Chapter 7 You can’t always treat your love as food
Late at night, the ROXTigers' celebration dinner finally came to an end after three hours of procrastination. Except for Peanut and Cry, who were still underage, the other players and coaches were already in a drunken state.
Lin Qiguang directly paid for a driver to arrange for them to return to the training base, while he called a taxi and prepared to go back to his apartment in Tongque District to rest.
After putting the team members into the minibus one by one, Nofe wiped the sweat from his forehead and walked to Lin Qiguang.
"Axi, these brats are really hard to take care of. They all have so little alcohol capacity but they all compete for a drink. It's really..." As he said that, Nofe took out a cigarette from his pocket and lit it, without giving one to Lin Qiguang.
Not to mention that he knew that Lin Qiguang did not smoke. Even if he did smoke, Nofe still felt that his pack of Baicaoyuan, which only sold for 3,200 won, was a bit difficult to sell.
We have known each other for more than half a year, and although we still don't fully know what Lin Qiguang's family does, we can get some clues just because he can rent a high-end apartment on the bank of the Han River in Tongque District.
Not to mention that when he returned in the summer split, he also brought a considerable capital injection to G-star Entertainment, the parent company of ROX Tigers, allowing the team to move to a training base with better conditions.
Although ROX Tigers and G-star Entertainment are actually affiliated, the core personnel are actually two coaches and four veteran players, so Nofe, who also serves as the team supervisor, is very clear about the source of the funds——
Kakao.
This Kakao is not that Kakao. It is not the Kakao player who was poached by the LPL IG club at the end of 2014, but the largest free chat software in South Korea - KakaoTalk.
This capital injection is somewhat inexplicable, but for the ROX Tigers who are so poor that they dare not even turn on the air conditioner in the summer, it is undoubtedly a timely help.
Although love can be used as food, who doesn't want to have a better working environment?
As for how Lin Qiguang got this sponsorship from KakaoTalk, Nofe didn't know, and he wasn't prepared to ask more questions. After all, KakaoTalk didn't make any request, and it seemed like he was just out of charity.
But the more this happened, the more Nofe felt that Lin Qiguang's identity was unusual.
"What a blessing, now that our team has won the Summer Championship, maybe Kakao will have the idea of increasing sponsorship?" After taking two puffs of cigarette, Nofe finally plucked up the courage to ask.
In fact, what Nofe wants in his mind is not just to increase sponsorship, but to attract the attention of Kakao because the team won the Summer Championship, and eventually the team will be acquired by Kakao.
Although this kind of thinking is a bit sorry for Huya, who initially invested in establishing the team, there is no way. The money provided by Huya is really too little, leaving the team always in a stretched state.
He was obviously the runner-up in last year's S competition, but until now, both he and the players are still receiving the basic salary of the LCK every month.
If they hadn't done really well in the past two years and been able to get some competition bonuses one after another, I'm afraid they wouldn't have been able to continue.
Lin Qiguang guessed Nofe's thoughts immediately and said with a smile: "I will find time to ask about this matter."
"Okay, then you go back alone and pay attention to your safety. We will leave first!"
Although Lin Qiguang's words were very ambiguous, Nofe also knew that this kind of thing could not be rushed, so he said hello and left.
It was past midnight when we got back to the apartment.
Since returning to the team in the summer split, Lin Qiguang rarely goes back to this apartment. He usually lives with the team members. The conditions are definitely much worse than when he lived there, but it is more humane.
Lin Qiguang's mother personally rented this high-end apartment for him when he came to Seoul to study at university. Although it is some distance from Seoul National University, the advantage is that it is adjacent to the Han River.
After washing up, Lin Qiguang came to the balcony in his pajamas and looked at the night.
In the early morning, the Han River is still lit with lights, a neon scene.
He took out his phone, hesitated for a moment, opened the address book, and dialed a domestic number.
"Hello? Son?" A gentle female voice came from the other end of the phone, seemingly surprised.
"Well, Mom, it's me. I'm sorry to call you so late."
"What are you talking about? It's never too late for a son to call his mother." Zhang Linxin scolded, and then asked: "Tell me, calling me so late, I'm definitely not just calling your mother." Good night?”
"Well, my dad."
"Dad, he hasn't slept yet." Zhang Linxin on the other end of the phone was silent for a while, and then said: "When I served him the food at night, I saw your game screen on his computer. He is a sharp-tongued person. Tofu Xin, after seeing you win the championship, you made an exception and had two glasses of wine with me after dinner.”
Lin Qiguang listened to his mother's description, breathed out gently, and smiled silently.
Like most wealthy families, Lin Qiguang, as an only son, has had high hopes from his father since he was a child. In the future, the Jiasheng Group is also waiting for him to inherit.
He was studying well in college, but he suddenly ran away to play some low-level e-sports. After learning about this, his father was naturally so angry that he even temporarily put aside company affairs and flew to Seoul to beat him up in person. Dayton.
Later, with the patient persuasion of his mother, his father let go of his anger and calmed down to communicate with Lin Qiguang.
It was Lin Qiguang's own fault. After all, he had been a top student since he was a child and performed very well at Seoul National University. Even if he dropped out of school midway, it would just be a year or two later than the expected graduation time.
Lin Qiguang's father, Lin Zhiyuan, is in his prime, and he has plenty of time to wait for him to grow up. Zhang Linxin added: "Isn't Lao Wang's son also engaged in e-sports? Young people can learn new things and gain lessons. It’s good for growth.”
Therefore, Lin Zhiyuan finally agreed with him to play e-sports with a sullen face, but made a request:
"If you don't win the world championship this year, just go back to school."
Lin Qiguang naturally had no objection. His own strength was there, coupled with his understanding of the version that was several years ahead, plus the team he chose was the ROX Tigers, who could have played five games with SKT.
If he can't win the championship, then he should consciously go back and inherit the family property.
After listening to his mother's ramble for a long time, Lin Qiguang asked: "Mom, you know the situation of the team I am in. See if there is anything you can do."
Lin Qiguang's parents started a business together, and technically speaking, his father was half-son-in-law, so although Zhang Linxin rarely interferes with the group's affairs now, it would be the same if he asked her.
Zhang Linxin on the other end of the phone was silent for a while, and then sighed:
"Kakao has no intention to enter e-sports. I know this even without asking your father. Although Jiasheng has been expanding into the entertainment field since 2012, it is basically incompatible with e-sports. It cannot be because If you are in that team, you will be given free sponsorship.”
"If you really want to practice e-sports, your dad and I can learn from your uncle Wang and invest some money for you to buy a club or something after returning to China, but let's forget it in Korea."
"Well, Mom, I understand."
Zhang Linxin heard the slight sense of loss in Lin Qiguang's words and advised: "The members of your team are indeed good kids, but that's why you have to think about their future."
< br>
"I don't know much about e-sports, but I think it has something in common with basketball and football. The team you're on has done very well in the past two years. Both the players and the coach deserve higher salaries, after all."< br>
"You can't always treat your love as food. After working hard for the love in your heart, you still have to face life." (End of Chapter)