Ten minutes later, Li Shiyi and Little Fool were already sitting in the carriage of Shanghai Metro Line 2.
It wasn't appropriate to say that he was "sitting".
It was the evening rush hour. Although it was the weekend, the subway was still full of passengers. The carriage was extremely crowded, and the two rows of seats were already full. Li Shiyi and Little Fool spent a lot of effort to find a corner of the carriage. They held onto the handrail above their heads to maintain their balance.
"It's … 5: 20."
Little Fool lowered his head and took out his phone to look at the time. He quickly calculated in his heart and then felt relieved.
"One stop every three or four minutes. There's a total of six or seven stops. We should be able to make it!"
Li Shiyi, who was beside him, also had a look of relief on his face. Although the feeling of squeezing in the subway was not good, and it was far from the treatment of the other members of Team One and Team Two, who could comfortably sit in the club's private car to their destination, as a substitute in the team, he had nothing to complain about or ask for.
In any case, as long as they could arrive at Mountain Internet Cafe on time to participate in the event and receive the red packet, it was something worth celebrating.
As if he had thought of something, Li Shiyi looked at his companion's roommate in front of him.
"Little Fool, I remember that you are also a local in Shanghai?"
"Speaking of family background … it's not bad, right?"
Li Shiyi was a little cautious when he asked such a personal question.
Little Fool did not mind at all. He nodded cheerfully and admitted, "Yes, my mother is an associate professor at a university, and my father is a businessman. They are not very rich, but it is enough to get by."
He was frank and did not hide anything.
Li Shiyi listened and nodded. He hesitated for a moment, and then he could not help but ask the question in his heart.
"Logically speaking, you should not be short of money. Why are you so interested in our club's business cooperation activities and the red packet?"
"If it's just a few hundred yuan, it shouldn't be a big deal for you, right?"
Li Shiyi had such doubts in his heart for a long time. Since his companion's roommate was a local in Shanghai, he could usually stay at home. Why would he need to squeeze into a shabby dormitory with him and the other substitutes from other clubs?
Little Fool listened and chuckled.
"Sigh, this is what Brother Li doesn't know."
"Actually, it's because my family is very strict. Originally, my parents hoped that I would finish high school step by step, go to college, find a promising major to continue my studies, and then find a decent job."
"But I don't want to live this kind of arranged life."
"I just want to play esports and become a professional player!"
"Then I told my parents about this idea. Aiyo, they were so angry at that time. They scolded me and tried to persuade me, but they couldn't stop me from making up my mind. They couldn't do anything about it. They said that I could play professionally, but they would cut off my source of income from then on. I would have to rely on myself for everything. If I could survive, then I would continue to work. If I couldn't, then I would go back and listen to their arrangements and live my life." "That's right.
"So —"
The waiter shrugged at Li Shiyi.
"I can only rely on myself now."
"This red packet is only a few hundred yuan. In the past, it wouldn't even be enough for a week's pocket money, but now it's a big number for me. Aiyo, I've already figured out how to use the money. Speaking of which, I haven't eaten a good meal for half a month. The simple meals in the club are really uncomfortable … After I get the red packet, I'll find a Haidilao restaurant to have a good meal tonight to reward myself!"
Looking at the waiter's sparkling eyes and the hopeful expression on his face, Li Shiyi's gaze became a little complicated. He asked in a low voice,
"Is this … worth it?"
"Ah?" The waiter was a little stunned. Then, without thinking, he replied, "Of course it's worth it!"
As he spoke, he became spirited again.
"I want to make a name for myself in the professional esports circle. For the sake of my dream, I'm paying a small price now. If I can't even accept this, then I'll be too weak, right?"
"It's just a little hardship now. In the future, when I become a top professional Almighty in the national server, then I'll be awe-inspiring! When that time comes, my parents will also be convinced! "
Looking at his roommate's beaming expression in front of him, Li Shiyi lowered his head, and a trace of sadness flashed in his eyes.
This kind of high-spirited spirit …
This kind of longing for the dream and the future …
Back then.
He also had such a feeling.
Even in the more difficult environment back then, he and his closest teammates could grit their teeth and persevere. For the sake of the goal and dream in their hearts, they were willing to give up everything they had without any complaints.
But now —
Everything was different.
Right now, he didn't have the qualifications or the ability to talk about dreams. He could only stay in the circle as a substitute member of the High Mountain Team. Every day, he was numb like a walking corpse. All he wanted was that meager salary. All he wanted was the cruel reality of life and survival.
"Speaking of which, Brother Li, aren't you the same?"
The waiter suddenly looked at Li Shiyi and said.
Li Shiyi was startled. He smiled bitterly and shook his head.
"I'm different from you."
"Right now, I'm satisfied as long as I can make a living. I have to work hard to earn some money to support my sister's education. What else can I ask for?"
But the waiter shook his head.
"No, no!"
After a pause, his gaze fell on Li Shiyi. The waiter's cheeky expression changed to one of seriousness.
"Brother Li, if you really don't have any dreams and pursuits in e-sports, then why are you still staying in a place like Shanghai? The expenses are high, and the pressure to survive is great. There's no way you can save up any money. But until now, you still insist on staying in the club. "
"If you really want to eat and wait to die, then why do you secretly take time out every day to play ranked games in the training room?"
"It's a complete waste of time, isn't it?"
He enunciated each word.
Every word seemed to be directed at the heart of the person.
Li Shiyi was tongue-tied.
Yes.
If he was really disheartened, then he could just bring his sister back to his hometown. There was no need for him to endure in a big city like Shanghai, and there was no need for him to stay in the club and be looked down upon.
Maybe it was for his sister to have a better learning environment?
But he asked himself, was this really the only reason why he still stayed in Shanghai and in the e-sports circle?
Li Shiyi's heart trembled slightly at this moment.
Or …
In fact, in the depths of his heart, there was still that kind of unwillingness.
Unwillingness.
Unwillingness to be mediocre like this.
After struggling in the esports industry for so many years, he could only choose to leave as a failure in the end.
Unwillingness to let the glorious history that he and his teammates created slowly disappear with the passage of time and no one would ever remember it again.
(Yes —)
Li Shiyi took a deep breath and raised his head.
(There will still be this kind of unwillingness, reluctance, or because there is always the slightest bit of hope in the depths of his heart, he will stay here year after year, hoping for a miracle to appear.)
But …
Was it useful?
The bitterness on his face became stronger. Li Shiyi shook his head and laughed softly.
"Even if I still have pursuits and dreams, so what?
"I'm not worthy of talking about these now. The so-called e-sports dream … has long been a luxury that I can only dream of."
The waiter wanted to say something but stopped. But at this time, Li Shiyi had no intention to continue this topic. The subway slowly slowed down and stopped at the platform. Li Shiyi looked up at the door and turned to the waiter with a smile.
"Okay, let's not talk about this.
"We're here, let's go."
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