It was already midnight when Sheng Kuang and the others finished their streams.
For professional players, this was still early. Sheng Kuang sent a message in the group chat with the three of them. Ten minutes later, the three converged in the recreation room on the basement level.
Lan Bowen was the first to arrive. Seeing Chen Jing and Sheng Kuang walk out of the elevator one after another, he asked before they could even sit down, "Any gains?"
Chen Jing took a bottle of soda from the refrigerator and tossed it to Sheng Kuang, who passed by, "A few."
Sheng Kuang took the drink, twisted off the cap, and took two long gulps.
"I have a few too," Lan Bowen said, then turned to Sheng Kuang, who had sat down, "Sheng Kuang, what about you?"
Sheng Kuang slowly screwed the cap back on and replayed the events of his stream in his mind. His thoughts settled on the last passerby who had sought him out for a PK (Player Kill) just before going offline, a player named "Qing Zui."
This passerby had been upfront from the start, admitting he wasn't a streamer, nor was he a "hundred-star" player (a player with a very high rank), but he was far superior to those noob streamers and fake "hundred-star" players.
It was clear that this passerby was eager to PK with him, bombarding the chat with messages. In the end, "Qing Zui" challenged him, saying if he thought he was bad after the PK, he would connect with him live and call him "Dad."
Sheng Kuang, who liked being called "Dad," didn't think twice and broke precedent, adding this passerby as a friend.
As it turned out, this passerby named "Qing Zui" wasn't bad at all.
Not "not bad," but "exceptionally good."
He was much better than the streamers who showed off their acting skills daily. His reactions were quick, his playstyle aggressive, and he used a top-lane hero.
Initially, Sheng Kuang didn't take it too seriously, playing casually. After a few minutes, however, he gradually began to get serious. Sudancdn.com
The hero he chose didn't have an advantage against this passerby named "Qing Zui." Fortunately, he had undergone professional training, and his talent was evident. He won, but he knew in his heart that it was a close call.
Sheng Kuang snapped out of his thoughts and placed the drink on the table. "One."
Lan Bowen knew Sheng Kuang well and, hearing his tone, immediately asked, "From your tone, have you already decided you want this person?"
Sheng Kuang nodded.
Chen Jing asked, "How good? What server's hundred-star player? Or which hero's national server? Or is he a streamer?"
"None of the above," Sheng Kuang paused. "He's a wildcard."
"Since you say so, I'll focus on contacting him tomorrow," Lan Bowen said. "As for the ones I and Chen Jing have our eyes on, and your backup choices, give me a list later, and I'll contact them one by one."
"Alright, it's settled then," Chen Jing glanced at the time. "I can't stay here any longer. The manager from CeC has sent me several messages. Regardless, I'm still part of that team, so I need to head back to the base."
After Chen Jing left, Lan Bowen also stood up.
He looked at Sheng Kuang, who was still sitting on the sofa, "Not going upstairs?"
Sheng Kuang shook his head. "No rush. I plan to watch the replays of your and Chen Jing's streams tonight to see if there are any overlooked candidates."
Lan Bowen bent at the waist. "I can't. I can't stay up with you. My back has been hurting badly after sitting for hours tonight. I need to go upstairs, apply some medicine, and sleep."
Sheng Kuang frowned. "It's been a while, why isn't it healed yet?"
Lan Bowen smiled helplessly. "It's not that easy to heal. Back injuries, probably lifelong."
Sheng Kuang's lips tightened. "It was my fault back then..."
"Sheng Kuang," Lan Bowen interrupted him with a smile. "That has nothing to do with you."
Sheng Kuang swallowed, his throat bobbing, and turned to look at the wine cabinet not far away.
"If things could be redone, I'd still do the same thing," Lan Bowen said, lowering his head. He stood before Sheng Kuang for a moment, then chuckled again. "Alright, let's not talk about the past. I'm really tired. I won't stay up with you."
Lan Bowen left.
Sheng Kuang was left alone in the nearly hundred-square-meter recreation room.
He stared at his faint reflection on the glass door of the wine cabinet for a long time. He raised his hand and rubbed his face, then, as if nothing had happened, picked up the remote, turned on the television in front of him, and connected his phone to watch the stream replays.
It was two in the morning when Sheng Kuang yawned, finally unable to stay awake. He turned off the TV, stood up, and got into the elevator.
As he pressed the button for his floor, he glanced at the "3" above the "2" and his fingertip paused for a moment before he pressed "2."
Perhaps seeing the third floor reminded him of the young woman who lived there. Her image slowly drifted into his mind.
She was quite pretty, but seemed to have some issues with her mind.
He said the streamer had no aesthetic sense, and she thought he was complaining that the streamer hadn't photoshopped him.
He saw her wearing disposable slippers and asked Chen Jing to bring her a pair of shoes, and she thought he was trying to bribe her.
He just wanted to ask, who the hell would try to bribe someone with a pair of slippers.
At the time, he hadn't thought much of it, but now, looking back, he felt insulted by that young woman.
Sheng Kuang clicked his tongue, pushed open his door, took off his clothes, and went into the bathroom.
After his shower, he felt a bit thirsty. Carrying his towel, with only his upper body bare, he walked towards the door, drying his hair.
After a few steps, he remembered what Chen Jing had grumbled in his ear that afternoon: "So I can't even walk around in my shorts to get a drink of water in the middle of the night."
Sheng Kuang's hair-drying motion paused. He stood still for two seconds, muttered "What a hassle," and then went into the changing room.
After getting his drink, Sheng Kuang picked up his phone and saw a message from Lan Bowen, sent around midnight before he slept: "People from yLs will be arriving early tomorrow morning."
Sheng Kuang didn't pay much attention, casually replying with an "Ok."
He put down his phone, turned off the lights, and got into bed.
At least three or four people from yLs would be arriving early tomorrow morning, and they were all guys...
Sheng Kuang rolled over and looked at the ceiling. After a couple of minutes, he threw off the covers and got out of bed.
...
Lin Jing suddenly woke up from her sleep.
She had a feeling she had forgotten something, something very important.
She opened her eyes and tried hard to recall. Before the sleepiness could overtake her again, she remembered that the charity organization had asked her to contact Sheng Kuang.
It was late at night, and Sheng Kuang was probably already asleep. She could only contact him tomorrow.
Lin Jing closed her eyes, intending to go back to sleep. But after a few seconds, she opened her eyes again.
Besides that, there was something else.
Auntie Qin Yao's dog.
She had been staying in this house for so long, let alone seeing a dog, she hadn't even heard a dog bark.
Without thinking, Lin Jing got out of bed, slipped on her slippers, and left the bedroom.
Just as she was about to circle the villa to look for the dog, she saw Sheng Kuang standing not far down the hallway, opposite the elevator, holding a pen and writing on a piece of cardboard hanging on the wall.
Lin Jing stared for two seconds, then walked over.
It was better not to get too close. As Lin Jing got closer and saw what Sheng Kuang was writing, her jaw almost dropped to the floor.
Restricted Area, Men Not Allowed.
ps: Goodnight~ Please vote for monthly tickets! Please vote for recommendation tickets! Please give me red beans!