Chapter 704
Snow
"Hello, I am the business director of Lin Xuan Studio. Ms. Lin is currently filming a night scene for a modern drama in Shanghai. She just finished filming a rain scene and developed a fever, but the production schedule is tight, so she insists on not going to the hospital and doesn't want us to tell anyone. She... she only mumbled something about wanting some hot goji berry water when she was feeling dizzy."
The woman's voice sounded anxious and helpless: "I know this request might be abrupt, and your status is quite special. But I really have no other choice. She doesn't know anyone in Shanghai. Is it convenient for you...?"
Su Mo stopped and looked at the goji berries she had just bought in her shopping cart, her brows furrowing almost imperceptibly.
He glanced at his watch; it was 8:30 p.m.
"Send me the address." Su Mo said without hesitation, his voice still calm.
"Okay! Thank you so much! The address is..."
After hanging up the phone, Su Mo quickly paid the bill, put the groceries in the trunk, turned the car around, and drove towards Songjiang Film and Television City.
The sleet made the road conditions a bit bad, but Su Mo drove very steadily.
More than an hour later, the black SUV stopped at a secluded intersection on the outskirts of the film studio.
Lin Xuan's business director was already waiting by the roadside with an umbrella. When she saw Su Mo get out of the car, she immediately went to greet him, her eyes full of gratitude and even a hint of surprise. She did not expect that this legendary, aloof e-sports god would actually come all the way here in the cold weather because of a dream Lin Xuan had made.
"Mr. Su, thank you so much for your help," the director said in a low voice. "Teacher Lin is resting in the van right now, and the next scene won't start filming for another hour."
"Lead the way." Su Mo didn't waste any words, carrying a thermos in his hand.
Following the director past the busy crew members, Su Mo arrived at a black luxury van.
As the car door opened, a blast of warm air rushed out.
In the back seat of the carriage, Lin Xuan, wrapped in a thick military overcoat, was curled up in the large leather seat. Her face, which was usually stunningly beautiful on screen, was now flushed with an unnatural redness, her brows were tightly furrowed, and a fever-reducing patch was stuck to her forehead.
Hearing the noise, Lin Xuan opened her eyes with some difficulty.
When she saw Su Mo standing outside the car door, her previously dazed eyes instantly cleared, even showing a hint of disbelief and astonishment.
"You... how did you get here?" Her voice was terribly hoarse, like sandpaper rubbing against a table.
Su Mo didn't say anything, but took off his black coat, which was soaked with snow, and handed it to the director next to him. Then he stepped into the car and sat down in the seat opposite Lin Xuan.
He opened the thermos in his hand, and a rich aroma of ginger candy and goji berries instantly filled the cramped car. He had found a familiar private restaurant on his way here and borrowed their kitchen to temporarily brew it.
"I heard from your assistant that you specifically asked for this." Su Mo poured out a small bowl of steaming ginger soup and handed it to Lin Xuan, his tone calm yet firm, "Drink it while it's hot, and sweat it out."
Lin Xuan looked at the bowl of steaming soup, and her eyes suddenly reddened.
In this world of fame and fortune, she was used to facing all hardships and illnesses alone. She dared not fall ill, dared not rest, because countless eyes were watching her position. She thought she was strong enough, but at this moment, when this man actually appeared in front of her with a bowl of hot soup, her facade of strength instantly crumbled.
She reached out her slightly trembling hand and took the bowl. Her fingertips inadvertently touched the warm back of Su Mo's hand, and that familiar sense of security welled up in her heart again.
"Thank you..." Lin Xuan lowered her head, sipping the ginger soup slowly, but tears kept falling into the bowl.
Su Mo looked at her, offering no words of comfort or handing her a tissue. He knew that for a strong-willed woman, tears at this moment were a form of catharsis, and she didn't need anyone's sympathy.
He simply sat quietly, his left hand habitually holding his thermos, his gaze peacefully fixed on the snow falling outside the window.
After drinking a bowl of ginger soup, Lin Xuan's complexion improved slightly, and a layer of fine sweat appeared on her forehead.
"Are you feeling better?" Su Mo took the empty bowl and screwed the lid of the thermos back on.
"Hmm, my stomach feels much warmer." Lin Xuan's voice was still hoarse, but it had a rare touch of coquettishness. She looked at Su Mo, her eyes sparkling. "I didn't expect you to actually come. It's so late, and it's snowing."
"It was just on the way." Su Mo said calmly, without taking credit. "Working is not easy. But health is the foundation of everything. If you get sick, go to the hospital. Toughing it out is not being professional, it's being irresponsible to yourself."
Although it was a lecturing tone, Lin Xuan could hear the concern in it. Like a child who had done something wrong, she nodded obediently.
"Sister Xuan, the director said the set is ready and we'll start filming in ten minutes," the business director whispered from outside the car.
Lin Xuan took a deep breath, her vulnerability instantly vanishing as she regained the professionalism and resilience befitting a movie star. She removed the fever patch from her forehead, preparing to touch up her makeup.
"I should go now." Su Mo stood up, picked up his coat, and said, "Leave the thermos here. There's still more than half a thermos left. Remember to finish it after filming."
"Su Mo".
Just as Su Mo was about to step out of the car, Lin Xuan suddenly called out to him.
She stared intently at his retreating figure, her eyes gleaming with an unprecedented determination.
"Do you have any plans for the New Year?" Lin Xuan asked softly.
Su Mo stopped and glanced back at her: "No. I'm in Shanghai."
"Well..." Lin Xuan bit her lower lip, "If I'm not filming on New Year's Eve, can I come to your house for a New Year's Eve dinner?"
This is an incredibly bold request. A popular female celebrity volunteered to spend New Year's Eve at a single man's house.
The business director outside the carriage was so startled by these words that he almost dropped his umbrella.
Su Mo looked at Lin Xuan, his deep eyes showing neither surprise nor panic.
He simply smiled faintly, his tone calm: "My family only cooks home-style dishes, nothing fancy like in a big restaurant. If you don't mind, you're welcome anytime. Just remember to bring your own bowl and chopsticks."
After saying that, he opened his umbrella and calmly walked into the swirling snow.
Watching the black SUV disappear into the night, Lin Xuan leaned back in her seat, a bright smile spreading across her face.
This winter, it seems, is no longer cold.
...It was already 11 p.m. when I got back to the river view apartment.
Su Mo carefully categorized and stuffed the New Year's goods he had bought into the huge double-door refrigerator. After taking a shower, he dried his hair and walked into the living room, where he found an exquisite red gift box on the coffee table.
A pink sticky note was attached to the box, with neat handwriting:
[Brother Mo, this is a New Year's gift we chipped in to buy you—a red cashmere scarf. Your zodiac year is coming up, so wishing you a Happy New Year and all the best! —Xi Ran, Yu Shuang, Rita, Luo Xin, Xiao Yu.]
Su Mo picked up the gift box, her eyes softening.
He opened the box, inside was an extremely soft cashmere scarf, a bright red color without any extra patterns. Simple and practical, yet brimming with the most sincere affection.
In this vast city, he was not alone.
There are teammates who fight side by side, confidantes who silently watch over you, and passersby who accidentally enter your life and bring a different kind of color to it.
New Year's Eve might be more lively than you imagine.
Su Mo carefully put the scarf away, took the last sip of water from her thermos, and went into the bedroom.
In late January, the LPL Spring Split regular season officially kicked off.
For EDG, as the defending champions, the start of the new season has been exceptionally solid. With SuMo's absolute dominance in the top lane and AChen's increasingly mature jungle rhythm, EDG achieved a six-game winning streak in the first three weeks of the competition, remaining undefeated.
As the competition calendar turned to early February, with a 2-0 victory over LGD in their final match, the EDG players finally ushered in a 15-day Spring Festival holiday.
"Wuhu! We're on holiday!"
On the night the match ended, cheers erupted in EDG's training room. Achen and Xiaoyue were so excited that they threw their headphones on the table and began frantically packing their bags.
Mingkai walked in with a tactical board, smiling, and clapped his hands: "Alright, everyone, don't get too excited. Be careful when you go back for the New Year, don't hurt your hands. Report back to the team on time on the sixth day of the Lunar New Year. Anyone who gains more than three pounds will have half of their Spring Season prize money deducted!"
"Coach, you're being too harsh!" JackeyLove protested. "Everyone gains weight during the New Year, especially since I have to go home and deal with my mom's blind date arrangements."
"Jack, with your looks, why would you need to go on blind dates? Your online female fans could line up from Shanghai to the Huangpu River," Meiko teased while adjusting her keyboard cable.
Everyone was chatting and laughing, but Su Mo remained seated in his place. He didn't rush to leave, but instead opened the replay of the first game of the day, his eyes intently focused on the details of Camille's anti-gank play at the eleven-minute mark.
"Brother Mo, you're so dedicated! You're still reviewing things even on vacation." Ah Chen walked over, dragging his suitcase, his face full of admiration.
Su Mo pressed the pause button, turned to look at Ah Chen, and casually picked up the black thermos on the table to take a sip: "I made a positioning mistake and took too much damage from the turret. I can't lose my touch even on vacation."
He stood up and glanced at everyone who had already packed up: "Don't eat takeout at the base tonight. Since everyone is going home tomorrow, I'll treat you to a New Year's Eve dinner as a farewell meal. I've already booked the place."
Upon hearing the words "Brother Mo is treating," the training room fell silent for a second before erupting into even louder cheers than before.
"Holy crap! Brother Mo is so generous!"
"This is incredible! Our stingy Brother Mo actually offered to treat us!"
"Where should we eat?! Where should we eat?!"
Su Mo is a man who lives an extremely regular and frugal life. Although he holds a lucrative contract and club shares, he hardly spends any money except for buying practical gifts for a few girls. His unprecedented act of treating the whole team to dinner today truly surprised and delighted everyone.
"No. 18 on the Bund, Hakkasan Chinese Restaurant. The car is already waiting downstairs." Su Mo put on the long black down jacket in a calm tone.
Half an hour later, the entire EDG team, along with their coaching staff and a group of more than a dozen people, arrived at the Bund in a grand procession.
Located on the top floor, the restaurant boasts unobstructed views of the Huangpu River at night through its enormous floor-to-ceiling windows, with the dazzling Oriental Pearl Tower seemingly within reach. The private dining rooms are understatedly luxurious, blending modern and traditional Eastern aesthetics.
Su Mo sat in the main seat, not ordering any expensive red wine, but instead ordering several pitchers of freshly squeezed juice for Ah Chen and the others, while he himself continued to drink hot water with goji berries from his thermos.
"Brother Mo, let me toast you! If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have been able to get such a big contract this year, and I wouldn't be able to go back to my hometown for the New Year in such a grand way." Ah Chen picked up his juice, his eyes slightly red. For a player like him who had worked his way up from the bottom, Su Mo was not only his captain, but also his mentor.
Xiao Yue quickly raised his glass as well: "Yeah, Brother Mo, we'll definitely play well in the Spring Split and won't let you down!"
Su Mo picked up his thermos and lightly clinked it against theirs: "Let's not mince words. Let's win the championship again next year. Eat more, the roast duck at this restaurant is pretty good."
The meal was very enjoyable. During the meal, everyone put aside the pressure of the competition and chatted about the New Year customs of their respective hometowns. Even the usually serious Mingkai had a couple more drinks and pulled Su Mo to reminisce about the bittersweet experience of winning the S7 championship.
The dinner party went on until after nine o'clock. Su Mo excused himself to go to the restroom and quietly left the private room.
Just as he reached the corner of the corridor, he suddenly heard a deliberately hushed exclamation coming from the lobby.
"It really is him! I'm not mistaken, it's Mo Shen!!"
"Oh my god, the entire EDG team is eating here! I really want to get their autographs, but they look like they're having a get-together. Will I disturb them?"
Su Mo looked in the direction of the sound and saw two young girls who looked like college students excitedly staring towards the private room in the nearby seating area. One of the girls was clutching a canvas bag with the EDG team logo on it tightly.
These two fans clearly recognized JackeyLove when he went to the restroom, but because they were very polite, they did not approach him to surround or disturb him.
Su Mo paused for a moment, then turned and walked towards the table where the two girls were sitting instead of going straight back to the private room.
As Su Mo approached, the two girls' eyes widened instantly, covering their mouths, too excited to speak. That was the legendary god, undefeated for seven years and consistently at the top of the LPL popularity charts!
"Hello." Su Mo stopped beside their table, his tone gentle and calm, without a trace of arrogance. "I heard you just now. Are you EDG fans?"
"Yes, yes!! Mo Shen!! We've been watching you play since S7!!" one of the girls, with short hair, stammered, her eyes even reddening with excitement. "Sorry, we didn't mean to peek. We're just university students from around here. We came here to splurge and celebrate after our final exams today, and we didn't expect to run into you guys."
Looking at the two sensible and restrained fans, Su Mo's eyes softened with a gentle smile. He didn't say anything formal, but simply extended his hand naturally: "Can I borrow your canvas bag for a moment?"
The short-haired girl hesitated for a moment, then quickly handed over the somewhat worn EDG canvas bag with both hands, frantically rummaging through it to pull out a marker. (End of Chapter)