Shanghai, China, a city of ever-changing charm, is leading the trend of science and technology and culture in the new era.

At this moment, the 2021 ChinaJoy is in full swing at the Shanghai New International Expo Center. The weather in July is like a fire, just like the atmosphere in the stadium right now. At this moment, the main stage is surrounded by a large number of fans, and the world's most popular holographic intelligent anthropomorphic girl idol group from South Korea, f-ancer, is singing and dancing softly to the virtual stage effect of the ancient Roman epic war simulated by the computer.

Comparable to the face of an angel, it seems to come to heaven like a song, with the special effects of a grand epic war. The audience seemed to be in the midst of a magnificent mythological story, especially some of the younger student audiences, whose faces were filled with fascination and shouted hoarsely for their idols.

Jing Feng stood on the periphery, watching the performance in the venue, although he watched it more than once, this immersive expressiveness still made him silently marvel at the exaggeration of the speed of development of science and technology in his heart.

The performance in the field was about to arrive*, and the young people around him became more and more crazy, but at this moment, Jing Feng's eyes drifted into the distance, not knowing what he was thinking. Standing silently for a while, Jing Feng strolled out of the main stage, and after turning around, Jing Feng stopped in front of a small stage.

The stage area of this exhibition hall is very small, and there are a few people bustling around, all of whom are just quietly looking at the venue, their faces flat. It is in stark contrast to the warm atmosphere of other stages, and it is extremely shabby. Jing Feng sighed for a while, but he didn't expect that there were not even a few people left who rushed over to mourn today. Turning his head to look at the main stage in front of him, what is playing is the S11 World Finals of the LOL project, as an e-sports powerhouse, South Korea, as early as three years ago, has announced its withdrawal from this declining old game, and then Europe and the United States and other countries have gradually stopped servicing, and now the finals are completely supported by one or two teammates in China, and the glory of the global war in the past is far from it. Jing Feng stared at the screen for a while and found that he had really said goodbye to this game for too long, and now the updated version was completely incomprehensible.

Jing Feng smiled silently and self-deprecatingly, and his thoughts didn't feel that he was drifting away again. After a while, the high-pitched voice of the virtual host on the stage came out.

"Congratulations to Team WE for achieving three consecutive championships in the LOL Finals, and inviting our champion team to play."

Jing Feng returned to his thoughts, looked at the WE team leader and coach who walked out of the backstage, and greeted him with a smile on his face, and the person who came did not have any surprised expression on his face after seeing Jing Feng, and stretched out his arms and hugged Jing Feng.

"Arlo, long time no see!" Jing Feng said with a smile.

"You're a busy man, I'm an idler, it's not easy to see you." Arlo had a smile in his eyes, and the stubble on his face that had not been shaved for a few days was a little messy, and there was an indescribable taste of vicissitudes.

Jing Feng felt a pain in his heart: "What, Ah Luo also began to pretend to be an uncle, he is not yet thirty, and his lover has already gone through vicissitudes." ”

Ah Luo smiled freely: "Lao Tzu has always been an idol, less TM slander me, don't talk to you anymore, I'll finish it here, see you in the old place in the evening." ”

Jing Feng smiled and nodded.

When night fell, when Jing Feng arrived by car, the people were already together. Dongcao stood at the door of the shop, and Hexi's light hit his face, which made him even more heroic. Jing Feng walked up to Dongcao and said jokingly: "Handsome guy, how much are dumplings a night." ”

"There are no dumplings, do you want sausages." Winter grass replied with a narrow look.

"Hey, married men are really hungry." Jing Feng said with a distressed expression on his face.

"What are you talking about laughing so obscenely?" Ah Luo, Cheng Xiao and Ah Jun also walked out of the store and said teasingly.

"Hey! Jing Feng, your car is lost in the wild area! Came later than me. Arlo said with a smile.

"You're the Wild Daddy! The wild area is under your control! Isn't it because you don't intervene that I brought the teleportation, don't you know? Jing Feng said with a smile and walked towards the store with everyone.

After the five of them sat down and chatted about each other's current situation, Jing Feng picked up a bottle of wine and stood up and said, "Brothers, today is also a big day. ”

"What day? You don't sell meat muffins anymore? Ah Jun put down his chopsticks and said teasingly. It's not in vain that our brothers have eaten so much! When everyone heard this, they looked at Jing Feng with a sad expression on their faces, an expression that you understand.

"Put your mother's p, today is the day of the WE triple championship led by Arlo." Jing Feng ignored the ridicule of his brothers and said excitedly. No matter how the game declines now, it's at least the dream that the five of them once fought for, isn't it?

"Oh, NB!" Cheng said lightly. There was no hint of surprise or joy in his tone.

Jing Feng just wanted to refute, but when he thought about the scene he saw with his own eyes today, he also felt that he couldn't even find a reason to comfort himself. Is it that time has changed, this championship does not have much weight. There was a little bitterness in his mouth, and Jing Feng turned his head and didn't know what he was thinking.

The atmosphere in the venue instantly became a little embarrassing, Dongcao glanced at everyone, opened a bottle of wine and pushed it in front of Cheng Xiao and said, "Facial paralysis, you TM is really the king of the cold field." It's not easy to win the championship, you have the ability to take one! Dongcao patted Arlo's shoulder as he spoke, and then said, "Three consecutive championships?" What kind of project? Happy fight landlords? ”

Everyone: ". ”

Dongcao was afraid that Ah Luo would spit out a mouthful of old blood, so he said with a smile: "Eh! Just kidding! Seriously, brother, what we have always dreamed of, we couldn't do by ourselves, and in the end you did it, really! Really TM long face! ”

Everyone laughed and ridiculed that Ah Luo is really getting older and more powerful, he is really old and strong, and he is old and strong.

Ah Luo was furious and scolded with a smile: "You uneducated earth dogs, what the hell are you old men?" Lao Tzu is still an old man pushing a cart. ”

Cheng Xiao lamented: "Said that Lao Tzu is uneducated, if I hadn't been deceived by you back then, I would have graduated from Peking University Jade Bird with a master's degree." ”

Ah Jun sneered: "You graduated with a master's degree? I learned the fancy leaky knife major. ”

Everyone laughed, and Ah Jun continued: "Hey, I don't know who it was, I borrowed 100 yuan from me, bought a train station ticket from home, and came to Shanghai to work professionally." ”

Cheng smiled and said, "Okay, let's reveal the old bottom!" Brothers, do you know why the Afghan army later played auxiliary? There's a story here. ”

Without waiting for Cheng Xiao to continue, Ah Jun hurriedly covered his mouth and said, "You can eat indiscriminately, but you can't talk indiscriminately." ”

"Eh, I said, you have a weak heart, you can't speak." Jing Feng mended the knife.

Everyone laughed again, and the atmosphere in the field suddenly warmed up, and there was a feeling of returning to the old green years, Dongcao suddenly put away his smile and said to Ah Luo with a serious smile: "Brother, you have won so many championships, are you considering a different path!" You can't point to e-sports for retirement, right? After all, you're young, aren't you. Besides, this is the era of reality simulation games, and these RPGs are no longer in the market. ”

Arlo was silent for a while, raised his head and took a big sip of beer, and then said flatly: "Yes, it's time to consider a different path." ”

Jing Feng grabbed Ah Luo's shoulders and said, "You can figure it out best, life always requires you to do something you haven't wanted to do." Whatever you want to do in the future, the brothers will help you. ”

Ah Luo didn't reply immediately, stared at Jing Feng with burning eyes and said, "Did you go to make money and retire back then?" ”

"Arlo, it's not interesting for you to say that." Cheng smiled and said lightly: "If you hadn't ...... back then"

"Okay, let's not say a word, today we brothers get together ......" Jing Feng stood up, stretched out his hand and pressed it into a smile and said.

"What do you mean don't say it, facts are facts, you go outside and see what others say about you, Jing Feng, Lao Tzu tells you, don't pretend to be sanctimonious with me." Ah Luo was also angry, stood up and pointed at Jing Feng and scolded.

A Luo's sarcasm made Jing Feng almost stand on the spot, the previous things, who was right and who was wrong, now it is impossible to tell, and the brothers have sometimes occasionally gathered together over the years and have not said a word about the past. In fact, the regret and shame in Jing Feng's heart have never been said to anyone, but if he doesn't say it, it is often the scar that he doesn't want to be mentioned.

"Don't talk about yourself like a saint, what an e-sports dream, Lao Tzu!" Cheng Xiao stood up with a furious expression.

"Phew, old mother! Paralysis! "Arlo has completely disregarded the image.

"Fuck you!" While speaking, Cheng Xiao picked up the wine glass and threw it on Ah Luo's face, Jing Feng subconsciously reached out to block it, but he didn't expect Cheng Xiao to turn the wine glass in his hand, and it was splashed on his side. Jing Feng reflected that it was too late, and he was directly splashed in the face.

Even Jing Feng, who had a good temper, was a little angry at this time, stretched out his hand and wiped the wine on his face, and when he opened his eyes, he saw Dongcao's wife and Cheng Xiao's girlfriend walking out of the toilet with a cake, looking at Jing Feng with a smile in their eyes.

Jing Feng turned his head to look at Cheng Xiao and A Luo, the two of them who were still tense just now were already holding their shoulders, and looked at Jing Feng with an expression on their faces, "Brother, you have been fooled". Jing Feng stared at the "Happy Birthday" on the cake, his heart couldn't help twitching, and suddenly his eyes were a little moist, Jing Feng clenched his fists and said to Cheng Xiao and Ah Luo with a smile: "Brother, Tokyo owes you a male protagonist!" Really, thank you! ”

"Don't say much, my wife has been bored by the side for an hour, hurry up and make a wish." Dongcao smiled and patted Jing Feng's shoulder and urged.

"Just your wife and baby." Cheng Xiao pinched his throat and teased.

Everyone laughed for a while, Jing Feng's heart was mixed, the ignorance and ignorance of his youth, all these years of confusion and nightmares, when he was young, he vowed rashly to be brothers for life, but he didn't expect that after so many years, they were the ones who have never changed by his side. At this moment, Jing Feng's heart couldn't help but be filled with deep emotion.

Ah Jun looked at Jing Feng, who had tears in his eyes, and said, "Jing Feng, borrow your wish!" I also want to get married. ”

"Good!" Jing Feng looked at Ah Jun with a smile and said.

"The old man's heart is also budding, I thought you were going to build a foundation for the rest of your life." Cheng Xiao teased.

"I don't like you either. I'm tired of playing, haha! Ah Jun laughed back.

Everyone laughed, and after a while, the waiter had already put the dishes on the table, although it was just the usual dishes, but everyone was very happy to eat. Although everyone is busy with their own lives and has not been in touch for a long time, once they get together, there are always endless topics to talk about, endless old stalks, you expose my shortcomings, I break your information, as if time goes back at this moment, and then eats back to the green years.

A meal was lively for four hours, and it was already midnight when I walked out of the small restaurant, Dongcao drove Cheng Xiao and his girlfriend all the way, and Jing Feng drove a car with Ah Luo and Ah Jun together, maybe it was rare to get together today, but it diluted the sentimentality of parting, everyone made an appointment to reunite and broke up with laughter.

Jing Feng and A Luo carried Ah Jun, who was already drunk, into Jing Feng's car. After getting into the car, Jing Feng turned the car to automatic driving and drove towards We's base.

Shanghai is even more bustling and noisy at night, with neon lights flickering through the car windows.

Jing Feng stared at the night outside the window and said, "Really think about it?" If you quit, if you haven't had anything to do lately, come and help me. ”

Arlo lit a cigarette, was silent for a while, and said, "No! ”

Jing Feng heard the answer he expected, but he still felt uncomfortable in his heart. "What happened back then, do you still care?"

"I don't care if I don't take it out to tease you today, brother." Arlo said with a smile in his eyes.

Jing Feng's clenched fist finally loosened, "Yes, saying it also means seeing it, so why are you?" ”

"LOL is going to be discontinued!" Arlo said abruptly.

lolThe matter of the suspension of service, Jing Feng also received a little news, but he was not too surprised. But now from Ah Luo's mouth to confirm this matter, I still can't help but sigh, since the release of this game, Jing Feng has experienced almost everything about it, and now I see this old friend to the last step, thinking in my heart, isn't this also the end of his youth.

"Eleven years have passed like this, what a blink of an eye! You can be regarded as having completed your merits, and you live up to your dreams and brothers. Jing Feng said: "What about after that! What are your plans for the future? ”

"We, the other branches are also short of manpower, I'll go to the other teams first, so I won't starve to death." Arlo laughed at himself with a flat face.

Jing Feng's heart was dark, Jing Feng knew very well about Ah Luo's situation, the real-life simulation game was completely unknown territory for Ah Luo, and he had no experience.

Of course, We's partner will keep Arlo in a position in love, but Arlo is such a proud and conceited person, and he disdains anyone's mercy and charity, and this kind of life under the fence in the future is not a kind of torture for him. Jing Feng would not say these words, because although Ah Luo's tone was light, no one persuaded him to come back from what he decided.

"You're also a high-level figure in the e-sports palace, it's enough to hang on the wall in a pad, haha! In the future, brothers will have to look for you to cover up when they play games. Jing Feng said with a smile.

"Hey! Do you have to insert three sticks of incense in front of you, and you have to bow if you have nothing to do. It's okay, the next time you invite me to dinner, you can just burn it for me! Arlo said with a smile.

"Seriously, you should have quit two years ago! Now that I've won the championship, it's not the same championship as before, and no one really cares anymore! Your stinky temper really needs to change. Jing Feng thought about it and said.

"yes, the current champion is not worth a meal!"

"So why should you be stubborn?"

Ah Luo didn't seem to hear Jing Feng's words, and his thoughts didn't know where he went. After being silent for a long time, he sighed: "I suddenly remembered the days when we used to play in the United States, and those days were really hard!" ”

"Well, six people sleep in one room, and they don't dare to order slightly more expensive dishes for dinner, in a foreign country, they are not familiar with life, and they don't know what supported us to go on at the beginning, but now that I think about it, I am very nostalgic." Jing Feng also fell into deep memories and said with a wry smile.

"It's a dream. Ha ha! Arlo couldn't help but laugh when he said the word that now seemed full of ridicule. I can't forget the promise made by the six of us, and every time I think about it, I can't give up, right? Now that you're all gone, there's one left to do it! ”

Ah Luo's words were like a heavy punch in Jing Feng's heart, it was the promise of the six of them, they had fought for it, worked hard, and had no choice but to say goodbye. Turning his head sideways, tears could no longer be suppressed across his cheeks, through the car window he seemed to see himself, the former self, the six young figures, also such a night, on the streets of a foreign country, holding a world championship trophy in his arms, but only holding the cheapest hamburger in his hand, six people laughed and roared in the street, completely ignoring the mocking eyes of others. The moonlight that night was so similar to tonight, and on which night, the six of them made a dream of a world championship in unison, vowing to stand on the highest point of the world stage and hold high the banner of WE. Young hot-blooded people are not afraid of any criticism and fear.

Jing Feng's thoughts drifted farther and farther away, and his consciousness began to blur gradually. There has never been a dream like today, Jing Feng felt that he was so tired and wanted to sleep so deeply, he thought in his heart, brothers, if there is a next life, I will bet everything to give you a dream, not for anything else, just because that is the best promise we have ever made.

At this moment, in the carriage, the three people seemed to have fallen asleep, and no one paid attention to the alarm sound of the car out of control issued by the artificial intelligence system.

On such a night, no one is aware of the corner, and fate begins to turn.