The Whole World Thinks I’m a Woman Disguised as a Man - Chapter 43-1

The training camp finals arrived on schedule —

It had to be said, Deng Ruiqiu’s team’s withdrawal made what was supposed to be the highlight of the finals unexpectedly much easier to swallow. Xue Lan’s group, as expected, went to the finals, and Su Yiyu performed exceptionally spectacularly because of the favorable games and self-discipline in recent days.

But a significant event happened in the esports circle on match day.

A media outlet had reported that LGW’s leader Wind’s old wrist injury hadn’t recovered. There was a relapse and there was a plan to retire, and he took on a new role as the special coach of the training camp to find his “successor.”

The moment this came out, not only half of the esports forum, it even broke the Internet’s popular search query.

Most people didn’t believe this absurd piece of news and indignantly rebuked the rumormonger, and kept @-ing LGW studio requesting them to respond to it as soon as possible to stop it from spreading.

On this day at the training camp finals, all the LGW members that were at the center of the attention didn’t arrive.

“Lan Lan! Lan Lan!!”

Su Yiyu rushed up to Xue Lan. “A new team asked me if I wanted to sign with them! They also asked Weiran — Weiran and I might be teammates!”

As he neared Xue Lan, did he realize the normally mild and gentle Xue Lan was looking outside the training camp as if something was weighing on his mind.

“Lan Lan, are you okay?”

“I’m fine.” Xue Lan stopped looking around. He smiled at him and said, “Your performance was amazing earlier. When you’re free we can practice solo together.”

After he heard that, Su Yiyu choked and awkwardly smiled. “W-We don’t need to do that. We can just play in a duo!”

Regret briefly passed Xue Lan’s face. “Actually I’d like to play solo with you.”

“… I will diligently keep practicing and overcome my nervousness!” Su Yiyu then quickly changed the subject. “But Lan Lan, which team are you planning to join?”

Xue Lan smiled but didn’t answer.

“I thought… you’d go to the Thunder Team. After all, they are the only team that is lacking an assaulter. But their team is a little…” Su Yiyu let out a sigh. “How about the Glory Team?”

“I’ve never thought of joining the Thunder Team.” Xue Lan shook his head. “Glory Team is good, but it doesn’t suit me.”

“But no other teams are recruiting an assaulter. You’re not withdrawing from becoming a professional player, right?” Su Yiyu said anxiously. “Why don’t you also come to Phantom Team? Even if it’s a new team, they’re not bad. If you come, I can go to the second team!”

Xue Lan didn’t expect Su Yiyu to say such things. He stared at Su Yiyu’s genuine expression. Smiling with curved eyes, he said, “What second team? You play very well. We have to see each other in future matches!”

Knowing now that Xue Lan didn’t have the thought of giving up playing professionally, Su Yiyu breathed out a sigh of relief. “Then which team do you plan to go to?”

The two were talking when they saw Manager Ke and Manager Huo of the Thunder Team call Duan Wenzheng and Qi Siyu to go to a small lounge room on one side. Seeing this, Xue Lan quietly followed.

“This is Manager Huo of the Thunder Team.” In the lounge room, Manager Ke was full of smiles. “He sees you two in a good light and the Thunder Team needs elites such as you. Oh, I don’t think I have to introduce the Thunder Team to you. This is the contract…”

Duan Wenzheng, sitting in front of the two managers, interrupted them with a sigh. “An introduction would be nice. I’ve never heard of this team.”

“…”

His words made the smile on Manager Ke’s face numb, and beside him, Huo Ran’s expression turned pitch black.

Qi Siyu was taken aback as Duan Wenzheng decided not to let Manager Ke and Huo Ran save face. He smiled as he quickly corrected, “Reset likes to joke. He means Manager Huo is such an important figure, so he ought to be introduced.”

Duan Wenzheng didn’t bother to comment on Qi Siyu’s words. Manager Ke also quickly followed his words and introduced, “The Thunder Team is today’s popular championship candidate among the teams. In global matches, they have represented our country many times with excellent results. The team also prides itself on having the strongest coaching staff among the top teams in the country. Once you join, not only can you enjoy a high-quality training environment, but the signing cost is also…”

As Manager Ke said this, he smiled as he pushed two copies of the contract toward the two of them.

Qi Siyu scanned the contents and raised his head in utter surprise.

Manager Ke’s smile deepened upon seeing his expression. He tapped the surface of the table with satisfaction. “This is triple the normal price in the market. There are no other teams that pay better than this.”

“Not bad indeed.” Duan Wenzheng had a smile on his face.

Hearing his response, Manager Ke responded with more pride, “So we’re signing the contract?”

“However, we have already promised Team LGW to look at their contract today.”

“LGW?” Manager Ke’s expression turned grim as he urged, “Are you not aware of the news this morning? I’m afraid Wind’s wrist injury cannot be braced for long. LGW without Wind… can it still be even called LGW?”

“But how can I know if the rumors are true?”

“There’s usually some truth behind a rumor…”

“Then I’ll wait for LGW’s official explanation before deciding.”

“Uh…” Manager Ke clenched his teeth tightly. “You have to know, there are so many players who want to play professionally as well as outstanding ones. If you miss this opportunity…”

“Then hopefully Manager Huo will be able to find better players than us.”

Manager Ke choked on his words and he did not know what else he should say.

Huo Ran, who had remained silent on the side, opened his mouth. “Four times.”

Qi Siyu incredulously widened his eyes. Manager Ke froze but soon gritted his teeth and supported Huo Ran’s words.

Duan Wenzheng observed Manager Ke’s expression and raised his eyebrows. His tone slowed down unexpectedly, showing a rare struggle as he said, “It’s not that we’re not considering it, but… since we’ve promised LGW…”

“Five times.”

Manager Ke’s expression immediately turned ugly. He advised in a low voice, “Uh… Manager Huo, you don’t have to waste so much money. No matter how outstanding a player is, you don’t have to make the price five times more…”

“Waste?” Duan Wenzheng sneered. “Why is that in Manager Ke’s eyes, spending money on us, the budding stars of the esports future, is considered wasteful?”

Manager Ke choked from his words and he didn’t say anything for a long while. As his expression looked from bad to worse, it looked like he wanted to reprimand Duan Wenzheng to not to misinterpret his words, when he heard Duan Wenzheng continue.

“Or… does this mean you and Manager Huo have reached a certain agreement? That after reaching five times the standard signing price, you will take the remaining money?”

“You?!” Manager Ke immediately raged. “Nonsense!”

“What? Just because I guessed correctly… you got angry?”

“You?!” Manager Ke shot up. “I’m thinking about your future. Why are you accusing me like this? You’re really making me disappointed!”