Lu Sheng actually hadn’t wanted to come. Even back when he was in North America, he particularly disliked doing interviews. The few times he did, his cold attitude drew a lot of criticism. But after people witnessed his insane personal skill, those voices gradually faded away.
Before he entered the livestream room, the host was still seriously worried, afraid things would go off the rails. But once Lu Sheng arrived, he surprisingly cooperated.
When asked about that perfect team play, his answer was, “It was alright.”
When asked for his opinion on the opponents, he said, “Average.”
When asked about his teammates, he lazily replied, “They’re okay.”
Just a few responses and the whole venue exploded. People were shocked. This guy acted like this overseas, fine, but now that he’s back in the country, he’s still this arrogant? Isn’t he afraid of getting flamed?
[Afraid of what? He’s killed every single mid laner at Worlds. Just because he picked Ahri doesn’t mean you can treat him like an easy target.]
[When God Lu returned to China, people said the esports scene had an earthquake. Not even a joke, it was a real quake.]
[It’s just that he hasn’t synced up with Fang Zhixu yet. Once they’re in tune, this kind of play is just the beginning.]
[Lol, God Lu came back like he fell off the throne.]
[Mainly, he’s lost that killing aura.]
[Look at him on stage, then look at his interviews in North America. He’s like a wolf trained into a dog.]
[Bro stop, seriously stop.]
[Captain Yu is badass.]
[I still think something’s off between those two.]
[I want to know, Lu Sheng paid 90 million to break his contract and return to China. Was it really just for career development?]
Back in the lounge, after watching Lu Sheng’s interview, Bai Yu instantly regretted letting him go.
Once the interview ended and Lu Sheng returned, Bai Yu quickly gestured for him to come over and pulled him to a quiet corner. “Didn’t I tell you to be a little more polite in interviews?”
Lu Sheng felt he’d been polite enough. “What’s wrong?”
Bai Yu was speechless. “What’s wrong? You’re seriously asking me what’s wrong? You don’t respect your teammates, fine, but why do you have to diss the opponents too? This isn’t North America. People here really hate that kind of thing. If you keep going like this, you’re definitely getting dragged all over the trending page.”
Lu Sheng wanted to say he didn’t care, but seeing Bai Yu’s serious face, he finally gave in. “I’ll watch it next time.”
Every time he said “got it” or “next time,” it went in one ear and out the other. Bai Yu felt like he never actually listened. He didn’t say anything, just stared at Lu Sheng, his expression a little accusing. The look made Lu Sheng uncomfortable, and he had no choice but to say, “I really got it this time.”
Bai Yu decided to believe him one more time. “Alright.”
Someone happened to pass by and gave them a curious look. Worried people might think there was conflict within RAG, Bai Yu awkwardly adjusted Lu Sheng’s collar. “You played well today. Keep it up next time.”
Bai Yu had a light, clean scent like soap. Lu Sheng didn’t care if someone was around. He lowered his head and took a sniff.
When Bai Yu looked up, he realized just how close they were. He shifted back half a step, clearly uncomfortable. “Don’t stand so close.”
Lu Sheng didn’t move away. He stayed in that same position, his narrow eyes fixed on Bai Yu. “We’re teammates. Is being close that weird?”
After saying that, he leaned in even more, completely blocking Bai Yu into the corner. His phoenix eyes were dark and locked onto him.
Bai Yu was seriously about to call someone over.
It’s not the teammate part that’s weird. It’s you.
Bai Yu pushed Lu Sheng away and purposely put on a cold face. “Don’t forget what you promised me when you signed the contract. If you keep this up, I’ll count it as breaching the agreement.”
Lu Sheng stared at him for a long time, his expression cold. After a pause, he looked away and let out an annoyed “Tch.”
“Why the hell did I agree to that stupid condition when I signed...”
But a promise was a promise. No backing out now.
Bai Yu straightened his posture. He still wasn’t as tall, but at least he had the presence. “I’ll let today’s interview slide. If it happens again, I’m adding 100 extra training rounds.”
Lu Sheng wasn’t afraid of extra training, and his whole face said he disagreed. Only after getting kicked by Bai Yu did he finally back down. “Got it...”
Their figures gradually disappeared into the hallway. One looked sharp, the other casual. Just a simple conversation had already revealed the nature of their relationship.
At the end of the corridor, a man in a black trench coat silently watched them. People came and went around him, but he stayed completely still, as if separated from the world.
On the way back to the base, Bai Yu received a strange message from an unknown number with no name: The jungler thinks too much. Needs guidance.
Bai Yu was in the middle of praising Fang Zhixu’s perfect play when he saw the message and suddenly went quiet.
Fang Zhixu, beaming under the praise, leaned over the back of his seat and asked, “Captain, how many points would you give me for that play? Full marks?”
Bai Yu replied casually, “You pass. Still some ways off from full marks.”
As he spoke, he typed out a reply: What do you mean?
Fang Zhixu didn’t seem upset at all. In fact, his eyes lit up. “Wow, no wonder you’re the captain. Standards are so high.”
Lu Sheng was already annoyed by how bubbly he was, but because Bai Yu was there, he held back, pulling his hat down and closing his eyes to rest.
That same unknown number messaged again: Mid laner’s killing intent is too strong. Not good. Needs to be toned down.
The moment Bai Yu saw it, his scalp tingled.
He suddenly realized the messages were referring to his mid and jungle. Both comments hit the mark.
Fang Zhixu really was a clever jungler. He could quickly pick out an opponent’s weaknesses. But on the flip side, his mind was always running. That made it hard to achieve full synergy with teammates. No matter how well he played or how much they trained, he always held something back. He couldn’t fully trust anyone.
Lu Sheng’s intense pressure came from his killing intent. He had an obsessive desire to win, which made him like a tightly drawn bow. Powerful, but at risk of snapping, leaving a break that couldn’t be mended.
Bai Yu had already foreseen all this, but since it hadn’t actually happened yet, he’d never spoken about it.
So how did this person know? And why were they telling him?
Not only did it require high-level analysis, but it also meant the sender didn’t see Bai Yu as an opponent.
Bai Yu already had a guess in his mind. He quickly typed a reply but hesitated before hitting send.
Ever since Lin Kun retired three years ago, he’d always appeared out of nowhere and then vanished again. His phone was always off or deactivated. He wasn’t even in the country, like he was afraid of being found.
Bai Yu still held a grudge. He locked his phone and didn’t reply.
But thinking Lin Kun might’ve really noticed something, he couldn’t help himself. He replied as if nothing had happened: Who are you? Why are you telling me this?
The typing indicator appeared instantly. The sender messaged back a bunch of professional insights, all of which aligned with what Bai Yu had been thinking.
He didn’t mention Lu Sheng’s issue. Maybe even he hadn’t fully figured that out. But he clearly saw through Fang Zhixu.
Fang Zhixu’s hand speed was known to be lacking. Among top-tier players, he was one of the slowest, which meant there were a lot of high-end maneuvers he simply couldn’t perform.
But sometimes he pulled off incredible moves, as if hand speed didn’t matter at all. His execution felt unstable. Sometimes spot-on, sometimes hesitant.
Bai Yu had worked with tons of youth trainees and analyzed countless data. Normally, whatever a player could execute reflected their ceiling. A coach’s job was to help them reach and maintain that peak through targeted training.
So Fang Zhixu clearly had room to improve. Back in TG, Bai Yu had already noticed it and even asked Lin Kun to help. But nothing came of it.
That’s when Bai Yu reached a second conclusion. His performance was being limited by a threshold.
He called it a "lock." Think of it as something that caps a player’s growth. To unlock it, the player first had to become aware that it even existed. Only then was there a chance to break through. And Fang Zhixu hadn’t even found the lock yet.
Lin Kun’s take? Psychological barriers.
In other words, the lock wasn’t physical, but mental. Linked to something in his past.
When Bai Yu read that, he actually gasped. Despite talking with Song Bo and the others daily, the only person who ever gave constructive feedback was still Lin Kun.
Back when they were both in TG, every time Bai Yu had an idea that no one else understood, Lin Kun always got it right away.
To Bai Yu, no one could surpass Lin Kun. In both gameplay and strategic thinking, he was at the top of the esports world.
That long-lost feeling of being understood hit Bai Yu like a wave. He almost forgot how annoyed he’d been by Lin Kun’s disappearances. Without thinking, he dialed his number.
After an anxious wait, the call ended in a busy tone. He tried again.
Phone off.
Bai Yu: "...."
Damn
Bai Yu slumped gloomily in his seat, unable to figure out what he had done to offend Lin Kun. Back when they were in TG, their relationship had been great. Then suddenly it all fell apart.
Whenever he was especially irritated, he had a strong urge to smoke.
But they were still in the car, and it wouldn’t look good.
So Bai Yu sat there with a stony face, and the others didn’t dare say a word. Xu Bo kept stealing glances at him and then leaned toward Qi Yi to whisper, “Don’t provoke him. He’s pissed.”
Qi Yi nodded quickly, then thought about lending Bai Yu his headphones so he could listen to music and feel better.
Zhou Xunwen, sitting nearby, found his puppy-like behavior amusing and deliberately teased him. “Go ahead, he’ll use you for target practice.”
Sure enough, Qi Yi flinched and pulled his hand back.
Bai Yu shot Zhou Xunwen a disgruntled look.
What, did he look like a monster who ate children?
Fang Zhixu, ever the perceptive one, quickly picked up on the fact that Bai Yu was probably having a nicotine craving and feeling on edge. He rummaged through his backpack and handed him his favorite flavor. “Captain, want one?”
Bai Yu saw it was a lollipop and his expression softened slightly. “Thanks.”
Thinking about what Lin Kun had said earlier, he took out his phone and quietly messaged Zhou Xunwen: You did a background check on Fang Zhixu, right? Send it to me.
Zhou Xunwen looked up at Bai Yu. Their years of working together gave him an instant understanding that Bai Yu didn’t want others to know. He casually replied: It’s in the office. I’ll send it to you when we get back.
Bai Yu: Just give me the gist of it for now.
The trip back wasn’t short, and after an exhausting match, most of them had already dozed off.
Zhou Xunwen summarized the main points and messaged Bai Yu: His dad’s a gambling addict, his mom couldn’t take it and left. He was mostly raised by his grandparents, with two uncles living with them too, which made things pretty awkward for him. He’s always been good at reading people. I called his school too, they said he lies constantly, scams food and drinks off others, and when caught, he just laughs it off. He’s got a sweet mouth and never causes actual harm, so people usually let it go.
Bai Yu already knew most of that. Back then, Zhou Xunwen didn’t like Fang Zhixu because of that background, but Bai Yu always believed Fang Zhixu had a good core. He just needed the right guidance.
Bai Yu pressed further: I know all that. I’m asking if anything happened after he joined TIN.
Zhou Xunwen thought for a bit: Nothing too major. Just that his dad showed up at the base a few times, trying to get money. Got detained by the police. The last time was the worst. He brought a knife and injured someone who was close to Fang Zhixu. Honestly, Fang Zhixu had it rough. His dad remarried, had another kid, and basically used Fang Zhixu like a cash machine. Most of his money went home, and it still wasn’t enough.
Bai Yu felt suffocated just reading the texts. Fang Zhixu’s dad had even come to TG once to make a scene. Bai Yu had personally stepped in to handle it, but the man was like a cockroach. clingy, manipulative, threatening to harm himself unless he got money. After checking with Fang Zhixu, Bai Yu decided to report him to the police, and things finally quieted down for a while.
Not getting much from Zhou Xunwen, Bai Yu reached out to TIN’s team manager, who initially thought it was about scheduling a scrim and was quite enthusiastic.
But the moment Bai Yu brought up Fang Zhixu, the tone shifted hesitantly.
Yeah, his dad came by a few times. Got locked up more than once. Nobody expected him to sink so low just for money. He actually brought a knife and threatened to kill Fang Zhixu. And Fang Zhixu... that kid was wild. He wasn’t scared at all, just smiled and told his dad to go ahead and do it. One of the managers who had recommended Fang Zhixu panicked and tried to intervene, and got stabbed in the arm. The guy was later blackmailed into sending regular payments or else the dad would keep showing up and ruin the team’s chances. We had to call the cops. He got locked up for a few months. Fang Zhixu even visited him in custody and paid for the guy’s medical bills. After that, he never came back.
Seriously, it was like being hounded by a sewer rat.
And the worst part was, they were related by blood. Even calling the police couldn’t break that sense of helplessness.
Bai Yu thanked the other manager, and they had a good chat, even scheduling a future practice match.
The manager, in good spirits, suddenly brought something up.
When Fang Zhixu left the team, I asked him if there was a special reason. His eyes were red, but he shook his head and said he didn’t want to cause trouble for the team. I was touched at the time and comforted him for a while. But when he actually left, he looked happier than anyone
That really did sound like something Fang Zhixu would do.
Back when he left TG, Bai Yu had practically been tricked like a fool. The day Fang Zhixu left, he was still smiling and saying goodbye. Then he turned around and signed a five-year deal with TIN.
Honestly, Bai Yu had been furious. If it were anyone else, he probably would’ve cut ties for good.
But thinking about Fang Zhixu’s background again, it always made him soften a little.
Bai Yu put his phone away, wondering if Fang Zhixu’s mental block stemmed from his original family. Maybe the uncertainty of not knowing when disaster might strike left him with no sense of security.
But then again, no one had shown up since he joined their team nearly half a year ago.
Bai Yu quickly messaged Zhou Xunwen: Help me check what his dad’s been up to lately.
Zhou Xunwen agreed, but asked curiously, Why are you suddenly looking into Fang Zhixu? Did something happen?
Bai Yu replied, Lin Kun just contacted me. Said Fang Zhixu has something weighing on his mind and needs to talk it out.
Zhou Xunwen glanced around cautiously, especially at Xu Bo and Lu Sheng, and typed back: No wonder you’re acting all mysterious. So it was Lin Kun. Why’d he suddenly reach out to you?
Bai Yu didn’t know either. No idea. Doesn’t matter.
He put his phone away just as they arrived at the base.
He’d been planning to pull Fang Zhixu aside for a private talk, but Lu Sheng was waiting for him outside the car, so he had no choice but to go along.
Lu Sheng had napped during the ride and still looked groggy. His hair was sticking up in the back, giving him a lazy, casual look.
Bai Yu, who had a bit of a compulsive streak, reached out to smooth it down. But just as he did, Lu Sheng turned around. Startled, Bai Yu quickly moved his hand to his own head and awkwardly said, “Ha, my hair’s all messed up.”
Lu Sheng didn’t realize Bai Yu had been talking about his hair. Still half-asleep, he gently took Bai Yu’s hand down and leaned in to inspect him. “It’s not messed up.”
Their eyes met for a second.
Lu Sheng’s phoenix eyes, usually sharp and aloof, suddenly looked soft and gentle.
Bai Yu felt a strange wave of nervousness. “Yours is the one that’s messed up.”
Lu Sheng suddenly went quiet. He stared at Bai Yu for a long moment, then nodded. “Yeah. Mine’s messed up.”
He walked ahead without fixing his hair.
Bai Yu blinked, confused. So... what exactly was messed up just now?
The air was cool, but Bai Yu felt oddly flushed.
—
Back in his room, he took a shower. As he dried off, he remembered Fang Zhixu again and messaged him: You asleep?
Fang Zhixu replied instantly: No. What’s up, Captain?
Bai Yu: Come downstairs. By the vending machine. Quietly though, don’t wake the others.
He threw on a jacket and headed down. Soon, Fang Zhixu showed up. It looked like he’d just washed his hair, it was still dripping, and he hadn’t even bothered with a jacket. His shirt was damp with water stains.
Bai Yu frowned. “You should go back up and put something on. You’ll catch a cold.”
Fang Zhixu quickly shook his head. “I’m fine.” He sat beside Bai Yu and looked at him with bright, curious eyes. “What did you want to talk about?”
Bai Yu hesitated, choosing his words carefully. “I have a friend. He watched today’s match and told me you’ve got potential. You just don’t seem aware of it yourself. It only shows under specific conditions. Like during the match against BN. remember that insane angle you kicked with Lee Sin? I rewatched it frame by frame. You left-clicked to target, then adjusted with right-click, which caused a positional offset and created that perfect angle. I had Xu Bo and the others try to recreate it afterward. Only Lu Sheng could pull it off. Qi Yi barely managed after a few tries. I calculated your input speed at that moment, around 600 APM.”
Fang Zhixu looked confused. “Was there something wrong with it?”
Bai Yu paused, then asked what had really been on his mind. “Were you really going all out in all matches?”
Fang Zhixu froze. His eyes flickered with a hint of hurt, but he said nothing.
Bai Yu realized his words might’ve come off wrong. “No, I didn’t mean it like that. I mean... you probably don’t even realize how much potential you’ve got. You tend to play it safe instead of pushing for your limit.”
Fang Zhixu relaxed when he saw there was no judgment in Bai Yu’s eyes. “Honestly, I don’t even know how I pulled that off. Same with that flash-dodge against Galio today. It wasn’t until afterward that I realized just how tight the timing was.”
If he’d flashed a second early, he wouldn’t have had enough damage. A second late, and Galio would’ve killed him.
Bai Yu hadn’t crunched the numbers on that move yet, but based on experience, it must’ve taken about 500 APM.
And yet, Fang Zhixu’s listed hand speed was only 300, average at best.
“I’m curious,” Bai Yu said. “What were you thinking during those plays?”
Fang Zhixu laced his fingers and thought for a moment. “Not much. During the BN match, you said if I lost, you’d kick me off the team. I knew you were joking, but in that moment, it felt real. I just had to pull it off. And I did.”
Bai Yu inhaled sharply. He hadn’t expected that to be the reason. “And what about today?”
Fang Zhixu glanced at him. His expression dropped its usual playfulness, becoming serious. “SG’s mid-laner flamed you online.”
Bai Yu waited. “And?”
Fang Zhixu bit his lip, reluctant. “I know the way those people work. He was baiting his fans into mass-reporting you. I’ve used those tactics before. I could tell.”
He peeked at Bai Yu again, worried he’d be judged. “I don’t usually do that. I only mess with Lu Sheng because he’s always trying to get your attention. Like some flashy peacock. I can’t stand it…”
Bai Yu suddenly laughed.
Fang Zhixu was the perfect contradiction, he looked like the sweetest kid, but he was easily the most cunning of the bunch.
But none of it crossed the line. These were survival instincts, learned from a difficult past. Bai Yu had long decided he would turn a blind eye unless things got out of hand.
Sometimes, when Fang Zhixu clashed with Lu Sheng, Bai Yu would secretly take his side. Thankfully, Lu Sheng wasn’t the petty type, so things stayed civil.
Bai Yu reached out and ruffled his hair. “I’m okay with you fighting for attention. You don’t need to hold back.”
That one sentence hit Fang Zhixu right in the heart.
He looked up, eyes glistening from under his tousled hair. The smile in Bai Yu’s eyes was completely unguarded, and Fang Zhixu’s eyes began to sting with tears.
Ever since he was young, people always said they wanted to help him, that they believed in him, but the truth was, they never really accepted him. The moment any conflict came up, the blame always landed squarely on him. They’d say he was too calculating, too manipulative, and try to "save" him with kind, moral words.
But what he needed wasn’t their preaching.
He just needed someone like Bai Yu, someone who would openly and unapologetically take his side.
Someone who saw the good in him and still accepted the bad.
Isn’t that what it really means to be accepted?
Fang Zhixu lowered his head quietly, wrapped his arms around Bai Yu’s waist, and pressed himself tightly against him, breathing in the air around him like it gave him strength.
“Captain, I knew it. You’re the best to me.”
Bai Yu gently ruffled his hair, then suddenly thought of the match and mused aloud, “So it really is true, huh? You only tap into your full potential under specific emotional conditions. No wonder your performance fluctuates so much, it all makes sense now... Hmm, wait. If threatening to kick you off the team triggers your god-tier gameplay, should I just keep doing that every match? Would you eventually build up a resistance to it...?”
Fang Zhixu looked up at him, full of grievance. “Captain…”
He was already moved to tears here, heart all soft and shaken. Shouldn't this be the moment to reel him in, to make him fall completely?
Why did Bai Yu have to ruin the mood by overanalyzing things out loud?
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