Chapter 277: I've Practiced

The next morning, G2 Zhong Ren took a bus to New York Airport.

Accompanying them were G2's practice partners and the H2K team members. H2K kept its promise: after G2 defeated SKT to reach the finals, H2K indeed bought their own tickets to go to Los Angeles to serve as practice partners.

This also spread across the global internet.

European netizens naturally applauded, saying H2K was righteous, and that if G2 could truly win the championship, they could join G2 on stage when lifting the trophy.

Moreover, although the two teams are rivals for the league championship, their fans harbor no hostility toward each other. Compared to the LPL's top teams EDG and RNG, whose fans seem to have a deadly feud, the relationship between G2 and H2K fans is practically as close as family; when the news spread that H2K would pay to be G2's practice partners, their fans became even closer.

Some also said it was against the rules, claiming H2K was helping G2 cheat. Those holding this view were mostly Korean netizens, because G2's finals opponent ROX was too poor—even the airfare for its own players was fronted by the Korean e‑sports association, making it impossible to afford practice partners. Thus, from the end of the semifinals to the start of the finals that week, ROX's sole training activity was playing on the American server… Compared to scrims, that's obviously a huge gap, and moreover this is the American server, not the Korean one, so the high‑level play is far worse.

But Korean netizens' standing on the global internet is, well, mediocre; they usually dare to complain only on their own Korean‑language sites. Even if a few voices appear on platforms like YouTube, they are instantly shut down by English‑speaking users and back down.

So they couldn't make any waves at all.

Two tour buses pulled up one after the other in the airport parking lot; the ROX members got off the bus that arrived later and saw the H2K team standing in front of the other bus chatting with the G2 Zhong Ren. The two groups were laughing and talking, and the ROX entourage couldn't help but feel a strong sense of envy.

Especially Xiao Huasheng.

Having practice partners even after reaching the finals—how great……

Xiao Huasheng thought to himself, filled with envy.

They couldn't afford practice partners, and since their relations with other LCK teams were also just average, no one would voluntarily offer to practice with them for free.

Fortunately, they have passionate fans.

When entering the airport, the ROX group met a crowd of fans who had come to see them off, most of whom were ethnic Koreans or Korean girls who had traveled far to show support.

Despite the cold, the girls in short skirts showing off their long white legs let out a chorus of screams, attracting many travelers' gazes and somewhat easing the ROX members' inner imbalance—'You have practice partners, we have fans!'

Of course, G2 also has fans.

However, although Western fans are also enthusiastic, they don't do this sort of thing, so no one came to the airport to see G2 off.

……

The plane took off at 7 a. m. and landed in Los Angeles at noon.

Los Angeles is one of the most famous cities in California and even the world, renowned in every dimension. In terms of entertainment, Hollywood, Universal Studios, the Lakers' home arena, Beverly Hills, and other well‑known entertainment labels are all here; academically and technologically, it hosts top‑tier research institutions and universities such as SpaceX and the California Institute of Technology.

Moreover, the fist headquarters and the main venue of the North American top‑tier professional league LCS‑NA are also located here.

The two buses sent to pick us up were directly under the fist; their fronts and backs bore a large fist company logo, while the sides were painted with several highly representative heroes from League of Legends, looking colorful and gaudy.

But they indeed look good, and they are strongly characteristic of the fist, making them instantly recognizable.

After clearing customs, the ROX side let out another round of chaotic shouts.

The G2 Zhong Ren and H2K members first boarded the buses to the hotel; after arriving, they completed the usual check‑in procedures, then were assigned rooms, still two per room.

After lunch, they went to the training room for a quick look, plugged in their equipment to check it, and then fist staff brought over a filming notice.

After a brief rest, everyone hurried back onto the buses again.

They stayed busy until past ten at night, finally concluding the day's schedule after landing.

Liang Yan then began to organize his luggage, taking out his clothes to hang in the wardrobe and laying out his personal daily items.

But after finishing, Liang Yan discovered a serious problem.

"Lao Zhang, do you have any new underwear?"

"Huh? No."

Lao Zhang looked puzzled,

"I remember you bought a few pairs just before we left, didn't you?"

"I left them hanging outside and forgot to bring them in……

Liang Yan gave a wry smile and spread his hands,

"All I have is the one I'm wearing."

"What should we do…… if you don't mind, here." Lao Zhang was also packing his luggage, casually pulling two pairs from his suitcase and gesturing to Liang Yan, "These are the ones we bought together; I've worn them, but I washed them very clean."

"Thank you."

"Hahaha."

Liang Yan remembered seeing a supermarket not far from the hotel on the way here, but he wasn't sure if it was still open this late; after packing his luggage, he decided to try his luck.

Lao Zhang was a bit worried:

"Shall I go with you?"

Liang Yan waved his hand:

"It's fine; I've practiced before."

"Really? … Then be careful."

"Nothing happened in Chicago either; Los Angeles is much safer, relax."

Liang Yan pocketed some cash, took the elevator down, walked out of the hotel gate alone, stood at the entrance looking both ways, and chose a direction based on his impression.

Here in downtown Los Angeles, the streetlights were bright, but a few alleys were interspersed along the way—narrow paths between tall buildings that could be shortcuts. However, Liang Yan knew safety comes first when out and about, so he stuck to the lit streets, walking two or three hundred meters and indeed found that supermarket.

Seeing the lights still on inside the supermarket, Liang Yan breathed a sigh of relief—at least he wouldn't have to sleep naked tonight. As for what to wear after buying, in his hurry he didn't worry about such details; he'd just pick a nicely packaged pair later. It's not like this sort of thing could be bought second‑hand, and if he really hit the jackpot by bad luck, he'd feel he could go buy lottery tickets.

He quickly bought two boxes of shorts and headed back.

As he passed an alley entrance, he heard some movement inside; Liang Yan glanced in and saw the alley dark and gloomy, a vague cluster of shapes—he couldn't tell how many, but at least two—making a murmuring sound. He suspected it might be a couple high on drugs performing an outdoor love‑action scene, but since it had nothing to do with him, he merely glanced and hurried on.

"Help…!"