Nobody knew the state of Lu Feng’s shoulder better than Lu Feng himself.

Xiang Liu’s worries were reasonable, but they were meaningless.

In recent years, FTW couldn’t have done without Lu Feng.

Let alone Close toppling down, the impact would be earth-shaking if anyone learned about his shoulder injury.

Not to mention anything else, the capital divestment would be enough for FTW to drown in.

In the past three years, FTW had always done a global round trip in the 5v5 competition. How had they managed to develop to their present scale? Why were their signing fees for the live broadcasting platform so high, and why were they the sponsors’ favorite?

There was only one reason––

Close.

The world’s most valuable player was also the head of FTW.

This was a very strong injection of reassurance for all their partners.

The value of a club depended largely on their results and their players. Both were interdependent and indispensable.

Results needed to be maintained, and the players would move around. These were variables that the capital side had to consider.

Only FTW was different. The player was the person in charge, and this double identity had tied Close and FTW together.

It was both bondage and security.

Close would never leave FTW, which was something that carried great value regardless of the team’s performance.

This was also one of the reasons why FTW was able to thrive over the years.

Fans always liked to say that the great demon king had held up the entire club by himself. This wasn’t actually an exaggeration; it was fact.

Close was too important for FTW, so important that even Lu Feng didn’t dare to act rashly.

The biggest disaster that could befall e-sports players was an occupational disease.

When there was high intensity training coupled with a serious lack of exercise, how could something not go wrong with a body that was made of flesh and blood?

Most clubs had rebab and massage professionals, and after the start of the regular season, the players would do preventive physiotherapy every day.

Even so, there were still so many injuries every year.

E-sports was very draining, and a small mistake would affect the entire game.

Why did injured players start to decline? It wasn’t just because their operations couldn’t keep up with their thoughts, but also because their mentality had collapsed.

Li Heran had fallen from the clouds. Why was it so difficult for him to stand back up again?

It was because he’d exhausted all his confidence and courage.

The injury to his wrist had had a great impact on him, and there had been an even bigger impact on his fans.

Countless people had loved him crazily, and countless people were heartbroken by this.

The howling across the entire internet was heartrending, and these countless words would eventually take on a life of their own, pressing down on the players.

“Don’t blame him, he hurt his wrist.”

“He missed a soldier. That wouldn’t have happened with the former Li Heran.”

“It’s okay, it’s okay, Captain Li, we’ll always love you!”

Good, bad, sympathetic, sarcastic, comforting, abusive…

It was all the same. They all repeated one fact––

Li Heran, you’re ill.

If Lu Feng was on his own, he wouldn’t be afraid of any of these things.

No matter how big the weight was on his shoulders, he could still hold it up.

Unfortunately, there was an entire FTW behind him, an FTW that had managed to stand up again after experiencing a disaster.

It seemed strong, but in fact, it was as fragile as a thin piece of paper.

Once public opinion pressed down on them, it wouldn’t affect just Lu Feng, but the whole FTW.

This was the fundamental reason why Lu Feng couldn’t do anything.

They’d been preparing for three years, waiting for three years, working hard for three years…

Chen Feng, Tang Chen, Xiang Liu, the logistics staff, and the countless fans who loved them. They were all looking forward to the FTW’s triumphant return.

At this kind of time, Lu Feng would never allow anything to happen to Close.

During the winter training camp, Lu Feng hadn’t been able to make appointments with a physiotherapist because of the venue.

After returning home, he would definitely adhere to a strict physiotherapy schedule, and coupled with enough exercise, playing in the 5v5 wasn’t a problem at all.

As for the solo competition…

Lu Feng wanted to hand it over to Wei Xiao.

Wei Xiao liked solo and was also good at solo. If he polished up his skills a bit, he would definitely get good results this year.

As for the doubles…

Wei Xiao and Bai Cai were very suited to play the doubles.

However, all of this couldn’t be said after Wei Xiao asked ‘why?’.

The corners of Wei Xiao’s mouth tightened, his bright black eyes dimming slightly. His voice also grew quiet, “This year, Yuan Ze and Kim Sung-hyun will both sign up. They want to solo with you, but you aren’t going to compete?”

Lu Feng: “…….”

Wei Xiao looked at him, as though wanting to see the real emotions behind his calm expression, “You’ve always been looking forward to it, haven’t you? Wanting to have a real fight with them!”

The old Team of Gods had left behind countless regrets.

Close had stayed in FTW, while the others all went their separate ways.

They couldn’t be teammates because of their lingering guilt and uneasiness, and they weren’t even opponents then.

The Close who’d been left behind, the Close who’d been forgotten, the Close who was eager to be recognized.

His title as the three-year singles champion couldn’t match up to this year’s solo game!

Wei Xiao didn’t believe that Lu Feng didn’t want to compete!

Yuan Ze, Kim Sung-hyun, Xie He…

Didn’t he want to prove himself to them?!

Close, who’d chosen to stick with it, to stay behind, to guard and protect FTW, didn’t he want to show them his faith and beliefs with his own strength?!

After waiting for three years and finally getting this opportunity that hadn’t been easy to come by, why did he want to give it up?

Wei Xiao’s tight voice trembled slightly, “Captain, I don’t need you to do this for me.”

Lu Feng’s heart trembled, and he felt like he’d been hit by a soft sledgehammer––

It didn’t hurt, it only felt numb.

The tip of Wei Xiao’s nose felt sour, and his eyes were also slightly red, “I don’t want to participate in the singles competition. I just like soloing with you.”

He’d thought back and forth, and could only think of this reason.

There was a quota limit for the singles competition, and only one person from each club could sign up.

If Lu Feng signed up, then Wei Xiao wouldn’t be able to compete.

The captain wanted to give him this chance.

But…

Wei Xiao leaned in close, “I’d rather see you compete. I want to see you win against Yuan Ze, win against Kim Sung-hyun, see you win the championship!”

He’d rather see Lu Feng fulfil his dreams, wanted to see him finally see the rainbow that came after the wind and rain, wanted to see him try his best and leave no regrets!

These unspoken, unfinished words were all transformed into a voice that came from the heart, conveying themselves all the way to the bottom of Lu Feng’s heart.

Lu Feng heard it.

“I…” Lu Feng’s voice was slightly hoarse, and every word seemed to be squeezed out of his throat, “I value the team competition more, and we’ll also meet them in the 5v5 games.”

Wei Xiao picked up his hand and rubbed his own cheek against it, “You’re lying.”

The youth’s soft voice, his cat-like attitude, all broke through Lu Feng’s camouflage.

Wei Xiao looked at him, “Captain.”

Lu Feng: “Mm.”

Wei Xiao: “I know you care for me, but I also care about you.”

Lu Feng: “…….”

Wei Xiao: “You sign up this year, and I’ll sign up next year, okay?”

The words that were already at the tip of Lu Feng’s tongue couldn’t be spoken out.

He couldn’t let down people who were so good to him.

The haze that was pressing down on Wei Xiao’s heart dissipated slightly, and his tone returned to normal. He even acted coquettish with Lu Feng, “You really can’t miss out on this year. How old is Old Dog Yuan now? Maybe he’ll retire after playing this year. When that happens, how will you find him to hammer him?”

The more Wei Xiao spoke, the more he felt that his words were reasonable, “We can’t let him be so arrogant. He’s still the singles competition champion from ‘17. If you don’t win against him this year, he’ll really think that he’s the world’s number one solo player!”

“You can’t let him daydream all day long.” Wei Xiao looked up at him, “We should let him wake up and sober up.”

After hearing this, the corners of Lu Feng’s lips curved briefly, “You can also win against him.”

Wei Xiao was unhappy with this, “How is that the same!”

Lu Feng: “…….”

Wei Xiao cleared his throat and explained for himself, “I’m not afraid of him, hey, it’s just that you guys should really settle things for once and for all.”

Settle things.

The former Team of Gods really did need to settle things between them.

Otherwise, Yuan Ze and Kim Sung-hyun wouldn’t have signed up for the singles competition three years later.

Lu Feng dropped his gaze, “Mm.”

Wei Xiao’s eyes lit up, “You’re not going to try and split hairs again?”

Lu Feng held his hand, “Come here.”

Wei Xiao’s actions were familiar as he wrapped his arms around his neck.

Lu Feng wrapped his arms around his waist and didn’t kiss him, “Wei Xiao.”

Wei Xiao: “Hm?”

Lu Feng said softly, “I like you.”

Wei Xiao: “!”

Why was he suddenly confessing? His heart had almost jumped right out of his chest!

Lu Feng leaned in closer to him and continued to speak in a low, sexy voice, “I like you.”

Wei Xiao’s face flushed red, “Captain…”

Lu Feng: “Mm.”

Wei Xiao kissed him, then said, “You’re the one who seduced me first!”

The captain was too, too wicked!

Wei Xiao obtained many, many sweet and honeyed kisses, but he still had a nightmare that night.

In his dream, he stood outside a door, guarding it tightly, unable to get in, and unable to go out.

Outside was a precipice, and the inside of the door was empty.

Wei Xiao was holding on desperately to the door frame, and he didn’t know what he was trying hard to do.

There was an abyss in front of him, and a dark hell behind him.

What exactly was he holding on to?

When he woke up from the dream, Wei Xiao’s forehead was covered in cold sweat.

Why was he having this dream again?

Sure enough, the captain had given him a scare.

“Ahhhh…” Wei Xiao clutched at his hair and calmed himself down, “It’s okay, it’s okay, nothing will happen!”

Wei Xiao tried to boost himself up while he was brushing his teeth, and he managed to shake off the nightmare by the time he had finished washing up and gargling.

Soybean wasn’t in the room and had likely gone out to go wild.

After taking a look at the time, Wei Xiao was very upset with himself: He’d gotten up late again and hadn’t managed to go for a run with the captain that morning.

Sure enough, sports was an e-sports player’s biggest natural enemy.

He really didn’t know how the captain managed to stick with it.

As soon as Wei Xiao thought of Lu Feng, his heart was filled with both sweetness and happiness.

He strolled out to have some breakfast, thinking about his school suspension.

Brother Cai and the others had all gone home, and the big base was empty and devoid of people. Wei Xiao sat at the long table eating sandwiches and drinking watermelon juice.

He’d told Bai Cai that he would ask the captain to accompany him home, but when the time arrived, he found he couldn’t open his mouth to ask.

Forget it.

He would take care of this small thing on his own!

The captain was so busy, he couldn’t depend on him for everything.

Wei Xiao reflected on himself.

It was probably because he’d been too short of love when he was young that he was so sticky when he fell in love now.

The captain was also particularly indulgent towards him, giving him many chances to grow increasingly insatiable.

It couldn’t go on like this.

Wei Xiao felt that the reason why the captain would give up the solo competition was completely because of him.

He’d shown too much eagerness, which was why the captain would give him the spot from the quota.

The captain cared about him, and he also cared about the captain.

This wasn’t just something that was spoken verbally, it was also about practical actions!

Wei Xiao decided that he’d deal with the school suspension on his own. In the future, he had to keep himself in check and not give the captain any additional burdens.

Wei Xiao found it boring to eat alone, so he casually scrolled through Weibo.

Coincidentally, he’d just received a @ tag.

RR.Moonlit: @FTW.Quiet, come solo.

Wei Xiao tsked and replied, “You’re back?”

Moonlit: “Yeah.”

Wei Xiao: “Have a good rest and fix up your jet lag.”

Moonlit: “Solo.”

Wei Xiao’x heart was itchy, but he suppressed it, “No.”

Moonlit: “?”

Wei Xiao: “I won’t solo anymore in the future.”

Moonlit: “???”

Wei Xiao gritted his teeth, “I’ve given it up.”

Damn it, after saying these words, he could feel his heart, liver, and lungs all twinging with pain.

He’d given it up, given up solo for the sake of love. Laozi was really a patron saint for love!

—

The author has something to say:

Believe in them, muah.

xiin: the author says to believe in them~ everything will be okay!