After not meeting for a long time, Yao Ailun had changed quite a bit. Although his stature was the same, but he was more mature and capable looking. Clearly working on the outside was different. He looked like he had a little experience in society now.
It was rare that the three of them were together, and all were in high spirits. Yao Ailun was treating, and they were having a good time. If only Yan Xiaosu and Zhang Shan could have been there too.
Yao Ailun and Chen Xiu were very interested in Wang Zheng's Elite Academy life, and what was special about that mysterious place. Wang Zheng also told them about the fun places on Roland Garros.
"Damn, Hail Cloud Alliance babes!"
After a lengthy period, both of them had automatically forgotten everything except the babes at Elite Academy.
"It's like an international fest. Roland Garros seems like a great place. Too bad I'm unable to go." Chen Xiu said with regret.
"Forget it. Even if scrubs like us wing our way in, we'll be trampled. We better live honest lives here." Yao Ailun said.
"From the way Chen Xiu said, you're really popular now, and called the best CT analyst. Are you really planning to do this after graduation?" Wang Zheng asked.
Yao Ailun nodded. He took a huge swig of beer, and savored it. "I know myself best. Given my personality, I can't stand the loneliness of doing research. CT is hectic. Of course, commentary helps me to meet many new people as well. It's good, and I'm intending to do this.
"Exciting, and you get to meet the stars. I'm so envious." Chen Xiu said.
"You rascal, learning all the wrong things. Everyday it's babes, babes, babes. You must have been the bad influence." Wang Zheng teased. Previously, Chen Xiu would duck out at any mention of girls.
Yao Ailun protested vigorously. "It's I that was influenced by him. This guy is the protégé of Principal Xiao Fei now, and the one she's heavily investing in. A popular guy, and the girls that like him are lining out the school gate."
"Nothing that exaggerated. And nothing compared to Brother Zheng," Chen Xiu said with uncharacteristic humility.
Wang Zheng was embarrassed too. In the last three years, the students had turned over again and again. Besides, Elite Academy was not open to public, and those that remembered him were probably only a few now.
"Right, how are Prince and the rest?" Wang Zheng asked. He had not been playing for a while now. But now he understood that after passing a certain level, CT completely held no challenge for him. Any random person from Elite Academy could easily be a CT pro. But at that level, it was difficult to hold any interest for CT. Of course, his experience in the past nevertheless held sweet memories.
"Prince is still around, but the rest have retired. Some are coaching, others commentating. Some have left CT also. There are many new people coming in, and Prince is more of a brand mascot nowadays." Yao Ailun laughed. This circle's competition was too intense.
"Now the popularity of Solar System's CT is firmly within the top 10 in the galaxy. It's a booming market, and it's mostly thanks to Brother Zheng." Chen Xiu said. What they had now was mostly become of the crucial step that Wang Zheng had made, which had sparked the interest of countless viewers.
Wang Zheng shook his head. "I don't know how many people still remember me."
That was true. Each batch had its talents, and the turnover rate was high. The older cohort from back then were fast disappearing, and furthermore, he had been retired for so long.
"Let's drink to Skeleton!" Yao Ailun said. Without the ID of Skeleton, he would not have entered this field, much less turn professional.
"Haha, yeah we should toast to Skeleton." Wang Zheng was thinking of Bonehead, who had not fully recovered ever since the Tita Star incident. It had been the most dangerous experience he had in his life, and Bonehead had saved him.
"Oh, Brother Ailun, isn't Old Deer organizing some celebrity invitational match? Brother Zheng is free now, why don't you invite him?" Chen Xiu suddenly recalled. After all, his past glory had stirred the audience significantly.
"That's right. Do you want to give it a go?"
Wang Zheng waved it off. "Forget it. I haven't touched it for a long time, and those celebrity matches aren't my thing."
Wang Zheng had played CT previously completely to train his hands. He had never thought about going public.
"Ah, I forgot that Brother Zheng is now with the Elite Academy, and his mysteriousness cannot be exposed. But no matter, Brother Ailun is a pro, I've told all my juniors to wait for his spectacular performance. But say, who are you inviting?"
Yao Ailun half-laughed. "I'm still agonizing about it."
"Tsk tsk. Press on, champ!" It was apparent that Chen Xiu worshipped Ailun. Although Yao Ailun was not professional, but he had made his own name in CT. Besides, his standard was not bad, and his logical foundations and overall read was good. After Wang Zheng left, he had taken great pains to train his thinking. Although he could not compare with professionals, but he was at least a Diamond rank standard.
Compared to Chen Xiu's naivety, Wang Zheng had noticed the tinge of frustration in Yao Ailun's look. Now firmly in the outside world, Wang Zheng was aware that many things were difficult, which was why school was the best. It was like an ivory tower, where one was naturally protected. Those like Chen Xiu were more suited to do research, and this was the place for him.
But he and Yao Ailun clearly loved challenges more.
In this period, Skylink calls came frequently for Chen Xiu and Yao Ailun. It was all from their juniors. This allowed them to show off a lot. Five junior girls even rushed them, some towards Chen Xiu and some towards Yao Ailun.
Wang Zheng was laughing and crying. Seeing their passionate celebrity status, he felt that he was out of the times. But it looked like Chen Xiu and Yao Ailun were living good lives.
"Let me introduce you. This is Wang Zheng, and also your senior. He's…" Chen Xiu was intending to seriously introduce him. He was just preparing to launch into Wang Zheng's illustrious history, when Wang Zheng cut him off.
"All right, enough bragging. I'm their classmate, but I've changed schools now. I'm just back in the holidays to look around, and bask in their popularity." Wang Zheng said. What was past was past. He was not here to find a sense of belonging again.
"That's true. Senior Chen Xiu is every girl's idol. The only one in the physics stream who can fulfil Principal Xiao Fei's criteria!" A girl with large eyes and short hair said.
Xiao Fei had already become the spiritual leader for the entire school, … which was why feminism had shot up as well. Only, the Ares Military College's atmosphere had become more relaxed now. Although Wang Zheng and Zhang Shan were very intense, but they had already left.
"Senior Ailun, our entire dorm's girls will always watch your broadcasts. You must win!"
"Exactly! That Mu Guang is a blockhead. He's not your match. We support you!"
Many other commentators were competing against Yao Ailun for this Annual Commentator, and this year was the first year that Old Deer was not in the running. Before, the two of them were an unbeatable duo, but now he had to make it solo. He had to prove himself in the first year. If Yao Ailun failed, then he would forever have to live with the name of the Old Deer's Tail.
"Don't worry about it, a piece of cake!"
With girls added in the mix, the mood was different, and livelier. Yao Ailun and Chen Xiu were suddenly more outgoing, and Wang Zheng suddenly recalled how they were when they first entered Ares College, Chen Xiu shy and Yao Ailun a riot.
At this moment, Wang Zheng suddenly felt an intense feeling that it was good to be alive.
To grow together, to grow old together. This was life.
The girls were plastered all over Yao Ailun and Chen Xiu, and the two were feeling a little bothered. This was too much. Wang Zheng was watching them with a smile, truly happy. For him, that had wandered the border between life and death, and who would eventually head over, to be able to enjoy such a peaceful moment was a blessing indeed.
Without knowing it, Wang Zheng had already entered a mysterious state of mind, Primordial Regression Technique physical revelation!
As for the Primordial Regression Technique, Wang Zheng still did not fully understand it. After the third revelation, he had discovered that Primordial Regression Technique's use started to tend towards adjusting the world of energy. Although the environment was still lively, but he suddenly felt a sense that something was missing.
"Senior? Senior."
Wang Zheng snapped out of his reverie. The big-eyed, short-haired girl was sizing him up curiously. "Senior, you're really something. You can even daydream at a time like this?"
Wang Zheng was not sure how to take this. If he really got enlightened one day, he would really become Buddha. That was not good. Having feelings and appetites was part of being human.
"It's nothing. I haven't been so happy for a while, so I just lost it for a moment there."
"Senior, where have you changed schools to? Is it tough over there?" The big-eyed girl seemed to hold some interest towards Wang Zheng.
"Yea, a little. It's plenty dangerous, I'm from the Mecha Department."
"Oh, no wonder. Do you know Senior Runan? She's the model example of our school's Mecha Department, and she's now a second lieutenant!" Her reverent eyes had lit up again.
"Oh, a second lieutenant? That good?" Wang Zheng was also stunned.
"Of course! Such a combination of beauty and brains, a war goddess!"
He, Zhang Shan, and Meng Tian were already not in Ares College It seemed like only Zhang Runan still stayed in the Solar System to represent Ares College. But it seemed like she had talent to burn.
"Our Ares College has been ranked as the best on Earth. Principal Xiao Fei has been lauded as the most influential principal, and seniors Ye Zisu, Yan Xiaosu, and Zhang Runan are our model alumni."
Ye Zisu was in mecha design, Yan Xiaosu was in finance, Chen Xiu had furthered physics, and Zhang Runan was in Mecha. Compounded with Xiao Fei's influence, the name of Ares College had indeed grown. As for the other two big colleges, it was hard for them to compete after Lear left.
"I wonder if Zhang Runan still paints." Wang Zheng smiled.
"This guy. You can't speak like that. What do you mean paint? If the guys of the Mecha stream were more capable, then they would not need to depend on a girl. Senior Runan is much stronger than the guys." From the side, a long-haired girl quickly defended Zhang Runan.
Wang Zheng knew they had misunderstood. It looked like a lot of people did not know that Zhang Runan liked to draw.
"Xiao Lan, you're wrong. Wang Zheng is the only one qualified to talk about Zhang Runan like that." Yao Ailun said.
"It's him?"
"It's him!" A lone, intense voice piped up.