CH 57

“I’m really infuriated!” JW entered the rest area, and Hao Qianyi, still upset, sat on the sofa, brooding, “That You Guanyu, why is he so nasty behind the scenes!”

“Alright, Rat, don’t let it affect your mindset. The match will start in a moment,” Team leader Fan Dadi kept a close eye on the players.

Hao Qianyi vented by taking a big bite out of the chocolate in his hand, “I just can’t stand his arrogant attitude!”

He looked forward, watching Jiang Min, who was preparing in front of the makeup mirror.

Professional players also need to undergo some styling and makeup preparations before entering the competition. After all, they will be in the spotlight during the match, showcasing their charm to the national and even global audience.

“Tangshen, how did you manage to tolerate this guy during your time in CC?” Hao Qianyi asked while chewing on chocolate.

Jiang Min looked at his hair, which had been curled slightly with a curling iron, and said, “I don’t interact with him much privately. He seems quite normal during matches.”

However, during the competition, he had to follow You Guanyu’s lead.

As a position 1 player, You Guanyu was different from other position 1 players who focused solely on their development and fighting. Instead, he had an overall view of the game and took on a commanding role.

In this regard, Jiang Min couldn’t help but admire his multitasking abilities.

In the past, Jiang Min used to command, but after You Guanyu arrived, he mostly became a obedient machine.

If You Guanyu was willing to shoulder the burden of command, then let him. Jiang Min didn’t want internal conflicts arising over command authority.

Perhaps it was Jiang Min’s lack of desire that allowed You Guanyu to become more arrogant in CC.

Although Jiang Min didn’t elaborate, Yu Hao could feel his helplessness.

Fortunately, he persuaded Ji Xiuyan to acquire Jiang Min; otherwise, Jiang Min would have faced a lot of challenges in CC.

Leaving aside other issues, just transferring a top-tier mid-laner to the second team was an extraordinary move that very few people could accept.

“Don’t worry, Sugar, today we’ll crush them,” Yu Hao said, patting Jiang Min on the shoulder.

———–

The first match’s Ban-Pick phase began.

The fans of both teams shouted fervently in the audience, creating a highly intense atmosphere.

Inside the drafting room, coaches and players from both sides engaged in the initial confrontation.

“They picked Centaur for a strong team fight. Should we complement it with an initiation hero on our side?” Hao Qianyi observed.

“Yeah, I think we can go for Elder Titan. What do you think, Rat?” Coach Bai Yin asked.

“No problem! I’ll take that.” “Counter pick is still reserved for Sugar. CC is Sugar’s former team, and they’re likely familiar with his playstyle. In this match, everyone should be careful as they might target the mid-lane,” Bai Yin solemnly stated.

“Yeah, if necessary, you can sacrifice me. Just let me absorb the pressure,” Jiang Min said.

Yu Hao remained silent, just tightly gripping his mouse.

“Yu, pick Storm Tracker for the 5th position. It has an area-of-effect stun skill, making team fights a bit more comfortable.”

“Yeah,” Yu Hao nodded.

JW in the 5th position chose the Radiant Artisan, a pure support hero with mana and health restoration skills. Choosing it meant giving up some lane dominance but gaining sustained endurance for their Position 1, Da Ge.

Position 1 was the Goblin Shredder, a physical damage dealer using goblin technology firearms.

Finally, it was Jiang Min’s turn.

“They have Skywrath Mage, so I’ll go for Shadow Dancer.” Jiang Min highlighted his hero.

Perhaps he would face pressure in the early game against Skywrath Mage, but Shadow Dancer’s ability to engage in the late game would give a headache to the squishy mage and the enemy’s Position 1, You Guanyu.

BP concluded, and the match officially began.

“Don’t be nervous, play well,” Coach Bai Yin instructed before leaving the drafting room with a handshake.

“Brothers, this time, I want to take the initiative to shake hands with the opponents. I don’t want CC to come over and shake hands with us! Can we give them a chance?” Hao Qianyi, as usual, livened up the atmosphere at the beginning of the game.

“No problem, just crush them!” Wei Yabo said in the voice chat.

Jiang Min stared at the interface awaiting entry, lost in thought.

“Sugar.” Yu Hao called out.

“Yeah?”

“I told you, you don’t need to be nervous about staying in the mid lane for your whole life.”

“…”

What should he do when his teammates valued him so much?

But it really wasn’t a good thing in this version!

Before Jiang Min could object, the match interface loaded.

The familiar WOC map unfolded, and the battle between JW and CC was about to begin.

The match was being commented on by Uncle Yuan, Xinli, and the female commentator, Aya.

Aya: “As usual, both sides are preparing for a level one skirmish near the river.”

“Uncle Yuan, which team do you favor more based on their lineups?” Xinli asked.

Uncle Yuan: “Looking at the lineups, JW leans towards the late game, while CC leans towards early-game brawling. It depends on who sets the pace better.”

Xinli: “We also know that Sugar, JW’s mid laner, spent four years at CC in the past. Will CC be very familiar with Sugar’s playstyle and target him?”

Uncle Yuan: “It’s hard to say. No matter what, they should give some face to their old teammate. They won’t target him too harshly, right?”

Who knew, the level one skirmish went by without any incidents.

However, as soon as Jiang Min’s Shadow Dancer came online, he was ambushed in the mid lane by CC’s new mid laner, Xiao Ye, and their 3rd and 4th positions, resulting in giving away first blood.

Jiang Min: “…”

Yu Hao regretted, “Sorry, Sugar, I didn’t anticipate them coming so early.”

“It’s okay.”

After that, for some reason, CC repeatedly converged on the mid lane.

Several times, even the Position 1, You Guanyu, who was supposed to be safely farming in his own lane, frequently roamed mid. Jiang Min was basically pressured in the jungle and couldn’t come online.

“Sugar, I’ll come to save you right away!” Hao Qianyi shouted in the mic!

“No need, don’t come.” Jiang Min’s expression turned serious. CC’s targeting was evident. In this version, instead of leaving the Position 1 alone, they repeatedly ganked him, clearly trying to mess with his mindset.

But after playing professionally for four years, Jiang Min’s mindset wasn’t so easily affected. What he was worried about was his teammates’ mental state getting shattered.

Especially…

He slightly turned his head to look at Yu Hao and saw the icy expression on Yu Hao’s face.

Jiang Min: “…Well, um, Yu Hao, you don’t need to worry. The rest of you are developing normally, and in the late game, our lineup is stronger than theirs.”

Little did he know, Jiang Min failed to correctly understand his position in the hearts of his teammates.

Before Position 1 Wei Yabo’s Techies had even come online, he rushed out to join team fights.

Position 3, Hao Qianyi, was charging all over the map.

Position 5 Wei Yafeng didn’t try to hold back his own brother; instead, he followed Position 1 several times in an attempt to provide support.

As for Position 4, let’s not even mention it—Jiang Min was killed multiple times, and Yu Hao was on the verge of going crazy.

Even if Jiang Min’s individual skills were outstanding, he couldn’t cope with consecutive multi-player convergences.

However, the consequence of JW’s aggressive approach was being brought into CC’s rhythm.

They already had a late-game-oriented lineup, and in the early game, they couldn’t compete with CC at all.

The first game ended in less than 30 minutes.

JW 0:1 temporarily behind.

Back in the lounge, the players remained silent.

Before the start of the match, they anticipated that CC would target Jiang Min, but they didn’t expect the opponent to do it so blatantly, almost using the entire team’s strength to pressure the mid lane.

“Speak up, share your feelings. Silence won’t solve the problem,” Bai Yin stood in front of the players.

Hao Qianyi complained, “I’m heartbroken for Sugar. When did Sugar ever get targeted like this on the battlefield? Even during versions where mid laners were strong, when everyone feared his strength, he was never intentionally targeted like this, right!?”

The twin brothers rarely expressed agreement with Hao Qianyi’s words.

As for Yu Hao, he sat next to Jiang Min, exuding an extremely low aura.

Jiang Min was almost being crushed by his oppressive atmosphere.

“…Well, um, actually, you guys don’t need to worry about me. Regardless of how bad the situation is, I can catch up in farming. Don’t disrupt the rhythm,” Jiang Min reassured his teammates.

“But…”

“Alright, Sugar is right. If you see Sugar being targeted, just die protecting him. That would play right into CC’s hands! I’m not saying it’s bad to protect Sugar, but you should give him enough trust!” Bai Yin said, “Don’t you believe in Sugar’s strength as a top mid laner?”

Coach Bai’s words woke everyone up.

Yeah, why hadn’t they thought that maybe Sugar could come back even without their help?

WOC wasn’t a game that necessarily required playing in the lanes.

Although farming in the jungle didn’t yield as much experience as in the lanes, the economy could still be compensated.

They had been too blinded by Jiang Min’s halo, and even made them forget that he was one of the top 2nd position mid laners in WPL.

Even in the face of pressure, he could suddenly erupt at a certain moment, saving the world as that kind of mid laner.

Yu Hao’s expression relaxed a bit, looking at Jiang Min, he said, “It’s my fault for commanding, I focused too much on the mid lane.”

With Bai Yin’s words, he suddenly realized that his Sugar was never someone who needed protection but someone who could independently serve as the “mid-lane killer.”

“It won’t happen in the next game. I will control the rhythm better,” Yu Hao took the initiative to shoulder the blame.

It didn’t matter if the team lost one game; what mattered was good communication within the team, finding problems, so they could continue moving forward.

The break time ended, and preparations for the second game were about to begin.

In the waiting area, players from JW and CC stood face to face.

Yu Guanyu had a triumphant look, “After Sugar transferred to JW, it seems like JW’s overall strength has declined, right? We easily won the first game. Won’t it be a 2:0 for us today?”

Jian Ran frowned, wanting to grab Yu Guanyu but hesitated, not daring to do so.

Yu Hao looked at Yu Guanyu, saying, “This is the gratitude fee for you.”

“Huh?” Yu Guanyu didn’t understand what he was saying.

“Thank you for taking care of Sugar for so long. Consider it a care fee for you. Now, shall we go for a 1v2?”

“Hmm, quite confident.”

Staff reminded, “Players and coaches, please take the stage.”

Yu Hao and Yu Guanyu each gave a disdainful look to the other, leading their teams back onto the stage.

—–

Author’s note: Sugar: It doesn’t matter if they target me; I can still catch up OVO

Everyone: No! How can we let others bully our Sugar God?!

Don’t worry; I’m the real mom. It’s not normal not to lose in an e-sports match. But you always have to give the kids a chance to grow and adapt~

1TL: YSIAD “You can support me if you like my translations by leaving a comment below, or by sending me a Ko-fi. Thank you ️”