Chapter 54: I'll Just Say a Few Words!

"Brother Ming, could we get two extra sets of our team uniforms?"

After admiring them from all sides, Shi Zhenyu, who loved them dearly, scratched his head and asked shyly.

He felt that in the future he wouldn't even need to spend extra money on clothes; with just this team uniform, he could wear it for a whole year.

"We will issue more; what you have in your hands right now are just sample outfits. How can you change and wash if you only have one set?"

Facts proved that putting extra effort into the design of the team uniforms was the right move.

If the players who need to wear them for matches find them so tacky that they can't bring themselves to like them, how could we possibly sell hundreds or even thousands of them to fans?

From the very beginning of opening the online store, Jiang Ming had not been narrow-minded like some streamers next door, using inferior goods to pass off as high quality, selling clothes that cost eighteen yuan each for over a hundred.

The things that truly make money, big money, are the team uniforms currently in the players' hands, which will become club merchandise in the future.

You only need to provide passable materials and put some effort into the design; clothing costing a few dozen yuan, with the added attribute of being merchandise, can then be sold for hundreds or even thousands.

It is best to make the fans willingly pay for their products while also making the fans feel like they are the ones who made a profit.

"Today you have half a day off; you can go out and stroll around. The commercial street is right next door; just be back before dinner," Jiang Ming said with a smile on his lips. "Of course, if you want to eat outside, I have no objection."

"Alright!"

"We guarantee we'll be back before dinner."

Support Pang Ran chuckled: "Not eating hot pot mutton, going out to eat street snacks instead? How stupid."

"Oh, and one more thing: go to bed early tonight. In a moment, go to your Lin Jie and get a bottle of facial cleanser each. Tomorrow, I require you to clean yourselves thoroughly, from top to bottom, inside and out."

Jiang Ming spoke seriously; when it came to serious matters, he liked to get them all said at once.

Otherwise, if he dragged it out until mealtime to assign tasks, it would inevitably affect the players' appetites.

Evening, NXG Team Canteen.

The auntie arranged two induction cookers, placing a clear broth pot and a spicy hot pot on top.

"Those who can eat spicy food sit at the spicy pot table; those who can't go next door," Lin Jingyi called out.

Jiang Ming, who always considered himself very capable of eating spicy food, had to admit defeat before his typical Sichuan-Chongqing dragon senior sister.

Besides the hot pot, a large cup filled with drinks like cola and Sprite was placed in front of everyone.

"Come, cheers to NXG Team advancing to the LPL!"

"Cheers!" × N!

"Ahem, let me just say a few words."

With the atmosphere reaching this point, Jiang Ming, whose throat suddenly felt a bit itchy, unconsciously adopted the posture of the leaders he used to hate most.

Yep, the classic 'say a few words.'

Indeed, the dragon slayer eventually becomes the dragon.

"First, guard against arrogance and impetuosity. Advancing to the LPL is only the beginning for you and for our NXG."

"Afterwards, we must strive to win every match, to secure the league championship, and even the world championship."

"This process might—no, it will definitely be bitter, so bitter that some of you might even quit midway."

"But please believe me, the future of esports is far brighter than you imagine."

As a new industry in the country, esports has imperfect rules, and the management of many teams can be described as chaotic.

He did not want the few young men he had worked so hard to train to be negatively influenced by the environment.

"We will work hard!"

"Our goal is the championship."

"Quit midway? That's absolutely impossible. Hehe, Brother Ming, you'd better prepare the bonus money in advance."

"It's just grinding, right? We don't have much else, but we have plenty of grind."

"Good, let's eat first!"

He said 'a few words,' and it was just a few words; absolutely no more nonsense.

Jiang Ming didn't need them to understand the reasons right now; after all, if anyone were in the S3 era earning a base salary of two or three thousand yuan, telling them that just a few years later a single esports club seat fee would be over a hundred million, and that any capable popular player could earn an annual salary of over a million, would indeed seem too far-fetched.

Nothing happened throughout the night.

The next day, at 9:30 AM, Zhou Shu, who was temporarily serving as the part-time team manager, knocked on each player's door.

"Coming, coming!"

"Zhou Shu, we are already up."

Inside the room, the sound of running water from the washroom accompanied the players' replies.

The few small ones, dressed in their team uniforms, were vigorously rubbing their slightly oily faces with the facial cleanser they had received the night before.

Makeup, photography, and professional photos were scenes they had never imagined in their minds.

It was just so very—classy!

Following Lin Jie's instructions, he used a basin of warm water to wash his face instead of rinsing directly with cold water; after all the dirt accumulated on his face from long hours of computer training and frequent late nights was finally washed away, Support Pang Ran felt much more spirited.

"Old Xu, I'm heading downstairs first. Lin Jie said in the group chat that whoever finishes first goes to get makeup done first." After folding his quilt back on the bed, Support Pang Ran shouted to Xu Jing, who was still pulling the toothbrush back and forth in his mouth.

"Mmm... you go... I'll follow right behind."

Putting on his jacket and, for the first time ever, tearing open a brand new pair of socks to put on his feet, Support Pang Ran ran downstairs.

"Support Pang Ran, wait a moment; Shi Zhenyu will be done in a little while. There are rice noodles in the kitchen; add your own condiments, pour the soup into the bowl, and you can eat," Lin Jingyi said, looking at Support Pang Ran who had just come down from the second floor. "The photoshoot will probably take quite some time today; be careful when eating. There are aprons on the wall; don't spill soup on your clothes."

Facing Lin Jingyi, who had perfectly immersed herself in the role of club manager and was reminding them of every detail.

Support Pang Ran scratched his head, instantly losing the desire to investigate what Shi Zhenyu looked like after makeup in the training room; Lin Jie's way of speaking felt... felt just like his own mother's.

Not someone to mess with!

At this moment, Shi Zhenyu, sitting on a chair in the training room, was undergoing the various manipulations of the makeup artist.

"Young man, your base isn't bad. Remember to wash your face with facial cleanser before sleeping; that can prevent oily skin to some extent caused by long-term computer use."

"Thank you."

The makeup artist, examining her work with interest, said, "What's there to thank? I'm more than happy to expand into a brand-new makeup service. Before today, I hadn't even done makeup for an esports player."

"We need to avoid the problem of looking bad under the lights as much as possible. Hmm... to some extent, the makeup requirements for esports players are similar to those for celebrities."

"The base makeup must consider high coverage and a light feel while ensuring a certain degree of longevity. Focus on eye makeup. By the way, should we add some contouring and blush?"

No one knew exactly how much time had passed; they only saw Support Pang Ran, who had been slurping noodles, return from the kitchen with his bowl to the training room.

Shi Zhenyu finally received the makeup artist's special pardon: "Alright, done. Let's move to the next one."

"Oh, not bad at all. I didn't expect that after your makeup, Stone, you'd still be a rugged male god."

Support Pang Ran's eyes lit up. He quickly sat in the chair before the makeup artist, his heart full of anticipation for the makeup he was about to receive.