Chapter 66: Playing Game
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
The previous evening, Qin Fen, Si Cong, and the rest enjoyed a delightful time at his residence, engrossed in their activities until the late hours. They ended up spending the night there, and fortunately, the villa had an ample number of rooms to comfortably house everyone.
The next day, as soon as dawn broke, Zhou Chao got up, changed into sportswear, and headed out. Lately, Zhou Chao had been feeling increasingly energetic, as if there was a surge of vitality within him. So, he decided to go for a run to release some energy and bring back breakfast for a few of the elders when he returned.
In the cold November morning of Jingdu, it took Zhou Chao a while to get used to running. Since he wasn’t accustomed to running before, he initially struggled to find his rhythm. But gradually, he fell into a groove, feeling his entire body come alive with each step.
By the time Zhou Chao returned to the courtyard, it was already past 8 o’clock. He placed the two large bags he carried onto the table, then headed to his room for a quick shower and a change of clothes. As he dried his hair, he knocked on the doors of a few rooms where his friends were staying.
“Time to get up and have breakfast. After that, we’re going somewhere fun today.” Qin Fen and Si Cong came out of their rooms with reluctant expressions. Thankfully, they were all friends; otherwise, their morning grumpiness would have been quite intimidating.
Zhou Chao bought some braised snacks, donkey meat pastries, and buns. However, he was discouraged from trying the local specialty, douzhi, which was not to his liking as someone from Fog City.
Without any hesitation, everyone served themselves and began to enjoy their meals. Given that all five individuals, Qin Fen and Si Cong included, hailed from modest backgrounds and were accustomed to dining at street-side vendors, they shared the capability to savor such simple fare. Consequently, the gathering relished their delightful meal, fostering a congenial atmosphere that enriched their interactions.
“How about visiting the Great Wall after breakfast?” Zhou Chao proposed as he looked at his friends.
“Let’s not consider climbing the Great Wall,” Si Cong swiftly dismissed the idea, recognizing the undeniable fatigue that came with such an endeavor.
Qin Fen and the others quickly agreed with Si Cong, suggesting alternative ways to have fun. Zhou Chao dropped the idea upon seeing their reluctance. “How about we play League of Legends (LOL)?” Qin Lang suddenly chimed in from the side.
At the mention of LOL, both Qin Fen and Si Cong’s eyes lit up. After all, Si Cong was one of the earliest investors in an esports team, and it was well-known that Qin Fen had quite a presence online when playing Journey to the West. Thus, both of them shared a deep passion for gaming.
Seeing everyone’s enthusiasm, Zhou Chao felt the urge as well. Although he used to love playing games, he was different now. He wanted to see how he would fare in the game.
“Sounds good. Let’s find a large esports hotel or internet cafe.” Zhou Chao quickly arranged, and they soon located the best nearby esports hotel. Shortly after, they were ready to set off.
With Zhou Chao and his five friends, he opened the garage and everyone saw the Cullinan parked inside. Zhou Chao was about to drive, but Si Cong snatched the keys, and the others rushed to claim their seats.
By the time Zhou Chao reacted, Qin Fen was already in the front passenger seat. Zhou Chao reluctantly went to the back and squeezed Qin Lang into the middle, taking the seat by the door.
“Gogogo!” The group headed towards the esports hotel with excitement.
It took less than 10 minutes to reach the esports hotel. Just as they were about to disembark, Zhou Chao had a thought and said, “Si Cong, do you want to wear a mask or something?”
Before Qin Fen and the rest could respond, Si Cong swiftly retrieved a black mask from his bag and donned it. It became apparent that Si Cong’s prominence in the online world was considerable, and not concealing his face could inadvertently expose their identities. While this might not have posed a significant issue, it was prudent to steer clear of undue scrutiny by sidestepping any avoidable attention.
The group headed inside and booked the best five-person room. The computer equipment looked impressive, featuring professional esports chairs. They all took their seats.
Once they logged into their accounts, Zhou Chao noticed that his rank was the lowest, Silver 1, while the others were higher. Even Yang Shuo was Gold 3. The highest ranks were Si Cong’s Diamond 1, Qin Fen’s Diamond 2, and Qin Lang’s Platinum 1. Clearly, these individuals were skilled players.
Due to the vast differences in their ranks, they could only play a match together.
“What roles are you guys playing?” Zhou Chao asked as he looked at his friends.
Si Cong played AD carry, Qin Fen played mid lane, Qin Lang took the top lane, Yang Shuo was the jungler, and Zhou Chao found himself in the support role, as he usually did. They quickly found a match, and Zhou Chao and his team were placed on the red side. They selected their heroes randomly.
Red side: Ezreal, Camille, Riven, Azir, Malphite.
Blue side: Darius, Lee Sin, Caitlyn, Miss Fortune, Ahri.
The game began.
Right from the start, both teams encountered each other in the river. Si Cong immediately called for a level 1 team fight. The group charged forward, but to their surprise, the enemy Miss Fortune unleashed a torrent of attacks. She targeted Ezreal with her ultimate ability, directly taking him down. Then, Caitlyn’s trap was thrown into the grass, catching Azir off guard. Just as Malphite was about to engage, he stepped onto the trap. Meanwhile, Zhou Chao was slower to react and was positioned at the rear. He had no choice but to flash into the grass on the other side and engage with his E ability, successfully diverting enemy firepower. Chaos erupted in the grass.
Riven’s Qin Lang then used her three-part Qability from the backline, knocking up four enemies. The team responded with swift damage output. In the end, Zhou Chao’s death allowed his team to trade for four enemies. Only Darius, who hadn’t joined the river fight, managed to survive. In the blink of an eye, the skirmish concluded.
“Nice, that was a good play,” Qin Lang grinned after securing a triple kill. Zhou Chao realized that his gameplay had improved significantly from before. His reactions were quicker, and he was thrilled as he headed down the bottom lane after respawning.
Thanks to the strong start, Riven held a major advantage in the top lane, already pushing down to the second tower in under 10 minutes. Ezreal on the bottom lane secured a kill early and returned to purchase an item. With Zhou Chao as Malphite, they continued to apply pressure, even though the enemy jungler tried to gank, resulting in a double kill for Malphite.
By the 18-minute mark, the blue side’s three lanes had been successfully pushed down, with only the inhibitor turrets remaining, and the red team had significantly outpaced the enemy in terms of economic strength. In the final engagement, Zhou Chao’s Malphite executed a massive ultimate, hitting three opponents at once. Malphite’s ultimate was followed by Azir’s Emperor’s Divide ability, securing the victory beyond doubt.
“Nice,” the group exclaimed happily as they watched the enemy’s Nexus explode. “Let’s keep it up!”
“All, I’m done playing,” Qin Fen took off his headphones and stretched, checking the time. It was already 8 PM. They had been playing for hours, experiencing both wins and losses.
Although they had only played for a few hours, Zhou Chao’s gaming skills had improved remarkably. Despite the short duration, the group had a blast playing together.
Leaving the esports hotel, the group decided to find a place to have dinner. Zhou Chao suggested they try the hot pot lamb in Jingdu. Everyone agreed, and after driving around for about 20 minutes in Nantong District, they finally found an authentic hot pot lamb restaurant.
“Mmm, you’re right, this lamb is delicious when paired with sesame sauce,” Zhou Chao said as he quickly finished his plate of lamb.
“It’s true, this lamb is tender and juicy.”
“Hey, Qin Lang, you rascal, stop stealing my lamb! If you want to eat, cook your own!” Qin Fen laughed as he saw Qin Lang swiping the lamb that Yang Shuo had just dipped into the pot. This sight brought laughter to Qin Fen and the others.
The group devoured nearly 40 plates of lamb before leaving the hot pot restaurant fully satisfied. They then drove to a courtyard located on the bank of the canal.
“Chao, there’s a charity auction gala happening the day after tomorrow. Would you be interested in going and getting formal attire ahead of time?” Qin Fen inquired while casting a glance at Zhou Chao, who was seated on the upstairs couch.
“Let’s go together tomorrow and take a look.”
“Sure, let’s get some rest early tonight. It’s been quite a tiring day,” Qin Fen replied before heading to his own room.
Seeing this, Zhou Chao also got up from the couch and made his way to his room..