Volume 4 - CH 23

The next morning, Ai Qing didn’t wait for the rest of SP but went

This stadium…...it was the place Solo’s team had won their first

championship after they had defeated Buff’s team.  When she

walked in from the passage behind the stage carrying the badge

indicating that she was a commentator, much of the staff greeted

her with a smile.

The passageway was no longer messy and disorganized like the past.  

It was wide open and brightly lit with large promotional posters hanging

on both sides.

The entire staff was dressed in uniform; everyone was as dedicated as

volunteers in any indoor sports event.

She was stationed at the southeast corner of the arena and had a very

spacious white table.  Her partner beside her was also an old friend.

When he saw her, he took out his earphones immediately and spoke

with a smile.  “You’re finally here!”

She put down a pile of notes on the table and sat down.  “Please bear

with me today.”

“Are you kidding me.  You’re the one who’s going to have to bear with

me.”  He laughed heartily and adjusted the headset, “We’re ready over

at the commentator table here.  We can start warming up five minutes

from now.”

Ai Qing also put on the white headset.  She could hear the jokes and

laughter through the earphones.  “Xiao Mai, don’t make any mistakes.

You are working with our qianbei and make sure that you hold your ground.”  

Ai Qing disliked being referred to as qianbei. “Everybody, everybody, he’s

older than me. Could you stop calling me qianbei?  You’re making me feel old.”

While they were fooling around on the channel, the competing teams

began arriving at the players rest area one after another.

From the angle where Ai Qing was sitting, she could see the areas

reserved for SP and K&K.  Solo sat there talking to Baona in low voice.

Gun, with his indifferent attitude as usual, was sitting crossed legs on

the seat right across the aisle from Solo.

If she wasn’t mistaken, it was Gun who took the initiative to sit there.

Though they were still rivals, this was the first occasion over the past

ten years that they sat side by side.

Ai Qing suddenly felt a surge of emotions.  She lowered her head and

flipped the papers in her hand, but she wasn’t able to keep her feelings

under control.  Using her hand to support her forehead, her vision blurred.

Ai Qing, Ai Qing, the stream would start soon, don’t be so emotional.

……

The stream began.

Xiao Mai cleared his throat,  “Everyone, welcome to the site of the

Chinese Regional Finals of <Secret Room Storm>.  The eight-city

preliminaries have already concluded three days ago. The players sitting

in this stadium now are all from the top teams for this event in the country.

Tonight, China’s championship winner will be decided!  There will be two

teams in Chinese Region to play at the Asian Tournament.  Everyone, let’s

wait and see tonight whether it’s the old, veteran clubs to keep the throne

or the new, fast growing teams to win the championship!”  Loud bouts of

cheers began before he even finished.

The stadium was filled with excitement and exuberance that could only be

found at these kind of large competitions.

“But, tonight, in addition to the wonderful matches among these great

teams, the organizer also specifically invited the top game commentator

Appledog for us.  Let me tell you, I was so excited that my hands were

trembling when I heard the news. No one knows more than her about the

4 most popular teams. Believe me, you will definitely hear the most

wonderful stream tonight.”

Ai Qing adjusted her headset and couldn’t stop herself from chuckling.  

“Xiao Mai, thank you.”

They began to go through their warmup.

The matches in the morning weren’t too exciting.  The real competition

was in the afternoon after 4 o’clock.

The four teams that would play in semi finals qualified one after the other.

There was no surprise that the four qualifying teams were:  SP, K&K,

Buff and Taotao.

Ai Qing picked up her cup to sip some water.

Someone put the drawing results on the table next to her.

The first match was K&K vs Taotao.

Was it the new team vs new team?

Ai Qing put down the cup of water and glanced at K&K’s area.  Dt was

acting how he usually did, half of his face hidden in the shadow of his

hat brim.  The person next to him, Grunt, yawned and muttered something

to him. And Taotao…...She looked at the rookie king who she had tried

hard to secure for SP.  These five boys had a sense of relief right before the

disbandment of their own team. They were scampering about and clinging

to each other’s shoulders to walk onto the stage first.

When they started to set up their keyboards and mouses, Dt started to

lead his team onto stage.

Grunt, the nominal captain, was really…...it was difficult to tell what role

he was playing.

Dt and Taotao sat across from each other with two rows of computers

in between.

This was the first time Taotao played against the man ranked number 1.  

He wanted to see his face, but the hat blocked his view. Taotao shrugged

his shoulder and adjusted the headset.  “Brothers, this could be our last battle.

Let’s go.”