[full-time master] short story

Good days are to come - now Tao Xuan has more confidence than anyone else, knowing that this small trouble that others look down on is about to turn into a chicken that lays golden eggs.At the celebration banquet, he served a glass of drink, and solemnly said the toast:

You are fighting in the front, and I will be your backing in the back. Our Excellent Era will definitely get better and better!

Everyone applauded one after another, so this drink also had a bit of spirit, and he was slightly dizzy from the excitement.Under the dim light of the hotel private room, he was full of ambition, his eyes swept around and finally bumped into his captain.

In the past two years, Ye Xiu's stature has already expanded, and even his daily routine has become more regular. He is no longer the thin and delicate look he used to be, with a rare and sincere smile on his face, like a promise to him in his toast.

They will be the best combination.

Tao Xuan thought about it, went to clink glasses with him, and said that when he won the three consecutive championships, he should celebrate with champagne no matter what - even if you don't know how to drink.

How did Ye Xiu answer back then?

He couldn't remember.

In the third season, Excellent Era is also gaining momentum.The team that had been honed for two years seemed unstoppable at this moment. Although the other teams were getting stronger and stronger, they still couldn't overwhelm Excellent Era's brilliance.After the promotion of live TV broadcasts, the ensuing advertising revenue has also snowballed, not to mention large sponsorships and commercial activities.Tao Xuan hired a manager, further standardized the contract, and hired more professional technicians outside the online game department to write training programs and develop silver weapons, and told people to search for new people all over the world.He was very busy here, and the alliance was also brainstorming in every possible way. Finally, the "All-Star Weekend" event was launched. The online votes were buzzing, but Tao Xuan received a call from Jin Chengyi, asking if his ace could broadcast it Appearance?

"You know he's a bit stubborn." Tao Xuan wanted to brag in front of the chairman of the alliance, but he knew that Ye Xiu's matter was definitely not something he could just persuade. "Don't worry, I'll definitely talk to him about it."

"He is the No.1 in this year's All-Star voting. He might be the MVP for three consecutive times. He is not a crooked person. Why can't he be on TV? You can persuade him."

Jin Chengyi said something about the All-Star Weekend before hanging up the phone. Tao Xuan wandered around the office twice before going downstairs to find Ye Xiu.When Ye Xiu was dragged aside by him in the meeting room, his expression was quite innocent - even after hearing Tao Xuan's pain, he just said: "I understand, I will work hard to cooperate. I promise to join the team."

"Where are you on camera?"

"This is really not good."

Tao Xuan was choked back face to face, and his face was a bit ugly: "Now the times have changed. The old ways can't always work."

Ye Xiu smiled—it was a smile that Tao Xuan couldn't tell whether it was helplessness or sarcasm: "We are fighting for glory, and we don't judge victory or defeat based on this face."

Later, Tao Xuan always stubbornly remembered this moment, more or less like Mrs. Xianglin, he traced all the differences between him and Ye Xiu to this unpleasant conversation (even if they finally compromised); He was so stubborn that he wanted to use this brief conversation to prove Ye Xiu's stubbornness and foresight, to prove that he was the one who really saw the future of Excellent Era among the two, but he deliberately ignored the fact that shortly before the All-Star Weekend, He invited everyone to the home party that night because of the completion of the new house decoration.At that time, almost no one lived in the Shanglinyuan community. All the otaku had a lively meal first, and after throwing away the takeaway boxes all over the floor, they turned on the family karaoke system to entertain themselves.Tao Xuan felt that the atmosphere was extremely gentle and easy, so amidst Wu Xuefeng's ghostly crying and wolf howling singing, he caught a moment and said to Ye Xiu with all his heart: If you really have any difficulties, tell me, and I will help you find a solution.

Ye Xiu was silent for a moment.At that brief moment, Tao Xuan had the illusion that the other party was about to speak up, asking why he was so isolated from outsiders, or any other issues—as long as it was related to Ye Xiu himself, it would be part of the riddle that had always lingered on Captain Excellent Era. dawn.

But when Ye Xiu opened his mouth, he only talked about Mu Yuchengfeng.

He said that this account card was the Gunner account that Su Muqiu planned to bring to Excellent Era.

He said that Su Muqiu's younger sister (who you met) is already in our training camp.She can take on this account.

He said that after Old Wu retired this season, Excellent Era must establish a new tactical system.

The gap at that moment was too great.

Tao Xuan covered his impatience with a smile, but after hearing Ye Xiu's words, he finally couldn't help but interject: This account is a huge expense from weapons to silver equipment. —— Subtext: Why does Excellent Era pay so much for a newcomer?

Seeing his expression, Ye Xiu didn't seem to be surprised at all.

"I gave up my 50% ownership of One Autumn Leaf, and let Excellent Era buy out Dancing Rain directly. The skill points of this account are considered top-notch among the All-Stars, so you don't have to worry about losing out on this deal."

Tao Xuan's fingers gripping the cup couldn't help but use too much force.Finally, he hastily drained the beer from the bottom of the glass, swallowed the dull bitterness and the last bit of unexplained foam down his throat, and pressed it into the bottom of his heart, scribbling a little smile:

"If you want to, of course you can."

In fact, this transaction is not fair.Later, when Tao Xuan did everything possible to force Ye Xiu away, he would even be thankful for the deal that was made while the wine was hot, but he also knew that it was the first small tear torn on a piece of cloth: the first time, he was so face-to-face. Facing someone who can be called a friend, he overshadowed his conscience with the words "in business, talk about business".

After that, all kinds of things will never be taken back.

6.

Tao Xuan approached the training room almost holding his breath.There was still no one in the corridor, and it was as quiet as a trance dream, and the summer heat was still lingering in the season just after October.The air conditioner was not strong enough, and the shirt was covered with sweat on half of his back. He didn't know why he was so nervous.

The door of the training room happened to be half open, and only one overhead light was turned on in the room, and the curtains were still drawn. Therefore, when Tao Xuan walked into the dark room, no one noticed him. Instead, Liu Hao stood up across the room. With a smile on his face, he wanted to say something, but Tao Xuan stopped him with a wave of his hand.

That person was still sitting in front of the computer, concentrating on manipulating One Autumn Leaf to jump up and down, and finally got stuck at 0:00 to complete a whole set of training procedures.After the program was closed, he saw Tao Xuan's figure in the reflection of the screen, so he turned around.

"A rare customer." Ye Xiu said, took out a cigarette case from his pocket, twisted one and handed it to Tao Xuan.

He didn't say any nonsense about quitting smoking, and took the lead to walk outside-after all, the training room is still non-smoking.When the two reached the corridor, they closed the door behind their backs. Ye Xiu then took out a lighter from his pocket and lit a cigarette.

"how are things?"

Tao Xuan asked.

"It's okay." Ye Xiu replied, seeing Tao Xuan's appearance, he also handed him the lighter.

With a cigarette in his mouth, Tao Xuan pressed the [-] cents lighter, and it took him two or three times to light it up.The long-lost smell of tobacco rushed into his lungs instantly, and he wanted to cough, so he held it back.

"The ranking is not good recently. ——Are there any difficulties?"

When he asked this sentence, he already knew Ye Xiu's answer.Sure enough, the man swallowed and said, "No."

always like this.

Tao Xuan thought, and knew that he couldn't count on any other answer at this moment.With Ye Xiu being smart, he couldn't tell who was letting Excellent Era's predicament go, not to mention the fact that he had been in harmony with each other for many years.He looked at Ye Xiu, as if he wanted to see the traces of the boy from the past on his weather-stained face, and also as if he wanted to force out even 01:30 points through the city defense built by this man's sarcasm and stubbornness. distress.But he saw nothing.

Ideals, disagreements, principles, the future - all these high-sounding big words can't be put on the table; exclusion, calculation, slander, alienation - all these insidious means he is ashamed to admit.

In the end, he just stood here, knowing that everything has already come to an end, even if it seems to be maintained, it is impossible to get what he has never had before; even looking at Ye Xiu like this, the part of his heart called jealousy The evil beast couldn't help but swell up again.

Maybe he just wanted to prove that he was right and Ye Xiu was wrong.

Maybe at first, he just—

The accumulated soot finally fell down.He smiled to hide his panic, and said, "I'm just here to take a look. ——Go back."

Ye Xiu nodded, casually threw the cigarettes in the trash can, and turned around to go back.He just pushed the door half way, and Tao Xuan suddenly called:

"—Ye Qiu."

"how?"

Tao Xuan stood in the shadow of the corridor, looked at his old friends who had parted ways for three years, and finally said two words:

"Goodbye."

Ye Xiu seemed to be taken aback for a moment, then waved his hand and entered the door.

Tao Xuan stood there for a while, walked up the stairs step by step, and suddenly realized that they could only go this way in the end—unless they traced all the way back to the beginning, and from an online game, a person equipped with shiny skills but not equipped It started when the number of battle mages sent out friend invitations to celebrities in the whole district.

It's too late.

7.

On the day when he finally won the Triple Crown, Tao Xuan opened the champagne of a good vintage as promised.They were all professional players who didn't dare to pour too much, each poured a goblet deliberately, and after saying cheers, everyone drank it down in one gulp, getting a little bit drunk, talking and laughing louder and wantonly.Tao Xuan was so used to talking about business that he didn't care about this little alcohol. He was clearing his throat and trying to say something, when a weight suddenly came on his left shoulder - he was startled, and turned his head to find that Ye Xiu had already poured a glass.

For a moment, the table fell silent.Wu Xue