Book 4: The Return of the King


    Chapter 17


    It was the final competition in Beijing three days after the Shanghai preliminary.


    In order to adapt to the gaming environment, SP flew to Beijing right after the


    Shanghai preliminary without any breaks.  When they picked up their luggage


    at the third terminal of the Capital Airport, Ai Qing saw Taotao and four young big


    boys behind him waiting for her after she walked out of the luggage area.


    Ai Qing passed her luggage to Slide and walked over alone.


    They were wearing the same sports outfits without a team logo, probably buying


    whatever was at a store.  There was no manager and coach, and there was no


    branch office here to welcome them and arrange a hotel. There was nothing at all.


    Except the fact that they purposely kept their outfits, backpacks, and sports shoes


    all in black, they looked just like seventeen or eighteen year old college freshmen.


    Even a person like Taotao, who dyed his hair with such a brilliant color, might be


    “Did you wait for long?”  Ai Qing put her hands behind her and asked Taotao.  She


    also passingly nodded to the people behind him as a symbolic greeting.


    “Four hours.”


    “Four hours?  Didn’t I tell you about my flight schedule?”


    Taotao was silent for two or three seconds.  “The early flight was cheaper.”


    So that was the reason.


    “Even the early flight was expensive, right?”  She was very understandable.


    “You haven’t reserved the organizer’s hotel, either?  Even the discounted price


    is expensive, right? Have you reserved some youth hostel?”


    They were all embarrassed.  She was probably right on the target.


    Ai Qing stretched out her hand from behind and gave Taotao a file folder.


    The big boys stared at the folder with an envious expression.  Everybody knew


    what it was. It was the contract that would determine Taotao’s next three years


    professional life.  When he signed the contract, then it meant that he would very


    Taotao also stared at that file folder.  He was dumbfounded.


    It was as if a girl who you had been pursuing all this time came to you and said


    to you,  “Let’s start.”......The faint, unreal feeling at this moment far exceeded


    the feeling of love.


    “Can I talk to you in private?”  She prompted to him.


    “Oh, ok.”  Taotao came to his senses and took out a wallet from his pocket, pulling


    out two one hundred bills.  He gave the money to the people behind him. “Go


    drink some coffee. I’ll look for you shortly.” The boys laughed without accepting


    the money.  “No need. We’ll be waiting for you at the airport shuttle bus stop.”


    They left.


    Ai Qing then told him apologetically.  “My plan for your career is to join SP.  This


    Taotao was silent without saying anything.


    “And.”  Ai Qing took out a card from her own pocket,  “There are twenty thousand


    dollars here. The password is today’s date.”


    “So much?”


    “Aren’t you asking to borrow some money from me?”


    “I was just thinking around two thousand……”


    Ai Qing laughed and stuffed the card into his hand.  “Aren’t you going to treat your


    teammates to some fun in the capital?  Take it, you’ll have less regrets. This will be


    just a small fraction of your future award prizes.”


    It was indeed his plan.  He wanted his own brothers to have fun in Beijing.  He took


    the card without another word. “Am I going to be in the A team after I join SP?”


    “Of course, but you need to be an alternate first.”


    “No problem.  As long as I am in the A team.”


    She was surprised about the answer.


    After all it was really a waste to have the ranked third player to be an alternate.


    However, this was also a way to let this rookie king settle down. But he accepted it


    without any fuss…...It was really a far cry from his arrogant attitude during the stream


    that day.  Taotao answered her doubts very shortly. “As long as I can follow Slide.”


    “Ah…...Slide”  Ai Qing gave him the file folder.  “No problem. It’s stated very clearly


    at the end of this contract.  The active team members can’t have love affairs and


    can’t rent apartment outside. You’re always with your teammates whenever you eat,


    live, train and even includes the outing and scheduled gym exercises. It’s no problem


    even if you want to live in the same room with him. He lives by himself now and is in


    need of a roommate.”


    Taotao cleared his throat and scratched his hair shyly.  Such a tall and big boy was


    extremely obedient in front of Ai QIng.  “Then, boss, I’m leaving!”


    Ai Qing raised her chin slightly.


    The young handsome guy with short pink hair left quickly.