Chapter 10: Persist to the End

"You really are a master!"

"I never said I wasn't. wenXuemi. Com"

"You lied to me! You said you wouldn't play games!"

"... I didn't mean to."

Lei Xue still wore an expression of disbelief: "This is the first time I've seen anyone reach 10 million points..."

I continued playing the Windows built-in pinball game. "Of course, everyone has their own specialties... Nobita is good at cat's cradle too..."

Xue'er pushed me aside. "Let me try!"

"Careful, don't die. Reaching 10 million isn't easy!" I acted very anxious.

... Lei Xue still Game Over'd quickly. She quit the game and started checking each of my hard drive partitions. Finally, she looked at me with disappointment: "No games installed at all... You really aren't him?"

"... Who do you think I am?" Cold sweat finally broke out on my back.

Lei Xue seemed lost in memories, a layer of mist seeming to cover her crystal-clear big eyes. She murmured softly to herself: "After that Grrr beat me, he actually invited me for tea!.. Hmph, foreigners think they're so great, knowing no respect for opponents, just staring lecherously... When he defeated Grrr, do you know how happy I was? Even though Ling Tian lost to him in the end..."

"..." I could only stay silent.

"You really aren't?.. Not that one, the 'Demon on LostTemple'?" Lei Xue still seemed unwilling to accept it.

"I know who you're talking about. The principal mentioned him too. Sorry, we just happen to share the same name." At this point, what else could I say?

"Just now, an unknown ID beat me in StarCraft and immediately challenged Ling Tian. I thought it was you..." Lei Xue said softly, "But I only took at most 5 minutes to walk over here; the match shouldn't be over yet. And your computer is so empty, no games at all. It really doesn't seem to be you..." She seemed to be explaining it to me, or perhaps just convincing herself.

Xue'er wore a desolate expression, casually flipping through the essays on my desk. "You were so amazing in class today; you really scared me."

"Uh... about that..." Sweat started breaking out on my forehead too. No way, I always get like this when I'm alone with the girl I like.

"Forget it... I won't bother you anymore.." Lei Xue said as she started to walk out of my room.

"Wait." Lei Xue's last words finally hurt me. Did she approach me only because she mistook me for that Li Lin?! Wounded pride gave me immense courage. I looked at her calmly: "That's right, I'm not that gaming master, just an ordinary intern teacher. But I still want to ask one thing: Would you be willing to be friends with this ordinary teacher?"

Lei Xue raised her eyebrows in surprise, finally breaking into a smile: "Aren't we already friends?..."

>>>>>>

Watching Xue'er walk away gradually, I finally slumped onto the bed, thinking what a close call. Fortunately, my sixth sense, which hadn't completely atrophied, made me quit StarCraft in time, and modifying the score of a mere small game was a piece of cake for me. A score as high as 10 million was even stronger proof of what I had been doing in the previous hour.

But I still didn't quite understand. Since when did things turn out this way? I actually had to hide my identity... And judging by Lei Xue's expression, I might have even become my own rival in love!... And Lei Xue indeed thought to search my hard drive. Fortunately, I had made all the games highly hidden beforehand. But masters can still find clues from the remaining space on a hard drive. Might as well switch to someone else's computer...

What about Director Lei? Hehe...

At the same time, inside Mingqing's computer hall...

More than ten people gathered around a computer screen, while Ling Tian was replaying the recording of that match just now.

"I don't see anything special. This guy's skill level is indeed quite good, but his early development and mid-game expansion can only be considered ordinary..." A young man couldn't help but voice his opinion.

Ling Tian didn't answer; instead, another young man replied: "Indeed very ordinary, but his technology development speed and troop production speed didn't lag behind Ling Tian's at all. Could you do that?"

By now, the recording had reached the point where Ling Tian successfully lured the enemy with a small number of Dragoons. That young man at the beginning couldn't help but speak again: "He fell for it that easily? Did Ling Tian really lose this match?" Since the recording had no fog of war (Note 1), everyone could clearly see Ling Tian's Protoss main force ambushing at the opponent's Zerg entrance, while the Zerg main force of Hydralisks had been lured elsewhere. The outcome seemed quite obvious...

"Pay attention here!" Ling Tian finally spoke up.

Under everyone's gaze, the Hydralisk group wasn't led into the valley. Instead, at the last moment, they all turned around and rushed toward a hidden spot on the side. But that hidden spot had nothing in it!

Ling Tian's powerful voice explained: "This is the first strange thing. The opponent seemed to be deliberately lured over, and inexplicably believed there were my ambush troops there! And that place is indeed where I often set up ambushes... It seems the opponent must be very familiar with my tactics."

The recording had reached the Protoss's total assault. An ocean of Zealots and Dragoons seemed unstoppable...

"Did you really lose? Ling Tian?" Everyone seemed to have the same question.

"Keep watching..." Ling Tian's face was gloomy.

The scene continued: The Zerg quickly replenished their defense towers. The remaining forces blocked the narrow entrance tightly. A new batch of Zerg warriors had already started being produced. The main force, unable to return in time, was airdropped into the Protoss base and cleverly hid outside the range of the Protoss defense towers to attack... The situation was slowly being turned around...

"Scary micro-management..." The young man who asked first looked incredulous.

"He mobilized all his units. Even the workers at the main base were sent to block the road. At the same time, he had time to precisely control the airdropped troops to destroy my factory... The speed and precision of this micro-management have already reached master level..." Ling Tian's voice was somewhat low. "Could he have been hiding his strength before?.. But that makes no sense..."

No one could answer his question.

"There is another strange thing. When I asked who he was, he said nothing and suddenly went offline!..." Ling Tian was still murmuring to himself. "Who exactly is he...?" Everyone in their hearts had the same question.

>>>>>>

When I stood on the podium again, the feeling was completely different from before. Maybe it was because my sternness (?) yesterday gave them a deep lesson, or maybe it was because their leader Ling Tian was listless, or more likely because Lei Xue didn't come to fan the flames again. Anyway, during this day, I wasn't made difficult by this group of students anymore. Only then did I realize: the sky could be so blue, the flowers could be so bright, and even the cafeteria food had become so delicious...

I hummed a little tune on my way to the Dean's Office. Stress and anger had long been vented on Ling Tian yesterday. Today everything was going smoothly; how could my mood not be good?

Seeing the Dean's Office building from afar, a white figure just appeared at the edge of my vision. I hurried a few steps. "Lei Xue!" The person ahead turned around at the sound. It was indeed Xue'er.

"What, going to find my dad again?" Xue'er looked at me with a half-smile. "Probably only you in the whole school visit him most frequently."

"Hehe.." I scratched my head. "Actually, I'd rather go find you every day..." Seeing Lei Xue's eyes widen at my words, I quickly continued: "... Unfortunately, you aren't the Dean..."

"Hmph, let me tell you the truth, I'm the real power behind the scenes. If you don't want to be fired, you'd better listen to me.." Xue'er blinked those bright big eyes, joking with me very seriously.

"I've always been very obedient, Your Majesty..."

"Flattering me won't get you a promotion!..." The innocent Xue'er seemed not to catch the improper meaning in my words, still laughing happily.

God! Thank you! We can finally chat like friends.

In the blink of an eye, the Dean's Office building was right there. Lei Xue's destination was the same as mine: the Dean's Office. When we walked into Director Lei's office together, Lei Dapao glanced at us, looking thoughtful.

"Dad, this is Cousin's proposal. I helped him finish it."

"Hmm, has he sent any news back?"

"No. I sent him an email, but he hasn't replied yet."

"Oh.." Director Lei said, turning his gaze toward me. "Is your resume ready? Come, let me see."

I respectfully handed over a stack of manuscript paper. Director Lei took it, suddenly frowned, and turned to ask Lei Xue: "What's wrong? Is there anything else?"

Lei Xue still had no intention of leaving. She said with righteous indignation: "I'm waiting for him to leave together!" I instantly felt floaty all over. So happy...!

Director Lei kept a straight face: "You should leave first. I still have something to say to him."

Lei Xue looked suspicious: "Acting so mysterious... It definitely isn't anything good." But in the end, she obediently left.

"Ahem!" Director Lei cleared his throat. I immediately snapped out of my daydreaming. I saw Director Lei holding the resume I just submitted, his burning gaze fixed tightly on me. I immediately felt my face turn red, nervously guessing what he was about to say.

"Although Xue'er can be a bit willful, she is actually a very smart and sensible child..." Director Lei, upon opening his mouth, brought up the matter of Xue'er, leaving me somewhat puzzled. "She insisted on not taking the university entrance exam; after finishing vocational high school, she came to work. So although she has been working for a year, she is actually younger than you..." Director Lei sighed lightly. "Her work ability is indeed impeccable; it's just that she loves playing games too much. You say, a girl, spending every day squeezed among a group of boys playing computers—what would people say!"

"That's right, that's right!" I dared not say anything else.

"I am old now and cannot manage her; if only someone could take charge of her for me..." As Director Lei spoke, he leaned gently against the back of his chair.

"Oh no, oh no, you are still young..." I casually brushed it off... Wait! Listening to the tone of his voice, how does it sound like he is hinting at something?! That doesn't make sense; would a female parent's side ever propose such a thing actively?... Hmm, it must be because I am too outstanding...

"Young man, nowadays young people like you who are so steady and willing to work are very rare..." Here it comes! Just as I thought! "Do you have any plans for yourself?"

"This... let's see what Lei Xue thinks... I have no objections..." When the moment arrived, I was still a bit nervous, my words coming out unsteadily.

"Lei Xue, well, she has no objections; it mainly depends on whether you are willing..."

"Me?... Of course I am willing!"

"In that case, once the probation period ends, you can become a regular employee. This is the contract; after you fill it out, attach your resume to the back and hand it to me." Director Lei said calmly.

"??" I was completely confused; how does this matter involve a probation period? And a contract?

"The main reason I called you here today is to recruit you as a regular teacher," Director Lei seemed quite emotional. "I didn't expect you to be so straightforward."

"Oh... nothing, nothing!" Actually, I still understood nothing.

"And I made you listen to my complaining for so long," Director Lei smiled. "Finally, someone in my family has someone to listen to me ramble... No wonder I felt an affinity with you the moment I saw you..."

"Oh no, oh no, that is your appreciation..."

For the first time, I discovered that Director Lei, with such a serious appearance, could also smile so cunningly.

Note 1: Real-time strategy games produced by Blizzard share a common feature: areas of the map not yet explored by one's side are temporarily covered by a black fog, while areas that have been explored but are currently out of sight are covered by a semi-transparent black fog. These two types of black fog are the Fog of War, greatly enhancing the game's strategy and confrontation. Alas, Westwood's Red Alert series did not have this setting; no wonder they went bankrupt... I've strayed too far: )

The purpose of match replays is to allow the audience to view the entire situation and analyze the situation, therefore they can be watched in full screen without the Fog of War.

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