You're Beautiful When You Smile

Chapter 6 Part 2

You're Beautiful When You SmileChapter 6 Part 2Just as she had anticipated, Yu Ming stood on the stage, microphone in hand, and began telling a long story.

He talked about how he had first come across with this game, how he was stopped by his parents, and how in the end he made the decision to play professionally......In the beginning, his family didn't approve of his profession. He even got the silent treatment from his parents for a long time. He had stayed in Shanghai by himself, struggling for an unrealistic dream in the eyes of others.

At that time, esports in China was just sprouting and League of Legends had just gotten popular. There was a huge gap between the professional players back then compared to now. He survived with on just a 3,000RMB monthly salary at the time in the big city and persistently strived for his dream-- --

Until he earned his first League championship with ZGDX.

Until he watched old teammates retire, change clubs, and had welcomed new teammates.

Until his family finally understood and supported him. Nowadays, whenever ZGDX was in any competition, his parents, who didn't understand games at all, would put on their glasses to watch the game in front of a computer.

Yu Ming's career was a representation of the birth of esports in China from non-existence to a solid profession. He had witnessed a lot-- --

"I always dreamed that one day, my teammates and I will be the champion in the World finals. Then we can hold the trophy and tell all the people who have supported us all along, those who have paid attention to the LoL Chinese regional competitions: We have done it."

Facing the quiet audience, Yu Ming bowed deeply-- --

"I'm sorry, I have failed to realize my promise. In the end, we have never fulfilled that dream......And now, I realize that I have reached the point where I have to put down my own dream and make way for new blood."

Yu Ming straightened up, with reddish eyes, and continued with a low voice as if he was trying hard not to choke-- --

"We used to be very close to that dream trophy. But now, we still haven't been able to reach it......I hope one day, when LPL finally brings that trophy back to China, I'll still be here and you all will still be here......"

"However, it's time for me to say goodbye for now."

"I, Yu Ming, the mid of ZGDX, will be officially retiring after the Spring finals."

After saying so, Yu Ming, tightly grasping the mic, bowed deeply again to the silent audience.

-- --It was such a rare scene: hundreds of thousands people gathered in one place, yet no one spoke a peep......

It seemed that the fans, no matter which team they were rooting for, hadn't fully realized what had just happened. They stared sillily at the player on the stage whom they knew so well with mouths agape. Some of them probably didn't like him, had no particularly feeling towards him, or even had sneered at him on the internet, yet at this moment, they acted as if they couldn't understand the Chinese language all of a sudden. They couldn't comprehend what this person was talking about......