The next day.
Morning.
The RNG team boarded the high-speed train to Incheon in a grand manner.
The business class was very spacious.
Xiangguo and Jiang Chen sat in a row.
Jiang Chen looked out the window, white clouds hung low, the wheat fields were golden, and the fruits were plentiful.
The railway was lined with low shrubs and solitary wildflowers.
Swiftly flying backwards.
…
Xiangguo shifted his butt in his seat.
Leaning closer to Jiang Chen.
He asked, "Lao Jiang, if we actually win the S-Series championship this year, what do you want to do?"
Jiang Chen's thoughts were pulled back.
The lazy look in his eyes disappeared.
After thinking carefully for two seconds, he said, "I want to stand under the spotlight and tell everyone that esports, just like sports events, are worthy of respect and recognition."
"And then?"
"Then I want to win another S-Series championship and say this again."
"What about you?" Jiang Chen asked back after finishing.
"Me?" Xiangguo pointed at himself and leaned back forcefully against the chair.
"Depends on my condition! If my condition is good, I'll play for another year, if not, I'll find a time to announce my retirement and become a streamer."
Jiang Chen was stunned for a second, his throat moved, but the words were already in his mouth.
He uttered them, but the meaning was completely changed: "That's good too, retiring at your peak is a sign of great wisdom."
…
They got off the high-speed train.
RNG's manager had already booked the hotel.
Jiang Chen walked into the room.
Just as he was putting his luggage on the luggage rack.
Little Dog and Little Tiger walked in arm in arm.
Little Tiger's smile was mischievous, his eyes were almost laughing out of his face.
He looked at Jiang Chen and said: "Jiang Chen, your luggage is settled, let's go grab some food together, to celebrate winning the BO5. After we get back to Beijing, we'll have a celebration feast for you."
"Sounds good, I'm actually a little hungry."
"Let's go, let's go..."
The group got off the elevator and arrived at the hotel entrance.
Heart, the team manager, Xiao Ming, Yan Junze, Xiangguo, and Karsa were standing together chatting.
Yan Junze's face was still a little pale.
Seeing Jiang Chen.
He walked straight up to Jiang Chen and said: "Thank you, if we had lost the fifth game against G2 because of my physical condition, I would have been miserable for the rest of my life."
Jiang Chen patted Junze casually on the shoulder: "Don't worry! You can start thinking about which champion skin you want for S8 now!"
Yan Junze was stunned at first, then burst into laughter.
…
At the dinner table.
Heart raised his wine glass and said with a chuckle: "Jiang Chen, you drink tea, I'll drink wine, let's have one."
He knew in his heart that if it wasn't for Jiang Chen turning the tide, they would have flown back to Beijing directly after the game last night, and there wouldn't have been a chance to come to Incheon?
Besides, he knew RNG fans too well.
They praise you relentlessly when you win.
It wouldn't even be an exaggeration to say it's "praise killing".
If you lose.
Then it's just mindless negativity.
They'll black you out until you don't even recognize your own mother.
Of course, other clubs were also working hard in secret, but Heart didn't know exactly what role they played.
Jiang Chen wasn't a clueless hothead: "How can that be, I should be the one toasting the coach."
He said, finishing the tea in front of him in one gulp, and even showed the bottom of the cup. If you didn't know better, you'd think he was a heavy drinker.
After finishing, he filled the cup with water again.
He stood up, his eyes sweeping around the room, and said: "We were able to win the last game against G2 thanks to everyone's teamwork. I don't dare take credit, come on, let's all have one together, for our future, for the first LPL world champion."
Even though he said that.
But everyone in RNG, from players to coaches, knew deep down.
In that game, Jiang Chen was the only "true god", single-handedly shredding the opposing team.
Later, he descended from the heavens and fought five against one.
His voice was still echoing in the hall, the team manager and the other RNG members all stood up from their chairs with smiles.
Raising the cups in front of them.
They all said in unison: "Let's have one with tea instead of wine."
Professional players can't drink alcohol.
Alcohol can damage nerve cells.
Leading to a decline in reaction time.
…
The tea was warm on the tongue, with a slightly bitter taste.
Xiangguo watched Jiang Chen sitting next to Jiao Liang, talking eloquently and full of ambition.
He felt envious too.
But to say he was jealous, there was not even a trace of it.
He understood in his heart that Jiang Chen was going to become the second pillar of RNG!
The first pillar was Uzi.
The coaching team would now revolve around Jiang Chen and Uzi to develop tactics, and resources would also be tilted towards them.
Head coach Heart was not a heavy drinker.
After only two ounces of white wine.
His head was already a little woozy.
He talked about his grand ambitions.
"What, to bring the S-Series trophy back to Beijing from Seoul."
"What, to take down IG's Linglong Tower."
He fell asleep in a daze, leaning back in his chair…
Jiang Chen took a bite of food, looked at Little Dog, and said: "The coach has been under a lot of pressure lately, it's good to let loose like this."
"No way, everyone is watching RNG," Little Dog also looked a little tired.
"Yeah! It all comes down to how we do against IG."
The two of them looked into the distance together.
They seemed to see the lively scene in the Incheon Stadium.
At this moment, Jiang Chen finally felt completely integrated into the RNG family.