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Chapter 39.2 – Song Zhixu’s Cousin
Lin Jiang then called Song Zhixu outside, leaving Cao Shenshan unable to hear their conversation, anxiety burning in him.
Had he known Song Zhixu was this close with Lin Jiang, he would’ve approached Song Zhixu first.
Minutes later, Lin Jiang returned, but the warm smile was nowhere to be found. His demeanor toward Cao Shenshan had turned cold and indifferent.
Cao Shenshan’s heart pounded wildly. He had no idea what Song Zhixu had told Lin Jiang.
Why did his expression change so suddenly?
He said a few more flattering words, but Lin Jiang didn’t respond. After finishing his coffee, Lin Jiang suddenly stood up and said, “Song Zhixu, settle the bill.”
Then, as if Cao Shenshan didn’t exist, he brushed off his clothes, stood up and walked away.
Cao Shenshan couldn’t hold it any longer. He rushed to the counter and grabbed Song Zhixu. “What did you say to Lin Jiang? Why did his attitude change so suddenly? I was so close to sealing the deal!”
Close? Lin Jiang was a crafty old fox—no matter how many steps he took, the trap was already set.
Song Zhixu replied, “He just asked me which cousin you were. I told him you’re my stepmother’s nephew. Then he went ‘oh’ and stopped talking.”
Cao Shenshan’s eyes widened. “Why would you tell him that? Does he know about your relationship with your stepmom?”
“Of course he knows. Lin Jiang was right there when my stepmother called me asking for money. When I couldn’t afford meals before, Lin Jiang even ordered takeout for me. Oh, and today’s coffee? It’s because he paid for me last time when I was broke, so I paid him back with this.”
Cao Shenshan hadn’t expected Song Zhixu to be this close with Lin Jiang.
Frustration and regret surged through him. If he had known earlier, he would have gotten on Song Zhixu’s good side before coming, and wouldn’t be so passive.
It was too late for regrets now.
He couldn’t help but grumble, “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
“You never asked.”
It’s useless to say these things now. Lin Jiang’s impression of him was ruined. Forget joining OT, Yu Ming might even make things difficult for him later.
What to do? What to do? He nervously bit his nails.
The more he thought about how close Song Zhixu was with Lin Jiang, the more bitter he sounded. “Why is Lin Jiang so good to you?”
Song Zhixu finished paying the bill and casually replied, “He’s my captain, of course he treats me well. The reason I’ve improved so quickly is because he’s been helping me train. Tsk tsk, you have no idea how amazing it feels to have a world-class player as your training partner. It’s an unprecedented experience, and I get to feel it every day…”
After hearing this, Cao Shenshan grew even more envious.
So Song Zhixu’s rapid improvement was due to Lin Jiang’s training?
They both came from a small town, they were on equal skill levels, both started as DT’s trainees.
But Song Zhixu just happened to pass the OT’s tryouts, got lucky meeting Shen Ju, and now has Lin Jiang dropping into his life like a godsend. Meanwhile, his own path looked so different.
Cao Shenshan almost turned green with envy, “How come your luck is so good?”
Song Zhixu pretended not to hear, then asked him, “Weren’t you here to check my bank accounts? Let’s go.”
As the only link Cao Shenshan had to Lin Jiang, he didn’t dare offend Song Zhixu now.
Rolling his eyes, Cao Shenshan quickly grabbed Song Zhixu’s shoulder. “Zhixu-ge, I’ve wronged you before. Please be big-hearted and don’t hold it against me. Honestly, I’m not really helping my aunt go after you—I’m just stuck and couldn’t say no, you get it, right? Look, we came from the same town and both played esports. Helping each other out is only natural, right? How about this: I’ll handle your stepmother for you, and you help me get along with Lin Jiang, okay? I heard his connections in the industry are incredible. Even if I can’t join OT, could you help get me a shot to be on any main team? I’m sick of the training camp…”
Song Zhixu felt a little troubled, “No way, our team captain looks gentle, but actually he cuts off ties even with family.”
“Come on, ge, help me out here. Just help me make a connection, whether it works is on me, okay?”
“So you’re not checking my bank records anymore?”
“Not looking, not looking. I believe you. I’lI know what to tell my aunt later, don’t worry.”
Song Zhixu didn’t expect that the problem could be solved so easily, and his steps became relaxed.
Earlier, Lin Jiang had pulled him aside, quietly coaching him on what to say: “…Just say this to him later, got it?”
“Your stepmother is not an easy person, but she trusts this cousin completely. Having him speak for you simplifies things. She’s greedy, but this cousin of yours can be easily satisfied.”
All Cao Shenshan wanted was an opportunity, and Lin Jiang had plenty to spare. Whether he could seize it would be up to him.
Song Zhixu knew Lin Jiang had gone through all this trouble just to help him.
He watched Cao Shenshan, whose attitude had done a complete 180, and then glanced at Lin Jiang standing outside waiting for him. His emotions bounced like a roller coaster, soaring one moment and plummeting the next.
After seeing Cao Shenshan off, Lin Jiang stood not far away, smiling at him. Song Zhixu inexplicably felt shy and happily ran over.
His captain was truly a very, very good person.
But…
His steps gradually slowed.
If he were the only one stuck in the muck, he could have surrendered without a fight.
Yet if Lin Jiang got dragged into this because of him, Song Zhixu was determined to fight till the bitter end—no matter the cost.
Song Zhixu really didn’t want to drag Lin Jiang into his messy family issues. Hesitant, he approached with his head lowered like a child caught doing something wrong. “Captain, could you… not get involved in my affairs? You don’t know how relentless my family can be. I’m afraid they’ll cause trouble for you. I don’t want to burden you.”
Lin Jiang looked at him. “Why should I be afraid of them? And why should you be?”
Scratching his head, Song Zhixu replied, “It’s not exactly fear, it’s just…”
It feels like a mess you can’t get rid of—like something sticky that clings and won’t let go. He wasn’t sure if Lin Jiang could truly understand.
While everyone else kept their distance from his family, Lin Jiang was the only one willing to face the challenge head-on…
His eyes suddenly stung. He lowered his head further. “Captain, you don’t have to be so kind to me.”
Lin Jiang smiled softly. “I’m not doing anything special. I just want to teach you the courage to fight back—whether it’s on the battlefield or in life.”
That was true. Lin Jiang had always been like this.
When Song Zhixu was ridiculed by the entire internet, Lin Jiang didn’t defend him. Instead, through more than 300 solo battles, he taught him how to stand strong and be self-reliant on the battlefield.
When he finally proved himself with strength and received applause from the whole internet, he finally understood what kind of rare and precious thing Lin Jiang had given him.
The 188cm-tall man from the northeast nearly burst into tears right there on the street.
Lin Jiang stood taller than him. Lowering his head, Song Zhixu leaned against Lin Jiang’s chest like a child, voice choked with emotion.
A gentle hand settled on his head. It’s okay, it’s not that big of a deal. No more crying.”
Song Zhixu wiped his tears, clinging to his last shred of pride. “I’m not crying… I just got sand in my eyes…”
Lin Jiang laughed, not mocking him, but with a faintly doting smile.
It was the kind of feeling that could drown you.
After composing himself, the two headed back together.
Thinking it over, Song Zhixu felt a little embarrassed and tried to save face: “Captain, I usually don’t cry—only when I really can’t hold it in.”
Lin Jiang nodded in agreement, “I know, all the tears of this life have been cried in front of me.”
Realizing he was being teased, Song Zhixu punched his shoulder like a bashful bride. “Stop making fun of me.”
Lin Jiang chuckled and let the matter drop.
When they returned to the base, neither brought it up again, as if by unspoken agreement.
Duren asked Lin Jiang how things had gone, but Lin Jiang brushed it off with a simple, “It’s been taken care of.”
Song Zhixu felt genuinely grateful to Lin Jiang, and to repay him, he threw himself into even harder training.
Anyone could see Song Zhixu was in high spirits. A’Deng asked curiously, What’s the matter? Did you find a pot of gold?”
Song Zhixu huffed. “Am I really that shallow?”
Zhou Wen and A’Deng nodded seriously.
In their eyes, he absolutely was.
With Lin Jiang off in the office, Song Zhixu dove into practice, humming a cheerful tune.
Shen Ju stared at the screen, unable to settle his mind. Trying a different approach, he asked, “That guy’s your cousin?”
“Yeah, my cousin.”
“Why did he invite Lin Jiang?”
“To latch onto him, obviously.”
Shen Ju suddenly slammed his keyboard, his gaze turning cold, “Aren’t you going to stop him?”
“The captain’s got his own plans. Even if I wanted to stop him, I couldn’t. Don’t worry—he knows exactly what he’s doing.”
After he said this, Shen Ju almost didn’t pursue the matter, but suddenly, with a blush, added, “The captain is doing all this for me, so I have to work hard to repay him.”
Shen Ju nearly smashed his keyboard.
Song Zhixu was a fool who only knew how to cause trouble for others.
He can’t even handle his stepmother, and now he wants to drag Lin Jiang into this mess?
Back in the office, Lin Jiang was talking with Duren about Song Zhixu’s situation. Many esports players face conflicts between career and family which affects their mentality, so the team needs to be careful in this regard.
Issuing another card is only a temporary fix; a long-term solution is not easy.
Duren had already made up his mind. “If things really come to a head, don’t worry. I’ll help Song Zhixu get legal aid.”
Lin Jiang trusted Duren completely, finally feeling some relief. Just then, he noticed Li Qian watching Song Zhixu with a thoughtful expression.
Li Qian was well-known in the circle as a bit of a playboy, chasing both guys and girls. He’d gone through countless people around him but never really settled down.
Lin Jiang gave him a warning, “Don’t get any funny ideas—dating is strictly off-limits in the team.”
Li Qian leaned back against the desk with a laugh, “What are you thinking? That’s not what I meant. I just suddenly realized how resilient Song Zhixu is.”
“Do you know what he asked me when he came to see me alone that day?”
“What was it?”
“He asked me how far he was from being the kind of top laner I described — and if I could help him draw up a progress plan.” Li Qian still found it hard to believe. “My brutal honesty didn’t scare him off? Most people would have chickened out, but he actually dreamed big and faced it head-on…”
Lin Jiang could still hear Li Qian’s harsh words from that day, and even he thought they’d been excessive.
Li Qian’s words still echoed in Lin Jiang’s mind. Even he admitted they were a little harsh.
He really hadn’t expected Song Zhixu to take it seriously.
“Did you make the chart for him?”
“Nah, when would I have time for that?”
“Make one for him.”
Li Qian stared at Lin Jiang, “Are you serious?”
Lin Jiang calmly repeated, “Make it. You gave him your word.”
Li Qian suddenly laughed. You can truly live long enough to see everything. Not only does Lin Jiang enjoy his own delusions, but now he’s indulging others in theirs?
“Let me tell you straight, I don’t think Song Zhixu will ever pull it off in this lifetime.”
“Who cares if he can or cannot? Just make the damn chart for him.”
Li Qian might be known for being a flirt and a slacker, but when it came to work, he was all business. The very next day, he delivered the chart.
Looking at the comprehensive six-dimensional analysis, Song Zhixu immediately saw the gap between himself and top-tier players. “I’m really this far behind?”
Li Qian gave a dismissive snort. “Still not too late to give up, you know.”
But Song Zhixu carefully folded the chart and placed it on his workstation. “No. I’m going to make it happen.”
The numbers were brutally honest — right now, the only champion that met Li Qian’s standards was Ornn. If he could play every top lane champion as well as he played Ornn, he’d make it.
Now that he finally knew just how far he was from the finish line, all that was left was to put in the effort to cross it.
— — — —
