The GD Team's interview was very strict. First was the aptitude test that all e-sports clubs would conduct. The testing methods for these items were similar, a piece of cake for Chi Shu.
Everyone who came for the interview lined up for the test in the testing room on the 1st floor. Ye Shaoyang watched from the side with the assistant coach.
Most kids from the Youth Training Camp could pass. Usually, a test result of 3 S-ranks was enough to be kept for observation. Chi Shu was last in line. Ye Shaoyang focused his attention on this 21-year-old "rookie."
Chi Shu sat in front of the computer, his slender fingers tapping the keyboard rapidly. He eliminated the small colored blocks on the screen with precision. His instantaneous reaction speed remained stable at 0.1 seconds for several consecutive tests; his dynamic visual capture, anti-interference tests, etc., were also excellent.
The young man's gaze was calm and focused throughout. All test results—full marks.
Looking at this report card, Ye Shaoyang praised, "His hand speed and reaction are very fast."
The assistant coach glanced at Chi Shu with some surprise and asked regretfully, "Indeed a good seedling. Why did he only consider playing e-sports at 21? What a pity."
Chi Shu stood up and said calmly, "Never touched this game before; just started learning recently." He paused and looked at Ye Shaoyang: "If I remember correctly, Captain is also 21, right? Do you think 21 is too late?"
Ye Shaoyang smiled and said, "Not too late really. Age isn't the standard for measuring a professional player. Currently, the oldest player in the professional league is 24."
The assistant coach originally thought 21 was too late, but hearing Ye Shaoyang say this, he hesitated again. He turned to call the head coach, returned a moment later, and said, "Let's proceed to the next test. Chi Shu, which position do you like to play? Any heroes you are particularly good at?"
Chi Shu said, "Jungle position. Can play most heroes."
The assistant coach took Chi Shu to the training room next door, turned on a computer, opened the training mode, and let Chi Shu operate some heroes on the spot, observing and recording carefully from the side.
These small training software programs were developed by Team GD themselves, testing the details of player operations, such as last-hitting, laning, vision control, fast jungle clearing techniques, etc.
Chi Shu sat there training as if no one else was around. The assistant coach observed his data from the referee's perspective.
Gold acquisition per minute and jungle clearing efficiency were all excellent.
However, just being able to operate heroes and clear jungle monsters wasn't enough for a jungler. The most important thing was "rhythm sense."
As a hero who roamed the whole map, the jungler needed to assist teammates in establishing advantages, frequently ganking and supporting. A good jungler could carry teammates, while a bad one often dragged down all three lanes.
For a 21-year-old player, playing support might be considered; but how could they rest assured handing the crucial jungle position to a rookie who only started contacting the game at 21?
The assistant coach hesitated, made a call to the head coach, and then said, "Chi Shu, your test results today were quite good, but the club needs to discuss it further. Go back and wait for notification."
Chi Shu knew his situation was special and the team couldn't decide his fate so quickly, so he stood up and said sincerely, "Hope you can give me a chance for a tryout. Don't deny me because of age."
When speaking, he looked at Ye Shaoyang. The latter smiled slightly and said, "Rest assured, our GD Club is very fair and won't bury talent. By the way, you came from out of town, right?"
Chi Shu: "Mn, came from Shenzhen."
Ye Shaoyang asked with concern, "Booked a place to stay?"
Chi Shu said, "Came directly for the interview after getting off the plane; haven't had time to book a hotel yet."
Ye Shaoyang thought for a moment and said, "You're unfamiliar with the place, and there are no good hotels nearby. How about this, there's a spare dorm room on the 2nd floor. If you don't mind, stay at the club for a night first. The head coach will return tonight. If there's news, we can notify you immediately."
Chi Shu's heart warmed. He nodded and said, "Thank you, Captain."
Yangyang was indeed a responsible captain, so considerate to people coming for interviews. No wonder he took such care of the 2nd Team rookies in the ABO world and helped Chi Shu mentor Cheng Xing.
Chi Shu came in a hurry this time, with simple luggage containing only a change of clothes and toiletries.
That evening, he temporarily stayed in the GD Team dormitory.
A total of 12 people came for the interview this time. 3 talented teenagers were accepted on the spot, officially becoming GD Team trainees. 8 were persuaded to leave, and 1 (Chi Shu) was pending.
The dormitory was a double room. Sharing the room with Chi Shu was a non-mainstream teenager with dyed yellow hair, who asked curiously, "Bro, are you new? Trainee?"
Chi Shu said, "Came for an interview today, not decided yet. Staying at the team base for a night temporarily."
The yellow-haired teenager was thoughtful. "Oh, Brother Yang took you in, right?"
Chi Shu asked, "Mn. And you are?"
The teenager smiled and extended his hand. "I'm Lin Xiaoyu. You can just call me Xiaoyu (Xiao Fish). I'm GD's support."
Chi Shu shook hands with him and asked casually, "Lieyang has been the captain of Team GD for 3 years; do you all like him very much?"
The teenager immediately said, "Of course! In our hearts, Brother Yang is the most awesome mid-laner in the world! He's a great person, treating every member of our team like family. Usually has no airs at all, and always stands up to take the blame when we lose matches. Actually, losing the World Tournament this time had nothing to do with him! But he gets scolded the most online. Who told him to be the captain?"
Speaking of this, the teenager's eyes reddened slightly. "Our GD once achieved a Grand Slam in the regular season, just didn't manage to get the final World Championship. After Brother Yang became captain, the team's results weren't as good as before. He has been under a lot of pressure these years, getting scolded every time we lose. Those anti-fans mock him cynically every day, telling him to retire quickly."
Hearing this, Chi Shu couldn't help feeling a bit of heartache.
The two had such similar experiences.
No wonder Ye Shaoyang could understand Chi Shu's difficulties and firmly accompanied Chi Shu through the S10 season.
In a place Chi Shu didn't know, Yangyang had also experienced many twists and turns, endured a lot of pressure. After coming to the ABO world, not understanding Alpha, Omega knowledge very well, he still unhesitatingly picked up the keyboard again and walked the path of e-sports.
Just because of the unwillingness in his heart, right?
He must regret not leading Team GD to win the World Championship.
He must also be reluctant to part with the teammates who accompanied him in matches for many years.
Yet he still adapted to the new game as quickly as possible, accepted new teammates, gave his all in every match, never dropping the ball from beginning to end, assisting Tianhuan to stand on top of the world.
Such a strong Lieyang made Chi Shu heartache, yet admire.
Worthy of being the most outstanding e-sports player in his heart.
——Yangyang, in my world, you helped me realize my wish.
This time, I came to your world to help you fulfill your dream.
That evening, GD Team's head coach Brother Rui rushed back to the team on the 12 o'clock flight. Just as he went upstairs, he saw Ye Shaoyang open his door and smile, saying, "Brother Rui, chat?"
Brother Rui froze for a moment, looking at Ye Shaoyang in the wheelchair, and couldn't help roasting, "So late and you're still not sleeping! What are you doing? Don't you know you're a patient?"
Ye Shaoyang shrugged. "One leg can't move, not like my brain can't move."
Brother Rui laughed and cried at the same time. "Are you waiting specifically for me to come back?" He walked into Ye Shaoyang's room, closed the door, and lifted the thin blanket covering the legs to observe Ye Shaoyang's casted leg.
Ye Shaoyang comforted, "Don't worry. Before the next season starts, the cast will definitely be removed."
Brother Rui turned around, poured a glass of water, and handed it to him. "Speak, waiting specifically for me, what's urgent?"
Ye Shaoyang said directly, "Among the people who came for the interview today, there's one named Chi Shu, you know him, right?"
"Mn, that 21-year-old?" Brother Rui drank water and said, "Heard the test results were not bad, but 21 is indeed a bit late. Training from scratch, by the time he's brought out, his peak period will likely be over. Can't play matches on stage; not cost-effective ah."
Ye Shaoyang said, "I want to keep him."
Brother Rui looked back at him in surprise. "Why?"
Ye Shaoyang said, "I'm also 21; age doesn't mean anything. If his talent is truly outstanding, he can also play matches on stage as soon as next season. I watched him train today. He was very focused when playing games, hand speed and reaction also particularly fast, not inferior to 17 or 18-year-old players. More importantly…"
Ye Shaoyang paused and said seriously, "Among everyone who came for the interview today, only he showed not a shred of nervousness throughout. Some rookies were so nervous their faces turned pale. I think psychological quality is also a very important indicator. No matter how well they perform in usual training, aren't there many who get nervous and use wrong skills in matches?"
Ye Shaoyang looked up at the coach and said with certainty, "Ignoring age, comprehensively speaking, I think he is the most outstanding one among this batch of interviewees."
Brother Rui rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Not nervous? What if he was faking it?"
Ye Shaoyang smiled and shook his head. "His eyes can't lie. I can tell he is a very calm player. Moreover, he sent an email recommending himself, saying he would become my best partner. Since he has such confidence and talent, why don't we give him a chance? Let him try?"
Brother Rui: "..."
Yangyang's words were reasonable and well-founded; indeed couldn't refute. If they missed an outstanding talent just because of age, they would be the ones regretting it.
Anyway, is it a mule or a horse? Pull it out for a walk and we'll know. Have to give people a chance, right?
Brother Rui made a prompt decision: "Okay, I'll listen to you this time. Let him stay for a one-month tryout first. If after a month, his performance in all aspects satisfies the coaching staff, then sign a formal contract to let him join. But I'll say in advance, a tryout isn't admission. If his performance during the tryout isn't excellent enough, he'll still have to be persuaded to leave then."
Ye Shaoyang breathed a sigh of relief and smiled. "Thanks, Brother Rui."
At 12 AM, Chi Shu tossed and turned in the GD Club. He didn't know if GD would keep a player like him, nor did he know if Ye Shaoyang was willing to fight for him.
Suddenly, his phone lit up. It was a friend request, remark: Lieyang.
Chi Shu accepted immediately.
The other party sent a message: "Chi Shu, I am GD Captain Lieyang. Telling you good news, the head coach returned. I told him about your situation, and the coach is willing to let you stay for a one-month tryout. If you can pass the tryout, GD can sign you. Add oil, make them look at you with new eyes ^_^"
Chi Shu: "…"
The familiar smiley face symbol warmed Chi Shu's heart.
It seemed Yangyang fought for the tryout opportunity for him. Yangyang indeed understood him. Even without memories of that world, in some places, their hearts were still connected.
They both had common dreams and obsessions.
And could understand the determination and love in each other's eyes.
Chi Shu typed a reply quickly: "Thank you, Captain. I will definitely perform well."
He paused, unable to help asking with concern: "Does your leg still hurt?"
Ye Shaoyang said: "Doesn't hurt. Fixed with a cast; can be removed next month."
Chi Shu really wanted to go to his side and hug him. But now, Yangyang had no memories. If Chi Shu acted too intimately, he would be considered a pervert and driven away by the club.
Chi Shu suppressed the impulse in his heart and sent a voice message: "Your injury hasn't fully healed yet. Rest early, take care of your body. Sleep quickly, goodnight."
Ye Shaoyang played the voice message. Hearing the low, magnetic voice sounding in his ear, he couldn't help smiling.
This rookie always felt a bit strange somewhere?
But Ye Shaoyang didn't dislike him. On the contrary, he liked the way Chi Shu was calm and focused when playing games.
Don't know why, Chi Shu's eyes seemed to have a power that made people trust him.
Ye Shaoyang looked forward to Chi Shu's performance during the tryout. Was this 21-year-old guy who suddenly came to GD Club for an interview just talking big, or did he really have skills?
A one-month tryout period was enough to reveal the truth.