He's Really So Hard to Pursue - Chapter 4

Jiang Yanci looked down at his own hand, his tone casual and dismissive. “It’s an old problem. I can’t do back-to-back marathons anymore, but…”

He left the rest unsaid. But taking down a little brat like Jiang Xi is more than doable.

The shop was quiet today, so Jiang Yi and Xiao Zhao stayed in the guest lounge to watch the two of them face off.

Jiang Xi sat right next to Jiang Yanci, peppering him with questions as he logged in. “Big brother, what position do you play? What’s your rank?!”

“I don’t play often,” Jiang Yanci lied through his teeth. “I can fill any role. What about you?”

Jiang Xi was so excited he couldn’t sit still. “Honestly, I can play anything too. But this game is all about age; younger players have faster reflexes, which is a huge advantage! All the domestic championship teams were full of young guys when they won. Some of them were barely eighteen.”

Jiang Yanci considered which account to use that wouldn’t completely crush the boy’s spirit.

He stayed silent for a moment, then looked at his “nephew” and asked sincerely, “Do you follow the championship teams closely?”

Jiang Xi shook his head. “Not really. I’m a POD team fan. I love Jing Tingyu! The old legends are in the past; no matter how much glory they had, they’ve been stagnant for years. You have to look to the future.”

Jiang Yanci’s palm suddenly felt an itch to swat something. He gripped the mouse, wondering if he should give this kid a reality check.

“You like Jing Tingyu? Then let’s PK in the Jungle?”

Jiang Yanci was a decent Jungler himself.

Unexpectedly, Jiang Xi who’s full of youthful arrogance, decided he shouldn’t “bully” an older man. “Let’s skip that. Brother, let’s pick something more… balanced.”

Jiang Yanci arched an eyebrow. “…Meaning?”

Jiang Xi rolled up his sleeves, eyes gleaming. “Support!”

Jiang Yanci stared at him in dead silence for a few seconds before finally bursting into a loud, melodic laugh. “Fine. Support it is.”

You walked right into this one, kid. Don’t blame me.

Nearby, Jiang Yi noticed the look in Jiang Yanci’s eyes. He frowned slightly and pulled out his phone, typing “Jiang Yanci” into a search bar.

The encyclopedia page popped up instantly. After scanning the info, Jiang Yi silently flipped his phone face-down on the table. For the first time, he felt a pang of genuine pity for his nephew.

******

Demon King was a 5v5 competitive game. There was the Top lane, Mid lane, the Jungle, and the Bottom lane—which consisted of the AD Carry and the Support. In a 1v1 PK, players couldn’t see each other’s picks until the loading screen.

Jiang Xi stared at his opponent’s pick, incredulous. “Brother, are you seriously playing a Healer? Healers have almost no crowd control. You can’t stun me—how are you even going to fight?”

Jiang Yanci tapped his keys. “Let’s start.”

Jiang Xi thought to himself: Hey, he asked for it. He’d picked a high-damage, aggressive Support, ready to sharpen his blades on the squishy Healer.

He expected a guaranteed victory. Reality had other plans.

【First Blood】

Three minutes in, Jiang Yanci took him down in front of the first tower.

Five minutes in, Jiang Yanci took another head.

Seven minutes in, it was a landslide. Jiang Xi’s face was flushed red, his eyes wide with disbelief.

When the match ended, the boy bit his lip. “Again, big brother!”

Jiang Yanci didn’t mind. He lazily picked another “soft” Support—a character so weak they weren’t even in the current meta. Logically, there was no way he should win. Yet, at the nine-minute mark, the victory screen popped up again.

By the third game, Jiang Xi was reeling. “Brother… you’re a pro!”

“You’re too kind,” Jiang Yanci said, a permanent smile on his face. “I’m just an ‘old man’ in the gaming world, right?”

Jiang Xi: “…”

The PK streak went to five losses. The first three were Supports. The fourth, Jiang Yanci, picked Jungle, Jiang Xi’s specialty and beat him even worse. By the fifth game, Jiang Yanci played AD, and Jiang Xi didn’t even get a chance to breathe.

As the fifth game ended, Jiang Yanci rubbed his wrist, pressing down on the joint with his thumb. “Well, nephew? Want another round?”

Jiang Xi looked like he’d been turned to stone. He’d always thought he was top-tier among his peers. Not only had he lost to an “old man” a decade his senior, but he’d been dismantled in his favorite role.

The worst part? He’d been crushed in every position.

The high schooler felt utterly defeated, slumping onto the desk. “…Yes.”

He didn’t believe it! He couldn’t!

“That’s enough,” Jiang Yi’s deep voice cut in. “Haven’t you embarrassed yourself enough for one day?”

Jiang Xi was indignant. “I’m just having an off day! I can definitely—”

“You wouldn’t beat him if I gave you ten years,” Jiang Yi said coldly.

“No way…”

Jiang Yi tossed his phone onto the desk in front of the boy. “See for yourself.”

Jiang Xi pouted, still defiant, and looked down.

Then, his entire body went rigid. His mouth slowly fell open, his eyes nearly popping out of his head. He grabbed his hair with both hands, clutching his skull. “…Jiang… Jiang… THE World Champion?!”

Jiang Yanci let out a low laugh. “Took you long enough.”

Jiang Xi pinched his thigh hard. “Brother! No, you’re my real brother! You’re the legendary World Champion Support?! Big Brother, quick, evaluate me! Do I have what it takes to go pro? Brother—”

“Jiang Xi!” Jiang Yi’s voice went even colder. He bit down on a cigarette at the corner of his mouth, his annoyance palpable.

Jiang Xi’s voice trailed off. You didn’t mess with his uncle when he was on the edge of a temper tantrum.

Just then, Xiao Zhao heard something outside. She poked her head out and came back a moment later. “Boss, there’s a client.”

Jiang Yi closed his eyes for a second, giving Jiang Xi a warning look. “Don’t push it.”

Then, he turned to Jiang Yanci. “How’s your wrist?”

Jiang Yanci arched an eyebrow. “I’m fine. Go take care of your business.”

*****

The moment Jiang Yi left, Jiang Xi swarmed Jiang Yanci again, begging for pro-circuit stories.

Jiang Yanci didn’t hold back. He sprawled across the lounge sofa, resting his right wrist on the armrest. “Look, nephew. You say you love Demon King and want to go pro. But… you didn’t even recognize a World Champion when he was sitting right in front of you.”

He let out a chilly, mocking huff. “The audacity.”

Jiang Xi froze, then tried to suck up to him. “Brother, I’m focused on the future—”

“The future is built on the experience of those who came before you. Anyway, with your skills? You’ve got no shot at going pro.” Jiang Yanci was brutally honest. “However…”

He decided to throw the kid a bone. Jiang Xi leaned in, ears perked.

“Esports clubs have other roles besides players. You’re a science student with decent grades. Get into a good university, and you could apply to be a manager’s assistant. Work your way up to manager. That’s still being part of the pro circle.”

Jiang Xi frowned, thinking it over. Jiang Yanci didn’t rush him, letting the reality sink in. Then he added a final jab: “Being a player, though? Not in your destiny.”

Jiang Xi shot him a look of pure, tragic betrayal.

Jiang Yanci pointed toward the door. “Still want that ice cream?”

Jiang Xi: “…Yes.”

My heart is bitter. I need something sweet.

Damn it! He’d predicted that, too.

Jiang Yanci let him go grab it while he stayed in the lounge. In truth… his wrist was bothering him. It was a lingering side effect; a short rest usually cleared it up. Looking at the ugly scar, his expression gradually cooled until it was as cold as frost.

“Manager Jiang, I really do have something to talk to you about today.”

Jiang Yanci blinked. He realized the “Manager Jiang” (Jiang-ge) being called out there wasn’t him.

It was a man’s voice—quite pleasant, clear, and young.

“I just like you! Even if my mom kills me for it, I still like you!”

“Manager Jiang, I know I’m young. You think I’m too small… but I’ll grow up! Besides, I’m already in college! I’m twenty! I can do anything!”

“Manager Jiang… I… I really like you. When you were giving me that tattoo, I only stopped feeling the pain because I was looking at you.”

The voices drifted in from the hall.

Jiang Yanci: “…”

I slack off for one second and someone’s trying to steal my man? In MY house, no less?

He stood up, determined to see which “male fox spirit” was being so bold. Just as he was about to head out, Jiang Xi came bursting back in, a look of pure glee on his face.

“Quick, quick! A guy is confessing to my uncle! It’s so intense! This is great!”

Jiang Yanci stopped. “You don’t mind?”

“Huh? Oh, you mean that.” Jiang Xi chewed on his ice cream spoon. “Why would I mind? My uncle can like guys or girls, I don’t care. I honestly thought he was going to die alone. This is great. Someone actually wants to take him off our hands. Why would I care what’s under their clothes?”

“That is great,” Jiang Yanci agreed, nodding.

Jiang Xi smirked, looking as proud as if the confession were for him.

Then… Jiang Yanci patted his shoulder. “Go.”

Jiang Xi: “???”

Jiang Yanci raised his right hand. “Tell your uncle.”

Jiang Xi: “???”

Jiang Yanci: “Tell him my damn hand hurts!”

Jiang Xi: “…Your hand hurts? I can massage it for you! No need to bother my uncle. Big Brother, my uncle finally has a chance to get ‘married’ off. You can’t go ruining his karma.”

Jiang Yanci’s feet were starting to feel as itchy as his palms. “Are you going or not? If you don’t go, don’t expect me to help you with any introductions after you graduate.”

“I’m going!” Jiang Xi scrambled up and shouted at the top of his lungs: “UNCLE! BIG BROTHER SAYS HIS HAND HURTS!”

*****

Outside, Jiang Yi’s eyes flickered. He stepped back, avoiding the hand the college student was reaching out with. “I’m sorry. I’m not interested.”

The student’s eyes went red. He looked at Jiang Yi with a wounded expression. “Manager Jiang, I can wait. Until you are interested…”

Jiang Yi frowned. “I have a client. Xiao Zhao, show him out.”

The student wasn’t giving up. He stared longingly at Jiang Yi’s back. Since it was a law-abiding society and the kid insisted he was there for a tattoo, Xiao Zhao couldn’t exactly throw him out by force. She was stuck in the middle.

But Jiang Yi was already at the lounge door. “Your hand hurts?”

Jiang Yanci arched an eyebrow. “Yeah.”

The college student craned his neck to see into the room.

Jiang Yanci gave a half-smile, slowly reaching his hand out toward Jiang Yi. “A little help?”

Jiang Yi tilted his head. He could feel the scorching gaze from the student behind him. He reached out, his cool fingertips pressing against Jiang Yanci’s wrist. “Why did you have the surgery?”

Jiang Yanci let out a soft laugh. “Because playing pro leaves you covered in scars, obviously. A college student, huh? Business is booming for you, Manager Jiang.”

Jiang Yi’s movements were gentle, his fingers applying just the right amount of pressure to the wrist. “Yeah. The line is getting pretty long.”

Jiang Yanci snorted. “The student is still there. Want me to help you out?”

Jiang Yi went quiet for a second, then looked up. Jiang Yanci had beautiful eyes; he seemed to love smiling, always looking cheerful.

Jiang Yi remained silent, waiting.

Jiang Yanci glanced at the student outside, his eyes flashing with provocation. He dropped his voice to a whisper. “I’m cutting the line.”

Suddenly, he raised his voice, letting out a sharp, dramatic “Ah!”

“Hubby,” he whined loudly. “It hurts!”

The college student’s face went instantly ashen.

Jiang Xi’s hand shook so hard he dropped his entire ice cream on the floor. “…!!!”

Jiang Yi’s hands stopped moving. He knit his brows, looking at Jiang Yanci with an expression that was somewhere between exasperation and a suppressed urge to laugh.

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