Chapter 596: You think you're Ye Xiu?!

Changzhang had just heard the sound of A Bu slamming the mouse outside, and when he opened the door and saw the scene in the room, he froze for a moment.

Then he looked at A Bu's ferocious face, then at the mouse parts scattered all over the floor, and a urge to laugh wildly welled up in him.

Although he himself was an accomplice, Changzhang still couldn't help feeling a perverse pleasure welling up in his heart——

What does 'self-inflicted doom' mean?

I told you to instigate me to say those things back then, and now karmic retribution has come, hasn't it!

Changzhang stood at the doorway, one hand still holding the doorknob. He touched his nose, suppressing a grin harder to hold back than an AK-47's recoil, gave a fake cough, and looked up at A Bu,

How did you get so angry?

A Bu sat behind the desk, not answering Changzhang, and said with a face as still as water:

Anything up?

Nothing much……

Changzhang shrugged, hands in his jacket pockets, strolled over, sat opposite A Bu, crossed his legs, his gaze wandering, and spoke in a casual tone:

I have something to discuss with you: I'm not playing in the summer season.

Saying it was like 'I'm going to a classmate's place tonight and won't come back for dinner,' so A Bu didn't react at first, just uttering an 'oh'.

Only then did he suddenly freeze, his brows knitting in surprise and anger, and he shouted:

Wait, what did you say?

I said I'm not playing in the summer season.

Changzhang still didn't look at A Bu, maintaining his carefree attitude.

A Bu stared at Changzhang, silent, his brows furrowing deeper. Although Changzhang seemed indifferent, as a partner who had worked with him for years—and even as the one who initially egged him on to cause the 'fish dead, net broken' incident—A Bu knew Changzhang very well. He could tell Changzhang was serious.

A Bu straightened his face, leaned back, and rested against the chairback.

Give me a reason why you don't want to play.

Changzhang finally dropped his nonchalant act, turned his head to look at A Bu, and said seriously:

My skills aren't enough; I don't want to embarrass myself. Is that reason enough?

Oh, heh, not enough skill……

A Bu didn't get angry but smirked, looking at Changzhang with contempt:

Back when you faced Zhu Zong, you weren't saying that…… When you came back from S5 after losing 0-3 to FNC the year before last, you even promised Zhu Zong you wouldn't retire, that you'd die with EDG—wasn't that what you said? Now you just hit a small setback and start slacking off? Mingkai, think about whether this does right by Zhu Zong and all those who support you!

A Bu unleashed a tirade, mixing criticism with a hint of comfort and encouragement, while inside he was roaring:

Who's gonna make up for my missing money tree!!!

Changzhang isn't stupid either; after years in the pro scene he's become sharp, unmoved by A Bu's words, and simply said lightly:

I never said I was leaving EDG either.

A Bu blinked, his brows furrowing again:

Then what do you mean by not playing in the summer season?

Lay low and bide your time, then come back next year?

Win the S7 World Championships and return as champion, crushing all the way to the top?

You think you're Ye Xiu?!

A pro player who doesn't compete for half a year lacks high-intensity training; half a year later, can they even adapt? Still want to win? That's just wish-fulfillment fiction—only a fool would believe it!

However, upon learning that Changzhang wasn't retiring, A Bu's expression finally eased.

Yet Changzhang's next answer left A Bu utterly unable to hold back.

Changzhang said calmly:

If I don't play matches, I can be a coach—although many coaches transition from support, jungling is similar, right? Even Zhu Xiaolong, who plays top lane, could be a coach, and so could I……

You can be a damn boss, you can!!!

A Bu finally couldn't hold back, slammed the table hard, and sprang to his feet,

Don't you know your own weight? Are you that material?! Still thinking of switching to coach when you don't even get jungling—stop making me laugh!!

Changzhang said nothing, just looked at the foul-mouthed A Bu, his lips slowly curling up.

See, you finally spoke your mind, huh.

Yeah, I just don't get jungling at all—I'm not that material.

So I'm not playing anymore!

Their talk ended inconclusively. But words spoken are like spilled water—can't be taken back. And A Bu also knew full well that once Changzhang had decided something, there was nothing he could do to change it.

Because, although A Bu is nominally the head of EDG, in reality Changzhang's status stands equal to his—this has nothing to do with internal titles, but with the weight they carry in the heart of EDG boss Zhu Zong.

……

Ba Xi, hotel near the venue.

Around nine in the morning, everyone had packed their luggage, ready to head straight to the airport after lunch to return home.

Just then, Liang Yan received an unexpected call.

Huh? Luonaerduo is calling you?!

In the room, Gao Jun stared wide-eyed at Liang Yan, his eyes full of surprise.

Liang Yan was also puzzled—actually, after the FMVP interview ended last night, Luonaerduo ran to the VG lounge to ask for Liang Yan's phone number, and he'd already been a bit confused then.

【55】 Liang Yan was also puzzled—actually, after the FMVP interview ended last night, Luonaerduo ran to the VG lounge to ask for Liang Yan's phone number, and he'd already been a bit confused then.

Why? What does he want from you by calling? Are you still playing football?

Gao Jun asked three questions in a row.

He said he was inviting us to tour his club……

Liang Yan also said, speechless.

Gao Jun dazed for a while before realizing: 'You couldn't mean…… an esports club, could you?'

Liang Yan nodded.

Then Gao Jun stared blankly for a moment, then pulled out his phone to search for related news himself, and only then did he realize.

"He really does have an esports club; he only started investing in it this January, it's quite an old team, and he owns 50% of it..."

"Not just old—it's practically a living fossil of the esports world."

"Luonaerduo invested in the club called CNBe-SportsClub; this club originated from an amateur Counter-Strike team in 2001, a time when global esports was still in its infancy. To the Ba Xi esports scene, CNB was that legendary 'first spark of life underwater,' and even without mentioning Ba Xi, CNB is an extremely veteran team in the global esports scene."

"Later, as the global esports industry grew, CNB gradually developed into a comprehensive club, fielding teams in multiple game genres."

"Then, at the beginning of this year, legendary football superstar Luonaerduo acquired a stake in CNB."

"But Gao Jun quickly realized——"

"He invited us to visit his club's Ji Di... but I remember the home ground of the Ba Xi league isn't in Li Yue, right?"

"Well, it's the venue of this year's MSI qualifiers."

"Shengbaoluo..."

"Yes."