped speaking. He leaned slightly forward, his black eyes shone as he stared at Yu Sui. Finally, theres you.

Yu Sui cast his eyes down and looked at Shi Luo. He warned in a low voice, Shut up.

Yu Sui didnt want his heart to be cut open and scrutinized by Shi Luo like this.

Cant. Im not biased. Shi Luo looked at Yu Suis with eyes that looked as if they were filled with starlight. Your position is the most complicated. Because your motivation isnt pure but its not coming from any wish to gain any personal benefit.

You helped me register my player information in the league, but youre still hesitant to let me sign a contract because ...

Shi Luo said, You cant get over that hurdle in your heart.

You want me to go back to school, and also feel that you should respect my own choice. You want to sign me, but you dont want me to be just a substitute for years and years. You think I can really replace a place to shine in other teams, but if you really let me go to another team ...

Shi Luo gave a rougish smile, Youre worried that given my situation, if I were to go somewhere else, there wont be any whod keep a close eye on me. Then, Id go astray and grow up to be a useless pile of shit ... This is whats been worrying you to death these past few days?

Yu Sui leaned back slightly, and smiled helplessly. Youre just seventeen. Do you really need to be so smart?

Ive had a lot of practice since I was very young. Shi Luo calmly said, I can see with a single glance what others think about me.

Shi Luo looked at Yu Sui and hesitated: Except for you ... you dont have any schemes about me, so youre not so easy to read.

Yu Sui looked at Shi Luo, a complex expression on his face. He could feel his head ache. What about you? If you were to choose, where would you want to go?

Shi Luo didnt even have to spare a moment of thought. He said happily, Of course, Id want to go back to making live broadcast and pissing off my dad!

Yu Suis head hurt even more. Then you should just be my substitute.

Shi Luo curled up on the sofa and gave a muffled laugh.

Yu Sui clearly knew that Shi Luo had forced his hand. But what could he do?

However, at that time, Yu Sui was still young and didnt have a great amount of tolerance. Being pitted by Shi Luo once, he would inevitably think up of a way to get even.

That was Shi Luos first official match. Yu Sui couldnt rest assured. Unfortunately, the previous day, Shi Luo and Chen Huo had argued over a stick of barbeque and they had a fierce row at the base. Chen Huo swore he would definitely not provide cover for Shi Luo at tomorrows match.

Shi Luo then swore he wouldnt protect Chen Huo with the photon shield. As a result of their quarrel, Yu Sui had Chen Huo take a break and he himself replaced Chen Huo as striker. In any case, FS spot at the top of the regular season was unassailable. If they lose one game then they lose one game.

Chen Huos mouth dropped open in surprise, But you dont play any other jobs, right?

Yu Sui did replace it annoying to play the other jobs, but he still knew how to play them and they still won that regular season match.

It was Shi Luos first game. After the game, Shi Luos face was flushed. Although he tried his best to hide it, the excitement in his eyes just couldnt be hidden. Yu Sui smiled and looked at Shi Luo.

When there werent a lot of people about backstage, he whispered to Shi Luo, Dont tell the others. You and me, lets celebrate.

Shi Luo nodded quickly.

The two avoided the others and quietly went to the underground garage of the stadium and got in the car.

The place is a bit far away. Yu Sui was driving. Its at least eight hours away. You should sleep. When you wake up tomorrow, well be there.

Shi Luo was surprised. Where were they going?

Young people always like surprises. So there were some things that Yu Sui wouldnt say, and Shi Luo wouldnt ask.

An unknown journey is the one most worth looking forward to.

Shi Luo spent a glorious eight hours in joy and anticipation.

The two sped through the expressway, passing by the rest areas, through the mountains, over water, and they finally entered a noisy city in the early morning. They passed through somewhat crowded streets, through more crowded streets and through very congested streets, etc.

When they were stopped by traffic on the road, Shi Luo finally realized that something was wrong.

Shi Luo was puzzled. Why are there so many cars here? But theres no one here. Whats going on?

Yu Sui parked his car. Were just in time. Come on.

Outside the car, Ji Yanhan, holding a transparent case, waved his hand. Over here.

Yu Sui took Shi Luo to meet him. Yu Shi said to Shi Luo, Mobile phone.

Shi Luo blankly took out his mobile phone and gave it to Yu Sui.

Yu Sui checked Shi Luos pockets and nodded. He then took the transparent case from Ji Yanhan and shoved it to Shi Luo. He then suddenly remembered something and took out a thirteen yuan-worth childrens wristwatch from his pants pocket and put it on Shi Luo.

He fervently urged, Pay attention to the time. Everything youll need is in this document bag.

Shi Luo looked at the contents of the document bag in his hand, and then looked to the left and right. He finally noticed that something was fishy.

Before Shi Luo could flee, Yu Sui kicked him into his registered college entrance examination site.

Shi Luo said vexed, Im not taking the exam!!!

Ji Yanhan tried to console him. Aiya, Yu Sui also took his exam, you know. After taking the exam, he just informed the university that hell be deferring schooling to pursue an e-sports career. That doesnt matter though, go quickly.

Do you know how many people I had to trouble to replace your test site and these materials?!

Shi Luo came pretty late. There was no longer anyone outside the testing site. The uncle guard at the gate impatiently dragged Shi Luo into the school grounds and locked the gates. Were gonna close up the exam site, dont you know?

Not going to take the exam? Then what would you do in the future?

Shi Luo said angrily, I can play in matches! Im already in the top 50 on the Chinese server! I just took the FOG regular match NovelFireP title!!!

Uncle guard:......

Even whatever-Ps need to take the exam! The uncle guard looked at Shi Luo up and down like he was a lunatic. Young man, if you wont take the exam and you wont go to school, how will you earn a living in the future?

Shi Luo choked. My basic salary is 200,000 a month !!!

The uncle looked at the other side of the iron railing in surprise. Yu Sui pointed to his head, and said helplessly, Please be considerate.

The uncle nodded, I understand.

Shi Luo had difficulty persuading the guard, and he didnt dare make a commotion that could affect the other candidates. Eventually, under Yu Suis kindly and amiable look he was handed into the exam site.

My salary is more than 200,000 a month ... Shi Luo sat in his examination room, gritted his teeth and took out the 2B pencil and black pen from the transparent document bag. Mortified, he whispered, I just took the regular match MVP title ...

The proctor gave Shi Luo a cold look. Please, no talking, candidate.

Shi Luo trembled in anger. Im...Im sorry.

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Translators note: Chapter 18 AKA Shi Luo is too smart for his own good. Hed be happier if he were less smart. Featuring the College Entrance Examinations: The Great Equalizer.