30

 Zhou Xunwen agreed readily, but it wasn’t that easy in practice. Bai Yu watched him struggle to send several messages, flipping through his contacts like crazy, and thoughtfully made him a cup of coffee.

Zhou Xunwen rolled up his sleeves and decided to keep at it. “You go rest first. There’s training tomorrow.”

He was still speaking when his phone suddenly rang. It was a call from Old Zhao, and the other party sounded anxious. He quickly tried to calm him down. “Don’t worry, speak slowly. What, Qi Yi is missing? He disappeared right after the match? No, he didn’t come to our team. I’m here with Bai Yu. If we find him, we’ll definitely contact you right away, okay okay...”

After hanging up, Zhou Xunwen looked at Bai Yu. “Qi Yi is missing.”

Bai Yu’s heart sank. He called the OT manager to ask about what happened.

After the training match, Qi Yi suddenly took his phone from management and left the training room. The coach thought he was just making a call and didn’t stop him. After waiting a long time and not seeing him come back, they went out to look and found that Qi Yi was already gone.

Later, checking the surveillance footage, they saw that Qi Yi had wrapped himself up tightly, deliberately avoided people he knew, and waited for the right moment to leave through the front entrance with others. Because it was raining outside and the security guards were busy, no one noticed him.

At first, the manager could still reach him by phone, but later his phone was turned off, and they completely lost contact.

The OT manager’s first reaction was that Qi Yi had run away. His voice was nearly crying. “Captain Yu, do you think he’ll come back? I did everything you said, the teammates didn’t bully him, they usually got along fine. I really don’t know why he ran off...”

Bai Yu comforted him a little. Seeing the heavy rain outside, he was worried about Qi Yi’s safety. He quickly put on his coat, wanting to go search.

Zhou Xunwen hurriedly stopped him. “You don’t go. Stay and wait for news. I’ll take your car.”

Bai Yu nodded and gave him the keys.

The rain outside was getting heavier, mixed with thunder. Bai Yu couldn’t calm down, constantly thinking about where Qi Yi might go. He had no friends in this city, and he didn’t go to Old Zhao. Where else could he have gone?

With a loud crash of thunder, lightning lit up the window, and Bai Yu sharply caught a faint sound downstairs. It sounded like footsteps.

Bai Yu’s hearing was extremely sharp, and he was sure he hadn’t heard wrong. He turned on his phone’s flashlight and walked toward the third floor along the stairs. The lights were off, with only the weak blue glow of the training room.

He clearly remembered turning everything off before leaving, because he had been the last to go. He remembered very clearly.

Bai Yu’s heart thudded. His foot suddenly stepped on something—looking closely, it was a trail of water, leading all the way into the training room, along with the turned-on computer which looked especially eerie.

There was another soft sound in the dark, clearer this time, like something rubbing. Bai Yu swallowed hard and, with the faint light of his phone, forced himself to take two steps forward.

Under the dim blue glow of the screen, a black figure was sitting in a chair, completely soaked, water dripping from him. Then he slowly turned around, revealing half a pale face, like a ghost crawling out from somewhere. Slumped in an oversized coat, his voice echoed in the room. “Captain, I came back... you didn’t come get me... so I came back myself...”

Bai Yu’s phone fell to the ground.

---

“Mhm, yes, the person’s been found. President Zhao, don’t worry, I’ll take good care of him. He looks to be in pretty good shape. Mhm, he’ll be fine. Alright, I’ll have a proper talk with him…”

The training room lights came on, and the heater was turned up.

Qi Yi, wrapped in a thick blanket, poked his head out, trying to say something, but Bai Yu pushed him back under the blanket. “Yes, it really was a bit out of line. Even if he wanted to leave, he should’ve at least informed the team. He’s just a kid, doesn’t know better. I’ll give him a good talking-to. Yes. Mhm. Alright. A practice match sounds good. Let’s talk more next time.”

While speaking on the phone, Bai Yu handed over a cup of hot milk. Qi Yi carefully reached out to hold it. “Hot! Too hot!” Before he could set it down, Bai Yu shoved it back into his hands. “Drink it while it’s hot…

"Hello? It’s me. I’ve found Qi Yi. I’ve contacted President Zhao and OT’s manager, told them everything. You can head back directly. Be safe on the road.”

Qi Yi clutched the blanket tightly, afraid he’d caused trouble for Bai Yu, staring at him with wide eyes, the hot cup burning his hands, but he didn’t dare set it down.

When Bai Yu finally finished the call and sat across from him, he figured out the full story. “You saw I signed Xu Bo and thought I didn’t want you anymore, so you ran over here?”

Qi Yi nodded repeatedly, maybe feeling his actions were too childish, pursing his lips. “Captain, I don’t want to wait until next year. I want to come back now. OT is nice, but I can’t fit in. I have nothing to say to them.”

Bai Yu already knew Qi Yi wanted to return. You could even tell from the way he played, he didn’t fully trust his teammates. If it kept going like that, something would eventually go wrong.

He looked at Qi Yi seriously. “You really want to come back now?”

Qi Yi nodded hard, afraid Bai Yu might disagree. “I looked it up online. I’m still a free agent. During the transfer period, I can be loaned anywhere, just have to wait for the public notice process.”

Bai Yu hadn’t expected him to be so well-prepared. This kid must’ve been thinking about it for days before finally taking action.

Qi Yi wasn’t wrong. Bai Yu had transferred him to OT as a free agent. His contract allowed a return or transfer to any other team. That was why the whole LPL was watching him. Qi Yi was the only free agent who could shift the LPL’s balance.

Bai Yu patted his head. Deep down, he also wanted him back, because Qi Yi and Xu Bo were completely different types of ADCs, perfectly suited for different tactics.

Still, he had to be upfront before agreeing. “Our team hasn’t qualified yet. It’s nowhere near LPL level. You’ll have to compete with Xu Bo for a starting spot. Are you sure you want to come back?”

Qi Yi nodded eagerly, scared of seeming insincere. “I’ll call my uncle now and get my contract transferred.”

Too rushed. He should at least talk to OT’s manager first. Bai Yu quickly stopped him. “No rush. Go take a shower and change into clean clothes first. I’ll have Zhou Xunwen take you to your uncle’s place. Once the contract’s sorted, I’ll bring you onto the team, okay?”

Qi Yi nodded again. With Bai Yu’s promise, he finally relaxed. “I thought you didn’t want me anymore.”

He had felt really down when Bai Yu signed Xu Bo. He even suspected that all Bai Yu’s praise was just a trick to send him off to OT.

But when he came to the base and saw his spot still saved for him, all the doubts disappeared. Bai Yu really had been waiting for him.

A warm palm landed on his head. It felt familiar, a little teasing. “How could I not want you? You’re the genius ADC everyone wants. They’d kill to sign you. I’m dying to have you back. You shouldn’t worry about whether I still want you. I should be worried whether you’d still come back…”

Qi Yi quickly pledged loyalty. “I want to come back.”

Then he noticed Bai Yu laughing at him, a little embarrassed. “Don’t laugh at me. I know I was childish.”

Bai Yu ruffled his hair. “It’s fine. You’re like a little kitten, super cute. I’m not the only one who missed you. Zhang Peng and the others must miss you too.”

Qi Yi felt warmth again after a long time. Holding the hot milk, he looked up with bright eyes. “Then it’s a deal. As soon as the contract’s transferred, let me know right away.”

Zhou Xunwen rushed back and saw Qi Yi, freshly showered and already in their team uniform, while Bai Yu was blow-drying his hair.

He pulled Bai Yu aside. “What did you say to him? You even gave him the uniform?”

Bai Yu kept it brief. “He said he wants to come back, so I’m getting his contract transferred.”

Zhou Xunwen panicked. “Didn’t you already sign Xu Bo?”

Bai Yu nodded. “Yeah, I plan to let them compete for the position. Why that look? Got a problem?”

Zhou Xunwen took a deep breath. “It’s a big problem.”

No matter how kind President Zhao might look, he was still a capitalist at heart.

As long as his interests weren’t threatened, he could be easygoing. But once they were, he’d take control with authority.

“Think about it. President Zhao has no kids, just Qi Yi. If Qi Yi has to fight Xu Bo for the spot, can you guarantee he won’t suffer even a bit? He’s already introverted. What if he gets hurt and disappears again? What if something happens? None of us can afford that.”

Bai Yu suddenly realized there were a lot of things he still hadn’t learned to consider. “I’ll balance things between them.”

“Even if you can, do you think President Zhao will trust you? For him, the best way to prevent future problems is to terminate Xu Bo’s contract, to secure Qi Yi’s starting position. Don’t forget, he’s still holding back two rounds of funding. You want to sign Fang Zhixu too. Where’s the money going to come from?”

Bai Yu hadn’t thought that far. He had just believed more tactics meant a better future.

But Zhou Xunwen didn’t get it. President Zhao didn’t get it either.

Bai Yu pulled out a cigarette but hadn’t put it to his lips before Zhou Xunwen snatched it away. “You already had one today.”

Standing by the railing, looking out at the dark, empty land, Bai Yu realized how naive his original thoughts were. Wanting to build a team, wanting funding—how could that happen without depending on capital?

Zhou Xunwen asked him, “Have you thought it through? Xu Bo or Fang Zhixu?”

Bai Yu nodded. “I’ve thought it through.”

Zhou Xunwen waited for his answer, then heard:

“I want both.”

 ???

“You’re quite greedy.”

Bai Yu came into the room. Qi Yi’s hair was already half dry. Having just been washed, it was soft and smooth, without any aggression, obediently sitting at the edge of the bed, just looking at him made one like him.

He reached out to tidy Qi Yi’s jacket, his expression calm as before. “I’ll take you back, I happen to have something I want to talk to your uncle about.”

—

A loud clap of thunder roared.

Outside was a raging storm, ghostly wails and howling winds, but inside the spacious villa there was no impact at all, as if it existed in a different world.

Qi Yi felt very at ease at home, and ran to the kitchen with “da da da” steps to get him a cup and pour water.

Zhao Qian always smiled, staring at Qi Yi, constantly praising: “The kid’s grown up, just one trip and he’s come back a different person, all thanks to Captain Yu.”

Bai Yu smiled and said: “I just did what I should do.”

After saying that he paused, looking at the fierce wind outside the window. “Actually, I also came today to ask when the second round of investment will arrive? The thing is, I want to sign a very talented jungler, the transfer fee is thirty million. Based on his value it’s not expensive, just that the money is needed urgently.”

Zhao Qian was unusually enthusiastic. “As long as it’s a problem money can solve, it’s not a problem at all. I’ll call my assistant right now and have him transfer the money to your account tomorrow!”

As he spoke he took out his phone, about to dial, but suddenly remembered something: “Right, didn’t you sign an AD before? It was a per-match contract, right? I know, it was an emergency back then. Now that Xiao Yi is back, should that contract be handled?”

Bai Yu nodded. “Yes, it should be handled, I’m planning to convert it to a full contract.”

Zhao Qian didn’t understand. “Hm? Convert to full contract? Then wouldn’t there be two ADs? Isn’t that a waste of money? Captain Yu, even if you have money, you can’t spend it like this.”

Bai Yu heard the implied threat in his tone, but wasn’t at all intimidated, and said with a slight smile: “I’m planning to have them compete for the position. Xu Bo and Qi Yi are two completely different styles of ADs. They can complement each other’s strengths and weaknesses, which is very beneficial to their career development. Besides, the team itself needs to prepare multiple tactical systems. I want them both to stay.”

Zhao Qian finally realized Bai Yu wasn’t really stupid, he was just pretending not to understand.

He sighed. “Captain Yu, now you’re putting me in a tough spot. Xiao Yi is at the age where he needs more time on the field. Competing for a spot, that’s a lot of pressure.”

Bai Yu replied calmly: “Qi Yi does need protection, but too much protection will affect his growth. He’s improved a lot after this trip to OT. Some paths need to be walked by himself. If he can’t even bear the pressure of competing for a position, how can he handle the pressure of LPL or Worlds in the future? He won’t be able to handle it.”

Qi Yi had stumbled a lot in terms of professional conduct, except when it came to Bai Yu.

Zhao Qian really felt he was getting old, couldn’t keep up anymore. He rubbed the ring on his hand, starting to hesitate: “Xiao Yi isn’t just my precious one, he’s also the old man’s favorite. We don’t expect him to achieve great success, we just hope he can be happy.”

Bai Yu didn’t agree. “But he wants to win, wants to reach a higher stage. On this path, you can’t support him. He has to stand on his own.”

Zhao Qian’s clouded eyes suddenly widened, as if suddenly enlightened by Bai Yu.

He finally understood why he could navigate every other industry with ease, but couldn’t help Qi Yi—because the path Qi Yi chose was one that had to be walked alone.

This was truly his own choice.

Seeing Zhao Qian had almost been persuaded, Bai Yu relaxed into the sofa, his voice carrying a hint of regret: “Our previous cooperation was pleasant. If you have concerns, I understand. After all, it’s not a small amount. But the team is indeed facing difficulties now. Without your help, we’ll have to disband…”

Qi Yi, who had just brought out tea, dropped the cup with a “plop.”

He stared wide-eyed at the two people on the sofa, not daring to believe: “You're going to disband before I’m even back?”

That really made Zhao Qian heartbroken. He immediately stood up and took out his phone. “Transfer! I’ll have my assistant send the money right now!”

After the call, Bai Yu got up, smiled and shook hands with Zhao Qian. “Mr. Zhao, thank you very much for your help. On behalf of all the staff in the team, I thank you.”

When Qi Yi heard the team wouldn’t be disbanded, he threw himself over and hugged him: “Uncle, thank you!”

Zhao Qian was bombarded by Qi Yi’s sweetness, so much that he almost didn’t want to hand over Qi Yi’s contract to Bai Yu, wanting to keep him at home and take care of him himself.

After leaving Zhao Qian’s house, the storm outside had quieted down.

Zhou Xunwen waited anxiously outside. When he saw them come out, he quickly came up and asked: “How did it go?”

Bai Yu’s lips curled. “The money will arrive tomorrow.”

Zhou Xunwen was shocked. “What? Tomorrow? Huh? I didn’t hear that wrong, did I? Damn, how did you do it? Did you feed Old Zhao a relic? He actually agreed to such a concession...”

The car roared to life, and the speed on the way back increased.

Zhao Qian’s speed at transferring money had always been far ahead in the industry. Early the next morning, the money arrived in their account. Zhou Xunwen didn’t hesitate, immediately brought the contract to TIN for negotiations.

Bai Yu kept flipping through his phone, checking Zhou Xunwen’s negotiation progress. Only after seeing the contract signed did he finally relax.

The phone kept dinging, messages from Fang Zhixu coming in nonstop.

Ever since adding Bai Yu that day, he reported everything in detail daily: Report, Captain! Had three bowls of rice at lunch, feeling great, ready anytime for you to pick me up~

Bai Yu replied: Don’t burst.

Fang Zhixu: Got it, Captain ^-^.

Fang Zhixu: Captain spent so much money on me. No matter what you say, I’ll listen well~

Bai Yu: You’d better.

He put away his phone, saw that Zhou Xunwen had basically wrapped things up and just needed to pick someone up. He thought of how Fang Zhixu wouldn’t even have a place to stay after joining the team. The only remaining room had a bit of a leak. He thought about giving him Lu Sheng’s room, then remembered how unbearable Fang Zhixu was five years ago. Why bother with him?

Bai Yu: The team’s conditions aren’t great. Your room might have a bit of a leak, you don’t mind, right?

Fang Zhixu: It’s okay, Captain, I don’t mind. I can sleep under the bed ^_^.

Bai Yu: ......

—

Since all three sides had clear intentions, the transfer contract was finalized quickly. The official website posted the announcement. TIN got the money and didn’t make things difficult, immediately released the termination notice, stated that both sides parted on good terms, and casually supported Bai Yu’s team.

[Ah, what RAG? What team is this?] 

[Where is this team from, overseas?] 

[Help, how come I’ve never heard of it?]

[Damn, just won the championship and now turning on each other? Sold the FMVP jungler just like that?] 

[Heard the transfer fee was thirty million, how is that different from being sold?]

[The problem is at least sell to a better team, right? Selling to some no-name team is just heartless, damn it!]

[I think Xiao Fang played just fine. ]

[No, wasn’t his contract expiring anyway?]

[Looks like it just wasn’t renewed? Five years expired, Xiao Fang choosing another team makes sense.] 

[So who the hell is RAG?] 

[No one’s gonna tell us?.]

The news quickly topped the trending search. Bai Yu packed up, ready to personally drive to pick up Fang Zhixu and bring him back to the team.

Zhou Xunwen said he wanted to go with him. Once in the car, he kept scrolling his phone, grinning widely. “I’m gonna die laughing. Hey, DT’s manager wanted to sign Fang Zhixu so bad. Just now he was ranting in the group chat saying Fang Zhixu had no intention of leaving TIN. Whoever signed him, he’d call them ancestor. Then someone posted the screenshot of our contract with Fang Zhixu, and the whole group chat went dead quiet, hahaha.”

“The funniest thing is, someone in there didn’t even know our team, kept asking Who is RAG? Who exactly is RAG? Which region’s team? Why wasn’t I informed... hahaha I’m dying, someone quickly tell him RAG is a domestic team...”

“And this one, Bai Yu, this one’s even funnier. After DT’s manager knew Fang Zhixu was out of reach, guess who he started eyeing? Fang Zhixu’s smurf... hahaha I’m dying, how does he keep falling in the same pit, if he finds out they’re the same person, he’ll collapse and hang himself, right?”

Bai Yu couldn’t help but laugh, but still reminded him, “Be careful or someone will dig you out and beat you.”

Zhou Xunwen was in that groupchat thanks to his close brotherly ties with Brother Dong, he usually didn’t speak, mostly lurked and watched so no one knew who he was.

He quickly sat up, just exited the group, and the next second someone tagged him: @Zhou Xunwen, isn’t this the manager of RAG?

[What the hell???] 

[RAG’s manager is in our group?] 

[I’ve noticed this guy for a long time, always lurking, never posting.] 

[Oh, so RAG is a domestic team.] 

[Isn’t it Bai Yu’s? Rings a bell.] 

[No way, a secondary team could actually fork out thirty million? DT really lost fair and square.] 

[No one’s going to speak up for me? I had a breakdown in the group and he just kept lurking.] 

[Guys, we found the mole!] 

[Come on, tie him up!]

The groupchat was chaotic. In the end, Brother Dong came out to calm things down, concluding it with “Zhou Xunwen will apologize in person with drinks.”

Zhou Xunwen saw the venue they picked and felt dizzy, “Oh my god, won’t this cost over a hundred or two hundred grand?”

Most people in that group were either rich or powerful, holding either resources or connections. For Zhou Xunwen, this in-person meeting was a huge win.

Bai Yu comforted him, “It’s a good thing.”

Zhou Xunwen was generous and loyal, easily got along with people. Back then, he offended Brother Dong online, and the guy threatened to blacklist him in the industry. But after one meal, they got along like wearing the same pair of pants. Over the years, Brother Dong had continuously introduced him to connections and resources.

Seeing Zhou Xunwen deflated like a frostbitten eggplant, Bai Yu comforted him, “You’ll get reimbursed.”

Zhou Xunwen got excited, “I should get reimbursed. Just saying, if I end up in the hospital, remember to come get me.”

“Then protect your head. It’s already not very bright.”

“Bai Yu...”

—

The car arrived at TIN’s base entrance. Fang Zhixu was already waiting. When he saw Bai Yu, he waved wildly, dragging his suitcase and running over impatiently. People who didn’t know would think they were really close.

Bai Yu leaned against the car door, pressed down on the trunk to stop him from opening it, expression serious, “Just saying—if you join my team and don’t behave, I’ll sell you to another team.”

Fang Zhixu smiled sweetly. “Got it, Captain. You can even sell me to Africa if you want~”

Bai Yu: ".....?"

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