December 22nd, Thursday …
Shanghai Airport.
Zhao Xuming and the leaders and members of the other two clubs were waiting for the plane.
The time for IOI's global finals had been decided. It would officially start on December 31st, which was next Saturday. It would last for a month until the end of January.
The competition format was similar to GOG's international invitational tournament. There were also sixteen teams and four groups. They were divided into two stages: group stage and elimination.
In terms of the competition schedule, the focus battles of the group stage and elimination rounds were basically arranged on weekends and legal holidays. The less important competitions and rest days were arranged on working days as much as possible.
Although the arrangement wasn't perfect, it was still reasonable.
However, due to the time difference, the domestic audience's viewing experience was worse. Take the group stage for example. The domestic viewing time was from 3 AM to 12 PM the next day.
It was held in Los Angeles after all. There was no other way to arrange this time.
Finger Games would only provide hotels and accommodation the day before the competition until the team was eliminated.
Thus, most of the poorer clubs would only arrive at the hotel arranged near the competition venue a day or two before the competition.
Zhao Xuming decided to go there a week earlier and stay in the hotel arranged by Finger Games in order to let the two clubs in China play mock competitions with the European and American teams in advance and adapt to the local environment.
Long Yu Corporation would reimburse them in full for their air tickets and accommodation for this week.
There were a total of 20 people. The two clubs had five members, a team leader, and a coach. There were a total of 14 people. In addition, Long Yu Corporation also had six staff members, including Zhao Xuming.
Zhao Xuming went to Los Angeles purely to take the opportunity to play and watch IOI's competition. After all, Long Yu Corporation's IOI Operations Cooperation Department would mainly use the IOI World Competition to publicize and promote. It was only right for him to make a trip to Los Angeles.
After arriving in Los Angeles, Zhao Xuming would also visit Finger Games' headquarters with his colleagues from the IOI Operations Cooperation Department in addition to settling down the members of the two clubs.
A group of twenty people were waiting at the airport.
At the moment, only Beijing, Shanghai, and a few other cities could fly directly to Los Angeles. What's more, the fares were relatively expensive. Most of the other cities needed to transfer flights. The entire journey would take a lot longer even though the fares were relatively cheap.
Zhao Xuming did not choose the cheaper transfer route. Instead, he chose the relatively fewer and more expensive direct flight. The entire journey would only take about 13 hours.
Zhao Xuming was still a little proud. The air tickets were reimbursed by Long Yu Corporation after all. It was more generous for these clubs to choose direct flights.
Most of the players from these clubs were internet addicts. They had never been abroad before and had not seen much of the world. Zhao Xuming felt that his sincerity was very good.
As for the seats, Zhao Xuming could naturally choose business class since he was a business trip as he was a senior of Long Long Yu Corporation '.
It was not to say that he was saving money for the company. but it was not. of.
Because there were more people this time, it would be too expensive for all 20 of them to sit in business class. After all, the price of a business class ticket was three times that of an economy class ticket. If all of them were to be reimbursed, they would have to spend an additional 300,000 to 400,000 yuan, which was somewhat substandard.
On the other hand, Zhao Xuming was too embarrassed to sit in business class and let the club members sit in economy class, so he could only put up with it.
Of course, the leaders and members of the two clubs did not care about that. It was already good enough that Long Yu Corporation had reimbursed them for the direct flight. It was a little too much to ask them to spend three times the money to sit in business class.
What's more, Boss Zhao was also sitting in economy class.
There was still a long time before boarding. Zhao Xuming chatted with the leaders of the two clubs and briefly introduced the arrangements after arriving in Los Angeles.
"The hotel that Finger Games has arranged for us is the Courtyard by Marriott. It's about 200 meters away from the competition venue. It's very convenient."
"The hotel's environment is not bad. It has everything we need."
"When we get there, we'll go straight to the hotel. You can reimburse me for the hotel expenses before the competition. We'll check out the day before the competition and check in again. We'll stay in the rooms that Finger Games has arranged for us. "
"Our company has assigned a translator. When the time comes, we'll have to trouble the two of you to find a nearby internet cafe and restaurant with our translator to see where it's more suitable to train and eat."
"Even though Finger Games will also arrange for a training room and accommodation, that will only be officially in place the day before the competition. We'll have to rely on ourselves this week."
Zhao Xuming explained some details and the two team leaders nodded repeatedly.
The other team members were also a little excited. It was the first time some of them had taken a plane and were a little nervous.
Zhao Xuming was chatting with the two team leaders when he suddenly heard footsteps from afar.
"Come, let's do it here. Everyone, stand according to your height. Yes, stand in three rows. The main players stand in front and raise the club flag. Alright, I'm going to take a picture. "
"One, two, three! Not bad, one more. "
Zhao Xuming could not help but be stunned. He turned around and was instantly stunned.
Wasn't this FV Club?
Why were there so many people!
At that moment, about thirty people were standing together to take pictures. The one in the front row was even holding the FV Club flag. The five main players stood at the front. Zhao Xuming recognized them at a glance.
Two cameramen were holding their cameras and taking random pictures of everyone. There was also a cameraman who was carrying a camera the entire time.
Zhao Xuming quickly saw more familiar faces in the crowd, including Ding Gan, Wu Yue, Manager Lu, and the members of SUG Club.
Zhao Xuming fell into a state of confusion.
What was going on?
Since these people were already here, it meant that they were also here to take a plane. Since they were taking a plane, they would definitely be flying to Los Angeles.
However, even the people from FV Club had to fly to Los Angeles. There should only be seven or eight people at most, right?
Why were there so many people?
Why were the people from SUG Club here as well?
Zhao Xuming had originally thought that the team he brought with him was already very large with the members of two clubs. However, when he looked at FV Club's side, one club crushed him in terms of numbers!
For a moment, Zhao Xuming was a little confused about the situation. This unexpected encounter was completely out of his expectations.
Wu Yue, who had just finished taking photos, also saw Zhao Xuming waiting for the plane.
Wu Yue was also a little surprised. He might not have a good expression towards Zhao Xuming, but it would be too much to pretend not to see him now that they were looking at each other.
Thus, Wu Yue immediately went forward and greeted Zhao Xuming.
"Boss Zhao! I didn't expect to meet you here. What a coincidence. "
Zhao Xuming forced a smile and stood up. "Boss Wu, are you taking this flight to Los Angeles too?"
Wu Yue nodded. "That's right, Boss Zhao too? Aiya, isn't this a coincidence? "
"However, that's normal. This flight is more suitable in terms of time. Great minds think alike."
Min Jingchao, Ye Zhizhou, and the others might be living in Jingzhou, but the two clubs, FV and SUG, were in Shanghai. What's more, Jingzhou did not have direct flights to Los Angeles. Thus, everyone chose to set off from Shanghai.
This flight was the most suitable considering the departure and landing time, schedule, flight seats, ticket prices, and other factors. That was why Wu Yue and Zhao Xuming happened to bump into each other.
When they met, the situation was a little awkward.
That was because Zhao Xuming had deliberately not brought FV Club to Los Angeles. Both parties knew this very well.
Zhao Xuming had no choice but to not mention this matter in such a situation. He pretended to be polite and said, "Boss Wu, there's still some time before boarding the plane. Let's find a place to sit first."
Wu Yue smiled. "Alright, Boss Zhao, you don't have to worry about this."
After exchanging pleasantries, Wu Yue called out to the others who were accompanying him. "Come, everyone, follow me to find a place to rest."
However, what surprised Zhao Xuming was that Wu Yue and the others did not sit in the resting area beside them. Instead, they walked straight into the VIP lounge that was slightly further away.
A series of question marks floated above Zhao Xuming's head.
What was going on?
The VIP lounge was specially designed to provide waiting services for business class passengers or high-end members. There were televisions, newspapers, magazines, snacks, drinks, and other supporting services. They could also provide flight services such as changing tickets and seats. What's more, all the seats were single-person leather sofas. It was much more comfortable than the hard row seats in the resting area!
Zhao Xuming was even more shocked when he saw that all 30 of them had gone in. Even the cameraman who was following behind them had gone in as well.
What did that mean?
Could it be that all thirty of them had booked business class?
Zhao Xuming knew very well the price of a plane ticket. Economy class was about ten thousand yuan, and business class was close to thirty thousand yuan. If all thirty of them had booked business class, they would have to spend six hundred thousand yuan more than economy class!
That was ridiculous!
Zhao Xuming quickly denied that thought.
Why would FV Club be willing to spend six hundred thousand yuan on a plane? That was unreasonable!
Yes, they should be paying to enter the VIP lounge to rest in order to show off in front of us!
Zhao Xuming knew very well that even though these business class lounges were claimed to be for business class or high-end members to use, they could also pay to enter. The price was one hundred yuan per person.
If that was the case, thirty people would only cost three thousand yuan. That was still alright.
Zhao Xuming felt that he could spend two thousand yuan to show off. However, on second thought, the plane was not delayed. It was about to take off in a while. There was no need to spend that money.
It was better to pretend that nothing had happened.
After being interrupted by Wu Yue and the others, Zhao Xuming was no longer in the mood to chat with the club's team leader. Everyone was scrolling through their cell phones while waiting for the plane.
For some reason, the scene in the VIP lounge would involuntarily appear in Zhao Xuming's mind.
The environment was quiet and there was no noise. They sat on the comfortable leather sofa and read magazines and movies. There was an unlimited supply of free snacks and drinks …
The more he thought about it, the more he felt like it was a little sour.
Zhao Xuming looked at his watch frequently. Fortunately, they were about to board the plane.
Everyone arrived at the boarding gate and waited in line.
The direct flight to Los Angeles this time was a large passenger plane that could seat nearly 500 people. It was divided into two levels, so there were more people in line.
Zhao Xuming and the others stood up in advance and stood at the front of the line, waiting patiently.
Zhao Xuming became more and more suspicious as the line grew longer and longer, but Wu Yue and the others did not come out of the VIP lounge.
What was going on?
Were they not in a hurry to line up, or …
Finally, Wu Yue and Ding Gan led more than thirty people out of the VIP lounge. However, they did not line up at the end of the line. Instead, they walked straight to another boarding gate.
Under the attentive reception of the flight attendants, Wu Yue and the others were unimpeded.
On the other hand, the long queue formed a stark contrast.
Zhao Xuming and the leaders and players of the two clubs watched as Wu Yue and the others boarded the plane. Meanwhile, their queue was as slow as a tortoise's crawl.
This large passenger plane was divided into two levels. There were two independent boarding gates. Whether it was boarding or disembarking, they would not interfere with each other. Business class was on the upper level and economy class was on the bottom. Business class did not need to line up.
Zhao Xuming was speechless.
He silently shut himself up as he looked at the backs of Wu Yue, Ding Gan, and the others.
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