Chapter 628
A Carefree Day
The Spring Split trophy has been securely placed in the EDG base's Hall of Fame, standing side by side with the weighty Summoner's Cup.
Although there were still a few days before heading to London, Su Mo was clearly not the kind of person who would let everyone spend their holiday playing ranked games in the base in a boring way.
"Brothers! Anyone free?"
Su Mo pushed open the door to the training room, twirling his car keys in his hand, looking refreshed.
Jiejie, who was catching up on her live stream time, took off her headphones, looking wary: "Brother Mozi, what's with that expression... what big thing are you planning now? Let me make this clear, I'm absolutely not going to that escape room! I had nightmares for two days after watching that promotional video!"
"Look at you, so ambitious." Su Mo gave him a disdainful look. "This time it's a proper welfare bureau. We're going to London soon to eat Stargazing Pie. Since we're still in China, I was thinking of treating everyone to a nice meal and relaxing a bit. The boss approved the budget, no upper limit."
Upon hearing "the boss approved the funding" and "there is no upper limit," Saint Gun Bro, who was pretending to watch a video, instantly jumped up from his chair.
"Let's go! I want to eat Wagyu beef! I want the kind that's priced by the gram!" Flandre's eyes lit up. "Can I bring my family?"
"Do you have family?" Meiko mercilessly added from the side, "Is your family member Song Yuqi or Minnie?"
Saint Gun clutched his chest: "Tianye, this isn't fun. I mean... could we invite Rita and the others? It's more fun with more people."
Su Mo looked at Holy Gun Bro with a half-smile: "I think you just want to see some pretty girls, right? Fine, I'll grant your wish. They're already waiting downstairs."
……
Half an hour later, at Bund 18, top floor.
This is one of Shanghai's most prestigious entertainment venues. Through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, you can enjoy an unobstructed view of the Huangpu River at night, with the Oriental Pearl Tower shimmering with neon lights on the opposite bank.
This time, Su Mo not only booked a huge luxury private room, but also specially invited a Michelin three-star chef team to cook on-site.
When the EDG team members pushed open the door and entered, they were all taken aback by the scene before them.
"Holy crap, Mozi, are you out of your mind?" Jiejie swallowed hard, looking at the entire wall of fine wines. "How many skins could I buy with just one bottle of this?"
"The boss is paying, what are you panicking about?" Su Mo waved his hand generously and walked straight to the sofa area.
There, five stunningly beautiful women, each with a distinct style, had been waiting for quite some time.
They were clearly dressed up carefully tonight.
Rita wore a black jumpsuit, exuding a strong and sophisticated vibe, holding a glass of red wine in her hand, her eyes captivating;
Yu Shuang wore a gentle, off-white long dress, her hair was styled in an updo, and she looked dignified and elegant.
hope Ran chose a light blue off-shoulder dress, which exuded a touch of sexiness while maintaining an intellectual air;
Xiaoyu and Luoxin, on the other hand, went for a youthful and energetic look, wearing short skirts with long boots, which was very eye-catching.
"Hey, the champions are here?" Rita put down her glass and greeted them with a smile. "Congratulations! First place in the regular season and champions in the finals. We're perfectly justified in mooching off you at this meal."
"Absolutely." Su Mo walked over and sat down among the women with complete ease, resting his left hand on the back of the sofa behind Rita, and casually taking the peeled grapes that Yu Shuang handed him with his right hand, opening his mouth to eat them. "Everyone, eat and play to your heart's content today."
Seeing Su Mo surrounded by women, the EDG team members standing at the door felt like they had been hit by a ton of damage.
"Even though it's supposed to be a celebration..." Flandre said sourly to Meiko next to him, "I feel like we're just here to be background characters. Look at Mozi, is he here to eat? He's here to choose his concubines!"
"You'll get used to it." Meiko sighed. "What can you do? He's the FMVP and he's handsome too. Let's just focus on eating meat."
Viper remained calm and asked Scout in somewhat broken Chinese, "Li Zuoyi, um... can we order two Australian lobsters?"
Scout rolled his eyes: "I'll order ten! I'll eat the boss out of house and home!"
……
The banquet began, and the atmosphere quickly became lively.
The long dining table was laden with top-quality seafood and steaks.
Su Mo sat in the main seat, with five beautiful women sitting on either side, while the EDG team members sat opposite him.
This situation is very similar to that of a "landlord" and his "farmhands".
"Come on, Brother Mo, try this foie gras, it's very tender." hope Ran cut a small piece of foie gras, carefully dipped it in sauce, and brought it to Su Mo's lips.
"Hmm, not bad." Su Mo enjoyed the service and casually picked up a tissue to wipe a little sauce stain from the corner of Xi Ran's mouth. "You eat too."
Across from her, Jiejie was so engrossed in eating steak that her fork was almost bent from gripping it too tightly.
"I'm not eating anymore!" Jiejie slammed down her knife and fork in anguish. "This food tastes like dog food! Can't a person eat in peace?!"
"Exactly!" Saint Gun Bro protested. "Rita, although I'm your fan, when you're serving food to Mozi Bro, could you at least... at least be a little more lenient? I want to eat that oyster too!"
Rita chuckled upon hearing this, giving Saint Gun a charmingly disdainful look: "If you want some, just pick it yourself. He doesn't have hands. Besides, these oysters are for Brother Mozi to help him recover. He did the work, so why are you getting involved?"
"puff--"
Luo Xin, who was drinking soup, spat it out: "Sister Rita, what you said... is very ambiguous!"
“What’s the ambiguity? I’m saying I put in more effort in the competition!” Rita said confidently, but the blush on her cheeks betrayed her.
Yu Shuang smiled and smoothed things over, picking up the serving chopsticks and placing a large shrimp on Saint Gun's plate: "Alright, alright, stop teasing them. Xuan Jun, here, Auntie... oh no, I mean, sister, will get you one."
"Thank you, Sister Shuang!" Flandre was instantly moved to tears. "Sister Shuang is the best! Unlike some people, who only care about the top lane."
Watching this scene, Su Mo raised his glass: "Alright, enough joking. This glass is for everyone. You've worked hard this spring. Let's keep this killing spree in London."
"cheers!!"
……
After a satisfying meal, it was time for entertainment.
The private rooms are equipped with top-of-the-line KTV equipment.
"I propose!" Xiaoyu, already slightly tipsy, shouted into the microphone, "Let's play a game! The loser either plays Truth or Dare, or goes up and sings! How about it?"
"Yes!" the crowd responded in unison.
The game is very simple; it's the classic "dice rolling".
In the first round, the unlucky one turned out to be Viper.
"Come on, Xian! Sing! Sing!" Saint Gun Bro led the cheering.
Viper was completely bewildered when he was pushed to the song selection counter. At Scout's urging, he selected Jay Chou's "Confession Balloon".
It must be said that although Viper's Chinese pronunciation had a strong "Korean accent," her voice was surprisingly good, and she sang with deep emotion, which made Xiran and Luoxin applaud and cheer from below.
"I didn't realize Tongtian Dai had this skill," Su Mo commented with a smile, leaning back on the sofa.
In the second round, it was Rita's turn.
Rita was also very generous; without saying a word, she pulled Xiaoyu and Luoxin upstairs.
"Since this is EDG's victory celebration, the three of us will perform a piece for everyone... K/DA's girl group dance 'POP/STARS'!"
"Oh!!!"
Music begins, and the lights change.
Rita stood in the center, and although she was wearing a jumpsuit, her hot dance moves were not affected at all.
She imitated Ahri's position, and every twist of her waist and every look in her eyes was extremely alluring.
Xiaoyu and Luoxin were equally impressive, their movements perfectly synchronized, clearly indicating they had practiced in private.
The EDG players below stared wide-eyed at the three energetic figures on the stage.
Saint Gun Bro turned into a fanboy, waving two glow sticks and cheering wildly: "Rita's sister-in-law is amazing!!" Su Mo sat in the audience, watching Rita wink at him, a playful smile on his lips.
This woman is truly a vixen.
After the dance ended, the three of them came down, panting, and collapsed onto the sofa next to Su Mo.
"How was it? Was the support powerful?" Rita leaned close to Su Mo's ear, her breath carrying the scent of sweat.
Su Mo handed her a tissue and whispered, "Great job. Will you dance it for me alone later?"
Rita's eyes lit up, and she lightly ran her fingers across Su Mo's thigh: "It depends on how you perform."
……
The game continues.
This time, the dice stopped in front of Su Mo.
"Haha! We finally caught the big boss!" Jiejie jumped up excitedly. "Brother Mozi! Truth or Dare!"
Su Mo glanced at the group of guys who clearly had ill intentions, calmly took a sip of his drink, and said, "Truth or dare. I'm afraid your hearts can't take it."
"Okay! I'll ask then!"
hope Ran suddenly raised her hand, taking the right to ask a question.
The private room quieted down for a moment, and everyone looked at Xiran.
hope Ran had drunk quite a bit tonight; her cheeks were flushed, but her eyes were unusually bright. She looked at Su Mo and asked earnestly:
"Brother Mozi, if... I mean if, you win the MSI this time, is there anything... you particularly want to do? Or, is there anything you particularly want to say to someone?"
This question, though seemingly official, actually contains hidden implications.
What do you really want to do? What do you really want to say?
The five girls present all paused slightly, their eyes fixed intently on Su Mo.
Su Mo put down his wine glass and slowly scanned the crowd.
He saw the expectation in Rita's eyes, the tenderness in Yu Shuang's eyes, the nervousness in hope Ran's eyes, and the curiosity in Xiao Yu and Luo Xin's eyes.
Finally, he looked at the night view of the Huangpu River behind him and smiled.
“If I win MSI…” Su Mo’s voice was deep and magnetic, “I think I’ll charter a plane.”
"Charter a plane?" Everyone was stunned.
“Yes.” Su Mo turned his head and looked at the five beautiful faces. “Take you guys, and this bunch of silly teammates, to an island where nobody knows us. No talking about the game, no talking about the game version, and turn off your phones.”
He paused, his eyes becoming exceptionally deep:
"I want to take a set of photos of each of you. Just the two of us, no cameras, no flash. I want to remember that moment, to remember... how it feels to have you all by my side."
This sentence, though not a direct declaration of love, is more moving than any sweet talk.
The private room was silent for a few seconds.
"Tch~" Flandre broke the silence, "So it turns out we're just being used as background characters again!"
But several girls had tears in their eyes.
Yu Shuang gently held Su Mo's hand and said softly, "Then you must keep your word."
A promise made is a promise kept.
……
The party lasted until late at night.
Everyone was a little tipsy.
Saint Gun Bro and Jiejie sang "Boundless Oceans, Vast Skies" off-key with their arms around each other's shoulders;
Meiko and Scout were huddled in a corner playing mobile games;
Su Mo then led five girls to the terrace to enjoy the breeze.
The river breeze was slightly cool, dispelling some of the effects of the alcohol.
"I'm going to London soon." Rita leaned against the railing, looking at the lights on the other side of the river. "I heard the fog is very thick there. I don't know if I'll be able to get used to it."
"With me here, what's there to be afraid of?" Su Mo took off his coat and draped it over Rita, then casually pulled the trembling hope Ran into his arms as well.
“Su Mo.” Yu Shuang stood in front of him, straightened his collar, and said earnestly, “You must bring the championship back this MSI. We’re all watching you from the stands.”
"Yes!" Luo Xin clenched her fist. "If you dare to lose to Faker, I'll... I'll never buy you breakfast again!"
"Isn't this punishment too harsh?" Su Mo chuckled.
He opened his arms and tried to gather the five girls who were the most important to him around him as much as possible.
Feeling their body heat and the fragrance of their hair, Su Mo looked at the dark night sky in the distance, a look of unprecedented determination flashing in his eyes.
"Do not worry."
Su Mo said softly, but his tone was incredibly arrogant: "The rain in London can't extinguish the fire of the LPL."
“And you…” He gently tapped each of them on the forehead, “are responsible for watching from the audience as I bring that trophy back again.”
"Also, get your formal attire ready."
Su Mo chuckled mischievously:
"Our private celebration party will be much crazier than tonight's."
"You rascal!" the five women exclaimed in unison, their laughter echoing in the river breeze.
……
Three days later, at Shanghai Pudong International Airport.
The entire EDG team assembled, dressed in their stylish black team uniforms.
Su Mo walked at the front, wearing sunglasses and pushing a suitcase, followed by his teammates who were also fully prepared to go.
On the other side of the aisle in business class, five radiant family members dressed in casual clothes were waving to them with smiles.
"set off!"
Su Mo snapped his fingers.
Early May, London Heathrow Airport.
When the entire EDG team, along with their eye-catching "family cheering squad," walked out of the international arrivals gate, they were greeted by typical London weather—damp and rainy, with a chilly wind carrying raindrops.
"Ah!"
Luo Xin pulled her beige trench coat tighter around her, sneezed, and exclaimed, "Is this what summer in London is like? It's colder than winter in Shanghai!"
"After all, it's Chongqing." Su Mo pushed his luggage cart, looking quite refreshed. He slept well on the plane—thanks, of course, to the benefits of first class.
Although Abu repeatedly emphasized that this was a war, to outsiders, EDG's posture seemed more like that of someone inspecting their territory.
The bus crossed the Thames River and finally stopped at a luxury five-star hotel in the city center.
Riot Games was very generous this time, booking several floors as accommodation for the players.
As luck would have it, the LPL teams and the LCK teams were assigned to the same hotel.
As soon as Su Mo entered the lobby, he bumped into a group from T1. (End of Chapter)