Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
By the time Qiao Lian rushed out, Ancestor White Bones’ cheeks were already badly swollen from the beating.
But she clenched her teeth, refusing to say a word.
The big screen outside the competition venue had a projection delay of about two minutes.
Hence when Qiao Lian walked out, the big screen was showing that CQ Team had clinched the champion title.
Ancestor White Bones was stunned.
Immediately, she broke into a grin.
They won.
Their team won.
Ancestor White Bones suddenly released her grip on the stone sculpture.
Her mother was not prepared for this situation and was stunned too.
Ancestor White Bones stood upright and suddenly jumped up with joy. “Mom, our team won!”
Her mother so surprised she was speechless.
Ancestor White Bones laughed with tears streaming down her cheeks. “They won. They no longer need me…”
After saying this, she dried her eyes against her sleeve. “Mom, I’ll come home with you.”
Her mother smiled when she heard this. “That’s right! You’re ruining your own future. Don’t blame your mother for being harsh with you. What can you gain from gaming? What future is there? Come home with me and after you’ve made some money for your brother’s wedding, I’ll find you a rich—”
She grabbed Ancestor White Bones’ arm and was about to lead her into the car.
Qiao Lian called out, “White Bones.”
Ancestor White Bones halted and turned around sharply. As she looked at Qiao Lian, she smiled and said, “Coach, we’ve won.”
Qiao Lian’s eyes turned red and stinging. She nodded. “Yes, we’ve won.”
Ancestor White Bones laughed.
Qiao Lian drew in a deep breath.
She understood Ancestor White Bones’ family situation.
She wanted to intervene, but Ancestor White Bones’ mother was right in one thing.
There was no future in gaming.
Because the golden period for a gamer was before one turned 25.
After one turned 25, one’s reflexes and ability to react would not be as strong as before.
And they had established the club not for survival, but for dreams and aspirations.
She could not expect Ancestor White Bones to give up five years of her youth just to chase a dream.
Everyone had their own choices to make in life.
She looked at Ancestor White Bones and finally said, “CQ Team will always need you.”
Ancestor White Bones froze and bit her lip.
She nodded to show she understood. She then quickly turned away and looked down, drying her tears.
She suddenly turned around and looked at Qiao Lian again. “Coach, I’ll be back! Wait for me.”
“Ok.”
After these words, Ancestor White Bones’ mother gave Qiao Lian a fierce glare and told her, “I’m telling you, don’t tempt my daughter to play games! We are an ordinary family, we can’t afford it!”
Grabbing Ancestor White Bones, she got them both into the cab.
As the cab started to drive away, the window rolled down.
Ancestor White Bones took out her hand and gave Qiao Lian a thumbs-up.
As she watched the cab drive off, merge and disappear into the sea of traffic, becoming one of those nondescript vehicles on the road, she wondered why her heart felt like it was being squeezed by a pair of invisible, giant hands.
She wondered how many youths, for the sake of chasing their own dreams, had in the end crumbled and fallen in the face of reality?
But she believed that White Bones would not bow to circumstances.
She would be back.
At this point, she suddenly heard a voice coming from behind, “Mr. Sun!”
Qiao Lian paused and turned around. She saw Purple Fairy dashing out. Because she had lost the game, she was anxious and had not noticed Qiao Lian standing nearby. She immediately went up to Sun Linan, saying, “Mr. Sun, this was a slip-up! And even if we lose this competition, we can wait for the next season!”