Chapter 14: Purple Pizzazz

Zhang LiQiang cast a glance back at the girls as he walked toward the store, his mind lingering on Wang Chaihong and her best friend. Her timid self didn't offer much about her personality but her friend, Ahn Zixin, was a face he recognized immediately. 

One of the top models in China right now, her face is practically plastered all over magazines, billboards, and social media. Ahn Zixin's presence added another layer to the puzzle. Just who was Wang Chaihong, he wondered, to have ties to both professional gamers such as Bao and Moon and someone as prominent as Ahn Zixin?

When he saw the long queue outside the shop, his thoughts and feet stopped. He clicked his tongue and sighed. He already wanted to go home.

________________

At the cafe, Ahn Zixin leaned back in her seat, studying Wang Chaihong with a sly smile as she dug into her food. "So," she began, her voice playful, "How's that new prize gaming mouse treating you?"

Wang Chaihong blinked at the sudden question, her chopsticks pausing mid-air. "Oh," she said, glancing down. "It's… good. Responsive." She fidgeted slightly, unsure why Ahn Zixin looked so smug.

"I bet," Ahn Zixin teased before her expression softened. She set her fork down and leaned forward. "Listen, about earlier—what will you do about that person's offer?"

Wang Chaihong froze, the mention of Zhang LiQiang bringing back the memory of his business card "I don't know," she admitted quietly, her voice almost a whisper. "I'm still thinking about it."

Wang Chaihong looks out the window to change the topic, her tone shifting to something more encouraging. "You know, that guy was Zhang LiQiang. He's the team leader and owner of Heavenly Jade. He was the one that was trying to recruit me"

Ahn Zixin's head snapped up, her eyes wide. "What?"

"Yeah," Wang Chaihong confirmed, as she flipped through the menu.

Ahn Zixin's lips quirked up in a small grin. "And he seemed like a decent person. He helped you earlier, didn't he? I think you should give it a shot. At least go for the tryouts."

Wang Chaihong opened her mouth to protest but closed it just as quickly. 'There are lots of people believing in me…'

"I…will go at the end of the week."

_______________

A few days later, Wang Chaihong stood in front of the Heavenly Jade Gaming building. The towering structure gleamed under the sunlight, its sleek glass windows reflecting the bright blue skies. It was intimidating, far more polished than anything she'd experienced before. Her mind briefly flickered back to her previous team—a tiny, cramped facility above a shop lot with just three small rooms.

She stepped inside and took a deep breath, trying to relieve her nerves. The cool blast of air conditioning hit her immediately, the chill unsettling her already nervous stomach. The lobby was vast, with polished floors and a modern design that screamed professionalism.

Approaching the front desk, she hesitated before speaking. "Um...hello," she greeted softly.

The admin behind the counter looks up with her practiced smile "Hello, may I have your ID and the purpose of your visit?"

"I'm… here to meet Zhang LiQiang" she stammered.

The admin raised an eyebrow, her expression skeptical. "Do you have an appointment?"

Wang Chaihong froze, her thoughts racing. 'An appointment? Zhang LiQiang had simply handed her a business card—was that supposed to count?' She glanced down at her bag before fumbling to retrieve the card. "Uh, I don't… but he gave me this," she said, holding it out together with her ID card.

The admin's expression shifted as she examined the card, her eyes narrowing in recognition. It bore the embossed logo of Heavenly Jade Gaming, reserved only for individuals the organization considered as potential talents. Her demeanor softened as she understood its significance.

"All right," the admin said, nodding. "Let me register you."

As Wang Chaihong waited for the admin to do her work, she felt her anxiety growing. Just then, the sound of footsteps and a cheerful voice broke through her spiraling thoughts.

"Hello~ We meet again!" 

Wang Chaihong turned to see a tall, vibrant figure approaching her—Lu Yufei, with his signature bright smile and a playful twinkle in his eyes. He was dressed in flamboyant from head to toe. 

Startled, Wang Chaihong instinctively squeezes the hem of her shirt. "I-I'm Wang Chaihong," she managed, her voice barely above a whisper.

"I know! LiQiang already told me about you ~ " Lu Yufei said warmly, his gaze flicking to the admin. With a casual wink, he added, "Don't worry, she's with us. Zhang LiQiang scouted her personally."

The admin blinked, her professionalism barely masking her flustered reaction. Clearing her throat, she quickly handed over the visitor pass to Wang Chaihong.

"There you go," the admin said. "You're all set."

Before Wang Chaihong could even process what was happening, Lu Yufei stepped in. "I'll take it from here," he said with an easy grin, gesturing for Wang Chaihong to follow him.

"Wait, you don't have to—" Wang Chaihong tried to stop him as she did not want to cause any trouble.

"Don't worry about it. It's better than getting lost in this maze," he said cheerfully.

Wang Chaihong hesitated, clutching the pass tightly. With a small nod, she followed him, feeling a mix of gratitude and nervousness.