Lin Ao said he wanted to 'crush Lu Lian' and that 'this person is so annoying,' but his actions were different. He honestly clicked on the video and started to watch Lu Lian's analysis, not to agree with what Lu Lian said, but to refute him frame by frame.

 

Lin Ao spent a long time passionately writing a long page of refutations. By the time he finished, it was already noon. Then he opened Lu Lian's game records, took screenshots, saved them, and then used graphic tools to draw a mocking expression filled with sarcasm. Finally, he sent the refutations and the mocking image together.

 

Because he was so engrossed in writing, he spent too much time, and Lin Ao was now completely awake and couldn't go back to sleep. So, he quietly attributed this grudge to Lu Lian.

 

Over there, when Lu Lian received Lin Ao's reply email, he didn't know if it was because of the cold or some other reason, and he inexplicably sneezed. He touched his nose in confusion and looked at the screen, starting to read Lin Ao's response carefully. When he saw the mocking image that Lin Ao drew, he chuckled softly. His inexplicable smile caught Hua Zhiheng's attention, making him a little anxious.

 

Curiously, Hua Zhiheng leaned over and took a look at Lin Ao's reply. He asked, ''This Lin Ao seems to have a lot of ideas and he's quite sharp. You've invited him twice already, and he refused both times. Are you sure you want to continue?'

 

''I'm patient,'' Lu Lian replied, without any dissatisfaction or displeasure at Lin Ao's reply. Instead, he became more interested, though he noticed that Lin Ao's refutations lacked skill and were impulsive in their thinking, they were full of vitality. ''What I want is a leader, not a tournament machine that only listens to the coach's words.''

 

Hua Zhiheng was taken aback by his words. He could tell that Lu Lian's hope for Lin Ao's inclusion in the team wasn't just about joining the team but also about making Lin Ao the leader of the new team.

 

The talkative King Lin Ao?

 

The one who leads the team when they meet other teams in the Canyon?

 

Hua Zhiheng suddenly felt a headache.

 

That scene in the competition would be absolutely beautiful.

 

***

 

 

After sending the email, Lin Ao packed up and went out. He went to a nursing home in Longcheng. This nursing home had a great location, a large area, beautiful surroundings, and complete facilities. It was also close to the hospital, so even though the price exceeded the average price of nursing homes in Longcheng, Lin Ao chose it without hesitation.

 

Lin Ao, holding fruits, found Grandpa Zhang surrounded by elderly ladies in the garden of the nursing home. Seeing the group of old people chatting, he suddenly felt a lot of pressure. He hesitated about whether to go over or not but saw Grandpa Zhang was waving at him not far away.

 

Grandpa Zhang's face, covered in wrinkles, was filled with a kind smile. When he saw Lin Ao, he seemed even happier than when surrounded by the elderly ladies. Lin Ao had no choice but to brace himself and walk over, facing the gaze of the many elderly people.

 

Grandpa Zhang joyfully pulled Lin Ao, sometimes pinching his shoulder and sometimes patting his arm, saying happily, ‘'Little Ao, it's so rare to see you when the sun is shining.'’

 

‘'...'’ Night owl Lin Ao cleared his throat lightly and said, ‘'I woke up early today, so I came over earlier. Here are the cherries you wanted to eat.'’

 

Lin Ao lifted the bag and inside were boxes of large, plump, and juicy cherries. Another old man nearby said, '’Grandpa Zhang, I envy you. You said you wanted to eat cherries last time, and now Little Lin brought them to you. He's more affectionate than my grandson, who rarely comes to visit me all year round. Sigh.'’

 

‘'Yeah, yeah, my son only comes to see me once every one or two weeks. How can it compare to Little Lin coming to see you so often?’' Another old lady said.

 

Grandpa Zhang held Lin Ao's hand happily and said, ‘'Of course, our Little Lin is so well-behaved and filial. He takes everything I say to heart. But your son is also very outstanding. He's busy with work, so although he only comes once every one or two weeks, he means well. We should be more understanding and not burden the younger generation too much.'’

 

The old lady proudly said: "That's true. At the beginning, Lu's company recruited at my son's school. Hundreds of people signed up. In the end, only two people were recruited, and my son was one of them. At the beginning of this year, my son was still in the middle and high levels. I met their big boss Lu Qinian at the meeting."

 

'’That's true. My daughter works at the branch office of Lu Corporation. Their year-end bonuses are thick as a stack.'’ More people's eyes lit up at the mention of Lu Corporation, and they began discussing it animatedly.

 

'’Your son is really capable. He's so young and already a junior executive. Lu Corporation's benefits are good, you know.'’

 

'’Benefits? That's nothing. The year-end bonuses are the most important. My daughter's company gives out a thick stack of them.'’

 

Compared to everyone who had stars in their eyes when hearing 'Lu Corporation,' Lin Ao had a bit of PTSD when he heard the word 'Lu.' He listened to them discussing and couldn't help but sigh inwardly. He could barely get a word in as they shifted from discussing school and work to comparing grandchildren and great-grandchildren, going on endlessly. He hung his head listlessly, feeling uncomfortable and impatient. This was the reason he hesitated about whether to come over in the first place.

 

‘'By the way, which school is Little Lin attending?'’

 

Someone brought the topic back to Lin Ao.

 

'’Little Lin looks very well-behaved. His grades must be excellent. Is he still attending Longcheng High School, or has he already entered college?'’

 

All the elderly people looked at Lin Ao.

 

‘'...' In "TLD: Legendary Land," the arrogant Lin Ao suddenly felt a bit stuck.

 

Seeing Lin Ao's embarrassment, Grandpa Zhang helped out, saying, '’My grandson is a streamer. Many people watch him every day, and it's very lively.'’

 

Other elderly people were stunned for a moment.

 

Lin Ao replied vaguely: "Well, I'm working as an anchor."

 

"I know the anchor, the anchor of the TV station! But I can't tell, Xiao Lin is already working? He looks seventeen or eighteen years old."

 

"That's because you don't know much about it. The anchor that the old man is talking about is a live broadcast on the Internet."

 

"Live broadcast on the Internet? Oh, I see, it is the website that sells things?"

 

Listening to their discussion, Lin Ao sighed helplessly, glanced at the distant flower garden, and said bluntly, "Well, I'm playing e-sports live, "TLD: Legendary Lands"

 

The old man and old lady who had been discussing enthusiastically just now suddenly fell silent, and there was a trace of embarrassment in the air.

 

Lin Ao actually understands why the atmosphere is awkward. After all, in the eyes of the elderly, playing games is not a proper job.

 

Then, he heard the old man and the old ladies laugh a few times, and then they discussed the game.

 

Originally, they just said casually, "It's not bad to be an anchor. I heard from my grandson that it's quite profitable"

 

And perfunctory "It's not bad, it's not bad".

 

Later it gradually developed into a denunciation, "Oh, don't mention it, my little granddaughter plays games with her mobile phone every day, I am so worried."

 

"Children have poor self-control, and older children are also addicted to it."

 

"Ah, because my son is addicted to playing games, he was originally a 985, 211 candidate, but he failed the exam and went to an ordinary university."

 

All in all, the game delays the future.

 

Lin Ao's eyes were empty, his left ear went in and his right ear went out.

 

But before he spoke, Mr. Zhang got angry and said angrily, "My family Xiaolin is very good at playing e-sports. He can make a living by playing games. He pays for all the money I live in the nursing home! And e-sports is a sport, you know. It’s also a national competition event!"

 

Lin Ao actually didn't care what those old men and women said, but he was very happy to see Grandpa Zhang defending him so much, so he couldn't help smiling, revealing two shallow dimples, and his eyes were shining like a spring breeze.

 

As a matter of fact, regardless of whether Grandpa Zhang's Lin Ao had any achievements or not, it was evident that he was quite handsome, even more beautiful than the stars pursued by their own children and grandchildren.

 

At this moment, a young nurse passed by, and when she saw Lin Ao, her face immediately lit up with a bright smile. ‘'Lin Ao, you're here! You've been asking me to keep an eye on the deluxe room, right? One is available now. Do you want to let Grandpa Zhang stay there?'’

 

The other elderly people were surprised to hear this. The price of this nursing home was already high, and the price of the deluxe room was twice as expensive. How capable was Lin Ao?

 

Lin Ao replied politely, '’Thank you, sister. We'll take it. Please keep an eye on it for me as before.'’

 

Although he didn't show much enthusiasm, the nurse was still beaming. '’Ah, don't mention it. By the way, is the deluxe room still paid annually?'’

 

Lin Ao nodded coolly, '’Just like before.'’

 

Hearing this, the other elderly people were once again dumbfounded. Grandpa Zhang looked at their expressions and felt proud. He deliberately said with a smile, ‘'Why are you helping me upgrade to the deluxe room? It's so big inside, it feels so empty for me.'’

 

The other elderly people: ‘'...'’

 

'’And the inside is equipped with all the latest electronic products. An old man like me wouldn't understand them.'’

 

The other elderly people: ‘'...'’

 

Lin Ao easily understood that Grandpa Zhang was doing it on purpose. He suppressed a laugh and went along with Grandpa Zhang's playacting, "No problem, I'll teach you."

 

So the grandfather and grandson acted in harmony and left with an extravagant air.

 

Once they were out of sight of the elderly people, Grandpa Zhang hummed and said unhappily, "I will never play with them again."

 

At this moment, Lin Ao, who was not the sharp-tongued person online, obediently followed Grandpa Zhang and said, "Then let's not play with them anymore. Let's find new friends."

 

The grandfather and grandson walked under the long corridor entwined with withered vines, basking in the warm afternoon sunlight on their faces.

 

Grandpa Zhang placed his hands behind his back, took a deep breath, and asked solemnly, "By the way, Little Ao, have you thought about what you want to do in the future?"

 

Lin Ao was taken aback.

 

Grandpa Zhang continued, "I'm not saying you shouldn't play games, or that playing games is bad. I just want to ask if you have any plans for the future. Are you planning to be a game streamer forever? Have you thought about doing something else?"

 

The sunlight shone on Lin Ao's fair face, but it seemed unable to penetrate his dark pupils.

 

He remained silent for a long time, then shook his head and honestly said, "I don't know."

 

"I'm sorry about what happened back then, preventing you from studying..." Grandpa Zhang said apologetically.

 

"Grandpa, that's in the past. Let's not bring it up again. Besides, I don't want to go back to study. It's not interesting," Lin Ao interrupted him hastily. After a brief pause, he twisted the fruit bag with his slender white fingers and said, "As for doing something else... I haven't thought about it for now. It doesn't seem appealing."

 

Grandpa Zhang widened his eyes and scolded, "You brat, why do you keep saying things aren't interesting all the time? At the age of eighteen, your mentality is like an eighty-year-old."

 

He poked Lin Ao's arm, but Lin Ao didn't avoid it. He just let himself be poked and then smiled innocently at Grandpa Zhang.

 

This move worked effectively, and Grandpa Zhang sighed, thinking that children would have their blessings. Moreover, Lin Ao had grown up without going astray, which was already quite rare.

 

Having accepted this fact, Grandpa Zhang took out his phone and quickly changed the topic, saying, "By the way, last time when I played this game, some people in there insulted me, calling me a noob. Can you help me take care of them? It would be best to crush them and show them who's boss."

 

Lin Ao: "…"

 

***

 

When Lin Ao left the nursing home, it was already evening.

 

On the winter night in Longcheng, the wind was strong, and the cold seemed to penetrate through one's bones.

 

Lin Ao buried his head in a soft scarf, hunching his shoulders and hands, walking alone on the quiet road.

 

There were very few pedestrians on the road, and the stars in the sky were clear and bright, silently hanging in the dark night sky.

 

Suddenly, his phone in his pocket vibrated. It was a message from Glasses.

 

        Glasses: "I'm preparing to meet your sister-in-law's parents. What do you think I should wear?"

 

        Lin Ao: "=.="

 

        Glasses: "Sigh, I'm such an idiot, seeking help from a little brat who doesn't even have a girlfriend."

 

Lin Ao really wanted to punch someone, but in the end, the words he typed were congratulations, just dress normally, you already look presentable.

 

        Glasses: "=.="

 

After a few seconds, Lin Ao saw that Glasses had updated his social media.

 

        Glasses: "Hey, guys, I'm about to enter a new stage in my life! From being a boyfriend to a prospective son-in-law, I'm just one step away! Help needed, what should I do? Any tips?"

 

Lin Ao looked at the update in Glasses' social media and thought about Grandpa Zhang's words in the afternoon. He suddenly began to seriously contemplate his life.

 

While friends moved forward in life, it seemed like he was standing still.

 

But what could he do?

 

The more he thought about it, the more confused he became.

 

This was the unique worry of his age, feeling lost about the present and the future.

 

Suddenly, a cold gust of wind blew, defeating the protection of his scarf, and it entered Lin Ao's neck.

 

He shrank his neck due to the cold and then let out a loud sneeze. It seemed like that sneeze woke him up. He scratched his head for a moment, his eyes showing a self-mocking expression. "Am I being driven crazy by the wind? Why am I worrying about all these things?"

 

Without finding an answer, Lin Ao straightened his back, quickly returning to the old house where he lived.

 

***

 

A few days later, the League Cup of "TLD: Legendary Land" was about to begin, and players were discussing intensely about who would win the championship this year.

 

Even in Lin Ao's live streaming room, there was a lively discussion.

 

        [Ao-ao, who are you rooting for in the League Cup this time? I want to vote with you.]

 

Every year during the major events hosted by the official, there would be fun predictions. Depending on the number of correct predictions, players could win different prizes. If someone managed to get all the predictions right, they would be named the "Golden Mouth King" and receive a reward of hero skins.

 

Lin Ao had won the title of "Golden Mouth King" last year, so whenever an important match came up, people would come to hear his predictions.

 

"Chopper Team." Lin Ao, controlling the character "Black Reaper," roamed in the enemy jungle, ready to either steal a buff or get a kill. The team's official name was "PPP," but since the letter "P" resembled a knife and they were a fast-pushing team, they were jokingly referred to as the "Chopper Team."

 

        [Are you sure about Chopper Team? Although the Emperor is strong, their strategy is not popular anymore] someone questioned.

 

        [The Chopper Team's performance this year has been tough] said another.

 

        [I think New Year Team has a better chance. They are the dark horse of this tournament.]

 

"Don't ask, it's just my intuition," replied Lin Ao. He had always been an intuition-based player, relying on "I feel" whether it was predicting enemy skills or sensing enemy ambushes.

 

At this moment, another message popped up on the screen, catching everyone's attention.

 

        [Wait, what's happening? Hurry, check the social media! Something happened!!!]

 

        [Goddamn, these arrogant foreign players are so overbearing! What's the official doing? Why haven't they intervened? They're even riding on our faces! Why don't they ban them!]

 

The live streaming room exploded with reactions.

 

Even the game was affected, and Lin Ao saw his teammates typing on the public channel.

 

        [Shooter (Cupid)-Public Channel:  "I'm too angry! I won't play for now, I'm going to curse them first!"]

 

        [Auxiliary (Mermaid)-Public Channel: "I'll go curse them too. Even if I get reported for AFK, I still want to do it!"]

 

        [Enemy Midlaner (Chess)-Public Channel: "Everyone on my team is AFK and cursing, I'll go as well. Let's find another battlefield!"]

 

"..." Lin Ao was at a loss. What was going on?

 

People in the live streaming room were expecting Lin Ao to lash out as he usually did, but instead, he hesitated and didn't say anything.

 

Those who had already gone to watch the gossip in the live broadcast room quickly came back to report the battle situation.

 

        [Ah! How can you still sit still? ]

 

        [Your true love is hung on the wall again! And it's an international wall! ]

 

Lin Ao: "..."

 

Lin Ao opened Weibo out of nowhere, and didn't need to search for it, because he followed very few people, and those few people all reposted the same video.

 

It was an interview with Whiz, the mid laner of the Atlantis team, the champion of this year's global finals. The resolution of the screen was not very high, and it was a fragment of the official interview video that was clipped. Then someone secretly recorded it with a mobile phone and posted it on the Internet.

 

The interviewer was a European and American reporter, because he was standing a little far away, so his questioning voice was a little vague, and he could only vaguely hear whiz and wizard, what else do you like, what do you think, etc.

 

Although the voices of the European and American reporters could not be heard clearly, the voices of the mid laners came through the microphone clearly.

 

"Of course I know the wizard. It is undeniable that the wizard's tactics and strategies have had a great effect in the early stages of the game, but how to put it, the wizard is outdated." When Whiz said this, he was pulled by the coach next to him, but he was unmoved.

 

"Tactical master? Tactical magician?" Whiz smiled, "Why don't you look at the current tactics? E-sports are always getting better from generation to generation."

 

"If you have to talk about the connection between our names, we should all be tactical masters, but in terms of the operation of playing "TLD", I should be better than him, and stronger than him?" Whiz finished talking and actually laughed out loud, full of the pride and arrogance of just winning the championship.

 

"As for next year's global finals, the champion should come out between us and the European and American teams. The Chinese team? Sorry, I don't know much about it."

 

"Although "TLD: Legendary Lands" was born in China and is a very popular game, it is a pity that they haven't won the global finals for a long time..."