translator: Oyen editor: Ciel
Qin Mo had made a mental note when Ling Xuefeng mentioned Li Muran’s background at dinner. After returning to the hotel, he asked Xiao Han how much he knew. In the end, Xiao Han shook his head, expressing that he didn’t know either.
The Dragon Song club had an employee specifically in charge of training the newcomers. Back when Xiao Han was the captain, he rarely visited the training camp, and hadn’t even heard the name ‘Li Muran’. However, he was somewhat familiar with Pei Yu and He Beiguang. If Qin Mo hadn’t gone to select the players from Dragon Song’s newcomers and signed Li Muran onto the Mojue team, perhaps Li Muran would have remained silent and invisible.
Nothing could be gleaned from Xiao Han, so Qin Mo could only go back to check.
The next morning, as soon as he returned to the club, Qin Mo went to the manager’s office to find Liu Chuan. Unfortunately, the office door was locked. Liu Chuan was also not around. Qin MO could only look for Wu Zewen in the next office, only to learn that Liu Chuan happened to be away on a business trip.
Seeing Qin Mo’s serious expression, Wu Zewen couldn’t help asking. “Why are you looking for Liu Chuan? Is there anything I can do to help?”
Qin Mo didn’t conceal his intentions. “I wish to check the background information of a few newcomers on the team.”
Stunned, Wu Zewen adjusted his glasses. “Why newcomer is causing trouble outside?”
“It’s not like that.” Qin Mo explained, “I just want to know more about them.”
Wu Zewen nodded. “I have the files of all Dragon Song club’s players on my computer. I’ll pull them up for you.”
Very quickly, he had several documents open on his computer to show Qin Mo.
Pei Yu and He Beiguang were both southerners, and their hometown was very close to Changsha. At first, they were sent by their parents to Dragon Song club for an interview. Both of their families were also very similar; their parents were members of the working class, but were open-minded and understood esports. Aware that their sons showed talent in this area, they sent Pei Yu and He Beiguang to Dragon Song club for an interview. They stayed in Dragon Song after, and were brought to the new project by Xiao Han. After that, they were selected by Qin Mo to join Mojue.
Judging from the information, there was nothing wrong with Xiao He and Xiao Pei’s background.
Naturally, Qin Mo knew Shen He’s background very well. His father opened a ‘Little Fish Internet Cafe’ in Nanjing. Since his cousin Yu Xiangyang used to be an esports player, his family did not object to him participating in esports. Although he went to several major clubs in the early stage and was repeatedly rejected during the interview, he never gave up. Later, he met Qin Mo by chance and became Qin Mo’s personal apprentice.
Qin Mo quickly glanced through the files of the three people, before closing the documents and opening Li Muran’s file.
He noticed that in the family column, Li Muran’s file only listed his mother and brother, and there was no information about his father.
Li Muran’s younger brother’s name was Li Yueran. Qin Mo remembered this name; the both of them had been brought to the new project by Xiao Han at that time, and their IDs were ‘Silent’ and ‘Soundless’ respectively. As fraternal twins, they didn’t look very alike, and even their personalities were different. The elder brother, Li Muran, was a silent and melancholic character, while the younger brother, Li Yueran, had a sunny and cheerful personality.
When he first arrived at Dragon Song, Qin Mo had already guessed that they were twins. Originally, he had planned on keeping both brothers in Mojue. Unfortunately, Li Yueran’s fear of heights was too serious, and he didn’t dare move between pumices on the Sword Altar dungeon. He simply could not adapt to the 3D visuals of Peerless Jianghu. Li Yueran also wisely took the initiative to withdraw from the team selection for the Peerless Jianghu project.
Thinking of this, Qin Mo couldn’t help asking. “Li Muran also has a twin brother named Li Yueran. After I came to Dragon Song, I found that he had a serious fear of heights. He took the initiative to withdraw from Peerless Jianghu project’s selection and went to the Wulin team… Do you know anything about him?”
Hearing this, Wu Zewen immediately looked up Li Yueran’s file in the database, and replied. “I don’t know these two brothers very well, but I’ve heard people say that although they are twins, they don’t look alike and their personalities are very different. Li Yueran has just made his debut this season, and according to the Wulin side’s captain, his performance is not bad.”
At this point, Wu Zewen found Li Yueran’s file and opened it to show Qin Mo. “You suddenly asked about the brothers, is something wrong?”
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.
Qin Mo quickly scanned Li Yueran’s file. His had more details under the column for family member profiles. His father was deceased, and his mother □□ was the manager of an investment group in Shenzhen. Their current home address was also listed.
Ol Zegjc tjvc’a oliifv bea tlr wbatfg’r vfajlir lc tlr olif, jcv bcis ilrafv tfg mbcajma lcobgwjalbc.
Jbwqjglcu atf akb ygbatfgr’ olifr, Hlc Zb jrxfv. “Gbfr atf miey lcnfralujaf atf qijsfgr’ ojwlis yjmxugbecv?”
Qe Ifkfc cbvvfv. “Tfr, lc bgvfg ab qgfnfca lucbgjca mtlivgfc ogbw rcfjxlcu jgbecv ab qijs ujwfr klatbea atflg ojwlilfr’ mbcrfca, atf miey vfmlvfv ab ufa lc abemt klat atflg ojwlilfr yfobgf jvwlaalcu atfw. Ol Zegjc jcv Ol Tefgjc’r tbwfabkc lr lc Vtfchtfc. Ole Jtejc rfca rbwfbcf ab nlrla atflg tbwf. Ktflg wbatfg xcfk atja tfg rbcr mjwf ab Ggjubc Vbcu ab yf frqbgar qijsfgr, jcv rtf vlv cba bypfma.”
“En… Maybe I’m thinking too much.” Qin Mo closed the document and replied to Wu Zewen, “Thank you for your help.”
“You’re welcome.” Wu Zewen replied. “Call me again if you need anything.”
***
Back in the dormitory, Xiao Han was eating fruit on the sofa. Seeing Qin Mo return, he took the initiative to spear a piece of pineapple with a toothpick, and handed it to him. “Where have you been? As soon as you came back, you immediately ran off.”
“I visited Wu Zewen for some information.” Qin Mo sat down next to Xiao Han, accepting the slice of pineapple. “Zewen showed me the files of the twin brothers, Li Muran and Li Yueran. Their father has passed away, and their mother is a manager of an investment group.”
“No wonder. Muran sent a few hundred yuan to Shen He every time he finished the game, indicating that his family is fairly well-off. I’m not too surprised.” Here, Xiao Han paused. “Why? Do you suspect something is wrong with his family situation?”
“I have a strange feeling that Muran’s father may not have simply passed away,” Qin Mo frowned. “He doesn’t seem to want to mention his father. The man’s name is not written on his file, but his brother Li Yueran’s file shows his father’s name and the time of his death… It was about ten years ago.”
“Ten years ago? Muran should have been about eight years old then.” Touching his chin, Xiao Han suggested. “If you have doubts, why don’t I ask someone to check his father?”
“Can you?” Qin Mo looked doubtfully at Xiao Han. “You don’t know anyone in Shenzhen, do you?”
“I know an uncle who works as a private detective,” Xiao Han replied frankly.
“Oh? No wonder you were able to find out the truth about my retirement so quickly. ” Qin Mo replied lightly.
“…” Sensing that he had slipped up, Xiao Han hurriedly explained himself. “I was just eager to know the reason for your retirement. I asked you, but you refused to tell me. I really couldn’t help it, so I asked that uncle to help check your case records. I didn’t mean to. Don’t be angry…”
Faced with his sincere gaze, Qin Mo couldn’t keep up his stern attitude, and simply sighed. “I’m not angry. Moreover, I hid it from you first, and it is normal for you to investigate.”
“As long as you don’t mind.” Xiao Han slung an arm around Qin Mo’s shoulder. “Do you want me to ask that uncle to check Muran’s father?”
After thinking about it, Qin Mo shook his head. “Forget it. It is not good to investigate his personal matters privately, and if Muran finds out, it may be self-defeated. Muran is a loner, and people of that nature tend to be sensitive. Once his reverse scale is touched, it will be difficult to rebuild a relationship.”
“It’s still you who considers things more carefully,” Xiao Han nodded in agreement.
“As long as it does not affect him in taking over the captaincy, I’m not interested in his family background,” Qin Mo explained. “However, for master to suddenly mention this, it is certainly not without reason. How about… let’s leave this matter to Shen He. We’ll let Xiao He find a way to talk to him.”
Xia Han was stunned. “You believe Shen He can handle it well?”
“The results of us stepping in and Shen He stepping in will definitely be different,” Qin Mo replied. “Shen He and Li Muran are good friends. They will not feel pressured chatting with each other, and they might even talk about certain ** topics. However, to Muran, we are his senior and master respectively. If we investigate him in private, Li Muran will feel that he is not respected or trusted. It’s just in school, when the head teacher complains about you to your parents behind your back- you’d feel very uncomfortable.”
Smiling, Xiao Han nodded. “I can understand. Once, I made a mistake in school, and the teacher complained to my parents in private. After returning home, I was beaten by my father. At that time, I felt like I had been betrayed by the whole world, and almost ran away from home.”
“…” Qin Mo couldn’t imagine such a scene. “Were you really that extreme when you were a kid?”
“En,” Xiao Han smiled. “When I was seventeen years old, I was in a rebellious period and went against my dad on purpose everywhere. Furthermore, I played an assassin in the game, killing people left and right, and coincidentally met master in the game. It was master who brought me back to China and taught me well. Furthermore, I met you after coming back, and in the end, I ended up how I am now.”
“…” Qin Mo didn’t respond. Thinking of his younger self, proud and arrogant, his degree of chuunibyou had been as extreme as Xiao Han’s urge to run away from home. If it weren’t for his master’s teachings, he might have become an irresponsible person.
For both him and Xiao Han, meeting a good master was the luckiest thing that happened to them in their youth.
Qin Mo hoped that he could also be a good master, so that Muran and Shen He could become truly first-class esports players, both in terms of skill and mentality.
Qin Mo had long been aware that Li Muran had some psychological issues. Muran paid no attention to the topics discussed by his peers, and only chatted with Qin Mo. On one hand, Muran was calm and stable for his age, but on the other hand, it was difficult for him to be a good captain because he did not communicate or care about the team members. Such a captain was doomed to be isolated, and under his hands, Mojue would definitely lose its warmth, and become a machine-like team that only focused on competition excellence.
Thinking of this, Qin Mo sent a message to Shen He, asking him to come over.
Soon, Shen He knocked on the door. Scratching his head, he beamed at Qin Mo. “Master, why are you looking for me?”
“En,” Qin Mo replied, “I’m giving you a task.”
Shen He’s eyes immediately lit up. “Will you give me homework? What task is it?”
“Do you have a good relationship with Li Muran?” Qin Mo asked. “In the future, pay more attention to him. Try to understand him, get him to put down his guard and talk to him about some personal topics, such as his family background and his expectations for the future, so that he will slowly open up.”
Shen He looked dazed. “This… what kind of task is this?”
“I’m asking you to enlighten Li Muran, and not to let him study tactics all day long,” qin Mo explained. “Tactics require cooperation between teammates. He should communicate with everyone a little more.”
“You have a close relationship with Muran,” Xiao Han added. “It’s not convenient for us to talk to him about many things. Besides, it wouldn’t hurt for you to know more about him.”
“Oh,” Shen He replied blankly, after which Qin Mo prompted him to leave. “En, there’s nothing else. You may go.”
Leaving his master’s dormitory, Shen He scratched his head in doubt, wondering how he had suddenly become his master’s messenger in approaching Li Muran.
Why did he feel like… he had just been sold by his master?
***
By the time Shen He returned to the dormitory, Li Muran was washing the clothes. Shen He immediately darted over. “Brother Ran, I’ll help you with the washing!” he suggested.
“Alright.” Li Muran paused, before listing out instructions. “Choose smart washing, set the timer for 30 minutes, remember to add laundry detergent.” Saying this, he went to the kitchen to wash a plate of fruit. Just as Li Muran was about to cut them, Shen He ran over once again. “Brother Ran, let me cut it for you!”
Knowing that Shen He was hyperactive, Li Muran paid it no heed. Handing him the fruit knife, he instead went to clean the refrigerator.
As a result, Shen He quickly cut the fruit and ran to his side again. “I’ll help you wipe it!”
Li Muran: “…”
After a moment of silence, Li Muran set down the rag. Glancing at Shen He, he asked, “Just what are you planning?”
Shen He seldom did housework in the dormitory. He often forgot to buy shampoo or toothpaste, and forgot to put the fruits in the refrigerator after buying it, causing them to spoil—— Shen He had always been a careless person. Did his personality suddenly change today?
For him to actively wash clothes, cut fruits, and clean the refrigerator all of sudden, what was wrong with him?
Faced with Li Muran’s puzzled gaze, Shen He blushed. “Hehe, I want to get closer to you… coughs, for our relationship.”
“Closer relationship?” Gazing into Shen He’s bright eyes, Li Muran’s heart was a little moved. “What relationship do you want to have?”
“I’m just an ordinary friend right now,” Shen He replied seriously. “I want to become a bosom friend, one that can talk about everything with you.”
Li Muran: “…”
He had overestimated Shen He. To think that he thought Shen He would say something a little more creative.
Seeing Li Muran’s expressionless face, Shen He asked nervously, “Is it too sudden? I just think that there’s still some barrier between us. We haven’t reached the point where we can talk about everything, and we can’t be counted as particularly good friends.”
“What do you want to talk about?” Li Muran asked lightly.
“True friends share each other’s secrets.” Shen He instantly brightened up. “Why don’t I tell you mine first? My biggest secret is that I once had a crush on a beautiful sister in a neighbor’s house. She was more than ten years older than me. When I was eight years old, I always told her that I must marry her when I grow up. As a result, by the time I grew up, her son was already old enough to buy soy sauce.”
“She is over ten years older than you? Do you lack maternal love?” Li Muran was speechless.
Shen He blushed. “Don’t be so direct, okay? There is a goddess in every teenager’s heart. She is the goddess of my childhood.” Pausing, Shen He asked curiously, “What’s your secret? Or do you have some sort of black history?”
Li Muran was silent for a few moments. “There’s none.”
“I don’t believe it!” Shen He vehemently disagreed.
A complex emotion flashed in Li Muran’s eyes, but he calmed down quickly. “There really isn’t anything.”
Seeing Li Muran turning away stiffly, Shen He scratched his head in confusion. It was clear that Li Muran did not completely trust him, but Shen He believed that Li Muran’s rejection of him was gradually lessening, and that one day, they would become friends that could talk about everything with each other, just like their masters.
[ Why did he feel like… he had just been sold by his master? ]
He really sold you out lol 😂
I’m now even more curious about Li Muran‘s background! I want to know! What exactly happened with his father? 😟
Thank you for the chapter~~! ❤️❤️❤️
That’s right, his master sold him to Li Muran 😏
wait for the next chapter~
You’re welcome~ ❤
Ohhh, we already get to know in the next chapter?（๑✧∀✧๑）
“His father opened a ‘Little Fish Internet Cafe’ in Nanjing.”
I think it should be his “cousin” ???
Also, thanks for the update Oyen! Thanking Ciel as well for the editing 😊
If I’m not wrong, Little Fish Cafe is opened by Shen He’s father and his cousin Yu Xiangyang.
You’re welcome~~ ❤
Ohhh… I see… 😊😊😊
Thank you!
one day, they would become friends that could talk about everything with each other, just like their masters.*
Shen He unknowingly locking in being a CP with Li Muran… 😂
lol, he doesn’t know 👀
just like their masters and grandmasters, both become CP🤭
To think that he thought Shen He would say something a little more creative
so wanting to be a bosom friend wasn’t creative? maybe being lovers will do?? 😂😂