Let Me Sleep a Little Longer [Esports] - Chapter 20
When Zhou Lingxing arrived at the backup training room, Su Heng was staring intently at the computer screen.
A team fight was about to break out at the bottom of the screen, and the Sword Saint she was controlling was still lurking in the enemy jungle bushes, holding his breath and waiting.
The opposing Hecarim couldn’t hold back and used his ultimate to initiate the fight, trying to scatter the formation.
On Su Heng’s side, the four players frantically pressed keys and clicked the mouse; some died, some fled.
She frowned deeply, still showing no sign of taking action.
Seeing that the Sword Saint had no intention of coming out, the teammates gave up and recklessly charged forward, fighting desperately, which surprisingly caused considerable casualties to the enemy.
A trace of a smile flickered in Su Heng’s eyes as she rushed to the battlefield from behind.
Seeing the low-health squishy, she didn’t even blink before using Q to engage. The mid laner fell. She then used E, followed by two basic attacks, refreshed Q, and cut in again. The ADC fell.
Seeing that both enemy dual carries had become spirits under the Sword Saint’s blade, the teammates immediately followed up.
Su Heng glanced at the health of the enemy top laner and jungler, then reached out a black hand toward the trembling enemy support.
…
…
After the support fell, the teammates also wore down the health of the other two to about the same level.
Su Heng’s eyes curved into a smile, using the last 100 mana left to cast the final Q.
The Sword Saint’s avatar and the large words « Pentakill » appeared at the top of the screen. Within five seconds, the opposing team surrendered.
Before she could exit the game interface, laughter suddenly came from behind.
Su Heng reflexively turned around and saw Zhou Lingxing with a teasing expression on his face.
The man covered his mouth, his chest rising and falling with laughter, showing no sign of stopping.
Su Heng stared at him quietly for a long moment, waiting for the man to calm down before slowly speaking: « What’s so funny? »
Zhou Lingxing straightened his expression: « Nothing, the scrimmage is over, let’s go back. »
She didn’t want to probe further, so she shut down the computer and got up to leave.
There weren’t many people coming and going at the club at night, only a few dim lights lingering in the corridor.
The two walked side by side, yet neither showed any intention of breaking the silence.
As they neared the training room, the man suddenly asked casually, « Want to use Master Yi in the next match? »
Su Heng didn’t answer directly, but her determined gaze gave Zhou Lingxing a clear affirmation.
Zhou Lingxing nodded and opened the door for her. « Remember to report it to the coach. »
Su Heng nodded and walked into the room.
Actually, she wanted to ask him what he thought about using Master Yi in the next match, and also why he smiled just now.
But every time she saw the same indifferent expression on this man’s face as her own, she couldn’t bring herself to speak.
Among the whole team, Zhou Lingxing was the only person she couldn’t figure out.
Sun He wants victory, persistently pursuing his dream.
Old Yu is usually carefree and loves to eat and drink, but when it comes to the competition, he is the most dedicated one.
Even wave, who has always clashed with her, though relentless in words, she knows the young man has a soft heart that hates injustice.
Only Zhou Lingxing seems indifferent to everything, yet it feels like nothing can escape his grasp.
She couldn’t even feel Zhou Lingxing’s passion for the game, but if he didn’t like it, then why go pro?
Su Heng rubbed her temples, the drowsiness in her mind already clamoring, and after quickly greeting the few people in the living room, she went upstairs.
Downstairs, Lao Yu looked curiously at the girl heading straight to the second floor and winked at Zhou Lingxing: « Is she going to sleep again? »
Zhou Lingxing pulled out a pack of cigarettes from somewhere, glanced over again, and said, « Mind your own business. »
After speaking, he ignored how Lao Yu was stomping his feet behind him, grabbed his coat, and walked out.
Wave poked his head out from behind Lao Yu, still with a lollipop in his mouth, and asked curiously, « Hasn’t Ling Ge hardly been smoking lately? »
Sun He only realized that Zhou Lingxing had gone out to smoke after hearing Wave say this, and his brow gradually furrowed.
After a moment of contemplation, Sun He followed him out.
As soon as Sun He opened the door, he smelled the drifting scent of smoke. He looked in the direction the smoke was coming from and saw Zhou Lingxing leaning against the wall, a cigarette in one hand flickering in and out of light, while the other hand held a phone, making a call.
When Zhou Lingxing saw the door open, he only glanced at it lightly, then turned his back and said to the person on the phone, « Mm, next Tuesday. »
Perhaps because he had just smoked, his voice was somewhat hoarse, sounding full of worries.
« Alright, I’ll get in touch then. » After saying this, Zhou Lingxing hung up the phone.
Sun He only slowly approached after Zhou Lingxing finished his call. « What’s wrong? »
Zhou Lingxing took a drag of his cigarette, his eyes showing a hint of haze, but he remained silent for a long time.
He knew what Sun He wanted to ask, and he also knew what Sun He had seen. Years of tacit understanding made communication between them especially simple, but that same understanding left his disguise completely exposed in front of Sun He.
After a long while, when the cigarette in Zhou Lingxing’s hand was almost finished, he finally spoke slowly: « Let Su Heng play in next Tuesday’s match. »
Sun He was confused but still answered slowly, « Su Heng only knows how to play two heroes, if she’s targeted… »
« She said she wants to play Master Yi, » Zhou Lingxing interrupted Sun He.
Sun He was surprised: « Master Yi? How is that possible? I don’t agree, and the coach won’t agree either. »
Zhou Lingxing was not surprised by Sun He’s objection. He flicked away the nearly burnt-out cigarette butt in his hand and said in a deep voice, « What she wants to do won’t stop just because you and the coach disagree. »
Sun He raised an eyebrow and teased him, « Oh? How do you know? »
A cold breeze swept in, scattering the remaining ashes on the ground, swirling in circles on the concrete.
Zhou Lingxing glanced at Sun He, then cast his eyes toward a distant, unknown light: « Just a feeling. »
Before Sun He could continue teasing, Zhou Lingxing added, « The day after tomorrow, I’ve invited Jiang Yuan over. »
« Why call him over? » Sun He had already calmed down. Since Zhou Lingxing told him about this matter now, it definitely meant there was a solution. Otherwise, knowing Zhou Lingxing’s personality, he wouldn’t have brought up something that couldn’t be resolved.
How many people who play LOL don’t want to play a damage role? Su Heng had just started playing the game, and considering she used to like grabbing the damage buff, it was clear she intended to use Master Yi as a damage dealer.
Zhou Lingxing spoke as he lit another cigarette, « Some things, no matter how much we say, are useless. She has to experience it herself. Fortunately, FHL has no matches on Monday, so let Jiang Yuan come and teach her a lesson. »
Sun He looked at the sparks at Zhou Lingxing’s fingertips, hesitating, « You and Jiang Yuan… »
Zhou Lingxing flicked the ash off his cigarette, « I’ve told him, helping me will benefit him, but asking me to forgive him, » he snorted coldly, « is wishful thinking. »
Sun He sighed quietly, wanting to persuade Zhou Lingxing, but feeling he had no standing, he ultimately gave up.
Zhou Lingxing seemed to sense something, turned his head to glance at Sun He, and the expression on his face was no longer as cold and hard as before: « You go in first, I’ll come in after I finish this cigarette. »
After Sun He went inside, Zhou Lingxing looked again at the scattered lights on the distant building.
He even contacted Jiang Yuan, hoping she wouldn’t let him down.
*
The next morning, when Su Heng got up and opened the door, she saw a golden head—Xiaoban was slumped at her bedroom door holding his phone, his face full of excitement.
Seeing Su Heng come out, Xiao Ban immediately jumped up: « Miss, are you going to solo with fans today? »
Su Heng remained expressionless, answering while going downstairs: « Yes. »
« Your live stream video from yesterday was made into a meme and posted online. Now your Weibo is full of requests for solo matches. » Xiao Ban followed closely behind Su Heng, talking nonstop.
I’ve never seen a streamer who clashes with fans like you do, jumping straight into solo matches at the slightest disagreement. I’ll send you gifts during tonight’s live stream, Miss!
By the way, miss, go check the comments and videos under your Weibo post. Want me to help you clap back at them?
Su Heng glanced at the young man, feeling her newly awakened mind once again thrown into chaos by this chatterbox.
After a while, seeing that Xiao Ban showed no sign of stopping, she couldn’t bear it any longer: « Aren’t you going to train? »
Xiao Ban smiled brightly: « It’s still early, and besides, they don’t take me when they duo queue. »
Su Heng was helpless; he made such a fuss that she didn’t even want to turn on her computer. She took out her phone and logged into Weibo.
Sure enough, the live broadcast notification she posted the day before yesterday had over 10,000 comments, and the number was still growing. The backend notification count kept flashing continuously.
Su Heng clicked on the video link of the top trending comment, and her masked face immediately appeared on the screen.
Su Heng lightly moved her finger and pressed play.
A melody with a strong drumbeat rhythm poured out, followed immediately by a clearly edited familiar female voice.
【solo, solo, come solo.】
【Left a name but didn’t show up.】
【Fighting ten, are you there or not?】
[One Shuai, are you there?]
[Solo, solo, come solo.]
…..
It was Su Heng’s first time watching a meme video, and it was her own meme video.
A strong sense of shame surged in her heart. Her hand trembled as she closed the video screen, leaving only the little board beside her shouting, « Don’t close it! The later part is even more interesting! »
Except for Zhou Lingxing, who had just woken up and was still spacing out, the others also turned their gazes toward the sound.
Su Heng forced herself to resist the urge to roll her eyes and continued scrolling through the comments.
Most of them thought she was arrogant for challenging them to a solo match:
【Just tonight!! Don’t run after school!! I’ll solo you!!】
[The old man sticks to his name and surname, Xiao Shiyilang from Zone One, I’ll be waiting for you tonight]
Su Heng found it amusing, glanced at a few messages, then locked her phone screen.
Dan Dan looked at the excited Xiao Ban: « What? You want to solo me too? »
Xiao Ban scratched his head: « No way, I’m just here to watch the fun and report back to you. »
« Report finished, you can go train now. » Su Heng nodded, stood up, and walked past Xiao Ban towards the kitchen.
Xiao Ban silently returned to his seat like a defeated rooster, but his eyes couldn’t leave Su Heng, who was drinking milk in the kitchen.
A few seconds later, the young boy entered the game full of energy.
In the evening, he could watch the young lady solo with her online friends—just thinking about it made him a little excited.
At seven in the evening, Su Heng, wearing a mask, opened the live streaming room on time. The number of viewers was already dozens of times that of yesterday.
She looked at the screen filled with rapidly flying bullet comments, grabbed the mouse, and clicked the option to turn off the bullet comments.
Seeing the screen return to a clean state, she relaxed her brow slightly and went straight to the point.
I said, today is the last chance. I want to play ten matches, are you in or not?
As soon as the words fell, a friend request box appeared in the lower right corner of Su Heng’s game interface.
【I want to fight ten people requests to become your friend.】
