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“Well, Jingjing?” Ling Kai asked, “Your replacement?”
“I,” Jingjing stopped, her eyes landing on Sicheng’s position for a moment. Could she? Could she possibly game with the one person she wanted to above all others? “I remember the rules saying I can pick anyone from the audience, correct?”
“Yes,” Ling Kai said slowly in an unspoken question.
“They don’t have to be a professional Glory player, do they?” She carefully inserted.
“You, you want to pull up a random audience member?” Ling Kai asked clearly surprised. “You but…” He trailed off looking beside him to Pig Rider and Heliu before his hand trailed to his ear and his instructions. “As you said, you can choose any audience member, the rules are rules.”
Jingjing fought the desire to catch Sicheng’s eye, carefully reworking her grip on the microphone as she thought. “Yes, I do, thank you. Well, maybe. I’m not sure. I need to consult my LS first.”
“Your LS?” Ling Kai wasn’t the only one confused, the crowd buzzed with questions, everyone turning to their neighbor seeking answers. “What does LS stand for?”
Jingjing gave a small quirky grin, “Today it can stand for Legal Support, although LC and Legal Counsel works too.” Most days, most days it just stood for her Lu Sicheng.
“I guess you can ask your legal support.” Ling Kai said, “But preferably quick.” Jingjing’s eyes looked out, carefully starting on the far side of the crowd. They were restless, all trying to find out who Jingjing was going to ask permission from.
Her eyes filtered to the middle section where Sicheng was in the process of stripping off his hoodie, sitting on the edge of his seat.
Yes!
She couldn’t help the massive smile from lighting up her face. “Legal Support says yes!” She said excitedly to Ling Kai.
He blinked at her, “You already got your answer?” He asked confused and Jingjing couldn’t help her smirk.
“Did you think that I was going to ask for a full-blown analysis?”
“I, I guess not.” Ling Kai was too good of an MC to struggle for long. “Well then Jingjing, who are you calling up?”
She glanced back towards the center of the crowd, one last chance. Sicheng met her eyes and nodded. “I choose Lu Sicheng.” She said calmly. Then added with a smile when the crowd broke into incredulous whispers, “Yes. That Lu Sicheng.”
Sicheng was already calmly walking through the few people between him and the isle. The crowd’s shock covered by Ling Kai’s loud startled exclamation. Time seemed to slow as Sicheng strode, abandoning his fake shuffle, towards the stage.
He wasn’t playing the businessman either. No, this was Chessman, perhaps not in his arena, but in his element anyways. With the loss of the hoodie and vest combination, he wore her favorite fitted dark button up shirt with amber threaded throughout it, his hair slightly mussed from his hood, but it didn’t matter, paired with his confident smirk, OPL’s Chessman joined Jingjing on Glory’s stage – because she’d asked him to.
“Chessman.” Zhou Lin breathed beside her. “No way.”
Sicheng settled next to her, leaning his head so he could whisper into her ear. “Missed me that much huh?” She laughed happily giving him a nod but forced herself to turn back to Ling Kai. Blinking when all he could do was look at them blankly.
***
What on earth? Lu Yue blinked in shock. Had Qiao Jingjing just called his brother to the stage? His brother who barely looked up from OPL and Lu Enterprise? What? It wasn’t possible.
No, it couldn’t be.
The camera found Jingjing’s eyes and somehow followed it and – Yue was wrong. The man making his way confidently toward the stage was most definitely his brother. His brother who still looked tired but hid it behind his massive persona and he doubted anyone else would notice.
Except – maybe she could see it. Qiao Jingjing. The camera split showcasing his brother’s steady steps and Jingjing’s utterly beaming and completely infatuated smile.
“What?!” Lao Mao yelled, and Yue couldn’t help but agree with him.
What. On. Earth.
“Did Qiao Jingjing just invite Lu Sicheng from OPL – Chessman – to game with her tonight?” Tian Yun asked. He must have hit something that made the announcers go live, because Ling Kai was supposed to be handling the non-game commentary.
Yue’s vision locked on his brother, his stupid, brother who for once hadn’t looked at the consequences of what tonight would bring, because like Qiao Jingjing, his eyes shone in a way Yue had never seen, leaning in to whisper something in her ear.
“Yue!” Mao barked. “What’s happening right now? Why is your brother there?” He felt his teammates stares, their questions, confusion and hurt.
“I, I don’t know.” He admitted, blinking as Qiao Jingjing laughed at something his ge said before he slotted himself facing the crowd and turning with Qiao Jingjing to watch Ling Kai.
“What do you mean you don’t know!” Lao Mao growled, “He’s with Qiao Jingjing. How is he with her?”
Yue opened his mouth and shut it. He didn’t know. How on earth was he to answer that question? It wasn’t like their families had ever done anything together. Qiao Jingjing probably never registered on his mother’s radar.
In the background, the announcers were bickering before they abruptly became silent when someone muted them. Or, it was Ling Kai, earning every bit of his expensive paycheck. Visibly the young man gathered himself, hand twitching to one ear before he caught it and instead switched his grip on the microphone.
“Lu Sicheng – welcome!” He said graciously a wide smile to Yue’s brother. “This is an unexpected, er, connection.” He continued diplomatically and Yue resisted the urge to snort, it definitely wasn’t Glory’s pleasure. His brother gamed for one of their direct competitors.
Chengye took the mike from Qiao Jingjing, hand easily slipping over hers in a gesture that screamed long familiarity. “Thank you for having me, I’m grateful for the opportunity.” Chengye said with a polite and seemingly sincere little bow.
“I think I’m asking what everyone is wondering which, forgive my rudeness, is how did this” he gestured between Qiao Jingjing and his brother, “even happen?”
***
Jingjing tilted her head, wondering how Sicheng would describe their early relationship. “We met almost by accident,” Sicheng said politely, there was no smile on his face, too locked in his Chessman persona, but perhaps a hint of fondness? “After that, it became almost ridiculously easy for our relationship to grow.”
Jingjing kept her smile, and more importantly stopped her eyebrow from rising. Did he know how that sounded? Because that definitely seemed to imply, they were in fact, something else.
“Unfortunately, due to time my next question needs to be what’s your gamer tag and ID?” Ling Kai asked and Sicheng gave a carefree shrug.
“Like Jingjing, and my fellow professional gamers, I have many handles, the only one I’ll confess to the public is Chessman,” he smirked a little and Jingjing resisted the urge to squeal when somehow it popped his dimple, “Not for Glory of Kings though, someone else has that honor – may they treat that name well – and I’m not prepared to disclose my Glory of Kings accounts at this time because of its current privacy settings. I hope you understand. As for my rank…” He trailed off suggestibly, before looking to the crowd again, “What do you think it is?”
This wasn’t his crowd, Jingjing realized, there was clapping to be sure, but not as many as you’d think. Not for Chessman. For the first time Jingjing realized this was his competitor’s field. What would that even mean? Did She make Checkers cross boundaries? Did he have fans on both sides of the gaming community or did the ones here want to hate his guts? How bad was the competition between Glory and OPL? What on earth had she done?
It was too late for these thoughts and selfishly she was glad. She wanted this moment. She’d fought and trained for this moment. A chance to do justice for Ping Ting and Glory to be sure, but also to showcase everything Checkers had shown and sacrificed for.
“Well, those are indeed fighting words, but before I turn you loose, I do have to ask one more question. We know there’s no legal issue on our end, does that hold true for you and for OPL?”
Jingjing wasn’t the only one holding her breath, almost collectively the crowd seemed to inhale sharply.
Sicheng’s smirk was gone, replaced by that serious calm authority he used as Chessman to govern and field questions from the crowd. “There is in fact no legal issues keeping me from gaming with you today. After all, as you stated in your official invitation, this is a friendly match. In fact – the second opinion has already been given via a teammate’s lawyers. If you don’t see me after today, it will because Lao Mao, otherwise known as Cat, will kill me for not disclosing the fact that I know Jingjing well enough for this invitation tonight as he is a big fan of hers. His name and credentials were most definitely amongst the contestants looking for this opportunity. All of that to say, yes as this is friendly and not a professional match, I am free to play in tonight’s open game.” He turned calm eyes back to the MC waiting for Glory’s final decision.
There was only one answer. The anticipation was tangible, an almost electric feeling, because while the crowd wanted her – this was Chessman – and like him or not, in the gaming community he was more than just a legend.
“Ladies and gentlemen” Ling Kai said loudly arm thrown up in a massive gesture, “Round two!” Sicheng glanced towards her a genuine smile on his face. “Ready?”
Jingjing grinned.
***
“Your brother didn’t lie.” Mao growled, “I’m going to kill him. Slowly and painfully.”
Yue bit his lip, the tension in all the boys around him palpable. It wasn’t just Mao who wanted to kill Chengye. None of the team was happy. None. “I’ll take out his legs,” Pang snarled “If you get his head.”
“We need his head and his hands for the upcoming season.” Zhe Yan said, his typical calm wavering, “Anything else is free game.”
Yue didn’t say anything. Not sure what to say. What on earth was his brother doing? What’s worse, his brother didn’t seem to realize the massive issues this would be presenting Glory, OPL and his family if Cheng won, and his brother would win. Clearly, he’d been training for it with Jingjing since it was announced. His sudden trip to Shanghai wasn’t for the Qingyue partnership at all, it was to game with Jingjing. No wonder his brother turned down his offer to join him in Shanghai.
Also it explained why his brother looked exhausted (no stage makeup for him tonight) he’d been running himself ragged trying to get everything done. “Always look ahead, Yue.” His brother had told him once, “Consequences don’t care if you’re impulsive – they come anyway.” As a boy, he hadn’t understood, though as he had gotten older experience taught it as doctrine. His ge already knew this lesson so why? Why would he do this? Game in their competitors award show and think there would be no consequences? Chengye’s face, eyes glued on Jingjing, as he joined her on stage flashed to his mind, and Yue couldn’t help his reluctant half smile.
***
Their little team stood in a tight circle, Jingjing was actually gaming with Checkers, and they were outside the privacy of her apartment. It was more than she could dream.
“Chessman.” Zhou Lin said, he was trying to dampen the hero worship, but didn’t quite manage it. Clearly competitor or not, Zhou Lin was a fan.
“Zhou Lin.” Sicheng replied, “Congrats on being the fantastic jungler your team needed this season. I’m sorry you didn’t win the nationals.”
Zhou Lin blinked, “You were watching.” His eyes flickered towards Jingjing once before his lips twisted ironically, “Chessman taught you Glory. Chessman.”
“We were friends,” Jingjing said as sincerely as she could. “When I need him, he’s there.” She shouldn’t, she knew she shouldn’t, every gesture every movement was being analysed, still her face was probably utterly twitterpated when she glanced towards Sicheng. His back was to the cameras, so only their team saw his real smile drift on his face before he straightened up, a man on a mission.
“Right, so Jingjng will play marksman, Zhou Lin jungler, Battle Bear if you play support as Wang Zhaojun, I’ll act as a counter, and half a support, as mid with Shou Que. That leaves Nine Tomatoes on tank position I think that’s our best bet as far as set up is concerned.”
“Wait,” Zhou Lin said, though only because he beat the awestruck Battle Bear to it, “You’re not playing marksman? You’re Chessman.”
Sicheng looked at Jingjing and she gave a happy little wave. “That’s actually my best position, and I was trained by Chessman, who is a relentless drillmaster by the way, we’ve practiced a lot this way. Him playing different positions and setting me up as I play marksman. They won’t know what hit them. Promise.”
“They’re playing against Chessman with no warning or prep time. No one’s going to know what hit them.” Battle Bear put in.
“They’ll focus on you.” Zhou Lin told Sicheng seriously. “A chance to kill Chessman? The face of OPL? We’ve all been gunning for this chance. You’ll be their main target.”
Sicheng shrugged, “What do I care? I’ve never been the best because I’m impossible to kill, I’m the best because I understand my enemies’ weaknesses and am amazing at manipulating them to the point I or my team can crush them.”
“Incidentally,” Jingjing said in a carrying whisper, “He’s not the best because of his humility either.” Sicheng’s hand tugged at her curls before any of them realized what he was doing, his amber eyes blazing with some kind of emotion. She doubted the others noticed the chagrinned blink following seconds later too shocked by what they’d just witnessed. That was two unchecked emotions from Sicheng in the course of thirty seconds. For a Lu, that was practically unheard of.
***
“How well does your brother know Qiao Jingjing?” K asked, watching as his brother reached up and tugged at Qiao Jingjing’s ponytail earning nothing more than a quirk of Jingjing’s lips. Clearly it wasn’t the first time Chengye had played with Qiao Jingjing’s hair. Yue didn’t answer, they already knew the only one he could give anyways.
“There is definitely some flirting happening between Qiao Jingjing and Lu Sicheng.” Tian Yun said to his two compatriots Li Jiu and Gemeni.
“Some flirting?” Gemeni asked incredulous.
“Chengye flirts?” Pang asked ignoring the announcers. “Since when?”
Since he’d met Qiao Jingjing apparently.
“And it looks like the players are back on track with Star-Reaching Team starting their picks.” Tian Yun said, “And with the added ban for Wine Among Flowers, that has to hurt.”
“No surprise that Chessman is picking the difficult-to-handle Baili Shoyue.” Li Jiu said. “Though I am curious about his learning curve. After all, one game you typically play on the computer and Glory you play solely on the phone.”
“I wouldn’t count on it hindering him much.” Gemeni said firmly, “He wouldn’t risk his name and brand if he was anything but good. Shou Que is picked by Battle Bear – interesting choice by him. Shou Que has many powerful special abilities, but they’re known to be temperamental. He really is a master character if you know how to use him.”
“That just leaves Qiao Jingjing – it looks like she’s once again going to play support. I can see why, she did fantastic the first-time round.” Li Jiu finished.
“And Jingjing’s picked Wang Zhaojun.”
“Another steady, but easy choice there. Still, she proved with Donghuang Taiyi you don’t need complicated to be effective.”
“This isn’t right.” Ming said abruptly overtop of the announcers. “Chengye’s too smirky.”
Around Yue, his team nodded. His brother was hiding something. He sat beside Qiao Jingjing eyes glued to the screen and while his lips didn’t smirk, his body did. Beside him Qiao Jingjing practically bounced in anticipation. For a second she looked up catching Chengye’s eyes in a silent question.
“Called it!” Pang yelled triumphantly as Chengye nodded firmly.
“Wait what’s happening are they changing their line up?” Tian Yun asked.
“No!”
No was right, because his brother, Jingjing and the final player – Battle Bear? – were shifting positions.
“No way.” K breathed, and Yue’s lips quirked. They should have seen this coming. His brother hadn’t planned on playing tonight, which meant he’d prepare Jingjing to the best of his ability for the gaming night of her life. If she had the temperament, that would place her in his brother’s favorite AD position.
“Jingjing’s playing marksman? She has OPL’s leading AD and she’s playing marksman?”
For once there was no witty rejoinder both of Gemeni’s fellow hosts too shocked to respond.
Yue couldn’t help but lean forward, eyes anxiously locked on Mao’s computer screen, much more invested then he had been an hour ago. “Enemy minions have arrived.”
***
Zhou Lin darted along the bottom (typically the marksman’s) lane. Jingjing followed Checkers just far enough behind to make it look like she was in the bottom lane leveling up. In reality they’d shoved Battle Bear and Nine Tomatoes in the top lane confident that the greater fire power would be firmly in Sicheng’s middle lane.
After all, it was the only chance Glory players would ever have to kill the mighty Chessman.
Sicheng darted out running full tilt into Pig Rider, frantically fighting back and forth in a vicious bout.
“Steady Jingjing.” Sicheng said calmly, fingers moving like lightning. “Wait until Heliu engages.”
“I know.” She growled; fingers clenched on the phone. Sicheng twisted Shou Que carefully around Pig Rider just on the edges of getting hit. Slowly but steadily the enemy mid drug Sicheng closer to Heliu’s jungle.
Jingjing bit her lip finger poised. There! Heliu smashed viciously at Sicheng’s back missing as Sicheng activated a special ability teleporting just to the side of the duo.
Jingjing released the trigger. It would have been safer if she got closer, but with the need of surprise she didn’t dare. The first strike caught Heliu completely unawares and the jungler flew backward.
As quickly as she could Jingjng rolled forward for the better shot sniping the duo again as Sicheng harried them from behind.
She’d confused them and as good as they were – Heliu and Pig Rider never played together, and it showed. They hampered each other’s strategies as much as they didn’t. Jingjing and Sicheng’s countless hours were evident, Sicheng striking at Pig Rider’s back as Jingjing simultaneously leveled three shots at Heliu.
Both professional players faded away and Jingjing couldn’t help her smirk even as together they collected their gold.
“Nice one.” Zhou Lin grinned, “I ganked Wine Among Flowers – the fool got to close to the jungle and didn’t realize it bites!”
Jingjing couldn’t help her laugh, “That’s what Checkers has been telling me for months!”
Beside her Sicheng’s stiffening spine, Zhou Lin choke and Nine Tomatoe’s splutter told her she’d said the wrong thing.
“Call me that, or repeat what she said to anyone,” Sicheng said, authority ringing through his voice “and you will not like the consequences. That goes for the people on the managing this line.”
“Hear what?” Battle Bear gasped even as he and Nine Tomatoes together beat at Discerning Eyes.
Jingjing’s shoulders hunched.
Oops.
***
“OPL for the win!” Pang yelled.
“Did you see that!” Mao called excitedly “That was OPL tactics in Glory!”
Yue couldn’t help but agree. It was clearer now why Qiao Jingjing had been so effective that first round. She used Glory tactics along with an inverted version of OPL’s. Something told him that in the coming days both games would have a blend of what could be done in either or.
“Your brother is a good teacher.” Rui said, watching as Sicheng and Qiao Jingjing split up, Battle Bear and Qiao Jingjing taking the bottom lane, Nine Tomatoes joining Sicheng in the middle with Zhou Lin back in his normal top lane. “I knew that already, but he’s good. Qiao Jingjing’s playing a completely different game than last month.”
Mao opened his mouth automatically ready to defend Qiao Jingjing and Yue kicked his chair. “We know,” Yue said.
He kept his eyes pealed even as his brother – already weak from the previous attack was again set on by a grim-faced Pig Rider.
“He’s not going to win this time.” K called. “The tank they have is horrible backup.”
“He’s not trying to.” Zhe Yan countered. “Watch Qiao Jingjing.” Qiao Jingjing, in her own lane spread through the minions pinging them, one after another. “She’s about to claim the massive pile of gold there.”
“She won’t be able to. Heilu’s on his way.” Pang put in worriedly.
“Heliu thinks she’s with Chengye, look how cautiously Pig Rider’s going.” Pig Rider, with only Lucky Charm as backup, moved much more cautiously towards Cheng’s Shou Que. Even with Nine Tomatoes and Chengye visible it was obvious he thought they were springing another trap.
“The support’s trapped.” Pang called attention fixed on Jingjing. Battle Bear struggled against Heliu’s attack, but there was no contest who the better player was.
Jingjing pounced, using all of Bali Shoyue’s ability leveling her shot mid jump, smashing Heliu down into a newly formed crater. Yue shifted his gaze to Jingjing unsurprised to see her lips quirk.
“Did she just say, ‘That’s for you’ to your brother?’” Rui asked incredulous.
“Looked like it.” Yue said, unsurprised when on the heals of Qiao Jingjing’s words his brother snarked something back. “A month worth of snacks says he just told her to focus.”
“No deal!” They chimed together (except for Mao who grumbled again about killing Chengye), but Yue barely noticed watching as Jingjing and Battle Bear collected their gold, and his brother died.
“You knew it was going to happen.” Zhe Yan sighed, “I mean a chance to kill Chessman? Come on!”
***
The game was brutal. Especially when compared to the first one. Pig Rider and Heliu fought with something to prove. Cheng took it in stride, he didn’t care if he died – so long as it set Jingjing and the team up for success. Luckily, the two players had never studied Cheng’s tactics to try and beat him otherwise they’d realize the amount of gold their team was collecting and the trump card it would allow him. As it was, Cheng had fun dancing around harrying and keeping them distracted.
His respawn time, shorter than Jingjing and Zhou Lin’s but longer than their other players, gave him time and distance to think.
He’d made a mistake.
Gaming with Jingjing might be his ultimate dream, but in one rash decision he set Glory, OPL and his family on a collision course. How on earth had he made it up here without thinking about the consequences losing or winning would cause everyone? He knew the answer: Jingjing.
His eyes flickered to her, there was only one slightly clean way forward, but he hated putting Jingjing in that position. The only problem was, he couldn’t see another way out.
He revived in a flash of light and took off speeding in the general direction of his team. “I’m coming up,” he told Jingjing. “Have you routed them into position?”
“They’re properly herded.” Zhou Lin said. “You’re sure about this?”
Sicheng nodded. “They won’t know what hit them. We’re close enough to their base now that if we can pull this off, they won’t be able to come back quick enough to do damage – all their best players have the longest respawn time. Set it up and go.”
“We’ll be leaving ourselves vulnerable if they gank the pair of you.”
“You already took out Discerning Eyes and Lucky Charm?”
“They’re dead.” Nine Tomatoes said proudly, clearly the one to take out a position.
“Then that’s enough. I’m coming in. Give me the gold.”
Battle Bear and Nine Tomatoes instantly slid their gold into his possession and Cheng rapidly force-leveled (along with the special abilities) up. “Ready Jingjing?” He asked.
“Waiting on you.” Cheng slid into the careful gold-hungry knot of players. It wasn’t quite like OPL’s snake pit, but close enough to suit their purposes. Instantly Zhou Lin, Battle Bear and Nine Tomatoes disengaged, waiting for a handful of seconds before sliding out and away unnoticed.
All eyes fixed on Cheng and – with the help of his teammates – his above normal skill and attack level. He dove into the throng. Accidently blasting magic upwards when Heliu came at his left. At least he hoped they’d think it a mistake. Another useless surge upwards and another.
“Traps set! Now!” His fingers flew as his efforts sprung, the three trouble players locked inside. Jingjing’s perfect hits took her greatest threat, Wine Among Flowers, first. Perched as she was on the top pillar Cheng’s magic had created.
With the loss of their sniper her Baili Shouyue nimbly dodged the jungler and mid. They were dead and knew it, unsurprising slaughtering Cheng’s Shou Que once more as he tried to defend against their vicious onslaught.
There was no gold for them to claim he’d used it as he’d meant to. He couldn’t help his smirk as he watched Jingjing systematically snipe them into oblivion seconds before Cheng’s trap dissipated.
“Got them. I’m on my way.” Jingjing called.
“We’re at the nexus.” Zhou Lin called, “Hitting it now. I can’t believe that worked. It shouldn’t have worked.”
It worked because they wanted to kill Chessman so badly, they forgot the bigger picture. Still, Cheng couldn’t judge them too hard – look at the situation he’d gotten himself in after all.
“Ah,” Nine Tomatoes called, “I’m hit.”
“Don’t stop.” Jingjing called, “I’ve got him.” Cheng looked over a smile on his face. Jingjing didn’t bother with the nexus, instead, like he’d been known to do, she stood facing the respawn area gunning down Discerning Eyes’s position.
“Victory!”
Cheng breathed a sigh of relief even as his stomach tensed with dread. The easy part was over – now, now it was time to face the music.
***
“Well,” K said lightly as Cheng’s efforts and trap sprung. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen Cheng die this many times.”
“He’s brilliant.” Ming answered softly. “Unless you really know strategy you wouldn’t understand how drastically he’s being Chessman today.”
Beside him Zhe Yan nodded sagely. “I agree. He’s died multiple times, but all in the name of winning the big picture. They wanted to kill him – and forgot about their desire to win. It left them vulnerable for –”
“For Qiao Jingjing to decimate them!” Cat threw in excitedly and Yue lip’s quirked.
They watched Qiao Jingjing speed towards her team the enemy successfully ganked, a determined look in her eye.
“There’s just one thing I don’t understand,” Ming said slowly, and something in his tone of voice caught and held each of them. “There’re consequences for this. He’s one of OPL’s leading players, he owns shares, he’s the face of OPL. Why on earth would he cause a PR nightmare by gaming – and winning – against our competition at their award show?”
Pang and Mao’s jaws dropped, clearly too invested in the game to think of its aftereffects. Though really Mao should have considered it when he applied to play.
Yue sighed, a sad little smile on his face, for once he felt he was the older brother, unable to stop the foolish yet endearing actions of his younger sibling. “Isn’t it obvious?” He asked watching as victory flashed across the screen and Qiao Jingjing threw herself out of the chair cheering, unaware of his ge’s locked attention. “He loves her. He wasn’t thinking.”
“What?” Yue turned at Rui’s incredulous face, beside him K blinked at him for a second before turning back towards the screen and Qiao Jingjing, now wrapped safely in Cheng’s arm a contemplating look on K’s face. Chengye was whispering to Qiao Jingjing. It might have been sweet nothings… if this wasn’t his only opportunity to whisper instructions in her ear that couldn’t be overheard.
Mao decidedly wasn’t saying anything, instead he gaped like a fish while Pang sputtered into coherency. “You mean,” He gestured to his lips before his eyes flickered to Cheng and Qiao Jingjing now surrounded by their happy, and in Zhou Lin’s case, smug team. “Love, love?”
For a moment Yue paused, wondering if he should have said anything, then shrugged, before the end of the night China, and soon the world, would know. “Yah,” He said, wondering if he should have called his mother earlier when he had the chance, “Love, love.”
***
Jingjing jumped to her feet cheering loudly. They’d won! Checkers and she had played and won. She turned towards Sicheng happily shocked when he immediately pulled her into his arms. Her own wrapping around him. “Listen.” He said, and Jingjing stiffened under the commanding and firm pressure. “I shouldn’t have done this – I’ve put everyone, including you, into a horrible PR and reputation nightmare. I only see one way forward – will you follow me?”
Jingjing bit her lip, smile still carefully in place for the crowd and nodded emphatically. Sicheng relaxed slightly even as his words tumbled into each other with speed. “I’m sorry, Jingjing, I never should say these words for the first time in public. They belong to you and you alone. Just know I was going to give them tonight regardless.” He squeezed her once, “Remember that please, and forgive me.” He released her as abruptly as he’d grabbed her, but their time was up, even she could see that. Their victory needed to be celebrated with the whole team especially with Zhou Lin the only professional Glory gamers actually left on their team.
She went to smush herself between Battle Bear and Zhou Lin in an effort to foster familiarity with all rather than just Sicheng, but at the slightest tug at her hip she paused. Shifting slightly to easily put Sicheng on one side and Nine Tomatoes on the other instead, smile still wide and in place “You were all fantastic!” She said loudly.
Their happily grinning face, especially Zhou Lin’s who smugly looked at the competition, told her none of them had yet to realize the consequences yet and selfishly she was glad. It wasn’t their fault she’d forgotten map awareness after all. All too soon Ling Kai called them back towards the front and Jingjing reluctantly moved forward.
Still, Sicheng had a plan, she knew he did, only how could he possibly sooth everyone? Especially when she didn’t know all the parties involved. She planted herself next to Ling Kai taking the second mike ready to pivot with Sicheng.
“Everyone let’s here it up for Good Luck Team!” Deafening sound from the audience and Jingjing smiled and waved, confident smile in place. She wanted to both gesture to Sicheng and hide him. “Qiao Jingjing – you surprised everyone tonight not only in your skill, but in also your chosen position.”
Were they just going to ignore Chessman? Tempting, but it was probably much too late for that. They’d won after all. “Thank you. As, I’m sure you can all guess. I learned from one of the best in the industry – though between you and me I know Chessman thinks Snow is good. When I started learning in earnest, Chessman taught me to play marksman, maybe not to Snow and Chessman’s level, but…” She trailed off suggestibly, “I think I didn’t do too shabby, do I?”
“No!” Shouts from the packed audience almost drowned out Ling Kai’s little laugh. “I think you did quite well.” He turned to Sicheng, “Congratulations on your pupil. I never knew you were a teacher.”
Jingjing willingly gave the mike to Sicheng’s seeking hand. “She made it easy.” Sicheng said.
“Yes, well, the two – five – of you together was something to watch that’s for sure!” Ling Kai hesitated, he was trying to smooth their impulsive decisions over, but clearly wasn’t sure what his best bet would be.
Luckily, he didn’t have to as Sicheng rose his mike once more. “I’d like to thank everyone for letting me game tonight.” Sicheng said calmly, “We all know I shouldn’t have.” He hesitated once, as if picking his words very carefully, “I also want to take this moment to congratulate Lou Shen on their national victory. I watched the match closely and both they, and Heavenly Palace played exceptionally well and easily showcased their excellence and the power of Glory of Kings.”
The crowd wanted to buzz and speculate, their tension palpable, but more than that they wanted to hear what Sicheng said next, and so they kept quiet.
“I also want to address the elephants in the room. First, Jingjing and I came with an unfair advantage. We’ve been playing Glory together since before she signed her contract with Glory of Kings – a tidbit I wager you didn’t know.”
Jingjing kept the smile on her face, even as she was dying to say she hadn’t betrayed her NDA. “Not that Jingjing mentioned her potential contract with Glory – although I can’t say the same for others.” Slowly her tension lessoned. Was that his plan, acknowledge their history and explain away their victory? It probably hurt his pride, it hurt hers, but they’d get over it.
“We also, like all professional players, have taken an absorbent amount of time to drill together.” Sicheng turned towards Pig Rider and Heliu, “Neither of you have had a reason to strategize against me, while both Jingjing and I have personally against you. Thank you for your fantastic performance. It was a pleasure to play against someone of your caliber.”
Something was wrong, Sicheng held himself loosely, but each muscle and frame of his body was taut. “I acknowledge that as a member of OPL I shouldn’t have interfered in your award ceremony” he said one more time with a deep bow towards the crowd, “But thank you.” He said, voice unrelentingly stable, “Thank you for allowing me to game with the woman I love in a venue such as this.”
The crowd was screaming but Jingjing couldn’t hear. Her eyes fixed on Sicheng, and his small happy smile that was more for their audience than for her. The words were for them. An excuse for their foolish actions to bring the competition onto the stage. Sicheng reached for Jingjing’s hand and she let him, not stopping him as he interlocked her fingers with his, squeezing hard.
“I’m sorry, Jingjing, I never should say these words for the first time in public. They belong to you and you alone. Just know I was going to give them tonight regardless.” Jingjing swallowed, no, she thought. Those words might be to appease the public (and more importantly the boards of OPL, Glory and Lu Enterprises (and her own company come to think of it)), but more than that they were for her and for them. Jingjing smiled up at him, pouring as much love back into her gaze as she could. It might not be how either of them wanted to start their relationship, but now that he’d said them, a tactic or not, she was determined that neither of them would let go.