Chapter 15

Editor: Uncia, Sahloknir

Proofreader: DarkSapphire 

Wu Nan finally found a chance to speak with Lin Xizhou alone.

He had been mulling over whether or not to speak with Lin Xizhou all week. His parts in the drama were almost done, yet he had not befriended Lin Xizhou as planned.

This was not only due to Lin Xizhou’s assistants guarding him like fragile goods at all times but also because Lin Xizhou, as a young man who was about five years younger than him, had no interest in popular sports like basketball and soccer. Every time he tried to use a common popular topic to start a conversation, it always ended awkwardly within a few sentences.

Wu Nan leaned close to Lin Xizhou and saw the younger man was watching a livestream. 

Although he didn’t see the livestream clearly—Lin Xizhou had quickly locked his screen—his excitement remained. He finally found a common interest where he could expand their conversation!

He first showed a friendly and easy-going smile. “Xiao Zhou likes to watch livestreams during the break too?”

Lin Xizhou rolled his eyes internally. Why was this person at it again?

He responded casually, “Yes, it’s alright; sometimes a little boring. Good to pass the time.”

Wu Nan sat next to Lin Xizhou and tentatively chatted about the game. “What was Xiao Zhou watching? Was it PUBG?”

Lin Xizhou: …He must maintain his well-educated, good boy image. 

“Yes, but I don’t play much.” He smiled.

Wu Nan secretly applauded himself. He was finally able to seize an opportunity. “We can play together. I’ll carry you!” 

Carry your mother. When this great one mastered recoil, you were still at who-knows-where getting your plastic surgery. Lin Xizhou was very irritated, but he couldn’t show it. Instead, he continued smiling. His face almost looked identical to the smiling emoji on WeChat.

Wu Nan continued relentlessly. “How about League? Did you play that? Did you watch the recent finals? BLK won the championship!”

Naturally, Lin Xizhou showed a perfect ‘happy’ expression. “Of course I watched it. People in my studio watched it together. Everyone was very excited.”

We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.

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“Have you watched North God’s recent livestream?” He sighed. “It’s hard to live off just livestreaming in our country. But North God’s popularity is really high, and his fans are really rich as well. That one fan, Pineapple Bun I believe, became very well-known. Before, I saw people posting Moments of his donations. I was completely speechless.” Wu Nan talked to himself and failed to see Lin Xizhou’s increasingly embarrassed face.

Most of his peers played the game as well, so for a period, Lin Xizhou’s Moments were also filled with posts and reposts of a picture with [Repost this Pineapple Bun and someone will give you half a million]. He got goosebumps every time he saw the post. 

Now he was hearing it first hand from Wu Nan, who was still not dropping the topic!

Lin Xizhou was already losing his patience, but now it was like he was sitting on pins and needles.

For fear of hearing more embarrassing things about himself from Wu Nan, he quickly left Wu Nan’s side under the pretext of using the restroom.

The set was bustling with activity as the staff were busy setting up the next scene. 

Before Lin Xizhou reached the restroom, his phone rang—a call from his mother.

The Lin family was a family of performing arts: his grandfather was a well-known stage play artist, his mother was a soprano singer, and his father also acted in several films in the early years and later moved to work behind the scenes.

Although Lin Xizhou’s mother performed less now, she was still very active in her social circle. Today, she was relaxing on the beach, but tomorrow she had a small drinking party and mahjong the day after. In short, she was one hundred times busier than her son.

Why did she have the free time to call him? 

He answered the phone suspiciously and heard his mother’s graceful voice on the other side.

“My Little Porridge, what are you doing right now?”

The hair on his neck stood up inexplicably as he replied, “With the drama crew.”

“Let mom ask you something. What was that game you played—oh, what was it called? League something?” 

He tentatively replied, “League of Legends?”

“Oh yes, that’s the name of the game. Didn’t you throw a tantrum because of that game several years back?”

…Lin Xizhou was very confused. Why was she digging up this memory from eight hundred years ago?

“Yes, why?” 

“Ah! Mom met an aunt today, and she told me that her son played this game and also won the World Championship! He won glory for the country! Isn’t that amazing? I thought that if I had let you play this game back then, you might have brought back the World Championship too.”

Her tone was filled with slight regret. “Why didn’t you continue to insist back then!”

She sighed exaggeratedly.

Lin Xizhou: “…??” 

Has the world changed so quickly?

He knew his mother liked to chat with others about their children’s successes because, among his peers, he received the most prizes and had great living standards. That meant that wherever she went, she could show her son off successfully. He assumed she lost to another parent’s glory when showing off—after all, the kid was a world champion…

Wait? A world champion? Wouldn’t that be a member of BLK?

He gulped. Before he could ask, he heard his mother’s voice again. “That Xiao Ji is so excellent! Do you know Uncle Ji? He was my elementary school classmate—I don’t think you know him that well. He saw you when you were very young. Mom hasn’t contacted him for a long time as well. This Xiao Ji won two world championships, and he is only twenty years old—only a year older than you!” 

“They came to B City to see Xiao Ji and came to the class reunion while here. Oh, they are so blessed. Uncle Ji does scientific research, so it’s rare for him to take a vacation. Mom just learned today that playing this game brings honour to the country! It’s a pity that you’re currently filming. Otherwise, I would have introduced you to Xiao Ji. Mrs. Ji showed me his photo. He is tall and handsome—very handsome.”

Mother, hold on a moment. 

I’ll book a flight back right this instant.

“Let’s stop here. Your aunt and I are going to play cards. She has opened a few cafes and the cakes are delicious. Mom plans to learn baking from her. We’ll have dinner when you are done filming and back for New Year.” 

She hung up on her son, who was in a daze.

The stage supervisor reminded Lin Xizhou, “Mr. Lin, we are about to start filming.”

Lin Xizhou nodded, turned, and walked back to the newly built shack.

Wu Nan patted him on the shoulder. “Xiao Zhou, I haven’t finished chatting with you yet. Which server are you on? Let’s play together sometime.” 

Internally, Lin Xizhou laughed wildly with his arms on his hips. He thought happily: No need. Someone else will be playing together with me soon.

That someone—the son of Uncle Ji, Mother Lin’s elementary school classmate—also won the World Championship.

He smiled and asked, “I haven’t played for a long time. What’s your rank?”

Wu Nan felt like he heard a faint horn of success. “My highest rank is Diamond I, but I haven’t played my placement matches for this season.” 

Lin Xizhou simply couldn’t restrain his joy—my future gaming partner is the damn world champion!

He found that he had spent so much money on the stream and time invading Ji Beiling’s ranked game when it was actually better to connect through his mom.

He took out his phone, clicked on his mother’s WeChat portrait, and sent out: [Mom, I love you very much.]

Mother Lin replied: [It was nothing. Mom is very open-minded and will be very supportive of you playing games! You better bring back the World Championship for me.] 

…

Lin Xizhou locked his phone in embarrassment. Whatever. Leave that task to Xiao Ji.

The real Custard Cream Pineapple Bun has something to say:

Mother Lin: Xiao Ji, please take care of our Little Porridge. He has never seen the world, such an ignorant child. 

…A few months later.

Ji Beiling: Hello, mother-in-law.

Mother Lin: ???